BubblyBandit

I was banded three weeks ago today. I lost 13lbs on the pre-op diet of optifast. After surgery I also lost around 5 more lbs the week after and than another 2lbs the next week. This week I actually gained 2lbs back! I am so upset! I just started eating real foods agian after being on liquids and than mushies for the first 2 weeks. I ate alittle more after christimas but still not anywhere near 1000 cals a day. i had a few days last week that I ate alot somewhere near 1800-2000 cals. I realized this and started to count my points on Sunday. I have been starving but have stayed around 20-25points which is like 1000-1400 cals a day. And I am up 2lbs. What is wrong with me I feel like a failure!

I was also banded on 12/18. What has worked for me is milk of magnisa. Works like a charm with in like 2 hours.

I've never heard of people rejecting the band. But I can imagine that the problems you are describing is because she hasn't had a bowl movement and that can make people feel gas, sore, and constipated. I recommend you buyer her a big bottle of milk of magnisia that stuff works! I was just banded on 12/18 and I every day I take MOM I feel so much better!

I was financed my surgery. What I had to do since the economy is so band and they are being stingy on loans was go with American General financial. They required me to put my car and my mothers car up for collateral and I only got 12000. The rest I put on credit cards.

I'm in the same boat as you are! I just had the band on 12/18 I am self pay all the way! However my mom really needs it the band also. She is very overweight for her height and unhealthy. She just had to come out of retirement to start working as a nurse again because of financial difficulties ahd and my dad are having. She keeps saying she will have it and than she doesn't want to have it because of money issues. I just keep telling her that it's like buying a new car. My payments are only like 283 a month. I am hoping that when she is watching me go through this process and than her sister in april that will make her change her mind. Any ways the answers to your questions are 1. 4-5 days 2. Depends on the doctors and insurance requirements. Since I was self pay I had a consultation appointment which I took 2 hours off. A cardiologist appointment which was another 2 hours. Pre-op which I took 1 hour off for and than surgery which I had 4 days off for but I called in today because I wasn't quite ready to go back to work. 3. I would call and find out or look at their brochure online.

I was just banded on 18 so I know how you feel! I did weigh myself already and i'm down another 4lbs! That is a total of 16.4lbs since the optifast! only 99.8 to go! I am excited to. The other night I saw a girl in a short jean skirt and I wanted it so bad. But just think in a year I will be able to wear it!

Very funny you asked this question. I think that 2 weeks would be good maybe even a week. If you are on your feet all the time. The surgery really isn't that bad. Every day gets a bit better. Well I had my surgery on the 18 and I planned on taking untill today off which is 4 days. I work at geico and sit all day so I didn't think that would be a problem. However I woke up today and couldn't imagine going to work for 12 hours answering the phones. So I called in. I do have to go tomorrow and wednesday but then I have 3 more days off.

I was also banded on 12/18! I am not very hungery at all. I'd say I've had less than 500 cal per day since surgery. I hope it stays that way!

What is a true results center?

I am 3 days post op and the doctor told me to talk milk of magnesia. I haven't taken it yet but I'll let you know.

So I finally had surgery yesterday! Everything is going well I have pain on my left side. I also have to becareful to swallow liquids slowly or I have the hiccups and those hurt my wounds. I'm down 12.5lbs so far on the pre-op I'll let you know my progress!

101 pounds is very good in 10 months! I was just banded yesterday and I would kill to be able to walk faster than a snail!

I was just banded yesterday too! I feel a little sore right now and it is kinda hard to move. I don't feel really any different though.

I plan on keeping mine on.

Tommorow I will be starting week 2 of my two week pre op diet. I can honestly say it has not been to horrible. I am on a strict diet. I can have 5 optifasts a day, any sugar free gum, sugar free beverages, added benefiber, and broth if I feel light headed. The only way I can see that I've cheated so far would be that I have had a few diet sodas which are not on the recommended list and I have been having 1-2 cups of broth even if I am not feeling light headed. I just need that warmth and the smell of real food. The only thing I'm really craving is tuna fish with mayo. I can't wait to be on mushies so I can have some. I believe it will be the best meal I have ever had! As far as cheating it is so not worth it! I am spending so much money on myself I am self pay and I have wanted this my whole life. This is hard but the benefits out weigh everything else. It's also not worth it to cheat because what if you do not shrink your liver to where it needs to be and you have to reschedule your surgery. Also this is a lifestyle change and nobody's perfect but you will have to live with this for the rest of your life. It is the easiest to get most of the weight off with in the first year and then you can relax a bit to maintain. I can work hard now and be down to goal in a year if I don't cheat and than it will be part of my life style and I can have a cookie every now and again but not the whole box.

