Elisabethsew

Congratulations on getting your approval. I also have Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance but had to fight 2 refusals to pay before I was approved. In the end, I won. Like you, I would not have been able to pay for the surgery out of pocket. Mexico was never an option for me due to a rare heart condition.

Believe it or not, hiatal hernias are common in obese people and many have no signs or symptoms of the condition. Like you, mine (very mild) was diagnosed on endoscopy. I never took any medications and it was repaired during lapband surgery.

When you go to see a surgeon he/she will give you a packet of information on the lapband and the percentages you quote are correct. My surgeon flat out told me that he discourages the band for "junk food junkies" because that food is primarily comprised of simple carbohydrates. Carbohydrates begin digestion in the mouth. He advised that the lapband works best for high volume eaters as opposed to junk food eaters.

You've done great with your weight loss and it's natural to obsess over food and crave certain things. Adopting an "all or none" attitude is a trap we often fall into... often to allow ourselves to over eat. If you are really craving a certain food, why not have a small portion to satisfy the craving? Naturally thin people don't eat ONLY nutritious foods. They splurge every now and again but they don't over indulge.

I was banded 5 days before you and am not allowed to advance to solids until May 11 (6 weeks post-op). You might still have some swelling that needs to subside before you tolerate solid food. My advice would be to go back to a soft diet for a day or two and then slowly introduce solid foods.

Like everything else in life, it's about choices. If you want to lose weight, you can't "waste" all those calories on alcohol. Adding to the problem is the fact that alcohol is an appetite stimulant. Have you considered beginning the night and ending the night with one alcohol based drink and only drinking water or virgin drinks inbetween? Can you have the same level of enjoyment without the alcohol? Would your friends care if you decided to have fun, dance and socialize but NOT drink alcohol? Ultimately, the decision is yours and I wish you good luck with it.

Are you taking an acid blocker (Pepcid, Nexium, etc.) for the acid reflux? I take a medication that causes the symptoms you are having and when my MD added the acid blocker (taken once a day) it made all the difference. Your endoscopy will at least give you some answers and then you'll be able to make an informed decision. Living a life in constant pain when you don't have to just doesn't make sense. Talk to your MD about ALL your options.

Hi Reyna, I feel the same way you do. I didn't feel like eating for the first 5 days post-op but, once the swelling went down, my appetite returned and I have not felt any restriction. My surgeon waits 8 weeks before allowing a first fill so I'm now scheduled to have that done on 5/25 (8 weeks to the day). Until that time, I am committed to following the diet as I know the band is only a tool and not a cure. Your decision to go to the gym is a healthy and wise one. Hang in there.

Congratulations on taking action to get out of a bad marriage. You seem to have moved on and handled it well. I wish you happiness with the new man in your life.

I'm glad to hear all went well and that you're home and recovering well. Make sure you walk, bend, drink plenty of water and take in the required amount of protein.

Congratulations on your terrific loss and welcome! I was banded 2 days after you but can't start on solid foods until week 6. Good luck and continued success.

I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom. People grieve in different ways and only you can determine how much time you need to move forward. Did you discuss your planned surgery with your Mother before she died? Was she supportive of your decision to have lapband surgery? If the answers to these questions are yes, it would honor your mother to go ahead as planned. As for surgery concerns, while there are always risks, you yourself stated how healthy you are with no co-morbities and 100 pounds to lose. Being an RN, I can tell you that you're actually considered a low risk for lap surgery. Take the time you need to make a decision.

Hormones are stored in fat cells. Unfortunately, fat cells never die. They can shrink but they never go away. It's also very normal to have flucuations in hormone levels not only on a monthly basis but also in times of stress. Surgery happens to be a big stress on the body so mood swings are not uncommon after surgery. You might also want to check with the dietician about advancing your diet. Are you getting in 60-70 grams of Protein a day? drinking enough Water? taking Vitamins? The good news is things improve as time passes. In the mean time, why not concentrate your efforts on doing something special for your husband as a thank you for all the support he's given you?

You're losing weight at a great rate but, if you're not feeling any restriction, maybe you need another fill. I think you first need to determine if you're not recognizing what an appropriate fill feels like from a too tight fill. If you're feeling full after 8-10 ounces of food, it would seem to me that the fill is appropriate but only you can determine if it is. I'm sure others here can give you valuable information.

It's good to hear you're doing well and and that the surgery went well. Make sure you walk, bend, and drink lots of fluids.

I had my surgery on 3/30 and was called today to have my first fill on 5/25. Do most people get a numbing agent? I am nervous about getting it done and found out that the PA's do all the fills at my surgeon's office. I hope you're feeling better after the "torture" of your second fill.

Hi Alex, Your comment about being smart reminded me of the TV show, Judge Judy. MANY times she instructs pretty plaintiffs with not much upstairs to read her book, "Beauty Fades but Dumb is Forever." As I get older, I find this to be very true. LOL.

I have a lot more weight to lose than you do so, for me, I don't look too far down the road. I'm not basing my goal weight on a certain number on the scale. When I look good to myself and feel as good as I look, I'll jump on the scale. Whatever number it reads will be my goal weight. However, that's a long ways off so, for now, I take it one day at a time.

For me, it's all about feeling better and having less pain. I have bad arthritis in my knees and will eventually need to have knee replacement surgery. I'm down 30 pounds since mid-December and can now walk further distances with less pain.

You might want to talk to your nutritionist about advancing your diet. The symptoms you describe in the AM could be due to acid reflux or a hiatal hernia. The other symptoms sound like gas and/or constipation. Increase your water intake and call your MD or dietician.

I think Photonut said it all. Resistance training is what builds the muscle, decreases body fat, and builds strong bones. It's a win-win-win situation.

Congratulations on your amazing success. You've given your beautiful daughter a wonderful gift... a healthy mom.

My inspiration is the numbers on the scale going down, my clothes fitting less tightly, the feeling of eating until satisfied and not stuffed, having less pain in my joints, and tossing away the B/P medication... in short, getting healthy.

I use the premixed, ready to drink (RTD) protein shakes from Medifast (Medifast.com) which I buy online. It's the one my surgeon recommends.

It might be that your port shifted a little on the abdominal muscle and now it's easier for you to feel. As long as you're experiencing a difference in the restriction you have, the fill went into the right place. If the MD "hit" the port, the fluid went in. It IS possible to miss the port and inject into the fat or muscle. If you're concerned, call your MD.