momcof3

Christine is on Facebook .

Christine is on Facebook

Congratulations Heather! I too thought you had surgery a while ago, but Im glad its finally done:)

I read just this last page, and honestly if i had th eoption to redo any of it i would have done no surgery at all. I would have gone thru preop, heck i lost a lot on preop, after band i lost what 30, and gained 15 back fast. I am still considered a "success" as most of us are, but i think we all excpected it to be a bit different. I have a HARDER time loosing weight now but whatever..

I cant really focus on it anymore, for the past 3 yrs i have been dieiting daily, now since im pregnant (most know this i think??) i have to teach myself how to eat again, lol. AND eat carbs oh my i missed the carbs. Luckily ive lost 2 lbs since finding out prego, but ihave no energy to work out at all, barely walk it blows. I miss my active lifestyle.

I miss all you girls we need to do another lunch soon! Seriously.

Question anyone talk to Christine?? i need to talk to her about how the pregnancy went with her, im havin lotsa issues.. and since not a pt many places i cant get the band looked at.. so i have to go thru with the pregnancy with my band all a mess:)

How is everyone doing??

Congratulations Heather! For some reason I thought you had your surgery a while ago. Sorry to hear you had a hard time at the hospital. If you need anything let me know.

Hi everyone! It's been quite a while and I have news!

I finally had my sleeve surgery Monday, October 17 at SSF. My surgeon is a big fan of the Single-incision technique, but with my gallbaldder coming out at the same time he couldn't do just the one, but I ended up with only two incisions. I had a rough time coming out of anasthesia, mostly because they didn't tape one of my eyes well enough and it got too dry during surgery. When I woke up it was so scratchy. I complained about my eye in the recovery room and to every nurse who walked through my door. I didn't end up getting anything for it until after 9pm. I refused to open my eyes because it hurt so bad so I think that delayed my recovery a little.

On Tuesday, my breakfast tray came at the same time as the transport chair to take me to radiology for my upper GI. Unfortunately they only had 1 transport person so the Upper GI took way longer than it should have. I got to radiology and sat there until Francisco came and brought me in. Then he had me get up on the table (very painful!) he took one xray then told me the table was going to be inverted so I'd be standing. I was pissed at this point because he made me climb on the table- knowing I'd just had abdominal surgery. He didn't even lower the table for me. Once he inverted the table he left me standing there for several minutes. I was finally able to reach my IV stand where my pain pump button was hanging so I could click away. Then they had me drink the stuff. I love how the guy tells me to take bigger gulps, Uh, I haven't even had a sip of Water this is the first I've had to drink and I'm terrified of gulping! Anyway- no leaks and they wheel me back to the hallway where they leave me for 20 minutes or more, waiting for that single transport person. I'm sure I was quite a sight to see, I was hunched over in my chair watching the clock on my IV and pushing my pain button every 6 minutes.

I got back to my room and slept a little and then my lunch tray arrived, then Dr Alami showed up and took one look at me and said 'Yeah, you don't look great. You're not going home today". I had a change of rooms because there was a problem with the plumbing and got to go home Wednesday.

So far I'm having a little trouble getting all my water down, but each day is getting better. I've only taken my tylenol w/ Codeine once since I got home. Sometimes it makes me nauseous and my pain isn't intolerable.

I miss you ladies, and I hope we can get together soon!

I think we are all still around - just busy with summer. How are you doing Heather? I follow alot of people on Facebook - I don't know most of the people on the Facebook discussion group and I think most of them were sleeved.

HI Reggie,

I was wondering the same thing! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the summer. I'm so happy that it's finally warming up!

Take care everyone!

Oh no Heather. Make sure to get lots of fluids and lots of sleep and hopefully it will be okay for you to have your surgery. Crossing my fingers for you.

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I'm nervous for sure.

I had my pre-op appt on Tuesday, I woke up the next day with a major cold! I'm home sick today and just trying to take it easy. I'll call SSF again on Monday (as they suggested) but I'm scared this will delay surgery. I definately don't want to have surgery if this could be dangerous.... Ugh, so frusterated!

Glad to see some activity on here. I am excited for you Heather - you will rock it. I would love to see everyone again. I have been following the 17 day diet book - I lost 14 lbs the first 17 day phase - haven't weighed since I started the second phase last Thursday as I went camping. It has been easy to follow and is similar to band diet without the bread which I shouldn't be eating anyway. I am just happy to be losing again. I see my psychologist this Friday - haven't seen her since last August.

