Believe09

Thanks Tristessa.... Im in Calgary for another fill tomorrow, I always think of you when I go there. This time Im NOT hitting that coach store -LOL

That's a big chunk of change I would have never known to claim. Thank you to everyone on this tread for mentioning this, Im a girl on a budget, this will help me out tremendously.

I sent my forms in today, with the surgery report and receipt hopefully that's sufficient.

But up to 12 WEEKS to process that baby....WOWZA

Good to know

Thanks Ill get on that, I had my surgery in March, can I still submit?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but how do you claim it? When you submit your taxes? I'm in Alberta, please share the details

Hi everyone. Question for the experts out there:

I was banded in March and have had three fills. Everything seems great.

In the last 2 months I have gotten a very uncomfortable pain across my stomach and Im wondering if its related to the band??? It has only happened twice, thank goodness. It feels like a "stitch" one would get after they exercise except it goes across my stomach and feels like it is contracting. It nearly takes my breath away as it seems to come from out of now where. It lasts for about an hour and goes away??? Do you think its band related or something else??? Thanks a million

That is amazing... Your a true inspiration!!!

Thanks Janelle. Let me know how your fill goes, Im a week behind ya.

Hello beautiful ladies!!!

I am going for what I think people refer to as a “blind” fill. This is my first fill and am wondering what the process is.

Do I tell the Dr. My band size and request the amount of saline I want injected?

How do they determine the right amount of restriction if they cant see how it is affecting the band?

How long after the fill do I have to wait until I can determine if the restriction is appropriate?

How long do have to wait in between fills?

Sorry for all the question, but I know you girls are the best experts on the band.

Thanks everyone

YOU LOOK FABULOUS!!! ALTHOUGH, I DONT KNOW U... IM SO PROUD OF U!!!!

Im confused regarding the fill process. Does the fill Dr. tell the patient how much he will inject into the band, or does the patient tell him how much they want? Thanks my friends

I had to go away for awhile from the forum in order to get my head together and get my moment of clarity. I was going to stay away for about a week but there are a couple of epiphanies that happened today that prompted me to return.

The first one is that I am being really selfish. By staying off the board I am denying help to the people who read my posts but choose to remain silent. These can be non-members, potential members, lurkers, or just people who are shy. The thought of going away instead of potentially helping someone breaks my heart.

Second, I woke up this morning questioning my food choices and the thought occurred to me that maybe I am choosing slider foods thus no restriction. I spoke to 2 people about my theory. One person is a member on this forum that I called this morning and another person is a banded person from another board I belong to and they both said the same thing: There is NOTHING I can do that I am not doing already until I get good restriction. They both said go on in for that 4th fill and don’t look back and don’t second guess.

Lastly, many of you might suspect, if you don’t already know that I have been off my rocker emotionally for the last several days because the band is not working, blah, blah, blah (and it’s not, but there is NOTHING I can do about that so I am letting it go)…So I decided to go back on a certain anti-depressant as of Friday. I am only mentioning this because it is the BEST medication ever invented. Okay, no seriously, I mention this for the following reasons:

It was prescribed to me as a smoking aid, which incidentally does not seem to be working, but the beauty of it is that unlike other anti-depressants it does not make me drowsy or give me that drugged up feeling & works immediately so I do not have to wait 2 – 4 weeks to feel different. I feel better on it emotionally and it has benefits: 1. Major appetite suppressant. I kind of forget to eat when taking it or put off eating for long periods of time due to being busy doing other things. That brings up the second benefit, it give me enough energy to keep me moving and motivated but not too much energy like a crash and burn. The third benefit is that it gives me a slight dry mouth so I drink plenty of water throughout the day.

So to sum up it is an anti-depressant that does not make you feel drugged up (I believe this is due to it being a time released tablet), has the side effect of making you loose weight instead of gaining it, may help to stop smoking (jury is still out on this one), and you do not have to wait a month for the darn thing to kick in and you will be motivated to do your Spring cleaning in the middle of winter.

Im so thankful for all you. Every time I get worried, I come to the forum and you guys make me feel so much better

Its so disappointing to read this is happening to everyone. I just got banded last week and now Im so worried I flushed a big chunk of change down the drain. I dont even know what band I have. I dont remember them telling me, but I was pretty out of it. I dont even have a receipt to reference. It sounds like this experience is becoming more and more common for us newly banded. Why is this happening? Is the band flawed? Is it diet? Oh goodness...

Thanks ladies. Youre all soooooo awesome!!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can use to help the incision sites heal and to prevent/minimize scarring?

Thanks so much