JeweI

This is great. I will tell you. Weight loss does change you and everyone you connect with. For me it has been for the better. I am not hiding from the world anymore. I spend more time being active with my family and they love it. I am not embarassed at my size anymore, even though I am still obese. I am proud because I earned this size. I am still very compassianate but also accomplished and fullfilled. I am proud of where I am at cause I know the hard work it took to get here. I love what you had to say here.

We are a one banded marriage. My husband has never been fat and has little idea of what it is like. When we have difference of opinion about band issues I explain the best I can but this is what I need and why. At the same time I DON'T enforce my lifestyle onto him. I don't push him to eat the same things I eat nor excercise like I do. This is my hole to climb out of. I would appreciate his help very much but it's not required. We have a temptation free home for me. No food that is a temptation for me is allowed in until I trust myself to stay away from it. However if he wants to go out, we do. He orders what ever he likes and I order according to my guidelines. If he wants chips for his lunch, he keeps them at work. He is willing to do this because he loves me and understands how important it is to me. He listens to me when I explain what I need. I had heard the rumor too that marriages fail after weight loss but it doesn't have to be yours. Share in this together and he will be proud of you for overcoming. I ran my first 5k last week and he declined to run with me but rushed over from work to see me cross the finish line and cheer me on. It was an awesome show of support even though I would have preferred him to join me. It was a great compromise. You can make it.

I have medicare and was covered. You can always call and ask that is how I learned it was covered.

My hair is really thick. It did thin a little but never had a bald spot or anything. Just kept sweeping it up. It did freak me out a little but honestly it wasn't that much. Plus I started taking Biotin and it stopped. I am no longer on the biotin and the shedding never returned. I didn't tell many people for the first 10 months. My doc encouraged me to tell people so they could encourage me. I told my entire class (24) and they were amazed. They are also very supportive. They stopped offering me fattening foods and tell me how great I am doing. Only one nay sayer but he was on youtube. I don't feel that this is cheating because I don't belive this is a game. It was my life or death. My skin is just the same as preop. I already had sagging belly from being pregnant. My arms aren't really sagging either. Some people do make it through without the sag. I may save up for a tummy tuck though. Kinda as a reward for turning my life around. 5 years ago I couldn't get out of bed. Now I am in nursing school and losing weight, running. It feels great to be alive again. I love my new life and I haven't even reached goal yet. I can't imagine where I will be then.

I got stuck at 218 and again at 210. I learned that I have to kick up my exercise and be more on target with my food when I get stuck. Hubby just told me last night that the weight seems to be coming off more above the waist.. My hips, thighs and belly aren't going down as fast and I am running. Sorry about the insurance. It is worth it. Just don't get frustrated keep at it. You will break past this wall.

Try the book "The expert's guide to weightloss surgery" by Dr. Garth Davis. It explains the differnces in the surgeries postop. The lapband has slower results in the begining until you find the sweet spot but most of Dr. Garth's lapband patients learn that food choices and exercise are still important even post op quicker. So in the long run I think the odds of being successful are greater. Plus no dumping which makes you feel really sick. And the band can be adjusted if you feel you are eatting too much. Here is a snippet of Dr. Garth (with the band) Weightloss is slower and it takes place over a longer period of time. Many of my band patients are still losing two and three years out- they've kept losing long after the bypass patients have leveled off, which means they lose less muscle. This is why I went with the band. I don't regret it. I haven't had a perfect journey but I am still traveling.

I am thrilled with Dr. Cywes. No matter where I am when I come in he knows just what I need (not want) to hear. If it wasn't for him and his staff I would have given up and this is my last chance. I feel incredible support from them all. He is cheering me on to save my life.

Also I have been married 11.5 years and have a 6 year old.

Hi swan, My name is JeweI I am 29 and had surgery 1/4/10. I was on preop diet during thanksgiving and christmas last year. My Doc had me on preop diet from my very first visit. I lost 18 pounds preop. I was so nervous and afraid I was gonna bolt out of the preop unit. The anesthesiologist said he would give me something to calm me down. A minute later I woke up and my surgery was done. It happens so fast. I was up and walking around right away. The nurse said if I peed I could go home, So I went right away and did. I am also a nursing student so now I understand why. If you like you can see some videos I posted to youtube. I explain how I am feeling all along the way.The surgery is just a day in your life. The changes that you are getting ready to make will change our life. I never regret this decision. I aslo had this perfect plan that I would lose 100 pounds in 1 year. But I was filled too tight and had an unfill. I got of track for a few months but am rebuilding my habits. And have gotten back to a sweet spot. I say this just so you know there will be hicups along the way but it is all worth it. I am down 56 pounds and will be running my first 5k in 2 weeks. Feel free to ask me any questions and tell me how your feeling. I hope we can be great buddies and encourage each other throughout this year.

I love going to Helen GA, Did you eat at the BBQ place? By the water slides.

Sounds like your doing fine. I never blended anything but a margarita. Always do what your doc says. Some people do blend but my doc didn't instruct me to and I did fine.

Bandster hell is the hunger period before your first fill. DON'T try to wash the food down by drinking. It will backup just like a clogged pipe. I use to lay down. Not much else you can do. You feeling of fullness will be much faster and very differnt from before. It took me awhile to realize what the feeling was. Eat slowly and you will notice the feeling and learn to look for it. If you start feeling alot of saliva being produced better get in the bathroom.