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Eat sugar, hungry an hour later.. eat more sugar/carbs, hungry an hour later.. a never ending saga.. the kids will eat through that so fast.. and everyone will wonder why they are so heavy.

Thank you all for your replies. I hope the time flies by fast

Theres many reasons why I am fat. But none of them are really good enough. So I dont think I have to explain my journey of how I got fat, only my journey to become thin. I'm 105kgs. thats 231 pounds. I've gained and lost all my life, but suddenly last week something hit me, and I cant take it anymore. I did a search for lap banding in Korea, and I found this site. I called the clinic last Friday, and I made an appointment for Monday. Today's appointment went well, but I was even unsure as to whether I would go through with it or not. But I just have to do it, and I know I can succeed. The doctor said I can have the surgery as soon as this Friday. I'm just a bit shocked at how fast this is all happening. Being in Korea, if youre a fat woman, you stand out. If youre a fat woman with blonde hair, its even harder. But until I see my reflection, I dont really feel as big as I am. The main reason would be, that alot of my weight is in my belly. And since I've had a baby, I guess my belly looks like I'm still pregnant, keeps the same shape as when I was. But its been almost 2 years, so I dont want people to ask me 'when are you due?' I really have to convince myself that no matter how I lose the weight, what counts is that I do. So I can be healthier to live a long life with my family. And LAP banding isnt cheating, it will still take work and commitment. So, next is to decide when I want the surgery. Me deciding? feels so strange.

I hope this info helps someone. I sent this to someone that was having fears ..I know I had my fears and all these kind of story's helped me mentally prepare..here mine.. I lost 20 when I started my preop diet over the month before surgery and I lost ten since Wednesday when I had it..I'm only 5 days out of surgery..and I feel pretty back to normal..was just thinking about going in to work for couple hours tommorow. When I got to hospital they gave me and I.v and started fluids..they gave me a blood thinner shot and percocet to calm me. I waited in a room until it was my turn..the anesthesiologist came and explained what would happen..freaked my mother out so bad she started crying..and I almost changed my mind..my daughter looked scared ..but then I remembered my faith and just knew I would be o.k. I went in and within a minute I was passed out. Woke up to people calling my name ..and a horrific pain in my chest..it wasn't my stomach that hurt..it was my chest ..it felt like there was a elephant sitting on my chest. It was very painful. I read on here that it is gas from surgery and to walk..so I made them let me walk as soon as I got my room..that helped..I was in tears..but by 2 am that night..it was a lot better..they monitored me and gave me pain meds. My doctor gives his patients a pain ball called a on -Q pump..it is a pump you carry around with you and it has a tiny hose that stays inside you where your stomach is and it releases a numbing medication right where the doctor cut. I think this was soooo helpful because I never felt stomach pain..only gas pains.. after three days you just pull it out..sounds creepy but I couldn't feel it. I stayed one night in hospital..left next evening..feel fine..I'm glad I went through with it..I'm careful about what I eat and how fast I drink..I don't want a leak..that's my only fear..but I gad so many fears before surgery..I'm just glad its done..now the job is staying hydrated and getting protien

I WISH my process was that fast! This past 4 months of the "Diet" has been agonizing. I want the surgery done YESTERDAY! How awesome that you got your insurance approval so fast! Good luck with your surgery!

My blood sugars went up extremely high after surgery. I had to go on an insulin drip in the hospital. Stayed elevated for about the first week. I'm type 1 so I will always be on insulin. However, I'm in a normal range now and and usually only take my slow release insulin....rarely require any fast acting so it does get better!

