fefebutterfly

Chela,

Are you seeing a Dietician? I love my dietician because she takes time and converses with me about eating and what choices are great and what is bad. I feel relieved when she says that I am doing good, but I only feel gulity when I have eaten things that are not the best for me. I think that you should talk to someone about the way you are feeling. I too felt like that in the beginning because I felt like I was loving the taste more than I did before the surgery. But I think that was because I was on liquids for a month, and when I got that first morsel of food I felt like the clouds opened up and the sun began to shine.

You make the guilt go away by making the best foods choices possible. If you are eating to live and not living to eat then the guilt should subside. I hope this helps.

FeFe

Hi Alicia

I am not quite 30 but one reason for my decision to have the WLS was because of fertility issues. I am insulin resistant and I have PCOS. I was on Actos( alternative to Metformin) until right after the surgery. The doctor told me not to take it for right now because I am eating better (less Carbs) and my insulin levels are regular without medication because of my new diet and the weight loss. I just read on WebMD.com about PCOS and getting pregnant and the article said that women that lose 5% of the weight have an increased chance of becoming pregnant with PCOS and without complications usually. Now I still need to lose a significant amount of weight before I start planning on getting pregnant, but I hope that losing weight will give me the freedom to have children naturally and without treatments. I hope the best for you

FeFe

Welcome Lisa

I am alot like you, I was very apprehensive when it came to making a decision about having the surgery. The thing that made me make the decision to go for it was my quality of life was not good. I put up a great front, but inside I felt tired, heavy, and not myself. I looked up one day and realized that I was over 300 pounds and just 20 something years old. I needed a change. I toiled with the decision to get the surgery for over a year, but it was the best decision I have ever made and I got my surgery on April 11th. Rough in the beginning, but I am just fine now. I am seeing results and it has inspired me to go to the gym 3 times per week and I see a fitness coach and a dietician regularly. I hope that you make the decision that is best for you and your family. The Lapband has become my friend!

FeFe

Wow Rozie!

That is so awesome and I am so happy for you, and I thought I was losing weight fast! You may not need a fill right now. I got 3.5cc within about one month and a half after surgery (2 different appointments because of a step scale). I had my Lapband surgery with gastric plication on April 11, 2011 and I am so amazed and glad that I have overcome the fear of having surgery. Because there is no way I could have lost this kind of weight on my own and this fast. Just to think that I was in a size 28 pants and 3-4x blouse, and now I am in 22 pants and 2x blouse. I am so happy with the way I look, my husband thinks I am HOT! I hope that you keep up the good work because you are doing great!!!

FeFe

I told NO ONE. I told my family I was having my gallbladder out. I was single at the time. Even now, my current husband doesn'y know. It's private. Had a bit of trouble keeping the secret when I was pregnant though as the port started to stick out a bit.

Naisey,

I Believe that you should tell your husband because you should tell someone. I dont know what I would have done if I didnt have the support from my Husband and my Mother. This is a huge step in your life, but if you are okay with not telling anyone that is your choice. This is a difficult thing to talk about with anyone, so find a confidant.

FeFe

Hi Amber.

I am like you, it is not necessary to tell everyone about your surgery. In a nutshell it is none of their business. When people ask me what I am doing to lose weight, I simply tell them high Protein low carb diet, and exercise which is what I truly do. This lapband is a tool that we use to lose weight to curb my appetite and to let me know when enough is enough.

The only people that knows about my surgery is my Husband, my Mom, my Doctors, My dietician, my trainer, my Pastor, and my manager at work. I didnt want to tell my manager at work because I dont trust her all the way but she may start questioning me about all my appointments and things. So I told her in confidence, I hope. None of my coworkers know and even my brother doesnt know.

Some times I want to tell people, but my privacy is everything, plus people like to judge.

-Fefe

I dont think that spicy foods will hurt you because they have not hurt me. Since I have had my surgery seems like I have to have hot sauce with everything that I eat. I just love me some hot stuff now. Sweets are too sweet to me. I wonder if anyone has that sensation as well??

-Fefe

Hello All,

Your stories are so inspiring, I am newly banded with gastric plication on April 11 2011. Starting weight before the preop diet was 355lbs and size 28 jeans. Since then I have lost a total of 45 lbs and now my pants are so loose that I may need to start buying a smaller size. I am so happy because I have never lost this much weight at one time and I have been in the 300's for the past three years. Not a good place to be. Since my surgery I no longer have to take my insulin resistance medicine and my health is leveling out. I have even inspired my husband to eat better and you guys have inspired me;thats why I love this website.

Good luck to you on your journey and mine,

FeFe

Wisornot,

My Doctor is Dr Enochs of Cary and I just love him because of his patience and expertise in bariatric surgery. He Did my Gatric Plication and Lapband Procedure at the same time. The staff at his office is down to earth and you will just love Lisa the Nurse Practitioner.I felt comfortable in their office talking about my weight because they make you feel like a regular person and not some overweight blob. Dr Enochs takes precious time with each person answering all your questions and is very thourough in his presentation. I would definitley recommend Dr Enochs.

