freeskye

Hi everyone, I am at 240 now..started at 330. I have been stuck at 90 lbs lost for several months and am needing to have a fill. I have 3.50cc in the band so have some leeway to have another fill. I have not had any band / port problems. I am starting a walking program with some weight training as I have signed up to walk in the Portland 1/2 marathon on 10-10-10. It will be a first for me, lol 3 years ago I could barely walk to the mailbox :smile: I want to reach my goal in the next year. I had lost the drive that I had in Feb.2007 and was starting to make poor choices again with food, but I am committed again and I really want to reach my goal of 150lbs. Jean

Has anyone else been told by their doc that the max he will put in the band is 3cc? My friend and I both have the 10cm band with a fill max of 4cc, but our surgeon doesn't want to put more than 3cc in r/t potential problems, ie; erosion, etc. Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks, Jean

My name is Jean. I was banded Feb.2007 in Post Falls by Dr.Pennings. My weight loss has been slow, but pretty steady. I had type 2 diabetes that is gone! My b/p is much better and I feel like a new person. My energy levels have gone through the roof. I am just sorry that I didn't have the band placed sooner. It is good to see other people from near my area. I am in the southeastern corner of Wa. in Clarkston. Jean

I paid $17,300 cash. that included all the pre surgery testing and all fills for one year and never have to pay for visits again no matter how many times I go for appointments.

Hi everyone just checking in on my fellow Feb. 2007 bandsters. My weight loss has been slow, but I am happy with it.

hang tight. It will come off . I have also been frustrated since Feb., so I have to tell myself frequently that it will come off, just slowly. I have to really concentrate on eating proteins and drinking the water.

Hi everyone, I want to be part of this challenge. Exercise is the thing that I struggle most with. Level 1 beginner Jean

Hi Everyone, Just checking in. I was banded 2/21/07. I have lost 44lbs since I first started this journey, and 21 since the surgery.:girl_hug: I really don't have much restriction right now, 1st fill won't be until April 12th. I am doing pretty well with the post op diet, however I have to be really careful not to overeat at this point. As far as I can tell I can't eat soft bread, tortillas etc. they get stuck, even when I take small bites and chew chew chew. Just not worth it. That stuck feeling really sucks!!! I am slowy adding exercise, I am working out with resistance machines 3 tiimes a week and walking on the treadmill 3 times a week. I have to say I have so much more energy now. I have been clothes shopping in my closet! lol I have so many different sizes in there it is like going to the mall Anyway, just wanted to let you all know how it is going with me. Jean

Hi everyone It is actually going pretty well. We got home yesterday late afternoon. I am having some gas pains, but the surgical sites are surprisingly nontender. LOL, I am a stomach sleeper and that is not happening yet We will continue on the Optifast 3 -4 times a day for 3 weeks with added protein powder and clear liquids as tolerated. I am definitely drinking a lot slower, I can feel the restriction and it lets you know when it is enough! The surgeon closed the incision sites with durabond, so we were able to shower before we left the hospital, and I think a nice warm shower sounds good now, so I am going to go do that. I feel like Feb. 21st, 2007 is a new birthday for me, it is the start of a slimmer and healthier life for me and my friend that had the surgery with me. Jean :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I am getting ready to leave. We are driving up today (125 miles away) and staying the night . My best friend is the 1st case @ 7:30am and I follow @ 9am so we have to check into the hospital @5:45am. I so ready for the surgery. I have been on Optifast since the 12th of Jan. and have to be on it for another 2 wees post op, it really isn't that bad. My cravings are gone, but the hardest part is the change in social habits, I used to go out to dinner several times a week, meet friends for lunch etc. I have missed that part, and it is too hard to go and watch everyone else eat, so I have been staying home. My friend and I have always gotten together on Wed. nights and watched the shows on Bravo; Top Chef, Project Runway, etc. (girls night) and had margaritas and snacks. Lol, since Jan. 11th we have been having a cup of decaf tea and snacking on Optifast bars. It has really focused us on the goal. ( I have missed the Margaritas:heh: ) I am now 1 lb away from the twoterville and I hope that when we weigh at the hospital tomorrow I will be 299, I haven't lost the 30lbs that the Dr wanted, but will be pretty close. When I had my final pre-op appt. last week he ok'd the surgery. I am pretty happy with what I have lost pre-op. I think that the Optifast has been a really good pre-op diet, I feel great, better that I have for years and I think it is because of the nutrition in the Optifast. Anyway, good luck to everyone having surgery today and tomorrow. I will post when I get back home. :clap2:

