Kimburlee

Hello, I'm five days post op of having my five year old band replaced, in addition with a lot of scar tissue, and a hiatal hernia repaired. I was very active on another forum years ago and am looking forward to getting back into it again. I look forward getting to know you! Kim

I have to say I feel pretty good today. I accidentally removed a steri-strip from the end of one of my incisions. I need to put a band-aid on it. REALLY excited to have applesauce and soup today! I continue to sip...sip...sip....and with no straw! I love straws! I've been doing good and am really excited about this new beginning.

My story is rather lengthy and sorted. I am excited to exclaim that today is the first day of the rest of my life. I was banded in October of 2003. By October of 2004 I had lost 165 pounds. My problems began somewhere after that point with a slip. My wonderful insurance that paid for my surgery in 2003, would no longer support the band by October 2004. Somehow I missed the announcement, or decision. My problems began after the major weight loss. TriCare would gladly pay for the removal of my band, but nothing else. My surgeon offered no other solution, but removal of my band. After losing 165 pounds, that was not an option in my mind. But I didn't know what to do. I suffered from frustrating reflux and I deamed my band useless. The food that would go down well was not good for me, empty calories, calories that served no purpose, carbs, sugar, and I rediscovered soda. A down fall for me. I accidently found a new surgeon. I wasn't looking for one, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that, hands down, I have the best, most sincere, caring surgeon in my life. He repositioned my band. I continued to have problems, eating too much, another slip, removal of saline, no fills. Disappointment. Regain 100 pounds, more disappointment, more "rounds" with myself in the boxing ring. It hasn't been pretty at all. I've appealed twice to TriCare to no avail. At one point, when my Saint surgeon "labeled" me with an eating disorder, I did us both dis-justice by following through. If I was going to have a label on my forehead that said I HAVE BINGE EATING DISORDER by gosh I was going to make sure I really did. A few weeks ago, admitting defeat, trying to believe that the band failed ME, I went to see my Saint of a surgeon and tell him to remove the darn thing. I was ready. I can't eat past 6pm or suffer from no sleep because of horrible reflux. I have regained a whopping 100 pounds, so I just wanted it out. Finally, after agreeing with myself that it didn't work, I couldn't think of a reason to keep it inside me? The band failed me. That concept is really difficult to grasp. The band failed me. The band failed me. The band failed me. I talked to Dr. Saint and we decided to replace my band with the new Allergan band. The most bizarre thing happened. The following week I received a TriCare newsletter in my e-mail at work and I opened it up, which I never do. The second article was about TriCare approving Lap Band surgery if the certain qualifications were met, effective FEBRUARY 2007! It is good news, however, Dr. Saint is not in my network. TriCare will only pay 50 percent of what they will approve.

Yes, it's possible. With my first band, I lost 165 pounds in 12 months. I had a lot to lose though, I started at 385.

I agree, what your surgeon told you should be first and foremost. We all have slightly different instructions it seems. Sounds like you are doing well.

Ditto on Unjury. I got the chicken soup with 20 grams of protein in it and was surprised I liked it. I also got the unflavored, and chocolate and vanilla. I've used Unjury for a long time, the most bang for the buck.

I have to say I feel pretty good today. I accidentally removed a steri-strip from the end of one of my incisions. I need to put a band-aid on it. REALLY excited to have applesauce and soup today! I continue to sip...sip...sip....and with no straw! I love straws! I've been doing good and am really excited about this new beginning.

Welcome! I'm really new to this group, but not the band. You'll do well! Good luck!

That is exactly how I felt on Friday, trust me, it gets better from tomorrow on. My surgeon called me the day after and I don't think I said much that was coherant! Take your pain med if you were given in and rest and relax. Don't try to do too much. Hang in there! It will only get better!

My story is rather lengthy and sorted. I am excited to exclaim that today is the first day of the rest of my life. I was banded in October of 2003. By October of 2004 I had lost 165 pounds. My problems began somewhere after that point with a slip. My wonderful insurance that paid for my surgery in 2003, would no longer support the band by October 2004. Somehow I missed the announcement, or decision. My problems began after the major weight loss. TriCare would gladly pay for the removal of my band, but nothing else. My surgeon offered no other solution, but removal of my band. After losing 165 pounds, that was not an option in my mind. But I didn't know what to do. I suffered from frustrating reflux and I deamed my band useless. The food that would go down well was not good for me, empty calories, calories that served no purpose, carbs, sugar, and I rediscovered soda. A down fall for me. I accidently found a new surgeon. I wasn't looking for one, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that, hands down, I have the best, most sincere, caring surgeon in my life. He repositioned my band. I continued to have problems, eating too much, another slip, removal of saline, no fills. Disappointment. Regain 100 pounds, more disappointment, more "rounds" with myself in the boxing ring. It hasn't been pretty at all. I've appealed twice to TriCare to no avail. At one point, when my Saint surgeon "labeled" me with an eating disorder, I did us both dis-justice by following through. If I was going to have a label on my forehead that said I HAVE BINGE EATING DISORDER by gosh I was going to make sure I really did. A few weeks ago, admitting defeat, trying to believe that the band failed ME, I went to see my Saint of a surgeon and tell him to remove the darn thing. I was ready. I can't eat past 6pm or suffer from no sleep because of horrible reflux. I have regained a whopping 100 pounds, so I just wanted it out. Finally, after agreeing with myself that it didn't work, I couldn't think of a reason to keep it inside me? The band failed me. That concept is really difficult to grasp. The band failed me. The band failed me. The band failed me. I talked to Dr. Saint and we decided to replace my band with the new Allergan band. The most bizarre thing happened. The following week I received a TriCare newsletter in my e-mail at work and I opened it up, which I never do. The second article was about TriCare approving Lap Band surgery if the certain qualifications were met, effective FEBRUARY 2007! It is good news, however, Dr. Saint is not in my network. TriCare will only pay 50 percent of what they will approve.

With my capsuls, I empty them into some juice and it's the only time I use a straw. You can also put it in applesauce. No I don't think your wasting your time. I've been able to take my small pills, even my Ambien CR.

I am six days post op and have lost 12 pounds. I'll also add I'm 5'10 and weighed 345 for this last surgery. However, going from one extreme way of eating (2-3 route 44ounce Rootbeers a day habit), to sipping on juice, Protein drink, Water, popsicles, and getting soup and applesauce today, I'm bound to lose! I am concentrating on healing right now, it's most important in our journey.