PATCHELTON

My insurance also required the 6 month weight loss attempt. Don't view it as a roadblock, or delay, but as an opportunity to learn all you can about the band, the surgery, what to expect, the good, bad and ugly. During my 6 months I joined here and read everything I could (obesityhelp.com is another place to get lots of info). There are several good books out that would be helpful to read. Two that I have are The Lapband Solution, and The Lapband Companion. I got them from Amazon. There are many others, as well as cookbooks for post op, you name it. I also spent time adjusting my attitude. I work in a fairly large office and my desk is at one end. The phtocopier/scanner is at the other. Originially I resented the hike every time I needed to copy or scan (walk to the scanner, put papers in, walk back to my desk, activate the scanning software, when done walk back to get my papers and back again to my desk). Now I view it as an opportunity to get up from my desk, and as additional exercise walking back and forth. I stopped being mad about it. By the time I had surgery I knew so much about it I could almost do the surgery myself (just kidding). I also got my head around the fact that for the band to work, I had to adhere to the program, make a committment to exercise and eat better. I still try to eat too much, and maybe don't chew as thoroughly, but with very little restriction I have lost around 80 pounds. I had one fill that made me so uncomfortable I had 2 unfills. The last time I saw the doctor for a fill he talked me out of it because I had still lost 7 pounds between visits, and he said I was ahead of schedule for weight loss for all three bariatric surgeries. So I can eat more, but I am eating better, and occasionally the density of the protein or something will remind me there is some restriction, if not a lot. I am very happy with my progress so far.

As for the fish oil, I take it for anti-inflammatory (I have knee arthritis) and cardiovascular benefits. I took gelcaps before banding and found Twin Labs Emulsified Liquid Fish Oil at a Healthy Options Store. Much much cheaper online at vitacost.com (less than $7 a bottle, 24 1-tblsp servings). It cost $13 at the store. Vitacost charges $4.99 shipping for any size order, so I get 2 or 3 bottles of Fish Oil (mint flavor). One tblsp gives 1600 Omega 3s. As for protien drinks, in the ready to drink type, my favorite is Worldwide Protein shakes. They come in vanilla Cream, chocolate Cream, strawberry Cream, Cookies 'n Cream (kind of tastes like liquid Oreos), and banana Cream. Trader Joe's if you have one in your area, is the cheapest, at $2.29 each for 35g and $1.69 for 21g. They only carry Vanilla and Chocolate. The Vitamin Shoppe only carries the 35s but has all the flavors at $2.79 each. GNC carries 35s in Vanilla and Chocolate for $2.99 each (other flavors can be ordered online). It says not for weight loss on the can, but we are not using it as a Meal Replacement, and I saw it on the approved Protein Drinks for Brigham and Womens Hospital bariatric program, as well as the Twin Labs Calcium Citrate/Magnesium/D chewables I use. Worldwide tastes much better than Atkins, has more protein, almost no fat or sugar and without the extra Vitamins (since we are taking them anyway). They are about 160-170 calories, maybe 1-2 sugars, 4 carbs and about 1-1.5g fat. They have my vote. It is the only ready to drink I use.

For the above poster and anyone interested in taking fish oil. I don't know what brand of liquid you tried, but I found Twin Labs Emulsified Fish Oil to be quite acceptable (once you get past the visual of it looking like milk of magnesia). It is mercury/lead/pcb free, mint flavored, and one tablespoon gives you 1600 Omega 3s. I had been taking gelcaps before surgery, and was looking for an alternative. It was $13.00 in a Healthy Options store, but I went to Twin Labs site and found vitacost.com who sells it for less than $7.00 a bottle. I believe it is 24 servings per bottle. I ordered several bottles and put on auto ship. Any size order is $4.99 shipping. I get Twin Labs Calcium Citrate with Magnesium and D chewables there as well. $18 in the store, less than $8.00 at vitacost. You can search by brand names and you have to wade through a few levels of Twin Lab products to find the fish oil, but it is there. I highly recommend it. I was taking for arthritis in my knees and for the cardiovascular benefits, so I didn't want to stop. I had my first bloodwork recently and was able to stop cholesterol meds (at least for 6 mos until I do more bloodwork) for the first time in 20 years.

