minpinmom

I haven't seen my surgeon in probably a year - I have a fill that is as close to perfect as I can get. I am one of the odd ones that my band is super tight in the morning - I can only have liquids for breakfast - for lunch I can eat a few bites, but only a really small amount, then at about 6:30 it is a free for all, I can eat anything in any amount. If my band is any tighter, I foam, any loser I can eat more for lunch - so Im at the best spot I can get. Breakfast I usually have milk, sometimes a protein drink, I have no hunger until around 2-3. For lunch I either do a soup at hand (love those), or ham/cheese slices, something small, usually under 200 calories, I do a similar snack later (nuts, fruit, yogurt), before supper. Then for supper I eat like I did before banded - whatever everyone else is having - I have it too. I try to eat healthier than I used to - but most of the time - its not healthy. That is why I maintain, but don't lose anymore. I stopped trying to lose about a year ago and have maintained without working at it. I am happy where I am - I didn't want to live the rest of my life worrying about every thing I put in my mouth and how many calories it has. I can do that in short spurts, but not forever. Thank God I can maintain without trying!!! I am hoping to get motivated after the holidays and get everyone I know to go on a 3 month weight loss sprint - I would like to lose some more and see if I can maintain it too!

I don't really lose weight with the band, rather I lose weight with weight watchers or something else and the band helps me keep it off. I can tell - you after a fill go on liquids for a full week - on day 3 start thicker liquids, but that will help your tummy go back to normal without having to have an unfill. Take it really slow after a fill. Once you can feel SOME restriction STOP and diet for a while and see if you start losing weight. I did (Im a lifetime dieter). The band keeps me from gaining it back (which I did over and over and over before). But the band is VERY different for everyone. Good luck and go to a support group - they really do help!

I feel my port with my hand by pressing on my tummy - but not normally - I also feel a tightness or stretching feeling when I stretch or move a certain way - The band I can't "feel" - but it reminds me its there - somedays - I can eat almost like a normal person - then bam, I can barely get anything down. Very fickle. At first I counted every chew - then you learn what consistency things need to be to go down and not cause problems. ZThe surgery was a breeze - I didn't even take pain meds while in the Hospital. Walk walk, walk, walk, walk. Life after the band is not "fun" you are sacrificing one of your favorite things in the world - food. I LOVE food and now I struggle with the wanting all the time. The band doesn't help with that. Also - I NEVER feel "Full" - you know that mmm, I just ate a wonderful dinner, feeling - thats gone - its more of - I have eaten what my band will allow me. It isn't a "bad" feeling - but it isn't the wonderful feeling that it used to be. You will eat too fast, eat too much, not chew enough and have to make trips to the bathroom - no matter how careful you are - it is going to happen - so be prepared and prepare your family. Mine doesn't happen often - but when it does my parents are like - are you okay? did you get sick? I hate that. Also - my tummy is a bit different than most - it is VERY small at the top - so my band has to be almost at capacity for it to work - right now -I can drink breakfast, eat a few bites for lunch and most days supper is a free for all - I have to be very careful at night - because my band allows me to eat a LOT - but the morning and lunch it keeps me in check. If I have any of the fill taken out so that I can eat more balanced for lunch/breakfast - I have ZERO restriction after about 4PM. If I add anymore fill I can't even drink till lunch - and can only eat a few bites for supper. So as some - have a great sweet spot that keeps them in check all day - I have one that "helps" for breakfast and lunch. I have learned to deal with it. I still love my band - but it is NOT what I thought it would be. Hope this helps - and hope you accept the honesty!

Hey there guys! Things are going great - I have held my own during Halloween I wanted to just maintain - but I actually lost a lb! Totally jazzed about that. I hope that keeps up for Thanksgiving. I am a baker - all the time I love to cook - and this is MY season! But Im doing awesome! :-)

Micky - I am not worried - I am happy where I am - each journey is different - and I am happy with mine. If you are concerned - you had better do more research for yourself.

Hey there Band World - it has been so long since I posted on here. Things are going great - I finally lost all the weight I had gained during the un-fill for the gallbladder surgery. Took FOREVER, but I am back to my lowest weight. To tell you the truth - I am pretty darn happy! I still want to lose about 20lbs more - which is not nearly what the Dr.s would like me to lose - but I want to be in the 100s and that will get me there with enough room to spare for ups and downs. I still love my band - it doesn't work like everyone elses - I can't eat foods for breakfast ever - only liquids - for lunch sometimes real food - sometime liquids and supper is a free for all - I can eat anything in any amount. But you know what - it helps me keep from eating horrible all the time like I used to. But I can really still eat anything I want. Hope all is going well and I will post more updates soon!

