mandyg

thanks for all the info and words of encouragement...so far i am glad i did this for me. im ready for the fill and to continue this wt loss. my husband says he can already tell i seem happier and have more energy..so im looking at this as the blessing that it is for a whole new me! wish me luck monday and i will keep u posted on how it goes!

Congrats! It sounds like you're doing great.

thanks! hope its going well for u 2

Hi everyone. I was banded on march 19th. I go for my first fill today and i'm feeling a bit nervous.

was it painful to get the ur fill? can u really feel restriction? i get my first fill on monday...excited to get it, bc im hungry more now than before and ready to keep losing..

i have my first fill next week..it will be 6 weeks post op. i have lost 18 lbs so far and feeling good. started walking for exercise. up until abt a week ago, i had alot of restriction feeling. that is fading probably bc swelling is going down around the band post op. im looking forward to my first fill so i can see how that will be..hope everyone else is doing good also!

I was banded on 3/20. I had lost 28 lbs, but I have gained 4 lbs this week, my purée week. I am very frustrated. I am supposed to eat four 1/2 cup meals with 800-1200 calories. I can't get to 800 calories with 1/2 cup. I am trying to eat more Protein than carbs, but I'm failing at that too. I'm eating scrambled eggs, eggnsubstitute, Greek yogurt, drinking skim milk- things with Protein, but not enough. And I'm hungry. I don't get a fill until the 16th. Oh- I am walking 2 miles everyday to. Why am I gaining weight?! I guess I just need some encouragement bc right now I feel like crying.

i think everyone is different and will lose at differnt rates. dont be hard on urself..it sounds like u r really sticking to ur plan. im proud of u bc i know its hard! just try and focus on +s and not the negatives..i know for me ive really had to work on that. when i get down on myself now, i just say today was today and tomrrw is a new day. im sure things will get better and stay +. u r doing great!!

its been 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery..i was nervous abt easter and seeing alot of my extended family. i choose not to share with them abt my surgery at this point. but i am really proud of myself..i stuck to my puree/soft eating phase im in now and focused more on seeing everyone than the food itself. i even had comments made to my mom abt how great i looked and asking how my wt i had lost! i defiently notice the wt coming off but its nice for others to notice too! im down almost 14 lbs!!! and feeling pretty good! proud of myself for making this decision and putting myself as top priority!! can't wait until this time next year..will be a whole new me! HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE AND ITS A GREAT TIME FOR NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

its been 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery..i was nervous abt easter and seeing alot of my extended family. i choose not to share with them abt my surgery at this point. but i am really proud of myself..i stuck to my puree/soft eating phase im in now and focused more on seeing everyone than the food itself. i even had comments made to my mom abt how great i looked and asking how my wt i had lost! i defiently notice the wt coming off but its nice for others to notice too! im down almost 14 lbs!!! and feeling pretty good! proud of myself for making this decision and putting myself as top priority!! can't wait until this time next year..will be a whole new me! HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE AND ITS A GREAT TIME FOR NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

its been 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery..i was nervous abt easter and seeing alot of my extended family. i choose not to share with them abt my surgery at this point. but i am really proud of myself..i stuck to my puree/soft eating phase im in now and focused more on seeing everyone than the food itself. i even had comments made to my mom abt how great i looked and asking how my wt i had lost! i defiently notice the wt coming off but its nice for others to notice too! im down almost 14 lbs!!! and feeling pretty good! proud of myself for making this decision and putting myself as top priority!! can't wait until this time next year..will be a whole new me! HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE AND ITS A GREAT TIME FOR NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

im 2 weeks post-band. feeling good and starting purees soon! im down 9 1/2 lbs since surgery!! that is so helpful to keep my encouraged and focused! going for post op appt tomorrow. so far im proud of myself!!

