DonnaMarie

Thanks! Yes it is taking a bit of time. My doctor only sees patients on Wednesdays and does the radiographs on Thursdays and that was when there was an opening. It's ok.. I can wait.. I waited this long!

Hello everyone. I have been missing from LapBandTalk for 2 years. In my lapband journey, I have lost 100 lbs. I have about 60 more to go. I have not been able to restart the weight loss so decided to go and see my surgeon as I haven't been in a LONG time. To my surprise, he moved out of state! So, I now have his colleague who is very very experienced. My surgeon was fairly new to lapband. Well, the good news is, I did not gain ANY weight back. I kept it off for 2 years. Bad news, I either have a leak, OR the initial band that was put in is too large. I had been complaining to my old doc that I was always able to eat more than the average bandster. Even at full fill and he even told me he thought he put too large a size. Sooo next step is I am going on June 3rd to have a radiograph done. They are going to fill me under an xray to check for leaks. I am more than likely going to have surgery again to change it out. I am not looking forward to another surgery but I am determined to finish what I started. I got rid of my diabetes by the inital weight loss and want to continue. Being more active is a goal of mine and becoming more fit. Just thought I would update myself. Most of you probably don't even know me but it feels good to be back! DonnaMarie

It took me almost 8.5cc in my 10cc band before I felt any restriction.. now, OMG, I can't eat much at all.. I am finally at the point where I eat only 3/4 cup of food at a time. I was banded almost a year ago and had to have SO many fills.. Finally I am done. The weight definately has slowed down.. I have lost a total of 74 lbs in a year. Have about 68 more to go but I just keep trucking along. You will definately get used to the restriction.. it has taken me a year! But I am sure I am the exception. And for the drinking while eating thing, that is SO hard to quit!!! good luck and congrats on the restriction! finally! ~donnamarie~

I am b12 deficient so it can happen to lapband people too. But my doc thinks maybe I just am one of those people who have a hard time absorbing it from food and I was that way before surgery. I am anemic too. I take B12 pills and my levels have come up so I don't need shots yet. Fun fun.. Iron pills are the pits when you have a band!!! Grrrrr ~DonnaMarie~

Hang in there.. you are still healing! You could be retaining Water, or still be swollen.. It took me 8 weeks for the swelling to completely get down. You are not going to really lose weight until you are completely healed and have that first fill.. It is early.. dont give up or get upset yet!!! Hugz, ~DonnaMarie~

I have been experiencing this as well! Mine was due to my anemia.. since taking my Iron supplements and my levels coming up a bit, it has subsided and is practically non exsistent.. Hang in there! I am sure they will get to the bottom of it.. Hugz, Donnamarie

He is a complete and utter fraud.. you will see online he actually was arrested and convicted for it.. he has a criminal history. He preys on desperate people to make a buck.. From the bad reviews I saw, people would purchase a product and then get "automatically" signed up for a subscription to some email newsletter and there is NO way to cancel it except to cancel the credit card. Stay away from this joker.. he just wants your money, not to help you..

I have a wiggler port too.. takes 2 people to fill me.. one to stablize and one to inject.. they aren't sure why it is like that and as I lose more weight it gets more wiggly.. sooo i may need a minor procedure again to fix it.. Congrats and I am so glad you are happy!! ~DonnaMarie~

I have UHC too.. they are wonderful.. fast approvals! Good luck and congrats!!

I hear ya about the Vitamin levels.. my B12 are normal now.. YAY! And that was just taking extra orally. woo hoo! It is still a time away before I start trying but I am going to eat as healthy as possible now.. Thanks for everyone's support! ~Donnamarie~

Thanks for everyone's input! I actually spoke with my doctor about this issue and he told me that lots of people get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies with the lapband. In fact, it has actually helped alot of women to get pregnant! (by having some weight loss ahead of time) I have a 10 cc band (the largest one) and when I am unrestricted, I can eat normally.. so that being said, I feel that I will be fine nutrition wise when it comes to feeding a growing baby. I am actually going to see my doc and nurse again this week.. probably get another fill .. i think.. My doc said to wait a year from surgery and that is what we plan on doing. I am definately not giving up on my band. It is a life saver for me.. the tool is there to help me. I will use it like it was intended. Before I even had the surgery, I asked the doc if getting pregnant in the future would be a problem and he said, "nope, we will just open it up!".. Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread.. first thing first.. Gettin married in MAY!!! woo hoo!! ~DonnaMarie~

