DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

On Tuesday I saw my GP for my every-three-months review of my bloodwork. My cholesterol numbers have been ideal for the past three months...so no more need for statins! Yay! "Just another benefit to your weight loss," she said.
I was especially pleased as I had just read an article in the NYT's "Health" section about the link between statins and diabetes.
Thanking my lapband once again for helping me do something that I could not have done on my own.

The problem is, that study doesn't take patient compliance into consideration. In the biggest, most comprehensive study done on the band, they show that only 5% of complications are by no fault of the patient. The rest are due to patient or doctor error, not because of the band.
Bottom line: If you follow the rules and are compliant with your doctor, you only have a 5% chance of ever having a serious problem.
http://www.futurity.org/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

its only too late for those who give the f**k up
you my dear are taking a great step...get your butt to the dr for a check up (fluro to make sure the band is in good shape) and i am sure it is...
then back to the basics....eating great food in allotted band sizes (you know baked vs fried, fresh vs boxes) and lets not forget exercising....that does help and then, let the band do its thing...
you can do this if you want too..and you do as you posted here..dont wait til tomorrow or monday to start....start NOW

Never too late, that is why the band is adjustable. You can get back on track by calling your surgeon, or fill doctor, and getting an appointment for a fill or adjustment or just talking to the nutritionist. Get ye to the phone and make an appointment(after the office opens, that it)! Best wishes, Karen...aka..kll724

It's never too late to get back on track!
I did great "in the beginning"...just as you say. GungHO, exercising, eating what I was supposed to, etc, etc....then the Honeymoon ended! I too, thought I could just eat anything I wanted, quit exercising, and let the band do it all.....Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
I was eating too much, gaining weight, just like every other diet I had been on in my life! Because it was JUST A DIET... I was so embarrassed, didn't go to my surgeon for a YEAR. Couldn't face the reality I was gonna fail at this too...
But I had a friend who had the band encourage me to go back to my surgeon, and find out why I was eating too much. Why was it just like before I even had surgery?
Now...with a properly adjusted band for me, I couldn't be happier with my decision to have this surgery.
Since you say you haven't had an adjustment in several months, please follow up with your surgeon...and don't accept any excuses! This thing will do what it is advertised to do....Control/limit your portions...you just gotta get there. I wish you much success in your future! Never, ever give up.

The problem is, that study doesn't take patient compliance into consideration. In the biggest, most comprehensive study done on the band, they show that only 5% of complications are by no fault of the patient. The rest are due to patient or doctor error, not because of the band.
Bottom line: If you follow the rules and are compliant with your doctor, you only have a 5% chance of ever having a serious problem.
http://www.futurity.org/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

I bought two pairs of pants because my old ones will not stay up. I thought I bought size 18 but later in the day I realize they are size 16! I haven't been able to wear 16 in 15 years I guess maybe I am losing inches.

I thought I'd need a Tummy Tuck, but it's starting to look like my tummy is tightening itself and I will not need surgery! Now...for my boobs and butt, different story - they are gone and I want them replaced. I will do what I can in terms of exercising to get things pumped back up, but if that doesn't work I'm already doing my research on the procedures I'd like. Lucky me, my boyfriend says I'm fine the way I am...but he said that before the lap band, too. I guess I'll just take comfort in his response "I'm not going to love you any less either way, you are just right to me but if you're not happy then that's another story."

I just bought a pair of "because they where on sale" size 18 jeans at Old Navy.. the first pair fit.. no wiggling, no sucking no bending over and doing twists to get the stupid things on. OMG I was SHOCKED I knew I was an 18W but i'd been wearing old jeans and had thought that perhaps they had stretched. I need this to really make me realize I am losing.. I am doing this yes it's slower than I want but I'm Winning this battle.

80% of mine is covered by insurance. I have a $20 copay each time I go in for a fill, so that would put my fill cost at $100. And, that fill is done by my surgeon, not a PA or nurse.
I think that's very reasonable.

print this page so you can refer to it and show your doctor. don't even bother the receptionists talk to your doctor

That does sound steep, I agree.
I wonder if you could negotiate with him should the need arise.

80% of mine is covered by insurance. I have a $20 copay each time I go in for a fill, so that would put my fill cost at $100. And, that fill is done by my surgeon, not a PA or nurse.
I think that's very reasonable.

Excellent topic Terry!
I'm thinking your prices are pretty cheap! Although in reality, there isn't anything much to a fill.
I have Aetna insurance through my employer.
Years ago, when mine were done without fluoro, my surgeon billed the insurance $250 for a office visit/nut time/adjustment. A blind or "Water test" fill. ( If you can drink the Water, your not too tight.......lol. )
Now, If I get an adjustment, my insurance gets billed $700, the negotiated rate is $364.03. They pay $291.23, and I pay $72.80 ( after meeting my yearly insurance deductible I've got an 80/20 plan )
If no adjustment but just view under fluoro, the bill is $275, negotiated rate is $170.71 split 80/20.
Both of these include the normal office visit with the SURGEON and prob 10 min with a NUT. I go more often than I really need to now...I enjoy going my appts now. Everyones always smiling there!

I'm using almond milk in my morning Protein shakes since reading the book only because it has less carbs so it's great for the low carb days.
But, for everything else, I'm still using skim milk. I use the book more as a guideline rather than a bible, I don't/won't follow everything exactly.

