marfar7

Mine is on the left side, about 2" higher than my belly button. I could barely feel it and couldn't see it in the beginning. Now that I've lost almost 100 lb, it's very pronounced and I can feel it thru clothes. Looks like an alien is emerging! Marci

Medicare doesn't require any pre-op diet. I have Medicare and was approved quickly. They also require an overnight stay in the hospital. And....just an fyi: Medicare only covers fills for 1 yr. Then it's out of your pocket. I don't know what the Medicaid rules say, just Medicare. They also require a BMI of 40 or >35 with at least 1 comorbidity. Good luck! Marci

". I recently went to the my main doctor for a 3 month check up and saw my weight at it was 232 pounds and something just clicked...that I need to continue losing weight and get rid of all the negativity and let go of the past. There was a time when I thought of revision to gastric bypass or gastric sleeve but I don't think that I could do this all over again." All of this happened in just 3 mths? You're giving up on the band after just 3 months? The biggest thing I wished someone had told me before getting banded was to HAVE PATIENCE. You didn't put the weight on overnight, you're not going to take it off overnight either. It was 4 months and 3 fills later when I started losing weight. The first 4 mths, I lost maybe 3 lbs. I ate whatever I wanted to, however much I wanted to. Thought I had failed yet another diet. Till that 3rd fill. Then the magic happened. Your dr does sound like an ass. But you need to have a little more patience and take your time losing this weight. The band, while not working for very few people, works for most people who give it an honest try. I'm not a poster girl for the lapband - I don't follow all of the rules 100% of the time. But I do love my lapband and attribute it to losing almost 100 lbs. In fact, I'm probably one of the most lax lapbanders out there (I eat carbs, drink soda, and eat plenty of sugar) and it worked for me. For someone who follows the rules, I'm sure it's an even better tool. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone, there's people here you can vent to. Also, just to remind you to have patience. I promise you, it WILL work eventually. AS soon as you get the perfect adjustment, eat within the tiny portions you can eat, exercise, and have faith YOU WILL LOSE. I also have hypothyroidism and take Synthroid (have for about 10 yrs now), but I know that it makes little difference to my weight. I lost about 4 lbs when I started taking the thyroid pills. I knew that my 250 lbs wasn't because of my thyroid, it was because I ate too much! Good luck to you. Keep us posted! Marci

My band slipped about 6 mths ago. I had really bad nightime reflux. My only symptom. Dr took our 1/2 my fill (5cc) and let it rest for 4 wks. The reflux went away. Yeah! He then put a 1cc fill to start slowly filling me back up. Felt like I had no band. Ate alot. Went back and got a 1cc fill. Then the reflux started again. He finally xrayed me {should have been done before putting in the first 1cc. My band was still slipped. So he too out the previous 1cc out and told me that if my symptoms went away, Im fine. He treats symptoms, not xrays. Great. Now I still have a slipped band. I have occasional reflux now when I sleep on my right side, but its tolerable. I have much lessened restriction. Im ok until about 6pm. Then I feel like I have no band. I can eat the side of a barn. I've now officially gained 10 lbs since the slip, 18 since last Dec when I got marrid. My 8 jeans don't fit anymore. Had to buy a few pairs of 10s. Im so bummed. I know I need to buckle down and control my weight. I've had my band for 3 yrs and its done its job. Now I have to do mine. Good luckk! Marci

My dr always used lidocaine ( a shot of numbing medicine) first, so I don't feel the bigger needle at all. If they don't automatically do this, just ask. Some drs use a numbing gel too. Good luck! Marci

Have patience. It took me until my 3rd fill, 4 mths in until I got any retsriction whatsoever. I wished someone had told me that in the beginning. Good luck Marci

well said! Thank You! Marci

My husband says I eat crap. I'm more than 3 yrs post op, have lost over 100 lbs and still eat crap. Not very much of it, I will admit, but I still eat like crap. I wish I had learned how to eat healthier, as now that I'm 45, I'm thinking not just of weight loss but of my general health (diabetes, etc). It's best if you learn how to eat healthy right off the bat. I don't eat very much at any given time, but I could improve my diet a little! Marci

We're taking my in laws to Hometown Buffet. I'm gunna try and use my lapband card to get the kids price! Went there last year (waited for over an hour). Bummer there won't be any leftovers tho. I eat a couple bites of everything - including pumpkin pie. Anything with the word "pumpkin" in it and I love it! Marci

My husband is a low carber (I'm not, I eat them all the time!), but I think I might just try this tomorrow nite! I need to pick up some cream cheese and pizza sauce. I'll letcha know how it turns out! Marci

Yes, I'm from a Swedish family - always bigger on top than bottom. Makes for a hard time finding pajamas that fit! I have to mix and match (a med pants and xl top). FYI: The Hanes/Playtex outlet won't let you do it. They check the sizes to make sure they match upon checkout. Oops.

