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I can't say that mine has been quick because of insurance issues. I had Cigna before and they wanted me to be dead or dying to even take out my band so this has been a 2 and a half year struggle. BUT I went to my consult on 4/11 and they had to submit for approval to get the band out. Insurance approved on 5/2 the removal and denied the sleeve on 5/7 due to no nut or psych and some other ppwk. We knew that would happen but they wanted to be sure of the requirements before I started jumping through hoops. So I had Psych appt Friday 5/17 and nut appt will be 5/21. Then resubmit for sleeve approval. So it has been relatively quick since consult considering... So I will say that they will give you a list of recommended people to do your Nut and psych and the majority are one month out but I called everyone on the list because I cannot afford to wait one month as my insurance will change 7/1 of this year So I saw Dr. Patrick for Psych he got me in within 1 week and he was great! Also for Nut I am going to the Forrest park dietitians bc they got me in within 1.5 weeks. Hope that helps if you are looking for quick turnaround. Insurance took 1.5 weeks to review original sleeve request so I expect it will be about the same when we resubmit next week. Good luck and I look forward to hearing about your journey

Good question bc I started at 202-205 depending. Sleeved 2-6 now weigh 182.5 soooo I'm so hoping to be in ALOT better shape by summer ! My goal is also around 125-135 and I'm only 5'. I don't want to be too skinny! I just don't know IF i would like myself? Sent from my iPhone using VST

My story in a nutshell-- I was banded Nov/Dec 2006 by Dr. Huacuz in Mexico and hit my goal by the end of the following summer. I use fillcentersusa for fills and see Dr. Muse in Murray, Utah. I started out 217 pre-op but have weighed as much as 240 in my struggle to keep my eating under control. My goal was to be a size 12 which is about 160-165 lbs for me. I maintained at between 165-170 until last month when I just got fed up with some things and decided to see how I would do without any fill at all. In a month I gained back 18 lbs. I kind of went nuts. I went back in yesterday and attempted to have get back to where I was fill-wise a month ago and could not get water down. Ergh. I know where my band needs to be to lose and mr Dr. and I debated back and forth over the right amount. We compromised at 2.0cc's, but he was leery, thinking I may be overfilled. I was at 2.4 before I went on my Pizza Hut binge. Yesterday I was able to get some food down, had some fish and even a few cookies last night, everything was just fine. Today I have been super tight and am struggling to keep fluids down. I need to just make sure I stay hydrated for the next few days so my body can adjust. Bleah. I'm feeling motivated again to lose weight and as long as I don't have too much fill right now, I should be back on track and able to lose the stupid setback from last month. I will admit that the cheeseburgers were wonderful, but the self hate wasn't worth it. I feel like I have a golf ball in my throat. Bleah.Bleah. Bleah. They need to make a PBing smilie.:biggrin:

Hiii. I'm almost filled to the max in a 5 cc band..I'm at 4.45..but haven't really been losing..not gaining either. I'm actually goin to the doc friday to see if I can get a lil more for a top off since I haven't had any adjustments since 2009. Maybe some leaked out or doc said when weight is loss u may need to get adjustments. So anyway..everyones different. Maybe chew more thoroughly so avoid stuck situations. Or I would ask for a flouro..where they can see what ur band looks like, maybe its slipped a lil hence not bein able to keep anything down..I heard that's a symptom. I would def go back tho and demand them to figure this out. Bc its not adding up that u can't keep anything down but ur also not losing. Good luck!

