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Mama, I found myself not as focused also and attribute it partly to the anesthesia. It takes awhile to get it out of your system. I believe some of it also is tiredness. It is major surgery. I need to have a lot of focus with my current position, and it wasn't there in the beginning. It cleared up by six weeks post-op for me. I too am back in class and finish next Sunday. I hope to sit for my professional exam in mid-March. Good luck with your recovery, weight loss journey and doctoral studies. I received my master's in May 2012 and it took me until November 2013 to take another class.

I agree tighter is not better. I believe my band being overfilled is a major reason it prolapsed. When I first had my surgery, my doctor did not do fills under fluoroscope. For me at least there was a fine line between the green zone or sweet spot and being too tight. Please don't think you're doing yourself a favor and you'll lose more weight by having your band too tight. If it's too tight, you will more than likely wind up gaining weight. If it's too tight you can experience difficulty eating and keeping down food which could result in you eating slider foods because they stay down but are much higher in calories.

Jean, another great article. The above is true for any restrictive weight loss surgery. If you don't change your eating habits and physical activity, you may lose for awhile but not get great results. Weight loss surgery is not a magic pill or wand. It is a tool to assist and still takes work to be successful.

I have UHC and had already met my $500 deductible so did not have to do that. I started this process on 7/31 and so far the tests, visits and bills for anesthesia and biopsy from endo total $11,300. I have paid around $400.00 out of pocket for co-pays. My insurance cover hospital at 90-10 up to $1,000 out of pocket. The hospital give you a price based on what they estimate the insurance will cover. I have heard and won't know for sure until I have my surgery, that the hospital where I am having my surgery, will keep any money you have paid for procedures based on their estimate and then apply it toward your surgery bill. My endoscopy was over $7,000.00 for the procedure, but I had a bravo chip put in to monitor esophagus acid. There was a $500,00 plus bill for anesthesia, my doctor's fee was about $675 and there was a biopsy charge of about $350.00. I believe that I will have about another $500 out of pocket and then should be good. If I do not have surgery before the end of the year, I get to start over in 2014 with a deductible. Next year it may not be $500 but $1,000 and the coverage might be less. It all depends on the contract my employer works out with the insurance company. I am really hoping that I am able to have surgery in 2013.

Not this girl, like Miracle Whip lite. I tend to not follow the crowd. LOL. Patti, thank you for the recipe. Sounds great. When I make mine I used powdered mustard. Just like the flavor better.

Good luck Lily

I think that having my band too tight is going to result in me having to have it removed. I am 6 years and have been on prescription heartburn medications for 3 years with no relief. Last year my esophagus was dialated and they removed some fluid. It went back down. I go see a new doctor on 7/31 and I know he will do some diagnostic tests.

Yep, that is me in IT. I am now working for a great company I have been there for almost a year and a half.

I am checking in. I haven't posted in a very long time. I am now a grandmother, Janet you're right, it is awesome. I am also back in school at the graduate level. I am working on my MBA with an emphasis in Project Management. I'm glad our thread is still going strong. I am still trying to get the last weight off. I hope that when I am on a one class schedule in May I can get back to serious exercise through August. I will try to log in periodically as my schedule permits

Thank you all for commenting on my grand daughter. She is very precious to us. Her name is Chloe. It is amazing how big she has already gotten in 2 1/2 months. I am riding my bike going to get in 70 miles between today and Sunday. Weather finally cooperating. My goal is by the end of October to have 2,000 miles. I am pretty sure I'll make it. I want to ride a century ride in mid October which to me will be the equivalent of running a marathon. (Probably a bit easier) but it is a goal. I just have to get better on hills. I have fallen a couple of times on hills with my clipless pedals so now it is part a mental fear. Have to get over it. Gotta go ride. See you later.

Here is a picture of my grand daughter. She was born on 2/5/09.

I'm sorry to hear about Janet's brother. Please tell her I am thinking of her during this time. I saw gas today for 283.9 I thought wow, it's sad when you get excited about gas under $3.00 a gallon. On Sunday I volunteered for a century ride. In case you don't know this is a 100 mile ride in one day. I was at a rest station at around the 75 mile mark. It was amazing there was one girl age 14 riding and she looked great. Prior to Sunday the most she had ridden in one day was 38 miles. The area where I was had leaves starting to change color. It will be absolutely stunning either this weekend or next. We haven't hit our peak for fall yet. I rode my bike tonight only 12 miles. I feel like a slacker. I went back to Curves tonight. I took time off with my ankle. I can tell I had not been on those machines for awhile. So far for the month of October my exercise is 162 on the bike out of 250 and 1 out of 12 for resistance and strength training. It is supposed to rain tomorrow so I may try my first spinning class.

That is so sad. It's really hard to explain to children also. I'm sorry for you and your son. I hope there aren't any long term effects because of this incident.

