GayleTX

Very normal thing.....most people seem to be tighter in the morning. I've given up on a normal breakfast......just have lots of warm protein drinks all morning then by midday I can begin to eat.

If you have a surgery or follow-ups in your future, this might be something great to ask for. Or if you are looking for something for an elderly person: Medical Gift Cards A Hot Commodity This X-Mas Can Be Used For Anything From Deductibles To Surgery Featured Slideshows: In Memoriam: 2007 Celebrity Deaths World's Coolest Fighter Jets Openly Gay Celebrities Oscar Best Picture Blunders Reporting Kirstin Cole NEW YORK (CBS) ― We will be spending more than $26 billion on gift cards this year. And just when you thought there's nothing new under the Christmas tree along comes one for "good health." When it comes to Christmas presents, Stacey Smith was stumped over what to give to her husband's grandmother. "Especially an older person … they really have everything they need," Smith said. But now she's found something that fits perfectly -- the "gift of health" through a medical gift card. "She can use it towards her prescriptions and her medical bills or anything like that," Smith said. This gift card can be used for doctors' visits or deductibles, prescription co-pays, contact lenses and even elective surgery. "It's a first of its kind; no one has ever offered a gift card like this," said Kim Bellard of givewell.com. The card is issued by Visa, so it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted for health-related services. They are not sold in stores and need to be purchased online or over the phone for up to $5,000. "The peak audience we believe though is women 35-50, the famous sandwich generation," Bellard said. "So, they've got parents that have health needs, and they've got a spouse that has health needs, and older children going off to college or living on their own that have health needs." How does the card impact medical deductions? The person who uses it gets any eligible write-off. "Be sure to record how much you spent on that card because that is a legitimate medical expense that you can use when you fill out your taxes," said Jack Gillis of the Consumer Federation of America. And if you're buying the card ask the typical gift card questions. "Check out the fees, check out the expiration date, check out what happens if you lose the card," Gillis said. Smith is already considering picking up another one. "We're actually thinking about getting one for my mother who wants to join a gym and you can use it for a gym membership," Smith said. As with many gift cards, this one come with a fee -- $5 plus whatever you load onto the card.

I donate all of mine to the women's shelter.....most of these women left home with only the clothes on their back. They need clothes to wear for job-hunting and working and also just to boost their self-esteem.

Mexico doctors have been doing banding for many years.....long before US FDA approved it here. They are among the most skilled in the world at it, and they know how to cater to the American market......great hospitals like hotels, clean, luxurious. I don't know about the Juarez ones specifically, but thousands of US people have gone to MX and been very happy. It is important, however, to make arrangements near your home with a doctor who is willing to do fills for another doctor.....don't do it unless you have a nearby fill doctor who is willing to work with you.

You are newly banded and are still healing and still 'grieving' the change in lifestyle......very normal. And I'm guessing you haven't had a fill yet....or if you have it's not to the point of giving you restriction. So, yes, a table full of food is going to be hard to resist.....just like before surgery. But if you get a fill or two before Christmas it will be easier hopefully and your clothes will start to loosen up and you'll see a whole new world opening up to you. I cried, too, and sometimes I still do after a year and a half.....but I cry when I think back on the terrible, life-threatening condition I allowed my life and health get into and all the living I lost out on before I found a way to get control. I don't cry about the food.....it doesn't matter to me any more. It does get easier, sweetie.

CoolChrystal....I live an hour out of the metroplex so don't go to my surgeon's support groups. I have met up a couple of times, though, with some other members of Bariatric Eating - Protein, Vitamins, Gastric Bypass & Lap Band Info, Post-op Recipes, and Help. in Plano and Grand Prairie and Richardson. Some of us are banded, some are bypass but we are all eating and living by the gastric bypass foodplan and all have been very successful and stayed healthy. You're cordially invited to visit/join the BElivers' board any time.......good group!!

Roast beef and chicken breast don't like me at all. If I convert the chicken to chicken salad (grind it up in my mini-chopper with salad dressing....also do the same with roast), it goes down all right. I don't know about rice or Pasta or breads because I haven't put even one bite of any of them in my mouth since a month before surgery......don't need the carbs and I'm scared of the triggers. :omg: I have eaten a few crispy tortillas that went down all right with salsa (it's hard giving that up in Texas!).

Sometimes it takes a week or so for a fill to 'kick in'......nobody seems to know why but it is that way for many people. When you get restriction....you'll know it. You'll get full very soon and you'll be miserable if you overeat....the food begins to back up in the esophagus. It's important to eat slowly because sometimes you are full before you realize it and then you are pretty uncomfortable for a while. The best part and, for me, the great surprise of all is.......I have very little appetite and almost no interest in food....no cravings, no feeling of deprivation. It's wonderful (and I'm a year and a half out).

Fills generally get tighter after a week or so, not looser. Does your fill doctor use a flouroscope to check for your restriction? That is a great help in knowing what is going on and can save extra trips back and forth. I wouldn't wait any longer.

