thamilton

Where do they get that you will only lose 30-40 pounds? You make the band work for you, if you follow the rules eat right and excercise you could lose way more than that. My mom lost 90 pounds, and so far I have lost 57 pounds. Find a new surgeon and do what is best for you! Good luck on your journey.

Congratulations! It is totally normal to be nervous. The liquid diet is not as bad as you think, and once you get in the right frame of mind you will do whatever it takes to get the weight off. When I was on my liquid diet, my family would eat in the kitchen and I would sit in the living room drinking my slim fast while looking at clothes catalogs....thinking of all the clothes I was going to be able to wear when I lost all my weight. It was very motivating....you can do this! It is the best thing I have ever done....not always easy but very worth it! Good Luck!!

I was like suebydoo, day 10 I was really starting to question if I had done the right thing. I didn't have any restriction yet, was starting to feel better but very crabby that I couldn't eat. It does pass though! I say go and have a good time, there will be times where an event comes up and you just had a fill and you are on liquids and mushies it's just part of it, but once the weight starts coming off it is well worth it!

I was banded last August and have lost 57 pounds, and it is by far the greatest thing I have ever done for myself. It is not an easy road, there will be bumps but there will also be great rewards and milestones! I still eat bread and really anything I want, just not as much as I want. I too was an emotional eater but once you start losing the weight and reaching new goals your mindset totally changes and the twinkies and junk food just aren't as appealing. seriously! It is a huge decision and lifestyle change and is not for everyone so take your time deciding. As for me I am 35 and wish I would have done it years ago! Good luck on your decision and your journey!

About 3 weeks ago I started having left shoulder pain. Long story short I had a swallow test band was fine but I had too much of a fill in April and I ended up with acid reflux pneumonia in my left lung. Going today to get more saline out. I could live with this restriction but my body said no way!

I had a hernia repair with my surgery too, have had no reflux until recently. I was given way too much fill at the end of April, had some taken out but asperated (sp?) before I could get back to the doctor. Tons of trouble in May thought I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder, ended up it was a bad case of acid reflux pneumonia. Going to get a little bit more out today, I woke up choking on acid stuff twice this weekend. I would have some taken out if it were me. I could have lived with my restriction but my body is saying that is too much and I don't want pneumonia again, I have never had it and it was not fun! Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

I worried about not drinking with meals too, but it hasn't been a big deal at all. The bigger deal for me is if I don't order a drink with my meal at a restaurant, they look at me like I am crazy and ask me over and over if I am sure I don't want anything. My friend here at work also had LB and one day we went to get a burger at a cafe and when we said no drinks with our meal they didn't know what to say...it could've been a hilarious SNL skit the way the acted. Now I just ask for water, so as not to freak anyone out....sheesh!

I did a little shopping this weekend for my upcoming trip to NYC and everything was a L, size 16 in pants. I am 185, and never thought I would be excited to be in L but it is two sizes smaller than I was so I will take it.

We are wanting to take our 3 kids to Disney World either Summer 2010 or Thanksgiving/Christmas 2010. I have heard of people booking all inclusive trips and paying them out before you even get to DW. Have any of you done this? Can you suggest any places to book with? Any suggestions to make the trip fun but not cost us their college funds would be great. TIA!

Wow, that was ridiculous to put you through all of that! You are having the surgery to lose weight so you are no longer at risk for those things...ugh! I am so glad you were able to have your surgery, and I wish you a speedy recovery. It does get better, just hang in there.

I was banded on August 12th, and I am getting my first fill September 9th. I thought it was 6 weeks before you could have a fill, did any of you have your first fill 4 wweks out? Not that I'm complaining, I need the restriction....just curious! Thanks!

I had my first fill yesterday and so far so good. I have heard it may take a couple of days before I notice any restriction, so far I can't tell anything is different. Oatmeal for breakfast and baked potato for lunch...all is well. I had 2 cc's put in a band that will hold 14 cc's.

I too have UHC, however it was not excluded in our policy it just had to be medically necessary. Mine was and I was approved after the first letter. Mine is through Pepsi/Frito Lay where my husband works. I had to have approval through UHC and another company as well. Good luck!

I was prescribed the liquid Vicodin but I am allergic to codeine (sp?) so I was given Darvicet but it only comes in pill form. My doctor told me to break it in two, I was able to get it down with no problems but I don't think it worked properly because it was not supposed to be broken in half so it didn't provide me with much relief. My advice always try to get your pain meds in liquid form, and fill your prescriptions before your surgery date.

