Shiki

It is nice to connect to your contemporaries. And who doesn't love talking about the 60's? Well ... me, for one ... now that I'm 66. But this group is pretty inactive. If you want feedback, you'll have to post elsewhere. I'd comment, but I still haven't had surgery. Good luck, and get an answer!

Just want to add my .01 cents to this discussion. Unless there is a financial or otherwise compelling reason to stick with your original doctor, SWITCH. You may have to travel a bit to find someone you like, but this is too important to be with anything other than a great doc.

That is nearly unbelievable. All that happening to you. Yikes. Your body must fell wretched. I am horrified this happened, and so glad you're OK. I've heard of bands slipping but never like this. And I've never heard it's 50%. I will certainly have to look into that, especially because I'm not banded yet. I recently canceled an appointment with a Dr. because he wouldn't do the band. Hmmm. Do you have someone to take care of you while you recover? Biggest, gentle hugs and sweet Shiki smooches to you.

Cheryldee - Congrats on your weight loss. That's quite an accomplishment. I am hooked on Cherry Pomegranate. But I discovered WalMart has same thing at a much cheaper price. What are your flavors? TexasSusie - I am very happy for you. Wish I could be your roommate, but I haven't yet managed to jump through all the hoops. Best of luck, soon-to-be-skinny lady!

BONILUU - Thank you for your excellent suggestions. I will call Dr. B and check with him. Losethemess - I went to UT Southwestern & saw a female Dr. Islam. She said she couldn't handle me and referred me to Dr. Provost, who is the doc I have in Denton. Do you go to the monthly support meeting?

I'm starting from scratch again. Just found out the new surgeon, Dr. Harry Meyers, does not do lap band - only bypass and the sleeve. I'm very bummed. I really thought I finally had the right surgeon. I'm having problems getting the right doc for several reasons. 1. My only insurance is Medicare. A lot of places don't take it. 2. It can only be lap band. Medicare only covers lap band, bypass or DS. I won't do bypass and DS would not be compatible with current health problems, so it's out. 3. I have a doc, but cannot get to his office. Only way I have to travel is with public transportation in a wheelchair, which does not go to his city -- it's too far away. At 400 lbs. I'm too big to fit in most cars. I don't know anyone who has a car big enough for me. I'm going to focus on trying to get mobility back. Believe me, it isn't easy when you can't move without extreme pain. I'm going to back off from searching for a doc right now. I just spent an entire year searching and got nowhere.

I would keep it short and be creative. Keeping it short means less to explain, less to remember what you said. Being creative means you "spin" your story in such a way it leaves no room for questions. So ... being creative ... 'xcuse me while I brainstorm ... "It was a female issue I had taken care of." If pressed, say "sorry, don't want to talk about it ... it's really personal." If still pressed, say "on the order of a hernia. I'm all better now." The main thing is to say little, discourage discourse and change the topic. If any continue to press simply repeat what you just said until you sound like a broken record. People will give up because they have no other choice. Change the topic and move on. For mom: "It was a quick outpatient procedure on the order of a hernia. I'm all better now."

There are a lot of success stories with the band. If you read them, though, one thing stands out loud and clear. The band works to the extent that you work the band. In other words, it's one method with rules, kind of like being a member of a committee that wrote its bylaws before you joined. From what I've read, to be successful, one must learn the rules, read the bylaws and follow them. After 3 years, you gotta know that you can't eat a chunk of beef unless you can blast it into smithereens. The band doesn't work that way. If we want to do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten. In this case, no weight loss. I know adjusting to the band's rules will be hard, but that is what I prefer to the danger of the other surgeries. The sleeve is the latest hot topic. But for me, removing a large portion of my stomach, with no reversal ever, seems a huge risk that I really prefer not to take. However, not losing weight is dangerous as well. So I guess you do whatever will work for you. Best of luck to you, in any case.

Judy - Ausssies Rock! Love the way you Dr. thinks. What's the post-surgery protocol? To Everyone -- I've been researching this for 10 years. My plan is to do what I like most, and what I've read about. Pre surgery diet will be whatever I can live with. So far I've lost 30lbs. since last July. Post-surgery diet: Clear liquids for a couple of days, full liquids for another couple of days and then mushies for a week or more. WLS works to the extent that you work it. If you're real serious, you can drop 200 lbs. in 1 year or less. Read about several that did that. I'll be happy to drop 100 the first year. Hope I do. Never quit. It's a looonng journey. You didn't get obese overnight, so don't expect to get slim the same way. It's slow and steady. There are/will be bumps in the road. You gotta be able to hang on. Best way to do that is with a support system both online and off. Go to support meetings in your town. My first appt. with my 4th Dr. is Apr 2. Hope this one's a winner. Good luck to all!

Congrats! At least you're on the right road ... and further down the road than you expected. I'll be curious to know how it works for you. My pcp is wretched and not at all helpful, but I'm keeping her temporarily because she has approved a motorized wheelchair for me.

Check out MyFitnessPal.com - it will calculate calories for whatever you eat. You'll soon discover what amount is OK. For example, I eat this really healthy butter -- Land 'O Lakes Spreadable Butter With Olive Oil. I was shocked to discover that 2 tsp. had 200 calories.

Karen, Just wanted to let you know that you are the first person to wish me Happy Birthday this year! I will be 66. Double sixes -- that's the best number in many games. So, you say, 62. Your profile says 63. Which is it?

