samomom

WIth all due respect to pyscologists and psychiatrists, I think that many of them feel they can cure most anything through your head first. They see a patient with a food/weight problem and automatically label them as food obsessive and think that they can 'fix' them with therapy. Fat Chance(pun intended)! It sounds like too many of them are telling potential WLS patients that they can't or are making the wrong decision to have surgery. I wish they'd quit treating people like ignorant children. They should then make anyone who wants plastic surgery go through an eval as well to cure them of body image issues. I was told that my screening, which was a whole 10-15 minutes, was to weed out truly crazy people who need real psychiatric help or Bulimics. I laughed through most of mine based on the screener I did prior to my appointment. It was all good. To the woman who has a child with Leukemia. Of course your are depressed! Who wouldn't be in your situation?? And yes, why wouldn't you put your kids first? You had a crazy shrink! I applaud you for wanting to take on this while your child is in treatment. A healthy mama is a happy mama and one who can better care for her kids. I wish the best outcome for your child. Melissa

My doctor said that he has had men not have a fill for 1 year and lose huge amouts of weight. He said no one really knows why, but it may be physiological or just a mental thing where some people can change their habits for the better. Take what you can get!! The band will work in different ways for everyone.

I'm heading off in a few minutes to get my 3rd fill in 5 weeks. Does that sound like too soon? My first was 2.5cc, then I was scheduled for 4 weeks later, but got in 1 week earlier because I needed it and that was 1cc, then I called yesterday to ask how soon after the second I could have another. Luckily my doctor said that I could come in today, two weeks earlier to have another. I hope he puts at least 1cc in if not more. All this talk about 1/2-1 cup of food each meal makes me laugh. I wish I was satisfied on that. I am doing no carbs so I am basically doing a chicken and beef diet with the occasional salad and Soup. I want to know what it feels like to be full and happy on a meager cup of food. Melissa

You don't have to say anything. No one is going to force food on your plate. Just take what you want and eat slowly. I don't think people will be focused on what YOU are eating. They will be busy stuffing their own faces. In fact, maybe they'll even feel guilty for eating 10 times the amount you are. You'll set a good example. If anyone does say anything, just tell them it's not your favorite dish or something along those lines.

Totally out of the blue yesterday I get a call from my surgeon's office. The secretary told me that he decided to accept the out of network insurance payment plus the $550 I paid the week before which was a total of $2000. I originally was going to owe him $9600. She said christmas came early! No sh!t I said. I am so thrilled. I went into this knowing that he charged $9600 for his fee plus whatever the OON Blue Cross payment would be and I had no issue with that. He expects that people will pay over time and doesn't even have a set payment schedule. Its all bases on your good faith payments. I was going to pay it off over the next 6 months. I guess he made a good deal of money this year and needed a write off or something. I don't know or care, but its gonna make the tax return go to much better places! Melissa

Actually, he doesn't take insurance. He isn't in network for anyone. It's $18,800 cash or with insurance he charges $9600 plus whatever out of network payment your insurance will pay. Let's just say he isn't hurting, but that still doesn't mean he is obligated to write off such a huge amount. I am so thankful that he did though. I only paid $550 for him and probably $600 to the surgery center. Well worth the money!

Yep, Dr.Liu rocks! What did you think about the focus group? Not so sure the concept will be successful. Too many other products on the market already.

Remember, it's just a meal, not an event. I had a Tday preview at my son's school today. They had a feast which was great. They were served all the usual foods plus a ton of healthy fruit and regular deserts. The smell was wonderful, but I was hesitant to eat anything since yesterday consisted of major sliming and throwing up. I caved and had a small amount of turkey breast with some gravy to moisten it, tiny bit of lettuce, green Beans and corn. It was good, but it was just another meal. I would have loved the potatoes, stuffing, etc, but by the time I ate what I had I was done. The desire to blow didn't exist. Thursday will be no different. I know what stuffing tastes like and I don't HAVE to have it like I used to. My pants falling off me tastes much better. Melissa

Its full of aspirin.