Glad to see you back on here.

I went to the LapBand Support Group at the Bruceville Terrace on Bruceville next to Methodist Hospital. A bariatric nutritionist and another person from Methodist were there to help us if we neeed it. It was a small group - 4 of us, but it was very welcoming and supportive. If you live out in the South Sac/Elk Grove area and are banded or planning on being banded, give it a try. It meets the 1st Thursday of every month from 6:30-7:45 pm.

Hey all just wanted to say hello....I started working a month ago and have been so exhausted at night its crazy. My eating has pretty much sucked but I have lost a few. Got a gym membership again so that has me a little more motivated. I miss everyone and wish I could have made the walk.. maybe next time. Hope everyone is great!!!!

Here's a new band support group that is starting this Thursday near the South Sac Kaiser. I am planning on attending - finally a support group on this side of town.

Support Group Meetings:

When: 1st Thursday of the month

Time: 6:30pm to 7:45pm

Where: Bruceville Terrace Skilled Nursing Facility Multi-purpose Room

Address: 8151 Bruceville Road, Sacramento, CA 95823 (on Methodist Hospital campus)

Who should attend:

Anyone who has had band surgery whether successful or not in losing weight and keeping it off.

Anyone who is considering having band surgery.

Mya Moore-Dudzik has graciously volunteered to lead the group meetings each month. She has participated and led band groups in the past. Mya had a band placed several years ago and has been very

successful in losing weight and keeping it off. Her passion is to help other band patients be successful and to create an environment that is open and honest about bands, eating, relationships.......whatever.

Randee Reidy, our Program Dietitian, or I will be at the meetings to answer any questions each month.

Pam

Welcome Christine. Every person's banding experience is different as we are all different. I agree just focus on your experience. I have been banded for almost 3 yrs now and I am still working on getting another 40 lbs off - I lost 60. Most of the time I have struggled has been my own fault - but I am ok with not losing all of the weight right away. Never before have I lost 60 lbs and kept it off this long. There are a few banders in the bay area on this board. Pam

Hi everyone!

My name is Christine and I'm just starting my journey with all of this. I am not a complete newbie to the process, as I will be the 5th (!!!) person in my family to be banded. The others have had various degrees of success, and, not coincidentally, various degrees of commitment to actually lose the weight. One of the hardest things for me may be to put aside my preconceived notions based upon what I have seen of their experiences and focus on my OWN experience, no matter what that may be.

I have my info meeting at Kaiser in Vallejo next month. I live here in Vallejo and would love to talk to other Kaiser kids about what to expect from this process, though I've been doing a lot of reading already. My kaiser doc says she has no issue with referring me. my BMI is 36 and I have high BP and am waiting for my other tests to come back.

Now that I've made the decision to pursue this wholeheartedly, I'm SO ready to get the ball rolling. I look forward to getting to know the folks here!

-Christine

Tina got a fill outside of Kaiser - you might check withher

That info was crap, they told me that too. Whoever told us all that should be fired, lol! Dr. Baggs said that he can consult me over the phone on how I'm feeling or can transfer records to new doctors but that if we don't have Kaiser they can NOT treat us, even for a fee. Sucks.

I called around a bunch of places today and I think I might go to Dr. Machado at UCD Med Center. It's $500 to join her program but then only $100 for fills and $75 for no-fill consults...not too horrible for no insurance.

My Blue Cross PCP said they'll eventually cover Bariatric Services soon but she doesn't know when. Hopefully hubby's company will offer Kaiser again in the future.

That is good news - wonder if they will be doing all of the surgeries - at least if I have a problem or emergency with my band once they open it I can get there quicker.

Hi ladies!

I just heard some good news for the Sacramento area bandsters... I was in the E.R. this morning for my stupid, stupid gallbladder and the Dr and I were talking about WLS. He told me they will have a bariatric surgery center in Sacramento in about a year. He said they're currently recruiting surgeons. Good news, eh?

I probably won't be there tomorrow - woke up with a sore throat today and feel a cold coming on. Take pictures and post them

I'll be there - can't wait to see everyone.

