ouachita

I didn't have so much of a "last straw" incident as an epiphany. I had been considering the band for abour 8-9 months and was monitoring the progress of a woman I know who had the band in April of '06. In January of this year I was still on the fence about pursuing surgery and still thinking just maybe I could try dieting one more time (ya'll know the routine) when I stopped to gas up at the local service station. While I was gassing my truck I was approached by one of our local alcoholics who was asking me for money to get something to eat...now this guy, when he is sober, is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and he has struggled on and of the sauce ever since I have known him. I went in the gas station and bought him some food and he thanked me and went on his way. As he was walking away I was thinking to myself about how tragic it is that he is trapped in his addiction like he is and, "There but by the grace of God go I." Then it hit me like a ton of bricks that in a sense I was in his shoes and the only differences between him and me was that my addiction was legal and that I had it in MY power to do something lasting about it. I started actively exploring my options that day. I hear and read a lot of people talk about praying for God to help with their weight, well, I think on that day God told me if I wanted it then to get off my ass and use the resources he has granted me to do something about it.

BTW, what is up with all this "easy way out" nonsense? Is taking insulin and insulin enhancing drugs the "easy way out" for diabetics? Is coronary bypass and stent implantation the "easy way out" for cardiac patients? Are cholesterol drugs the "easy way out" for people with high cholesterol? Are hypertension controlling drugs the "easy way out" for people with high blood pressure? Why would taking proactive steps to improve your life when all other reasonable approaches have failed be somehow morally and ethically suspect? It's not like the majority of us haven't tried over and over again to try every diet and exercise regimen we could. If this is the path we choose to get healthy then let us reap the results, good or bad. If the critics ain't down in the arena then I don't see where they have much to say worth listening to.

Throw this article at her and then tell her that the band is the tool you need to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments to accomplish a life long healthy way of eating and exercise. I agree with the above posters that her issues have more to do with her self image and esteem than you. Possibilities: 1. - She doesn't want her "baby" to grow up and leave her (physically or emotionally); 2. - She feels that as long as you are overweight then SHE isn't in such bad shape, after all she is slimmer than you; 3. - Misery loves company and she wants to keep your company; 4. - She hates change that she didn't initiate; 5. - All of the above plus more. Tell her that when she is ready to actually do something lasting about changing her lifestyle and getting healthy you will be there for her, because contrary to what she thinks, this ain't the easy way out. Source: UK Daily Mail (04/10/07) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=447651&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

I'm only 7 weeks out from being banded as of today and haven't had a fill yet so I'm using it as a diet tool now. I see this as a stage to lay the foundation for a true lifestyle change as I progress.

Congratulations and good luck guys!

After my surgery I had an intense craving for spicy foods to the point I was eating peppers straight up. The spicier the better. It seemed to have the side benefit of decreasing an already severely decreased appetite. I'm that way too! It's weird because I used to plan well in advance what I wanted to eat. Now as long as I can find something that fits the band guidelines I don't much care. Even the "spicy" craving is pretty much gone.

If you are trying to keep the fact of your lapband surgery private then gracefully decline and ask for a "raincheck" on their hospitality, or as has been suggested, arrive fashionably late "having eaten something earlier" and enjoy the company. Be aware that if anyone else who attends the function knows about your surgery then there is a better than even chance that everyone else will know about it before the night is over. Well meaning people do talk you know. If, on the other hand, you are open about your surgery then call the hostess before hand and explain your situation so you can arrange to either bring your own meal or have something suitable on hand. Any decent host, and certainly any gracious host, will be understanding and try to accomodate you within reason. You'll also probably have a ready made topic to discuss since you might be surprised at how many other people are interested in WLS for themselves or someone they know.

