WRMSMILES

Hi All, How you feeling Miriam? Hope your feeling better than the last time I talked to you. You sure sounded miserable. Well turkey day went really well. I ate the normal fanfare with no problems. We went to a friends house and I was the second in line for the food table. I figured I needed a head start since I was probably going to be one of the last ones to finish eating. I think I was on my 4th bite of food and I looked over and my son was DONE eating his food already. This chewing and chewing really makes me aware of how fast people eat, or should I say wolf down. It took me quite awhile, but I wanted to make sure nothing got stuck. The only thing I had a semi problem with was smoked tako. I love that and tried to make sure I took teeny, tiny bites. It was starting to feel a little uncomfortable, so I backed off. So how did everyone else do eating? Happy Shopping...........Carmen

Aloha All, I don't know if this is universal or not, but can anyone tell me what the procedure code is for fills? I'm trying to find out if my insurance covers the fills, but they said they needed a procedure code. I'm reluctant to ask my doctors office because they want us to pay for the procedure out of pocket, but DANG, if it's covered by insurance we shouldn't have to pay it out of pocket. Have a great holiday weekend !!!!

Miriam, My fill is tomorrow, Nov. 15th at 9:15. I'm real anxious. Did you have a fill yet? Carmen

Lisa, What time do you go in? I go in the same day at 9:15 for my FIRST fill.......so nervous. Carmen

My doctor charges $250, but will let you come for adjustments for free within the month of the fill. It's going to get pretty expensive as most don't feel good restriction until the 3rd fill (at least that's what I've been reading). I do know that some insurances covers fills like Federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Hi All, I went into surgery weighing 271 and I'm down to 242. It all depends on which scale you use too. I've found that Mary's scale is 2 lbs. lighter than the one they weigh you on where you go see Dr. Fowler. I think I'm running on pure will power because I'm sooooo hungry. I feel like I can eat so much more and the little bit I'm eating is definitely not satisfying me. Some days my stomach feels like I haven't eaten for days. I called in today to see if I can get in next week for a fill. Boy I almost did a naughty today--I was standing in the line at Longs and that nasty Butterfinger rack to the right of me kept calling me. I even went as far as to pick up the dang thing and after I saw that it was 270 calories I whipped it back where it belonged........ : ) See you guys tomorrow night. Carmen

Tashie, Check with Mary to make sure it's ok to come because I wasn't allowed to come to the support group until after I met with Mary. I think maybe it's because your first meeting with Mary is when you have to plunk down the $600.00 and included in that fee is access to the support group. I wanted to go to the August meeting and was told I couldn't until I met with her even though I saw Dr. Fowler in June. Carmen

Miriam, I think the pinto's n cheese from Taco Bell would be ok since it's basically refried Beans and I've also read I think on this board that some eat the small chili from Wendy's. I would just LOVE a 6" club from Subway myself. It just drives me nuts when I have to visit my son at his workplace (Starbucks) because there's a Subway right next door and the smell permeating from that place is to die for. The closest I've gotten to soft foods for now is Soups with "stuff" in them. I feel like I can eat anything but I'm still afraid. Part of me wants to test the band and part of me remembers the rocky beginning I had, so I guess that's enough of a deterrent. I go in Friday to see Dr. Fowler for my monthly check up, so I'm anxious to see how things go. Carmen

Sorry Penny, didn't read the page before Islandlassie's post. Welcome too. It's good to see someone so closer to where I live. I'm in Ewa Beach....not to far away. Carmen

Hi All, Welcome Islandlassie and congrats on being smoke free. I too had to go smoke free to get this procedure done so I know where your coming from. Nov. 6 will be here before you know it. Miriam, how did you eat the eggs, scrambled? I've been making Lipton's packaged noodle soup and when it's hot and boiling, I whisk up an egg and dump it in for some extra protein. It cooks up pretty good. I must say that I'm really starting to get more and more hungrier. So how did your fill go Bev? Any improvement? Talk to you guys soon......Carmen