I wish that was true for everyone. I've gone from size 22 pants to size 8 - but only from a 3x to an xl on top. When I was fitted for my wedding dress over a year ago, they measured me for a size 16 on top and a 4 on bottom. I've lost over 100 lbs and only lost on top from 44DD to a 40D. I definately have a harder time losing on top. Makes me look like a marshmallow being held up by 2 toothpicks! Marci

Too numerous to list! Luv a new recipe for Mushroom Sage chicken. Made it 3x this past month and it tastes even better the next day. I think I'm addicted to the Pinterest recipes site! Marci

You're staying away from the German brotchen? Good girl! I served in Germany in 1997-2000 (near Wurzburg) and have been to K - Town. Enjoy your time in Europe. You'll always want to go back once you're gone! Congrats on the loss! WTG! Marci Oh, and the German bread, yogurt, and the donor kebabs (those little devilish Turkish sandwiches) were all to die for!

WTG! Keep it up! Marci

Where do you find sugar free/fat free pudding? I've seen either/or, but not both. Is it Jello brand? Thanks! Marci PS: Do you notice that when you use a mixer with sf pudding, it whips it up so airy it's like mousse? I LUV pudding. It's my middle of the night treat. A spoonful of pudding...yeah, I take a bite or 2 in the middle of the night. I know, a bad habit to get into

So, so very happy for you! I know exactly how it feels...not to have to shop in the Plus Size dept anymore! I recommend, however that you keep at least one of your old outfits. I didn't keep any of mine and I wish I had. Marci

I don't really like Greek yogurt either. Reminds me of eating sour cream outa the container. It's got double the proteiin tho. Marci

We hardly get any trick or treaters at our apt, but we bought one bag of Reeses last nite, just in case. As I was lying in bed watching tv last nite, I was thinking about nothing else but those Reeses! I thought about them everytime I got up to pee in the middle of the night. I thought about them when I woke up in the morning. I thought about them while on the treadmill at the gym. I'm thinking about them right now. The first kid that comes to my door tonite is gunna score - they're getting the whole dang bag of Reeses! I don't wanna risk having any leftover! Marci

When I got an unfill, my dr said that I could eat normal afterwards. Not like an actual fill where i have to do liquids for 24 hrs. Marci

Not to change the subject, but pudding sounds mighty good right now! Might have to get some today! Marci

It's been 3 yrs since surgery,and about 1 yr since losing 100 lbs, but I'm still not caught up! I still feel fat. I see myself in the mirror everyday and I don't really see the changes, until I look at before pics of me. Then I really see it. Good luck getting your head caught up with your body! Marci

What VA center do you use? I don't think the VA covers fills - at least most VA's don't. When I had my surgery 3 yrs ago, the VA didn't even do lapbands, only bypass (and I would've had to travel to Portland to get it done (about 6 hrs away). Not sure if they even do them now. But I guarrantee it'll only be done at the bigger VA hospitals. My VA doc didn't even know what a lapband was - I had to explain it to him. I travel 6 hrs round trip to get fills at a civilian dr. Medicare covered the surgery and the first year of fills. Now they cost me $160 each. Whether it's a fill or an unfill. $600 sounds really expensive to me! Good luck! And if you'r VA center does do them, why not go there? I would! Marci

I've lost almost 100 lbs (now 150'ish) and still feel fat. I keep a before pic of me in my purse tho, to remind myself. Since we look at ourselves in the mirror everyday, you don't see the big changes that occur. People who haven't seen me in ages are amazed tho. And I didn't meet my husband until about 75 lbs down, so he never really knew me super obese. I feel fat tho everyday. Not sure if I'll feel the same when I finally get to goal (135) someday! Have a fun vacation! And you can do them without gaining. I've been on 3 Mexican cruises and managed never to gain a pound. The first one I actually lost a couple lbs cuz I was so seasick! Marci

I absolutely still get cravings, even 3 yrs later. I usually give in to them, altho it's 1 cookie instead of 12 now. Or I make sugar free pudding and that helps some...I was craving potato chips last nite about 11pm. Nothin I could do about it - just went to bed and fell asleep! Marci