May 2007 Banders

[NimbleBean 2]

JSRICO,

Glad to hear you made it through your revision surgery well. My thoughts will be with you as you start this leg of your journey. Please keep us all posted about your progress. No matter what method or methods we use, I think the support we can give each other is tremendously important. Only we who have lived the struggle and made these life-changing decisions can really understand what we go through.

All best,

Margaret (NimbleBean)

[devcopley 1]

Jsrico, Also so happy to hear you are doing well after your revision. I hope you keep us posted on your progress. Margaret (NimbleBean) said it perfectly as well, it is important to keep connected. We need to help each other.

NimbleBean, I am so excited about your progress as well. I keep plugging along, at about the same, you both are inspirations to me to keep at the battle. Hopefully my next post I can write that I have finally lost at least a pound or two! Keep up the good work!

[jsrico 1]

Thanks for the support......... I need it.

[keiko 1]

Congrats, Jsrico! I hope everything continues to go well for you. I am especially interested in how you are doing since it looks like I'll have to have revision surgery also. I go to the informational seminar Saturday and check out all my options. I am also trying Weightwatchers, based on Nimblebean's success. I really, really, DON'T want to have more surgery, but it will depend on what my insurance and the doctor says. I feel that I'm just kidding myself that WW will work this time, when it hasn't any other time in the past. But I look forward to your updates to guage how I might do if I have to go you're route. Fear can be sooooo debilitatiing, which is what I experienced before choosing lapband surgery 5 yrs ago.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Hugs,

Keiko

[NimbleBean 2]

Hello All.

Hope all are enjoying this very hot summer (I admit, I'm not. I'm a winter girl.)

Weight loss continues. Had a couple of off weeks, but my band, weight watchers and a real increase in activity has helped overall. At tonight's weigh-in, I was at 197.8! ONEderland! Finally! First time in 25 years (or more) that I'm under 200lbs.

I'm much more mobile now, so I've begun using resistance bands to help with toning all this extra and loose skin. It may not all go away, but I want to try my best. When I reach goal, and maintain it for two years, I may consider some surgery to remove the extra skin, but that's a long, long way off.

How is everyone else doing on their journey? Miss hearing from folks.

NimbleBean (aka Margaret)

[almanorgirl 0]

Thanks so much for your posts. I'm not doing so great and need a little encouragement. I feel that when I read your posts. I ordered Protein Powder and hope to start back on a "plan" soon. I need to get back to my Dr. as well and find out about my acid reflux. So, keep posting and I'll try to tag along

[devcopley 1]

A BIG congrats to you Margaret! That is fantastic! I am at the same point as Almanorgirl, and need to get back on track. I feel like a broken record, one excuse after another. Today is another opportunity and I intend not to waste it. We have absolutely beautiful weather finally in Seattle, and that is a great incentive to get out and do healthy things, so here I go!! Take care all!

[keiko 1]

Hi all,

I still haven't seen the new doctor to get a second opinion on surgery. My DIL just had a new baby and we've been babysitting our 3 year old grandson.

Great joy but boy what work! I forgot how tiring a 3 year old can be, especially since he's staying with us for a week. Anyway, after all the hoopla dies down and my grandson returns home, I plan to see the doc for a second opinion as to why my original lapband doc wants to have me go through a gastric bypass surgery rather than replace my band.

Stay cool and happy summer to all.

Keiko

[Tamjpjb 1]

I just moved to Nashville from CA... I am also looking for a doctor in the area for fill/infill. Cash patient- no longer covered by the insurance I had when banded.

Have been suffering from constant heartburn for far too long...

HELP~

[Manatee 4]

Don't you all wish you could get the newbies to -really- understand what this process will be like? I was reading my old blog the other day, and frankly I had forgotten just how painful the journey was. 2 bands + a sleeve, and I'm still technically overweight. 208 at this point, which is 45 lbs(!) up from my low, and 80 lbs from my high (so yes, at one point I had lose 100+ lbs)

The lapband was worth it in other ways -- I met my wife here -- but I cannot recommend it for anyone these days.

Is there anyone out there with their original band, and that band is effective at this time?

[Quest4lesslbs 0]

I had my band removed in March 2012 just shy of 5 years. 201 pre band and 203 post band. My band eroded and I turned septic and spent a month in the hospital fighting for life with my organs shutting down. I remember being so obsessed to have the surgery. It consumed me. I feel destined to be fat but at least I am alive! I would discourage anyone from having the procedure but like me I am sure no one will listen. ***DO NOT DO IT***

[Devera 1]

I have been wondering how you were doing "Manatee". Sorry that even the sleeve has not helped you reach "goal".

A year ago I would have said and did, that my band was the best thing I had ever done for myself. (other than 2 children and husband) but in August I developed a blockage and had to have all the Fluid removed. I had been gaining for the last year, but after the fluid was out I gained 20lbs so fast. Back to eating breads and anything I wanted. I was so tight before that I sometimes couldn't eat anything. So, I am now up 40lbs from my low. Still down 50lbs, but, not good. It frightens me that I still after 5 years have no will power! I have found a surgeon up here (moved from AZ to Seattle) and a support group so am hoping to get on track. I do believe it is still the best thing I did, 100lbs overweight was certainly killing me, just hope to get rid of this additional 40 now. Is this what we all face, a set back and we gain back the weight in a flash!

[Tamjpjb 1]

I still have my original band and it still seems to work. Im not losing but am maintaining for the most part. Although my heartburn & relux is crazy out of control. I need to find a new Dr and address it but have not had any luck :-(

[realmccoy 0]

Tami- I had the same issue and my Doctor prescribed Priolsec or Prevacid- both available now over the counter. Just make sure it's Omeprazole.

take it daily and it has helped a ton. If I skip a day- it starts to creap up on me. My doctor also put me on a Calcium supplement because antacids remove that from your system. You'll notice a huge difference in a few days!

[Tamjpjb 1]

Oh thanks. I have been taking another brand that used to and is supposed to last 12 hours. Lately i am lucky if it last 8. I will try it. Thanks again :-)