GipsyGirl

I just had my surgery recently and I would love to know someone who went through the same experiences now or any time before now.

I was thinking lately about taking advantage of my hospital's support group networks but, it may sound silly, I am afraid to go alone. It sort of makes me feel like AA meetings.

So, let me know if you are in my area or just srop by say hi wherever you are.

Another issue is - what in the world are people discussing at those meetings? Is it like Weight Watvhers? Weigh in/weigh out?

( I was banded at the Centennial Medical Center for treatment of Obesity ):blushing:

I have had my surgery October the 6th which was my early present by my bf - since I am on his insurance. Yay!

First two weeks I was on pain meds because I was feeling like I went through a meat grinder. Before the surgery I was looking forward to the time I wake up since I was feeling sooo good when I woke p from my nose job but after this surgery a woke up feeling like I had a sack of bricks dragged up and down my ches. I wined on and on waking up so they gave me three morfine shots which did make me feel better but I was still hurting.

At my 1 week post op appointment I was very very hungry so doc put me on Phentermine which helped a lot. He did give me 3 refills to - I have a great doc.

I was loosing day by day - total 32lbs in four weeks - wow. I never expected that.

But now the Phen is wearing out since my body is adjust to it and I becoming more and more hungry... Last two days I couldn't control my hunger so I weigh 5lbs more than a week ago - very scared.

Already had one fill - 2cc out of my 10cc band. My doc said that its the best he could do on the first fill. I gave me no restriction at all. I was stuck twise already but other than that I feel almost no restriction.

At the very start I was just dropping pounds by the day and now it seems like my body is getting accustomed to the change and is trying to cope with the weight loss. I became compulsive last three days. I woud walk around a muffin for a couple of hours salivating over it and then finally grab it and spend 20 minuts chewing on it. ( the fact that I work nights alone and have a fully stacked corporate kitchen at my disposal at all times does NOT help )

So, I am worried sick and guilty.

I am getting a treadmil this Friday since I need to start working out - I just haven't been able to bring myself to it yet. I am afraid that if I wil start working out my hunger will consume me.

It is a wonderful journey because I am able to do many things that were difficult to cope with before I lost these 30lbs like walking up and down the stairs at work every mornong. Now it seems like I am looking forward to that instead of asking everyone to do that for me.

I hope that with working out I will be able to loose more and get healthier. ( thats another thing - I need to quit smoking if I am going to work out - they did put me on Wilbutrin but its been a week now and nothing changed - blah )

I have been reading this forum religiously and I love all these different forums that so far cover every single question I have had and even more.

I love the powder Room Gone Wild forum - its just awesome. So manyunexpected topics. Its like reading an adult magasine for banded people.

Now that I am skinnier I want to make love to my bf more and instead of supressing my desires like I did before due to my phisical insecurities I am in the process of exploring them. I am dragging my bf to the sex xounselor. And that is a whole other story about my bf - he can't keep up with me. I want to do so much now.

It seems to me like I am able to do so many things now that I am loosing weight. My bf found a pair of new jeans that I brought with me from Cali when I moved here (TN) I was a size 8 then. In five weeks I lost 30lbs so I changed from size 22 to size 16. So, now I am holding on to that pair to have it as my future succes story.

So, it is wonderful and so eventful.

Before the surgery it seemes like I was in a Stand By mode restricted by all the guilt and shame of letting myself go. Now I want to catch up, move on and progress to new me.

I am so happy I have this website as a support group since I can just read it whenever I am bored to educate myself and expect what is coming - in many different variations and possibilities that people here represent.

So, thank you for being here for me. As much as I can I will be there for you.

Thank you again...

Love and Blesings

P.S. So howis your journey so far? I would love to hear your changes and experiences. What changed? How are you feeling? Was it worth it for now?

I am rapidly loosing weight now that I have had the surgery. After I loose all the weight and maintain it for a year ( insurance requirement ) I am considering a Tummy Tuck. Now, the idea is that I want to wear a bikiny on the beach or feel sexy without my clothes on.

I have two friends who have had tummy tucks - one complained that her surgeon butchered her giving her a scar that ges all the way around behind her love handles and she is very unhappy with it. She has it years ago but when she showed it to me it was rather unatracctive.

My second friend is very satisfied with her tummy tuck. But when she showed it to me it looks no different from my other friend without the scar going all the way to her back. I looks hideous...

Is that normal? Am I asking too much to have my scars fade away with time?

Do you guys have any pictures of your healed up scares that you can attach?

I would love to have a flat tummy but with a huge scar across my lower belly it sort of defeats the purpose.

I know it all depends on the surgeon and I will ask those questions in a year - for now I just want to see what is there to expect.

Thanks for reading this post. I really appreciate any input.

I have had my surgery in October and already paid $450 up front and $250 deposit to my surgeon.

I have to pay 2,200$ co-pay for the surgery, and a couple hundred for the anestezia.

The question is - what kind of programms are out there to be able to put all the bills together and have one summ payment every month that you can afford? I do not want to pay too much to be able to do that too. I can pay some accounts in full as they come and pay some portions of the other accounts over time.

