MelodyJ

celestemcnair, Welcome!! You will love the banded life...most days! I have named mine "lucy"....somedays she is a controlling thing!! Just live the rules: eat a bite the size of a pencil eraser, chew, chew, chew....and ask yourself "am I still hungry?"....not "am I full?" ....changes your way of thinking! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -100lbs

Well.... I MIGHT be pregnant!! YAY! Anyway...I am SUPER tight....any thoughts??? If you've been pregnant does your band get tight???? Anything else I should know??? God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -98lbs

I actually lived in TN when I had my surgery and it was $13,500.... everything. Dr Grossbard in Zephyrhills/Tampa area has started a Lapband clinic with an outpatient surgery....so he's cheaper too..... God BLess< melody Banded 3/20/06 -98lbs

Koala, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!! You can do it!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -98lbs

Coolbrze: First of all....WELCOME!! IF your insurance pays 80% that is a gift....many of us are/were self pay!! So having insurance that pays so much is a gift I'm sure!!! I did not do an informational seminar....so can't say much. I lived too far from the doc doing my surgery to go twice! I'm sure they give you "information" about how to prepare and what's necessary. I went right into the first meeting. They had me watch a video....did a lot of teaching and discussing of nutrition. I am a PA....so I am the right hand of the dr....anyway....MOST docs realize the long term implications of obesity and realize that the weight loss is so important....speak to your PCP from your heart. Optifast is a drink....at least it was when I did it years ago.... Flouro is explained beautifully by kwhenrykerr above. This has been one of the best decisions I've made for myself ever!! I am happy with my band....it is NOT easy...still a head battle and my band has such a personality that I've dubbed her "Lucy"....she can be very controlling!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -97lbs

Jukebox....thank you!! Very good!! Dr Grossbard does my followups!!! Very good info!! HOpefully, people that are searching can find this!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -97lbs :lost1.5lbs:

Welcome!!! I had my band in March 2006....LOVING banded life....MOST days!! 2 fills....doing well!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -97lbs

Thanks Tann....we're not pregnant yet...just working on it!!! Keep making good choices!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your on track it sounds like!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -96lbs

WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Good job Marchsters!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am down 96lbs!!! Now we're talking baby..... I've gone from a 26/28 to a 16W.....I LOVE it....but not done if baby don't come right away....will keep working at this!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -96lbs

I live in Deltona....not too far away and work in Longwood!! Cool....some close!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -95lbs

Heather....I believe I pay $200 for a fill whether it's flouro or not....may be $300 with flouro?!?!??! I don't know it's been awhile since I've needed a flouro or a fill. God BLess, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -94lbs

HEather, They do take BC/BS....the question is: Does BC/BS cover anything for obesity!? They didn't for me.... Lisa, Keep up the GREAT work!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -94lbs :bolt:

Heather, Dr Grossbard is wonderful...he has a partner that is nice as well...have seen them both. :girl_hug: You do have to get "Pre-approved" for them to accept you and they want ALL your records....so make sure you've copied and brought them with you from Portugal. God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -94lbs

CONGRATULATIONS Spydr!!!! I am IMPRESSED!! I LOVE my band too!!! I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life is sweeter!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -93lbs

I had mine done in Dalton, GA with Jaime Ponce...he's done 1,000's of the surgeries and the charge was $13,500 I believe!? That includes fills for a year.... God Bless, melody Banded 3/20/06 -91lbs

AZ, Much good advice on here! I can tell you love your wife....but can she feel the love??? Let her know ...romance her.....but also a good kick in the pants isn't a bad thing at times!! I'm medical.....if the Zoloft isnt' working....there are other things. One is Wellbutrin which can give energy and another side effect is wt loss!! But if she gets anxious easy it can affect that as well. You can't fix her....wish you could for your marriage. I think wt and depression are like the chicken and the egg....they just go together and who knows which came first. I am upbeat as a choice.... I believe you choose your emotions.....someone doesn't MAKE you mad....you choose to get angry over what they said or did! YOur wife needs to take ownership....she's got to decide that she isn't in a happy place and then do something about it! I am a CHristian...I have found a lot of peace and HEALING thru Jesus.... I had some childhood experiences that led to my eating to protect me.... I had to deal with this to decide that I didn't need to protect myself anymore! I am going to pray for you and pray the Lord strengthens your wife and helps her see where she is at!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -91lbs :Banane20:

