crystal525

Make sure your height is correct. I thought my bmi was going to be too low or borderline at 5'5". Turns out I'm 5'4" and my bmi was 41. Aetna will approve Pretty quickly if u meet their conditions. Approval took a week once paperwork was submitted.

I didn't know I had one either (even with an upper GI). But-before surgery I had to sign a form okaying the repair "just in case"... it is just something that is very common. I had heartburn daily for years and told the person doing the upper GI this and he still didn't find anything. No heartburn since!!! I don't think my recovery was any more difficult. I did have bad gas pains, but that comes with the surgery anyway. Good luck with your surgery!

I can't seem to get the 2 lbs. I was down for the challenge to stay off... :glare: But it is the week before my you know what, so I'll wait to update until my monthly friend comes and goes--unless I see a drop anyway. I am determined to make this goal. I see everyone is doing well. Keep up the good work. Maybe I'll get to post a loss even with the monthly visitor.

I am exactly this way. I hope one day it will change. This actually came up in an e-mail to a friend of mine the other day who just had her band put it...I'm posting it below--you'll see exactly how it relates. I even say this was a good topic for the boards!!! For me, I know it's a head game, but food has always been there--whether you're happy and you're celebrating, or you're sad and it makes you feel better... I know it's supposed to be just fuel... I'm down to 231.5. I think I could use a portion of a fill...??? But I don't know. Sometimes I can only take a few bites of Protein but I can eat all the "slider" foods in the world. I guess that's why they say protein first.... Like last night for dinner I had 1/2 bbq thigh (can't do white meat well), broccoli (maybe 1/2 cup), and a spoon of mashed potatoes. Was full but I'm still looking for that really full feeling that we don't get anymore... You know that feeling when you go out to dinner and you can't eat another bite--you just wanna smoke a cig and kick your feet up? Doesn't exist anymore. I miss it even though it was miserable. The full feeling I have now is different. I just now realize how bad my food issues were. Food makes you feel good. and David's ass --he'll be like OMG this is sooo good. We actually argued one day when I told him to stop talking about food (I couldn't even take more than 1 bite of a chickfila nugget--it got stuck and he was all "mmmmm"). I don't think it was purposeful--he doesn't do it all the time (like twice) and it just pissed me off that I can physically only take 2 bites!!! [this is a good topic for the board.] So see---you are definitely not alone when it comes to food obsessions. :glare: It'll get better. Crystal

My doc actually specifically addressed this at my last visit. He said don't worry if when I get my period I become more restricted -- it's normal. I think he told me that because last month I lost 10 pounds and really felt restricted for the first time.

I didn't realize it until someone posted relating getting stuck with possibly not being filled enough--like if you are not filled enough the hole is big enough to let food get in there but not pass all the way through (hence "stuck")...and not small enough to allow food to sit in the pouch and make you feel full. Then I went back over it all in my mind-- You might want to get some taken out--you don't want to go too far in either direction! Good luck.

After my 2nd fill, everything got stuck. Gained 1.5 pounds. After my 3rd fill, great restriction, nothing got stuck unless I waited too long to eat and ate too fast. Very easy to eat right! Lost 10 pounds first 2 weeks, then loosened up and lost nothing else before my next fill. ---> I think the first two weeks I was at the infamous "sweet spot." :thumbdown: Had my 4th fill last Friday and it feels like I can eat everything just fine. I am taking small bites and chewing well, but even without "concentrating on every chew" don't feel like I'm going to get stuck. Know what I mean??? It's hard to explain, but when I got my 3rd fill, I felt it going down and knew I had to be careful. So--even though I am still eating small portions (i.e, 4 small frozen chicken wingettes and some cauliflower with ranch dressing), I am afraid that without the "fear of being stuck" I won't be restricted enough. It's sort of like the fear makes me eat better. I guess it could also be that the restriction makes it easier to be satisfied eating better. I don't know... Now that I've had restriction, I'm afraid of not having it and gaining. Anyone understand? Or am I alone in this crazy way of thinking??? :confused: If I'm pms'ing could that be an explanation? Cravings??? I know that while "on", I normally feel more restricted. Thoughts? Advice? Crystal Am I being weird, or am I just getting used to the way we are supposed to eat without the fear of getting stuck???

Wow--this perfectly describes me between fill number 2 and 3. And I even GAINED during that period. Since fill number 3 I noticed this doesn't happen nearly as much (only when I'm starving and scarf something down...). I never related the "stuckness" to not haveing enough fill ... but this description makes perfect sense! And--I went to the dr. today and I was down 10 pounds from fill number 3 (after NOT getting stuck so much)!!! Thanks for getting this info to those of us experiencing this. I would never have thought of this fact. Crystal

I have used FitDay and the Daily Plate. I have found the database on the Daily Plate to be larger--that's what I use now! Any of them are good though. Good luck!

