Band_Groupie

CONGRATULATIONS! Ask your doc if you can take a cough suppressant...can't imagine coughing with that sore belly and it can't be good for all the internal stuff that's trying to heal. Hang in there, it will get better! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS!! It's such a great feeling to get that approval! Many say after about day 3 or 4 it gets easier, so hang in there (sorry, I didn't have a liquid pre-op diet). I can tell you it's all worth it!!! -BG

Now I'll never get that song out of my head today LOL! Congrats girl, you're doing GREAT and now you have proof of it!!! Keep it up! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That's so cool! Look how fast you're losing! Happy Twoterville! and bella (my band twin 4/22) You're doing great too!

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Yeah, start in Aug. and you'll be done by the end of the year...Happy New Year to you!! I believe the PCP visits were covered, but I'll try to check this. Make sure you don't combine the visits with anything else as they get 'coded' to the insurance company a certain way (I believe as a weight loss visit). I saw one gal here who was almost done with her 6 mo., got sick and combined a sick visit with the weight loss vist and she got denied and had to begin again. Don't know that Highmark is that strict, but better safe...

Good luck to you all! BG

When you say 'you're doing everything you were told', I can't believe your doc wants you to be eating only a few T a day. You need to heed the nutritionist's information. If you're eating less than 800 cals. a day then you are absolutely in 'starvation mode'. Our bodies were set up to go through times of 'feast and famine'. You're told your body that you're not going to feed it and now it's holding on to every calorie it can by slowing your metabolism down to a crawl. You also need the right amount of nutrients, especially protein, or your body will start taking them from where it can...you'll be malnourished and you'll lose more muscle mass, while you want to be losing the fat. I don't agree with the protein shake solution as the band was set up for a solid protein diet, not liquid proteins (defeats the purpose of the band), but you need to follow your doc's rules and advice. Try counting your calories and protein and get in 1000-1200 cals/60-80g of protein per day and see what happens...you'll need to give it a few weeks for your metabolism to start reving up again...it will think the 'feast' is here and start burning fat again. Trust me, I've been on every starvation diet out there and it's not the way to go. I'm eating the correct amounts and losing the 1.5-2/week and we started out at close to the same weights. Good luck -BG

You've done so well! I'm beginning to think the level of restriction is a personal choice...I've got what I'd call good restriction, but could still eat both the pretzel and the pizza dough I'm sure (as long as I chewed it). I see others here who like their bands so tight that they have to drink their breakfast and lunch (not what I'd want). Where you were before sounds like too tight for me (at least where I am now). I think you have to ask yourself if you're getting hungry between meals when you do eat the correct amount (I'm beginning to wonder what that is...mine said 1-1.5 C, but that seems like a lot). If you're back to doing this on your own and are finding it hard to lose anything, then maybe a tiny fill would help? 7 hours! WOW! That would make me stick things out and be sure before I went! Good luck on your decision Julie! -BG

DB- You have to remember that you're a low BMI'er and that presents it's own set of challenges, namely slower weight loss. When the high BMI'ers make their way down to a low BMI they'll have this issue too. It's just natural to stop losing as fast as you get closer to goal. If I keep losing a pound a week until goal then I'll be happy. I'd be asking myself how hard it is for you now to lose the weight you are...is it mostly you and you're struggling with still being hungry between meals? Are you eating more than you should at most meals? Or do you feel satisfied on a cup of food or so until the next meal? If you feel satisfied, then don't mess with things...if you're struggling then get a fill...it might only take a small one. One side note...did you know your doc only will fill to 4cc's when starting with him? I'd be sunk as I have 5.6cc's in the same size band and I'm guessing I'll need at least 1 more fill. Sounds like you won't need as much though luckily.

