kah1213

Had Surgery 5.22.12 & very happy to report that I feel great! Traveled 2.5 hours to Washington DC was able to walk 3.5 miles to visit the MLK, Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln Memorials. Did all of that walking in 95 degree weather on a Greek yogurt and a bottle of Dasani Water! Just made it back to NJ and had my dinner, Sabras Garlic Hummus, and Solid White tuna, no mayo but made with french's honey mustard (10 calories) I encourage all of my co recent bandsters to get moving, allow the band to restrict your intake, and allow your excercise to burn off the pounds!

Hi Tomato. Welcome! I'm having surgery tomorrow! Yay. This site has been so helpful to me. Hope it's the same for you.

I hit 40 ibs today...a gave away a mountain of clothes! Just wanted to share!

Hi Tomato. Welcome! I'm having surgery tomorrow! Yay. This site has been so helpful to me. Hope it's the same for you.

You are going to do great. It will be easier than you think. I'm 2 wks post op and I feel pretty normal now.

Good luck kah!

If the info in your profile is correct u have only just been banded, the time post op is for healing and following your doctors regime of ...so long for liquids , mushies then finally solid food again. Most people dont lose weight till they start with a few fills, some that do lose weight will be doing things like restricting their calories once they are on solid foods till the band is filled enough to 'kick in' and they start feeling satisfied / restriction.
I am not a great lover of Protein shakes and just prefer fresh protein, so my protein in the liquid stage came from skimmed milk mixed with greek yoghurt, my own veg Soup or chicken broth etc.. i had 4 weeks of liquids had 4 weeks of mushies then onto solid food .. just take your time this isnt a fast trasck weight loss programme is a slow steady change over a period of time .. i am sure u will be ok in the longer term

Thank you all for your well wishes! I have thought about the risks of another WLS and believe that doing something outways my risks of doing nothing. I'm 4"11 and 264, I got up to 273. That is ridiculous in itself, but I think my biggest message here is choose your surgeon wisely. I had great insurance through the hospital I worked at and went to the orientation of a Bariatric group affiliated with the hospital, I was working on my 6 mths of weight management, and saving for the $500 I needed just for an appt when I found out the surgeon who did my surgery through a co worker. All I had to pay was my $30 copay and the copay for the psych eval as that's all my insurance required. Sounded great! Especially with two of us getting it. You get what you pay for I guess. My husband had a different surgeon, I recommended two people who also had the procedure, one who used the same surgeon as myself and the other used the other in the practice. One has done great and the other has had nothing but problems (I'm sure you can figure out who's who.). As far as the sleeve goes, my Bariatric surgeon prefers the sleeve over bypass as myself. Because (this his "because").....there's no malabsorption issues, the risk of hernia or bowel issues are minimal if any compaired to bypass, and you can stretch your stomach with any WLS but with the sleeve they use the portion of you stomach that doesn't stretch much. So, your chances of successful weight loss and keeping it off are much greater than with any other WLS. The downside....it's only been out for 6 or so years and there's no data making it harder to get approval for insurance. However, unlike the other insurance I had who only allows 1 WLS, my insurance will approve the sleeve as long as my bmi is over 50, I'm at 53. Moving on, once I get the sleeve...my chances of getting an ulcer are just as anyone with a normal stomach, the risk of the sleeve is leakage however, my surgeon prefers to do the revision in two surgeries to decrease those chances, and whether he's done it in two or one, he has never had a patient have a leak. I'm very excited to be able to live life again. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. My husband and I were hit by a drunk driver in our way home from our honeymoon (6yrs ago today) and I have been disabled for a little over a year now due to my injuries. I know weight loss will give me my life back. I also have two kids who need more from me than I currently can give. Again, doing something is better than doing nothing at all!

I've always considered myself a salt over sweet person. But man @ night I wake up & I just want chocolate so bad!

