cattoy71

I totally agree about flying these days! It's nice to not feel like I'm invading other's space :thumbdown:

I also don't get nearly as over-heated as I used to...which is amazing.

I'm still struggling with my many month plateau but all is good.

I hadn't seen one of my best friends in over 3 years since he returned home to Thailand. It's so lovely to hear him say I look exactly the same or better. I really had put on that extra weight about 1.5 years ago.

My 20th high school reunion is also coming up so I have been re-connecting with people on facebook....I swear I never thought hearing "omg you look exactly the same as 20 years ago" would be soooooo rewarding!

LoveisLovely, you continue to be my personal inspiration!

Be well everyone!

Omg I love this thread.

I've lost about 45 pounds from my highest point and about 33 since banding back in October, 08.

I have not lost a single pound even though I'm basically at my sweet spot! It totally sucks, and I'm going to have to ACTUALLY (instead of theoretically) exercise if I plan on losing any more weight.

What a rude awakening!

It's like I have to start out all over again, and maybe it will re-start the weight loss.

I'm going to begin tracking my exercise when I begin as I find I get very obsessive about things when I record them. I highly doubt I will ever go the food recording route. Most people swear by it, but it just doesn't seem like a practical solution for me.

Great job! And btw thank you for the tip :cursing:

Hopefully I can get past my plateau too.

Congrats!

I was banded back on 10/13/08 and my recovery was very smooth. I'm down a total of 45 pounds from my highest, but only about 33 since surgery.

Everyone says that once you reach restriction, it is a whole different world and many find themselves losing weight more easily.

Ummm....well why isn't this happening for ME!! I faithfully went every 4 weeks for small fills until I felt good restriction. I've had one small .3 cc unfill because I was a little too tight. So why o why am I still at the same friggen fraggin weight? I don't eat that much and have fairly good daily activity. I wasn't too pleased that it took me about 7 months to finally get restriction, but I kept thinking that things will change once I'm at my sweet spot.

These are those frustrating times I honestly wish I had chosen the sleeve over the band.

Thanks for listening to my rant :grouphug:

I got the band, but really wished I had gotten the sleeve.

I have had steady, but slow weight loss, and it has taken me over 6 months with monthly .5 cc fills to get restriction.

I was self pay, and now wish I had the guts to have just done the sleeve, but it seemed a little extreme to me at the time.

My only concern for you is to make sure your doctor has done many many sleeves and isn't just getting into the surgery.

Not really a regret, but I wish I had opted for the sleeve instead.

I finally reached restriction at over 6cc....right now I have around 6.7cc and it's about perfect. 7cc was too tight and made me slime after my first bite...now I'm ready to get the rest of my weight off...finally! Restriction is a long road for those who are just banded, but slow fills are much better then too large of fills too soon after surgery. It really did suck that it took this long to get restriction, but I'd much rather have slow steady weight loss compared to some of the complications I've read about.

Seriously Julie Ann, you are a rock star and I love that you are so ready to help others that are kinda slowish losers

Love you are doing so dang well...you are truly my inspiration here.

Had a fill.....then had to just get a little taken out because I was sliming after the first bite. Now everything seems better and can't wait to kick some serious ass on this extra weight.

Man that sucks travelin....maybe this is will be what makes things easier.

Hey everyone!

I had another fill last week which I thought would get me to my sweet spot. Now I hardly feel restricted, and I've gained a pound or two....holy crap!

I'm going to call the office and have the doctor withdraw the Fluid to make sure it all got in during the last fill.....I was soooo excited because I was just getting a tiny fill since I felt so close to the sweet spot!

I'm really trying to stay positive about this whole experience, but I honestly would have thought I'd have a better handle on life as a bandster as well as more impressive weight loss by now. Boooo!

Just an update:

Finally have good restriction after all this time (banded on 10/13/08).

Man, what a difference the sweet spot makes. Kinda surprised I was able to lose any weight before this.

Weird to just not really be hungry. Please let this feeling last, lol.

Congrats to all the milestones people.

People are hitting their goal, and hitting onderland...I love this thread!

Vitamin D deficiency is pretty common in the asian populations. Mine is low, and I'm on 2x week 50,000 supplements until my levels are improved.

It sucks...we can't really absorb calcium citrate either if you are D deficient. I'm getting my levels checked every 3 months now.

