strikeuptheband

ChristaO, I was self pay with Dr Pitt. Its been just over a year ago and I paid $12,500 plus a few other little things...I think a copay on the psych eval or something. Not sure what he is charging now, you will find out at the seminar. Good luck! I also got free fills for life because I got the Realize band and it was brand new then. What a deal!!

ksp, I used to live in trenton but moved to Jefferson City a few months ago. I am going up to get a fill this wednesday, my last one was a couple months ago. Last time I went, Tina thought I was doing good so she didnt give me a fill. Lately I think I have gained back a few lbs and am hungry more so I think its time for another one. Do you go to the Thursday support groups? They meet the 2nd thursday each month and they are great meetings. Hope to see you at one soon!

Hi Arb, Are you from the Columbia area? I still get to most of the support group meetings there.

Great, Tweety! I am going up for a fill this afternoon. Hope this is the one that gives me better restriction. Hope to see you at the support group!

Wow, you are doing great, tweety! You will start feeling better every day. Be sure to go to the monthly support groups. They are really fun and motivating. I go every month. Its the 2nd Thursday every month. Sylvia will email you to remind you if she has your email addy. Good luck and hope I meet you at a support group sometime.

Hi Junies, Wow! 6 months already! I have learned that I am a slow loser and thats ok. I am just now starting to see how loose my skin is...ewwww so I know I better find time for more exercise or things wont be pretty!:biggrin: I have learned that on rare occasions when I find myself in the fast food lane, a kids meal is even too much! I have learned that an occasional dinner out when I try to eat a regular serving, its waaay too much, but just eating more that one time usually shocks my system into dropping a pound or two. But I cant do that often of my body will be shocked and gain instead! I have learned that there are some really great folks on this forum and I am blessed to call them friends. You have been the encouragement I need to keep going some days. Love y'all Junies!

Sure, plain, Adjusted is your middle name! Did you know you could tell if a girl is a virgin or not by the way she handles cucumbers at the produce dept? I am sure you will now go and make your own independent observations on this. I look forward to hearing you validate this theory. And man, that clothes pin thing is kinky.:smile2:

My little binge demon tells me "clean up your plate!" I have been banded almost 6 months and I still struggle with telling myself NO YOU DON'T need to clean up your plate. Now that I have good restriction, the pain stops me. Haven't had any PBs just pain in my chest if I overdo it. Or if the first 2 bites are too large or too fast, I might as well tell myself to give it up for a few hours cuz anymore and I will be hurting! Yes its a learning curve and looks like it will be for quite a while. Still love my band tho!

Some have had surgery, some are still thinking about it or waiting for their surgery date. Just send off an email to Stacie Cloven (src3791@bjc.org) and ask her to put you on her mailing list and you can find out when the next meeting is. I think its Dec 11th. They meet from 6:30 - 8pm at the Broadway Medical Plaza #3 in Columbia. You can come earlier because they have the clothing exchange at 5:30. Stacie can answer any other questions you might have. They were talking about the Dec meeting being a potluck where we can all bring a small 'band friendly' dish and recipies to share. Sounds like fun so come and meet everyone!

Congrats on the 70 lbs! Thats awesome! Boone County Hosp has a weight loss support group, think its called Through Thick and Thin...we meet the 2nd thursday of each month. We have a clothing exchange also. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you details. I have met a few people there that also chat and post on here. Its great to put a name to a face and also meet people who are going through the same process. Lots of fun too!

I would love to come to a convention, but NY would be too costly at this time. If there is one somewhere in the midwest, I would really be interested. I live in Missouri, so Kansas City, Columbia, St Louis or even as far as Chicago might be doable for me.

Not sure of the cost, but my doc is Dr Pitt in Columbia, just a few hours away for you. Sorry it isn't working for you. I was really impressed with him and Boone County Hospital. The nurse coordinator's name is Sylvia. She could probably give you some information if you call her. See my sig below... and good luck.

I like to use the small containers because I take my lunch to work. If I put a tiny bit of food in a larger container, it looks so pitiful and I feel deprived and want more. Haven't used them to freeze things tho. Leftovers get eaten up pretty fast at our place.

I was able to drive myself home the next day. It was a 3 hr trip but it took me closer to 4 since I stopped 3 times to get out and walk. I was very sleepy. You only have a one hour drive so if you drive yourself home (I could not have done it the same day as surg), watch what pain meds you get upon checking out from the hospital and dont take anything that makes you sleepy till you get home. I just took it easy and got home without a problem. Also, went to work the next day (2 days after surg) for just a short meeting, went half a day the next day and then had a weekend to rest up. Try not to overdo things! Housecleaning and laundry can wait. Just get your rest and recouperate! If you want lapband enough, you will find a way. Good luck!

