mustlose

Yes, I understand your feeling of desperation... good for you not giving up and and starting to research other options! I had my lap band surgery over a year ago and it was the best thing I ever did. I will tell you that it won't stop you from eating chips, they still go down very easily, so there's still effort involved even after surgery. But what it does help me with is slow down my eating and reduces my portion size so I feel full eating less, as a result, I'm slowly losing. Good luck in your journey!

What I've learned about the band is that it's not magic. Just having a band is not a guarantee of weight loss. The truth is , you can continue eating the wrong foods with the band, candy, cookies, icecream, etc. and not lose any weight. It's taken me a year to figure this out. Now that I've joined ww, it's like finding the missing piece to a puzzle. ww will help me pick the right foods to eat (I also like the variety, like the previous poster mentioned), and the band will make it easier to follow by controlling my appetite. I am finally feeling hopeful again.

Yes, I think your being on weight watchers will definately help you. Because ww teaches you what to eat, and the lap band helps you eat less and stay satisfied with less food. The two together are a perfect combination. Last week I lost 4 pounds! good luck.

Hi ! I was really happy to find this post. I was banded a little over a year ago, and my weight has basically stayed the same. I kept thinking (hoping!) the band would be enough... but it isn't. For some reason, I felt that if I had to go back on ww or nutrisystem or jenny craig, it would be like admitting that I failed the band. Finally I decided what I really need is more direction on what to eat every day.... so I decided to join ww last Monday. Today is day #2. So far so good. Hopefully now I can start seeing the scale go down! I agree with the previous posters who said lap band + ww = weight loss success. It's not like failing the band, it's like adding another tool to the chest, they can work together to help me succeed. I also agree it's going to be easier because I am less hungry, so that's good. Well, just wanted to say hi and good luck to everybody !

Thank you for posting this. It really hit home for me. I also had my surgery 3/31/10. SInce then, I've only lost about 10 pounds, despite exercising, and trying to eat more Protein ,etc. etc. I will say one thing though, It's kind of weird, a lot of my clothes are baggy now, even though I haven't lost much weight. That's one good thing. I'm also beginning to feel like I've beaten the lap band! Fortunately, the only person I told was my husband, that's embarrassing enough. He doesn't say it, but I'm sure he wonders why I haven't lost more. I had to laugh when you said don't hide from the doctor. I postponed my fill appt last month, and was considering doing it again this month...just embarrassed to face him when I haven't lost weight. But after reading your post, I decided I will go after all, and hopefully with the right fill, I can turn it around like you. Thanks for inspiring me to keep going!

Hi, just wanted to add my thoughts. I've been banded for a while, and would also consider myself addicted to carbs and sweets. Banding has helped with carbs, because with proper restriction, breads are difficult to eat now , especially soft breads can cause problems, and so I avoid bread now, for the most part. However, sweets, like candy, Cookies, icecream, still go down very easily after being banded. Banding doesn't help at all with your addiction to sweets. You just have to try and not eat those things in order to succeed. I hear if you get gastric bypass though, you can't eat sweets, it causes dumping syndrome. The other good thing about the band is it does force you to eat slowly, and you do get fuller with less food, and feel less hunger. Good luck to you!

Hi David. This reminds me of a friend who, within a week of getting gastric bypass surgery, was diagnosed with ALL (bone marrow cancer). We know that the surgery did not cause him to have cancer, but we do feel the surgery caused his body to be weak and stressed, and the symptoms of his disease ALL to come out.... so perhaps that is the case with you. Maybe you already had an autoimmune disease, and the lapband surgery just caused the symptoms to come out sooner? Just a thought. I hope you figure out what's going on soon, so you can feel better.

About the cotton mouth... I felt the same. They wouldn't let me drink anything until after the xray! Eventually they figured out I was getting dehydrated, and had to give me an extra big bag of fluid (through the iv), so watch that. Don't worry, you'll be feeling better soon.

Hi. I had a sore throat, and a hoarse voice, for a few days following surgery. I think it was irritation caused by the tube they put down your throat during the surgery. I hope you feel better soon ! :biggrin:

Hi , I had the same thing. At first I didn't even feel the port and wasn't even sure where it was! After a couple of weeks the port started hurting and I was concerned, but it went away in about a week (or less). So You may be okay, too!

Hi ! I did the same thing, started the process in 12/07...then chickened out. It really is a big decision, and you have to make sure it's the right one for you. Finally, I decided to do it, and just had the surgery on 3/31/10. At this point, I'm really glad I finally did it (even though it did take me 2+ years to get to this point!) good luck in your journey :smile2:

Thank you everybody for information about the location of the port. I am back to work after a week off, but when I go home I'll look for it...:thumbup: As far as the protein shake, I got mine from Costco. It's called protein by muscle milk. I blend it with water and ice, and sometimes add a piece of fruit, it takes pretty good. What's really surprising right now is my lack of hunger... I really like that. The smallest amount of food (mushie stage) fills me up. Hope everybody else is doing well!

