Stitchy

surgery, May 2006,

Current, Oct 2008

At goal, 88 lbs gone forever.

I started drinking earlier and drank longer than the spec sheet advised but got it all down. YUK!!! Sips of prep and spoonful Jello helped a lot.

Clean bill of health, No polyps. Go back in 5 years.

Thanks for asking.

You waist will get lower. Then the port will be above the waistline. Words straight out of my dotor's mouth.

It will be tender for quite awhile, but it does get better.

I felt someone else's port and theirs was up higher than they say mine will be. Where they showed me mine will be is just below the waste line. Is it uncomfortable underneath clothes, or does it ever get tender?

Not a lot of sympathy for bandsters.

My lapband office suggested two bottles of magnesium citrate. I talked to the nurse at the coloscopy office and she said that the prep just does a better of cleansing. Oh, yeah? So, she said I can start earlier in the day sipping and even the next morning since my appt isn't until the afternoon. OK. I'll try. But I don't want to be drinking and pooping for hours. I'l try to get it down as fast as I can.:scared2:

I was 60 but I know there are older ones out there.

Average is 50% of excess. My BMI was 37 and I have lost 85% of excess. And no, I didn't work particulaly hard at it, but I did watch the food that went into my mouth. So, there is no guarantee. You just do the best YOU can.

I am scheduled for a colonoscopy next week. Three years ago, I took something in a little bottle for cleansing. Not pleasant, but it did the job.

There were some polyps so I need another one this year (next week). The instructions involve a prescription that involves drinking about 48 ounces over a one hour period, twice. I can't do that. I called the docs office and the person answering the phone (receptionist, I presume) insisted that is the way it is done now. Period. No arguing with her. She is going to try to get the doctor to call me back.

Have any of you dealt with something like this? What did you do?

Lexy - many people have suggested Soups and Protein drinks. I am not a fan of Protein Drinks, so I did Soup. You can blend protein-rich Soups with milk or broth and it is still liquid. Full liquid - if you can suck it through a straw it is liquid and full of Protein. And tastes right, too.

Good luck.

Costco's chewable dinosaurs. Or Flintstones. Chewable calciums (Costco brand). I take a lot of pills and anything chewable or drinkable is a relief. I get full in the morning just taking pills!

I am also disturbed about the lack of communication and insensitivity. Since you will probably be going back for follow up care think very hard about this surgeon. Where do you live? Some of us may be able to help you find a new one.

You betcha'. It's liquid. My fav was Tomato roasted red pepper (or some such name) from Trader Joe's. Yummmo! If you could suck it through a straw, it's yours. Want some other flavors? Get out your blender and have chicken and noodle. Or split pea. Bean and bacon. Full of Protein and you will feel better. If it is too thick, thin down with milk or broth. You can blend just about anything. Tastes like real food, too.

I was banded on may 21st. i have 2 weeks of liquids for now. SOOOO... can i have Tomato Soup? Nothing special just from the can with some Water. I have been drinking v8, but now i think about it... is that okay to have also?!

~~jessica

I weigh myself nearly every morning but I record it on a spreadsheet only once a week.

You probably won't just pick them up. They will make copies and it will take time.

It was actually my ENT that ordered the sleep study. Still waiting for the call back. I'm just about ready to walk in to the docs office and say, can I have my records please, and be done with it.

Why not request your records right now? They are yours. You can have them. Then you will be ready when you find a new GP. They won't like it b/c it takes a long time if you have been a long term patient but they still have to do it. That said, they may charge you $$. but so be it.

When you get a new GP, besure all of your records are transferred. I believe that you can even go to old doctor's office to request them and hand carry them. That way, you can look them over to be sure that all weight loss attempts are included.

Best of luck.

If you are say ... renting a living place for your RV (like your daughter's house), that would probably qualify you. You will need to do your own checking.

That fuss has to do with the RTA taxes. People were registering their cars outside the metro area to avoid them. So the state said you MUST have a physical address for licenses. In our case, we didn't have one. So, we were kicked out. South Dakota is quite friendly. No income tax. No personal property tax. No inheritance tax. Low (much lower than WA) vehicle registration fees.

