Suzie

Well, I have gained 12 pounds. I know I am eating the wrong foods. What do you eat in a days time? Thanks in advance for the info. I was banded in Sept. 07

Sassy, I have been emailing you. It must be going in your junk box. I am getting yours. Suzie

Let us know what you find out about the cost. I am going to need a tummy tuck for sure and possibly a face lift, brest lift. Thanks

I am scheduled for surgery on Nov 14. I am so nauseated from the liquid diet and have such indigestion. I am also so nervous that I do not know what to do with myself. Any suggestions or words ro calm me down??

I too was so scared I cancelled. I decided I could do this on my own. I wasnt going to spend all that money to lose weight. That lasted about 6 days then I was right back where I started. My husband came to me one night and said I just watched a special on lap band and the effects on diabetics. The group that did not have the lap band had a 92 percent higher death rate. He then said I really wish you would reconsider. I sat and thought about my life. I felt awful, I had no energy, I did not want to live the rest of my life the way I had. I felt I did not have a choice. It was either take this chance for a better life or continue the way I had. I signed up again, had the surgery and it has been the best thing I could of ever done. My regular doctor asked me if I was ready to give up my best friend...food. I said food has become my enemy. It is killing me slowly. I still look forward to meals only now I do not have to worry about overeating. I still plan on eating a lot I just can't. It is so wonderful to have something helping my control. I hope this helps. Good luck to you. Let us all know how you are before and after surgery.

I went to a Lap Band website before I had my surgery and it had a BMI test. After you filled in height and weight it would say yes, you are an excellent canadate for surgery. Mine said that until I hit 175. Then it said no. I80 it still said excellent canadate and I am 5 5 also. I think if you try to get your insurance pay for it probably not. If you pay cash you can probably get it done in the us or Mexico. The best way to find out for sure is call a doctors office that does lap bands and ask.

I've been banded over 2 years and have had my struggles. If anyone was looking for a quick fix, this was not it. My obstacles were not the typical, though... I was banded in March 2005. Had my first fill in Mexico and then planned to have the remainder of fills locally. Well, locally cost me $2,000 for one fill!! Needless to say my "BAND MONEY" was quickly gone by June 2005. I had to wait until February 2006 for my next fill. When I had money to work with... Well, that fill was great! Or so I thought... My August 2006, my band was too tight and I was loosing 9 lbs a week! (Okay, yes... i like seeing the numbers drop, but I wasn't getting enough nurishment in to survive. Not only was I loosing the pounds, I began loosing my hair and was really to "drained" nutritionally to make it through the day.) So... Fluid was removed. Banding doc (now in Chicago), decided that we needed to go back to no restriction so my body to recover. Well, that sounded like a plan. November 2006, I planned to go back for a fill. Well... um, they don't advise doing those when you are pregnant. So, that delayed this weight loss journet, once again. I ended up having a miscarriage so went back in for a fill in January 2007. That fill was not enough to cause restriction. It did for a little bit, but then it wasn't working. With excercise, I'd loose a pound or two a month, but not results I was looking for. The end of February 2007, I had a severe ankle fracture. I was out of commission for the next 3 months. No excercise. I did manage to hobble my way into to get another fill in March, but not enough to do much good. Without excercise, and regardless of how little or what I ate, I was stuck! Well, I'm back to walking and trying to find time to get to the gym. I was still stuck, so... I went and had another fill last week Friday (11/9). I told him I was tired of playing this game and wanted to start winning!! He was very cautious with putting the fluid in and we checked on fluro to make sure we weren't too tight. At one point, I couldn't get anything to move, so we backed some fluid back out and I thought we were good to go...

here is where I need your help, I can't get much down. Fluids are really a struggle even. He has advised me to continue sipping small amounts of cold liquids until they pass with no problem, then move to pureed foods. Okay... I know that some of the liquids are getting down as I don't spit up as much as I take in. Feels like a constant bubble between my mouth and my band all the time... (HATE THAT FEELING).

Can someone remind me what the "fluids" diet looks like??

I am doing carnation instant breakfast right now because without the protein I get "pass out" feeling...

