Corrigan

I'm beginning to think the insurance industry hopes you'll get tired of waiting and quit.

You have all the information you need to lose weight. If you choose to follow it, you'll lose, if not you'll probably gain. I know this isn't very simpathetic, but simpathy isn't what you need. You have to quit eating more calories than you burn. No amount of excuses will take one ounce off you. Look for "The 5 day band test" on this site or Google. You have to get back on track and I wish I could help you with it, but these words are all I can give you. Now, you can give me a dozen, crisp, chocolate chip Cookies. I just saw the picture of your kids. If they aren't enough to get you started, I don't know what is.

I like Centrum chewables w/iron. Walmart has them in bottles of 100.

The band will help you lose weight, but the operant word there is HELP. You have to try. the band will help you lose if you give it a chance, but it won't lose weight for you on it's own. That's up to you. Begin by asking yourself if you really want to lose. Did you go through a two week liquid diet preop, and a two week liquid diet post op? These were supposed to show you what you had in store for you in the short run. Now you should have had at least two fills and if you're trying, and staying on the diet your surgeon and nutritionist gave you, you should start seeing some weight loss. It's hard to hear and sounds unsympathetic, but if you eat more calories than you burn, you'll gain weight. If someone told you all you had to do is have the band installed to lose, they sold you a bill of goods. As we said before, the band will help you help yourself.

Happy birthday, in advance, to you. At 2 lbs a week, that's 104 lbs in a year. Way to go!

I'd think this is something you should definitely see a good doctor about. There shouldn't be any pain associated with your port at all. I'd almost think that however it was anchored, might have partially come lose. I hope you can get it fixed. Good luck.

If you had already had your surgery, folks here would tell you to chew better, but this is something you should take up with your PCP or surgeon. Or you could go to Home Depot and rent an esophagus stretcher ( that's a joke, not medical advice) anyway best of luck.

I live just down the road from you (130 miles) and understand the temptations. I know the best buffets and the good steak houses, where they still have $1 shrimp coctails. You're going to have to forget all that and learn new eating habits. There are some people here who had their WLS in Tricare, but check their BMI requirements. Good luck.

Unless you want to go to the emergency room, I'd take the doctor's advice. If you feel your port is infected (ie hot, pus seeping, etc.) I wouldn't wait, but if that's not the case, I think you should follow your instructions.

Now begins the real work. I'm sure you know you're going to have six weeks of clear liquid, full liquids and then mushies. Then you can eat regular food, cut into fingernail sized pieces. Nothing easy about this trip, bud. But then you'll begin to get fills, and depending on your will power, the weight loss really begins. Some folks loose through the whole process, but that really takes gumption. You don't really have to go hungry if you can be a little creative. There are recipes on this site and a bunch on Google to make this time a little less boring. The real problem is that you can't just grab a hunk of cheese or a donut whenever you want and still lose weight. It's going to be protein drinks, Crystal light, Chicken Boullion,and and things like that. If I can give up pizza and beer, you can too. It really isn't too bad, it just seems so while you're going through it. A lot of people set small goals, then another and so on and in a year or so they'll be down 100 lbs or so. Make up your mind to succeed, and you will.

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Hi Susan, this is going to be an interesting time for you. Just how difficult it will be depends entirely on you. If you have a lot of intestinal fortitude, you'll probably do well, and if not, it can be quite difficult. You can be creative with your diet and search Google and the food forum on this site to find a lot of ideas to make your meals more interesting. Or you can whine about not being to eat ice cream and donuts. Sorry, I'm grumpy tonight. I've had a very easy time of it and I guess I'm spoiled. From the little bit of your intro, I'd guess you are going to follow your surgeon and nutritionist's advice and do very well. I hope you do.

Well. let's see, I didn't consider any other WLS after researching the other surgeries because I thought I'd just as soon keep as many body parts as I could, and my PCP suggested the band because it's the safest and least invasive. I probably won't have any cosmetic surgery, at my age, what's the point? I haven't had any fills yet and until I have hunger problems, I probably won't. As for getting pregnant. I won't address that.

I completely understand what you are trying to say, but there are a lot of folks on here that can't afford to go to a doctor for aches and pains that might resolve themselves with a little time. Our advice (modified by conditionals) might help to ease people's minds especially when they are new and every ache scares them. I honestly haven't read any medical advice here that could be interpreted as such. Most advice given includes "See your doctor if it worries you" or so. I would hate to see our posters stop trying to help others because they're afraid of being criticized for helping someone with constipation or lack of weight loss.

You have a good surgeon affiliated with some good hospitals so i would expect that you'll have an easy time of it. Try not to worry about it. All you have to do is show up, they'll do all the rest. Don't forget your PJs, slippers and Teddy bear, (if you use one); > ). Above all, relax, it's a snap.

In the forum you're in (introductions) there's a thread on how to do a ticker. Make a 4 letter code you'll remember, you'll need it for most steps.

In Germany, 11-11 is the beginning of Fashing and things that happen on that day are lucky.

I had a similar surgery in September. I did spend a night in the hospital, I think it's a good idea for everyone, no matter what surgery they had. I was able to drink a limited amount for a few hours, then sip almost as much as I wanted. Placation (stomach folding) has been done for some time, the problem was that over time, the stitched stomach enlarged and allowed complications. With the band, restriction can be added, eliminating most of those problems. It is investigative, but a few insurances cover it now. I haven't seen a downside yet.

I'm going to add something to this thread. There have been a lot of complaints about non supportive spouses in this thread and others. Maybe we should think about how obsessive and enthusiastic we are about our surgeries. Even supportive people get tired hearing about our diets and weight loss after a while. It doesn't mean they aren't glad we're losing, maybe they're just tired hearing about it. Just something to think about.

Hey LW, What does 10X12 equal? That would be your weight loss in a year. If you have a balanced diet and get enough exercise, your weight loss is right where it should be. I've lost 50 lbs and the skin under my forearms began to look like crepe paper, a little work in the gym and it's all gone. Fills won't lead to excess weight loss, in fact, if hunger isn't a problem for you, you don't have to have fills. I haven't and I'm still losing, but not everyone can get away with that.

I think it depends on the type of band you have. The Lap Band is held in place by sutures and sometimes mesh while the Reliant band has little prongs that grab onto the stomach muscle. Most surgeons, are currently pulling a bit of the stomach up and stitching it over the band to prevent slipping. Some call this "modified plication". Plication merely means to fold, and applies to several types of surgery. If your pain is really worrisome, see your doctor, which is obvious. No one here can tell you exactly what's wrong. You should try to have it examined under a fluoriscope, if possible.

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Don't forget your slippers and PJs, you don't want to walk down the hall in a hospital gown. You'll need chewable vitamins w/iron, vitamin B12 dots, calcium citrate/w C, but you should know all this, don't you?

What is your doctor going to do when you develop diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure or heart problems? Find a PCP who is a little more proactive. I really hope it works out for you.

Productive burp (something comes with it).