Mandyg, I've been wondering how everything went yesterday and how you are feeling! My surgery is a week from today and I'm so nervous. Still waiting for insurance approval so that is extra stress. Can't wait to hear from you!

im doing pretty good so far! i had a small hernia that was repaired so i think that made me more sore than i wouldve been if i had just the band done. but everyday gets better...i havent had to take any pain meds in 2 days and went to my oldest child's field day today. so im doing good..im still on full liq and abt to start mushy foods next week! went out to eat today for lunch w the family and was really proud of myself...stayed focused and made good choices! im back to work on monday ( i took 2 weeks off and im glad i gave myself plenty of time to heal and focus on a good start)! i havnt got back on scale yet..i still have some upper belly swelling but plan on weighing next week when i get back to work..thanks for asking!

i had my surgery 3/14! i was so nervous going into surgery but it went well. i had a small hernia that was fixed also at same time..so im now 4 days post op..im a little more sore than i expected. im betting bc of the hernia repair. on full liquids now and thats going well. im was worried i would be starving but honestly im not hardly hungry at all. just trying to focus on getting my Protein in each day. pain gets better each day and now sleeping better..so far so good! hope everybody else is doing well too!

my surgery date will be here very soon..3/14! i did ok on the very low carb diet preop..i wont say i did perfect though. but trying to not beat myself up over it and stay positive. i just hope my liver will be shrunk enough...getting nervous. this is such a big step but im ready for this....i just have to stay focused! prayers will be much appreciated!

Hi Mandy! thanks. to be honest the first week for me it was eBay to do the liquids because I really wasn't hungry at all... now that I'm in my second week it is much harder for me cause I'm a picky eater...the hunger pangs are painful more so since being banded than they were before the band... I'm not sure why though.... after your surgery have some gas x strips and a heating pad for those shoulder pains. I wish you the best!!

thanks for the tips!

Dr Bagnato just opened an office at Coliseum Northside-I had surgery there last week! Very sweet LOVE them! So happy I did not have to travel to Albany. I live in WR. Look em' up!

i live in WR also! well actually byron but in houston county! my surgeon is in atlanta..dr macik. i started this process back in sept but i wish this other doc had been in macon then..but ive known several people who have gone to mine and had great results so im still glad i went with mine in atlanta, the drives havnt been too bad and ive kinda gotten used to them. how are u doing post op??? any tips?? my surgery is 3/13/12 so it will be here soon...

the only pain i ever felt was the 1st 10 days it felt like a bad pulled muscle on my left side. i took the nasty pain med they give you at the hosp for the 1st 2 days , then liquid adult tylenol for 2 days after that. then i didnt need any pain meds . i rested on the couch for the 1st 2 days after surgery, by the 3rd day i went and did some light xmas shopping. i felt that good ! not everybody has pain issues some people just breeze thru it (lucky me !!) im 11 weeks out, down from 225 to 203 ! Woohoo ! feel great and down 1 size and getting nice compliments ! hope all goes well for you, just follow your drs orders and get support here , best of luck to you !

this is great to hear! im a little worried abt the pain,..the only surgery ive had before was gallbladder and a csection! with the gallbladder i was sore for abt 1-2 weeks but not bad enuf to have pain meds. it sounds like u are doing great and already down a size!! awesome...good to hear and this makes me more excited. my surgery is 3/14/12

i think being a little nervous is normal! im scheduled for my surgery 3/14/12 so im feeling the same way..but i agree that staying positive and staying focused! good luck and i wont be far after you!!

hey rell! i also live in GA! so how is your hunger post -op? was hard to do the liquids only during those first few days? any tips so far? im having surgery 3/14/12. so glad to hear you r doing well.

im now in my low carb preop diet...i didnt have to do all liquids like it sounds alot of people do...so thats good i guess! the low carb thing isnt so bad just takes alot of preparing and planning meals. but i think it is good practice for post-op! surgery scheduled for 3/14/12..so getting excited but nervous too!

@ #Losin, Keep sipping and stay hydrated! I hope you feel much better soon! Maybe your doc can give you some phenergan to help with nausea and that yuck feeling? Walking around the house still seems to help things go down more easily.

@ mandyg, I have been really strict about low-carbing, even with the liquids and mushies... I just got my first fill this past Friday, but I seem to be even hungrier now and put on a pound over the weekend! I hope it all levels out for some slow steady shrinking! You'll have some ups and downs before surgery time, it's a great decision, and you'll be glad you did it! It's work, but so is being overweight! As for liquids, I had lots of sugar free popcicles and jellow and chicken broth, so it seemed more like I was getting some food, versus only Protein Shakes and Water drinks. I actually preferred to buy Progresso Soup, heat it up, and run it through a tight strainer to remove any and all bits and pieces. The broth was more flavorful than just plan chicken broth! After a few days, I tried eggs, and have been experimenting with omelettes, frittatas, and quiche with different spices and cheeses and spinach. The meats I've had have all been slow cooked in a crock pot, like roast and pork, cooked until really soft and seasoned. It's been kind of an adventure, since I used to be big on baking!

sounds like u r doing great! keep it up..and thanks for the tips.

