Dave_NW

Absolutely! I may be getting older, but I don't have to grow up!
Dave

People who are the most uninformed sometimes have the strongest opinions. Their ignorance and opinionated attitudes are classic. Don't take it personally, but do remember that this mistreatment is very typical. Step back, take a breath, and move on.
And good luck on your journey! You have better friends here.
Dave

D'oh! Busted!!!
Dave

Agreed! I think it's very often due to the anonymous nature of forums like this. People can be whatever they want to be, and some act out because they feel they "can." Awhile back someone posted a comment that really made me think: How do you know the person who is posting problem posts isn't really a 12 year old boy who is playing tricks by masquerading as a 40 year old mother of three? Got me to thinking - you never really know who's on the other end of the computer screen.
Dave

I don't know which thread you're referring to, but my experience has been that most people here are pretty considerate. There are a few people around who seem to wear a Know-It-All hat, and who can be intolerant, so maybe you came across one of them. I'd say consider the source, and move on. There are lots of folks here who are sincerely interested in helping, and plenty of historic information. I'm still amazed at the sheer amount of information on this site.
Dave

I'm filling up bag number 25 as we speak...
Or, as I like to think of it, I've lost the equivalent of my first wife. And just like the weight I've lost, I'm really glad she's gone, too. LOL!
Dave

I'm filling up bag number 25 as we speak...
Or, as I like to think of it, I've lost the equivalent of my first wife. And just like the weight I've lost, I'm really glad she's gone, too. LOL!
Dave

This topic comes up time and again. My fill PA says there is a lot recent data about this, suggesting that it's not the big drama thing it was once thought to be. The lack-of-hunger thing is caused by pressure on the vagus nerve, and the weight of the food in the pouch is what causes that pressure - the pouch does not need to be stuffed with food to get the result. Just the process of eating is enough to put that pressure on the nerve.
Food tends to pass through the band in a short amount of time, and drinking with the meal has virtually nothing to do with it. I find if I don't sip liquids with meals, I have trouble swallowing. My PA told me, (just last Wednesday, in fact), that if I want to drink with my meals, to go ahead and drink with my meals. I don't guzzle liquids, I sip them, but I do it throughout the day.
Some people (like me) have no problem drinking with meals. I do not feel like I get hungry any faster, and I've certainly lost a lot of weight. The trick for me is Portion Control. I put ONLY a normal bandster-sized meal on my plate, and when that food is gone, I'm done eating. Period. I don't snack or graze or cheat or whatever. I plan my meals and eat properly when I do. The trick is to NOT eat what you shouldn't.
Dave

As far as I know, and have ever heard, Tricare does not require a six month weight management. In fact, their website states they won't even pay for nutritional counseling. They certainly didn't require it when I had my surgery last year. They're considered one of the easiest insurance carriers to get a surgery approval from.
I suggest you go back to the Tricare website and print out the requirements, so you can show the insurance coordinator at your surgeon's office. The more proactive you are, the smoother your process will be.
Good luck!
Dave

Check your math. 204 minus 40 pounds is 164, not 174. However: My surgeon's team said I should expect to only lose about about 50 pounds. I said Ok, but then proceeded to lose 125. In less than a year. And now those same team members are amazed at how great I look. They want me to come speak to potential new paitents, so they can get excited about having this surgery. I told them we'll see where I am in another year, after I've had plastic surgery to get rid of the excess skin that resulted from my weight loss.
Don't let an arbitrary decision by a psychologist deter you. Their job is to decide whether you're a candidate for surgery. What you do AFTER surgery is completely up to you. If you want to see 128 again, it's entirely possible, if you work hard enough.
Good luck!
Dave

HAHAHAHA! That was great! I was like, "Whaaat???"
Hope you and yours have a great holiday as well. We're heading for a week's vacation in Hawaii. I can't wait! It'll be the first time I can safely lay on the beach without worrying about hunters with harpoons...
Dave

HAHAHAHA! That was great! I was like, "Whaaat???"
Hope you and yours have a great holiday as well. We're heading for a week's vacation in Hawaii. I can't wait! It'll be the first time I can safely lay on the beach without worrying about hunters with harpoons...
Dave

