jessiquoi

This is actually my SECOND first surgeon visit lol. Last summer, I started the journey towards banding. I attended the info session at the hospital, but after my first surgeon's visit, I backed out. I thought, if I can follow the 3 month required pre-op weight loss regimen, I should be able to finish it myself. (Um, I was wrong.) Also, the doctor made me a little uncomfortable, because he was insisting that I would be able to stop using insulin after the surgery, and I'm a Type 1 diabetic, and require insulin to live.
I spent the last year trying intermittently to lose weight, and couldn't keep it up on my own. Meanwhile, my knees and hips and back started to complain loudly about carrying around the extra weight. I am in a great relationship with a great guy who is very active, and I am so frustrated at not being able to keep up with him. I'm an ex-athlete and I can't believe I am where I am right now.
My PCP and my Endocrinologist have both mentioned that having WLS is something I should seriously think about, and so, I am starting again. However, after reading more and more on this site, I've switched my surgery preference from band to sleeve.
I'm very excited about the upcoming surgery, and I spend a lot of time visualizing me in one year, kayaking with John, walking everywhere instead of having to be dropped off in front of the building, getting rid of high blood pressure meds (4/day), cholesterol meds, perhaps the CPAP I sleep with...
I've been lurking on the forums for about 2 months now, and did the same a year ago. I thank everyone for your informative posts, from the veterans who are so inspirational, to the newbies whose steps I will be following hopefully soon. Your stories have been so helpful I am impelled to share my own to give back.
I hope I get a better impression of the surgeon this time (really, the only thing that bothered me was his lack of knowledge about my diabetes, but my Endocrinologist told me not to worry about that, she will be on top of that for me). If I don't feel comfortable, I will find another. Wish me luck on Wednesday!

Update!! its been 2 weeks since I re-commited myself to getting back on track. I am eating more Protein and less carbs and not eating after 8pm... down 4.6 pounds!! I have not felt this good in a long time!! 5.4 more pounds to go to get me back to my lowest weight then I will tackle 10 more pounds for my ultimate goal. Yay!

The only way you can fail is if you stop trying. Read the posts by some of the more experienced bandsters, and learn as much as you can. You can do anything if you are kind to yourself through the process and communicate with your doctor and team and other bandsters about any issues or concerns you are having. Good luck!

I've been away on vacation so not as active on this board as usual...but I'm back! Here are a couple of photos--the first one is (I think) my last known photo taken before I reached the decision, one year ago, to start my weight loss surgery research. I would go on to gain 8 kilos (about 17.5 pounds) before I actually had the surgery in March 2013. So very very glad I did. The second photo was taken yesterday morning. I was leaving for work and, when stopping by the mirror to make sure my dress wasn't tucked into my underpants or something equally mortifying, I said to myself "Wow..even I can see a difference now!

I touched on this a few minutes ago in another thread. I'm honest with close friends and most co workers -- people who are there daily, who see what I eat and how hard I hustle at the gym. After a few asinine comments from casual acquaintances or people I just see sporadically, I don't go into details because I feel they're just being nosy or making conversation.. They're not genuinely concerned about my journey.
Unfortunately, family wasn't excluded from this either. I've had my band since Nov 2009 and I just told my parents last week. My mom probably weighs somewhere in the 350 - 400lb range, but I knew she would just be critical and not supportive. Due a recent cancer scare and some thyroid issues she's freaking with, I felt she would be more receptive. I asked for her help taking care of me this week post-arm lift and breast lift, and we've had some great convos about it! She's still not 100% on board with it, but
I will say, now that I've lost 120lbs, I'm a lot more comfortable opening up and sharing my st ory than when I first got started. I was so embarrassed at the beginning, but now that all of my hard work has paid off , I'm more confident and don't care as much about others' opinions. I think I had to wait and prove to MYSELF the Lapband would work for me before I decided to start screaming it from the mountain tops!
Sorry this was so lengthy! In summary: for me it depends on the audience.

I was able to get a fill yesterday. Yay! My port isn't flipped but it is tipped so they have to go in at an odd angle. Hope it stays where it is at and doesn't move more.

Hi all, I just joined and wanted to introduce myself. I was banded back in 2007. At that time I was over 400 pounds. Not sure the exact number so I generally just use that as my starting point.
I was able to lose about 140 pounds, speak at the seminars for my Dr. and even did a commercial for him. I went from wearing pants that were a tight 56 to a normal 38, I could even get into 36 if i really tried.
I got complacent and my weight started creeping back up. I quit visiting my Dr. I quit going to support group, I quit the chat boards. Long story short, I creeped back up to around 315. Needless to say, I wasn't squeezing in the occasional 36 anymore. I was having to buy sizes I thought I had eternally banished to Goodwill.
Back in March of 2013 I got back on the proverbial "BAND"wagon. Sucked it up, and went back to see my Dr. I knew I needed a fill and coaching.
Now I am back down to about 280. I have about 20 pounds to go to get back to my lightest. This time the plan is to make it below 200 so I can say I am truly only half the man I used to be.

I'm going to the beach, wearing a bathing suit! Yeahhhhh, thank You LapBand!!!!

I have my first appointment with the bariatric surgery team this Thursday, and will find out how long I have to wait then. Patience is not my strong suit! I would love to be banded by the end of the year... keeping my fingers crossed.

i have my first appointment (after the seminar) this coming Thursday. it is a 4 hr appt! i meet with the surgeon, dietician, psychologist, and the rest of the team all morning, one at a time. i expect to be exhausted and full of information afterwards, and i'll be back to share too.

