KyBandChick

Mandilou thanks for your post I feel you on most all your posts. I think being so overweight you feel so alone and that no one understands what you worry about. This thread is very therapeutic knowing others feel just like me and worry about the same things

Being on an airplane and trying to disguise the fact the belt wasn't about to fit around me. For years I got away with laying my sweater over my lap and on a trip to TX I was caught. That was so mortifying that I took the belt with me for the ride home so I wouldn't have to ask for a belt again and have people see the attendant give me a belt again. I know it is crazy, b/c who am I kidding everyone knows I am as big as I am except me.

Do you have anything from 3 or 4 years ago that is the same weight range? I didn't have 2 years either b/c I didn't go to the doctor much but I did have information from 3-4 years ago and Aetna took that

Are you drinking with your meals?

I am one month post op and I can handle diet coke. I try to take it slow and let it sit open or a bit before I drink it. Several burps do go along with drinking it. I had my first fill today so I am not sure what it will be like after today, I probably will not try for awhile

I am 1 month post op and before surgery I was a snacker. I found it since surgery to not really need to snack. I have no restriction yet but the band alone helps me to eat less. I sometimes have one snack in between meals (yogurt, fruit or something healthy) when I know it will be late before I eat dinner. B/C I don't have restriction yet I do find myself getting hungry but it is usually just around meal time. Good luck to you

You mentioned cranberry juice, are you drinking with your meal? My doctor says that is the key to not wash your food through your band. I am told not to drink 15 min before eating and not until 30 min after I am finished. Are you eating solid foods for the most part rather than liquidish foods? What about junk food like chip? chips go down really easy and pass through the band quick. Hang in there I am sure things will improve for you

I had to go the ER for a cath after I couldn't go for over 12 hours. My doctor really thought I would be able to go once I got home but I just couldn't. Once I went through the whole ER trama they really didn't get much urine from me, guess I was a little dehydrated even though I was trying to drink. I was good to go once I got the in/out cath.

I actually asked my Doctor this exact question. He said a case of the stomach flu is fine and shouldn't harm your band. He told me slippage occurs from cronic throwing up like someone who over eats reguarly.

I was up a couple of pounds too. It probably took 3-4 days and all the sudden I had lost 5 pounds.

I think your letter sounds great and well constructed. Is your surgeon really selective? Do you think he will really turn you down based on your letter?

You can't check for a fatty liver. They get you into surgery and once they are in they determine they can't move your liver to get to your stomach to place your band. My doctor described your liver as being the size of 2 footballs and you need the pre op diet to shrink your liver so laproscopically they can lift your liver out of the way and get to your stomach. I too was worried about fatty liver since I had read about it on this site so much. My doctor told me as long as you followed the diet as directed you will be fine and I was.

How many calories a day are you eating? Sometimes you aren't eating enough and that causes you to lose slower. I think you have to figure out the just right number your body needs in order to let the weight go

I am feeling pretty good too. I go for my post op appointment this Wed and my first support group meeting as well. My incisions are healing well with little pain. I supposed not to snack in between meals but I usually have to have a yogurt about 4 each day which will hold me off until dinner. By the time I go to better I am hungry again but I usually just go to bed with my stomach grumbling

I found the gas-x strips helped, are you taking 2 at a time? I also found that if you have pain in one particular spot a massage can help. I had gas really bad just below my left breastbone it hurt like heck everytime I took a breath and took my back massager to it and it really helped. Walking is great as well

I read someone's post today that tiny sips of hot tea helps

My doctor's instructions says to try carbonated beverages if you lay it out open for a bit to all it to go a little flat. I haven't tried a diet coke yet but boy do I love them. I hope I can still have one

I was told 24 hours but I certainly didn't feel like driving until like 3 days

I went back to work Monday and it was awful but Tuesday was much better. I have a desk job but sitting up so straight puts a lot preasure on my incisions. My gas came back yesterday too so it hurt everytime I took a breath. I get hungry at meal times but it doesn't take much to satisfy me.

I am a CPA (but I don't specialize in taxes) but this is a pretty basic tax question. If you met your doctors requirements for the surgery then you probably can deduct the cost. You can deduct all medical expenses that are in excess of 7.5% of your AGI. Keep in mind this is a deduction not a credit so this would be a reduction of your taxable income. Just to be sure you didn't use a health saving account, because then you couldn't get the tax benefit in both places. I have attached a link to an IRS Tax Topic report that explains the deduction. Tax Topics - Topic 502 Medical and Dental Expenses Hope this helps

Surgery and fill cost are different with every doctor. I wouldn't imagine having insurance would cost you more than those without. My 1st year fills are included in my surgery cost and I also get a 3 the second year and pay $75 after that but you will find the price range is all over the place depending on the doctor

I went back to work today and boy what a hard day. My belly is so sore and the gas came back today and it felt like a stabbing pain in my chest everytime I took a breath. I would have loved to only work a half day b/c I was so sore by the end of the day. Sure hope tomorrow is better.

I too was banded on the 21st. Are you walking much? That is what is helping with the gas the most. Today is probably one of my better days for port pain but worse for gas pain. The muscles in my back are very sore from straining to not pull on my stomach. Every doctor is different mine has me on full liquids which includes shakes and creamy soups. Can you have juice? I find 1 cup of OJ really helps when I am hungry. I actually get hungry but it doesn't take much to fill me up.

I was banded Wed and my doc said leave them on until the come off but if they start curling I can cut off the loose part only to help

I was banded on the 21st and have used the gas-ex strips which have worked pretty well but the walking is the best. If the weather is bad try going to a big store and just walking around. I went to Costco today and got a lot of walking in.