Savedbygrace

Can someone tell me.. or prepare me... who is doing Dr. Miles / Schmitts fills now? I haven't been since April I think but need to go now. Thanks!

Shamefully I haven't been here in forever! I hope everyone is doing well. I'm sure there are tons of new bandsters on here and I'm thankful for that. As some of you know, I found out in March that I was pregnant. I had most of the fill removed so I haven't been keeping up with the board....sorry. Well on Wednesday August 12th I gave birth to my 23week old little boy. He was due Dec 3rd. He is in NICU and we need lots of prayers! We have a long struggle ahead of us and it's so overwhelming! You can keep up with the updates on the site below. Please pray for us. CaringBridge / brysonpalmer / Welcome

Welcome BG. How are you feeling? Try not to stress to much and it there is anything I can help with specifically... let me know!!

Hey Ladies! I'm so excited to hear from others who are in the same stage as I am. I had an unfill a few weeks ago. I still have 3cc's. Still get full faster than I used to but no "stuck" episodes. I'm trying to be healthy for myself and the baby but I'm sure hoping I don't gain much weight. I haven't lost what most people do in a year but every pound counts. Either of you having any symptoms? Thankfully I've only dealth with a few moments of nausea. Dreams are my number one issue right now... some good.. some bad but always entertaining haha.

Just curious to know if there are any bandsters that are near myself in pregnancy. Everything seems to be going fine with me.. other than some port pain. I know I've very early in but it's strange how it feels. When I went for an unfill after confirming the pregnancy, the doctor said that's normal. I'm a year out. Other than that, I'm doing great! Have slacked off of exercise but started back today. I am still a long way from goal so I'm going to try and be healthy first of all... but try not to gain too much. Would love to hear from others who are expecting.

Congrats on the loss CT!!!! Every pound counts! Ok y'all! I went back to the OB Friday and we have a 6 week 3 day old little bitty baby! We got to hear the heartbeat which was amazing! SO........... I went to get an unfill Friday afternoon.... with Dr. Miles. I love love love him!! He's a great surgeon and I love how he's so down to earth BUT wow his fills / unfills are lacking. HA. He said my port was tilted and that I have alot of scar tissue but 30 minutes and 8 holes later.... he took out 3cc's leaving me at 3.75. It only HURT one time when something got poked but what an uncomforatable feeling! He numbed it twice and I've never used that stuff before. I'm still a little sore. When I found out that he would be doing it, I asked the nurse had he gotten better ha. She said yes bc he's having to do it more. Well.... I'm so thankful that wasn't my first fill bc I would be scared to go back. LOL. Anyway, I'm doing great! Able to eat and still get full fast but not stuck so I'm thankful! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend and a great week ahead!

Congrats Crimson! Glad to know you're feeling well enough to post!! That's awesome!! Keep us updated! Venzwife- I've never heard of that but I never had to deal with using pictures anyway. Unfortunantly, I've been in and out of doctors for years due to PCOS. I do with you the best!!! Ok.. don't know how to explain this but curious if anyone else has been through this. It's happened to me about 4 times now. I get this INSTANT feeling of something tickling and dry in my throat that causes fierce coughing for at least 2 minutes. Painful, embarrasing, breathtaking, tears in the eyes, etc. When it's happening, I'm not eating or recently ate. The best way for me to explain it is that its dry and tickling. Today I actually got choked and threw up trying to get it to stop. Of course it was just liquids bc it was so early but gross! Natually, the rest of the day, I can't eat much if anything. It's like it irritates the band and it's hard to eat for a while afterwards. Anyone else been through this?? May not even be band related. Oh and btw, I canceled the unfill bc the OB couldn't see the baby in the ultrasound. Either we're not as far along as I thought or the baby is not developing. :-( I go back Friday for a repeat ultrasound and at that point will decide about the unfill or not. Hope you all are having a great week! The weekend is just a couple of days away! YIPEE!

Thanks everyone for the welcome! I go tomorrow for the first ultrasound and probably want sleep a wink tonight. I didn't get much sleep last night so hopefully that won't be a problem tonight. We got at 10am. We plan to go to visit family in MS afterwards so it'll be Sunday or later before I can post how it went. Parents just aren't up to date on internet haha. Hope all is well with all of you and that you have a great weekend!

Thanks Nulyfe.. that makes me feel alot better! :-) Congrats Bandofhope! Welcome to this new life we love! Keep us updated.

Hey everyone! :-) Happy Wednesday! Barbarab - welcome! I agree with Jason, go to a seminar. You'll learn tons! Always feel free to ask us questions too. I don't get to stop in as much as I would like but I'll be glad to help any way I can! It is a journey... to a better MUCH healthier life! Jason - Congrats on the raise! Good luck on the next one. That is AWESOME!! We currently have full family coverage.. paid... at work and they are now requiring us to pay for some it.. so I just took a $264 a month cut for that so you're very fortunante.. All of that studying paid off! Kaning - congrats on the loss! You're doing great! I called Dr. Miles office yesterday and spoke to Ashley, I just love her. I asked what the norm is for pregnancy and she said to do a complete unfill... not what I wanted to hear! I called her back today and scheduled to go Friday afternoon on our way to Mississippi for the unfill. Dr. Schmitt is the only one who will be there to do it. DO TELL....... Anyone had him for fills or unfills? Is he as good as Lisa? I've heard some stories about Dr. Miles haha.

