LoriLeeAnne

Hello! I am excited that I get to share my quick story with you! I am 37. Was banded 05/08/09. I weighed 324 then, and I have lost 70 lbs. At around the 7 month mark my husband and I decided to stop being so "careful". Although I cannot say that we were actively TTC because I still didn't have a regular cycle and couldn't plan for it. Two months after surgery I had my period for the first time ever naturally!! Then it came anther 7 weeks, then 6, etc. I was ovulating fairly regularly every five weeks. (I too, have PCOS and honestly thought it would take YEARS and medical intervention to conceive) Honestly, 6 weeks later we conceived. We are now 8 weeks pregnant. It DOES happen!!!!!!!!!!!!! You've made a good decision with the band. Congratulations. xoxo

CostCo has " Premier" brand shakes 30 g Protein, 1 g sugar, cal 160, 11oz. I have only found them in chocolate, they also have the powder mix and bars. The cost was $37.00 for 18 shakes. I chose for the high protein.. the most I have found in a shake. :tongue_smilie:

These shakes are by far my favorite. I have only found them in chocolate as well. But here in Washington state, they sell for 23.99! Wow, what a difference. I'd still buy them at $37, though. They are THAT GOOD!

Lorianne,

I amfrom Yakima and will soon be scheduled for surgery by Dr. Fox maybe we can attend the support group together following my surgery. Great job!! Roxy

redfoxyroxy, congratulations on making the decision to have the surgery! You'll be so happy you did. Good luck during the healing process, and when you're ready to go to the support meeting, just drop me a line. I'd love to go! Good luck!!!

Congratulations! They just un-filled me for chemo treatments last week. I've gained 1.8 lbs. I've tried very hard to eat the same way, but it's difficult when you feel that hunger again. I'm hoping that soon I wont want to eat, right?

It looks like I'll be walking a little longer every day to keep from gaining much back. It's GREAT to hear that you overcame both the cancer and the weight. This is exactly what I needed to see today.

Lori:thumbup:

Ok TracyNYC, here you go!

I think fluffy people don't like to give it back because we want to be invisible and know that the first thing a person is going to say if they want to put is down is comment on our weight... So that part is over... it's been said in so many words so now you just come back at em! EVERYONE has a flaw... Find the flaw and give them information on how to fix it.

Big nose, pimples, bad hair, bad makeup, bad breath, wrinkles, ugly clothes. yada yada yada...

You can pass on some names of plastic surgeons, cut out magazine advertisments for beauty products, or the lastest fasions, breath mints... I am sure they would appreciate your helpful hints... Just like they thought you would appreciate the diet they took the time to give you. Be just as helpful back.

Wow! I LOVE this advice! Thank you~

Dr. Fox also did my band. I had surgery on May 8, 2009 and have lost 70 lbs.

I honestly believe that the main reason the band is working is because I live in the same town as my surgeon. The monthly adjustments have been crucial for me. My body is temper-mental and only allows .25 cc's per fill. My stomach swells instantly and I can't get the Water down if it's any more than that at a time. So, the weight loss may seem slow, but then I think, "Oh my gosh! I've lost SEVENTY lbs!!" That's 70 packages of butter laying out on my kitchen counter. That's a lot of pounds!

I like that he explains everything in full detail. I tell him in my words what I've been feeling like, and then he tells me in scientific and medical terms why I have felt those things, and offers suggestions for the future.

I had forgotten that he offers a support group meeting once a month. I'd really like to start attending, so I think I'll call the office to find out when and where they are. I still haven't met many banded patients in the area, so I think it will be good to find some.

Best of luck!

"Thanks for your concern, but this is a decision I'm making with my doctor. With all due respect, he's far more familiar with my medical history and difficulties with losing weight, obstacles to weight loss, and difficulty maintaining loss. He has an experienced staff qualified to give me nutrition and exercise advice. At this point in my life, I am NOT open to alternative solutions; I've been spending my entire life trying 'solutions' that haven't worked for me--and I have no reason to believe the 'solution' you propose will be more beneficial than any other I've tried. AND I HAVE TRIED. I have devoted most of my adult life to attempts to solve this problem! Your pressure sends me a mixed message: first, that you care about me, but second, that you don't trust my judgment. While I'm glad you love me, the support you offer REALLY needs to be on MY terms this time. I am proceeding with this surgery because it is what is BEST for me."

