Allcdngirl

I have had popcorn, not alot, but just enough to still enjoy it. Just take one at a time, and chew it really good.

I was going to ask the same thing... what kind of surgery did you have?? :shok:

This is the fill center price in Arlington, WA. Lap-band fill prices * First visit $175 (includes chart set up, counseling, measurements and fill) Free unfills during regular office hours if we provided your fill After hours unfills $50 Additional fills within the 3-10 days $50 Subsequent fills $150 Office Visit/Consult - no fill $50 Fluoroscopy $200 (for un-accessible ports and band check/fill) This looks alot cheaper than what you are all paying???

Kimmie.. you are doing wonderful and should be proud of yourself! I can totally relate though about the costs. I too was a little shocked to read that alot of bandsters end up getting like 5 or more fills, when originally I was told 1-2 fills by the OCC. I am going to go to the NorthWest Fill Clinic in Arlington. The ladies there say you should only need a floro once a year, just to check on everything. Unless you or they suspect a problem, there is no need for one. I have heard so many great things about this clinic, that I am anxious to get my fill next month. I will have alot of questions for them, and I will certainly ask about this subject, and will post their replies.

Yes Paula... that was funny.. thanks for sharing..

4 lbs... that's huge... way to go!!! =D> =D>

Kim... I have the exact, exact, same thing happen to me when I eat tuna.. get's stuck, hurts, mouth waters, etc... OMG... I've given up on it too... ) : I have not had anything come up, just the "stuck" pain, and watering of the mouth. I don't think everyone pb's, but I'm sure at one point or anything we all will at least once.

Carrie.. there are many reasons for the scale to go up and down. Water retention, staying on the same calorie intake for a while, body going into starvation mode, and holding on to everything it's got. Remember.. you MUST increase your calorie intake to continue to lose weight. You are not doing anything wrong. You have done a great job so far, and you will continue. Here's a note from Dr. Ortiz posted under Dr's corner. I hope you find this useful... Statements for Success….. Once you get the band your not home free…It’s the home stretch! Same Band, same surgical group and same follow-up…Why do some patients fail while others succeed? During the first two months, before your first fill, the presence of the band just hanging around your stomach will keep you from feeling too hungry. This means you and the band will work as a team. It offers you a chance at eating less and not feeling the extreme hunger you are used to when you were doing this all alone. The band is a tool. First three weeks (liquid phase): It will help you feel less hunger. Do liquids, just liquids…vary them. You don’t need the protein of constant shakes or high calorie liquids. Don’t do just one type of liquid, and please don’t use a blender! Do not use substitute shakes more than once a day during the last week. Liquid phase is three weeks is 21 days Yes you will hear that some patients did less days of liquids and nothing happenned. Well wait until six months have passed and you find yourself struggling with more band adjustments and not feeling the restriction. These patients enlarged their pouch. Once the harm is done it won’t show up imediately, but it will hinder your weightloss and you may never reach your goal. Now I ask you is it really worth it? By the way the only way to correct pouch enlargement is through surgical repair. Solid phase between three weeks and your first fill. Most patients lose weight. Some will challenge the band. Here is the mentality. You decided to have surgery, you will carry a foreign body around your stomach for life, you shelled out some money the least you can do is help this little ring out. How? Once you are on solids challenge the band, not by eating everything in site and then asking I don’t feel restriction, is this normal? Of course it is normal, the band is healing in place totally lose. The real challenge is by testing how small a portion you can eat three times a day without feeling too hungry. Reasons to follow these guidelines. I have studied thousands of patients and found common things to those who succeed and those who fail. Those that follow these statements tend to lose around 30% of their excess weight during the first two months. They also reach their weightloss goal earlier (sometimes less than a year) and with less fills and no complications. If you follow these guidelines, once the 6 to 8 weeks are up, you won’t be wanting a fill because poor weightloss requires it…you will be getting one because this last weight-loss effort and you deserve it! Dr. Ariel Ortiz, MD, FACS

OMG Cedar.... hilarious!! Right on... Love it!!! lmfao!!!

We can't wait to go on your journey with you!!

I want to know what "wood work" WillT would be thinking about?? :scratch_one-s_head:

Congratulations Jim. Wonderful to hear that you haven't felt that good in a long time! You deserve it! Hope... you have made the best decision, and once you have it, you will be thankful that you chose the OCC and this forum for support. I look forward to talking with you more. Anita :cheerleader:

You should have done like Dr. Phil and said.. well obviously diet and exercise aren't working for you??? :girl_haha:

Congratulations Jacquie.. who gave you a fill of 2 cc's? That seems like a lot for a 1st fill. But glad it's working for you. "B"... try eating just a small amount of food at a time, and make sure you start with proteins. Chew, chew and chew. Next your veggies. By the time I got through both of these, I was no longer hungry, and just stopped. After about another 10-15 min. I would feel full, and wouldn't eat for quite a long time after. After 1 hour, start to drink your water again. Hope this helps. Anita

Don't tell Dr. Miranda you are still drinking the protein water. I told her what I was eating/drinking, she told me that I was to get all my protein from solids only. No more protein water. So maybe just don't mention it. :secret:

Calicat.. congrat's on your weight loss you're doing great! I was wondering if you felt different after having your 1st fill. Alot of people don't lose any weight and don't notice any difference in what they can eat and how much. Did you find you could only eat "less" that what you were eating before the fill?

Hey AMBER... Congratulations! You Go Girl! I bet you were ecstatic to see that number on the scale drop below 300. You should be really proud of yourself! Keep up the great work! :lb13:

Cathy.. you are doing excellent. Just hang in. Think of how much weight you're going to lose in the first 6 weeks. That will be a huge reward in itself. Just to add to Janet's suggestions..... it takes 20 minutes for a food craving to reach it's peak, and then go away. If you can find something else to do for the 20 min to completely change what you were thinking, you will overcome the urge to eat. Good Luck!

I had to sip for the first 3 weeks post-op because if I didn't it would just come back up. I'm still scared to drink alot and fast because I keep thinking that it will come back up again.

I understand where you're coming from Alana. Don't get me wrong, I don't drink alot. I never drink at home, only socially. But when I'm out with friends, I'm not going to deny myself. From what I understand I won't be able to drink much anyways, and like Lisa said, you just have to plan to incorporate those extra calories that you're taking in, into your daily count. Right now I'm struggling to get 1200 calories in, so a few drinks would still keep me within the 1200. What Cedartown was trying to say basically was that he was told it would not be harmful to drink.

The first 21 days are very important to follow your Dr.'s instructions and Dr. Miranda's instructions. Your band area is very swollen, which is why the liquids. You can't reverse what you've done, so don't look back, and go full steam ahead. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Hanna... congratulations! Size 12... :lb21: Can't wait to meet you. I will be camping for that weekend, and all I know is it's 20 min south of Mount Vernon. That's it, that's all. So I have no idea how far Arlington is. Linda... the fill center is not open on Saturday the 5th, and I'm not sure if they do fills on Sunday. I will most likely wait until Monday morning to get mine. I've just emailed them as asked if they are doing them Monday morning. I sure hope so! Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Stuffed sausages!!! I love it! Or a smokie in a hotdog bun! :girl_haha:

:lb13:

Amber My Friend... that is an understatement. Is that not the grossest taste. Right up there with buckleys!