Bella

I always take Centrum (one a day) so - are you taking two of these kind of Multivitamin a day? Thanks!

Hi, Thanks for your reply. Actually, I'm American but have been living in Holland a number of years. My surgeon is in Belgium. The surgery staples your tummy but it is definitely reversable. No cutting involved - although yes, the staples could 'tear' you. :cry I've just email my Doctor (his aid at least) and asked his thoughts about switching. I like the lapband but from my research so far: - I worry about being HUNGRY and not being able to eat those 6 weeks before my first fill - I worry about having to get a fill or an unfill until I hit my 'sweet spot' - I worry about slippage but with the VGB .. it would more like a tear .. which is WORSE when I think about it.... :omg: Ummm now I feel a little silly because it seems like small things that I'm worrying about. I guess what got me in this line of thinking is ... I want to lose weight FOR SURE .. not for 'maybe' and when I read too many bad lspband stories, I'm afraid I'll end up like them. I'm self-pay so I don't want to go in for a revision and pay all over again ... I just want the weight OFF. (don't we all!) No, RNY is over the top, My doctor advises - there's no sense in going that dramatic as my goal is 90 pounds AT MOST. I agree. I guess I just needed to talk to someone about this... thanks for letting me vent. I'll figure it out. :decision: I must say the VBG forums on www.obsesity.com is like NOTHING as compared to this lapband forum! I log in a read EVERY DAY as I obsess over my weight EVERYDAY. Thanks again!

Hi all, I'm stilll waiting for my surgery. Question: I've been reading about VBG Vertical Band Gas or sometimes it's written as the VGB. Basically, they stable your stomach so it's the same restrictive surgery as the lapband BUT from what I read - it's more effective. Any thoughts about this option? Thanks in advance! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Gosh, I'm surprised too. But I don't see how removing the band is going to stop her 'head' problems. If she continues to eat like that WITHOUT the band - she's just gonna get fat again and ... still have the head problems. I think she subconsciously wants to get fat again because surely she can get help for her 'head' problems AND keep the band so she doesn't get fat again? I don't get it. I feel bad for her though.

Hi all, I'm waiting for my surgery too! Question: I've been reading about VBG Vertical Band Gas or sometimes it's written as the VGB. Basically, they stable your stomach so it's the same restrictive surgery as the lapband BUT from what I read - it's more effective. Any thoughts about this option? Thanks in advance

I'm a Computer Consultant. Several years ago, I fell in love with a Dutch guy and moved to Holland. I broke up with the guy but I stayed on as I can pretty much do my exact same job here in this country!

Hi, Ummm what's the HGTV board?? :confused:

Thank you very much Leatha for your clear explaination. This information alleviates my concerns.:confused: I guess I've been reading too many posts on people having problems when most people don't have problems at all. Ok ... back to my research!! :decision:

Question - once the band does slip ... why does it have to come out?:confused: That's what I've been reading on these threads. It seems ... the band might be precarioius ... and once it 'slips' game over.:cry I also read that some doctors actually sew the land to the stoma in some way - just to avoid slippage.:plane:

What I read - somewhere in these posts was that some doctors automatically prescribe diet pills for that post op period. As you may know diet pills only decrease your appitite for about a month - that's it - but that would be enough until you first fill. I plan on ordering something from the internet - just in case my doctor does not prescribe anything for the hungries! :biggrin1: Check it out!

I have a question for all you long time slow losers. From what I've been reading, many people have hair loss when they lose weight because of an decrease in the kind of iron you find in beef. That and the fact that when you are stressed lot of nutrients like vitaman B goes to your other vital organs and away from parts of your body where it's not so critical - like your hair. Ive read that you should take iron suppliments as well as B complex vitamens and of course 1000 - 5000 mg of biotin per day. I'm just curious if a slow weight lose also helps you avoid losing hair? Any ideas?

