LeeLee76

Its been a very long time since I have been on.. I went through all of the hoops and finally got authorization to do the lap band to RNY revision surgery and I'm scheduled for next Wednesday. My new surgeon said if he had seen me original he never would have suggested the band for me. I'm nervous yet excited at the same time. I hear recovery is a bit longer so I'm expecting that. I hear different opions on the success rate. Anyone have any thoughts or know of anyone that has had the revision surgery, how they are doing and wait loss after the revision? I know everyone is different, all bodies are different but I'm sure hoping I have more success this time around. Hope all is well!

Well, the weather here in MA is miserable and rainy, best described as pea soup!! Definitely makes you want to burrow under the covers and sleep sleep sleep lol.. Decided to reach out and see if anyone has some feedback. Since my most recent fill, I find that I have an aversion to a lot of foods or smells of certain foods, or a feeling of mild nausea should I say. And I'm not expecting. Not sure if this is just me or if its the fill. I have noticed much more tightness or feeling sort of stuck if I don't eat really slow and take much more time between bites so I'm thinking maybe too much fluid in there. Any feedback or thoughts? Thanks and be well!

Its been a while since I have blogged, just haven't had the time, energy or desire I suppose.. I had a follow up with the doctor yesterday and am 9 months post-op and sooooo not where I expected to be. I've lost maybe 30lbs total and now have 9.4 in my 14 band. I feel pretty good overall but disappointed at the same time. I know everyone is different but I honestly expected my weightloss to be greater at this point in the game, I'm still doing my kickboxing class every morning, hitting the gym and started hiking too. Just can't seem to break out of this rut. And yes, I do follow my diet although I can be accused of skipping meals on occassion which I know is not a good thing. For some time I have been considering converting from the lap-band to the bypass and think I'm ready to go ahead with it. I've discusssed it with my doctors office and they aren't against it at all. I feel that this will be more suitable to me and my particular lifestyle and will work better for me long term. I'm not knocking the band at all trust me. I just need to wait for the new bariatric surgeon to get my medical records and I can meet with him. Hoping the process isn't lenghthy as I'm itching to do it soon. With any luck I'll have it before summer. Hope all is well with my band friends and family!

Hello everyone and Happy New Year to all! So, I've started a kickboxing class this week and boy is it really hard but to my surprise I absolutely love it. Its much more fun than the bootcamp I did so I have a feeling I'm going to be doing it a lot and I think the different routines will really help.. I have a couple of questions for my fellow bandsters. All the exercise I'm doing, I'm not really noticing much of a difference in my upper body yet I seem to be slimming down quite a bit on the bottom ( not exactly happy about this). Normally when I lose weight it comes off from the top and then down. I'm wondering if this is something to do with having the band? any thoughts? Also, I'm noticing that even 6 months after my surger my scar sites will start to get really irritated and puffy at the oddest times and they really hurt sometimes is this normal? Hope everyone is well and have a great weekend!

Please do get discouraged. I had been feeling the same way and was becoming a crazy woman when it came to stepping on the scale. I was banded on 7/26 and to date am down only about 23 lbs total but I have noticed a difference in inches. When you read the blogs everyone will tell you no 2 people are the same and they are correct. The best advice is get rid of the scale and only get weighed when you go to your doctor appointments, you'll drive yourself insane. Instead, concentrate on how you feel, eating the right food and getting plenty of exercise and you will notice a difference. Your clothes will be a great indication of your progress as well. Up until about a week and a half ago I was having my own pity party and I finally feel like I'm on track. You can do it! If you ever need a shoulder or need to vent feel free to reach out.

Thank you everyone! definitely small steps and I think maybe once I stop looking at the scale I'll pay more attention to how I feel and not the numbers. My restriction before this last fill wasn't really there at all. I definitely notice restriction now but not too much. I'm hoping this last fill has brought me to my green zone I also think doing the 2 weeks on liquids will jump start me again.

Hello all... So I had another appointment with my doctor today. I'll be 4 months post-op as of this week. I have been feeling pretty discouraged but I decided today that I'm not going to concentrate on what I haven't lost so far but what I can lose. I received another fill so I actually have 8cc's in my 14cc band at this point. I wasn't expecting them to put a full cc in but we'll see how it goes. I talked to the doctor about doing a 2 week liquid diet to jump start my weightloss and get all the crap and cravings out of my system and they said that's fine as long as I make sure to get enough protein so I'll start that today since I need to have liquids after my fill anyway. Not really concerned about Thanksgiving since I'm a picky eater. My promise to myself is to NOT step on the scale, not even one in the next 30 days I'm going to give it to my mom to hold hostage so I won't be tempted. Then I'm going to take my measurements tomorrow morning and not again for 30 days. And I'm looking around for another class or bootcamp to take. Even though I go to the gym all the time I really feel the bootcamp makes me work harder and I see better results. So, that's enought rambling for now Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Holiday!

Thank you everyone for the feedback and I appreciate it all including the "tough love". I am planning on giving the band more time and I have been really working it. I do know one thing I actually need to do more of believe it or not is eat. I think my body is starving and wants to hold onto its fat. I generally prefer protein shakes over solid food, not because I can't eat but because I feel safer with liquids but my body probably isn't getting everything it needs. I'm also hypo-thyroid due to a complete thyroidectomy so that makes it more difficult. I have deciced to continue with the band but at the same time attend meetings and session for the bypass. I don't need to go ahead with the bypass but I want to jump in the program in case I decide to do it. I know the band is a tool and its not going to happen overnight just very very frustrating as everyone is aware. thanks again

I have been doing some thinking lately and am considering potentially going to the weightloss clinic near home ( my lap band was done near work an hour away) and inquiring about the bypass surgery. I'm beginning to feel that maybe I should have made the decision for bypass instead of the band. My insurance has no restrictions and would cover it as long as I am still at a BMI of 40 or over. Has anyone known someone that has done this? Any thoughts? I'm open to suggestions or feedback. I just feel after 4 months with the band I'm not nearly where I would want to be and wonder if the bypass would work better..

Thank you so much! This is something I needed to hear and still need to be reminded of and you couldn't be more right.

Hello all... Its been a while since I have posted, haven't really had too much to say lately. This week is bring lots of thoughts and some disappointment. I'm almost 4 months post surgery and have not lost anything, I'm basically either staying the same or I'm up a few pounds. Its so frustrating to not be at my own personal mini goal. My birthday is this week and I'll be 35. I'm having a hard time with 35 for some reason and even more disappointing is that I seem to be stuck in this rut. I still believe the band was a good choice, just really wanted to lose more. I'm working out as much as I can and even taking different classes. I'm really hoping that the weight loss will start to pick up

Thank you so much! I'll definitely try them. I just hate the feeling of being so bloated, almost look like a pregnant lady lol.. not to mention its uncomfortable. thanks again

Ugh, for some reason today I woke up with gas, not the icky smelling stuff lol but like after we had our banding surgery. It won't go away no matter what. Its making me feel so bloated and my stomach hurts.. I've had this several times and nothing seems to help, not even walking. Does anyone else get like this randomly? I need a cure! any suggestions or feedback are greatly appreciated. on another note, struggling to decide on a cardio kickboxing class or to sign up for the fitness bootcamp again. need to make up my mind by Saturday either way. decisions decisions