tommaney

I've had insanely slow weight loss as well but there are so many behavioral, physiological, and environmental contributing factors that I can't just come out and say "the surgery wasn't worth it" without tweaking/ruling out all of those influences. Despite a low 20lb weight loss over 6 months, I can say that I am still 100% better off than I would be without the surgery. At the very least, my band has put the brakes on my consistent weight gain. Without it, I would invariably weigh much more than I do now. In the future, it's possible that I'll see that the band may not have been the best option for my optimal weight loss, but I maintain that I made the best, most logical decision I could at the time. Compared to others, some may consider me a current failure--but I'm not ready to give up on myself or the band just yet. My weight loss journey may be different than others, but perhaps no less successful years from now.

Make sure they check you under fluoro before any operations happen. There were 2 nights after laying on my port side (I was 6 months out) that I felt a sharp "pulling" kind of pain. The Dr. initially thought I had a flipped port after one unsuccessful fill attempt under fluoro--but as it turned out the port had just tilted down to a funny angle. He can still access me quite easily (no digging around or multiple pricks) because he knows how to approach the port. Try not to obsess/leap to conclusions and just take it step by step. Ask your Dr. to check it out.

This blows! How irresponsible is it to refer you to a Dr. that's UNAVAILABLE? Psychologists who do that to their clients have legal ramifications because it's reckless. These people may be a BIG GAPING HOLE OF SUCK, but don't give up on your band just yet. If you really can't keep down liquids, please hit up the ER if that's your last resort. Can you post the name/organization/clinic of this Dr. so future lapbanders may avoid this situation? If you just give your own truthful experience, it wouldn't be slander--just a sage warning to others.

This thread is hilarious! Since we've introduced baby whips into the convo--should we have a safety word? Hm? Some of those DS'er posts were so mean I just wanted to punch one of them for you, Wasa. Then I thought, oh, no-don't. That would probably make them poop.

Whether or not the doctor has an appropriate motive, there is NO excuse for he/she not to give you information to which you're legally entitled. I understand the intention to keep you focused on being mindful of your body, but the doctor can easily explain that after he/she is open and honest with your band questions. I realize the sarcasm can help create a bond between patients, but the way I read your post, this witholding of info bordered on disrespect because it set up a power differential--an "I know what's best so you don't worry about making decisions" attitude. I hope you ask again and see what he/she says. Sorry if my response was overzealous but for some reason that really just rubbed me the wrong way! Oh, and if you'd like some comparative info....I wasn't losing at all when I was eating about 1 cup of healthy food (not eating around the band). My doctor's guidlines were that I should be eating about 1/2 cup of healthy food, otherwise a fill was probably in order. But, my losing had come to a standstill. Remember that 8lbs a month is still great! You are obviously doing something right to lose at all, so congrats and keep up the good work!

I just took a gander at my closet of earth-toned and white clothes and completely identify with that! I can remember as early as 4th grade choosing shirts that did not show too much of my neck area (exposing the double chin) as well as NEVER wearing clothes with cartoons/images that related to food or large animals. It tagged me as BAIT for the cruel hecklers.

Have you heard of the Choosing You! program? I was rooting around on the American Psychological Association website today and found this article in Monitor on Psychology magazine: Monitor on Psychology - One bite at a time I don't know if there's a book out on it, but I think this psychotherapist has a good approach. It's definitely for those of us that begin to obsess about the foods we can't eat as soon as we hear "diet"!

What do you think about a subforum dedicated to mental health issues and how they are integrated with our lapband experiences? There's been a good thread on discussing medications & weightloss (LapBand strugglers area) and I thought we could probably expand on that. I've just noticed that so many of us struggle with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and panic disorders (just to name a few). Discussing and offering support to each other might illuminate our struggles and help us understand the totality of our experience with weight loss (and gain!). If there's already something that covers this adequately, please redirect me! Thanks.

Oh man. I love cheese. I wish it wasn't so easy to eat.

I got my Bio Oil at Longs Drugs. I think I've seen it at Walgreens too. I'm going to stick with it longer and see if it helps : )

It lists you as my friend! The box to add contacts/friends pops up after you click the Contacts & Friends link under Networking

Hey BrandyII! Go to Edit Profile, then on the left side there is a Contacts & Friends link. Then type in someone's name and check either Contact or Friend button. I just added you as a friend!

Glad to see you back, BrandyII! Please share any good books you are reading in your research. I've found that Dr. Oz's You on a Diet was very interesting because it explained multiple reasons why we eat/don't eat and why some have trouble losing weight. Plus, there are cartoon pictures! : ) I've been overweight for as long as I've had memory of myself as an individual. It would be interesting to see if there are differences regarding success of weight loss efforts between someone like myself and others who have had long periods of "normal" weight.

If you're considering a major surgery like Bypass, also check into the other WLS like Vertical Sleeve and Duodenal Switch. I'm not positive about the research but I believe DS people may be gaining less back in the long term. Of course, there's more risks to it. You can get info and see flash animations of many surgeries this website:John Husted, M.D. - Weight Loss Surgery procedures including: Gastric Bypass, Lapband, Veritcal Sleeve Gastectomy, Duodenal Switch, Vergito / Ileal Transposition and Bariatric Revision surgeries. Located in San Francisco, John Husted is the doctor fo. I'm not advocating any one over the other for you since I don't know you. I just suggest knowing about allll your options in case you have a dr. that does not do the other surgeries.