I also was banded by Dr. Wagner. I had my surgery as outpatient at Webster Surgery Center. Dr. Wagner now uses a new out patient center. I agree with the other person Dr Wagner's staff is great. Dr. Wagner seems a little shy and is reserved but he is a good doctor and knows his stuff. I have also met with Darin Minkin in Des Peres hospital and he is a good doctor and very supportive. I was fortunate to have insurance coverage for my surgery. I think Dr. Wagner is around $15,000 but when you think that you get your life and health back it is worth it. I am now 29 pounds from a normal BMI. I have no regrets about getting the band. It is a tool and you still need to watch what you eat and exercise. I exercise a lot. I finally have time to do it. My first job got in the way now I have more time to work out. I ride my bike and I go to Curves and do weight and resistance training. I have not weighed what I now weigh in 10 or 11 years.

It would have been fine if someone had not insinuated that I had not done my research. It is fine to disagree with someone but very presumptive to say the research is out there. That infers I don't have the facts and my degree is in Political Science and I have watched every debate and read major publications on both candidates. I agree that this forum is not the place for politics and often times it is way off topic of anything to do with weight loss. I may wind up unsubscribing for Lapband Talk as to not upset anyone and so Phyllis can stay on and not have to go to the recipe page.

I have done the research and stand by my decision. You aren't going to change mine and I'm not even going to try to change yours. So let's just agree to disagree and we'll all see what happens on 11/4. I'm not sure where you get off insinuating that I haven't done my research. I feel that goes both ways. There's a lot on her out there on how unprepared she is and it's not National Inquirer stuff. Even many on her own party feel she is not qualified. That is the last I will say on this topic. I have spoken my piece.

Sorry, to disagree with you. Palin scares the sh*** out of me. She is not qualified to be a heart beat away from the presidency.

Jackie, you hang in there. Of course, we are here for you. Please take care of yourself. You are strong and can handle this and will succeed. You are doing awesome on your weight loss. The rest will fall into place. I just got to the point where my BMI is in the overweight range and not obese. I haven't weighed in this area in over 11 years. So far I have ridden my bike a total of 300 miles with 100 of that for the month of October through 10/6.

I went to my doctor for a fill the other day. I had not had a fill since May. So far during the month of October I have ridden my bike 55 miles. I am riding again this afternoon that will be about another 20. My exercise goal this month is 250 miles on the bike and 12-15 hours of resistance strength training. I need 3 pounds to be at 50 pounds with my band. I am 31.5 pounds from my goal. I don't lose fast but it stays off. I am building muscle which also weighs more but helps to burn more calories while resting. I figure I will get there eventually and am not stressing out about the slow weight loss. I know that my former job was a big contributor to not losing because of the number of hours I had to work as well as knee surgery set me back and cut into exercise time. Take care, have to get ready to ride again. Today is supposed to get to 78 and tomorrow 80 which is great for St. Louis at this time of year. I will ride every day until it rains later next week so will get a couple days off then. While it is raining I plan on going to spinning class.

I go in tomorrow for a fill. Have been feeling more hungry faster. I rode my bike over 200 miles for the first month I had it. I had a nasty fall a week ago Sunday. I got clipless pedals and the guy adjusted my seat too high. My feet didn't touch the ground and I toppled over. My ankle was so sore I could not even walk on it for a day and a half. I went to the ER and nothing broke. I have bruises all over me. Not a pretty sight. I am 33 pounds from my goal weight. I just am not losing weight a fast rate. I am also post menopausal and am sure this contributes. Oh well, I am not giving up and won't quit. When I hit my goal I will have my plastic surgery and look like a new woman I tease my husband that he will have his trophy wife. I am 2 1/2 months into my new job and love it. It is such a change from where I came. They care about their employees and want you to do well. More than half of their positions are filled internally that tells you something. Talk to you soon. Hard to believe that October starts tomorrow. My goal is to ride my bike 250 miles this month.

My bicycle is working for me. I bought my bike 2 weeks ago and have ridden 100 miles. Today I can't ride because we are getting dumped on from Hurricane Ike. Next Sunday I am planning on riding a 46 mile ride. I thought about a century ride taking place on 10/12. I have to see how I do on some of the other rides before I take on 100 miles in the same day. If I don't ride it, I will volunteer and ride at least part of it. I also continue to lose weight and inches from Curves. Down another 7.2 inches in a month. We have gotten over 4 inches of rain since 3 a.m. this morning. I have lost 8 pounds in two weeks. I have 33 pounds to get to goal. That is a normal BMI. I Two more pounds and I am at a 29 BMI only overweight and not obese. I'll be there by next weekend.

I have dropped another pant size. I know it is a true size because I fit into 4 different manufacturer's brands. Yes. It feels so good to go into smaller sizes. I bought a bike today to help me get the last 35 pounds off. I rode it home from the shop. 90 degrees out and I fell on the way home. I'm ok but the bike has a bar across and I could not get my foot over the bar so the seat went some place where it shouldn't and I am quite sore. My husband said I had a bad bruise. I go to the OB GYN Tuesday so he'll be thinking something wild happened. After I learn what I am doing I plan to ride to and from work. That will be a 16 mile trek each day. Have a good holiday. Talk to you all soon.