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@@Gucci believe it a head hunger, I'm 10 weeks out and that happen to me around the same time. Just keep drinking your protain shakes when u feel that way. Bc if u decide to eat what is out of your diet!, u will be stalled for a long. (My experience) Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

I am sooo happy for you!!! I read this thread and I felt so bad for you. I am 10 months PO my first month was brutal! my surgeon warned me it would be. he said if you can get thru the first month you'll do good. it wasn't perfect by far easy brezzy? heck no!! I had my crying spells my bitchy spells I had hernia repair also and the esophagus spasms were awful. those last almost 3 wks. I could barely sip water myself. my first month I did good to get 1 can of my shake. I tried soo many different protein types either powder or drinks finally the pure protein shakes worked for me and so did the nectar brand helped also. for my my shakes counted toward my fluid intake so that was good. my first month believe me I had my doubts as well..I was second guessing myself what the heck have I done????? I knew deep inside though I really wanted this and I talked myself through it. I was struggling with the head hunger/craving thing also. learned about it during our preop psych classes. I also have GERD have had it for eons of yrs. thankfully I had a great surgeon he did start me on protonix IV from the gecco. I was having to sip water as well all day long my first wk I had dropped 20 some pds. it was at 4 months PO I was still only getting about 2 maybe 3 bites in at 1 setting. I didn't get my energy and feeling better till 6 months. my internist also said the healing of the tummy takes a good 6 months to heal and it takes all the energy we have for healing. I understand your frustration and anger. I hate it that you had a jack*** for a surgeon that only cared about his wallet and not you. I would have to complain to the board myself. that behaviour is not acceptable. there are many many great surgeons and caring dr's out there and I just read that you have a caring dr that is working with you now to get you the help you need. I was so glad to read that! I hope you really don't think this procedure to help you reclaim a healthy life back and prevent further health problems down the road was stupid move bc I really think once you get back to where you can get feeling better and get your nutrition where it needs to be I really think you will bounce back better then you expect..at least I'm hoping that for you!! my first 6 months was a struggle. this is the hardest thing I ever went through and I went through a ugly divorce after 20 yrs of a first marriage myself. but I am 10 months PO now and over 100 pds down I know you think its the devil now but just wait and you'll see even though it was extremely difficult for me as crazy as it sounds on my end I would do it again in a heart beat my benefits have outweighed everything I endured. it sounds like your on the fastrack on recovery with a new caring dr's you'll get fixed up and on the mend and 6 months from now this will be a distant memory and you will be strutting around with your head held high! hang in there!! keep us posted..I'll be looking for your updates dear! don't pressure yourself...do the best you can

Fed BCBS-North Carolina (Basic) has a $150 per surgeon co-pay (I'll have a surgeon and assistant surgeon = $300) The hospital hasn't called me but I'm sure the facility is a $75 co-pay. But Hey, I'll pay early if they offer me a discount every little bit helps!!!

