Darlyn Dwan Rottkamp DeVoe

The way I see it ...... I gained 5 to 6 pounds a year for 30 years...... I am THRILLED to lose 5 to 6 pounds a month..... And you are averaging better than that. I quit weighing altogether at home. I only weigh at my doctor's office. I have hit two stalls or plateaus. I can feel your frustration. But, I have noticed, that once the stall breaks, the weight starts rolling off again. I was banded in August of 2013, so the year before you. I'm guessing you are not in the GREEN zine yet. It took me over seven months to get there, and that elusive zone has left me twice once I though I achieved it. The band needs constant readjustment for some people; others never need a fill and are in the GREEN from day one. Another way I kick start weight loss after a stall is by changing up something in my exercise routine or my eating routine. It does seem to work. Best wishes.

if you are losing *inches*......aka current clothes getting bigger on you or having to buy smaller clothes, then you ARE losing regardless of what a stupid scale says or does not say
keep doing what you are doing
eating, drinking, moving/exercising
as its working..its not a rush to the finish line
living life will never end until our last breath
enjoy the trip but keep reality in your sights
it did not take us overnight to be so large to need WLS
the weight wont disappear in a days time...it takes time
sounds like you are doing great
that is what gives to me.

I hate to tell you this but it is not going to get any easier. I am 3 months post-op and today I found myself so hungry. I have had 3 very small fills, and even though I am able to eat a little, I usually get hungry 1-2 hrs after meals. I really try not to snack, but it can be hard. The band does not stop us from eating. It does not restrict anything. What it will do, when we reach the green zone is keep us from getting hungry 4-5 hours between meals. Allowing us to only eat 3 meals with no Snacks. All we can do until then is watch what we eat and exercise. We'll get to the green zone. It just may take more than a few fills. Hang in there. I am

You might be "starving " if you haven't had a fill, its called Bandster Hell for a reason. You might try tracking your food, Water and exercise on Myfitnesspal.com. It will really break down what you're eating and might help you see where you can improve. Good luck !

Welcome to Bandster Hell. I was in BH for 4 months. This is the part your surgeon forgets to tell you about. There's very little, if any, saline in your band now so the hole between your 2 oz pouch and lower stomach is pretty much wide open. Therefore you can still eat just like you did before surgery. You won't feel satiety and eat less till you get enough fills to give you this feeling.
I managed to not gain weight by eating healthy foods as much as possible and working out as much as I could. I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Focus on eating healthy foods and stay away from slider foods like sugar drinks, chocolate, Soups, ice cream, chips, crackers and high fat drinks like latte.

Looks like your surgery was in August and this is September. 9 lbs is right on track. Bandsters usually lose 1 to 2 lbs a week. I did my whole journey at 1 lb a week. You can't hurry progress and at least you're moving in the right direction.

Forget full sweetie. Full means you've gone too far. What you want is satiety. Meaning, not hungry but not full. You are in bandster hell. It can take months and multiple fills before you are in the green. Being in the green means you can go 4-5 hours between meals without being hungry. It also means that the appetite is tamped down just enough to allow you to make good food choices.
Just keep doing what you are doing...it's a diet right now and you just have to get through this part. Don't get discouraged. There are a number of vets on this forum who have been very successful even though they gained weight during bandster hell. You have to remember that none of us gained the weight overnight, and we won't lose it that way either. This is a lifetime change....regardless of how long it takes to lose the weight. Good luck...come see us when you are feeling low. We'll help you stay on track.

I too was taking daily injections of lantus, and oral meds also....as I lost weight, my Diabetic meds, as well as the rest of the meds I was taking decreased....
I have been off all Diabetic medications for years now...
I still get routine lab work done every 4 months, and everything has been spot on...completely normal.
I was a real mess, with one foot in the grave...my PCP kept telling me if I could loose weight, it would all go away....of course I could not loose the weight by any of the standard diets, tried and failed....it was then he brought up Bariatric Surgery and suggested I go for a consult....
I have been 100% successful for a few years, my weight as well as my health!!!!
Never had an issue with my band, other than getting it adjusted......
Best decision I could have ever made... Changed...and saved...my life.

I was insulin resistant before surgery. I was taking 200 units of lantus daily and over 30 units of Humalog and my blood sugar was still 250 plus and at times was 500 for just eating a potato. when I got my lapband I really had to take my blood around 4 times a day. I was eating no carbs except what was in vegetables. my blood sugar dropped to 100 and I started to have real low blood sugars. Gosh I hated it when it happened. within 2 months I was taking only 30 units of insulin at night and no Humalog. I stopped all insulin 4 months ago I think. I am still on Glucophage but only 1 in morning and 1 at night. my liver is still releasing sugars into my blood. but there is talk of discontinuing that too. I believe the discolorations you are talking about will fade in time if not go away completely. I wish you luck. lapband surgery saved my life it will yours too.

A friend of mine had the sleeve done about a year and a half ago. Just had to have her gall bladder out. Don't know what causes this, but it's not only lap band.