Hey everybody. I also was banded 3/31, and sent home 4/1. I still feel sore, and it's a little hard to take deep breaths. But I have been walking, and every day I feel a little better and stronger... silly question, of the 5 incisions, which is the port? how can you tell? well, good luck to all of you. Thanks

well, it sounds like it's normal then. I was just banded 3/31 and I still feel pressure on my chest, like it hurts to take a big breath.... they sent me home with a breathing apparatus to use. That may be helping some. Hope all of you feel better soon!

March 31st is my day .... I am excited and nervous like you. I actually began this process 12/07, went to orientation in 1/08! :tt1: . I did all the initial stuff like the classes and lab work, then took over a year to reach my goal weight! .... I think I just needed more time to research it. Good luck to all of you next week too! So many people on this board say it's the best thing they ever did, hoping for similar success!

Thanks porter11! Six months may seem like a long time when you're ready now, but it will give you time to research (I love this board) and get mentally ready... and it will be here before you know it! Good luck to you too. :thumbup:

Hi blondyzz. I can relate to your FINALLY... I actually began this process 12/07!!! I did all the initial tests, classes, etc. then took over a year to reach my goal weight. Mind you, I only had to lose 11 pounds...but I think I needed that time to contemplate and research and make sure it was a good decision. Now I'm FINALLY set for surgery 3/31st, the day after you! I am 46, 5'4" , start weight 214, current weight 196. The reason I was approved at bmi 35 was due to sleep apnea, but I also have acid reflux (controlled by meds). Like you, I worry about getting diabetes. My father had diabetes, and it caused him a lot of trouble at the end. I've been struggling with my weight for 20+ years and countless diets and hope this lapband can help me. Is that a lab with you, we have a black lab named Max. My Dr. said I could start drinking the protein shakes prior to the surgery, if I wanted . Well, good luck to both of us!

I had my surgical consult yesterday. I've had my mind set on lap band all along, but the surgeon was suggesting gastric sleeve as a good option. He seemed to feel there are less complications, greater weight loss, less work involved than the lap band...in his words "more bang for your buck"! BUT I can't imagine having a portion of my stomach removed permanently! That's just scary :cursing:. After discussing that my bmi at this point is 32 (I lost 25 pounds to qualify for the surgery), and I am willing to do the work required with lap band, he agreed to do the lapband. I'm scheduled for 3/31/10. It feels like the right decision for me. I'm just wondering how people here on the board feel about lap band v.s. gastric sleeve? Thanks for any input.

I started the process at 35... I think the only reason my insurance approved it was because I have sleep apnea ...Now I've had to lose weight to qualify for surgery, and my bmi is 32... and I'm getting the surgery 3/31/10! good luck to you.:cursing:

Hi, well I'm glad I'm not the only one taking a while.... I actually began the process in 2008, got approved and had all the tests done, etc., but procrastinated on losing the required weight .... only 11 pounds.... but it took me over a year to do it! I think I needed the time to ponder, research, and make sure it was a good decision for me. Now I'm finally scheduled for surgery on 3/31/10! It's been a long road getting to this point, but now I feel ready! Good luck to you. :cursing:

Hi Stacie. Welcome to the forum. I live in San Jose and going to Kaiser S San Francisco too! I wish they had a bariatric center in San Jose! I've gone to all the classes and appointments, but still have 10 pounds to reach my goal weight before I can get the surgery. I am trying really hard though, so hopefully soon. You're doing great, 61 pounds! How do you like the care at Kaiser so far? Take care

Hi. You sound a lot like me. I'm 45, my bmi is 35. My ins approved the lapband since I have mild sleep apnea. They don't seem concerned about my very high triglycerides, but I am. The only person I've told is my husband, who would support me whatever I do. I haven't told my 3 kids ages 16, 13, 10. I am also very nervous about this decision... I've gone back and forth since I first started the process. I wish I had a crystal ball and could see myself 5 years from now, would I be glad I did it? Will i be slimmer, healthier and happier? How much does it change your life? take care, :biggrin:

I recently attended the lapband orientation and was surprised to learn about all the foods we can no longer eat post surgery... like cereal, bread, soda, pizza, pasta, etc etc. :eek: Now I'm scared, wondering if this is really true, and how I'll feel living the rest of my life without some of my favorite foods! Please tell me about your experiences, what favorite foods can you no longer eat? And how does it make you feel? In the end, I guess it's not a dealbreaker, I need to do this for my health. But if you knew then what you know now, would you do it again? Thanks for your input!

I wanted to thank everybody for their replies. It was very interesting to note how the band effects everybody differently in what they can and cannot eat. Also how the band seems to change your tastes and desires, that you don't actually want to eat those foods anymore! I really get the feeling from all of you that it was worth it... so I feel better about it now and want to thank you for your insight!

I have a bmi of 35, I was approved because I also have mild sleep apnea. My husband is the only one I've told, he's the only one I need to support me. He's seen my weight struggles through the years, and how it's starting to effect my health now, so I think he's basically supportive. I think his main worry is if it's safe. Other than that, i think he's looking forward to have a slimmer and healthier wife :hurray: I don't want to tell anybody else for all the reasons already stated... !