louiseobi

I began my journey in Nov 2014 and lost 26 lbs by surgery. I had my LB done 4/16/15 and have lost 23 more lbs for 49 total.
Today was the first day that I got any compliment on how I look!! I got " wow you look great!", " wow you've lost a lot of weight". This happened all morning!! I was so happy! Only a few people at work know I had WLS.
Picture from my vacation last week...my dgt said it was my Kim Kardashian dress!! Lol

I posted last month that I thought I was at green. Nope! I didn't lose a single pound last month and I didn't change anything - except for join a gym, lol. I got half a cc and now have 6.5 cc's in my band.
But, really, I am going to give a teeny tiny mini rant. All of my fills are done at an aftercare center, which is fine. My office has been in flux since my frst fill and have moved twice. My 1st fill was at their old office, all the others at their 'new' temporary offices, and by my next follow up they will be in their 'new' permanent office.
The nurses who take the vitals have all been the same but I have seen a different tech every single time. Not a bad thing, just noting. For my 2nd fill they used an x-ray and when I mentioned that on my 3rd visit the tech just shook her head and said there was no reason for that, lol.
Anyway, so the guy I saw this time came in and proceeded to...offer all kinds of information, and saying how most people at my stage don't actually need a fill; they need a dietary adjustment. i was a little annoyed at this, but I chose to look at it as an opportunity to learn and all that jazz. So asked a question here and there and his response was "you need to quit watching Oprah and Dr. Oz." Say whaaaa? A) I never mentioned them or anything they might have said considering diet or the band and I don't watch them at all! And then when I asked a question about losing goal weight in the first year, that I had read several places where it has been said that if you don't lose a significant amount of the weight you need to in the first year, it gets a lot harder after that. He told me I need to stop reading ".com" articles and start reading ".edu" articles. At that I actually snapped back, replying that my husband works at a university and I know just how reliable all their publications can be...
So aggravating! I am sure his intentions were good. There was part of me that thought - gee, I should have had this about 3 fills ago, lol, but mostly I walked away thinking the visit could have been so much more helpful had he just been nice instead of a jerk.
ok, rant done! If you read this far, laugh with me! :-) I guess I get the last laugh because I really believe I am at my green, and I am happy and satisfied. I will go for at least another follow up visit, but I think I am done with fills.

I should retake pictures. After my TT I have even lost more inches. I love my band.

Wow, this is SO inspiring! Here's my before-and-during...

Hello again
I thought I'd add Fiona (Blonde) & my (dark hair) photo here too.
together we've lost 390 pounds
I've lost 167 & she's lost 203 !
This is a fantastic thread !! luvving yer work peeps !
Aud x

Thanks for starting the thread. It IS inspiriring to see everyone. Here's my current before/after.
Mary

This is just the kind of thread I need today. When I start to get discouraged, I try to get out my before photos and not only look at the difference physically, but feel how different I am inside as well.
Thanks, Lisa for doing this!
I've lost another 10 since this photo but I don't have a new one scanned in yet. I'll work on getting a new one scanned in this weekend.
Megan

Recent pics

5 months and 50lbs later!

Sorry to hear about that, I had a hole right from the get go, took 5 months and 7 fills before they figured it out, never lost a ounce, I had my port replacement surgery and after my second fill with that one ( 2 month after the second surgery ) i finally started loosing weight, so stick in there, sounds like you have been doing GREAT so far and the replacement band will give you a brand new jump start. right now things seem crappy but it will get better I promise! and the second surgery is nothing compared to the first.

wow, i have been banded with plication for almost 2 yrs
and been on this forum for 2 yrs 4 months..where has the time gone?
i am happier today then i was when i started in Feb 2012...compared to
where i am now today..
the only (advice) i want to give is the following (take it or ignore it):
call your doctor if you are hurting or concerned or need (assistance w/questions can i or should i eat/do/drink) i strongly advise anyone to do what THEIR doctor says, not mine or anyone elses.. use common sense (you cant gain true weight overnight and you wont lose true weight overnight) eating more calories than you burn off will make you gain weight with or without any WLS reality is clothes sizes getting smaller is a accurate sign of losing weight (dont focus totally on the metal monster) you do not have to be at goal in six months...get there when you do...WLS has no expiration date and last but not least
believe in yourself to give yourself credit..you know if you eat too much of the not so great food chioices out there
dont say the WLS did not stop you..you stop you.....YOU can control yourself..(you wont step out in front of a train would you??)
WLS will help you but it wont be the save all as that part is up to you and me
be well and all the best to you.

