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Blog 87110
 

I'm Moving The Body

Well, I am now walking 30 minutes a day (1.6 miles), 5 days a week. I love where I am walking...it is around a lake with homes, ducks and very pretty. I bought a pedometer, so I could track what I am doing. I hope the scale starts moving in the right direction. Breakfast and lunch I am eating in control, but dinner I am eating too much. I cannot wait for another fill. I did not realize that a fill a month and you have to wait about 3 months before the fill is right....slower process than I though. Kind of disappointed I am not going to loose 10 lbs/month now in time for summer.
neyad

neyad

0
Blog 86959
 

don't feel anything

I was doing so well in the beginning and managed to lose 33 lbs. but I seem to have stalled and keep gaining and losing the same 1 1/2 lbs. It's very frustrating!! It's been ten days since my first fill and I don't feel any restriction at all. I feel like I could eat a HORSE! I'm beginning to think I should have had the bypass. Someone tell me it will get better!!!
Cathiejcc

Cathiejcc

4
Blog 89559
 

Four Days Until Surgery!!

I can't wait! I'm traveling for business and I'm not eating well or exercising, but I just want to get this done! There are little bumps in the road -- wierd insurance and a different reaction from my friend who I thought was taking me and picking me up from surgery. But these are just bumps.   Read someone's blog today about being 11 days post op and losing 20 lbs. I need to do that. I'm so sluggish.   Tomorrow I'm flying home so that should go by pretty fast. Monday and Tuesday I'm working so that should help too?! I can only hope!!!    
sandradee0124

sandradee0124

1
Blog 59228
 

11 Days Post Op

Well, I've lost somewhere around 20 lbs and I feel good about how my incisions look.   I go back to the Dr. for the first time on the 1st of the month for my first fill. I'm kind of excited about that. A lil scared to be honest.   I hope all my fellow bandsters are doing as well. Good luck to all of you out there.
Mikissa

Mikissa

0
Blog 82709
 

Bass Fishing in May10 in a float tube

Went fishing in my float tube for the first time this year, on Saturday in the rain. I was determined to go.:cursing: Once there I began to set up and finally entered the water and fished for three hours. What I noticed about this trip was my LAPBAND which has helped me loose weight has brought back my ability and agility to move quicker, faster and able to put my diver's fins on comfortably and quickly.:thumbup::thumbup: Last year my weight caused me to be very slow and cautious and out of breadth.:mad: Plus my now small stomach, which is very noticeable has enabled me to have more flexibility while on the water in my tube.:thumbup: FANTASTIC and FABULOUS.:crying: I am happy to say that my weight has decreased each week by at least one kg. There are days during the week that there are some ups and downs, a gain of one # here but the next few days, it's off and still decreasing. I have had 3 Fills in my 10cc band. It's still working so I am on hold for my 4th Fill. It's warming up so I will see how my exercises do for a month or two prior to deciding to get my 4th Fill. Happy with my results and feel great, with lot's of energy. May the power be with the LAPBAND.:crying:
Giby97

Giby97

2
Blog 2386
 

Glad to be done...

My endoscopy went well this morning. I am so glad to be done with all of the testing, poking and prodding.   I get my CPAP tomorrow night. AFter that all I have left to do before surgery is meet with the Nutritionist.   As unpleasant as all of this testing has been, it's a relief to know I'm in pretty decent health. I'm glad I got it all done.
Maddie

Maddie

1
Blog 91736
 

shrimp is a no-no

I get on kicks where I will eat something for a while and then the urge will pass. Well yesterday I started my shrimp cocktail kick. I had 8 shrimp in the morning and within an hour I was so blocked it wasn't even funny. My stomach felt like it was going to explode, there was this fullness and pressure and sharp pain that I had to keep moving my jeans so they didn't rest on that spot. It took 6 hours like this before I called the doctor and he said as long as I wasn't throwing up and could get liquid down I was ok. This was so painful. It is the next morning now and I still feel pressure, have no desire to eat anything and hope that this passes soon too. This was the worst I have ever felt since surgery, even having surgery wasn't that bad. So the doctor said no more shrimp. boo hoo
khunt719

khunt719

1
Blog 2117
 

I have a surgery date!!!

