Shanyab

Hi Vegas Mom... I feel ya 100%. It took alot for me to go through all of this and honestly i would not take it back for a million bucks right now. I live in Vegas as well so if you ever need someone local to chat with please do let me know.

I am okay with chicken but beef ( which is my absolute favorite ) I cant eat to save my life. I actually just get ill even trying to get any down. I second using some kind of sauce and small bites, its about the only way I can manage. good luck to you.

Call the pharmacy that you fill your prescriptions at and ask them do they compound medications, if they don't check a "good neighbor " pharmacy if you have one in your area. Most of these smaller older ones have a compounding pharmacist who know the formula/recipe on how to convert your prescription to liquid and can even flavor it. Mine are all grape.. still taste a bit like a$$ but nowhere near as bad and I can take them with a syringe.

Ouch ... May I ask what do you do for a living ? Best of wishes to you. I can't imagine having to go through this twice.

I am down 18 lbs since my surgery date on March 12, 2009. its weird but I don't see it but MAN I can feel it, things are just feeling different all over my body. I am finally able to fit into some jeans that did not fit me for the last 6 months. I took out all of the "skinny" clothes that used to fit me when I had dropped 150 lbs and had to put away once I fell in love with my hubby and eating out at the same time. I am looking forward to 2 weddings this summer and a family trip to Orlando for 12 days with my kids and aunt and will look forward to wearing a bathing suit in public which I have not done in the last 3 years. My husband has lost 7 lbs in the last week or so just with the change of pace in the household, we both believe that this is a chance for the both of us to get healthy together. I do have one downturn to this, I have some people in my life that I would consider to be associates or people that I just know in general that are just so rude when it comes to the tact of my weight loss and gain over the last 3-4 years. ( Background ) I used to weight 350 back in 2001. Between 2001-2002 I lost a total of 150 lbs on my own ( called the I got left for a 20 yr old diet ) I was broke, paying a mortgage by myself with 2 small kids. I managed to keep the weight off for about 3 + years until I met my now husband. Over the course of 5 years I worked my way up to 290 then down to 240 then back up to 289 all over again. In all of that I was on a medically supervised diet for a period of 2 years where one med worked wonderfully but would have eventually caused me to have a heart attack so it was a NO go ... next was a placebo and then the real deal that did not work. I watched my hubby on the same study lose 50 lbs and he looked HOT ... then it stopped working for him and poof gained back 30 lbs ( and still looks hot ) all of that made me say STOP ... do something that will work. No more yo-yoing. I have a bad heart, I had at one point a 73% chance of a heart attack in the next few years or a possible stroke with my BP levels. But some people just don't get it. I am in some ways sick of the why did you, you dont need it, your fine the way you are ( whilst they are a size 3 ) commentary. I just wish that people could just look at is as yet another surgery in my book that will make my life easier to live in order to be able to see my kids grow up and have their own family. That above anything else was why I did my band. I am truly grateful for a site like this, I have met some of the nicest people that can really understand have it 50 lbs or 300 lbs to lose that its a huge part of our lives and its something that we can all do together with support and friendship and that's a wonderful thing. Sorry for the long rambling post ...

Congrats to you ... I started telling people about my surgery weeks before I even had it. I got a bit of rash even in the hospital. I am sick of hearing that I couldn't be heavy enough for the surgery, that I look fine. Your already married so you don't have to worry about it .. ( thats the best one ) For me It was a personal choice and I am proud that I did it and don't really care one way or the other what people think. I am down 18 lbs in the last 9 days since my band and hope that like in the past when I did my large drop in weight that I will be able to keep it up.

Hi there, I am in Nevada as well, ( North West Vegas ) I am so so so sorry to hear that this happened to you. My Dr. does an upper GI the day after just to make sure that your okay. That was one of my biggest fears as well with this whole thing. If you ever need someone to talk to please do send me a private message and I can give you my contact info. Shanya

Do you have the card from your doctor or from the lapband site ? I just showed them my card and was able to get the discount, another way around that was to just sign up for the club and they send you coupons for a buy one get one free deal which makes it a little cheaper ( since you have to buy drinks too ) The manager at the one we go to here in Vegas was more than accommodating and understanding with the situation which was just great.

Today my hubby had a craving for Sweet Tomatoes ( a salad bar chain ) I have avoided going anywhere where there is anything that I would even want to eat but I actually found that it was the best place for me today. They only charged me the kids meal price $4.99 and I was able to get some boiled egg at the salad bar and then they have on average 6-7 Soups out of which I got a small taste of each one. My poor taste buds have been killing me with the bland broth choices that I have had and this was the perfect little bite here and there that truly made my day. Plus my hubby did not feel guilty eating in front of me when I had 3 bowls of Soup in front of me !

I was banded March 12, 2009. By Dr. Teng in Las Vegas. I did not lose anything on my one week pre-op diet and I am down 16 lbs since the surgery. I walk daily but for the last day I have been very under the weather so even getting out of bed is a challenge. My goal is to lose 100 lbs in the next year, I am 6' tall and weighed 289 at the start of all of this. My highest weight was 350 and I lost that on my own down to 200lbs 5 years ago, over the course of those 5 years I put back on 90 lbs so making sure that I keep this off permanently is my goal. Good luck to everyone !

My hubby has been craving sushi, however just one week out for me its something I won't even think about going to at the moment. But a fresh oyster does sound rather yummy !!!

