judybellyband

I would love to take you up on that. I am about 25 lbs away and it is slowly coming down but have just come off a dreadful plateau....needed more protein and change in the way i was exercising. You are doing great and would appreciate the help.

Talked to exspert that made me write down what I did for two days. Then she told me I was not getting in enough solid Protein (chicken) and change my Water arobics from 6 days a week. So changed it to 3 days water and 3 days weights; my body was "use to" what I was giving it...we NEED to change it up. While I still find it hard to eat solid chicken, I have found more Protein shakes and edamame bean treats, along with the change in excercise, the way for me to break the plateau. Hope this SAVES someone else to hot sit on the a plateau FOREVER.

While my lost is not as dramatic, I am equally as happy with my result as I am only 24 lbs. from my goal weight/re-lost all but 6 - 10lbs of that which I had gained before my 1st band failed. I am also very grateful.

OK, need to hear from my fellows here who have used Dr. Marsden. If so, please let me know about your experience; good or bad (but PM me if it's bad). What size band is he currently installing; is it the new APS or APL Allergan lap-band? Thank-you for your caring and time to respond.

Oregon Holly... Thank-you for all the effort. Could you add me also as: JudyBellyBand.......17th........Judy Thank-you

Don't worry when you get to a consistant level of restriction, you are going to loose and not be hungry. It will happen. I am 4 weeks post-op and yesterday I had my 2nd fill to 7cc in a AP-s lap-band. I have read that for this band it takes somewhere between 6-7cc to get to initial restriction and I think they must be correct. I lost 1 lb in the past 2 days. So I feel that with excersice, I am finally in the game. I wish each of you a good fill...soon!

First, thanks for this thread...timing was perfect because yesterday at 4 weeks post-op, I had my 2nd fill up to 7cc in an AP-s lap-band. It was the worst fill exsperence I had ever had (another story) so I had no idea when I left if I was too tight or not. But last night I could only get down 3 tsp. of tomato soup and 2 oz. of water before I was totally full. So it's going down but very, very slowly. I am going to do as many of you have suggested and take it very easy over the next week. But it's wonderful finally having restriction again...so wonderful.

Jaimee, Having looked at were you are located, I am sorry but I am unaware of any qualified (+100 lap bariatic operations) surgeon in your area. You might want to consider flying into Charlotte (I would), either driving to Dr. Moran or Dr.Enochs in the Raleigh area, or consider your family who might be in another city. I wish you well in your discovery process and keep us posted.

Ben you are so-o-o right. It's better to have Protein if you want to loss weight. Carbs like fruit give you energy but it will not keep you full. I drink a water-based protein 14oz (one scope) shake at 7:30, another at 10:30, baked chicken in tomato Soup at 12:30, Protein Shake with 1/2 banana at 2:30, a spring green salad with chicken at 5:30 and then sometimes another shake at 8:00. I just self-paid thousands of $$$ so I shall not touch a potato/rice/bread/ice cream like starch until I get to goal. Anyone else going to take my challange??? Come-on, I need to feel the love here! ...and so does everyone else; right Ben?

Some of us have been talking here about our other passion for our VW New Beatles. So I wanted to share with you the news I found about the 2010 new redesign and the convertible in 2011 (which means available Sept 2010)...it's on my schedule already. I really like it and can hold till then. Here is a couple of interesting links: Winding Road - December 2007 Latest News - NewBeetle.org Forums

Hope, I love what you wrote...cause even with restriction it is always so true;...just as Hope has said, "So easy to say "oh it's only a little tiny bit of chocolate!" Evil. AMEN!!!

Ok, how big is our boat? I had surgery on 10/17 where my surgeon put 3cc into the AP-small (10cc) band. Then yesterday, 11/6, he added another 2cc. So now at 5cc I still do not have restriction. I'm trying to get another in 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. But I know that I have to build up to around 9cc which will take forever.

Dear Friends, We are all at the same point..we SHALL get there. Thank-you for allowing me to help as I am always a little held-back with those I don't know. But I have such a passion about all of us learning from each other and this is more than any one of us or our doctors, who mostly don't have a band, could understand on our own. We will all get there together...but until we do hit our "sweet spots" in a few months, we have to do well with eating AS IF we had restriction already and really focus on excercing. IF we do so we will be ready to loss -100lbs by this time next year. IT IS THE ONLY WAY.

I am so excited!! My 1st fill appointment for my new band is now tomorrow morning. Someone else had canceled and my Dr. said call Judy!!! I love this man. This is so wonderful becasue I am only three weeks post-op on Wed. Oh, I am so-o-o-o excited that I am going to go swimming now for several hours. Just wanted to share my wonderful news. Yea!!!

