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As of today, I am two months post op!  the first month, before I got my first fill, I didn't lose any weight.  I was 337 when I went in for the first fill.  But after that, things got moving pretty fast.  As of yesterday morning, my scales say I weigh 305!!!  That means 32 lbs gone in about 5 weeks!  Not too shabby, and I don't feel hunger much at all.  If I eat, it's usually out of head hunger.  I realize its time to eat, and then I want to eat.  I am riding my exercise bike about 6 miles or 30-35 minutes every day that my gout isn't bothering me.  I also do Richard Simmons Sweating to the Oldies on other days.  I think this lapband is going to be a life saver for me.  I havent weighed under 300 lbs in YEARS, so I really am looking forward to getting below it.  Hope everyone is doing well, and feeling good.  Hugs all around.  Mags

I went to get my second fill on the 22nd, and of all things, Dr. Cook said he thought I was doing good and didn't need a fill that day.  So, I went home and just kept on doing like I been doing.  After talking to me, and with the weight loss I have had, he thought I might be at a good spot.  I was kind of dissapointed, I wanted to have more so I could lose more.  But he is the expert.  I have lost 18 lbs according to their scales, according to mine, it was about 21.  But counting clothing, I could have been closer to my figure.  Do you all weigh naked?  I DO!!!  Well I gotta run, at work, but hugs all around!  We will get through this one way or the other!!!!

Hey ya'll,  here I am 7 weeks out and down to 315 on my scales at home.  I go for my 2nd fill on the 22nd.  I was talking to my weightloss buddy, Maxine, who had surgery about 2 weeks behind me, and she told me she asked the doctor how much saline he put into her lapband.  And he told her (laughingly) that THAT was what everybody wanted to know.  I bet he got a shocker when he did mine, cause I FORGOT to ask him how much he put in.  I was pretty peeved that day, as they had made me pay prior to the fill, and my insurance hadn't paid any on my bill, so it really did suck to have to cough up 238.00 on the spur of the moment.  I hope they have their ducks in a row next week when I go.  Now lets see, what else did I want to say.  I really and glad I got this lapband.  It isn't a cure all, but it really is a wonderful tool to help you lose weight.  It keeps me from over eating which I used to do.  In the mornings (or afternoons) when I get up, cause I work night shift, I seem to have alot of restriction, and anything I eat gets kinda stuck and I get that serious pain in the chest and back between the shoulder blades until it passes or I can get a burp up.  I seem to be colder than I used to be.  Well, I do photography on the side, and I have a wedding to shoot this weekend, and am excited about it.  Hope all have a wonderful weekend, and hugs all around!!!!  Your friend in spirit, Margaret

WEll, last night I went back to work and for the first time in 6 weeks, I put my old scrubs back on and oh, my goodness!!  The pants are swallowing me and my tops are now comfortably loose where they were tight on the belly and arms before!!  Won't be long til somebody will be having a yard sale!!  The scales are hovering around 315, ya'll know how that is,  one day its 318, then 317, then 318, then bam!! 315!!!  So I go for my second lapband fill on the 22nd, I'll post the "official weight" then, but I feel pretty good.  If I eat too fast, or not chew well enough, I get the worst pain in my chest.  Also the productive burping (a little but not too bad yet).  I think my pouch is tighter in the mornings, too.  Around noon, everything seems to go down easier?? Maybe its just me, LOL!  WEll,  hope everyone is doing good, and hugs all around!!  This is just a step in the process of improving our lives and we are ALL WINNERS as far as I am concerned!  Margaret

Here it is, 7 days after my first fill and guess what!!  I am now down to 318!!!  On fill day, I had regained up to 337, and was really embarassed at weigh in.  But they reassured me that this sometimes happens, and so we went through with it and despite all I endured getting my fill, I have sucessfully lost  19 lbs!!   UNBELIEVABLE!!!  I feel good too, have good restriction and basically NO hunger.  Yesterday I heard a little growlies, but nothing major.  I am having trouble getting in all my water, and of course protein is always a challenge, but I am happy.  Has anybody had the weepies past lapband surgery?  I did yesterday.  Please let me know if ya'll have and what causes it and what cures it.  OK  have a great day everyone.  HUGS all around!!!

