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Hi all I have not posted in quiet some time... busy... you know... but I am at 9 months and I thought I'd give an update. for all the challenges that this type of surgery can present (in my case pretty minor, a little extra skin, frustration over slow weight loss etc.) I would absolutly, hands down do it again. I was so scared at first. I remember I started crying in the elevator on the way up to surgery... just overwhelmed with the idea of permanantly altering my body. The people on this forum did soooo much to help me stay sane before and after. My biggest challenge has been that I am a slow looser. I "only" had 57 lbs to loose, so I expected to be at goal pretty fast. I think there were two months when I lost more than 10 lbs, but other than that its been pretty slow (relatively speaking, I could have never achieved this without surgery). A couple of months ago I was diagnosed with hypothyridism and have since started on meds. Although I feel better, I still only lost 2 lbs this month. I have 8 to go. It may take me 4 months to get there... but I guess I'll get there. Before surgery I was a binger. I would go on a super restrictive diet until I couldn't stand it... then binge on everything I could get my hands on. Yesterday, after doing my monthly weight in and discovering I had only lost 2lbs I slipped back into "bing" mode and had about 5 chips with queso and two Peanut Butter Cookies. The cookies make me kind of sick (I think I have a little dumping syndrome, which is probably for the best). That was all I was able to eat for the rest of the day. Granted... not the best way to deal with frustration (I'm really working on finding better coping skills and thats the first "binge" since surgery) but, if I'm going to binge 500 calories is a lot better than 5000 (not and exageration). If your considering surgery... don't let this put you off....most of you will loose much faster and if you do happen to be a slow looser, its a little frustrating, but eventually the weight comes off (I was considered low bmi pre-surgery, I think most people with higher bmi's loose at a much quicker pace). Although I am so happy about loosing the weight... I am most pleased with the psychological changes that have taken place. I have a sense of being satisfied most of the time now. Its not that I feel restricted to "only" eating small amounts of food, its that small amounts of food are emensly satisfying, much more so than huge amounts of food used to be. It's allowed me to let go of that constant focus on what I will eat next... what diet I will go on next etc. I feel like I can just live now. Bottom line.... I would do it again in an instant!!!!! I hope you are all doing well on your journey thanks for reading stacey

Hi guys its been a few months since I logged in. I am 6 months out and I went from 200lb to 132. I eat whatever I want to and I still get full pretty fast. I have been going to the gym and my skin has tightened up but I have A LOT of stretch marks. Anyone have tips to diminish these lines??? Also vitamins still make me sick and sometimes I still throw them up. I was thinking about Flinstone vitamins. Has anybody used those??? I also bought calcium chews from Target but it does not specify if there citrate or carbonate. Should I avoid them or use them up??? Any opinions would be great. Thanks!

Based on the questions the office asks me you would not need a fill. The bad is not meant to cause you to only eat once a day. You are loosing at over 2 pounds a week which is on the high side. I would hold off on a fill for now.

Today I mark 1 yr from having sleeve surgery, down 102lbs. I know without the surgery I wouldn't be were I am today. My journey hasn't been easy first 5 mths I was totally miserable and really ill - suffered kidney failure due to a toxic reaction to nexium and suffered gerd really bad. Never had gerd in my life even now still suffer a little, no heartburn or indigestion just a lump in the throat. I don't count calories and some days still don't hit my Protein and liquid goals but I try ????. Eating out can sometimes be hard as I feel I still don't eat like a normal person - still much less... I sometimes have regret for having the surgery but these days it's just a thought and I move on... I am happy where I am, I don't have a goal i just take one day at a time and if I don't loose another pound so be it, life will go on....

Oh I hope so, I really feel like I am doin something wrong and I'm never gonna get it!!! Then I think, wow I did all this , for this! Lol! And then I think,,, now I'm done and I only loose a pound a month from now on! So many thoughts, my husband says it will pass, he got sleeved 6 month ago, but his was so different than mine so it's hard for me to believe!By the way, from your head shot, you look great!

