Terry Poperszky

pop rivets. Leaves a nice little polka dot pattern

Usual time is 20 minutes, but that can vary. I stopped worrying about the time limit, I measure my food up front, then I eat it as slowly as I need to, so that I don't get stuck. 30 minutes for a meal is not unusual. The time limit is really there to make sure you don't over eat, since you can by pass the restriction of the band by constantly eating. If you take 30 minutes to get your cup of food down, that isn't a problem. If you get it down in the first 10 minutes and then keep on eating, that is the problem.

Way to go!

Nope, doesn't sound a bit steep at all, sounds really steep. I wouldn't hesitate to spend 250 on a fill with fluoroscope, but anything else than that is a real hit and miss scenario and should be considerably cheaper IMHO. Shop the other Dr.s in the area, and then talk to yours. I have found them willing to deal.

If they are doing it under the fluoroscope, 250.00 sounds good and you shouldn't need too many of those.

There has been some discussion lately about being able to afford fills, if your insurance doesn't have bariatric coverage, so I thought I would post my costs. I was self pay, and the procedure came with 12 months of fills. After 12 months, my Dr. charges 75.00 a visit, or 300.00 for unlimited fills/unfills throughout the year. These are non fluoroscope fils. Personally I find this a very reasonable rate.

Congratulations, one more step toward the green zone. You did your pre-op diet, 4 days is going to be a snap compared to that.

The company that I work for provides insurance through one of the top 5 insurance companies in the nation, our employee count is under a thousand and we are provided with an online registration portal. So far registration has been pushed back twice for web site issues, and when it finally come online today, it crashed after a couple of hours.Maybe the Obamacare website isn't so bad after all.

Well, you are in Rants and Raves now, so you are fair game I have noticed that very little attention is paid to which forum you are in on this board. You will get used to it. Suggestion, if you only want a specific audience to respond, politely ask that in your thread. And yes, some of us are assholes.

I am not mocking or belittling the concerns and issues that some are facing as the ACA takes effect, but I want people to understand that there are two sides to the story. Healthcare has long been broken in our country, and while the ACA is by no means perfect, it is a start. Let's move forward and make it even better. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/us/amid-the-uproar-over-the-health-law-voices-of-quiet-optimism-and-relief.html?pagewanted=2&ref=politics&pagewanted=all&_r=0

Details, details, details. Every time you put something in your mouth, put it down on paper, or in the computer. Measure everything, KNOW what you are doing, don't guess.

@changirl Start a new thread with this question, rather than putting on an unrelated thread. I am sure the forum will have some suggestions for you.

Sleeve is a good option, but so is the band. Your Surgeon is lying though, most banders do not have theirs removed after 3-5 years. Most banders don't ever have theirs removed and average weight loss is closer to 60% of the excess weight. Weight loss will be slower with the band, and it will require more after care from the Dr. Complication risks are higher with the sleeve Both are going to require substantial changes in your life style and you can screw either of them up. I was self pay, I chose the band. Do your research, get numbers not stories. Choose the one that is right for you and get a different surgeon if you go with the band. One that has a good aftercare program.

I just recently picked up some GNC whey, chocolate supreme and it tastes good and makes a really think shake which keeps me satisfied longer. Today's Breakfast gala apple Spinach Orange Carrots banana Scoop of whey powder 2 cups of ice

Find something you like to do. Take baby steps, and stop beating yourself up. Trust me, that won't help.

The band only works on physical hunger, very few people on this board got fat from physical hunger. We need to recognize why we eat.

IMHO unless you are overeating, the food should pass through the band fairly quickly. The current theory is that satiation comes from the increased pressure on the vagus nerve as food passes through the band, not from food sitting in the stoma above the band. Burping is going to be different than how it used to be. I rarely ever burp, but when I do it sounds as though it is coming from the bottom of a 55 gallon drum. I think the stoma is acting as a megaphone

Well, solids are solids, same as before the fill. But if you are nervous, or a little tight, try mushies for a day. First fills "usually" aren't that drastic, but you will need to make sure your mantra is "small bites, well chewed, eaten slowly" Congratulations on a milestone and keep up the good work.

Different personalities require different approaches. I have been very open about my WLS because I REFUSE to give anyone false hope, that all you have to do is move more and eat less. I have struggled with being fat since I was six years old, trying every diet under the sun, loosing and gaining, each time more heavy than the last. The people that ask me "How did you do it" are generally looking for a magic bullet, and I am quick to tell them that WLS isn't it. But that it has made the difference in my life. Easy way out? Monitoring my food intake? Well, I would consider both of those as rude, and I have a very low tolerance for rudeness. I often wonder if it is a Male/Female thing though. When my wife and I got married 15 years ago, the reaction of my co-workers was total joy for me, they couldn't have been happier. The reaction of my wife's co-workers was "Let me tell you all the horror stories of failed marriages and the dangers of marrying a divorced man".

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/guilt-weight-loss_n_4380080.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

I'm self-pay, my insurance company wanted me to spend 5K non-reimbursable and do a 12 mont supervised diet for an 11K procedure, which is essentially no bariatric coverage IMHO. I got a year of fills with the procedure, and that is up next month, but I am in the green zone, and should stay there. When it is up, I will pay for a fill, even if I have to save up for it. Remove my band? Not gonna happen. If the band ever fails, I will cross that road when I come to it. There is a lot of fear right now, I personally think it is all going to be OK.

For the last several months, I have been plateaued big time. Lose 5 pounds and it comes right back. BUT I have an interview on Monday and I am nervous as heck, first interview I have had in over 17 years. So my wife and I went out to find me a new outfit, picked out a dress shirt and slacks and asked my wife to pass judgement. Her opinion? Shirt was too big, I either needed a slim or a smaller shirt. The long and short of it? I ended up with a full inch smaller in the neck and arms and still could have used a slim cut, but couldn't find one. So, the scale has been plateaued, but my body hasn't, it is still changing (Shrinking)

I'm getting the urge again.

IT REALLY, REALLY WORKS! I showed it to my wife, and said "How did I not know this?"

I have one word for you: Hot Tub I personally attribute it to a decreased BMR, as well as the lack of insulation. I have always run colder when I decreased my food intake, regardless of my weight.