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I actually have been banded for 13 months now. I decided to get banded after my younger sister did it first in December 06. She lost about 30 pounds her first 3 months so that was enough convincing for me. I got banded on March 15, 2007. During the first few months after the surgery I would ask my sister do you ever feel nausea or pains in your stomach. She would tell me she would never feel anything like that. Well for a few days in August of 07 I wasn't feeling good. I was getting a pain in my chest so I decided one night to go in to the hospital thinking something was wrong with my band. Come to find out on August 14, 2007 that I was 4 months pregnant to my surprise. That now explains the nausea...LOL! I had already lost 40 pounds since being banded. So I actually lost 40 pounds my first 4 months of pregnancy. She is my miracle baby because my husband and I have been togeather 12 years and I didn't think I could have kids cause I have PCOS. So even if I don't loose more weight it was worth paying the $$$ to end up with my baby! I have gotten 2 fills since having her but I'm still at the same weight. I am scheduled to go back on Tuesday for another fill. Hopefully now I will start loosing again. Anyway, when are you having surgery?

I hope you are doing better than you were a week ago. I just got your message and I hope you are ok. If you haven't already, I would demand to be seen by your doctor. Are you able to drink soups or protien shakes?

Hi Texas,

Good to hear from you. Thanks for the compliment on my page. I did try to match my page to my 'duckiness' haha. Just wanted to let you know my final paperwork will be submitted to surgeon on Monday and then comes my wait for insurance approval. I can't imagine they would refuse me for any reason. I have several weight related health issues and a bmi of 59 [yuk].

I also looked at your page - very nice - and your photos were so good. How much excercise do you do per week? I hope to become more active very soon. I used to walk 4 mi. per day but not since the fibro/weight gain.

Hang in there !

Hi Queen, it was nice meeting you at the support group the other night. I'm sorry we didn't have longer to chat after the meeting, maybe we can next month. I had my first fill a little over an hour ago and I'm glad it's over. I guess it wasn't that bad, it did hurt a little but it was over real quick. Next time, I might have him numb me up first. Now I have to go back to the Day 1 menu, liquids for 24 hours then a day of creamy liquids before going back to my normal eating. I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op now.

I can't remember, have you had your surgery yet or is it coming up?? Well glad you contacted me, we can be support buddies.

Hi, :biggrin2:

I called his office and went in for a consultation, he talked about the band and answered my questions. He was very nice and so is his staff. When I left his office they gave me a paper that told me what my insurance would possibly pay and the testing they required. I have United Health Care PPO Plus and all I had to do was get a EKG, blood work, and give them 5 years of past weight recordings from my other doctors. That was it. I was approved in about 2 weeks. Dr Mckeen has no pre op diet, just nothing but liquids the day before surgery. On my day, while the hospital was getting me ready, he came in to say hi, and reassure me, I was very nervous!! Good Sam has a bariatic nurse who came in and gave my husband and I a nice size folder will all kinds of reading material. She was very nice and informative, again answered any questions I had. Everyone was very nice and I was out of there by 11 am, my surgery was at 9 am. He had pre-prescribed me nausia medicine which I was so glad I had when I got home, I got nausiated off and on. He told me to get liquid motrin and tylenol which I had ready too, and needed it. I was in quite alot of pain, and mostly slept. My worst day was day 2 and 3, I called him at home, they give out his home number which I found very assuring. And he called me back right away. After I healed up I noticed I had good restriction, and did not go in right away for my post op visit. I called the office and let them know I was doing well and would make a appt later. My first appointment was in March. I still had good restriction, he put some saline in at surgery and it was working fine for me. They weighed me and was happy with my loss, 17 lbs, with no pre op diet, my number was only weight loss after surgery. He tried to give me a little fill, and he was awesome, he got the port easily and I had no pain other then the little poke when he gave me my numbing shot. The fill was too much, so he took it out, told me no charge and he would see me in a month. That is this month and I have not been in as of yet. I don't know how he charges for fills for sure, I have not been billed for one yet, but my insurance covers $150 so I was told I have to pay $50, we will see! Oh, he also has an office in Utah, so he is gone alot. Just to let you know, I have a hard time getting in to his office because of MY job, but the girls in his office are great and work very well with me. They call and check on me and I really like that.:tt2:

He is very nice and knows what he is doing, you will be taken care of very well! Keep me posted on your progress, I would LOVE To hear how things go for you.