Hello, This is my Monterrey Mexico story which began on April 27th, 2006. I am going to keep and refer back to this when explaining what has happened to me when I went to go get the adjustable lap band done. I have done lots of research this last year about the adjustable gastric band. I have lost all personal hope of ever keeping my weight off. I feel that if I manage by a miracle to lose it, I will gain it back again eventually. I was interested in a way to keep it off permanently, but was afraid of the gastric bypass, which its main function is by malabsorption of the food you eat. That surgery as worked well for many, but I wanted something less dangerous and less invasive. So I found the lap-band which causes a person to feel full and eat much much less. I wish I had been prepared for what Mexico looked like. I have never been out of the United States and was quite naive. I went through Dr Roberto Rumbaut, who has done many many more than any physician I can find her in the states. He has a very low complication rate. He is located in Monterrey Mexico. He had drivers to pick us up and take us everywhere we were supposed to be. Hardly any of the drivers spoke much English, but they still got us where we needed to go. As they brought us into Monterrey, I was not prepared for the slums. Trash everywhere, and just homes that look like pieces of boards slapped together of all different shapes and colors. As we drove into the main part of Monterrey it was ok. The mountains are beautiful. It is a city of over 4 million. I like the states bette.... I was not prepared for how people drive. There are no stoplights, and they all drive very fast and ride each others bumpers, honking their horn and pulling out in front of people continually. It was a scary ride every time. As I spoke with other patients of Dr. Rumbauts, some from the states, and others from abroad, they said they drive like this everywhere in other countries, not just Mexico. I was amazed. Another thing that scared me were the police along the roads holding fully automatic machine guns. HELLO! Anyway, yes again, I have never been out of the US. My driver said, yah he liked it cause if he gets pulled over by the police he can pay them five dollars, and get out of a ticket I think I would rather be able to trust that the police were honest and doing their jobs, not that they are all that way here in the states!! It just feels safer here. We certainly have our own corruption. We were taken from the airport straight to the cardiologist for pre-op tests. He was very kind and seemed very competent. He spoke enough English to carry on a conversation. We then were taken to our Hotel at Hampton Inn, which was very nice. Later in the evening we were taken to see Dr. Rumbaut and his staff. I spoke his nutritionist, dietician, and Dr. Rumbaut and his assistant. My husband and I were impressed. Dr Rumbaut told me he has had his own band for 8 ½ years and has maintained a 110 pound wt loss. The next morning I went to surgery. I was very impressed with the hospital, it was beautiful, nicer than any I have seen here, and the medical equipment was excellent. The surgery went well, but they kept me in recovery for a lot longer because I was in so much pain. I remember just crying out in pain. Dr Rumbaut said to the nurses to get my pain under control before I could go to my room. All I could think of is I wanted my husband, but no one could understand me. And they wouldn’t let him come back into recovery. So finally in the evening they let me go to my room and I was so grateful to see my honey. I had terrible pain throughout the night. They told me it was gas pain. I couldn’t drink much cause it hurt and also made me feel like vomiting. I certainly didn’t want to do that after a stomach operation. So the Dr. that was their, I don’t know who he was, had them give me more meds, which helped, then about 1am, the nurse came in and shut off my fluids and my pain medicine, and left. I was like OH MY GOSH! So I layed their for about an hour then went out and asked for more meds. I know they understood me, I asked three different times. They knew I was upset. They didn’t care. It was crazy. Then at 445 am I called and said in English, Please Please bring me medicine.!!! They came right in like nothing had happened and gave me medicine. So when the DR. and his surgeon came in around 730, I was crying about what had happened and they were so upset, my husband thought the surgeon was going to cry with me. It was nice to see compassion. They had given us before they left their personal cell numbers, but we didn't think to call them. They said we should have and they would have taken care of everything. Oh well, So they got me all fixed up and told me I was dehydrated and that I had to drink and walk. So after I felt better, I did do those things. And the nausea was gone. Anyway the hell went on into the next day as I checked back into my hotel room. The gas was getting less, but still bad. Feels like a heart attack sorta. Really I didn’t feel better until two days later. As I talked to some of his other patients that had surgery the same day, they had no problems at all. Thought it went smooth. For some reason this old body took in a lot of the gas and couldn’t get rid of it. My pain was so horrible. Dr Rumbaut told me my pain was unusual, but to be assured my surgery went beautifully. No problems at all. So now I am writing this four days later and I feel much much better. I am going back to work tomorrow. Still slightly tired, but doing well. And what is so so funny, is that I have restriction. Usually you have to wait for six weeks to get a fill into your band, so it will be tighter and make you full. I am on a liquid diet for two weeks, then a soft mushy diet for two weeks, then normal foods. At this point, I cannot eat over 6-8 ounces of any liquid or I get too full. It is great, I have been on liquids for five days now.. Dr. Rumbaut told me The band was a little tight, and that I would like that. Well so far I sure do. Dr. Rumbaut came to my room the last day and checked on me and answered questions. They will be referring me to some Dr. in Kansas City to do my fills. If I ever have any problems though, I will go back to Dr. Rumbaut. I feel they definitely are the specialists that they appear to be. So all in all, I am happy. I was not prepared for the gas pain, but I am through that now. I am losing weight. I don’t know how much, I can just tell. I am trying to eat well and am taking liquid vitamins. Dr. Rumbaut’s dietician will guide me through this during the year via email. Helping me know If I need and adjustment on my band or not. And helping me eat right. I pray everything continues well, and this time next year I will be minus 100 pounds or so. I will keep you updated.. Love Michelle

