TopTier

:blushing: I couldn't have said it better myself! But every day we get up and go out our door we take a risk. We just learn to manage those risks, almost unconsciously, and move forward.

Almus, that stinks. And it's also one reason I don't like the technicians to "diagnose" from my results. No offense to technicians, but that's not their job. good luck to you!

My doctor told me that he wouldn't be using any staples which I'm terribly happy about! I didn't know I was allergic to them until they used them in my lower back surgery! Yikes! That was a mess.

I keep saying that because it's true based on her own statements about her weight and height. I am 5'1" -- I KNOW what size/weight I'm "supposed" to be. She is at BEST 30 pounds overweight, and pleeze, she tried TWICE and regained?! Really ?! TWICE? What, did she lose 10 pounds then give up? Seriously, I have all the sympathy and empathy in the world for people who are truly struggling with painful and life-threatening weight loss issues. I spent the majority of my life at 160 or thereabouts at 5'1". I did the IMPROPER types of dieting that lead me to obesity. It wasn't the 160 and being a mere 30 or so overweight that did me in. It was years of trying to find "quick fixes" through crash diets, and fad diets and all the things that we do to ourselves. NOT trying to lose TWICE! Should I have had the surgery at 160? Way back 20 or 30 years ago? Hardly. I should have had the patience and intelligence and self-awareness to control my weight the RIGHT way. I should have accepted that I was not going to be a 100-pound size 2 or 3 or 4. It was my constant desire to be something that was unattainable that did me in. I thought 140 was fat. I thought 120 was fat. So I dieted and dieted and lost and regained -- over a 30-year period. To achieve something that was desirable, but, frankly, unattainable. and I was in the military for a good portion of that time period. Certainly I was getting enough exercise! Once I dieted myself into obesity, there is no easy way out. And, surprise surprise, the lap band is NOT an "easy way." It's going to be very difficult and require a great deal of discipline and as well as a drastic lifestyle change. Basically, what I SHOULD have done 30 years ago WITHOUT surgery. So, again, sorry. She WANTS to be 50 pounds lighter. She doesn't NEED to be. To be within the bounds of a reasonable weight for her height, 30 would work. And for someone to get a lap band for 30 pounds, especially with NO co-moribunds and no history of weight loss problems is just not something I can support. So, frankly, I can't "reassure" her that she is doing the right thing. I can hope for her that she would get some decent therapy and join a reputable weight loss program that can help her with her weight loss journey.

LOL! I'm hoping you are right about the surgery being over quick! I had a colonoscopy last week that lasted longer than this surgery is intended to last!

LOL! I'm guessing the replies to this are going to be similar to replies to the question: Which is a better computer, PC or MAC?

I agree with Restless Monkey. I had back pain years ago, which caused pain and numbness down into my legs, feet and toes. It turns out I had two lower discs in my spine with hairline fractures and some of the material was leaking out and pressing on my spinal cord. I tried therapy for over a year and finally agreed to lower back surgery. That healed my back pain and most of my leg pain and numbness, but because I had "ignored" it for so long, I did have some permanent nerve damage so parts of my leg and thigh are going to forever be "numb." However, if the back pain is from weight, once that stress is removed from the muscles of the lower back, you should begin to feel some relief. For the record, when I went on vacations during the period when I was in such pain, we always rented a wheel chair so that I could participate in all the activities with everyone.

Vlemus, the doctors generally don't worry about weight loss during this period. The main goal is for the stomach and the banding sutures to heal. It's not as simple a thing as wrapping a bracelet around the wrist or a belt around the waist. The band is sutured in place and the stomach must have time to heal. That usually takes from 4 to 6 weeks. Which is why most doctors wait until then to do the first fill. Once the band starts its compression around the stomach you should begin to feel that and will notice a significant drop in the amount you can eat.

Do you mean the "pre-op" diet? Actually, the main purpose of the basic liquid pre-op diet prior to surgery is to assist in shrinking the liver. The liver sits on top of the stomach. In other words, the doctor will have to "nudge" it out of the way to get a clear path to the section of the stomach on which to place (wrap) the lap-band. The liver in most overweight/obese people is larger than most for a variety of reasons, but mostly because of the large stores of glycogen (because of the high carbs consumed). The liquid pre-op diet is designed to shrink the liver, sometimes up to 40%. It does that by denying the high level of carbs it had been getting so it releases its glycogen stores. Some doctors won't operate if the liver is too large. I don't know why the insurance companies require its weight loss period. I am self-pay.

hollyluke, I feel your pain. My niece had your same issues and was banded last year. She was initially told she was infertile (somehow connected to her weight, I don't know all the details). She was banded so that she could lose weight and hopefully get those issues under control. She has lost 90 pounds, and in the process ended up getting pregnant! She now has a beautiful little girl! We're all so happy for her and she's very excited that she's still losing weight, too!

Seediesgirl, hang in there, you'll get it right soon! and look how close you are to Onederland!! You go girl!

Tammy! I had the privilege of having a stop-over in Anchorage many years ago on my way to Korea. Beautiful city and gorgeous state! Thrilled your approval came through and here's to a successful outcome!

That's a bummer, Holli! There was a book in with mine. I haven't been to their website (if they even have one) but I wonder if maybe they have something online?

