annieM

I only told my dh, and three kids, and my three sisters before the surgery. After, I told one friend. All have been OK with it. I like the idea of "paying it forward" to help someone in the future. If an overweight person would ask me , how I did it (mind you, although I've lost almost 30 lbs, no one has noticed) I would gladly share the info. If a skinny person asked (esp one of those who asked when I was due, when I wasn't pregnant) I'd make something up.

I'm so glad that you are going with Dr. Ortiz instead of your local guy. He sounds like a major jerk! It's not you though. Surgeons have that "I-hate -people-unless-they -are knocked-out" personality most of the time. I have had many run-ins with surgeons in the past and they can be shockingly rude. Fortunately, my surgeon, Dr Osborne, was a very nice guy and I have read Dr. Ortiz's book on lap band and he sounds very nice also.

I had heard the "no coffee" rule before I was banded and was very worried about it. I love coffee! My doc said to go ahead and drink it (bless him). I make a latte at home (it's not as good as starbucks, but it's better than plain). I heat a mug of skim milk in the microwave, add two teaspoons (heaping) of Nestles mountain blend instant coffee, and a shot of sugar free vanilla or hazelnut flavor (I found those at sam's club). It's pretty good and easy to make.

You do sound a bit overfilled. Being lightheaded when you stand is a sign of being dehydrated. Try to push some fluids OK? You don't want to pass out and break your nose! Take care,

Hello Ohio, I was hoping to meet some of you at the bob evans get-together, but I have a meeting to attend. It could be classified as a NSV. I will be a docent (tour leader, for field trips mostly) at the Art Institute in Dayton. The training lasts through spring and into fall so come Dec., I will be ready to lead my own tours. As volunteer jobs go, it will take a lot of time, but Art has always been my first love so I am psyched! Not to mention that I should be nearly at my goal weight by then and I will have a good reason to buy nice clothes to wear for my "job". Cool, huh? For any of you that live in the area and haven't been to the Art institute, do plan to go. It is very user friendly. It's free, other than special exhibitions. It is arrainged so it's very hard to get lost, and it has a great hands-on area for the kids. (and a really cool gift shop and a cafe) So, I won't be at bob evans, but next time (not on mondays) I'll be there.

Sorry Becca! Maybe you could go in for a recheck? BP can be read differently by different people. It seems to me that they should get several values before freaking out and canceling your surgery.

Wow Kyethra, that is a lot of medication! Did the same doc prescribe all that? I would bet that after you lose some of your weight that you will be able to get off of at least some of it. If you have different docs writing the Rxs for all that, I'd recommend having your meds reviewed by an internest. Good luck!

Travelbug, don't worry! If you are eating less than you need to maintain your weight, you will see a change on the scale. (multiply your current weight by 12 to guesstimate your maintanance calorie needs) Scales lie. Be patient. If you are annoyed by the scale, back off to weighing yourself only every week, or even not at all. Untill you are ready for a fill, the band isn't really limiting your eating anyway AND you are still healing and need not focus on weight loss. ANy thing you lose in the healing phase is a bonus.:clap2:

Welcome Buckeyes! I live in the Dayton area and had my band done at the Cincy Weight Loss Center. It's going great and I love my band so far. Check out the Ohio forum listed under local usa and the bottom of the main forum list for more Ohio contacts.

Yea! Good luck! You won't believe how good it feels to get control of your eating and drop some pounds. It's an amazing journey.

Anything that would prevent you from having ANY sort of surgery would prevent you from having lapband surgery. As surgeries go, the lapband procedure itself is not that lengthy or difficult that hoards of people would be turned away. Perhaps your friend got nervous before her surgery and that brought out a heart problem that was not detectable when she is calm and at home. It sounds like she should investigate that heart thing in more detail.

DO NOT GET A GASTRIC BYPASS! You will lose weight faster but trade that for lifelong health issues with malabsorption. My DH had gastric bypass and he lost 120lbs, but now has massive trouble with reflux, and has broken bones because no matter how much calcium and vit. D he takes, he just can't absorb enough. With the lapband you will absorb all your vitamins and minerals normally so even though you need more patience through the weight loss phase, you will be a healthier you in your new life. Ditch the surgeon, he sounds like an ill informed idiot.

Maybe you should print off all these comments from people banded all over the country and carry it with you WHEN YOU GO IN FOR YOUR FILL!