There's a new one from AVON out there--I really want to try it but haven't yet. I tried Bio-Oil but that just seemed to make my scars a bit softer--no help with stretch marks. I think there are some laser treatments out there for them....probably expensive! If anyone has found anything that works on new or old marks, I'd love to know too!

BrandyII, I think this step back can be a healthy decision for you. But please don't feel like you can't come back. If you ever need to talk, even complain, please PM me here or search for me by this name on OH if you will be around there.

BrandyII--After reading through these posts, I'll understand if you decide to go...but I just wanted to say that I'll miss you and your brave comments everyday. And, if you do stick around, I will be here for you.

I've found the ACA and even CoDA groups to be helpful at times, although I could not attend as regularly as I wanted to. There isn't one I can make in my area at the moment, but I'm hoping I'll find something when I move to San Francisco soon. I also did a lot of great work with with one on one therapy, plus some other group therapy through my healthcare that wasn't specifically 12 step but still quite helpful. And, like many have mentioned, I've had some success with Paxil and especially Wellbutrin over the years. Not so much with the Prozac. I was able to wean myself off of the wellbutrin a couple years ago. It's just comforting to be reminded that I'm not alone!

Thanks so much for responding BrandyII. I totally understand--even though I can't feel it myself yet-- about the peaceful feeling once they are gone. I don't mean to sound morbid either--but it is just so difficult to watch (or even just know from afar) that they are steadily declining.

Hello to my fellow Adult Children of Alcoholics.... First I just want to say that it's really difficult to speak or write about how my parents' alcohol dependency is impacting my life. I've started to write this thread so many times and quit because the denial and defeatism is such a strong part of me. So strong, in fact, that it took me 10 minutes sitting here just to type "my parents' alcohol dependency"! I wanted to start a discussion on how our eating habits were (and still are) influenced by the drug/alcohol dependent in our lives. For me, food was the singular comfort in a life where I only saw my parents sober for a precious couple of hours a day--after they got home from work. For the past year I've had to live with them again. My dad was in recovery after almost dying in detox a couple of years ago but he has recently starting drinking again (I started finding the hidden vodka and wine stowed away in closets and the garage). My mom has never stopped. It's so difficult to watch them wasting away. Anyhow, my lapband journey has been slow, and I've been mentally avoiding how living in this house has made the journey harder. God willing, I will be able to move out in the next month or so. You know what the worst thought is? They love me more than anything. They paid for this surgery and supported me. But all the money and love in the world won't make them sober. Sorry I don't have a clear question for the thread. I just wanted to send this out unto the internet void and listen for others.

You said your mouth was filling up with liquid--you mean you aren't swallowing your own spit? I know that my stomach swells some right after a fill. Then it subsides after a day or two. Then again maybe what you're experiencing is in part heartburn...I'm not sure what that feels like exactly either. I think as long as you can get down liquids you are ok--but if you can't don't wait too long and risk dehydration! hope you feel better soon.

Welcome! I'm a NorCal girl too--just farther north in the Fairfield/Vacaville area. I was done by Dr. Husted in San Francisco. I'm not sure about the left shoulder pain. I definitely had it for a little while. I've read two theories--one that it's gas from the surgery, the other, that the band is near a nerve to your shoulder. I've really no idea what's really up. Post something if you find out the real reason, I'm curious! Best of luck to you and your band journey!

kiz--when I was deciding on doctors, I was wary of the doctors that said they did lapband but, as it turned out, really only backed Gastric Bypass. I ended up going with a wonderful doctor who has a wide array of WLS experience (he does Lapband, Duodenal Switch, Gastric Bypass, Vertical Sleeve, and VERGITO). He also specializes in Revision surgeries (revising WLS on patients from other surgeons that didn't work). His motto is "If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." That is, if a doctor is only skilled at one or two surgeries, then he/she may only see patients as fitting into his/her skill set. Please do your research on everything available to you so you know you got the surgery that is best for you in the long run. You deserve the best!! Two good websites for more infor are ObesityHelp and also my Dr's site, www.johnhustedmd.com .

My Dr. told me I had a deep port as well. As I was told, it's good in that it reduces the chance that the port will be visible down the road when you've lost a lot of weight. I was pretty sore too when my Dr. was initially feeling for the port. Your fills shouldn't be a problem if your Dr. knows what he or she is doing. I ultimately had my first two under fluoro so he could determine exactly where the port was and how it was laying. I've only been poked with that fill needle once per fill--not like some who come out feeling like a pin cushion. If you ever feel that way--request the fluoroscopy. It's better to be safe than being poked a bunch of times and risk puncturing a hole in your tubing.

My port has been very deep and a bit tricky from day one, so I have had 3 fluoro's done--2 of them we did fills but the last one revealed my port was tilted downward. Sad but I'm glad we found out. Based on the last fluoro pic, my Dr. was able to study exactly how it was positioned and come up with a better access angle. The next time I came to his office he accessed my port freehand/using a shorter, less bendy needle. Actually, I thought it was really interesting to look up and see a picture of my spine, the port, and other unidentifiable innards.