justmermp

True Results offers monthly support groups in Hurst and Richardson.
Hurst group meets on the 2nd Monday of every month, 6:30pm, True Resutls of Ft Worth, 1717 Precinct Line Rd, #203, Hurst TX 76054
Richardson group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30pm, Surgery Center of Richardson, 610 N. Coit Rd, Suite 2120, Richardson TX 75080.
No RSVP needed. Once there, you can sign up for the email reminders. If you would like more info, please call 817-520-5412.

I hope Carnie finally finds peace...It's people like her who help raise awareness on a national stage and help change societies views on obesity. Insurance companies are starting to come around as well. Great interview!!

I wonder if when you paid for the surgery did it include a year of fills? If so maybe it is a way of making more money cause if they delay your fills then you will still be coming in regularly after the year is up. If this is true you really need to switch drs cause it sounds like he is in it for the money. When I go in for fills, it only takes 15 minutes at most so I don't see why he can only 6 in an entire day. Switch drs girl

Hi Kristen,
I was able to eat bread until I finally got to restriction. I still can on some breads but don't much cuz it sometimes does get stuck. I have really changed my eating habits because it's something I wanted to do. I wanted to eat less and eat healthier. I don't deprive myself of anything I absolutly want but I have done so good at losing that I make better choices now because I don't want to disappoint myself by not losing any weight. Some of the things I get stuck on are rice, dry meat, bread and hamburger meat. I didn't have a difficult time with these until several fills to reach restriction. Do whats right for you just remember why you did this and don't be mad at the band if you make bad choices. Good luck!

Hi Mimi!
I was banded in July and was on liquids 7 days pre op, 7 days post op. Two weeks after surgery I got mushies and 7 days after that (4th week) I was able to eat soft foods. My doctor took my fills slow and small so I didn't fill restriction until my last fill which was about 3 weeks ago and I think it was like my 5th fill. So the 4 previous fills I had I never felt any difference. Number 5 was the one. At least my doctor would see me every 2 or 3 weeks so I wasn't having to wait a long time in between times. He always tells me, after each fill, to go easy and eat a pudding consistancy for 5 days afterward. If you're feeling hungry you don't have restriction. Thats one of the signs that you are still in the green zone. Hope that helps. Good luck to you!

I have been following this blog faithfully... its keeping me on track and looking forward to my new life.. its amazing, all recipes for bariatric/banded persons, totally band friendly. Diabetic friendly.
.... to die for recipes...
Low carb, low cal, high Protein..Did I mention desert.. yeah... lots of it.
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/
Shes on Facebook to for those who want to follow her. I do.

Koodos to you for being able to walk 3 days after surgery. I was in too much pain (hernia surgery too) and wasn't able to get around much. Walking to the bathroom and back to the living room was enough for me to handle.
I was off work for 2 weeks and when I went back to work I still didn't have my energy back. I've never been a good Vitamin taker and my doctor told me to get a good Multivitamin and some B12. I did just that and omg, what a difference. I've been taking them ever since. So my suggestion, try some vitamins!!

OMG!!! I AM A SIZE 14 PETITE!!! I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS SIZE IN 19 YEARS.... I'M SO EXCITED.BEST DECISION I MADE IN MY LIFE

I read these post here yesterday and commented myself about how no one at work had really said anything about my weight loss. Today I wore something a size smaller (pants and top) and my boss said 'wow, you're really slimming down' and then one of the men in the office said 'your hair looks really nice' I said thank you and he then replied 'as a matter of fact you are glowing, whats going on with you?". So I told him I have lost 67 pounds and he said he had noticed but was afraid to say anything. So, I guess some of you previous poster are correct. Some people, for whatever reason are afraid to say anything. I don't like a lot of attention on me but it's nice to hear this because it shows me other poeple are noticing my weight loss. It's encouraging to me. What a good day today is!!

I read these post here yesterday and commented myself about how no one at work had really said anything about my weight loss. Today I wore something a size smaller (pants and top) and my boss said 'wow, you're really slimming down' and then one of the men in the office said 'your hair looks really nice' I said thank you and he then replied 'as a matter of fact you are glowing, whats going on with you?". So I told him I have lost 67 pounds and he said he had noticed but was afraid to say anything. So, I guess some of you previous poster are correct. Some people, for whatever reason are afraid to say anything. I don't like a lot of attention on me but it's nice to hear this because it shows me other poeple are noticing my weight loss. It's encouraging to me. What a good day today is!!

My comeback would be. "Has that worked for me before? Did I keep it off? (no and no). I need help, I can't do it alone and this is a good tool to help me."