It's post-op day two, but according to convention, and I believe the lap-band makers, surgery is Day 1 for the purposes of calendars and your progression. Your doc should specify on his post-op instructions whether a plan or dietary restrictions are for post-op days 1-2, etc. If you have any question/concern, best to call the office!

omg..it looks like you've already lost around 13 lbs since your pre-op. that is AWESOME! have you gotten your ifst fill yet? do you think most of wt loss at this point was from being on liquids and progressing to solids post op? was the liquids post op hard? any tips so far? im scheduled for 3/14....so proud of u!

I am so excited..... One month and counting my surgery date is 3/14 and I start my pre-op on 2/29!!!

we have same surgery date..3/14!! we can do this thing..woo hoo!!!

Congrats Taynadosmom! I know what you mean,as mine gets closer I'm a little nervous, wondering if I'm doing the right thing, and if I can be a success at this since I've been a failure for so many years when it comes to losing and keeping it off. I'm committed though and am determined to follow what the doctor says and be a fabulous success!! Good luck to you, keep us posted!

i feel the EXACT same way...i want for me to be sucessful at this so bad and feel excited to do it ...but my wt is the one thing i have failed at over and over in my life. everything else i have always been determined to succeed and worked hard and did it! i just dont want this to be the same as all the othr times..but im lookg at this surgery as a tool to help me that i didnt have before..bc i know its not a magical fix all. but im glad to see im not the only one that feels this...good to have support!!!

That is too bad to hear- do you have an out of pocket max per year? My OOP is $3000, so I should be pretty much covered without the surgery. I am still waiting to see the claims appear for my sleep study consult and the actual study and the surgeon. After my OOP, all in-network care will be paid for the rest of the year. I plan on being at the surgeon's office as much as necessary until December 31

i dont have a max per year..i have BCBS basic which has no deductibles...o/t this me (and my family r pretty healthy thank goodness)..so the the no deductible thing is usually a good thing for us. with these fills..maybe not so much. but i talked it out with my very supportive husband and im not going to let this set me back. i am just going to budget for 1 to 1 1/2 yrs of fills every 6-8 weeks (which will be anywhere from $800 - $1000) and set the money aside for it. honestly i was just mad at myself for this not even occuring to me in first place..u know?? but at least i found out abt it early and not at my first fill date..lol...im just going to use this as even more incentive to do well at this thing! and i keep telling myself..its not like i will have to get a fill every 6 weeks the rest of my life..once i start to hit a steady wt loss and then get to my goal...the cost for fills wont be so much. because other than this cost..i have only had to pay $35 copay at each surgeon appt and to see the required speacilists...so as far out out of pocket expense..i havent had much up to this point. so im should feel blessed abt this...

well i just found out something that really set me bACK for a minute...i am pretty organized girl and thought i asked all the right ?s during this process...but i forgot to ask one important ?.. i have Blue Blue shield Fed insurance. i have had to pay $35.oo co-pay each time i have seen the surgeon for my pre-approval process. so i just assumed once i started going to get my band filled, that would be what i would be paying. i havent read anything different, when i called ins company when i started this process, they never mentioned it and the surgoen office didnt mention this. but i got to thinkg and figured i better not assume..i called ins company and surgoen office and they both told me that i will have to pay $150 each time i get my bad filled bc my ins company considers the fills as an "out patient procedure"....i was really upset when i first heard this and kinda got depressed about if this was all worth it. but after talking it all out with my husband and friends, i am still proceeding with my surgery. i have already invested so much time, money and work into this and thank goodness i can finacially afford these co-pays. i have a friend who had lap ban done a few yrs ago and has united healthcare for her ins and she says she hasnt had to pay anything for her fills all this time..the only reason im posting this is because i cant imagine im the only person who didnt know that there could be larger co-pays for the fills. as i said, its not going to stop my from doing this but im just glad i found out now and can plan accordingly versus finding out when i got there for my first fill!!!!! so just FYI for everyone else.....