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Sorry for the delay in response! I actually got assigned to the Palo Alto location. I was hoping to go to Fremont as traffic is better for me. I haven't seen the surgeon yet. I see the nutritionist this month. So far the facility seems to be most comfortable with the Bypass but still presented the LB as an option. I personally am opting for the LB.

hi cometchaser - i'm sorry i didn't see this message. probably by now you've gotten some answers... my surgeon required pre-weight loss ( a % of body weight i think) to shrink my liver - so that she could move it more easily during surgery. i've heard this is very common and that most surgeons require this step.

it was extremely frustrating for me because it took me 8 months to lose 6 lbs - and i had to lose 10. i had to change to another program with a different surgeon that offerred optifast before surgery (medical fast where you drink their protein shakes and protein bars only and i did that and lost the pre-surgery weight finally). took me 3 years to get the surgery because i changed programs. but i had it on 6/10/08 and it is going very well! stick with it - it's so worth it!!!!!!

I was banded 08/21/08. Now in liquid stage. Any suggestions on how to survive this stage. What else can I drink other than, water, protein drinks, carnation instant breakfast and tomato soup? Please Help!!!! I?ll be on liquids mostly likely until 09/02/08, my first post-op visit.

Thanks for the reply and no problem on no advice and asking a question to my question...I am happy to help anyone...overall I would say this has been gradual - the pain in my back has occurred and I also wake in the night from reflux and choking on the acid that would creep up while sleeping (which is very dangerous and you should tell your doctor right away) I have been sleeping with my bed elevated now and using prilosec twice daily and has made a huge improvement. My symptoms of vomiting and having the chest pressure have been with me since I have been banded, sometimes worse than others - I have had difficulty with slowing down while eating and chewing enough and that has led to where I am today i think because honestly my band has always been tight enough since surgery 2 years ago. The doctor stated after my surgery he was able to place the smaller band and I think that is why my restriction has been fine without having fills-however the vomiting of when I eat too fast or do not chew enough has probably caused the slip/prolapse - the upper GI is what was conclusive that my band needs to be moved or replaced my surgeon is replacing - looking at upper GI that is the best option. However, what concerns me is the stomach pain you are having - I think you should go to the doctor ASAP because my surgeon told me if I should have pain between now and the scheduled revision surgery I should go to the ER and they can do the surgery right away if necessary. I don't want to scare you but don't let it go. Hope this helped you somewhat.

Dad and I will have to motivate one another to get up and move whilst I am at mum and dad's recovering but I really want to get back to my place asap so I hope I can motivate myself enough! I did get some Chewable Degas so I hope that helps too! I don't DO tea but I'll tell dad it helped!

I usually eat fairly well anyway, i seem to have a problem mostly with portion sizes and carbs. It also doesn't help having a desk job and as I've gotten fatter my motivation and energy for exercising has decreased which sucks! I hope I will get more energy and be motivated!

I totally understand the early mornings! I am up about 6 and at work by 8 then home about 6ish or later. I am also not always too motivated to make something! But I am going to force myself to make stuff as soon as I get home! Also not being able to eat as much I figure I can make more and then have it a few days in a row

It is good though if there is a place near you with ok food, I work in the city and there are lots of places near me that would have good options and I LOVE getting out of the office (more so in summer ) so on days I can't be bothered bringing in my lunch, I won't stress too much about finding something!

Are you on MSN?

That is great about the clothes, not about the work or the crotch I have a selection of work clothes that will get me through quite a few kilos of my loss which is great!

Canteen food tends to be like that, I hope you can bring in your own or have somewhere near you that has healthier options for those days you can't be bothered making your lunch! Do you have an area you can heat up your own food??

I will definitely be taking the 2 weeks!! And no it isn't long now!! Had my preop with the surgeon today! Just a formality, only 15minutes. He did say that there appears to be a correlation between those who lose weight well on the preop doing well after the surgery Preop Nurse Friday! Did you use Degas after your surgery??