Hi and welcome. I live in Harford County, Maryland. I don't know who the bariatric people are in Montgomery County, but I had my band done at St. Agnes in Baltimore, a little farther away, but is a Bariatric Center of Excellence. Drs. Singh (my surgeon), Averbach, and Von Reuden(was the head of Bariatrics at GBMC but left to join Singh and Averbach). When I decided to do this I started going to the group support meetings (as of 7/07). I learned a lot there(even had a post-op bandster tell me I didn't look heavy enough to need surgery--but I am 5'7" so it has farther to go). My insurance (Blue Choice) required a 6 month documented diet attempt, so while I was doing that I joined this site and Obesityhelp.com to learn all I could about the procedure. Their current office is in Catonsville at Route 40 and Rolling Road, but they are opening another office farther out into Howard County which might be closer to you if you are interested in using them. While you are waiting for your insurance, you might want to attend the initial seminar that all bariatric centers offer. There is no obligation after the seminar and it is free. If you use that group the seminar is a required first step. I would go to seminars at several locations, to see which is the best fit for you. If you want to check out St. Agnes, call the hospital and they will tell you when the next seminar is and give you a reservation for it. Good luck on your journey. Keep us posted.

Congratulations on your achievement! You should rightfully be proud of yourself.:biggrin2:

I am not the person who originally posted, but I have had a similar weight loss, and was banded 3/25/08, so I thought I might share my experience. My starting weight was 252 and my insurance required a 6 month documented weight loss attempt, so I consulted with the dietician on the bariatric team and she supervised it for me. I lost all of 10 pounds. I was still getting my head around the idea of not eating an entire pizza for dinner (something I have done many times) and saying goodbye to all the subs and stuff I loved to eat. My BMI was about 37-38 but I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, knee arthritis, sleep apnea, GERD, everything but diabetes. My liver enzymes were elevated on my cholesterol bloodwork. The surgeon said that could mean a fatty liver and not my meds. I was put on a pre-op diet of full liquids (broth, tea, cream Soups, juice diluted 50% with Water, sugar/fat free popsicles, etc.). I ended up on it for 3 weeks because I caught a cold and my surgery was bumped back, but only a week, not enough time to stop and restart. Up until 4 days before surgery I could have a small amount of lean Protein. I would have 2 hard cooked eggs or 2 unbreaded chicken tenders with just a little salt and pepper in the evening when I tended to be hungrier. 4 days before surgery just liquids. Post op 2 weeks of liquids, 2 weeks of mushies (apple sauce, instant mashed potatoes with fat free gravy, fat free refried Beans with a little salsa (pulverized in the blender) mixed together and nuked for 2 minutes with fat free cheese sprinkled on top when done, tuna and egg salad made with light mayo/mustard/salt/pepper, runny oatmeal made with skim milk, etc. After that it was regular food, trial and error. Bread even toasted didn't go down well so I have had virtually no bread (tried a slice recently and it was okay, but I had gotten used to not eating bread, so I don't other than fat free croutons on salad). Until yesterday I have had Pasta only once (after talking to dietician, since I hadn't been on regular food for long) and yesterday I tried a little macaroni salad which went okay. I eat a lot of salad with light or fat free dressings, but if I eat out, I will order my favorite dressings (pepper parm or Pizza Hut's romano cheese). Pizza Hut now offers chicken (grilled, barbecue and one other) on their salad for $2.00 extra, and if you eat there they offer steak. I have gotten the grilled chicken for my protein source, and enjoyed my romano cheese dressing. I buy chicken breasts and tenders at costco frozen and spray a pan with olive oil Pam and cook them on a low heat, then cut up for my home made chicken caesar salad. I use ham and turkey as well (found pillow packs in Mars Supermarket with ham or turkey julienne cuts, ready to toss into salad. My one indulgence is Mars' deviled egg potato salad. Since it has eggs in it I rationalized the potatoes, and have that occasionally. I use ground turkey and make chili with it (1 pkg turkey 93% lean, 1 pkg chili seasoning, 1 can kidney beans undrained, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can Old El Paso chopped green chilis, and some