aviva1979

Thanks. I feel like we know each other now

Oh girl I didn't realize you were having so much trouble. I am so sorry to hear that. You have certainly kicked butt after surgery. We were banded the the same time. I'm wondering if they tried any medications to try and calm it down???? I don't have any input on the sleeve because I never researched it. For me having 3 autoimmune disorders my only option was the band and if it ever has to come out that will be it for me. I know it's scary about gaining it back and it happened to me but only because i had to take high doses of steroids again for months. You can keep it off if that ends up being your choice you have done so great and are such an inspiration to me!!! I wish you the best in whatever you decide but mostly I hope you get some relief of those symptoms soon!

Sorry you are experiencing some issues of unknown origin. I wonder what is causing the pain? Could scar tissue have built up already in the short time you've been banded?
I agree with you about the lack of longterm data on the sleeve. It seems to be the most popular surgery for bandsters going for a revision but it probably wouldn't be the one I'd opt for 'next'. I've had complications with my band that also started a year after being banded, and I haven't lost any weight in a year. I'm pondering what my next step will be since I can't get any more fills (anything above 5.0 provokes esophegal spasms and now I've developed a heart arrythmia as well) and I'm relegated to doing traditional dieting just to keep off the weight I lost during the first year.
I'll be curious to see what you end up deciding, so please keep us informed. I hope you will soon have your band-related issues resolved.

I am at the point where my doctor said he will not do anymore fills that I would need a revision. so I began to re read all the info on the different surgeries. I really liked what I read about the duodenal switch. your stomach is removed but the bottom part where the hunger hormone is. the rest of the surgery can be reversed. but the part I liked the most was that the complications were less and ppl didn't have problems with regaining their wt. check it out.

Keep on your doctor. If you are having issues as you describe with no Fluid in your band something is wrong. It could be as simple as your stomach is irritated and swollen where the band sits.
To answer your question insurance was the deciding factor for me. I was denied my request to revise to the sleeve. It probably would have been approved but I hadn't been going in for regular checkups. I can't see age being a factor in getting the sleeve. If it works today it will work when you're 80. However it is still just a tool. You have to eat the right foods and watch your caloric intake or it won't work either. Sounds like you're pretty disciplined with your band so you should have no problem with the sleeve. Good luck whichever way you decide to go.

I'm finding logging with MFP has been really helpful - have used it daily for the last week and I am planning my meals better and stopping eating after dinner (and I'm a late night snacker) to stick within my intake goals. Thanks for everyone who has friended me on there!

here's my 2013 in review. Had my first mtg with surgeon in Jan, and approved for surgery in June - surgery date was 7/11/13. Started year at 315, and was 299 at surgery. ended the year over 60lbs lighter and much, MUCH healthier

congratulations to everyone for sharing 2013 wins and hard work! so inspiring!
I went to my first surgical consult in Jan 2013, was subsequently pretty sick with something totally not related to weight, and ultimately approved by my insurance in June - with my surgery on 7/11/13. I made a little photo collage of my progress these last 7 months
seeing the scale go down is awesome - but the thing i'm happiest about is finally becoming a gym rat. I go anywhere from 5-7 times/week and have reached a place where my body craves it versus wanting to just hide under the covers and stay in bed. my joints don't ache (tho sometimes my muscles do and i know i've made the type of change i need to in my life... now to keep it going for the rest of my life!

here's my 2013 in review. Had my first mtg with surgeon in Jan, and approved for surgery in June - surgery date was 7/11/13. Started year at 315, and was 299 at surgery. ended the year over 60lbs lighter and much, MUCH healthier

congratulations to everyone for sharing 2013 wins and hard work! so inspiring!
I went to my first surgical consult in Jan 2013, was subsequently pretty sick with something totally not related to weight, and ultimately approved by my insurance in June - with my surgery on 7/11/13. I made a little photo collage of my progress these last 7 months
seeing the scale go down is awesome - but the thing i'm happiest about is finally becoming a gym rat. I go anywhere from 5-7 times/week and have reached a place where my body craves it versus wanting to just hide under the covers and stay in bed. my joints don't ache (tho sometimes my muscles do and i know i've made the type of change i need to in my life... now to keep it going for the rest of my life!