It's normal to be afraid......but almost unheard of to not wake up!! Lapband is a very safe procedure altho of course any time we have anesthesia we are at risk. A year and a half ago, I had a BMI of 62 (same as my age!) and lots of co-morbidities - heart attack, 4 heart stents, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc etc etc!! I doubted they would even let me have surgery.....but after a very extensive physical, they cleared me, said there was no reason for me not to have the surgery. I went in to the hospital at 10 a.m., walked out to the my car at 2 p.m. and haven't slowed down since! I am now off all meds and my BMI is 37 (lost 160 lbs) and am still losing. Have you talked to the surgeon yet? Most require a sleep apnea test before surgery because that is a risk factor. If your insurance pays for the surgery, they should also pay for the sleep study. Check it out. That little CPAP machine brought me much relief and improved how I felt before I had surgery.

A lot of people have to do the sleep study.....sleep apnea is a pretty common co-morbidity of obesity (altho many thin people have it, too.) I had no idea I had a problem....thought I just didn't sleep well because of stress, pain, etc. After one night with my C-PAP, I slept better and felt better than I had in a long time. I used it for a year or so and loved what it did for me. After losing about 100 lbs, I no longer needed it, but I'm so glad I had it for the time I did....I wish I'd known years ago. Not all sleep study centers are the same, but here is an overview of one: A Night at the Sleep Centre

I had a panniculectomy (fat apron removal) this summer.....my fill doctor insisted that I have my band completely emptied before surgery....he said that if I should have any vomiting or PB's that it could do damage to the abdominal stitches from my surgery (and I had a 36-inche incisison!). About 3 weeks after surgery, I began my re-fills. I had not even thought about it, but he felt it was very important. And why are you playing games with the doctor and not telling him you have a lapband? Don't do that!!

After reading wls boards for the past 2 years, it seems that this is a very common thing.....most people are not as open about why they disappear from our lives as your friend was - at least she told you what was bothering her. Most people just slink away....of course, many of them don't have the insight to understand why their feelings changed. I think "want2beme" transaltion letter hit it right on the head. It's not YOU....it's HER. All you can do is do what's right for you - get healthy and go on with your life. Sometimes it's a real blessing to get toxic people out of our lives.....and we often don't realize they are toxic until they have been gone a while and their spot is filled with something/sometone that makes life much better. I know you are hurting, and I'm sorry. But don't feel foolish....you have no reason to be anyting but proud of what you are doing for your life and for your future.

Edie....I was told to crush my pills.....I got a little 'mortar and pestle' (amazon has lots of them) - I crush them and mix them with applesauce or something. I was on 11 scripts when I had surgery.....now I'm on ZERO so it's all been worth it! Best wishes!!

Sue.....you might post start a new thread and post your question re fills.....either on this forum on on the 'fill' forum. You'll come nearer getting appropriate responses. Glad to have you here!!

I, too, was banded 3/06. had never had any trouble pre-op with acid and didn't start having any til 3/07. Dr. gave me Protonic...didn't help much. I finally decided I had an ulcer (I've had them before, that's what it felt like) so we did an EGD.....no real problems, just a little irritation. They decided my and was too tight, took out just a small amount.......instant cure. I didn't want to do it because I was not PB'ing and sure was losing but had to give in and try. I still have to be careful with acids and choclate and avoid late-night eating, but it's nothing that Protonic can't handle. Hope you get somehelp soon.....

Great accomplishment!! You need to stay on board and give encouragement and be a good example to others! This can be done!!:clap2:

Hope it all works out well for you. I see people from lots of other cities and even other states in his office. Best wishes......

I think you're selling your husband short. He might wish it were otherwise but he realizes he's been dealing with stress and that can be his excuse if he needs one. Don't do yourself an injustice and quit losing because you don't think he can 'take it.' He'll be okay. Maybe it will be the motivation he needs to get control again.

It took me 8 months to lose 100 lbs and my surgeon seemed to think was remarkable. My "idol", who has lost 230 pounds, always says "the first 100 pounds are easy" and she was right. I've had to really work for the 60 I've lost in the year since then....I am still very compliant with my food, but it sure is slllooooow!! But if I never lose another pound, it's all right - it's been worth it all! I have my health back, my life back, and a future back!! What more could anyone ask??:clap2:

Just keeping repeating "Just because I CAN doesn't mean I SHOULD!" That's the mantra of bandsters for the first few weeks until you can get some restriction. It's the hardest part of the experience but very well worth it. You can do this!!!

Size of the band makes no difference at all so don't worry about yours being small. And the first fill usually doesn't do a thing for you as far as restriction goes.....it usually takes 2-3 fills depending on how aggressive your doctor is with them. And it's not unusual for it to take a week or so for a fill to 'kick in' after you do get the restriction point. My fill doctor is a master at giving them and I don't even feel it when he inject the needle into the port, but I know some people say they have have a little pain and/or bruising. Also, my doctor has you do a barium swallow every time after the fill to make sure it's not too tight, but many doctors don't. (That just means you stand in front of an xray machine, drink something, and they watch it go down).

My BCBS pays for my fills .....all I have to pay is the co-pay. I have no idea how that office codes it, though.

Does your fill dr. not use a flouroscope so he can do a barium swallow after the fill?

Just one of many things......I can get behind the wheel of the car and drive again! I parked my big ol' 'land yacht' DH bought me so I could squeeze behind the wheel and go somewhere if I had to ......and bought a cute little mid-size last week! There's no stopping me now!:clap2: