DianaG

Me too!! Same 2 lbs found and lost over and over for about 2 months!:smilielol5: I am glad that I have lost the 60 lbs over the last 11 months, but do get discouraged sometimes. I have made an appointment for another fill in a couple of weeks. Hope that takes care of it. I really don't want to be at a spot where I can't do anything but sip Water.....instead of having 2 or 3 good swallows. Hope I can lose more weight, but not be drastically restricted. Hope we all leave the plateaus behind us soon!:thumbup:

My surgeon told me to take some MoM....so I followed his advice and nothing happened!! I told him about the lack of results and he said that when you take MoM you must drink a glass of Water right after. Sure enough it worked like a charm. I should have read the directions on the bottle the first time! I agree that you are not constipated if you have a bm every day. Before I was banded "normal" for me was being able to go every third day. Now that I am banded, my new "normal" is about every 5th day! I make sure I take a stool softener each day. I also drink prune juice and/or a homemade fruit smoothie nearly every day. Everyone is so different and what works for one might not work for someone else. I too suggest that you talk to your doctor asap! Good luck!

I have been able to say goodbye to: 2 of 3 blood pressure meds Prilosec for indigestion fear of restaurant booths hatred of mirrors ditto of cameras! less pain in my hips and back(back is fused so all pain may never leave) pain in my knees depression about how I looked (still not totally happy) got rid of double chin -traded in for wrinkles!! inability to work in the garden HOORAY FOR US ALL!!!!!

I really missed my bourbon and coke....so, after a few weeks, I let a coke go flat and added the bourbon. It tasted really good! This from a gal that used to pour flat coke down the drain!!! I don't even miss carbonated drinks any more. Used to be hooked on diet Dr.Pepper. I haven't had one since my surgery 10 months ago......Hey, I think I might let one go flat and see how it goes. Another favorite summertime alcoholic drink is a Mai-Tai. I have a marvelous recipe for them. Yummy!!

Wow!!!Congrats on the fast weight loss.:biggrin: I am one of the slow losers....I had my surgery last July and am down only 60 lbs. That's a bit slower than my surgeon wants me to lose, but he tries to adjust the band to where I can lose no more than 3 lbs or less than 1 pound a week. He really likes it when I lose 2 lbs a week. So I am going to have to go back for another fill soon. I have 7cc's in my 10cc band now and hope that the next fill gets me closer to the "sweet spot". I am really impressed with your will power and the weight loss. Don't think I could stand a whole pound of baby carrots, even though I like them a lot!!

I haven't seen that one here in NW Arkansas, but sure will be looking for it. My favorite is the strawberry Special K ones. Also love the Optifast, but they are quite a bit more expensive. Thanks for the tip!

My surgeon also recommended Milk of Magnesia. I can't stand the original but the mint flavor is fine. Thank goodness for MofM!!!:thumbup:

I have had trouble with the vagus nerve with my last three fills. The surgeon says that when he gives me a fill, there is new pressure on the nerve and that causes me to slime :smile:, sometimes gag or burp bringing up "foam", have some nausea and be unable to drink anything without it immediately coming back up. He told me that the symptoms would stop about 24 hrs after the fill.....and lo and behold he was right! It stops almost exactly 24 hours later. By then I am so tired from being awake for all that time, that I drink some hot tea and take a nap!!!! After that all is well with my world. The last time I had a fill (I am at 7cc's now) I asked my surgeon if the nerve would eventually adapt so that it would no longer bother me. He replied "I'm sorry, but as long as I irritate the nerve with a fill, it will irritate you for 24 hours". So, I will be really, really, glad when I reach my "sweet spot"! I bet that irritating vagus nerve will be happy too!:thumbup:

My "kids" are adults now so your question doesn't apply to them. However; my DH has lost 12 pounds!!:thumbup:

Great! Sounds like you have all the info ready to fight their denial! I am pulling for you..don't give up or let them bully you. I am amazed that the medical group would be the ones stalling. After all, they know that they are going to be paid by the insurance company for your surgery! Perhaps they are trying to hold out in a futile effort to get more money from you or your insurance!:smile2: Who knows? Either way, you have to jump through their hoops, but it will be worth the fight when it is over and you are banded!!! Best of luck!

I was banded in July,2009. I had a BMI of 47:blink:, and several co-morbidities. I have BC/BS Standard for Federal Employees and they did not require any supervised diet, etc. If you are told that one is required, it is not by the insurance company, it is required by your medical provider. BC/BS Federal Employees benefits are the same in ALL states. The only difference is whether you have Standard or Basic options In fact, it was sorta hard to explain to my medical provider that just because some BC/BS insurance plans require the supervised diet, that was not the case with the Federal Employees Program. I actually took my copy of the Insurance Brochure we receive each year in to the Financial person at my providers clinic and showed them the requirements of BC/BS Federal. I am not aware of any changes between 2009 & 2010, but you can check your booklet and call the phone# on the back of your card. In fact, I called a couple of times just to make sure I was understanding everything correctly. Once the clinic understood the difference in regular BC/BS and the Federal BC/BS and sent my medical tests, nutrition consultation,psych eval, etc. on to the ins. co. I was approved within one week!! My BMI is now 37 and I feel 100% better!! So, good luck to you and please let us know how things go for you!

Hi Becca, I have BC/BS Federal Employees insurance and they approved my surgery pretty quickly once all the info from the doctor, psych,diatrician, and lab work was submitted to them. I was banded on July 27,2009 and am so glad I have the band. I feel much, much better physically and mentally!! I LOVE my band!:confused: I am sure you will be approved very soon. Best of luck to you! Let us know when you get approved.

