marfar7

It's like working out with a heavy suit on - you'll lose weight initially (all water) but as soon as you take it off and drink some Water, it'll all come back on. Waste of money, IMHO... Marci

Medicare covers fill for the first year. after that, it's out of pocket. I pay $160 Marci

Another plus you have to think about with the plication is that I hear that your chance of band slippage is minimal. My band is slipped now and I'm facing a revision (most likely the sleeve). I wish plication had been available in 2009. Marci

Thanks for all the replies! Wow! Seems that while I can hope to lose my hunger, there's no guarantee. I guess there's no guarantee in any WLS, so I guess I'll have to suck it up. Someone emailed me today whose dr told her that the pancreas also makes ghrelin. Great. Maybe they can take that out too? Probably couldn't live without it! Happy to be part of the sleeve board... Marci

I'm 3 1/2 rs post lapband. A slipped band I might add. Having a revision to a sleeve soon and just learning as much as I can before (I had no idea what I was getting into with the band. I want to be informed this time around). While my portions are controlled with my band, I still feel hunger all the time. Since they take out the part of the stomach that produces Ghrelin (the hunger hormone) does that mean I'll never be hungry again? Do you force yourself to eat something even when you're not hungry? Any and all info is truly appreciated! Marci

I ordered mine online from GNC. You can probly get them at a GNC store tho. I drank maybe 1/2 of one. They're so gross. My nurse told me they tasted like Jolly Ranchers. No Jolly Ranchers I've ever tasted were like this! What a waster of $. They're pricey too. My brother in law liked them so I gave them to him Marci

Thanks so much. I've contacted her for info. Luv her blog. Read about 2/3 of it. I need all the info I can get! Marci

Congrats, sounds like you hit your spot. It was my 3rd fill that did if for me too. 1 small chicken breast made 4 meals for me. As long as your not having problems with reflux, I'd say you're just about right. Portion control is what the band is sposed to be for! Yeah! Marci

Agree. My dr also says no solids for 2 hrs before, but I don't eat at all the day of a fill for just this reason. Seems to be more accurate (at least to me, who's not an MD!) on the fill level...Good luck! Marci

I've been banded for 3 1/2 yrs now and have lost most of my weight (all but 30 lbs). My band recently slipped and was totally unfilled and now waiting for 5 weeks for a revision. Still deciding whether to get a new band or go with the sleeve. I'm leaning toward the sleeve (less maintenance, no chances of slipping). I know with nothing I will gain all my weight back. Anyhoo, my dr didn't require a pre op diet for me (not sure about the rest of his pts), jusy a lite dinner the nite before. Just wondering if anyone has no pre op diet or if it's routine with the sleeve? Since they're stapling part of the stomach, you'd think it would have to be empty. I'm hoping it's not too severe.... Marci

I had to laugh at this (I know it's truly not funny) cuz I don't think I can ever be too skinny! I've dealt with my weight all my life and have never been accused of being "too skinny". No, I don't have the desire to be rail thin or look sickly, just be a normal, healthy woman. How many of us actually pictured ourselves too skinny? I've worried about lots of stuff - never this tho. Thanks for the chuckle - really. Marci

$7500 is truly a bargain. I went in a couple months ago just to get an idea of what to expect. Was given an estimate of $8,000 just for the tt (and I don't have that much saggy skin) and an extra $3,000 for lipo of my neck/chin area (a spot thats always bugged me). I also wanted lipo on my backfat, but after hearing the dr and my husband both say I didn't really need it, I gave in and decided it wasn't for me. If I get the 2 procedures done at the same time, I can pay $9500 for both. This includes the surgical suite, anestesia, and medications. So depending on where you live (different parts of the country charge different amts - I'm in Oregon) you're getting a good deal! Good luck! It'll take a while for me to save up $10,000! Marci

I have to argue with your PA here. Last year, I started having really bad nightime reflux. I doubt if the brown icky stuff stuck to my pillow in the morning was extra food stuck - it was stomach acid. There's alot of people on this board with reflux. Not sure why it's impossible. If your food was stuck in there and couldn't go anywhere, how did you manage to eat for a couple months? Just thought I'd add that there's lots of people with bands who have acid reflux. I was 1 of them until I got some Fluid taken out. Don't mean to argue with you, btw - but with your PA.... Marci

Boy, I would've killed for some oatmeal those first weeks! LOL. Didn't get that for 4 weeks. You're one lucky lady! Marci

I do crunches 4x a week. They're fine. Won't hurt you a bit (unless you're talking about the sore muscles the day after your first or 2nd workout!) Marci

They fed you in the hospital? Real food? The day after surgery, i was given 1 oz of strawberry Protein shake. Thats it. And water. had to be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks. Thought I would eat my arm AND my leg! U definitely need to look at your post op directions a little more thoroughly. I've never heard of anyone having a regular diet right after surgery. Good luck and congrats on the loss! Marci