Today is my Birthday! Happy Birthday to me I <3 my band. I have never been happier in my life, well maybe when my two children were born! I was banded June 29, 2009, and have lost 100 pounds and kept it off. I have gained and lost up five, down ten, but never any more. I have had many Fills and many Unfills. I have been so tight it was painful. I have been so loose it was scary, because I was able to snack with no control. I have tested my band to the limits. My band works when I work with my band. I have learned how to eat real food, not too much, mostly plants, with proteins first. I choose to prepare all my own foods. I enjoy cooking now. I enjoy eating SLOW! I am healthier and my family is healthier today. I am three weeks into my recovery from my full body Nip and Tuck. My Lap band surgery was way easier and faster to recover from than this. My stitches and tape come off next week, four weeks of R &R, I have enjoyed it. I have excellent insurance and it paid for everything except what they consider cosmetic. I had to pay very little in the big picture. It was well worth it as far as I am concerned. I have a NEW Better BODY. I have to look hard to see that it really is me in the mirror. I have new clothes and I would do this over again if anyone asked me. I want to give Best Wishes to anyone who may be considering this journey. I know when I started, I read, and read, and blogged and blogged it helps. I am grateful for this site I know it has helped me and my journey has been so much more successful because I have been able to write about my ups and downs along the way. Happy Birthday to me I am proud of myself today. When I blow my candles out on my cake tonight it will be wishing the best for all the newbies. Thanks to all my LB buddies I love you. imaluckydog

:thumbup:Well, a week has now passed since my first appointment with Dr. Nazarian. Nicole has been great with information and keeping in touch with me. I have spoken to the Nutritionist, she was really great, and I have made my appointment for my visit for the Endoscopy for next week. As soon as I am able to have the Endoscopy and it shows normal I will be ready for surgery. I am having a hard time sleeping at night wondering if I am making the right decision. The cost involved is a lot but I do realize that my health and welfare is worth more. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard about the cost with insurance. I new that the doctor I chose was a non participating doc so I knew then that Blue Cross would only go 50%. Not bad but....... $7,500.00 is going to be the total cost which will include 5 or more fills. I was hoping for around $4,000.00 , Oh Well! My DH is great and he said that if I really want to do this we will find a way to pay for it. It sure is great to have the support! Looks like I will be banded the end of February or the first of March! I will be glad to have it done. I have a question that keeps going around and around in my mind: Is this just another one of my crazy ideas for loosing weight that will work for awhile and then Stop! Then I will be chubby again! I guess when you have tried all of the FADS for so many years this is a normal way to think! I just keep saying to myself, "Self, I Can Do This! I Can Be Thin Again and Stay That Way!" This will be a good thing. Cheryl :smile:

So, today has been very interesting, emotionally draining and just UGH!!!.. Thought I'd sit down, breath and write a little note to my sleeve... Care to share yours?? Dear Sleeve, It seems like so long ago that I first heard of you... Initially, I was quite taken aback by all of the hoops, loops and rings of fire I had to jump through to make you mine... Then I found this site.. And oh, the joy!! I've seen people loose tons (literally) of weight and go on to have beautiful babies, marriages, divorces and lives!! I mean, geez... our weight is not just heavy on our physical frames, but also on our mind, emotions, spirits and esteem.. You know I love myself and now you know I love myself enough to do what's necessary to live a full life, free of weight physically, emotionally and everywhere else. I look forward to the day when we are united forever... I relish the thought that you will help me reconcile the person I am inside, with the person who is outside being smothered by weight, regret and disappoint. I know you can't fix me overnight, heck, I realize you can't FIX me.... but you give me hope and opportunity to work hard and diligently to become the best me... I can appreciate that....Well, until be meet in 6 weeks... Waiting for the greater, Tina

I'm just over a month out of surgery feeling great really happy with everything except my stomach right around my belly button is dry and my feet are getting dry and cracking. Wanted to see if anyone had a solution for this or an idea on what to do

What? Me? Really? Yes! It’s true—I’m back with a blog update. I’d love to give you some grand reason for my disappearing act, but the truth is just that life has just gone on. Being banded was a huge life altering experience and for many months it affected everything. In a way, it defined me, just as being fat has defined me for the past 20 or so years of my life. Being banded affected my daily routine—what I ate, how I moved, work, the gym, doctors appointments. And then slowly, it affected me less. Life went back to normal. I stopped feeling sore, I went back to the gym, I started being able to wrestle those big dogs I work with again, and I stopped agonizing over every morsel I put in my mouth. My band became a part of who I am and stopped being everything I am about. And as life went on without me having to stop and contemplate my band every other minute, I stopped having new and exciting things to say about it. That’s not to say that everything has gone back to the way it used to be, although my life is not yet as completely altered as many of my pre-band fantasies projected it to be. A lot has happened in my life both related and unrelated to my weight-loss journey. I believe last I left you guys, I was plagued with a big pain from a little kidney stone. Who knew something smaller than a pencil eraser could cause so much trouble? Well, in case you were wondering, the kidney stone did not pass on its own. After my trip to the hospital and the very happy drugs they pumped me with, my pain was gone. I followed up with an urologist anyhow and it was a good thing since he informed me that being pain free did not mean being urolith (big, fancy, medical word for a kidney stone) free. And low and behold, the night after my appointment, I had another bout of excruciating pain. The pain came and went for the rest of the week until my follow-up appointment at which point my doctor and I decided to schedule lithotripsy—a non-invasive surgical procedure used to break up kidney stones using shockwaves that pass through the body wall. Unfortunately the first available appointment for the procedure was not for another 2 1/2 weeks. The pain was sporadic in the mean time, and while I had some hefty pain meds, I was unable to use them at times—ie when at work. So, I used Ibuprofen instead—after all the PA at my docs office said it was okay given my situation as long as I took certain precautions. Well, I don’t think I took enough precautions, or I just took too much Ibuprofen because after a few days my stomach got all funky and I was sick for a good 2-3 days. I stopped the Motrin of course, and got better. Finally I went for my scheduled procedure and they took an x-ray to locate the stone, then hooked me up to an IV and knocked me out. I woke up shortly after and everything went smoothly. Of course the lithotripsy only broke the stone up to smaller pieces and didn’t get rid of it, so for another week and a half I waited for the stone to pass—with even more pain than before, as well as several bouts of nausea. At last, my stone was gone, and with it, the pain. In addition, I felt energetic and just plain good for the first time since it happened. I turned the stone in for analysis and did some extra urine tests and next week I return to my doc for the results as well as a discussion on nutrition to help prevent further stones. I’m a little worried about how that will go and how his nutrition advice will work with my band. Obviously drinking plenty of water is paramount for both my situations, but I have a feeling he’s going to tell me to cut back on my protein which will not bode will with band eating. He says he’s seen many bandsters getting kidney stones 3-4 months after surgery and on the one hand, that probably means he knows our nutrition restrictions, but on the other hand, it probably means the diet change helped in the formation of the stone. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. Despite the passing of my kidney stone, I am—sadly—not yet a paragon of health. I’ve been having some trouble with my shoulder. At first I just suspected a pulled muscle or something, but given my kidney stone-ibuprofen snafu, could not treat it properly with anti-inflammatory meds like Mortrin. I finally sucked it up and got myself to the orthopod who examined me and took an x-ray. He said the x-ray looked pretty good, but he did see a small bone spur which probably caused some bursitis. Normally he would have just had me treat it with NSAIDS (if it was that easy, I wouldn’t have needed him) but instead he gave me a cortisone shot. Sadly, it didn’t work. He also gave me a prescription for physical therapy if it didn’t work. I think I’ll probably have to use it, but I’m going to try my sister’s acupuncturist first (I saw him once before and he actually predicted my kidney stone by feeling my pulse—well not a kidney stone exactly, but he told me the “kidney” part of my pulse was weak—how crazy is that?) Of course, I think I’m starting to sound like an 80 year old, going on and on about my health problems. I’ve been sicker since getting my band than I was before—how did that happen? In other—non-medical—news, in the end of August, I finally moved into my new place. Having my own refrigerator to stock with all my own food has been helpful. I pretty much live off rotisserie chicken. I’ll have a quarter of a store bought chicken, no skin and I’ll pair it with some fruit, or carrot sticks, or tonight, a small baked potato. Yum, yum. My lunches vary, sometimes I’ll have a lean cuisine, or I’ll have a salad from the salad bar down the street. My usual breakfast is either a protein bar, or if I get up early enough, a 100 calorie whole grain English muffin with 1 egg, 1 egg white, and piece of low fat cheese. I do still have snacks. I believe in eating when I’m hungry. I’ll usually go for either a yogurt, or a high protein snack bar—Slim fast makes a yummy caramel nougat one, and South Beach has a chocolate raspberry one I love. Like a bad girl, I have taken to drinking diet soda again, but only 2-3 times a week instead of 5-6 times a day like I used to and of course, plenty of water is still a must. I stalled with my weight-loss for a while, not because I didn’t have restriction, but because I was making bad choices and eating a lot of junk food again. So, I started going to Weight Watchers. The band helps me monitor how much I eat, and WW gives me the tools to help me make better choices. Having to figure out how many points everything is makes you stop and think before eating it. I only have so much room in my new little tummy pouch, and I need to make each bite count. That’s not to say I’ve given up all the good stuff—I still eat the foods I love…pizza, bagels, ice-cream, etc, but not on a regular basis. I really feel like I eat like a “normal” person now. I can eat a slice of pizza, without eating 3. I can have a turkey burger and leave half for the next meal. Anytime I order out, my food lasts a good 3 meals instead of finishing the whole thing and wanting more. It’s amazing how normal that is for me now. My loss is picking up again and I still have hopes of making my goal of losing 75# by my sisters wedding which is October 25. I’ve got to lose another 5 lbs and I’ve got 10 days to do it. Holly, this entry is getting long. I have more to say about how I’m feeling about the changes the last 6 months have made to my mind, body and soul, but I’m working on page three of this thing now, so I’m going to cut it here, and save the rest for another entry. Here’s to not letting another 3 months go by before that happens Tootles.

