Hi all....

To start us off....Ill begin with a little about myself.

I had joined the thread Feb Bandsters...however...Ive been booted to March...as I am being treated for sleep apnea....so I needed to push back surgery date from Feb 8th to March 15th..hoping it stays there!!

Im hoping to connect with others that are on a similar time frame for surgery, for support, advice, education, encouragement and just to shoot the breeze...to share experiences from the first consult if needed to way after being banded...lets get together and share this journey the good, bad and the ugly of it all!!

so.....lets get to know you....by answering some questions that was asked of me before....im passing them on through this group....it was a great beginning. Ill start.

Date of Surgery: March 16th

Where Surgery will be: NY

Doctor/Center: New York Bariatric Group

Dr. Holover/Manhasset

Seminar date: January 2009

1st consult date: Dec 30th, 2009

2nd consult: Feb 3rd, 2010

Consults and tests completed: Cardiologist. Pulmonologist, Endocronologist, Sleep Study, Nutritionist, Endoscopy

Tests still needed: Psych test

How is surgery funded? Insurance

Concerns? How will I ever be able to re-educate my brain to eat differently

Reason for banding? See thread in "Introductions"for NYSparklegirl.

Hi there,

Just got banded on the 11th of May and today is Day 2 Post op. I am less sore and swollen today. I attribute this to moving around on the day of surgery and the day after. The mobility I've been told helps with soreness.

Well I got my first fill today. He gave me 2 cc's. I go back in 2 weeks for another. Down 6 lbs in 6 weeks not bad but wish it was more.

Increased my walking by 1/4 mile today to 2.25 miles. :smile2:

Also called my MD's office to push up my second fill by 1 week to this Monday and they said yes!

Well.....hello all.

You know how they tell you....that if you push yourself its gonna come back and bite you?? well it did...suffered an asthma attack this week like never before. Who was it who posted...you gotta slow down and take care of you?? well thanks but I didnt listen but next time I will.....wish I listened. So, spent the last two days in bed. Today finially went to Pulmonary doct and I have bronchial asthma.....so im now on steroids, antiobiotics, and upped dossages of proventil and long acting steroid. Feeling slightely better.

While I was at the doctor..he weighed me and woo hoo...lost another 7 pds since last Monday. Down 40 llbs. Half the weight. Yea. I feel great about that. Even after eating out every night....I still was able to loose the weight by choosing the right foods and sticking to the plan. Yea. Now I feel even better about all that hemming and hawing at each meal.

hello everyone..my name is Michelle.. and I was banded in March.. just thought I'd come on here and introduce myself and say hi... so .. HI!:smile2:

Hi. Mish Welcome! Tell us about you....and your band journey. Post, respond , ask....thats what we are here for.

I thinking i am back on the wagon.. I have had a great day And I am very excited to say I am down 1lb :smile: atleast i havent gained..

I ate all my meals today with nothing to drink during it, Smaller amounts and NO Soda! I feel good.. One meal at a time and one day at a time..

Good for you!!! Yes. one day at a time.

no soda. lol So what are you eating?? let us know....so we can help.

Hello all,

The time is really flying by. It is softball season so that means that almost every day after I finish work at 6pm - I am first going to watch a softball game until 8. I eat lunch at 12:00, so that by 8:00 I am STARVING ( band or no band). So - I am now packing a greek yogurt to eat just before leaving work to tide me over. I have been grilling right when I get home so that I can make it to the track by 9 to walk with my walking buddy.

As far as what foods I eat - I have taken a different path than some others that I have seen posting on the boards. I was never a sweets or desert eater, but rather a huge volume eater. Whenever I was on a diet in the past, I always failed because I was denying my self foods that I found comforting to me. I have spoken with the nutritionist about this and we decided that what was best for me was not to "diet" but to really watch my portions and to slowly make better choices. I don not have restriction as of yet, so that the weight that I am loosing at this point is by sheer willpower and changing of my mindset rather than due to the band.

I try to keep my calorie count around 1200 cals. In the morning I typically eat a 100 cal type of bread ( light english muffin, deli flat etc) with 2 oz of tuna salad. Lunch I usually eat out at work (today I had 4 steamed shrimp dumplings sometimes it is half a wrap, other times a lean cuisine meal), dinner is usually a lean protein and a veggie. Tonight I had some sushi. Not the typical LAP-BAND® diet, but it is working for me, I am satisfied and therefore happy. I record everything I eat at LAP-BAND®.com. It is a simple website that tracks my calories and exercise.

Jodi - I agree with you - it is much harder with family functions and going out for meals. This weekend I had a Bat Mitzvah, dinner plans with my brother and Mothers day. At the Bat Mitzvah I decided to eat only the cocktail hour and forgo the sit down meal. I ate some sushi, lox, and veggies - I really try to watch my volume and keep the food to one cup. I decided to not even have them put the plate in front of me during the meal, otherwise I would have induldged. Dinner that night out, I did grilled shrimp and salad. Mothers day - a beef rib at the barbecue and grilled mushrooms.

I have been walking 5 nights a week - 45 minutes each night - it is making me feel SO much better.

