New Hope

You are TOO funny! LOL You will survive and those soft foods will taste so delicious! How are you feeling (other than starving)?

Ryan, you may not feel like this right now...but it's possible that your band could have saved your life (before you even got it!). Unless you were pretesting, you wouldn't have even known that you had ulcers and they could have gotten to a lifethreatening condition before they were found! Follow through on these tests, get everything ruled out and/or repaired. Then get your band and continue on your journey to a healthier you. Dealing with an ill loved one is very stressful, even if you don't realize it. We don't want our loved ones to hurt or be seriously ill. We internalize our pain and it will show up eventually. I'm so thankful these were found before they became worse. My pretests revealed a bad gallbladder, numerous internal adhesions (from previous open-method ab surgery), and a tumor on my esophagus (that would have become cancerous). That tumor wouldn't have shown up unless a surgeon was looking in that specific area. There's a reason for everything. Sometimes it just takes a while for us to know why. You'll get a clean bill of health, plus get your band! Now that's a pretty good deal!

O.K., so you splurged one time. Now, get back on the band wagon. I allow myself a daily splurge - one Blue Bunny (Walmart) Choco- nut ice cream bar (90 cal.), one Fudge Sicle (35 cal.), one Jello Fat-free pudding (100 cal.), or one Yoplait Light Fat-free yogurt (100 cal.) This seems to satisfy my sweet tooth keeps me from feeling deprived, and I don't feel like I have to eat the whole box. It might be slowing down my weight loss, but I feel like I'm living in the real world.

I don't think Mary's 62 lbs. got added.

pb is a "productive burp". It usually happens (after banding) when you eat too quickly and/or too large bites. It can be very painful and reminds you to "take it easy" and "quit pigging out". It's a lot like baby spit-up.

Good luck to both of you! Please let us know how you are doing.

Ruthie, best of luck to you and your daughter! Please let us know how you are doing after you are banded. We're an international group.

Becky, hope you get better very, very quickly! A friend of mine fighting cancer was told to rinse everything with apple cider vinegar. It's a natural germ killer and very cheap. It smells, but evaporates, and doesn't affect food tastes. Best of luck to you!

This is very confusing! Where's Alexandra? Sounds like you need to call your insurance company direct and find out for sure. Don't give up yet! Good luck!

Congratulations, Rose! I think the smartest thing you did was those abs. I know that helped you recoup faster. Take care and don't overdo. We don't want you to relapse. Best of luck!

Penni, I'm so sorry about your step-grandfather's death. I know it was hard to see your step-father hurting at the funeral. I also hope that your Mother gets good results from her scope. You've really had a heavy load this past week. Hopefully, you'll get good news and things will settle down. Take care and get plenty of much needed rest this weekend.

Lisa and Nancy, great NSVs!!! It's not all about losing on the scale.

Hey, you don't have anything to "Lose" except weight and poor health! You probably can only reach them on Monday through Friday, normal business hours. And be prepared to stay on hold for a while. They may have to "get back with you" with the information. At this point, you don't have to give them specifics, you just want to know if the Lapband bariatric (or obesity) surgery is covered. I'm crossing my fingers for you!

Kari, can you call your health insurance company direct and speak with someone? The contact number should be on your health insurance card. Best of luck! I know that you are ready to feel better and be healthier!

Ask your dr. for his "rules". Mine has me do fluids the rest of the day, then start soft foods the second. Also, you can drink right up to your fill time, but don't eat anything at least 3 hours before your fill. You'll do fine!

I'd say having boo-koos of energy and painting 2 kids' rooms is a wonderful NSV! Would you have felt like doing that 6 months ago? (Sorry, Lisa, I had to learn what that was, too.)

25 lbs. gone and below 200! Now that's wonderful!

Wow, Donali, this is a HUGE undertaking! You have done a fantastic job! This is a great NSV!!!!!! :D

O.K. Pam, you should be a Bandster by now! Hope all went well and that you are feeling as good as absolutely possible!

Becky, thank goodness this was found and is fixable. Best of luck to you!

I replied with my dr's solution on your other thread. Good luck!

Becki, best of luck to you! I don't know what part of Texas that you're in. But I have a great Band Dr. here in Houston. PM me if you want any info. or his website.

You need to have your "fills" situation lined up BEFORE your banding. Some Bandsters are finding out that the "Fill Dr." they plan to use (after being banded by someone else) won't touch them. Be sure that you check Directly with the Fill Dr. that you plan to use so you'll know for sure. Don't just take someone's word for it. There is a lot to be learned before you get your Band. Please do your research. Best of luck to you!

Butta, I take Celebrex for arthritis. Some days I just hurt too bad and have to take it. My Band Surgeon advised me to take a Prevacid (prescription to protect my stomach) BEFORE I take a Celebrex. Best of luck to you and please be careful!

Kari, first, do you know that your health insurance covers weight loss surgery (if so, what particular type), or do they have a definite clause in their policy saying that "All WLS are excluded". Your Benefits Coordinator (at your job) can probably answer this for you and/or you may have to call your health insurance co. direct. Kari, talk w/ your primary care physician (family dr.) about weight loss surgery. He/she may not be familiar w/ the Lapband, so print out and take them some info. He/she should have your health history. Do you have co-morbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart trouble, asthma, etc.)? Do you have a family history of any health problems? What types of weight loss have you tried (Weight Watchers, Adkins, diet pills, fasting, various diet plans, dr. supervised diets) -- anything you can remember doing to lose weight? Are you on any current prescription meds. for any health problems (what type, how often taking)? Problems you are aware of that are currently causing you problems in doing every day things (ex. joint pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, depression, etc.) Have all of this stuff written down (and keep a copy) and give to your dr. I'm sure that you'll think of other things. You're going to need to "defend yourself" as to why you need weight loss surgery. The more prepared you are, the better your chances are. My insurance company first denied me, I appealed, 8 months later I got my Band. A lot of Bandsters have gotten theirs a lot sooner. Best of luck to you!