Dani13

Hey, just wanted to check in with everyone and I'm glad to see how well everyone is doing!!! So for me I'm down 60 lbs as of today...it's unreal to me!! I cant to be in the 100's again. My 5 year old son was asking why I couldn't eat the same cheese bagel he was eating for breakfast and I told him because of my surgery, I eat different things now and he said " so that’s why your stomach is all shrunk up now" It was the funniest thing!! Good luck to everyone!!!!

I think your calf will be ok. The skin there stays tight most of the time and I don't think it will change with weight loss. I don't have any ink on my legs but with the weight I've lost so far all my work still looks the same.

Dr. Irani is my doctor. He did my surgery on March 17 09. I really like him. He's relaxed and very understanding. I didn't really see him after my consult again until right before they put me under and then not again until my one week check. I was told that’s how he normally is but, I could have seen him in his office before my band again if I wanted but, that he didn't require it. It's seems that after your band is when you spend more time with him, for fills and check ups. As far as the office staff and insurance.... I'm not sure if you have been in for a consult or not but, they will tell if you do go, you have to pay the doctor’s fee up front of $3,400 and then they will bill your insurance for you and have the insurance company pay you back directly at whatever the % they pay. For me it was kinda a pain, I paid the money up front and for nearly two months I kept wondering where my claim check was and finaly relized that they never sumited it. I spooke to them and the insurance and found out that they wern't sumiting the claim properly....so to make a long story short I didn't it myself in 10 min from my home computer and got it in a few weeks. So I would strongly recommend just mailing the claim in yourself. Most insurance you can print the forms off there web site.

I was banded on March 17@ 262 236 now... so 26 lbs. I had my first fill of 2cc on April 28 and I don't feel that much restriction but, as long as your still looseing I think it's ok. Sounds like you are right were your supposed to be!

Thanks everyone! The pain has started to get a bit better unless I move or twist just the right way or push on it... So I'm thinking maybe it's just normal pain. It hasn't been even two months yet so soreness might still be normal right?

I just wondering if this is normal??? I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and felt fine for a week and then my port/ area around it just started feeling sore and seems to keep getting more painful. I was pain free before and now it hurts to lay on my side or belly and to twist. I worried about infection but, I don't know if I'm just over reacting. What are the signs that your port might be infected?

I have the same pain around my port. I was band on 3/17. It feels like a burning ripping feeling....it really hurts at night when I'm trying to find a a bareable way to sleep. I don't think it can be the food, my doctor had me start eating soft foods a week after and didn't mention anything about port pain. I don't see my doctor again in till May 1 so post back and let us know what your doctor say when you get your fill. Thanks

Yup it's the matrix 5.0. It comes in tons of flavors, some are a little too sweet for me like the fruit flavors but the chocolate isn't and if you like coffee drinks there is a Cappuccino flavor that's good by it's self or mixed half and half with the chocolate iced or warm like sherryred73 suggested....you really have to get creative with it....or all those liquids will drive you crazy!

Anyone else from Bakersfield?

http://www.drugstore.com/templates/browse/default.asp?catid=2832&trx=BS-43576&trxp1=HP&trxp2=0&trxp3=2832&brand=43576 This is the Protein my doctors office sold me and its the best I have had. I've tried the chocolate and Cookies and cream (if you blend it with 8oz Water or fat free milk and ice its like an oreo shake). I can only drink about 4oz at a time but it leaves me filling full. It has about 25 grams of protein plus 11 grams from the milk. 3 shakes a day plus what I got from the broth got me to my 110 grams during my liquid stage. Now that I'm on soft foods I still use that shakes and scrambled or hard boiled eggs and fish even caned tuna or crab work they are very soft. Soft cheeses are high in protein and help with the salt craving and I also like those new spray salad dressings to add flavor and salt to most food and are only 1 cal for 10 sprays and no sugar. Hopes this helps Dani Band 3/17/2009 277lbs/251lbs/The Goal 165lbs

Just wanted to say Hi to everyone. I was just banded on the 17th too. I'm doing ok with pain just still really tired and a little out of it. The gas pain in my upper back and neck has been killer but hopefuly that part is just about over...

Hey this is my first post...I'm being banded March 17....and and starving on this liquid didet.....but am remaining hopefull.