Jim1967

OMG I almost spit my coffee out all over my monitor. LMAO!!

I engaged in a pissing match this week and not exactly proud of it. I have moved on and will refrain from feeding the trolls from here on out. I used the block option on here for the first time. Just not worth it to go back in forth.

Same here. I am happy that things are good and it sounds like your mind might be at ease as well.

Yea, I did an Atkins stint for about 19 months. I always remembered Fat, Protein good....carbs not so much. I was pretty successful with it but just not long term. Fell back to my old ways. I may give this a try though it sounds good.

There is an app for iPhone and Droid called Eat Slower. Basically it just a looping timer with an alarm. Time interval is adjustable from 20 secs up to 3 minutes.

I might have to check that out. Maybe good for a rare morning where I have to rush off to work and eat breakfast at my desk. Looking at the nutritional table it is indeed low carb and yields 22g of protein but holy smokes it lis high on everything else. 400mg of cholesterol, 29g of fat and 1030mg of sodium. I still may give it a try. Thanks

Not only do we have such good options we now have more and more insurance companies opening their eyes to the long term benefits of covering the surgeries for those struggling. My Wife just had surgery a week ago and they've already taken her off insulin and metformin. She will follow up with her Endocrinologist in 6 months and if her A1C is still looking good then he is going to release her back to the care of her PCP.

I never said she did anything wrong. I just stated for someone who seems to have a low opinion of the band I find it surprising she had it done not once but twice.

I would recommend a pillow for your stomach or what I did was take a hospital blanket and fold it into thirds. This will be especially helpful if you have small children or pets that may jump up on you. My 3rd day post op I was in bed sleeping on my back and my Cat jumped up on me and set me off to the Moon.

Newbies don't need fear. They need to be educated and not by fear. As for your 7 years on here...big deal it won't get you a free cup of coffee. Another thing if you are so down on the band and it's high rate of failure then why did you not only get it once but twice? I normally don't feed the trolls but it seems you have this pattern of spreading gloom and doom about the band yet you've been banded twice and because you have a combined 8 years of band experience you seem to think it's OK to come off with this "Knowledge of everything Band" attitude. Every experience is unique to the individual and just because you've heard of this or that or this happened to you doesn't mean it's going to happen to the next person.

I went into it all kicking and screaming but now I couldn't go without my cpap. I sleep so much better now and I no longer fall asleep during the day.

My Doctor prefers the Realize band because of the port. He stated it has a lower profile and easier to find when doing fills. Also, he believes the mechanism for attaching the port to the muscle wall is better than Allergan. Again, it is a Surgeon's preference and it is what I went with. Here is a link that offers side by side comparison: http://www.wlshelp.com/lap-band-vs-realize-band.html

Hey ktsped, I just wanted you to know I am thinking of you and I hope it all works out. I remember we were banded on the same day. Try to stay as relaxed as you can because stress is certainly not going to help you especially if you are one of those ones who have their band tighten up when stressed out.. I know it's easier said then done. I also know most everyone who replied to you had nothing but the best intentions for you but sometimes getting on here and asking when things are not going well can just add more worry. It could be a 100 things and it could be nothing. I am happy to hear you will be seeing the Doc. Only then will you know what is truly going on. Please let us know how you make out.

Well since we are talking TMI,,,I used to be a once a day person in the morning fresh out of bed. Now, if I am lucky I will go twice a week and sometimes just once a week and it is not one of the satisfying ones either. On the flip side it's not like I have to go and cannot. I just don't have to go all that much anymore.

As long as you are trending downward that is the key. Can you go 4 to 5 hours between meals? and how are your portion sizes? Key is to find that green zone. Based on your surgery date and the weight loss so far you are averaging around 6.2lbs a month. That's pretty good!! I was 488 when I started and I probably didn't do any real form of exercising the first year because of how bad of shape I was in. My daily exercising consisted of showering and making it to my office and back. I couldn't even walk the grocery store. Patience can be tough I know. I have been banded 17 months now and I still lack it at times. Hang in there though it is so worth it. Best wishes...

Hardest part about a sleep study is the actual sleeping. I had such a rough time my first night getting to sleep but luckily they got enough data.

I agree on all counts. Your goal seems spot on plus even if you are low balling the estimate it will feel like an added bonus if you do happen to lose more. You choose too high of a number you may not hit it which may discourage you.

I don't see anything cold about Guy's response at all. He is recommending counseling/support and finding a new Doctor that is more in line of what you need and want. Sound advice and a good start to turn your journey around and start making some positive steps. I am curious did you have Support meetings/Band classes prior to being banded? Did they give you proper guidelines and instructions on how to work with your band? I am not attacking but I am very interested in your experience. Huge part of this process is education and you have to rely on Surgeon and his staff to direct you with that. Band is a lifestyle change and based on that opening post you either were not prepared for it or didn't follow through. At the end of the day your Doctor is nothing but hired help. If he/she and his staff suck and are not getting it done then fire them and find someone else BUT you also need to be compliant and hold yourself accountable. You need to do the work as well. Band is not easy and it is work but in the end if done right you can and will be successful. Do you even know why they told you to give up soda? (Again, not an attack but did they actually explain why no carbonation?) I wish you the best of luck but I do urge you to look around for a new band doc/office and choose wisely.

Surgeons are like Auto Mechanics. You have some that excel at their job then you get those that float on by going about their job half ass. I could say the same about Patients as well but I digress. Read this smart person's blog about choosing your surgeon wisely. Great advice indeed. http://www.lapbandta...surgeon-wisely/

My problem isn't so much what people may have eaten and when. It's the fact that they know it's wrong and they screwed up then they get on here looking for someone to sugar coat it and to make them feel better about their poor choices. Everyone screws up and everyone makes mistakes along the way but getting on here trying to get others approval is not going to help you in any way. If you screw up then own it and learn from it. Being told by a mass audience that it's OK when its really not is not going to help you. May make you feel better in your mind but it sure as **** isn't helping you.

Great post and I agree. Everyone does have an opinion. Too bad everyone doesn't have common sense!! This will not be a popular rant.... I'm sorry but when someone posts that they are just a week post op and they just tested their band by eating a large pizza and want to know if they are OK. Then I say let the b***h slapping begin. Not a good attitude I know but when you've read enough of these posts it can be frustrating. I usually sit back and shake my head at the ignorance and then I ask myself did the person not bother to educate themselves or was it the educators who failed them or are they just that out of control with addiction. People who do not comply and are completely ignorant and are the ones leading to skewing stats as far as success vs. failure and doing a dis-service to themselves and the reputation of the band. /End of rant