Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

That is their fill policy. I won't give up, I'm just having a rotten week. There is a lot of stuff going on here in my usually tranquil life and the only bright spot right now is that the stress may tighten me up for a few days! Don't worry, I'll get past this. Quitting is not an option.

Their fill policy sucks! If it gets too tough and they are within driving distance, I'd just go in on the days you know the doctor is in doing fills and beg and cry. I bet that would work.

Donna, I love the friendship poem, it is awesome.

Orea, Donna is correct, their policy SUCKS! Have you tried talking to them? Maybe if they can hear your frustration they will give in. I would hate for you to be so desperate at your next appointment that you get overfilled, and say nothing, because being loose is bothering you now. That will only lead to problems. I have only had one small fill, but I am doing fine with it. My friend was banded 2 weeks prior to me and she has had 3. I think my dr does them whenever you need it after the first 4 weeks after surgery. Making you wait this long is torture and completely not fair to you and your weightloss efforts.

I would have a problem with anyone who told me it's their policy, I think evryone is different and the fills should be based on a one on one basis and that's why I go to fill center USA. they try to make sure I get enough fill at each visit. I've had 2 so far and think I'll be fine for awhile. I hope you get what you need soon, this is a long tough journey and we don't need anyone making it longer or harder then it needs to be because of a policy.

Orea,

You need to talk directly to the doctor. If he/she still doesn't satify your needs, ask him/her to refer you to another physician for your fill. It is your body; you and you physician need t work as a team.

I understand sme weeks just seem to never end.

I just found this thread!! How are all the July Butterflies doing?! I am doing well...and I am on the fast track to skinnyville! Since the pre-op diet, I have lost 95.5 pounds...71 of that just since surgery! Just checkin in, hope everyone is still going strong!

Josh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Band Date: July 9th, 2008

Surgeon: Dr. Jeff Baker

Insurance: Medica

Heaviest Weight: 314.5

Current Weight: 219 lbs.

Goal Weight: 190 lbs.

Freedom is only a word until it is upheld by the roots of its meaning…

I just found this thread!! How are all the July Butterflies doing?! I am doing well...and I am on the fast track to skinnyville! Since the pre-op diet, I have lost 95.5 pounds...71 of that just since surgery! Just checkin in, hope everyone is still going strong!

Josh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Band Date: July 9th, 2008

Surgeon: Dr. Jeff Baker

Insurance: Medica

Heaviest Weight: 314.5

Current Weight: 219 lbs.

Goal Weight: 190 lbs.

Freedom is only a word until it is upheld by the roots of its meaning…

CONGRATS! You are going to make this old lady jealous. My son was banded a couple of years ago and lost 120 in a year. What kinda of exercise are you doing? and how many calories do you eat a day?

CONGRATS! You are going to make this old lady jealous. My son was banded a couple of years ago and lost 120 in a year. What kinda of exercise are you doing? and how many calories do you eat a day?

As for exercise, I just do a lot of running. Running is my game plan. I am waiting for the weight to shed off to start doing more work to gain muscle. As of now, I am intaking about 990-1100 calories in a day. I only had one fill done, and just a few days ago had a partial unfill done :eek:...due to a clog. A lot of what I have done has been being strict with myself...making sure that I only do what I need to do, when I need to do it. Other than that, my sheer motivation to be a healthier me is what is keeping me on top of this whole thing.

Wow Josh. What fantastic progress! You'll be at goal in no time. Do you have any progress pics?

Wow Josh. What fantastic progress! You'll be at goal in no time. Do you have any progress pics?

I do, but will admit I am not quite sure how to load them up.

That's fantastic Josh! I think your our biggest loser. Congrats.

Congratulations Josh! You are doing an amazing job. Keep up the good work and post some pics when you figure it out.

You can click on it to see the full size version. The after picture was taken about a month and a half ago. I have lost 15 pounds since that picture was taken.

Josh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Band Date: July 9th, 2008

Surgeon: Dr. Jeff Baker

Insurance: Medica

Heaviest Weight: 314.5

Current Weight: 219 lbs.

Goal Weight: 190 lbs.

Freedom is only a word until it is upheld by the roots of its meaning…

Edited October 26, 200817 yr by j_holm07

once again AMAZING!

Donna, I took my time with the fills because I was feeling restriction up until 7 weeks after surgery and then I had my first fill.. and now I am getting my second and and it will be about 4 weeks between, its really my doing, I have wanted to get used to the process of eating less and take my time with it,,and now I am ready to start some serious losing,,

orea, hang in there, I have heard of people switching doctors or fill stations because of issues,, I dont know if this is possible for you.. but it seems ridiculous that they have a 'policy' when everyone has different needs.. they should treat you like a paitent and not a number..

Josh! way to go.. thats so great, I hope to do as well as you!!