I have BCBS of NC so I did not have to go through the six month thing, but they do require 2 years of documented weight and health history from your primary care phycisian. I know they put people that have to go through that on a high Protein low card diet, incorporated the shakes and things.

I had my surgery on April 11 2011 and he applied the seri-strips to cover scars. I apply cocoa butter and other creams on it every day and now the scars are fading.

Getting the surgery is the best thing that i have ever done in my life. After only 2 1/2 months and 45 pounds lost I no longer have to take the diabetes medicine that I was on. I feel great and going to the gym regularly for the first time in my life.

Let me know who you choose for your doctor! I would suggest that you go see both for an initial visit and then make your choice.

Fefe

I feel your pain. That is my favorite position to sleep in too. I would start out laying on my back and wake up on my stomach. I would throw up alot of times for some reason... So I would put really fluffy pillows underneath me so if I did turn over i would have some cushion. That seemed to help me alot. Try laying on your side with a pillow, that will help the discomfort. The good news is that after about a month, you will be normal again. Good luck on your Weight loss journey!

FeFe

Fefe butterfly

when u had the lapband put in they filled it with 3.5cc or was it after surgery at your first fill that they put in 3.5cc?I was hoping that the doc wouldn't put any fill until it was necessary. On another forum the person who had it done didn't get a fill and it's been a month or two. Just wondering if different doctors do it differently. This will be a question for my Doc on Tuesday. I hope you are feeling alot better and it's encouraging that you are still happy with

it.

Hello Aliamah1998,

To answer your question about the band fills. My doctor put 4cc in the band during surgery, but since I had complications with inflammation he removed my Fluid. I went a whole month without a band fill. My Surgery was on April 11 and first adjustment wasn't until May 20 of 2cc. Then my last one was on June 10 of 1.5cc. Most times they wont put it all in there at one time and they will step you up as needed. Some people have never had a band fill before. Maybe you should speak to your doctor because the first month, you may not have much of an appetite anyway. Sorry so late. Hope all is well with you on this weight loss journey.

FeFe

I had to do so many test that I cant name them all. But I think it depends on whos your insurance company and what they require. I know I did the sleep lab, psychologist, nutritionist, cardiologist, radialogist, the test where you have to drink the barrium solution (nasty) and they take xrays of you esophogas. Then a consult with the anesthesiologist the week before surgery. I would ask the dr about that because I took all my test within 1 month after my initial visit. The quicker you get the test the quicker you will be approved by the insurance company and the sooner you will get your surgery. Good luck with your journey.

FeFe

Hi Sandy

My name is FeFe and I have the lapband with Gastric Plication. Only 3.5cc bandfill since my surgery on April 11 2011 and I have lost 45 lbs. I dont want to discourage you because this procedure has allowed me to lose a lot of weight very quickly, but I had a lot of problems in the beginning. I was only supposed to stay in the hospital overnight and I ended up staying for 4 whole days. Like alot of Bariatric patients, the doctor had to repair a hiatel hernia and because of three different procedures i encountered o whole lot of inflammation in my esophogas and stomach. That was the worst time of my life because I couldnt even take a sip of Water because my throat was so tight. I was throwing up foam from whatever liquid they tried to give me. The doctor came on the fourth day and took the fill out of my band (4cc) and that allowed me some relief and I was able to go home. whatever you do, do not drink or eat to fast because it is more restrictive than just the lapband on its on. I took two weeks off work (FMLA) and then I came back and at first I was really weak and tired and some discomfort from the wounds. Now after 3 months I feel almost like i did before and my appetite is up and down, but I still cant overeat too much. I hope to loose at least 40 lbs by christmas and at this rate I believe I just may make it. I would recommend that you get this procedure. Good luck to you Sandy, It may be hard at first but it gets wayyyy better when you see your results.

Hey Guys,

Things are a lot better since I got my last fill. Now i have a total of 3.5 cc in my band. I am seeing some great results my cloths are starting to get baggy.

Fefe

When I get to the size that I want to be, I will definitely give them away because I would want a fresh start. You want to go forward and never look back.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I feel that I can get some motivation from this. I am going to the doctor this coming friday and hopefully I will get more Fluid in my band. Yes I am so happy with the weight loss so far, but I just dont want to take a step back by eating more. I wish all of you the best of luck with your weight loss and I hope to lose at least 50-70 more pounds before the end of the year. I HOPE!

-FeFe

Hello All,

I had my surgery on April 11, 2011 and so far I have lost 35 pounds and I only have 2cc band fill. I am able now to eat a lot more compared to when I first got my lapband. I feel like I am out of control sometimes but it is nothing compared to how I ate before the band. I think that I may need to go back to liquids for a while, maybe that will help me loose some more weight. I go to the gym at least 3 times a week for 1 hour and My clothing is fitting better. I try to fight the urge to snack and such, this is worrying me because it is too soon for me to feel as I do, I hope that I am not gaining weight.

