Thats All Folks

You'll have to ask your surgeon to be safe, but I was able to walk as soon as I felt up to it. So, the treadmill would've been fine after surgery. However, my instructions were different than yours. I couldn't lift more than 10 pounds for 4 weeks. Check with your own doctor and follow his instructions, though. Best wishes.

I actually live on the Ontario/Michigan border and my surgeon bands a lot of Canadians who come over for the surgery.

I think you should only get a fill if you need one, regardless of insurance. Talk to your surgeon and let him decide if you need a fill and what is best.

If there is no Lap Band surgeon within 400km of you, then yes, you'd have to travel the 400km for all your post op appointments and fills. Essentially, you'd be making the trip about once a month for at least the first year after surgery (or until you reach goal). Even after that, you'll still have to have your band checked annually. Only a Lap Band surgeon can do fills. Best wishes.

I read about that too. Honestly, I found it absolutely sickening. It's like programming people to be bulimic, malnourished, and overall extremely unhealthy. I'd rather be 400 pounds again than have that. Ugh.

185

There really isn't a specific menu, just healthy food in band sized portions. I see you're not banded yet, so I would suspect your nutritionist will go through daily living and eating after surgery. Initially she probably just wanted to get you through the post op phases. Definitely make another appointment with her.

I couldn't agree with you more!! Whenever someone asks about the amount you can lose with the band my response is always "as much as you're willing to commit to losing". I get so frustrated when I hear surgeons (falsely) tell people they'll only lose 40% of their excess weight because it's simply not true if the person is willing to do what it takes to lose more. This study validates what I (and you!) have been saying all along- you can lose just as much with the band as with bypass if you're will to make the necessary changes and work with your band.

More good news about the effectiveness of the band. Take note that this study specifically targeted people who followed the band rules, followed up with their doctors, and changed their lifestyles to healthy ones. Also note only 5% had to have their bands removed and weight loss was comparable to Gastric Bypass. Further proof we are responsible for our own success or failure with the band. ________________________________________________________________________________ MONASH U. (AUS) — Gastric banding is safe and effective for managing obesity long-term, according to a study of patients 10 to 15 years after their surgeries. The study, the longest and most comprehensive yet reported, appears in the Annals of Surgery, and finds a significant number of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (lap banding) patients maintained an average weight loss of 26 kilograms for more than a decade after their procedure. Researchers analyzed the results in 3,227 patients who had gastric banding surgery in Australia between 1994, when the procedure was first introduced, and 2011. The patients in the study were averaged at 47 years-of-age and 78 percent were women. Of those patients, 714 had surgery at least 10 years ago and, on average, had maintained a weight loss of 26 kilograms, or almost half of their excess weight. The weight loss results were similar for the 54 patients in the study who had undergone treatment at least 15 years ago. “These results show that when you have a significant problem with obesity, a long-term solution is available,” says Professor Paul O’Brien of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education at Monash University in Melbourne. “This surgery is safe and effective, and it has lasting benefits. Substantial weight loss can change the lives of people who are obese—they can be healthier and live longer.” O’Brien says there are also important ramifications for the control of type 2 diabetes, which was strongly associated with being overweight. “In obese patients with type 2 diabetes, weight loss after gastric banding can lead to effective control of blood sugar levels without the need for medication in about three-quarters of cases,” O’Brien says. The patients included in the study had followed the rules of their treating team regarding eating, exercise, and activity and committed to returning permanently to the aftercare program. All the surgery was performed by O’Brien, an international pioneer of the technique, and Associate Professor Wendy Brown, President of the Obesity Surgery Society of Australia and New Zealand. There were no deaths associated with the surgery or with any later operations that were needed in about half of the patients. About one in 20 patients had the band removed during the study period. “In treating a chronic disease such as obesity over a lifetime, it is likely that something will need to be corrected at some time in some patients,” says O’Brien. “The study shows a marked reduction of revisional procedures with the introduction of the new version of the Lap-Band 6 years ago. Importantly, those who had revisional surgery lost as much weight in the long term as those who did not need it.” The report also included a comparison of gastric banding—which can be done as a day-surgery procedure—and more invasive types of weight-loss surgery such as gastric bypass that are high risk and require longer hospital stay. The weight loss with gastric banding, and the need for future revisional surgery, was similar to that with gastric bypass. “Access to weight-loss surgery in Australia remains severely limited for many obese patients as relatively few cases are treated within the public health system. We are working hard to improve access,” says O’Brien. “We have ample evidence that weight-loss surgery is effective, and it is unfair that half of eligible patients cannot be treated, particularly as it has been shown that gastric banding is a highly cost-effective health care measure. The stigma of obesity, and the assumption that it is the person’s fault, entrenches discrimination against people who could benefit.” find the original article here: http://www.futurity....p-band-surgery/