Wow- Great advice!

I decided to be open and honest because my mother has had two WLSs and kept it a secret from everyone but her husband and two kids. I didn't like the secrets. That said, sometimes I wish I had kept it to myself. The first thing people ask when they see me is, "what did you do?" as if I couldn't have done it without some kind of WLS. That is always frustrating.

Some people in my family were jealous that I was able to have the surgery. They either wanted it too, but couldn't afford it, or else they didn't want to be left in chubby girl dust alone. They would say things about the surgery not working, that I will fail if I don't ___ (fill in with just about any word), and that I should try to JUST eat right and exercise. HA!

For the most part, people at work, friends and family have been happy for me. I think it's because they have seen my results. However, I actually have lost touch with some of my friends. The ones who have always been thin. The ones who like to go to a club with a chubby friend so they get the attention. You know the ones... The ones who keep certain types of girlfriends around to make themselves feel better. The funny thing is- I didn't realize this about them until I lost 70 lbs. Then I realized that they weren't keeping up with the friendship, and then I was able to step back and look at that friendship with a different perspective. Hmm. Look at all her NEW friends... Hmm. They are all the same type of girl, and they are all just like me. Or just like the way I used to be. You will find that you will change, too. But all my REAL friends, are still here with me and are encouraging me every step of the way. And they are happy for me. And PROUD of me. Perhaps when your friends see that this option has worked well for you, then they will get over THEIR issues. Then they'll get on board and support you. Best of luck. You will love your band!

WOW! Great Job! 5 miles that is terrific..I've only been doing the treadmill for 1.5...but it takes me 30 minutes to do that. I don't think I will ever enjoy exercising!

I'm in the same boat. It takes me 20 minutes to walk a mile on my treadmill, and I'm walking pretty briskly, too, I think! I have to turn on the TV and go. But I've never exercised, so this is all new to me. As a matter of fact, I should get off the internet, and go get on it. :thumbup:

I really love this place. Whenever I have a problem with my band, (OR ME) I log in, and there's someone else going through the same situation.

I was feeling a little bummed that my Doc can only put in .25 cc's in at a time, and the weight comes off slow (my body is just sensitive, and swells up if he puts in more than that at a time). So, when I was so swollen from sliming for two days, I reluctantly called for an un-fill. I had been so filled, that I was eating high fat Soups and coffees and such, not the healthy stuff. I wasn't losing, but I thought I was at my sweet spot. I see here that just taking out .25 cc's was enough to allow me to eat healthy food, and I've lost 8 lbs.

After reading this post, I asked my Dr about the possibility of acid reflux, even if I don't have heartburn. He put me on some meds, and we have not been having the unpredictable tightness/unfill situation. Yay!

Now, I am ready again. I think I can, I think I can!

Thanks guys!

I'm down 70! :thumbup:

Thank you ladies, for the advice. I went in for another adjustment and feel much better. It feels so good to be able to drink those darn Protein shakes again! I have an appointment in two weeks to see if my body can tolerate a .25 cc fill. We will just wait it out and see. I just have to remember that I have my whole life to continue losing. It's hard sometimes when I want those instant results. But I feel good about having some saline taken out, and I'll just see how things go.

By the way, I had only heard of PMS affecting the band. Good to know about the other triggers of getting a swollen stomach.

xoxo Lori Loves Her Band!:thumbup:

Yesterday I had a slight unfill because out of the blue, my band was too tight. (Not that time of the month) The Dr. watched me drink Water to make sure it was going through the band, and I felt fine. Shortly after I got home, it was the same old thing. Water was making me slime.

Is it possible that... the day prior some havarti (crazy, I know) got stuck, and I started sliming... then the irritation caused swelling, perhaps? Why would I be swollen and tight even after the unfill?

He gave me a sample of Nexium for Acid Reflux, although I do not have heartburn, and haven't noticed anything yet. I took one yesterday and one today. Maybe I haven't given them enough time, but if I don't 'deflate' soon, I'll have to call again for another unfill!!