Hi Carot, YES...for sure yes it is very normal. It is not until the second or even 3rd fill that most people get any true restriction like that you might have had just days after the surgery when your stomach was still perhaps swollen and getting use to the band. It is very important that the fill be done slowly so your stomach does not swell causing slip or errosion. Remember, you want this band to be happy around your stomach for your life and it's worth it knowing that in a few months you will be flying in bandland lossing around 2 pounds a week....but it does not happen until there is true restriction which takes time. For example in my own 10cc bands like the Vanguard or the new AP-s, your doctor would have put only 3cc into the band at surgery, then the first fill will be to 4cc or maybe 4.5cc which puts the band at a neutral pressure (meaning it only fills out the intertude's baffolds without restriction to the walls of the stomach). So then you have to wait another 3-4 weeks before the first restrictive fill. The second and on going forward is only another 1 cc, so now there is restriction on the stomach but it may not be enough. To me this period is the most frustrating point of waiting for your stomach to heal and get to true restrictive fill range (70-90% of the band capasity). You are thinking well I had the surgery why am I so hungry....because you don't have true restriction on the stomach and they have to wait to find that perfect fill point that is best for each person. So I understand and am expecting restriction and true weight-loss with the tool only begining after fill #4 (in 5-6 months after surgery....not fill #1. So after surgery it is so IMPORTANT to focus on restrictive dieting by eatting correcty in prep for restriction AND excercising which are your other two legs to this three legged stool. It will not happen without all three legs stable and supporting. If you stay focused on these 2 you will loss weight but it's harder. So two legs are good while you MUST wait for the lap-band to be restricted. So my advice is reset your schedule expectation...not your weight-loss expectation. I know for some this is not what you wnt to hear but it is truth from one who already knows....I sincerely hope it helps everyone to get into some type of excercise now cause if you do, you will be so much futher ahead. I wish all of us the best results...let's keep working hard together cause I am right there with you.

My name is Judy and I live in central North Carolina. I am from Columbus, Ga/Eufaula, Al, an Auburn Grad and now a retired engineer who is enjoying taking care of my 79 year old Mother, puppies, and DH. Married for 34 years to my Mr. Universe who is an associate pastor. Have just finished building my own enclosed swimming pool cause I love to swim. My very small family and my relationship with Jesus is what is most important to me. Here is a couple of pictures. My beautiful baby is my 1st grand-niece who was born in late September and lives in Atlanta. It was the first time I was able to hold her.

hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah...amen!!! Name: Judy from NC Login: Judybellyband Date of new lap-band: 10/17/07

Count me in.. love it the TENACIOUS TEN of Bandland~~~ what a whoot!!! What a wonderful month. OK the Good news on me --- hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah...amen!!! I went to see my HERO, my Doc yesterday for my 2-week post-op. I am doing so good that he said ...[are you ready] ... I get my 1st fill in two weeks not having to wait till four AND all my insission are completely well so I can go swimming NOW!!!! Seeing him to get the details of my surgery and getting this great report was just so wonderful. I still can't believe it. Oh thank-you LORD...I am getting a fill that I have been waiting for over one whole year because of my 1st band leaking....I am exstatic. I may not sleep for two more weeks. I'd only loss -16lbs but it will come with restriction in time.