I went for my consultation with Dr. Borland in New Iberia. On my way there I turned my radio off, and I began to pray.....is this the right thing for me to do? Is this the right doctor? Please God give me peace if this is the right track for me to be on with this doctor. If not, please give me a sign...a gut feeling, a doubt, something..... So I went into the office and waited about 15 minutes. I was not nervous. The nurse called me back. She weighed me and calculated my BMI. I was surprised to find that I weighed 262....the most I had ever weighed besides when I was pregnant was 252, so welcome to a new high Karen..... Dr. Borland came in to talk to me and I was still not nervous....he explained everything to me, and thanks to this forum and verticalsleevetalk.com I understood everything he discussed with me. These two sights are so incredibly valuable!! Thanks to all of you for that! He talked to me about how my weight was mostly below my waist....he poked and prodded around on my belly and told me that because I didnt have a lot of fat in my belly area that the surgery would be alot easier to perform. As would my recovery. YEA!! That is good news! Marian, Dr. Borland's nurse came in and talked to me about the surgery schedule and gave me a packet of information. I originally scheduled for June 28, but since called back and changed it to June 21 due to work reasons. I asked her if anyone in the office had had this surgery done by Dr. B and she told me that he had done it on her 2 1/2 years ago. I spent the next 30-40 minutes talking to her patient-to-patient, not patient-to-nurse. That was so great! She gave me a lot of helpful post-op advice. I am so excited!! I am not the least bit nervous or scared! That may come the closer I get to my surgery date, but for now, I am at peace with the Surgeon I have chosen and the procedure I have decided to do. Thank God for answered prayers!!
kalex21211

kalex21211

0
Blog 2117
 

An intro to my story....

Found out last week that my insurance has an exclusion to any type of WLS.....which I expected. So now I am gonna be cash-pay.....just have to pick the right doc for me and get the ball rolling.   As of right now, I am looking at two docs. As of right now, I am looking into going to Mexico and using Dr. Aceves who charges $8750 or Dr. Borland in New Iberia, La who charges $9800.   If I choose to go to Mexico, I will have to have a passport and airfare. The passport I am pretty sure will cost about $150. I have looked at airfare from New Orleans to San Deigo, and that will probably run me $400 round trip, give or take a little bit. (So thinking Mexico is gonna be $9300-$9400 out of pocket.) Dr. Borland in New Iberia will require me to stay in a hotel for 2-3 days post surgery. I havent checked the rates on hotels there, but I will do that.....Will be good to have a comparision between the two.   I have been approved by Dr. Aceves for surgery. All I have to do is call and set the date if I choose Mexico. I did make an appointment with Dr. Borland for a consultation for May 18, 2010. They could have gotten me in sooner; I just couldnt go sooner than that due to my schedule for work.   Now, the hard part....I have to talk to my husband. I have been reading and researching anything I could find on VSG before I talked to him so I would have all the answers to any question I thought he might ask. Or, reason why he thought I shouldnt do it....I am praying that he will be supportive in my decision.   My dad and my sister have both had RNY. My dad had a lot of complications immediately following surgery, but he was very high risk because of his weight, and we knew all of that going into it. My sister was not high risk, but also had complications. Her small intestine got a kink in it and the Dr. had to go back in and repair it. Since then, she has recovered very well and has had great success with her weightloss. She does experience what I have come to know as "dumping" and last time I asked her about it, she was not taking any vitamins, or protein supplements. Therefore, her hair is thinning and I dont think she looks as good as she could.   So, after all of the reading I have done, and the several times I have watched the procedure being done, I have decided on the VSG....wish me luck!
kalex21211

kalex21211

1
Blog 92500
 

I am so frustrated

I am reading about all of you guys and what you are going through. I am very happy for you all. I am so frustrated. Trying to figure out how to make all this work. I have signed up for a seminar, But it isn't until June 14. Am still trying to get an appointment with a Doctor. I think I want Dr. patterson here in Portland. From what I have read from some of you already she seems very good. Anyway, left message to be called back about an Appt. But have not got a call yet. Will have to call Monday again. I can't wait to get my band, But like someone said......HOOPS.......HOOPS.......HOOPS. Hope to have good news soon. Anyone that had Dr. Patterson from Oregon Weight Loss Surgery in Portland. I would love to hear how everything has turned for you .
kizzbit

