stratcat

Hi, I wanted to check in and see if there were others like me out there who had success and then for whatever reason......stopped pushing to lose and just maintained? I am ready to restart and want to connect with other restarters.... I would like to hear your experience and be part of your support team and would like you to be part of mine. (also some of the newbies here need to hear some stories about trials from people that were not instantly successful BUT are still trying).....I think there are more strugglers out there than instantly successful folks ( by this I mean folks who have surgery, lose their weight and live happily ever after). In my warped world eating was/is too big of a problem for surgery alone to solve. I am not ashamed to say ( at least I am trying not to be ashamed) that I still struggle with choices. My reasons to stop were VERY valid. For those of you who are just banded, don't Freak out when I tell u this but life can throw you some curves and the band is forgiving. You can fill it up and diet like mad or you can deflate it and deal with family crisis, health emergencies, or emotional needs. The band is a lifetime thing. Not a RACE to the end. So if anyone out there is thinking of scolding me or anyone who responds to my post.....DON'T......

I had severe stomach problems after my band due to the strong meds. The antibiotic in particular. A call to my PA helped, he took me off meds as soon as he could.

Be gentle with yourself. Life is about learning how to pick yourself up and go on. Not allowing in a mistake to keep you down. Celebrate that you are learning and growing. We all go through the same thing. Over and Over again. Different situations, same feeling of worthlessness. And, just as you would tell me, I am telling you. Go easy on yourself. I made up my mind that i was only fat. Others have their own crutches - drugs, alcohol, affairs, spending habits......whatever. ..............And I am learning to deal with my problem. But thanks for posting your feelings. I learned from your post and the others who posted. I have been beating myself up for the fact that I quit after the first 60 lbs. I am going to take my own advice and be gentle with myself, acknowledge why I stopped after the first 60 lbs,and simply go on to lose 60 more. You are on the right road. The first couple miles (weeks) are bumpy. Have faith - it gets SO much better. You will be smiling in no time.

How r u feeling now? I do not understand what is going on with you well enough to offer specific advise. BUT, I will tell you what I would do and have done on many occasions. When I had something happen that I did not understand I called my doctor's office and asked to talk to the Lap band nurse. Usually most bariatric practices have a nurse that takes calls from perspective, pre and post lap band surgery folks. She had time to listen, answer questions and offer advice. In the one or two situations (I called plenty - I took her at her word that she was happy to be of help) she escalted my question/situation to the doctor or PA. She would usually call me back in a couple of hours and let me know what the doctor said. Just talking to her made me feel better. Most of my questions she was able to handle with some simple words of advice, encouragement and sympathy. I love nurses. DO NOT feel embarrased to call your doctor about anything. But PLEASE, remember your manners and ask your questions nicely and thank everyone who takes the time to talk to you and help you. I hope you are feeling better.

Hi, back to my fav. lap band site. Banded 2/15/11. I am a 50 year old female. 6' tall and 320 (Oh say it wasn't so - but it was) at my highest. My port is located above my left breast and is hidden by bra strap. (my doctor perfers this location - and it seems to work just great and is covered by most bathing suits) I include this info in case anyone wants to ask me questions about my unique port site. I am a self-pay who took advantage of a $10,000 package available here in Middle Georgia (now $12,000 ). I include this for those of you who are considering self-pay. As I said, I was banded Feb 15, 2011 and lost 60 lbs within 6 months. My journey has been atypical. I have had alot of stops and starts. I have had several over-fill issues and my lap band service center has changed three times. First my hospital closed the bariatric surgery center, then my new doctor moved, and now finally, I think I have got a steady place. I rebounded 10 -15 lbs when i had to have the band totally emptied then work back up to a reasonable fill level. Now that i have a new place to go to see a doctor and get fills I have decided to stop coasting and start working on losing the rest of my weight. I hope to be chatting with people on the board and sharing your experinces as well as finding encouragement for myself. Feel free to drop me a line. Terri

