GalleyGal

Just wondering if anyone else is going through the same thing as me... I had surgery on 11/5/09, and I've lost 25lbs, which I'm super happy about. BUT, I've only lost one pant size. It's great to feel my old jeans big, but then I put on a size smaller and they fit just right, not loose, but good. I would have thought 25lbs would have been at least 2 sizes. I started at 191lbs, so I know I don't have a lot more to loose, but if 25lbs is one size, then is the next 25lbs only going to be one more size? Just feeling a little frustrated and disscouraged right now. I really want to go to the mall and slide right into a pair of cute skinny jeans. What was your ratio of weight loss to size loss?

Hey y'all, I fly all the time, I'm a flight attendant!! :confused: I try to pack all my food as much as I can so I don't get stuck eating the 'evil' and over priced airport food. I always have sliced turkey and cheese with me, you should be able to bring the bag of tuna through security since it doesn't have the Water in it, and you can always find some mustard or mayo to mix with it at one of the fast food places in the airport. Bananas are great to take with me. I also pre measure my protien powder into little snack ziplocks and just put that into a half of a bottle of water after drinking the first half. Also I usually have cheerios with me for Breakfast or oatmeal and you can always ask the flight attendant for milk or hot water, or buy it in the terminal. I have heard from a few people to not eat or drink while on the plane since the air pressure will affect your band, but I haven't been filled yet, so I've been able to eat and drink small amounts while in the air. I don't know what I'm going to do if the band does expand while in the air and I'm not able to eat on my long flights, I'm going to be starving!! Hope this helps some.

I am so happy I stumbled across the thread. Lastnight I was feel so sorry for myself, as I'm sure most of us have felt, I'm almost 3 weeks postop and I'm not feeling any restriction right now. I'm getting filled next week, so I can't wait for that. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in the "bandster hell".

Hi Homewith2, I was banded on Nov. 5th with a BMI of 34.5. I am extreamly happy that I was banded. I've lost around 15 pounds so far. I get my first fill on Dec. 2nd and I can't wait because I've gottten to a point where I feel like I can eat more now. I'm sure a lot of the swelling has gone down and the little weight I've lost has helped with the decreased restriction. I'm looking forward to the restriction a fill will give me. Good luck, and I think the jitters are normal. Even the first couple days after getting the band I had doubts on if I should have done it or not, but I think it was the pain and meds talking. I'm very happy now. Good Luck!!!!

Another point to make and question.. does anyone know about the tax breaks for surgery and how exactly that works? I keep on hearing something about 7.5% of your income but I don't know anything about taxes. I heard that there was a tax break too, but I'm not exactly sure what or how it works. That would help so much to know I can claim $12,000 on my taxes!!!

Just have to say that I love that someone posted this. I got banded 2 weeks ago, and had a bmi of around 35. I'm 5'2 1/2" (always thought I was 5"3' until my first consult), and started at 191. I decided to have the surgery becuase I know that with out it after marriage, kids, life, I know I would have gradually put on weight and I didn't want to wake up one morning and have a bmi of 45 instead of 35. I would have been far worse off than I am now if I would have waited. I felt I needed to take my life and weight into my own hands, and I did!!! I have already lost 13lbs, and right now I'm around the weight that I couldn't get past on diets on my own. I would always get here, get stuck and gain the weight back. I'm excited to get past this point. I'm very optimistic about this surgery and I'm looking forward to reaching my goal of 135lbs, and a healthy bmi!!

Hi everyone, it's so nice to see that there are so many of us self-payers. I had my first consultation on Oct. 19 and found out that the company I work for as a WLS exclusion on our insurance so that was out from the beggining. I still set my surgery date and figured I would figure it out before then. Through many prayers and an amazing mother and grandmother, I had surgery Nov. 5. I am so happy I did it. Now it's time to worry about paying back the 2 small loans I got and the money I borrowed from my grandma, but I know with God I will be able to get it done. I'm 2 weeks post-op and sooooo happy I did this. I have already lost 13lbs, and I'm looking forward to the contiued weight loss I know is going to come. My mom was banded about 5 years ago and ended up having severe problems, her dr was horrible and didn't really care that she couldn't keep anything down (she would throw up everything that she tried to eat) since she didn't have insurance. After about a year of pain, vomiting, and just not doing good, she finally found a dr that would help her. She had a slipped band, and part of her stomach died, so they HAD to do the sleeve. I'm not saying this to scare anyone, but if you ever have a problem please get it checked out. By that time she had insurance so the dr went in and took out her gall bladder and did the sleeve, and since he took the gall bladder it was covered. After all that she doesn't regret getting banded, and is very happy and supportive that I made the decision to do this. Good luck to everyone else here!! It would be great to have a self payers forum to vent about our money problems since this is a very expensive, life changing experience.

Hi Deb, I was banded on 11/5, and I had a rough first few days too. I didn't really feel my self till probably day 4 or 5, I got out for a few hours on day 4 and got really really tierd. I'm not 11 days post op and I'm still sore, but I feel good. You'll be fine, good luck!!!!

Hi Snow, Congrats on your new band, this is such an exciting adventure isn't it. I felt the gas pains in my chest, shoulders and back for about 4 days, thank goodness that's gone. After about day 5 I was starving too, my stomach was growling and I was truly feeling hungry. I had tons of yogurt, pudding, applesauce, sugarfree popsicles, I got wonton soup and didn't eat the wontons so I could atleast think I was eating a real meal. After my first full week I felt great so I asked if I could go ahead and move on to mushies. I didn't throw anything up and everything was staying down, so now I'm happy to be on mushies for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for all of your responses, I feel more normal now.

I hope this is normal since so many of us are feeling it.

Hey women, I was wondering if anyone had issues with your cycle right after getting banded. I'm sure the surgery does a number on our systems, but immediately after the surgery I started my period again just for the day. Then today, 1 week postop, I started again. I'm on birth control and I did take a couple of my pills late this week, but I've never experienced this. Do you think it could be from the surgery, anesthesia maybe?

Hey everyone! I was banded last thursday and I've already lost 12 pounds, very happy. I feel great now, still a little sore in my tummy, like I did 1000 crunches, but other than that I'm good. I'm able to keep down all my liquids, yogurt, pudding, etc., but everytime I eat or drink anything I get a couple of hic-ups and burp a little, it's almost like a combination of a hic-up and a burp. Anyone else get this feeling?