Me, too -- wish I could schedule all in one day! Guess each facility is different and I'm sure insurance riders vary greatly as well. It's feeling like a long wait now. Good luck every one with the process -- and here's to learning all we can in the meanwhile. This site has been so great for that.

i have my first appointment (after the seminar) this coming Thursday. it is a 4 hr appt! i meet with the surgeon, dietician, psychologist, and the rest of the team all morning, one at a time. i expect to be exhausted and full of information afterwards, and i'll be back to share too.

Oh I kind of wish i could schedule all of mine that way... tell us how it goes!

Hello, how is everyone! I am so happy surgery day is over and I'm on to recovery. I did my research so i'm not surprised at any of the discomfort, and this liquid vicodin is the bees knees! Im currently laying on my chaise bc sitting up is the most comfortable for me right now. Not hungry at all, but i am enjoying this v8 splash mango peach juice. Hope u all are well and I'm so ready to get my (health) life in order. And to know that there are ppl like me out there. Let me know how u are:-)
Tiff

You've maintained the weight you lost, and that's a great thing, and managed to continue losing. Good luck picking up the pace again, and be proud of your accomplishment to date!

You've maintained the weight you lost, and that's a great thing, and managed to continue losing. Good luck picking up the pace again, and be proud of your accomplishment to date!

Hello fellow night shift worker! Wow I completely sympathize there. It's really hard to fit complete meals around my odd working hours. It is way to easy to simply snack through the night, especially sugary items to stay awake which is not great!
I was also banded 3 1/2 years ago. I've been up and down and all around with the weight. I gained over 40 lbs 2011-2012 and like you felt discouraged/frustrated/embarrassed to go back to my surgeon. BUT I went back, got a fill, met with the nutritionist and am back on track! I'm now at a new all time low. Definitely bite the billet and get the help and support you need to get back on track.

You've maintained the weight you lost, and that's a great thing, and managed to continue losing. Good luck picking up the pace again, and be proud of your accomplishment to date!

The day I learned to "Let it Go" was the biggest breakthrough in my banded life.....I can now say I live a normal life, never count calories or worry too much about portion sizes...
I just eat good healthy foods, and stay active....just like any other "Normal" person does.....TOTAL LIBERATION!!!!
Difference is, in the background....I still have the band, always there dictating certain life principles.....but because of the band, I have also learned those new principles.....

Well it's been months since posted and the good news is I am totally off my "CRAP" machine. Back to sleeping normally, only occasional snoring not heavy just a bit when tired. Normal.
As for my Type II diabetes. My AC1 test was 6.1 which was excellent, it had been around an 8 or 9 last year.
I am down to one pill a day now.
You can reverse or really keep this all under control with losing the weight.
I can move and do things that I haven't done for years. Like plant a garden and landscape the front of my house with new plants and shrubs.
I can walk long distances now without being out of breath and feel 10 years younger.
Getting the band was the best thing I ever have done for my body.

You will be able to get the juice down if you do everything they tell you to. I take things very slow and just in case I have extra swelling, I wait a few extra days before transitioning to firmer foods after a fill. Also, when I do have a low and I JUST had a fill(this actually happened last night), I add a few spoons of sugar to some juice and sip it. It has worked wonderfully and I understand the fear but it will be ok.
I have lost about 70lbs and coming up on my 1 year on the 31st. I just got a fill because I have only lost 7lbs since August. It will be harder to lose as a diabetic but you can do it. I let my sugar levels run a little high, 130-160. That way, when I work out, I'm not forced to drink a sugary drinks and it's been easier maintaining my sugar level this way. My A1c is 7.0 and now that I've had the band for a year I'm more comfortable with lows.
Let me know about any question I can answer

Having the pump doesn't necessarily make you gain weight. Insulin is a hormone so the more you take can cause you to gain weight. People gain weight because they start eating what they want because of the added freedom. If you stuck to low carbs you will need less insulin. I have type 1 diabetes and I have been on the pump for 13 years. I usually gain weight when the amount of insulin I take goes up. It wouldn't matter if it was my pump or a shot it does the same thing.

I am scheduled for surgery March 8th 2013. I've been type 1 diabetic since I was 13 (29 now) and currently using an insulin pump to control my diabetes. I am on my 3nd day of my pre-op diet and having a hard time keeping my sugars up but working with my Dr on getting that fixed.
If you have dealt with the whole diabetes and band, how was your experience? How did you do on your pre-op diet? How did it affect your sugar after surgery? Need some feed back

I went and returned all my muscle milks and picked up Isopure, they are not milky so even if they have that "protein" taste, they are easier to drink because it's like a gatorade type of drink.
I'm tempted to "cheat" but not cheat as in eating a hamburger but like having some Turkey or chicken Breast. I've lost 16 pounds already in 5 days.

Rarely does everything tighten back up with lots of hard work or a little cosmetics. i would love to have my stomach skin tightened but I am not sure it is worth the cost. It really does not hang over my pants or interfer with any activity. I do not walk around in public half naked so the only one who knows I have a loose tummy is me and my hubby and compared to what I looked like fat, I look pretty dang good naked even with a little loose skin. But of course I am older and skin does not go back as well when you have been fat for as long as I was fat. But my arms and legs and have done nicely with exercise and I have a cute little butt. Probably more info than you wanted to know.