Search the Community

I am a 64 year old from Texas who just had a Gastric Bypass a week ago Friday. I am doing super. The surgery wasn't all that hard on me and I am looking forward to the weight loss!

hi guys..i am a 38 yr old housewife and mother of 3 aged 6 and younger.....i am to be banded on the 30th of july and very excited.......this something i have researched and looked forward to for the last few months. i have been motivated enough to get the ball rolling and complete all the tasks i needed to get the surgery date. my problem is my husband..he is so against it. he is very controlling in nature and i think, wants to keep me the fatted housewife at home. yesterday he told me not to talk to him and that i wasnt getting it done after he found out about the 2000.00 copay. i am having it done if i have to make 50 dollar payments for the next 3 years. so we are not speaking. my mom and sister are very supportive. he also says i am taking an unnecessary risk w/ anesthesia and having the three kids...i am nopt thinking of them. i say i am in wanting to be happy and healthy. what are your thoughts ?? i know this is a lot for a first post..but i am irrirtated..lol what is going to od..tell people he left me casue i got a lapband.......RIDICULOUS !!! :confused:

A month after surgery, and I'm getting my first fill. It's been a tough two weeks because I experience no restriction whatever and after 26 days of liquids and mushies, I have been working hard not to eat everything in sight. I did pretty well, not great, no loss but no gain except maybe a pound. So what do you think I should expect? A small fill or a big one? My doc is Fielding in New York, he's doing the fill; will he go tight or start loose?

Hi! I was banded last week and I am looking for a mentor or buddy. I'm a 34yr old female and married mother of 1. I have questions and looking for someone to kind of be a sounding board on this new journey. :w00t: Thanks!

Hello, I am assuming you are a new bandster. This is why docs schedule fills every 4-6 weeks *on average) because it gives you enough time to 1) reduce inflammation, 2) adapt to the new restriction and 3) test the band to see if another fill is required. This is what is supposed to happen until you reach green. So keep going for your fills Once you get to green the restriction is longer lasting. I had my last fill in May and that was 3 years after my fill before that. Also recognize that as you get closer to green your doc will give you smaller volume fills as to not overshoot the green zone and avoid overfilling you. These smaller volumes <MAY> lend to feeling less restricted sooner. Again, just keep your appointments every 4-6 weeks as doc orders until you feel you are at that perfect spot

I highly doubt you've gained a true 4-6lbs in a week. That means you had to have eaten over 14,000 extra calories, and that's doubtful. Note that the scale can go up 10lbs in one day, for various reasons. Have you eaten a lot of salt? Eaten a lot of carbs? Are you getting your period soon? All of this can cause weight gain on the scale; again, not a true weight gain. More than likely it's Water weight. I wouldn't sweat it. Stay off the scale for a few days and re-weigh.

I started my day not to well. I really need to stay away from the scale. Some days down some the same. I know you should only weigh once a week but I think I went a little crazy. Dropped the kid off daycare and headed to work. About two hours later I was walking past the nurses station and one of them yells "congratulations Kris" I turned around and asked what for. She said you look fantastic how much have you lost. I told them and they where super excited and said they haven't noticed because I always where clothes that are super baggy. A reminder, nobody knows at work about the surgery but they know I have been working with a nutritionist. I told them I just need to get the exercise stuff down and one of them told me she is at the gym every morning and I could join her anytime. Maybe when the doc gives me the clear I will take her up on it. I told them I just went out over the weekend and bought a couple shirts and stuff. They told me it was nice to see me in clothes that show off my body. ME!! A body to show off? I never would have thought. Then I thought Damn girl at the beginning of this you where a size 24 and the clothes I just bought are a size 18. I can do this! I need to focus on how I feel not the scale. This has been a long 7 months (6 1/2 months dr and nutritionist before surgery). I saw my Bff and her hubby over the weekend at the armed forces day parade and when we said good bye she was teasing me that I was going to waste away and her hubby even told me I was looking great (I hadn't seen him in awhile). That felt good. She is just starting her journey in to becoming a bander. She has 6 month program to do as well. I hope to get her on here. I know I have rambled on but bottom line started bad with scale but ended great with "someone noticed". I can do this......you can do this.....WE can do this. ~Kris

I was banded in December and had 2 fills. The 2nd fill was in April and I have been fine for awhile but in the past 2 weeks I've been having problems. I can eat very little food, sometimes no food. At times I can't drink, and I have brought up fluids twice. I'm really bad in the morning but also at night. I also get really bad pain in my esophagus and also in my stomach. When i drink i get these funny croaking noises in my throat. Sometime the pain is awhile after I eat or drink. I called and made an appt. with my Dr., they couldn't fit me in until next week, but I'm wondering if I should take it more serious. Anyone have any idea what it might be?

Over the past twenty years, lot of patients have become more familiar with specific measurements related to health, such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings. When it comes to weight-related health risks, there are three important numbers that you should know. The first is your actual weight in pounds; the second is your Body Mass Index, or BMI; and the third is your waist measurement. Your BMI is based on your height and weight. Doctors consider BMI to be a better measure of health risk than your actual weight in pounds. In fact, the medical terms "overweight" and "obesity" are based on BMI values. A BMI of between 25 and 30 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. The higher your BMI, the greater your risk of developing a weight-related illness, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease. spine surgeons california

I'm 62 and was pretty fit even though overweight all my adult life. I worked out AT A GYM 3-4 week and was able to eat moderately well into my early 50's but the excess baggage slowly gained over time and I went from 250 pounds at 52 to my max of 390 pounds, my current weight of 365 and I am 6'5". What Changed in my life from 52-62? I went from an active on my feet job to a desk job that demanded manditory overtime I stopped going to the gym as often and I continued to eat like I was still exercising like before. My life became a cycle of Eat sleep Work and I became too tired even to have fun on weekends. This was a true downard spiral. My company downsized and my job, the one that seemed so important and demanded so much time from me was gone. I was unable to find work and lived on the severance, unemployment and a small pension. At 62 a fat man even with experience and degrees will probably never find work. I was even turned down by McDonalds, guess they were afraid I would eat the product...Picture frosty day in hades for that. In that one year after being laid off till my 62'nd B'day I gained 35 pounds to reach that all time high and I was Miserable. I had to have a heart stint put in, The ol blood pressure went through the roof and deep dark depression set in. Why do I say all this because if you see yourself where I was then you realize No Job is worth what you are going through. If the band didn't work for you then you must make time to LOVE yourself and go to a fitness center or gym. Don't bother with buying equipment you will use for a clothes rack and take up space in your home. Do 1/2 to 1 hour of cardio limit weight training to 6-8 exercises for chest arms and back the legs will be ok with the cardio at the gym and ask the gym to set up a routine for you. Let them know weight loss is the goal not massive muscles. Go 3 times a week do not weight train the same muscle groups 2 days in a row except for walking thats what we were made to do. Park as far from your office as possible and get some extra walking in, Do the same at the stores you go to, walk. Never take the elevator for 1 or 2 floors, great exercise. You can stand up at your desk to work, it burns more calories. This follows in the suggestion of an under the desk leg exercisor is a good one. Your legs are 40% of the average mans muscle mass and a pedeling device with resistance also is better than sitting and doesn't keep you from typing on a computer or answering the phone. So you see and I am sure already know that theres lots of exercise opportunities you may be overlooking or avoiding. Talk to your nutritionist, find out whats going on, you are taking in more calories then you are burning the same as the rest of us. Do a follow up with your surgeon perhaps they can work with you to get you on track. Do all of this today, don't wait another day passes and another and pretty soon, if you'er lucky, you are 62 and perhaps in ill health and then the task will be that much harder. I'm not trying to be preachy, I'm just trying to show you a future that would be a lot harder than it needs to be. Let us know how it goes for you and I for one wish the very best for you. All of us here know it's not easy. Ask for help, work less play and laugh more. I finally realized that no matter how much I love food it doesn't love me back. Good Luck.

I have been doing a biggest loser challenge for 9 wks now. I have lost BUT I have only lost 1/2 of what my non banded friends have lost. It's frustrating because I don't know what else I can do!!>!>!>!>!?!?! I am losing 1/2 lb to 1 lb a wk. I would like to push it up to 2 lbs a week. Been eating 1000-1200 cals a day. I am increasing my exercise and drinking my water. UUUGGGGG!!! Maybe I need to see nutritionist??? THX ahead!

Had it on the 15th of august. Doing pretty good Im almost all healed up already after 1 week and 3 days. I did 15 mins on stairmaster today too. I lost almost 13 pounds already because I am still on all liquid diet. Its not easy to eat like this but I only have a week and a few days left of liquids. First couple days after surgery were the toughest pain wise but the pain killers worked good.