onion--brown the turkey, then put the rest in and simmer--melt Kraft fat free cheddar or mozarella on top). I also make a Tex Mex dip that I love (2 tubs fat free or light cream cheese, 1 can fat free refried beans--stir them together in a baking dish, spreading evenly--cover with chunky salsa, then cover with 1 8 oz pkg of fat free Kraft cheddar or mozarella--serve with baked taco chips if desired--can serve cold or put in oven covered with foil on low heat, about 250, for a couple hours while you clean or do laundry or whatever, and then you have a fondue style dish with melted cheese and warm salsa/cream cheese/refried beans--yum). I have had one fill of 3 ccs 6 weeks after surgery, but was so uncomfortable I called the surgeon the next day, met him at the hospital and he unfilled between 1.5 and 2ccs. In his office 2 weeks later I told him solid food was still bothering me so he took out another .5cc. On my last visit I had lost 7 pounds, so he talked me out of a fill, even though I am hungrier and capable of eating more. I really made a committment to eating better. Have not had chips (other than baked taco chips) or dip, or much in the way of bread/pasta/rice. I have also tried pizza only once and the dough didn't agree with me, so I invented a crustless pizza to satisfy my craving (microwavable dish--cover bottom with Ragu Homestyle pizza sauce, layer Hormel Turkey Pepperoni, onions, peppers, and Kraft fat free mozarella--nuke in microwave 2 minutes and enjoy). I do the same with turkey meatballs (spaghetti sauce, meatballs, parmesan cheese--nuke for 2 minutes--either a meatball sub without the roll, or spaghetti without the pasta). On the liquid before surgery I lost 25 lbs, and the rest has been post-op, with almost no restriction. I do exercise mostly every day. Nothing fancy--I belong to Curves, and in January started walking on weekends in a park near home. When daylight savings arrived, I started going to the park daily. There is a 2 mile nature path, and I usually go around twice. On other days, sometimes bad weather, I go to Curves and if daylight and weather permit do once around the park. I don't walk particularly fast--I carry peanuts for the squirrels and stop to feed them. I only walk fast if it starts to rain. So I am doing 2-4 miles a day, plus Curves. In the fall when I lose daylight I will do the park on weekends, and during the week I will have Curves and water aerobics. My legs were starting to slim even before surgery because of the walking. I have gone down several sizes in clothing and would like to reach 150 as my goal weight. Sorry to go on so long, but there was a lot to tell. I hope some of this info helps. Not every day is easy, but I try to "keep my eye on the prize" and recently based on my bloodwork, my PCP stopped both cholesterol meds, one of my blood pressure meds and my reflux med. I now have one bp med and a pain med for as needed. I may eventually not need the other bp med. I have been on these meds for over 20 years. There is not a potato chip in existence worth eating to have to go back on all those meds.

They gave me anti-nausea medication in the hospital (with me wondering why because I was never nauseated), but I never filled the Rx for use at home. I don't know if that is out of the ordinary or not. The only problem I see with going back to work after 3 days is driving. Most patients get pain medication for home that is a narcotic and they don't want you to drive until you don't need it anymore. I waited about 4 days to drive. If I wanted to take the pain med I waited until I was home and not planning to go anywhere. My favorite place to walk is a park a few miles from my house, so I was more anxious to drive there than go back to work. I did have lots of vacation time, so I took 4 weeks off. Probably only needed 2, if that. I did lots of stuff that I would normally have to take off work for. I walked everyday, too.

May I suggest The Lapband Solution, and The Lapband Companion, both available at Amazon.

I will tell you what happened to me. I came down with a slight cold the Friday before my Tuesday surgery. I called the surgeon's office, and they said they needed to postpone the surgery because you are at increased risk under anesthesia with anything respiratory going on, and Anesthesia won't touch you. My surgery was postponed a week. My cold was gone by the Monday before my original date. I had contemplated not telling them, but I am glad I did. An extra week on the pre-op liquid diet (not enough time to stop and restart for 2 weeks) was the only downside, and that wasn't all that bad. I was used to it by then, and managed to lose 25 lbs before surgery, so it wasn't all bad.

