Toosywoots

I feeling much better about the lapband this week. I saw a different doctor this month and he congratulated me about reaching the 100 pounds off mark. :smile: I have lost 1/3 my weight in a year and no matter how I did it, I should be proud of myself. I am down 2 or 3 sizes. 2 shoe sizes at least. I seem to be loosing inches at this time and not too much weight. I have 100 pounds to go to reach the goal I set for myself though but the doctor assured me that I would be in a size 12 in 2 years. I guess I better adjust my leaping frog at the bottom of this comment for the 100 pounds. Physically I feel 100% better than last year when they gave me a year to live with all my problems that weight brought on.

Dr. G is a very positive person and gives very good advice for the lapband patient. He encourages me every time I come in for a lapband adjustment. Yesterday, he congratulated me for reaching the 100 pounds lost which is 1/3 of my weight in less than a year. He promises my husband and I that I will be a size 12 in two years.

I was banded in October 08 but had been loosing before that. This marks my 9th month and I have lost over 100 pounds total. However, the past six months I have been struggling with the last 20 pounds. I avoid the scale because it does lie like Jack said. I started out a 5x and am borderline 2x now. My doctor gave me a no-no list that consists of softer foods, candy and high calorie foods to avoid. I must confess that I do eat them more than I should. I am only supposed to eat 3 meals a day with no snacking. I snack. So if I am struggling with the band, it's because I am making the wrong food choices. I could count calories and exercise more if I really want to get serious about this. My doctor guarantees that it will work if I follow the instructions and I will be a size 12 in two more years.

Ocotillo, you are right about the head hunger being a big part of it. Today I had my frozen shoulder manipulated under anethesia. It has caused me to wake up in tears several times a night, 12 weeks of physcial therapy that didn't work, and painful days for the past 9 months. I console myself with favorite food and candy when sick or hurt. I am sure this has played a big part of my staying the same weight all these months. Let's hope the physcial therapy that I start tomorrow will bring full arm control back, no more pain, and no need to console myself.

When my insurance finally gave the go ahead, things were rushed along so quickly that I didn't talk to the surgeon/doctor about the lap band being a tool. I had to talk to a psychiatrist who worked with the insurance patient approval for my lapband surgeon. He said that I had a lot of weight to loose and may need the gastric by-pass a little later to acheive my goals. He said I had a lot of physical problems that have caused this weight gain over my lifetime. He did make me promise to stick with the diet though. I see 2 surgeons for my fills in the same office for the lapband and they both say different things on what I am supposed to do. The surgeon that had a lapband done also, is more lenient and the younger surgeon sounds like a broken record of all my docotors I have had in my fat life who say diet, exercise, count calories. He really wants me to succeed because I was among his first patients.

:mad:Okay today I am 9 months out from Gastric lapband surgery. I haven't posted in here for 6 months. It seems to be going rather slowly for weight loss and at times I think I have been scammed. I do NOT do what the doctors tell me to do however so it's not their fault. It's my fault to believe that lapband would be a cure, that I would never have to diet again, and that the pounds would just peal off from lack of being able to eat. I keep hearing after the surgery that lapband is just a tool and that I still have to diet and exercise. The band is as tight as it's going to get and I have problems getting that first meal down and staying there. Once I do, I am all set for eating the rest of the day. I snack heavily on the no-no list of soft foods the doctors advised me to quit eating from. I'm not supposed to snack and only have 3 small South Beach Diet type meals a day. I exercise maybe 3 times of week which is just walking slowly in stores instead of vigorous excercise daily. I didn't want to have to diet or exercise again!