This has nothing to do with the band, but I wanted to see what you guys thought about this. I know some of you are teachers on here, so maybe you can tell me how it works at your school. I went to my son's school today to take him his inhaler, they told me he was at lunch and I could find him in the cafeteria. The volunteer who told me this said it was very quiet in there because no talking was allowed...I said hmmm...really...none? Anyway I went to the cafeteria, and you could have heard a pin drop. Not only was it it silent they were all sitting on the just one side of the tables, they couldn't even face each other. It was bizarre if you ask me....in the past they have had a red, yellow, green system where if the kids got too out of control they were put on red and no talking after that. I understand they need control of the kids but this seems extreme, there is absolutely no talking in the hallways, bathrooms and in some areas the playground as well as the gym. I have great respect for educators my two best friends are teachers and I am even in school completing my degree to teach. How does it work at your local schools, does this sound too extreme or am I overreacting? It may have to do with the size of our school...approx. 600 students in K-5....what do you all think?

Cindy I can so relate. I was banded the beginning of August and I must say the first two week post-op liquid diet was the hardest part for me. I was ticked that I had done this to myself, I wanted food. Not burgers, fries and pizza....just a scrambled egg or pudding. I was in a bad place! Luckily my mom had LB two years ago and she kept telling me once you get past the two weeks you will feel so much better, hang in there. She was right, I am going into week 4 and I feel so much better, and I can eat now (soft foods) I get my first fill on the 9th. Eventually I think I will come to love "Lola" as she helps me on this journey, but right now I only like her a little...lol!

I have been looking more into the whole 'no talking' at lunch thing. My daughter who is in 1st grade says they are allowed to talk as long as they don't get too loud, so I'm thinking that maybe it's the older kids? I don't know,I am looking into other schools in the district but am finding out that they usually don't allow talking either...wth? We live on the border of two states and I talked with a teacher last night about the policy at their school that is across the state line and just this year they have started to let kids talk at lunch. It is so bizarre, but then again I'm not there all day to see why the rules are so extreme. I looked into private schools but sooo can't afford that. Next step I am talking with other parents and our new principal...wish me luck!

Yay for NSV's!! That's progress ; )

My mom was self pay, my insurance covered mine. I would do self pay especially if I could find a place that did it for $9000....my mom's was quite a bit more than that! Plus say you wait 1-2 years, then they will most likely have another way around not having to pay...and then you start again ugh! Good luck to you!

I was outpatient, got there at 6 and was home by 2:30....my surgery was at 9:30. I had some trouble waking up and the gas/pressure was pretty bad and hiatel (sp?) hernia repair, but I was up and walking 45 minutes to an hour after surgery. I was glad to go home to walk out the gas pain in the privacy of my home, it was a bit intense. Luckily for me my mom had LB two years ago and was able to help me get through it all telling me what was normal and what I should do next. Plus my awesome husband was on my other side, I couldn't have asked for better care. I was happy with outpatient!

For me the two week post op liquid was worse after day 4 or 5, because then I was feeling better but still not great and I wanted to eat. Not cheeseburgers and pizza, but an egg or mashed potatos...anything. I was feeling hungry again and with no restriction and no food, I was very unhappy. I am heading into week 4 now and it is better, I am transitioning into soft foods and not feeling deprived. If it wasn't for my itching healing incisions I wouldn't even know I've had anything done. I get my first fill on the 9th....I'm ready for a little restriction.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thought it was weird. I am going to take Cleo's advice and talk to other parents and the PTA, I'm all for control but there has to be a happy median so kids can still be kids. They do eat by grade level so they are not all in there at once....last year I was eating with my son and the principal yells across the lunch room "Third graders shut your mouths, second grade is coming in for lunch...be quiet no talking!" I was like dang no wonder Jacob hates school. That makes me sad for him, I don't want all of his school experiences to be negative. It's a really good school district with great teachers and administrators, but this has gotten out of hand.

WOW! You look fantastic...thanks for sharing! It really does help to see pictures, it keeps me motivated. I am 2 weeks post-op today. Congratulations! You are beautiful!

Mom to 3....4 if you count DH haha! I work as a Production Director for 5 radio stations as well as DJ for Hot AC station and I do freelance voice-over work all over the US. In school finishing my degree to teach Media Tech someday.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience, that sounds awful! Completely off the subject....I was born in that hospital! Way back in 74, do they still call it the "pink elephant"?