FailureIsntAnOption

I was banded on 4/17/09 and as of week 4 lost 37lbs. I have not lost anymore weight since and am almost done with week 6. I get my first fill on 5/30/09. I eat 800-1000 calories/day and focus mainly on protein and drinking a lot of water.

Don't forget you are suppose to focus on protein first. Try drinking a protein shake for breakfast and perhaps soup or something soft for lunch.

I had a huge problem with the isopure too. I was in a great deal of pain for the first week and then one day it just disappeared. Hang in there it will get better. I have no suggestions regarding the isopure. The floaties in it totally grossed me out. You just have to get it down. The next phase is much easier to deal with. Hang in there!

For some reason Kaiser was pushing the gastric bypass. I had already made up my mind to have the band. Gastric Bypass comes with the possibility of lots of complications. Many people who have gastric gain the weight back too. My thoughts are try the band the weight may come off slower but you are also learning how to eat and manage your weight at the same time which is equally as important as loosing. Gastric is much more invasive and is not reversible. At a BMI of 40 it seems to me it just isn't necessary to do something so drastic. Just my opinion.

Brian, I totally agree with you! I have probably lost and gained 1000 lbs in my life. I'm hoping the band is going to fix that. I hope the fill works, I am scheduled for next Saturday for a fill. I was really hoping it would keep me from over-eating. Banded 4/17/09

I had the same desire during the first couple weeks post-op. I actually chewed a few bites of Pasta, chicken and bread and them spit them out. This temptation passed once I was able to eat soft foods. Good luck to you! Banded 4/17/09

I didn't do any preparedness classes or see a dieticien. I just decided I was tired of being fat and wanted to feel better and look better so I scheduled my surgery in Mexico and for being impatient it cost me. My insurance would have covered this but I wanted it now. I quit drinking coffee 3 weeks before surgery and did the liver shirking diet and now am on my 5th week post-op. No regrets and I am very motivated. You will be too!

Everybody who knows me knows I have a band. I was so excited about it I told everyone. However, I have been working my butt off to loose weight. I walk 4-5 times/week, I go to the gym 3-4 times/week and I swim laps. Also, It is my choice to eat healthier. This weight is not falling off of me because of the band. The band is aiding me in eating less. So yes, I do take credit for the weight loss. I haven't had a fill yet and my stomach doesn't seem much smaller. I am disappointed in the quantity I am able to eat. I had hoped it would be significantly less but it isn't. I'm hoping that getting a fill will take care of this then maybe I will give more credit to the band. Banded 4/17/09

I too have Kaiser and attended orientation late March for Bariatric Surgery and was soooo discouraged by the RN that said they weren't doing lap bands at this time and are not keeping a waiting list. They seemed to be pushing gastric bypass which I am totally against doing myself. Do you remember Dr. Ismail that spoke at the orientation? I had a follow-up appt. with him last week and was very impressed with how he handled my situation since I have already been banded. They scanned all my Mexico records into my Kaiser record even my barium swallow films from Mexico are now in my hard file on computer. I'm not sure yet if Kaiser will cover my fills but I don't really care either way since Mexicali isn't much further away then Harbor City and my fills are free in Mexicali, I may as well just go there. Wow! since your so close in proximity we should keep in contact. I wish you luck! Banded in Mexicali 4/17/09

I hate "Red Tape"! I know I couldn't play this game. Glad I've got mine already. I wish you all much success! Banded 4-17-09

What is an easyband?

Hi all April Bandsters my name is Donna and I was banded on 4/17/09

I understand being sick of being fat. I paid $7,000 for my surgery because I didn't want the wait for insurance to make me jump through hoops. I too couldn't afford the price but I figured I couldn't afford not to! Charge it! That's what I did. Good luck to you!

Gaining 25 pounds to have weight loss surgery is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Why would you want to put your body through this? Banded 4/17/09

I know I took too big of bites and probably didn't chew well enough. Old habits take along time to change I guess. Is it normal to feel sore the next day? Banded 4/17/09

Thank you! Banded 4/17/09

So last night I attempted to eat my first solid food meal. I attempted to eat a piece of tri-tip and it didn't go down well. It ended up finally coming back up 4 times. Today my stomach is very tender as well as my chest area. Is this anything I should be concerned about? By the way, I think I will stick with mushy food from now on : )

Cingulus, Great point of view!

LOL! Too funny! I couldn't have said it better.

Dr. Alberto Aceves in Mexicali

I picked a surgeon based on people I know who had that surgeon band them. I researched this surgeon and found he has done over 3000 lap bands. I went to Mexico and had him do mine and couldnt be any happier with the outcome. The best part......it only cost me $7,000 and includes lifetime fills.

I told my oldest sister my plans for band surgery and she was VERY negative. At that point I decided this was MY decision and nobody's business. After the surgery I didn't care who knew. I just didn't want other people's opinions to influence my decision. I am proud of my decision and don't really care what anybody thinks about it. I still have to do all the work. I'm the one who goes walking every night after work, I'm the one who goes to the gym, the band helps me to eat less but I'm doing the hardest part. My advice is to be true to yourself and the heck with what anybody thinks. Good luck to you!

I agree, it's all worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I lost 11 pounds in 10 days on the liver shrinking diet my doctor gave me. Here is what I ate: Breakfast: (very important) 15g Protein shake Snack: Low-fat string cheese or low-fat yogurt Lunch: 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese or 15g protein shake. Snack: Low-fat string cheese or 1 piece of fruit Dinner: chicken breast and 1 cup broccoli or green veggie. Drink at least 64 oz Water daily.

I went through so many emotions once I made the decision to be banded. Even though I wanted it more than anything I still found myself mourning the fact that there were foods I would never be able to eat again. I also went through periods of fear and doubt. I believe these all to be natural feelings for somebody who lives to eat. I realize I may be off point of the original thread, however, I wanted to just point out that I felt all kinds of feelings in the weeks before surgery. I realized that the main focus of my life was food. The night before surgery my doctor told me to have my "last supper" I gorged myself with bread, margaritas and Mexican food. I felt so sick that night that I knew I would not miss that feeling. Face it, we eat out for entertainment, we celebrate with food and drinks, going to Starbucks was a night out, etc. The band has helped me to realize that I need food for survival. Food will no longer control me. Eating healthier makes me feel better and have more energy. I recommend you get the band and find out just how much food you should be able to consume and your stomach can hold and if necessary measure it out before you eat it. I still enjoy eating but in a different way. I am enjoying making myself a healthier me!. The only thing I'm struggling with is not drinking water or any beverage with my meals. I recommend anybody planning to be banded try to adjust to this beforehand.