I think a lot of us have a problem with really understanding objectively how we look, especially those of us who were athletic in our younger days. We seem to have a body image that is a carry over from when we were relatively slim and could do whatever we wanted to. A sort of reverse Body Dysmorphic Disorder if you will. Where anorexics and bulemics unrealistically see themselves as obese some of us who are blessed with exceptional girth tend to have a mental image of ourselves as trimmer than we really are. I know that seeing myself in a mirror is not near as traumatic to my self image as seeing myself in a photograph. Rationally I knew I was morbidly obese (I recently dropped below that classification!), but emotionally I just didn't feel like I was morbidly obese. Looking at myself in the mirror I saw a guy who was fat but still in relatively good shape (Whatever that is!? ) Seeing myself in a photograph produced an almost, "Oh my God, that can't be me!" reaction. I have to confess that I schemed to control the camera and shots to avoid having my picture taken. Sounds pretty pathetic now doesn't it. LOL Anyone else experience something similar? (I don't mean to equate the above experience to true BDD...it's just the closest condition I could think of that might relate.)

Ditto on the pants. I've dropped from 302 to 254. Went to a friends wedding last night in a suit that I could barely button back in January. Last night my wife was teasing me about looking like a little boy wearing his Daddy's suit. When I tightened my belt enough to hold my pants up the waistband would scrunch up out from under the belt and I had enough room in the coat to hide a small child or two. I'm wearing pants that I haven't been able to get into for years now. Thank God I held onto them! Big Jake, just make sure you consult with your surgeon before starting back on the weights. Starting too heavy and/or too fast could cause problems with your surgical wounds or possibly slippage of your band. Insurance very well may not cover any repairs. It's my understanding that you can eventually do anything you did before as long as you take time to heal properly first.

Fluroscope Like a real time x-ray so they can check the position of the needle used to fill the band and check how the barium drink flows through the reduced opening created by the fill. Hope that's the answer you were looking for.

There has been some really good advice posted for you here, so please excuse my blunt 2 cents worth. Think about it, do you REALLY want to spend the rest of your life with some ditchweed who bails out on you when you just had surgery? Especially surgery that will help transform you into a woman who'd turn the head of any man? How would he react when real problems pop up? Come on girl, he ain't worth the dirt on the bottom of your shoes! Good riddance to bad rubbish I say. Stick to your goals and work the band Honey! Now's the time to focus on you and what is best for you, and I assure you that he is NOT what is best for you. I think he was probably an emotional crutch you were using and it's time you learned to throw the crutch away and learn to walk on your on. It may be painful and tough to do now but someday you will see it was the best thing that happened to you. Someday you'll look back and wonder just what in the hell was it you thought you saw in him.

:rolleyes:Yeah, can't you just feel the love?

It's not just teachers. I work for Arkansas too and had to self finance my banding. I don't know about all the available plans through the state, but QualChoice has a specific exclusion for bariatric surgery. I find that particularly ironic given Mike Huckabee's crusade against obesity. Of course if I were the governor and had someone to custom prepare and pack all my meals for me as well as access to UAMS weight control programs I guess I wouldn't need the band either. I doubt it will be any better under Beebe, but I guess we can always hope. I wounder how many politicians have had WLS of one form or another on the QT in order to maintain or improve their public image?

I have to say that the response I get about my lap band has been overwhelmingy positive with just enough knuckleheads in the mix to keep things interesting. What has surprised me a little is the number of people who catch me in private wanting to know more about the band for themselves, a family member, or a friend. That's one reason I don't hide it, there are a lot of people who don't know anyone else to ask or watch. I figure for everyone who asks about it there is probably at least one more who is too shy or embarrassed to ask and just wants to see if it really does works for me. Sometimes we help others without even knowing it.