I've heard of this too. My surgeon just required me to follow a low fat diet the week before surgery to shrink the liver in order to get better access to the stomach. To be perfectly honest I didn't follow the low fat diet as I went into 'Last Supper' mode the week before my surgery and ate everything I knew I was going to miss. I am on liquids for 4 weeks after surgery though, which is tough, fed up of Slim Fast and Soup already. Can't wait til the mushy stage in 3 weeks time when I can have shepherd's pie. mmmmmmmmmmmm:p

Secret bander my problems are fried foods and bread. And eating too fast.

...my last fill is too tight or if I am just still eating too fast or taking too big of bites, maybe not chewing enough...sigh. I had my 2nd fill the end of Oct and I went back to liquids and soft foods for first week, not an issue, except couldnt keep jello down, weird, but ok. So I start back on some regular foods and the foods get stuck, and it comes back up, then after a few minutes of PB'g I can eat...is this weird or what?

I am better after feeling like I was dying yesterday and I am not crazy hungry which is wonderful. I have to wonder if the carbs really are an evil drug like some people say they are. Maybe it's because I am so geared up to suceed at my surgery but the thought if tucking into some toast or a bowl of Cereal makes me really sad. I am not really craving anything right now. Odd. And I managed not to have a drink watching the primaries last night (big time political junkie) so yaaaaay me :thumbup: OK so I am not totall liquid but today I had: 120 calorie poop shake grilled chicken salad with lettuce and pico de gallo, no cheese and about a teaspoon of dressing or less 190 calorie slim fast 120 calorie turkey sausage (my slip up) Turkey burger patty & brocolli I think that's ok isn't it? The salad was at black eyed pea and before I would have had a few rolls plus chicken fried chicken tenders with brocolli rice casserole. OK so not techinically a liquid diet but if I can be under 1000 calories and not eat carbs?? I am pretty happy with myself, must keep this up after the surgery.

You sound like I did back in the beginning. Hang in there, it does get better!!! You're in bandster hell! The limbo period of time when you're banded, but not at your sweet spot yet. Don't worry, you will get there! First off, you NEED to eat. Skipping meals and slacking on Protein will not help you lose weight. When you don't eat, your body is holding on to every ounce it can get and you go into starvation mode. By eating, you will increase your metabolism and make the food start working for you. Get some Protein shakes, Protein Bars, etc... they will help. If you're getting stuck on meat and vomiting, it could be one of three things, or a combo of all. 1) You're taking too big of bites and not chewing enough. or 2) you're eating too fast. or 3) you're band is too tight. I think you said you've only had one fill, so I doubt you're too tight. I'm willing to bet you're eating too fast and taking too big of bites. We're all guilty of it, and by vomiting, it's your band telling you you're doing something wrong. Throwing up is the last thing you want to do, as you could slip your band. Meaning, your stomach, while contracting to push food out, will come up through the band and that will cause the band to slip down. That is NO GOOD. Try cutting your food up in peices you would feed a toddler (or no bigger than the eraser on the tip of a pencil). Sure, it's a pain, but it will help. Great job at drinking the Water. Still practice small sips. Trust me, when you're tighter, big gulps will be a thing of the past unless you enjoy pain! Hmmmm, what else can I offer from my journey?!?! I don't claim to know all the answers, and Lord knows I've cussed this band on more than one occasion, but at the end of the day I'm almost 55lbs lighter and it's all because of the band and from what I've learned here and other blogs!! Good luck!!! You CAN do this and you WILL!