My pre op diet consisted of Protein Shakes and Clear Liquids, no Snacks, no meals, I did it for 3 weeks.
You have to get your mind prepared for it. 95% of our battle is between our ears.

I've never had a confidence problem, but I did find when I was obese that I stayed home more than I do now. Going out was a hassle, I got tired, I didn't feel comfortable in public, it hurt to walk very far, I didn't fit a restaurant booth, and so forth. You know the drill - we all have those issues. I had a million reasons why I preferred to stay home and mess with my computer or watch TV. (I was closer to the junk food, too, so it was a self-fulfilling thing.) Nobody judged me harder than I judged myself.
Now, 125 pounds lighter, I'm a completely different person. I really enjoy getting out and doing things now. I go to the gym as much because I enjoy it as because I "have to." I enjoy visiting friends and meeting new people. I go to restaurants to meet friends for a drink or Breakfast out or whatever, as much for the social aspects as because I need/want to eat out. I've taken up a few new hobbies, and I've taken a new interest in working on my house. I work in my yard more, and I'm planning more travel, even if it's just weekend trips to nearby areas. (Priceline has some great bargains, if you know how to work it.) I work on my car more than I did, I spend time at places like Home Depot checking out ideas for home improvement, and I've even joined a book club, to get the perspective of other people about books I might enjoy reading.
My point is that *I* am not the same person I was. For as together as I figured I used to be, I think I'm in a much better head space now. And I find the people I meet these days have no idea I was ever obese, so they treat me just as they'd treat anyone else. No self-defense mechanism required. I'm free to relax around those people, and allow myself to enjoy being friends without having to feel I need to defend my obesity or hide behind some defense mechanism. It's a great place to be.
You have nothing to gain by hiding in your home, and everything to gain by being out. You got banded to help yourself physically, but the emotional improvements may be even better. Enjoy the ride. There's no telling how far your new life may take you.
Dave

I can see where he is coming from but although I am not a very religious person I believe that GOD will help those that will help themselves. I don't see how just praying for a solution will happen, no offense to you or him. I really think you should think about it some more since his comment shook you up. If you are still serious about it and its what you want then have a sit down with him and truly express how serious you are about this. The surgery is very brief and safe, perhaps he has questions on how its going to turn out and is probably nervous about it. Good luck.

I'm curious how many fills it took you to feel restriction?
AND
Over what period of time this took?
Here's my info:
Surgery Date: July 26, 2011 (received a small fill)
1st fill - 4 weeks later - no restriction
2nd fill - 3 weeks later - no restriction
3rd fill - 2 weeks later - still no restriction (I think I'm at 5 cc's)
Next Fill 10/26 (4 weeks later)

I am not even sure where this post appears on the board. I get an email when someone posts on here. I think this post should have a special place on the board so new people see it immediately when they are starting their research. How can we make that happen?

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.
The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band.
Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band.
Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.
The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:
1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.
2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.
3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.
4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.
5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.
6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.< /span>
7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.
Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater.
It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Hi there. I didn't read your entire post. Just the bit about your UHC insuarance and their requirements. I have UHC and I did not have to go through a supervised diet for 6 months or do an excercise program. I went through True Results and within 2 weeks of starting everything I was approved to have the lap band surgery and did so 7/26/11. Call your insurance company yourself and ask questions. Good luck to you!

My name is Amy Workman and I am a bandster (everyone: HI Amy). I haven't posted on here in a long time and thought I might share with you my blog post from today. If any of you watched the recent Dr. Oz show about Lapband, I thought it might be nice for those of you just beginning to see a more realistic idea of the band. I was banded January 27th, 2009. I weighed 327 and today weight 159 pounds. I love my band. My before and after pictures on here are not updated, but you can find all my pictures on my blog. If you have any questions, please email me and ask away.
Sometimes we forget when we were first beginning. Do you remember the first time you googled Lapband? Or the first time you logged into the forums...frantically searching for before and afters....looking at successes and getting pumped...stumbling upon a horror story and then getting scared? Do you remember the stupid questions you asked? I remember posting on lapbandtalk.com something like "is one cup of Wendy's chili bad for you?"
Well, I am going to try and remember back to when I didn't know much about the band...and what information would have been helpful. Here goes...
Did you know:

I started at 327 pounds. My doctor, the wonderful and handsome Dr. Jeffrey Friedman, told me that the band is not always the best choice for someone who is a grazer. They find that the band is actually more successful for men, because men tend to eat in volume (sitting down for a huge dinner and getting really full, vs eating and munching on little things all day). Some doctors say that the band will not work as well for those of us who are or were really morbidly obese. I disagree. And there are plenty of us out here who are proving them wrong. Did you know:

The band may not work for you? You could have the surgery and not lose much weight at all. It is not a sure thing. BUT, if you work with the band...it can and will work for most of us. What does "work with the band mean"?