:mad:Okay today I am 9 months out from Gastric lapband surgery. I haven't posted in here for 6 months. It seems to be going rather slowly for weight loss and at times I think I have been scammed. I do NOT do what the doctors tell me to do however so it's not their fault. It's my fault to believe that lapband would be a cure, that I would never have to diet again, and that the pounds would just peal off from lack of being able to eat. I keep hearing after the surgery that lapband is just a tool and that I still have to diet and exercise. The band is as tight as it's going to get and I have problems getting that first meal down and staying there. Once I do, I am all set for eating the rest of the day. I snack heavily on the no-no list of soft foods the doctors advised me to quit eating from. I'm not supposed to snack and only have 3 small South Beach Diet type meals a day. I exercise maybe 3 times of week which is just walking slowly in stores instead of vigorous excercise daily. I didn't want to have to diet or exercise again!

I am beginning to think I should have gone with the gastric by-pass and that this lap band system has failed me. I have been playing with 10 pounds up and down for many months. The doc says no more snacking, no sweets, count calories, South Beach type dieting, and lots of exercise. I never knew that I would have to do those things after lab band surgery and it was only a tool. On the positive side though. I have lost at least 80 pounds total and was a BMI of over 53 when I started, I am now at 43.8. Most of the weight came off with the 4 week liquid pre-surgery diet and the soft 6 week post surgery diet. I am feeling healthier, medical tests show better results on liver, sugar, and other health levels. I'm taking less medicines. I'm down 2 sizes and able to walk distances without pain. I can now wear regular shoes again with regular ladies socks. My left ankle is still swelling but my feet are not turning purple anymore. I am happy that I feel better but I still need to loose 100 pounds. I want to see that come off after going through all of this. I am back here after not visiting this site for 6 months for support and a reminder to stick with it.

I had a c-section, laproscopy incisions around my navel for ovary camera scans and gall bladder laproscopy done. The 3 small incisions and the 3 inch center cut to put the lap band in didn`t interfere with any of those.

I'm 56. October 08 I had lab band surgery. I lost nearly 100 pounds that year by pre-surgery dieting and the 6 weeks soft diet that followed. I was told I could eat anything I wanted by my lap band doc after that 6 weeks right in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas eating. I wondered why I wasn't feeling the lap band working. It took until February with 100 mile trips to the lap band doctors to get fills every 2 weeks before I could feel the band was beginning to tighten. I wasn't loosing very much if anything. I have been going up and down 10 pounds but have remained the same in weight even though my band is tight enough now. The lap band doc told me to stop snacking, stay away from soft foods and only eat 3 meals a day and follow the South Beach Diet. That the lap band is a tool. Well it definately is not the solution. If I could diet, I wouldn't have needed the lap band! I should have gone gastric by-pass and I am very unhappy with my recent results. I need to loose 100 pounds more. I am able to do more this year and feel healthier but it was do to the pre-surgery weight loss.

My story is much the same way. Lost lots of weight before surgery (59 pounds last year) and by the 6th week out, I was back to old habbits and life style. I have lost 6 pounds total since November and I am very disapointed. I have had 4 fills since October in my 14 cc band but can still eat 1 cup of cottage cheese and a bag of microwave popcorn without feelling full. My doctor said that those were wrong foods and they pass through the band too easily. I am loosing my hair too but was told that I didn`t need protein suppliments any more. My doctor says that 6 pounds over Thanksgiving and part of December is average loss and he is proud of me. As of the first of the year, I am back to counting calories, using my exercise bike, and looking into swimming pool exercise class. Might even try the 2 protein suppliments a day with a small dinner at night to get back into the diet again. Going to test my sugar and start taking the diabetic pills if needed again.

Thank you for your input Indigo and you must know what you are talking about because of your huge weight loss. I was just complaining about not loosing anything for two weeks to my husband and how frustrated I was before I read your response to my post. I guess I was like most of the public sector and that waitress that thought lap band is the easier way out. I really hope the lap band fill will help. The nurse told my husband that I should only be able to eat 1/4 cup of food after having the lap band. Maybe right after surgery that was all I could eat but not now. You tellling me that a cup is your normal, helped me to relax a bit. I had to re-adjust my thinking and Indigo, you have helped me today to get back to the right reasoning. So thank you! :thumbdown: I was in a life and death situation and still am. I had lap band to prolong my life by eating right, getting my non alcoholic fatty liver healed, get my heart healthier, and loose the weight that is causing type 2 diabetes and edema from poor circulation from being a fat chick. The side line benefit is how much I loose, or how good I will look, or what size I will be. I took stock of what I am eating and I am eating much healthier. Junk food carbs were my major diet before this lap band experience and I don't eat that anymore. Thank you for the wake up and re-programing my brain glich.