What is everyone else eating?

I hope you all are having a good week.

Cynthia

That sounds great.....glad you are doing so well. Thanks for sharing. I would love to try sushi. Its low cal and healthy. Im so afraid Ill get stuck. Tuna sounds good as well...are you putting mayo in it?? on bread?? what kind?

I havent tried bread yet either....lol Salad either. Need to try these things.....the bread I can do without but sushi and salad cannot live without!

Hi there,

Just got banded on the 11th of May and today is Day 2 Post op. I am less sore and swollen today. I attribute this to moving around on the day of surgery and the day after. The mobility I've been told helps with soreness.

Welcome Mikissa, yes. walk walk and walk more.. it really does help. Sip, Sip and Sip some more.

Gas x and the pain killers help as well. Take them as often as needed. It really does help. Promise in two weeks youl be happy you did this....lol

keep us posted with progress. ask questions, post comments etc. tell us about yourself and your band journey.

Well I got my first fill today. He gave me 2 cc's. I go back in 2 weeks for another. Down 6 lbs in 6 weeks not bad but wish it was more.

Thats great!!! Glad to hear. Let us know how its going.

well must go to sleep now....have a great rest of the week.

Jodi

Hi Everyone, it's been awhile since I've checked in. So few of us still following up. Where did everyone go???

Glad to hear everyone posting is doing well.

I had my first fill of 3cc's 2 weeks ago. My weight is bouncing around and when I lose, i have not been able to keep it off, I'm -4, +4. Lowest I've been is 209. Maybe I should just stay off the scale for a while. I've started Zumba and love it. I would go everyday if I found classes daily. So much fun. Do go if classes are offered near you!

I notice my clothes fit differently, so, maybe, I'm toning. I've had a funny stomach ache the last few days, so I've been drinking protein shakes and sticking to mostly soft foods like greek yogurt. Not sure if it's a bug, or just the new fill adjustment settling in. Stuck gas? It's just not really going away. I read that some people have a delayed response to fills. I thought it sounded wierd, but now I'm reconsidering. I'm avoiding sodium and I don't do carbonation either. I have not had any problems specifically with any sort of food, not bread, not anything which I am thankful for since it's asparagus season here in VT.

My next fill isn't till june 10th and (although usually i'm inpatient) I'm glad it gives me some more time to figure out how my body is responding.

Be well everyone!

Awesome Fern... Sounds like you are doing good..

My weight as well is up and down about 3 lbs.. I try to only weight myself on one day and at the same time that day everytime..

I'm still lurking around. Had my surgery March 24 and am still on track. I'm now able to eat about half a cup of food each meal. I've had no Pbing or stuck issues. But I have had some hair loss already. Last week I thought I'd try some extensions to add volume to my hair. Well, don't do it...my hair fell out by the handful and now I am having to buy a lace wig. I know I'm getting good protein everyday and I knew going into the band journey that this could happen. I was told my hair will probably come back so I hope that's true. But I also have a thyroid issue, so it may not. Oh well...we shall see. I'll just buy me some nice hair and enjoy being thinner.

hey guys, guess I'll check in also. I was banded march 16 and have lost close to 40 lbs. Can't believe it. But i'm really being good and follow diet instructions. Plus I got my first fill last thursday. I've always felt restriction, even without the fill, so i'm doing well. I never really feel hungry. Once in a while, if I don't eat all day. But then I have a small amount of food and i'm good again. good luck to my march marauders.

THanks Jodi,

I am happy I have made this decision but I'm not seeing any significant weight loss yet. Maybe I need a fill. But I eat a boiled egg and get full so it's not like I'm overeating. ?? Who knows what's going on.

Mikissa,

Just re-read your original post and realized that you were just banded a few days ago in May - correct? You are doing great with 9 pounds lost! You cannot compare your loss to those on this specific board - we were all banded in March. Keep up the good work - you will see the pounds come off like the rest of us!

Cynthia

Hi all.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Well...ive been sick as a dog. My allergies asperated my asthma and im still feeling so bad...I keep thinking that im going to slip my band with all the caughing and such! Its deep caughing and it hurts!!!

I called the surgeon several times to ask about it....as I am so neurotic about it. He says not to worry. hmm

Im still worrying. lol

Weighed in on Wednesday and have lost 40 lbs, so far....yea me.

This week is going to be really busy and am going away for the holiday shavuot. We are going to Fire Island. Cant wait. Tomorrow going shopping for all the food and preperation stuff. We are going for a week so..have to plan

Someone posted a quote that I thought very appropriate.....

"when you fail to plan you plan to fail" This is my new mantra...esp. for the upcoming vacation that I need to take all the food with as their is no groceries that I can buy from.

A. too expensive and B. no kosher meats and stuff.

It will be fun but.....If I fail to plan then I will surely fail!!

