faithmd

luvmyiggy, Mark is dead on in his comments to you. I would also add a little something from my journey that may put things in perspective. I started my weightloss journey at 371# (I'm 5'7" tall), from late January/early February until now I have lost about 47-49lbs (depends on the day) and folks only just started asking me if I've been losing weight. They guessed about 15 or 20lbs. I think it is because no one would EVER have guessed that I weighed 371 at one point, just as no one would ever believe you are 465. I haven't changed a jeans size yet, either. They are getting baggier, but they are not falling off. It's all based on their perspective. The bigger you are, the more you lose before it becomes noticeable. Who cares if you make a "normal" weight? Isn't the point to lose weight and get healthier? Even if you only end up losing 100lbs, that means you didn't stay 465, you didn't gain to above 500, you would have LOST 100lbs! I think it's worth it! If after really honestly trying with the band and working with it as it's intended (trying not to cheat, giving it time, moving around and burning off calories, making better food choices) and after a year or so it hasn't helped at all, then you can always have it removed and then get bypass or another procedure. That's part of the beauty of the band, it's totally reversible. Good luck!

It went okay. I got a small AP band and was in some SERIOUS pain after the OR. I don't remember much during the time they started rolling me into the OR and when I woke up in my room, but I do remember moaning and screaming about the pain. I also remember someone telling me to stop moaning and that wasting energy like that doesn't help. I told her I know, but it makes *me* feel better. So she gave me more pain meds. The surgeon gave my box (from the band) to my husband, and the booklet on how to place it was in there, now DH is joking that he could fix a slip or fill me. I stayed overnight and was on a morphine PCA, I hated the feeling it gave me of not being able to stay awake, but I appreciated the pain control. Especially because I was up walking to the bathroom about every two hours. I'm home drinking my liquid diet and eating my popsicles and my Lortab Elixir. I also have a Scopalomine patch behind my ear, Reglan every six hours, prevacid and compazine suppositories. I think they don't want you to vomit!

Here's the article found at this link: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Files For FDA Approval Of New Gastric Band For Treatment Of Morbid Obesity Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Files For FDA Approval Of New Gastric Band For Treatment Of Morbid Obesity Article Date: 16 Apr 2007 - 0:00 PDT Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, today announced that it has submitted a Premarket Approval (PMA) application with the U.S. food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its adjustable gastric band, an implantable device intended to treat morbid obesity. The company's submission includes results from a prospective multi-center clinical trial of 276 patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (100 pounds or more above ideal body weight) or a BMI of 35 or more, with one or more obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes. The primary endpoint for the study was percent of excess weight loss at three years. Patients with these BMI are classified as morbidly obese. The clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the device, which has been commercially available outside the U.S. since 1996 and has been implanted in over 100,000 patients worldwide. The device is a soft, adjustable band that is fitted around the uppermost part of the stomach during laparoscopic surgery, creating a small pouch and restricting food consumption. "The submission of this application to the FDA is an important milestone as we seek to provide the bariatric community more treatment options and solutions for morbid obesity, a life-threatening disease that continues to grow throughout the world," said Kenneth Sumner, Ph.D., vice president, Worldwide Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS), about 15 million people in the U.S. have morbid obesity, and in 2006, about 177,000 people had some type of bariatric surgery. About Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures. The company focuses on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. More information on the company can be found at http://www.ethiconendo.com.

Oooooo, exercize!!!! And yes, Dr. Keith can join Oprah and Dr. Phil! I'd be happy to see that. I thought I heard Dr. Keith was cancelled, but damnit, he's still on TV!!! Ooooo, I'd also like to put that Judge Maria Lopez in the box with them. Her voice (smoked enough cigs, honey?) and her attitude make me nutso. In the opening of her show she says she's been a judge for X years and she's seen it all. No, no you haven't. I don't care how long you've done any job, you have NEVER seen it all.

I had to do a twelve month MD supervised program as well. I was also told initially that it was a six month requirement, but the insurance company changed their criteria on me. Oh well, I used the time to learn as much about this and what to expect as possible. I also started eating the "bandster way" with small bites, choosing good foods, not drinking with meals, etc. My advice to anyone who has to do the supervised diet, do not miss one single monthy visit, not one! My insurance company has a compliance requirement and if you aren't attending (meaning going to the MD) monthly, then you start from square one.

Ditto to what Alexandra said ^ ^ ^

Yes it does! I think I'll try it with just juice (still on liquids) for now. Dang, that sounds Excellent!!!

Call your doctor and see if they have a number of someone where you are that can help. Go to obesityhelp.com and look up MD's in the state you are now in, you may find someone. If all else fails and you can't even keep liquids down, you may wish to go to the ER.

Using your thumb and first finger, pinch your earlobe as hard as you can stand it, hold it until they go away. It usually works.

Except if you buy the children's version, you will be paying a lot more for less volume. I bought adult Tylenol liquid and also Children's Motrin liquid (they don't make an adult liquid ibuprofen OTC yet that I've found). Avoid the Baby or Infant's drops, that is waaaayyy too expensive per dose. My surgeon is okay with later down the line using a Chewable Baby aspirin per day for the heart health effects, but he said we will discuss it later, certainly not soon post-op.

Welcome Lainy!!!

I get tired of seeing people write about being banned. It's BANDED! Not banned. I think we should place Dr. Phil and Oprah in the same large box, nail it shut and dangle it over a deep spot in the ocean supported only by dental floss.