Hi everyone, My name is Deb, I'm 47 and I've been dieting on and off since I was 12yrs old. I'm 5'5", 212lbs and I will be banded on Nov 12, 2010. I've wrestled with getting the LAP-BAND® since I am barely at a weight where it can be done. I am a self pay and they have agreed to $12,600 for everything. Now I know why I've had those savings bonds sitting in the safe all these years. I've looked on the internet for folks around my size who have decided it was worth the risks and haven't found much. I have decided to take care of the problem and not spend the rest of my life fighting an endless battle. I have not always been fat but have fought my weight all my life. My weight has been a major issue for me for as long as I can remember. Now I've gotten to the point where I just don't have the stamina/heart/inspiration to stay on the diet and weight gain roller coaster. My goal weight is between 130lbs and 145lbs. Because of my age (and the fact that to much weight loss may result in wrinkles and sagging skin) I think around 140lbs will be good. Once I get there, I plan to get an inner thigh lift (I have bags), breast lift, chin lift, and eyelid surgery. I was pleased to find out I could get all of this for about $15k in Gainesville Florida (2 operations, can't do it all at once). I started the protein diet today. Dr. Brient's diet entails 4 protein shakes/bars and one high protein/low calorie meal daily for 14 days. I bought several brands with under 160 calories ea. to try. I plan to put the shake in a blender with ice and turn into a milk shake so it will take longer to drink. Very soon I will find out if it's all worth it. It may be the biggest mistake of my life.... we'll see. The closer it gets, the scarier it gets. :thumbup: I just know I've been dreaming of buying great clothes and looking fab for 47 instead of like a fat grandma.

My doctor placed a Mirena. Was the only option she gave me. I've had it almost a year and have had zero problems. Also, no real period. Just a little crampy for a few days and spot for a day or two. Only downfall is my skin has been awful without the hormones. I'm broken out like a teenager!