2013 was one of the best ever!
Probably most importantly, I finally realized how to allow my band work, for ME. Got it adjusted properly towards the end of 2012 and couldn't be happier with what IT does now. But thats not the only reason for such a great year....
I reached the 100 lb loss club back in March.
I rode my first 100 mile bike ride in June.
Started running....RUNNING!!!!!!!!! in July.
Did my first organized 5K run in Sept. 7th.
Did my first sprint level Triathalon on Oct 23rd.
Completed my first 10 mile run on Nov 8th..
Logged over 3000 miles on the bike this year.
Tracked over 158,000 calories burned on my Garmin since I got it in March.
SEVERAL of you will hopefully smile when you read that.....because there are several of you who have encourage/motivated me to accomplish these. From the info on the HRM, to the cycling tips, to the running inspiration, to the Tri suggestions....ALL from friends on here. How can I ever thank you all enough! Its been a great year...and I wish everyone a fantastic 2014!
On my list of to do's for 2014.
Complete my first Half marathon in on March 23rd.
Spend a week riding from Chicago to St. Louis...just because.
Spend a week riding with the "Ride 2 Recovery" organization.
Complete my first Olympic level Triathalon.
Continue to come here and do what I can to help others, because I've been so blessed by the support I have received here.
Enjoy this new life to the fullest!!

January 1, 2013:
morbidly obese
severe osteo-arthritis both knees
severe osteo-necrosis both hips
hypertension
severe mobility issues
December 24th, 2013:
clinically overweight...but I know I look totally normal to the average person
dropped six clothing sizes
improved symptoms both knees
hip replacments bi-laterally...no hip pain
BP normal
mobility vastly improved.
2014:
improve my balance, strength, and endurance
swim and bike regularly at the Y
get off the ship this time when we go on our cruise this summer and walk on the beach, swim in the ocean, and anything else the family wants to do.
..and most important...stay healthy this year...and no more surgeries.

2013 has been good to me in a lot of ways. New job. lowest weight in 10 years. 2014 is going to be twice as good.

What a great idea Jim. Thank you for sharing. Such an inspiration! Congratulations!
2013 has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I started in Oct 12 going thru the 7 month preapproval process for my insurance company. Finally turned in my paperwork in April and 2 days later found out this was an exclusion to my policy - lap band was not covered. I was devastated to say the least. It affected my work, my life! I had a secondary insurance thru my husband and assumed they would not cover and did not consider until my neighbor mentioned it in August. Come to find out, they do cover lapband!
Sept 19, 2013 - Had the surgery
Dec 19th - weigh in at Dr - have lost 47 lbs
Dec 21st - have lost 27 1/2 inches total
-I walk 30 mins every morning with a co-worker. Walk 3 1/2 - 4 miles on Sat and Sun at the lake and more if I get off work early enough while daylight (quick pace) and any other chance I get.
-Feel sooo much better. Osteoarthritis in knees has really improved
- Completed a 5k walk in an hour
2014 Goals
-To be able to get off my BP, Cholestorol, sleep Apnea machine (top of list)
-Start running
-Enter a 5 k run and finish
-Fit in a shirt my daughter got me a few years back. Have it hanging on the back of our bedroom door
-Reach goal weight by fall (62 lbs) Won't be an upset if I don't because I know I will get there
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Great thread, thank you! And let me know about the Relay for Life as maybe, just maybe that could be a goal for me, too (I am in NH too).
2013 - after twenty+ years of unsuccessful dieting and putting myself through a lot of misery, I decided to get a Lapband and grab hold of my health at age 52. Band installed on 11/5. This has been an act of choosing myself and my health above everything else.
2014 - in the coming year I look forward to letting go of the weight I've been carrying for such a long time. I started at 248 and think 148 may be the right weight for me, so I am looking to lose a total of 100 pounds or so. I want to be strong and flexible. I have arthritis and I am hoping to change my inflammation profile. I can't wait to get off my BP medication and I am hoping perhaps to be able to ditch the sleep machine. What a great thing that would be!
We live very near a mountain. I want to climb it -- it's been quite a while. I want to love exercising. Right now I do it, I tolerate it, but I want to look forward to it and embrace exercise as a lifestyle. I used to go to a lot of dance classes and I'd like to do that again, as well as yoga. I used to have fu clothes and I'm really looking forward to being able to find clothes I like to wear -- ones that are a reasonable size and fit me well. I look forward to 12 long jeans, maybe even 10 depending on how sizes run these days. I am a good cook and I look forward to continuing to prepare food and even enjoy some myself, only in very small amounts at appropriate intervals. I look forward to not going back for more.
I know there are big changes ahead of me and I want to meet them with courage and joy. I don't want to be afraid of being thin. I don't want to hide anymore. I want to have fun and enjoy being out in the world. I wNt to make a difference.
Happy New Year all -- here's to choosing our health!