I went a week earlier than scheduled for my second fill this morning. I had 2.5 cc in a 10 cc band. I knew last week that I would need a fill sooner and I was lucky enough to be able to do so. I'm on a no carb for a year diet so I haven't been touching bread, rice, Pasta, potatoes, or sugar. Basically I am on the Neanderthal meat and veggie plan.That part I'm fine with. I have also been walking an hour a day, every day. So I get in the first exam room to have my weight, BP and the body composistion testing. I had a bad feeling that I hadn't lost much, if anything in the past 3 weeks since my first fill because my clothes don't feel any looser. Suspicions confirmed- I lost a whole whopping .4 of a pound. I could feel the tears in my eyes. I was so upset that after all the exercise and healthy eating I've been doing that my reward was pretty much nothing. The nurse printed out my body comp stats and told me that overall since I was banded on Sept 28th that I had actually gained 16 pounds of lean muscle(that seems a bit high to me) and lost 32 pounds of fat. I have the print out and I can decipher most of what she was telling me, but how can I possibly have lost 32 pounds of fat and have really no change in the way my clothes fit.My legs alwas tend to build up nicely, buy I'm no body builder. I started at 238 and now I'm 223 and wear an 18.My BMI went from 39.8 to 36. I was really devistated to be honest. Where does 32 pounds of fat come from if you don't physically notice or feel the loss? So then I see the doctor and we discuss how much I can still eat which is apparently too much even if it's just chicken, beef and certain veggies. He said he put another 1cc which is double what he normally does at this point. I'm on liquids for today and tomorrow which is just fine. I really prefer not to even look at food right now. I'm wondering is 3.5cc's are really enough. From what I read, most of you out there have way more than that. Ok, so on to the lab work I had done last Monday for my cardiologist. I have HPB which is totally normal now(even low sometimes) so I have cut my meds in half which I still need to stay on to calm down an arrythmia. I also have high cholesterol and tryglycerides. All of my numbers have come down with meds and the tryglcerides have made good strides since surgery. I called today to see what my doctor wanted me to do in regards to the meds hoping to cut everything in half. I was once again bummed that I was told that everything is 'holding steady' and to call back in 3-6 months to redo them. Really? I would have though that something would have changed even a little bit. I'd like to hear from those of you who have had similar stories and let me know how long at at what point did you see a big turn in the road because honestly, I'm feeling pretty defeated today. For once in my dieting life I am busting my ass really hard to make this work and I am not 'cheating' or whatever you want to call it. I don't eat starches, sugars, high fats, etc. Never had a piece of Halloween candy, birthday cakes, Cokes, or anything. I mean, I'm really eating super healthy. Where is my reward?! It makes me kind of sad and/or frustrated to read the amazing success stories of people here who have lost double or more that I have in the same time period. I'm not looking for pity. Just need to know that I'm not alone. I do not want this band to bring me false hope when I am really trying so hard to make this thing work. I know it doesn't do the work, I do and I am. Please tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks, Melissa

Amen Sister! Yes, you are right, I want to see numbers go down. It's all about the f'ing scale right?! I mean, every one bases your health on how much you weigh, not your body composition. Hell, you could be 6 ft tall and 250 pounds and according to the charts and insurance company you are overweight, but what if you are all muscle?? UGH! It's just so frustrating. I really don't understand how this little machine can accurately tell me that I have lost 32 pounds of fat. I'm just not buying it, I'm not. If that were the case I would look a whole lot different. 32 pounds of fat should drop me a size- no question, and I haven't. I find that not seeing any success removes a lot of motivation from my brain. It's so hard to keep moving forward when you don't see any results. I feel like I'm running in a damn hamster wheel trying to chase down a size 6 jeans that will never come closer!

I don't think it has anything to do with how slow or fast your food is being digested, it's the amount of carbs your body isn't having to process. Carbs are a powerful thing. They control a major amount of our blood sugar levels. Since cutting out carbs for the past 6 weeks I haven't had a single carb craving or blood sugar crash. I love it! I think people would eat a whole lot less if they only dabbled in the carb world. I love them to no end and I find that it's very weird that I don't even want them now. To me it shows that they have an almost drug like effect. Melissa

If you are interested in participating in a focus group regarding WLS(band or bypass), call Rose at the Murray Hill Center in Los Angeles, near Culver City. Each group is 3 hours and pays $150. They are scheduling for 12 noon and 4pm based on your answers. I am in the 12 pm group. 310-923-9625 Ask for Rose or tell them you are calling about the bariatric study. I don't have any more info that what I have posted. Melissa

The only two qualifying questions that I recall were which surgery did you have(and when) and do you do the grocery shopping for your household.