And the Band Plays on… DAY 1: Today isn’t really Day 1. It took me 2 years to decide to have gastric band (lap-band) surgery. I’m well into the process, too. I’ve attended Dr. Teng’s (surgeon) seminar, which was like a cattle call of the morbidly obese, plus some folks who looked just plump to me. I had my first consultation with the very pleasant and to-the-point doctor, who says I can get down to 165 (!!!!). I had a very intrusive but enlightening psychological profile. I’ve met with a very slim dietician, who says he thinks I’ll get into the 180-190 range and told me losing weight before the surgery reduces the size of your liver and makes the surgery easier. I have created a chronological diet history (a real walk down memory lane) and assembled all required medical proof of obesity for Aetna EXCEPT for 2004. (I have 2003, but not 04.) I need medical records for 5 years and in 2004 I was out of work and living on Ramen. A doctor’s visit was a luxury, with no insurance. But I recall a visit to my oby-gyn for anti-depressants, and I have requested my records in writing, since she has retired without passing on her records. So far, no reply. I’m trying not to stress since everything else is falling into place like dominos. If I don’t have the records this week, I may knock on the doctor’s door this Friday (yes, I have her address). Or perhaps a certified letter would be less obnoxious. I’ve learned to trust Dr. Teng’s staff for help when I think I’ve hit a roadblock, like the $2,000 deposit. They told me about getting a CareCredit Card (geonlineservice.com) for medical expenses. I was approved for $2,000, no problem (even without perfect credit) and I almost wish I’d asked for more. I’m not sure how much the hospital will be after insurance. A little history: Chubby kid who was fed a nutritious diet and had plenty of exercise. Can anyone say “Genetics played a role” in this body? I was introduced to diet pills in high school by my boyfriend’s doctor and starved to the 150-160 range. In college, pizza and a new awareness of the evils of amphetamines took me to 180-190. For my wedding day after graduation, I starved into a Size 14, the best I could do. I started overeating BEFORE the honeymoon started. We stopped for food AFTER the reception. I’m surprised the wedding dress didn’t burst! My husband was chunky, too. I yo-yo’d for 9 years and got way up into the 200s. I even did the binge/purge thing to try to stay at an acceptable weight. I worked out. I fought the good fight. Once, I went on an 800 calorie a day diet and worked out for an hour a day. I lost a ton of weight but then hurt myself at the gym and spent the next 3 months with my leg in a cast and Nacho pity parties at night. After my first divorce, I went on the Divorce Diet Diet Coke, coffee, alcohol) and looked pretty good. I met my second husband, fell in love, got married, ended up with two great kids and eventually, another divorce. I packed on plenty of weight before, during, and after the pregnancies, but the divorce diet and exercise took a lot of it off. Then my health started going to hell. Eventually, I was diabetic and 315 lbs. But there has to be a Day 1, so I am proclaiming this day as Numero Uno because I am following the dietician’s pre-op diet for the first time. Before I started this process, I lost 6 lbs and was up and down until settling at 298. Meeting the dietician made me throw a “Nobody can make me do this!” tantrum of eating for a few days. I realized last night that it was entirely up to me. So today, I’m following the diet. You may find some recipes in this blog. I make no claims at being a great cook. I do love to “invent” recipes, so I will be trying to create edible meals. I bought tiny bowls, a small food processor, and will use my children’s old baby spoons to eat. I am using Andrew Lessman’s Secure shakes (powder) because it’s in my cabinet. Once it’s gone, I’ll buy the ones recommended by Brandon, the dietician. I am checking off days on the diet sheet because I have 7 days until my appointment with Dr. Teng when all the paperwork is submitted to Aetna. Then, we see if I get approval or a fight. They supposedly approve this surgery. Food so far today: Brkfast: 8 oz choc soy milk 2 scoops protein powder 4 oz OJ 8 oz V8 1 cup coffee Lunch: 2 scoops protein powder in water Handful broccoli florets, ground up in food processor and microwaved with 2 oz shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tsp diet margarine, garlic powder. (not bad) Dinner: OK, dinner didn’t go so well. I was hungry at 3 pm so I ate a banana. At dinner, I had a cup of rice, a T diet margarine, an entire pork chop, and a large serving or asparagus. Any other night, that would be OK, but it’s more than twice what I was supposed to eat. This will be easier when I am banded and get full easily! I’m determined to do better tomorrow! Day 2 Today went better and I followed my diet except for two of the 100 cal snacks and some sunflower seeds at night. I find that the whole ordeal of shelling the seeds and chewing them to pulp keeps my mind off other treats. I am upset today about a couple of things but I can deal with them. I think another long, hot bath tonight and submerged (except face) meditation is in order. It felt good last night until the A/C came on with a whoosh and broke my focus. Food today: Breakfast: 8 oz soy mile and two scoops protein powder 1 small banana 4 oz berry Cheerios Snack: 100 cal Sun chips Lunch: Broccoli with lemon pepper 4 oz shrimp 2 scoops protein powder in water Snack: Coffee and 100 cal cookies Dinner: 3 oz turkey burger with mustard and onions (no bun) Green beans 2 oz frozen defrosted berries Snack: sunflower seeds I still haven’t received the medical records from 2004. I guess I need to send a registered letter but am a little short on cash. I’ll call Dr. Teng’s office tomorrow to get Tina’s advice. The weirdest thing happened recently. I met a guy for coffee from an on-line dating site. He sounded OK on the phone and I said I was heavyset. He was nice enough and intelligent but no chemistry for me. I think he liked me, though, which is awkward. I even told him about the upcoming (I hope) lapband surgery and he was very negative and full of misinformation that “a friend” had given him. I told him he was misinformed. Although we did meet later and walked our dogs in a nearby park (very public) and I enjoyed talking to him, I just don’t have time for someone right now who has to be convinced that this is the right decision for me. It took me 2 years of research and soul searching before I made this decision. I think I’d better hold off on dating until after the surgery. Then the deed is done. Of course, then if I meet someone I’ll always wonder if he would still like me as a fat woman… Day 3 I do not feel well today. I didn’t sleep well last night and today I feel like my blood sugar is all over the place. I ate the same breakfast as yesterday but felt really light-headed at 9:30, so I ate another 2 oz of cheerios. I was starving at noon and had half a turkey bacon sandwich and skipped the shake. Now I feel dizzy … like I ate at a buffet. I may go lie down for a bit. Met a possible “band buddy” on-line last night. Her name is Mary and she is a retired nurse. She sounds close to the same stage in the process and I know I could use some moral support.

