Mrs. Bubba

kjn4evr69, what was it exactly that you read here that scared you off so much? Was it the pre-op diet or the post-op diet, or the different kind of problems people can have sometimes? Any and all of those things can be very scary, but they aren't good reasons for backing out before you start.... You absolutely must do your research and then search your heart and soul for what you are willing to do to be the person you envision in your head. if you can't justify doing what we do, then you shouldn't. Your happiness and well being is the only thing that should matter here. I'm just really sorry if something we said made you stop... I, for one, am very happy that I got the LB even though I have had my share of problems... I've lost 51 pounds so far and that gives me all the encouragement I need right now to go for 50 more and hopfully more after that..... I feel for you because I remember all the emotional punishment I put myself through before I made my decision. I wish I could make it easier for you, but I can't..... I do wish you good luck and promise that if you should decide to go ahead with LB we'll be here to talk to anytime... Julie

Depending on the condition and quality of the clothes, another idea is to take them to a second hand shop that buys good used clothes for resale. I've never been one to spend a lot of money on clothes (Lane Bryant catalogue and Wal-Mart) so mine probably won't be worth much there. But some people do spend more and could get some money back to buy new ones!!! In days gone by I have taken to our local resource center for the needy and also given to a "fat" neighbor who moved here from CA and was so happy to have some winter clothes.... I have also enjoyed ripping some up for rags!!!!!!! It was a hoot..... Julie

Amanda, I was off a little as there are actually 8 in all.... 1.meal planning 2. preventing relapse 3. review of basics 4. establishing new habits 5. how many calories are enough 6. preparing for success 7. exercise 8. dining out and holiday eating It's a pretty good program. I have only made it to 3 so far, but will work the others in as they are available to me.. Good luck to you... Julie

The medical facility that I use has a program that is set up with post banding seminars to address the 6 main issues that most of us face (eating out, holiday eating, exercise, and ect.). I was charged an intial $249 and these are held at the clinic over lunch hour so most people can attend. We receive a schedule of what is being held on each day and can just show up. The support group is separate and meets in the evenings in a room at the hospital. They even offer exercise classes instructed by staff. There is no charge for this and any of the seminars or classes or groups are available to me for the rest of my life.... If after 5 years I need to restart after a little gain I can just show up... I was pleased to know that this is available to me. It is so nice to know that there is support out there for me if and when I need it. It isn't compulsory and isn't meant to be anything but another part of the tool of lapband. I live 40 miles from the clinic and like that I can attend at my own choice when I happen to be in town. The seminars are just constantly running on a rotation so if you miss one you can pick it up again when it comes around.. I think this is a good system... Julie

I used them, especially the #2 ones that are like a meal.. Spaghetti with meat sauce and such. With a little salt added it didn't taste too bad. And when I move on the the soft foods, the #3 lasagna was great. A little salt added and a side of cottage cheese made a nice tasting meal.... Wouldn't want to do it forever, but after liquids for 3 weeks it was a nice change.

It is so amazing to me how some people in this world think that they can say or do anything and the rest of us should take it. I'm sure many of you have experienced the looks and comments from people while walking in a mall or etc. Do they think we are deaf and can't hear their rude comments to companions. These are probably the kind of people who make remards about the handicapped, too... I just have no time for these people.

I'm experiencing a little dejavu while reading your post. 26 years ago I had gastroplasty (stomach stapling) to lose weight. I was nearly 400 pounds and miserable, but very healthy. The surgery went very well and I was losing pretty fast. Then I got pregnant and was told to slow my weight loss for awhile. As it turned out I couldn't do that because the opening in the staple line was growing shut. I was so happy about the weight loss that I didn't tell anyone I wasn't keeping food down until my OB said I was losing more than 10 pounds a week and something was wrong.. It's a very long story, but I almost died from starvation and malnutrition at 120 pounds after delivering a 5 week pre-mature healthy baby. They reversed my gastroplasy and fixed my stomach and then put me on a diet to gain weight........ Guess what happened after that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yup...... gained it all back over a few years.... including my health. Now I'm a healthy 56 year old who was lucky enough to be able to be banded and I'm on my way to a new me. I would never take a chance with my health again.. Go see a doctor and get on a health management program. What good is it to be skinny if you're near dead?????? I wish you very well and hope you find a good doctor who will help you make all your dreams come true... Julie

I had to have a full incision, too, but for different reasons. I had too much scar tissue from previous surgeries. I'm still healing (surgery was 8-21) and still have port pain that radiates to my back. I think it getss a little better all the time. I'm just getting over a bad cold with lots of coughing and that sure wasn't fun. I'm so sore in the midriff area..... I haven't had a fill either and am down 50 pounds now. I'm not getting one until I feel it's right. As long as my mind stays in the right place I think I can do this for myself. I have some restriction now and like you said, certain foods don't go down well at all.. Chicken breast is one for me. It gets stuck every time.... But oh, well. I was very glad to hear about someone else not having a fill and even more glad to know there are those who haven't had one at all.. It's encouraging for me... Good luck to all..... Julie

Congratualtions, that is so wonderful for you. It makes it all worth it.............be proud of yourself, you earned it....