I am almost 4 weeks post op, and two days ago I walked almost 3 miles, some of it up hill. Ever since then, my left side has been hurting, especially when I inhale. Could I have pulled a muscle? Or worse, damaged my band? Sent from my MB865 using LapBandTalk

I dont really teach much other than basics (numbers, alphabet, animals, basic spanish/ASL, attempt manners lol) things to the younger classes and my a/s class is more for homework/relaxing activities. I talked with my bosses and they said that the wl is from eating right and working out, which is a great idea. However, I KNOW theyre going to ask about being out 2 weeks. Bosses said vacation, but do I lie to them and make up stories or...? Like I said, my kids are NOSEYYYYYY! Plus, parents will probably put 2 and 2 together between the drinks, being out, and wl and the kids will find out. Is there a 'kid friendly' version without it sounding like hey Im fat, but I shlopped my stomach and now Im better, then they get all "omg Im fat" lol I know it sounds weird but the way my aunt and uncle treated peoples weight made their (now 10 y/o, but its been for a few years now) daughter think shes fat and she obsesses over what she eats and her version of working out.. Perk though on a random note, EXCITED that after all this, the kids will stop asking "Miss Ashlee, why is your tushy so big?" Children really do say the darndest things lol!

your stomach isn't a muscle so that shouldn't be a concern. You're about 3 months out - check with your surgeon to make sure you don't have any restrictions. I'm restriction-free at the 6 week point.

I'm 2 weeks post op tomorrow, I still can't really get yogurt, applesauce, protein shakes etc down.. Just water & crystal light .. I still wake up with a feeling of wanting to throw up and sometimes when I go to bed but during the day for the most part I'm ok... Anyone else experience this ??

Thanks for posting this, we all need reminders on form from time to time. I had a pretty shitty squat session last week and after reviewing the video, my form was all kinds of jacked up. It's amazing how much form comes in to play, it can make a weight seem so much easier when your mind is connected to your body and everything is working the way it needs to, plus it's imperative to remain injury free (even though injuries happen regardless).

trust me...I'm not telling anyone! haha...I'm just concerned that I am not :jumpstarting" my metabolism. I am having my first fill next week...and can only imagine that tightness in the morning is going to be worse

Was it only a little over a week ago that I was sad because I'd been denied? I saw my doctor a week ago, on the 14th. She told me that the medical group I belonged to had been bought out so I now was part of another one. She resubmitted the paperwork, and on Saturday, I got a letter saying that I'd been approved for a consultation with a surgeon! I'm so excited I don't know what to do. But wait! There's more! :-) Just before I left work today I got a call from the surgeon's office saying they had a cancellation tomorrow morning at 11, and did I want it? Well yeah!!!! I really feel like my journey's beginning now!

Hello eveyone, I had my first fill and I must say after looking at everyone's weight loss , I'm not doing to well I've lost 11lbs total. I have started the gym last week I went 3 days and worked out for 30-45 mins so hopefully this will help. And also I have a concern about mt restricion after being fill the Doc said he put 6ccs....but I think it had to been more like .6 right? I still feel pretty hungry but when I do eat I feel like something is getting stuck in my back, kinda like if you eat to fast and feel like something is stuck in your esphogas is that call restriction? I mean I don't feel full just something weird also I think I've been PBing cause when I feel that feeling alot of saliva comes up.....any advice would be great __________________

I started feeling this way yesterday, could it be my throat is irriated from PBing a few times this past week? My stomach just feels so bloated. Any ideas?

My year out will be next week. Any little bit of food I eat feels like its either on my stomach waiting to be thrown up, or at the back of my throat.

twobluecats: i am the same way. everybody is moving out upstairs but not downstairs. my husband had the rny about 3 weeks after my sleeve and he is down 3 pants sizes and hardly has bugded upstairs. i just would like for it all to come off at the same time but i guess i didn't put it on in one day so i can't expect it to come off in one day!!!!

So I have made it to the half-way mark. YEA!!!!!!!!:cursing: I really never thought this would be this easy. But, it is turning out to be very easy. I have never been this confident in myself. I have never tried to put myself together on a regular basis either. Now, I'm in the mirror all of the time, consistently making sure I look OK. But this weight loss has helped me so much. I feel better, I'm not tired all the time, I haven't even gotten as sick as I normally do at this time of year. I am almost 5 months post-op and down 60 lbs (post-op weight lost) and so proud of myself. I went to see my mom the other day, and it had been over a week since I had seen her last, and she lost it. She couldn't believe that I have done so well. She is finally starting to see the changes in me. Even at work, people that I don't even know their names, are stopping me and asking if I have lost weight. It just feels so good to be noticed. My whole life I have felt like I lived in the shadows. No one ever noticed me, that can take a lot out of a person. But, not anymore. Those feelings a starting to dissipate.... YEA to me again!!!!! My husband has always told me I was beautiful, but I have never felt it before. Well, that is all changing. I know now that my outside will reflect my inside.

They should not make you wait 3 weeks. Do what another poster did and call back and say 3 wks is unacceptable and you needed a fill at your July 1st appt and want to be worked in immediately. Be proactive and stop taking it out on yourself because it is NOT your fault!!!! Mimi