We're pregnant!! WOOO HOOO After 5 years of fertility problems and one miscarriage, we found out a week ago that we're pregnant! I've had labs done to confirm but will meet with my OB Friday for all of the details. With strange cycles, I'm not sure how far along I am. From the online calculators... anywhere from 5-7 weeks. Still a little early but I'm too excited to keep it quiet. God is so good! Sounds like everyone is doing great! I'm going to really enjoy reading back through this thread! :-)

Thanks Raz & Jason. I had a miscarriage around this time last year... so we're praying this is a healthy pregnancy and baby!! My husband has 2 daugthers (19 & 21) but I don't have any bio's. Please keep us in your prayers. I'm probably going to have to call for a slight unfill next week but am going to try my best to gain only what I have too.

Hey everyone!! It looks like everyone is doing great! Congrats to the newly banded!! To those who are still in the approval process... dont loose hope.. you'll be on the loosing side soon!! I'm still loosing but that may not continue for long... I'm pregnant! YIPEE!! God is good!! :-) Hope you all have a great weekend!

I also suggest that you call BCBS and ask but I did go to their medical policy to see if it changed. It was last reviewed in September 2008. It says that "A letter from the primary care physician and dated photographs will be considered in lieu of recorded heights and weights." https://www.bcbsal.org/providers/policies/final/053.pdf

I've never had that problem. I usually just drink a protein shake in the morning and am good until 12 or 1. Do you feel hungry when you're not able to eat until later on?

Congratulations Krista! I hurt more than I thought I would too but it DOES go away so follow doctors orders and you'll be better soon!!! Gas X Strips were wonderful for me too!! Keep us updated on your progress. :-)

Thanks! It's a quote I live by!

Hey gang! Gosh I get behind quick on here. lol. Glad to see some new folks. Welcome! Hey G4E! I haven't talked to you in a while. Did you make it to the HSV meeting this month? I hope to get to go in April. How've you been doing? I called for a fill and they worked an appt in for me that would have been perfect for my schedule. But the night I scheduled it I got stuck... and said .. maybe I don't need one!!! I'm finally loosing again and only eating 3 meals a day (snack on grapes everyone once in a while bw breakfast-- which is protein shake and lunch) so why is my mind saying if I get a fill I'll loose more. It's been like 3 months since I've had a fill and over the last month i've just got to were I can eat without ending the meal in the bathroom. So needless to say, I canceled it and seem to be doing fine. I've been sick all week so I haven't been on the treadmill but still lost a pound so I can't wait to get back on it and speed it up even more.. think I'll start back tonight since I do feel better. Anyway enough yapping from me.. I just wanted to check in and say HEY!! and Hope you all are doing well!!!

Hey everyone! Once again, it's been a while since i've been here. WL has been so slow for me it was almost discouraging to read anything on this site... selfish huh.. Other than having PCOS, which makes it harder to loose, some of it has been MY MY MY fault. Bad food choices, lack of exercise etc. So... I've cut out sweets (which should have been out all alone) and started walking again and have lost 5 pounds. I'm also back on Metformin, for the PCOS and ovulations purposes. THANK GOD I'm not diabetic!! Anyway, I think it's time for a small fill but I've been too embarrased to go since I havent lost any weight in over 6 months. I'm going to give it a couple of more weeks... trying hard and then call and schedule one. Everyone is doing GREAT on here!!! CONGRATS to everyone!! Sounds like the support groups are still going great too. I sure wish I didn't live so far away. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!! :-)

Also ... Huntsville Hospital has added gastric banding support groups. You can come to these meetings even if your surgery wasn't done in Huntsville Hospital or by certains doctors. GASTRIC BANDING MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL MEDICAL MALL ON THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 5:00PM AND THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 10:00AM.

Sounds like you had a good experience... other than the nausea but at least you were there for deal with it. Keep up the good work! My surgery was in April in Bham. You should come to so support group meetings at Huntsville Hospital. They keep me encouraged! Keep us updated on how you're doing!

Well thats a bummer. I guess it's no farther to drive than me driving to Bham but I hate that for all of you who had the convenience of seeing them in Huntsville or Madison. How are you G4E? Hate you didnt' make it to the meeting tonight.

Well wtbgone.. I guess you are officially a looser now! haha. How are you feeling? Everything go ok? BTW...I live in Fayetteville.. glad to hear from another TNian.

Hey everyone! I haven't been to this thread in a while.. well actually havent been on here much at all lately. It's good to hear that things are lining up for you cooley and welcome sabprich! I hope that all of you are doing well. We had another support group meeting tonight at Huntsville Hospital. I missed all of you that weren't able t come. They are always encouraging and help to keep me on track. I've been thinking of making a yahoo group for us. This site is GREAT but there are so many threads that it's sometimes hard to keep up with the locals... the group title says its from all of us who attend the gastric banding support group and huntsville hospital but if you're in north AL or southern Tn.. feel free to join. Also feel free to come to the support groups. My surgeon is in Birmingham so you dont have to use Huntsville Hospitals doctors to come to the meetings. The site link is newyoubandsters : New You Bandsters Unfortunalty, I think you have to have or create a yahoo email or ID to join but that's simple. Let me know if you have any questions. The times and days of the live support group meetings are listed on that site too!!

Easy way out! HA maybe for the first 2 months.. I lost quite a bit but it IS a diet for me now. I'm so thankful everyone don't experience what I'm going through but this is NOT the easy way out!! Shawna... NO kidding about the rain. I am SICK of it! Any strange / fun new years resolutions anyone?