bama_belle

I don't know what the deal is with shrimp, but so far, I haven't had any problem eating them. I may later on, but I just take tiny bites and chew really well. Watermelon, on the other hand, is apparently a BIG no-no with me. I hope they get you scheduled and in before the big insurance change. You have Tricare, right? Have you checked into getting Tricare Prime? You should talk to someone about it. Heck, it only costs us $115 every QUARTER!

I think mine is a 10cc. I don't know how much was put in during the surgery, but on Tuesday I had 2cc put in. According to my Dr., I've done so well on the weight loss that he didn't really think I needed a fill, but did a small one so I would continue to lose and not get discouraged. I'm on liquids/softies for the rest of the week and then back to solids. Yesterday I was starving, strangely, but today, not so much. My question is, do you guys exercise on the days you're on liquids/softies, after a fill?

I've been eating a lot of tuna salad and chicken salad. But I don't make it the traditional way. Instead of mayo or miracle whip (ugh) I mix the tuna or chicken with spinach dip, or artichoke dip. Two tablespoons of the stuff only has 90 calories, is really good and you get a bit of extra vegetable in your diet without even thinking about it. Frankly, the salad turns out much creamier and yummier than with mayo. We had burgers the other day. Now, I don't eat much bread, so I have to be creative with my burgers. I used the spinach dip instead of mayo, and it was AWESOME! I may never eat mayo again. LOL

I had my first fill on Tuesday, so I'm back on liquids/soft foods again. I read what some of you are eating, and I think I'm eating wayyyy too much? Yet I've lost 28 pounds so far, so I don't know. I just feel like I should be eating way less than I should. I keep track of everything (nutrition, water, exercise) with my SparkPeople page. For the most part, I've managed to stay less than 1500 calories every day. http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/nutrition.asp

First, I think Cahaba Valley only does the Lap Band surgery on Thursdays. That's when I had to have mine done. I was back to work on MONDAY. Of course, someone else had to drive me, but yeah, I was back at work. I was easy and careful about what I did, and I was really tired by the end of the day, but I felt fine, otherwise. My starting weight was 271. I'm 5'2" (barely!) and like you, my goal weight is 150. I'll probably reassess when I get there, but for now, it's a good goal! Hang in there. It will happen. It just takes a little time. And, btw, you've picked a great group. CV's folks have been super!

I had to fight with United Health Care, because they wouldn't pay. (we have both insurances). I have Tricare Prime. I went to my PCM, he wrote the referral and faxed it. I had an appt. with Dr. Stahl within two weeks. That was April 7th. I saw him, they submitted the paperwork that week. Within two weeks I was approved. That was April 14th. I had the surgery on May 29th.

I have never met Dr. Sherer, but I do use Cahaba Valley. Dr. Stahl is my doctor, and I think they are all fabulous! They really worked hard with me to get my insurance stuff approved, and have taken great care of me. I went for my first fill on Tuesday, and Dr. Stahl was great.

Unfortunately, Andy, I think you're right. I'm willing to travel a 1-2 hour distance, and even willing to carpool, but it doesn't seem like there's much interest. I'm willing to help put together something here in the Birmingham area if anyone's actually interested in meeting. Why don't we pick a date, say, for instance the 20th of September? It would be a little cooler then, and more comfortable than this awful heat we have right now, and would give everyone ample time to plan to be there. We could plan on Oak Mountain for the Birmingham meet.

Hey... I haven't posted in a month, it seems. I didn't realize it had been that long. The only other place I've been is sparkpeople.com which is where I log my food and exercise. It's just been really,, really busy.

OK. So it's been a month since I've posted here. I didn't realize it. It's been a busy month.... I went for my first fill on 8-6. 2cc was all he put in. That was a strange experience - but not painful, which I was worried about. Anyway.... I was banded 5-29-08. As of today I've lost 28 pounds. I've gone from 271 to 243!

I was banded on May 29 as well and I'm not having my first fill until August 5! I had my first post-op visit today. Up until yesterday, I could feel my port easily, and then all of a sudden it was hard to find it. I asked my dr. if something had happened and he laughed and said no, that eventually it becomes harder to find because of weight loss, muscle change, etc. Mine is below my rib cage on the left side, btw.

