Patriciann

I had mine in October and I've lost 60% and still going. And I'm OLD. I didn't lose for about 3 weeks and then this week I lost 5 pounds. Not everyone is the same, you might lose 120%, lol so don't put too much stock into those articles.

As soon as I order in a restaurant I ask the waitress to please bring me a "to go" dish when she brings my food. I find that what used to be one meal in a restaurant is now three meals. You just don't want anymore.

Hi Rhonda: I gained 12 pounds between the time I was approved and the time I had the surgery.......I was determined to eat everything there was to eat. That's why we needed the band, lol. Don't worry, all will be well soon.

Jaime: Don't stress anymore. You got approved and a whole new life is ahead of you. It's the best gift you can give to yourself. I'm sure 90% plus of us felt about ourselves the way you do. BUT WE DON'T ANYMORE...............so good luck Jaime. My prayers go with you.

Sadie: I'm printing your post and pinning it to my bulletin board. Thanks so much. Every single thing on your list is something that has crossed my mind during this "voyage". My doctor says he can fix my stomach but not my head, lol..........

I cringe when I see fat people being made fun of in movies or on TV. I've been fat a good part of my life and truth be told, I have always despised fat people. I guess I was despising my own fat. But it still hurts when our "entertainment" industry makes fun of them (us?) There's a disc jockey who has a morning drive call in show. When a woman calls in he will say something like "you sound fat". I now listen to books on tape for long drives. Fortunately I am no longer in the obese category since surgery, but I will always be a fat girl and it will always hurt.

Thanks to those who answered my post. AthinnerDenise you should have been a bariatric surgeon, lol. I called my doctor and he gave me the same advice. Obviously I forgot the rules and after the fill I was trying to eat crepes, mac/cheese, etc. I am doing liquids and mush and now have no problems except for the usual burp after every mouthful. Last night made polenta, for the southerners on this site that is actually corn meal mush. I did it Italian style and it was fabulous and stayed put. Yeah! Thank you all for your good advice.

Dave, Good luck. I pray it works out for you. Please keep us informed. My Lord, I thought our American healthcare system was complicated......LOL

Hello All, Today I found the 50's group and was excited, then I found this group and am ecstatic....just turned 65 (ouch.) I was banded in Oct and have lost 55 pounds. Cholesterol has gone down 55 points and is nearly normal and I am no longer type II diabetic. So all is well, but I do have a question. The other day I had my fourth fill. Since then I've not been able to eat much, just liquids. Otherwise it's heartburn, vomitting and slimming. I was wondering whether the band will take some time to stretch or is it necessary to go back to the doctor. I live in south Jersey and the doc is in Northern NJ (90 miles). Anyone know anything about this?

Hi, Just found this today and am so happy that there is something for us "more mature" folk. I have a question: Was banded Oct 3, 2007. I've lost 55 pounds, 40 to go. I've had three fills post surgery. The last was 5 days ago. I haven't been able to each much without it coming back up. This morning I only had some water and had heartburn for hours. Tonight I had a couple of bites of mac/cheese and slimed and am still in pain around my chest. My question is will the band loosen with time or do I need to go back to the doc (who is 90 miles away) again for a sort of unfill? Helpppppppppppppp

My doctor really tightened it up this week. This is the tightest of the four I've had since surgery. Had a rough weekend. Today I almost met my worst nightmare. Went out with friends. Stopped for dinner. I had crepes but could only eat about 1/4 of a crepe and took the rest home. I was driving, one friend next to me and one in the back seat. They understood the burping, but all of a sudden I said I think I need to throw up. Thank goodness it passed. But today was the first day I allowed my friends to take photos with me in them. I wasn't afraid to look and when I did I thought, "Oh yeah, it's worth it."

Hi Vic, I've had success with all my fills until this week. I guess he overdid it and I can barely get water down. Forget about eating. The first night I was awake pretty much all night with PB's and water coming out of my mouth. Better the second night and was able to have water, a protein shake and diet ice cream (for some reason that ALWAYS goes down.) Slept great, but in the morning I had terrible heartburn and lots of burping. Now, no pain. I have a luncheon today with friends and I don't think I'll eat anything. This is the first time this has happened. Does the fill loosen up after a few days?