Yes, I was self-pay at Tallgrass. I had the LapBand put in on March 17, 2008. The total cost was approximately $13,800 for the physician, the pre-op lab work, anesthesia, and the Tallgrass Surgery Center fee. That was everything. I had my first appointment in February. I can't remember the exact date, but it was about a month between then and my surgery. I had already had my psych eval done prior to going to see Dr. Hu for the first time. I really like Dr. Hu. She is very nice and spent about an hour with me on my first visit just explaining/discussing options and answering questions. I've been in three times now for fills and she never makes me feel rushed. I would definitely recommend her.

Hi! my name is toni-lisa and i live in the philadelphia area. I was a dancer MANY years ago and so i know what it feels like to be in an athletic level of fitness. But that seems like a far away dream now

since i am now at my highest weight EVER! HATING IT !!!!!!!!!!

huff and puff just walking across a room. stay pretty reclusive.

most of my professional pursuits don't require that I interact with the public all that much. I am an author\ children's photographer \ painter\ custom beaded jeweler. In the mid-90's I was also a speaker and performer ... which i adored !!!!! there is no more magical feeling (for me) than having an audience in the palm of my hand. I love it when they laugh. I love it when they cry. I truly have a Cinderella story which touches people deeply. VERY briefly: I was SEVERELY clinically depressed and suicidal for 20 years. I always had enough pills to end my life. After every medical option had been tried and re-tried .....

someone suggested Jesus. As a Jewish woman ....i didn't think that was too swell a solution and i knew that my family's reactin would be one of horror. But I had nothing to lose at that point and so I tried Jesus. Perhaps needless to say .... over the course of 2 years He healed me and I have not had a clinical depression since 1980.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!!!! My first book is about the experience of my healing and the things that the LORD taught me duruing my burgeoning journey. I'm writing a novel now and when it is finished I know that I will want to get back on the road and talk about the content of this new book. But I reallly can't at my present weight. I don't have the stamina or interest or initiative. I am scheduled for a Lap Band on July 28th although i have not been approved yet. (My Dr. assures me that approval will not be a problem because of the medical issues i have due to the excess weight.) I'm leary. I'm a little scared. I'm wanting health and fitness soooooo much but it feels a little out of reach today..... and yesterday ..... and the day before. I was seriously considering by-pass until about 3 days ago. Long story. But now I am pretty settled on lap band. Unless anyone of you can give me a good reason why by-pass would be a fine and dandy option.

I have a mother with Altzheimers and my only sibling has attempted suicide 3 times in the past 2 years. (He too suffers from clinical depression.) So I have a full plate and a lot of responsibilities .......

but i feel that i must proceed with this invaluable tool for weight loss

in order to get my life back. I MISS ME !!!!!!!!!

Strawberry Premier Protein RTD Shake http://t.co/3lBHVyTX by @WaningWoman

Yesterday was 2 weeks since surgery! Still getting used to not drinking while eating. Really sick of protein shakes

Day 8 of 14 of liquid pre-op. yesterday was a bad day i went bonkers and ate 2 boiled eggs, toast, 5 strips of turkey bacon. Then for diner I made a chicken soup and arroz con pollo for the family. Guess which one I ate? yeah, not my soup!!! Stomach went crazy and then i was on the toilet all night. Back to normal today. Soup and water and protein shakes. Christ please help me!!!!

Congrats on almost being back to normal - that's awesome!

I'm having a few problems, and definitely don't have near my normal energy level back yet (that bums me out). I am doing much better with my protein (not at the optimal level, but getting close). How about you?

good morning dear,

I am doing well and hope you are too. I have lost another 4 pounds so that makes me 19 pounds down. I have a bleeding disorder that i have had for 9 years. and with all the fiber and protein it made me bleed excessively. I am going to do the 1600 calorie since that is working for me right now. I would love to keep in touch with you as well you know we can't have too many sister friends. lol Take care and hope to hear from you again soon.

Monica

Hi Isabel-

Thanks for the post...I feel the same way. I have only been overweight about the last 10 years...and I know first hand how overweight people are treated differently.I will be banded at the end of this month, and I would really appreciate some of the info you have learned along the way (like the GOOD liquid vitamins, the best protein powder, what I definitely need to have on hand after the surgery.) I have about 85lbs to lose, and have been a little worried about all of the loose skin issues and additional surgeries some people need after losing that amount of weight...did you have any of those issues?