John, I don't know if you're in the right headspace for getting the band. Yes, you want to lose weight, but you say you don't think you have a weight problem, you love to eat, and you have a big sweet tooth. In my opinion, I think that's a recipe for frustration and failure with a band. The band is not a magic bullet that will somehow dissolve your excess weight -- it's a tool you can use to assist you in your weight loss efforts. But you have to commit to eating right, exercising, and making the most of the opportunity. If you aren't willing to commit to that process, you'll have marginal success. And if you give in to that sweet tooth, the weight will come right back. The band will limit the way you eat, but it will not stop you from overeating, or from making poor food choices.
I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm just being honest. If you come to a different frame of mind, you'll likely have great success with the band. But you have to totally want it, or it isn't going to work very well. Keep doing that research, and turn the camera inward. Analyze how you REALLY feel about things. Denial is a powerful thing many obese people have a strong personal relationship with.
I never felt like I had an out-of-control weight problem until I realized I weighed over 300 pounds, and I couldn't successfully lose any weight anymore. I'd lose and gain, lose and gain, over and over. I finally got disgusted with not being able to buckle an airplane seatbelt,, or fit into a restaurant booth, or find clothes that actually fit. It got worse and worse, and when I found I was unable to do my job properly, I decided to take action. I was banded last December, and I've lost 125 pounds since then. I'm feeling better than I have in years, I can fit in that restaurant seat and buckle that seatbelt, and I feel as though I've gotten my life back. It's amazing to feel as good as I did twenty years ago.
Good luck with your research, and with whatever decision you come to.
Dave

Sure, diet and exercise are easier. I've done it for years, and I've lost the same 20 pounds about a dozen times! Losing the weight is not the issue. It's keeping the weight off that is so hard. For me, banding was the end result of years of weight struggles, failing on every diet I ever tried, and realizing the clock was ticking. I'm not a young man, and how many more years of life would I have before chronic gross obesity finally killed me? Bandng was a fantastic option for me, and allowed me to finally get my weight under control. I will never look back, nor will I go back to being obese.
Now, nearly a year after surgery, I've lost 125 pounds. I have had ZERO reflux, slippage, vomiting, Hair loss, not enjoying alcohol, Water not going down, or pills not going down. I've been stuck a few times, and each time it was because I ate wrong. If I pay attention and eat as a bandster should, I do not get stuck, and I can eat anything I want. I've had seven fills, the last three of which were very small, to tweak my "green zone" so my band works properly. Fills are no worse than getting a shot. It's a non-issue. Constipation is related to what I'm eating, and how much Fiber I'm taking in. My digestion has slowed down because of my diet, but it's another non-issue. I take Fiber as part of my daily diet, and when it's time to visit the bathroom, there are no issues on that score. It's a small price to pay for being over a hundred pounds lighter.
The decision you need to make is how many more years (and times) are you going to "get serious about diet?" If you could do it that way, you wouldn't be obese now, right? My honest advice is that if you have any doubts of being able to "get serious about diet," then have the surgery. If it doesn't work for you, then have it removed, and go back to chronic dieting. You have nothing to lose but your excess weight, right?
Good luck!
Dave

Sure, diet and exercise are easier. I've done it for years, and I've lost the same 20 pounds about a dozen times! Losing the weight is not the issue. It's keeping the weight off that is so hard. For me, banding was the end result of years of weight struggles, failing on every diet I ever tried, and realizing the clock was ticking. I'm not a young man, and how many more years of life would I have before chronic gross obesity finally killed me? Bandng was a fantastic option for me, and allowed me to finally get my weight under control. I will never look back, nor will I go back to being obese.
Now, nearly a year after surgery, I've lost 125 pounds. I have had ZERO reflux, slippage, vomiting, Hair loss, not enjoying alcohol, Water not going down, or pills not going down. I've been stuck a few times, and each time it was because I ate wrong. If I pay attention and eat as a bandster should, I do not get stuck, and I can eat anything I want. I've had seven fills, the last three of which were very small, to tweak my "green zone" so my band works properly. Fills are no worse than getting a shot. It's a non-issue. Constipation is related to what I'm eating, and how much Fiber I'm taking in. My digestion has slowed down because of my diet, but it's another non-issue. I take Fiber as part of my daily diet, and when it's time to visit the bathroom, there are no issues on that score. It's a small price to pay for being over a hundred pounds lighter.
The decision you need to make is how many more years (and times) are you going to "get serious about diet?" If you could do it that way, you wouldn't be obese now, right? My honest advice is that if you have any doubts of being able to "get serious about diet," then have the surgery. If it doesn't work for you, then have it removed, and go back to chronic dieting. You have nothing to lose but your excess weight, right?
Good luck!
Dave