I have ALWAYS found Don Mill (Don.Mills@Allergan.com), patient relations, and others at Inamed extremly professional, helpful and going beyond my exspectation. It is Allergan/Inamed's policy to physical evaluate the suspected defect through their own analysis before the cost (in-whole or part) of a second lap-band surgery is granted as a reinversment. If it were my company, I would do the same. My case is still pending, but because of my band's performance over time (30 months), the location of the "pinhole" being found suddenly, a contrast fluoroscopy being recorded of the leak at the band, the finding at the time of the removable by a different, well known US surgeon visually seeing the "pinhole" located in the intertube of the band...Yes, I believe they should also find the facts are the facts and agree to reinverse me the ~$15K for the surgery. When it happens, I will update you here. After what I have been through with UHC for the past year, my trust does not come easy. I did hire a really good legal team, the Obesity Law firm from Ca (kelley@obesitylaw.com) to go after UHC and my company's benifit group...it went back and forth several times but it was UHC lawyer's who prevailed against me. After a year of significant mental pain, I changed to the BEST doctor anywhere and self-paid. I wish I could have done so sooner but when I exausted every legal means possible against UHC/company benifits groups, I did. I woke-up having my sergon confirm the band defect. It was wonderful news because I am very hopeful Allergern will do the right thing. I have no reasons from them to think differently....but we will see. All I wanted is for a lap-band to work. After a year having regained 40 of the 77 lbs back, it was worth the risk for a second single < 2hour surgery to both remove and have it replaced. But my surgeon did tell me before hand that there was a 10% chance that he may not be able to replace it because of potential adhesions. Oh also, after 6 months I had sn endoscopy done, so I already knew it was not a slip or errosion. But I went under not knowing what the outcome would be...it was tuff. The entire year was MORE than tuff. And I will always HATE health insurance companies who over charge us and deliever less and less services. Now that is an industry in America that we MUST go to war against....sorry, but there will be very, very few of the policy people in Heaven. I had my 14 day check-up yesterday and I am perfect..no pain, all six incesions (2 are 3 inches) have completely healed, I am released to start swimming earier than exspected, I can sleep in any position, AND I get my fiirst fill in 2-weeks. I am so-o-o happy it's all behind me because I have a new functioning lap-band again. But with Inamed, I have found them to be very upfront and even concern. I would recommed you start with emailing Don and giving him your telephone number...he will call you.

A leak maybe ... it happens!

I so-o-o understand your fears. I had a Vanguard band for 30 moths with a fill at 9.1cc until my band leaked...at the band's intertube. It is currently being sent to Allergen for their evaluation and based on there review, I am antisipating that they will help me some (or all) for my out-of-pocket/self-paided replacement. But they could never repay me for the mental hardship that occured for the next 12 months because of the leak. Even with a wonderful lawyer, I spent from month 30 til month 42 with a non-functioning band FIGHTING UHC/Company benifts, who had paid for the first one. This was even though they had paid for the first lap-band. But I lost every appeal for a replacement. They approved the removal but not the replacement..."healthcare"...RIGHT!!!~~~### go think about this one a while...and I can tell you what PAIN is. Durring this 12 months of a very emotional time because of the fighting with UHC, I regained 40 of the 77 pounds back. I am telling you all of this because I hope you will learn from some from me and not do that. My second surgery (self-paided) was on 10/17/07 and it's hard to believe ....but it was better than the first as I had different doctors. My second doctor is know as one who is world-class.... and he is. I had no pain. It was because of his being a very gentle, very skilled doctor. He was in the OR part of the surgery for over 2.2 hours (per or notes) "digging-out" the old vanguard band & port and then replacing it with a new APs and new low-profile port in a different place than the first port. I was prepared for "more" pain but I never needed any pain meds..not the first. Everything has to do with the surgron and your pain level. The only differents was the tireness that happen about day 5-8 which had more to do with the +21 days of liquid only diet at that time. I know you are in emotional pain now. But you are the only person that can determine if it's worth it a second time or not. It is a risk that something else might happen and a huge financial investment in your dream. But I can only tell you that today I have hope again of getting healthier, and staying that way. For me at 54, it was worth it. I wish you well and pray that you will be content with whatever you do. With warm regards,

The biggest surprice ever was that even though my surgery was over 2 hours where Dr. Voellinger had to "dig-out" my 42 month old Vanguard band & port that had failed and replace it with a new AP-s band & 2nd location for a new low-profile port, I NEVER had to take the 1st pain meds. I have the most gentle surgeon in the world....I know it's hard to believe but it's true.

Those horrible scales...I just hate mine too. They lie. But seriously, you keep going forward. Let's remember how much we want this and why. Right it down and then go get the tape measure and feel better. I know how you feel...I'm into day 23 of a 28 day liquid diet. I'm hungry and bored with this liquid phase particularly not seeing the scales decrease in three days. So see, I am bumbed also. It's not just you. Did I tell you it's raining here in NC for the past two days. I know we need it but PLEASE!!!!

Babs - Sweatheart...EVERY pound counts period. You are right to chart it as it directly did apply to getting to bandland. That is wonderful as you are ahead of the curve. That is great. Judy - No I didn't get the guitar. I can see you playing it now. How funny. CONFESSION--- I looked!!! Went to dealer and looked at a perty black beauty convertiable with cream leather. But could not get the guy to come to the terms I wanted. So now I am even happier in my Harvest Moon Sports Bug.. . til 2009 come out next summer.

Babs, You are so in the convoy. Anyone like yo who has lost that much weight in such a short time can be in our convey WITHOUT a beetle. OH my word, WHAT IS YOUR STORY. I want to do as well...what is working for you?