Yup Mirium...........I guess I'm the "unoffical" one (whatever that means--LOL.) I wasn't at the office today. I went in on Oct. 5 to see him. Since I was "suppose" to have been banded Sept. 26, my post op was 10/5, so they told me to just keep that appointment instead of re-scheduling all my appointments. I got out of the hospital on Tuesday and had to come back that Friday for my 1st post op. Boy, I sure didn't feel to great about coming back to Castle so soon. I'll be happy when he opens his office in Aiea as I live in Ewa Beach. I can't believe the gas I went through for all the visits so far. Lisa, here's a link to some information about the band Miriam and I have: Bariatric Times » Article Archive » The LAP-BAND AP™ System: The Platform Advances I hope you can access it ok. Basically the band I have (APL) holds 14cc. It's suppose to be the "next generation in AGB's." The band is 360 degrees around and the cuff is longer. It's also purported to cause less band erosion and it also has an easier release mechanism if the band needs to be removed or adjusted. I think the biggest drawback is going to be finding the sweet spot, so finding a good level of restriction may require many visits. From what I've read, the first fill is usually 4 cc's. Even though I had a rough time in the beginning, I'm going to know exactly what it'll be like to be overfilled because that's essentially what I was experiencing with my first band, only it was on too tight so it closed off my stomach and nothing could go down. Geeeez Miriam, I haven't even started purees yet. No one has called me to check up or anything, so I'm basically playing it by ear. The handouts are so conflicting. I keep going back and forth to make sure I'm doing things right. I know that one handout says "Wait 20 to 30 minutes before or after meals before drinking liquids." I'm like, is that an either/or or what??? I'm glad I talked to you though, because I'm going to start purees TOMORROW. I can't wait to eat some tofu and refried Beans. I'll be feasting like it's Turkey Day. So far I've had no problems in consuming my food/liquids. I had 12 oz. of soup today for lunch and felt I could've had another 12 oz. Since my second banding, I haven't PB'd at all even when I tank Water. Sometimes I feel like I'm not even banded. Lisa, that's weird about the private message thingy. I'm still trying to learn this site and figure out how to do things. I tried to do a friend request on your myspace, but I didn't have your last or your email. Try add me to yours. My URL is MySpace.com - WRMSMILES - 46 - Female - EWA BEACH, HAWAII - www.myspace.com/wrmsmiles So what kinds of foods are you eating? Please be careful and don't overdo it. Even though I want to eat everything in sight (so missing Tanioka's tomato/tako poke), I'm paranoid that I'm going to stretch my pouch and the thought of having to go back into "that place" for any kind of corrective measures scares the hell out of me. So how's the exercise coming along? I've been walking here and there, but nothing strenuous yet and definately no resistance training with the rubber band thingys. I have a recumbent bike here at my house that I'm going to try to get on tomorrow. I'm afraid Cindy is going to look at my log and give me a lecture which I really don't need right now if you know what I mean. Bev, nice to meet you too. My next appt. is Oct. 26 (suppose to be my 1 mth checkup), so I'm sorry I can't meet with you. You said your coming for an adjustment--are you overfilled or not filled enough? Well, time to do the craiglist and myspace sites. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Carmen

Miriam, That's good to know that you've moved on to mashed potatoes. I guess that means that I can too.....LOL!!!! I am soooo hungry and the cream Soups aren't really making it. I'm ready to try some ricotta cheese with some tomato sauce on it warmed. Carmen

I think I posted this in the wrong place yesterday.....oops. Hi everyone, I was looking on this site last night for recipes and found you guys. Actually I found Lisa under a food post. How you doing Lisa? I was suppose to talk to you that one afternoon at Dr. Fowler's office, but we lost each other in the shuffle. And how are you Miriam? I spoke with you at the September support group meeting. I think you were in our group when we split into groups. Your the one who wants to be able to sing again, yeah? Well it's good a bunch of us are all in one spot. I've been bouncing from support sites back and forth. I'm usually on ObesityHelp.com or Bandsters group on yahoo. I have found that this site has much more information, especially about FOOD.......lol . Miriam, I think you and I are at about the same stage in the healing/eating phase as I was banded (final one) a day before you. My journey has been anything BUT normal as I had to be re-banded. I went in for the first banding on Weds., Sept. 26. After surgery and when I was up on the floor I got out of bed and started walking immediately. Dr. Fowler came up and was happy to see me walking so fast, but the news he had for me was a little upsetting. He said that my liver was one of the biggest he's seen yet and it was 5 times the size that it was suppose to be. He said I'm lucky that I decided to have this procedure when I did or 5-10 years down the road I'd be in big trouble. He said my liver didn't like the food choices I was making and then he said that he put on the "medium" band and that it was VERY tight and that I'd be lucky if I could swallow my own spit. Boy was he right!!!!!! I think he meant it as a euphemism and not to be taken seriously. All night I kept spitting into that pink emesis bowl. The next morning I went down with the lady next to me to get the swallow test and came back up to the room with a thumbs DOWN. Jennifer came up to my room and told me basically that I was swollen shut and I had to try to wait it out for the swelling to go down. Talk about totally BUMMED. To make a long story short, we waited day after day until Dr. Fowler realized that the swelling wasn't going to go down and that the band needed to be replaced with a larger size. He tried to get an anesthesiologist to do it on Sunday, but his friend was off island. When he said there wasn't going to be surgery on Sunday, I asked him if I could please try to drink some broth or tea and he said sure. I think it was more of like a "knock yourself out trying but nothing's going to stay down." Finally on Monday we headed back into the operating room. One good thing about being re-banded is that I got the new AP band that I wanted.....yippeee. You have no idea how hard it was being in the hospital from Weds. to Tues. and 5 of those days being hooked up to liquid nutrition (IV). I had such a hard time trying to sleep in there too because every 4 hours was glucose stick time, every 5 hours was vital signs and every 6 hours was the "bruising" heparin shot. It seemed that every time I turned the TV on, I was inundated with fast food commercials. The Taco Bell cheesy melt was a KILLER. I don't know how the rest of you ladies felt about the hospital, but I hope I never, ever have to be admitted to there again. While the nurses/aides were extremely nice, they (most) were not well versed in taking care of bariatric patients at all. I even explained to a few of them what it was that I actually had done. There was also on at least 3 occasions when they brought me food trays and I had to tell them that I was NPO and couldn't have anything to eat. The one aide said, "Oh your so honest." They finally put a sign above my bed on FRIDAY saying NPO so the others would know. Two different times I had to ask if my heparin was discontinued and they came back with my shot and told me, "thanks for reminding me." Geeeez, they sure have a long way to go if they're trying to become a Bariatric Center for Excellence. Well, that's my saga so far. How is everyone doing on foods? I keep reading my materials from Mary and at times am confused on what I'm suppose to be eating. One handout says at week 2 full liquids and another at week 2 says pureed foods. Thank heavens for this support site to find out what I'm suppose to be eating. I made this recipe for black bean soup I found on here and it's really good. I feel I could eat the whole batch I made. I think the only time I've felt full so far is when I ate some cream of wheat in which I kept diluting it until it made I swear 2 cups. Sorry the post is so long. Hope to hear from you guys.