Good to know - I will keep an eye on it - I know when we got back we had all these messages on our Home Answering Machine - telling us that a purchase was being made internationally with my CC. (Every time we bought a souvenir or anything in Mexico - it called, and we bought a LOT) I had that added as part of my fraud detection - and forgot - good thing I didn't say to freeze the account when a purchase is made! I made that mistake when I went to Europe!

I posted this on Myspace and thoguht you guys might find it entertaining.

Okay, so we went on our first cruise ever. It was awesome. We took the Carnival Ecstasy out of Galveston on a 5 night cruise to Mexico. It was very cheap - about 300 a person. Don't get me wrong - it was the tiniest cabins ever - but so worth it!

It was pretty cold starting off - Galveston was overcast and probably around 50 degrees. I was surprised at how many people WORK on the ship. You can't turn around without bumping into someone asking if you need help. The food was awesome - and way too much of it. If you haven't been on a cruise, everything is included but your drinks and your tips. When you board, you give them your Credit Card and they give you a Fun Pass - everything gets charged to it. The first thing they do is charge 10$ a day per person for tips (very reasonable) if you order drinks (anything other than water), they charge your card. There are a couple places where they have coffee, tea, juices, etc. buffet style - so you can get around the drink thing if you work at it.

We gambled in the casinos - watched shows, attended all sorts of events and sales and had a blast. Our first stop was Cozumel. We had pre-chosen and pre-paid for an excursion in Cozumel. A 3-reef snorkeling trip by boat. It was to take all day. They picked us up at the pier, we boarded their boat and were off. The water was so gorgeous - you could see the bottom no matter how deep. There were about 60 of us total (I think 2 boats). The guides spoke perfect English and were awesome. We stopped - got on our gear and jumped in. We swam quite a ways over some reefs and our boat caught up with us. This took about an hour or so. This is where it gets crazy.

We all get back on board and the guides start acting funny - started speaking in Spanish to each other and something just didn't seem normal. We sat there for about 15 minutes, just kind of bobbing up and down in the water when a small emergency boat comes flying up. They board and ask for a lady - her and her husband were sitting next to Eddie and I - they took her to the side, spoke to her in private, she started crying, ran over, grabbed her stuff and told us something happened to her Dad (on the other boat). Her and her husband get on the emergency boat and they speed off.

We asked the guides what happened and they said that her father had swallowed too much saltwater and they called an ambulance as a precaution - but that EVERYTHING was fine.

We continue on to our next reef. Things start getting weird again - everyone speaking Spanish - and we are going super slow in circles - they finally stop - the guides go up top (where the captain is), we all get our gear on - they come flying back down - tell us to take the gear off - that the US Embassy and the Maritime something or other said all Americans have to disembark immediately. So they take us to the nearest pier - which is in the middle of the jungle - we have to step off of the boat onto barrels to get to the shore. We are met with 5 camera crews from local news stations, police and ambulances. Our friend was there with her husband and mom. Her dad had drown and was in the ambulance. We had to walk through the jungle about a half a mile to an area where taxis could come pick us up. They took us back to the boat and refunded our money.

The family was from our ship as well. They were already taking their luggage off when we returned. Carnival was trying to keep it all hush - hush - but since we were sitting with the couple - we knew more details then most. It was really sad. We also have their disposable underwater camera - they left it when they got off our boat. Carnival wouldn't give us any information to get it back to them. I can't imagine losing a family member on vacation - I hope they are doing okay.

We spent the rest of the day shopping in Cozumel. We had lunch in Pancho's Backyard and spent too much money on souvenirs. Can you believe a bottle of Don Julio Blanco was only 30 bucks? It is well over 100 here! I was totally stoked!

We got back on the boat that night and woke up in Progresso. We took a van ride into Merida and took a tour of the city by Segway. It was the MOST fun! I loved it. I can totally rock and roll on those things. We toured a museum, had Sorbet and ended the day with a couples massage on the beach in Progresso.

The rest of the cruise we spent relaxing, gambling, shopping and eating. What fun. I did get a bit sea-sick - I had the patch - but still felt the motion of the boat mostly in the evening (I think they speed the boat up at night). The last day at sea was warm and breezy - we arrived in Galveston to near freezing temperatures! I guess that MAY be the reason we are both sick now.

If you ever get to go on a cruise - do it! And invite us - I am about ready to plan my next!

Well, the drama continued until 5:30 Monday night, when I got the call that I had been approved for Dr. Spiegel to remove my gallbladder the next morning. I was so excited. We got there about 6:00, the place is freakin awesome. I got to see Dr. Davis (Big D off of Big Medicine), he has a patient in the pre-op right beside me - yes, I know I am easily amused.

Everything went fine - but I had to tell Dr. S that I was so nervous I couldn't swallow my own spit - so he unfilled me during surgery. Everything went fine, but the pain was much worse than with the Lapband. I don't know why - but I am still really hurting (1 week out). With Lapband - I was back at work in 3 days and with this I didn't go back for almost a week. Now, I am one of the ones that doesn't take pain killers - so I can truly tell when the pain is worse - and this one sucked ass.