Welcome Anniegirl, I am also 56. Theres lots of fun folks here to talk to. Just jump into any conversation you find interesting. I think there is a thread for 50's here. Try looking on the home page, there should be a list of all threads and topics there. Good luck on your weight loss journey.

Chic, Hang in there. It took me 7 fills to get to proper restriction. I lost very little after surgery for the first 4 months. Now its starting to come off. It is frustrating but like others have said, you have to take smaller portions as often as you can and exercise daily. Most folks seem to get restriction faster than I did, so keep talking to your doc and get fills as often as they allow. Good luck!

Hi Farm mom, I don't think its too late to sign up for the picnic. I saw Tina Tuesday and she said she thought it might be a small group. If you can, let Sylvia or whoever know and just come. It will be fun. I had another .5cc and am feeling restriction now, but like you, it eases up in the pm and then I can eat anything! At least maybe the restriction is slowing me down for most of the day. We have been sooo busy will all the renovating, repairing and moving in lately. You would have thought I would lose weight will all the exercise I am getting but sadly, thats not the case. It's slowly coming together tho. Hope to see you saturday.

Hi Dodaditty21, Gastric bypass is NOTHING like lap band so please don't look at gastric surgery as a predictor of what the lap band can do for you. It is less drastic and gets good results and you look healthy along the way. You tend to lose slower but in the long run thats better and helps eliminate some of the extra skin.

How's it going, midwestchickie? Its great to see others who have the same doc as I do. Are you coming to the WL support group picnic this saturday? If you need info on it, just let me know.

and how bout this: whether you are carrying the water on your bike or if you have already drank it, you are still carrying the weight! (until your bladder complains, of course). :confused:

Your doctor is there to help you with adjustments, and wants you to succeed. No need to fear his disapproval. When he gets you back on track his stats look better too! Go get your fill and talk to him or your dietician about finding some healthier snacks. Don't give up, you deserve to be healthy so don't let fears of what others think stop you from doing what you know you need. Good luck and keep coming back here for all the support you need.

Yes, Farm Mom, I plan on going on Oct 4th. Next weekend I am moving to a small town south of Jeff city...Eugene. Know where that is? I am glad its closer to Columbia so I wont have to drive so far for fills and so I can attend the support group stuff. Been super busy getting a mobile home renovated enough to move in to. I had another .5cc Thursday, and again not much change although Tina says I am getting close. With all the crazyness and work we have been putting in on the trailer, we have had to eat out more lately so I have not made the best choices. I seem to get full sooner and seem to be eating less but really, the last few weeks I have not had time to concentrate on planning meals and such. Doubt if I have lost, but I hope I havent gained. Hope to see you at the picnic on the 4th? How will I recognize you? lol Think we will have name tags?:rolleyes2:

Hi Farm Mom, I am also from Missouri and soon will be moving south of Jeff City. I was banded in June. Still working on getting restriction so the weight loss has been slow, most of it coming from pre op diet. I am looking forward to being able to go to support group meetings in columbia soon. Are you near there?

I have had several fills and the first time was easy. the doc got it right away. the 2nd time his nurse did it and she got it right away. the others she has a hard time. It hasn't flipped; she assures me its still there and was sutured in but its at a slight angle (not 'sunny side up' as we would imagine it to be.) Its taken her a while to get in but she persists and I end up with a bruise and a poke! Got the next one (hopefully last for a while) this Thursday so I hope she remembers she needs to go at it fron a slightly different angle. My fills (Realize band) are covered because I was self pay. I havent had any under fluor yet but I guess they do them that way if theres a problem. My doc charges $75 per fill if its not Realize band.

Hi Pebbles, My surgery included everything I think except the psych eval but my insurance did pay for some of that. I think I had to pay the initial Dr consult too out of pocket. I got to stay overnight in the hosptial (that was optional but i took it). The price includes 3 visits with dietician and 3 with physical therapy. And fills are included but I am not sure if he is still offering that at that price. Where are you from? I am busy getting ready to move to south of Columbia in a few weeks and the best part of all this is I will be close enough to go to the monthly support group and other activities they offer. I haven't been able to get to those because now I live too far away. But I gather its a pretty active group. Feel free to email me thru my profile if you have any other questions. I really liked Dr Pitt although I havent seen him much since the consult. I was knocked out before I saw him surgery day and didnt see him again till he did my first fill. He has now trained a nurse, Tina to do fills and she is very good. Sylvia, the nurse coordinator was very helpful with helping me get it all set up. Good luck to you in your journey. If I can help, just ask away here or in email.