Still have the shoulder pain. Think I enjoyed my pureed cream of mushroom Soup too much last night. I have to learn to STOP. I guess that comes with time. Otherwise, I'm down 18 lbs!!! YAY

Hi all, my name is Darlyn and I am 59 years old. I've been battling my weight since 3rd grade. By 8th grade I weighed 175 lbs @ 5'4". Got thin once in my late teens but only for a year or two. Weight Watchers was always my go to because it allowed dessert, cocktails, etc., but I gave up dieting years ago after I had back surgery. I was in an accident at work (I drove a school bus) and I now have constant pain and sciatica. I am also diabetic and was very depressed.. Last Christmas I had to park quite far from the stores and found I needed to borrow a wheelchair to get back to my car after 2 hours of shopping. I then decided that I needed to get my act together before I got too old. So here I am. I was banded on 8/25/14 and also had a hiatal hernia fixed. I'm on the right road to a new life. My current weight is 229 at 5' 7". My goal is 160 lbs. and to get off my diabetic meds. Please wish me luck!

Still have the shoulder pain. Think I enjoyed my pureed cream of mushroom Soup too much last night. I have to learn to STOP. I guess that comes with time. Otherwise, I'm down 18 lbs!!! YAY

Hi all, my name is Darlyn and I am 59 years old. I've been battling my weight since 3rd grade. By 8th grade I weighed 175 lbs @ 5'4". Got thin once in my late teens but only for a year or two. Weight Watchers was always my go to because it allowed dessert, cocktails, etc., but I gave up dieting years ago after I had back surgery. I was in an accident at work (I drove a school bus) and I now have constant pain and sciatica. I am also diabetic and was very depressed.. Last Christmas I had to park quite far from the stores and found I needed to borrow a wheelchair to get back to my car after 2 hours of shopping. I then decided that I needed to get my act together before I got too old. So here I am. I was banded on 8/25/14 and also had a hiatal hernia fixed. I'm on the right road to a new life. My current weight is 229 at 5' 7". My goal is 160 lbs. and to get off my diabetic meds. Please wish me luck!

Mariemarie, my sleep apnea disappeared about 4-5 months after being banded. What a relief not to have to haul that machine around if I was traveling, (what a pain !) ! Also nice to know that I dont snore or gasp for breath in my sleep anymore. Having sleep apnea increase s your chance of stroke, so its nice to know that higher risk of stroke is gone. Hope this helps ! Good luck !!

I was 56 when I had surgery. I now play with my grandchildren without being out of breath. I was off insulin about 4 months after surgery. and can eat carbs now without my blood sugar going up. I still have to take Glucophage but only 2 a day. its the next med I will come off of. I wish you luck on your journey. you will love life again.

How are you feeling? The shoulder pain is the worst...it gets sooo much better towards the end of week 2. Heating pad and gas x helps a lot.

Welcome.. At age 66 I decided to take control of my health. I was slowly killing myself with food. I had diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. at 5' zero and 200 lbs it was becoming more and more difficult for me to even keep my house clean or go to the grocery store. after having lapband surgery in January 2013 I have lost 60 lbs. I am slowly getting to my goal. I have been taken off of my diabetic meds, no more blood pressure and my cholesterol is normal. The shoulder pain will go away in about a week or so. I used a heating pad which helped a lot. Walking and moving also helped. Best of luck to you on your new adventure to better health and happier living.

Hi all, my name is Darlyn and I am 59 years old. I've been battling my weight since 3rd grade. By 8th grade I weighed 175 lbs @ 5'4". Got thin once in my late teens but only for a year or two. Weight Watchers was always my go to because it allowed dessert, cocktails, etc., but I gave up dieting years ago after I had back surgery. I was in an accident at work (I drove a school bus) and I now have constant pain and sciatica. I am also diabetic and was very depressed.. Last Christmas I had to park quite far from the stores and found I needed to borrow a wheelchair to get back to my car after 2 hours of shopping. I then decided that I needed to get my act together before I got too old. So here I am. I was banded on 8/25/14 and also had a hiatal hernia fixed. I'm on the right road to a new life. My current weight is 229 at 5' 7". My goal is 160 lbs. and to get off my diabetic meds. Please wish me luck!

I was banded Dec , 2011 at age 53. My only regret is I did'nt know about the band sooner ! Every single thing in my life is better, I have nothing but good things to say about the band. The 5% daily negative is nothing compared to the 95% daily positive ! Im happy and healthy again ! Hope all goes well for you, welcome to the Loser's Club !!!

I will soon to be 63, and also 5'8",....started out at 265-270, (not sure because I couldn't bear to weight myself), and I am now at 165 (and have been for almost 3 years).....with a 12-13% body fat %...considered "Athletic"
All severe co-morbidites have been reversed, including diabetes, high BP, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, you name it.
Had an MI one year before surgery, resulting in angioplasty with cardiac stents.
I could not carry groceries into the house without getting short of breath.
I now feel 25 years younger and feel confident and motivated to take on the world.
So you see, you are never too old to take care of yourself, and above all, THIS THING DOES WORK!
(in spite of all the negative posters you may read here, and eventually fade away anyway)

Congratulations on your decision to start the journey to good health. I am on day 16 post op, 10 pounds down and feeling great. I walked every time the gas pain hit. I am 55. Taking back control of my life and hope I will have many successes to share. First goal is to get rid of my sleep apnea.

Welcome. I was banded in January of 2013 and just turned 56 a couple of weeks ago. I feel better and younger than I have in forever. I have enough energy to do almost anything and I was nearly immobile before the lapband and subsequent hip replacement (which I wouldn't have gotten without the weight loss)
You will do great and get off you meds and find yourself exercising and embracing life again as I have. Wishing you all the best!

Welcome to the best club in the world. I was banded in January. I am 7 lbs away from me 1st goal. I weighed 249 this time last year.Now I am at 207. I am so happy. I have not weighed this since my son was a baby ( 2 months old) he is now 22.

"Welcome to the best club in the world"
Love this!