justmel1957

Gosh...its been a while since Ive posted and looks like thats the case for most of us......... So..........its been almost 2 years........how is everyone doing?

Tell the truth.........keep it basic and simple.

Great news!

I am a VA employee, who carries Fed BCBS/Basic option. Approval was relatively simple. No issues. It took them about 20 days to approve (they are allowed 31) but it was a painless process. I was banded May 2008

Indeed willpower is the game in the beginning of this journey. It will get easier for most. Until you get better restriction you will struggle with this. Once you reach a decent restriction you hopefully will find it much easier to let those tempting items go by. I occasionally have a few bites of something sweet and taboo, but am satisfied with just a little. Hang on........it does get easier for most of us.

It becomes very tricky when you get close to your maximum "fill-line". The tiniest of fill can make or break you. It does sound like you are too tight. Try going down .25 and see what happens.

I was banded about a year and a half ago......I have a #10 band which holds 4cc. My fill is currently 3.8cc. I can normally do about a cup of food. I am at goal and have had no trouble maintaining my loss. I consider it to be perfect restriction.

I chose at weight I had been at for years as a young adult. I felt good at that weight and my doc and dietician both agreed it would be a good goal. I would love to weigh about 10 lbs less, but know that is really unrealistic for me to maintain, so am hanging right around 145 lbs. I'm 5"7" so thats about right and a size 10/12 for me.

I can do most anything, but soft bread requires a LOT of work, so I pass it by 99% of the time. No problem with wraps or pasta, just soft bread. I find I really don't miss it at all.

Talapia (just minutes on the grill with a little lemon/pepper) FF Refried beans with lo-fat cheese

FEDERAL BCBS Had surgery in Kentucky so Kentucky BCBS was the approving state even though I live in Illinois. 20 days from submission to approve.

I've had to use Mira-Lax since surgery (1 1/2 yrs ago)......that's just how it is for me...... :blushing: But.....there is no cramping, urgency, etc with this product. All of my MD's approve of its use.

That is AWESOME!!! You rock!

Not sure if you can get pregnant that way, but I'm betting you'll be able to do the chicken dance while listening to "Beat it"

I use either Splenda or Equal. Either is fine with me. Don't like the aftertaste from Sweet & Low at all.

As long as you are able to eat without problems and get your calories and water in you should be fine.

I was banded in May of 2008. Currently past goal weight. I have constipation issues since day 1. Both my primary doc and LB surgeon suggested Mira-Lax. I take it every other day (1/2 a cap) and have been regular ever since. It took me a couple weeks to figure out the correct dosage for me, but when I did it was wonderful. They both say taking it long term is not a problem as with other "laxatives" so hopefully thats so. Fiber never worked for me..........(even pre-band). Even with tons of water intake it would bind me up like crazy!

I have Federal employee BCBS. It took about 3 weeks after everything was sent.

Just curious..............why did you decide on KC when there are several surgeons in STL?

I had my LB and Hernia repair May 2008. No difference in post op recovery time, diet etc at all. I can eat anything as long as Im careful. I had so many pre-op problems with reflux and aspirations I was excited to have the hernia done. Its the best thing that I ever did........even better than the band for me.

LOL! Its an online version of Wheel of Fortune. A FB application. You play with your own friends or can join or host a game with others you don't know. If you start, it will suck you in.........BEWARE!

Im addicted to FB "Wheel of Treasure" LOL

Victoria's Secret: "Very Sexy Push Up" or "Miracle Bra" is the next best thing to PS........ Wait til their semi-annual sales and get them for $15 versus $60 I have also found a few on Ebay very reasonable. (Of course when the bra comes off, they still hit the floor but hey........it works in the daylight! LOL)

From a nursing perspective, most likely your pain is from gas, not the xtra repair. You would have been under and open a little bit longer than a traditional LB. From a personal experience, I also had a very large HH which I knew going in, and he reapired. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I used to have the worst reflux while sleeping and would aspirate the bile into my lungs...I would wake up choking/gasping for air and then develop an aspiration pneumonia afterwards. It was one of the co-morbidiities that helped get me qualified for the LB. Give it time........I think you will be pleased

I was off 2 work days (incoluding a weekend) and was fine. Tired, but fine. I do have a desk job and very considerate and helpful co-workers!