2013 was the year that I changed my life.... I was overweight, unhealthy and unhappy... I was slowly eating myself to death.. I made the decision to get the lapband and had my surgery last January... This year has been one of the best I've had in a long time.. My diabetes is under control.. no medication.no high cholesterol or high blood pressure.. arthritis in my knees is so much better.. I can walk easily through stores and parking lots... I am thankful for my Surgeon and his team who have helped me along the way.. I have another 15 lbs or so to lose to reach my goal and I am confident I will do it soon.. I am not miserable thinking about how much weight I will gain through the Holidays.. I am more active with my grandkids and that is priceless..
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a healthier New Year...

As we approach 2014 I thought what a great idea it would be to reflect on where we've been and what we've done and where do we want to go from here.
2011 was the darkest times for me. I could hardly stand up for 10 minutes at a time and walking the grocery store was a real chore. My Wife ended up doing the shopping and I sat in the car. Helping her into the house with the groceries was another chore where I had to sit and rest and catch my breath. I HAD to do something. I was convinced I was heading down a path which led to a grave. I was so fortunate that I had no health issues aside from being morbidly obese.
For such a long time it was all about the numbers on the scale and at times my lack of patience derailed my enjoyment of the actual journey and let me just say what an amazing journey this has been so far. There is nothing I would change except perhaps doing it sooner.
This past year:
I have lost 127lbs in 2013 I am 1lb...Yes 1 from a goal I set back in October 2011 I participated in a 5K for Breast Cancer Awareness I have dropped so many pants sizes this year that I can’t remember how many Attended several concerts and never once got concerned about seating or walking Attended my first NFL game Finally saw NYC at Christmas time and walked 10+ miles to boot Dressed up in Tux for a Wedding this past summer in the scorching 100 degree heat and loved it Arthritis in my knees have not flared up in well over year I went from being stared at like a circus attraction to hardly being noticed at times I can walk for miles and climb many steps without getting winded I feel like I have the energy of a teenager at times I have become a better husband/friend to the love of my life. Not only did she support me even in the darkest times but she also motivated me in wanting to be a better man for her. She inspired me to reach within and find the trapped man inside. 2014
I would like to see 199 on the scale but either way I am and will be happy!! Putting together a team for Relay for Life event in August I am going to do for Kelli what she did for me and that is support her along her journey and be her rock! Hope you all have a safe and happy holidays....