WTG! You're right on track. 22 lbs in less than 10 days? WOW! You're almost to 299. Bet you can't wait to see those numbers. How long has it been since you've seen them? Marci

WTG! You're doing fabulous! Keep it up! Have fun on ur vacation! Marci

Nioxin can be bought at any hair salon or beauty supply store. I used it as a prevention, never did lose any hair. Not sure if that was the reason, but it can't hurt. It's kinda pricey (about $25), but your hair is worth it! Marci

18 mths? Good grief. I will have gained back every lb I've lost by then (actually, I won't - just sayin). I'm hoping they can do it the same day. My dr is 3 hrs away and my husband has to stay in a hotel while I'm in the hospital. It'd also be cheaper to do it just once. Thanks for the info everyone! Marci

For the first 100 lbs or so, I weighed once a week, never even thought of weighing everyday, actually. Now, 3 1/2 yrs post op, I weigh everyday. I also like to keep close tabs on my weight before I gain 5 lbs. Doesn't always work tho. Like this past year, weighing myself everyday didn't stop the 21 lbs gain this past year! Do what feels right for you. Can't stand seeing the scale and not stepping on it Marci

But I'm terrified. I'm definitely a rule breaker (hence the slipped band 3 1/2 yrs later from frequent vomiting. Never did learn how to eat slowly). My band had a minor slip last year, my dr took out 1/2 of my fill and it worked. no more reflux, so he decided to leave it alone. In the last year I gained 21 lbs. I HATE dieting, why I got the band in the first place. So I've been on the fence for months whether I wanted to just go ahead and revise it even tho I had no symptoms. This past Friday nite, I started having stomach pain. Not bad, just bothersome. Monday nite (after having constant pain for 3 days) it got unbearable and I ended up in the hospital. My band was herniated (a bad slip). They unfilled my 6cc and told me I'd need a revision. My band dr is 3 hrs away, so I haven't been seen by him yet. I called the insurance girl at my drs office and asked if revision would be covered under my Medicare. It is, even tho my bmi is now 27 cuz it's a complication. They don't cover plication, however, which is what I wanted with my band - to improve my chances of future slips. She talked a little about the sleeve (which is also covered) and said most band patients convert to the sleeve. Like I said, I haven't even talked to my dr about it yet so I'm not sure what he's gunna say, but I started doing research on the sleeve today. I loved my band. Helped me to lsoe 104 lbs. But it's so much maintenance - always going 6 hrs round trip for fills/unfills/tweaking and alot of money involved (Medicare only pays for fills for the first year) and worries about slipping. The sleeve doesn't require maintenance, does it? How long do you spend in the hospital? Is it like gastric bypass where over the years your stomach can stretch back out? Whats the difference between GB and the sleeve? Any and all info is greatly appreciated!! Even tho I'm only about 28 lbs from my 135 goal, I know I'd gain back every lb that I've lost if I don't have a tool to work with. I proved that this past year with less than optimal restriction. I never did learn how to eat healthy - the band just stopped me from eating too much. Thanks! Marci

Or do I have to have 2 surgeries? I assumed that they'd be done all in one, but I read a post that said that someone had to wait 2 weeks between surgeries. How did you do your's? I'd rather have it done all at one. I have a slipped band with all of the Fluid taken out, debating on getting a new band or converting to a sleeve??? Comments?? Marci

Hey everyone, Well, my "slight slipped" band turned into a full blown major slip over the weekend. They unfilled me totally and will let the swelling go down.Talked to the insurance girl in my drs office today to make sure that Medicare will cover a new band and if they would cover plication. They will cover a revision (but not plication, bummer) even tho my BMI is ony 27 because of complications. They will also cover the sleeve. I'm researching it right now. There's a whole forum on verticalsleevetalk.com about band to sleeve revision. Everyone there is so much happier with their sleeve than with their band. But everyone on this website is happy with their band and against any type of permanent surgery. I'm scared cuz it is permanent, but also less maintenence ( I have to travel 6 hrs roundtrip and pay $160 for any adjustment) and no chances of slippage in the future. What should I do? Marci

I LOVE Kens Steakhouse creamy caesar dressing. Didn't know it was actually a restaurant. You can't put salad dressing in a regular sprayer, you have to buy one of the olive oil sprayers (about $20 at target) and put any dressing in there. Personally, I think the ones that come in the sprayers on the grocery shelf are gross. I would buy an olive oil sprayer and spray it on, if you're looking to cut calories. Or just dip you fork tines in the dressing first before stabbing the salad. Thats what I do. You get a taste of the dressing but not many calories. Marci