kizzbit

0
Angela's Blog
 

Restriction or no restriction that is the question

I posted a question in the post op form on restriction. I received several replies with good reminders of what I need to be focused on. I have no restriction. I have read that it happens when the swelling goes down. I just didn't expect it one week after surgery. I guess unrealistically I expected to be a little "tight" for a while. So, now I am on a different path. I have to be more mindful of my eating since I obviously don't have the help of my band right now. I go to the doctor on June 10th so that is quite a while to be on my own. I have thought a lot of what would I do if I stretched my pouch. What if this lack of restriction was actually my pouch was stretched? Could that be it? What do I need to do if it is stretched and how would I even know? Anyone?
anglov

anglov

4
Blog 90427
 

Not a banner day

Well, I was at the gym tonight. I had a horrible day at work and my right knee was bothering me, but I got on the treadmill and walked .88 miles. I did about 20 minutes on the sit-stepper and 12 minutes on the sci-fit machine. I just wasn't able to do as much as I wanted to do. But, I will make up for it on Sunday. Got a call from my surgeon's office today to confirm my appointment on Monday at 9:15. I am so excited - I am so ready for this. Have a great weekend everyone.
Bklynike

Bklynike

1
Blog 92053
 

Tgif!!!!!!

Ok so it is friday:thumbup:, things are going a little better. My husband is rethinking taking the other job because he knows how much this surgery means to me, gosh I love him. I have been told about COBRA insurance and after I thought about it, at least I do not have to take out a loan, I have enough in student loans:eek:. So I am going to talk to my husband (Paul) tomorrow and see what he says. I figure the amount I would be paying for COBRA is the same amount or a little more than I would be paying on a loan. Does anyone know how much COBRA insurance costs? and what happens if you start paying it but can't keep affording to pay it say 6 months down the road? So I have tried to start eating less bread and less food just to see what it is going to be like, I sure hope that when I get my band that it makes this hunger feeling go away:drool:; I decided I am going to be optomistic and that the surgery will happen, GOD will provide. I am going to keep my mind focused on what I need to do and whatever happens between now and then is meant to be.
krekre28

krekre28

1
Blog 1569
 

Sleeve is it Good or Bad I have your answers.....

I wanted to let everyone know who visits this site how I feel about the sleeve. I got my sleeve done in Las Vegas by Dr Thomas Umbach on 2/24/2010. (About 12 weeks ago) IT IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOULD DO IT AGAIN NO QUESTIONS. I have actually felt NO pain from the surgery at anytime. I have lost 78 lbs in 12 weeks now I would say I also work out everyday as well. Check out my pictures and you will see a weight chart and weekly side by side pictures. For those that are on the fence as I have read don't be on the fence go for it. I never really feel hungry but I eat because I know I have so many proteins to get in. The stats speak for themselves. This is one excited guy......
Thinmint

Thinmint

1
Sunshine2's (Tonya's) Journal
 

5/21/10

Well, my weight is holding steady at 149.9, I'm hoping this stall will end soon and I drop a few more pounds. I was hoping to get to 145 by the end of the month when I move from HCG phase 2 to phase 3 and 4.   But if not, no biggie. I plan on doing another round when I get back from my cruise at the end of July. This should get me to my new goal of 135.   Menu today   Bfast coffee with 1 TBSP cream melba toast strawberry jam (homemade with no sugar)   Lunch 3.5 oz of beef grilled tomatoe salad   Snack apple, lemon juice   Dinner baked fish - 4oz salad
tonya66

tonya66

0
Blog 92765
 

8 weeks ago, I had a lap band installed.....