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Congratulations and WELCOME to LBT! You're on the journey now...have fun! -BG

I believe you're saying that you are having two different symptoms; reflux (acid burning in you stomach/throat) and gas (usually with referred pain, sometimes in your back or left shoulder). You need to call your doc about the reflux. If he hasn't given you an Rx for it, ask for one. Mine sent me home with Nexium (Rx). I didn't have it for long luckily...mainly at the beginning and then every once in awhile for another month. The reflux acid on your new pouch and stoma can cause more inflammation and even ulcers. As far as the gas goes, there's not much you can do as it's trapped air in your abdomen from them filling you up with air to help with the surgery, and it just needs to be absorbed by your body. The walking does help to more the air around and help your body to absorb it. There's a debate as to whether the GasX helps other than in your gastrointestinal system, but I certainly used it (you can take several at a time). I also used a heating pad on the areas that hurt and that helped me. I also took a gentle laxative a few days out (for just one day) to get things moving along and that made me feel a lot better (TMI- I started really 'tooting' after that). Good luck to you and please call the doc if you're having any reflux. -BG

Too much fun!!! You're pics are amazing...you look GREAT! I was looking at the avatar one...HOLY COW! I looks like you're going to hit a rock...I'm sure every bruise feels like a battle scar well earned for all the work you've done to be able to have a day like that! Great blog Wendy, as usual! -BG Oh, and your daughter is gorgeous!

Glad you're calling your doc. My doc also says night reflux is a big indicator of being too tight. If you can't get in your solid meals 2 months after a fill, you're definitely too tight. Sometimes just a tiny amount unfill helps people tremendously. You don't want to be on vacation and end up in the ER (and reflux can cause serious problems with your new pouch/stoma). Keep us posted on what the doc does! Best wishes! -BG

YAY! You're in luck! According to my surgeon's insurance expert Highmark is the easiest one to deal with and the best to get approval from. It's what I have (H. PPO Blue). Now, saying that, everyone's rider can be different depending on what your company negotiated with them (I was able to get our policy online...and you should definitely have a copy of yours so you have all the requirements infront of you). Just make sure you don't gain anything (not even a pound) and that you don't fall below the 40 BMI at any time before approval. Most places want you NOT to succeed with the diet...meaning you only lose a few pounds (I think I lost 8 total). So just because they give you a strict diet, doesn't mean you have to follow it (unless you need that to help you lose a few pounds). Some surgeon's have their own goals...meaning if you're a high BMI they may make you lose a certain amount before surgery. Mine does not. With Highmark you need 6 VISITS to the doc, meaning 6 forms to fill in. This will make the length 5 months long, not 6 since they count your initial visit when you start as #1 (more good news, right?!). As soon as you get that 6th form they can send it all in. Don't go more than a month between visits. I sweated the PCP letter and actually simple was better. Everything was sent in and I got my approval within 48 hours. Let me know if you have any more questions about Highmark PPO Blue. -BG *This next part is in case someone else has a lower category BMI and finds this post; you can disregard: If you're well over your needed BMI requirement then disregard this (but I'm giving details in case someone else with Highmark finds this and is in my same boat); For mine, one requirement was a BMI over 40 or a BMI of 35-39.9 with a comorbidity (with medication for it, I have hypertension). I was in the latter category and could NOT fall below the 35 BMI until after approval (if you're in the higher category then do not fall below the 40 BMI). My PCP used a step-down calorie plan...I think she started with 1500 cals. My PCP also understood that I couldn't lose much weight during the 6 mo. (she scolded me one month for losing 4 pounds LOL). By the end of the 6 mo. we were down to 1200 cals (there was NO specific cal. requirement on the Highmark policy). You can NOT gain weight (not even a pound) during the diet, but you do not have to lose much at all (I lost I think 8 pounds total...I actually lost a few pounds more, but I'm good at eating/drinking before going for a weigh in, wearing jeans, etc.). I did not diet at all, just made sure I was not gaining at all. Insurance is such a big game it's stupid. Here I am with medical problems that can be helped with weight loss and I couldn't lose much on their diet, but as my insur. expert at the doc's said "If you diet well and fall below the 35 BMI, then you wouldn't need surgery, now would you?" They're not legally allowed to tell you not to lose much, but if you listen carefully they do. Just ask the ins. expert you have what would happen if you fall below your min. BMI.

LOL JT...I just reached that same point myself...it's all relative isn't it! Celebrate! You're on your way down forever!