I am not agreeing she should have done this!! But I know when I was 12ys old I would have done ANYTHING to feel better about myself....I have been overweight my WHOLE life! The People magazine had more info. on her diet and it sounds like this has helped her change?!?! Would I recommend it ....NO WAY!!! It's definitely not what it's for.....I've been in a liposuction surgery and it's the one surgery that made me sweat and slide down a wall....it's intense!! Her face bandages were from lipo to her chin! She was 220lbs....she is adult size so a lapband would fit her....she was 5'5" tall....she's a big girl at 12....she looks much older too me just looking at her! She's beautiful and I pray this helps her....and she doesn't have any long term implications!! God BLess, Melody banded 3/20/06 -91lbs :success1:

Sorry you had to go through a negative time....but I also go to Dr. Grossbard and they are nice and he seems to really care! I appreciate this. God bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs :thankyou:

PB= productive burp.... Sliming is usually as a result of something getting stuck and your stomach produces slime to make the food go down and then you actually bring it back up. Hope this helps! God bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs

STOP trying to eat when you can't!!! I have learned it's just not worth it!!! I have tried many, many times!! NO SUCCESS in forcing the band! I drink something hot for breakfast....have warmed up prune juice or slimfast even (lo carb) and that gets me more nutrition...not the best taste though! Then for a late lunch I can usually eat about 5 bites or so slowlyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! You absolutely cannot go fast!!!! I have tried and discovered it will NOT work!! Then for supper I am more open as you are....but try to limit to less than a cup no matter....that truly satisfies my stomach...not always my head! But I am not hungry after a cup! Around my period I just do soup....I HATE throwing up and could probably be a queen at it unfortunately since my last fill if I fight it!!! FIGHT the head hunger YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! After you throw up you are terribly swollen...liquids only for a few hours at least.... As always if in doubt call your doctor!! God bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs

Jack.....welcome first of all!! You can spend hours and days on this forum and learn more than you could ever imagine!!! Your wife obviously loves you and wants you around!! I think she's also pretty smart to want to support you in getting healthy! If you've tried everything....I certainly had....then your next step is probably weight loss surgery. I was actually able to lose weight...but would gain it ALL back PLUS more!!!!!!!!!! Well with the lap band it should never be an option! I can "cheat" if I try I'm sure...but I really want it bad this time!!! I have lovingly named my lap band "Lucy" and Lucy is VERY controlling at times....overly controlling even at times! But wouldn't trade her in for anything!! She is SAVING MY LIFE!!!!!!!!! Go to a seminar learn as much as you can and that will answer your questions....you know you down deep....it is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE BIG TIME!!!! BUt one I am so happy to have begun!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs

Oh Edie how exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am LONGING for the day I can type the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs

I have not used Dr Aguila....I had surgery in Dalton, GA as I lived up that way when I had surgery by Dr. Ponce (he's wonderful) and now I follow up with Dr Grossbard in Zephyrhills....he's great too! :tsk: My only liquid fast was one day before surgery...then for 3 weeks after. I did not have true stomach hunger too often. You will feel somewhat deprived in the liquid phase and it really is mental!!! You will be "full" MUCH faster with less food/liquid. I eat about 1/2 cup of food per meal. It is MORE than enough most meals. If I am still hungry then I will eat another bite or so....but that's all and most of the time I don't have to have the extra bite...it's my head and I have to make sure....so instead of asking myself if I am full....I ask "Am I still hungry?" This was a whole new way of thinking for me personally. Big meals become a time of socializing and not about the food...I eat less and talk more!! Lookout family!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! PRAYING you have MANY years of LOVE and fun!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -89lbs

Your not difficult...you "Dare to be different"!!! Unfortunately I'm with you sister!!!! God Bless, melody banded 3/20/06 -89lbs :eek: