DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Well good luck with all your tests but please dont hate on the cheaters...we all got to the point of needing weight loss surgery for the same reason...we cheat on diets! Also wait to pass judgement until you have walked a mile (a year?!) in our (banded) moccasins!

Everything you're going through is totally normal. Not only is your stomach very swollen, but you have considerable air in your abdominal cavity, too. The combination of the two can make drinking difficult as well as cause pain/pressure.
The thing most don't realize is, the gas they pump in to blow up your tummy for surgery isn't in your digestive system, so no amount of burping or farting will help relieve it. It has to be reabsorbed by your body and the best way to help that along is by walking. That's why some experience tightness or pain in their chest, back, and even shoulder after laproscopic abdominal surgery.
Dannon makes these little 4oz bottles of Water. I got these after surgery because it was a much more reasonable amount of liquids to deal with and it helped me keep track of how much I was consuming.
Good luck to you, you're right where you're supposed to be, now just give your body time to heal.

It's clear that mahupetesc is only here to spam her website and sell the product. Her only posts and topics are to sell the stuff.
Ironic, really. This behavior of spamming us only guarantees I'd never try the product and will strongly warn others to steer clear of it as well. His/her ridiculous spamming only backfired.

This is just me, but when I get like that and find myself grazing, I know it's time to "cheat". I find if I just eat whatever it is I really want, I get it out of my system. If I don't, I'll do exactly what you are doing, grazing on absolutely everything. In the end, I've done far more damage grazing than allowing myself a single cheat.
I allow myself one meal a month of whatever I want, i.e., I don't take fat, carbs, anything into consideration. It's my monthly meal cheat. I also allow myself one dessert a month, same as the meal. I find by allowing myself this I am able to have a lot more self control the rest of the time.

One fill isn't very much, most people need at least 2 or 3 before feeling restriction.
Phentermine is by prescription only and it is addictive. It's essentially speed. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, it's particularly unsafe. You can only get it through a doctor.
Phentermine is a quick fix. I took it many years ago, and I would strongly suggest against it. When you stop taking it, you'll gain back every pound and then some. If your body becomes to immune to it (and if you take it long enough, it will) again, you'll gain the weight right back.
Just my opinion, but you need to give your band time to work. One fill isn't enough, you need to be patient until you get some restriction.

This is just me, but when I get like that and find myself grazing, I know it's time to "cheat". I find if I just eat whatever it is I really want, I get it out of my system. If I don't, I'll do exactly what you are doing, grazing on absolutely everything. In the end, I've done far more damage grazing than allowing myself a single cheat.
I allow myself one meal a month of whatever I want, i.e., I don't take fat, carbs, anything into consideration. It's my monthly meal cheat. I also allow myself one dessert a month, same as the meal. I find by allowing myself this I am able to have a lot more self control the rest of the time.

I know everyone looses differently, but I'm just curious...My 6mo is coming up on March 2nd and as of today I am down 53 pounds from day of surgery. I know I could have lost a lot more if I ate better and exercised! I am still proud of myself and feel great

Congratulations!!
Isn't it a wonderful feeling? It was so nice to step on my doctor's scale yesterday and be praised for my weight loss instead of lectured about how horribly overweight I am.
I can tell a difference since my fill yesterday, too. I ate lunch over 3 hours ago and I'm still not hungry- and that's a big improvement considering prior to the fill I was hungry every 2 hours.
We can do this!

I downloaded it yesterday, I like it!

I was watching this show called Fat Chef where obese people in the food industry try to lose 25% of their body weight in 16 weeks. This one woman Maggie was just full of excuses and had no accountability whatsoever. She told her nutrition consultant that she was eating 2-3 slices of pizza for dinner at night and ate soft serve ice cream constantly. Later in the show it was revealed that she was hiding her Lap Band surgery from everyone. She got really mad for some reason and said "I don't want to be some kind of role model for Lap Band...it didn't work for me." Ok, really?! First of all, if you are able to eat 3 slices of pizza in a serving, something is terribly wrong. Not to mention all that ice cream wasn't doing her any favors. People like her make the rest of us who use the Lap Band correctly look bad. It just really irks me. It's clear she wasn't psychologically ready for it and I wonder what doctor in his right mind would give someone like that a Lap Band. If you aren't ready to change your lifestyle and work with the band and not against it, don't have the surgery. Period.
Ok, rant over :-)

powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury makes a non-flavored one. 20g of Protein, 100 calories.
Their flavored ones are also excellent. I drink the chocolate Splendor every morning for Breakfast. So far, Unjury is the only brand I actually like.
Here's a link: http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/

I agree with the others, it sounds like your doctor billed in such a way to absorb a big chunk of what would've been your costs.
I've seen people pay triple what you paid for their surgery out of pocket.

First, if you're having stomach issues, you do not want to take advil/ibuprofen. They can actually make it worse and cause ulcers.
If you go to the ER, they have to treat you. If I were in your shoes, I'd go.
A fact most ER's won't tell you: if you are broke/unemployed, they have emergency relief funds. After you get the ER bill, you need to talk to their billing department and tell them you need help because you are unemployed with no income. Do not take 'no' for an answer, either. ALL hospitals have it and it can knock up to 80% off your hospital bill.
In the end, your health is worth far more than money regardless. I would definitely make a trip the ER sooner than later.

I don't have any answer for the no money issue, but it almost sounds as if you have a slip. Push come to shove, go to the ER.

