catfish87

Congrats on your decision! Your new life is just starting....Best wishes!

I eat oatmeal occasionally, especially before longer bike rides. It seems to "stick with me" longer. I usually cook steel cut oats. Or sometimes, I'll just eat a Clif bar.

I'm happy with my band!

My blood pressure is running 120/70-76 all the time now.....all the experts seem happy with that and the rest of my test results. I haven't been on BP med's for several years. However there were times when I was having issues, that my blood pressure was low....like 90/60 or so if my memory is correct. My symptoms ALWAYS.....ALWAYS, came on ater going from a seated/laying position to a standing position. And I have noticed less issues since I'm adding electrolytes in with exercising. Not sure if thats the reason.... Best wishes!! David

I had a previous concussion a couple of years back and yes, it kicked my butt. I haven't had any further significant dizzy spells in the last couple of months. I had so many test done....all to come back "normal". But my PCP told me the first time I seen him about this issue, "sometimes, we just don't know what causes these things.....even after running every test they can think of". I have made it a point to drink some sort of electrolyte drink in addition to Water if I'm sweating a lot, running/cycling, etc. I think the episodes are fewer since I've started doing this. And isn't it frustrating to have all these pro's do all these test's, and come up with "Syncope" (fainting).....we had that much figured out, lol. Take care! David

I was a work last night and hadn't watched the video until this morning. OMG!..... This poor lady really just doesn't get it. You will have to eat/digest less calories than you burn off for ANY wls to work. I've been to WLS support group meetings for over 5 years now..... And EVERY wls ( band, sleeve, rny ) has success stories and those who haven't been as successful. I don't like to use the word failure. ... You only fail if you quit. This nonsense about you can't live a normal life, socialize normally, enjoy a meal normally, date, eat, drink with a band.... is just not true. Some may not, but that's not my experience. As I said earlier. ... There are many successful, happy, healthy people who've turned their life around...... Thanks to the band. And I see every day..... EVERY DAY, people who have had a different WLS who wish theirs was adjustable.

@@soundlogik You say you've researched the band well, and are sure its the right choice for you....so stick with what you KNOW by doing your research from respectable sources. As the poster above stated...in #1, Everyone is different. In most every aspect. Their eating habits, exercise habits, desire for success, etc. It's to be expected you'll hear varied experiences. For me, I'm 5 years post op. Never had one band caused problem. I could have never lost 130 pounds and maintained this "normal" life without my band. Most people who I meet now, who didn't know me 5 years ago, would never know I had WLS. And the ones who did know me then......they can't have enough good things to say. But they know I've given some good effort too. There are MANY, MANY, MANY successful people with Lapband.....and I'm happy to consider myself one. Best wishes on your decision!

I haven't been posting on this topic every day....busy, busy, busy time for me at work with 72+ hours per week for a couple of months. I still am getting something in most days, either a 5k run or a loop on the cycling trails (26 miles). Good to see some new faces on this forum. Kuddo's to all!

My insurance is billed $700 if I get an adjustment, which includes a few minutes with the NUT. All my adjustments are done using fluoroscopy now (thank heavens!). It might be cheaper for cash pay....not sure.

Complication rates are so misleading IMO.....depending on WHO does the "study", they can be all over the place. While the manufacturer might say they are in the 5% range, you could find one that says the rate may be upwards of 50%....depending again on who does the "study". I've attended several support group meetings over the 5 years I've had my band ( and I have had no band caused complications ). There are always band, sleeve, RNY paitents there. Some have had wonderful success with each procedure, while some have not. I don't know if that'd be representive of anything other than the small number of people who choose to come to the meetings, but that's what I've seen. One thing that always has made me happy with my decision to have the band is this, for the folks struggling with sleeve and bypass, all they are ever told is eat less/better choices and exercise more, nothing else to be done.....just a traditional diet plan. For banded patients, we have another option......Adjustments!

I have had a Garmin 310xt for about 18 months now. I often tell people its the best money I've ever spent on exercise stuff. It tracks everything, automatically uploads to garmin connect via ANT+, then to an app on my android. SO easy to set up. My personal beliefs: A HRM (chest strap) is invaluable. I use it every day while cycling/running/swimming, etc. When correctly set up with your personal stats, I believe they are MUCH more accurate at tracking calories than just some program designed to guess calories. I bought mine off Ebay as a factory refurbished model for about $200, and have added a bike speed/cadence sensor and a foot pod that attaches to your shoe lace. The footpod is especially useful if your using a treadmill and want to measure distance. There are many different ones available, but I'd buy another one just like it if it ever fails. I've replaced the chest strap one time since I've had it. My vote....GARMIN. Heres a couple recent ones: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/598168446# http://connect.garmin.com/activity/598168408#

Sept 2009 for me...not one band caused problem in 5 years. I'd say my band has been/ AND STILL IS, a complete success!

I'm 5 years post op....down around 130 pounds from where I started. I've not had any band caused problems. I'm very active now, cycling, running, I take NO meds...how could I not be enjoying my banded life?