Peanut, I am so sorry about all you have been through. I do not have any answers for you as I was just banded about 7 weeks ago. I am sure you aware of chicken broth and protein shakes. The lack of protein is what makes your hair fall out. I read that on an internet site of lap band info. Have you tried baby food thinned down with water/ I know I use to feed my son the pureed protein and mixed it with pureed fruit. You could thin this down and it would give you a protein and a carb together. I wish I could help you more but I wanted to let you know someone is out here thinking of you.

What else can I have?? It's been so long since I did all liquids!

Thanks!

Hello out there,

I started the pre-surgery diet. I am drinking protein shakes for breakfast and dinner, and Lean Cusiene for lunch. My one and only thing i am eatting extra is the pria bar. I have done this since the start. They are heavy on the protein and little sugar. It was the only way I could make it into the later afternoon since I eat lunch early- 11:30AM. At first I lost. I did really well. Then I flubbed, but went right back on. I had a piece of cake. and that is all.... That was more than a week ago. I have only lost 11 lbs. So for the last couple of days I have yo yo.ed with no loss. I am concerned they will deny me the sugery. I am putting out a lot of money and more than that, I am starving. I am hungry and the tummy is a rumbling. So I know I am doing right. Any encouragment would be good. They wanted me to loose 20 lbs, but I have less than 5 days till I leave. I am not cheating. Any encouragment would be greatly appreciated. I am hungry. I am hungry. I am hungry. (

Shanny

Shanny, if you have lost 11 lbs. then something is going right. When did you start this diet? You will always lose weight fast at first. Then it slows down. Don't give up!!!!! Don't give up!!! You will end up back where you were. Once you get the band it really helps the hunger. Hang in there.

I am doing good the gas problem gets better as time goes on. I am 3 wks post op and I have lost 16 lbs. I went for my first fill today

and back on clear liquids. They only put in 2cc in the fill. I am scheduled next week for another 2cc lets see how that goes.

I went for my first fill and cannot tell I have one. I am eating too much. I go back again the 20th of Nov. so I am trying to maintain, but want to lose. Can you tell you have one. I think she said she put in 4.9 Why in the world can

t i tell I got a fill.

I went for my first fill last Wednesday. I was so excited about having some restriction. I had some after the surgery and had lost 24 lbs. before my first fill so I could not wait. It was a blind fill which disappointed me as I had heard people say they could not tell they got a fill or they were too tight. I did not want either of course. I think she filled the band first and then ask me to drink water. She told me to tell her if I could feel it. I thought I did. She said if you fell you are going to throwi it up go to the sink. Well, here comes me not wanting to bother her by throwing up so I thought I felt something. She then drew some saline out, I drank again. It went down. She messed with it a litte more, I drank more. She started telling me she wanted to make sure I could swallow my spit. I said "What?" I had not heard this before. To make a long story short I guess I did not do such a good job feeling the fill. I cannot tell I have had one and now I am trying to use my own will power which is not easy. My question is why do people do blind fills? And, should I tell the nurse I cannot tell I have a fill? Have any of you had this happen? Does fluro work all the time?

PBing,,,Aka,,productive burping. If you get something stuck, everytime you swallow your own saliva it will build up in your stomach, eventually you can't take anymore and you have to purge. What comes out looks like clear slim. If you do this to often you can end up with a slipped band. So try not to do this. Eventually you'll digest the blockage and be back to normal. I highly recommend getting a bottle of chewable Papaya enzyme at Walmart. This stuff is supposed to speed up the digestion process in your stomach, that is if you were to get something caught. They don't taste to bad either. So the golden rule is to CHEW, CHEW, CHEW!

Thank you, I have not had that happen yet but I was just banded in Sept. and had first fill a week ago and cannot tell I got a filll. I did get a piece of pasta stuck the third week after surgery and I did not understand what was happening so I drank water to help the air bubble I thought I was feeling and all the water came back up. It was very surprising. Thanks again.

What is slimming and people have used an initial that I cannot remember now in the same sentence as slimming. Begins with P??