Hi everyone, I was looking on this site last night for recipes and found you guys. Actually I found Lisa under a food post. How you doing Lisa? I was suppose to talk to you that one afternoon at Dr. Fowler's office, but we lost each other in the shuffle. And how are you Miriam? I spoke with you at the September support group meeting. I think you were in our group when we split into groups. Your the one who wants to be able to sing again, yeah? Well it's good a bunch of us are all in one spot. I've been bouncing from support sites back and forth. I'm usually on ObesityHelp.com or Bandsters group on yahoo. I have found that this site has much more information, especially about FOOD.......lol :biggrin1:. Miriam, I think you and I are at about the same stage in the healing/eating phase as I was banded (final one) a day before you. My journey has been anything BUT normal as I had to be re-banded. I went in for the first banding on Weds., Sept. 26. After surgery and when I was up on the floor I got out of bed and started walking immediately. Dr. Fowler came up and was happy to see me walking so fast, but the news he had for me was a little upsetting. He said that my liver was one of the biggest he's seen yet and it was 5 times the size that it was suppose to be. He said I'm lucky that I decided to have this procedure when I did or 5-10 years down the road I'd be in big trouble. He said my liver didn't like the food choices I was making and then he said that he put on the "medium" band and that it was VERY tight and that I'd be lucky if I could swallow my own spit. Boy was he right!!!!!! I think he meant it as a euphemism and not to be taken seriously. All night I kept spitting into that pink emesis bowl. The next morning I went down with the lady next to me to get the swallow test and came back up to the room with a thumbs DOWN. Jennifer came up to my room and told me basically that I was swollen shut and I had to try to wait it out for the swelling to go down. Talk about totally BUMMED. To make a long story short, we waited day after day until Dr. Fowler realized that the swelling wasn't going to go down and that the band needed to be replaced with a larger size. He tried to get an anesthesiologist to do it on Sunday, but his friend was off island. When he said there wasn't going to be surgery on Sunday, I asked him if I could please try to drink some broth or tea and he said sure. I think it was more of like a "knock yourself out trying but nothing's going to stay down." Finally on Monday we headed back into the operating room. One good thing about being re-banded is that I got the new AP band that I wanted.....yippeee. You have no idea how hard it was being in the hospital from Weds. to Tues. and 5 of those days being hooked up to liquid nutrition (IV). I had such a hard time trying to sleep in there too because every 4 hours was glucose stick time, every 5 hours was vital signs and every 6 hours was the "bruising" heparin shot. It seemed that every time I turned the TV on, I was inundated with fast food commercials. The Taco Bell cheesy melt was a KILLER. I don't know how the rest of you ladies felt about the hospital, but I hope I never, ever have to be admitted to there again. While the nurses/aides were extremely nice, they (most) were not well versed in taking care of bariatric patients at all. I even explained to a few of them what it was that I actually had done. There was also on at least 3 occasions when they brought me food trays and I had to tell them that I was NPO and couldn't have anything to eat. The one aide said, "Oh your so honest." They finally put a sign above my bed on FRIDAY saying NPO so the others would know. Two different times I had to ask if my heparin was discontinued and they came back with my shot and told me, "thanks for reminding me." Geeeez, they sure have a long way to go if they're trying to become a Bariatric Center for Excellence. Well, that's my saga so far. How is everyone doing on foods? I keep reading my materials from Mary and at times am confused on what I'm suppose to be eating. One handout says at week 2 full liquids and another at week 2 says pureed foods. Thank heavens for this support site to find out what I'm suppose to be eating. I made this recipe for black bean Soup I found on here and it's really good. I feel I could eat the whole batch I made. I think the only time I've felt full so far is when I ate some cream of wheat in which I kept diluting it until it made I swear 2 cups. Sorry the post is so long. Hope to hear from you guys.