Today is my 6 year banding anniversary! I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. It hasn't always been easy. That is something I want to stress to anyone thinking about the lapband. It requires major changes in the way you used to eat. And, if you don't you will be very uncomfortable. That is why I chose the lapband over other weight loss surgeries. The lapband allows you control over what weight you want to end up at.
I started my journey at 289 pounds and have been holding at around 185 for about the last 3 years. Do I want to lose more? I don't think so. I am comfortable in my skin for the first time in my life ( and I like my curves now!). With the lapband you have the control to end up at whatever weight you desire. Not too skinny and not too fat!
Good luck to anyone that is about to start this journey or who is having trouble with their band. Hang in there and listen to your doctors. You too will be successful!
Kind regards
wildflower04

Ok I did it. Took the before pics. I don't even recognize myself in these pictures. O.M.G. I don't want to ever be back here again.

Kah, I was 2.5 moths post op when I did warrior dash. It was the HARDEST THING EVER! But I feel like I accomplished something and I "might' do it again.
I found this thread last night and I think it answered my question:
http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/102919-lump-in-throat/page__p__1370626#entry1370626
I'll probably get an unfill when I go see the doctor. I have 4.25cc now in an 11cc band. I'll see if he takes out .5 or 1.0 cc if that makes a difference and let you guys know.

Good for you! Tomorrow is Clear liquids only for me. I can't believe my surgery is on Tuesday! Bama has the same date I think. I'm sure we'll both post details for you!

hey short..........thanks for the encouraging words. means alot. i am on day 4 of all liquid......doing well.....hoping i can succeed at this and everyone else who is getting the band.
its want power..........i want to be healthy

My surgery is on Tuesday. I told 2 people: my dad and 1 friend. Both know that this is a big deal for me and I can trust them not to say anything to anyone. Who knows how I will feel in the future, but for now I really want to do this for myself and don't want to tell many people. I love all my friends, but I don't really want to hear their opinions on my decision. LOL It's so easy for people to think, "oh that's the easy way out" but we all know this isn't an easy journey. Good luck!

Carolina- I just came back from the spa too! Great way to pass time on this pre op diet!

Carolina--Well, it goes without saying that you can b!tch all you want and we're here to listen! Lol
Ps: I'm alternating right now between excited like wow I'm gonna lose this weight and nervous like yikes they're folding my stomach in and putting a band on it! Also, there's the anxiety of what my new life will be like/feel like after the procedure.

I was banded on yesterday! I feel great! I have very little pain! So far so good! I'm looking forward to shedding pounds now!!!!!
I only have one concern, which is vaginal bleeding. I think the surgery prompted my cycle to start! I will be contacting my doctor ASAP!
FYI: I was placed on a 2 week full/ clear liquid diet! I cheated a little during the first week and ate a few things! The second week the cheating was minimal! I did admit this to my doctor 2 days prior to surgery! He informed me that when I was pened if my liver did not shrink he would not perform the surgery! I was told that I'd have the holes and no band! Well after surgery he informed my mom that my liver was perfect! I was actually shocked! Please note I did not over indulge in anything! I ate very little to help with nausea, dizziness, and headache!
So far so good! I'm excited!

I think you're right. I'm a great believer in the power of positive thinking.

I'm 51 & had surgery 9/7/11. I have had a great experience & have lost 80 lbs & have about 45 to go. I feel better than ever & don't feel like I'm old, either.
Start taking care of yourself now so you will be as healthy as possible for surgery. It will make you feel better, too. Hang in there, it does go by fast.

I will admit I cheated today, but I'm back in the right mindset and ready for these next few days of liquids before surgery. I'm also doing overnight at the hospital and not outpatient. I think it's better to be safe than sorry, right?!

OK i have to be there 6am Tuesday! woohoo

OK i have to be there 6am Tuesday! woohoo

OK i have to be there 6am Tuesday! woohoo

It does depend on how strict you are with your diet and exercise until you get to restriction. From late February to now, I have lost over 40lbs.
In the beginning, I was super strict with calories and the foods I was eating. Now that I have some restriction, I am transitioning from calorie counting to what I would consider "normal." I still keep loose track of the calories I am eating but am relying more on good food choices because my band does limit the amount I can eat.