minpinmom

Thank you so much for sharing your story. You would be surprised at how your blog will help people! As for the blood work - I hate needles too. I will be thinking about you! W

I can't wait!

Thank you! I am so excited - I mean don't get me wrong - I hate this liquids part of the deal, but I am so excited, I think I may be close to restriction!

Well I got my fill today (wooHoo). I will be on liquids for 3 more days and my dr. doesn't want me to exercise at all till I am on solids again. My Dr. says I don't lose weight as fast because I exercise too much. I find that so hard to follow, but my last time in WW, they said the same thing. Lose a lot of the fat first, then move on to heavy exercise. I will be back next week, starting at week 1 again. I am such the Rebel! Keep me updated as to your progress! And send me "get restriction" thoughts - this was my 5th or 6th fill, I am now at 3CC in a 4CC band. I pray I will finally get restriction!

Okay, so I had my 5th or 6th fill today. I was at 2.6CC in a 4CC Band. My Dr. requires a Barium Swallow before each fill. So, I went in, told the gal doing the Xray, that I have ZERO restriction. After the Swallow, she agreed, she pulled up the stills and showed how the liquid went straight through, it didn't slow down or anything. She also showed me how wide my opening is, she said most people the opening is so small it looks closed on the xray. So, at this point I am getting a bit nervous thinking maybe I have a leak. I haven't really had any restriction ever - and I have had lots of fills. I go in and sit on the table. Dr. Spiegel comes right in and said he just reviewed my xray and is amazed that I don't have any restriction yet. So, he starts to give me a fill and pulls out all the liquid to make sure there isn't a leak. There wasn't. All 2.6 was in there. He said I am one of the few people that he has seen that has a super thin upper stomach. He gave me a whoppin' .4 to bring me up to 3CC. He said at this level that is a very liberal fill. He said for me not to worry, he has yet to find someone who he can't get as tight as they want. So, I am on liquids for the next 3 days, then soft foods for 3 days. I can't wait to try and eat something to see if I have restriction! Keep your fingers crossed for me, I don't want to be the first person who is filled to the brim and has 0 restriction! I like making headlines, but not like that!

Okay, so I had my 5th or 6th fill today. I was at 2.6CC in a 4CC Band. My Dr. requires a Barium Swallow before each fill. So, I went in, told the gal doing the Xray, that I have ZERO restriction. After the Swallow, she agreed, she pulled up the stills and showed how the liquid went straight through, it didn't slow down or anything. She also showed me how wide my opening is, she said most people the opening is so small it looks closed on the xray. So, at this point I am getting a bit nervous thinking maybe I have a leak. I haven't really had any restriction ever - and I have had lots of fills. I go in and sit on the table. Dr. Spiegel comes right in and said he just reviewed my xray and is amazed that I don't have any restriction yet. So, he starts to give me a fill and pulls out all the liquid to make sure there isn't a leak. There wasn't. All 2.6 was in there. He said I am one of the few people that he has seen that has a super thin upper stomach. He gave me a whoppin' .4 to bring me up to 3CC. He said at this level that is a very liberal fill. He said for me not to worry, he has yet to find someone who he can't get as tight as they want. So, I am on liquids for the next 3 days, then soft foods for 3 days. I can't wait to try and eat something to see if I have restriction! Keep your fingers crossed for me, I don't want to be the first person who is filled to the brim and has 0 restriction! I like making headlines, but not like that!

My fills have been covered, except for the $12.00 copay. My Dr. now requires a Barium swallow before a fill, it is NOT covered. He just started it and charges $50.00 for it. Most Dr.s don't do this. I have had 4 or 5 fills, and only the last one was under the new Barium.

I am pretty much over it now, but I got sick over the 4th of July weekend - and couldn't go to the gym and workout. I usually go everyday, rarely missing 1 day a week. I missed 4 or 5 days in a row and it was SO hard going back. I am doing the Couch to 5K program and I have to repeat week 1, I didn't get to finish it last week. I feel like such a loser! Not really, I am just bummed that I am behind on working out. I can't believe I am saying this, coming from someone who NEVER workedout a day in her entire life! I can't believe how lazy I was! I get my 5th or 6th fill tomorrow. I am really hoping for some real restriction. I have run out of willpower. I need some help. I can eat anything, just like before. I chew very well because I am scared of PBing, but tonight I had Ribeye steak, baked potato and corn on the cob. I still try to keep my calories low, but damn it is getting hard. Please oh please let me get restriction tomorrow!

I am pretty much over it now, but I got sick over the 4th of July weekend - and couldn't go to the gym and workout. I usually go everyday, rarely missing 1 day a week. I missed 4 or 5 days in a row and it was SO hard going back. I am doing the Couch to 5K program and I have to repeat week 1, I didn't get to finish it last week. I feel like such a loser! Not really, I am just bummed that I am behind on working out. I can't believe I am saying this, coming from someone who NEVER workedout a day in her entire life! I can't believe how lazy I was! I get my 5th or 6th fill tomorrow. I am really hoping for some real restriction. I have run out of willpower. I need some help. I can eat anything, just like before. I chew very well because I am scared of PBing, but tonight I had Ribeye steak, baked potato and corn on the cob. I still try to keep my calories low, but damn it is getting hard. Please oh please let me get restriction tomorrow!