I was told the same thing OnTheWayToThin was. My doctor puts something in it, but then removes it and gets all the "air out" or something to that effect. Then he doesn't do anything with it (leaves it empty) until the first fill. He wants the only thing to be done for the first 4 to 6 weeks to be the healing process. There's time enough for the weight loss once the stomach and sutures have healed, so he waits until then to fill it.

That's a possibility. Try backing off the sugar free stuff. My doctor doesn't want us to do any sugar free until after the first fill. The pudding and Carnation Instant Breakfasts he wants them all to be "regular" and not sugar free. I never asked him why, but I wonder if the artificial sweetener might have something to do with it?

Yet again, the original poster is NOT 50 pounds overweight. She's barely 30. HUGE difference. AND she has apparently NEVER had weight issues, other than right now. This is not directed simply at low BMI people. But this poster has not "struggled" with weight loss, she simply wants a quick fix so she can be a size 4 again. It's her choice, it's her money, but I will not support someone who is so foolish as to place her vanity above her own health. And, the way I read it, that's exactly what she is doing. And that's what she came in here for, reinforcement and support for something that she doesn't need. She will be in for a rude awakening when she realizes had she just simply PRETENDED she had the band and done the 21-day liquid diet then mushies diet, along with the very important step of physical exercise, she would have lost all her "excess weight" and ended up with the same result, only without major surgery and with money still in her pocket.

Keep in mind that you also need to incorporate strength training exercise into your exercise regime if you are losing weight. Without doing that, you risk losing lean tissue (muscle tissue), as your body tries to prevent you from long-term starvation damage. That means it preserves the fat stores, which is one of the many reasons why people who lose weight from reducing calories gain back even more weight once they are off the low-calorie diet. When you use the muscles as you are losing weight, the body will preserve that tissue and consume the fat tissue instead. So, aerobic AND anaerobic are both required for safe, healthy weight loss. Plus, if you're a woman, strength training triggers the bones to maintain density. Really important, especially as we age. And don't worry, women are very unlikely to "bulk up," for a variety of reasons. PS: the more lean tissue you preserve, the quicker you start burning calories because muscle tissue takes more energy (calories) to maintain than fat tissue does (which is one reason why the body tries to dump it when we lower our calories for an extended period of time). But if we're USING it, it will burn calories while we are at rest easier, and burn those from fat (adipose) tissue instead.

I want a doctor that I can reach out and touch from day one. I'm "old school" and am not comfortable with the idea of not being able to follow up with my doctor. I go into it with a "we're partners" mindset. Fortunately, so does the doctor I've chosen. But it's not just that I wouldn't go to another country to do it, I wouldn't go to a city in another part of the state, either. It's just whatever one is comfortable with. I like having my doctor within a 15-minute drive.

Oh no, that's terrible! That's a rough one, too. My father-in-law struggled with that this past winter. Hope all is being resolved for you.

Except that she's not "50 pounds" overweight. More like in the 30-pound range. Which makes this even more sad. Believe it or not, I really am concerned -- I don't think this is going to be the "Magic Bullet" she thinks it is.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I feel pretty up-to-speed. We'll find on on Thursday! (the day after my surgery). However, one thing I see repeatedly in the posts here is the level of nausea that people encounter that they either didn't know about prior or had no anti-nausea medication post surgery. I would strongly recommend you talk to your surgeon about his prescribing an anti-nausea med for you to take after surgery. Mine does, which is why I was so surprised to see so many on here have that problem and not have anything to do about it. My husband's FIRST stop on the way taking me home from the hospital is Walgreens to fill the scripts for Phenergan (anti-nausea) and Celebrex (anti-inflammatory)! PS: Don't forget the TUMS and the Benefiber, post-surgery, either!

Wow, ladies, my heart goes out to you. I'm wondering if you do the binge eating, do you also engage in the throwing it back up? I only ask because it seems to me that part would be the more dangerous part for you if you are considering the lap band.

I had about 2 ounces of tuna mixed into my salad last week. I know it's a little fatty, but it's almost all Protein and no carbs, so I figured it would be okay. Otherwise, I've been pretty faithful. I've been tracking my carbs and Proteins on Sparkpeople.com and I've been waaaay under on the carbs and pretty high in the proteins, and very low in fat, so I think I'm going to be okay. My only concern is that the carbs are ranging around 70 to 90 a day -- the one day I had a Carnation Instant Breakfast they shot up to 150 grams, so I didn't use that anymore. Stuck to the Atkin's Advantage Low Carb shakes ever since. But to be honest, I really have NO idea what the "safe" range is to shrink the liver adequately. I've hear 30 grams, but that is nearly impossible if I stick to my doctor's nutritionist's prescribed diet! So I guess I'll find out on Weds!

Hi, back, Tamra! It really all depends on your doctor and your insurance requirements. I'm self-pay, and my doctor doesn't require anything other than the Liver-Shrinking 7-day liquid Pre-op diet, so, no, there were no "weight loss" requirements prior to my surgery (which is coming up on Weds.) Do you have a doctor yet? Do you know what your insurance guidelines are?

Jujuvee! Too funny! Um, the "parts" are in my cabinet, like the rest of my glasses and dishes, when I'm not using them! But I also considered the type of blender you have. The thing is, I had one of those years ago, (or something similar) but I never used it that often. Now it's lost among the doodads somewhere in either my kitchen or my daughter's kitchen. Ah well. I got my Magic Bullet at Bed, Bath & Beyond. When you use their ubiquitous 20% off coupon, that brought the price down:wink2: !