angelnurse

? Have you had any blood work done? Are you anemic? What does your Doctor say?

I take 2 Centrum chewable multi-vitamins and 1000 mg calcium per day. Used to take sublingual Biotin to help with hair loss but that was in the beginning only.

The port is sewn to the fascia over the muscle, but sometimes the sutures come loose or there aren't enough sutures used. My Doctor did not know why this happened to me, but of all the lapband surgeries that he has done, I'm the only one that had my port flip and had to have a revision done.

I had the same problem as you when I went for my first fill at 6 months, my Doctor could not fill my port, even under fluroscopy. My surgery cost $2,105.25 to do the port revision. Luckily I had just gotten my income tax return to pay for the surgery. It was worth every penny! Good luck in finding a surgeon to do this. The recovery was easier for me the second time around.

I originally was going to have the RNY but 2 weeks before surgery I had an "anxiety attack". I decided that I didn't want my insides changed permanently. I didn't want to worry about the anemia and the malabsorption. I'm now 16 months out and have lost 129 pounds. At one year I had lost 115.5 pounds. My surgeon said that I was right up there with his RNY patients. You can lose as much as the RNYers, you just have to do all that you can. You need to put forth the effort and work with your Doctor on "tweeking" your band. I'm glad I decided to go the lapband route, NO regrets here!

They don't sew it to the muscle, because muscle rips, they sew it to the fascia. The fascia is the thin membrane that covers the muscle, (like when you get a chicken breast at the store and its has the thin white membrane that covers the meat, same thing.)

Shelly, Dr. Pennings only does his own patients fills, if you had another surgeon do your lapband he won't do it. It has to do with liability. I don't know if all Doctors are like that, there are several Doctors in Spokane that do lapbands, they might do your fills. Good Luck!

You need to find a good protein bar that you like, there are a gazillion out there. My fav is Twisted, you get it at Costco in a variety box with 8 each of Chocolate, Vanilla and Peanut Butter. They have 15 grams of protein and taste yummy. I'd also recommend a good protein shake, as I know as a Nurse you don't always get your breaks or they are real quick. My fav protein shake is GNC ON (Optimal Nutrition) 100% Whey Gold Standard in double rich chocolate and vanilla ice cream. I add benefiber, SF pudding (to thicken) and SF syrups to flavor. I have a protein shake every morning for breakfast and at work for a meal. In between the protein shake, I have a protein bar. I usually only work 8 to 10 hours shifts but I do better if I don't go longer than 4 hours without protein. At first it can be hard but after a little while it becomes habit. It's very important to get all your water in too! If you have anymore questions. feel free to ask.

Moses Lake is a little farther to Post Falls than Spokane. As for the Nursing school, been there done that. I've been a RN for 21 years, I remember it well, very busy. Maybe you can find a Doctor closer. Good Luck! It would be eaier for follow-up care also.

Pinkybar, I was on Optifast for 5 weeks and lost 35 pounds before surgery. I can honestly say I didn't cheat once.

captain danbo, I've tried lots of protein shakes and my favorite iS: GNC ON (Optimal Nutrition) 100% Whey Gold Standard in 2 different flavors- Vanilla Ice Cream and Double Rich Chocolate. I add skim milk, SF pudding mix (1/4 of pkg=one serving) and flavored SF syrups. Here are some of my favorite combos: Chocolate protein powder, chocolate pudding and toasted marshmallow syrup, tastes like s'mores Vanilla protein powder, banana cream pudding, coconut and pineapple syrups=tropical shake vanilla protein and pistachio pudding Chocolate protein powder, chocolate pudding and any of the following syrups: Almond Roca, Peppermint Patty, raspberyy, peanut butter, coconut, the combinations are endless. Everyone has different tastes so what works for me might not work for you, you have to try until you find the ones you like. Good Luck!

Nikki, I think everyone needs to remember that the band is only a "tool", you still have to do all the work. My biggest problem is eating for all the wrong reasons (bored, lonely, tired, etc.), you need to figure out why you are eating and change that. It's a daily struggle but I'm grateful that I'm around another day for that struggle. Wish you well on your journey!