I totally know what you mean...I haven't been on here very much lately too...I think I got a little burnt out on it

It amazes me that people banded around the same time as us have lost up to almost 100 pounds!!! Holy moly how is that even possible, you know?!

Not sure if I will go to my next fill appointment since I do finally feel restriction and I'm getting stuck for the first time since banding. Luckily I have never pb'd. I thought by now I would have a better understanding of fills and the band, but it's curious to me about still not losing weight since I have restriction.

Good luck and let's keep in touch...even if it's not on this site

I'm kind of with you snorkel!

I'm down over 40 pounds total, but around 33 since the band.

I feel like I finally have restriction, but haven't lost more weight...what's the dealio with that?! Seriously, it took 6 months to get restriction and then no weight loss....I wish I had the balls to have gone the sleeve route, but live and learn!

I'm also self pay sweets. I'm still positive about the band, but thought my hard work would pay off more by now! Grrrr...at least I look good enough to be in pictures again. I no longer have to be hidden behind someone, lol.

I sympathize sister!

Julie,

I love that your surgeon put you on the website as a star!! That is so exciting, and you've done so well in just 6 months

Thanks so much for your kind words and support!

Strange to realize how much my weight kept me from living happily.

Ok folks,

I've been a little depressed at my slowish weight loss, but I have exciting news!!

I am posting progress photos from around my heaviest weight to my current...I am down over 40 pounds and have another 50 to lose.

The new pictures were taken last week and the befores were taken about 1 year ago. I'm soooo excited that you can see my cheekbones again!! Yippee I'm so happy I got this surgery!

My other great news is that this last fill I had is just what I needed to jump start my weight loss again....already down those stubburn 2-3 pounds I have been fighting.

I scheduled another small fill for tomorrow since my weight has been on a steady plateau for weeks and weeks. Like I mentioned before, I usually lose at least a pound or two the morning immediately following a fill. Crossing my fingers that this will get me the restriction I need! Only about 50 more pounds to go for me.

Whenever you feel up to it.

Some positions may feel a bit weird or sore on your band, so you may have to try a few different ones before you find one that is comfortable.

It's weird that I'm kinda stuck on a plateau :welldoneclap:

I usually lose a pound or two immediately after a fill, but it didn't work for my last 2 fills! Aaarrrgh....frustration.....I think I am going to start tracking my food and exercise (something I have been very resistent to doing).

My slow loss is making me kinda down and depressed...although my BMI was under 40 to begin with, I keep thinking I should be losing more then what I have. I know I don't have full restriction yet either. Now I'm kinda wishing I had the sleeve done instead of the band......it's always something, huh, lol.

Ok....I'm done whining.

Here are a couple pictures of my scars about 5 months out....healing nicely, but still pretty visable.

A really good resource to get background info on any bariatric surgeon is obesityhelp.com. You can search your surgeon under the "search" feature and it brings up a great and readable grid that clearly shows all the experience he/she has with each specific bariatric surgery.

For example, here's my surgeon: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+John+Feng+jjm.html

Many doctor's claim to be "pioneers", so please be careful and understand what he/she means by using that word :smile2:

I'm almost 6 months out of lapband surgery myself, and am really happy....but, I kinda secretly wish I had the sleeve now, lol.

I think they are wondering if you "self-pay" and the price is good for self financing or credit card, could you maybe do even better with literally a check.

I can tell you that it wouldn't save them much. Even if you pay by credit card, the band usually charges them about 1.8-3.6%. It depends on several things what the rate is, but lets say it is 4%. That is really only 600 dollars on a 15000 bill. Chances are they are only paying 300-400 for the bank card fee.

I paid my surgeon's fees (surgery plus 5 years of fills and follow up) of 7500k in cash and there was absolutely no other discount.

I financed the rest of the hospital and anesthesia fees through CapitalOne at a 2.99% APR. The fees were supposed to be an additional 9500k....the weird thing is that I only have receipts for and only paid 8500k. Still can't figure out what happened there but I'm trying to get to the bottom of it since I claimed it on my taxes.

I think that one treatment of SAD (Seasonal Affectedness Disorder) is to up the level of Vitamin d either through supplements and/or light therapy.

I definately think that your blue mood can be attributed (along with a host of other things) to low d levels. Try calling your surgeon and asking him about it or ask the doctor that is prescribing your depression meds.

Btw, I am also on 2 different type of depression meds.