Pulling out the fluid to make sure its all there will NOT show if a band has come unbuckled. I know this from firsthand experience. The fluid will all still be there. When my band had come unbuckled, it was only detected by using fluoroscopy. It was easily seen by my surgeon using that technique. My symptoms: I had received a couple/few small fills during the six months post op....blind fills (just guessing) were the norm during that time. I had started to detect I had some restriction after about the second adjustment. Then, similar to what you describe, it was ALL gone....NO restriction. I could (and did) eat a sandwich, just to test and confirm to myself. It was no different than before I even had a band. My surgeon continued giving blind fills, saying "you're just losing faster than we're getting your band adjusted, etc". After about 6 more months of that, I had about lost hope....it was just another diet!! My band wasn't doing anything. I started eating too much, and actually gained several pounds....I suck at dieting. I quit going to my surgeon for a year...disgusted/embarrassed, thinking this wasn't gonna work for me. I was gonna fail at surgery!.....or so I thought. I wen't back after a year long hiatus and he had started using fluoroscopy for all adjustments. It was very obvious what was wrong...and we scheduled me to have it corrected asap. I was the first one he'd ever had that happen to.....lucky me. My surgeon has over 20 years of experience performing WLS...so it happens. I'd just suggest if there is any way possible, ask/demand for an adjustment using fluoro....it will show this....and much more. Best wishes! David

Somethings not right... You say "Everything appears to be as it should be. My doctor is scratching his head, and I am very frustrated." And you say you have "no restriction". NONE???? I'd be interested in seeing the copy of the fluoroscopy. Does it show ANY restriction....is your band "buckled" correctly still? I hope you get some answers. Its frustrating when you do your part, and the band isn't doing it's part.

What do you mean by "all of the sudden I feel nothing"? My band did in fact come unbuckled/unsnapped.

Congrats, WTG and high 555's Bandista! Your dedication is really paying off.

Congrats Di! Wonderful post and a true inspiration to many. Best wishes on your continued success.

40 pounds since April is not a slow loss..... I say Congrats! and hope that pace continues! My question is where did you get a 4cc band nowadays?

The chatrooms "exist" now....but I rarely see anyone in there.....right now it says there is ONE person in the "main lobby". I'm not sure you can use them via mobile devices/app, but they're on the bottom of my PC now....along with links to facebook/twitter, etc. I miss the days when there were LOTs of people who'd be in there.....

From your surgeons profile here: "Dr. Dexter Turnquest is a bariatric and weight loss surgeon located in Houston, TX and affiliated with Houston Northwest Medical Center Hosp./ Memorial Hermann- The Woodlands. Dr. Turnquest has 4 years of experience performing weight loss surgery. Currently 67 of our members have Dr. Turnquest listed as their Bariatric Surgeon" 4 years experience performing weight loss surgery? I've been banded longer than that....hasn't been a waste of my time. Quite the opposite. Best wishes on finding another surgeon, if you decide on the band.

Congrats on your super success. "Enjoy"! You've earned it!

The dietician "can't see" your band under fluoro? And your dietician suggested you convert to something else? Are you having any adverse symptoms or problems?

I can't tell you what you should do, but here's what I did....take it for what its worth. I was tired of my constant battle with my weight....continually getting bigger....year after year. Sure I had dieted in the past and lost weight, actually a lot at times. Then the diet was over and I'd eat myself right back to where I was and then some...several times over and over. ( Thats the history my insurance and doctor's wanted to see....FAILURE at attempts at "regular" dieting. ) My PCP actually suggested I look at WLS, the lapband specifically. He recommended a surgeon, and I scheduled an appointment to attend a seminar. They went over the benefits, risks, rules to be successful, insurance stuff, etc, etc. It was a group thing at a local conference room. After that, I read, and read, and watched videos, and talked to a couple of people who had the procedure. I came to the conculsion that if I ever wanted to live a normal/healthy life, something had to change. WLS was for me! So I went in to visit with the office staff and surgeon at his office and they went over all the requirements that MY insurace would need. Past history, cormorbidities, etc....all the requirements. MY insurance required a 6 month medically supervised "diet". This was provided through my PCP, via meeting with a nutritionist. I could not miss ANY appointments or the clock would reset to day one. Every month, I'd go to weigh in, talk about what I was eating, exercise plan, etc. All documented and sent off to my insurance after the conclusion of the 6 months ( I think I lost like 10 pounds during this time ) I got denied first time because of some paperwork missing ( and that isn't unusual ). It's just another bump in the road. Resubmitted and I was APPROVED! Then I met with the surgeon again, we discussed everything again...from the type of band he thought best for me, to pre-op rules/diet, post op instructions, and follow up protocol. He said I would be hearing from his office about a surgery date in the very near future. They called about a week later with a surgery date and told me when I had to start my one week CLEAR liquid diet, and scheduled all my pre-op testing. Did all the pre-op testing in one day at the hospital. Did the psyc exam and my surgery was set. My surgery recovery was pretty easy compared to what I was expecting....almost no pain. Sure there was a little discomfort, but not bad at all! I strictly followed my surgeons postop diet...EXACTLY as I was told. One week Clear liquids, One week full liquids, one week mushies, then progress to solids as tolerable. I'm 5 years postop now, and I haven't had any band caused problems. I've lost about 130 pounds and consider myself very active and healthy now. All I wanted from this surgery was to be normal and healthy. My PCP and surgeon tell me I'm a great success. Not bragging....just letting you know, YOU CAN SUCCEED too. Best wishes on your decision. Never, ever give up!

26 miles on the bike yesterday, 5k run today....Happy hump day all!