Hey Shanny and rmbj0721 We all share the same band day. I can tell you that in my loads of research on this band thing that part of the gas problem that your having is coming from the food that your eating. Plain and bland is honestly only to help us, your new stomach has to become used to the food that you put in it. I have an actual photo of my band in me and just imagine having part of your esophagus turn into your stomach... its used to having food go through it but remember that whatever your putting in it is sitting on that lining ( that's never had food just sit on it before ) and has to adjust to this. Also place all of your drinks into 2 oz portions, this early on that is really all that your new stomach can handle. Drink the 2 oz ... give it some time and then when you feel hungry again drink another 2 oz. It just sounds like you have way too much going in at one time and your tummy does not know what to think of it. I for one tried mushies today and realized that no matter how hungry I am my pouch is just not ready for it so I need to just stick to the Protein drinks and Water and wait it out a little. Good luck to you both !!!

So, I had my first appointment with the Dr. for my follow-up. It went GREAT, the scale at home has been lying to me and I am actually down 13 lbs. Part of me wants to just go nuts and work harder at losing as much as fast as I can, but knowing that if I decided to move to fast I stand the possibility of looking like a shar-pei puppy is really saying to me that I need to just take it slow and easy as it comes. I came across some yummy protein powder at my local GNC, its a local product and I have to say it reminds me more of a nice milkshake than a 50 gram of protein in it ! Needless to say I have a full jug of the stuff and plan on using it once daily from now on! Other than that, life is good. I had to maintain my weight in order to be okayed for surgery through my insurance so I am writing off the 13 lbs that I have lost as my padding for the approval weight. My hubby has dropped some weight too which makes him happy, nothing like your wife not cooking anymore and restricting your calories to make a huge change in his lifestyle as well.

So, I had my first appointment with the Dr. for my follow-up. It went GREAT, the scale at home has been lying to me and I am actually down 13 lbs. Part of me wants to just go nuts and work harder at losing as much as fast as I can, but knowing that if I decided to move to fast I stand the possibility of looking like a shar-pei puppy is really saying to me that I need to just take it slow and easy as it comes. I came across some yummy protein powder at my local GNC, its a local product and I have to say it reminds me more of a nice milkshake than a 50 gram of protein in it ! Needless to say I have a full jug of the stuff and plan on using it once daily from now on! Other than that, life is good. I had to maintain my weight in order to be okayed for surgery through my insurance so I am writing off the 13 lbs that I have lost as my padding for the approval weight. My hubby has dropped some weight too which makes him happy, nothing like your wife not cooking anymore and restricting your calories to make a huge change in his lifestyle as well.

You know that not everyone loses the same way. What is your starting weight? How much do you work out? How tall are you? In looking back at your past posts you had 62 lbs lost on the 12th and now up to 73 lbs. I am happy for you, but to say this you really have to put yourself ( info and stats) out there a little more than just saying that people cheat and don't work out enough. When you take into consideration that every person is different and loses weight at different paces all together it really does not make a difference if the insurance covered it or not. My surgery covered mine but I will say that it was not free nor was it a minimal cost, In the end this will have cost me over $3000 alone in the last 4 months in between co-pays for each time I come in, psyc stuff, labs, everything that is normally included when you self- pay. Plus with the insurance you have to jump through more hoops than when you self pay. My cardiologist alone made me run almost every single test on my heart including having an angio-gram which cost me over $1000 and I had to see each of my doctors ( 4 of them ) once a month each for the last 6 months for my insurance. Talk about dedication. Im sure that some will be less than happy to see a post like this on here but hopefully you can take a moment to realize that we all gained weight and lose weight in many different ways.

Hi all. I am not sure if any of you like the Isopure drinks, I have about 3 bottles of this that I just could not stomach. I paid about $4.00+ for each one and would like to give them to a local bander who could use them. I have found other Protein alternatives that I really like so its just easier to give these to someone than even try to find the receipt to return them. I am in the NW part of town but could possibly meet up with someone mid city. To meet up and drop them off.

Congrats... I had started a blog not too long ago about my journey and I think I am going to go full blast with this. Congrats on your loss so far!

I was banded on 3/12 and I am about ready to die from the constant growling, I cant stand the isopure it actually makes me gag. I just sent my husband to the store to get me something with a little more protein in it. Any suggestions on how to get that nagging feeling away ? I am keeping pretty active but I am now to the point where I am feeling somewhat weak from the lack of food.

Congrats ... I have a full section of my closet that is non plus size clothing that I have bought over the last year. I am totally ready to be able to put on one of those pairs of pants and have it fit me I know that just being able to shop at a regular store is one of the greatest feelings yet and I am so happy for you!

So I am 4 days out of surgery with Dr. Teng and I have to say that I feel great. The gas is one thing, the diarrhea is another, but stepping on the scale and seeing the numbers drop by a full 6 lbs is just fan-freaking- tastic. I love going on this site and reading what others are going through, for once this wont be a single struggle for me. Also on a high note, my hubby has lost a total of 3 lbs in the last week as well, hes losing his sympathy weight that hes gained. Nothing like your wife not cooking huge meals to make a huge difference.

So I am 4 days out of surgery with Dr. Teng and I have to say that I feel great. The gas is one thing, the diarrhea is another, but stepping on the scale and seeing the numbers drop by a full 6 lbs is just fan-freaking- tastic. I love going on this site and reading what others are going through, for once this wont be a single struggle for me. Also on a high note, my hubby has lost a total of 3 lbs in the last week as well, hes losing his sympathy weight that hes gained. Nothing like your wife not cooking huge meals to make a huge difference. :thumbup:

Clear liquid first week, Full liquid 2nd week ( can have oatmeal and such then babyfood kind ) after that it goes to mushies. He has an on site nutritionalist that we have to work with as well who will check with me in the first month, 3rd and 6th and then a year out I think. I am having some pudding right now ( not clear ) but my blood pressure meds are not agreeing with my stomach when there is nothing on it.