I have gone in for four fills now. I didn't have any put in during surgery. Fill #1 put in 3 cc's. Fill #2 got me up to 4.5 cc's. The third fill only added a quarter of one cc. The Dr. tried to put in more, but he ended up taking all the Fluid out, letting the Water go down into my stomach, and then filling me up a total of 4.75. On the fourth fill, he tried to add 1 cc. Nope, I wanted to vom. He took out a half cc. Still nope. He again took it all out, let the water go down, and ended up filling me up with only .25 cc's more than before. Why is my body acting this way? The next day, I always feel like I need more. But I was there, and too much was too much. What's going on?

I have never had a normal menstrual cycle due to PCOS. (I hardly ever had my period, and the Doc would give me the Depo shot to make my body have one every once in a while.) Since having LB surgery nearly 4 months ago, I have had my periods start back up again. I have had two. Yay! (I hope to have a baby still, even at the age of 37.) I've charted them as 52 days apart, not the average 28 days. I seemed to ovulate for more than a few days two weeks prior to having my second period. I haven't been worried- and have assumed that everything is "shaking out" and normalizing for me. On the other hand, I worry that now that I'm having my period, they are 52 days apart. What do you guys think about it? I'm down 37 pounds! I love my band!

I'm 8 days post op. Had my check up today. Shoulder pain since day 5. My dr. said it has to do with swelling on the diaphram that hits a nerve in the left shoulder. He told ME that it should ony last 2 days and if it continues to watch for signs of infection for a possible infection behind the diaphram...so it's worth asking your dr. about...

AlaskaGirl77 is right. My Dr. warned me about this before the surgery. He said that for some reason our brain signals that the pain is in our shoulder, when really it's from the diaphragm. Again he said that after a week it should subside, so you'll probably want to keep in touch with the Dr. if it doesn't go away just to be safe. Good luck!! :redface:

Nothing major. Just the usual bruising, but I did notice that I was VERY emotional right after surgery. Songs on the radio or regular TV could make me outright cry. I wonder if it's just a side effect of the Lap-Band in general. Definitely call your Dr. if you're unsure, though.

Funny, keep us posted- I'd like to change mine if needed. =)

I understand what you're going through. I was banded 6 days ago and had complications as well. The Dr. said a stitch bled into my stomach and caused a hematoma (filling up the space in my esophagus that Water would be going through), and also had severe swelling to the point that it closed off points of my esophagus. I had gas, and was hiccupping and burping (ouch!). I had to be admitted back into the hospital and connected to an IV for five days until the swelling and hematoma subsided. Last night, I got stuck in the recliner and couldn't get out without pulling and stretching my incision and abs where the port was attached. I started to get teary eyed and wondered what I had done to myself?? I cut myself up for this?? I feel ashamed that I couldn't lose weight on my own, resorted to this, and then feel so much pain right now. I just snoop around these pages to remember why I did this in the first place and try to remember that IT WILL GET BETTER- When I'm down to my goal weight, I'll look back on this last week and feel grateful for the gift I have given myself. It's just getting there.....

Great idea! I'm so excited for tomorrow I can hardly see straight! Good luck to everyone!!

:thumbs_up:LoriLeeAnne

Congrats! This makes me feel inspired again! My surgery is tomorrow, May 8, 2009. I'm starting at 324 and have high hopes of achieving the same kind of success that you have. I began reading about the pb's that some have had because they're diabetic and have PCOS like me, and I began doubting that I can do it. I'm so glad I just stumbled across your post. Do you have any tips?

May 8th! Yippie!

It's interesting to find out how different the diets are. My surgeon says 3 Protein Shakes a day (of 30 grams of Protein and 6 or less grams of sugar), and Clear Liquids that are sugar free, de-carbonated, and de-caffeinated. I'm on day two of my 10 day pre-surgery diet, and I'm already reaching for my Flintstones Vitamins just to have something to chew on. :biggrin:

Hi! I'm getting banded May 8th! I'm so excited! Can't wait to look around the site a bit and get acquainted.