Well, people, I got my first fill.  It was a painless procedure and Dr. Cook was so gentle, when he stuck me, I didn't feel anything.  They had me drink before he removed the needle to make sure I could get water down and they would not have to remove any fluid from my band by resticking me.  Then they took it out ( the needle) and put a bandaid on it.  I did bleed from the site and wondered if this was normal, but I had already left the xray department.  Dr. Cook is a great person.  I told him that the outpatient admissions had made me pay $238.00 before I could get my fill, and he went off.  He said I should not have had to pay.  Turns out, they filed my insurance and it hadn't been paid yet.  In fact , it was denied, and they said I had not been pre-approved for surgery.  So Dr. Cook got a very nice lady to help me and he was VERY concerned that they had given me a hard time.  I was upset needless to say.  I haven't even received a bill from the hospital yet, and they claimed I owed the hospital over 9,000.00!!!  What a crock of crap.  I hope nobody else has to go through this problem.  They are going to refile, and all, but it really is disturbing that BC & BS doesn't want to pay.  What a day!
Anyway, hugs all around!  Ya'll have a good one!  Oh and to top it all off, I had gained 5 lbs.  I am having trouble with constipation and not getting all my water in.  So, I just have to keep trying.  In the past 24 hours, my scales say I lost the 5 lbs again, cause I am on clear liquids, and starting all over.  Hope I can get losing!  I am eating way less than half of what I used to eat, riding my exercise bike 30 mins every day, and not drinking when I eat.   But I didn't feel restriction after eating, so now I have my fill, I should do better.  HOPE SO!!!

I am feeling good, having no real pain except that sharp one between my shoulder blades when I eat too fast, or don't chew up something good enough.  I don't have alot of restriction, and I am having to use will power to not overeat.  I go for my first fill on the 27th, so I imagine that I will have more restriction.  I am riding my exercise bike about 30 mins every day, and not eating much, but am NOT losing weight.  My weight is hovering around the 330 mark and has made its home there.  I have alot of constipation and am trying to get my water in and protein, but I know I am not succeeding in those areas.  I just have to keep trying.  Nobody said it would be easy, and it is all dependent on me, what I will myself to do.  So, I am resolved to keep trying even though those darn scales wont cooperate!!  I feel smaller and my clothing is getting big on me.  I am eating waaaaaaaaaaaay less than I used to eat.  SO something has to give.  Sooner or later, it has to!!  Hugs all around, hope everybody else is doing good. 

I got my one week check up today, and Dr. Cook says I am doing good, the nutritionist Becky says the same thing.  I had my first episode of PB'ing yesterday and decided I don't want to do that again if possible!  All is going good, my gout seems to be getting better, my belly pain is minimal.  I only lost 2 1/2 lbs, but they say that is normal, considering the swelling and weight I gained just immediately post op.  I am working on getting in my protein and fluids, that is the hard part.  I still am glad I had this surgery done, and I look forward to losing some weight and living a healthy life!
Best of luck to US All!!!  hugs all around! 

Here I am, sitting at the computer 4 days from the most life-changing event in my whole life, and I feel pretty good.  I made it through surgery just fine, Dr. Cook is very skilled and did a great job.  I have 5 incisions on my upper belly and it's not where I thought I would have them, for real.  I can't really decide just yet where my port is placed at.  But the best thing is that there is minimal pain from the incision sites.  Where my pain is at is in my left foot believe it or not!  My left foot is swollen about 2 times the normal size and hurting SO bad, the surgery doesn't even affect me.  I had to go see my regular doc today and he put me on new gout medicine, new pain meds (morphine!) and wants me to take celebrex, but I can only do that with the surgeons approval.  It will be only for 7 days, and hopefully will reduce the inflammation.  I can't take prednisone due to the nature of the surgery, and other meds either, so I will find out tomorrow if Dr. Cook will allow it, or if I will have to just let the swelling come down on its own.  My foot hurt so bad, I had to wear my husband's tennis shoes today to go see the doc.  My own foot would not fit into my shoe.  That is just SAD!  LOL!  Well, I am having one other problem, and that is learning how to not swallow so much air.  I get the painful air bubble and buddy, that's all that will go down until I get a burp up.  Other than that, things are going good, and I am so appreciative of all the good words and prayers everybody said for me.  This is going to be worth it all.  I am still glad I did it, and when my foot stops hurting me, wont' be no stopping me then!  Hugs all around!  Talk soon!

You all keep me in your prayers!  I am scheduled for surgery at 9:30 in the am, and will soon be joining everyone on the losing bench.  Thanks for all of the support and prayers, and good wishes.  I wish the best to everyone and keep the faith, baby!  Live long and prosper!  Margaret