And the Band Plays on… DAY 1: Today isn’t really Day 1. It took me 2 years to decide to have gastric band (lap-band) surgery. I’m well into the process, too. I’ve attended Dr. Teng’s (surgeon) seminar, which was like a cattle call of the morbidly obese, plus some folks who looked just plump to me. I had my first consultation with the very pleasant and to-the-point doctor, who says I can get down to 165 (!!!!). I had a very intrusive but enlightening psychological profile. I’ve met with a very slim dietician, who says he thinks I’ll get into the 180-190 range and told me losing weight before the surgery reduces the size of your liver and makes the surgery easier. I have created a chronological diet history (a real walk down memory lane) and assembled all required medical proof of obesity for Aetna EXCEPT for 2004. (I have 2003, but not 04.) I need medical records for 5 years and in 2004 I was out of work and living on Ramen. A doctor’s visit was a luxury, with no insurance. But I recall a visit to my oby-gyn for anti-depressants, and I have requested my records in writing, since she has retired without passing on her records. So far, no reply. I’m trying not to stress since everything else is falling into place like dominos. If I don’t have the records this week, I may knock on the doctor’s door this Friday (yes, I have her address). Or perhaps a certified letter would be less obnoxious. I’ve learned to trust Dr. Teng’s staff for help when I think I’ve hit a roadblock, like the $2,000 deposit. They told me about getting a CareCredit Card (geonlineservice.com) for medical expenses. I was approved for $2,000, no problem (even without perfect credit) and I almost wish I’d asked for more. I’m not sure how much the hospital will be after insurance. A little history: Chubby kid who was fed a nutritious diet and had plenty of exercise. Can anyone say “Genetics played a role” in this body? I was introduced to diet pills in high school by my boyfriend’s doctor and starved to the 150-160 range. In college, pizza and a new awareness of the evils of amphetamines took me to 180-190. For my wedding day after graduation, I starved into a Size 14, the best I could do. I started overeating BEFORE the honeymoon started. We stopped for food AFTER the reception. I’m surprised the wedding dress didn’t burst! My husband was chunky, too. I yo-yo’d for 9 years and got way up into the 200s. I even did the binge/purge thing to try to stay at an acceptable weight. I worked out. I fought the good fight. Once, I went on an 800 calorie a day diet and worked out for an hour a day. I lost a ton of weight but then hurt myself at the gym and spent the next 3 months with my leg in a cast and Nacho pity parties at night. After my first divorce, I went on the Divorce Diet Diet Coke, coffee, alcohol) and looked pretty good. I met my second husband, fell in love, got married, ended up with two great kids and eventually, another divorce. I packed on plenty of weight before, during, and after the pregnancies, but the divorce diet and exercise took a lot of it off. Then my health started going to hell. Eventually, I was diabetic and 315 lbs. But there has to be a Day 1, so I am proclaiming this day as Numero Uno because I am following the dietician’s pre-op diet for the first time. Before I started this process, I lost 6 lbs and was up and down until settling at 298. Meeting the dietician made me throw a “Nobody can make me do this!” tantrum of eating for a few days. I realized last night that it was entirely up to me. So today, I’m following the diet. You may find some recipes in this blog. I make no claims at being a great cook. I do love to “invent” recipes, so I will be trying to create edible meals. I bought tiny bowls, a small food processor, and will use my children’s old baby spoons to eat. I am using Andrew Lessman’s Secure shakes (powder) because it’s in my cabinet. Once it’s gone, I’ll buy the ones recommended by Brandon, the dietician. I am checking off days on the diet sheet because I have 7 days until my appointment with Dr. Teng when all the paperwork is submitted to Aetna. Then, we see if I get approval or a fight. They supposedly approve this surgery. Food so far today: Brkfast: 8 oz choc soy milk 2 scoops protein powder 4 oz OJ 8 oz V8 1 cup coffee Lunch: 2 scoops protein powder in water Handful broccoli florets, ground up in food processor and microwaved with 2 oz shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tsp diet margarine, garlic powder. (not bad) Dinner: OK, dinner didn’t go so well. I was hungry at 3 pm so I ate a banana. At dinner, I had a cup of rice, a T diet margarine, an entire pork chop, and a large serving or asparagus. Any other night, that would be OK, but it’s more than twice what I was supposed to eat. This will be easier when I am banded and get full easily! I’m determined to do better tomorrow! Day 2 Today went better and I followed my diet except for two of the 100 cal snacks and some sunflower seeds at night. I find that the whole ordeal of shelling the seeds and chewing them to pulp keeps my mind off other treats. I am upset today about a couple of things but I can deal with them. I think another long, hot bath tonight and submerged (except face) meditation is in order. It felt good last night until the A/C came on with a whoosh and broke my focus. Food today: Breakfast: 8 oz soy mile and two scoops protein powder 1 small banana 4 oz berry Cheerios Snack: 100 cal Sun chips Lunch: Broccoli with lemon pepper 4 oz shrimp 2 scoops protein powder in water Snack: Coffee and 100 cal cookies Dinner: 3 oz turkey burger with mustard and onions (no bun) Green beans 2 oz frozen defrosted berries Snack: sunflower seeds I still haven’t received the medical records from 2004. I guess I need to send a registered letter but am a little short on cash. I’ll call Dr. Teng’s office tomorrow to get Tina’s advice. The weirdest thing happened recently. I met a guy for coffee from an on-line dating site. He sounded OK on the phone and I said I was heavyset. He was nice enough and intelligent but no chemistry for me. I think he liked me, though, which is awkward. I even told him about the upcoming (I hope) lapband surgery and he was very negative and full of misinformation that “a friend” had given him. I told him he was misinformed. Although we did meet later and walked our dogs in a nearby park (very public) and I enjoyed talking to him, I just don’t have time for someone right now who has to be convinced that this is the right decision for me. It took me 2 years of research and soul searching before I made this decision. I think I’d better hold off on dating until after the surgery. Then the deed is done. Of course, then if I meet someone I’ll always wonder if he would still like me as a fat woman… Day 3 I do not feel well today. I didn’t sleep well last night and today I feel like my blood sugar is all over the place. I ate the same breakfast as yesterday but felt really light-headed at 9:30, so I ate another 2 oz of cheerios. I was starving at noon and had half a turkey bacon sandwich and skipped the shake. Now I feel dizzy … like I ate at a buffet. I may go lie down for a bit. Met a possible “band buddy” on-line last night. Her name is Mary and she is a retired nurse. She sounds close to the same stage in the process and I know I could use some moral support.

