kelli130

Wow. Seems your doing great. I was required to stay all night and I couldn't stay awake long enough to post. Good luck!

Mine was mainly in my shoulder. Gas X strips really helped me. It will go away. Stay away from carbonation.

My employer had the same clause added to our group coverage. Well, screw them. I went through care credit and paid for it myself. I decided I wanted it and didn't have to jump through all the insurance hoops. I had my surgery within 5 weeks of making the decision. I was banded on December 10th. I have lost about 25 pounds and feeling great. It has been worth every penny!!!!!

I have only told a couple of close friends and some family. Too many people think this is the easy way out and it is not. It is still a lot of hard work. I am 2 months out and have lost 24 lbs. It is coming off slowly enough that I am not attracting attention. I will tell people later, i just don't want all the questions right now. This is hard for me and I need to worry about me for the first time in my life.

I'm sorry for all your pain. I don't have a gallbladder either, but I'm not having any issues because of it. I agree that you need to keep a food journal and let a nutritionist look it over. Are you consuming any carbonation? A girl I work with now has food allergies. She didn't use to. But now if she eats something that she is allergic too, she gets the severe pains in her stomach. Just because you never had them doesn't mean you can't get them. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

My doc said no to carbonation also. I was a diet coke addict. I gave it up on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 8:52 pm. It was my last one and I haven't looked back. I used to have one every morning and more throughout the day. Immediately I started sleeping better and I used to quit caffiene by 5 pm, so I didn't really think it effected me. I am not bloated anymore either. This has been one of the many things I have had to give up, but I know I am better for it. If I can give up my diet coke, I can do anything and I will be a weight loss success story!

NO REGRETS!!! Its not easy in the beginning, but it gets easier as time goes on. I would do it all over again and I also was self pay. Preop weight: 239 Current: 220 Goal: 140

Hi Beth! Congratulations on your decision. I can't help you out with doctors, but I'm sure it won't be long before you hear from someone who does. I actually have family who lives in Texarkana. I can tell you this. I used carecredit to finance my surgery. Mine was more than 10K, but it includes all my fills, appointments, and consults for the next year. Sometimes you get what you pay for. No matter what the cost.....it was worth every penny! 19 pounds down and feeling great!!!!!

I am not embarrassed at all either. I chose though to only tell those close to me. This is a real journey for me and for the first time in years I am putting myself at the top of my list. I will tell everyone when I have this thing down pat and I have lost the weight. I work with a girl that had the surgery back in April and has done great with it. She waited to tell me and others until November. One reason is because, no matter what, people will look at how you eat, what you eat and if you are losing weight. I am not ready to deal with all the questions. I need to take this time for me. Then I will gladly tell the world about my great surgeon and what this surgery has done for me. 19 lbs down! Only 80 to go!

Congratulations! I can honestly tell you the first 2 weeks (especially the first few days) are the hardest. It does get easier. Is the pain in your neck or closer to your shoulder? I get pain in the left shoulder right next to my neck. I know its gas pain from everything the doctor has told me. I got it the first few days everytime I took a sip. It really helps to get up and walk around. Make sure you aren't having anything carbonated. I heard it makes it worse. I am three weeks out. I have lost 19 pounds and I feel great! I don't have any fill. I get my first fill on the 22nd. But my pants are loose and my stomach is flat for the first time in years! Keep us updated on your progress! It does get better!

I am 3 weeks post op. I gave up the diet coke 4 days before surgery. I have read so much about people having problems with gas and burping. I have had none (knock on wood). I assume its because I don't drink carbonation anymore. My doctor has seen what the carbonation and the acid from soda can do to the esophagus and to the band. He has actually had to replace the band on 2 patients because it eats away at the band. Other's have had problems with reflux and esophagus errosion. I made a decision when I purchased this tool to do whatever it takes to make it work. It was hard to give up my diet coke. I'm not a coffee drinker but diet coke was my morning fix. I used to drink Mountain Dew. I didn't feel very good the first day and had a headache, but I don't regret the decision. I never drank diet coke after 6 pm so I didn't think it affected my sleep, but I can tell you this....I have never slept better in my life!! I also have no bloating in my stomach. My stomach is flatter than ever. Too bad I couldn't blame carbonation on my a$$ and thighs! I also don't crave the sweets anymore since giving up all the artificial sweetner. I think being self pay has made me a little more disciplined since I am making a monthly payment on this investment. I don't want to sabotage it!

Oh, by the way....Congratulations! 36 lbs. lost already! That is awesome!

First....relax. I am only 12 days out and eating almost regular food. Take it slow and move on to soft foods. I started with cottage cheese and soups. Now I have had chicken breast (very juicy and I chewed it up until it was almost liquid) and salad. Just make sure you are getting plenty of protein and take it slow. I haven't had any problems except a little gas pain in my left shoulder if I wait too long to eat something. Good luck!

I was banded on the 10th and went back to work on the 15th. I'm a Xerox sales agent but I kept my schedule light. Wish I would have taken more time off, but I didn't want things to pile up. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the update. I wasn't sure if my propel contained artificial sweetner or not. Good to know. However, I can tell you that my bottle of propel is 25 calories per bottle, not serving. So I feel comfortable drinking a few a day.