MicheleK

I just popped in to complain.... I just started last night and this morning the cramping is making me want to puke....this one feels like it's going to be a real doozy. UGH! :grouphug::cursing::cursing::biggrin::cursing:

Me too!! :grouphug:

I didn't post on the "5 chicken" thread either, I didn't even read much past the first couple of posts. What I meant was I realized the thread was posted tongue and cheek and meant to be funny (in a sarcastic way). I don't find eating disorders amusing, as I've had one my entire life and it's pretty much controlled me for 15+ years.

I want people to post about bad experiences...I want to keep tabs on all the facts. If I don't know what to look for (symptoms wise) I might shrug something off that could be really serious. That being said, people that abuse their band and then bitch and moan about it not working bother me. Similar to a funny thread I saw the other day "I ate 5 chickens, do you think my band will be okay?" Kind of the same thing. I see posts a lot about people eating normal portions (or implying it anyway) and puking all the time...then wondering why their band slipped....duh! It has been my experience in life, you get what you put in. Perhaps those numbers for slippage patients are 7%, but how many are random slips, and how many are slips from people abusing their band? I have a friend that has the band and has since 2003. She has gained 40lbs (after losing 120) and she barfs after every meal...because she still eats like a 350lb woman. She has horrible reflux and constant stomach issues. She's 52 years old...and still won't follow correct procedure (even though she's been warned over and over). She drinks milkshakes ALL DAY, buys Starbucks bottled drinks by the CASE and eats sugar filled, fatty foods. If her band slips I will not be shocked...at all. I'm terrified of having an object placed in my body, I'm also terrified of surgery....but, you know what I'm even more scared of??? Living (and dying) with this weight.

There is a sticky in one of the forums about surgery day stories. It's VERY informative...I would suggest reading it. I don't have my date yet, but I've read that thread about a million times to keep my mind at ease. Someone also put together a shopping list of things to get prior to surgery, I believe it's under FAQ. Check those threads out, they will help you a lot. Grats on your surgery date!!!! :ohmy:

Kris, Welcome to the site. I'm sure you will find lots of wonderful information regarding Lap Band surgery. I hope everything works out well for your daughter. Did her doctor recommend the surgery? 15 is SO young, and there are SO many lifestyle changes that have to take place...it's going to be a tough road and I'm sure she will need all the support from you she can get. I believe in the US docs won't preform Lap Band until the patient is 18, but I'm not sure about other countries so I don't have much to offer in the way of advice. I hope you're able to find out the information you need. Good luck!

Amanda - Thank you for the reply. I think you're making a wonderful choice to improve your life. I hope we both get great news soon. I'm willing to bet if you get banded you'll be able to have your replacement surgery in NO time. Keep us posted on how you're doing. Michele

I love this guy!!! I'm going to meet with him on June 25th for my second appointment (after finishing up a 3 month supervised diet - required by Aetna). After my appointment my paperwork is going to be submitted for approval. I was wondering if anyone else had used Dr. Holsaeter and what your experience has been? I found a couple of OLD posts, and they all looked like good reviews, but I'd love some more feedback if it's available. Thanks! :ohmy:

WOOHOO!! Grats on your amazing accomplishment! :ohmy::thumbup:

Jack - You're a very smart man. This comment should be stickied and forced to be read by anyone even starting ANY kind of WL journey. BTW jfran, you're a beautiful girl, enjoy life and work on finding YOU. The right guy is out there...I didn't find my right guy until age 30. The bad news is I spent most of my 20's married to the "wrong" guy. So please, take your time and make sure you love yourself first, it will make a world of difference. Good luck :ohmy:

Your story is an inspiration! Congrats on your success! :ohmy:

I just wanted to stop in and offer my support and prayers for a speedy recovery. I haven't been banded yet, but currently working on the process...I for one appreciate you folks posting about issues you're having so us "newbies" know what to look for. Best of luck to each of you.

I've been assigned a CPAP machine to use for a week to get used to it. I can't freakin stand it!!! OMG It's the kind that covers the nose and mouth, and it's VERY annoying. I tried the nose pillows while I was at my first sleep study, and my mouth always drops open during sleep so I'd wake up like I was choking. Plus, they gave me a "loaner" that is for smokers (yes, I smoke...I know the picture of good health, right?)...it smells like SHIT. I don't know what to do, I know I need to use this thing...apparently my sleep apnea is pretty darn severe. (288 events per hour, but my oxygen levels never drop below normal...go figure). I have an appointment to take back the loaner tomorrow, I think I'm going to ask to try the nose pillows again, this mask is just to freakin weird.