Lifting- Your doc should be able to give you a form to use for the 6 mo. Just know that it almost always needs to include; date, current weight, your diet plan/calories, and an exercise plan (that last one foils some people) and your doc's/pcp's signature. I couldn't lose much weight during my 6 mo. 'diet' as I was already a low BMI. It will certainly benefit you later if you can lose some before. Good Luck! -BG

Just checking back in to see if you posted I think it's important to know where people are (how much restriction they have) when you read the posts. There are primarily pre-ops and newly post-ops here as you'd expect. You'll see lots of posts of hungry people who don't have enough restriction yet (I was one of those recently). I can tell you that I am NOT hungry now. You're right, I feel like I have way more on my side now than just willpower. I was STARVING on just about every diet I've been on (and I've been on most of them), except maybe Atkins, which I also did very well on because I could eat massive amounts of food as long as they were low carb...big portions worked well, but even I couldn't live like that forever LOL! I wrote about the difference between full and satisfied in one of my blogs and like I said in my first post here it's something we obese people have to learn. I definitely feel satisfied after a much smaller meal...like just before you get that really full feeling (your right, same as before the band on a much bigger meal)...I just know I've had enough...I try not to eat until I get that Thanksgiving full' uncomfortable feeling, but sometimes there's a delayed reaction with fullness so it happens, but still on WAY less food. I think part of this is that you have to be willing to test things...ie. I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast and one day to test things, I tried 1/2 a bowl one morning and was surprised to find that I had absolutely no hunger before my next meal. According to my doc, I can eat 1 1/2C with each meal...I'm satisfied with less than that. I was in the hospital overnight and by the second day I was up and walking the halls before I left. The pain is most pronounced when you're moving around and the worst when you're getting up or down (like it would be with a very sore stomach). I think my banding was a Wed. and DH took that day and Thurs/Fri off to help me. Some have a lot of the gas pains and referred shoulder pain, but I didn't (walking helps a lot with this). I'm not sure how young your daughter is, but like you said, you won't be able to pick anything up that's more than 10 pounds for awhile...I'm sure your doc will tell you how long it will be so you can arrange for other help if you need it. I didn't lift the laundry, but before the end of a week I was moving aroung and folding it. Almost everyone turns the corner in less than a week, but for a rare few I've read here it takes 10 days or so and others are back to work in a few days. I usually eat the protein portion of the meal first then veggies and sometimes fruit. I usually skip the starch, but not always. I occasionally eat the spaghetti with meat sauce (yes, together with more of the meat sauce than usual on my helping), or the hamburger helper (I'm not a cook) yes with noodles, but sometimes I'll have a different entree when it's mainly a starch. Other than that, I eat what the family has. If your cousin is still vomiting a year out, I'd guess her band is too tight or she hasn't learned what triggers it (and most that are doing well don't PB much a year out as they've learned those lessons). Your other friend definitely needs a fill...you'll see some here who just 'give up' and think it's not going to work for them so they stop going for fills...then there are others who don't like the restriction and miss being able to eat like they did before, so they don't get fills. There's one gal who blogged here that it took 14 fills/or unfills and an entire year before she got to her sweet spot...now that's perserverance! I think you have to set those expectations realistically and be willing to wait and do whatever it takes until your band is working the way it should for you...then the real magic begins. Keep posting and ask away...there's lots of great people and help to be had here...and I'm always around too! -BG

Bunny's name -----------Target loss ------ Start weight ----- Current weight --- Target Weight Sept. 7 Band_Groupie ------------ 15lbs -------------- 203 --------------- 194.5 ---------- 188 soon2befit ---------------- 25lbs -------------- 261.5 ------------ 256 -----------236.5 hopeful41411 ------------ 20lbs -------------- 253.8 ------------- 253.8 --------233.8 smilan--------------------- 20lbs -------------- 218 --------------- 212 -------------198 trobison------------------- 15lbs -------------- 221 --------------- 213 -------------206 myturn2bhappy ---------- 15lbs -------------- 282 --------------- 282 -------------267 WannaBe1/2TheWoman - 20lbs ------------- 230.6 ------------- 217.2 --------210.6 Butterfly64 ---------------- 15lbs -------------- 231 --------------- 230 ------------216 MrsMitch ------------------ 20lbs -------------- 232 ---------------- 232 ------------212 doodlebug11-------------- 15lbs ------------- 192.5 ------------- 189.5 --------- 177.5 size6----------------------- 11lbs -------------(-)11lbs ---------- (-)3.4lbs ----(-)11lbs TerriLynne----------------- 15lbs -------------- 282.2 ------------- 279.2 -------267.2 txdj ------------------------ 18lbs -------------- 183 -------------- 180 -------------165 1want2bthin -------------- 15lbs -------------- 202 --------------- 196 ------------187 ALuv82 -------------------- 30lbs -------------- 265 --------------- 260 ------------235 tbryant1216--------------- 15lbs -------------- 260 --------------- 260 ------------245

