kgloverii

I am not aware of AFLAC having any policies that are medical insurance. You do not get approval for anything via AFLAC, you are always paid after the fact based on what circumstances you have. You may get paid some money for time off work, or something, but I am not aware of AFLAC covering surgeries like medical surgeries.

Congrats!!

I have an easy time losing weight, but can never keep it off long term. So, that is what made my mind up. Do your research, and take your time making your decision so that you know you make the right one.

A sweet spot WILL help you in your journey. You are doing VERY well. I hit a plateau for for a whole month, when I was six months post-band. Finally, the scale started moving. I hit my sweet spot at fill #3, and have been at my sweet spot ever since (with a little tweaking, a .3 ccs here and there) and my head doesn't care about food.... Hang in there... keep making the right choices and you'll continue to get there...

Choking on saliva at night is not a good sign. I'd drink a ton of water to make sure you are not dehydrated, and then if you aren't feeling better by late day, call your doc.

Congrats! You look fabulous!!

I love coffee too... and I try to be 'good' cause with the Adderall and caffeine, I can really get dried out... I'll bet if you really concentrate on your Fluid intake over the next few days, you'll notice a difference in your restriction. Let me know... I'm interested to hear if others have the same experience. I'd never heard of that before, and really thought dehydration would do the opposite... I haven't seen much about it on the boards and hope it helps...

Also, try pumping fluids big time for a few days. Dehydration can lead to a tighter band.

Glad you are feeling better! Here's to a quick recovery!!

Hi all, I just wanted to share a bit of info I learned after I had an extreme bout of SUPER tightness. I had a fill at the beginning of August of .3 ccs in a VG band just to 'top me off' and keep me in my sweet spot. I was in my sweet spot after said fill, went on vacation, ate as a normal Banded person would do and experience no ill effects. After returning home, I started taking my Adderall for ADD again, and began to take it more regularly than I had been previously. I became super tight, unable to keep hardly any food down, and being cautious with EVERYTHING I ate, defaulting to Soups, etc while I tried to see if the tightness would resolve itself or if I needed an unfill. While talking to my friend Julie, who had the band put in on the same day as me, she told me how a nurse had told her that tightness can be due to dehydration. I always pump fluids while on Adderall, but apparently, not enough. I took a few days off the meds, pumped fluids like CRAZY, and I can eat again! Just wanted to share, for those of you that have an unexplained tightness that arises long after the fill... It may be dehydration, and try to pump the fluids... it might help!

Wow! Congrats! What an inspiration! You look GREAT!

I dealt with it for MONTHS after surgery... even while consuming prunes, apple juice, and TONS of fiber. My doc suggested Miralax 1x/day and that 'got me going.' I now only take it about 3x per week and I am regular all of the time. I tried EVERYTHING and did not want to get addicted to a laxative, so my doc said long-term usage of Miralax, if needed, was perfectly safe...

At 173 and 5'3" I am comfortably wearing size 12's. My body type is interesting because I am pear shaped, and my fat distribution is even throughout my body, if that makes any sense. When I loose, I loose EVERYWHERE so it takes awhile to notice. My arms, my legs, my feet, my ankles all carry fat. My husband says that he's never seen someone carry fat so 'evenly' before. In fact, I've gone from 235 to 173 so far, AND for a size 9.5 shoe to a 7.5 shoe. And I think my toes STILL look fat. LOL.

Amen to that!!! I ate a White Castle Jalapeño Double Cheeseburger (with only the top bun-- middle and bottom bun removed!) for dinner tonight. I have not one HINT of guilt. I eat healthy 95% of the time, and this dinner is nothing that make me a failure or 'bad.' There are no 'bad foods' just 'not as good' foods.

I have had continuing bouts constipation issues since my band in October 2007. Per my doc, I now use Miralax daily. It is too early to tell if you'll need it like I do, but it is the safest long term option if nothing else works. And trust me, I did the super fiber loading thing, lots of fluids, apple juice, and prunes, and nothing... till my miracle of miralax!

Just wanted to share... I never went on the 'obsessive bandster diet' so my weight lose has been slow and steady. I eat what I want, in small portions. Since getting my band, I now crave HEALTHY foods, though. But, if I want the popper, I'll eat one, but not 10 like before. Once you get to a sweet spot, your relationship with food will begin to resolve. Cause you'll eat food that you want, but in healthy small portions. And you won't walk around craving all of the time. I don't stress about what I eat. I make wise choices, but if I choose a burger now and then, I don't fret. Cause it is a lifestyle CHANGE not a diet. We ALL have to remember that. I can honestly say since I have gotten the band, I have never ONCE felt 'deprived.'

I knew I was at my sweet spot when I wasn't always planning my next meal. No need to be constantly munching. No constant fixation on food. It really REWIRED my brain. Seriously. I feel NORMAL! :thumbup:

You'll get used to it. I PROMISE. I did and I SWORE it would be a huge crutch for me. But I broke the habit and don't even think about it anymore. Try to get used to it now. I know it seems impossible, but you can do it. My doc told me if I had to drink, to suck on ice. I have followed this as well and have had good luck. If I drink while eating, I literally can FEEL the food wash through the band. NO JOKE. So, if I even 'get stuck' a drink usually fixes it but I know I've just also set myself back.

You've only been banded a month. You won't lose significant weight until you have good restriction, which may take a few fills. Keep a food diary, workout, and practice good bandster guidelines like not drinking while eating... You'll get there!

I love the 'doc with no personality' bit. LOL. My doc has no personality, either. He is SO super dry, and not the best with 'bedside manner.' LOL. He has made it VERY clear to me that he thinks bypass is better and the sleeve is the best. BUT, he is AWESOME when it comes to fills and his office has been super nice. I am SO glad I found him. I have heard all of the people with VG bands who have docs that only do 1 cc at a time... or even 2. Inamed's guidelines for a VG are 3-4 ccs for the first fill. I cannot imagine having to go for 2-3 fills before even getting to that point. When I went yesterday, I was like, "I was at my sweet spot after my last fill and I am VERY close right now, but I need a LITTLE tweak" and he was like "How much do you want?" and then he said how about 1/2 and I said how about .4 cc? And that's what he did. And I am PERFECT now. I just cannot thank God enough for this band, and for leading me to the guy that has helped this weight loss progress so well.

Every time I drop 10 pounds, I get $200 for new clothes... Weight loss is SLOW now, so I am missing my moolah!!

COngrats to all!

Congrats! Welcome to the 'club!'

Doc tells me to 'take it easy' but no restrictions.

Hi all, I just had to post a love note about my fill doc. I had my surgery in MX by Dr. Ortiz and so I follow-up stateside. My doc has been AMAZING with fills. I pay $200 per fill and we discuss how I am feeling, he consults with Inamed's guidelines, tells me what they say, what he thinks, and asks how much I want. I needed a tiny top off today, he asked why, what I was feeling, etc. Then he told me what he thought I should have, and he was like "You're the paying customer, you tell me what you think." I gave him my 'order' and he did it. I have heard so many horror stories about conservative docs that are even more conservative than Inamed's guidelines... like 1 cc at a time in a VG band. I am at 8. I'd have no restriction if I had to do that! LOL! Just wanted to share, especially with you self-payers out there. It pays to find a doc that has your interests at heart, and is not just worried about the payout.