Fluro stands for fluroscope. It is a medical imaging device that allows the surgeon who is doing the fill to actually see the lapband, tubing, port, your stomach and the pouch made by the band.....plus other interesting objects like the rods and screws where my spine has been fused!:thumbup: I have had several fills with the doctor using the fluroscope. I really feel comfortable knowing that he can check everything out visually, while he is giving me a fill. Good luck to you.

I am another one whose only regret is that I didn't get the band sooner!!! So glad I have it now and would do it again in a heartbeat!Love this band:wub:.

I guess I'd better dust off the credit card.... (Shhhhhhh...don't tell my hubby!) :scared2: I promise I won't tell your's if you won't tell mine!!!

My dear Amey, I have had some really bad times in my life, but not all on one weekend!!! My goodness you are a strong person to be able to handle all of that and I am surprised that you didn't have a complete meltdown. I can tell you that the pain will get better as time goes on, but right now you are all hurting physically and emotionally and you are an amazing person trying to support your son, his friends and everyone involved. That is an enormous task at any time, but to take it while getting ready for your surgery has to be extra stressful. I know that you all will come out the other side even stronger. It is only natural that your son is going through the "why not me" when he thinks of his friends injuries. I am certain that he will need some help coping in the aftermath of the tragedy and am also certain that you will help him find the help and comfort he needs. You are certainly an inspiration to me and I know you are to others also. Remember to take care of yourself at this time and don't worry about the future as a lap-bander ( is that a word?). One of the joys of being banded is that you really can eat at restaurants without any trouble in the future. I just usually order off the appetizer menus or ask for a to go box when I place my order. Then I can eat the same meal for the next two days!:eek: I am rambling on and on, but just had to offer you my sympathy and encouragement. I know it is hard, but you are a strong person and I wanted you to know that we are here if you need to talk. Lots of nice people on this site!:wink:

I agree with the closet shopping! It is so nice to be able to fit into some of my clothes that I packed away years ago. It is even better when those clothes get too large and I have to hunt the box, I had packed away, with the next size down! I still have several sizes to work my way through and then I will be happy to go shopping for new clothes. I also agree that it is nice to be able to make use of the old clothes for a while and thus be able to save money for when I really have to get a new wardrobe!:biggrin:

Papaya enzyme chewables also help a lot. I carry a bottle in my purse at all times!:biggrin:

Good morning Peaches, I am so glad that you are feeling much better! That band of ours can be tricky:sneaky:, can't it? I am sure you are going to reach your goal weight soon and like I said before, you are an inspiration to me! Keep in touch.

Mary, it can be really confusing with so much information out there, but I am just going to add to it!:smile: Some guidelines, that I received from my surgeon and nutritionist, are that right after surgery you should not eat more than 2 oz at each meal. Gradually that will be increased to 4 oz. Then as you progress through fills, etc. they aim for 1 cup of food at each meal.They stated that I should eat Protein first, then veggies, then if there is room have some fruit. Actually they said it would be fine to use the fruit as a snack. I have been banded for 9 months now. Sometimes I eat more and sometimes less. I have been getting some good restriction from my fills (6.5cc in a 10cc band). Not sure I am my sweet spot yet, but feel that I am able to eat a well balanced meal each day....even if it is spread out into 3 meals and 2 snacks!:drool: Hope this helps.

Good analogy! I had never thought of it this way either. I think you will have great success on your journey to a new life!:smile:

Peaches I am so impressed with your weight loss success! You are certainly an inspiration to me:tt1: I am also very sorry that you are having such a difficult time with your last fill. I have had a hard time with my last 3 or 4 fills. I have some pain, sliming, foaming and can't even drink anything without it causing more foaming...then I have to make some of it come up..not really vomiting just like a foaming pb!:drool: Anyway, my surgeon has told me that this happens because the fill puts pressure on the vagus nerve that runs by the spot where the band is. It is the nerve that lets us know we are full. Luckily, he also told me that the nerve will calm down in about 24 hours and he is right!! That is the good news:smile2:, the bad news is that you have to deal with the yuckie part for most of those hours. No sleep to speak of until the nerve settles down.:smile: I don't know if this is what has happened to you, but you might ask your doctor about it. Hang in there and please let us know what your doctor thinks happened. All the best to you.

Doreen, I am not sure if this would be helpful or not, but you might ask your doctor to withdraw all the Fluid from your band to make sure all 7 cc's are in there. My surgeon does this each time I get a fill, just to double check, before putting in more. I am not sure how it happens, but he told me that the band can lose some fluid over a period of time. Once I hit my "sweet spot" he said that I will have to come in 1 or 2 times a year to get the level of fluid checked and more added, if I need it. I have also read, on this forum, about people going in for a fill, and something happens (like missing the port) and the fluid not actually getting into the band. Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to see your doctor and ask his opinion. Keep us posted.

Bella71, you made my day! I can just picture you making that mad dash to your car!! I am looking forward to the day that my pants slide down instead of split when I bend over! I am at the point now where I can't wear some of my old ones....but sure look forward to when I can't wear any of them!!!! HappyHome you are an inspiration and I hope to follow in your footsteps ....literally!...to shop for smaller clothes soon. I have made one trip to our local hospital thrift store to donate some of my "morbidly obese" clothes and that really felt good! Congrats to us all!! Thanks for being so upbeat and encouraging.:smile2:

NewGuinea, Welcome to the best of the rest of your life!! Sandi has it right on!! Your band and you will form a partnership as you proceed on your journey to a wonderful future!! It has it's ups and downs, but every aspect of life has that! Your future is going to be rich, rewarding and fabulous!!:thumbup: