gowalking

For all those NYC folks floating around on this site (and I know you're out there), please see the link below for information regarding the Spring meet and greet, and other info pertaining to our local chapter. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/303116-ny-nyclong-island-local-chapters/

Great job Lisa. Just a little bit about myself...I live in Manhattan and was banded by Dr. Ren at NYU on January 14, 2013. I was suffering from very limited mobility due to severe arthritis in both my knees and subsequently, my hips as well. I needed to lose weight in order to have joint replacement surgery and now, some six months after bi-lateral hip replacement, I am moving better than I have in years. I rely on this site for my own accountability and to help those who need information, encouragement, a dose of reality, or just a friend. Being able to do this face to face as well as online is a wonderful idea and I'm happy to help in any way possible.

You need protein darling. Otherwise you are starving yourself. Talk to your doctor. You don't want to be sick so close to the wedding.

Thanks for the post. A great reminder why we got banded in the first place.

I weighed in daily while on the losing part of the journey. As with others, I did not let a weight gain derail me as long as I knew it wasn't due to poor decisions on my part. Now that I've transitioned into the maintenance phase, I weigh weekly. If I find this is enough to keep me accountable, I may move to monthly as well. There's a wonderful thread out there...i wish I can recall the topic title but it's all about the NSVs and the positive changes that happen while you are losing. It's a much healthier way of looking at the journey rather than doing it by focusing on the numbers.

I almost passed this topic by...I'm nearly 15 months post op and tend not to reply to these types of questions. But I did want to let you know that it's very common to be nervous. You are starting a new journey and like anything unknown, there is much concern on your part...and that much I can always relate to. If it helps at all, I was just as worried and nervous as you are but I am now at goal weight and doing better than I ever expected. Wishing you much success!

Shame on your doctor for not explaining this process thoroughly. You should go back to him/her and have a detailed conversation regarding how to optimize the band in order for you to be successful. Your questions are concerning considering you are banded two years. Please let us know how you fared when you see the doctor.

I also lost alot of hair with my band...but not for about six months post-op. Then I had additional surgery shortly thereafter and even more hair came out. It took several months for it to grow back. It's been a total of 7 months since the hair started to fall out and I'm 15 months post banded. I think it has alot to do with the weight loss. I started to up my Protein and I also took Biotin and Iron. In time, those seemed to do the trick.

Same here. Close friends and family are aware but those who don't know me or my struggles don't need to know more than what I tell them. You are not lying, you are committing the 'sin of omission'. Think of it that way.

Here's my opinion....and it is just that...MY opinion. I know for myself, that I wanted the least invasive type of surgery. And that meant the band. I suspect most folks who feel as I do, go with the band. For those whose priorities are different, they may be more apt to go with the sleeve, or bypass, or some other type of WLS. Doesn't mean one is better than the other, it just means there are choices...which is a good thing. As has been said many times before, one can succeed or not with any of these options...the WLS, regardless of which, is a tool and only a tool. We still need to do the work, and must be accountable. I've seen lots of posts over the past nearly year and a half on this site, of folks who truly do not understand the level of commitment any WLS entails. I often wonder if it's because the doctor is not explaining the process well enough, or if it is the desperation we feel to have something, anything work this time. Personally, I suspect it's a combination of both. Regardless of which WLS you choose, just make sure it's what you want...not the doctor, not the folks on this site, not your spouse...blah blah blah. It must be what you are comfortable with. Good luck with whichever surgery you decide upon.

You can gain it back with any of the WLS options out there.

Welcome! After a little more than a year banded, all I can say is that I still love food, it still gives me such pleasure to eat and I suspect it always will. But now I eat less of it....alot less. The joy of eating will always be there, but now there is also the joy that comes from walking away from the table without pigging out and without having those awful feelings of guilt. Good luck and know that we are here to support you.

I understand the importance of having a will. My husband passed away years ago and his will was up to date and at least that part of it was easy when everything else was so hard. I wanted to make sure I did the same so my children wouldn't have to deal with anything so I've had a will for years, and have updated it as needed. Doesn't mean I want to die, or expect to die...but it is peace of mind just in case.

You luck wonderful, do you have any regrets and can you it normal food now. Hi new me1475. Where are you in your journey? Do you have a surgery date yet or are you still deciding if you will move forward? I'm asking because you can talk to other patients at your surgeon's office or especially when there is a seminar. There are always people who have the lapband there who can help answer your questions. Oh..and just an aside...for me, there are no regrets and I can eat anything...I don't get stuck because I have no Fluid in my band. Some people like myself have good restriction from the beginning,but just know that is very unusual. Good luck!!

You should be talking to a professional to work out your issues. Good luck.

Oh gosh no....that is not normal at all. She is likely too tight and if she isn't careful, will wind up with serious issues lke the need for the band to be removed, or have a revision or even worse. I don't know that you can say anything to her but she is involved in very risky behaviors either intentionally or not. I do hope she is working with her doctor to address this.

I don't think we were supposed to like it. I thought it was a great program because it captured our struggles so well. I could have put myself in any of those women's places including those who commented on the men they married. Especially that poor woman who said it wasn't about her, but it was all about her body. As nutty as this sounds...I bet beautiful woman go through something similar. Is it ever about them or about the body they live in? Interesting thought, huh? CG....look for it on line sweetheart. I bet you can find it in your local PBS site. All I know is that everything they said resonated with me. All I kept doing was shaking my head in agreement and saying yes, yes yes...

Wow....it was terrific. They talked about everything we discuss on this forum from how to lose the weight to how we change as we lose it, how persecuted we are as fat people, how we use/used food to self medicate....all of it. I'm sure it's available on line if you missed it on TV. Everyone should watch it. Some of the women were banded, and some had other WLS. It didn't matter...I understood and sympathized and empathized with everything they said and what they went through.

I'm surprised no one told you about post-op weight gain. It's very common because you are often swollen and Fluid filled. I had my hips replaced in October. I gained 15 lbs. from the surgery. I didn't weight my self for weeks after but eventually, it came off... And I mean it when I say weeks. That's how long it can take. Just continue what you are doing and soon enough, the numbers will drop.

Here in NYC, the local PBS station is showing a documentary on Independent Lens called 'All of Me: A story of Love, loss, and Last Resorts'. it's about two longtime friends facing the impact of WLS on their lives. Unlike those 600 lb. life shows on TLC, this is PBS and likely not exploitive. I'm going to watch tonight. I just thought some of you might also be interested.

Oh good for you Lisa. Sometimes we just need a break and chilling out is a wonderful thing to do. I need to work on that. I used to have chill out days but that was also when I used to spend the day eating nonstop. These days, I try to keep busy so I don't find myself in that situation. I know I have to learn to be able to chill without it becoming a pig out party. Listen...I'm going to do some shopping in Florida so when I get back, I'll let you know how successful I was and you can let me know how you did as well. Then we'll know if we need to double date at the mall...LOL!

a food scale and a blender bottle for the protein powder supplements.

read as much as you can on this site. try to read the success stories..not because issues and problems don't exist...they do. but you don't need to be focusing on that right now. pay close attention to what your doctor tells you and follow his/her protocol to the letter. I know it's scary, the unknown is always scary but you can and will be successful as long as you stay compliant. good luck!

If you could come up with a pill to control head hunger, you'd be rich beyond measure. Yes....you could take speed but as the poster above notes, it's not something you can do long term, nor is it without potentially serious side effects. You have to learn to find things to occupy yourself when head hunger overtakes you. For me, I find that evenings are the most difficult, so I do my best to make sure I have things to occupy me during those times.