JMinDallas

Thanks everyone for your responses! Good to know some insurances covers the emergency part of things and I'll review to see if mine does cover it.

WOW and OMG are the words that come to mind! This is the type of thing that scares me when being a self payer

What dr did you use if I may ask?

Around how much was it to remove the band and then have the sleeve at the same time? Was it an outpatient procedure? I have insurance, but it doesn't cover WLS.

I personally wouldn't have joined right after being banded. I lost weight very easily all through the process until a few months ago. So for me, a year after being banded, it is now helping me make better choices. I don't know so much if it would help everyone, but for me it's really helping to make me track my food as well as be accountable more frequently to someone who is checking my weight. It's also nice getting tips from other people on healthier food options. With the WW now being geared more towards protein type foods, I feel this is a good fit. I just started a few wks ago. I lost 4 lbs the first week, gained 2 over thanksgiving, and now lost 2 lbs this week.

I too just rejoined WW this past week. After about 15 months post-band, I keep gaining and losing the same few lbs, I realized I needed to do something else. I need that accountability more often. I have been eating all my points and some of my xtra's each day. The scale has finally started to go down again. I think the biggest help for me is tracking. I do it via etools which is really helping me stay on track. I haven't told anyone at WW about the band, and I don't really plan to. I feel I'm like others there who have 30ish lbs to lose. GL to everyone!

Thanks for posting this. I was never much of a carb counter, more trying to watch the total calories. I've been noticing my weight is fluctuating between a few lbs back and forth and can't seem to lose. I just checked myfitnesspal and realized the days I've lost I've had less than 50-60g carbs, but on days I gained or stayed the same I had over a 100g carbs. I *think* this might be the answer, or at least I'll try and see where it takes me.

I like the Premier bars, and find them online. They're 290 cals and 30 g protein. I usually eat one a day, and they're very filling and taste good. I also ditto the Premier ready to drink from Costco shakes. They're only 160 cals and 30 g protein.

try taking benefiber on a regular basis. I would get those pains at times too, and realized I hadn't had a bowel movement for several days. Once I started taking the benefiber in with my hot liquid in the mornings (about 2-3 wks ago) I've noticed a big improvement.

Glad you're back to new again. Just be really careful on exercise. I know we were told none for 6 wks. Even when I started exercising, I was really careful about crunches/abs area and stuck with walking and swimming for a while. Great you also got a fill at the same time!

I hit goodwills and resale shops. I haven't bought anything brand new at a regular store except for a very few things (like undies and bras), and they were on sale and with coupons. You can find tons of nice things whether it be jeans, shirts, skirts, blazers, etc. You have to go through and make sure in good condition, but for the most part I've found a lot of really nice stuff. I find you need to find good stores in right areas. Some have no good selections, or clothes that my great grandmother would have worn when she was a kid! But others have really good stuff. Even just for jeans and shirts its paid off. Now I'm hunting for summer clothes since I have none. I love to shop, so I find if you pace yourself right you can get great clothes for not a lot of money.

It sounds like the first band had problems from the beginning....so no wonder you couldn't eat very much. The new band is probably in the right place, but may need more of a fill for you to not feel as hungry. I'm so glad everything went well for you!! Take it easy and you'll be contiuning your loss in no time.

I bought the body media too. Not the blue tooth one. Read some reviews and wasn't sure about it. I do love it. Nice to see how much I actually do in a day. Their food journal part is not very good at all though. I usually use myfitnesspal and then load a total amount of calories for the day into bodymedia site. What's it's really showing me is the days I don't go to the gym, I need to do some sort of exercise.

I finally got benefiber off brand. I take 2 tbsp in my diet hot chocolate each morning. I FEEL so much better being regular again. I too was every 4 days or so. When I'd go I'd lose a lb!! LOL! I just started it last week and I already notice the difference.

It's better to side on the side of caution. You can always gradually go back up, but nothing worse than being too tight. Glad you're feeling better!