Sure, diet and exercise are easier. I've done it for years, and I've lost the same 20 pounds about a dozen times! Losing the weight is not the issue. It's keeping the weight off that is so hard. For me, banding was the end result of years of weight struggles, failing on every diet I ever tried, and realizing the clock was ticking. I'm not a young man, and how many more years of life would I have before chronic gross obesity finally killed me? Bandng was a fantastic option for me, and allowed me to finally get my weight under control. I will never look back, nor will I go back to being obese.
Now, nearly a year after surgery, I've lost 125 pounds. I have had ZERO reflux, slippage, vomiting, Hair loss, not enjoying alcohol, Water not going down, or pills not going down. I've been stuck a few times, and each time it was because I ate wrong. If I pay attention and eat as a bandster should, I do not get stuck, and I can eat anything I want. I've had seven fills, the last three of which were very small, to tweak my "green zone" so my band works properly. Fills are no worse than getting a shot. It's a non-issue. Constipation is related to what I'm eating, and how much Fiber I'm taking in. My digestion has slowed down because of my diet, but it's another non-issue. I take Fiber as part of my daily diet, and when it's time to visit the bathroom, there are no issues on that score. It's a small price to pay for being over a hundred pounds lighter.
The decision you need to make is how many more years (and times) are you going to "get serious about diet?" If you could do it that way, you wouldn't be obese now, right? My honest advice is that if you have any doubts of being able to "get serious about diet," then have the surgery. If it doesn't work for you, then have it removed, and go back to chronic dieting. You have nothing to lose but your excess weight, right?
Good luck!
Dave

Sure, diet and exercise are easier. I've done it for years, and I've lost the same 20 pounds about a dozen times! Losing the weight is not the issue. It's keeping the weight off that is so hard. For me, banding was the end result of years of weight struggles, failing on every diet I ever tried, and realizing the clock was ticking. I'm not a young man, and how many more years of life would I have before chronic gross obesity finally killed me? Bandng was a fantastic option for me, and allowed me to finally get my weight under control. I will never look back, nor will I go back to being obese.
Now, nearly a year after surgery, I've lost 125 pounds. I have had ZERO reflux, slippage, vomiting, Hair loss, not enjoying alcohol, Water not going down, or pills not going down. I've been stuck a few times, and each time it was because I ate wrong. If I pay attention and eat as a bandster should, I do not get stuck, and I can eat anything I want. I've had seven fills, the last three of which were very small, to tweak my "green zone" so my band works properly. Fills are no worse than getting a shot. It's a non-issue. Constipation is related to what I'm eating, and how much Fiber I'm taking in. My digestion has slowed down because of my diet, but it's another non-issue. I take Fiber as part of my daily diet, and when it's time to visit the bathroom, there are no issues on that score. It's a small price to pay for being over a hundred pounds lighter.
The decision you need to make is how many more years (and times) are you going to "get serious about diet?" If you could do it that way, you wouldn't be obese now, right? My honest advice is that if you have any doubts of being able to "get serious about diet," then have the surgery. If it doesn't work for you, then have it removed, and go back to chronic dieting. You have nothing to lose but your excess weight, right?
Good luck!
Dave

Cheri, you're way too smart to fall for that kind of crazy talk. Those people are either highly under educated, or just plain stupid. And I agree -- no way can they be eating healthy on such a diet. But then, maybe they're the "bandorexic" type. (Did I just make up that word?) Having a band that restricts eating doesn't mean they don't also have an eating disorder.
I learned awhile ago that I'll never be the weight I was when I was younger, so I don't even try. It's about healthy, and feeling good about how I look. I'm at a weight now that I can live with, if forced to be this size for the rest of my life. Sure, I'd like to be thinner, but as a guy, having a 34" waist at 58 years of age isn't bad. Especially since I'm more than 12 inches smaller than I was a year ago...
Dave