Dave, I will bet that as you go through the various posts you will find 99 3/4 per cent of us feel having the lap band procedure is the best thing we've ever done for ourselves. It's especially important when your health is at risk. I had mine done in October and my cholesterol has gone down 66 points without medication and I am no longer Type II diabetic. I hope you can get it. I don't know much about the Canadian health system, but turn over mountains to get it. I promise you will not regret it.

I never heard of a binder.

Was banded in Oct '07.....it's funny .... I can eat steak but not hamburger or turkey burger.....I was on vacation in Kentucky last week and we went to a chinese dim sun. I didn't have much of anything but i did get the sticky rice which is one of my most favorite things in the world. I threw up in the bathroom. Thank God I was alone in there. Came out, had nothing more. We went out to the street and I saw a Cold Stone. I bought a medium cold stone creation and ate it ALL. No problem.....Had a fill yesterday and am sitting here in terrible pain trying to get some soup down. I can't seem to do fish either. I love fish but salmon came up once and now I just can't handle it. But it's all worth it. I've lost 55 pounds so far and am more than half way to my goal. My cholesterol has gone down 66 points with no medication and I no longer have type II diabetes.......Am having fun buying new clothes and the old dudes are checking me out again, lol.:cursing:

:thumbup:Pre band I've been known to eat an ENTIRE pizza in one sitting. I have had pizza a couple of times since banded and I find I can have one piece and not want more. The trick I use is just not to have these "trigger" foods in the house. If I feel I want a sweet I buy a package of weight watcher's dessert or just one or two cookies. If I have a bag or box in the house, and if I get the urge, it's gone. Now why can't I feel that way about celery, lol......But since Oct when I had my procedure I've lost 45 pounds, I'm on a plateau these last two weeks, but hey, I haven't gained anything, so I think we need to count that as a blessing and as an incentive.

It's incredible that ice cream and chocolate and desserts go down so easily but food....that's another story. I bought some roasted chicken and veggies today from Boston Market for lunch. I even got the dark meat....Ate about 1/3 and had to stop....thought I'd have the balance for dinner tonight. Had a few bites and up it came! My dog finished the dinner.....Now, last week I had the same meal with NO PROBLEM! Maybe I'm just eating too quickly. Truly I don't mind and I'm not even going to tell my doctor because I am halfway to my goal and I don't want him to fill less.

Got the band in Oct and have an appointment for my third (or 4th?) fill end of this month. Weight loss going well, nearly 50 pounds, but I'm concerned that there are things I just cannot eat which I LOVE, i.e. Salmon, pot roast, pork. I did not only "slime" when I tried to eat them, I actually just threw it ALL up (sorry.) I felt like a bulimic. I had to give or throw away all that I made. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem and/or is this forever? I don't have problems with most other foods.

I am nearly 5 mos post op. Doctor must have "over filled" last month because I feel like a bulimic. For example, tonight I had some broiled salmon and veggies. The salmon was nice and moist but I threw it all up shortly after eating. This has happened with pot roast, rice, pork and other things. Just never know when it will happen and I pray it never happens in public. My next fill is at the end of this month. I'm afraid to tell the doctor because he might not fill enough.......Anyone else having this problem?

Why not fill your house with healthy snacks that you can just grab when you feel hungry. You can eat many many times a day as long as you are eating healthy low calorie foods. I always have low fat yogurt, fruit, sugar free desserts, pretzels, soups, etc for emergencies, lol.

Gas has become my middle name since I had the surgery in Oct. '07. It's really embarrassing because I am around other people a lot, both at work and socially. But as long as I'm getting closer and closer to my goal, I'll just have to live with it. There are worse things.....I can live without sliming, Yuck!

Why wait for the next meal? Have a small snack.

Hi Kat, This afternoon I had a piece of pizza, no problem. Tonight I had a few bites of fish and have been sooooo sick. Sliming and pain for about an hour. I'm afraid to tell the doctor cause he might not fill as much next time. Did I understand correctly that you also have been having the same problem?

I like to make stuffed peppers using ground turkey, and I make Turkey or chicken Loaf. Don't know the exact measurements, but: 1 lb turkey or chicken ground 1 egg corn flake crumbs usual salt/pepper about 3 T mustard (I like the regular yellow mustard for this) about 3 T ketchup some garlic powder some dried onion mix it all up and bake it like you would a meat loaf. Yummy

Hi Rain, the pork chops sound good, but I made pork chops Sunday in sauce in the slow cooker and really got sick. I think they stuck even though I took small bites. Got the slimy thing. I have them in the fridge but am afraid to eat them.