Hello Harley.... Can you be more specific... I'm from North Dakota, near Bismarck.. Dr Kavlie at St. Alexius did my surgery and I had to have the full incision, too.. for a different reason and without all of your complications. I still have some major pain from the port stiching and around into my back, but otherwise all is well.. The weight loss you had before surgery was awesome. Was that something you just did or was it a requirement for insurance? Hope that isn't too nosey.... Anyway you seem to be doing well now.... Do you have much more to go or are you nearing your goal? Best of Luck... Julie

Karen- I understand what you are trying to say and I agree with most of it... I haven't had a fill yet and am losing at a nice pace. I called my dr. to ask if I needed to come in since I was doing well. I was told to wait another month and then they wanted to see me whether I get a fill or not. I took that to mean we will discuss it and make a decision at that time. This plan works for me. I like knowing that I have this band in place to stop me when and if I get off track. Right now I think I have just enough restriction to keep me honest and not so much as to make me feel deprived. I know I have to make this my life's plan now. I do also understand what the other gal said about obese people being different and that being why this is called a disease.. I'm hoping to balance everything out and make the rest of my life better than what has gone so far. I think it is very good to be giving so much thought to what is happening to us. It is complicated and yet simple all at the same time. Understanding as much as possible is a very positive thing. I'm very happy with my decision to have the band and I'm hoping I'll still feel that way 10 or 15 years from now... Take care all............. Julie

My BMI was 58.8 at my initial appointment. No one said anything about this being a stopping point, only they did try to convince me to do gastric bypass instead. I think they figured that with this amount of pounds to lose I should go for the quick loss, but when I gave my reasons for wanting LB that was it... they were on board and everything has gone well... I hope you have good luck with your meeting with the surgeon. Julie

Hey.... I think you need to relax.... You're just having a bump in the road. Stop and regroup... If you need to you can even do clear liquids for a day, like when you get a fill..... Let your body rest from the little splurge it's been on and then just start again..doing the right things you know to do. Do you have a family to cook for or are you on your own? It's always so much easier if you don't have to worry about feeding other people... You'll be fine!! Just do what you know you need to do and you'll be losing again soon.. good luck.......Julie

This should be a whole different ball game from the last time... If they are so intune to you, they will see how this will make you happier and healthier. Instead of having their lives put on hold because you can't get around, they will have a mother who is more able to be part of everything they do... Keep them informed, let them know what this means to you... They will be so proud of their mom and will be some of your best support... You'll do fine.... Best of luck.... Julie

I'm sorry your spouse doesn't see that your health is worth so much more than any surgery could cost.. Or maybe you need to remind him of that..... At any rate, I have some questions. Do you have insurance? If not, maybe getting it now, even with a waiting period would be cheaper than paying outright.... Do you have any health problems at this time? With 140 pounds to lose and comorbidities, you should qualify with insurance. My best advice to get him on board is to make him part of all the research and meetings... Let him know just how important this is to you and your health. He loves you.... he'll come around... Maybe he's just a bit scared and won't tell you that.... Good luck... Julie

Dear lilnora2..... You need to keep your chin up... We'll just call you a slow starter, not a failure. You haven't failed unless you quit altogether and you havne't done that.. Depression is a nasty thing that can cause so many problems. If you have been working on getting your emotional self back to good health, then you are on your way to the weight loss you want, too. You have to be in a good frame of mind to do what needs to be done with this band. You are going to be just fine and soon you will be dropping the pounds like crazy and feeling happy and proud of yourself... Time is a friend.... slow and easy wins the race........ And don't be afraid to talk to all of us... Someone will always be here to give you a word of encouragement.... Take care and good luck... Julie

I think everyone is different.... That's why I'm going for a feeling of health and vitality and not a number. And that feeling can be very relative.... If you've been nearly 400 like me, 300 is a miracle and 200 will be heaven.... The 160 they said I should be is their table and that table and those calculations don't know me like I know me:tt2:..... Just my opinion, but that is what I'm aiming for.... Best of luck to you..... Julie

