Northwest_Nance

Sorry if this is a little bit long, but for me it was all part of the process..... I had never considered weight loss surgery. Even though my BMI qualified me, I never thought I was "fat enough" and I also thought I had to do it by myself. Then around New Year's I started having hip pain, and after going through a lot of exams, tests, cortisone shot, etc., it was finally discovered I had an injury to my hip, on top of arthritis, and that I needed arthroscopic surgery to repair the injury. When I finally got in to see the surgeon, he was quite blunt. He told me I was too fat for arthroscopic surgery. That the tools he had to use wouldn't reach through all the fat on my thighs to get to the injury. He also said my hip was in worse shape than originally thought and I was probably looking at needing a total hip replacement, but that he would not perform that surgery on me at my current weight. He explained that I'm young for a hip replacement and chances are it would need to be replaced again in my lifetime - and the heavier I am, the faster I would wear it out. Also the riskier the surgery would be and the more difficult my recovery. He said "I strongly suggest you look into weight loss surgery". I cannot tell you how shocked and stunned I was. And humiliated. At first, I thought "I'm not going to tell anyone". Then I realized... they all know I'm fat. In the end I told all of my co-workers, my boss, my HR person -- they were all SO excited and happy for me and so supportive, I am truly fortunate. My family is equally as supportive. My insurance specifically excludes coverage for weight loss surgery so I started the arrangements for a loan against my 401K. I also started the sleep study process in motion because I knew that would take awhile and I knew a weight loss doctor would require it (the hip surgeon was going to require it too). I started my surgery research. I went to a support group meeting at a local hospital, then a seminar put on by the surgeon I eventually ended up choosing. I was all over the internet reading diaries and blogs of weight loss patients, and watching You Tube video diaries, and I watched the surgery being performed on You Tube. I went back and forth for awhile between bypass and lap band, but being self-pay, I decided bypass was more than I could afford to spend, and I couldn't afford the higher risk of post-surgery complications. It was mid-March when my hip surgeon recommended I look into weight loss surgery. I had just missed the March support group meeting and seminar, so I had to wait until April for them. In the meantime I got the sleep study done. My appointments with the surgeon, nutritionist and psychiatrist were May 1st and 2nd. My surgery was May 15th. I still have the hip surgery ahead of me, and in the meantime I live with constant pain, but it has gotten a little more bearable since I've lost 30 pounds and I'm really hopeful that the more weight I lose, the more the pain will diminish and maybe I can postpone the hip replacement, or possibly even get by just with the arthroscopic surgery for now.

I think we all got to Lap Band Land more or less the same way, and we each have issues to deal with after getting our new "tool" so yeah, I think some people aren't losing weight because they aren't dealing with those issues and/or they expected the band to do all the work for them. Unless you have a medical problem, it's science.... consume less calories than you burn and you will lose weight. Follow the plan and you will lose weight. Some people do have to make adjustments (number of calories, percentage of carbs, sugar, sodium, etc.), I think, and that's a trial and error process. But if I'm honest, yes, if I read that someone was banded 10 months ago and they've lost 15 pounds, of course I question whether they are following the plan as well as they think they are. It doesn't mean they are deliberately screwing up, they may truly be unaware of something they are doing to sabatage their own efforts. It just frustrates me to see people blaming that on the band's failure. My doctor told me that if, at my weekly weigh-in, I haven't lost 1-2 pounds, I need to sit down and take a careful look at what I've been eating, what my level of activity has been, etc. And if I go a second week in a row without losing 1-2 pounds, he wants me to come in and talk to him and/or his nutritionist so they can help me figure out the problem. We all are going to go through periods of plateau but in general, that tells me something about what the level of expectation should be if we're following the program!

There is a thread here from a week or two ago where someone posted a You Tube video of a doctor explaining WHY no carbonation and if you see that, you won't want to risk drinking a beer. She explained that the carbonation rises and goes back up into your new little stomach and makes it expand. That's not a very good medical explanation but you get the general idea. It sounded like it could permanently negate the whole affect of having a band. Wine and alcohol are fine in moderation, as long as you recognize that not only is it empty calories, but it generally will stall your weight loss.

Congratulations! Happy day! :ohmy:

I had a sleep study in April. I really bonded with the tech; she said she wasn't allowed to tell me anything, "but IF you have sleep apnea, you are going to do great, you will notice such a big difference after you get used to sleeping with the cpap machine". LOL. They told me it would take a couple weeks to get my results too but I had told the doctor I was anticipating having surgery and the surgeon wouldn't schedule my surgery until the sleep study was concluded, and they moved things along really fast for me. I had my results within a couple of days and they scheduled me to come back for another night to be tested with a cpap machine. Anyway I think I was done with the study and brought my machine home within about 3 weeks from my first sleep study. I ended up with a bipap instead of cpap and although it took me a few weeks to get used to sleeping with it, it's been a lifesaver (literally and figuratively). Good luck to you!

