Jantique

Hi, Did you ever find a fill dr. in SC? I'm moving from Texas to SC in mid-September. Thanks!

My next door neighbor stopped by last week and took at look at my fattest dog, said he's looking a little slimmer these days! He definitely is! I eat less, he gets less from me! :confused:

I've parked at the same weight since June 16th, the scale flexing up and down over the same 3 pounds. It's so worrisome. But got my second fill July 11th and can tell a REAL difference. A male poster on this list, several months ago, referred to the band as the Guardian Angel with the Tight Fist. I'm beginning to feel that fist! Amazing what causes that tight pain in the chest! Yesterday, however, I had half a tuna salad sub (bread toasted extra crunchy) from Subway with 3, yes, 3, of their cookies. It took a few hours to chew my way through everything, I'd put it down, them come back to it, but I relished every morsel. Late last night I had a couple peanut butter crackers with Slimfast (combining liquid with eating, another no-no). Today I've had coffee with sugar because I'm out of Splenda, home-made tuna salad, and about 6 saltines. Just because I'm reading this thread, I decided to have scrambled egg made with cottage cheese for dinner and they're cooking right now. And I'm drinking Crystal Light. If I get really hungry late tonight I'll have a can of green beens with Worchestershire sauce. Well, that's the plan, anyway. I'm flying on Sunday for the first time since surgery, hope the seat is a little more comfortable! Hope we all move through our plateaus! Edit: I just saw my ticker after I posted this! It's out of date. I'm down 33.1 pounds total.

Great to read how well everyone is doing losing weight! 21.5 pounds gone since I began the pre-diet 25 days ago (surgery was 3/24). It has slowed slightly -- only 2 pounds since my first weigh-in at the surgeon's this past Monday. I'm obsessed with the scale, watch it go up and down all day. Still sleeping more than usual and very tired at the end of the work day, thank goodness I telecommute! The surgeon was pleased with my results and I'm pleased too! Next appointment is in a month, no mention of first fill. I'm now a convert to aloe vera juice (Wild berry flavor). Upper torso still a little sore almost 3 wks post-op. Tried canned salmon again tonight, sat like the golf ball. I find grits warm and easy to slide down, but need to diversify the menu. Jantique

I have UHC PPO as well. Previously I had Cigna. Both plans are through my employer. My internists had been documenting the need for surgery for about five years. I wrote, called, campaigned with Cigna for 2 years to get lap band, but they would only approve GBP, which I didn't want. My employer's health care advocate told me last year that it was my employer that determined what coverage is permitted under the plans. Then I heard from another employee that UHC would pay for LB. So during the annual enrollment period last November, I switched from Cigna to UHC. Then I called everyone I could reach at UHC to make sure it is covered. Then I called my employer's health care advocate, who conferenced in UHC and UHC again said it was covered. Oddly, the health care advocate didn't raise the issue of what my employer would approve. Then I had the consultation with the surgeon and within 2 weeks he had the lapband approval from UHC. Just like Pam, no other doctors were involved. I had to pay $2,000 of the $10,000 hospital fee, but the surgeon said he would accept whatever UHC paid him. I haven't seen any summary paperwork from UHC. I'm hoping that I receive something that says the insurance has paid the balance of the bills! I wish I had switched a year earlier!

Thanks, Kathy, I searched your posts, and I'll head to the stomach remedies section of Walmart tomorrow. And I'll wait a while before trying canned fish again! Back to Soups, Crystal Light and Protein drinks again. Jantique

I'm 2 weeks post op. Last night i tried canned salmon and a piece must have just hung there at the top of the band, same golf ball feeling. So I quit eating, started sipping and moving around, and I think it's gone. But the pain continued, so a couple hours ago I took 2 tsps of the anti-inflamatory that I was given for post-op -- Zithromax. Now the pain has gone away! So maybe we both inflamed our stomach linings.

I had surgery last Friday, and plan to return to work for half days next week. The port site is still tender, I'm tired and haven't yet made it through a day without falling asleep! Maybe during the week I'll get more stamina!

I'm thinking you should experience an easier recovery post banding than post-bypass, Dody! My only other surgery experience was upper and lower eyelids two years ago, and in comparing lapband and eyelid recoveries, I'd have to say that immediately afterwards the discomfort seemed greater with the band, but I have sprung back quicker. The eyelids were bruised, puffed and uncomfortable for maybe 3 1/2 weeks afterwards. After a week with the band, I'm still sore around the port, but otherwise it's hard to believe it's actually in there! But I don't yet know what living with restriction is like! When are you scheduled?

Hi Guys, Wheetsin, I totally understand being able to tie every significant event in my life to my then-weight! I can also remember so many strings of days when I've known what I was doing but ate as if I didn't care. That's what I need to avoid in the future. Photonut, Thanks for the welcome and asking how it's going. Well, I realized I haven't been going for a few days, and the scale is up because of it. So last night I took x-lax and prune juice. This AM --and this will either cure or kill me -- I used the blender to grind up 6 oz of boston baked Beans into a nice mush which I ate alongside 3 oz of prune juice. Would probably be best if no one drops by today. I'm currently nursing an Atkins shake, but I think I'll concentrate on drinking lots of Water for the rest of the day, stay on clear fluids for the weekend. DaisyB, sounds like you're pulling out of the doldrums!

AAAMom - I wish your Dad well - there's a brave man! I'm 55. Does anyone have information on whether being mature affects the ease or speed of weight loss with the band? Thanks!

Hi, It was LapBandTalk that finally convinced me to go for it! and I was banded last Friday, March 24th. You know what did it? The before and after pics that came as a link in a digest sent out by the moderator. I looked at those pics for HOURS and then I finally began to believe it was possible that I can change. It took about 2 years to hook up with United Health Care (and dump Cigna), had my initial consult with Dr. Snow here in Texas in January at 305.5 pounds, went into surgery at 297, am now 288. Yay! Had a little trouble with heaves on Saturday and had to get to the ER for an IV for fluids and anti-nausea, but each day is better. My starting BMI was 52.4 -- so I'm grateful for this super-sized subset of bandsters with our unique perspectives. Thanks, I look forward to succeeding with you.