khawkes- Glad it helped. I don't know denouement's whole story, so I may be wrong, but I'm guessing she's not too far post op by the 'incisions burning'. Many people go through a period post-op where they get discouraged, aren't feeling well, are starving and wonder why they did this...You just need to understand from the beginning that it's all part of 'Bandster Hell'. Your main objective for the first 6 weeks post-op is healing...that's it. It takes at least that long for your insides to heal. You'll probably have several fills before you feel restriction and many months of feeling hungry and many gain weight during this period. Did I know this was coming...yep...did I whine about it on my blog...sure (that third week on the post-op liquid diet I was so tired and weak I could hardly stand it)...but, I also knew it wouldn't last forever. I think she does have pain, because she's healing or because her doc gave her too much of a fill at surgery (a lot of docs put in a 'primer fill' at surgery and sometimes this is too much for some). I think she does have real hunger, because she doesn't have good restriction yet. I hope that in a few more months or more that denouement will have a whole new outlook on her band. I want to clarify one item, and we may be saying the same thing, but I want to be clear. You said "When I overeat now, or eat something that's too fatty,,, I know I shouldn't eat it,,, but that mind game of eating comes in and I convince myself I will work out that night and it will be ok,,, whereas with the band,,, you think you just have to have that cookie and milk,,, or the cheeseburger,,, knowing that due to the band,,, you have a possibility of feeling sick, Trowing up, or having pain,,, that head game is much stronger in my opinion to get you to stick to what you should eat." Even with good restriction now I could still eat something very fatty and have no problems with my band...in fact, 'cookies and milk' would go down VERY easily. I still have to fight that head hunger at times and wanting something I shouldn't eat...I still could get into that old pattern of eating something bad and saying I'll work out later. I can 'eat around my band' and gain weight. The head stuff that has changed is what you said...I'm working hard like I usually do (for awhile) on a diet, but this time I'M NOT GAINING IT BACK...THIS IS A NEW LIFESTYLE...I do NOT feel hungry all the time, I do NOT feel deprived...if I need to have a treat I have a bit...I'm fine with working hard for this, but I'm NOT going live the rest of my life on a diet. The old me couldn't have always stopped with a tiny treat...that would sometimes have been my excuse to binge (I'm a huge chocoholic...have been know to eat most of the brownie batter LOL) and sometimes give up the diet because I'd just 'broken the diet'. You're right...I know I can't eat the whole bag of cookies anymore...the band pouch won't hold that, but it's not fear of pain that keeps me from eating the whole bag (yes, at the beginning, you go through some mourning that you ONLY get to eat 1 cup of your wonderful dinner out, instead of the whole dinner)...I really don't WANT the whole bag of cookies because I'm NOT hungry...I DO feel satisfied, it's just head hunger and allowing myself a little treat now and then isn't going to make you gain...it will slow your weight loss, but I'm OK with losing slowly as long as I can eat like a normal person and what my family is eating. It's like you're at a party and you've filled yourself up until you're more than satified on good foods and then a neighbor comes in with your favorite food...you know it's head hunger and it's easier for you to stop (or even not have any) with a small taste because you're already full. There are bandster's here who are still on 'restrictive diets' and some that substitute meals with protein shakes...and yes, they're losing it faster and that's what works for them. I would never have gotten the band if they told me I had to do another restrictive diet (been there, done that). So far, there is nothing I can't eat. I'm eating like a normal, skinny person...with a little more emphasis perhaps on the protein. My 'diet' is exactly what they advertise with the band PORTION CONTROL! Best wishes! -BG

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Madison- You're doing great! 194.5 for me today.

Woot!!! You're in the 'Century Club'!!! Congratulations!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! There's nothing like that approval call! Woot!!! -BG