TheLid, I went with Dr. John Pennings in Post Falls, ID. I don't know if your insurance will work with him, but I'd recommend him to anyone. I live in Spokane, WA. I had surgery 12/21/05. I was self-pay. Check out sbnsurg.com, that's Dr. Pennings website. He is great and they just got their Center For Excellence rating or whatever it's called. Good Luck! Alynne

Tnix, The taste may be because you are in ketosis. Ketosis is a stage in metabolism where the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies which can be used by the body for energy. This happens during the first stages of dieting. It can give you a "metallic" taste in your mouth. It can also give you real bad breath. I carry sugar-free mints of gum at all times in my purse.

Serenity, I've tried all kinds of protein powders and I have to say my favorite is GNC Optimal Nutrition in 2 flavors: vanilla ice cream and double rich chocolate. I add sugar-free jello pudding (the dry mix) to the shakes to thicken them and add flavor. I also add different flavored sugar-free syrups to them (like the syrups they add to coffee). One of my favorites is toasted marshmallow syrup with the chocolate shake, it's like a smore. I also add banana cream pudding, pineapple and coconut syrup to the vanilla for a tropical shake. I've just about tried any and all flavor combinations that you can think of. I'm almost 16 months post-op so it's either that or starve. I have at least one protein shake a day, so it's nice to have options. Good Luck!

It takes a while for the brain to catch-up with the body. I sometimes don't recognize myself when I walk by a window and catch my reflection. I'll be at Priest Lake on July 22nd for our family thing. I haven't been in a couple of years and am looking forward to it.

Julie, Thanks for the welcome. I've lost 128.5 pounds and couldn't be happier. As for sizes, I started 30/32 and am now in 14/16 but plan on losing another 40-50 pounds before I'm at my goal. I too feel great, this is the best thing I've done for myself. NO REGRETS! Alynne

Things are great, I've lost 128.5 pounds and counting. I used to wear a size 30/32 and am now in 14/16. Most important, no CPAP or B/P meds. I feel 100% better. My parents are having their 50th Wedding Anniversary this year and the whole family (my 3 siblings and all their kids) are going camping at Priest Lake. When I was growing up, we went there almost every weekend during the summers. How often do you get to go? I'm looking forward to this summer, no "beached whale" comments for me and I plan on going on a hike or two. Hope things go well with you.

I was on OptiFast for 5 weeks and I lost 35 pounds before surgery.

I had surgery 12/05 @ 8:30 am and left @ 1pm that day. Had to have my port adjusted ( it had flipped over) on 6/06, went home the same day after 2nd surgery.

I live in Spokane and Dr. Pennings was my surgeon. I got banded 12/21/05. Would love to talk with you. Alynne

Everyone is a "work-in-progress". If you don't work on the reasons you eat and why you are at this place in your life, this "tool" (band) won't be a long-term success for you. You need to change your whole life and decide that you want to be the best you that you were meant to be. It's a journey. There will be "bumps" along the road and you may get "stuck" at times but look at the alternative...I struggle every day but it does get easier and more of a habit. I CHOOSE to be healthier, no one can do it for you. As for the surgery, for me, it was easy. I had surgery at 8:30 am and went home at 1 pm. I took 2 weeks off from work, not that I needed that much time to recover, but it takes a while to get the routine down. Good luck in finding the funds for surgery.

Are you getting enough fluid? You need a bare minimum of 48 oz/day for metabolic function but should get even more. Also, if you don't get enough to eat, your body goes into starvation mode and will hang onto the fat and burn off the lean body mass (muscle). I wouldn't go below 1200 cal/day myself. Are you getting enough protein? For females that is 80 grams/day and for males it's 100 grams/day.

Protein should make up 70% of your diet and carbohydrates 30%. You should be getting at least 80 grams of protein/day. If you don't get the protein, your body will breakdown your lean body mass (a.k.a. muscle). Muscle is what burns fat, so you don't want to lose this. This means 3 bites protein to 1 bite carb. It sounds hard but I've been doing this for almost 18 months and it's working for me. I had my lapband on 12/21/05 and have lost 128.5 pounds so far.

I had the surgery almost 16 months ago and have not regreted it for one second. I had to take out a 2nd mortgage on my house but my life is worth it. I can not tell you how my life has changed in so many ways, it's a completely different life. If you want to hear more, I'd be happy to tell you.