I'm a 55-year old divorced woman and I don't have a whole lot of extra money, but I paid for my surgery in May by taking out a loan against my 401K. That was my best option because it's low interest and when I pay it back, I'm paying myself back. I think of it as a car payment too (fortunately I paid cash for my car a couple years ago) and a much better investment than a car! I've only made two payments so far, so maybe it's a little soon for me to be saying it's worth it.... but I believe it absolutely is. I've lost over 30 pounds in two months. I don't feel hopeless and miserable and desperate anymore. I feel positive and hopeful and happy. I'm already starting to feel a little better from the physical ailments I've been suffering with because of being overweight. I'm making plans for the future, I'm walking through stores looking at cute clothes and actually thinking.... I might be able to have fun clothes shopping again one day. My self confidence and self esteem are already rising. And I still have a long way to go to reach goal.... it can only get better from here. I've lost 100 pounds three times over the last 20 years (Jenny Craig, low-fat, and Atkins) and I've always gained it back. I know how to lose weight, I don't know how to keep it off. But in recent years I haven't been able to find the strength and discipline and energy to do it one more time. I'm weary of it all. Getting the lap band has helped me find the strength, discipline and energy.... and with every expectation that this time, I'm going to KEEP it off. When you buy a new car, it depreciates the minute you drive it off the lot. And it loses that new car smell pretty fast too. Long after it's no longer new to you, you're making those payments. I'm expecting that I am actually appreciating with each day, and that the longer I am making those payments, the better and better I'll be getting! P.S., don't forget the cost is tax deductible too, so you will get some of that money back on your taxes next year!

Congratulations! Isn't it awesome to start noticing other factors besides just the scale.... gives us a whole bigger picture.

I had sleep study done a few months ago and I found this website really helpful when it came to interpreting results and answering questions about cpap and bipap machines, etc... they really helped me get through all my questions and the first few difficult weeks adjusting to my bipap machine... Sleep Apnea Support Forum Index It's amazing once you learn all the detrimental affects to your health that come from having sleep apnea.... including a slowing of your metabolism. Some people lose 10-20 pounds without changing their diet, after getting their cpap or bipap machine, because their metabolism wakes up! EDIT: Oops just noticed someone else already recommended the sleep apnea support forum to you.... my bad!

Wow, what a lot to go through! I had no idea getting a blood transfusion was so involved.... and to have to devote a day to it in the middle of preparing for surgery and preparing for time off from work.... a lot of added stress! I agree with your previous noter, I doubt your partner will be bedridden next week. I didn't even have anyone stay with me the first night and I was fine, I stayed up watching tv, walking, and playing on the computer until almost midnight! Fatigue caught up with me the next day and I slept a lot but I also walked a lot (the more you walk, the faster you heal and get rid of gas). We're all different and she just might need more rest than some of us but I bet you'll both be surprised how active she'll be.

When I went to my doctor's seminar (I am 55) there were at least half a dozen people there - male and female - who were older than me. I believe one woman was 65. We are never too old to get healthy, feel better, and enjoy life. Good luck to you!

Onederland is when the scale gets below 200 into the 100's! Congratulations on hitting Onederland, Lonestar! Great job!! I hate to say it, but a year ago I was 2 pounds away from hitting it..... and I don't know what happened to my frame of mind but I just couldn't or wouldn't do it. Instead I gained even more weight (reminds me of that TV commercial where the man's voice says "Have you gained MORE weight?".....) and ended up at 255 by April of this year and I was banded on May 15th. So now I'm working my way back down and believe me, this time I will not stop without getting to Onederland myself!!

Wow I am so sorry. You are right, the risks are low but when they happen to you, it's 100%. My heart really goes out to you. Thanks for sharing and I wish you all the best.

I echo what everyone else has said.... NO ALCOHOL! Even when it's not a pre-op diet but just a regular diet for weight loss, alcohol will slow down your loss. But for the pre-op diet it's even more critical, as several others have said..... the purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver and get it as healthy as possible for surgery. I have heard of surgeries being cancelled AFTER the doctor gets started, because the liver is not in good enough shape to be moved. (Yes that's rare but it happens). So not only would alcohol put a big damper on your ability to lose the pre-op weight the doctor wants you to lose, but it could have a big adverse affect on your liver. After your post-op diet you can drink when you choose, IF you choose (it WILL slow down your weight loss but I've had the occasional glass of wine and a few White Russians and as long as I plan for them, they haven't hurt me, except it does stall the weight loss for a few days).