Searching through WLS information I've run across several procedures I'd never heard of (VSG, DS). I'm sure you've heard that they are already doing single incision LB procedures (in through the belly button). Recently, I've heard of some new trials and have run in to people online who are participating in them; like TOGA. The procedure is incisionless and is done by going down the throat with a tool that opens like a book (that has staples sticking out of the pages), vacuums stomach tissue into the crease of the book and then closes, this is repeated several times to create several 'folds' that make a pouch near the entrance to the stomach. See article and video HERE. Just this week on the news there were two stories on WL trials. The first is taking place at the hospital I'm going to in Pittsburgh, Allegheny General. The first woman in the trial previously had RNY surgery and it didn't work for her. The new procedure that she had is deep brain stimulation. They use a similar procedure already approved for controlling Parkinson's disease, turrets, seizure disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and Dystonia. The procedure is safer than the RNY surgery she already had. They insert electrode wires into the brain, which stimulates metabolism and decreases appetite. Small stimulators (similar to pacemakers) are placed under the skin and the doctor can continue to adjust it with a remote. She's now losing 2 pounds a week. You can watch the short news clip HERE. This week the Today Show had a piece on three new prescription weight loss drugs that are in the final phases of FDA approval. The FDA has tightened their requirements since Phen-fen was taken off the market, and these three drugs have been in prolonged human clinical trials. All three new drugs work on the brain to decrease appetite and increase metabolism, and all show good promise. They are combinations of drugs that are already on the market to treat other things; Wellbutrin (anti-depressant), Topomax (seizures), and part of the Phen-fen drug that is still on the market. If you want to view the Today Show piece click HERE. I'm certainly not waiting for these to come on the market, but I find these stories interesting. There's another good thing about the LB; it can be unfilled or removed if a miracle cure comes along. Keep dreaming!

You are a great writter! Love the stories & humor! My first fill was 5/12/09 & I don't have any restriction. When my coworkers tell me I look good and ask how much weight I have lost (25lbs). For some reason I feel the need to explain that this weight loss is from the surgery diet restrictions and when I get restriction should really start to loose weight whe I get restriction. 25 pounds is huge for me but I haven't lost any more & I'm thankful. I have had a few CrAzY cravings, one night I sent my husband to get me peanut m&m's @ 10:30 at night. I don't want that to happen any more! I talked to my Dr's office & they said it may be because I'm not getting enough protein. The very next day made sure I went to CosotCo to buy the premier protein shakes & bars my Dr's support group recommended. They really help, the last couple of day's I haven't had and cravings. Beware fo CRAVINGS...

I am 7 weeks out now...My body is fighting back so badly... its such a stubborn thing just like its owner. Hehe ☺ I have had annoying weight loss so far... i stall a week... drop a little suddenly... maintain for a week then drop again .. etc etc... sooooooooo annoying. But hey... at least its going down... not up... i think i need to escalate my exercise now. I don't mind the slower weightloss in a way... at least this way my skin has some time to recover... hence less loose skin

Alchohol has lots of calories as well as decreasing your inhibitions. You may be more likely to eat something you shouldn't. You will need to get used to taking very small bites and chewing really well. It takes a little practice. When loosing, it is reccomended by lots of doctors to eat low fat and low carb. Lots of lean protien. Hope this helps and good luck!

The fill went great! EXCEPT ----- They only have two Dr who do them, they do them under the foura. My Dr, Dr Hall told me "sorry I am slow I have Carpal Tunel, tomorrow I get surgery. Good Grief, :thumbup: thank goodness I got in when I did. So he had a student Dr who wanted to be PERFECT, good and bad. But she was good all in all. :wink2: Turns out I have a slightly twisted port, thus the problems getting the needle in. But he told me not to worry, just the way the port is stitched to the muscle. Didn't sneeze during the procedure, but when they put the table to the standing position - THE NEEDLE CAME OUT. :mad2: The student told me that "that seems to happen a lot with our THINNER patients" THEY CALLED ME THIN! :w00t: Okay I love this Doctor. Something about the skin and muscle. So they were THRILLED with my weight loss, THIRTY POUNDS since my last fill. :clap:Funny how you forget things like this and how great they make you feel. When I did the first swallow they said I really needed a fill. I felt it just SWISH through. By the time they were finished, I could feel the restriction. The Dr told me he is very conservative with his first fills. He wants you to get use to it before he gives you real restriction. OKAY - COULDN'T YOU HAVE TOLD ME THAT LAST TIME - HELLO! So I had to SWEAR to only liquids for two days, two days mushies, and then guess what - I GET TO EAT EVERYTHING! Or whatever works best with my band. I am looking forward to trying my first salad in months. So for me it was a PERFECT visit. I left on cloud nine Thank you all for your kind words. You know me, I freak out :smile: before this stuff. Now if i can just get under 200.

