lkgrubb

We can't lose if we are too tight. One of two things keep this from happening. Either we go into starvation mode, where our body thinks we are in a famine, and it slows down everything. Or we tend to eat a lot of slider foods, and the calories add up much quicker than we thought. I have watched this in my daughter. She lost 95 lbs after banding, but cannot lose at all when she is too tight. She eats icecream, pumpkin pie, yogurt, whatever goes down easily. I haven't been too tight yet, but a couple of times I wondered. Both times were right after a fill. I loosened up in a couple weeks though, and now I can eat real food. Very small amounts of it, but I can eat. This is why they don't recommend people doing their own fills. Because we are over weight paople, we are naturally creatures who think if a liittle bit is good, then a whole lot is better. I suggest you log your food intake and calorie intake and see where you really are. You most likely need a slight unfill. It is okay to eat. I really hope you figure it out soon. Hugs!!!

Thanks for the reminder.I will call and make an appointment to have it unfilled a little to see if it helps let the Protein go down easier. I know I should have gone here for support but figured I had hit a plateau, But I think you might be right since I feel like I am in starvation mode, and you are right about slidders, although I don't eat anything except brothy Soups, and things easy to go down. But even that is not giving me the nourishment I need.

Thanks again.

K

I also took along time to reach restriction. I also had the same doctor you have and couldn't understand why I never felt it. I finally at 11 months asked them to fill it as tight as possible. Well then I could not eat more then 2 bites till I became very uncomfortable. I have been like this for 6 months, do not have hunger, can not eat much, have not lost any more weight then before final fill. I guess I will schedule another appointment and see what is up. It is frustrating to have reached 2 years and be only half way there, but the scale is still stuck at the same spot and not climbing, which as happened to many in my support group. Keep up the good work though it is still better to be 60 lb down.

I have never seen the doctor since surgery 25 months ago, just her PA

I also took along time to reach restriction. I also had the same doctor you have and couldn't understand why I never felt it. I finally at 11 months asked them to fill it as tight as possible. Well then I could not eat more then 2 bites till I became very uncomfortable. I have been like this for 6 months, do not have hunger, can not eat much, have not lost any more weight then before final fill. I guess I will schedule another appointment and see what is up. It is frustrating to have reached 2 years and be only half way there, but the scale is still stuck at the same spot and not climbing, which as happened to many in my support group. Keep up the good work though it is still better to be 60 lb down.

Depending on here you live, I have bought it at Walmart, Kroger's and also there is Carbmaster which is at all Kroger affiliates.

I am in support group in the Prescott area. Comments in the group seem to mimic your comments. It does not appear to get any better after surgery. I went to Scottsdale Bariatric and many seem pleased with mayo and the one in Tempe.

JoanneMarie,

My advice would be to start the liquid phase on November 28th , Look at it as the first day of the rest of your life. Enjoy Thanksgiving Day/ dinner, be thankful for your decision to move forward in your life, you family and all your blessings.

The Realize Band has been great for me, my support group is made up of all varieties of WLSurgery types and we share our successes and what works for us as individuals and as a group. Some are one week out from WLS and some are 5 years out. Support counts!

Keep in touch

PS. Phyziz,

salads cause "dumping" for me

K

Since my program stresses close to 100 grams of Protein a day, I must have 3 meals and 3 snax to get all protein in. I am concerned about the fact that without the number of grams of protein, the body starts to "eat" muscles, since I am a heart patient, and my heart is a BIG muscle,I must protect it. Also the amount of protein causes a slower weight loss BUT I have had no/or minimum loose skin problems.

I do occsionally have a frozen popsicle (15 Calories),but since I am rarely if never hungry, I just eat protein and take my suppliments.

Phylis,

My program is 3 meals a day, 15 minutes each, 20 grams of Protein, i.e. hard boiled egg, 2 oz of cheese, small fruit/veg. eaten in that order

OR

Protein Slam (25 grams of protein), From Wal-mart

64+ oz of Water each day, usually 100 oz.

Never with meals,

CARRY water with me always

3 small snacks; i.e.: Peanuts, 1/8 cup, Tablespoon Peanut Butter, ALWAYS protein, 1/4 cup Cottage cheese, 1 oz of reduced fat hard cheese

The minute I feel full, STOP

30 minutes of exercisex2 per day, Attempting to reach 15,000 steps per day

Have a great Day!

K

My doctor has never allowed me to count calories.

Protein Yes, amount Yes, time allowed to eat a meal,Yes, But NEVER calories,

:thumbup:

Hi every one, Long time no messages. But I am back. I have lost 50+ pounds since my surgery and feel great. I am halfway there.

Continue to loose slowly, finally in September since I had no real restriction and could eat anything I wanted. I asked Doctor to remove all saline and then put it back in. ( at time I had 7.5 in a 9cc Realize band) Well let me tell you I now have restriction. But still manage to get about 90 - 110 grams of Protein in every day. I manage to down a Protein Slam down (3 oz drink with 25 grams of protein) once to twice per day. Since I am never hungry I must force myself to eat/drink even these

People are really starting to notice weight loss and compliments come in almost daily. I try not to buy any clothes since I do not stay in a sizevery long. Hope to be in a size 10 by Christmas, down from a 20 (Jan2008)

I joined a really good support group in Northern AZ and we meet every Thursday, the support is great and really makes a difference.