Hi -

I assume you have already researched the different surgeries available. Follow the food plan in the binder and you will lose the weight they want you to before surgery. Make sure you ask the surgeon all the questions you have and make your own decision on which surgery is best for you. They all have their pros and cons. That is great you are taking this step while you are still young. Good Luck.

Hi,

My name is Desiree and I am starting my banding prosses at kaiser richmond does anyone have any words of advice or wisdom cause I am sure scared but ready to change my life ! I am 27 and I have 4 beautiful kids I wanna be here for as long as I can.

I'm excited for you Heather - you worked long and hard enough to get where you are. How long are you going to off work?

I decided to go with the sleeve after following along with everyone over the past two years. Too many people can't eat the right foods, but the wrong foods go down fine. I also talked to several people who had the band and wished they hadn't (or wished they'd just had the sleeve in the first place). One of the things that really helped was learning that my grandfather had essentially the same surgery in the 1950's. He had ulcers and back in the olden days they would remove about 80% of the stomach. He could never eat a ton of food at any sitting and was a very slim man while his siblings were morbidly obese (and they were both diabetic, Type 2) From what my grandma told us, he actually was on the hefty side before his surgery but ever since then he was slim. He lived well for 45 years or so after his surgery.

I have surgery in 46 days! I'm really excited now. I've been working so long and it's finally my turn. I'm excited to see the body hiding inside me. And I must admit, I'm also excited to take the time off work, and to finally get rid of my gallbladder (I've had at least 9 attacks) I wonder if they'll let me play with my gallbladder after surgery?

I hope you all are doing well! I miss my ladies!

Reggie - I saw her every two weeks for I think 2 months then once a month for about 4 months. Then I checked in with her last August. I need to call them and see if it has been a year since I have seen her - hopefully not as if it is I will have to go back through intake again.

I can't stomach eggs unless it is egg salad with pickles or a deviled egg - I ate so much scrambled eggs after being banded, they make me nauseous now.

YAY!!! Heather congratulations.What made you decide to go with the sleeve? I wonder if the success rate is higher?

Thanks Pam for the information on the therpist. \how many sessions did you have with her?

Hope you are all well.

Jes I have to apologize that I cannot make it this weekend. I hope we can get together soon.

Riley, Pam and Tina i hear you all on the Protein getting stuck it is very discomforting. i hate it. i had the toughest time last week with the atkinks but it is doable. i have Iron deficiency so i try to eat beef but I make sure it chuck because the meet is softer. eggs hurt like hell lol! but something has to work for us.

reggie

Great news Heather -

9:30 am works for me - I will need directions again.

Congratulations Heather!!

Pam, I'm sorry that eating is so tough on you. I can so relate to not feeling great about yourself. I have watched so many people breeze through this surgery process and get to goal so quickly, while shedding each ounce has been torture for me. I honestly thought it would be easier than this has been. Last summer doing 3 hours of exercise daily with a trainer and I was still only able to shed 3 pounds a month, was so darn tough. I'm still fighting my way towards my goal. In January I decided to go back to Atkins and did get 10 pounds off in 3 months. Lately, I find that I'm doing a little better with adding in more veggies. I'm not a bander so I don't know how dense Protein feels to you, but I'm so sorry that it hurts you.

Riley, hang in there with your ulcer. Are there less carby foods than oatmeal that you can eat and still feel good? Aren't tofu scrambles pretty easy on the system? I was a vegan/no sugar/flour for over 10 years and ate a lot of tofu. How does that work with your bank?

Have a fun weekend everyone!

The therapist I have seen that I like is Paula Smith at Elk Grove Kaiser. She is trained in eating disorders etc. I haven't seen her in a long time and now realize it has probably been a year so I will have to go through intake again. ugh. I really need to see her again as I am feeling like such a failure most of the time and the self loathing isn't a good thing.

I did Atkins for a week before I went n vacation - it was hard to just eat the Protein as my band prevented me eating more than a little bit at a time (good thing but also bad thing) as I was hungry and sick of meat after a few days.

What time are we meeting on May 14th in Vallejo?

Riley -

I totally know that feeling. It makes me mad when I sometimes can't even get healthy food down - I actually had fish come back up after 3 bites. Makes me not want to eat at all sometimes.