I have this document for download on my site under "links" imtorb. I am also kinda stuck in a plateau just like you. But after reading this document I feel lots better. Fear of loosing the Weight Loss Battle You will lose the battle if you are willing to work with the band and do Your part:) But I can almost guarantee: ·You will have plateaus when you first switch to solids until your body gets used to being fed instead of starved (most likely 1-2 weeks but could be 3 like mine was) ·During many plateaus you will loose inches not lbs and finally a larger loss. ·Your loss in the first 30-40 days is a never to be repeated experience so enjoy it Then you begin the long slow journey downward (not upward) ·You will learn the fine art of PB's and what causes them for you is it swallowing air when you eat. Eating too fast.. Not chewing well or too big a bite.. Eating the wrong food for you...and not recognizing the no longer hungry after 1/2 cup (satiation) versus an I want to eat more cause I can or it tastes good or I crave (head hunger). ·You will watch your body shrink and will walk a bit taller literally and figuratively... Start slipping into booths in restaurants. Sit in chairs with arms .. Stop worrying about how strong the chairs are...Not having to ask for an extender belt on airlines.. Finding it is easier to and you have more energy to walk / go up stairs/ Clean house and do a million other day to day activities ... Slip in and out of bath tubs where the Water goes all the way around you instead of damming up and it doesn’t kill you to stand up from sitting on the floor ...Wipe yourself easily in the bathroom.. Watch the years fall off your face and drivers license picture .. Go to a restaurant and order an appetizer and still end up with leftovers to take home.. ·Go through doubts and several fills/defills until you hit the sweet spot fill level for you. ·Will have to stop several times along the way to reassess your eating habits (I could eat certain foods and get away with some cheating a bit quantity wise at 359 and still lose .. That had to go at 250) ·I have also found that I have to keep reminding myself 1/2 cup of solids 3 times a day only and drink my water (1 hour after meals until the next meal but not with meals) ·Eat Protein first ..Fruit and veggies second and non-complex carbs last. (Keep the fats, sugars and non-complex carbs low ..Still have them but keep em low). And believe it or not a plateau that indicates that you need a fill is 1.No weight loss for 4 weeks. 2.You are following all the band rules (8 times out of 10 we want to be able to break the rules and still lose.figuring if we get a fill it will miraculously start us losing without us having to do our part). 3.You are eating foods that are hard and stick in your band for the 3-4 hours not drinking your calories- You are hungry an hour after eating (really hungry not cravings) and the 1/2 cup doesn't stay in the band for 2 1/2 to 4 hours. 4.You are drinking your 60+ Fl oz water a day and not drinking with your meal or for at least an hour after. 5.Once you move from mushies to solids.. As much as possible get your nourishment from food that is solid. If you have problems with it sticking in your stoma.try it again chewing it well..Cutting it up finer or chewing it with other foods to keep it from recombining in your pouch and forming a plug (e.g. potatoes).. 6.Try to avoid Soups and or Protein drinks if possible (if you are able to eat your protein you will be full longer - some people have tight bands in the morning and cant eat so have a protein drink) 7.Whenever you hit a plateau.. Keep a food diary and log everything, including water, which goes in and measure the 1/2-cup of solids. Mine grew twice from 1/2 to almost a cup without my noticing lol. 8.Try weighing in once a week to begin with not daily. Later move to once every 2 weeks or once a month. When you are losing slowly weight fluctuates daily with hydration levels etc. At least this way you normally will see a loss and not a fluctuate on or gain. Yes the loses are smaller but they are down not up. 9.Measure yourself monthly ..Often you lose inches before you lose lbs. 10.Don’t compare yourself to others.. We all lose at different rates based on age/metabolism/food choices/ activity level.. But we can all lose Hope that helps I downloaded this originally from a yahoo group. It was written by someone called Sam.

I can totally relate. I just got my surgery date today and it is December 1st! It seems like I've been waiting forever, and then when I got the call today, I was pretty shocked that it's only 16 days away! Luckily, my BC/BS is covering it and I'm going to Dr. Brient in Gainesville, FL. I'm nervous and scared as well!! Good luck!:cool:

Ok, I'll play! I'm gonna pretend that I'm post WLS by 3 weeks. At 3 weeks I'm at the soft solids. My daily protein goal is 74g for my height. My portion size is 2oz Protein/meal; 1oz Protein/snack. I'm to have 3 meals and 1-2 Snacks daily, but since I'm still so newly after surgery it's really 5-6 mini meals of the same size. Meal size by volume is about 1/4-1/2cup. (Because I'm so close to surgery, I'm sure I will be relying very heavily still on protein supplements and will also probably need 3 meals + 3 snacks per day...) B: 1/4c 2% Daisy cottage cheese + 2tbs Walden Farm strawberry syrup (7g P) MS: 1/4c 0% Fat HEB Greek yogurt + 2tbsp Walden Farm blueberry syrup (6g P) L: 1/4c salmon salad (1oz canned, drained, skinned pink salmon; 1/2 hb lg egg; 1 tbsp 2% Daisy cottage cheese; 1 tsp country dijon; 1 tbsp Walden Farm Amazin Chipotle Mayo; TJ EBBS) (8g P) AS: Same as lunch (8g P) D: 2oz blackened tilapia + 1 tbsp avocado + 1 tbsp mild salsa (9g P) BS: 1/2c PBC protein pudding (homemade) (11g P) Daily Total Before Supplementing with Protein Drinks: 401cals; 49g Protein; 12g F; 20g Carbs; 3g Fiber; 17g Net Carbs (*Note: I will need about 9fl oz of Premier Protein Vanilla to hit my protein goal for the day. I'll probably just use those in my morning decaff coffee as a coffee creamer. (Daily Total After Supplementing with the Protein Drinks: 532 cals; 74g Protein; 14g Fat; 24g Carbs; 5g Fiber; 19g Net Carbs)

