Hi! I'm Jaime. I'm 30, single & I was banded on Nov 8th, 2007. I had my surgery at the same place that I'm employed as a Heart Monitor Tech (Nights). I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. When not working with patients heart rhythms, I float as the House Hospital Secreatary for the Nursing staff and doctors. Don't so much like that job, but it's money.

Dr. Stephen Malley, in Overland Park, Kansas did my band. He's a wonderful doctor and he has the greatest staff in the world!! But most importantly I love my band!!! However, i'm a little frustrated by it right now. So far I've lost 61 pounds. Apparently after reading some posts, I have a weird frame & body. I'm 179 lbs & in a size 16. I've read that some of you are bigger & in smaller clothes, it's just so frusterating to me. I've lost my butt (J-Lo bootie), wings (upper arms), my double chin, and my face...but still my middle remains!

I haven't had a fill since the beginning of April. I just don't have the funds for it right now, as there are family issues & bills that need paid that come before my band being filled.

I don't go to any support groups, as they're all on nights when I'm working so I'm going to start looking to this as my support, I hope that's o.k. I have some support from my Aunt & cousin, but as they're small, they don't understand. I have A LOT of support from my co-workers, though. Everyone tells me how great I look, and how the pounds just melted off of me so far. I don't think I look any different though. So far I know of 5 of us here at work that have had the lap band done, and 3 that have had gastric bypass. Only 1 of the 3 bypasses have "worked" and us "banders" are still in the "new throws" of being banded, as I'm the longest banded co-hort.

I switched Pcp's because my physician was not supportive of my decision either. She wanted me to have the gastric bypass like her and her husband. She doesn't understand why anyone would get a band and have to go in for a fill when they're 80 years old, when you can just get your stomach cut and be done with it. So, I'm done with her. My new PCP is AMAZING!! And her office is here in the Medical office building here at work and she takes early morning pts too.

My boyfriend broke up with me on Valentines day this year. He was with me before I had surgery, but couldn't hang on. So I'm focusing on going back to school, as I start Aug 20th. A 30 year old college student. What the hell am I thinking.

So, LBTers, here I am in all my glory. Nice to meet you.

-Jaime:biggrin:

Why do you have to pay for your fill? Don't you have a good insurance policy through where you work?

No. I have the HCA benefits & it's $57 a fill. The first 2 where included with my surgery, but it seems that everytime I have a fill, I have to have an unfill. My first fill was 1cc, they took .75 cc's out, then they filled .5cc's, had to take .25 out, then I got furious and made them put in 1.5cc's, and they took 1cc out. So to me, it's almost not worth getting a fill for so much $$ then having to pay again for the unfill the next day.