Humming Bird

After the first 100 pounds my weightloss slowed to an almost stop. I'm just riding it out and dropping about 1 pound a month. I too toss around the idea of another fill, but not so sure that will be the right thing to do. I am just enjoying the huge amount of weightloss for the moment and letting my brain catch up.

That is the criteria I have heard the most for both ins. and self-pay.

I'm not sure what you are talking about with the part of your post about testing your read and a tube. I don't get it at all. As for the bubbles, I feel bubbles often. Sometimes it feels like bubbles going up from my lower stomach to the upper pouch. My stomach also makes strange noises. I think it's pretty normal with the band. As for the bathroom issue, it is important that you stay regular. I eat a Fiber gummie every day to keep things moving (vitafusion brand/Target). Many other bandsters use other forms of fiber like benefiber.

This is the first time I have heard about a 200 lb criteria. Usually you qualify by having a BMI of 40 or more with no other health conditions or a BMI of 35 with 2 co-morbidities.

13. It is very unlikely that you will ever lose all of your excess weight with a LAP-BAND®. I am living proof this one is not true. I am now at a "normal" BMI. This means I have lost 100% of my excess weight. I still need to take off 9 pounds for my personal goal. All this was done with very little effort on my part.

Something you might consider is self-pay. I have not had insurance for quite a few years now. I financed my lapband surgery. At first the monthly payments were around $100. Now my min. monthly payments are $54. I have been making larger payments and now almost have it paid off. The surgery and the weightloss have been worth it to me. I paid more for my car than I paid for this surgery.

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho, it's off to work I go.

Then you are either burning up or freezing. There is no happy medium. Thank goodness my menopause symptoms are about all done. (surgical menopause) Now I just have to deal with the freezing. We had more snow this morning and of course I needed to pump gas...Brrrrrrr

This will be my 2nd winter with the band. The temps here are already dropping and we have already had snow twice. I'm freezing just like I did last year. I had hopes it would get better, but has not yet. I have no thyroid problems that I know of. It's just the weightloss.

The port should be firmly anchored to the lining that covers the muscle layer. The port should not move. The position of the skin is what changes. If the Dr. inserts the needle when you are laying down, that position will be different than when you try to locate the port when you are sitting up or standing.

It is my understanding that no lapband surgeon (with morals) would band someone with a BMI of 28. It is major surgery and is designed for those who are morbidly obese or obese with co-morbid conditions.

It sounds to me like what I consider PBing. What others call PB I consider throwing up. They are very different. To avoid this you need to make sure you are taking very tiny bites, chewing well, eating slow, not eating one bite too many, and understanding what your soft signs are.

I too hope I can keep my band forever. I have a problem eating fried foods. They don't feel so good when they reach my pouch so I avoid them.

That's a great plan with a really good reward in the end ! :wink2:

I have taken in quite a few things. There are some things that would just not be worth all the trouble it would be to take them in properly. My mom started teaching my sister and I how to sew when we were very young (about 4th grade) and I've been sewing ever since. I too am a clothes hoarder, so it is great to fit in those clothes I have saved thinking I would fit in them again someday.

I'm with you on that one. I was eating sugar free life savers one day and ate quite a few. They acted like a laxative. I do ok with SF gum and mints, but the SF lifesavers really get me if I have more than 2. Sugar free is also better for your teeth.:wink2:

I never ate baby food and I never put anything in the blender that I normally wouldn't. Things like yogurt smoothies, yes blender. Putting meat, pasta or anything like that in the blender ..... no way.

Good for you Bob! Keep up the good work. Once you get used to the whole thing you can relax and coast through the process. There are negative things about the journey, but it's nice to let some of that go and just enjoy feeling trimmer.

One way to look at it and explain it to your family.... If you are obese enough to qualify for weightloss surgery, it is a life or death situation. There are so many health risks with obesity. It could cause you an early death. My father died from his obesity.

LOL I love it!

Eeewwww! ABC Cheetos :sneaky: I think just doing that one time would cure me from the cheeto craving. I get too grossed out from seefood. I do understand the thought behind it. I have heard some bandsters say they have done that with meat because it gives them much trouble. I like the delayed gratification idea and will have to put that one to use.

I noticed that way down in the article it says If the band is properly adjusted, the appetite will be dimmed for several hours. To me, that means with proper RESTRICTION. Some of the stuff rings true for me and some does not.

I love it! Good for you! what a great feeling! Mine involves jeans too. I bought a new pair of jeans and was so thrilled with the smaller size I wore them for an entire weekend. After I washed and dried them I pulled them out of the dryer and thought, "OMG they shrank! Look at the teeny tiny little jeans! I will never be able to wear them again." I figured I would try them on and see just how much more I would have to lose before I could even think about wearing them. They fit! I zipped them up with no problem! My brain has not caught up with my shrinking size. I learned a lesson that day. Do not just hold up clothes to figure out if they will fit. I must try them on. As you get farther along in your journey you will find that most of the time, these NSVs mean so much more than what the scale says.

I had a BMI of 41. My BMI had nothing to do with me self-paying. I have not had health insurance for many years. Where do you live? Check out the websites for lapband surgeons in your area. You could always call the offices and ask about it too.

I think we all have different motivations. Money is a big one for some. I was self pay and it hurts bad to pay out that kind of money, but I think my weightloss would have been the same if I had insurance. Being healthy is a big motivation for many no matter if they were self pay or insurance. It was not my motivation. Being healthier was just a side benifit for me.