..... during family outings you order a small cup of ice cream as your meal (choices being slim) and you wind up giving half of it to a family member because there's no room...

... you force yourself to walk up and down the street in front of your house after walking the neighborhood so you can actually say you walked 30 minutes....

Your current favorite meal is hot & sour soup.... without the crunchy noodles and all the veggies strained out of it. Daughter keeps telling me I'm ruining a good bowl of soup!

Well, I was banded on May 29, 2008. That was 19 days ago. I've dropped 12 pounds. It seems like such a small amount when I compare it to what others have lost so far, but I'm happy with that 12 pounds. I went a year without losing an ounce, and in 2 wks I've dropped 12 pounds. That's over 1/2 a pound a day. I'd probably have lost more if I had gotten more exercise in, but because of work, and traveling for work, that was all but impossible the past two weeks. But I visited the Dr. today. I'm released to do whatever I feel like. So there you go. Look out world!

So today was my first post-op visit. I'm down 12 pounds. I know that's not as much as some have lost their first two weeks, but for me - THAT'S AWESOME. I've dropped from 267 to 255. I've learned a few things: 1. One really can get tired of the taste of chocolate. I would never have figured it, but it has happened. 2. I don't like puree. It doesn't matter what it is. I don't like it. So... I'll have mashed taters, and the like, but ah... puree is just not going to happen and I will have to deal and find other ways to feed myself. 3. Jealous coworkers suck. I mean, it's not my fault that she'd rather remain where she's at and just whine about it rather than get off her ample rear end and do something about her problems like I have begun to do. 4. Walking helps. Last night, for instance, I wanted food so badly. Real food. Like the family was eating. I got mad. Then I put my shoes on and walked until I was no longer craving and hungry, and too tired to be mad. It felt good. It felt so good I took the steps up to the doctor's office this moring. 5. I need new walking shoes. Mine are apparently worn out. I was released by the dr. today to start running calls again (volunteer ff/first responder), and I can start swimming again. :cool: Now, if I could just figure out how to puree a ribeye without ruining the taste........

So today was my first post-op visit. I'm down 12 pounds. I know that's not as much as some have lost their first two weeks, but for me - THAT'S AWESOME. I've dropped from 267 to 255. I've learned a few things: 1. One really can get tired of the taste of chocolate. I would never have figured it, but it has happened. 2. I don't like puree. It doesn't matter what it is. I don't like it. So... I'll have mashed taters, and the like, but ah... puree is just not going to happen and I will have to deal and find other ways to feed myself. 3. Jealous coworkers suck. I mean, it's not my fault that she'd rather remain where she's at and just whine about it rather than get off her ample rear end and do something about her problems like I have begun to do. 4. Walking helps. Last night, for instance, I wanted food so badly. Real food. Like the family was eating. I got mad. Then I put my shoes on and walked until I was no longer craving and hungry, and too tired to be mad. It felt good. It felt so good I took the steps up to the doctor's office this moring. 5. I need new walking shoes. Mine are apparently worn out. I was released by the dr. today to start running calls again (volunteer ff/first responder), and I can start swimming again. :biggrin: Now, if I could just figure out how to puree a ribeye without ruining the taste........

I just had my first post-op visit. I'm on mushies. I've lost 12 pounds. That's awesome, to me... considering I hadn't lost anything in an entire year! I am so afraid I'm going to screw up between now and Aug 5 when I go back. That is SUCH a long time.

Congrats on the new toys! Stick with the plan. You can do it. Sorry about the jury duty, tho. I remember my last case. Boring as you know what.

That's too funny about the dr's office calling during the chocolate weakness. I am 2 1/2 wks post op, and the only protein drink I can even stomach is SlimFast Optima chocolate, with skim milk, and I add a teaspoon of sugar free Hershey's chocolate to it. I also add a spoon full of Benefiber to it every morning. I told the Dr this and he said these were fine, since they are relatively low in carb, and have 15 grams of protein (he said the body will only absorb 30 grams at a time anyway). Butr I am getting really, really tired of drinking chocolate....

