FLORIDAYS

I am alot of things but a mean thin girl and pompous I am not. I am sorry you took it that way. But I don't sugar coat it and I have been around long enough to know that when my dr told me the band will do 70% of the work he means that when properly restricted the band can prevent over eating but it cannot stop you from eating the wrong things or eating too much of the wrong things too often he was right. Since you didn't state the calories or tracking methods you used I had no idea you were doing that. Your post did come off as being angry at the world and this must be everything or everyone's fault. If you didnt mean it you should try to convey your feelings more accurately as unfortunately we can only read what you write. In the 4th paragraph of your original post you specifically said I stop eating when I am full. I was saying that we shouldn't eat until we are full. We should eat until we are satisfied. When you post on a forum such as this you will get people who coddle, who stroke and people like me who cannot under stand how if you ate 900 calories you didn't lose weight. But since you say that's what you did I believe you must have an underlying medical reason for not losing weight because the math doesn't add up. If you feel you need a new dr then by all means get one who specializes in the band and had a good staff who will give you step by step instructions. Mine did and I couldn't have done it without him. As far as my success..... I am damn proud of it and the point is if I can lose it...anyone can. The amount I needed to lose was huge... But no matter how much one has to lose.... had it not worked after 3 or 6 months I would have turned every stone to find out why. It just didn't seem like you did that. If I misunderstood then I regret that but I still would tell you to channell your energies into finding out why instead of resigning to the fact that the band failed you.

thanks...I couldn't recall the name I sure wish someone would pay for me to talk about the band.... I think I am just as believable as celebrities are.

Lead by example. I will tell anyone who is interested to Listen and learn. I will not push it on anyone. Their weight is not imy concern anyway.... Just remember how mortified you would have been if someone suggested you get the band, have any wls or even diet. You just don't tell people that stuff.. You can however be a walking billboard for success and that will motivate others more than anything.

I read Sharon Osborne had it removed after 5 or so years... So she obviously felt she had her eating under control.... Of course I really have no idea why...just recall reading it... Also that NFL coach had a band.... I think its the JETS head coach

When will you be moving to solids? I am surprised you are on shakes at this stage... It's not supposed to be a liquid diet. Is this drs orders?

Out of your post I got several things... You are very angry and seem to want to blame your failure to lose weight on the band, the dr and other medical issues. You may have a dr who shoots from the hip but you want someone who will baby you. The band only does 70% of the work. You must do the rest. Even a new dr won't help. You mention doing everything right but do not state how many calories you eat or what portion sizes you are able to consume. Even with a thyroid issue you can lose weight if you burn more calories than you consume. That's a scientific fact. I do think you can get pills to regulate the thyroid but don't blame it. You said you are eating until you are full.... Bad idea... As bandsters we are supposed to eat until we are satisfied. I eat 3 oz of Protein, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 c carbs at each meal.... With proper restriction that keeps me full for 4 to 5 hrs? I never eat until I am full... Because often that would mean I eat too much. I have lost a lot of weight. But I worked my butt off to make it happen... I weighed and measured everything I put in my mouth except toothpaste. I counted every calorie including a breath mint. I wanted thin that badly.. It sound like you want it... And I am sorry that you have a tool that cost a lot of money which could help you dramatically which you refuse to learn to live with.... But I hope someway you at able to drop the weight....your life depends on it.

First ask for an accounting of charges so you can see what they are demanding payent for. are the hospital and dr fees all together? Did you think to ask or find out if the dr was in the network before you had your surgery,... If not that may be a costly mistake. The hospitals charge insurance companies different than self pay so what you might be seeing is the insurance bill. No doubt you have in writing what your share of the costs are so start with the dr and thn the hospital and go from there. Good luck

My BMI was 55 ... I didnt get this ..... I recovered VERY well.

According to the internet......Inferior vena cava filters are often used as alternatives to anticoagulant therapy for the prevention of pulmonary embolism. Many of the clinical data that support the use of these devices stem from relatively limited retrospective studies. The dual purpose of this review is to examine the incidence of thrombotic complications associated with inferior vena cava filters and to discuss the role of anticoagulant therapy concurrent with filter placement. Device-associated morbidity and overall efficacy can be considered only in the context of rates of vena cava thrombosis, insertion-site thrombosis, recurrent deep venous thrombosis, and recurrent pulmonary embolism.