I'm coming up on 11 months since my surgery, and I've had great success. I'm feeling SO much better than I used to, in all areas of my life, but especially at work. I work in IT computer support at a busy hospital, and my crazy job keeps me on the go all day long, hauling computers around, installing equipment, solving network user issues, and whatever. I now have the energy to make it through my day, my attitude is better, and everyone I deal with comments on how good I look, and how happy they are for my weight loss. It's awesome to feel this good. (For those of you just starting out on your journey, stick with it, figure out resolutions to any issues, and hang in there -- the results are TOTALLY worth the effort!)
I interact with dozens of people every day, and I wanted to share an observation I've made about some of my obese coworkers: A lot of them have asked me for very specific details about what I did, how it went, and what they'd have to do to have surgery. They all say how envious they are of what I've done, and how they can't wait to do the same for themselves. I share as much as I feel is appropriate with anyone who asks, since I know it's hard to bring this topic into perspective if all you hear is the horror stories and failure tales. Knowing someone in person who is successful is a lot less talked about. So it's another of those "pay it forward" things I try to do in my life.
Most of the people who were the most verbal at first have shown themselves to be "all talk and no walk" as things have gone along. One woman especially, was asking me everything about the ins and outs of me preparing for my surgery last year, and said she was totally committed to getting surgery. She wanted to know everything in minute detail, but she has done absolutely nothing about it. If anything, she's heavier now than she was before. It seems every time I see her she's eating some kind of junk food, or drinking a high-calorie designer coffee drink. She always says "Hey Skinny!" when she sees me, which has long since gone past being amusing. I smile and treat her nicely, but I know she's someone who won't make any changes till she has something dramatic happen in her life. And even then she'll probably approach it from the "victim's" angle.
But some other people have completely surprised me. Two women (one in her 60's and one in her 20's) who asked me a question now and then, saying they were curious about what I did and whether it would work for them, have both started the process of getting ready for surgery. They've both come back to me for more specifics, and I've really tried to support them in their surgery choices. One is having RNY Bypass, and the other isn't sure yet which surgery she'll have. She was very surprised to learn I'd been banded -- she thought based on my weight loss that I'd had bypass. I'm very supportive of them both, and hope they do well. They both have said how afraid they were to start the process, but that my example gave them courage to move ahead with things. I'm very pleased to be able to help others to get their lives and health back under control.
My point in posting this is to share with everyone that people ARE watching you, and how you're doing. Even if they aren't in your face about it, people who know you are interested in your journey. How you handle yourself will possibly bring others along the path you've walked, even those you aren't expecting. You have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others, while making a great difference in your own life.
Wishing everyone great success with their journey!
Dave

I've never had a confidence problem, but I did find when I was obese that I stayed home more than I do now. Going out was a hassle, I got tired, I didn't feel comfortable in public, it hurt to walk very far, I didn't fit a restaurant booth, and so forth. You know the drill - we all have those issues. I had a million reasons why I preferred to stay home and mess with my computer or watch TV. (I was closer to the junk food, too, so it was a self-fulfilling thing.) Nobody judged me harder than I judged myself.
Now, 125 pounds lighter, I'm a completely different person. I really enjoy getting out and doing things now. I go to the gym as much because I enjoy it as because I "have to." I enjoy visiting friends and meeting new people. I go to restaurants to meet friends for a drink or Breakfast out or whatever, as much for the social aspects as because I need/want to eat out. I've taken up a few new hobbies, and I've taken a new interest in working on my house. I work in my yard more, and I'm planning more travel, even if it's just weekend trips to nearby areas. (Priceline has some great bargains, if you know how to work it.) I work on my car more than I did, I spend time at places like Home Depot checking out ideas for home improvement, and I've even joined a book club, to get the perspective of other people about books I might enjoy reading.
My point is that *I* am not the same person I was. For as together as I figured I used to be, I think I'm in a much better head space now. And I find the people I meet these days have no idea I was ever obese, so they treat me just as they'd treat anyone else. No self-defense mechanism required. I'm free to relax around those people, and allow myself to enjoy being friends without having to feel I need to defend my obesity or hide behind some defense mechanism. It's a great place to be.
You have nothing to gain by hiding in your home, and everything to gain by being out. You got banded to help yourself physically, but the emotional improvements may be even better. Enjoy the ride. There's no telling how far your new life may take you.
Dave

A lot of people tend to lump all bariatric surgeries together. To the uneducated, all such surgeries equal RNY-type radical surgery, and therefore (to them) must be avoided at all cost. I usually just explained the logic behind lap band surgery, how it's reversible, nothing gets cut up, and so forth. My friends who remained hesitant were told to "wait and see how I am in six months. If I have issues, we can talk about it then." I've had no issues, and have had tremendous weight loss, so every single nay-sayer has come along to my side of the fence. I've even had some ask me where to start their own journey down this road.
So consider the source, and don't be offended. People who care about us want the best for us, and tend to express their opinion from an uneducated point of view. Given enough time, they'll come around. We just have to take the high road with them until they learn.
Good luck!
Dave