Hi friends, I am on a journey of nearly 150 lbs. By the Grace of God, I was banded 2/15/11, had no serious problems and have lost 40 lbs. Second fill yesterday..... LIFE IS GOOD. i am thinking of meeting with a psychologist on a monthly basis for the following reasons ---- I would appreciate your HONEST (Please TRY to be tactful) opinions. SINCE, the average bander only loses 40% of their weight and I want to go the distance, I am looking for help and support. And I think part of the Key to succes is mental attitude. The more you believe in yourself and can visualize success the more likely you will succeed. I fear that I will need some help along the way: Times will get tough, weight loss will slow down, our friends will disappoint us and say dumb things, and we will get weary of the sacrifices that it takes to lose weight.............not to mention that change is scary, and my BEST FRIEND - food is not there to help. I have actually been given the name of a councilor who is banded herself. She does the pre lap bander psych evals for the hospital.. she seem like a good option. Cost, time and effort, and bad advise are the downsides. I have never been to a councilor. Will she/he be able to help me any more than just talking to (for example) my mom or a good friend?

Hi everyone, I dug back in the archives, read this over again, and was so moved by the replys (all over again) that I wanted to share it with everyone that is new to the site.

I bought $10 worth of baby food. Only attempted to eat one --- and donated the rest to a food drive. It was NOT for me.

Hi, I am concerned about how tired you are......... I think you should talk it over with your doctor's office. It just seems a little more than what I or others I know of, experienced. I walked through my workplace the next day to prove that I survived. I went back to work on Monday, (surgery on Thursday)..... My doctor's office said that most folks do the same thing: Surgery Thursday, Work on Monday. Especially the folks that don't tell anyone what they have done..(as they told me YOU WOULD BE AMAZED) .....but for you to be a week out and still so weak that you are sleeping so much-- perhaps it is your meds causing this fatigue............. BUt since the first month is for healing........and no one can dispute that sleeping is the best medicine........you may be just fine ....... Call your doctor's office. If your doc's secretary is like my doc's, she will provide some advice, or catch the doctor in the hallway for a quick opinion, or (as happened with me only 1 time - get the PA on the line ASAP ). As for your feelings -- they might be causing some of the fatigue... Some folks can be so cruel, and petty. Try to keep your chin up (your much smaller and cuter chin) If feelings continue -- you may do what i am doing and consider a councilor ---- I have finally resolved myself to going. I have some self-sabotage head talk going on that I wanna sort out. Besides, the band is only physical - my mind got me to the place I was JUST as much as my stomach did. I am slowly realizing that I gotta deal with my emotional eating behaviors..... and the band won't fix them. But as far as the haters go .......... Looking Great is ALWAYS the best revenge. Let them eat their nasty little hearts out. Best wishes for a successful journey. Terri.

Well, this may not be what you want to hear, but this is what I would tell my BFF. Your health care folks are the ones to heed and trust. But, truly they do not seem too worried as they asked you questions (and got good answers that made it plain you were eating sensibly) and let you go home with only the follow-up appointment. Basically, they are in wait, watch and see mode. I would think that if you keep losing as this rate, they will do something to slow you down, as it is a strain on the body to change too fast. Also, skin elasticity becomes an issue and we all want tight skin. Also, you want to burn fat only, not fat and muscle. But nearly everyone with big drops slow way down after the first month. (I did) ........And sometimes, they then plateau for a month or two. (three for me).. There was a recent post on this site asking folks 6 months or farther out from surgery how much we had lost at 6 months. And it was kinda cool. We all had lost about 50 lbs (give or take 10 lbs) but some had been fast, then slow and some had been steady. I loved it because it showed me that WE ARE ALL GONNA GET THERE IN OUR OWN TIME If the doctor's office does end up slowing your weight loss down a little, don't sweat it, you will have a band for the rest of your life. Enjoy the jouney. Terri

Hi, saw your post, and that today was your first fill. GOOD LUCK. I hope you post back and say that is was so easy that you will never be nervous again. Terri

The threat that I mentioned is on the pre-lap board and is called: Bandster basics & a day in the life (168 lbs down and 2 years out) It 's last post was on 9/15, but since you have the title, use the search up in the right hand corner. Also, if you leave a comment, you will bring the threat up to current so others can enjoy this post too. Once again, it is REALLY worth finding and reading. Terri

We All worry about this kinda stuff......... you are normal. There is a really good thread on the pre-lap board that really addresses many of your questions (it might be burried a little bit, but look for it, it has about 2000 reads last time I checked. and it is written by a successful bandee to people with just your questions.) LET ME KNOW IF YOU CANNOT FIND IT - it is a wonderful post. As for everything else, take it one day at a time, one question at a time. I called the doctors office to talk to them CONSTANTLY about my fears - they had one particular person who dealt with calls like this and gave advice. And later, after surgery, she was the one who told me that either everything was normal (many times) or that I needed to talk to the PA about this situation (only once, and he took me off a med that was too strong for my stomach). Before surgery: I FINALLY settled down and relaxed when I was patiently told that it was a 45 minute out-patient surgery. i had somehow built the surgery up in my mind to something bigger than it was. After surgery: I have had my bumps: an overfill and intolerance to a med (raging diarreah - ew); And I still could have a problem - but seriously I am off my Blood Pressure meds (122/80 today) and no cholesteral meds anymore ......and I am not even half way an my weight loss journey. It has been wonderful--for me. I now longer agonize on how and what I am going to eat: the answer is anything I want that I can tolerate in a small portion. BUT: you must decide what is right for you: ask your questions and demand answers: I was truly pissed when I was told i would have to give up diet coke and wanted (DEMANDED) to know WHY- which I found out- and now I don't even want it. Also, I was pissed when I found out that you have to go back on liquids for a few days after a fill.......at my first fill. (I thought someone shoulda told me earlier ) Good luck, Terri

I had lost just over 50, but stalled out in last part of June due to an overfill............I think I just needed a break,(and my doctor's office said that it was OK -- the band is forever). I have lost about 6 more in the last 2 months --- ( almost 60 lbs in 8 months - PTL). I have an appointment later this month for a fill to get me back on track. My last fill was in June. I thought I'd get aggressive and try to loose 20 more by Christmas. I am not even half way yet....but I feel no rush and am hoping the slow approach keeps my skin tight. (I am 48 years old). I have a long journey, almost 150 lbs -- so I decided to take it slow and steady and enjoy the journey. I wish you a wonderful journey, too! BTW - the thing below is inaccurate and i forgot PW to update.

My port is above my left breast, about 2 inches down from arm pit level. It is sewn into the muscle so that it moves naturally. It is very easy to find, and sometimes sticks out a little if I move just right. (I think I busted a anchor stitch my first day home after operation -- I don't care for this but so far it is very unnoticable to others ). The skin is thinner, so the doctor/PA uses a smaller needle to fill the port, and I never need him to numb the area. So far so good with this location. A bathing suit strap, or bra hides it easily. And the scar is nearly gone --- this part of the body seems to have healthier skin than my stretch-marked abdomen. So where's your at ............... and what are the pros and cons for you?

You are asking a good question -- port locations can vary. Mine is above my left boob and hides under my bra strap or bathing suit strap. I have heard of at least one other person (a man) from another doctor who had his port in the same location. Generally, my doctor's opinion is that it is more convenient; It is sewn into the muscle and does not move alot, the PA/Doctor can use a smaller needle.(I never need him numb me before a fill).... My doctor uses this location with most of his patients. In fact, I think I will start a thread asking others about their port locations - And, please, if you don't like the answers earlier in this threat, just ignore them, most folks here really mean well. It was my experience that the same person who SLAMMED me on one thread, gave me great advise on another. Good luck - look for my thread .

Hi friends, I am a normally very assertive confident person in all areas of my live except about my weight. So here is the question: as of yet I have not used my lap band ID for a kiddie, senior or smaller meal. I normally just ask for what I need and more or less get what i want. But recently I counted 5 takeout boxes in refrig and think I need to grow a set. Can you share your experiences with me? I just have a fear that the skinny little waiter/waitress will not be sympathetic and I will be the joke of the kitchen - I go to the same restaurants often enough that I would be recognized and It would NEVER be forgotten even years from now when I am slim and normal.