I had Gastroplasty(stomach stapling) 26 years ago... It's not the same, but it was a major deal back then. I had quite an ordeal with mine. Everything went well and I lost a lot of weight and then got pregnant. Of course they wanted my weight loss to slow during pregnancey, but I wan't able to stop. As it turned out the opening in the staple line grew shut and after 15 months I had gone from near 400 to 140..... I was starving to death and completly anemic and malnourished by the time they decided to deliver the baby 5 weeks early. I was down to 120 and I had to have it reversed to save my life. Then they put me on a diet to gain weight (?????!!!!!!) And told me the trick would be to stop when I was healthy again. Of course that didn't happen and I have been heavy most of those 24 following years.... I didn't think I could have LB, but I called anyway and was surprised to be told that they thought it was possible. I had to have a stomach x-ray to determine the condition of my stomach. It was good to go. The only thing they warned me about was that with all the scar tissue I might need a full incision rather that the laproscopic... That is what happend. I have an 11 inch incision and was in the hospital for 4 days after banding. The banding went very well and I have lost 47 pounds. I was banded on 8-21, so two months tomorrow. I'm very pleased and am so glad I chose to do this. I hope things work out well for you.. Julie

I eat what I want... I'm just very mindful of proteins and portions.... I don't want to be different from everyone else. I make meals using good common sense during preparation and lots of healthy ingredients. My husband is not overweight by anymeans, but the healthy is good for him, too. This is the plan that makes me think I can do this forever. I don't want to be on a "diet" as that is what hasn't worked for me all these years.... The band stops me from eating too much and my brain stops me from eating the wrong things. I think everyone has to come up with their own plan and it depends on what your home circumstances are. When my husband was in Iraq in 2004, I lost a lot of weight because I didn't have to cook for anyone else. I used lots of the "Lean Quisine" type meals. The portions were good and they were so easy... That doesn't work for me now and of course that is why I put the weight back on again. Now I have the tool (LB) that I need to meld the two things.... I hope you find the way that is right for you.. Julie

I've had something similar happen a couple of times... Mine was a sharp pain in my lower back that woke me up during the night.. I wanted to cry...the pain was that bad. But I got up and walked and took an anti-gas medication and it subsided after a bit and I went back to sleep. The next time it happened I was smarter and took the pill right away... So now I have stocked up to make sure I have it covered for the next time.. I don't know what causes it...... Something I ate obviously, bit I can't track it to any one thing.. If that's the worst thing that happens I figure I'll be doing good... Take care and good luck... Julie

Congratulations and good luck!!!!!! That is a wonderful accomplishment and I hope to be in your shoes one day down the road............... Julie

I've gained some peace of mind to know that I will never have to watch the scale go up again.... And on an odd note, I lost my wedding ring.... My husband had it in his pocket while I was in surgery. I had to stay at the hospital and he somehow lost it from his pocket........... It broke my heart as I had the most beautiful diamond band..... It was perfect and expensive. We looked everywhere, but it is just gone... and no insurance when it was lost... So I'm waiting to get a bit thinner to get a new one. My husband would give me the world if I asked... So I have to be careful what I ask for... :smile:

Hi RM... I know that I'm not one of the people you hope will answer your questions, but I do have some thoughts on this subject, too.... I'm about a week ahead of you and from what I can tell we are similar in our circumstances. I started my quest on August 7th with the pre-op diet. I've lost 46 pounds to date and am quite happy about that. I think I have some of the same concerns as you and even though I know most of the answers according to the "rules" , I wonder how I will handle things personally. I haven't had a fill yet and they don't want me to come in until November 10th to discuss it. My eating habits are not alot different from when I lost weight on my own, except now I can't overeat at all. I'm in a good mind frame and this is good. I plan to do what is right for me and that is eating regular food, but just much less. This is the only way I think I can keep it up... I don't want to feel like I can't do things. If I want something I'm going to have it.... Just not very much of it... I had a bite of my husband's apple pie tonight, but that one bite satisfied me and I don't want anymore. It didn't hurt me and I feel fine about it.. I don't want to be stuck with cardboard tasting low fat things and making different food for myself while making regular food for my husband. He doesn't need to lose weight and I won't make him eat that stuff either. I want my life to be as normal as possible. I just want to have control of myself. This band gives me the extra "courage" that has seemed to evade me in the past. Does all that make any sense to you.? It is so encouraging to me to feel that I don't have to worry any longer about gaining weight and just have to wait for the pounds to fall off one at a time..... It's like a security blanket, I guess..... Thanks for listening... Hope you get the answers you want from those who have been at this a lot longer than we have... Did you get your first fill yet? Good luck... Julie

Congratulations and good luck.. Julie

Hey there, I'm in the Band...... I'm sorry for all the trouble you are having. It must be very frustrating. Do you mind me asking why you object to the surgical center? Is it like at a clinic or what..? I had to have my surgery at a hospital because there was a chance that I would need a full incision rather that laproscopic and it would be easier to do the hospital right away. And that is what happened. I was 4 days in the hospital and have an 11 inch incision. But things are good. However, I wouldn't have been upset to have had mine in the clinic surgi-center. So, I'm interested in why you chose the hospital... And don't get me wrong .... I'm not criticizing, just asking. Everyone is different and has reasons for what they want.. Good luck to you... Julie