So it has been a year since i was banded by dr ortiz in TJ. First, this was the best decision i have ever made for myself and i am so much healthier than i have been in at least 20 yrs. i have gone from a women's size 20-22 to a size 12-14 (12's are very tight but i can still get them on) i now shop in the regular misses department and no long visit the fat shops. my goal was to lose 50 lbs the first year and i actually lost 56 lbs. i have 44 lbs to go over the next year and i have no doubt that i will hit that goal. this is all the positive part... now i want to tell you the down side as a single person....if you are single you will get this - otherwise you might think i am crazy and whiney but i would like to tell it all for those of you that are looking for the miracle answer.

my self esteem is actually worse now than as a fat person... i am now very self contious when i walk into a room. for a woman who has hid behind layers of fat for 20 yrs this is terrifiying feeling... i wonder why are they looking - men and women alike.. am i dressed ok? do i have something on my face? etc... even though i am now classified as average size i still see myself as a size 20-22 when i look in the mirror. i dont see what others see and i dont understand when people come up and tell me i am beautiful... hello are they looking at me? the worst part of all is the male attention.. i dont know who is real and who wants to know me or who just wants a peice of a$$. i used to walk in a room and own it as a big girl... after all everyone likes the big girl, she has personality to make up for her size. now i have no confidence and i am shy and intimidated by attention. i know this is just the adjustment period and i will get used to it and learn how to handle it but for now it is depressing and scarey. this weekend i had planned on taking pictures and posting them but honestly i was too depressed to want to get in front of a camera. i will post pictures over the next couple of weeks because i know how insperational they are and motivating for everyone that is just wanting to lose wt and be healthy.

again, i am so glad i made the decision to have the surgery and i love my band, but remember just because the outside starts to look healthy and normal doesnt mean that the inside will automatically follow.. it is alot of hard mental work to be healthy inside and out.

kym

Hello Kym.

This is Suzie again. I so understand where you are coming from. I was very nieve about men and their thoughts. My husband has taught me quite a bit about how men think and many of the things he has taught me I could of gone my whole life without knowing. My first husband was not blunt but had an affair where he declared his love for the woman in front of her and I and I divorced him. My husband now is very blunt also. When we married 17 years ago he moved me from my family and I gained 40 lbs. within the first year of our marriage. I missed my family so much. I moved to a new depressed city, took on 2 new step kids that he had custody of, ages 3 and 5, took on a new teaching job in a very challenging school system, and had his ex-wife walking in and out of their previous home any time she pleased which we were living in. I had two kids also, ages 5 and 7. I sometimes wonder how I survived. I know there was a part of Bob I really loved and wanted but with all our new changes neither of us was at our best and I was steadily gaining weight. I was so resentful of him for moving me to his horrible city. He could be generous and so kind. He took me home whenever I wanted and would stay the weekend with my parents and not complain. I knew though, he did not like the weight gain. He didn't have to say it. I knew. He would do other things. He would bring home diet sheets, books, tell me about diet TV shows and my self esteem fell way down. To make a long story short I knew I was going downhill. I decided I was not going to continue this spiral. I had to get strong and not let his words hurt me. I started looking at him clearly, asking myself why would he say such a thing, I knew it was not all his fault. He was not happy either and he felt guilty for mvoing me. He didn't like the weight gain and I didn't either. I finally started telling him I was getting his message and didn't like it. When and IF I decided to lose weight would be my decision and he could not make me until I decided to do it. Everytime after that when he would imply something I would stand up to him firmly yet with a certain amount of understanding of where he was coming from. By this time I was diabetic and had high blood pressure. I knew he worried about my health too. It was not a good time but slowly I regained my self esteem with no help from anyone but myself. I did not lose weight and in fact gained more but somehow I knew I was not going to let HIM get me down. The strange thing is I think he started to love me more. I remember one time after an argument I said Bob I am not crying this time. All these arguments do is drive me further away from you. I think that statement said it all. Things steadily got better but I had to change it. The point of this is talk to yourself. Build your self esteem and do not let men or anyone else make you feel bad including your ex. Tell him the damage he has done to you is in the past and you will never let him hurt you like that again. He does not have that power any more. Tell him also to keep his thoughts about your body to himself. You don't need them.

If you want a relationship with him again it is possible. Just ask him who in the hell he thinks he is talking about your thighs? Then ask him why in the world would you make such a comment to me? Then let him squirm. Make him realize he does not need to tell you things like that. My husband still has a mouth with other people, still blunt , but he is more careful with me and he has learned a few things and I love him all the more for trying. I still struggle with low self-esem sometimes and better self esteem other times. I guess I think that is what life is.

,

Chris, I was rereading posts this morning and saw where you said you sent me an email. I did not get one. Can you send it again. I have been wondering abou tyou. You haven't left for Mexico yet have you? I had my first fill and cannot tell it.

OK, so this is the story. I went to get a fill last week. My doc didn't have the right length needle, so she used a shorter one, and had trouble accessing the port because it was so short. She pulled out about 2cc's and that was all she could get. She put in 2.6cc's (if indeed she was in the port) and I left pretty happy. I immediatley went to get something to eat to see if I had any restriction. NONE WHATSOEVER. I went back today to get another fill. Same thing, longer needles hadn't arrived yet, and she tried to use the shorter ones again. She "thinks" she hit the port on the 2nd try. She tried to pull out the 2.6cc's but was only able to pull out .5cc. It had a little blood in it. So, can you pull .5 cc of liquid out of tissue??? I'm terrified that my band has a leak! She never was "quite sure" she was in the port with the shorter needle, so she told me to come back Friday, when the longer needles would be there, and she would try again.

She was using a 1 inch, right angle Huber non-coring needle. I'm also scared about this....could she have damaged the tubing, and CAUSED a leak? Any ideas????

Thanks,

Donna

Donna, have you learned anything about your band? Are you okay?

Hi Suzie

I am diabetic and since banded in July have lost 49 pounds. I take 2 metformin/day and 1 Avandia/day. I also take 38 units of Lantis which the doctor has lowered from 88 units and I no longer have to take insulin on a sliding scale at mealtimes. My sugar levels have gone from totally uncontrolled (and high numbers) to between 70 and 99. Very seldom are my sugar levels over 100.

Thanks Kari,

I am glad to hear that. I too have gone down on the insulin. I too took quite a bit of insulin before surgery. 120 units of Levimer at night, 60 units of Novolog short acting insulin at each meal and it still woudl get a lot higher than needed. I was also gaining weight. Now I am down to 60 unit of Novolog Levimere at night and morning. If I still eat cookies it will go up just like it use to so I am backing off them for awhile. They looked so innocent. I guess I had high hopes. I know it will get better. Just needed to hear someone say so. I am also on metofromin and glimizide. It was 177 this morning so I took some regular short acting insulin. I am going to get it down today.

I was wondering if this lap band and the weight loss has helped improve diabetes. I have lost 24 lbs. so far and wondered about how much weight people loss before it will improved blood sugars.

Thanks Judy,

I am only 6 and a half weeks out from surgery. I have lost 24 lbs. and still on insulin. He thought he could take me off insulin after the surgery and I remembered thinking WOW. Well, I am still on it and I realize it might take more lbs. off before I can come off from it. I am taking much less. I am also on meteformin.

Good Morning,

It is 3:09 in the morning and I am wide awak. I think I am still on the other time. We just changed our clocks last weekend and my body has not made the change yet. I had my first fill two days ago and cannot tell I have had one. I just ate a hot dog on half a bun. It all went down fine and I do not feel full yet I have never felt that with this surgery. For some reason I do stop long before I use to when it comes to portion size. Not sure why. I always start out thinking I am eating this whole thing and somewhere after aout half I start giving my dogs the rest. They may start to gain! I do seem to be having lots of gas and upper back pain behind the shoulder blades.

It is supposed to be 73 degrees today here in Arkansas. I love this weather and want to stay home. Have a good weekend everybody!!!!!

Hello, I had my surg yestreday. I am having so much pain at he port site. It is almost unbearable to turn onto my left side. It burns and I feel it in my lower back. I called my md and he told me this is ok and to take my painmeds. I hurt just sitting here writing on the computer. It dosn't feel like gas pain. It actually burns like an iron burn. Has anyone else felt this?????? Please respond to me. I'm not usually a baby, & Im scared something is wrong. I am not nauseated. It don't hurt to walk or lay down, but turning and sitting up straight really hurt. Any body have a suggestion?????tx

How is the pain Brenny? Has it let up some? I sure hope so. How are you doing otherwise?

I was wondering if this lap band and the weight loss has helped improve diabetes. I have lost 24 lbs. so far and wondered about how much weight people loss before it will improved blood sugars.

Hi Suzie,

Yes it is difficult to figure out the posts and replys haha, I think I've read them all and than see another one! Your fill sounded easy. Why the liq again?, they never said anything about some of this stuff,,, I prefer to be well educated. No surprize please. If your eating grilled hot dogs (yumm) You are out a while with your surg. I haven't got to abay food yet. But MD told me today I could eat some cottage cheese. I chewed it up well, and boy was it good. My protien intake has been too low.

A hot dog would fix that right up haha, Ok lets see how it goes with the fill. How exciting!! You skinny girl haha > Take care, Brenny

I think you will find that doctors differ on when to get a fill and what to eat after a fill. Mine wants liquids 48 hours after fills. She told me some doctors let you go back to eating. I ask her why liquids and she said the fill irratates the stoma...not sure I believe that but the next line got me. You don't want anything to get stuck. Oh yea! I stayed on liquids for 24 hours and then tried a cracker today. Chewed it real well and it went down When I got home another Emmi was waiting on my email and it said you can eat within 24 hours and this is a program that my doctor approved and sends to my email so...... tonight I ate a baked potato with cheese on top. Sounded soft and it went down. In fact, it went down so well that now I am wondering if the band is tight enough.

Hello Brennie, I am so glad to hear from you. You posted a message to me right before you went in for surgery. How are you feeling?????? I took GAS X last night and I guess it is what helped. I have had this a few times and when I have it I have gas like I have never had before. I understand for the first time why my husband releases gas every so often now. Ha!! The surgery was still worth it!!!! What are gas x strips? I took chewable tablets.

I do not know where some of my messages have gone either. Glad to know I am not the only one. Also, I do not know how to send personal messages. I didn't even know that was possible until today. Let me know what the doc says. I hope your port is okay. I had my first fill today. I was just a tiny bit nervous but it was fine. They put in a little medicine that deadens the site and never felt the fill. After they put a certain amount in she had me start drinking small sips of water. She would adjust it according to how I felt. I sure hope it is not too tight. I have to drink liquids for 48 hours. That is fine....I guess. I grilled hot dogs last night and they sure sound good right now.

I do not know how to send personal messages so I will use this. Can you tell me how to do personal messages

It is so nice to know someone out there is strugging with the NCLB act. I am also in a low income school with lots of low achieveing children. Education is not their first priority. Paying bills and eating is. NCLB does not take that into account.

We enjoyed our trip to Mexico also. We drove around and saw a school, a church, and houses. I do not handle the heat here very well either so knew it would be a problem. We almost went with some friends last winter. I would love to go during a cooler time. We ate breakfast at a place on the Texas side right before we crossed over that was out of this world. They had the best salsa I have ever had.

I would love to talk to you more. My email address is Kellco@conwaycorp.net Either email me if you would like or let me know how to send personal messages.

Suzie

Congrats on the weight loss. Doesn't it feel good? I go for my first fill tomorrow. I am excited and a little aprehensive. I am still losing weight, 24 down at about 2 lbs. a week. I like that and do not want to ruin this slow steady progress where i can still eat. I have heard some fills are too tight so I worry a tad about that but I am going as I will never know unless I try it. What is sliming and there is another word people are using....Pg or something like that.

So you are both retired. That sounds so nice. Being able to take off and have a mini vacation to Mexico sounds nice too. My husband and I travel when we can. We went to Mexico once. I enjoyed the cheap prices of things we bought but it was summer and so hot. I got a little sick. I have taught school for 21 years and with the "No Child Left Behind Act" the pressure has become too much. I do not enjoy having to push the kids, make them listen, pressure the parents, etc. All negative now. I have talked to my husband about retiring but I am still 5 years away from collecting teacher retirement and I am not 100% ready to go yet. I do not know if I will be able to figure out if I am ever 100% ready or not. What did you do?

Forgot to add I was also on reflux acid meds and I had a hernia also. Now I am having gas almost everyday. Constant pressure and bloating. I am taking Gas X and trying to wait it out. What were your acid reflux symptoms? Would you like to exchange emails? Mine is Kellco@conwaycorp.net if you'd like.

Going for my first fill tomorrow. I will let you all know how it goes.

Hello Brennie, I am so glad to hear from you. You posted a message to me right before you went in for surgery. How are you feeling?????? I took GAS X last night and I guess it is what helped. I have had this a few times and when I have it I have gas like I have never had before. I understand for the first time why my husband releases gas every so often now. Ha!! The surgery was still worth it!!!! What are gas x strips? I took chewable tablets.