ReneBean

Kat - you are so funny. It's hardly that gross. Are your friends really freaked out by it? Hate those bandage adhesives... I am alergic, too. Hugs!

Yep - the port incision hurts for longer - because the port is actually stiched to an abdominal muscle. It takes longer to heal than the skin stiches.

Brumbie I think you should do a lot of research and do a lot of soul searching. The fact that your parents are the ones suggesting this would lead me to believe that you are not yet ready to do what you need to do to be sucessful with the band. When YOU are the one who is wanting to do something - then you do whatever you feel is right. Alas - your parents cannot do it for you. Now, if they are supporting you in something that YOU want - that is fabulous and it will contribute to your sucess - but if this is something that THEY want for you - well - it just won't work. Personally - I think anybody who is more than 60 lbs overweight for more than 9 mos should seriously consider banding - but until YOU think you should seriously consider it - the surgery will not work for you. When you are ready - go for it. But, not until then. I understand how it feels to be young, beautiful, and fat. The fat part sort of sucks the life out of the young and beautiful. But it's kind of like alcohol or drug addiction. You have to hit rock bottom before you can start to crawl out of the hole. Keep on thinking. You will know when you are ready. Feel free to hang out with us for as long as you want to - whether you get a band or not. Hugs!

only if you get the munchies... Try to go to bed afterwards.

One of your incisions will be a little bigger than the others. Your port will be there. I can't find or feel mine either. It's buried pretty deep. I just know generally where it is by the incision.

I'm with OUSooner - I believe that true "dumping" is due to the fact that part of the digestive tract has been removed or bypassed - and when high-sugar or fat foods hit the newly shortened system - it reacts badly and "dumps" them thru the system. Unless you are sucking down unusually high-sugar or fat laden foods that your body is not ready to tolerate - you should be ok. But drink water. My body reacts in a similar fashion when I get dehydrated.

One time - in almost 10 mos. And it was totally due to my not paying attention. Walking, talking and eating a sandwich on chiabatta bread - dense, thick, dry bread - FIRST thing in the morning. Not such a good idea. So long as I sit down and chew - I can eat the Chiabatta bread - but not first thing in the morning while I am chattering away, traipsing around the house. I didn't even get decent restriction until two weeks ago - and no PB's since the fill. PB's are not supposed to be the norm.

Hey - the only time I ever have anything remotely resembling "dumping" is when I get very dehydrated. I know it doesn't seem to make any sense - but part of the cure is to drink more water - and drink it now. If you need to - use some flavored water or something - but get liquids into your system - at least 2-3 litres a day. Hope you feel better.

Congrats to those of you banding soon or newly banded. Keep the faith Tonya. Appeal if you must. Good luck and happy band journeys.

No regrets for me. Has it been instant gratification? Hell no. But I never expected instant weightloss - nor did I actually want anything dramatic. Some people might get all excited if they haven't lost 50% of their weight in the first year. I think that I would be FREAKED OUT if I lost 100 lbs in a year. There is a lot of emotional baggage wrapped around my fat cells - and it is only because my loss is so gradual that I haven't run screaming for the hills. Not to mention that my skin is getting a little bit of a chance to shrink as my body does. In the past using different diet methods and losing more quickly - I used to get that "sick" look. People always thought I had cancer or something. I haven't had any of that with the band. Plus - using other methods, I was miserable - hungry, obsessed with calorie counts, or fat grams, or carbs or whatever the Diet Du Jour made us keep track of. Only complete OCD dieting ever worked - and you just can't keep that up for the extended period required to lose 200 lbs. My goal for year one is 50 lbs. I think I will hit that and I know I will be happy about it. AND - I will have lost 50 lbs without depriving myself of my favorite foods, without obsessing over every bite or becoming a gym nazi. I do what I can do, when I feel motivated. The rest of the time, I just coast. And I still lose, ever so slowly. Can you ask for more than living a normal life and still losing weight? I think not.

I have to agree with Alexandra. In my experience, the insurance company is looking for ANY excuse to deny you - so go with the additional month and the 7th doctor visit - just to cover your butt.

Some people get approved by the insurance company right away and get a surgery date right away. Some people have to hammer on the insurance company for four months to get them to pay. (yep - that was me.) Testing is usually not a huge issue - unless your doctor required Psych evaluation has to be scheduled 3 mos in advance or something. The other tests are all readily available everywhere. Find out of your doc has a brain bender that he recommends. I was lucky enough to only have to wait a couple of weeks to see the psychiatrist. (phychologist? geez - I can't keep them straight). The faster you get your tests done and your paperwork together - the faster you can submit to insurance for pre-approval. Good luck with all of it.