I need some ideas and names. I am not sure what the rules of this website is but if you don't think that you can post it here just try and write a private message to me. ( I am not sure how I set it - it may be available only to my friends )

So, I am trying not to get ovewhelmed with all these piling bills after my surgery or have someone come to my job to serve me with a lawsuit that I didn't pay my bill in time ( I hear of stories like that )

Is there a website where you can set up all of you current accounts and pay all of them from that one website - but I cannot pay all the bills at once - I want to be able to pay whenever I get money ( usually it happens every two weeks ) but anyway - I just don't want a program where they automatically take money out of your account to pay your bills, I want to be able to choose when to pay what.

Are there services like that available to public? I would love to have your input. That would definetely make my life easier.

Thank you!

wow, Kartman... good for you - good for all of you.

It is interesting because I was just banded and I am really hoping to get to my goal weight but as I see here you actually beat the goal weight and end up much slimmer than you planned if you apply yourself. That is an inspiration.

I am 5'10" female

surgery date weight - 265bs

current weight - 230lbs

goal weight - 150lbs

I did not choose my goal weight - my doctors office did. They calculated my height to my weight and came up with a perfect BMI for me. I had to loose 110lbs to get there.

The amazing thing is that when I was 20 I was at my slimmest and I weighed 160lbs - I was skin and bones so going to 150lbs is a wonderful thought. I could start modeling or something.

Anyways - it's all great.

big hug!!!

The more I think about the more I am leaning towards IUD Paragard - it is long lasting and has no hormones. The only thing is some doctors won't do it unless you have one kid. I already have an appointment in December for IUD consultation and if I can afford it and so on I think I will go through with it.

at least you have 15% - I have 30% to ay and I haven't even acnowledged the bill that came in the mail the other day. I am scared to even open it.

I am also able to wiev my bill online and it does say that my minimum monthly payment is $60

My surgery cost 26,000

so if you do have to pay some out of pocket money then maybe you could arrange a payment plan with them that you can afford. I wouldn't let the money stop my surgery and a way of living longer and happier.

hey Hungry - I wish you all the best. Definetely post when you get approved. Oh, and if you do get denied altogether you could consider a different insurance. There is always a way to do what you want. It just takes time.

Good luck.

umm... on the last message - in my case I did not have any heartburn at all and I have never vomited but I do dry burping a lot and I sort of have gas since I have irregular bms due to small amounts of food I consume now.

So, jenndubbd, I am curious too now - did you have your surgery yet and how did it go?

I was banded by Dr Houston at Centennial center for the treatment of obesity - it was a great experience. I lost 30lbs in my first 5 weeks. Already had my first fill but do not feel much restriction. He added 2cc to my 10cc band.

I do recommend him.

Oh, and his secretary was banded too so she know how to help. All I need now is to find support groups.

I was denied the first time around because I did not have a paper from my psych then after I appealed it took them a week to approve me.

Good luck.

I was denied the first time because I did not have a note from my psychologist stating that I am controlled well on all my meds. Then I got the letter within a week and it took them another week to approve me.

I have BCBS of IL and by their policy the maximum wait for approval or other other way around is 30 days. And, you can appeal if they deny you. They must tell you why if they do deny you. I appealed and I won the second time around.

It has been about a month since I have had my surgery. I have lost 30lbs and I am very happy about that. I have been hungry for most of the time but doctor put me on Phentermine so I was not as hungry. Phentermine is wearing off and I am becoming more and more prone to eat.

Last two days I have followed my before the surgery failing diet of "I'll just eat bad today and I'll start a new day tomorrow eating the right way." I am so scared that this will continue.

I have no restriction - doctor put 2cc in my 10cc band recently which did not change a thing.

I am just worried that since my diet pills are wearing off I am going to go back to my ordinary life eating everything I see.

I do not feel my band at all. I have only been stuck twice on my first week but that has never happened again.

I am wondering if there are other people here who have the same issues.

I was banded recently - about a month or so ago and I am still having shoulder pain once in a while. It is not as bad as it used to be right after surgery.

I am thinking about getting paragard IUT - the one with no hormones and copper. Does anyone have it? Did you gain weight or have bad side effects?

Oh my God! I can't stop laughing reading this thread and its comments. I did not expect this question on a lap band talk forum.

Anyway - I have never had a gag reflex, so I wouldn't know.

I was banded October the 6th. I had a 3 day pre-op diet - so lucky. Just had my first fill.

Oh, I am 25.

Good luck everyone.

I was in a lot of pain for at least a week after surgery. I felt pulling at my port area. I was zonked on pain pills for at least two weeks. I got back to work in 4 days and was very very slow for the first couple of days.

Altogether - I read a lot of stories where people were getting back to work almost immediately and had no pain at all - not with me. I was hurting badly for quite some time.

Just take it easy, man. It is a process.

If your job is very physical then take at least 10 days off.

I just had my surgery and I want to get back on BC since I am becoming more fertile and I am just sick and tired of condoms.

My boyfriend doesn't want me to get on any high hormonal BC because he is afraid that I will clot, especially after a major surgery ( its been about a month now )

So, what do you use or rather what would you use?

24... perfect timing for me

Nashville TN

$26,800 covered by insurance and $1,200 out of pocket.

I am fat because I had two miscarriages and never lost the weight. Gained even more with depression after that. Total weight gain 100lbs in three years. Now I am stable on meds and loosing rapidly.

I started at 260lbs with a goal weight at 150. ( 110lbs overweight ) female

I was taken off my diabetic medications next day after the surgery. Since then my number wasn't higher than 120 - usually it keeps itself at 90. Since lap band I am not supposed to eat carbs anyway so it works for me.

Good luck.