lapbandliz

I thought for sure I would have lost weight 3 days after surgery and I got on the scale and was 10 pounds heavier! I was so upset! Anyway, it came off and then the weight started coming off. I asked my doctor about it last week at my post-op appt and he said they purposely put lots of fluids in because heavier people tend to be very dry. He said that is what is supposed to happen to keep us hydrated for a few days. Don't worry--just do what you're supposed to and you'll see a change soon.

Please don't steal the seat belt extenders. You can easily buy one very inexpensively. I bought a seatbelt extender on ebay. It was not expensive and now I don't have to worry. When I lose my weight, I'll sell it.

I lived in Chattanooga for 15 years and just moved away a little over a year ago. I went to Dr. Ponce's seminar and even did the Physician Supervised Weight Loss Program through Memorial Hospital. At the time, there was no way for me to afford the Lap Band. Then, we moved to Pennsylvania and our circumstances changed. My family really pushed for me to go back to Chattanooga and have Dr. Ponce do the surgery because he is so well-respected in the field. After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided to stay closer to home. The price was going to be about the same for self-pay (hospital here and surgery center in Dalton). I was finally banded on 2/19/07 and have been doing great. The Weight Loss Center in Harrisburg and the Community General Hospital were great. My husband is about to be banded in just a few weeks. My thought is, if you feel comfortable with Dr. Ponce and Memorial and you already have the money, go for it and don't give it a second thought- just be thankful God provided a way. If money is a big issue, talk to your family and research where you might want to go to save a few thousand. My total cost was $12,500. Even that is a lot of money, but the way I look at it is that over the course of a year the savings in prescriptions and food will about cover it. And, you either pay that money now, or in the future have some serious health problems that will cost you a lot more. I hope you can come to a point where you feel comfortable about your decision and can get excited about all the new possibilities. It has only been 2 weeks for me since I was banded and already 3 people at church yesterday told me they could really tell I've lost some weight! It felt so good to hear that!!!! Whoever you decide to use, just do it -- I don't think you'll regret it.

This is a very scary account. I'm so glad you sought help as soon as you did and are going to be okay. This is a very good reminder to all of us to follow the eating instructions exactly and be very vigilant when we see something happening that just doesn't seem right. Thank you for sharing this. I've only been banded 2 weeks, but have already had a few things to eat that I shouldn't have--this definitely makes me think twice before I do that again. I know that even though you were doing everything right you still had this problem. I just don't want to do something wrong and then have a problem. So, what I'm trying to say, is that, I think you've helped me to understand the seriousness of the complications that could occur. I want to do everything I can to avoid those possible complications. Thanks so much for the reminder! I hope you will be feeling better soon.

Is this normal? My surgery was on the 19th. I was supposed to have 3 days of Clear Liquids, followed by 14 days of any liquids, then 2 weeks of mushies? I'm hungry ALL the time on liquids. I've even cheated some and Soup that I didn't puree. I chew it very well though. What can I do? I see my doctor tomorrow for my first follow up. Please tell me it gets better on the mushie stage -- or do I have to wait for a fill before I'm not hungry all the time? And on top of all that, I've only lost like 6 or 7 pounds since the surgery on the 19th! A lot of you look like you lose alot faster than that. Why am I not losing more?

I don't know what to do. I just had the surgery and only told a few people. My husband is having it probably next month. The problem is that he is a pastor and everybody in the congregation wants to know everything about us. I feel like this is something I want to keep private, but how do I handle some very nosy people? Already some negative things have been said about me because I wasn't at a meeting on Tuesday night (the day after my surgery while I was still in the hospital). HELP, please!

I totally agree with you. I was just banded on Monday and still on liquids. I just can't believe what an effect these things are having on me. It seems like every other commercial has something to do with food! No wonder half the country is obese -- it is so hard to overcome. The one that is getting to me now is the cinnamon pancakes at IHOP. I want one so bad!!!!!

What in the world??? I haven't had a thing to eat since Sunday and I'm 10 pounds heavier than I was when I weighed in at the hospital. Has this happened to anybody else? Is it just all the IV fluids and gas they gave me in the hospital? My day after surgery was really rough. There was no way I could go home. Everytime I sat up or tried to stand, I almost passed out and/or threw up. Apparantly, my sleep apnea is worse than I knew and my oxygen levels kept dropping -- even when I was awake. So, I had to stay in the hospital an extra day. I came home yesterday after being banded on Monday afternoon. I, too, have had the gas pains. It was so bad last night that you could actually see my stomach move as the gas rolled around. This clear liquid stage is getting old. At least I get to start on milk and protein shakes tomorrow. I'm feeling better everyday, but I hope I can figure out soon what I'm feeling - whether it is gas, hunger, restriction, whatever.

Okay, dtrmt07 and Ouachita, today's our day! I wish you both the best and will look forward to comparing stories later this week. I plan on trying to think of all the positive outcomes I expect from this and try to put all the scary, nervous things out of my head. Get ready, here we go......

Well, when I wake up in the morning, I'll be getting ready to go to the hospital. My surgery is set for 1:00. I've been so nervous all day! I've just read new posts about how painful this is. I just hope I'm ready for it and don't chicken out at the last minute. I know this is the right thing to do and I've waited so long to do it. Thoughts and prayers would really be appreciated. I guess this will be my last post until I get on the other side of this. Thanks so much to everyone for your honesty in your posts and for the encouragement I've received in response to my posts. I hope everyone who has a 2/19 band date has a really easy time and no complications. I'll try to let you know how it went when I get home from the hospital on Tuesday.