:thumbup: About 2 1/2 years ago my Operations Manager in Young Harris, Georgia, who manages my computer store, had LAP-BAND® surgery. I have gone through it with her including taking her to get fills in Gainesville and listening to her positive and negative complaints. Heck, I even paid for half of it! So you might say that I have seen it first hand. I have watched her lose 120 lbs and have seen the dramatic changes in her eating habits, energy levels, disposition, mood swings, (Gaaaack!) and a plethora of other modifications to her as a person. It has all been good! If you ask her, she would do it again in a heartbeat! And that is a recurring theme. And most important, I have yet to talk to anyone who had a LAP-BAND® that was unhappy with making that decision!   I am a planner and analyzer and I did not go into this LAP-BAND® surgery without doing a LOT of research ahead of time. Since I “live by the computer” on a daily basis, I have even researched many topics relating to LAP-BAND® surgery. For example, I found that I had sleep apnea and therefore had to have a CPAP (Constant Positive Air Pressure) mask which helped me to breathe during the night since my airways have been closing up due to…F-A-T! My knees hurt, my feet hurt, my back hurt and my Orthopedic Doctor said I was too fat at 350lbs and he gave me a Handicap Sticker for my car and said to lose weight or all your joints will fail. Every Doctor I went to said the same thing. I had a CAT scan which confirmed that I was fat. (Duh!) I used to eat about 25 to 30 buffalo wings at a sitting and I was drinking a fair amount of Bourbon every night. Sooo, I decided to "go for it"! :cursing: I also made sure that I went to a "Center of Excellence" for the right Surgeon.   The big day came for me, and my pastor prayed with me in the pre-op room and then they wheeled me into surgery. Next thing I know, (it seemed like 2 minutes, since they had given me a "happy shot", they said: "Wake up, Doug, you're done"! The operation took less than 30 minutes. Two hours later I was up and walking around, with very little pain due to intravenous meds. I used the CPAP in the hospital that night and it worked great with the pain medications! They even plugged Oxygen into the CPAP mask for an added high! (Whoopee!) Overnight in the hospital just to make sure, then home by 10 the next morning for a week of Jell-o, popsicles, cottage cheese, beef broth and bouillon, and other liquids.   NO BIG DEAL!   The support from the Nurse at the Surgeons office was spectacular! Lots of e-mails and calls. I am now in my 8th week since LAP-BAND® surgery and I have lost over 40lbs! (That is more than 12% loss of my entire weight in 8 weeks.) My pants fit loose, I don't use the CPAP machine anymore, and friends are beginning to notice that I am getting trim and fit. I went to a banquet on the “Rubber Chicken Donation Circuit” last week with a huge gourmet spread at a snooty restaurant and I ate a little till I was full, and then slipped the waiter a fiver and he had 4/5 of my gourmet meal waiting at the door in a take-out box with extra food inside. Enough for three more meals.   Again, no big deal! In fact, I can eat anything now, and I had three buffalo wings for dinner last night with buffalo wing sauce so hot it "glowed". My knees don't hurt now, I can climb stairs easily, my back does not hurt and my feet are much better. And….I have not lost that much weight so far! I am going to my family Doctor tomorrow for blood tests and I bet my numbers are a lot better than before. Whoo-Hoo!     Sure, things can happen...but you stand a much higher probability of getting hurt and injured in an automobile accident, on the way to the hospital than by having a failed LAP-BAND® surgery at the hospital. My surgeon told me that the percentages of problems were about 0.001 to 0.01 percent, here in the Atlanta area. Try those odds on I-285 at rush hour! I can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!     My advice? Go for it! Feel free to e-mail or call me if you have any questions or just want to chat.
TheNewDoug

TheNewDoug

5
Blog 79244
 

What am I doing?

All of my documentation was forward to my insurance company this week. I was required by my surgeon to do a sleep study last weekend. That was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have gone through in a very long time. Thank God it is done and over! I have found myself trying to eat a lot of different things I normally would not be eating. It’s like I know in the back of my mind I will not be able to eat those foods for a while or never once my procedure is done. Food is starting to become more of a focus for me than I would like it to be. It really takes very little food to bring me to a filling of being full. I am finding myself force eating, and I hate that feeling. It has taken me a very long time to train my stomach that a little can go a long way. I have started losing the weight on my own, but getting the band would be a wonderful thing tool to have. I understand that my mental state has a lot to do with the physical desire to eat even when I am not hungry. My husband did not even eat supper last night, and I noticed he did not give the thought of not eating a second thought. I don't understand why that does not work for me. I do understand that every single person is created and designed totally differently, but I wish some things about me were different! I have a lot of mixed emotions about being band, but I am still so excited at the same time. Does any of that make sense? I know God is going to give me the strength and ability to be successfully with the band. I feel like some of the bad food habits I've tried so hard to fight are trying to over take me once more. I find myself wanting to eat and I am not even hungry. Is that crazy or what? I read someone's blog and they wrote," Being thin taste better than food"! Those words are keeping me focused when I don't want to be focused. I do want to be thin, and that is a greater desire than eating certain foods. Maybe some of what I am experiencing is the anxiety of waiting for my answer from the insurance company! I have waited so long for my day to come so an extra 15 business days is not going to kill me!
shonette