None of you should be intimidated about asking questions of your surgeon. If you are afraid you will forget, write them down, and bring out your list when he/she comes in. Don't be afraid to ask! The doctor can't halp you if he/she doesn't know you are having a problem. I had my first fill at 6 weeks. They make you sit for a while in the waiting room and drink Water. I was burping a bit but that was all, so he let me go. By bedtime even water was giving me indigestion. They tell you to do liquids for 48 hours after a fill, so I hadn't had any solid food. By the next morning I was miserable, with my chest so tight I almost took myself to the ER. Instead I called the surgeon's office, emailed the nurse educator, and ended up meeting the doctor at the hospital after he was finished with surgery, and got an unfill. I originally got 3ccs, and he took out 1.5 to 2ccs. I could feel the pressure leaving my chest. Tried that for 2 weeks then saw him in the office. I told him I was doing okay with liquids and soft foods, but other stuff was bothering me. He took out another .5cc and I was okay. Sometimes you will get stuck no matter what. I had very little restriction after the second unfill, and had eaten ham steaks before with minimal problem (if I didn't chew thoroughly I would feel tight somewhat, but it would pass). This time I ate one, then some green salad, and then the pressure started. I again seriously contemplated a trip to the ER. Then the sliming began. I wasn't nauseated but when something is stuck for some reason you produce excessive saliva that has only one place to go--up and out. I spent about 2 hours back and forth to the restroom to spit up (I was at work) and then I was okay. And that was with maybe 1cc of restriction, if that. The next time I went in, thinking I needed a fill because I could eat more and was hungrier, the surgeon talked me out of the fill. I was still losing (down 7 lbs from previous visit) and was actually losing so well I was ahead of schedule for the band, RNY, and sleeve. He was okay with my eating more because I still was losing (he even said it would be okay to gain a few--okay with him maybe, not with me!). So I didn't get the fill, and went home to work on identifying my head hunger, and making sure, even though I was eating more,that it was good stuff and not junk. Some people need several fills, others not as much. I never would have predicted my success as I have never lost much more than 20 or 30 lbs in any previous attempt. I am really committed to this, so I stay away from most Snacks (I have Kay's Naturals, Protein chips, kind of like Fritos, and sugar free popsicles if I have an urge for something sweet). The band won't do it alone, nor will the fills. You still have to make good food choices. I do urge all of you that have experienced being stuck to tell your surgeon, even if it delays your fill. Less problems in the long run. Good luck on your journey.

I find many of the powdered drinks benefit from a packet of Splenda. The smoothie described above sounds much like what I make with vanilla Protein powder, skim milk, Splenda, and frozen fruit (your choice). For ready to drink I like Worldwide Protein shakes. Cheapest at Trader Joe's if you have one in your area. About 160-170 cal, 4 carbs, 2 sugars, and 1 fat. It comes in 21 or 35 grams protein. Trader Joe carries both in Vanilla and chocolate. In Maryland the 21's are $1.69 and the 35's are $2.29 each. GNC carries the 35's in Vanilla and Chocolate but charges $2.99 each. The Vitamin Shoppe carries th 35's in all the flavors, which include Vanilla, Chocolate, banana Cream, Cookies n' Cream, and strawberry, and they charge $2.79 each. You can order the 35's online at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe.

