MLBL

I totally agree and my band was covered by insurance and I am having a positive experience so far. My surgeon was very clear that the down side of a band was that it is a piece of equipment and equipment wears out. He said that even if everything is fine initially, I would probably have to get the band replaced at some point because all implants (breasts, hips, ect.) wear down, develop problems, and need replacement. The real question is will I have a problem the first year or in 15? He said as long as I understood this and was ok with it, the band is a great option.

My Surgeon's nurse said during our orientation that if you gained 1 pound you would be declined surgery. I gained seven and they didn't bat an eye. That being said, the person you are really hurting is you. You are having a head hunger episode. You WILL be able to eat after the band, especially before it filled. After it is filled you will not feel as hungry. You are not going to starve. Feed your body, not your head.

Before fills the band isn't even working - you've lost a lot and will lose more once your tool is helping you.

It sucks to be one of the few people the band doesn't work for, and it sucks when every tells you it is your fault. I'm sure you beat yourself up about it enough. I would give up on the band now too. But, I also agree that bypass is still an option for you. It is very different from the band and so may be the "right" surgery for you. I feel so bad for you to have gone through so much and still be struggling - we all know the pain of feeling like our weight is out of control. (((((HUGS)))))

The band doesn't work without the fills. It really will start working once you get some restriction. Welcome to Bandster Hell.

Look at that waist!

I use them too. They are cheaper and nutritionally the same as medifast. Just this morning I made the mocha shake and put it in my starbucks cup. Felt just like I had gone through the drive though.

Your insurance company has a fraud department. Send them copies of everything. Maybe you can prevent them from doing this to someone else.

I plant o start the Couch to 5K program when I reach 195 lbs. (I am super top heavy and wanted to get some weight off first for the sake of my back). It is a great program. You start out really slow with just walking and very gradually add more walking, then a little jogging until you can run. I highly recommend it!

I am also an emotional eater. That is part of the reason I invested in some personal therapy before getting the band. Even knowing what I do, it is hard to keep it under control. I will look into the book. Thanks for the info.

I got my first fill (4.5ccs) and still have no restriction. I have to admit I am kind of disappointed, especially because my surgeon probably would have done more. He had me sit up and drink water several times and I was paranoid about judging if the water went down correctly or not. Oh well. I have another appointment in a month so maybe I can get another fill then. :biggrin:

Our fat stores more toxins than other tissues and as we lose it they are getting released. I am sensitive to this and if I lose too fast I feel sick, as if I have a virus or cold. Drinking water helps flush things faster if I am already feeling bad. Maybe that is contributing to you feeling so bad too?

The new PA will only get better if someone says something. Maybe you could call or write a letter explaining that you understand everyone goes through a learning period but some of her comments seemed insensitive. If you have her again and things haven't improved definitely say something - you are paying too much to be treated poorly.

I have avoided going to see my husband at work and attending any of his office's social functions because I don't want them to know he has a fat wife :thumbup:

Snide, unsupportive remarks tend to do that. :thumbup:

I am eating between 1200 and 1400 calories a day right now. I will lose about 1 pound per week at that level. I am getting my first fill on the 8th and if I have any restriction will drop to 1000-1200. If I know I have a party of holiday coming I will eat a few hundred less for a few days before. I know that I will lose slowly eating this way, but I don't want to have to relearn to eat when I hot goal. At goal I will eat 1400 calories a day. I eat lots of boneless skinless chicken and chicken or turkey sausage.

I use WonderSlim. It ahs the exact same nutritional value as opti, but cost 9.99 for a box of seven. I also love that I can use less water and make it a pudding. It is a nice change and also more portable that way.

Find out what how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. A pound is equal to 3500 calories, 3500 x number of pounds you want to lose in a week will be the number of calories you have to cut to lose the weight you want. So for me, 2000 a day to maintain, I want to lose 2 lbs per week. 2000x7=14000 calories for the week. 3500(one pound) x 2 = 7000. 14000-7000=7000 calories for the week. I would have to eat 1000 calories a day to lose two pounds each week. Of course, you can also burn calories with exercise to speed up weightloss.

I think it is very presumptuous of anyone to say "If you can't follow the diet now a fill will not work for you later since you are not controling your intake of foods and excersizing as needed. If you were you would be losing more weight." The OP didn't say enough about her diet to know she was or was not being compliant. To the OP, I am four weeks post-op and have lost 4 lbs. since being banded. I was discouraged, but then I did the math. TO maintain my current weight I would need to consume 2000 calories. I am currently eating 1200. So that is a deficit of 800 calories a day. You have to cut 3500 calories to lose a pound. So, I should lose 1.6 pounds a week. I am not comfortable going lower on my calorie intake until I get a fill because I will be white-knuckling it and that is just setting myself up to fail. After my first fill I plan to drop to 1100 calories and I won't ever go lower than 1000. When I reach goal (125) I will need to eat 1350 a day. If I train myself to eat too much less than that I will only have to relearn how to eat again when I hit goal. So, unless I am willing to starve myself, the math says I will be losing 1-2 lbs a week. You can, of course, burn extra calories with exercise if you want to move things along faster. Also, I think some of the people posting huge losses are losing a lot of Water weight, and are generally larger than 35-40 BMI. Both things matter when looking for loss on the scale.

I'm not thankful for my insurance because it is a service we pay for, but I could not imagine having the surgery without it.

Thank you for posting the information. I am my husband is military so right now we are fine, but if he cannot reenlist I worry about insurnace issues.

It took me two full weeks to decide I hadn't made a horrible mistake. It will get better, but for me it took longer to recover and longer to feel ok.

I gained 5lbs post-op but mine didn't seem to suddenly drop off. It gradually came off over a two week period. So I started pre-op at 211, a week post-op I was 216 and now at 4 1/2 weeks post-op I am 207.

I am feeling the same way. I was banded Aug 23rd. I have little to no restriction. I am tracking my calories and eating high protein foods. I am losing about 1 pound a week. On one hand, I am very glad not to be gaining anymore, but on the other hand I am jealous of people posting 5-10lb a week weightloss. I am getting my first fill Oct 8th and I hope it will reduce my portions at least a little and I will be able to drop my calorie goal from 1200 to 1000. If I can get a steady 2lb a week weightloss I will be happier.

Thanks for posting. Most calculators I find tell you how many calories for loss - I like knowing what my base is.