RavenClaw779

Tomorrow makes five weeks since banding for me(11cc Realize - I assume unfilled) - my first fill is on Wed. I can eat any type of normal food including pizza - but definitely not as much as I could pre-surgery. I keep a food journal that I've tweeked to include protein counts. I was 252 the day of surgery and I'm 241 today - so 11 pound/5 weeks = 2.2lbs per week - just about right according to my PA. My blood sugars are now normal and my energy level is much improved. I do get hungry and head hungry - so I try to use to growling gut as my signal of true hunger and some times it is hell. If slow and steady wins the race - count me in!:thumbup:

One-A-Day Gummies and Bariatric Eating.com has chewable iron tablets! Congrats!

I tried on almost everything in my closets and drawers and took a huge bag to Goodwill. Our Goodwill is very well organized by size and color and since my support group has warned me that the changes come fast, I decided to check it out. I picked up a size 16 Talbots skirt(still tight), a brand new pair of Macy's Charter Club Allison pants size 18, a Land's End baby cable sweater(large) and a Kohl's sweater(med) for $8.69! I've always been bigger on the bottom but last week my size 24 jeans fit - now they're too loose! 1x tops are now too big! YES!!!

My best guess would be that it's like making a slurry for thickening gravy or stew which is 1 tbsp corn starch to 2 tbsp cold water stirred until lump free and then added to the recipe. I'd use the 2:1 ratio using the scoop that came with the protein powder. Slowly stir the "slurry" into the soup...

I'd call your doctor NOW!!!

I telecommute, so some people I work with know and some don't - depends on the relationship. Weight loss with Lap-Band is roughly 1-2 pounds per week; what one can do via a normal diet or change in eating habits. Mesh "gallbladder surgery" with "I'm trying to eat better" and there you go - no one needs to know about your "tool". You wouldn't feel compelled to reveal you're on a prescription medication for weight loss, would you?

I enjoyed: Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery Before & After *The first two I found by doing an online search at my local library.

*Treat it like a presentation -Have your talking points outlined *Have your insurance card/plan info at hand *Take notes; get names/confirmation number if app. *Note on your calendar a follow up date

There are many journeys you take together when you're married - usually from different perspectives; pregnancy, the Super Bowl:smile2:... I can understand a husband and wife with severe weight issues wanting to travel the road together - but maybe the way to look at it is kind of like when my husband and I are going out. He's in the car waiting, and I'm turning off lights, locking doors - okay, checking my hair - and then I'm finally ready and in the car and we get where we're going. You're in the car and she's still getting it together...honk the horn a few times(i.e., remind her of where you guys are trying to get to) - Eventually you'll both be on the same path at the same time.

I wasn't tiny ten years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer (195?!) and I was warned that chemo with the 'riods needed to keep my body from rejecting it could pack on at least 40 pounds. I made it through three courses of chemo and BOOM - there it was...despite not really eating. Add to that job stress, binge eating and at my highest I was 283. Every diet effort over the past 10 years failed. I had my band installed on 3/9 - lost 30 pounds prior to surgery and 10 since and the really remarkable thing - my blood glucose is now normal, and even though I can eat more than I did after the initial surgery, I am not putting on weight. It's like my body is getting back into balance! I will never forget the one doctor I had five or six years ago who refused to give me a script for an appetite suppressant - "You don't try hard enough!" I get where you're coming from - and don't lose your NUT - a good one is a blessing!

I always go to the other side of the issue. I do agree with the bandsters who point out that it's normal for a parent to be concerned and if your relationship with your parents is a normal healthy one, I'd be upfront and direct while remembering, you are now an adult and this is your choice and for your health. On the other hand - if you had parents like mine - I'd keep it to yourself. There are plenty of parents who seem to think that their child is an extension of themselves rather than their own person. They try to live their child's life for them - in the process, attempting to right the mistakes they made in their own lives. These parents get angry at any decision their child makes that isn't approved by them in advance and when the child pushs forward with their own goals, desires, the push-back can be forceful and ugly. Refusing to speak to the offending party, brow-beating, manipulation via grandchildren...