But I am feeling better every day. I have a HUGE Christmas Party we are hosting this Saturday with 20 guests - wow, I don't know how I am going to get everything done - but it will all turn out. Everyone knows I just had surgery so hopefully they won't expect my normal gala.

I don't know how much fluid Dr.S took out - he told me - but it didn't stick with me, it was in recovery and I was busy - uhm, waking up I guess :-)

I am able to eat ANYTHING - wow, how soon did I forget to chew- chew- chew. Without the band sending me reminders - I eat just as fast as everyone else.

I have enjoyed bread. I have had a few rolls over the past week - and I even ate part of a Hamburger. I am trying to make healthy choices - but I am also trying to take advantage of the fact that for a week I can eat the things I can't eat later. Its a hard line to walk.

I go in on Thursday for my follow-up. He is planning on filling me back up - but I think I am going to see if he will wait another week - when I get in a lot of pain (usually at night after a full day of work), I feel sick to my stomach and I don't want to cause a problem with my band. I also don't want to be on liquids for my party.

Well, thats my update for now. I haven't stepped on the scale - I am still swollen and think it will just make me sad :-)

I finally got the call at 5:30 tonight that Tricare had approved Dr. Spiegel to do the surgery in the morning - I am pretty sure that his office had to fudge on the orders to get it done - cuz my insurance wasn't budging at all.

They still didn't get my blood work faxed over - lol, can you believe that? Crazy, the girl at the Hospital that called said that it shouldn't be a problem - thats part of the reason they have you come so stinkin early - is in case something like that happens. I will have to have more blood-work done in the morning. Ugh, one more needle poke oh and the IV, damn, I almost forgot about that stupid IV. I hate those.

Surgery (barring any more incidents), should take place at 9:00AM. We have to be there at 6 and it is down town - so we will be leaving here at 445 and hope it is early enough for no traffic. I have a sick feeling when I get there - something will go wrong and I won't be able to have it. I guess I am just thinking negative now.

I am hoping to come home same day - we will see. My insurance likes to make you stay overnight.

Well, it has been a long, long day. Thanks for all the sweet comments and thoughts and prayers, please remember me tomorrow.

Thank you. I am on hold right now trying to find out something - anything. I hate being in limbo.

W

Well, I haven't blogged in a while - things have been crazy. I am down 47 lbs! WOOHOO. But I am having problems with my gallbladder. Friday I met with a surgeon, he scheduled surgery for today - I went in on Saturday to my LapBand Dr. for an un-fill for surgery and he said HE wanted to do the surgery, he didn't want another Dr. doing it and it would give him a chance to look at my port.

So, Saturday I called the Hospital I was scheduled with and canceled the surgery, along with calling the surgeon and letting him know.

Dr. Spiegel scheduled surgery for tomorrow (Tuesday). I had to call first thing this morning to get a new referral to see him for the gallbaldder problem and call the Hospital and get my blood work trasnfered.

Wow, this is where my world gets really upside down. I get a call that Dr. S is not in network - (mind you, he did my LB in Feb). They tell me, he is in Network as a General Sugeron with a specialty in Bariatrics, but it won't be covered unless he does something with my band during the surgery.

I freak out, call his office, they say the insurance is crazy they are in-network.

So I have been playing advocate, calling everyone, trying to get any inforamtion I can. So far I haven't even been successful in getting the freakin (please substitue the actual word here:-) blood work faxed over!

On top of that, my nerves are shot - so my band was too tight to eat yesterday - I couldn't get 2 bites down and I am fasting today for the surgery tomorrow (that, lets face it, isn't going to happen)

I am pissed, I feel like I want to puke and I need a valium, which I can't take in CASE I have the allusive surgery tomorrow.

I hate insurance.

I feel for you girl - if you get any insight on emotional eating - please share, other than (Oh, just go for a walk, or read a book) -I want REAL insightful EMOTIONAL help - I will be watching for some great answers!

That is about 10 minutes from me! Shenandoah is a little dot in between The Woodlands and Conroe. There is so much to do in The Woodlands - it is an entertainment mecca. We will have to go out - let me know which days you have available (if you have any).

Awesome! I would totally love to have him LEAD another support group!!!

The Conference in Houston is for all weight loss patients, not just lapbanders. It is being put on by Obesity Help (just google Obesity Help) when it comes up, go to the EVENTS section and you will see the information for Houston. I am def going - if you decide to come, let me know we can sit together!

My Dr. says the carbonation is bad as well. He said on RARE occasions - if I feel I HAVE to have a DIET soda, I have to pour it over ice, let it sit for at least 5 minutes - then stir it till all the bubbles are gone. It is so not worth it :-) I was worried about missing them at first - but after a while - the craving for them goes away.