Does anyone know what I am going through and how did you overcome an increased appetite?

-FeFe

Title says it all. If I have a band that is completely deflated, is it the same as having no band at all when it comes to eating/swallowing pills/ etc?

I am so glad that you asked this question because I was wondering the same thing. This is week three for me and I am doing purees and soft foods. I have no fill in my band. I still feel full and drinking liquids is hard for me. I drink the Protein drinks and it seems to make me full fast, so I have to sip all day. So there is restriction, but I wonder how it is when I get the real thing in about a month. I would be scard to swallow big Vitamins so crush them to be sure. and still have smaller portions.

Hello

Congrats to you!! I cant wait till I can say the same. I am so excited and I believe that once I get over this hump the rest will just start coming off. So happy for you and keep up the good work!

FeFe

Lexie.

I understand where you are coming from. I find it odd that you are already drinking full liquids or maybe there are different diets for different doctors.

This is the following diet my doctor gave me to follow:

Week one: Clear Liquids-broth,Jello,Water, clear juice, Isopure

week two: Full liquids-Protein drinks,tomato Soup, v-8, strained cream Soups

week three: pureed foods

week four: pureed foods and mushies

week five: all above and start to incorporate other foods

week six: Regular diet as tolerated

I hope this will Help and good luck to you on your WLS Journey:

FeFe

Thanks everybody for making me laugh and also know that I am not the only one who has food fantasies. This week I am missing Taco Bell, the Grilled stuft burrito. And from Moes Southwest Grill, the big bowl of nachos and cheese. But you know what, I dont feel compelled to cheat and sabatoge my weight loss. I made a decision and I am sticking to it!

Happy Weight loss everyone.

FeFe

Hello Fellow Bandmates,

I love food and at one time food was my friend and for the last month I feel that I have not been loyal to this friend that is also my enemy. I have used and abused food in the past and it has taunted me. Any way, it has been one week since my surgery and I am not hungry, I have to force myself to drink and today I had my first taste of Tomato Soup. I have found my self thinking of recipes and just dreaming of food. My DH is very supportive and he dreams along with me. I can't explain the sadness that comes over me when I go by my favorite restaurant and just trying to imagine, "what will I eat the next time I go back?" I day dream about the flavors of food. I am not hungry at all but it seems that food is always on my mind. I am happy to say that I have thought of ways to make my diet alot more healthy and I am anxious to start over with food. To restart this brand new relationship with food and recognize my hunger and fullness. No more chili cheese fries, Cheesburgers, and double/triple portions. Food Fantasies? I just know I am not the only one.

FeFe

Hello,

I just love the Atkins Protein shakes. The flavor is amazing to me. They have 15 grams of Protein and about 2 carbs and low calorie. The chocolate and strawberry are pretty good.

FeFe

Hello Everyone,

My name is FeFe and I went in for a Lap band and sleeve plication.

My surgery date was on Monday April 11, 2011 at Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, North Carolina. I arrived at 8:00 am and my surgery was around 10:00am. My Doctor is Dr. P Enochs of Cary, NC and he came with lots of recomendations. I saw the doctor before surgery and after during recovery. I found out that he had to repair a hernia while in surgery. I had to stay overnight and the (Tuesday) next day I had to have an upper GI to see how I swallow. Well that didn't go so well because I couldn't even swallow a sip of Water. I had to do another xray the (wednesday) next day and they found that I had so much inflammation that the band was constricting my stomach opening. At that point I was second guessing what I got myself into because it was so much pain, nausea, vomiting and weakness. Then they want to to walk so much, I understand why but when you feel crappy you are not in the mood for excercise. So after three days of agony and dismay the doctor came in on Thursday morning to take out the saline solution out of my band. Finding the port was extremely hard because I had lots of swelling, and it was painful. The nurses comforted me by asking me to envision a calm place and they held my hand and were so understanding. Thursday they loaded me up on anti nausea meds, and anti inflammatory meds. After about 2 hours my lunch came for the first time that week I was able to take a sip of Water and a taste of broth. I did so well that the doctor released me and I was able to go home on Thursday evening. For the next couple nights after that I had some issues with nausea and vomiting. I would wake out of my sleep coughing, which would turn into vomited. Sunday night I finally had some relief. Today I tried some Tomato Soup and It was so goooood. I am now happy and I am ready to taste my first morsel of pureed food in about a week. Already losing weight. Since the pre op diet I have lost 11 pounds that I know of.

Love FEFEButterfly

Hello Everyone,

I am so excited about getting the Lapband on next Monday! I am getting a procedure called Gastric sleeve Plication along with the Lapband. I was wondering has anyone had that procedure or know anyone that has? I would like to know the type of results that you got from it? The doctor said it would be good for someone like me who needs to lose over 100 pounds without actually cutting or removing any of the stomach. Since this procedure is in the experimental stages there is not a lot of concrete research like the other more popular wls.

-FeFe