Lilium

Hello, I was banded on April 28th, 2011 in Boise, Idahoby Dr. Anderson. I have had only one fill and haven’t noticed much differenceyet. The biggest changes have been: not drinking when eating, and a half hourbefore and an hour after eating, along with starting with Protein, and moreprotein and then again even more protein. I haven’t lost much left, but I amquite hopeful, especially after reading so many inspirational stories on thisforum.

Congratulations! You really do give the rest of us encouragement and hope. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

I can't answer your question about the sleeve, but I started out at 324 and am now 244 after 4 1/2 months with the lapband. It is slow and steady progress. I plan on losing the weight and I'm willing for it to take some time. I had to pay most of it on my own and it is worth it to me. I hope this helps.

I too drink a protein drink every morning. I'm too tight in the morning to eat, and would not get in the recommended amount of protein if I didn't. I use the powdered Muscle Milk Light with soymilk. I buy it at Costco and it isn't too expensive.

Congrats, just let your body heal from the surgery and don't worry about losing weight for a few weeks (my surgeon said 6 weeks). Good luck.

I started out heavier as well and only people who know about my surgery have commented on the weight I have lost. It will probably take another 30 pounds before others comment. I'm just happy that I'm fitting into smaller sizes. I don't have to go shopping as I have so many sizes available in my own closet. I was banded April 28th and have put on my largest pants each month bandiversery to notice the inches I have lost. Celebrate your body changing and eventually others will notice.

I agree with everyone else. I would not ever let that doctor perform surgery on me. The whole setup is not professional and the cameras make me think that they have been accused or sued for some improper behavior. The doctor you choose will be helping you on a regular basis to determine your fill level etc. You will need a professional and trusting relationship with him/her. You mentioned that you live in the SF/Bay area and so you should have several options available. Good luck and keep us informed.

My insurance would only cover part of my surgery, and both the insurance company and my doctor asked me to do the seep study. I too, use a cpap machine and have been sleeeping a lot better and no longer am fatigued. Just like bobrocky I use the nose pillows mask which isn't tight or uncomfortable like the full mask. I agree with many above that to be safe you should tell your surgeon. I didn't have to use my mask after the surgery, but it was important for them to know I might need it in case I had difficultly on the day of the surgery. Good luck, and I hope you can have the surgery soon, as I know it is hard to wait once you have made a decision.

Congrats! I'm looking forward to the time when I won't have to think about whether I will fit or not. It would be nice to just make the decision to go to an amusement park without any worries.

Congrats on your NSV! I too rely more on how my clothes fit than the scale.

That's impressive. Keep up the great work.

I plan on keeping my largest pair of pants and a large blouse for comparison. I'm going to put these clothes on once a month to really notice the lost weight. Already with about 30 pounds lost I'm swimming in those pants. My goal is to fit into one pant leg one day. I hope this along with the pictures will really help my head to catch up with my body. Congratulations on losing 50 pounds.

Congratulations on getting your surgery day. With as hard as you have worked to lose those 46 pounds I predict that you will be very successful with the lap band. Good luck.

After my fourth fill I started having trouble with my calcium, magnesium and vitamin D capsule, so now I take it at night instead of the morning and it goes down fine.

Thanks for the suggestion I will try it. Since my fourth fill I have barely been able to eat anything and been getting stuck too easily. I am chewing well, but maybe I do need to take more time between bites.

I rarely drink alcohol, but I wouldn't want to sign a document agreeing never to have alcohol again. One reason I've hardly ever had any alcohol is because of the empty claroies and so that hasn't changed with the band. I don't have more than one drink when I do drink and so I will just try a small amount at those specail occasions now that I am banded. I just think your doctor went too far with that request. It seems as if these doctors sometimes go too far into our personal lives, especially because they often aren't our primary care physicians.I was troubled by my lap band surgeon demanding that I get a pap smear and a mammogram on top of everything else he requested because my primary care physician and I already have that covered and I didn't think it was any of his business or had anything to do with the banding surgery. They know that they can ask us to do almost anything because we really want the surgery and so these types of abuse of power happen. Enough is enough.

I have never heard of this either. Good for you for checking this out. Good luck.

Congrats and keep up the great work. I'm impressed with how much you have lost so far.

I wouldn't worry so much about losing pounds as long as you are losing inches. It could be that with exercise you are gaining muscle which weighs more. Congrats on losing inches as I bet you look better in your clothes.

I started with telling my siblings and parents. My mom seemed to think that all her relatives should know as it was a surgery, so I let her tell all my aunts and uncles. I wish I would have held her off a bit as some of my uncles seem to think the weight loss will be magic and I will be super skinny the next time they see me.i know it doesn't work that way, but it is exhausting explaining to everyone how it works. In the long run it doesn't matter as they love me no matter what size I am, and I don't see them that often. I also told the people I'm closest to at work. They have all been very supportive. When people start noticing the weight loss I plan on telling them that I excercise, eat carefully and about the band. It is likely that many of them know already as word gets around pretty fast. Some will understand that the band is a tool, but I still have to work hard and some will think I took the easy way out. Oh well, I know I am doing this for my health and my mobility and I'm happy with my decision.

I hated the full mask, but am now using the nasal pillows and love it. It doesn't have to be very tight and with the humidity levels turned up I don't have sinus trouble any more. I agree with others that you should work with the sleep care specialist and find a mask the works for you. I used to spend most of the day yawning and had trouble keeping my eyes open at meetings until I found the mask that was right for me. Good luck.

I have been stuck a few times, but am starting to learn what if feels like right before getting stuck. It has helped me to stop eating until the food passes and then trying again with a small bite and eating slowly so that I don't get stuck. After my fourth fill yesterday I got stuck this morning on a calcium capsule and had to wait for it to dissolve before I could drink my protein drink. I'm going to move taking these capsules to the evening when I'm not as tight. This knowing how to avoid the horrible stuck feeling is all a part of making the band work for us. Good luck and say no to being stuck.

I too, at first, felt a failure at the idea of resorting to surgery to help me lose weight. Once I made my mind up to have the surgery on 4/28/11 I have been using the band as a tool to help me with weight loss. I still have to eat right, exercise, and do the head work to keep up the hard work of weight loss just like on all the diets I have tried. From talking to banders that are 5-6 years out I realize that it can be a slow process, but if I stick with it I can get there. I was also relieved to hear from many of these long time banders that it also can help you not to regain the weight you lose if you keep plugging away at it. I have only lost 32 pounds, but am headed in the right direction and that's all I can ask for. Keep up the faith in yourself and use the band to help you make it.

Congratulation, you look great. I too have been holding out and not shopping. I have older clothes I can wear and so will wait a little longer to actually shop.

Congratulations! It looks like the band is working well for you. I love your little finger face; it makes me smile every time I see it.