The "real" Green Zone signs vary from one person to the next, and vary in one person from one day to the next. Every creature on earth, even of the same species (such as human), is unique - in anatomy, genetic inheritance, environmental influences, you name it. We're all influenced by weather; hydration; illness; stress; time of day; time of month; medications; food choices; a host of internal, autonomic processes; and more. I wrote an article about the Green Zone here:
http://www.bariatricpal.com/page/articles.html/_/support/post-op-support/get-into-the-green-zone-r97
Keep in mind that average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds a week. In 6 years, I haven't met a single WLS patient who lost a steady 1 or 2 or 1.5 or whatever pounds a week, for many of the reasons mentioned above. My own weight loss was very uneven - something like: - 1, -.5, + 1.5, -2, -.25, -1, + .5, and so on. As long as the overall trend is downward, that counts as success in my book (speaking of which, I highly recommend the bandster's Bible, Bandwagon). Many of us lose more quickly at the beginning of our WLS journey and more slowly as we approach our goal weight. Men tend to lose more quickly than women because they have greater muscle mass. Even when you get to your goal weight, you're not likely to see that exact same weight on the scale every day for the rest of your life.For example: a few days ago, I gained 2.5 lbs overnight. Why? Because I'd been eating high-sodium stuff for a few days. That's a red flag, not a cause for panic. After a few days of making better food choices, I know that 2.5 lbs will go away.
Jean

BTW- some satiety tips are runny nose, hiccups, burping.
And, if you did measurements on your body before surgery, you may be losing inches and adding muscle. This makes it appear you're losing less but you are losing more fat and replacing it with muscle. That's a good thing.

Hi Everyone,
I've been considering lap band for a couple of years now - more idly, and now more aggresively. I've had an up and down weight battle most of my life. My first 18 years of life were filled with sports, then I went to college and have had a sedentary life-style since then, and have gained about 120 lbs in the last 15 years. I've done food journaling, calorie-counting, been a gym rat, and spent a few years very into bellydance. At my healthiest pre-college I was around 175. My healthiest post-college days ranged from 230-245. 2 years ago I did another big push and lost 30lbs and ran my first 5k (i was 270 at my lowest there) - then in the last 2 years i've moved, changed jobs, gained 20 of it back - and this fall injured my knee gaining the last 10 back and probably a few more than that.
My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for the last 8 months with no success. I'm sure part of my fertility challenge is weight related. I'm now nervous that I would have a really hard time if I even got pregnant, and my #1 goal is to get to a place where I can be a healthy pregnant lady and healthy mom. I've already found the pregnancy group on this site and found it most helpful!
I just made the call to my insurance company (Cigna) to see what their requirements are, and I have a msg out to the closest surgeon who does this (40 miles away), and will call my PCP on monday to make an appointment and go about the process to (hopefully) be deemed medically necessary. I am curious if anyone has info on what the cost might be like if for some reason I can't go through my insurance. At this point, I'd be willing to talk to my bank about a loan if that's what it takes.
It's been very inspiring to read ppl's success stories on here, and equally reassuring to see the support this community gives members. I'm glad I found this site. It's helping make my decision a bit easier!

Broke in yesterday at 299.8 - and today 298.8. Feels goooood to be on this side of 300 again. First time in over 18 months. ONEderland - see you in 12-24 months!!

OMG - my mom came by today - literally 15 minutes after i wrote my post AND DID IT AGAIN! i called her on it immediately. she just texted me that she's sorry and will keep trying to be less of an ***hole.

this falls into the pet peeve/things i wish my mother would stop saying: every time i see her she spends 15 seconds commending my new habits and then immediately launches into something else I should be doing. "Oh that's great you went for a walk today, have you also been to the gym?"..."I'm so glad you're eating more Protein - you should also be drinking kefir every day"... it goes on and on. this weekend i told her to knock it off. we'll see how long it lasts.

OMG - my mom came by today - literally 15 minutes after i wrote my post AND DID IT AGAIN! i called her on it immediately. she just texted me that she's sorry and will keep trying to be less of an ***hole.

this falls into the pet peeve/things i wish my mother would stop saying: every time i see her she spends 15 seconds commending my new habits and then immediately launches into something else I should be doing. "Oh that's great you went for a walk today, have you also been to the gym?"..."I'm so glad you're eating more Protein - you should also be drinking kefir every day"... it goes on and on. this weekend i told her to knock it off. we'll see how long it lasts.