shonette

2
LoseIt!'s Blog
 

Progress

I was having a "fat" day, so I wanted to look at my progress pictures and remember how far I've come. Seeing my "before" photo from mid-January, right next to my current picture from a couple of weeks ago definitely helps me to put today in perspective!   Tomorrow I'm participating in a local Arthritis Walk. I have no idea how long it is. Perhaps I should have checked! Ha!   I'm looking forward to going on vacation next week. I think I have late Spring fever!!   Have a great weekend everyone!  
LoseIt!

LoseIt!

1
Blog 79511
 

6 months in

:thumbup:okay so i am now a little over six months into post op, and i have so much energy. unfort. my back doesn't keep up. as crazy as it seems i love mowing the lawn, have been hiking and even to a few very fast paced concerts. i am now down 81 lbs and can get into a 22, it is an accomplishment. but every now and then i feel like what the heck i still look big, but i remember it wasn;t how i looked that bothered me but what i couldn' do and then i am ok. it is so hard to get everything in and some days i still do nothing but the drinks. i am supposed to go next week for my fill but think maybe i will just discuss the feeking of irratation in my incision instead. i hope everyone else is having great sucesses!
mommabeth70

mommabeth70

3
Blog 2386
 

1 more to go

I had a really bad experience with the cardiologist I was referred to. But, I was very lucky and found another cardiologist with whom I met yesterday. I got the phone call just a few minutes ago, saying my stress test was normal. I am so relieved. So, now there is one more test to go. I will have the endoscopy at 8:30 in the morning. It will be nice when all of the testing is behind me. Not being in the best of health has made it nerve wracking. As it stands now, I will get sleeved on June 4th, only 2 weeks from today. I am so excited.
Maddie

Maddie

1
Blog 91736
 

Taking band for granted

I had surgery 9-28-09, I was 270 lbs, 240 surgery date, and 226 today. My surgery without any major complications. Had it and went home the same day, was back at work in 2 days after that. No one knows about me having surgery but my family. My mother had the band placed in Mexico and lost 140 lbs in a year and 1/2. So I thought you just get the band and eat what you want and still lose, that is what she did. So that is what I did. I would eat what I wanted, how much I wanted, and when I wanted. There was no reason for what I was doing, I just wasn't educated on how the band works like I should have been. So I bought some books on weight loss surgery and life after and had a breakthrought. March came, I gained 4 lbs and figured the fills weren't working something has to change. I go to the dietician and she tells me how to eat and the amounts to eat. Boy was I eating too much and all the wrong foods. I decide that day to change my ways. I lost 10 lbs the first month and 5 lbs last month so I know the changes have been working. I sometimes go out on a limb and eat too much or too high of fat foods, like nuts...I love nuts. It is like I am fighting my worse enemy everyday (food). I wake up every morning have my 6 cups of coffee and take my pills. Then have a protein shake or something like cottage cheese or boiled shrimp for breakfast. This gets me to lunch. I eat my protein or drink my shake and that gets me to dinner so I know the band is working. Dinner is my worst time ever. It is so hard not to just start eating and grazing all night. I just don't feel like the band is working to it's full potential. I go for fills every month and was supposed to be at 9cc's in a 10cc band. The doctor pulled out 7 cc's. What a disappointment that was. Well that is a little about me and my story of getting the band. I will keep you updated.
khunt719

khunt719

1
My Secret Journey
 

Doing better....at least with the exercise.

I am doing better. Are you ready for this? I have RAN/WALKED to the gym twice in the past week. That is huge for me because that gets 1 1/2 miles in one way....work out with weights and then 1 1/2 miles home. That has been a good way for me to get my cardio in. It addes time to my gym time, but if I can find the time it is a good thing. Eating is doing okay. I still have been having problems with sweets. My jeans (one size up from my smallest) is getting baggy on me again. TY!!!!! but I have gained a lbs. Well a smaller body with better muscle tone, I guess I will take it and hope that if I am more careful with sweets I'll not only see the work from the way my clothes fit, but also on the scale too. Still working at it. Always working at it. Worth it when you feel great about how you look AND fit into a smaller size.
julie.ann

julie.ann

0

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