I'm down 2 pounds ... well I was as of last Saturday. That's my official weigh day. During the week I've been weighing (I'm a scale whore too) and I'm up and down every day--but I don't count that!!! :smile2:

I have AETNA open access and was allowed to do the 3 month behavior modification program rather than the 6 month diet. However, it was still about 10 days from submission to approval! They are really great--they are one of the only insurance companies where the requirements can be found online. If you've met them, I think you are good to go! Good luck--you're almost there. Crystal

Nope ... No luck yet. Anyone know of a local support group?

I'm always wondering this same thing. Our bodies are all so different so people the same height and same weight can wear different sizes. I was an 18 at 260, and I'm an 18 at 231.5. I haven't tried anything else but I'm still wearing the same clothes--they are looser, but not so loose that I can't wear them. My last significant weight loss, I was about 220 before I could wear a 16. I can't wait to see when I can wear them now...maybe I'll go straight to a 14...???

And I'm still a DD. The dr left me with plenty in case of weight loss...she thought ahead thankfully.

Best thing I have ever done. Except for the band of course. Mine were size F. I just wish I waited til after the band. But didn't know i was doing the band. Mine were so large I didn't have much sensation. Now they are extremely sensitive and I love them! I had a reduction and a lift and so far they r still up there! Very painful but worth it!!

I was banded November 13, 2008. I have only lost 20.5 pounds. I was getting very discouraged. When I went for my last fill at the beginning of March I had only lost about 8 pounds (I gained in 2 of the months...). But, with my last fill of .7 bringing me to 5.2 in a 10cc band, I finally felt restriction. It helps to eat right and eat less when you are restricted. My first 10 days following this most recent fill were great...I lost about 10 pounds. Now--must be because of the weight lost--I still have SOME restriction, but no where near what I was earlier this month. But--give it time. Some people get restricted sooner than others. Here--check this out...you are not alone. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/we-need-get-ourselves-check-me-included-89526/ Give it time. Good luck to us all. We will get there. We just have to believe.

I do the weird hiccup/burp thing. I swear it just comes out without warning. I know the people who sit near me think I'm such a pig!!! :cursing:

I have normally always donated old clothes. I may still do some. But now we also have a plus size consignment shop here in Maryland. I bought some stuff there last year. Now I get to take some in, as well as get some new cheap stuff! Can't wait!:huh2:

I'd just like to add that I'm extra careful at work but have had an occassion where I had to make it to the bathroom VERY quickly. I just went into a stall and hoped no one else was in there. There was...thankfully there was no heaving and I was able to cover up the sound with the flushing of the toilet. Not fun. Then I just waited for them to leave before I came out... :huh2: I don't want everyone to think I became anorexic to lose weight!

When I drink and am stuck the liquid doesn't usually stay down... It's not even like it's throwing up....it just has no where to go but fills the space and just "comes back up". Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get the stuck food up too but not always. If not, it's even more miserable. I get stuck less often as time goes by. It becomes "normal" to chew and chew...Not that it will help in your most recent circumstance. I think I've heard drinking a mix of meat tenderizer and Water works--if you can get it to stay down. I'm sure someone else can comment on that since I don't have any experience in that area. Walking makes it better too...but I don't think anything is really quick. I think it's just a side effect we will have to learn to deal with on occassion. Good luck!

For me white meat chicken is never tolerated well. Boneless skinless thighs are about the only chicken I can eat. Unless the chicken is so tender and with something to dip it in...sometimes that won't even work. I usually avoid the white meat. But--I am a dark meat girl anyway!

I had both prior to surgery. Hernia fixed at surgery and no heartburn or reflux since. My upper gi did not show my hernia but my doctor said that sometimes they don't. That was a huge plus for me to not have heartburn since I was used to having it daily. Keep s posted!

I'm in! 15 pounds for me...that'll put me below 220. We can do this!!! :ohmy: Crystal

I have only lost 18.5 pounds since November. Today made 4 months since my surgery. I too was feeling pretty bad about it. But we have got to stop thinking that we will lose 10 pounds a week with the band. If you have lost 31 pounds in 3 months, that is an average of nearly 3 pounds per week. That is FANTASTIC. Think of it in terms of what it means over the next year...next 2 years. Read my post earlier this week about getting ourselves "in check". You need to make sure your expectations are realistic. How much did you think you would lose the first 2 months. You have made tremendous progress....you need to be proud and not ashamed. You made a decision to get healthy. Stick with it. Why give up now? Because you only lost 31 pounds? Say that out loud... :scared2: Did you ever think you'd lose 30 pounds in a few months? Stay on the horse. Trust me...I know it's hard without restriction. I gained 6 pounds at my 2nd visit and 1.5 pounds at my 4th (most recent). I now have 5.2 cc's in my band (4th fill) and I finally feel like I'm eating the amount I should be--usually less than a cup at each meal. And I have just started eating "WHAT" I was supposed to. The restriction helps with that. Talk to your surgeon. Print out your post and take it with you. Give it time. Don't let fear of what others think hold you back. We have all done that for too long. Keep us posted.

I'd call too. But, as an FYI, if you are exercising strenuously it's possible that the muscles are just sore around the port. I shoveled snow last week (we got a foot) and I was sore up until a couple days ago... I mentioned it to my doctor on Friday and he said it was completely normal when exercising and using stomach muscles. Keep us posted!