Count me in the alcoholic/codependant family. I was raised in beer joints, witnessed bar fights, got caught in the middle of fights, thought 'jail' must have been a fun place cause that's where my dad spent his time when he wasn't at the bar. My mother was such a sick codependant that she had no time for us emotionally. "Children are to be seen and not heard' was the motto we were raised by. My father was extremely moody, brooding and violent when he drank, so we all pretty much curled up in the embryo position when the 'fun' started to end. I have NO good memories of any family holiday - mostly the money was spent on jail fines or booze and they always ended with my father and his brothers fighting amongst each other. Interestingly, my dad didn't physically abuse me as much as my mother wound up doing, but he was very hard on my oldest brother who was not his birth son which hurt me just as bad as if he'd hit me. Mostly, they both held high standards for us kids. We were to do exactly as we were told, have perfect manners, not talk back and never ever dispute their word. I can't say either of them were 'crazy', but they were two extremely messed up people, both who had been abused and neglected in their own childhoods. For a long time, I tried to think they did the best they could with what they had to work with, but only since I've become an adult has it become apparent to me what a truly terrible situation we were forced to live in and that it wasn't 'normal' for lots of people to live that way. I never realized how desperately poor we were and how truly deprived we were as children. Not because we couldn't have had better, but because our parents didn't strive to make things better for us. Alcohol was the big thing in our dad's life and controlling/enabling the men in her life was our mother's main focus. We were basically just accidents - mouths to be fed, never encouraged to be our own people or ever expect anything out of our lives except to take care of ourselves and not make waves. Forget things like self esteem, group activities, no Girl Scouts, no cheerleading, no slumber parties, never draw attention to our home or ask anything 'maternal or paternal' from either of them... We merely existed - me becoming the invisible, self reliant one.. In many ways, it's to my advantage. I don't rely on anyone. I CAN take care of myself, but that can end up a very lonely situation too... Don't talk, don't trust, don't feel...no wonder you learn to 'stuff' it all inside..

