wednesday

Good luck on Friday, JC!

I never took into consideration that there might be a cure found in the future for obesity when I chose the band. I have to say that I fell into that bit of luck! Just one more awesome benefit of the band to add to the numerous others!

Hi Sunni, Congrats on your choice of the band...you have definitely chosen wisely! Both the insurances you have are known for covering the band with little to no resistance. Unless your specific agreement says otherwise you should have no problems. Good luck!

Hi Babs, Welcome to our little world! Your determination is extremely infectious...makes me want to take the bull by the horns and give it a swift kick in the patootie! Keep up the great work!

(((Theresa))) Welcome, girl! How is our star bandster doing these days!?

Hi Glenda, Welcome and congratulations on your surgery. Like the previous posters said, you are most likely swollen. If this doesn't get any better you do need to tell your surgeon as you don't want to become dehydrated. Good luck!

Hi Dawn, Nice to see ya over here! I hadn't realized how fantastic you are doing! Good luck with your fill next week...post and let us know how it goes!

Welcome, Fifi and Congrats on the weightloss! When you say you had blockage, was it food or did your band tighten from irritation or swelling? Also, what were your symptoms? I am curious because I haven't heard of this. I like to keep educated about the band just incase someone else demonstrates the same symptoms I can give an informed opinion on what it might be. I am glad your surgeon is taking the fill process nice and slow. This allows adequate time for you and your band to adjust. Look forward to following your progress!

Welcome, Cindy! You are doing great! And to look good in your wedding dress is a huge motivator!

I love working out in the water! I swim laps. I love how relaxed the Water makes me feel! I sleep like a baby after swimming laps. Congrats on starting your workout program so soon after banding. I am a huge fan of working out! I know for a fact I would not have been as successful if it wasn't for working out so consistently. Congrats!

At 2 years postop and losing 119lbs the scale still has immense power over my psyche! I weigh myself on the scale at my grocery store on the same day at the same time once a week unless I am PMSing. Never in the 2 years since I have been banded have I EVER stepped on another scale, not even at my surgeon's office. I got into a huge fight with one of the nurses about a year back because I wouldn't step on the scale. Now they just ask me my weight. I went through a phase were I was allowing the scale to determine my moods! I would feel good and be in a good mood, but when I would step on the scale if I hadn't lost what I "felt" was enough I would then get depressed and it would take a couple of days to recover. I decided at this time to take a break from the scale...torture I tell ya! I was actually able to weigh myself once a month. You gotta do what makes you the least crazy.

Welcome! 68 pounds since December is AWESOME!! You are doing great! I love how you just "knew" that the band was for you and you fought to get it! It really helps being around others that are in the same situation that you are! I didn't find a lapband support group until I was almost 10 months post-op. I felt like a failure because I was comparing myself to people who had the RNY despite having lost 95lbs in 10 months. Support groups are the best!

Hi Luz Elena! Welcome! Haven't heard from you in awhile...how are things going?

So far I have had 2 fills and 1 unfill. The first fill at 6 weeks postop was a piece of cake and was done by my surgeon Dr. Rosenthal. My second fill was at 16 months postop and was done by another surgeon, Dr. Gomez. Dr. Rosenthal was no longer taking my insurance. This second fill was extremely hard! I almost passed out! He was able to find the port on the first try. What did it was having my port man-handled and moved around as he took out and put in saline. I am very careful with my port and hardly ever touch it and here he was just pushing and pulling on it. Made me extremely nauseous! He had to stop and put ammonia under my nose. The whole thing took over 20 minutes! My unfill was last week and was done by Dr. Rosenthal once again. He takes my insurance now. I thought I wouldn't have a problem because he did great on me the first time. Wrong again. He poked me 3 times, twisted, grabbed, pushed, and pulled my port all over the place! He said that it kept moving on him...this was all under fluoroscopy! He finally got through and was able to remove some Fluid. I was really shakey for a good hour after that! I really do not have good luck with adjustments!

Unfortunately every doctor has a different diet for us to follow! My surgeon also had me follow a strict RNY diet...and I was MISERABLE! Sure I lost 32lbs in the first 6 weeks, but I was not happy! The problem is that we don't have the tiny RNY pouches and most of us don't have any restriction pre-fill. So how is it that we are to live on an RNY portion of food or liquids when we don't even have the same set-up? My surgeon and I had a real long talk about this at my 6 week postop follow-up appt. I don't think he completely saw the error of his ways, but he did change his diet requirements around for his lapband patients. I think you need to do whatever is going to get you out of starvation mode. It isn't healthy! I had huge hairloss, low energy, and depression because of this. We did NOT have the RNY!

Hi Everyone! I love this new format! I tried 2 times already to post this introduction so let's see if 3rd time is a charm. Were to start? I was banded on June 22, 2001 by Dr. Raul Rosenthal at the Cleveland Clinic in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I weighed 264lbs the day of surgery at 5'3. Today I weigh 147, a total loss of 117lbs. I lost 95lbs the first year and 22lbs the second year. I am hoping to lose the remaining 10-15lbs this next year. Doesn't that sound amazing? I am actually happy and thrilled that I "only" lose 22lbs in one year...tickles the heck out of me! When I would diet pre-band, I was in such a hurry to lose all the weight NOW. With the band I knew this was going to be a life style change, not a diet. I was ready! What a ride it has been! There have been ups and downs...but happy to report there are more ups then downs. This surgery has changed my life in so many ways! I am living life, instead of just existing!

I think you would be a perfect candidate for the band. The RnY is just to drastic for the amount of weight you would need to lose... about 75lbs, right? Like Alexandra said, the chances of you getting approved by your insurance company in the USA is not good, but if you self pay and go out of the country they would definitely do this for you! You would be so happy with your decision!

Hi Larry, I started working out again at 1 week postop. I did a lot of walking and very light weights. At about 6 weeks postop is when I started to get more indepth with my workouts. I can't really remember, but I don't think I did traditional ab workouts in the beginning because my port really bothered me. That took about 6 months before I really started focusing on that area.

You are doing great! You can't really beat yourself up for pre-fill gain, but you can definitely pat yourself on the back for pre-fill loss! How Cool! Good luck on your first fill!

I am glad that my story can inspire and give hope! I actually faired pretty well on the loose skin. I have noticed lately that as I approach my goal weight that the skin is getting looser, especially on the butt/thigh area. I have a consult with a Plastic Surgeon next month just to see what my options are. If it doesn't pan out then I will be ok with how I turned out...though a part of me will be upset.

Welcome and congratulations on the weightloss! You are doing great!

I know what you mean! It is really hard for the people around us when we are obsessed! My poor husband has gotten that glassed over look in his eyes many times! On-line support is very important as well as group meetings either through your surgeons office or from the on-line support meetings. They are not only good ego boosters, but it really helps other preops and postops when they can see someone who has made it work.

This used to be me also, Lulu! I was at a point were I couldn't walk my dogs at night because I couldn't see exactly were I was stepping. There were many times that I would step on a tiny pebble in the road and it would put me flat on my face. There was a time, about 6 months preop, that I fell on 4 seperate occasions and either twisted my ankle or did something to my knee or wrist. It was humiliating and frustrating! It is a long road to recovery, but well worth it! Good luck!

This has happened a couple of times over the last few years. It does come back up...unfortunately, when you are addicted to the forum, it is very hard to wait!

LOL! I thought the "W" was for "Wide" also! Uh oh, my true upbringing is coming through on this one! To funny!