I agree as well. It is overkill. Unless you have a medical condition that could be life threatening why bother? I don't have one for the cadaver tendon in my knee that replaced my ACL. If you are in such a medical emergency that you can't speak, there really isn't anything that the paramedics will do to you that is going to kill you because of your band. An NG tube isn't going to choke you, nor will too much fluids. I think the reason you don't need one for breast implants is because if you are passed out flat on your back your boobs will still be perky and that is an obvious sign! I don't have a card to carry or anything else. I just don't feel the need. I'm more concerned about being O- which is a hard blood type to find should I ever need it in an emergency than anything else.

Is this before or after banding? My surgeon said not to take any bulk fibers after surgery at all because they can block you up. If this is pre op then it makes sense.

Magnesium Citrate is the OTC clean out the pipes before surgery drink that most anyone who is having abdominal surgery or a colonoscopy done would drink. It induces some pretty um, harsh, outcomes if you know what I mean. But, I think you really need to call your doctor today regardless of what you do. I'm not kidding when I say it could be a serious problem. I have a friend who had an intestinal blockage and it was horrible. I can't imagine that you must be feeling good if you aren't going to the bathroom.

Just because its a new insurance company doesn't mean that you won't be allowed to have the surgery. Its your employer who dictates what is covered and what isn't. You can always ask for an exception. I would call the doctor and tell him whats going on. They can always make room for you.

Not to be graphic, but your intestines are probably full of what should be coming out. Only 2 times in three weeks?! Yikes. I think that is your problem. Even on the liquid/mushy diet you should be going at least every other day. I would call your doctor today. That could actually be dangerous. There are some people on the board who have had their intestines basically stop working after surgery. Not to scare you, but really, that's not normal at all. You should maybe try the Magnesium Citrate drink that you had before surgery to clear you out. Even a 1/3 of the bottle could do the trick. Melissa

Not sure about yours, but my doctor specifically prohibits any breads, potatoes, pastas, etc for the first year. One, he doesn't want it in the beginning because things get stuck. Two,carbs don't do anything for weight loss, but cause sugar spikes. As tempting as a tortilla is, I'd not eat any bread at all(says she who has the yummy uncooked flour tortillas in the fridge that are calling my name) Melissa

Oh honey! If you can handle 3 C Sections the Lap Band is like a teeth cleaning. It's 95% easier. The gas kinda threw me as I didn't have that issue with my C Section, but after having one child with Pitocin and a failed epidural, let me tell you, this is nothing! I got up and walked to my car 3 hours after the band was placed. I felt groggy a bit, but I was just fine. Melissa

Well, since carbs are my specialialty, I think you need to even ditch the wraps. No carbs in your body means no carb crash two hours after you eat them. I am a carb whore! There, I admitted it. I love carbs more than anything. Once I was banded and cut the carbs out I haven't had one episode of crazy, shaky, starving I wanna binge now moments. Carbs are a powerful substance and if you stick to the Protein and veggies your body can't have that reaction. As for the Halloween candy, toss it out and I mean outside in the trash can, not inside. Get rid of it. Don't even go there with the candy. There are about 30 little bags of M&M's and Reeses Peanut Butter cups that are calling my name, but I won't do it. I hid the kids candy bags so that they can't binge on it either. Tonight I'm tossing out a bunch of it. This is a hard journey, but you will feel so much stronger when you can say that you walked away from the sugar and carbs. melissa

You have to reevaulate your whole situation. Eating a lot of fast food and no exercise won't help you at all in any way, shape, or form. The band isn't going to make you skinny, you are. McDonalds will keep you fat. Harsh reality, but none of us got here because we run daily and eat carrot sticks. Just because you can eat everything doesn't mean you should. I could go and eat anything I wanted too, but I don't. I'm not better than anyone else, but I also didn't go through the process of surgery to then blow it on burgers and fries just because I could. You need some help with the mental aspect of this journey. You made it through the physical part, now get some help with the motivation and issues you have with food or you will claim that the LapBand doesn't work. A hammer does pick itself up and pound nails, your band doesn't magically make you thin. You have to work at it. Call your surgeon and ask for names of therapists and support groups. Good luck, Melissa

Ask that your Vitamin D, B12, Iron and Thyroid be checked. Vit D is one that hardly any doctor will every bother to do. My doctor is obsessive about complete lab work and she did it about a year and a half ago and I was super defecient in D. It's a huge issue in many people, but they never know it. It can lead to tiredness and depression as well as lower immune level. I was on a prescription Vit D for 4 weeks and then on to Citracal for good.

What about chicken, Tofu, yougurt, cheese, hard boiled eggs? I at all of these post op and I had only two episodes of crazy hungriness.