Kinley7390

Hello! Welcome! Please don't be discouraged by hearing people say they don't yet feel restriction. It is a process that takes time to achieve and should be done slowly. Often it takes a few visits before it is just right. Many surgeons want to fill conservatively rather than risk overfilling, so it takes patients going home and eating and coming back with feedback for the surgeon. Based on patient information received, he will then adjust the next fill as he deems appropriate. If he fills too much, it is often hard for the patient to keep food down and can leave the patient hungry and frustrated. It is not uncommon to hear people say they haven't found restriction yet, but they will find it in due time! I wish you lots of luck on your lap band journey. You'll do great! Read some of the success stories for encouragement. People are super supportive here, and no question is silly or off limits. We really do try to help and support one another. My best advice would be to read, read, read and try to get as much information as you can. Staying informed and knowledgeable can really take the edge of the nervousness! (Although, being nervous is perfectly normal!) Pretty soon, that nervousness will turn to excitement as you see the weight come off. Good luck!!!

7 miles a day! That's great!

I can completely relate! I had the same problem and absolutely hated it! Sometimes I'd look around (social situations) and think, is anyone else dying in here? It is so damn hot! But no, everyone else was carrying on as if the temperature was perfectly fine, and it probably was! Type II diabetic also, and off of every single insulin shot and oral medication ever since my pre-op liquid phase! So amazing! You must be as elated as I am. I totally agree with you, I'd much rather be chilly than hot!

That's wonderful! Very happy for you. Nothing wrong with tears of joy! Let them fall...your life is about to change for the better!

What a horrible day! Nothing is worse than worrying about a sick or injured child. I am so sorry she has a concussion! Poor little dear. I hope she has a good night. My son's school is soooo strict about concussions now. There is all kinds of paperwork that has to be filled out immediately after the injury, and follow up paperwork down the road, etc. I don't know if it is like that at your daughter's school, but it can be very stressful. Hang in there! It is really great that you can acknowledge that this would normally trigger an emotional eating response, and have such an awareness of it that you are conscientious of riding it out and staying strong. Good job. I think you should be very proud of your willpower today under such difficult circumstances. I'd say it is a great achievement! My best to you and your daughter! May she recover quickly and fully!

Good luck to all of you with upcoming surgeries! Such an exciting time!

That is hysterical!

P.S. FYI - regarding triglycerides, it is not uncommon for the level to rise during weight loss. When you lose weight, you are mobilizing energy stored as fat. That fat is mobilized as fatty acids and triglycerides into the bloodstream. I'd still discuss with your doc though.

Hello! You aren't a smoker, are you? Smoking and sedentary lifestyle can keep HDL down, as can not having enough Omega 3 fatty acids or simply, an unfortunate genetic predisposition. I would discuss this concern with your PCP. Overall though, you have a great Total Cholesterol and your LDL is great too. Seems like you've come a long way, and congrats with the weight loss. I would definitely discuss the HDL with your physician. Good luck, and please let us know if you get to the bottom of this! Best wishes!

Some people cross our paths for good reason. That's a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing!

Congratulations on a great start and supportive hubby!

Good luck! Congratulations!

Hello. Sorry to hear that you are having that experience. Sounds very unpleasant! I do not have any words of wisdom as I am only two weeks post op and haven't experienced that, but I was surprised about your clinic encouraging full fat foods. I've never hear that before, and can't help but think it could be related to what you are eating? My clinic also refers to it as a lifestyle change and not a diet, yet they explain that eating healthy and making good choices isn't dieting, it is just eating wisely for your health. I know different doctors have different perspectives sometimes, but I have honestly never heard of lap band patients being encouraged to eat full fat foods. I wish someone else would reply incase I am missing something! I would speak to the doctor directly if the nurse did not have any answers. Good luck!

Let us know how it goes! I haven't had one yet, but am always interested in people's experiences! Good luck!

You sound great. Happy to hear that you had an enjoyable shopping experience. Congrats on the weight loss!!!