I personally couldn't justify cutting up and permanently changing healthy organs when Lap-Band is an option. If for some reason Lap-Band didn't work for me, only then would I consider gastric bypass or the sleeve.
Considering I've lost almost 50 pounds and just had the surgery Jan.6th, I'm thrilled with my choice to get banded so far.

I went in for a fill today cause I have started to creep up a little. My fill doc wanted to know if I would like to be a mentor for a new lap bandster. I reminded her that I wasnt even at my goal yet. She said that didnt matter. I am at 75% of my excess weight, so I am doing better than the average at my time frame. I am still losing (fairly slow pace) so she thinks I would make a good mentor.
I told her I would. I am hoping that it helps me as well to keep on track and revisit the basics more often.

I downloaded it yesterday, I like it!

I'm excited to announce our new official LapBandTalk Android app!
This app makes it fun and easy to access the site while you're away from your computer. You can also take pictures with your phone and attach them directly to a thread.
The LapBandTalk Android Forum application features include:
Full posting abilities
Attach photos directly from your Android device
Private Messaging (with optional push notifications)
Subscribe and track your favorite threads and topics (with optional push notifications)
Supports both Landscape and Portrait views

The app is free and you can download it directly from your phone. Just open up the Android app store and search for "LapBandTalk" and you'll find the app. Then just click install. You can also go to LapBandTalk.com on your phone and it should direct you directly to the app.
Once it's installed, you'll have a new icon on your phone that says LapBandTalk. Click it and you'll be ready to go. Here are some screen shots:



Get the app and get ready to take LapBandTalk with you wherever you go.

The new LBT App for Android is available over here
Please leave us some good reviews on Android market!

Tip #1 stay ahead of the pain set an alarm clock to go off when your next dose is and take the meds even if you feel good for the first 3 days.
#2 buy baby wipes to wash yourself with for those days when showering is to hard
#3 buy large unscented maxi pads to cover your incisions with they are more comfortable then gauze and it provides a cushion between them and your binder.< /p>
#4 Allow others to take care of you! Its hard to do but do it your worth it.
#5 drink lots of Water, it take fluids in to push fluids out
#6 take lots of photos and measurements before surgery
#7 come to terms that this is a big surgery and it will take time to heal (I'm still working on this)
#8 DO NOT WEIGH YOURSELF FOR 3 WEEKS after the surgery
Hope some of these help :-)

The way I see it is this...
Insurance companies won't cover the surgery unless your BMI is somewhere between 30-40, obese-severely obese.
For the record, someone would have to be 5'8" to be 199 with a BMI under 30. Anyone under 5'8" would considered obese at 199 pounds.
If someone weighs 199 with a BMI of 28 then they'll be a self-pay because insurance won't cover it. If they want to put themselves through this and spend their money, that's their business.
I do understand what your're saying, but you have to remember we all have different paths and reasons. Just be glad you have the option to be banded and let others worry about themselves. Concentrate on you

I had to share this because I thought it was pretty funny...
So I'm now down over 44 pounds and I haven't replaced any of my clothes yet. I'm holding out until 50 pounds then I'll pick up a couple things. Meanwhile, I'm very aware of how big my clothes are currently fitting me, including under garments.
Tonight I was in Walmart with my son, daughter, and her boyfriend. It was rather crowded and I was pushing a very full cart of food. As always, I had my cell phone in my pocket. I am wearing cotton pants with an elastic waist, however, apparently the elastic isn't helping because I realized halfway through the store my pants kept sliding down my hips with every step. So I take the cell phone out of my pocket to stop the pulling, and I think all is fine.
Well apparently my underwear are too big now, too. As I walked, I could feel them slipping down my hips. I kept putting my hands in my pockets trying to discreetly hike them back up, but eventually they'd slipped too low and it was a lost cause. I was stuck walking through Walmart with my undies nowhere near the parts they are meant to protect.
By the time I got to my car, the waist band of my underwear was literally under my bottom, hanging out around my thighs, only being kept on at all by the crotch of my pants!! The kids and I all had a good laugh!

Welcome Ann!
The liquid diet isn't fun, however, I think in the end it's worth it.
Best wishes

Today I am declaring my success with the WLS.
I have definitley been in the Green Zone since last July, both myself and my Surgeon agree.
I have automatic Portion Control and calorie intake.
I am raley hungry and never think about food.
I go to the gym every chance I get because I like it. If feel empty if I miss a day.
I'm wearing size medium shirts and jackets, and have a 36" waist.
I have been gaining and loosing the same 3-5 lbs for a while now. had a .5cc fill 2 weeks ago, dropped 8 lbs, and gained back 3.
Only a few more to my goal.
I do not want, or need another fill. It would not make any difference.
There is nothing left I can do but let it go and not worry about loosing weight anymore. If I should loose 1 lb per month, I would be happy
to be 12 lbs lighter a year from now. If I don't loose any more weight, I'm still happy right where I'm at.
So, that's it. There is nothing more I an do.

This is just surreal. I've read the stories of those that lost 100 pounds or more on this site and thought I would NEVER EVER be writing that post myself. But here I am!!!!. This morning I officially broke the seal and crossed over the 100 pound mark. I just cannot believe it. Life sure is different in so many ways - and being told how fantastic I look, and being hit on by cute guys, is a whole new thing and feels pretty good (I'm married so it's just harmless attention . ) I love this site and all the supportive people on here. We are all in this together and need to be there for each other as no one else truly knows what we are going through. THANK YOU to everyone on this site and hopefully I will make my goal of losing about 30 pounds more by my one year bandiversary! BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!!