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Happy Halloween Chicago Bansters! I'm 6 days post op and feeling pretty good!

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LadyK,

Hope your doing great and feeling sexy! I feel so good and so glad I made this decision. I get my first fill 11/13 and cant wait. My stomach sure feels like it wants more food so I have to be careful as I eat something and then push it away. Wow what a change. Take care all, Jules

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Hello,

I have my first fill on November 9th, so I am hoping all goes well and I jump start the losing again. The restriction I was feeling is now gone and I am constantly feeling unsatisfied with my small portions. I have not lost anything for the last two weeks. This seems typical as I read through the posts....How is everyone doing and what are you eating when you eat out?

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Hello Everyone! I was wondering where everyone is located around the Chicago area, and if anyone has a "lapband" get together??? Have a great day everyone and Go Bears!!!

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LadyK,

Hope your doing great and feeling sexy! I feel so good and so glad I made this decision. I get my first fill 11/13 and cant wait. My stomach sure feels like it wants more food so I have to be careful as I eat something and then push it away. Wow what a change. Take care all, Jules

I am doing just fine, in need of another fill but otherwise ok. Since my last fill 4 weeks ago, I have lost between 10 - 8 pounds. I have been gaining, then loosing the same 2 lbs for over a week. I can also eat a little more than I usually do; and my meals no longer sustain me for 3 to 4 hours anymore. Everything points to a fill, I just hate all the red tape and hoops you have to jump through to get a fill. All the referral and insurance stuff is well worth the the feeling of restriction. I love the restriction feeling and I am sure you will love it also. The restriction feeling, is the control that I wish I was born with. Good luck with your fill.

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I live in Berwyn near the Metra tracks. I have been banded since June 2nd. I have not had a fill yet mostly due to finances. My husband is out of work so I am hoping he will get a job soon so I can get a fill. I have lost about 30 lbs which is better than nothing. I know I could do much better with a fill. I plan to get one in a few weeks regardless of my husbands job status.

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Hi, I am Amber from Elgin, Illinois. I am looking into getting the lap band surgery. I am going to my doctor on Thursday Nov. 9th to hopefully get a referral. I contacted my insurance BCBS of Illinois HMO and they stated that it is covered. Has anyone had trouble getting a referral from there primary care doctor? What about problems with the BCBS HMO. If any one could help I would appreciate it. I would like to get this done ASAP.

Thank You

Amber

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if anyone has a "lapband" get together???

Hi everyone, I was banded in July but I just found this thread. I would love to find out about a lap band get together. I joined the bariatric surgery group with meetup.com - but they never actually "meet up".

I live in Chicago but was banded in Mexico. I follow up at Loyola with Dr Temple - he is great!

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Dr. Temple is great, he just did my 3rd fill yesterday.

In order to get a referral from your PCP, it is good if you have a relationship with your doctor. Your doctor must be aware and or possibly be treating you for your co-morbidities. My doctor was aware of my high blood presure, and she was treating me for it. She was also aware of my winter seasonal asthma, and recent back surgery for a herniated disc, oh and also my 220 lbs that I was unable to shed. I had to document and provide her with a list of the other supervised weight loss methods that I had tried over the last 3 to 5 years. Once I did that, she submitted my referral and that was only the beginning. You still have to have several test once you are in the program, it will take a few months to get clearance for surgery. Hang in there, it takes a while to get through the red tape, but it is well worth it.

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I have asked several times about arranging a get together. If you are interested please let me know. I will gladly make reservations somewhere fo us to eat and have a party type room to sit and talk. Let me know if you are in, really in, I did this last year, had several people say they would be there and it ended up just being 2 members and the people we brought with us. ...~Mandy

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Mandy--I would be truly in for it. I know all to well how it goes when you set something up and no one shows. I would love to do that once I am banded and feeling like going out. Also distance is a factor for me too, I live in Dekalb....But I think it would be great! :)

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I'm in Romeoville but don't mind to travel. We did something downtown last time, it was a stir fry place, you build your own mixture and they cook it for you. Veggestyle, you would be welcome pre-band, last time I brought my gastric by-pass friend. Also husbands are welcome. I will need to know if kids are coming so I can plan a kid friendly place. Any suggestions on where to go? I just don't eat pork and I know that Veggestyle doesn't do meat. ~Mandy

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I live in downtown Chicago and was banded on 9/15. I would love a get together so please keep me posted-i also don't mind traveling. I would be happy to help with the plans if you need anything. How about next weekend?

Melissa

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I am open to most times/days. I have something going on the 12th but other than that I am free. Who's in? I say we give until the 11th to signup, and then we plan for the 18th or 19th? ~Mandy

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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