Well I finally feel a bit better. My weekly weigh was today and I was back to what I lost before the flu. Two weeks of coughing and sneezing had me eating just about anything allowed on week 4 and I had gained 6 pounds during that episode. I told myself that it was Water weight from the edema that returned because my type 2 diabetes reacted to the carbohydrates I was able to add to my diet. So last week I started keeping track of calories, carbs, fats, salts, etc. and making sure I kept within the 800-1200 calorie range like the dietician had told me. I am back to what I weighed prior to the flu. The problem with all of this is that I feel hungry. I hope the band didn't slip with the coughing because now I can eat a full cup of something and not feel full but some foods do make me feel full but it takes like 3 fish fillets or a cup of squash. Keeping track is good but I feel like I am on a regular dieting situation and doing all the work that I thought the band should do automatically. I still have the edema and my fasting sugar was 109 this morning. I may have to go back on the diabetic pill I was taking. I go to the surgeon on Nov 20th for my first fill and I have bunches of questions for him.

I was banded on Oct 8 and am just checking in. A bad cold or flu hit me a couple of weeks after surgery--no vomiting just a horrible head cold that caused a lot of coughing and sneezing. I was worried that my band would slip. I was able to eat more (a cup or more of soup) and when I am sick, I feel sorry for myself and used to eat more anyway. I weighed myself two weeks ago and stayed the same after having huge weight losses of 10 pounds each week. I also had the edema return to my feet and I am not sure what causes it-the type 2 borderline diabetes or what? I have not taken my diabetic pill since surgery but may have to do that again. My fasting sugar count was 109 this morning. I am scheduled with my first fill on November 20th and I plan to discuss a lot with that doctor since my primary care doctor is of very little help by saying just check with your surgeon when I have questions. So I panicked and began keeping track of calories, Protein, fats and carbs trying to keep it between the 800-1200 calories diet that the dietician said I would need to do. I weigh myself weekly on Thursday and this week I lost the 3 pounds. I am walking more too. So far this is like being on a regular diet and I do feel hungry at night mostly even with Snacks. I hope the fill changes all that.

I am getting my first fill on the 20th at the 6 week mark. I am very nervous about where they might find my band because I had a nasty coughing sneezing cold 2 1/2 weeks out from surgery. I wasn't eating much up until then and now I can eat a full cup of food without even feeling full. I am still very tender around my largest cut so I hope this doesn't hurt much. I hope the insurance pays for the doctor calls but my copays haven't paid for office visits for over a year now. Last week I didn't loose but the edema came back too so I figured it was Water weight. I started a daily calorie diet and try to keep it in the 800-1200 calorie range and do a lot of walking 3 or 4 days a week. I hope the band is in the right place yet. I will be glad when this first time is over.