I am being banded on December 18 also! I am also on my pre op diet day 3 to be exact! The doctor put me on optifast which he ordered before I started. It was expensive but the tasted isnt' too bad. I get 5 a day and they are flavored in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. It comes out to about 800 or so calories a day.

I am starting my pre op Optifast diet tommorow! Read my blog! My banded life....

Say you are on a diet!

Hi I just wanted to know everyone's age, date of surgery, current weight, goal weight, location and doctors? I'll start I'm Emily and I'm 22 my date is 12/18/08, my current weight is 257 ish, I want to weigh 145 I'm getting banded at memorial hospital in Tampa Fl by Dr. Aguilia.

Will be banded Dec 18! One week before christmas!!! It's my present to myself. I have been thinking about it for about 2 years now but I am now financially able to do it and I'm so excited!

Gallbladder....the scares are exactly the same and over time I doubt they will even notice because the scars are so small they lighten up drastically. I had my gallbladder out 4 years ago and the scars are barely noticeable.

Hi, I am in the same position as you are. I am self pay also. My surgery is going to be 15,365 and that includes fills. I got a loan for 12,000 and the rest I'm trying to do Cash or credit. My interest rate is about 19%. 29% is ridiculous!! I would try to get another form of financing. Anyways I was going through the motions with those thoughts about it being so much money, maybe I should wait for insurance, maybe I can do it on my own, what happens if I have to get it removed or it slips how am I going to pay for it etc,. I was actually talking myself out of something I wanted to have so badly the day before. And than I had a long chat with the DBF and he actually gave me some good advice. First he said that it was my brain playing a trick on me and that my heart is what I should really listen to. Meaning that my brain was thinking of it's survival and not what it actually needs. He also reminded me that I will never be as close to getting the lap band as I am right now and if I back out who knows if I will get another chance. Also he told me not worry about slipping, removal etc,. IF that happens we will deal with it when we deal with it. Also it may seem like a lot of money but just think how much you have spent in the past on diet plans, pills, exercise programs... and how much you will save on food. Its like getting a new car or better. After he gave me this advice I felt alot better and than slept on it and it also gave me more of a resolve to actually do this and get the weight off for good! You are the only one that can make this decision but just take some time and really think over it.

Hopefully I will have the surgery December 18th!!!

I'm sorry you have had this experience with the lap band. I do have a suggestion though. It sounds to me that you are very stressed out at the moment and have been since the passing of your husband. I am sorry to hear about your husbands death that must have been a monumental loss for you and also a huge stressor along with unemployment, the stress of having to go out in the unappealing dating scene, and undergoing major WLS with no signs of a loss. I do know that our bodies do react to this stress and alot of the times the stress shows up in our stomaches. The point I am trying to make is that maybe you are having trouble with your band due to stress. I mean you said it yourself when your husband died you lost weight because stress caused you not to feel hungry. My thoughts are that with all this stress on you and then adding in the lap band you are very restricted even with out a fill and your stomach is taking out lifes stresses on your band and also causing your body to hold on to the weight. I do believe you want to try and loss weight with the lap band and it isn't your fault that you are having trouble. I also do belive that the lap band does work! And it will work for you! My opionion is that you do not have the band taken out, but you do put weight loss on hold for the moment and work on your life to eradicate these stressors. Seek spirtual guidance, exersise, talk to friends and family about your husbands death. I do not know how far you are in the bearvement process but doing these things will help with it. As for the unemployment I do not believe that they will not hire you for the reasons you have stated. There maybe some companies out there but The economy is tough right now and many people are having trouble finding jobs whether they are fat or thin. You will find a job but maybe since you are unemployed you should take up a hobby or an activity that you have always wanted to learn and enjoy it and let it relief stress for you. As for getting back in the dating scene you have plenty of time for that. There are men out there that are only in it for looks but alot of men could care less if you are fat. I mean you are a pretty woman. What a man won't want is a woman in an unstable place who is bitter and stressed....I don't mean your are bitter but it's hard not to be when life takes us through hell. When you have worked on all of these things and gotten life to a more normal stable place than I suggest going back to losing weight and I can almost guarentee that your lap band will work for you instead of agianst you. I hope I helped. If you would like to talk more just shot me a message.