I just tell people that I'm an addict. food is my addiction and I came to the realization that I could not lose the weight AND keep it off without help to control the constant hunger that I experienced pre-band. The band is my tool, or "crutch" if you prefer and there is nothing really easy about it because it still requires a commitment to changing my lifestyle. I also tell them, if they push the issue, that when they are in the same arena I fight in then I'll listen to what they have to say. I also point out to them that if someone were to develope a surgery that helped drug addicts, alcoholics, and smokers overcome their addictions that was equivalent in cost, safety, effectiveness, and benefit as the lap band is as a treatment for obesity, politicians couldn't pass legislation fast enough to pay for it. Then I tell them my surgery didn't cost them a dime of their tax money and means there is now just that much more food available for them and/or the poor and starving people of the world. I normally don't rant like this may sound. If the person is just curious or really uniformed and seems to be genuinely trying to learn more, I'm usually pretty diplomatic about it, even enthusiastic bordering on evangelistic at times. On the other hand, if they have displayed a particularly obnoxious attitude in pursuing the topic, I have been known to throw in, "Kiss my ass if you don't like it!" at the end.

I work out 1 to 2 times a day on an ellipitical machine as my schedule allows and started that about 3 days post-op, but my doc said to give it 6 weeks post-op before trying to add weights. I guess it's like the liquid/mushie/solid diet routines...a lot of variation from doc to doc. Drtnsnow, The first pounds come off the quickest. I started at 302 and dropped to 280 pretty quick and steady, now I seem to be in "two steps forward/one step back" mode. I'm down to 260 now but I'll bounce within about a 3 pound range then suddenly drop to an overlapping 3 pound range that averages about 2 punds lower. Like I bounced between 262 and 265 last week and now I'm bouncing between 260 and 263. Yeah, I know, I use the lower end of the "bounce" as my "official" weight...but hey, you take your victories where you find them! I haven't had any fills yet. Had my first post-op check up today and Dr. Luttrell and I agreed that as long as I am losing weight at satisfactory rate I can hold off getting a fill.

I was on an elliptical machine 3 days post op. Started out with an easy 30 minute (+5 cool down) and have been gradually working up from there. Just start out smooth and easy and listen to your body...it will let you know when you are ready to push to a higher level and when you need to dial things back a notch or two. Sometimes it's a "two steps forward and one step back" process but if you are already used to the machines it won't take long to be back where you were pre op, or better!

Good Luck Keith!

I think you could do it with a little proper prior planning and putting together a little "survival pack" of appropriate foods (baby food containers or Protein mixes, etc) to discreetly take along in case there's nothing on the menu (like if it's a business dinner) that meets your needs. My wife and I are going to Atlanta this weekend and that's my plan. I'm 8 days post-op and introducing regular foods as tolerated (as per doc's instructions) and haven't had a problem so far...I do limit how much per bite/meal/day pretty severely at this point and chew to the point of mush as all good banders should. By the time everyone else is finishing their Entrees and desert I'm just about finished with a very small piece of fish. I do defer to the judgement of the more experienced members on board as their mileage, as yours, may vary. Ultimately you should consult with your surgeon about your options and limitations.

Good to hear Jonathan! Keep us posted.

G'Luck Chris!

Wow OU! You better get your bluff in on that boy now, he'll be bigger than you before long! :thumbs_up:Congratulations on the progress and the lovely family!

I'm back. Surgery was yesterday (02/19). I had a small undetected hiatal hernia behind my esophagus that revealed itself as they were manipulating the band around my esophagus. That opened a path to my chest cavity and collapsed my left lung. I woke up in recovery to discover that chest tubes hurt like Hell! It was near instant relief when they pulled that puppy out. Anyway, all is well now, The lung is fully inflated and the band is in place. Just experiencing the expected soreness. Oh, and no hunger yet!

Sorry! That was supposed to be a pm. I guess I'll just blame it on the drugs:rolleyes::notagree

Hope everything has gone well with you and your surgery! I had a small undetected hiatal hernia behind my esophagus that when they inflated my abdomen and pulled the esophagus to place the band it allowed air into my chest cavity and collapsed my left lung. All is well now. The lung is inflated and the band is in place. Just sore as can be but not enough to keep me from attending our city council meeting tonight. The nice thing is I haven't eaten since saturday night and I'm not hungry! Let me know how you are doing. ouachita