Hi, you have the right idea. You should manage your own fills and make them work with your life (your trip) and not the other way around. BTW: I do recommend not getting a fill before a journey because you just might have an issue (excessive swelling, over fill etc) and be too far away from your provider for help.. Also, once you get a fill (at least for me) I can count on getting real tight for at least 2 weeks and needing to be on Soups and mushies for the first several days (normal requirment) if not more. Not to mention that in that adjustment period you are more likely to experience food getting stuck and PBs (Producive Burps) and all the other trial and error things we banders go through when we adjust to a tightened band. (Don't worry you will be any expert about it all soon). And if your journey happens to be a vacation. Even more reason to wait. Vacations are still about eating and drinking exotic things with exotic flavors with people you love. Live it up, then go get your fill. Having to eat mushies on vacation would not kill anyone but vacation is about relaxing and letting go -- not worring about food choices any more than you have to............ All being said, I recommend you talk to you health care provider about your fill shedule.. They are the ones that know you best and can tell if you are still a little swollen from surgery and thus tight enough, or if your ongoing weight loss makes a fill unnecessary at this point, or if you need to get started on your fill schedule or whatever. There are so many variables: Many surgeons will not fill you till you STOP losing weight-- because it is so important to learn better eating behaviors now, rather that later. And still other surgeons are anxious to get you to your sweet spot, so they keep you on a steady fill schedule. I am 7 months out from my surgery -- recently I called and talked to the Barietric nurse in charge and told her that I am still losing weight albeit slowly but I did not want a fill just yet. Instead what did she think of the idea that I wanted to take up to another month and work on behavior modification. (I have had an overfilled band, and now know that I prefer it as loose as it can be while still providing me with moderate restriction and letting me set some limits and goals). She was all for it, she said that thats what the lap band is supposed to teach me and that I should be learning it as I go becasue if I reach my magic number and think I will learn it then -- well I missed the opportinity to learn along the way and would stuggle to learn it later.. Well, thats a long answer to a short question, but I did not know this stuff when I was new, and others took the time to help me --- so now I am reciprocating. Good luck. (BTW - my counter is wrong - i've lost 60 lbs since Jan 15, 2011 PTL !) .

Hi, I'm Terri, and have been banded 6 months. My surgery center was 2 hours, 20 mins from my home. It has not really been a problem to be so far away. My surgery was on a Thurs, and because I was from so far away they kept me over night. We stopped at my business on the way home on Friday so I could say hello. And I was at work on Monday. (I recommend having surgery done on 3 day weekends- MLK day weekend, Presidents day weekend --- you get my drift) My surgeon was very experienced, 100 + lap bands per year, for the past 10 years, and I was his third that day. And becasue I was staying overnight, I was the last of the day. That was fine with me. Hubby staying in the room with me all night -- he slept on a recliner right beside me. BUT, If they had not kept me overnight at the hospital I would have stayed overnight in a local hotel for two reasons - in case of a complication, and car rides suck after surgery (as it is take a pillow to hold over tummy when you do ride home). Now don;t get alarmed, surgery is unlikely to have a complication. (We are talking about a 45 minute operation = not brain surgery.) But I will not lie, it was very nice to have a nurse to take care of me instead of my lovable, but unskilled husband. ALSO, hopsital drugs are the best. For my fills, I try to get a late appointment (on seminar night which is once a month I can come in up to 6 pm). Normally I leave about 2, (my ride is only 2 hours from my workplace) have my fill apt about 4:30 and get home early evening. I would get home earlier but I usually go to the Sams club and shop for an hour or so. (I usually buy myself a treat if I do well and loose weight) --- This is so not on subject but I bought myself one of those robot vacuums - its the best; I could go to another doctor for fills, but since it is only 1 visit per month or less (I have not been for 2 months - need to go soon), I make the drive to see the folks I know and trust. BTW- I tell everyone - your doctor's nurse, or in my case the Admin Nurse for the bariatric section is my BFF and go-to-gal. I call her and talk to her when I need ANYTHING. That means more to me than a close office. She listens, asks questions, and a time or two when things were not quite right she got the PA on the line ASAP. Also, the Admin Nurse for the Bariatric section was the one who said that she'd work my chart so that i could stay overnight at no charge ( I am a self-pay and this hospital had a special rate for lap and 3 months followup care ). She could do this becsause one of the doctors ALWAYS requires his patients to stay overnight - so she was not cheating or doing something wrong, staying overnight was kinda optional. So, dare to compare and don't sweat the drive. Good luck, Terri BYW - cannot update the tikker 'cause I forgot the password. I have lost almost 60 lbs