How long is the pre op diet? Bc I was told 10 days for the longest time and today my doctor was like 7 days???

I had my surgery on October 3rd. Maybe 1 week after surgery I started having very dark brown discharge. I started my BC on October 29. It stopped it for not even a week. Should I call my OBGYN about the discharge? There is no blood, just very very dark brown discharge. It's driving me crazy!!

So for my 2 week pre op diet.. I can have 2 - 3 protein shakes and one small meal a day that consist of 3 oz of protein, some veggies and starch. What do most of you eat?? Im guessing alot of grilled chicken, maybe some tuna and brothy soups and salads? Tomorrow starts my diet and im nervous!!! Im a stay at home mom with 3 kids so i eat alot bc im bored and its in front of me!!!

I didn't find it pornographic in the least. I think your writing style is unique and relatable. I, myself, had a long standing love affair with B&J, but the guys kept putting my flavors in the graveyard. Oh, how I mourn the loss of From Russia With Buzz. After our affair ended, I spent nine years bouncing around the same twenty bloomin pounds and now, fed up, I am finally going to get banded on 5 January.

So today is my 1 month post-op and I also received my first fill, and let me tell ya, it came RIGHT ON TIME! So the first fill was easy, lay back, pillow under your back, cross your arms, do a lil' crunch, relax and done. The weird part was when she took all of my fluid out to make sure how much I had in me, then added a cc to it.. I could feel it "flush" through my body/band, what I imagine those lil' canisters at the bank would feel like as they get fed through those air tubes. It didn't hurt, it was just a weird sensation. Moving on to better news... So the other day I had my first non-scale victory (NSV - yeah I'm learning the lingo lol) on a whim I decided to try on my ever so expensive seven jeans that I bought 4 years ago, when Lane Bryant first started selling them. Yes the ones Kimberly Locke modeled with the rhinestones and crystals and tears on them.. Yes those ever so fabulous, expensive and I'm glad they're still in style ones. Let me say when I bought them in 2005 I was at the smallest I had been in YEARS or almost like ever. When I tried the jeans on I had to POUR myself into them, do the tight jean jump up and down, wiggle and finish with a deep breath in to button them. But I got them to fit, they were tight but they fit, and I figured I would keep working out and they would fit better. They were cut VERY small... I was an 18 or 20 in other jeans but in these jeans I had to buy a 24. The sales girls just smiled and said yeah they're cut REALLY small, be lucky you can fit into them, most people can't. I wore them once, I got "stuck" in them and had to have my brother free me with a pair of pliers as he carefully jimmied the zipper down so I could get out of them. So back to my "on a whim" moment. So I decide to try the jeans on, as I do every couple of months, in hopes that one time, just one time they'll magically fit. The last time I tried them on they were about 6 inches from buttoning. Hmmm maybe if I wear a long shirt, some rubber bands or my big 80's belt I can pull them off... Yvette you BETTER not walk out of the house in jeans you can't button.. sigh.. the years go by the gap grew from an inch or two to the most recent of 6 inches from closing.. So I decide to check my progress and put the jeans on....THEY FIT... OMFREAKINGOSH!!! THEY FIT!!! and not just FIT but FIT COMFORTABLY!!!! I have been wearing them pretty much every day since I tried them on on Saturday night. Ok so it's only Monday, doesn't matter... they FIT and I'm wearing them to get my money worth! lol But all of that being said brings me