The stars didn't align for me today. I ended up first forgetting my phone (with the pod cast), went back to the house to get it, got to the gym and realized hubby had taken the earphones out of the car. So, I did the Elliptical and thought I was going to die. Normally I do it with no problem, but 4-5 days off, huge difference. Hopefully I can start back tomorrow and just go every other day and eventually catch up. You guys are all doing awesome - keep up my daily inspiration!

Tricare required me to stay overnight - Spiegel had said I could do it outpatient. I am actually glad I had to stay. The Hospital was totally Posh - flat screen TVs in all the rooms, all rooms private, valet parking for everyone. It was an upgrade for the night :-) I love Spiegel - he is totally no nonsense. His front office could use some help, although, I have seen improvements since I have been going.

It didn't take too long for me. I had all my medical paperwork transferred over (less than a week), the surgeon's office submitted (took forever, they didn't believe me that it was covered). Once they actually submitted it, Tricare approved me within minutes. Then, once again, the Surgeon's office took forever (they insist on waiting for a hard-copy of the authorization instead of the online version. Finally, after 2 weeks, I got a copy of the Auth from my regular PCM and had them fax a copy to my surgeon's office. Once they received it - I had pre-op the next day and surgery 3 days later! It is the paperwork that takes so long. I think it took about a month, but would have taken a couple weeks if not for all the hassle.

Hopefully you are now in Bandland, let us know as soon as you can. And use a larger font so us blind people can keep up with you too!

You guys rock. I didn't get to do day 3 of week 1 (I have been sick). So I am going to repeat week 1. I am a bit scared. Since I have started going to the gym a few months ago, I went every single day, missing, at the most 1 day a week and that was rare. I have missed 4 days and still feel crummy. I hope I can continue my regular workouts. I feel like if I miss that much I may never be able to do it again!

AWESOME! You are starting to look like Lindsey Lohan!

Yes, we are medically retired.

If you are Tricare Prime, you should have a $12.00 Copay for certain Dr.s Appointments. (non-MTF) Same as if you go to your Dr. for a cold, you have a $12.00 Copay unless you have maxed out for the year.

I am sick too - just drove in from my parents this morning - so I could be in my own home - it is tough being sick at someone else's house. I just hope I am well enough to do my 3rd day this week. Yesterday I was involved in 4th of July festivities, then got sick last night. Hopefully I will be better tomorrow and can keep up with this week. Congrats everyone on doing so well and a Happy belated Independence Day!

I am going to keep trying, I am already worried about trying to progress to week 2, but to tell you the truth, I didn't think I could do the week 1 either. I have never seen my heart rate that high. It kinda surprised me. When I first started the Elyptical my heart rate would hit 159 and the screen would beep and black out! lol, now on that machine my heart rate doesn't go above 140. But 170 man! I am going to have to wait till Saturday to do my next day (out of town for the Holiday). But I will be thinking of you guys!

Okay, I just finished day 2. It was harder than day one, I think because I am still so sore from day 1. I walk at 3.0 and jog at 4.0. My heart rate got to 170. After I did my jogging program, I went to do weights and my nose started bleeding. I wonder if it has anything to do with how fast my heart was beating? The only time I have ever had a nosebleed was with allergies. I don't have allergies right now. I can't imagine ever increasing the time or speed when I do this. I struggle with each step as it is. I guess if I continue to do week 1 over and over, at some point it has to get easier.

Thank you guys for the comments. Rebif is injected 3 times a week. It seems to be working great, but who really knows? I can't believe your Dr., that is horrible. Thank God we have great insurance, the shots are over 150 a pop otherwise. You guys really are inspirational.

Hi guys, I don't have MS, but my husband does. He was diagnosed in 04-05. He is on Rebif. We were in the Military and they kept thinking he was lying because his symptoms were so bad (Numbness in both feet and hands, pain in back, migraines, swaggering gate). They attributed it to a back problem. They gave him the choice of having surgery on his back or opting out of the Military, so we ended up doing surgery on his back (thinking it was a back problem). The spine didn't fuse and the Dr. clipped a nerve and caused a rare nerve disease in his foot. (RSD) They Medically retired him, then months later he went blind in one eye. They did an MRI and he had over 25 lesions on his brain. The IV Steroids got his vision back, but he is in so much pain from the failed spinal fusion and nerve disease, he is miserable. His last MRI showed that the lesions had almost all gone away . . . the Dr. seemed amazed. He has developed a couple more lesions on his spine, but his brain no longer looks like a glow stick! It is really nice to know that you guys are doing so well with LapBand and living with MS to boot! I can only imagine how strong you all are.

My Barium Swallow: You stay dressed and stand in front of this large xray machine. They give you a little pill cup filled Barium (looks and kinda tastes like Milk of Magnesia). The turn the machine on, I can actually see my tummy and everything on the screen, they tell you to swallow and the Barium shows up on the screen. You actually see it go down to your pouch and then into your lower stomach. It coats everything, kinda like the old Pepto Bismol commercials. They watch to make sure your pouch hasn't stretched and also to see how fast the liquid goes through. My Dr. does this before he gives you a fill. Hope this helps!

Wow, all parts of my body hurt this morning - I am glad I have a day off to rest.

That is so cool! Is she in the calendar also? Maybe we should hire your niece to do a Lapband calendar with a tiny before picture and a huge after picture of our success stories!