LapBandit

My last straw happened at my PCP's office. For years their scales only went to 300 and so I hadn't been weighed in forever. I knew I was over 300 but I figured it couldn't be much over. On day I went in for a sinus infection and my doc said "Hey, we just got new scales today-they go up to 400 now. Do you want to get weighed?" I said OK. Can you imagine...it took years to find a scale to weigh me and when I got on their brand-new scale I was 4 pounds away from not registering on that one either...396. I was mortified. I had talked to my doctor about WLS before and they were not encouraging. They told me "WLS takes a lot of committment." Like, how did they know I couldn't committ to it? I have terrible back issues and had started exercising many times in the past only to hurt myself and give up. Any way, when I saw that 396 I went straight home and called the local bariatric center. I figured I was going to do something whether my PCP would help or not. I had lost 4 lbs by the time I went for my initial consult with my surgeon and it has been a downhill slide back off the scale ever since! Now, hopefully-any scale can calculate my weight now!!

Wow psichikel! Over 200 lbs?! That's incredible. You're my hero! I am getting closer to that milestone and was hoping it was possible!

Same here, I didn't have to do a stress test; however, depending on doctor or your health situation might call for one. I had to get an EKG, an Upper GI and blood work pre-op. Plus, the psych consult of course!

My shoe size has decreased a bit. I'm not sure it's a lenght thing as much as a width thing. I think I ended up wearing size 11's so that my fat feet could fit inside; however, I'm comfortably back into a 10 regular width. I couldn't think it would be possible to change shoe sizes by very much because I'd think your bones stay the same length regardless of how much you weigh.

Me too, not too much Toot Toot but a lot of bloating. However, if the urge strikes you then honk away. Whatever you can do to get that gas out will make your recovery that much easier!!

Sure, I have no regrets over getting my band. I'm at one year post-op and my surgeon says I've lost as much or maybe a little more than the average bypass patient. I couldn't be happier!

If you are not too uncomfortable I'd try sticking it out for at least a week following a fill. That's how long it takes for me to see where I'm really at. My doctor agrees that giving it a few days at least is the best plan BUT if you are really uncomfortable or unable to swallow water and protein shakes then you need to make arrangements to get a slight unfill. Connie is absoulutely right...you must continue to drink water and at least try to get some nutrition through protein shakes while you wait it out. If you cannot do this then there is no reason to wait before calling for help. Dehydration is dangerous and so is going without nutrition for a few days. So, if you feel like it's truly too tight then it probably is. If you feel like you can wait it out a few more days then you are probably just still swollen and it'll improve. Good luck!

The one thing I've learned is that you MUST learn to follow the rules. The band is not going to magically help anyone lose weight. I try my best not to depend on restriction for my weight loss. Instead, I view my band as a safety net that is there to catch me if I fall and not something to keep me from my bad habits. At 4 1/2 weeks out you are at the perfect stage to get things straight. You're healed up well-enough to really start focusing on changing your lifestyle. We can all eat around our bands, the trick is learning that it's not worth it. You CAN do this if you want to! Just relax and stay focused! I believe in you!

I had to do a week of liquids pre-op. I stuck with it and didn't cheat. But, I've also heard some doctors don't require the pre-op diet. It's just to make the surgery easier so I'd try to do the best you can. There's no good reason to take any chances, right?! As far a losing weight...I'm one of the weird ones who didn't really lose much during my pre-op and post-op liquid diets. I didn't stress about it and neither did my doctor. I was too focused on healing!

I think it would be great if someone could stick with you for at least the day of surgery. Luckily (although it made it a little more stressful) I had a house full of company the week of my surgery so I had lots of people aorund. But, in retropsect I didn't actually need them to do anything for me. In fact, they were a little too helpful with trying to force-feed me broth and such! But, it was cute! They were trying to be helpful! Any way, I basically felt OK and got around good enough. I was outpatient so I came home a few hours after surgery and so that day I felt kind of groggy and tired so it was nice to have people around. By the next day I was just a little sore but totally able to take care of myself. Good luck!!! I'm excited for you!

My bariatric center told us that ibuprofen for short periods of time are OK. If you need to stay on it for an extended period of time then you might need to talk to your doctor. But, I've taken it for a day or two during back issues and I've been OK. I'm not trying to over-rule your doctor...I'm just saying that I have taken it for very short time periods without issue. Ibuprofen is the only thing that works for my back too. I like Bayer Back and Body. It works pretty good for me, plus the pills are small.

Nope, in and out within about 5 hours. Felt fine, no need for me to stay even if they offered.

Oh yeah...body image. Believe me...this is something that takes awhile to get into your brain! I would get so disqusted by people telling me that they didn't recognize me or that I was looking good because I'd think they were just being nice. It REALLY bothered me enough that I considered talking to a therapist. Until, magically...someone took a candid photo of me. When I looked at it I almost cried. I didn't recognize myself because what I saw in the mirror was the same old 400lb person until I saw that photo. I guess my point is...this comes in time. It takes the brain a long time to catch up!