to what I was told at my appointment today....Drum roll please... Waist is down 7 inches since surgery one month ago! Weight is down 22.7lbs since surgery one month ago. I've lost 12% of my 66% of "extra weight" and am 90lbs from my doctor's goal for me. My BMI is now in the 40's high 40's but still 40's! My doctor says my progress puts me at the 3-4 month post-op mark, and this was done in a month. She was VERY happy for me, and I was VERY happy as well as I fastened my fabulous jeans after my fill lol I came home and had some soup, then a couple of ours later some applesauce.... about half way through the applesauce I felt I had had "too much" so I know the fill worked...YAY!!! I'm SO glad, because after eating 2 big tortillas yesterday (bean & cheese burrito and a quesadilla - took me 3 hours or so but I ate it) and the mini loafs of bread that come from the cheesecake factory a couple of days before I was starting to feel like I felt before surgery, so this fill definitely came right on time.. I'll see how this one goes, I think she could have put in another CC, but I'll go back in on the 8th and get another one, I honestly think that will put me in my sweet spot...we'll see. Either way I'm feeling great and I'm loving life. This is THE BEST THING I could have ever done for myself!

i had to go through the same thing with my insurance but believe me in the long run it is all worth it. If you have any questions at all hit me up, bc i know when time got closer i got more nervous about the surgery.

hi im 20 and am 5'5 and i have finally made the decision to get the band before i got pregnant i wieghed around 256 but while pregnant i reached a very dangerous weight of 300 thankfully my son was born healthy since then i dropped to 276 and i am not too comfortable with my weight now no clothes fit me , i find my self still wearing my maternity clothes and the same clothes all the time and i feel disgusting i do not feel as active as i did before i had my son and i dont like the feeling of always wanting to be in bed. i want to enjoy my son so therefore that is why i want to get the band bc by dieting i can not do it. just curious to get a time range i just got insurance AETNA ***? what are my probabilities to even get approved for this idk if have sleep apnea, had diabetes when i was pregnant but i dnt have it anymore . thanks for any input =]

I called Dr.Ahmad when first researching & calling around-secretary seemed nice but quick to call me back & cancel orientation bc did not take my insurance. I'm considering self pay-how's it going? I have struggled for so many years-very skeptical! Would love your opinion of band & Dr Ahmad. I'm a Mom too!

Ok.. this may be nasty to some but anyways.. I had surgery 4 weeks ago and 2 of my incisions got infected. Its pussed and oozed for a couple days so I went back to the drs and he poked and squeezed and scraped.. OUCH! Anyways I had a problem messing with em bc I kept botherin them and squeezing them to get the puss out. Finally I got smart and said.. well if ya leave them damn things alone they'll heal. Well I stopped messing with them and they started to improve but atill alot of draining. Yesterday I squeezed one a lil bit (I forgot to mention they develop lil holes in the incision naturally to drain) and out came something.. imm looking like WTF.. rubbed it a lil and out came a stitch that never dissolved. Thats y it was infected... the dr did say that when I walked in saying thats usually th cause... so in a matter of a couple hours that ones is 90% better. No leaking and scabbed over... this other one though has this stitch just hanging out. Getting to my point.. will they naturally come out since obviously my body is trying to get rid of this... or what?