just adding myself...AND...if my calculations are right, (and its possible i am off bc i did it in a hurry)....TOGETHER we have lost 1,417.20 lbs!!! Doesn't that just blow you away.... over 1400 lbs of pure fat gone for good from this world of obesity we live in! We should all be so proud!! xoxo, Christie Stacy 73… 51 TulipStar…22 Mdicurn…30 time4me…27.8 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 georgia girl…65 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…67 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…32 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…50 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....27 Amber...39 suzygayle....40 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs itstime....23 lbs eastxnurse....30 lbs wannabthin...36.5 lbs Queenp....28lbs Chocolate_Snaps....52lbs Bekiboo26....58lb Jennie1976...49 lbs Hazeleyegrl1...45.9 lbs.

Justine13-we aren't passing judgement-we are trying to help her. She may not like what she hears but it is the truth. Sometimes you have to use tough love when someone is that down or fed-up. We don't want her giving up already-we want her to be a success. Please don't take what I posted or what Amazon13 posted as being judgemental-that was not my intent & I dount it was Amazon13's either.

Ok. So my current weight loss is steady but VERY slow. I'm almost 6 months out and down just over 60 lbs. I have lost 13.5 inches from my waist and more all over but I'm definitely not losing it like some folks who say the weight "just falls off". I am spinning and elipticaling for literally every ounce. I know they say you have a year to year and a half to lose the weight. At this pace I won't be at my goal weight in that time frame. And I say mine bc my doctor never really set a goal weight. Just that I should lose between 1-2 lbs a week. So between my 3 month and 6 month visit I am on track. But I'm starting to panic bc while its slow but consistent now I feel like I have this year 1.5 year deadline looming. For all the veterans out there, have you continued to lose (if you needed/ wanted to) after that 1 to 1.5 year mark post surgery? Anyone else know how hard and fast that "rule" is?

To look in the mirror and recognize myself again. To be able to play with my kids and not be winded or barely able to get up off the floor bc my back, hips, and knees hurt so bad. To shop for clothes that I like and not just what fits and is comfortable. To finally dig those tubs of skinny clothes I’ve been hoarding out and try my old jeans and bras on! To do basic things easier and not get out of breath: clipping my toenails and painting my toes, going up stairs, etc. To not have to worry about my thighs rubbing together and if I brought anti chafing gel/powder lol. To have energy to do anything and everything!!

I had a sinus infection and had to reschedule my surgery bc my surgeon was concerned about risk of pneumonia post op.

There has only been one other person I've read about having a one year "hoop" on this board! I think there should be one set standard!!!! A year is a long time---if it is medically necessary, provide the required info and keep going! I asked my "coach" provided/required by my insurance, "how many people have life changing weight loss after having 20-30 minute phone conferences once a month for 12 months AND no longer need the surgery?" She referred me to BCBS. ????Why would she refer you to bcbs? I'm sorry I'm a little dense right now from a hard day at work and trying to get used to my new eating plan. She is contracted by BC/BS---she didn't have the stats I guess. However, the MD office told me no one ever finishes the program!

