flowers

I was banded more than a month ahead of you and barely lost more than you have. You are doing awesome. You are also probably building muscle with the new works outs. Anytime you start working out you retain more water and muscle weighs more than fat, so working out stalls out your weight loss for a while, but you are losing inches, just not pounds right now. Take your measurements so you can see your own progress.

I think the key words here are insurance companies, those of us self pay couldnt afford all that testing. I have no insurance. Im uninsurable until my weight is below 150 lbs one insurance salesman told me. Sounds like you have some heart conditions since you mentioned having a cadiologist? So you probably have to have more tests in that area than others. I was self pay. I filled out a form, that was it. Be glad you have insurance.

While its true you can lose more weight faster with by-pass, all the people I know who had by pass have regained the lost weight. Once you start to over eat and stretch out the new pouch, you regain the weight and there isnt a thing that can be done. I know two sets of two sisters, one set regained more than they lost eventually, the other I dont want to be rude and ask them where they started, but they are very overweight now so obviously by pass wasnt a good thing for them. Lapband you dont lose as fast, but at least if you arent losing you can go in for a tighter fill.

I had to copy and paste my ticker into the big white spot, not where it says paste a link here below the big square white space. Hi, Im not new, but havent yet posted on this thread. I just got back recently from a disaster cruise (was on the Conquest when Ike hit) and I think the stress kept me from gaining weight, lots of walking the stress off in the middle of the night. Allstate still hasnt dealt with my car. Im banging on the door of 200, the big number, but havent made it thru the number yet. Had my second fill last Saturday. Finally a tad of restriction.

I went into Dr. Jayaseelan's office and said I was told he did fills for $150, they said $250 if banded in Mexico. I made a remark that I felt kinda like I was being treated like a second class citizen and the girl at the desk got rude with me too. Said I was lucky that he would even see me. I mentioned this on another message board, that I felt his staff to be rude and they all defended him and flamed me so bad I quit the message board. They said I was lucky he would see me and I should feel priveledged. Im sorry, but I think anyone I pay for services should say we are glad you are doing business with us, not the other way around. Thats why I went to the fill doctor in Tyler, she also uses fluoro. I refused to do business with someone who has a rude staff. Just on principle.

Thanks for the information, I travelled twice to Tyler TX, she is good there, but very small fills, 1.8 cc each time in a 10 cc band. frustrated. I live so close to Garland, I cant believe no one knew about this fill place when I posted and asked a few months ago. thanks again.

Hi, I never felt restricted after my surgery, as the previous poster said, some seem to have more swelling than others after the surgery. Iv now had 2 fills and barely now have a little restriction, had none at all after my first fill. She only did 1.8 cc in a 10 cc band, dont ask me why. She either does 3.0 cc or 1.8 cc. I did pick someone for fills that does the whole fluoro and barium and she does the fill while looking at it on the scope. You will read some posts from folks who didnt do this who were poked and poked trying to find the port by nurse's not even the doctor did them. The danger here is some doctors who do fills have a bad rep with the surgeons because they have poked holes in ports and the tubing so the surgeon had to go back in and replace something. I dont want to risk that, so for me it was worth having the fill done under fluor. I dont have insurance and dont want to pay to be opened up again and dont want another surgery, however minor it is to fix the problem. The other reason to use fluor is you wouldnt be overfilled. Most want to be really really tight, but if you are under fluor the doctor can watch the barium flow into your stomach thru the neck of the stomach. She tried to give me the standard 3 cc's and the barium wouldnt flow into my stomach. There is a thread i just read someone was overfilled like this and caused her pouch to stretch, you dont want that either. I wish I was tighter, but Im told it will come in time, just be patient. I do think its worth the extra $100 or whatever you have to pay in your case. Someone in the waiting room last Sat when I was getting my fill said, she would never now do it without fluoro, she knows a lady whose tube got poked who now has problems. Its just safer under fluoro. Like buying insurance, you might never need insurance, but if you need it, its good that you had it.

Someone here posted back to me it could take up to 6 fills to hit your sweet spot where you arent craving food. ... but it is possible to get there, just have to be patient and get your fills in a timely manner.

I dont know where you are having the lapband revision, have you gotten a cost estimate? Have you considered having it done in Mexico. I had my original surgery done there and if my band slipped I would be going back to have it fixed. I see no reason to pay U.S. prices and afraid of all the add on costs of U.S. surgery. I have no insurance. Hopefully, you are not in the same boat I am, and if your doctor says the surgery you had caused the band to slip, you will be covered. Let us know how it goes.

