journey4me

Do you take Biotin??? It is for hair (and nails too) it strengthens it.

I'm right there with ya!

5'5" weight 220/ pant size 18. Was 245 pre-op and wore 3x.

I have only been through it once so far, but I get so hungry but at the same time my stomach is bloated and I don't want to eat anything.

I have only been through it once so far, but I get so hungry but at the same time my stomach is bloated and I don't want to eat anything.

I love the sharing of peoples experiences...it really helps me know what I don't want to do! Good luck! Thanks for the heads up I am having my first fill this week. Banded 1/19, feels like so much longer than that.

It took one week for me.

Everyone has those days! You have not failed you have worked through a challenge, move onward!

Another thought have you looked into public insurance like medicaid. I would try that it is your health you're talking about. Good luck and keep us posted.

I would say go to the ER. Worry about the bill later. They can't refuse you care if you don't have insurance. I would just go.

I was wondering the same thing. I don't have a fill yet and I think I am pushing the envelope with my eating. I am also afraid I have stretched my pouch or made the band slip. 1 month post-op and now the swelling is probably down wouldnt that allow for the band to slip because it would be looser?

I was wondering if you knew the answer to this- If we know we are losing weight and dr. doesn't do a fill if you are losing, Should we really keep an appointment if we know we don't need a fill? Hope that makes sense.

Mind over matter mostly. This does take a lot of mental effort too. It is definitely a learning process. Take it slow and listen to yourself and your body!

Meet with the anesthesiologist and make sure you let him know you concerns. He or she will be the one monitoring you, so feeling comfortable beforehand would help ease your mind. Good luck!

I used to like going to a meeting here and there for lap banders. It was both for pre-op and post-op people. So there is a lot of sharing going on and I found it really helpful. I have to admit when I first went I felt like an alien. Didn't know how I would get to the point where I was actually going to be on the post-op side. My process took about 10 months and a lot of the time it felt like forever and a day. I just kept focused on getting myself to a place where I could accept all the changes that where coming. I was frustrated at first but then I found out that it helped me to wait. I got a chance to get both mentally and physically ready. Baby steps it's a process. Good luck hang in there!

I once went to a support group that did clothing swap as people changed sizes. I haven't been there in months, but now might be a good time. I was told not to go buy too many new clothes right away, but I went through my closet donated clothes and pulled the smaller sizes that I had pushed to the back of the closet out! Trying on clothes and finding out they are too big is something amazing! Don't know if I will ever do shorts, but a cute pair of new capris would be great, especially in a few sizes smaller than last year! Congrats!

The first thing to look thin on me was my face. people noticed that but not weight loss anywhere else. Just this past week people have mentioned to me about the rest of me. My niece said to me yesterday....you're melting! So I know others can notice so even though I am not so aware of it other than my face apparently it does appear that way to others. It took me losing 42lbs to notice. I see you are at 219...congrats! I am stuck at 220!

My first fill is the 3/2 and I am hoping for some restriction. I get the whole bandster hell thing now!

Did you lose all 36 pounds since surgery or was some of it pre-op weight loss. I had my surgery on the 19th of Jan. and I am down 20lbs. You are doing great!

I can't emphasize how important it was to walk. I had the same problem and was reading on here about walking to help get rid of them and I didn't listen at first until they got worse....then I walked anytime I could I would walk around the house, do the stairs, go for a walk whatever would keep me moving. It has to come out somehow. I am not a fan of burping or farting, but I'll tell ya what desperate times call for desperate measures! Good luck! Ask the pharmacist for an anti gas medication with the highest amount of Simethacone in it. I can't remember the name of the one I took, but it worked.

I think you will be fine. The idea now is to see that you are committed to losing and that if the insurance company is going to pay that they want to know that. At this point we can only lose so much on our own anyways. I was so nervous about the same thing but it was fine! What is your BMI right now?

This is great! I am getting up the nerve to go "Smart"! I am a wee bit intimidated by the thought, but I think I am ready! I see all my kids can do on theirs and quite frankly I'm getting a little jealous!

I use vita chews. Taste like chocolate chews! Comes in caramel too!

You are beautiful! Good luck with your journey!