wild6

HERE'S ONE:

http://www.occforum.com/index.php?showtopic=10031&st=0&p=66042&hl=IDAHO&fromsearch=1entry66042

Joan is my mother -n- law and also does my fills but I wanted to put it out there that her prices have changed.....I am not exactly sure what they are but you could call the office number for exact pricing. She is very good and also has a band so she is familiar with how it works.

Hello..knowledgeable bandsters!

I got a flu shot in September and found out that I am allergic to a preservative that is in it and have been breaking out in a severe hive reaction since then. I have been on prednizone before,, due to the depo-shot reaction I had yrs earlier, and did NOT want to go back on it. The side effects plus weight gain is horrible and since I had lost 30 lbs since being banded at the end of March I was a happy little camper and did not want to put the weight back on. Well, in October I hit rock bottom and had to go on prednizone.....I have gained 10 lbs since then and I am not sure when I will be able to go off of the medication. Hopefully soon as it has been a few months since getting the flu shot.

My question is....is there anybody out there who has taken this while being banded and how did you do with the weigh gain and side effects? I have become a little depressed and I am not like that....I do believe it is the steriods playing with my emotions....but if there is anybody that can tell me about their experience I would love it!

Thanks so much!!

Papaya Enzymes..

Thanks so much AngieB....where do you find them at? Sorry for the little questions!

Hello~

I read some time ago about enzymes that help food go down better when it is stuck but I cannot find where it was. Does anybody know what I am talking about out there? Thanks so much for all of your help. I read this forum at least 3 times a week and you are all so very helpful!!

Off track, but has anybody taken prednizone since being banded? I have been on it since October and was just wondering how others that are banded have done on it!

Thanks~

Bev

First off, I am SO SO SO happy to report that as of this morning, I am ten pounds away from goal! I was looking back at my stats and remembered that after my complete unfill, I shot back up to 189 so this means that since I was refilled on September 5th, I have taken off 19 pounds with only 2 cc's in my band; I eat WAY more than I did when I was super tight and I haven't exercised in a month because I had a bladder surgery and was told no exercise for six weeks.

I even went on a holiday during this time! Yet still, 19 pounds in less than three months! That's not that much for someone at the start of their jopurney, but I'm at the end... when things really slow down!

When I had 3.4 cc's in my 4 cc band, I could not eat solids, my hair was falling out, I was miserable.........I even GAINED weight from June to July. I kept wondering how I could be eating 600 clas a day and not losing weight- but I wasn't. At least for me, having a super tight band is not worth it.

If you are starving yourself and still not losing, I really think loosening your band a bit is the way to go. Believe me, I'm no angel, I still "cheat" eating chips or candy now and then but the trick is making good choices "most" of the time. I've been trying to eat breakfast every day, up my protein, drink my water, and although I don't always write everything down, I keep a running total of cals in my head every day, ALWAYS looking at nutrition info first.

Sabrina:)

Congrats....and good for you!! I am wondering if that is were I am at...a little too tight! I am maintaining but I want to lose more. I have not been the best at exercising so I am getting back on that bandwagon and toning up.

Thanks for your update....and good job!

I seem to be going through a pattern where I won't lose any weight for three weeks and then I lose a couple pounds over night. This last bit of weight is coming off super slow but at least it's coming off. Two pounds away from 160's!

Sabrina:)

I am the same way.....Just a couple lbs away from 160 and I will sometimes go up and then in one day will lost 2-4 lbs....although I am READY to get to the 150's!!

Good job!!

So I’ve done many things since losing my weight, my motto is “try anything once” (within reason). So here I am at a conference and the theme is western – and lo and behold they have a mechanical bull.

You only live once folks, it was a blast! Yeee Haaa!

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/23fa98d...0/video/7083779

Can you imagine me on that thing at almost 300 pounds - I don't know if you would have been able to see the bull under my girth - or if the poor thing would have been able to do its job...

I'm having fun living life as a fit person!

Lisa

I LOVE it Lisa~ I will be going to the NFR in Vegas next month and I am planning on getting on a bull also! You looked good girl!

Kristi!

Ok...Can I join in on Operation Size 10. I too am in 12's and would LOVE be that much closier to that single diget size!!!!!! WOW, NEVER thought I would be saying that... That is so awesome!

You go Kristi!

Carrie

Me too...I am a size 12 and I want to join the Operation Size 10 club!!!

Ok, so I sit down to eat and every time the first few bits bet STUCK. I then get u and walk and move side to side and I can hear it gurgling down....sometimes I PB with little effort...totally controlled though...I just push a little and it comes up. Then I sit back down to eat and all is well. In fact once that happens sometime I can eat more than I would think I should be able to eat without what I would imagine is good restriction. It's almost like it clamps down when food first goes down them lets up. After the first few bits of being stuck the the eating is normal as long as i am chewing correctly, which I do religiously.

I am getting hungry between meals and though I am losing, not as fast as many of you. I've been choosing my foods more wisely lately hoping to put off a few lbs before my class reunion in Oct. I called the clinic but we keep missing each other when he calls back.

But does this mean I need a tighter fill, an unfill, or nothing. I made an appt for sept 12 at 1030 for a flouroscopy to see if they can tell. I read that is there was even a little slip it could cause a little pouch budge that could be catching that first bite and causing the spasm. Anyone have that? I certainly don't want a complete unfill. I know I might need a little unfill and I will go with their advice.

Any ideas???? Oh, and what I eat doesn't matter. It can be anything from pudding to steak. Still gets stuck....then with movement and a little burp or hiccup, and an occasional, it's all fine.

Please help anyone! Do you think I may have stretched my pounch?????

Cindylou~

It was as if I was writing your question.....I am exactly the same! I have only been banded since March 27th, 2009 and have lost 26 lbs....and I am continuing to lose but it did worry me at times. I would think that my band had slipped but I would ask my mother-n-law, who is a doctor and has had the lapband for over 3 years in the States but now refers to Dr. Ortiz, if she thought I had slipped. She assured me that it is really very hard to have your band slip and there are some stories out there but that what we are doing is sometimes a little bit normal. Since that talked I have started losing more weight. She said to do soups and foods like that for a couple days because it may be irriated.

Anway, I am glad that someone else feels the way I do at times.....my friend that was banded with me NEVER feels like this. I guess we are all a little different.

Enough of my blabbing...good luck with the weight lose for your reunion.

I don't suppose your nurse would consider moving to Boise, Idaho, would she? lol

Seriously, you look great, Denise!

Hi fellow Idahoan bander....I live in Lewiston! Good luck. I am a lucky one. My mother -n-law is a nurse practitioner here and has had the lap-band herself and she is trained to do fills so I can get them anytime and at no charge. I am spoiled not to mention she has had hers for over 3 yrs so she has some great advice.

I'll tell anyone or everyone, and most people are curious, especially those who are "larger" like myself and want to know details. I'm happy to give it to them--one person is actually looking into banding. My family has an open door policy when it comes to information so, I'm probably one of those annoying people who holds nothing sacred and will talk about anything. It's just the way I was brought up. You'll probably see that you'll tell those that you know won't negatively judge you and will be supportive. The couple of naysayers I've had--I just tell them that it's my body and this is the way that I choose to get the weight off. I ate my feelings--good or bad so, for me, I needed the band to help with my out of control binge eating. I KNOW that I would be well on my way to 300 lbs. if I had not had the surgery and if I do have a bad food day, I might not lose that week, but I sure don't gain!

Good Luck!!

I feel the exact same way that you do. I am not ashamed of what I did and I will tell anyone that asks me about it. I made this decision and I am the only person that has to live with it. I do not judge people for what they do and if I am judged for this...they are obviously NOT a friend of mine. I am happy and so is my family!! That is just my two cents!!

Hi - Kim

I hear the recovery isn't that bad, Only with me I keep thinking it will be like my c-sections - since that's really the only surgery I've had, And it wasn't that easy...

Good luck ladies!! I had the surgery done on March 27, 2009. We stayed at the Marriot and they were GREAT!! I would recommend them highly. Recovery was not bad at all....we had the surgery on a Friday got out that day and then went shopping all day on Saturday. I feel great today and have lost 14 lbs. my first fill will be this Friday. I am excited and a little nervous for it....I am wanting to start losing more weight so I am ready for that. But, I am a little nervous about the restriction and learning what I can and cannot eat.

I can't wait to hear the progress you girls will make...I am telling you that you will feel so good about your self.

So, once again, GOOD LUCK and have fun down there!!

<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wDMf3jI/">

<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wDMf3jI/weight.png"></a>

hi i am being banded on the 20th and really suffer from reflux, did yours go away and did you have to pay extra for the hiatal hernia

Yes...it totally went away and there was no extra charge at all. I was telling my husband last night that it is so nice to not be throwing up in the middle of the night anymore. No heartburn or anything. I had no idea that I even had it until they told me they fixed it while they were in banding me.

Good luck...you will love being banded and without your hiatal hernia.

Okay - {{{I'm getting excited!}}}... BUT, I can't help but think that I am somehow "weak" in that I couldn't do this on my own... And the fear of the PORT! Oh my! This foreign object that may petrude from my abdominal area??? Some people have it below their bra-line. Others have it at their waist line...etc. And finally - What about the pre-op diet? If I follow it to a "T", will I fall below a BMI of 31/32 and risk not qualifying??? *sorry for the hysterical ranting...* I just so badly want to enjoy the healthy, slender ME again after 20 years...

I am totally with you!! My friend and I both went and did this together. And, we too, kept talking about how people will think this is the easy way out and that we should just try to lose it on our own. Well, we have done that for years and we might lose a couple lbs. but we would gain it back all over again. My husband told me not to worry about what others think...and he is right...he said you are not taking the easy way out. You still have to work at what you eat and exercise. It is a tool that we can use to our benefit but we can also sabotage it. I am completely happy with this decision.

Good-luck!!!

Hi Everyone. I hate to rehash old topics but after many searches I still dont think I have a good understanding of what I should expect. I was banded 3/31/09 and started solids this week. I initally had a pretty significant weight loss on clear liquids which leveled off a bit on creamy liquids and is now going the other way on solids. As a "professional" dieter for the past 35 years I understand a lot about nutrition, exercise, and variations in weight during periods of near fasting (sustained execution of this knowledge is an entirely different matter..lol). So, I am not hugely suprised that I have been gaining almost a pound a day since begining solids and exercise again. I am curious however to hear how other faired during this time. I seem to be able to eat what I want as I am sure the swelling has subsided and I have little to no restriction, but have I have limited it to under a 1000 calories a day of low carb high protien food. I am walking 3 miles a day and doing a little weight training to slow the loss of muscle mass. Because I am in southern CA at my six week point I have scheduled my first fill for 5/11. The math (left brain analysis) says that this trend is unsustainable as my basal calorie needs far exceed my caloric intake,,,and although I know this, it is still hard to stay off that darn scale...lol! Anyway feedback from the more experiemced bandsters on this period of our journey would be appreciated...btw I love this forum! The experience shared and dedicated posting of many of you really helps me stay motivated and excited about this life changing event. Thank You!

I am not a more experienced bander..but I was banded right before you on March 27th. So, I can tell you what is going on with me. I lost 10-11 lbs in the first week and a half. Then I slowly stayed there but this week I have lost another 1 or 2lbs. I am definitely not walking as much as you are (good for you). I think I am just staying very busy running everywhere with my active kids. I think that is is a case by case situation. And, I know we need to stay away from the scales everyday but I just can't seem to not get on them every morning.

Good luck to you and once we get the fill we will be on our way!!!

I also had a low BMI of 31. I was banded on March 27th weighing in at 189. I have lost 13 lbs since then. It is the best decision I have ever made. My husband was behind me 100%. I was a little scared to go into Mexico, not for the surgery, but because of the media's perception of Mexico right now. It was completely safe. We had a great time. The Marriot was great and the OCC was better then going to an outpatient facility in the US. My nurse practitioner referred me as she has had it down in Seattle, Washington 3 years ago. She said that if she had to do it all over again she would've gone to Mexico.

I thought of it this way...weight is something that is ALWAYS on my mind and do I still want to be thinking about it 10 years from now? NO!! And here I am...3 1/2 weeks post band and loving it.

Good luck...you won't be disappointed. :-h

Yes, 10CM band holds 4cc's.

Thank you for explaining more to me!!

Is that a common size band or are there many different sizes? :-?

Im not worried - I go there often. I will be there again March 12-17th. My friend lives there and she said it is okay where we go. If she tells me otherwise I will post it on here - honestly, cross my heart I am not concerned.

I agree with you...I was a little scared to go the day before we flew out but once there I felt completely safe. We even went into Rosarito to shop and still felt completely safe. It was a little sad though....the amount of tourist there was minimal. We were just there two weeks ago....it's safe, have fun!!

I have the 10CM band, 4cc's.

I am currently at 2.5cc

Can anybody explain to me what size band I have exactly?? On the card it says it is a 10CM band. They were explaining it a few hours after surgery but I am not sure I fully understand what size it is. Is it a 10 band that only hold 4cc's? Please help explain some of you smart banders!!

Done...voted for you!! I live in Idaho, too!! You go girl! :-h

I cannot exactly relate to you at this point as I was just banded 2 1/2 weeks ago. But, my mother-n-law is on her third year with it and she was just telling me last night that she wished she would've known this in the beginning. She said she would sometimes get food stuck and it would be very painful until she was told that if she tried to cough it up it would feel much better. So, after hearing about your pain...and listening to her maybe trying to do that might help!!

I had surgery (Nissen's Fundoplication) for reflux and hiatal hernia in 1998. Would this affect me from getting the lap band surgery since my stomach has already been altered?

Thanks in advance!

I was banded on 3/27/09 and also had a hiatal hernia that was fixed while they were in banding me. Now I know why I would throw up at night about 3 times a week. Everything is great and I feel great!!

Angie, I am starting on my second (pre-op) week with surgery scheduled for April 15th. Yes it is hard especially nights. Just get back on track what is done is done.

Have your shake in the AM, Lean Cuisine in the afternoon (eat it real slow), another shake in late PM with lots of water and crystal lites in between. I think the next few months are going to be really hard but we just have to keep focused on our goals to succeed.

To me this is a last resort I have failed so many times but I am determined not to fail this time. Maybe put some recent pictures of you up on the refrig. I just have to keep playing mind games to be good cause it has been such a long time with my bad eating habits. I would sneak downstairs after DH would go to bed and pig out on food that I bought and hid around the house. I'm just so tired of not being able to buy cute clothes and I'm so tired of being in such denial. I guess what I'm saying is I've hit rock bottom and this is what is motivating me.

One day at a time. Speaking of which doesn't Valeria Bertinelli look great?

Yes...Valerie looks absolutely amazing! I have always been a fan of hers and now I think she is an inspiration. I have never been one to wear a bikini but I would sure LOVE to. Hoping that I can achieve that!!

To me that lapband is just a tool for us. I have only been banded for 2 weeks but I have been around a few people that have had it done and you can definitely sabotage it. It teaches you what we should have been doing all along...eating smaller portions and chewing our food better. However, on our own that just wasn't achievable. I have lost 12 lbs in the last 2 weeks and I already feel better about myself. This is not only helping me but my entire family. My husband is proud of me and my younger son thinks that I am some kind of pro regarding food now. Ha-Ha I have NEVER been a pro at food. I think once you have been banded your mind-set changes because it is something that is finally so achievable you start thinking healthier and want to start exercising and get that body going. =D>

Hey!! Congrats and welcome to Bandland!!

Glad it went well and hope you have a great journey - you own it now - make it fun!!

And 11 pounds is awesome in that time frame - you're kicken butte!

Best,

Lisa

Thanks Lisa!! I read your blogs and am inspired by you. I love all of your ideas. I will be signing myself up for a fun run in our town April 25th. I am excited for it!!

Thanks,

Bev

Hello, everyone!! I was banded on March 27th, 2009. I feel GREAT!! I have lost 11lbs to date and I feel very good. This is the best decision I have ever made. This is not only a life changing experience for me but my entire family. My husband and I are going to share meals if we go out to eat. And, my son told me the other day that he thinks that I am some sort of expert on food since I have had the surgery. Reason being, is when he eats I am telling him to chew his food and eat slow. I thought it was funny. I have never been an expert on anything related to eating or food.

If there is anybody out there that is still researching that this is the right thing to do....I can assure you that you will be very happy. The thought of never needing to diet again is a huge load off my shoulders. I do need to admit that I was a little scared to go into Mexico but once there felt very secure. We went down to the beach the day after surgery and walked and shopped. It was great. The Marriot Hotel was great too!! I honestly have nothing negative to say about the whole experience.

Thanks to everyone that post things on here. I read so many before and after being banded. You have all helped my and answered some questions that I have had.