Oh my goodness!!!! It's almost here! I feel like I'm falling apart. I want this, but I feel like I'm a nervous wreck! My emotions are crazy--I cry over things that I usually can handle? I keep having dreams about the surgery. What is going on? Is this going to pass after I actually have the surgery on Monday or is it going to get worse? Is this just me, or does this happen to a lot of people before they get the band? It is just such a big deal! It is such a life-changing thing! What if I can't be disciplined enough to eat the way I'm supposed to? What if the after surgery pain is unbearable because I have fibromyalgia--my pain sensitivity has gone over the top since I've had fibro. Help....:help:

My band day is one week from today. I'm starting to get really nervous and scared and wondering if I'm really doing the right thing. For the last few days I've been eating uncontrollably --worse than ever. I haven't been like that in the past. It's almost like I'm trying to eat everything I can because I know I won't be able to after next week. Anybody else do that? I know getting the band is the only thing that is going to help me, but after reading all the posts about the gas pains and surgical pains, I'm really getting aprehensive. Please tell me how you got through the last few days before your surgeries.:confused:

Hey, Beach Bum, you have the same zip code as I did when I lived there. Did you go to High School there? I graduated from Woodham in '75.

Hi, I was born and raised in Pensacola, but not there now. It's a great place and will always be home to me. It is much too cold where I live now!

What sorts of things do you want to do, have, wear, etc. after you lose the weight? I'm thinking about starting a list for myself that I can look at when I get discouraged or begin to question what I'm about to do by getting banded. I know the obvious things like wear nice clothes, sit in seats more comfortably, but I want to know what other things you hope to do in the future. Some of my goals are to travel abroad and have the energy and strength to do a lot of walking, climbing, riding horses, camels, and elephants. I want to go to Europe, Egypt, and Africa. I want to go to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon and be able to ride down to the bottom of the canyon. I want to wear ball gowns and learn how to do ballroom dancing. I'll have 8 months after I'm banded before I turn 50. I hope I can do something spectacular to celebrate. I know I can't lose all my weight in 8 months, but it seems like I could lose enough that I could begin to be doing some of the things I've listed above. Please share your hopes and goals and give me more ideas to add to my list.

I've finally gotten a surgery date. I'll be banded on February 19. I have all different kinds of emotions--excited, scared, hopeful, apprehensive, etc. I've tried to lose weight for so long....I KNOW this is the right thing to do. I'll be very thankful for all the support y'all can give! It looks like there are a lot of us February banders--I hope we can all help each other!

I MAY have an autoimmune problem - I've been to lots of doctors over the years because of weird symptoms. Now, my allergy doc yesterday told me he believes I do have an autoimmune problem. I'm about to be banded in a week or so. Why would an autoimmune disease be a problem if you have the band?

I'm so frustrated and discouraged! I went for my medical clearance exam yesterday and my doctor told me that I have to have a Psych eval before she will clear me. I'm self-pay and my surgeon and the clinic medical director said I didn't have to have one -- that it is something that the insurance companies usually require. Now, I can't find but one doctor to do it and it means a wait of several weeks before I can even get in to see him. Any advice? Has this happened to any of you? I've thought about this decision for over 3 years and been in the process since late November --- I'm just ready to do this --- I don't want to wait!:think

We also got the checks from Chase. We could either have 0% for 6 months or 3.99% for the life of the loan. Since we are self paying for both me and my husband, this seems like the most affordable way to go. My doctor also said something about CareCredit as a financing option.

Hi everybody, I'm new here...just joined yesterday. I'm getting very close to getting a surgery date, but still am a little aprehensive. Can anyone answer some of my questions? After you heal from surgery, are you aware of the band? Or do you just feel it when you are trying to eat? How do you manage the first 2 weeks with getting in all the liquids, but only having an ounce or two at a time? How do you cope when you have a really strong food craving but can't eat? Do the cravings ever subside? I've been on a pretty strict diet for the last 2 weeks and the other day I just HAD TO HAVE some Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I finally gave in to my craving and ate 4! I know I can't do that after I'm banded. But, its like I want it so bad I'll go completely crazy if I can't get it. There are not too many things that affect me like that and not real often, but when it happens, it is almost uncontrollable. Any advice? I am using the Weight Loss Clinic in Harrisburg, PA. Dr. Scott Currie will be my surgeon. I met one other person who has used him, but if anyone else has comments about him, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks so much to everyone who posts! I've learned so much from reading all these for the last few months. Angela Highest weight:312 Current weight:301 Goal: 160? (this seems impossible to me right now)

I am coming to the end of the process before I can get a surgery date. I have an EGD scheduled for Friday and my Medical Clearance exam next Tuesday. Since I am a self-pay, I should get a surgery date pretty soon after all that. But, I still have a lot of concerns. After reading a lot of the posts here, I'm afraid the band won't work. I've been on a self-imposed 1100 calorie a day diet since New Years and haven't lost very much. What if the band doesn't work? Do you still have food cravings? Some people seem to have a lot of pain and others not so much. Also, since I'm paying for this myself, what if there are complications? I know the insurance doesn't cover it if there are and I don't want to be financially devestated because of this. Also, what do you tell people? I don't really want everyone to know I'm doing this, but how do you not tell people? Any advice on this. Maybe I'm just being overly anxious about this. It sounds like the band works for most people and I just pray it will work for me, too. I've tried so hard for the last 20 years to lose weight and just have not been successful --this is like my last hope. Thanks for any advice you can give! Highest weight: 312 Current weight: 304 Goal: 150