Every doctor has a different regimen they want you to follow. Every doc is different, as it almost every patient. Some say no pop/soda, some say it's fine. Some have a 2 week liquid preop and scare the sweet baby jebsus out of you about not shrinking your liver enough for surgery and not being able to operate (thank you Dr. Friedman). But, you will have to do your part with the band. You will have to watch what you eat. You will have to eventually get your ass up and exercise. You will have to make healthier choices and just be better. I know you are saying WHAT? That sounds like a diet to me. And I fail at diets!!! The band is a TOOL, not the Alpha and Omega of your weight loss journey. You can "cheat" the band by eating sliders and soft food. I for one could eat cheetos all day long and the band would sleep right through it. But with the right restriction, your band prevents you from eating that large pizza, the extra value meal, the entire bovine. You have to find a doctor that you can have a relationship with. They have to be open with you and you have to be open with them. You HAVE to go see them for fills. You have to follow up. You have to be a good patient. ASK QUESTIONS.
What can you eat once you are banded?

At this point in my journey, I can't think of one thing I CANT eat. However, there are somethings that I try to stay away from because they are difficult with my band. Example: Bowtie Pasta. It doesnt go down well. And then it just sits in my band and expands...causing me to PB (get to that in a second). I can't eat a sandwich, or a hamburger with a bun, but I could eat a roll if I tear off little pieces at a time. Hot dogs give me problems for some reason. Dry chicken or reheated meat (with the exception of a hamburger) often give me problems as well. I still drink soda, I still drink beer. I love Soups. I can eat veggies. I can eat fruit.< /li> Eating after being banded is about going slow. It's about chewing. They say with proper restriction that 4-6 ounces of solid Protein (a piece of meat about the size of your fist) should keep you full for 3-4 hours. Most docs want their patients to avoid "slider meals". Meaning, eating a bowl of Soup for lunch or yogurt for Breakfast isn't going to keep you full or satisfied because it will SLIDE right down. You want your food to stay in your pouch, and slowly drop down. Sometimes though...food may get stuck and then you get "sick". The Dreaded PB:

A couple things may happen if a piece of food gets "stuck in your pipe" as Heather refers to it. You aren't going to die. It's not like it gets stuck and you need the Heimlich. But if a piece of food gets stuck, ain't nothing else going down until it moves or comes up. The first thing that may happen is a productive burp (PB). This is not throwing up. When something gets stuck, your slobber starts to build on top of it. For me, when this happens, I get a weird sensation in the back of my jaw. And if I wait long enough, I will have to get somewhere private (hopefully) and let it come up. What comes up is this weird slime/foam combo. It doesn't hurt. And hopefully...it moves whatever is stuck. Sometimes though, it takes a little more work. Sometimes that one piece of food I didnt chew enough will be down there for hours. And then, it's not PBing. It's sort of like dry heaving until that piece comes up. There is a tightness in the chest...a pressure. It's not fun. I will say that not everyone gets stuck or PB's. And most of us would agree that when we do get stuck...it's our fault. We eat without being present, we didn't chew, we ate too fast. Restriction and Tips for Eating:

Unless you are extremely lucky, you will not awake from surgery with perfect restriction. Some docs put a little liquid in your band to start with, others wait. I had to wait 6 weeks for my first fill. And again, unless you are the rare case, you probably won't get restriction with your first fill. It took me several fills before I had good restriction. ASK your doctor what his/her fill policy is. Some docs are super restrictive with their fills. They only fill on a schedule. They don't care whether or not you have restriction. All I know is if Dr. Friedman hadn't let me tell him that I was ready for a fill...and if he had made me wait regardless of what I could eat...I wouldn't have been as successful as I was. You will know you have restriction when you have it. It's sort of like having sex. If you have to wonder if you had an orgasm or not...um...you probably didn't. Restriction will keep you full and satisfied for 3-4 hours. You will be able to eat less. Restriction DOES NOT RESTRICT YOUR BRAIN. You may still mentally crave things. You will have to learn the difference between head hunger and physical hunger. This is very hard. When you do have good restriction, you will have to change the way you eat. This is easier said than done. You should be taking small bites. For example, if you are eating steak, you need to cut that sucker up into pea sized bites. You need to chew. Then, set your fork down and wait a few seconds. You should eat sitting down. You should pay attention to what you are doing. You will learn that things like eating in the car is rarely going to end well. (Always have your emergency PB kit in your car. A couple of bags, some papertowels or handywipes. Trust me.) You probably shouldnt drink with your meal or for 30 minutes after. liquids can help push your food down...thus...cheating the band. How much weight will I lose? How quickly will I lose it?