I've been assigned a CPAP machine to use for a week to get used to it. I can't freakin stand it!!! OMG It's the kind that covers the nose and mouth, and it's VERY annoying. I tried the nose pillows while I was at my first sleep study, and my mouth always drops open during sleep so I'd wake up like I was choking. Plus, they gave me a "loaner" that is for smokers (yes, I smoke...I know the picture of good health, right?)...it smells like SHIT. I don't know what to do, I know I need to use this thing...apparently my sleep apnea is pretty darn severe. (288 events per hour, but my oxygen levels never drop below normal...go figure). I have an appointment to take back the loaner tomorrow, I think I'm going to ask to try the nose pillows again, this mask is just to freakin weird.

I haven't visited this thread in awhile, but WOW Tied you're an inspiration. Your weightloss is really impressive, grats! I have to admit I'm pretty scared about surgery because of my weight, (I've also, never had surgery - and I'm scared of needles, lol). My current BMI is 53.7. :ohmy: All in all I realize I have to take control of my life, so I'm overcoming my fears and moving forward. I have my final appointment with my surgeon on June 25th (after enduring a 3 month supervised diet plan - insurance required), after that my info will be faxed over to Aetna. I hope they move this along quickly, I'm turning 35 on the 27th and an insurance approval would be a wonderful B'Day gift.

I'm not banded yet, so the only thing I can kind of offer advice on is the sleep study. The reason my doctor ordered mine was because apparently obese people have lots of issues with sleep apnea (due to excess weight blocking air flow). A CPAP machine really does help with this and I hear when you have your surgery a lot of times they will have you bring your CPAP with you and use it while you're in recovery. This insures your oxygen absorption doesn't drop while you're still sleeping from the anesthesia. I'm glad I had mine done, I found out I have some pretty nasty sleep apnea, though it's believed by my PCP that it's related mostly to weight. I've read many stories on here about how people got taken off their CPAP after dropping weight with the band. I hope that helps, what portion of the journey are you on? Have you been to a seminar? (that helped me a lot with my decision)

Your hair looks great!! So pretty! :ohmy:

Thank for the info Libra! I'll keep that in mind. I guess it's like anything else, trial and error. :ohmy: (Sorry if I hijacked the thread...)

My tech told me they aren't allowed to tell you if you have sleep apena...but, when she came into the room to throw a CPAP mask on me I kinda figured it out, lol. I was unable to sleep at all with the mask on, so they sent me home. I'm currently "trying" to use one at home to get used to it before I go in for a second study. The guy at the CPAP place said my apnea was the worst he'd ever seen in 15 years....I had an "event" of sleep apena 288 times an hour, (worse he'd seen was 177 times). However, my oxygen absorption (I think that's what it's called) never dropped below 95%, explain that? Maybe I'm an alien. Anyway, I think it's pretty standard procedure for the doctor to confirm the results of the test. My doctor looked mine over and asked me if I was willing to try and use a CPAP at least until I lost some weight. I agreed, but I'm having a really hard time with it at the moment.

Welcome Sherry. I'm working on getting insurance approval for the Lap Band. There is a TON of wonderful information available on these boards. Not to mention the amazing folks that will answer your questions and offer lots of support. Good luck! :ohmy:

Once I'm banded I plan on staying away from the "big" no-no's. Like soft breads and soda (which I don't drink anyway), but out of curiosity, how do you discover as a bandster what is not agreeable? Is it something that gets "stuck" (that's my worse fear is I'll eat something that gets stuck)? Or is it something that just no longer agrees with your stomach (as in makes you queasy). For example, I love steak. I've heard a lot of bandsters are able to eat steak while others cannot. Figuring how my luck normally goes, I think I'll be scared to even try a bite of steak for fear I'll get it stuck and be in severe pain. I have a friend that was banded like 4 years ago, she cannot eat meat in any form (she also is pretty bad with her band, lots of milkshakes - she's gained like 40lbs back - I realize this is her own fault by not being a "good" bandster) but, I think I would be a little disappointed if I could never eat meat again, which I love. In all honesty not being able to eat meat wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me I'm still getting the Lap Band regardless, but the journey to discover what foods I'm able to tolerate scares me a little.

At one of the seminars I attended there was a lady there telling her story about the Lap Band. She was 67yrs old and had it put in at age 65. She looks 20 yrs younger then she did in her before pictures. She said she felt better then she did when she was 30. Go for it! :redface:

I love steak, but almost everyone I've talked to post-band says it's almost impossible to eat. :redface: I hope I'm one of the people that can tolerate it, but in all honesty it's not enough of a deal-breaker to stop me from getting the band. If I have to live w/o steak...so be it. lol

It depends on your insurance coverage. I have Aetna and had to do 3 months of supervised dieting in order to qualify. I know some insurance plans don't require any pre-approval diet.

I just finished my 3 month supervised diet plan. I have another appointment with my surgeon on 6/25 and HOPEFULLY after that my paperwork will get submitted to Aetna. Then I get to wait....ugh Wow, and I'm an idiot because I'm a 3 month person...SORRY!