I found it helpful to get my post-op Rx from the surgeon beforehand, unless you have someone who can go to the pharmacy for you after you come home. I live alone so I did that, then didn't have to stop on the way home. As for Protein drinks, unjury is good (powder that you mix), comes in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and chicken Soup flavors. Unjury.com is their site. You can also get EAS Advantage (powder or ready to drink) in Target or Walmart, an Atkins Advantage (ready to drink) at Target among other places. My sister found a Protein Drink at Trader Joe's called Worldwide Protein shake. TJ carries it in Vanilla or Chocolate in 21 or 35 grams of protein. The 21's are $1.69 (in Maryland) and the 35's are $2.29. GNC carries the 35's but charges $2.99 for each. The Vitamin Shoppe carries the 35's for $2.79 and they have the other flavors of Strawberry, Cookies n' Cream, or banana Cream. I think they taste better than Atkins, have more protein, very low in carbs and sugar. It is milk based in case you have a problem with that. It also is not loaded with Vitamins, since you will be taking them anyway. I would also suggest getting in a supply of the chewable vitamins and Calcium that you will need. Bariatric Advantage.com sells a variety. I take Centrum chewables, and my calcium citrate (don't get carbonate--doesn't absorb as well)with D (should be D3 or cholocalciferol) and magnesium comes from Twin Labs. I got them for around $7.00 for 60 wafers from vitacost.com (much cheaper than retail, even with $4.99 shipping--I got a couple bottles at a time--shipping the same). Whatever your surgeon gives you for the liquid and pureed stages I would try to get ahead of time so you won't have to shop for a couple weeks. And if you can get rid of everything you are not supposed to have or eat. This is hard if you have a family, but the less tempted the better. Congratulations on becoming a bandster!

I am 63 and was banded on 3/25/08. My insurance required a 6 month documented weight loss attempt, and I worked with the dietician on the bariatric team for that. I was bummed initially at having to wait, but then I used the time to educate myself. I read everything I could find, bumped up my exercise by adding walking to Curves, and by the time I hit the pre-op liquid diet my legs were already starting to look slimmer. Only lost 10 lbs on the 6 month diet, another 25 on the pre-op liquids (I caught a cold and my surgery was bumped a week, so I stayed on the liquids for 3 weeks), then 2 more post-op, 2 weeks of mushies, and then solids. I have had 2 episodes of something getting stuck, one small one, and one really big one (PBs and slime, big time). I have days where I would swear my head hunger was real, but I am getting better and recognizing it and distracting myself. Including the pre-op losses, I have lost 80 lbs so far, gone down several clothing sizes, and last week my PCP stopped both my cholesterol meds, one of my BP meds and my reflux med. Around the end of the year she will send me for a sleep study to see if that has resolved. 20 more lbs and I will be at goal. I am stoked! I think bandsters in their 60's do at least as well, if not better than younger bandsters.

Walking is my primary exercise and has been since before surgery. I belong to Curves, but I decided that wasn't enough (pre-op) so I went looking for an interesting place to walk. There is a park near my home that has a 2 mile nature trail that is paved, and I walk there carrying peanuts for the squirrels. I started on weekends in January (the park is technically closed but they don't lock the gate so people walk their dogs and walk for exercise all year round), and when daylight savings kicked in I started going during the week. Post-op they said no resistance training (Curves) for about six weeks, so I just walked. I don't go particularly fast, and I stop to feed the squirrels. I call it interval walking :biggrin:. My legs started slimming even before I had lost a significant amount of weight. A good pair of shoes and a place to walk, that's all you need.

I have not tried the Premier, but I am familiar (and a fan of ) Worldwide Shakes. They come in 21g and 35g versions. The Vitamin Shoppe ($2.79 each here in Maryland) and GNC ($2.99 each) carry the 35's in chocolate and vanilla. Strawberry, Banana Cream, and Cookies n' Cream in 35's are offered by both online. I started drinking it when my sister told me about it. We found it at Trader Joe's for $2.29 for the 35's and $1.69 for the 21's, in both chocolate and vanilla. I buy it there. Even on the mushy stage I was told to continue protein shakes so I had no trouble getting in my protein. I did some of the same things already mentioned (refried beans mixed with a little pulverized salsa, heat in microwave 2 minutes and put Kraft fat free shredded cheese on top when it comes out; runny instant oatmeal made with skim milk; instant mashed potatoes with fat free gravy; applesauce; creamy tuna or egg salad made with light mayo and a little mustard; Lipton noodle soup with chicken broth, not pieces). Even the fat freed refried beans and fat free cheese have protein. Good luck with your journey.:biggrin:

Hi. Welcome to LBT. I live in Maryland so I am not familiar with the center you are using. If you are not squeamish, there is a great program on Discovery Health called Big Medicine (for some unknown reason they put Season 3 on in this area at 1am on Wednesday night--technically Thursday). Drs. Garth and Robert Davis in Houston (Methodist Hospital I believe) are a father and son bariatric team. You get to see the workups, some psych visits, the actual surgeries (RNY, Lapband, Sleeve), followup visits, and even some plastic surgery on patients with excess skin after weight loss. I had to do a 6 month supervised diet attempt for my insurance, so I spent the time educating myself and learning all about the band. I joined here in November 2007 and had been going to group support since July 2007. I was banded 3/25/08. Good luck with your journey.

You need an unfill. Run, do not walk to the phone and call your surgeon. I have had one fill 3ccs and by the same evening water was giving me indigestion. I called the doctor the next day and met him at the hospital where he removed 1.5-2ccs. I could feel the pressure leaving as he withdrew the fluid. Two weeks later in his office I told him liquids and mushies went down okay, but solids were still giving me some trouble. He took out another .5 cc. I haven't had a fill since. I went for one, but he talked me out of it because I had lost 7 pounds since my previous visit. So I went home to work on my head hunger and to continue eating right. I can eat more than a 1/2 cup of food, but I am slowly still losing because I am staying on track with proteins, fats and carbs, minimizing salt and sugar. I just had my first major bloodwork, and my cholesterol is lower than it has ever been since it started being measured. I think I must have been born with higher numbers. Your discomfort is because you are too tight. Call your surgeon.

I can't feel my band, but I do feel the port, and since I have lost a fair amount of weight it is a little more prominent. For me that is a very small price to pay. I have never been succesful at any other attempt to lose weight. I just got my first bloodwork back, and my cholesterol numbers look so good I think I was born with higher numbers! I see my doc tomorrow to see if I can stop the cholesterol meds. Got my fingers crossed.

It could be "that time of the month" since that would cause some fluid retention. I bounce up when I am constipated (I am 63 so the monthly friend is a thing of the past). I feel bloated too. I take a senna laxative (Senokote or a generic version) and that usually does the trick for me.

Most doctors (at least here in Maryland) won't do a fill until at least 6 weeks post-op. You may feel all healed up, but might not be. Don't rush it. I got my first fill at 6 weeks, 3ccs, and by evening even water gave me indigestion. The next day I called and met the doctor at the hospital and he unfilled about 1.5 ccs. Two weeks later in his office I reported that soft foods were okay, but I was having trouble with denser stuff. So he took out another cc. On my last visit, I said I am able to eat way more than 1/2 cup of food and I get hungry before 4 hours, but he talked me out of the fill since I was still losing and he said I was ahead of schedule for the band, bypass, and sleeve. So I have at the most 1cc in my band (a 14cc fill volume), and I am working on my head hunger. I do eat more than 1/2 cup, but I love salads (I put chicken, ham or turkey on it for a protein source) and am still slowly losing. I plateaued for a month or so, and now it is creeping down. I was on liquids before surgery (lost 25 pounds) and I lost 10 during the 6 month diet. The rest has come off since surgery on 3/25/08.

It is possible. If you have documentation for your visits, and your PCP is willing to sign off on it, it may pass. Check with the bariatric team, either the surgeon's office or the dietician. They may be able to tell you more. Don't ask BC. Their customer service people are clueless about bariatrics. I was waiting for approval and I called Maryland Carefirst BC/BS. The idiot there told me I would likely be denied because I used and out-of-network provider for my psych consult and my 6 month diet. I mentioned that they accepted Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem and the like, how is that in network? He couldn't tell me anything but that I would probably be denied. Out-of-network just means you pay out of pocket and your insurance doesn't. Needless to say I was having a meltdown and trying to call my surgeon's office, who was also trying to call me to tell me I had been approved. So word to the wise. Questions? Ask the bariatric team.