Thanks so much for the info, and best of wishes-

Targa

Glad to hear you are doing better! Ah, blow drying the hair, always makes one feel better! I have had a good day, I think I over did it with my protein drink this morning, it made me feel horrible. I am feeling better this afternoon.

Every day is an adventure! I am having some head hunger today, will have to learn to deal with that. It is hard watching everyone else eat and not being able to dig in! Of course, I am not hungry, just wanting to eat!

Hi everyone, this is my 1st. entry, but I have been reading about all of you for awhile now...I feel like we're already friends. I live in Providence RI....Federal Hill section, known as "lil Italy" to many. I was banded in Oct.07 and have lost approximately 50 lbs. I've been struggeling with a couple of problems and can use all the help you can give me. I am already pretty close to my fill capacity, but sometimes I can eat more then I did before surgery. Sometimes when food gets stuck, I'll cough it out and then continue eating with no fullness until I eventually stop. Whether its protein or other foods,I usually just don' t feel full.

I think this happens because my stomach below is never full, just the pouch, so its a new "full"I have to get used to. I try to ignore wanting to eat more, but when I'm weak and give in, I can really pack it in. I know the band is fairly tight, because when I don't chew properly, the food does stick and either eventually goes down, or, mostly, gets caught, and I will cough it up and be as good as new to continue my meal.....any suggestions or thoughts? thanks

Yes we are banded... Everything was good the hospital was a 10+. I had it done yesterday.. No real problems. Just sore and tired.. Don't have and kind of an apatite. Trying to get down the protein shakes.. No problem yet with nausea. Just sore. If I had to rate the pain it would be a 4.... Sleep a lot.. this is good. They say day 3 after surgery is the worst we will see.. I'm just finishing day 1. post op.

Protein drink before the workout feels so much better.... - twin poo

I wish I didn't hate all protein shakes/powders/drinks. BLAHHH

Yeah! I am doing well. I am down 10 lbs so far. Only about 5 from the pre-op. I do fairly well with it. Ours seems fairly easy. I get 2 shakes, 4 oz of lean protein, a yogurt, 1 piece of fruit and unlimited non-starchy veggies. All the sugar-free Jello I can stand. Is your strict? My doctor about had a nut when I called it the stupid pre-op diet. He said if my liver isn't reduced he will sew me back up and not do the banding. BE GOOD! )

Hi Stef,

My progress is slow but steady, I guess. My biggest losses have occurred the 2-3 weeks after each fill. I am on my 3rd fill now and have lost 30 pounds. Yeah, Woodman is a bear when you go in and aren't doing well. Honestly, I haven't figured out what his idea of well is, but obviously it isn;t what I am doing! LOL! I had my last fill last Thursday and haven't been able to eat anything solid since. I am feeling weak. Today I am going to get some protein to put in my shakes.

I know all the girls in the office. Laura, the office manager and head nurse, is my niece. Debra is a doll. She gives me more support than anybody else really does. Kelly is short and to the point. She doesn't have much of a friendly personality actually.....kinda like HIM!

Hang in there. You can email me at hale.cynthia@gmail.com. We can keep in touch if you like! When was your surgery done?

Hi! I really hate protein shakes. I have yet to find one I can stomach. I made some home made broccoli soup today that was easy and filling so I'm not so hungry now. I keep getting these crazy flash headaches that I never had before the surgery. I called the dr. and his only response was to go see my GP. I am not spending anymore money right now! How are you feeling?

Hello I read one of your comments to a post. You said Smoothie King Gladiator Low carb meal replacement. What is Smoothie King, where do u get it? Can it be bought online? That is an awesome amount of protein. Thanks

This is a private message option. To add to a rep, go back to any page and look for the white justice scales next to the triangle to the far left of your signature line. You will see it. When you click on that for any person, you can rep them. Good luck.

Patty

I'm craving something sweet! I can't shake it and I can't stomach other protein shake. 5 days to surgery....