Something clicked for me too! I just decided I HAVE to do this! My date is set for Jan. 23 - wish it were sooner but I've already booked and paid for a 1 month adventure tour so I can't have the surgery earlier. I CAN'T WAIT! I'M REALLY UP FOR IT! :biggrin1:

I'm looking forward to getting real about my weight! I just realized .. my weight goal is not reasonable!! (I'm just venting here) My weight should be 165 so why in the heck did I plan on 135??? I've never been 135!! When I check the bmi scale for a person 5'9", 165 would put me at 24.4 - within a 'normal' range. Oddly enough, I used to weight 165 and I thought I was fat! Of course, this was years ago before I figured out that I looked fine ... and just didn't know it. I wore a size 10/12 and still complained that I was too fat! It's a sickness folks!! What I wouldn't do to be 165 again:faint: Sorry to hyjack thread - just had to get that out!!!

Ohhhh I read that EXACT Memorial listing!! That's why I decided AGAINST RNY!! Sorry but my research so far tells me the lapband is no where near as dangerous as the other surgeries. My doctor has done hundreds and only lost 1. This was because the person had a very high BMI with other healths problems which in fact may have lead to a premature death anyway. I'm booked for late Jan. 2007 and can't wait. My only fear is that I will be one of the very few that's body cannot tolerate the band - then I'm back to square 1 again.:phanvan I say - go for it!

I'm waiting to be banded as well. I'm reading these threads everyday with great interest as I am hoping and praying that this works for me. I'm not short - but I am healthy, and workout - thought in starts - but I have to come to believe I'm powerless over food. Powerless!! Ahhhh ... and I DON'T want to get any fatter. Like the others say ... I'm tired of dreading summer because EVERYONE wearing those cute skirts and tops ... and I'm wishing I could pull out my raincoat and coverup again. I'm that hoping that THIS will be my LAST winter covering up like this! I just wanna wear some cute jeans and a short fitted leather jacket ... and be COMFORTABLE in my own skin!!!:clap2: Can't WAIT to get banded.

Alllll I want to be able to wear are ... a nice pair of jeans!!!:clap2: (I have a long list actually ... this is just number ONE on my list)

The insurance is only 145 euro out of the 5700 I will pay. That's a great price though! Frankly, I want the insurance as I'm afraid that if I have complications - it will surely leave me in the poor house as my regular insurance will not cover it. Did Dr Dilleman over any insurance to you -or explain who would pay of you have complications? Did you just give him a call and arrange that price with him directly? About the 33 - I see your point. Insurance here will only pay for it if I'm at 40 but I'm afraid I can hardly stand my fat butt right now - so how would I feel if I gained even MORE weight! :angry Noooo ... I may as well get it off now and like you said - avoid the baggy skin look as much as possble! Thanks for the 'stone' conversion. A friend of mine had the DS and went from a size 24 to a size ... 4. She looks beautiful ... but the loose skin is a big issue. She will now have several surgeries just to get rid of all that - plus she had complications ... so in the end ..she's in and out of the hospital. She's very happy with her results though. I figure for me I just want to have a breast lift - because basically I need one now so losing weight will just make it worse. That's all the PS I want really! Thanks!

Hi! Sorry to confuse you but I'm an American living in Holland. I've been here over 7 years and don't plan on return to the States. :biggrin1: Brugge is only 2 hours away so it's no problem to commute for my fills. The lapband is much cheaper over here than the States.