Well I suspected it the other day when "she" posted to eat fruit instead of drinking water.... so I guess its pretty obvious this person isnt a bandster.... 2 pieces of bread for lunch? 3-4 c of food for dinner? LMAO

I only take a gummy multi vitamin religiously and I took biotin during my losing stage. My dr said as long as I eat my protein and vegtables as part of a balanced diet he didnt feel I needed anything else. That is my situation and may not be yours. I would speak to your drs and see if they can get a handle on the source of the problem. The skin issues could be weather related... so maybe a dermotologist visit is in order but I would start with a full work up from the regular dr. He should be able to see if you have a vitamin deficiency.

Mine was about 45 minutes and My Dr pretty much gave me an overview of how the band works, what I would need to do to be successful and an overview of the reasons people fail. He answered most of my questions with out me asking the questions as obviously it wasnt his first rodeo. Additionally I asked questions like.. how long was recovery, how does the band help me keep the weight off once I lose it, what sort of involvement does he offer in the way of my follow up, detailed explanation of fills, why might I need to have the band removed one day and how it compares to the other weight loss surgeries out there.

I agree with all the posters thus far... get back to basics. Start with the next meal. If about a cup of food isnt keeping you satisfied for at least four hours it may be time for a fill.

Congratulation on your happiness... and while your faith is inspiring do not short change yourself... YOU made the changes... perhaps your strong faith was the catalyst but YOU had to identify it before any changes would happen. That in itself is inspiring!

Since all Drs are different I couldnt begin to tell you what to expect. But I will tell you what mine entailed. The Psych visit was about an hour. Upon arrival I completed a long questionairre mostly about how I react to FILL IN THE BLANK situations, lifestyle and relationship questions... nothing hard to answer. Then I was seen my the Dr who basically asked me why I wanted to take the drastic step of surgery, what I expected from it and how it would be different from previous weight loss attempts. I felt he was basically making sure I was doing it for the right reasons and for me and not some idealistic pipe dream. The NUT was about 2 weeks before surgery. She went over the pre op liquid diet, the post op liquid diet, mushies and gave me a plan based on the number of calories I needed to shoot for which turned out to be higher than my dr and I agreed upon after surgery when I was ready to start solids at week 4. She also gave me the portion sizes I was allowed to eat and told me if I needed anything she was a phone call away. It was pretty clear and I did what she told me. I never called her again but on my monthly visits I woould ask my Dr specific questions and he would give me hints and suggestions.

As others have said ..... yes you will have breathing tube. You will be completely dependent on the anthesoligist for your life. My advice with regard to the insurance question it to call your company and ask the same question. My insurance company didnt pay for it to be put in... (even with a BMI of 55...sorry sorry..sore subject) But if I have complications and it needs to be removed they will pay... go figure.

Ok.. I know its a dramatic title....but I thought it would be fun to hear what every one's last meal was or will be before starting your pre op diet... I have to think back 2 years but I will always remember it fondly. I had 10 chicken wings w bleu cheese of course, loaded fries and 3 margaritas. About 1500 to 1800 calories... Funny how that really disgusts me now... What was your meal of choice?

COngrats on being adaptable and sticking to it even in adverse times!

Most places sell slim fast shakes which is better than nothing. Although nothing works too... I did it once... and drank Water all day. I was fine but I dont advise it. Are you able to have solids? If so just go easy with a protien snack or bar. If not is there a place to get some Soup? You will keep extra one in your desk from now I bet.

I remember I asked the same question. My dr says Its fine to eat with in a few hours of having a fill. Its really anticlimatic too... I was execting this big thing... and turns out it doesnt hurt and it only takes a few minutes. You will ost likely be told to do liquid for a period of time afterwards. I am 24 of liquids then 24 hrs of mushies following a fill.

Yes I think next to tracking calories this is key. 3 oz or protien, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 c starch / carbs at every meal.

Oh my gosh....me too. I stepped on the scale for the first time in a really long time at my first surgeon's appointment... I was figuring it would say 300. It said 377 which is pretty close to 400 lbs. I was mortified. Now I am on the scale twice daily and ignore people who tell me I am obsessed. Not being obsessed is what got me to 377 lbs!

I personally think its a little soon to give up unless you really want to stay fat. If thats the case I am sorry for you. You say you are eating 1000 calories. How do you know this? Are you tracking the calorie count of everything you put in your mouth? Are you measuing portions? Are you drinking 8 glasses of Water a day? If you are exercising and eating 1000 calories of food and beverages there may be a medical reason you arent losing weight and I would explore that avenue with your family Dr or your surgeon because its common knowledge if you take in less calories than you burn you will lose weight.