LapBandit

Happy Birthday!

You'll find lots of threads on this topic with some really good suggestions. It sounds like you're pretty much doing all the "usual" things though. Unfortunately, some of us (me included) just had worse gas issues than others immediately post-op. It will get better though...so just hang in there! Congrats on surgery!

Happy Birthday!

My insurance didn't require any official documentation other than a questionaire that I filled in. Alexandra is right...the different requirements will vary greatly from doctor to doctor and insurance to insurance. The best thing to do is go ahead and get in with someone and see what happens. Best wishes!

I've noticed that during my cycle my restriction is all over the place! Every month I freak out thinking that I'm going to really mess myself up but then things calm down once my hormones are balanced again. It sounds like you just need to get through TOM, you may need a fill but I'd try to just get through this next week and see what happens. Good luck!

I can't wait for Sept. to get here just because I have a good feeling that you'll be pleasantly surprised! I gotta give you credit for sticking to your guns and keeping that scale in the closet! Good job! Congrats Josette on joining the banded!

Great, your new plan sounds very good! Do you think you've shyed away from the whole band thing because of your bad experiences? (Not being able to keep food down.) If so, I can understand. But, I can also say that if you can get a proper fill level then I think it will be better for you this time around. Luckily for me I've got restriction and have never had a PB or slime so it is possible to hit a good fill level. But, I'd be shy of this whole experience if I was having problems keeping food down too. Good luck to you and you're on the right track again!

I just recently spoke with my doc about this topic. He said you have to mix things up when you start to slow down. Eat some different foods and try some more intense exercises. Are you training with any weights? Your body simply becomes accustomed to the same old exercises and the effects become less over time. You can train an old dog new tricks and I think that's what you need to try! Good luck, you can break out of this plateau-I believe in ya!

Think back to why you wanted your band. For me, a moment came when I realized "I can't do this to myself any longer." What was your moment? The only person you're really letting down is yourself. You are worth a better effort than this. Now get your butt back in gear!

I have 4 herniated discs in my back and it can be miserable. I've had sciatica for several weeks at a time and muscle spasms so severe that it altered my ability to stand up straight...I definately can relate to the back issue. It was part of my decision to get WLS. You probably know the cycle...back hurts so you don't exercise...back feels better so you try to exercise to get some weight off then you hurt your back and are back to no exercise. This went on for years...luckily my band has broken this cycle and I've lost enough weight to comfortably exercise daily. Also, I do think it's realistic to lose 150 pounds with the band...I'm darn near close to 100 right now. It takes a lot of work to make the band work for you but if you're determined to do it then I say go for it! I'm trying my darndest to lose 200+ with my band!

That is too funny! I wonder if Tampians really means coke or if she was just guessing?! He's a good guy...he tried! :heh:

Molly, I'm sure it's fine. You're right...a little splurge on special occasions keeps you feeling positive about your life. I don't think its realistic to be a perfect angel for the rest of our lives! Welcome back Marcy! Congrats. Yeah, with this heat I really had bizarre restriction. One day I felt tight and the next wide open. It's weird, I really didn't expect the weather to affect it so much. But, when the air temp is over 100 degrees I guess your whole body reacts to it!

Yikes! That is scary. I'm glad you guys found them. Think positively...if this is the first time you've come accross them then try to consider it a freak thing.

Yep, this topic has come up a few times before...my breath went through a stinky stage too. It seemed to resolve itself once I was eating normally again. As for stuff getting stuck alot...it hasn't happened to me so I can't offer any input.

Congrats and welcome to bandster life!

Yeah, go get a fill! You'll feel better with better restriction. Are you afraid it will hurt? If so, I can honestly say mine didn't hurt one bit!

I'm not a doctor so don't sue me...but I was allowed to do full excersize one week post-op. I did weight training and felt fine. I would say that what you described should be fine because it's not much different than regular daily activity (stepping--staircases).

I tested the waters first (no pun intended) before I started guzzling down water post-op, but I've found I can chug-a-lug with the best of them still. This is great news for me because I've never been a water sipper!

I use these as my emergency backups too. Luckily I don't have problems with eating wraps so I usually have some roast turkey and low fat/low carb wraps on hand to make a quick sandwich on those nights when I have gotten off work late or something else happens. The SouthBeach meals are usually better balanced than the Lean Cuisine meals so I try to stick with them more.

Wow, that's a tough one. If you're in mushie's then I might try taking it with a little cream of wheat or oatmeal? Isn't that pretty close to the same theory of crackers or toast...to help give your belly something to work on while the medicine is in there? Either that or a protein shake??? This is a tough one!

I think you've got it...going back to food after all the liquid/mushies weeks means your body has to readjust a little. Don't worry...if you're following all the "rules" then you should be back on track soon. You're doing great!

I was told for the clear liquids stage that if you can't pour it in a glass and see through it then it wasn't acceptable. At any rate, I've never had this kind of soup so I don't know the answer, sorry!

Yes, I am struggling with this myself. I feel happy with my progress, I feel great but still I just can't really see a change. It doesn't help that I haven't really changed clothes sizes yet. I'm down one size after 100 pounds so I just can't wrap my head around it. But, I figure...if someone you didn't tell about the surgery notices that you've lost weight then I'd say it's safe to believe them!!

My insurance did not pay for the psych eval. It cost me $100. But, it was pretty darn worth it!

That is TOTALLY worse than what happened to me. Yikes! You have way more self-control than I do because I probably would've walked out bawling or something! That really sucks that he said that to you because it IS working for you. Your weight loss has been great! This thread has really Enlightened me...perhaps since banding is still pretty new to the US we will unfortunately will have to continue to deal with incidents like these. I guess I naively assumed the medical proffesion would know more than the average Joe, but obviously the word is taking awhile to spread! For those of us who do understand the procedure and how the band works, we already know that we are successfully using the tool and that it is working. It makes me glad yet again to have this site!!