I have been on Optifast since Jan.12th and have lost 21lbs. I am supposed to lose 30lbs before surgery. My friend and I are having the surgery the same day and went to the surgeon on the same day for our first pre=op. She only has to do the Optifast for 2 weeks pre-op, however her BMI is quite a bit smaller than mine. The surgeon that I am going to requires all his patients to follow Optifast for at least 2 weeks pre-op. The dietician said we could have some green salad and lean protein if we were really hungry, although the surgeon doesn't want us to eat anything except the optifast which is 3 shakes, 1 bar, and 1 soup a day = 800cal. with ff broth, sf jello and at least 64 ounces water. It really isn't bad after the first 3-4 days. Jean

Good for you! I am getting really close now, I have my final pre-op appt. on Tues. the 13th and then surgery on the 21st. Jean

I had to see the Psychologist that is part of my surgeons office, he has a psychologist and a physical therapist and a dietician as part of his practice and it is all included in the self-pay price. The psychologist has had weight loss surgery and she was very easy to talk to. She also runs the pre-op support groups that are part of his pre-surgery requirements. Jean

Stacy, I think you have to get them from a weight loss clinic. I am getting them from my surgeons office.

I am scheduled for Fec. 21st and this thread has been great to read. I am 54 and my friend that is having the surgery the same day as me is 52. I know that it is harder to lose weight as we get older, but I know that we can do this I can't wait to be able to travel in airplane more comfortably !

My self pay price is $17,500 which includes everything except Optifast. The Optifast is another $100.00 per week and I have to pay for it seperately. the price includes follow-up and fills for 1 year post op. My insurance has a weight loss surgery exclusion

My surgery date is Feb.21st. I am on day 8 of Optifast and not cheating, I have to lose 30 lbs before the surgery. Jean

I am on day 8 of Optifast. I like everything pretty well except the strawberry. The tomato soup is pretty good. it is going ok now, whenever I think I want to eat if I have a shake it really helps. Jean

Wheetsin, The Adkins induction was not offered as an alternative. My Doc just said I need to be on optifast and lose at least 20 -30lbs before surgery. I think that if I am having a really hard time with the optifast I will use adkins type food ie; low fat protiens and low carb veg. to supplement so I don't screw up the ketosis. My surgeon won't do the surgery until I lose the weight and I want to meet the Feb. 21st surgery date. I have done medifast before so I know that I can do it, but the first couple of days are really hard. By the way your stats are great, you are quite an inspiration. Jean

I will be banded on Feb. 21st. I started Optifast today, I have to lose 20lbs before the surgery. I am really excited and a little scared. Jean BMI 53

I am new here and am in the process of the band. my Dr. is Pennings in Post Fall, Idaho. I am a self pay. I am 54 and have dealt with obesity since my 20's. I have treid just about everything else, including phen-fen. Anyway, just wanted to say hi. It is nice to be able to see how others are doing on their journey. Jean

:clap2: I am having my surgery in late feb. or early March. My BMI is 53 @ 5'5" and 317 lbs. I am really excited to get this done. My surgeon requires about 4 weeks pre-op Optifast, which isn't great but I have been on medifast in the past and as I recall after a few days I didn't even miss eating. It does get you used to all liquids before the surgery so in that instance it must make post-op a little easier. I am really enjoying reading about everyones journey on this site. It makes it a little less scary to read about eveyones experiences. Jean