Lindsay

..i'm still feeling that way, and i've had my first fill (it was only 1cc) ---

It took there office 4 weeks to get back to me, after I faxed the papers they required. It's not cheap -$500usd for the consult, $150 for the fill. NO flouro offered. She doesn't actually do the fills - the nurses do - she just sits in on the consult. And because you didn't get surgery with her, you're NOT top priority. I ended up passing on her, because of the really crappy service, and by the time they called me back, it was too late - i found somewhere else. As a side note, it's very expensive (the majority of the time) finding a fill doctor who won't charge you some made-up 'consult' or what-not fee. insurance coverage - good luck. this is elective surgery, and *most* insurance companies will not take a second look at it, let alone qualify it.

I'm still having issues picking 'good' food choices. I'd rather go small, than go too far -- and wonder why I'm still eating like shit, and not exercising regularly. I keep saying to myself, 'the band is only a tool'. I need to concentrate on my diet. Then the band.

awesome, thanks Jenelle!! >

I have a 4cc band (from OCC) ... and the nurse here in Toronto insisted in only doing 1cc, which I was fine with. I've been feeling restricted since getting the band, with nothing in it. Nothing severe, but enough to keep me focused when it comes to eating. So I figured 1cc would be perfect to start with. But after reading a few threads, I've realized that maybe I should have asked for 1.5cc's? I'm just curious how everyone felt after there first fill. I'm liquids for another couple of days, so I can't really tell what the difference is. It's taken me a few hours to get my usual non-sweetened iced coffee down, so I'm assuming there's somethin' going on down there. And I had bad gas (it was the dogs, if anyone asks last night. LOL. So. How much was your first fill? And how did you feel? I suppose going small is better, then I can go back in 6 weeks for more if I need it. I'd rather have too little than too much all of a sudden!

ugh! what a terrible feeling. i had a bad episode of getting 'clogged' (like i call it!) a few days ago, and i ended up sticking my head in the toilet, and sticking my finger down my throat. i couldn't walk it off, and the pain was making my ears tear up, too ... i too, am really scared to go back to eating the specific food i was eating when it happened. i'm glad you're feeling okay. xo

What does your diet look like? (what are you eating in a typical day) And your exercise .. what are you doing to be active?

i have a few posts on this. please do a search under my screen name.

there are a million threads on this topic ... try doing a search. here's just one thread i found quickly: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=7005

I really sincerely hope you're seeing a doctor (not a family doctor, but someone to talk to regularly) about your mental health. I suffer from a bucket of 'things' too, and without constant support, getting the band would have been a death wish for me. There are some things that medication can't help. This is one thing that I know I can't do on my own --- especially with these outrageous emotions you'll be encountering over the next few months. > Hang in there. xo

This is exactly what I thought, too. And after talking to a few San Diegoians, they said the same thing. It's very gang/drug related. People that have been held hostage usually have a connection, one way or another (diplomats, ect) They don't want common-day folk like us. No sense in forwarding fear-mongering -- something the media is awesome at doing.

I wasn't going to respond either, but I think Lisa said it. This is NOT typical.

I contacted the 2 in Toronto. OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. OUTRAGEOUS. They all make it very very VERY expensive to get a fill, because you're not there client .. and honestly, they don't want to see you if they can help it. I ended up deciding to to go to one of the USA fill centre's ... Which is still extremely expensive - especially by the time you incorporate the exchange rate and the initial 'consultation fee'. but after i found about the 'pay now policy', i ran in the other direction - pre-paying before even setting foot in the clinic put a bad taste in my mouth. And when I asked if i could get a refund, should I decide I don't want to stay at the clinic after I walked in, i was told 'oh, no, we don't do that'. HA! I now have a request in at the obesity clinic at the NYU - I have a post on this. Please do a search under my screen name.

i consider myself one of those quick healers, but i was shocked at how yucky i felt after surgery. i had big plans for shopping, too .. but i ended up spending 2 full days in the hotel, sleeping. on the 3rd day, i had a long flight (8hrs) back home, and then a 4 hour drive back into Toronto from Buffalo. and i felt horrible. sitting for so long was very difficult, and was horribly painful most of the time due to the excess gas you'll be experiencing. my immune system had been challenged, and i quickly developed 2 cold sores on my mouth. and it took me a good 2 weeks just to feel okay again. once i got back home, i also caught a terrible flu ... my point: everyone is very different. and everyone will recover differently. as i mentioned, i had big plans on shopping, and walking around to see what i could. but i ended up sleeping the entire time. my boyfriend got bored by day 2, and he went golfing. i personally wouldn't make plans like that. they sound different to re-schedule should you not be up to it.

heck yes! I didn't want to skip any dosages, for obvious reasons on both fronts I haven't had any obvious issues, but my band hasn't been tightened yet - I'm getting my first adjustment on the 21st of April. Small pills, like the Effexor aren't the med's you need to be concerned about getting blocked. I think it's more of those huge monster multi vit's that look like horse pills. But, I was told I wouldn't have any issues, based on the medications I asked about -- Maybe take one BIG pill in the morn, one in the eve? That might break the time frames up enough to prevent any errr ... upcoming surprises And even so, blockages usually pass rather quickly, so even if it did get stuck, it usually makes it way back down within a few seconds

boobies are fat! mine went down to negative when i was really lean.

I'm on the pill, effexor and wellbutrin - no issues here.

OMG> thank you soo much for this lead. I just called there client, and i'm faxing over my paperwork now. it was sooooooo much cheaper, holy cow. i think what really did it, was i got a call from fill center's this morn, asking me for my credit card info - they wanted to bill me BEFORE i even arrived. ERRR, so i'm paying for something i'm not even sure if I want to do? i haven't even met the doctors. they said the dr wouldn't see me if i didn't prepay!! screw that! talk about putting a really bad taste in my mouth.

yeah, unfort because i live right downtown here in toronto, options are very limited - they don't want 'outside' clients. they really only cater to there own, and they make that obvious ---- they charge between $1200-1500 PER FILL! Driving to NJ is what I've decided to do. It's sooo much cheaper, and a bit of a road trip will be fun. Maybe?!

awesome, thanks lovely ladies for the replies

40carb/40pro/20fat divide your calories up with that calculation. in another post of mine, i broke down the # of cal's in 1g of pro/fat & carbs.

23%??????? That is f-ing INSANE. Holy crap!!!!!! Thank god it's 'only' 6% now for you. wow. i'm stunned.

hm. what is the interest like with these credit companies??

err.. due to hormones? i'm assuming yes. but i'd re-evaluated your dr. 'srsiouly ..

there are quite a few posts on the 'violence' in mexico on here. i highly recommend you do a search. but no. i encountered nothing.