Hi, I'm Terri, banded 6 months and read your topic and wanted to share. I want to tell you that you are normal and from what you say, nothing is wrong. You sound so worried. You are where you should be - starting to learn to live with your band. You had your surgery and have been healing. The doctor will fill you soon. But right now you only have a minimally tight band. So yes, you probably can eat most anything. Some folks actually gain weight in this phase. My PA told me that as long as I did not gain he was happy. The things you are so worried about learning are going to come, but they will come slow, and part of it will be trial and error once the band gets tighter. There are 4 things to learn: Eat slow, Chew it thoroughly, Small bites. Some things need to be left alone (I avoid bread and potatoes - french fries). Eating slow is my biggest downfall, I still get too hungry and tear into my chow. When I am not on a rampage, I try to eat with manners such that between each bite I actually lay the utensil down and try to converse pleasantly with my hubby. Chewing thoroughly -- try to hit some number, 25 or 30 or even 40 with tough meat. Small bites -- I have heard others say that they use a baby spoon to eat. I use a fork to stab rather than my old mode which was shovel. The thing I want to tell you is to ENJOY your weight loss journey - your message sounded so stressed. The LAP band was one of the most wonderful gifts you could ever give youself. Don't rush your journey to get so some magic #. And don't agonize, call your doctor's office and ask questions. My motto is that the PA's secretary is my BFF. Also, take a break one in a while and reward yourself: My PA told me that nothing was forbidden to me anymore. And that is all the encouragment that I needed. I may take 6 extra months to get to my magic #, but I can tell you this - i will have had birthday cake and celebrated life with my fiends and family along the way. I wish the same for others. Good luck with your journey. PS tickker below is inaccurate. I forgot my password and cannot update. My surgery was 2/16/11 and I am at 60 lbs lost.

Call your doctor's office and tell them that you are nauseated and ask to call some meds into a local pharmacy. (have the phone # ready for them). It is normal to feel naseated.. I was sent home with a bottle of anti nausea stuff just in case (it cost about $8.00) -- sorry that you were not, but see if you can get some now. It is best to keep the stomach as still as possible the first week and a nauseated stomach is just not good for healing.

Congratulations, yes it goes so fast once you make the decision. I am pretty sure that the hospital will have some financing options for you. Just ask them if they can break the payments up to something manageable to you. Keep in mind the hospital is more interested in collecting the 90% than the 10% and it is in their best interest to help with the 10% to get the 90%. You may have more time than you thought. My hospital bills the insurance company first, then bills me the balance, a month or two later. And even then, the hospital I have worked with seems pretty good about helping folks pay them. Once time I called about another matter, and was pleasantly surprised when I was offered a 4 month, same as cash, option for an MRI bill that was fairly breathtaking (even after insurance). Don't let the little stuff worry you -- AND, the doctor's secretary is always your best friend - he or she knows everything and can often direct you to the best people/person to talk to..... Use your resources. Good luck, Terri

Hi, I am so much futher along with my journey than when this was first posted but I still LOVE this post. AND I keep coming back to this post for reinforcement of the fact that lap bands are a journey that others have made and finished -- they did not let little things stop them and they did not stop when they had a set back. They got stronger and then shared with us to make our jouney easier. Thanks again, for this post. Terri

I have to say that I am a cheater and will take advantage of the loop holes --- but I am a smart cheater. I asked the right questions and found out what the intent of the rule was. Then once I knew what the real reasons for the rule were, I could negotiate and cheat smart. In the case of the first week of surgery -- the intent is to keep the stomach as still as possible so it heals faster and better. The rule is pretty hard to negotiate around. I was further disadvantaged becasue I am lactose intolerant and allergic to eggs. I got pretty weak from near constantly having the runs -- liquid in liquid out.............I began to have cravings on day 5 and 6 too. I was saved by KFC mashed potatoes with gravy. These will give you a fuller feeling and the gravy feels like cheating. But honestly -- the fact that you ate pizza scares me for your safety. If you were my BFF (and you ARE asking for advice) I would tell you to bend the rules with some KFC mashed potatoes and gravy, but not break them blatantly with no disregard for your surgery with something completely dangerous to your well-being as pizza.