notateechanow

How did things go with your doctor? I have to tell you...I've been on vacation all week this week with not much to do (as you can see by my millions of posts!) but it's afforded me the opportunity to look more on the web for LapBand stuff, blogs, etc. We're not the only ones for whom this has been a struggle. There are so many out there who continue to struggle with this daily. One particular one I've been reading was a woman who said the same things you did, but one day it just "clicked" and she started losing weight--as my doctor told me, "slow and steady". She hadn't lost more than 60 pounds in a year, but seriously..what would you give to lose 60 pounds?! You'll get there..and when I find the website address for this woman's blog in my other computer's history, I'll PM you to have you read it. It was very encouraging. :smile2:

Yep. I get the shoulder/back/upper chest pain when I've eaten too fast or too large bites. Though, as I'm getting more accustomed, I've PB'd less and now get aches lower. I must be chewing better but still eating too much....

Because I am part of an HMO, my Primary care physician only needed to give me a referral for the bariatric surgeon. Once I met with the surgeon, he did the rest. Good luck!

You have to make the decision based on all information you can find. As with any surgery, all people react differently and heal differently. You cannot diminish the risks as the Lap Band is surgery, but for many, it is life altering. Be an educated consumer. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving, reading up on any recalls, etc. Scour this website and others. Be sure you know what you're getting yourself into. It hasn't been easy for ANYONE on here, but for most, it has been worth the effort. Good luck with whatever options you make. Welcome to the website. I'm sure you'll find people very informative. :thumbs_down:

I don't mean to be flippant, but that might be a good question to ask your doctor! I found the pre-surgical diet helpful only because I was accustomed to having only liquids, as I would be forced to have after surgery. It helped me more psychologically than physically. The other part was the decreased caloric intake helped my body acclimate to having fewer calories without the headaches and stomach pains--associated with any new diet. You know your own body. If being on liquids for 2 weeks will make you miserable, start before surgery, even if it's a few liquid meals instead. Good luck! Talk to your doctor. S/he will be your greatest resource as every program is slightly different.

Did you want more fills? I'm shocked that you've only had one fill. My dr. gave me my first till in end of January and then I've been told to make appointments every 4 weeks after. I typically end up doing 5 or 6 because of my work schedule, but my dr. is pretty aggressive with fills. He asks at every visit if I want a fill.

Maybe it's because I'm nowhere near goal..but bring on the droopy skin. Sure, I'm working out every day in hopes that it won't happen, but really, that's the remnants from having lost a lot of weight. If that is the battle scar that I carry, I'm ok with that. Maybe, as my body gets closer to my ideal size, I'll care more. Nothing can be more unattractive than carrying 304 pounds on my 5'10" frame. Bring on that sagging skin. Worst case scenario, I'll have it cut off later. : )

Like you, I ate really well. I even worked out an hour to an hour and 15 minutes per day and wasn't losing weight.....I found out that I wasn't drinking enough. I was told to limit working out to no more than 45 minutes a day. My scale hasn't been my friend, but I thankfully go to a gym where they took starting measurements. I found out that I've lost a ton of inches AND a few dress sizes. I've lost only about 30 pounds, and my doctor was very supportive when I expressed concern. He has been very helpful and told me to keep doing what I'm doing and that things will come along. I have to trust that he's right because he's certainly done this before.....Something I found out (ok, so I am book smart, but not so bright perhaps...) is that when you're feeling restriction while eating, stop. Don't bring home the leftovers for later. Don't wait til the feeling passes, and eat only when you're hungry. It certainly seems logical, but for whatever reason, I wasn't doing all of that. I thought, like programs I've been on in the past, if I didn't eat my entire day's worth of food, I wouldn't lose weight. Not true. Eat when you're hungry, and skip it when you're not. Apparently that's how small people live their lives. I eat because it's "time" to. Ha, ha, ha. Surprise. Good luck. My doctor gave me the best advice. Stop comparing yourself to others, particularly if you're an overachiever like me. That will only frustrate you. Keep doing what you know is right. You'll get there in your own time. :redface:

Before and immediately after surgery, I had little nervousness, but my doctor did make me somewhat nervous. He had NO personality, but I kept making myself feel better by reminding that I wanted him to be my surgeon, not my cheerleader. I didn't want a buddy, I wanted someone qualified to cut me open. The first post-operative visit in the hospital was odd....he didn't say much and had a ton of residents with him--like 7 or 8! Even after that, my first two appointments were awkward. I had a complete change of heart at my 2nd fill when I was expressing some frustration and disappointment at not losing more weight. Much to my surprise, he was unbelievably supportive. I think it just took me opening up to figure out how much he had to offer. He's been great ever since. Once I allowed him "in", he used that opportunity to get to know me better. The moral? Tell your doctor you're nervous. I had no health issues at all--other than being overweight. I had no comorbities, other than weighing in at a hefty 304. Strange, I know...but it kept me from feeling like I had anything to worry about. If you're feeling nervous, tell your doctor. Go to a support group meeting if possible, and talk with people on here. Good luck! :redface:

Dare I ask how much you've been filled? I have a 10 cc band and I think I have 6.0 or 6.5 cc's right now....

I swear my 3rd fill took saline out. No lie. I had the restricted feeling after #2 for a week or two...but it went away. After the 3rd, nothing. I'm just waiting til my next appoinment to tell my doctor. I was told to be careful about the drinking, though. Are you drinking with your meals? This helps force food through and circumvents the restriction. Good luck. May #3 be just what you need to give you the full feeling! :redface:

Hey there, Cajun. The most important part of all of this is to STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP! SO many other people in this world will do that for you. I was once told at at Weight Watchers meeting that most of the people in their program--losers and gainers--were perfectionists. How could that be? Wouldn't I be perfectly following the plan if I were a perfectionist? No. Truth be told, when you're a perfectionist, you want everything to be perfect. When one thing throws you off your original plan, you scrap it and vow to start again. For some, that's tomorrow, but for most, it's Monday. Why Monday? Who knows, but it's a convenient excuse. I read someone's posting earlier today about working WITH the band, not against it and she mentioned the excuses. Stop using them to beat yourself up. You've made the big step of surgically altering your body to lose weight. You now have to believe you're worth the rest of the energy, time, and planning it requires to stay on plan. Find an activity--it doesn't have to be in a gym--that you might actually enjoy, even if it's just to have a friend walk for 10 minutes with you and talk you through it. Build it up slowly..but most importantly, get moving. Think of this as time you give to yourself. You should find something that you like to do--even if it's walking in a mall! Stop as often as you need. You needn't buy anything or even stop in any stores. Stop at every bench you need. Next time, try to go a little farther and skip every other bench. Working out doesn't have to be the torture it's always been for us. It can be social, and it can be fun. You just need to find something that engages you. As far as the food goes, make every day a new challenge. If you usually like icecream every day, move to a few times a week. Switch to a lower fat version. Weight Watchers now makes 4 oz cups. Can't overeat if you only buy a small amount and don't have the rest in your house. Enable yourself to be successful, not to binge. Set yourself up to succeed. Get rid of crappy foods that you know you shouldn't have OR buy small portions that don't allow you to binge. Like chocolate? Buy a small sample at the store and that's it. If it's too much effort to go back to the store to get more, you're less likely to eat it. All things considered, we all react differently to the band. Some lose weight fast, others not so much. I, like you, have really struggled....but surprisingly, have come to enjoy working out. I work out every day so even if I lose the battle in my kitchen, I've won somehow. It doesn't entirely balance itself out, but it's the small victories. This isn't a panacea for all that ails you. The band works for those who use it properly. Stop beating yourself up and let it go. When you can start to forgive yourself for minor transgressions, you'll feel better. Figure out what's eating you and you'll feel better. Good luck. I'm glad you posted your story. I think that took a lot of courage. :redface: Thank you.