I totally get wanting the Fluid out! On our way down to the Giants game last night we stopped at Panda, I ordered by health beef & brocolli and got like less than 3 bites down and could not make anything get through the band. I was REALLY getting pissed about it, I mean that was my one chance to eat before we got to the ballpark where there's nothing under $10, but Chris and my son just said hey - that's why you did it. Does it beat the alternative? Uhm - yes. it does.

May 14 is on my calendar, I love my girlz!!

There should be a blue bar above the top of the messages on the page that says "stop watching topic" - I would guess you would click on it - hope it works for you.

Can anybody tell me how to remove myself from getting this group's mail? Thanks and good luck all.

I didn't see it but I will check it out online,.

I started doing Atkins today - have never tried it before but one of my friends at work has been doing it for 11 days and has lost 7 lbs. It is really close to the band plan - Protein protein. And even though I supposedly can eat as much meat as I want, my band controls that - I couldn't even eat half a chicken breast for dinner before I was full. Had two hard boiled eggs with mayo for Breakfast and canned chicken breast with mayo for lunch and an Atkins bar after work. - didn't eat dinner until 8 pm. Deja vu back to when to the first 6 months after I got my band.

Oh, did you all catch Dr OZ last weeks episode about lapband?

You can see exerpts online

http://www.doctoroz....0band&type=droz

Candra -

I take the generic version of Wellbutrin - Bupropion. Do you have a prescription? If so have you checked Walmart to see how much it is? I stopped taking my generic Wellbutrin and my generic estrogen for about 3 weeks to see if it would make a difference with my weight and it didn't and I started to feel really anxious so I started back on both.

I truly wish sugar would give me the dumping syndrome as it has been my downfall lately - when I get upset or depressed I turn to sugar to soothe myself - life long problem. Guess I had the wrong surgery for dumping. Sometime I wish they would do band to sleeve revisions - I think I would get it.

Did Bridezilla ever get married?

Pam

I am so glad to see everyone posting again.

I am still in the Weight Management Program at Kaiser in Elk Grove although I only check in about once a month. I did go to a 6 wk exercise class with them and a 6 week cooking class and have gone walking a few times with the walking group. I am embarrassed to say the program with the Optifast worked for me while I was on it - lost 20 lbs - but once we went back on food I had a hard time. I know weigh 10 lbs more than I did last year before I started that program. . I have been depressed about life in general - work sucks and I am back in the vicious cycle of emotional eating and then feeling horrible that I ate it etc etc. I need to call and see if I can go see the therapist, but I think I will have to go through intake again as it has been a long time since I saw her. Guess I won't know until I call them.

I think I need a fill as I can still eat bread but no way in hell I am going to see Dr. Im until I lose some weight - I was up 6 lbs from my 20 lost when I saw him last to get a fill and that was bad enough. He was really nice about it, but I want to lose at least 10 lbs before seeing him again. I think I have 6 cc in my band and need at least .5 more.

I am putting Sat May 14 on my calendar - what time? Same place in Vallejo? Anyone in Sacto area want to get together before then for a walk?

Pam

I just completed Jess's poll. I too am struggling - need to meet with my gals - I have gone to the two other local support groups here but wasn't feeling the love.

Just saying hi, since I keep getting emails! lol. Hope your all well. Me, stuggling with the band and back up a good amount of weight. oh well. Will be joing the support groups soon.

I typed in my name and checked the boxes, but how do I save it?

Hey there everybody,

So since we all keep talking about getting together I went ahead and created a poll to see when most of us are available. I figure we can meet up in Vallejo for a walk n talk. Its pretty much in the middle of everywhere as far as travel for us. I hope you all will pick a couple options it will be so nice to see you all. Perhaps we can motivate each other, I know i need a nudge.

Click on the below link and pick as many slots that work for you and we can go with the majority.

http://doodle.com/frwxzcq59aiska3c

Congratulations on having your surgery. Most of us are still around we just don't post much anymore. Busy with life.

Hi EVERYONE!! just wanted to check in.. its been A LONG TIME but i'm still STanding... and definately SHINNING!!!

I had the VSG done last month.. and I thought of all you on here... just wanted to see how everyone is doing. Hope things are well

Glad to hear you are doing great after your surgery. If I remember right, the Point West group meets the 4th Saturday of each month.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone! I was sleeved in SSF on 11/29 and am doing great! I went back to work this past Monday and am really happy to have done this. I want to come to the Point Richmond support group next time, but cannot remember when it is. I hope to see everyone soon!