untfluter

I agree w/everything you said. My surgeon has a saying.. "It takes 1 hr to change the body, it takes 5 yrs to change your mind" the surgery takes about an hour, but it takes about 5 yrs for your head to catch up w/all the changes and way of thinking.. and it is so true...

Hey everyone.. I thought I would let you guys know that Payless Shoes sells a pair of sneakers JUST like the Sketchers Shape ups... they are by Champion and they are only $39.99. I bought a pair tonight.. I have worn them around the house and then a quick walk outside with the dog and they are COMFORTABLE!! $40 is much better then $100 LOL

My surgeon said no NSAIDS because it can perforate the stomach around the band... and ALL excedrine has aspirin in it..

I had the same issue. 2 wks after my surgery the incision on my belly button opened.. on a friday night... and it was leaking Fluid. My primary is open on Saturday thankfully... I went and they did a culture and it came back as staph... my primary put me on a basic antibiotic until the results came back and once they did, my surgeon put me on Levaquin... He also stated that if the infection did not clear that he would have to take the port out and let it heal.. I was a self pay.. I didn't have the money for a second surgery.. he said he wouldn't charge me but I would have still had to pay the hospital and anesthesia... so I suggested we do a second round of the Levaquin and do another culture before we decided what to do.. he agreed... and the 2 rounds of Levaquin cleared it up and the incision closed... let us know what happens...

Don't get frustrated and don't compare yourself with everyone else. It is not uncommon for it to take up to 5 or 6 fills before you feel restriction... everyone is different.. that is why it is called bandster hell.... unfortunately you just need to use good old will power until then... you can do it... just make sure to drink enough water. You will find that when you are hungry, the water will help w/the hunger... don't give up...wait a few more weeks and then call and make an appt for another fill. Just to show you how different we all are, I have 3.25 CC in a 10 CC band and I have restriction... everyone is different, some of us are more sensitive to fills, some of us have bigger fat pads over our stomach that help us get restriction before others who do not have large fat pads... keep up the good work and be confident that you can work this band until you start to feel restriction.. GOOD LUCK!!

Every surgeon is different with their pre-op diet. The two weeks before mine he had me on 5 Slim Fast shakes a day plus one meal a day of 5oz lean protein and salad w/fat free dressing. I lost 12 lbs in those 2 wks... you would be better informed if you called your surgeon and ask him how many protein shakes he wants you to have a day.. we can tell you what OUR surgeon had us do, but the only one who matters is what YOUR surgeon tells you to do. Good luck!!

My surgeon does my fills, but that's because I am a hard stick. My surgeon has his first assist RN, who assists him in the OR, trained to do the fills and they hold a fill clinic once or twice a month where she does them. I work in the nurse staffing industry and I know that a First Assist RN is a higher level certification/licensure then a regular RN. His first assist couldn't hit my port, that is why he does mine, he finds the port first time every time...

I am in S. Florida, but not Miami. I was banded by Dr. Wizman in Margate.. I love him! LOL I was banded on May 19, 2009. I too was a self pay as my insurance would not pay for it. Feel free to contact me w/any questions. untfluter@comcast.net

I am untfluter@comcast.net on Facebook... please put note that you are from LBT...

285.2 this morning for a total of 73.3 lbs since the 2 wks liquid pre-op diet.. I am so excited. I now know that my first 100lbs is well with in reach by my one year bandiversary!!

I can't bring myself to pay $120 for a pair of sneakers... but I sell Avon and they sell Curves products and they have the same kind of sneakers... they are normally $49.99 but I can order them through tomorrow for $39.99 and I am going to do just that. THAT I can handle.. LOL I will let everyone know once I get them if they work as well. $50 is much better then $120... LOL

Good for you!! BCBS of Florida must have changed their policy. 5 yrs ago when I had BCBS Florida, we received a notice that effective Jan 1 the following year, they were no longer going to cover anything weight loss related... Glad to see that they have seen the light!!

I am in Florida and I buy the Chobani greek yogurt.. my local grocery store usually has it on sale 3 for $4... BUT... if you have a BJ's Wholesale club near you.. I get a 12 pack for like $12... that's the Florida price, not sure if the price is consistant throughout all their locations.. but worth checking out!

Your post has given me hope. I was 358.5 two weeks before my surgery.. I was banded on May 19, 2009. I am down 73.5 lbs as of this morning. I am just working towards my first 100lbs, and you give me hope that I can hit the 200lbs loss mark.. thank you for sharing!!

If you threw up 4 times from one stuck episode.. there is a really good chance that your pouch is very irriatated and swollen... I would stick to liquids for at least 24 hrs to allow the swelling and inflammation to go down...

I started w/a BMI of 63.5. I am 5'3" and 2 wks before my surgery I was 358.5 lbs. I was banded on May 19th. Since the beginning of May when I started the pre-op liquid diet I have lost 70 lbs.

I am fortunate that I live local to the Bariatriceating store. As a matter of fact, one of the girls came to one of my support group meetings last year and they brought samples. They did bring the Believe products. I am not a coffee drinker, but I did try the cappacuino (SP?) and it was actually good... the good thing about the store is that you can go in and they will allow you to sample the products.

I am so tight in the morning that I don't "eat". I have a protein shake for breakfast every morning. I mix 8 oz of skim milk, some ice, 1 TBSP of peanut butter and my protein shake mix, Pure Protein Chocolate, and put on the magic bullet. I get close to 40 grams of protein from the shake.

I have comcast.. I think I will need to check this out.. I have two Lesle Sansone walk away the pounds videos... but I don't use them much.. which is bad... LOL Thanks for the tip on the Walk for Weightloss on the Comcast ondemand...

I actually buy my protein shake mix in Target. I use the Pure Protein brand and I get a big jug for $18. I am fortunate that I live local to the Bariatric Eating store, so I can go there if I want to buy stuff.. I even know one of the girls who works there... great bunch of ladies that run the store... and the recipes on the website by the way, GREAT!!

I have a friend who had a port revision... our surgeon just moved it to a different location, very similar to what you are having done.. she said the pain after was nothing... and it was done outpatient....

I was banded the day before you and in August I flew and I had no problems... no issues w/the metal detectors and no issues w/the band tightening up from the pressure of the airplane or altitude.. you should be fine!

I'm sorry but that is total BS that you will have to pay for revision surgery since the surgeon admitted that he punctured the tubing.. HE should be paying for the entire revision as you did NOTHING wrong and the tubing wasn't defective... you need to talk to your surgeon about him paying for it...

Yes.. I was banded by him on May 19, 2009... I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE him!! I would recommend him to ANYONE considering WLS...he is so caring and his staff is wonderful!!

this morning, 288, total of 70.5 lbs since the beginning of May!! I was 298 on 12/16/09 when I went in for my last fill. Yeah me!!! LOL