I'm a rule-follower and so I did whatever my doctor told me to do. If he told me to do liquids that's what I did. But, on the other hand...all doctors seem to be different. I was allowed to move to softer foods by week 2 then normal food by week 3 as long as it felt OK to me. So, in that aspect...I'd think you are probably OK as long as you are taking it easy.

Yes, Libra...mix it up...quite a bit. Do some different exercises, eat some different foods. That usually helps my body wake up when it starts to slack off. Especially the exercise...try working out on opposite days than you usually do and try to mix in something different. For example...instead of just walking at the same speed on my treamill I will sometimes do an interval training session. Like, go as fast as you can for a few minutes then slow it back to normal for awhile but put the incline up as far as you can handle. Little things like that help wake up new muscle which will get your metabolism fired up again. Plus, sometimes when I think about it I realize I eat basically the same stuff each week so try some new foods so that your body gets some different nutrients. This is the best thing I can do when I feel a slow-down happening. It wakes up my body and my brain because I get out of my rut! Good luck!

This is my "before and during" photo comparison. I am celebrating my one year bandiversary and wanted to share my progress with everyone. By the way, everyone looks amazing and it's such an inspiration to me!

I have just had an awesome day! Here are my before and after pics from my surgeon's office. Incredibly I am "overweight" and apparently my body fat percentage is now in the normal range! My doctor is excited and I'm thrilled. I usually try not to think about this stuff too much but today is my day to CELEBRATE!

Tax Day Challenge! (April 15th) Week Seven of Eight Name..........................Starting…...…..Current….…..Goal…....To Go Juliegeraci.......................238............. .........231.5..............228...........3.5 Lapbandit.......................231........................208………….199............9 Waterlily........................300........................276.................264...........12 Roiansmom....................299........................299.................270...........29 Libra..............................248............ ............232.................228.............4 JulieNYC.......................212................ .......185..................185.............0 Elisabethsew..................282........................274..................264 ..........10 PeaCeJ..........................338.........................333..................318...........15 RidinMyHDDream.........297.......................281 .................281............0 Babygirl1234.................260........................243..................240............3 Leecelove70..................228.........................228.................200............28 Josette...........................351.........................340.................335..............5 Lizrbit............................289........................290.................279.............11 losingjusme....................315........................312.................302.5.........9.5 Congratulations to Ridin and Julie! Way to go! You guys are awesome! Well, I'm off to my year appointment with my surgeon! I checked this morning and guess what?! I'M OVERWEIGHT!!!! I have dropped the obese label from my medical record! That's what I was dreaming for to be at for this appointment. I'll let you know if anything exciting happens at my appointment today...like a parade or news crew etc. HA HA HA!!!

I'm here too...I'm hiding...I was BAD over Easter. Actually, tomorrow is weigh-in day and it's my one year band checkup. Can you believe one year already?! My actual bandiversary is next week but tomorrow is my appointment. I'll weigh in afterwards. Wish me luck...

I can chug water just fine and haven't experienced any issues. Other than as travelgirl said...if it's too fast or too much at a time then you could feel some discomfort. And my rule of thumb is to avoid doing anything that causes even slight discomfort because I don't want to do anything to hurt my band. But, if I can gulp down water relatively fast and it causes no dicomfort then...I gulp away!

You're too funny! An 11 week challenge seems daunting but...this time around I plan to set my sights on a more reasonable goal so it will give me plenty of time to ACTUALLY STINKING HIT MY GOAL THIS TIME!!! :faint: So, I'm in and I will hit this next challenge. I will set a goal to at least get into Onderland...something I was hoping for this current challenge but alas...at almost one year out...I see things are S L O W I N G D O W N and it's time for me to start accepting that!

You're right...with the amount you are eating it is probably impossible for that weight gain to be actual fat. I know, it still hurts to see the numbers on the scale go up but don't let yourself be fooled. It's not true! If you are a little dehydrated as you suspect, your body will hold on to all of the Water it is getting for conservation. Water weighs a lot. The only (healthy) way to get rid of that water weight is to make sure you start drinking water again. When your body "learns" that you will give it plenty of water on a regular basis it will let go of what it's holding onto. This has happened to me time and time again so I feel confident you will see it go away. But, when you are dehydrated it might take another day or two of good water drinking for things to stabilize and see that water weight go away. I aim for at least 64 oz every day...I have found water is extremely important for weight loss. So, don't get discouraged even though it's tough to avoid worrying about it. I keep 24 oz water bottles and know that I must drink at least three of them every day. It works for me to make sure I get in my water. I hope this helps!

I'm cool with that plan. Eveyone want to start the new challenge on the 17th? I'm not changing my challenge results either...stupid scale says I'm up one pound this morning and I refuse to make THAT update!! It better be doggone water weight or else me and my bod are gonna need a referee!

I was terrified of PB's too until it happened and I had a chance to experience it. Luckily I remembered everything I've read on this site and knew to stay as calm as I could and let my body decide what it wanted to do. Sometimes it stays in and eventually goes down and other times your body says no-way...this has GOT to come out! So, don't be scared--be prepared! Just stay calm and listen to your body.

Great NSV! Good work and enjoy the new clothes!