Today was a good day. This is the start of a new year and a new beginnig for me. I look at this as making my new years resolution and actually being able o keep it. We tend to make the same one all he time(this year i am gonna loose the weight). It is funny how excited and scared we become al l at the same time.There are so many things i have planned for my life once the weight is gone. My first change is to my career. This is what i have wanted for so long. I think as mothers and wilves we forget we are people to. We put everone else above us. But this is something just for me. I am almost 40 years old but that does not mean my lifeis over. I want to enjoy life to the fulliest:sneaky:

Congrats on the one year!!! I know all about the bloody ring fiasco!! Happened to me too!! Got it replaced ( and resized), but now it's loose again!!! I'll need to resize again I guess!! Lol

Unfortunately, no. Apparently I am very sensitive and anything over .5 filled At once and I swell up like crazy. But I couldn't even get down thick liquids like protein drinks and such. As soon ad they unfilled me and the swelling went down I was pretty loose again . But the next fill got me where I am now and I'm definately in the green zone! I just have top take it slow with fills and I'm okay with that. But think liquids and purees should never be a problem or hurt going down.

How much weight did you loose after your first fill??

I lost 15lbs after my first fill and I've been pretty steady at 1-2.5 lbs a week. Sometimes it's slower than others but all in all it's been at least looseing. It will be tight and feel a little off at first. Remember to stop eating when you are full, that may be 2 bites or 12 but stop. You can always eat little bites more often rather than a lot at one time.

Yesterday, I went to talk with mom, tried to explain a few things to her and she seemed more supportive. She said she wants me to do what I feel is right for me but she is terrfied of this surgery and the cons. Husband also yesterday was a little more understanding, he just asked that I wait till after Christmas, we don't do anything big or special for Christmas, small family just gets together and eat dinner. He asked me what am I going to say when family is used to seeing me eat plate after plate and then I am only eating soft foods and not much at all. I said I will tell them I am on a diet, they have all heard that before! Or we just won't go, he always gives me a hard time about going to these family dinners, so thought we could skip it and then he says oh, well I got to eat! I said there you go, just thinking of you! Mom and husband still didn't say if either one of them is going to hosptial with me or not. I really think I want my mom to go, I feel my husband is really scared of what may happen to me and has never seen me in pain or sick. I have only had a c-section and endometrios surgery through belly button and he wasn't with me on either time. I like your comments and needed to hear them all. I have been on diets, to where I have a support system or it was a contest and I wanted to win or a vacation I wanted to go on and loose 40 pounds, but then I would win the contest, go on vacation and then right back gaining weight, I feel the band will be my lifelong support in helping me to win daily. Does this make sense to any of you? I try to explain this to people that are not overweight and they don't get it. Thanks for website !! But ain't going to lie, I am scared !! I really am hoping I can make the right choices and hope my surgery is easy like some of the post I have read.

AfterbThe 1st surgery, the doctor concluded that I had blockage inside my small intestine so they had to open my stomach to clear it. They had to insert 2 tubes and over 30 staples. After 1 week and 2 days of misery in the ICU and normal room I'm out of the hospital. Currently on stage 2, full liquid diet and lost 26LBS since the beginning of my surgery (March 16th). I get the staples taken out on the 7th and the last tube gets taken out early next month. So, this has not at all been an easy journey for me. I've been very weak and I feel dehydrated even tho I drink clear liquid alot! I'm going to my 2nd infusion Monday to help with my dehydration. If I could say I regret the surgery, I would say absolutely. How ever I've been very over weight and no matter the diet I couldn't loose anything, especially having the medical problems I suffer with. I wish you all good luck, I know I need it. Keep your head up and know there are and will always be someone there for you. God bless. °Engaged° Daddy of 1°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

ok so i have sent the past two days reading as much as i can about peoples experiances andhow the surgery works and my mintal soaz about dr.s cutting my skin is about gone. im getting excited. im seeing comercials and thinking...im gunna look like that! so i tried contacting my insurance company to see how much they cover but the otomated answere thing gave me the run-around then disconected so il going to try some more monday! wish me luck! ps: help me stick to this. i tend to make excuses and then crap out of stuff and never do it. i am bad with half doing things. my thing right now would be that im moving and blah blah blah but help me stay on track! i always need that! thanks