Good Luck~

Cathy:smile:

abby, i just read your blog about goodby to food, OMG I could have written it, I was banded 3/25 and it is an adjustment realizing what full really is, not bursting, realizing that I don't have to eat everything I want RIGHT now since there will be another meal in a few hours, realizing what head hunger is vs true hunger, the list goes on and on and on..... sometimes I open the fridge and just stare and think how much I want to eat (not that I would admit that to too many people) so just quick hello and know that you feel what others feel too, good luck with kaiser, if your denied keep pushing and appealing, sometimes if you push hard enough, they'll give you what you want just to shut you up but really who cares what the reason is as long as you get it right!!

BTW I love your avatar, my myspace is pink skull and crossbones so your's made me think of mine.

Tara

Thank you! I just saw that you left me rep last week! And for my whiney post, too! LOL Happy Thursday!

Hey,

I haven't seen you online at lapbandtalk.com I hope you are doing okay. Having a good week? I got best loser this week at my tops group. Which was very motivating. Also, I posted some pictures that are new on my profile. I am pretty pleased with the diffrence 56lbs makes! How much have you lost all together? Just wondering where and how you have been.

Gail

I hope you are doing well. I have been having a little problems with the gas and bloating. I will sip on water or juice and the gas pain is so intense that I will just give up on it. Yesterday I had 3/4 of a can of Slimfast, 4 spoons of chicken broth and about a 1/4 of a cup of water. I am hoping to do better today.

Amy

Hi! How are you? Like your photo. So how are you doing?

I am struggling this week. I am stressed and want to eat. I am suppose to be cleaning and throwing out my stuff but I haven't been too successful. The kitchen guys are coming tomorrow at 9:00 AM and I need this place presentable. UGH! My next fill isn't until April 30th. I dropped down to 199.5 for about 4 hrs and am back up to 202. Enough about me, how are you?

Enjoy this beautiful weather!

Tina

<3 my hero. I appreciate your kind words. I would try to adopt you as my LapBandTalk mom if you were older!

Hi Shannon, I had the band done march 25th in mexico with dr. ortiz, very good experience, I finally got to start eating real food this week as he is pretty conservative and we stay on full liquids for 3 weeks post op, since starting my pre op diet, I have lost 25lbs but figure I will hover around here at my current weight till I get my fills, I had also lost some weight prior to the preop diet, so I am actually down 59 so far. The part I am finding the most difficult is not being able to drink with my meals.

HI Redbone, how are you doing? I thought i would check out other 3/31 bandsters and see how its going. Are you back to work? How much have you lost? Are you eating normal food yet? I start mushies on monday. I am sooooo ready. LOL Newbeginnings

Hi.

Thanks for the info. I went to see Dr Pietrse the wife of Dr.Afriedi and she called someone when we were there , Dr.Jim I presume , and they said to try the Dr. in Sexsmith first and if he had trouble then he would do us at the hospital. Ther eare 2 of us my daughter and myself so we'll se how it goes. We are having our first fills on the 6thof may. How many weeks after your surgery did you have your first fill? Ho did you surgery? I may have read it some were but do not remember. thanks so much for getting to me, I really appreciate it.

Lizzieann

Two more weeks and I get to schedule surgery!

One week and One day until surgery!!

It has been a week and a half since surgery and I have lost only about 8 pounds. From what I have seen and heard from others about their weight loss, this doesn't seem like the norm. What am I doing wrong?

Well today is a big day, I pick my surgery date! I am so scared and nervous. What ifs are trying to take over. Scared the insurance company won't approve me for some crazy reason. Yikes! Can't wait to see whats going to happen in this next couple of weeks! Have a great day everybody!

2 days off my 3 month surgeversary - 54 lbs down!

so almost 2 weeks before surgery I get a freakin cold. Ugh..runny nose..sore throat..and a ear ache..and all I can take is Tylenol..ugh shoot me now

So for the past 3 days I have worn my pedometer, I forget so much with it, but I have been the past 3 days and in 3 days and just normal everyday walking I have burned over 1700 calories, can't hate that!!!

1 more lb and I would have hit my next goal, well guess I have to wait another week??? lol, I am not going to worry over it!!!

3 month follow up with surgeon today. Down 69 lbs. Of course, his scale will add four to that. His scale is a jerk. LOL!

Lost 2 on vacation -- all that hiking, swimming and fresh fish in Belize made for a successful week.