There are several recent (and long!) threads about this.... if you do a search for "Realize" I'm sure they will pop up for you and you'll have a lot of quick info!

If you're dieting and not losing weight, I wonder if you are getting enough calories? I find if I do 800 calories a day I lose weight very slowly but if I bump it up to 1000-1200 calories a day, the pounds start dropping more regularly.

It depends on what your doctor's post-op instructions are. I was allowed to start eating mushies on Day 8, including refried beans... so if your doctor says mushies are ok on Day 8, refried beans works! If he's still got you on liquids, he would not want you eating refried beans.

There are several replies in this thread (including one from me) from patients who went to his doctor or his clinic -- his doctor is WONDERFUL! In my opinion, his situation cannot be blamed on the doctor.

I had my surgery at the same clinic. Dr. Montgomery wasn't my doctor but I know he is VERY much in demand, has an excellent reputation, and cares very much about his patients, as all 3 of the doctors at the clinic do. Almost everyone who works at the clinic has been banded and they care very much also. My experience with everyone there has been that they genuinely care about your success. I have a friend who had her surgery by Dr. Montgomery last month. He told her, just as my doctor told me, that if we go two weeks in a row without losing at least 2 pounds, they want us to come in right away and they will help us figure out the problem. Did you do that during your 13 months post-op of free follow up care? They also told us that if we have pain after a fill, or at any time, we should call and tell them about it. Have you done that?

My port is below my incision and to the side of it. I was having intermittent soreness and tenderness around the port site right up until the day of my first fill and I was really nervous about pain during the fill.... but it didn't hurt a bit (and my doctor doesn't use a numbing agent). The port area was a little tender for the rest of the day after the fill and surprisingly, hasn't hurt one bit in the week since then. If the incision itself is hurting, that's different and I would check with my doctor about that if you're more than a week or two past surgery.

Congratulations!! The weight on my license is really way off and what's even worse is that the picture is too. Not only was my face thinner, but my hair was a different color. :biggrin: My license doesn't expire for another two years so I probably will just wait it out, by then the weight on my license should be accurate if not over-stated, and my face should match the picture even if my hair doesn't... well... except for being a little bit older!

Congratulations! It's such a huge adjustment for us to start seeing ourselves as "normal"; comments like your co-worker's start planting the seeds to help us do that. I'll bet that made you feel good!

I'd agree with everyone who says don't make yourself throw up. My doctor told me that's the number one cause of bands slipping. For that reason, he gave me a prescription of anti-nausea medication and also told me he will refill that prescription any time I have a stomach virus in the future.

You've only gained back ten pounds? In my experience, that's success! I think back to all the times I wish I'd stopped at gaining back 10 pounds, and gotten back on the band wagon. When you wait until you've gained back 100 pounds, you look back and cry over just how easy it would have been to lose that 10 pounds and get back on track! I know you can do this and it sounds like you really are ready. Come back to the club!

I think a lot of us go through the same feelings. I lost 10 pounds in the month before I even saw the surgeon, just because I was so ready for the process. I was self-pay so I really had to think about it.... I'm going to spend $17,000 -- pretty much take on the equivalent of a car payment for the next 5 years -- when, look, I'm doing it, I'm losing weight... for free!!! I could take that money and finally get the new kitchen I want (funny how that's a food-focused dream too, lol). But like another poster said.... I knew that one reason I was finding the discipline and motivation to lose a few pounds before I saw the surgeon, was because I knew I was about to change my life dramatically by getting the lap band. Also, I know how to lose weight. I've lost 100 pounds three times in the last 20 years. My problem is, I don't know how to keep it off. That's where I'm really hoping the lap band will provide me with the tool I'm lacking in my own head.

Thanks.... I am not restricted to liquids or mushies after a fill. My doctor has no special diet requirements after a fill, but if we want to do mushies for a day or so, we're welcome to it.... but he wants us on "normal" food within a day or so in order to see how the fill is working. I know, my doctor seems to be more relaxed than most doctors we hear about on this forum and I see it over and over again. But I trust him completely... he does nothing but lap bands, has been doing them for years, and has an excellent reputation! You're right about Protein first and that's what I try to stick to. Yep, the band is a tool... I'll be glad when my tool is a little more assertive! I go back for another fill next Thursday, and another one scheduled for two weeks after that (if I need it) so, I'll get there!