Well today it finally happened. I was given my date for my lap band surgery.
Finally after all the years of shopping for whatever fit me then shopping for what I wanted.
Finally after all the years of standing behind in a photo to hide instead of up front.
Finally after all the years of food being in control of me, I will be in control of my food.
In a little over a month everything that has always been in front of me will be behind me....way behind.
Wish me luck!

This is just under 2 months post-op

Yesterday, I stopped by the bariatric nurses office at the hospital where I had my band put in. A couple of weeks before my surgery we had to go in for some tests and education. While there, they took all of my measurements, got me on the Tanita scale for analysis, and took a before pic. So I stopped by yesterday to see if they could do the Tanita scale for me. I'm always interested in my BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) which is how many calories your body burns just to live. Attached is my before and after pic they took and also a pic of the paper showing my measurement changes and the print out from the Tanita scale. I was floored at the pics. It still amazes me to see before pics. I don't have a lot of them because, like many others, I hid from the camera. I love my band. And I am loving life!
 

Before n after pics. Started at 277 n now I'm 129. Had surgery March 19th 2013. No regrets watsoever

I feel amazing. I am so happy that I decided to go with the lapband. It's hard but so worth it. I started of dieting one month after my son was born at 250. Day of surgery (end of jan 2014) I was 232. Yesterday I weighed in at 179. I can't believe it. I didn't think the surgery would work for me as many of you can understand. But it did. My goal is to get to 150 give or take but I am just so proud of myself. Thank you all for your advice and inspirational stories.

After all the sweat and hard work I finally hit that coveted goal. 344 to 220 and I've never felt better. I'm living walking proof that the Lap-Band can work if you commit.
If anyone ever has questions for somebody who's been down the Lap-Band road I'm more than happy to share my opinions just post your questions in here.
 

I just seen this followup post....Glad to hear you are continuing to search for answers as to WHY YOUR BAND ISN'T WORKING the way it should. I gained weight TOO, when mine came unbuckled.....but then again....why wouldn't I? I had reverted to eating too much....A footlong subway one time and a whopper from BK.....I knew it wasn't on "the plan". But I had surgery to fix all that....or so I thought. I don't succeed by dieting, watching calories, self Portion Control, etc. My band has to dictate my portions....LONGTERM. I gained over 30 pounds in the months mine wasn't working. I didn't go to my surgeon for over a year, because I was embarrassed.....bad mistake.

I still don't know the answer to this in your case....Does the fluoro show restriction of the barium? On mine, when my band came unbuckled, my doctor could easily see it. And like you say about yours....my surgeon HAD done over a 1000 lapbands. I was the first one he'd ever had that happen to. Lucky me! LOL.
IF....IF your's turns out to be a similar issue, my experience went like this:
For me, he got me scheduled for surgery ASAP....he was ready to get me in the next day!....I was in and out of the hospital in about 4 hours.
And my band has worked great ever since. So as you may see me refer to on here....I've never had any "band" caused problems. Mine was an installation "issue" we think. Correctly installed bands shouldn't come unbuckled....per my surgeon, Who I consider a GREAT doctor...and friend.
Best wishes and I hope you find the issue and get it corrected asap. Keep us updated!
David

Ummm .... yeeeeaaaahhh. Gas-X is my best friend anymore. Also ... your tummy will start making growling sounds even when you aren't hungry. Be prepared for that. I didn't believe that it would happen, but it has and does.

Day of surgery Sept 23 2014 second picture is two weeks after. An the pic by its self is today five weeks post op

I've been doing very well with my sleeve. It’s said on this site all the time but I'm say it as well...Getting the sleeve was the best decision I've made and I wouldn't change anything. I had a positive outlook on the entire situation from the beginning and I truly believe that helped.

I started out at 262lbs, I lost 15lbs from doing the pre op diet, and today I weight 156lbs so total I’ve lost 106lbs. I started in a size 22 now I’m in a size 8.

No, I did not work out, however I did change my eating habits, I completely gave up sugar and only do sugar substitute or sugar free. I do Protein first and I eat a lot of Protein Bars, I can’t stand the shakes they make me nauseous.

In the beginning this was all like a fantasy or a dream, but now I’m actually living it and it feels wonderful.

I am 2 months post op. Down 91 pounds since the beginning of my journey. Sorry about the pics. Refused to take a good picture before and I am sad about that now I have about 37 pounds to make it to my first goal. Don't know if I will go further after that or not. Feels good to be losing though. I'm fit back into my wedding dress the other day.
Not perfectly but at least it went on.

I enjoy them .i am hear to help so ask away

Wow that's great!! How long did it take to loose the first weight with the band?

How much weight did you lose? (If you don't mind me asking)