Patience! Easier said than done. I read something in Martha Becks new book (Four day win, Way to thinner peace) that really let me ease up on the self-critism for not losing faster. She said that the #1 best way to lengthen your life was to wear your seatbelt. Still, that tiny change is so hard for so many people. My DH got a $90 ticket for not wearing it, and he still doesn't click it. My kids, who are way old enough to know better, still have to be reminded. So if they have trouble with a tiny change like that, why should I beat myself up for not losing weight faster when I'm trying to change a lifetime of bad habits? I have found that the band has helped so much with the crazy cravings. You are new to the band, and still need to heal, but someday soon you'll notice that you don't have that irresistable urge to cheat and your weight loss will be slow, but REAL. Be kind to yourself while you are healing and treat yourself to non-food pleasures. It will happen.

My doc said that it was OK to take my Arthrotek (an anti-inflamitory). I havn't had any trouble with it. I have arthritis, but I'm hoping after the weight is off that I won't need so many meds anymore. Has anyone tried Cymbalta for fibromyalga pain? I heard that it is good for that.

Poor thing! Remember that not all lumps are cancer and the sooner you get it checked out the sooner you'll know. I will pray for you. Think positive thoughts and be strong!

Hello! Welcome, put "ohio" in the search function and you can view more ohio news. Good luck!

Sounds good, please post the author. I could use all the help i can get!

I'm halfway through and have gleaned some great advice! I think this will be one of those books that I read multiple times.

The South Beach philosophy will work very well with the band. It restricts foods you shouldn't have anyway (like white bread and rice and white noodles that swell in your pouch and make you uncomfortable). I'd say, review the book again and view it as a guide for your new healthy lifestyle, not as a straight-jacket. In real life you are allowed some treats, but if overall you have a heart-healthy lifestyle, those treats won't be ALL you eat so you will feel good.

Poor baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You've already gotten a ton of great advice. What I would add is (ok, I'm a diet book junkie) the Dr Phil diet book has a diet book out for teens (I think his son Jay wrote it) and also If you could read the books by Martha Beck "The Four Day Win" and "THe Joy Diet" and share with her some of the ideas in those books to tackle some of the mind issues. Good child shrinks are hard to find, but if they are supportive and don't make her feel freakish, that would be great. I don't think meds are the answer for her because some of the side effects an make you feel crummy and are poorly tested on kids anyway. Good luck and be sure to post to let us know how she is doing!

It started out ok. 05 on the scale, which is ok. Paul woke us up to say that his basement had flooded. Major mess. He has always been a slob, but with me being so fat, I hadn't cleaned his room in ages. He just tosses everything on the floor. 3/4 of his carpet is wet. I took out 3 bags of garbage, found a check from his papa under the bed, his gift certificate from jenny was under there too. Horrible. This is the same week I had the plumber out to fix his sink and his toilet. The bathroom was awful. The cleaning ladies obviously have just been writing it off. It's so depressing. While I was trying to move stuff, I threw my back out. double depressing. I'm glad for my band, I would have done some comfort eating.

It started out ok. 05 on the scale, which is ok. Paul woke us up to say that his basement had flooded. Major mess. He has always been a slob, but with me being so fat, I hadn't cleaned his room in ages. He just tosses everything on the floor. 3/4 of his carpet is wet. I took out 3 bags of garbage, found a check from his papa under the bed, his gift certificate from jenny was under there too. Horrible. This is the same week I had the plumber out to fix his sink and his toilet. The bathroom was awful. The cleaning ladies obviously have just been writing it off. It's so depressing. While I was trying to move stuff, I threw my back out. double depressing. I'm glad for my band, I would have done some comfort eating.

Hi, Try the myoplex. I don't remember if I have posted this on an ohio thread before but it has 42 gm of protein and only 2 gm of sugar. The vanilla and strawberry taste pretty good. You can get them at GNC or at Krogers in the health food section. Poop on your parents for not helping you. With a dad who's a doc, they should know how dangerous it is to drive on pain meds. Someday they will need you for health reasons, be my guest to remind them of their previous thoughtlessness.

Mindful, I'm so glad you made it ok! The liquid phase is boring, but it is the start of great things... I liked the Myoplex ready to drink stuff. It has a whopping 42 gm of protein, 6 gm of fiber, and only 2gm of sugar. I found it at Krogers in the organic food section. GNC also has it. Take it easy!