I am down 42lbs since surgery - and it hasn't been a miracle for me either. I count calories and workout. I was sure hoping it would be the easy way to lose weight - I guess the way I have to look at it - I have never been able to lose 42lbs and keep it off before - so the Band is helping me! It is EASY to not lose with the band - I could live off of queso, chips, cookies and soups - but the band doesn't work with them - it is a struggle - but one that I can now fight since I have been banded. I too wish it were easier.

Hi Amy, I had surgery in February of this past year as well. I didn't have restriction until a few months ago. I lost my initial weight by counting every single calorie that I put in my mouth and exercising. Now I have restriction and it is much easier. Rules are so hard to follow - but I do pretty well as long as I eat my Protein first, don't drink during or 1.5 hours after and take tiny bites and chew to a liquid. I would encourage you to go to a support group every week - it helps so much! Good Luck and let us know what you decide.

Ha! We go to the Renaissance Festival every year! I only live about 25 minutes from it. Let me know when you come in for it - maybe we can meet for dinner one night!

The Dr. that I was most impressed with was Dr. Vuong from South Houston area. He changed the way I look at surgery and aftercare (support groups) I think in a few years he will be so famous you won't be able to get in to see him. He rocked.

I have been banded and love my Dr. so I am not looking for one, but Dr. Vuong was rockin.

Okay - so last weekend we had a great Lapband Convention in Dallas. Since I am in Houston, I had no excuse not to attend.

I hooked up with another gal here in Houston, we rode together and shared a room. We arrived in Dallas around 4 (I think) on Friday.

Friday night we had a meet and greet - there were about 30 people there - we had dinner (well, we had cheese, I will get to that in a few). I met a few really nice ladies and hit it off right away with them. It was really just a night of socializing. Of course, since we only ate cheese - we ended up going out for dinner with each other - it was really nice.

Dinner on Friday consisted of 3-4 kinds of cheese, crackers, pineapple and strawberries. No drinks, no meat, no nothing. It was horrible. I think it would have been a great appetizer - but it was advertised as dinner (I don't know about y'all, but I could eat my weight in cheese) I am going to explain each meal - only because it was the topic of conversation ALL weekend. Cher apologized for the meal and said she talked with the Hotel. However, the next two meals were almost equally horrible. Saturday for lunch was BETTER, I will say that, it was lunch meat, cheese, bread, chips, a dessert and iced tea. However I was near the end of the line, when I got there to make my plate there was nothing left but ham and roastbeef. No cheese, no chips, no dessert, no tea . . . you get the drift. I asked if I could have the Hotel bring out more - they said that we only paid for 40 and we only get 40. So, I had ham, by itself. Hey, at least I got my protein! That night we had the exact same thing as the first night with the addition of meatballs and chicken fingers! Can you believe that-they gave us fried chicken that was so dry - I don't know of one single person who took more than one bite. Okay, that is all I have on the food - on to the Meat of the Conference (hehe)

We had some wonderful speakers and a couple that we could have done without. We got great goody bags and they had some neat door prizes and such. There wasn't much in the way of vendors - but the Hurricane here in Houston caused some of that.

We learned a lot and socialized even more. I really think some of the ladies I met - I will know for the rest of my life. The Dr.s were very infomative and I learned about JuicePlus a supplement that I immediately bought for myself and my hubby. I really think it will do great things for us both. I am actually thinking about selling it - I feel that strongly about it. anyways, google juiceplus and see what you think.

Saturday night we had a Fall Fling - (the meatball and fried chickenstrip dinner) - We left after about an hour - no one was dancing - Cher wasn't there or I bet she would have gotten someone on the dancefloor. So we left and went clubbing. We went to see this Coverband - I can't remember the name, we had a drink and left for a hip-hop club next door. Had a freakin blast. What fun. Didn't get home till after 100 AM.

The picture was taken at the entrance of one of the clubs - what a great memory.

Our firealarm kept squealling every 30 minutes or so - we had to have the hotel people come fix it at 200AM. So we didn't get much sleep at all.

Sunday morning was nice we had a WONDERFUL LB DR. out of Houston do a support group with us - I would have paid 100 bucks just for that! He totally rocked.

We packed up and headed home. I made some great friendships and hope to do it again soon. I am attending another Seminar in Houston in November - but it isn't Lapband specific - so not sure how informative it will be.

I was going in this Thursday for an unfill, but I am starting to be able to eat some - had mashed potatoes yesterday. So I am thinking I will cxl my appt until after the Lapband Convention.

Yes, it is Dr. Felix Spiegel - whom I LOVE dearly - he is going to have to deal with me next time I see him. On the bright side, I was able to eat some mashed potatoes last night - I wonder if all the pain I was in during the HORRIBLE fill caused swelling? I never swell - ever, normally, the fill doesn't kick in for a couple days.