kramsay1980

This conversation has actually been helpful. I am down 40lbs total and just stopped. I have had only 1 fill since my surgery in January. I am still hungry, but definately not eating what i use to before the band. i do feel some restrictions when it comes to certain foods. I guess patience is the main key here and focus on what you have accomplished. I was wondering if it was something i was doing. so i have been super strict with myself, but i dont want to create negative habits. But i guess i got so excited to constantly see movement on the scale, to the numbers not budging at all.

Lets keep encouraging each other people, to keep moving forward.

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this? What have they said about you only losing 10lbs? Is there another medical team that you can get care with? Im not very familiar with the slimband

Good for you, I was banded on the 29th. Are you still in the hospital?

Im drinking 0 calorie drinks, tea, I bought some Isopure but not a big fan

for sweeteners I use splenda. They do have 0 calorie 0 carb liquid sweetener. I think davinci might be one brand, can be used in coffee or anything.

Grits are like cream of wheat. Im not a big fan of grits

Christina we had the same surgery date. Im resting as much as possible.

Hi guys. I was banded on 1/29/14, im home now, no real pain, not really hungry. Im glad it finally happened. Im getting settled at home, been sleeping alot. I have broth, tea, Jello, cream Soups, and popsicles on hand.

How is everyone else doing?

Hi guys I live in west suburbs (austin) area. I was banded on 1/29/14. I just got home last night, I would love to make friends.

I did 2 week liquid diet. My surgeon was Dr. Lutfi, and I hadmy surgery done at St. Joseph.

How is everyone doing?

Hey guys, I recieved a date of January 29th and I start my liquid diet January 15th. This is becoming very real. I find myself becoming very emotional and anxious a little bit.

congrats, i cant wait to have that experience.

If it helps, my doctor said if your job is no real physical as it sounds yours is not that I could return to work in one week. I am self employed, I'm a wholesale baker, I arranged for a month off. I have to say it was nice!

Ok that makes sense.

How long was the approval process for you?

hi and thank you, what are wls? I went back to work because it was a new job and I wasn't supposed to ask for time off until I'm off probation and I told her that ppl had said they were good in a couple of days. my job is a lot of walking and sitting and standing so I thought it would be good for me too It was painful but I got through it, I chose the lap band because its reversible ( if I have complications) and it seemed less evasive than by pass or the sleeve. what are you having done? or have had done?

Hi bread addict,

WLS= weight loss surgery. i havent had any yet. I am still in the beginning stages of meeting with the doctor and so forth. I am still considering which one might be best for me. My job is a sitting job mostly, so i might not have any real concerns when it comes to going back to work. I am glad you are doing so much better.

Hi bread addict, how are you? I have not had any wls yet, but I am browsing the site and taking in as much information as i can. Congrats on the step forward into a healthier lifestyle for yourself.

Wow, you had surgery on friday and back at work today. Good for you.

What made you choose the lap band?

Sorry, I am very new to this. What is sliming?

Hi Kimberly, you are in the right place for gathering information. I've learned so much over the last several weeks from reading posts and asking questions. This is a very knowledgeable and compassionate group of people -- so glad I stumbled on this site! I am prebrand, going through the process of meeting with nutritionist, psych eval and then the surgeon as required by the hospital where I am having my lapband installed. I knew this was the right WLS surgery for me because it is least invasive and reversible. I can't wait to begin! Good luck in your process and look forward to hearing how its going for you.

Thanks so much Bandista, definately keep me posted on your progress. And I will do the same.

The choice to have a life altering surgery should be YOURS and YOURS alone, not your surgeon because years down the road if you have any issues they will be on you and on you alone.

I know many people that have had the Bypass and over the years have had numerous complications and their surgeon never had to see them again after the first few years, many are living with life threatening Hypoglycemia and other chronic issues and the surgeon could care less and they are pushed back to their PCP or internist or other medical doctors to deal with their long term issues.

You have to first figure which surgery YOU want and can live with, some people do not want the lap band because it requires fill adjustments and some do not want a foreign object in their body. But again, the Sleeve, Bypass and DS weight loss surgeries have foreign objects too such as staples, which can cause issues too long term, like staple line disruptions which can cause chronic stomach issues.

The band requires maintenance and most people get yearly Upper Gi's to check the position of their bands, some people cannot afford this, but again, with ANY weight loss surgery you will have some type of maintenance like Bypass, Sleeve and DS folks have a different type of maintenance of bi-yearly or yearly labs to check for Vitamin deficiencies, many people think having the Sleeve does not require this, but it DOES, since removing part of the stomach also removes a large chuck of the stomach where critical B nutrients are absorbed, and they are seeing long term Sleeve folks with many vitamin deficiencies as the Bypass folks now in a recent study I just read.

If I was diabetic, I may have chose the Bypass, but the risk of complications outweighed the benefits for me, and also I don't like the idea of dumping syndrome all my life or long term hypoglycemia that so many Bypassers have.

There are also risks with the Lap band too, there is a very high complication rate, but most are not serious, if you get immediate attention to any problems -- and not let any problems go to far which can cause emergency band removal, but the band may require repeated surgeries and you need to make sure you have good insurance and plan for any unforeseen lap band problems.

Also, If you are thinking about the lap band you need to arm yourself with knowledge of how the band works, how to avoid complications, making sure the lap band is a good fit for your body, you can get all this information from reading the lap band contraindications on the lap band website.

I've had lap band inside my body almost 8 years and I don't regret it, in fact I just had a new band put in last year due to a hiatal hernia and pouch dilation, but my issues were caused by filling the band too tightly about 7 years ago, and also my first surgeon did not repair a hiatal hernia which over the years started causing reflux if I wanted my band tighten optimally.

I decided to get a new band placed rather than revising to the Sleeve or Bypass because I see too many people struggling and gaining weight back after 2-3 years and most Band to Sleeve revisions are not successful because many Banders have tighter restriction than with the Sleeve and I have seen many have not lost any or not much weight at all after they revised to the Sleeve, virgin Sleevers tend to lose more and I was not willing to risk removing my stomach for hard core dieting, for little or no weight loss.

Good luck

Nana thank you so much for your response. I definately realize that with most surgeries there are going to be pros and cons. I can definately appreciate all your information. Thanks again, I will friend request you as well.

My progress has been really good. I'm not in maintenance yet. I've lost 227 pounds over the last 19 months but I'd still like to lost at least 30-40 pounds more.

thats awesome Mis73, are you drinking some of your Proteins or no?

Rhonda thanks so much for your response. I totally understand that its completely up to me on which wls that i choose. Im glad that the band is working so well.

Hi Miss73, How has your progress been going? Are you currently in maintenance?

Hi My name is Kimberly and I live in the Chicago, IL area. I am new to this site and still considering what type of surgery might be better for me. I know that I am ready for a change in my life, especially being overweight for most of my life. I am 33yrs old and have a 4yr old son that I want to try to be as healthy as possible for. I have tried multiple diets and different ways of trying to lose weight that have only brought short term success. I am committed for long term and healthier results in losing this weight. I would love feedback or info from any members who have already completed the wls. I am still curious to know why some choose lap band over gastric bypass over the sleeve. I have done my research into all 3, but I am wondering who makes the determination what is best (the doctor, you, or health insurance coverage). Right now they have me scheduled to meet with Dr. Rami Lutki from Mercy Hospital. I am excited and scared all at the same time. Thanks for listening to my story.