Oh I know exactly how you feel, I wanted every last tiny detail from anyone! LOL. Deep breaths serenity, it's definitely gonna happen for you!!! I know it! :wink2: :biggrin: For me, it was 2 months after my surgeon's visit, add another month before that for gathering up data, visiting my PCP, psych eval, and boom. Done :hand: Once the surgery date was set, the weeks WHIPPED by. It was so weird. My friend Lexy just got banded yesterday and she said the same thing. OK honesty time. I soooo did not last on the 2 week liquid pre op diet. I lasted all of 5 days, then went back to Wendy's. I felt like crap, I was hungry, I was upset, I felt unsatisfied, did I mention hungry, emotional over being separated from my food when I wanted it. The biggest thing I think was that frankly, Slim Fast, Carnation, all that CRAP is completely filled with preservatives, processed stuff. Since getting on the band, I went to the Blood Type Diet (now the GenoType Diet), and SLOWED DOWN enough in eating to realize my specific body just hated certain foods. Slim Fast is one of them. Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine...any "low fat" food is chock full of monstrously distorted natural foods...and then it was confirmed when I had some testing done and found my body was allergic to preservatives! Ha. It knew better than I did, I just never listened. I could eat 20 calories a day of natural organic food and never feel as crappy as I felt on Slim Fast, Herbalife, Smart Ones, Healthy Choice etc. I think if you try eating low fat Beans, rice, veggies, even if not organic, then make them FRESH, you will slash the fat in your diet, feel full and SATED (which is incredibly important) and drop weight pre-op. I guess the docs want you drinking liquids to 'get used to it' but I think it's BS, personally. Some docs don't even require a pre-op diet, so clearly it's not all about the fatty liver issue :ohmy:

I am in the considering stage right now and just doing my research. If and when I get banded it will be in Toronto (I only live about 2 hr n/e of Toronto). I was wondering how long it took from the time you made the initial phone call to the clinic to the time you had your surgery? Was there a waiting list? I am curious to know if I inquired now, would I have surgery before the summer or are we looking at into the fall sometime? Money is also an issue for me. We are a low income family and really couldn't afford a big debt like this. I know I am worth every penny and am willing to make some sacrifices to pay for this. I am also wondering if anyone knows of any Canadian insurance companies that cover the cost or at least cover a portion. I would be willing to get insurance and wait whatever the required waiting period would be, just to be able to reduce the cost of the surgery (and my family would have the benefits of the insurance too!). It would be nice to get banded as soon as possible! Thanks! ~Dawn~:cry

I tried my first fill with a fillcentersusa.com doctor in Las Vegas. He was obviously new to the whole procedure, had the book out and everything. Took three tries, no numbing, just jabbing. It was so painful, I took pain meds for two days. My first real fill was today (Oct 5) with Novabody Solutions in Garland TX. They accepted me even with my lapband being inserted in Tijuana. Cost was $200.00. The doctor used a numbing agent, then a sonograph to find the port. It was so fast...and painless... I could hardly believe it! They can be reached at: novabodysolutions.com or by calling 972-665-2639. They are located within Vista Hospital of Dallas. Thanks so much to their team...I am back on my way to losing weight.

We went to church tonight and it was -9 when we got out! When we left the restaurant from dinner, it was already -11!! I guess we haven't had it this cold in quite a long time, so I won't complain, but yes it is freakin' cold!!! Gotta go, my dog has to go out. He's been wearing his sweater since last night. I've never seen him 'do his business' so fast before!

I heard today that insurance said no, so I am moving on with the self-pay route, which was my original plan anyway. I am having my band removed Tuesday, November 17. That's 4 days from today! Talk about moving fast. That will give me 4 - 5 weeks to heal before the sleeve surgery over my Christmas break. FINALLY things are starting to move! Thanks for all of y'alls encouragement while I waited to hear from insurance.:thumbup:

Ya, I have been using fitday to do it.....I am averaging between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. I can back this off some more, but according to my weight it says I should eat 1800 per day and my doctor warned me about cutting back to much too fast. She said I should stay at 1500 per day....I thought that was high from what I have been reading on here. I was afraid that if I dropped weight too fast, it would come back on before I submit to insurance, but I only have June to lose the weight or else I can't submit in July for approval.....do you think I should cut back my calories some more?

Thank you fast feed back even thou I'm a cop out if jersey city area I am feeling nervous and excited to start a new chapter in my health life, even thou my dr didn't discuss pre op diet I will start and even pump up the tires in my bike and do a quick daily ride, any ideas of drinks or shakes I can buy , thanks

I agree, I lost a big chuck before my actual surgery. I felt if I was making this big a change, I better get on board fast. So in June, 2012 when I made the decision to move forward I started weight watchers, then modified it to be high Protein, low carb/low fat. And set out to find a Protein Drink I loved. I've had no problems at all since surgery (other than a day or so of gas) and I think I really got a handle on emotional eating and head hunger. I just make sure I have items handy that I can have and enjoy.