As many of you know, I was stuck for more than a month. I was monitoring my calories, getting in all my Protein and exercising, yet the scale didn't budge. I know, plateaus are normal, but they still suck. Around the time the plateau hit I also started taking birth control pills. I even gained 2 pounds, which for me was the deal breaker. I had to find a way to break the plateau and start losing again.
So I started researching. Low carb, high carb, no carb, etc. I see so many variations on here! What's right? What's wrong? I already knew it was a matter of choice without a clear right or wrong answer, but I also knew individual body needs also played a very big part in it. During my research I kept coming across something called carb cycling, so I decided to look more into it.
Carb cycling is essentially trying to optimize your metabolism by alternating high and low carb days. Body builders often do this to build muscle and burn fat before a contest but it's also very helpful for weight loss. Then one day I turned on Doctor Oz...and wouldn't you know it... it was an episode on carb cycling. Chris Powell, of The Biggest Loser, was on his show talking about he has all the contestants on the show carb cycle and how he does it. For me, this was the point I decided to give carb cycling a try.
Chris Powell's method is specifically for weight loss so I decided to go with his (there's many out there). He has an excellent book called “Choose to Lose: The 7-Day Carb Cycle Solution”.
His theory: No carb diets don't work. It's not sustainable long term and eventually it significantly slows the metabolism. Worse, people who cut out carbs usually end up gaining all their weight back and then some when they do suddenly reintroduce carbs. Carbs are the energy block of the body and a long term lack of carbs will cause the thyroid to slow down significantly.
7 day diet/carb cycling: High carb day followed by low carb day, alternating daily. Start on a high carb day and always eat within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. Always limit or omit carbs after 6pm.
All this is within your own personal daily calorie allowance.
High carb day/energy day:
Preferably complex carbs. Protein, low fat. unlimited veggies.

Low carb day/burn day:
A little carb in the morning to boost metabolism
Cut carbs the rest of the day.
Protien, healthy fats, unlimited veggies

3 of each/low carb and high carb. 7th day is cheat day
Cheat day:
Boost calories to boost metabolism
Boost to no more than 1000 extra calories a day
Cheat at Breakfast and lunch, not dinner. 6-12pm “behave”
Cheat at a table. Not in a car, or at a sofa, etc. No “hypno binging”
No leftovers allowed.

Mind you, this is the short version of all this. If this interests you, I'd strongly suggest buying his book for a better understanding. It's very enlightening.
...So this is what I've done for the last week. I am very happy to say, carb cycling broke my plateau, despite still being on the birth control pill too. I lost 5.4 pounds this week!
I have decided I am going to continue to carb cycle. I am not a fan of the low carb days, but I am getting more used to them. Plus, I find my "carb cravings" have all but disappeared since starting this- something I didn't think possible.
For me, it's working. I just thought I'd share the results of my little self experiment

That does sound steep, I agree.
I wonder if you could negotiate with him should the need arise.

80% of mine is covered by insurance. I have a $20 copay each time I go in for a fill, so that would put my fill cost at $100. And, that fill is done by my surgeon, not a PA or nurse.
I think that's very reasonable.

That does sound steep, I agree.
I wonder if you could negotiate with him should the need arise.

Hi Desertpixie
I"m in my 8th year of being a "Bandster".
I've had no issues at all. I listened to my doctor and I followed the guidelines given to me. Yes in the beginning I had to "diet".
I can still eat 3 meals a day and 2 Snacks (when I want to). I can eat ANYTHING in moderation except rice and apple skins.
I've lost 160 lbs. I started with a 54" waist and am now a 30" waist.
I host 3 coffee groups a month for people that have been banded. I have people in my groups that have been banded anywhere from 2 to 12 years and only 2 people have had issues (both slipped bands)... very early on and they are both doing well. Every person in my group has lost. There are at least 14 people that have lost 100 lbs.
If you work with the band it does work.
I have not regrets at all... it changed my life.
I love the band because I don't feel like I missing out on anything... ok.. maybe diet pop on a hot summers day or a cold beer now and then but hey I'll take being thin over a cold beer and have ice tea
Please feel free to email me if you would like to chat... I have free long distance and I would be happy to call you.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
tomander@bell.net
Wt. Loss: 160 lbs

That does sound steep, I agree.
I wonder if you could negotiate with him should the need arise.

The problem is, that study doesn't take patient compliance into consideration. In the biggest, most comprehensive study done on the band, they show that only 5% of complications are by no fault of the patient. The rest are due to patient or doctor error, not because of the band.
Bottom line: If you follow the rules and are compliant with your doctor, you only have a 5% chance of ever having a serious problem.
http://www.futurity.org/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

The problem is, that study doesn't take patient compliance into consideration. In the biggest, most comprehensive study done on the band, they show that only 5% of complications are by no fault of the patient. The rest are due to patient or doctor error, not because of the band.
Bottom line: If you follow the rules and are compliant with your doctor, you only have a 5% chance of ever having a serious problem.
http://www.futurity.org/weight-stays-off-long-after-lap-band-surgery/

Regardless of what surgery you choose I encourage you to practice your new health habits before the surgery. Try and start an exercise routine no matter how small and practice drinking less (or not at all) during meals, start choosing food based on what you'll be eating after your WLS. The earlier you start practicing those habits the easier they'll be after the surgery.

This could be said for the sleeve as well as the bypass. I'm all for stats but check them and share them for all procedures before posting a negative comment. There are pros and cons to all WLS.
The simple truth is that this poster and anyone who is deciding on something so life altering, should decide what is best for HER/HIM. They should read all the stats and do all the research but they should also weigh heavily on the advice of doctors that KNOW them and their medical history. Statistics are cold hard facts, when your making a life decision you should always get your doctors opinions and advice as well as getting advice and opinions from people who have undergone and are living with the surgery.
I my humble opinion that is THE ONLY way to come to a sound decision that you will never regret.