My doctor told me to just leave them alone, but between my surgery and my first post-operative visit was a week or two. Pat them dry after a shower and try not to rub. If the adhesive comes off and the corners start to roll, just trim the part that is no longer attached properly to your skin to prevent it from attaching to your clothes. (I used small manicure scissors to just trim the edges.) I was told to leave mine on as they were the sutures from my surgery--I didn't have staples. Keep them dry to allow them to heal properly. Any part that remains at your next appointment will be removed by your doctor at your follow up. Congratulations and good luck with your new life. :redface:

I lost about 30 pounds before noticing any difference---however, you may be like me and have worn slacks well beyond their fitting properly! I have dropped about 2-3 pant sizes, depending on brand, but haven't lost but 5 or 6 pounds in the last month. I think your body takes a little bit to catch up, time wise. My body is finally losing that bloated feeling, though not always....sodium laden foods still kill me. Be sure to exercise. This will help tighten things up faster, along with losing weight. I think it took me about 2-3 months before I needed to buy new clothes. (Apparently those 22's I've been wearing all this time were far tighter than I realized!!!) Good luck. I know it can seem like a long, frustrating path, but it's well worth it in the end. I've found voicing my frustration to my doctor was helpful. Though typically very quiet, he was very supportive when I was disappointed at my last appointment. To be honest, this website has been my saving grace. Keep at it. It's only going to get better! :tt2:

Stephanie, It's easier to make eye contact with you now that you're facing the world head on, with your head held high. I'm sure many of you have noticed more people smiling at you. I would prefer to keep this positive and think that it's not that more people are smiling, but that we're just now noticing...but truth be told, we all know how people look at obese people. Is it because we're larger or because we've been unhappy?! I'm with you with my preoccupation of food, though. I realized last night that I usually plan my next meal WHILE eating. Scary, huh? The band won't make me lose my interest in food--just the amount I eat!

I know you're probably just partially joking, but having some sort of way to give clothes to others in the same situation isn't such a bad idea... :rolleyes2:

Let them heal. Unless they're red and swollen, you'll be ok. Be careful, though, because they can get caught on clothes--particularly a bra. (It's not really dangerous at that point, just sore) IF they don't look infected or bleed to the point where they won't stop bleeding, you're on your way to recovery. Good luck!

As far as not wanting people to know...I truly think it has to do with a variety of reasons, at least for me. First, it's the shame. I've been raised to believe that fat people are lazy and out of control. Well, this out of control woman paid for her own education by playing sports on scholarship. I was internationally ranked and continue to hold records where I went to school--but my weight was an issue back then, too. (Now over 14 years ago) In order to stay at 210# or so in college, I worked out 3 to 4 hours a day. That just isn't possible for me any more. While my strength and agility were an once an advantage, the weight is now too great for me. In addition, I feel like this is something very personal. My struggle to gain control over my weight--while certainly apparent to all who know me--is a source of intense frustration and embarassment to me. I've been successful in all other realms of my life. I have a very active social life and have climbed through the ranks of my school district very fast. My only two counterparts in my job are 15 and 17 years older than I, with lesser education. I successfully earned my way through 2 Masters' Degrees and have more education than most of the people who work in my school district, regardless of their age. So...with all of those wonderful things in my life, I hate to admit that I am horribly ashamed of my weight. As a powerful, intelligent woman, I don't like to look weak. For me, this was weakness. I applaud all of you who talk openly about your surgery and have the support of your friends, family, and coworkers. I workout over an hour every day and will continue to watch my diet carefully. No one needs to know that I have had some help with controlling my food intake. It was a very personal decision not to share my story with my family. I attended my initial meeting in October and had surgery the first week of December, less than 2 months after the process began. My mother's mother passed the week before my surgery, and I didn't want to burden her with this stress. I couldn't--in good conscience--tell others and not tell her...so it was all one big mess. I may someday tell them...but I may not. Until then, I'm happy with my decision. Some people binge in private because they're ashamed, I have surgery in private...I will be 36 years old tomorrow. I'm done with justifying myself to my family and friends.