Great! I found him on the internet too. The package deal based in the UK that arranges everything on Brugges with the doctor. It's surgery, all costs related too and flight from the Uk to Brugge, hotel etc for like 7000 or something. I'm just get the al la cart deal which is 5700 (everything - even insurance if something goes wrong). WAS YOUR DEAL LOWER THAN THIS FIGURE??? I'm surprised you got the band at only 33- I must spread that information around! I'm at 37 which is not high as any many others - but heck I'M FAT! Hee hee! You must be British - well I'm from the States. What is a 'stone'? Anyway, how was your prep and procedure? Tell me what you went through? Yes, January ... I'm just dying to peel off this fat suit. )

Gosh a 'family affair' hugh? Did you get a family discount? Did you take a 'package deal' from the UK/Ireland or did you just find him on your own? I'm based in Holland - where are you based? What were your experiences? I can't wait to get banded! Let me know your thoughts so far!:clap2:

Wowwwww you look AMAZINING ... Actually ... you look a bit like myself!:grouphug: Can't wait to get banded so I can look just as gorgeous as you. (You must be beating the brothers off with a stick!!)

Good for you. I'm not telling anyone but my HR lady at my job - but only because she has to see the doctors info. so I can prove I'm not sitting on the beach for 2 weeks! Hee hee! I think regular people that have to lose 5 or 10 pounds - don't understand what it is to have a weight PROBLEM. It's .. like having a gambling PROBLEM or a drinking PROBLEM etc... I think for me ... I finally came to accept the fact that ... I am powerless over food. It's like a drug for me! Hard to admit - but true. :think

GOOD GRIEF!:clap2: I just noticed your weight loss! WONDERFUL! I want to be just like YOU when I grow up!!!

Hi All! Thanks ever so much for your words of encouragment! I am feeling better - though I'm still tearing up ... but this is a GOOD thing for me. I need to let my feelings OUT instead of keeping them bottled up all the time. You know - always the strong one. In my case, I lost pretty much all my family .. just me left these days so I have to tend to myself as best I can .. which is percieves as being pretty good to other people. That's why people think I'm so strong. Maybe it's my fault to have given out that impression ... but it's all about my pride. I can't let people know that I have weaknesses. Yes, I'm working on it. ) Anyway, I don't know WHY I'm even upset though as it seems most of you have had to wait longer than I will. :| I decided on this 3 weeks ago only ... so what am I whining about a 4 month wait for? About the changes ... well, I am the QUEEN of eating healthly. I've been on a million diets so I know how to cut things out of my diet etc... My problem is 'maintaining' the program. I can be a real exercise freak too - another story. My pattern is always the same - you can 'make book' on it. When I get stressed from work etc... I revert back to my pizza eating and Chinese food habits and I don't feel like drinking Water or working out ...so that 6 pounds that took me a month to drop ... will come back in about 7 days. :party: Then I start the cycle all over again ... this is my problem:( That's why I want the band. I WILL do the right thing for several weeks BUT the minute something goes wrong (and it always will) I will want to fall off the wagon. But with the band I will immediately be aware that I cannot have the whole dag gone pizza.. I might be able to have a few bites - but that will be it! In truth a few bites of pizza once a month is reasonable. So yes, I WILL fall ... but unless I just lose my mind and want to risk slippage and vomiting and pain .... I can only slip a LITTLE bit ... before I HAVE to straighten up and fly right. When the hard time passes - I can back to eating right again. This is my pattern ... I'm either ON a diet and IN the process of losing weight or ... I just fell off the wagon and I am IN the overeating stage. There is NO inbetween for me. Actually, the overeating stage only lasts week or two (until my body just feels bad and I have to stop) but I can do sooooo much damage in that week or two! Okay, all. I am feeling better. I will continue to post and watch for your replies. THANKS BUNCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mamanysm - It sounds like your family is quite beautiful ... where it counts. :car:

No, I don't see any benifit in becoming the topic of conversation around the office either. Weight loss is hard enough without everyone in your buisness.:phanvan I suuuure wish I was were you are right now. Waiting is a killer. I have exactly 2 1/2 months to suffer in this fat suit. Then I'm taking an adventure vacation to Asia for 5 weeks and I return - I go in for surgery and will be off work 2 more weeks:D The only person I HAD to tell was my HR person - but she can't tell anyone. I've been waiting for a return email from her all week - afraid she'll question me.hee hee! Thanks for the heartening posts!