Best of Luck to all keep us updated.

K

Karen, he used a newer model called the AP Large. He said he uses them now with all his patients. I haven't been hospitized for a long time, and I was amazed at the new technology. I had a hospital gown that self-heated or cooled, and instead of compression hose I had a velco wrap- around that slowly inflated and moved up and down my calves like a massage.

MaryD,

I had the same heated gown and also the same velcro on legs, to massage. Only trouble I had was since I had a pacemaker in the scale they weighed me on can not be used on someone with a pacemaker. It stopped my pacemaker, but thankfully all was fine. Anyone with a pacemaker can not use a scale that measures body fat.

I am not familiar with your band and will have to some research for my support group,do you know who makes it?

Please take care.

Karen

MaryD,

So happy for you! This great news that all went well. Obviously the docs are getting better. No Gas pains and only 2 incisions! WOW!

Wht kind of band did they use?

Keep us updated!

Karen

Congrats on entering the next stage of your life! It is just a wonderful journey. Although sore at times, the benefits are tremendous. Take care and let us all know your progress!

Doddie63

Thanks for the encouragement. I actually went to my PC doctor on Friday and he is very happy witht the weight loss / not being to fast, with the skin tone and overall blood work. I will start B12 shots next week so that I get maximun benefit from B Vitamins into blood not into digestive system.

Have a great weekend!

K :tt2:

Hello to everyone.

Well I am doing the same as before except I think after my fill yesterday I finally go RESTRICTION!

I now have 8 cc in a 9cc band. I am on liquids again and having some discomfort but hoping by tomorrow things will have settled down.

Good news is even though weight loss is only 1 pound a week average the trend is always downward. No weight gain at all. Clothes continue to get looser, I am sleeping better and all in all feeling good. Do Water exercises about 4 times a week and have added water yoga!

Thanks will do

Phyll,

I know you posted instruction for Ticker, but for the life of me I can not remeber how to do it. Can you refresh my memory on how to cut and paste, and what exactly to cut and paste. Since I have tried to update and have not been successful!

Thanks and have a pleasant day.

K

Lynn how did you cut and paste your ticker in I have tried several times and continue to just get words? Must be cutting and pasting wrong thing, I need to update and cannot remember how

Hi everyone,

Sorry but I tend to post when I receive notice others are posting. Just lazy. I had a third fill, but still no real restriction that I can tell. I had only lost 2 pounds in 6 weeks, of watching intake and exercise. Somewhat discouraging, but at least the trend is in the right direction. If there is a secret to this let me know.

Have a great week!

Hi, I also am 67 and I am trying to make up my mind about the Lap Band. I've already had angioplasty with stent, diabetes, arthritis and my husband says I snore something awful so probably have sleep apnea. I've had my left knee replaced but it has never been right so I must do someting and soon. I have Medicare and Tri Care For Life and I think what discourages me more than anything is what to do if the Insurance turns me down. My PCP and Endocrinologist tells me to go for it so I should just go ahead and give it a try. Let me know how you are doing. Young AT Heart

PLEASE go for it,I did at 65 and am so happy I did. I also had a pacemaker, 4 stents, overweight for 20+ years, sleep apnea and bad knees. I had no quality of life and was going down hill. I had the surgery and it was such a positive impact on my life. I just told the doctor the other day when he mentioned that I was over 30 and must expect some problems and I looked him straight in the eye and said "your crazy I am getting younger daily not older andI won't accept that as an excuse "

He laughed and said you are right and left the room chuckling!

I am growing younger and intend to continue doing it!

I am wondering if anyone out there has an EOB showing the amount the insurance company paid to the hospital. (amount allowed is what it is called on the EOB) I paid cash and am trying to submit a claim to my insurance company for review, but I am wondering if it is even worth it to do so.

Thanks!

Donna

I had surgery done by Dr. Blackstone and she accepted what Medicare and BCBS paid at the time. At this time she is no longer accepting Medicare patients is my understanding. I will tell you that Medicare only allowed 10% of the charges and bcbs only paid 20% of that.

But if you followed all the guidelines set for BCBS of AZ then your bill should be covered and worth submitting. Each BCBS has different guiedelines for coverage in each state.

i just had a birthday i am now 62 i cant believe i am this age i have been wanting wt loss surgery forever i still dont have it i went to a wt loss surgeon and had all the evaluations and that is as far as i have gotten the wt loss ssurgeons staff is and has been from the very beginning been giving me a hard time i have had to jump thru hoops and more hoops every week it is something else i even paid them my money i am really agravated with them i have even asked and received notes from my drs stating that i am a good candidate for the lapband but the surgeons doesnt think.i am i am fighting them as i like the surgeon but his staff well that is a different story they dont even know how to relate to people and i hate that for the drs sake anyway that is my story hope to hear from u all soon

Write your letter to the surgeon and send it certified mail so he has to sign for it and then perhaps he will read it and you will get his atttention.

Awesome news, I also think I am making muscle out of fat, and slowly loosing weight,mucscle does weigh more then fat. Clothes are fitting now instead of stretching to fit.

Keepup the good work!

Love those NSV

I went to Robin Blackstone At Scottsdale Bariatric Center. Fabulous

experience, they have a great setup, great training, and I am so happy I went there. They are really professionals. You can find it on internet and visit their website.

Best of luck