Not sure if any or all of that is true...but I don't have the time to do my research on this topic as you have. I don't want to be used, and I think it poor taste, if this is accurate. :thumbup:

FORGOT TO EAT?! Band or no band, that will never happen for me. I just love eating--smaller portions or not, everything food related makes me happy--shopping for it, preparing it, finding new recipes. I realized it was probably a sickness when my family heard about all of my favorite tv shows--mostly on the Food network! I'm so excited to find this thread because I haven't had a whole lot of victories on the scale. I'm working out at least 5 or 6 days a week and actually enjoy it. I am truly off for a day when I miss it. (There's a huge victory for me!) I'm only down about 30 pounds since I embarked on the entire journey, but I look and feel a thousand times better. I've been hesitant to try on my clothes from the last time I lost weight and I found out (BIG GRIN) that I waited too long. My clothes that have been hiding in my guest room closet are too large. My old 20's (from 2 years ago--so they're still in style!) are just going to work for a little while. I'm looking forward to getting new spring/summer clothes now. Have any of you found any good places to send clothes that are still relatively new when they're too large? When I did Weight Watchers a few years ago, I donated most of my old suits and work clothes to a women's shelter...as we all know, finding large sized clothes can be hard enough, but not enough of us donating career clothes. I typically wear dress trousers and blouses, occasionally suits to work, so my clothes are relatively expensive and well made. I am fortuantely in a position to buy a few key pieces to get me through, season to season, without worry...but I'd love to find somewhere to give these clothes to. I'm now down another pant size and have 3 different sizes of the staples--a great black suit, a few pairs of pinstripes, etc.....most have only been worn for the past month and a half. What to do with these?! I no longer have contact with the women's shelter and would hate to donate to Morgan Memorial/Goodwill because they SELL the clothes. I want to donate to someone who gives them away. Have a great day. Thank you for everyone who has posted to this thread. It's made my day. :tongue_smilie:

I usually order the Asian chicken salad there. I can eat the grilled chicken without issue and pick at the veggies and edamame as I go....I have been french fry free since December, though I did attempt to eat a few homemade ones--didn't agree with me. I also find myself picking at the meat and leaving the bread, regardless of what I order. I'm lucky that I don't have to deal with the social situations often, though I did have a family dinner last night with my brother, sister-in-law, mom, and dad....and had one too many bites of food. Only my sister-in-law noticed anything amiss. Apparently I've learned well to push my food around and make a mess of my plate so no one notices the changes in my eating. Do any of you get the hiccups after eating? I frequently get them and it's kind of embarassing....particularly when it's loud!!

I actually have had issues with the cute 70 year old woman who runs the diner down the road from my house. We go there for breakfast on Saturdays, and lately she's been getting offended if I don't finish my food and asks if it was ok. For a few weeks I asked for a doggy bag and just threw it out when I got home, but eventually I explained I had stomach surgery and wasn't able to eat much. I felt badly when I knew she felt badly for saying something, but now she's always trying to talk me into ordering something smaller--other than the omelette I want. I finally just explained that I really do want what I've ordered, even if I don't eat much of it. Who would have thought I'd be in this position?! :biggrin:

DELETED because....

DELETED because......

Ok, girls...you have to help me with this one...I've had some time to re-think your post from this morning and I wonder about only one thing. I have had problems losing weight in the past (on Weight Watchers and other plans) if I didn't consume enough calories. I completely understand what you've said about eating when I'm hungry and not going for the "full" feeling, but looking to be satiated, but will we slow down our metabolism by not eating enough? Is that even possible any more? My metabolism is clearly at a snail's pace and I'm already on thyroid medicine. I don't want to take the risk of having it go even slower...so I've always forced myself to hit at least 900 calories a day. Is this completely contradictory to what I'm supposed to be doing? I feel soooo stupid right now!!!