I'm still lurking around. Had my surgery March 24 and am still on track. I'm now able to eat about half a cup of food each meal. I've had no Pbing or stuck issues. But I have had some hair loss already. Last week I thought I'd try some extensions to add volume to my hair. Well, don't do it...my hair fell out by the handful and now I am having to buy a lace wig. I know I'm getting good protein everyday and I knew going into the band journey that this could happen. I was told my hair will probably come back so I hope that's true. But I also have a thyroid issue, so it may not. Oh well...we shall see. I'll just buy me some nice hair and enjoy being thinner.

oh this is not good. You must be freaking out. Have you spoken to your surgeon?? Some people are suggesting Biotin. They sell these vitamins at CVS or other pharmacies. im so sorry youve had this experience. my hair is getting thinner as well trying the biotin now.

Well all must go to sleep...have a great week.

Keep up the good work all!!! Jodi

I check in on occasion..... Ive been walking A LOT!!! This week I have hit like 16 miles or so, and I did six one day. But its Leslie Sansones walking bootcamp with intense intervals of jogging and strength training. Tonight is support group I missed it the last two months since surgery. This nice weather is als good, cause it motivates me to get out more. I am doing well sometimes I can still eat more or I feel that Im still hungry, but the dr said if you are smaller and dont have so much to lose the fills take longer before you reach restriction.

Lately I keep getting told that I didnt need the band, and that Im small now and dont have a reason for the band. How hard is it to get through to people and explain that 180 lbs isnt normal nor healthy on a 4'10" person? Im suppose to weigh about 100 lbs soaking wet.... 120 is still not anywhere near skinny on my little frame. But it is a healthy weight, and thats where I am trying to get down too.

My next fill is on the 3rd I already have 6cc's in a 10 cc band so they said this fill will probably be the sweet spot but not guarenteed. Kepp up the good work fellow march banders!:thumbup:

hiya guys!

I have my second post op Visit tomorrow (8 weeks from surgery) I am hoping he will say i can get a fill.. He doesnt do them in his office he does them at the hospital. So i would have to schedule a fill..

To date i have only lost like 18 lbs, but you know what I am still some 30 lbs from where i was when i started this journey and I refused to be mad about 18lbs..

hiya guys!

I have my second post op Visit tomorrow (8 weeks from surgery) I am hoping he will say i can get a fill.. He doesnt do them in his office he does them at the hospital. So i would have to schedule a fill..

To date i have only lost like 18 lbs, but you know what I am still some 30 lbs from where i was when i started this journey and I refused to be mad about 18lbs..

You should never be mad at yourself for still losing weight. I have ionly lost 25 lbs since surgery but I look at it as that I am feeling better looking better then I did without the surgery. Like they say the first 4 weeks are for healing and some people gain in that 4 weeks. Just make sure youre getting out and going to support groups!

Hello My Fellow March Bandsters,

It has been 10 and 1/2 weeks since my surgery. I really feel that I am making some real life change, and I am really happy about that. Life is physically getting a lot easier. I nolonger think twice about doing the things things that normal weight people do on an everyday basis such as climbing a flight of stairs, walking longer distances etc. Last night I went to the Yankee Game (YEAH - the Yankees beat the Red Sox), and I fit SO much better in the stadium chairs, and the walk from the lot was nolonger exhausting!

I had my second fill yesterday - bringing me up to 5.1cc in a 10cc band. I am on liquids until tonight, so I do not know about restriction, but the PA stated that I should feel a difference. I hope so!!!! I am down 42 pounds - only 9 more pounds until I hit the 200's! I cannot wait!

Prior to surgery, I had contacted my insurance (Horizen BCBS) twice and my MD contacted them once. All 3 times it was documented that I do not need pre-approval for this procedure. I also have a copy of my insurance binder stating that it a covered expense. Well - I have now been rejected twice. It is a game they play - now they want a letter of medical necessity (I was 350 pounds, had high BP, was borderline diabetic, taking BP meds and nexium 2X ad day - WTH?!?). Letter was sent in - now waiting again! The odd thing is that they paid the hospital bill - $25,00 (paid a lower contracted amount though), but they did not pay the surgeon ($8,500) or anesthesiologist ($2,500). I have to say though - if I knew that they were possibly not going to cover the procedure prior to surgery, I probably would not have done it. Knowing what I know now - even if I have to pay out of pocket - I am glad I did it - it is a life altering experience.

The exercise is going well: 2-3 miles walking the track with my walking buddy. We walk at a rate of 3mph. Not sure if we should increase the milage at this point or increase our pace. What do you all think would be more beneficial? My biggest issue - my feet ALWAYS hurt! Just bought 2 new pairs of sneakers - boy this sneaker buisness is getting expensive!

I know my goal for this month is to slow down my rate of eating. I think that it will help me feel fulness better. What are you all eating? Jodi - I love my Sushi too and have not had any stuck moments with it (I have not had any stuck or PB incidents yet - thank goodness!). My nutritionist said that bread, rice and meat are all okay as long as you don't get stuck - I guess you will not know unless you give it a try. Carbs, bread, and sweets were never trigger foods for me at all, so that to have them in my diet are complements to my diet not hinderences. I was a total volume eater - and even without restriction as of yet - I cannot eat even close to what I used to.

I hope that everyone has a great week.:thumbup:

Cynthia

Edited May 18, 201016 yr by cynpatt