Wow you have had a lot of personal medical issues to overcome. Awesome that you are so determined to take off the weight. WTG Your post also reminded me that WHEN you get fills and start having enough resistance can be a big factor imo. OP if you can get fills in a more timely manner, I think that will help you lose faster. I know due to circumstances, my 1st fill wasnt near enough and the 2nd fill is mucho delayed. I think getting fills and getting some resistance should help start the weight loss ball moving faster. The first weight comes off kinda easily, then it slows down, thats when you want the lapband to start helping. (imo) Having fills and getting to the sweet spot faster I think plays a big part in your weight loss.

I started out about the same weight as you did. I did reset my scales because they were reading high, but Iv been down as low as 208.5, back up to 210, got heat rash walking outside and cruising next week. I certainly expect to be below 200 way before Christmas even with regaining 5 lbs next week on the cruise. I fully expect to be there before Thanksgiving, even with taking all this week off and not losing anything (my heat rash got really really bad infected) and next week's set back. Im also betting Im older than you, so its harder to lose. btw I also lost 9 lbs pre surgery, same as you that Im not counting into my weight loss chart in my signature. Yes, I am sure you can get below 200 before Christmas if you keep exercising.

When I was on mushys, I had to make my chicken into chicken salad with mayo. It can still be cooked well done, just has to be shredded into little pieces and creamed with mayo or something.

I obviously need a tighter fill, but have to wait until after my cruise next week and I can eat anything right now. The only problem I had was kinda gulping down some cantelope, I felt like it almost got stuck. I think how tight your fill is will determine what all you can eat, and that is kinda up to you. I want to be tighter, because IM HUNGRY ALL THE TIME. Sorry, but its driving me crazy trying not to nibble.

A mother and her adult son also were picked up at the airport, the mom was a U.S. doctor and had researched our surgeon and said he had a great track record. Yes, the surgery went fine, but some of the details could be a little better. The reason I only got a teensy fill was because I didnt have anything in writing with my band size on it and the fill doctor thought I might be confused (I knew) so she gave me a fill for a 4 cc band instead of a 10 cc band. Ever since then Iv been trying to get a operating report and they act like they dont know what Im talking about. They did email a signed letter saying I have a 10 cc Realize band I can bring to my next fill. I also think maybe the fill doctor could have told me I needed something before I went to save me all that driving and $200. Thats why Im saying you wouldnt save as much as you think with a doctor in Mexico. the $10K surgeons here include a year of fills and after care. There is a closer fill doctor for $250, who charges U.S. bandsters $150, but its $250 if you were banded in Mexico. stuff like that evens out the price somewhat, but I knew that going in. I knew that being a all day snacker and never sat down and had a regular meal most days the lap band was iffy, but I think other WLS's were too radical and tired of gaining and losing this darn weight. I also know some bandsters who get so tight on purpose they cant eat solid food, not sure I want to go that far, but if I start regaining, its a back up plan. I was walking and exercizing real well, and then got some kind of bad heat rash and cant go out in the heat and walk. I am determined to lose the weight, whatever it takes in the long run and keep it off this time. I lost over 80 lbs on nutrisystem and was down below 155 in 2007 and put it all back on, I could kick myself.

My surgeon is 12 hours away, Im driving 5 hours round trip to a fill doctor. If you can find a fill doctor who meets your needs closer than 45 minutes, go for it.

I lose when I do a day of baked salmon. Might be because Im pre-diabetic and eating the fish all day long whenver Im hungry keeps my insulin from spiking. I always lose a few lbs in lump sums when I can stand to do this.

A lot of us have tried every diet out there and lost and gained and lost and gained. I was pre-diabetic and would be diabetic soon had I not taken some steps. Im self pay. There are lots of doctors in Dallas TX that are in the under $10K and under $11K price that I know of. You can go over the border, like I did to Juarez, but Im not sure how much you save in the long run, since you will still need to pay for fills locally, cost too much to go to Mexico every time I need a fill. My first fill was a waste of $200. I dont feel like I overeat, I think my biggest problem is eating the wrong foods, I love to snack and nibble, so Im still not sure the lapband will work for me. So far its all been will power with no help from the band. My fill doctor only works every other Sat in alternating locations and had a wedding, then I have a cruise, so my 2nd fill wouldnt even be until Sept 27th. Lapbands are not overnight answers, thats for sure. My thoughts are it might or might not really help me lose, since I wasnt eating large meals before, but it might help me keep it off, I can get a really tight fill Im hoping if I start to regain the weight like I always do when I cant stand not eating candy and popcorn and Snacks, the band will make it hard to eat these foods if I feel full. Thats my hope anyway. Im not sure lapband is the answer for everyone, but it might be your answer, but its still just a tool and dieting is hard work. when I get to my sweet spot, hopefully, I will be saying wowie, this really does work. When some post say this could take up to 6 fills to get there (at $200 a pop and Im driving 5 hours to get to where I can get this price).