Went shopping with the s-i-l on Saturday and no comments about my weight etc. Victory! Except for a question about whether or not I can eat asparagus as I was invited to a "cook out" at her house on Sunday... What a surprise to arrive at my s-i-l's on Sunday to find a variable crowd of people there including my hardly ever seen b-i-l and his wife. Gee - on Saturday is was just me, s-i-l, and my three nieces. Kinda felt like I was being paraded out like a trick pony! Even more interesting - not a word from anyone re; the surgery/weight loss - but you should've heard the tongues wagging whenever I left the room and seen them checking out my plate! I managed a well-chewed half of a burger, a teaspoon each of beans and pasta salad and two asparagus spears. Hey - whatever as long as the endless comments stop. I have no doubt the phone lines are burning up today and it was par for the course to hear my b-i-l comment as they were leaving, "Jill looks like the same fat-ass as ever!" Sweet - good times!:thumbup:

Went shopping with the s-i-l on Saturday and no comments about my weight etc. Victory! Except for a question about whether or not I can eat asparagus as I was invited to a "cook out" at her house on Sunday... What a surprise to arrive at my s-i-l's on Sunday to find a variable crowd of people there including my hardly ever seen b-i-l and his wife. Gee - on Saturday is was just me, s-i-l, and my three nieces. Kinda felt like I was being paraded out like a trick pony! Even more interesting - not a word from anyone re; the surgery/weight loss - but you should've heard the tongues wagging whenever I left the room and seen them checking out my plate! I managed a well-chewed half of a burger, a teaspoon each of beans and pasta salad and two asparagus spears. Hey - whatever as long as the endless comments stop. I have no doubt the phone lines are burning up today and it was par for the course to hear my b-i-l comment as they were leaving, "Jill looks like the same fat-ass as ever!" Sweet - good times!:thumbup:

Thought of a great way to get my veggies and breakfast out of the way: * 1 cup Low Sodium V8 * 1 pkt Veggie Powder * 2 scoops of Vitamin World Non-Soy Veggie Protein Powder * Horseradish/Worchestershire Sauce to taste Ta Da! "Veggie Mary"! Great idea until I added the Vitamin World product...turned gritty with an awful flavor. I've tried this stuff in various hot and cold applications - supposed to be flavorless - WRONG - it is awful regardless. I'm going to try this again tomorrow using Bariatric Eating's "Pure" and see if it's any better.

Thought of a great way to get my veggies and breakfast out of the way: * 1 cup Low Sodium V8 * 1 pkt Veggie Powder * 2 scoops of Vitamin World Non-Soy Veggie Protein Powder * Horseradish/Worchestershire Sauce to taste Ta Da! "Veggie Mary"! Great idea until I added the Vitamin World product...turned gritty with an awful flavor. I've tried this stuff in various hot and cold applications - supposed to be flavorless - WRONG - it is awful regardless. I'm going to try this again tomorrow using Bariatric Eating's "Pure" and see if it's any better.

This is a big "yuck" for me and I'm noticing it more and more - women who are either obese or have had WLS and are in the losing process or at their optimal weight - who insist on using infantile behavior, verbalizations or facial gestures. My latest support group meeting had a fine representation of this...and I'm spelling this as it sounded so my readers can get the vibe: - "I ate too much yesterday and I'm a aufwade my widdle pouch got stretched!" - "I've sooo much weight my pants are too big!" (Lower lip stuck out and shoulder shrug - not unlike my 5-yr-old niece) - "You people just don't understand - foot stomp - I can't resist ice cream and my husband ate it in front of me so I told him "I hate you!" and I ran to the bathroom in tears!" I've also noticed it on TV too - Ruby - God bless her for her courage but really - do you have to hang all over your guy friends whining and trying to get them to focus only on you? Are you that insecure? I don't see big guys doing this so I wonder - is it a coping mechanism? Sort of like - "Yeah - I'm severely over weight so to make you either like me or feel sorry for me, I'm going to act like a cutesy little girl!" It's not cute when Pamela Anderson pulls that crap on Dancing with the Stars - in fact it's not cute when any woman over the age of 17 plays this angle!:thumbup:

This is a big "yuck" for me and I'm noticing it more and more - women who are either obese or have had WLS and are in the losing process or at their optimal weight - who insist on using infantile behavior, verbalizations or facial gestures. My latest support group meeting had a fine representation of this...and I'm spelling this as it sounded so my readers can get the vibe: - "I ate too much yesterday and I'm a aufwade my widdle pouch got stretched!" - "I've sooo much weight my pants are too big!" (Lower lip stuck out and shoulder shrug - not unlike my 5-yr-old niece) - "You people just don't understand - foot stomp - I can't resist ice cream and my husband ate it in front of me so I told him "I hate you!" and I ran to the bathroom in tears!" I've also noticed it on TV too - Ruby - God bless her for her courage but really - do you have to hang all over your guy friends whining and trying to get them to focus only on you? Are you that insecure? I don't see big guys doing this so I wonder - is it a coping mechanism? Sort of like - "Yeah - I'm severely over weight so to make you either like me or feel sorry for me, I'm going to act like a cutesy little girl!" It's not cute when Pamela Anderson pulls that crap on Dancing with the Stars - in fact it's not cute when any woman over the age of 17 plays this angle!:thumbup:

Erin Here's a ton of info - check out www.health.state.ny.us Children's Medicaid or Child Health Plus not an option because of your age, but you might be able to seek coverage under the "Age 29" option or Medicaid. You can find out more about qualifying for Medicaid by going to you local dept of social services. There's also another option from the state called Family Health Plus. The description from the website is below: Family Health Plus is a public health insurance program for adults who are aged 19 to 64 who have income too high to qualify for Medicaid. Family Health Plus is available to single adults, couples without children, and parents who are residents of New York State and are United States citizens or fall under one of many immigration categories. Family Health Plus provides comprehensive coverage, including prevention, primary care, hospitalization, prescriptions and other services. There are minimal co-payments for some Family Health Plus services. Health care is provided through participating managed care plans in your area. I hope this helps - check out the website and give your local social service office a call -Clinton County DSS - 13 Durkee Street, Plattsburgh, New York 12901-2911, (518) 565-3300 Good Luck and Good Health from the foothills of the Adirondacks!:thumbup:

Okay - since you are still in high school, still living under your parents roof, you are their dependent, so I believe it would be next to impossible to obtain your own insurance coverage at this point in time.

As anyone who reads my blog can guess, I love to read. Working my way through Before & After by Susan Maria Leach. When you get past some of her waxing poetic about her wonderful life and how magic everything is now that she's lost weight, there's some substantially good info - like how to figure out your protein needs. There are also some great recipes. Someone in my local support group recommended BariatricEating.com which is Ms. Leach's company. I got the book when I ordered some product samples. Here's a shameless plug - the IsoPure Grape Frost is great as is the Believe Italian Cappuccino!

As anyone who reads my blog can guess, I love to read. Working my way through Before & After by Susan Maria Leach. When you get past some of her waxing poetic about her wonderful life and how magic everything is now that she's lost weight, there's some substantially good info - like how to figure out your protein needs. There are also some great recipes. Someone in my local support group recommended BariatricEating.com which is Ms. Leach's company. I got the book when I ordered some product samples. Here's a shameless plug - the IsoPure Grape Frost is great as is the Believe Italian Cappuccino!

1) Yes 2) Yes 3) Yes 4) Yes It is a scary time - I started feeling freaky about a week out- the whole foreign object in my body and the weird rumbling - it will all pass(esp the gas:biggrin:) - take it easy!

You're 19 - Right? You still live at home so I assume your parents support you; you're probably in college? If that's the case, you can be covered by your parent's insurance until you're age 23 or no longer defined as a full time student. With health care reform, insurance carriers will not be able to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions - when these changes take effect in 2013-14. If you're working, you generally have the option to enroll in your employers insurance plan. There may be a six month waiting period for specific types of coverage within the plan, but you'd still have coverage for the major issues - serious accident or disease.

Hope this isn't TMI - I had a tumor removed from my breast 10 years ago, a breast reduction and radiation so I have a lot of scar tissue in that breast. I'm down 40 pounds and all of a sudden I had terrible pain in that breast and of course with all the scar tissue I have to be careful not to freak out when I do my month BSE - Is that a lump?! Lucky for me I just had my annual mammo - while experiencing the pain(BIG FUN!:thumbup:) - and there was nothing there. The radiologist thinks that since I'd lost the padding the scar tissue is rubbing on the nerve. She felt that in time it would lessen - and she was right. Could be what you've got going on!?

Check out Before & After by Susan Maria Leach. One point she makes is one that my NUT echos - (I'm paraphrasing) - Eat as if you had RNY to maximize the amount of weight your lose with your band. The book has a formula for figuring out your protein needs. For example, a women my size(241) whose goal weight is 145 should take in about 80grams of protein a day. It's a goal I'm still working on.