Thanks Medic. Traceys -- heal fast and well, and keep in touch. Right now, I have one of the red pills they gave us stuck in my throat and drinking hot water isn't helping. Be careful with those things. I leave in the morning -- Samuel was supposed to call at 9 pm to let us know when he'd be here and he still hasn't called. *sigh* I am ready to go home!

I feel like I have waited a lifetime. I was given a surgery date of Monday August 1st. I think my mom is more excited about it than I am. I was stressed out and wanting a surgery date so bad I couldn't see straight. Now I am just bouncing back and forth with my emotions. I am discourgaed that the best date they could give me is 28 whole days away. (though in my heart I know time will fly by). I am nervous because as prepared as I thought I was, now that the date is real, I feel like I have failed to do something or research something or buy something in advance. I feel dread at the thought of having to have the talk with my boss. She is 5'1" and all of 98 pounds. One year older than me. We have been short handed at work for the better part of 7 years. Lots of projects going on. She is going to freak out when she finds out I am going to be off work for a week. I worry that she will talk about me to co-workers. I hadn't planned on telling anyone. Yes, I would imagine given a long enough time line- my co-workers will NOTICE. A thousand little worries that have never entered my mind in the past year- suddenly set up camp in the back of my mind. What if I am the only person in the world that Gastric Sleeve will not work for? What if I lose all my hair? What if my face looks like my skin has melted off of it? What if I lose weight but I cant control it and I lose too much too fast? What if I am tired and sick all the time? Who will mow my yard- how will I function at work? I know I want to do this. I just worry a lot more now, than I did before the insurance company approved me- and the doctor gave me a date. Anyone else felt this way?

I think we say "only" to help people realize that the band doesn't do all the work. You have to make good food choices. You have to keep up on your follow-up visits and monitor your fill level. The band really does help--it diminishes hunger and makes it easier to do all the weight loss work that has to be done no matter which route you choose. I sometimes think of all this weight loss as a moving sidewalk. Weight loss without the band felt like trudging through the airport going the wrong way on a very fast moving sidewalk. Every time I stopped for a second, I’d get swept backwards. The band slowed the sidewalk WAY down. Not to a stop, but WAY, way down. I can take a break and stroll for a minute (or a month) and not lose ground. Or, I can kick it in gear and actually make progress. BUT . . . I can't just stand still. If I don't work at it, I don't lose, band or no band. The tool needs an operator. The hammer won't pound the nail in all by itself. :drool:

Not to be the wet blanket, but you need to evaluate what you ment by unmotivated. I have seen alot of people that waiting on the surgery to lose was a blinking yellow light - not a "stop" but just a sign to be preparing for what is ahead. Your sleeve will not do it all. You have to be head-ready. Hunger can be a horrible thing, a true foe - but the sleeve will only reduce real hunger. The reasons why you eat - the bad food choices, the cravings, the triggers - you will hav eto overcome these things or you will not have the sucess you want. Take this time to "diet" but not necessarily to lose weight - get accustomed to some light exercize if you arent already, eat better choices, even if you still eat in bulk. Get away from fast food and trans fats. Read, read, read - and not just here. Not just online! Get the books, do it just like old-school - read, re-read, read again and take notes.... Get practice in food-logs, read up on your meds and what to expect.. There is a series of books called "Eat This, Not That" and they go into better food choices, even if you have no plan to stop eating as much as you are - whatever that is....but it is, generally, nutritionally sound choices, and you would be suprised!!! For instance: You can eat a CAN of sliced pineapples in Water for 1-2 chocolate Cookies, depending on size and brand...no fake sweeteners or transfats needed. It can be a gentle guide for what is ahead. No excuses either - if you are diebetic, for example - what were you doing eating 2 cookies anyway? Good luck!!!!

I am 46 and I think my weightloss has been awesome since Nov 9th surgery!! I think it is how much you workout, it will depend on how fast and how much you lose. You also must follow the program and eat the right things, and the right amount......and absolutely no cheating on drinking with meals.....!!