Chewable is the way to go if you can't even get a half pill down. Bariatricadvantage.com sells multi's as well as calcium with D in chewable. I use Centrum. I'm old so I got the Silver (doesn't have iron) but it is $10 or so for 60 wafers, and I found them at Target. You might also check into liquids. I was taking fish oil supplements before surgery and they were huge gelcaps; can't cut them. I found a Healthy Options store (Vitamin Shoppe or GNC may also have them) that carried liquid mint flavored fish oil. Pricey, but later I went to Twin Labs' web site and found links to sites selling their products and I found them for less than half of what I paid in the store, like $7.67 for chewable calcium citrate(carbonate doesn't absorb as well) and $6 something for the fish oil. In the store the fish oil was $13.99 and the calcium was $17.99. Even with $4.99 shipping I am saving a bundle. I am pretty sure I saw liquid multi's in the store. I would check them out (check sugar content to make sure it is not too high) then check on the internet. Go to the manufacturer's web site and they will have a where to buy page. Good luck.

Almost. I was banded 3/25/08, and had one fill of 3ccs 6 weeks later. By the evening I was having trouble getting water down and the next day I was miserable. Called the surgeon, met him at the hospital and he unfilled about 1.5 to 2ccs. I lived with that for a couple weeks, and when I saw him in the office I told him I was still having a problem so he took out another .5 cc. So I have next to nothing, and when I saw him last he actually talked me out of a fill (I thought I needed one as I could eat more and was hungry sooner) since I had lost about 8 lbs since the last unfill, and was actually ahead of schedule for the band, bypass, and sleeve. I was on a plateau for several weeks, but it appears to be creeping downward slowly again. I feel the restriction I do have when I eat dense proteins, like shrimp, ham steak, stuff like that. Otherwise I feel very little restriction. But I am only 20 lbs from my goal, so I can't complain.

Hi and welcome to the board. You will find lots of support and info here. My start weight was 252, BMI 37-38, with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, GERD, knee arthritis, sleep apnea, everything but diabetes. I was banded 3/25/08 and prior to surgery I lost 10 lbs on the 6 month diet attempt required by insurance, another 25 on the pre-op liquid diet (there are many versions-mine was 2 wks but ended up 3 wks because I caught a cold and my surgery was postponed a week-I could have a small amount of lean Protein up until 4 days before surgery-I used unbreaded chicken tenders from costco and hard boiled eggs). Since surgery I have lost another 45 lbs. My goal is 100 lbs. My surgeon even talked me out of a fill last time because he said I was ahead of schedule for weight loss, so it was okay that I could eat a little more. I was on a plateau for several weeks, and now it is starting to slowly creep down again. I had my first bloodwork and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic! I am hoping I can come off my meds and see how I do. I am exercising regularly (a big factor in success with the band), mostly walking, not particularly fast, in a park near home that has a 2 mile nature trail. I try to do twice around and I carry peanuts for the squirrels so I stop a lot. I am going for distance, not speed. I also belong to Curves, and in the fall when I lose daylight after work (I go to the park almost every day) there is an aquatic center near me with Water aerobics. BTW, I have gone from Women's 22-24 to Misses 12-14 (kinda 13) in regular clothes, and in work clothes (I wear scrubs) down from 2x to baggy large (not quite a medium yet). Needless to say, I am THRILLED! I wish you the best on your journey. Some days will be hard, but keep your eye on the prize (better health, fewer meds, smaller dress size).

Somehow the ticker got into your signature. Just go to Edit Options, Edit Signature, scroll down to the box where you will see some codes for the ticker, and just delete them. Then save your signature. Hope that helps. BTW I don't believe the sleeve is reversable. They partition your stomach off from the part that produces Grehlin, the hormone that stimulates hunger. After the stapling is done you have a banana-shaped pouch, and the rest of your stomach is actually removed, so all that is left is your pouch. Go to obesityhelp.com for a complete description of the surgery. I saw one performed on Big Medicine (for some reason the new season was put on late at night with like 4 episodes back to back, and in one of them a sleeve was performed). The stomach was removed right through the laproscopic incision.