I use both in limited amounts, but I still use them. The only cooking oils I use are olive oil, avocado oil, and a blend of grass-fed butter and olive oil. I bought an oil bottle that you squeeze out a specific portion so I can easily monitor how much I'm using as I'm cooking instead of having to mess with a measuring spoon. It looks like this. It's very convenient. https://www.amazon.com/KITLAB-Dispenser-Sprayer-Refillable-Measuring/dp/B0BTSJPV9N/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=8SYM6O2A1LBX&keywords=measuring+oil+bottle&qid=1695756449&sprefix=measuing+oil+bottle%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-4-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

did yall have bc/bs christus ins? if so how much did the procedure and dr cost you? I am in Lake Charles and was considering using one of the dr's and hospital for my surgery.

I have BC/BS of LA. My OOP was to meet our deductible and then the hospital estimated their charges (facility charges only -- 48,000) but my ins pays 80% and has a maximum OOP of 1000 for me. I have not received any bills as of yet but will send updates on that in the near future.

So I'm 3.5 months post op, down 50 since surgery, 60 from my highest weight ever. I'm still struggling to see any major changes, except a mighty empty closet. I know, mentally, I've lost the weight, but I think I'm still struggling with emotionally allowing myself to see any difference. Perhaps bc I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop and regain the weight?! I don't know, but today I had my "aha" moment. All because of a silly thermal shirt I've always wanted to wear but was too self conscious to do so. I still threw a wrap around it bc it's cold on the east coast but I kind of didn't want to lol I debated about putting this pic up, afraid to seem narcissistic, but truthfully, the before and afters really helped make my decision when thinking about getting the surgery, so I hope I can pay it forward. When was your "aha" moment?

DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! my hubby has been going through the motions since Oct 2018 and finally he has a surgery date 11 months later after countless of those needed specialists sign-offs, A1C issues, and an unrelated crappy prostate diagnosis... he's been through a LOT of BS to get to this point so stick with it and stay positive!

im on day 2 of my preop ive lost 4.6lbs since yesterday morning by only having 3 shakes a day and 80 ounces of water. im starving and my head is killing me. i never imagined my head would be pounding this bad. im going through all the worst possible cravings and being a nanny and having to prepare dinner for kids doesn't help the slightest. i feel so grouchy and irritable. whenever i try to work out i get really light headed and i dont know why. =[ i find myself doubting my decision bc i am so hungry. anyone going through things like this?

I should be ashamed for asking this but im 6 weeks post op gas anyonr eaten hot wings not breaded bc i dont wanted breaded wings. Is it ok to eat?

is your PCP all bariatrics? or do they do other surgeries? i'd almost encourage you to look into a diff program bc thats a lot of requirements.. the other program i looked into also said no BC d/t the clotting chance.. but id say if ur IUD doesnt contain hormones, then theres no clotting increase.. its the hormones my doc wanted down.

Yea I can’t lay on my side either bc of my drains from the TT. I know I’ll be in the recliner for a while. Just missing my bed. I totally get just wanting to curl up on my side in bed. Good news is I’ve been off of all pain meds aside from Tylenol in the evening since Friday. So on my way up! Or on the downhill some say! Lol

You can order one off of amazon. That’s where I got mine for my surgery. It was like $80. Research them out of course. I’m sure there are some crappy ones. The one I got is a rechargeable one bc I needed it to drive bk 4 hours home.

It's was a long day. Spent a little more time than expected in recovery bc of my O2 stats post op. (4hrs vs 1), at first the pain was NOT BEARABLE, and I have a pretty decent pain tolerance but then again...no morphine drip here. A dose a dilauldid (sp?), before I woke up and liquid hydro. My gas is still stuck in my abdomen, can't walk very well yet for the pain but my stats are good. I slept on and off throughout the day so I'm wide awake now grrr

Those of us who can afford to pay for healthcare, liberal or not, do. Those who cannot get some help. Big deal. Geez. This is just more of your same old same old BS.

Yes, it's different Billing INS they always try to get.more. Self pay would.have been $14,400.00 but you know that's how it is in the USofA lol. I am happy to being this much closer. July 5th is my morning!!!! Just thought I would share what happened bc I was curious of what to expect.