Oh goodness, don't let one person get to you. I know how very frustrating it is to get your insurance to pay for this. I fought mine a bit, but nothing like some folks have had to do. I know that there is at least one person here who didn't want to deal with the fight so she just self-paid. I was too bull-headed, I figure that I pay for insurace, so they should pay out for me. I was lucky I didn't have an exclusion in my policy, I actually switched companies twice to get it paid for. Our frustrations with insurance are probably as painful to us as someone who HAS to self-pay and the frustrations they have trying to find financing. Don't feel bad, okay? We're here to support one another, through it all. I know I responded that I had a 12 month diet requirement, I wasn't getting down on you, I was just offering some insight that others have other struggles, too. I hope you get it all straightened out soon!

I don't know that there is an average. We are supposed to lose 1-2 lbs per week, so following that guideline I'd say you are right on target! Congrats on your loss, it's wonderful!

You CAN do it! And remember, it isn't only two weeks pre-op, but the post-op is usually liquids as well. But you should hopefully not feel as hungry in the immediate post-op period. I don't. I'm struggling to get in my Protein and liquids. My surgeon's office has a contract with a company called BetterMD.net and they have kits they sell for pre and post-op. It cost me $249 including S/H for four weeks of food. IT requires no though at all, they give you a list of what has been packed for you, and then a sheet with check boxes for each day to check off what you've had. I don't have to think about which shake ot have or if broth from a certain soup is okay. I just look at my sheet and pick up a packet of what I am to drink next. Might want to consider it.

mommy, I would guess that at least 40% of folks here went to Mexico. Use the search function at the top of the page, click on advanced search, then pull down the menu to say Titles only, type Mexico in the box above that pull down menu, you'll find loads of threads about going to Mexico. The one I have read over and over to stay away from is Betencourt. Good Luck!

I had surgery Thursday and had the band placed, got a small AP, woohoo! I marked al over my belly where my braline goes, and my two waistlines (scrubs and then jeans) and wrote AP only on my stomach. The surgeon avoided all he could. I'm sore and tired and the staples pull a lot when I go to stand up or lie down. I have no idea what I weighed pre or post-op because no one weighed me. My scale here does not go that high. So I'll wait and weigh a week out at my PCP's office. I am now an official bandster!

I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, so if I drink anything other than unsweetened caffeine free tea or Water, I will drink Gatorade or Powerade or something else lower in sugar than soda, but in moderation. I understand that drinks with calories are empty calories, but my thought is that I am alredy going to be limiting myself with respect to caloric intake, so I'm going to enjoy what I do take in. I do log every bite and every sip of anything I ingest so I take credit for all the calories of fluids as well as foods. Along those lines, I will not use fat free cheese or sour cream, etc. I'm eating alot less of it, I'm going to eat something that tastes good, darn it! Yes, I had to stop my birth control pill before surgery, and for six weeks post-op. I argued it, but the internal medicine guy actually whipped out some recent and excellent studies about hormones (and the pill I take is NOT one of the low dose ones) and blood clots following surgery. I know it happens, and though the stats are low, I am creeping up in age and have been on them for about 20 years. I don't have sex anyway, the only thing that it will screw with are my periods (that was NOT fun) and my emotions. I figure I can do anything if I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm already counting down my six weeks from tomorrow to start them back up. Good luck!

Isn't A2 the best? But at least you guys got out before Pfizer closed the A2 facility. (In the process now.) To the OP, there is a great thread around here for lower BMI bandsters, check it out.

John, welcome to bandland and LBT. Spend some time perusing this board, you will find that yours is a frequent issue. MANY people have this difficulty, and it's a toughie. I'm sure I'll be where you are in a few weeks. Unfortunately there isn't a great response. Many folks have found that increasing the Protein intake (either with shakes or supplementing puddings with protein powders, eating soft proteins) will help curb some of that hunger. Can I ask if you are using a lot of artificial sweetenters (most people do, Splenda, nutrasweet, etc)? There is a tendency for those to make you ravenous as well. Fills don't happen before a minimum of 4 weeks post-op and lots of time 6 weeks post-op because to fill too early does not allow for full scar formation to happen and that is what keeps the band in place on the back of the stomach. Filling too early increases the chances that the band may slip. I also should warn you that many people say they don't feel restriction with the first fill, it usually takes two, three or more fills to hit that "sweet spot" and that's going to be tough for me, I know. Also, sometimes it can take a week or two for a fill to "kick in." I've read some reports that folks had a fill ten days earlier and then BAM! out of nowhere, they got restriction. It is a slow process, finding out how you body will respond. Hang in there! We're here to go through it with you!

I hope that I don't start having problems with my taste changing. I hadn't thought about that! Not too forward for me. And I'll echo your thoughts, I can't remember the last time I received...

Here's a link to a UHC thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f8/uhc-choice-plus-wont-cover-28025/

Pam, this thread will be very helpful to you: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/lower-bmi-bandsters-26697/

There's a few UHC threads around here, use the search function and search for either united health care, or UHC as a thread title. You may find more info about other struggles. I wish you all the luck in the world!

Christine, I hear ya. I will definitely miss fresh bread. I haven't had white bread in months (I started eating only whole grains/fiber enriched breads in February) and I had a container of those dipping spices in the cabinet... Mmmmmm I hope I'm a good bandster. I've tried pertty hard to get accustomed to eating slowly, tiny bites, etc. It's the portions that will be tough. But I can do anything (I tell myself) to be smaller. I'd be happy to hit 199 at some point. I don't have to get near 167, that's just what MetLife says I should be.