I'm in Dallas near downtown. No, never been. Good luck with the clinic. Let us know what happens. Another site that's helpful is MyFitnessPal. Check it out. It calculates what you eat, among other things. I'm ShikiP there.

Violet, I didn't do it on purpose. Must have nicked my leg on something.

Ashley -- I wish more people on this site would step up and offer to mentor. There's clearly a need. I'm still a pre-op, so I'm in a holding state. Did the medically supervised diet, but I'm changing docs so things are on hold till April 2. Keep up the good work!

Happy Birthday, fellow Pisces! Mine's the 16th. If you keep on keeping on, those extra pounds will come off. Personally, I would be thrilled at 250 lbs. When I started I was 425. Now down 30 lbs. Atrial fibrillation, wow? Why? Are you walking too fast?

I'm still pre-op, but a doctor told me that my lymphadema would clear up completely after surgery. He didn't say how long it would take. Your ankles look more swollen than mine, but I'd have to measure to know for sure. My condition is pretty ugly consisting of alligator-like skin with many small & a few large boil-like lesions. In fact, I go to great lengths to hide my legs. I think it scares people to look at me. My condition begins on the inside of my thighs and continues down the top and sides of my leg to the ankle. One thing you may be interested in is that the swelling is not Water.Edema is what normal swelling is called. Lymphatic Fluid is milkier and thicker than water. Once, I broke open one of the hundreds of the little boil-like lesions, and it started to leak ... a lot. This went on forever! It was 3+ weeks before it stopped. I would give it some time and see if it starts getting better. Congrats on your weight loss to date & best wishes on your new journey!

Certainly time for me to update you folks on what is going on with me. I have had so many ups and downs, I'm about to name a new roller coaster after my experience. I have had 3 dr. visits so far. My search continued, though, because while I did find the most celebrated dr. in the Dallas area, his office is 35 miles away. Too far for me. I was about to switch to True Results when I learned they don't take my insurance, which is Medicare. Finally had a bit of luck when a True Results employee recommended a dr. with whom she had worked. Things are looking good for me to be banded by Dr. Harry Meyers in Dallas. I have an appt. on Apr. 2. Medicare does not allow anything new, so the sleeve and plication are out. Strictly bypass or band, nothing else. Thanks for the recommendations, though. I will post another update when I have one.

Certainly time for me to update you folks on what is going on with me. I have had so many ups and downs, I'm about to name a new roller coaster after my experience. I have had 3 dr. visits so far. My search continued, though, because while I did find the most celebrated dr. in the Dallas area, his office is 35 miles away. Too far for me. I was about to switch to True Results when I learned they don't take my insurance, which is Medicare. Finally had a bit of luck when a True Results employee recommended a dr. with whom she had worked. Things are looking good for me to be banded by Dr. Harry Meyers in Dallas. I have an appt. on Apr. 2. Medicare does not allow anything new, so the sleeve and plication are out. Strictly bypass or band, nothing else. Thanks for the recommendations, though. I will post another update when I have one.

Looks like my surgeon will be Dr. Harry Meyers in Dallas, who comes highly recommended. I have an appt for April 2. He isn't affiliated with any other company. From what I hear, he has a very mellow atmosphere in his office. He used to be Chief of Surgery at Bethesda Medical Center. He was recommended to me by a gal who works at True Results. She used to work for him and thinks the world of him!

Thanks for all the recommendations. True Results doesn't accept Medicare, which is my insurance. Looks like my surgeon will be Dr. Harry Meyers, who comes highly recommended. I have an appt for April 2.

My search for a doctor continues. My insurance is Medicare, and I haven't found one yet who takes it. Through my research, I have discovered a lot of great doctors. Rave reviews go to Marsden, Fox, Benavides, Hamn, and Cribbens. Fox supposedly gets the best results, probably because he is so strict. But his patients just love him, as do the patients of all the other docs mentioned. My top 2 doctors are Drs. Provost and Meyers. Provost is in Denton, but he's excellent! Meyers is in Dallas - highly recommended - I'm calling his office today.

Got really bad news today. True Results does not accept my insurance. Now I start searching over again. Like you, I don't have issues with food. I was thin all my life until I went thru chemo. The steroids caused a massive weight gain. Sounds like you're on the right path.

Hi Chrysta, Congratulations on your weight loss. Way to go, Girl! That's amazing that you lost 30 lbs. What's your secret? I'm still pre-op ... in the surgeon search stage. But I think I'm about to make a decision. I can't wait. I've lost 30 lbs, too since I started my journey in July. Keep on posting! Welcome to our group. We're still new & super glad to have you.

Remember the old saying: Fools Rush In ... " & another "Act in haste and repent at leisure." How unfair of your doc to throw that at you at the last minute. My 2 cents? Get another band ... since that has already worked for you, it's removable, and fixable if it slips. Second choice is the sleeve, which has been around longer than the pcilation. The sleeve is very popular right now and you can lose a lot of weight with it, but most of your stomach will be removed. I think it's 90%, Pcilation is only about 1 year old, so it's still experimental. I followed a pcilation group for a month or so and some reported no weight loss, others loved it, and docs were talking about how they are just tracking it, warts and all. The danger here is in changing to a more drastic procedure from which there is no going back. Once they cut out your stomach with the sleeve or pcilation, it's gone for good,. Personally, that's way too risky for me. We know the band works. Sure it has it's problems, but it does work and you don't have to have your stomach cut out. Good luck whatever you decide.