I am with A New Dawn (above)... That was so insensitive and flat out rude! It wasn't just that he "outed" you, although that in itself was a betrayal, it was the manner with which he did it that appalls me! It was very condescending and you have every right to be upset and disappointed. I would not trust your friend in the future with such personal information given that most people share things (often even those told in confidence) with their spouse and hers just happens to have poor manners. I am so sorry you had to endure that. After you've talked with him and expressed your hurt and disappointment, I would really work hard to move on and not let this bring you down. We can't control the ignorance or poor behavior of others, but we can control how we cope. You should feel so proud of the efforts you are making to improve your health. You know the TRUTH about how difficult it is to live the lap band lifestyle in terms of the level of commitment and dedication that is required. Your friend's husband made a comment out of ignorance because he clearly has no accurate information about what is involved with this decision. Today is a new day. We all understand where you are coming from, and wish you better days ahead. Hang in there, and be proud!

Congratulations Matt! Best of luck on your journey!

Well Ashley, I'm glad you aren't having any pain, and I hope things go well on Monday. Please keep us posted! Will be thinking of you!

Hi Ashley, Sorry to hear what you are going through. Sounds awful! I was surprised they are making you wait until Monday for an appointment. I agree with Gigi girl, that it definitely sounds like some sort of infection or abscess or something, and I was wondering the same thing. Did you explain the golf ball size lump and bad odor when you made the appointment? I just would have thought the doc would want to see you sooner. Are you running a fever or anything?

Hi Karie, In the search box above, type in "does medicaid pay for lap band". There are a bunch of forum discussions that have taken place on this topic. Although I do not have any information that I can share on that topic, I think you will find lots of other people who have experienced getting banded through medicaid. If nothing else, you'll learn a lot about the ways people were granted approval and some of the hoops they had to go through to get there. Hopefully, you'll get approved based on your personal medical situation meeting their requirements. Good luck! Wish I had more direct info to share.

Missy makes a great point. I wasn't aware that you could have a stretched pouch and be asymptomatic, but given that, I agree it is even more important that you request the barium swallow. Good luck, and please keep us posted!

A stretched pouch can happen if your band is too tight. The symptoms you would experience are vomiting, reflux and difficulty keeping food down. If this should happen, and you are essentially following the lapband rules and the symptoms cannot be attributed to eating too fast or eating the wrong foods, you should ask your surgeon for an x-ray. A barium swallow test will show exactly what is happening and the surgeon can see if the issue is a stretched pouch. If this is the case, the surgeon will usually remove all fill from the pouch and you will essentially begin the process all over again. At a meeting last night, I spoke to a woman who experienced a stretched pouch, and she was in the process of waiting for her first fill all over again. She said it was frustrating, but she encouraged anyone with any concern that this might be happening to them to ask for a barium swallow.

Sorry to hear about your hair loss. I know that must feel scary. Most hair loss related to nutritional deficiencies are caused by inadequate iron, zinc or protein. You stated that you are careful to get plenty of protein. Are you somewhere around 60g of protein/day? You should discuss this concern with your surgeon and/or PCP if you haven't already. However, from what I've read, some hair loss that is not related to nutritional deficiency can be related to psychological stress and/or the stress of surgery. Sometimes it can last up to six months post surgical procedure, but usually as you are losing hair, you are growing hair and it isn't as noticeable as you might think. It is certainly scary to find hair on your pillow or in the shower, or what have you, so I understand your concern wholeheartedly. Definitely seek advice from a medical professional. I'm sure they will put your fears at ease and assist you in determining the exact cause of your hair loss and the best course of treatment and prevention of further loss. Good luck, and please keep us posted!

Hey there! To respond directly to someone, hit the Quote button under their blurb, and then respond in the box that pops up. Welcome to LBT and good luck with recovery process! Sounds like you're off to a great start.

Welcome! I think you will find a lot of support here. I am fairly new too, but have the impression that we are like family here at LBT, which is really nice. Banded on 9/6, and so happy with the decision! No matter what question or concern you might have throughout the process, chances are someone here has had a similar experience or asked a similar question, so it this site can be really invaluable in terms of experiences shared and information gained. Best of luck, and like Jim (above), I too look forward to hearing your experiences!