So at what point is it illegal to claim a Washington address? We gave our daughter $40,000 for a down payment on a home that had room for our RV, and plan to stay there summers, Christmas, or whenever we feel like it. Our roots are in Washington and we currently have a home in Birch Bay, but we were thinking of getting rid of it because we want to spend more time down near Gig Harbor with our kids. You obviously don't have to OWN a home in Washington to be a resident. I guess we will have to do some research.

I remember a few years ago that Washington state was making a big fuss about people who registered their vehicles elsewhere where it was cheaper, when they actually were Washington residents. Now they don't want our money? We still vote in Washington and live there part of the year, and certainly don't feel like citizens of Arizona.

Thanks for the reply stitchy, the way the doctors are going on over here looks likes im going to have to comes to the states to get banded. lol How much is the procedure privately in the states? Or does it vary state to state?

Thanks

H

I think it varies doctor to doctor. I had mine done in Washington State and cost me $17,000 two years ago. If you are coming from the UK you probably want someone on the east coast. I can put you in touch with someone that could help you find a good doc. PM me if you want more info.

It depends on how tall you are, too. Another forum has folks that were in 400-500 that are being quite successfull with their bands. I don't think you are in the danger zone.

If your doctor is reluctant, seriously question his reasons. Voice your concerns and/or find another doctor.

Well, I guess my name says it all. We spend time in Arizona, northwestern Washington (our official home) and take some side trips to visit our son at college in Georgia. What part of Washington do you call home, Stitchy?

My *home* is Issaquah, WA, but the state kicked us out when we went full-time. No, I'm not joking When you don't have a physical address you can't get you or your vehicles licensed. Using a kid's address or a mailforwarding service won't do. It's a felony. No kidding! So, we are domiciled in South Dakota.

Hi Stitchy!

My husband and I love our RV but we aren't full timers, but hope to be some day. Obviously since you are such a success story it shows that you can successfuly combine RV living with the lap band diet!:biggrin2:

We started full time exactly one year ago and I have lost 15 lbs during that year.

Carol: Are you going to NWWLS? That's where I went.

Karen, I understand your frustration but it is not necessarily a bad thing to continue to lose weight prior to surgery. Your liver is most likely fatty and it lies over the stomach. They have to pull it aside for surgery. Losing weight will pose less danger to you.

Like you and the others, I could lose weight. Quite successfully. That's why I tried all of the diets. Then some excuse would come up and it all came back with friends. I was so worried about staying overweight and dying from some weight related problem, I just couldn't face another failure.

I had surgery two years ago this month and will be 62 this week and am at my goal weight. It is absolutely the best thing I ever did for myself. I was self pay also but you know it cost about as much as a car. I like myself better than any car I ever owned:thumbup:

So, don't worry so much. Give yourself your life.

Hello Everyone. I'm not new to this site, but I have been away for awhile, so I'll re-introduce myself.

I am 62 years old and was banded 2 years ago. I've lost about 85 lbs and am at goal weight.

I see that many of you are RVers and snowbirds. One year ago, DH and I retired, put our belongings in storage and hit the road. Still love it.

I keep busy with counted cross stitch (I'm Stitchy ), knitting and other textile crafts.

Hello Everyone. I'm not new to this site, but I have been away for awhile, so I'll re-introduce myself.

I am 62 years old (so I'm happy to find this particular forum) and was banded 2 years ago. I've lost about 85 lbs and am at goal weight.

I see that many of you are RVers and snowbirds. One year ago, DH and I retired, put our belongings in storage and hit the road. Still love it.

I keep busy with counted cross stitch (I'm Stitchy ), knitting and other textile crafts.

... Can you ever bring bread or Pasta or rice back into your diet ? I hope this thread is more congenial and responde I really feel discouraged about all this writing with no response. nonnad

You might. I can't eat white bread or sticky white rice. It gets stuck in my stoma. However, I can have English Muffins or crusty french bread. I don't do that too often, of course, but as a treat, sure. Pasta is difficult for me. I just can't chew it well enough and it gets stuck.

So, the answer is: Your mileage may vary.

I haven't posted for awhile. Here is a really current pic taken at Oak Alley Mansion in Louisiana. Sipping on a Mint Julep. Lost 88 lbs.