Hi Dandeegan,
I can easily appreciate your desire to get back into things, and hope I can offer some ideas.
First things first: Read up on, and then do the "Five Day Pouch Test." It will basically test your pouch, and give you a solid baseline to start from. By the end of it, you'll know if your pouch is working right. If your pouch IS stretched, all it means is that you have a larger pouch than you used to have. Regardless of whether it goes back to its correct size, as I see it, if you use Portion Control to regulate how much you're eating, you can still eat a bandster-sized meal. And if you don't eat more than you know you should, things should take care of themselves. Here is the text of a recent LBT thread about the Five Day Pouch Test:
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Day 1 & 2-The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb Protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of Water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test. It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of Water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficient water intake improves kidney function and cell processes.
Day 3: Soft proteins- The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! But there's a catch: it has to be solid Protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouch will hold your soft protein longer helping you to feel full and fed longer. Protein Recommendations: canned fish ( tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked or grilled, and lightly seasoned. This starts your program with "soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water for 30 minutes before or after your meal, and no fluids with your meal. We are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling the pouch. If you need to add a moist condiment (Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" -foods that are too moist and do not stay in the pouch very long, they slide right through the stoma. Cottage cheese is a good protein and you can include it on Day 3. To firm it up a bit you could add a chopped hard cooked egg to your cottage cheese. And yes, during the liquid phase chicken boullion with added protein is great.
Day 4 Firm Protein- Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch. Often we don't like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable. It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I don't get uncomfortable, but doing so allows me to consume more than I should. Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds me of how the tool really works. I hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the hope and excitement because your pouch still works.
Day 5 Solid Protein- Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being. Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions.
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After you've determined whether your pouch is working right, and you have your food portions back to the correct bandster-size meals, the next thing to consider is WHAT you're eating. If your weight loss is stalled, then you need to figure out why. Are you tracking HONEST calories every day? Are you eating junk food, slider foods, empty calories, or snack foods, instead of "real" food? I follow a modified South Beach Diet kind of thing - higher protein, lower glycemic carbs, and avoiding fried food, fats, and sugary foods. For me, it's all about moderation, and trying to get roughly 10% of my daily calories from protein. So if I'm eating 1200 calories a day, I try to get 120 of those calories from protein. I try to make sure I eat more protein grams than carb grams in a day, to keep my diet balanced. Every time I put something in my mouth I make sure I'm eating because it's right for me, and not just out of habit.
And probably the most important thing you need to figure out is how many calories a day you're burning off. If you're not burning more than you take in, you won't lose weight. It's that simple. You have to get out of your chair and move. Even a little at a time helps, but the more you can do, the better your weight loss will be.
You have to take charge of your band, and work it like the tool that it is. Are you working out regularly, are you trying to stay as active as possible, and are you proactive in your band's performance? Or are you someone who expects the band to do all the work? If you balance eating right with proper exercise, drinking enough water every day, and getting enough sleep every night, you WILL lose weight.
Hope this helps, and gives you some ideas of things to try. Good luck!
Dave

I think you need to figure out where those negative posts are coming from, and put everything into proper perspective. In my experience, those people who are the most educated about the band and how it works are the ones who have the fewest problems (if any.) They're not making a lot of posts anywhere because they don't need to ask for help, or complain about what's working for them. The negative posts you're reading are from a relatively small number of people, when compared to the huge numbers of people who have the surgery every year. If someone isn't having an issue, why post about it anywhere?
One reason I chose the band was that it's reversible, and I can get my system mostly back to normal if I ever need to have the band removed. But at this point in time, after nine months of consistent and (frankly) remarkable weight loss, I have no intentions of going back, unless I should develop some sort of issue with the band at some point. If it ever happens, I'll make the right decision at that time. In the meantime, I'll keep working my band like the tool that it is, and I'll continue to enjoy living my life as the skinny person I always knew was living inside of me. Put me down as someone who has nothing but good things to say about my band experience.
Good luck in your journey!
Dave

I'm really sorry you're having such an issue with your band. I won't apologize for calling the band a tool, because that's what it is. It isn't going to work magic, or instantly fix anything. But you already know that.
My band is working just exactly like I'd expect any TOOL to work. But like any tool, it needs to be worked properly to do its job. If you're having these outrageous side effects, you need to talk to somebody about adjustments to get it in line. That's why it's called an adjustable gastric band - so it can be tuned up. It will only work as well as it's set up to work.
So even though I won't criticize, I do have to say, after four years of suffering as you have, I'd sure as hell be making a lot of noise to my doctor about it. Or I'd find myself another doctor. There is no reason to suffer with having a band, if it's properly adjusted.
Good luck!
Dave

Not sure if you're interested in numbers from male bandsters, but here goes:
Yesterday marked nine months since I had my surgery. I've lost 118 pounds so far. My old pants were 46-48 inch waist. Now I'm wearing 34 inch waist pants. I started with size 3XL and 4XL shirts. Today I bought size Large shirts. Am I happy? Beyond words.
Dave