Definately Ketosis my friend.. that is foul.. I had it too when I was in the rapid weight loss stage.. Diabetics usually have a fruity smell to their breath. I have had that too since I am diabetic.. (i have had normal blood sugars for 2 years now.. yay!) I gotta try that smartmouth stuff.. sounds great! ~Donnamarie~

That sucks Courtney!!!! GRRRRRRR For dropping weight fast, you can try slimfast or even just do Protein only, no carbs.. everyone is different and that is what worked for me. Insurance companies suck!! I feel your pain and wish you luck.. with that kind of attitude, you will do it in no time flat!! ~DonnaMarie~

I totally understand where you are coming from Char! People think that when you have lapband surgery, you will drop all the weight instantly. It takes time and everyone is different! I have lost 45 lbs since surgery last July and I always get, thats all? What the heck? I think that is pretty darn good! One thing that is coming back to me was when I first stated working for my company in a different office. This woman informed me that I should get a "bigger" chair because I am so "tall".. yeah right.. that is why you need a bigger chair.. granted.. I was about a size 20 or 22 at the time and I am almost five nine.. I wasn't gargantuan.. I told her that I fit in the chair just fine and if I go crashing to the floor she would be the first to know about it.. she turned beet red and never mentioned it again.. some people.. sheesh.. LOL DonnaMarie

You guys are all great. Thanks so much! We are definately going to go as planned cuz I ain't gettin any younger! Here's to a great wedding/honeymoon and maybe a baby.. *grin* ~DonnaMarie~

Thanks everyone! I think for our family the one year mark is going to be it.. I feel that I am more than likely going to battle my weight always so having a baby isn't going to hurt anything. I will just open her up, eat healthy, have the baby, close her up and continue my band journey.. Thanks again everyone! ~DonnaMarie~

YAY!!!!!!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: I knew the sunshine was coming! Congrats Band friend! ~DonnaMarie~

Thanks Molly! We are very excited.. for sure.. and we want to start a family soon. We have the house, the good jobs, and the "family car" so we are ready for the baby! LOL but we are traditional and will be waiting until I have his last name! *grin* I am eager to be a mom.. and I think just dropping the weight I have will help immensly! Thanks for the responses everyone!

wow! no body has insight on this.. thanks anyway! ~DonnaMarie~

Hello everyone.. I am going to be married in May and my fiance and I are eager to start our family.. I am 33 and he is 31 and we would like to not wait too long. I am the healthiest I have been in years! I have lost 70 lbs since my highest weight and 40 since my surgery.. granted I have 60 more to lose to get to where I wouldnt mind being and my stretch is 80 more lbs. Here is the thing.. the seminar said to wait a year after surgery.. that will be in July and that is a good time frame for us. I went to the doc this past friday and the nurse gave me a big lecture saying to wait until I am to goal before trying or not try while I am losing.. Now, I am not old, but I am not very young either and I don't want to wait! I figure, I would continue to lose, hopefully, God willing, get pregnant, have the band opened a bit, have a healthy baby (God willing) and then close it up and continue on my band journey.. What do you guys think? Is what I am planning not good? Should I wait to get to "goal" before trying? What if that takes a long time? Just looking for some input.. ~DonnaMarie~

Ok.. I was going by the post earlier where she said she had a 10 cc band and it only holds 4.5ccs.. I was confused with what she was saying.. Not hard to do to me being blonde and all. ~Donnamarie~

That is crazy! 40 BMI or higher with my doc.. sheesh.. now everyone is gonna have the surgery and some that dont need it! Yikes.. hopefully "heroin sheik" doesn't come back in style.. I hated looking at those sick skinny models..

Wow.. so sorry you went thru that! I didn't have to have that thank God.. I just had an endoscopy and that was cake.. I was so drugged they could have paraded me around in a penguin costume with my butt hanging out and I wouldnt have cared! I remember gagging once or twice but nothing major.. then it was over.. ~Donnamarie~

Lexapro saved my life.. seriously.. I feel so much better on it.. sometimes I have mine paired with wellbutrin in the wintertime cuz I can suffer from seasonal depression and that helps but wellbutrin can also make you gain weight. I didn't take it this winter and Lexapro was enough. I had no side effects at all.. Love the stuff! ~Donnamarie~

I thought when you had a 10cc band, it holds 10ccs.. I have a 10cc band and just finally had 8ccs.. now I am losing and restricted.. am I missing something? ~donnamarie~