Weighing eggs??? I was only told to soft scramble them or soft poach a egg. If its scrambled, to use a fork on it to break it up. First time I ever heard of weighing your eggs.

I got them in the hospital too. I asked the doctor and he shrugged and said "well its a little straw" lol.

The meal plan usually around Sept is free, so its very popular then. I am sure you can share food unless you go to a sit down type restaurant. The fast food stuff you can use as many of your credits and share food as you like. Try the dis board, its very good about disneyland, the best one and you can find out all about the meal plan. Dont know if I can post the addy here or not? The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com - Powered by vBulletin

Its not like you are banded and instantly so tight you cant eat. I did lose 9 lbs dieting a bit and walking pre surgery. Iv now had a fill, 2 weeks ago, bummer, it didnt give me any restriction, and some folks say it could take up to 6 fils to get to my sweet spot, that not everyone feels restriction right away, first few fills. I only wish it was as you seem to indicate, that I cant eat everything now. Its all will power baby since my surgery, no help from the band. There isnt any food I cant eat. Iv been having turkey bacon and a fried egg in the morning for Protein, and they told me after my fill I wouldnt be able...guess what, my fill doctor was wrong. You could have no restriction for months and months, depending on timing of things. You dont need a one last dinner, lots of time before you cant eat. The only thing is for a month after surgery you probably wouldnt be allowed to eat anything worse than mushy food.

Ratios didnt help me since I didnt know which foods to eat, and why. GI = glycemic index. Each food has a rating and you want to eat foods, I think foods rated 60 or 70 or less? I forget the details. Foods that take longer to digest go into your lower part of the stomach and enzymes are produced telling you that you are full that are not produced if you eat foods that digest fast. You can google just about any food and find out its glycemic index and books. I came up with The Low GI Revolution, by Dr Jean Brand-Miller and others, she has written a few really good one. Rick Gallops book on the low gi method of eating etc. Try the first author at your library, she is good. I googled "gi index for cherries" and got Glycemic Index for: Cherries Food: Cherries Glycemic Index: 22 Glycemic Index Rating: Low All you really need is a computer and google what you want once you understand which foods are low gi ratings. If you have less ratio of foods like veggies it doesnt matter but get in your protein, lots of fish.

I know some who even got pre fills, but my surgeon was dead set against it. I asked him twice, but he said he was afraid it could cause leaks, no dice. I dont know the temptations you will have on your vacation, but on a cruise, they have all those desserts to die for and bacon and potatoes for breakfast, hard to say no to everything. I gained 7 lbs on one cruise and I just cant do that again this time, that was the start of regaining over 80 lbs I had lost before and if I backslide that much I get discouraged. Im telling myself at least I have my band, some suggested not getting my band until after my cruise and just eat on the cruise and then get the band to start, at least Im started and got the surgery behind me and the 30 days of no real food (sorry mushys dont cut it in my book)

Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but more reality check, I had a fill, 1.8 cc in a 10 cc band and I still feel no restriction. You too may not feel any more restriction after the first fill than I do, nadda, nothing. She tried 3 cc's which was too tight, the barium wouldnt go thru to my stomach so she pulled out all but 1.8 cc, which I think was too far the other way. Color me dissapointed 'cause she only is in that location every other sat and first she has a wedding and then I have a cruise (with no restriction ) .... so I cant get another fill until sept 27th, and I was banded july 9th. Assuming you will feel restriction after the first fill may be setting yourself up for dissapointment, it sure did me. I came home so depressed when I found I could still eat anything.

I lost over 80 lbs doing low gi, but then I kinda blew it when my dad's heart went out of sync and then he broke his hip and then he was in rehab and I was going back and forth for months and he almost died twice. I put all the weight back on and a little more. It works if you stick to it, but I dont think you can get the nuances from the south beach book is why I suggested also reading low gi diet books. For instance, potatoes are a no no, but if you really really crave one, boil a new red potato. Baked potatoes have more starch, only boiled and the newer and smaller the less starch, the lower the gi. Rice, pick a whole grain chewy rice and boil and boil and pour off water and keep boiling at least 20 minutes. If its a chewy type brown rice it will still be good. Instant rice is totally out. pasta, again, small small portions if at all, then the opposite is true, dont overcook, its gets more starchy and again whole grains only. Whole grain cereal no sugar, everything you can you need to switch to whole grains, and its a side dish not the main dish, like you dont have a whole plate of spagetti, its a side to your protein. One of the books breaks foods into red light, green light and yellow light foods, red always no, yellow are maybes, watch them and green you can have all you want. unsweetened yogurt or yogurt with artificial sweeterns is the lowest gi food on the charts. good for snacks or breakfast (except I hate it). the books on low gi to me helped me understand what I could eat a whole lot better than telling me to eat so much of which foods and a bunch of receipes.