You look amazing! Very inspirational, congratulations!!!

You'll find every doctor has their own idea what works best. If you're not comfortable going in weekly then don't. You don't have to get a fill every week if you don't want to. If you'd feel more comfortable going in every 2-4 weeks then do it. Also, just because you are ok'd to eat 2 hours after a fill doesn't mean you have to. If you'd feel more comfortable on liquids for a day, then again, do it. Remember, it's your band and your body. You have to do what's best for you.

Steroids increase your appetite and make you blow up with water weight. Just stick to your calories, drink lots of water, and stay away from sodium. Once you're off the steroids the water weight will be gone again fast.

Congratulations!

Google diabetic diets, it will give you a lot of direction as to what you need to change in your diet.

Because they have to get the different tools into the abdomen. You figure they need a camera, usually at least 2 tools in there at the same time, and a place to inflate the abdominal cavity with air so they can see what they're doing.

Talk to your doctor and find out how many calories you should be eating. The low blood pressure can be dangerous so it's really important you do whatever it takes to get healthy again.

Anorexia actually has nothing to do with weight. Someone who weighs 300 pounds can become anorexic if they stop eating. So, what you weigh has nothing to do with it but rather what you're eating (or not eating). How many calories a day are you eating? 70/50 is very, very low. If your doctor says you need more calories I would definitely listen. They only have your best interest at heart. I hope you find the help you need. Best wishes to you.

I'm so sorry you're struggling. That's the beauty of the band though- you can always start over! If I were in your situation, the first thing I'd do is see my surgeon. Let him make sure everything is in order and maybe even discuss whether or not you need another fill. My next step would be to see your nutritionist. They will be a really key ingredient to success because the nutritionist can not only help you get back on track but establish food guidelines specific to you and your needs. You can totally do this, just don't give up and take one small step at a time.

I have 5 scars. 4 are really tiny, like little puncture wounds, and are hardly even noticeable. I suspect over time you won't be able to see them at all. The 5th one is a little bigger (port scar) but still very small.

Mine temporarily went away and soon thereafter I realized I needed another fill. I got a little fill recently and now my soft stop is back. That's not to say you need a fill, but it's just my personal experience when my band no longer had adequate Fluid my soft stop was gone.

I would point blank put that woman in her place. Seriously, you don't need that crap from her or anybody else. If she says anything again, I'd say "What I eat is none of your concern and until you're a bariatric surgeon that knows more than my surgeon, mind your own business". People are so ignorant. Don't let them get you down!

I have to chime in and agree with the others, please call your doctor ASAP. You are far from from a failure, in fact you're obviously been a huge success with your band. But you are having potentially serious symptoms and every day you wait you are putting your health more at risk. Give your doc a call and get checked out. Best wishes.

Granted this is strictly my opinion but I don't think you need a fill either. And if you don't want one, simply tell your surgeon your decision. Good luck!

The band is meant to be forever so unless you have serious complications removal shouldn't be an issue. As for skin, it depends entirely on your age, skin elasticity, how much you have to lose, and how long you've been that size. Some people do great with minimal skin and others have a lot. I won't lie, I look like a freak'n Shar Pei naked. I have lost 185 pounds and have a ton of excess skin. Thank God I'll be getting the tummy skin removed before this summer.

I like the Atkins light snack/breakfast bars. I keep a chocolate peanut butter one in my person in case I'm out and can't find a healthy meal.