Hi--I am new to this lap band but I am definately over 50. I had my band installed on October 8, 2008. For over 10 years I wanted weight loss surgery and it wasn't until I hired a service to dance me through the insurance hoops that I was able to achieve it. They are supposed to pay 100% of the bills. It's still too early to tell on that. I have always been a person that all I had to say to my body is diet and I would catch a cold or bad case of the flu. I am amazed it hasn't happened before this. I was on 5 weeks of liquid protein only prior to surgery. A full week of clear liquids after surgery and am now on soft foods. I always get the flu shot every year but this year I had to pass because they didn't want me having it two weeks before surgery and I passed on it right after surgery because I always come down with a mild form of it. So I babysat my twin grandaughters last week and later found out they were sick. I caught a bad cold that causes me to croup and sneeze just awful. I have had it for 5 days now and no sign of let up. I am very worried that I might rip the new healing loose and move the band since it has been only 2 1/2 weeks since I had surgery. My first fill will be in two weeks, 100 miles from where I live. I don't want to call my surgeon about my cold because I don't want to drive that far. My primary care doctor just wants to pass the buck to the surgeon so that would be a waste of time going to him. Any thoughts of what I should do and if at 3 weeks out are we allowed cough and cold medicine? I am not supposed to have asprin or blood thinners for 3 more weeks yet.

I was banded on October 8th. My stomach felt like someone was going over it with a rolling pin a couple of times but it hasn't happened for more than a week--those were probably spasms. I seldom get hunger pangs. I do get the gurgling noisy stomach and I am not hungry. I get a tiny little burp or a feeling like I might wretch (but never do) when I eat too much--like a cup of soft foods instead of the 1/2 c. I didn`t have complications except for a low fever for a couple of days. Gas is always a problem. I am beginning to find out which foods make me gassy. So far I am finding it is the food with splenda. I might be allergic to it. Everyone is different though and I think you will discover whatever it takes for you to get used to your own band. I am feeling much better this week and I think I am progressing along nicely. My husband thinks I am eating too much yet and maybe stretching my pouch but I lost 10 pounds last week. I haven`t had my first fill yet.

Had my surgery on October 8th. I am feeling much better now. Walking normal and longer distances. My incissions are itching like mad so I assume they are healing pretty good with no infections. I am on soft foods at this point like baked potato, eggs, tufu that are added to the creamy soups from last week. I have a lot more energy than 2 months ago. I am getting out and doing a little shopping and traveling. Lost another 10 pounds this week which might be a bit deceptive because the week before I was weighed fully clothed with shoes at my doctor's and this week I was weighed with a night gown. I broke the 300 pound mark and I am Happy! :wink_smile: That makes a total of at least 58 pounds lost since last winter's high.

Had my week after surgery check up with my primary care doc today. His scale said I lost again! He hadn't seen me in a month and I had lost 25 pounds since then. He was beaming ear to ear about it. He checked my 5 incissions and no infection. He was really happy to hear that I haven't had to take diabetes medication since surgery because all I have had to eat is Sugar Free clear liquids and protein shakes. I told him about the pain under my lower left rib cage that doesn't seem to be gas. It prevents me from breathing. He said of coarse you will have pain after a surgery like this and he prescribed me more pain killers.

My pre-op surgery instructions were clear liquids the day before surgery. That would be apple juice, Sugar free popsicles, S.F jello and any non acidic liquid that you can read a newpaper through. I was on a liquid diet for weeks before surgery with the protein shake. The clear liquid day before surgery is different though with no protein shake. After surgery you should be on a clear liquid diet for 1 week. I was told by the dietician that I was allowed to have the protein shake in my diet at 3 days out from surgery. At 8-15 days I get to be on a soft diet of creamy soups, Sugar Free puddings, S.F. fudgesickles, S.F.creamsickles,

I'm back home from the October 7th gastric band surgery. I posted surgery details on another thread named Surgery Day Stories page 12 if you are interested. So far so good. I am sore, dealing with gas, eating the clear liquid diet but do not feel the least bit hungry. If anyone has had a Cesearan or Hysterectomy, it feels like that right now but I have to go take my pain killer that I should have taken 4 hours ago. I had 5 slits that are glued shut. A different surgeon stepped in when my surgeon had an emergency. The staff was very kind and friendly compared to other hospital experiences I have had. I hold a pillow in front of me to cough. I would do it all again and I am beginning my new life.