Wow! Time sure flies... The surgery was textbook, thank goodness. Only problem is that waking up from anesthesia was a bit traumatic. I was choking, and couldn't tell them bc I couldn't move, and they insisted on me breathing. This was very frustrating, and I started panicking and crying. That was the worst part of the surgery. Recovering has been ok. The port wound is very painful and tender, but everything is ok otherwise. The doc already filled mine with 3 cc, since I'm leaving the country in a couple of weeks. I might get it tightened one more time prior to departure. I'm past the liquid stage. Started with mashed potatoes today. So far so good. It feels very strange when the food goes down, and I hiccup or burp. Tomorrow afternoon, I meet with the dietician. All in all, this has not been as bad as I thought it was going to be. Glad to hear everyone else is doing well. We did it!

I may have a good chance for a job change with a different agency and it be well worth my time to take it, so far they have gotten a reference from my supervisor so it looks good. I have e-mailed HR (VT) and trying very hard to find out if CIS carries the Fepblue with the 3 mo WLS lapband plan - no answer ---If you know anyone who works for them, If they have the BCBS fed plan and if the coverage is the same with the same WLS prerequisites, please let me know... I know it is alot to ask, but the job is falling right in the middle of when the surgery could take place. - I am stressed because I do not have a surgery date until after OCT 6 when paper works is submitted, and I really would like to know what to say, with out giving all my surgery details, should they send me a job offer. I know I am rambling, It's like too many blessing at once!

@@livvsmum thanks for replying... that is actually one of my biggest fears (especially because I'm not sure I could afford it, financially or mentally, a second time). It looks like you've had your surgery already and hit your goal weight (congrats!).... having said that - do you think it would be possible to lose the weight after kids? my concern with waiting is that I wont spend the money on myself then (plus it would be another 2+ years of waiting and being miserable in my own body b/c of pregnancy plus breastfeeding). I know I definitely couldnt wait until we've had all the kids we want bc that would be 10 years away! appreciate the different perspective though

I am 32 and did have high blood pressure and sleep apnea when I made the decision to have surgery but I would be lying if I said those were my only reasons. I am not a Texas Girl but I live in San Antonio I am actually a California Girl so you don't have to tell me about VANITY lol they build more women than they birth in California .I was 226 at 5'2 and I could see I wasn't getting any thinner despite constant yoyo dieting and I was depressed I was no longer the young,fun and flirty girl my husband met at 22 I wanted to be that girl again.I was feeling trapped inside a body that had aged 20yrs vs the actual 10yrs that had passed everything always hurt .I did this surgery for my health and to find me again.I have lost 43 pounds since October 31st and I can feel the real me coming back again .I am starting to like shopping now that I am not limited to the "big girl" section. I was a very tight 36 in my favorite Silver Brand jeans bc I refused to buy Silver Plus Sizes jeans and now I am a comfortable 31:) I am in a much better place health wise and mentally!

This is a repost in California forums, Sorry: Hi, my name is Ray and I am in the process of getting banded. I have had my first meeting with my Surgeon (Machado), did the blood work, xrays, and met with a nutritionist today. I have to get an evaluation and have no idea where to find one, they provide one at the Machado's office but doesnt go through insurance. If anyone knows where I can go in Sacramento, please let me know. I have BC/BS. Thank you, RG

@@OKCPirate thank you! I was so excited bc I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket due to my deductible and max oop being met. I'm going to cross my fingers and say that if it doesn't go through, there was a reason for it. Then keep on trucking along for the next few months.

What are your symtoms or signs of hunger? I'm asking bc I'm 4 days post op and I'm always hungry too but I realize it's only head hunger like I'm hungry all the time bc I want food bc I want to eat things that I used to eat or like I used to eat... But at the same time I can only fit 1oz of water and I'm having full pains... If it's head hunger u have than that will take a while to subside bc you have to train ur body not to crave these things! Hope that all makes sense!

Yeah I just called and asked if the scheduler was in bc she leaves early a lot. Well the receptionist comes back and tells me "she has your chart and will call you TOMORROW" ???????? urgh

Hey all you sexy 6/30 bandsters!!!! I know you probably don't feel too sexy right now and neither do I, but one day soon. I am so sore today. Much more than yesterday. Kind of like when you start exercising and don't feel the pain until a day or two later. I am so hating this pain. I can't drink too much bc the bloat causes more pain and I think I may have overdone it with the walking to help get this gas out. I can sleep ok for about an hour or two, but that is it. I can't get comfortable bc I am a stomach sleeper. This is so hard, but I keep myself distracted with good thoughts of better days to come. I hope all of you are doing well. Sincerely, Stephanie