Ahh... you know, it's not fair to make a person laugh who still has port pain. Revenge will come. mwhahaahahaha. Glad everything worked out well and you're on the "banded" side!

What ajoneen said, and then some. If you're ready for the lifestyle changes that come with it, then yes, its the best thing ever. If you aren't, it could be your worst nightmare.

I was told no driving for a week. BAH! I have been chauffered by my daughter this whole week. I love her, but I think I will be glad when I can drive myself again, and I know she'll be glad. LOL This morning I actually felt good when I got up. The bloating seems to be going away, and there's very little pain... mostly around my port area. But tonight, after work, I'm crawling in another car someone else is driving and heading north to Tennessee for a family reunion with a branch of my grandmother's family that I've never even met before. I've been doing genealogical research for over a year now on my family, and discovered a part of her family she's never met. She's 83, so we are all determined that she's going to this annual reunion because who knows when this may be the last time she can go, right? So.... mother, granny, step-dad and I are taking the 2.5 hr trek to Jasper, Tennessee to visit kin. I am excited. REALLY. Honest. I just hate riding with my mother. She's a maniac behind the wheel, and step-dad is pretty close behind her. :tt2: The big thing I'm wondering about is what the heck I'm going to do about food - or the lack of it. I've bought some Boost shakes to throw in the cooler, so I'll have something to sustain me, but there's going to be so much food... food... BAH! Those folks are going to think I'm crazy when I get up and walk around the park every time I look at the food table! :thumbup: Luckily, I have this wierd obsession about eating food when I don't know who cooked it (restaurants don't count - just regular folk) so maybe that will help that I don't know ANY of them. Today is Friday. The sun is shining. (OK so it's going to be blistering hot, but this is my fantasy, OK?) And today, I am thinner. You can't see it yet, but I am. I can feel it. Happy Friday, all.

I was told no driving for a week. BAH! I have been chauffered by my daughter this whole week. I love her, but I think I will be glad when I can drive myself again, and I know she'll be glad. LOL This morning I actually felt good when I got up. The bloating seems to be going away, and there's very little pain... mostly around my port area. But tonight, after work, I'm crawling in another car someone else is driving and heading north to Tennessee for a family reunion with a branch of my grandmother's family that I've never even met before. I've been doing genealogical research for over a year now on my family, and discovered a part of her family she's never met. She's 83, so we are all determined that she's going to this annual reunion because who knows when this may be the last time she can go, right? So.... mother, granny, step-dad and I are taking the 2.5 hr trek to Jasper, Tennessee to visit kin. I am excited. REALLY. Honest. I just hate riding with my mother. She's a maniac behind the wheel, and step-dad is pretty close behind her. :thumbup: The big thing I'm wondering about is what the heck I'm going to do about food - or the lack of it. I've bought some Boost shakes to throw in the cooler, so I'll have something to sustain me, but there's going to be so much food... food... BAH! Those folks are going to think I'm crazy when I get up and walk around the park every time I look at the food table! :crying: Luckily, I have this wierd obsession about eating food when I don't know who cooked it (restaurants don't count - just regular folk) so maybe that will help that I don't know ANY of them. Today is Friday. The sun is shining. (OK so it's going to be blistering hot, but this is my fantasy, OK?) And today, I am thinner. You can't see it yet, but I am. I can feel it. Happy Friday, all.

OK. Here's what I would do while waiting. Start doing your research of all of the doctors in your local area that do the surgery. See what info you can find, how their patients feel about them, etc. and go ahead and decide what physician you'd like to use. If you call Tricare, they will give you a list of "covered" physicians in your area and you can work from there. Once you've narrowed it down, contact that surgeon and find out what he or she requires as far as paperwork, etc., and if possible, get them to go ahead and send it to you (mine has all of his stuff online, so that was great!) and that will cut down on some of the wait time. Get that paperwork filled out and go ahead and get that sent in to the surgeon. Then, once they get the referral from the PCM, you'll already be a little ahead of the game! And great idea about calling regularly to see about cancellations. :thumbup: