DisasterWalking73

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences with PCOS with me. I had a phone conversation with my OBGyn today regarding some lab results (FSH levels very low, LH levels 3 times what the FSH levels are) -- and she's decided to put me on Metformin. I am hoping this will be helpful - do you have any experience with this drug? I've decided to hold of on starting it until after my surgery (it's in - oh my gosh, 4 days!) - I want to minimize my surgery risks as much as I possibly can. I'm not too worried about the pre-op anymore - I have lost some weight and I've been following a very low carb diet. So, hopefully, my liver is plenty petite now!

Good job, RevyD! You are scootin' right along toward your goal! Now, as for the rest of you - I am happy you told me the OCC scale weighs light, I'll go ahead and stop dieting now... *kidding* But, it does make me feel a little more secure about losing those last four pounds - but then again maybe they know it weighs light since they put a higher weight on your card, Charelle... I dunno, I've confused myself now... time to go to bed!

You look fantastic, Lea - way to go! =D>

That is so great, Dave! I am hoping and praying that my little ones do as well - I do hear the time there flies!

I am really happy to hear of yet another great experience at the OCC, Dave - it sounds like it went very well. How did your little one take you being away? (this is the thing I'm most worried about - being away from my two girls) - I'll bet she was so happy when her daddy got home! Deena

D'oh! Guess I won't see you at the airport - lol - but, yes, I'll see ya here on the board! And I am anxious to hear what you end up having for that "last meal" !

First, let me just say, you guys are so great. I talked to the OCC and they've said pretty much the same things you guys are telling me - that I've already lost half the weight, so just keep trying and I'll be ok. Part of me knows I'm being really paranoid - I think this is my way of trying to deal with the uncertaintly of the surgery (and also this new PCOS thing) - just worrying about every possible thing. So, I'm gonna just keep trying, keep exercising, and keep drinking (water, though, not martinis! ) Thanks - and hopefully I'll be seein' y'all in bandland pretty soon!

Hey, Margaret - yep, can see your picture just fine - it's nice to be able to put a face to your name! Yeah, to be honest, I've thought about it and the temptation is definitely there (although, as you know, I'm having a bit of trouble losing all the weight I'm supposed to on the pre-op, so I may need to save every possible calorie I can) - but the temptation of having "real food" is definitely there for me. I'll probably do something similar to what AngieB said - something light the night before (also, I've heard going a bit light will help with gas the day of surgery) - but I have heard such good things about the Cantina! lol Oh, and I see you're being banded on the 25th - does that mean you're leaving on the 27th? That's the day I'm getting in, maybe we'll run into each other at the airport! - Deena

I am just going to paste in the email I just sent to Carolyn/Dr. Miranda - any advice? If I haven't lost all the weight, will Dr. Ortiz still do the surgery? I am nervous... Hi, Carolyn - I am experiencing some problems losing enough weight on the pre-op diet and I wanted to discuss the situation with you. I started three weeks ago and decided to do option #1 - atkins induction. It started off great - I lost about seven pounds the first week. However, the second week I only lost a pound (I'm supposed to lose a total of 12) - so I switched to option #2 - two shakes and a lean cuisine this week. So far I've gained one pound on that. I'm so frustrated, I've been drinking my water and exercising. There is something else though - I saw my OBGyn the day before I started my pre-op diet to get some bloodwork done and make sure there'd be no surprises when I headed down to Mexico. First of all, her scale showed my starting weight as 252 (not 248 as I'd originally told you) and she said my bloodwork has come back with hormone levels consistent with PCOS. She put me on birth control pills to try to correct it - but I am worried they, along with the PCOS are making it difficult for me to lose weight. I'm very worried that I'm going to get down to OCC and be denied because I haven't lost the full 12 lbs (I've lost 7 so far from my highest weight of 252 and I've got one week to go). The two shakes and a lean cuisine don't seem to be working for me - please advise - I don't know what to do!

Hey, ODave - I didn't realize you'd already had yours done! How was everything, and how did it go being away from your little one? I'll bet she was so happy when you got home!

Hey, Charelle - I was wondering how you're doing now that you're a couple of days out? Was your experience at OCC a good one - it sounds like it from your previous post! How are you doing on the clear liquids and all? Me - I'm still chugging away on the pre-op diet - my weight loss has slowed down a bit, which is a bummer. Hope I can still drop the last 4 lbs by next Tuesday!

I was just wondering what sorts of things everyone here does for exercise - I know physical activity is somewhat limited for a month or so after we get banded, but I'm not sure exactly how limited (like, is a walk around the block at night, ok - I usually walk with a 5 year old and a cat, so I'm not going that fast... lol) But, I did promise you embarrassing, so I'll tell you what I've been doing for my main form of exercise... DDR. Yep, Dance Dance Revolution. Lol - my 11-yr-old loves to do it for at least an hour every day and I do it right along with her. She dances on the pad, I just dance on the hardwood floor right next to her. If you've ever played, you know it's even fun to just "go through the motions" even if you're not on the dance pad. I would have laughed it off before I tried it - but, I'm telling you, I SWEAT and I know my heart-rate is getting up there. So, there's mine - what do you do? p.s. - for any other closet DDR fans out there - DDR Disney Grooves drops on Oct. 6 here - and I am a little ashamed at how excited I am about it! *hums techno-version of Chim Chim Cheree....*

A veeeeerrrry merry birthday, to yoooooouu... to YOU! (sung to the tune of "A Very Merry Unbirthday" from Alice in Wonderland) -- and best of luck in that race!

Good luck, Nicole - I'm sure that was a rough thing to have happen. You sound like you have a great attitude, though - and I'll bet you'll make it work with or without the band!

Congratulations, Charelle - that is so awesome!!!! You're on your way now, girl! I can't wait to be right there with you! Do you know which band you got (a topic I seem to be obsessed with lately - lol) ?

Best of luck to you - I know this pre-op diet is tough for everybody. Lots of people say it's worse than the three weeks of liquids post-op (which I'm sooooo hoping to be true!) If you do decide to do Atkins, I have a few pieces of advice for you - sometimes the first day or two can be tough, particularly if you've had a lot of simple carbs and sugars lately. It's almost like a detox period and people say they get tired, headache-y, etc. I don't, usually, but I just want to give you as much info as I possibly can. Once you get into ketosis, though, you won't believe how much energy you will have. Second bit of advice - don't be afraid to consume fat. I know it is so anti-intuitive after so many years of low-fat dieting, but it will help you sooooo much with the hunger. Seriously, I am probably consuming about 80 grams of fat a day and I'm losing about a pound a day. At first that felt so weird, until I realized how well it worked. I'd reccomend starting the day with a nice cheesy omelet with some veggies (or full-fat pepperoni and mozarella is one of my faves) - you will not even think about food until at least 2 pm - lol. In this case, fat is your friend. Also, if this is the first time you've low-carbed, you won't believe how fast the weight will come off (us old-time low-carbers even have a name for it - we call it the "golden shot" - because it's the one shot you get to lose weight super-fast, if you were to gain it back and then low-carb again - like me - it's not nearly as fast. Again, good luck to you - this too shall pass, right?

I was concerned about being hungry on the two shakes and a lean cuisine option, which is why I decided to do option #1, which is Atkins induction for three weeks. I felt it was a good option because the diet puts you in ketosis which gives you lots of energy and virtually no appetite. I have taken Phen Fen in the past, and, in my opinion, being in ketosis is very similar appetite-wise. But the big question - does it work? For me, yes - the weight comes flying off if I keep the carbs under 20 grams a day. Last night I had a taco salad (no shell or beans) and a non-breaded chile relleno for dinner and still lost weight this morning. In fact, I've been averaging about a pound down a day. I've lost 8 lbs so far, out of the 12 that I'm supposed to lose (and I have had a few slip-ups too - last weekend, in particular, was very bad). Also, ketogenic diets deplete the liver of glycogen, making it nice and small for your surgery (just what you need) So, if the hunger is really getting to you, you might want to switch to this option. I'm not knocking the 2-shakes and a Lean Cuisine option, because I know it works very well for lots of folks. I was worried about the hunger on that # of calories each day, though, so I decided on Atkins instead. You can find all the info you need in Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution or this website: http://www.atkins.com/Program/FourPhases/W...eFoodsList.aspx Good luck!

Oh my gosh - that must feel so good! Congrats - and knock em dead in that race!

The subject of the different types/brands of gastric bands currently in use that's been brought up in another thread has gotten me thinking. After lots of research and reading, I think I have a slight preference for the Inamed band - and was hoping to get the 4cc size as I (like everybody else, I know! ) am hoping to get restriction as soon as possible. Also, I'm going to be using Fill Centers, or possibly a local doctor I know who does fills under flouro, and I'd prefer not to have to go back 10 times to get any restriction at all. So here's my question - is it possible to request a specific band (leaving the ultimate decision up to Dr. Ortiz, of course)? - but is he at all open to patient suggestions? Obviously, he is the expert and I want him to make the ultimate decision - it's just that if it's six of one, half a dozen of the other, I'd prefer the 4cc Inamed. I'm just curious - I know I'm being a bit of a control-freak about this - it's nerves, I think!

Hi, Elain67 - I am so glad you had such a great experience - it gives me lots of hope that mine will be great as well! Now, as for the different types of bands (please keep in mind, I'm not a medical professional, these are just my opinions/impressions) - there are two major manufacturers Allergan/Inamed and Johnson & Johnson (who make the REALIZE C band, which I believe is the one you have). The Inamed band comes in two sizes, 4cc and 10cc, while the J&J is, I believe, 11 cc (someone correct me if that's not the case). The pro's and con's which I've read (and remember, this is all anecdotal internet evidence) is that the J & J band is wider and therefore may be less prone to slippage and is lower-pressure. Some people say the J&J is more likely to leak because it will form creases at 9cc's - others say this is not true - and that it is LESS likely to leak because it's pre-curved. The main difference I've read about is that people who get the smaller (4cc) Inamed band need fewer fills to achieve restriction, and some have a little restriction before getting a fill at all, since it's a smaller band. Although you will always have random folks on the internet telling you one is fantastic (the one they have) and the other is terrible - most doctors seem to think they are both very good, and they will both help you achieve your weight loss. I've heard it said that it's like buying a new Chevy or a new Ford - there are slight differences, but they'll both get you where you need to go. p.s. - there is a good thread on this subject stickied at the top of this forum called "Which Brand of Gastric Band Does the OCC Use?"

Thanks very much for posting this - it helps to set my mind at ease (my surgery's on the 29th). Congratulations on your new way of life! If you don't mind my asking, which band did you get?

"Always do what you are afraid to do." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

My flight gets in at 1:30, D -- see you there!

Good luck on your pre-op diet, Margaret! I'm on week 2 of mine - still trying to settle into it. How is everyone else doing? Oh, and I meant to tell you guys (for everyone who's going to be at OCC on or around Sept. 29) I switched hotels from the Lucerna to the Marriott - figured it would be nice to be around some other bandsters!

What a great idea - I look forward to posting to all of these!