My surgery took place on October 7th at Harper Hospital in Detroit which is part of Wayne State University where they train in medical fields. I was told to be at the hospital at 11:30 am and had spent the night at a connecting hotel/guest housing. I am a hard pick and the surgery requires a large IV. I was impressed that the student hit the vein the first time because other surgeries at other hospitals took up to 9 tries before getting it right. I also had blood tests pokes too but that wasn't bad either. Once that was over, I didn't care what happened because that is generally the worse thing for me. I was laying there for a long time when another surgeon showed up and told me that my surgeon had a serious emergency and that he couldn't do the surgery. His new partner was the surgeon who was going to do the gastric band surgery instead. They took me to surgery at 4 pm. They had made 5 slots to perform the gastric lap band and most of them were glued shut. The surgeon had taken the time to speak to my husband and gave him a photo of my lap band placment. By 8 pm I was in my room again and I had wretched once on the way because I am supseptible to motion sickness even after multiple shots to try to prevent it. It scared me that I might have ripped the band loose but was assured that it would take more than that. After a few hours I was gotten out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I was on oxygen and had a machine I had to breathe into 10 times an hour and cough to prevent pnuemonia. I was given popsicles, Water, and Jello which I had no problem eating. They put these booties on my feet that inflated every few minutes to stop clots from forming in my legs. I still managed to sleep through it and fell back to sleep after multiple times of blood pressure and temperature readings. The next morning, I was served Breakfast of jello, popsicle, real chicken broth, and water. I couldn't finish the jello. I was doing very well they said and by 11 am I was packing up and getting dressed to go back to my hotel room. We stayed the night and then wrapped myself with the adominal elastic band and a pillow in front where the seat belt was. Took a vicatin and started the 120 mile drive home. The nurse had told me to get out and walk at least every 20 minutes. We stopped at two rest areas on the way home. I took a nap when I came home. Without the pain medicine, I feel like I have had another hysterectomy or Cesearan. I am not hungry but I do have to get rid of gas yet and have not had my first BM yet. I am on my way to starting my new life!

Tomorrow I leave for the long drive for the surgery. Wednesday the 8th I have the lap band surgery done. It will be my birthday tomorrow and I will be on clear liquids. Once I get to the hotel near the hospital I have to take the clean out from the two doses of oral saline laxative. No birthday cake and icecream but the gift I m giving myself by having the lap band the next day will be the best ever I hope. I am running around here packing and trying to think of everything I might need. I am so nervous that my back is cramping and giving me problems right now. I went to see my Mother in the nursing home today and she just wanted to hold my hands because she was so nervous about it. I made arrangements with my son to take care of the dog and cat here at home instead of in the kennel. Taped the instructions on what they require to the door for him. I had wanted my house to be in perfect shape but that's not going to happen in what little time I have left. At least all the laundry is done. It has been so long since I have been able to take a walk around even a small store so I hope my heart will be strong enough to survive the 3-4 hours of surgery. I hope the hospital has the proof from my insurance company saying that I have been approved. I have a lot of worries today. I will be 56 years old.

After I posted I received a call from the service I hired to help me jump through all the insurance loops. I asked her about dropping below the 50 BMI problem. She said that the BC/BS insurance has the weight I was at pre-protein diet and not to be worried. So now I am happy that I have lost so much already. My clothes from last winter that I pulled out for our cool weather are loose!!!

I am getting very nervous now since my surgery is scheduled for October 8. It is quite a drive from here so we are leaving the day before and staying in the hospital's hotel. My biggest concern is that the BC/BS insurance will find a way to back out. I have waited over 10 years for them to approve me. They insisted I needed to be near death. Well I got to that point this past spring because of severe non-alcholic fatty liver. One of the requirements is that I have a BMI over 50. Mine was over 55 when I started out trying to jump through all the insurance hoops in May. So the doctor puts me on this liquid protein diet around 4 weeks ago and I have lost down to just 50.2 BMI when I weighed myself today. I am very scared that I will loose some more weight before surgery being on this protein diet and not qualify for the insurance to pay.