I think the standard for my surgeon was 1 week Clear Liquids (broth, Water, juice), 1 week full liquids (milky - Protein shakes, etc), 1 week mushies (mashed potato, refried beans) and 1 week soft foods (tuna fish, Mac & cheese). Of course after about 2 days of clear liquids I couldn't stand it anymore - because I had zero restriction and I was HUNGRY. I moved up to full liquids after about day three. In the full liquids stage - I would say blenderizing soup and stuff would work. During full liquids, I used some refried Beans thinned with enchilada sauce. For mushies - I cheated and blenderized some tunafish. I got the consistencies right - and I suspect that is mostly what matters. If you have restriction right away - and some people do - it is important to work through the steps so you don't have any PB's while you are still not fully healed up. It takes a little getting used to to wait for that last bite to get where it needs to go before you take another one. Good Luck! I am sure you will do great. Try to follow whatever plan your surgeon gives you - and if you are concerned about protein - use a good Protein shake that you can tolerate. I still use them for Breakfast - just to be sure that in addition to whatever protein I get in the course of my daily life, I also get 18 grams with breakfast.

Take a deep breath and calm down. Honestly, it might be that you will need another fill. If you physically CAN eat a cheeseburger and a mcChicken - then I would say you will definitely need another fill. If you are a gluttonous pig - then so am I - and I am sure we are not the only ones - cause I know we are not the first, nor will we be the last to eat two sandwiches from McD's in one sitting. The past is over - so it's just a matter of what you do now. First - try to throw out the concept of "full". That isn't what we are going for. Try for Satisfied. Can I stop eating now, without feeling deprived? Now, if you are really hungry in 30 minutes - then eat some raw vegetables. I have grown particularly fond of Cabeza Squash - Raw, peeled, with just a bit of lowfat ranch dip. (looks like a light colored zuccinni) What you are eating will play a part. You want good firm solid food. Canned Pasta would be considered mushy or soft food. It is designed to slide right through the tiny little opening into your lower stomach. Of course you can eat more of that than good solid food. Try Protein - lean chicken or fish if you have it. And - if you feel hunger - true stomach hunger - after 30 minutes, then revert to the raw veggies. Sadly - until you do get the best restriction, you will be ABLE to do pretty much anything you did before. It will be a matter of self control. (yep - not our best thing). The band is just a tool - and you have to be the one to use it skillfully to create the body you want. I would advise that if you must eat fast food (really, must you?) then try for a salad with chicken on it - or a GRILLED chicken sandwich with the bun removed. You know how - we all know how. Right now, you will have to count calories. And it sucks that we still have to do it after getting the surgery - but eventually, you will get to the right level of restriction and it will be a whole lot easier to do what you know you need to do. Sadly - even with perfect restriction - YOU are still the one that has to do right. The band won't stop chocolate, or Starbucks lattes. You have to be the one to make the right decisions. Come here a lot. You are not alone in anything. We all understand EXACTLY what you mean, and how you feel. It's a long haul - but it's easier with friends. hugs!

"funnier sex". I am getting a vision - big long shoes - red ball noses.... Hey - it's funny to me. Thanks for the chuckle, Julie. After a mere 40 pounds - Knee Pain is all but gone and general well being is much improved. Seatbelt extenders only required depending on the type of plane. I can find more than 1 item of clothing that fits on any given shopping excursion and I can fit into all my clothes again. People are noticing me more and noticing my weight loss Future NSV Goals: no more seatbelt extender on any plane frilly girl matching undies size 12-14 get hit on in a bar. (yeah - I know - I am happily married - but it's a vanity thing. I would turn him down, very sweetly.) Not having to worry about killing the hydraulics in my office chair. Not being the fattest person in any room. I know there are thousands more - but these are what come to mind right now.

Well - you can fight it on the basis of what the FDA requires - which is just evidence of prior attempts - no time limit involved. But keep in mind that I had to make appeals for like four months - so you might almost just finish out your 12 mos on WW - if you know what I mean. If you e-mail me, I will send you my research links and my letters. :]

I take my meds at night - when I have the most wiggle room. Unless I have just had a fill - I can take them normally - even the Capsule one.