Now you know that there is no one answer for this. Statistically, Lapband patients lose around 40% of their excess weight. SO, if you are 100 pounds overweight, statistically you will lose 40 pounds. I hate statistics. And remember, they are an average. 17 more pounds lost and I will have lost 100% of my excess weight...and I am not alone. It can happen. However, there are so many factors that go into how much and how fast. Genetics, age, diet history, personal support, family life, exercise. Some weeks I lost 7 pounds. Some weeks I gained 5. The weeks I gained, I gained because I ate poorly. I cheated the band The weeks I lost, I ate and made healthy choices. There are some weeks, even when I WAS doing the right thing...I didn't lose. It can be frustrating. But you can't give up. You will have to keep upping your game. At some point, even with the band, you will either have to adjust your food or exercise. But, I feel like the band is "cheating". I feel like if I have WLS, I am weak.

I'm gonna tell you what. Who gives a flying monkey's ass?! Cheating what? Cheating early death? Cheating sleep apena? Cheating high blood pressure, sore joints, diabetes? I say CHEAT AWAY then. There is no shame in WLS. It's not about will power. It's not about failing. It is about trying to find a tool that works to give you some power, give you your health. I tell whoever wants to know or will listen about the band. And yes, I have heard "Oh...well...I thought you did it the hard way"...or "hmmm...that must be nice". I say listen FOOL. There ain't nothing easy about the band. It makes some things easier but it is still work. And I find that people either give you 'tude about the band bc they are afraid or jealous or because they don't understand. Either way, that is okay. I will educate or I will ignore. I feel like if I were to say "oh, I am just watching my diet and working out"...that I would be lying by omission. AND, my real fear is that someone who is overweight will think "Well, Amy did it "the old fashioned way", and they will feel like a failure when they try and do not succeed. Will my relationship fall apart if I have the surgery?

We all hear the stories of what happens when someone has WLS. The divorce rate and seperation rate is a little higher for us. There are several reasons. One, for some of us....when we lose weight, we become a different person...or the person we would have been if our bodies hadn't been our enemies so long. Our expectations may change, we may want more. OR, our partners may not be able to deal with the new us. OR, as in any relationship...sometimes it's just time to move on. I don't think that having WLS should make you fear losing or changing your partner anymore than the normal person. There are tons of bandsters out there still happy and maybe even happier with their significant other. Sometimes though, even though we can't see it or don't want to admit it...we have settled. And once you start to shed your cloak of security or denial...you realize you deserve more (too bad we don't realize that to begin with. Long story short...people change and grow...with or without weightloss surgery. Are you worried about complications:

No. But most days I am not a worrier about things that may or may not happen. I heard recently that the stats for band slipping are about 5% and for erosion, about 1-2%. Slipping for example, can be avoided most of the time and according to the docs...is easy to fix. Erosion is of course a little more scary. But I hope that by always paying attention to my body, my band, and how I am feeling...I can avoid it or if it ever happens...catch it early. Do fills hurt?

Mine never do. My doc has never done one under fluoro. He gives me a numbing shot and then the fill. How many fills do you have to have?

To get restriction, it took me 4. My first year I had around 6 fills. My second year, I had 2. Will you ever have the band taken out?

Lord I hope not. Even now that I am at goal weight and weight loss is more of what I do instead of what the band does for me...it's always there. It's my safety net. It will keep me from ever being 327 pounds again. Why did you choose the band over other options?

I was 28 when I decided on the surgery. I didn't want my stomach cut apart. I still wanted to be able to absorb my nutrients. I wanted to be able to eat sugar and other things without getting physcially ill. I liked that the removal of the band was a possibility if something went wrong. I liked the idea of being able to control my restriction. And even though I bitched and complained along the way, I liked the idea of a slower weight loss (vs Gastric bypass). It gave my skin and my brain a little more time to adjust. Did you know there are different brands of lapbands?

I have the Allegran Lapband. Ask you doctor your choices and the differences. Mine is a 10-11cc band. Some are smaller. Were you worried about the loose skin?

Barely. I figured I may look like a saggy deflated sack after I lost my weight, but I would rather be deflated then morbidly obese. And I am lucky. My skin is nowhere as bad as it could have been. Again, so many factors go into skin. Age, genes, working out, sun...etc. Would you do it again?

In a heartbeat my friends. In a heartbeat. It was the best decision of my life. It was a tremedous catalyst for change. I can't think of one negative consequence of the band.