Hey Y'All Our Cindy isn't joking even a little bit about that Dodge Ram thing... but it's everybody with a four wheel drive of any make or model. Somehow - they think 4 wheels won't slide as much as two. The Fools. Worse than when it rains - there is ALWAYS some redneck idiot causing an accident when it freezes up down here. Thank goodness MOST people stay home when it's icy - (all 3 days of the year) - but it's always exciting.... Darcy - If it has Tires, Tubes or Testes - it's bound to be trouble. :] Sorry you are having a hard time. xo. Sherry - sounds like it's time for the Squeaky Wheel treatment... be that wheel. Just mind where you let them put the grease. :] Good Luck with the whole MIL situation. I remember your distress from last year. Some folks just aren't worth the stress... Chris - Undying Love or Meaningless Sex. Hmmm. I suppose that Mr. UL and Mr MS are equally repulsive? Bummer. But do keep in mind that meaningless sex was all I was looking for when I hooked up with my DH - I took him home for a little romp and he never left.... :] Of course - my offer was subtle and not at all crass. There was no compensation involved... I offered to take him home to pet my cat. :] Dianne - so when is that consult? Just keep focusing on the back pain that will go away and the idea of wearing PRETTY bras. You know - like Victoria's Secret type bras....with matching panties... The whole Girl thing that is so danged difficult when you have to have a miracle of modern engineering with steel belted bra-cups to keep everything above the waist... :] Kat - I am with you. I wouldn't trade my DH. In fact I was telling him just this morning that even if he were gone from my life tomorrow, I probably would never marry again. It's just too darned difficult breaking them in. One is enough - thank you very much. :] I have a standard Holiday outfit for my Maximum Density phase - a long black knit dress with a spangly jacket to wear over it. I can wear the dress separately with Non-Spangly jackets during the off season. Just my practical side.... I have a great party dress - but it is short and my Venous Stasis makes it difficult to wear because my legs swell up when I wear heels. Size 18-20, I think. Wine/Purple with sparkles. What size shoes do you wear? I have matching shoes... What size dress? It's truly fab if you carry most of your weight below the waist. Very forgiving and a little sexy. I would be willing to ship it.... Betty - your party foods are great. I also would like to see the infamous Kitty Litter cake. Hope you get to have a little R&R soon. Of course, you could just win the lottery. But, no - that's MY plan. :] Cindy - Let's be careful out there... :] Hopefully the worst of it will miss us and we won't get any ice. Cass, Eileenie, Pat, Anne, Mandy, Patty - everybody - Hugs!!! I hope everyone is doing ok.

Hmmm. Perhaps we should start putting the year in our Chat name..... I was thinking our current November Chat had magically re-appeared.... :]

You Rock!! I only hope that I can make my goal after TWO years. :]

I stand in Awe of you, La Madam! You rock!

Welcome, Mary, Audree & Chellie (and Hi Jules!) Not only will the band help you with the 65 lbs - but it will give you the control to keep the weight off after you lose it. Congrats on your decision. I am a Band Believer - it is so low-stress and "dieting" with the band is basically thoughtless once you get restriction. Keep in mind that it probably isn't going to be Instant Gratification - but it does work after you get a few fills. Hugs and good luck!!

Oh yeah. The Joy of fighting with the insurance company. I started that battle in the fall of last year. I will say only this - it is totallly worth the fight - even if it takes you 4 mos like it did me. Just knowing that even though I broke EVERY bandster rule this Thanksgiving, I still only ate less than HALF of what I ate last year - it was great. I felt like I was eating NON STOP - and I sort of was - but it was Bandster portions. No deprivation with half the food. Just think about that while you fight. It will make you all warm and fuzzy. Hugs!!

Becka - if you weren't sure - then you probably made the right choice. The band will be availalbe later on if you change your mind. Hugs and good luck with the D&E plan.

It depends on who is asking - and why. If it's a weighty woman (or man) that is asking because they truly want to know and try what I am doing, I tell them the truth. I know that it is true that the loss depends on diet and exercise - but I feel it is not really helping to tell our Sisters and Brothers that they have to do what we all tried and failed to do pre-band. If they might need the band, or benefit from the band, and they are sincerely asking for help - I feel the need to tell them about the band. Now - if it's just somebody asking in passing - or somebody just throwing a question in with the compliment - I tell them it's hours on the eliptical machine - and that is no lie, either. :]