bromo

I haven't stalled yet and am down 23 pounds since preop diet began on Sept 1. Hopefully I will continue to lose at a slow pace, which is what I wanted anyway. If I could just make myself exercise everyday I know it would be better. But I am working on it and hopefully will do more each passing week.

I had to have bloodwork, an ekg and a nuclear stress test. The stress test was due to my age, 57. The doctor just wanted to be sure I could take the surgery and I am appreciative of his concern.

I wear the same basic thing to exercise on my wii everytime. My wii scales seem much more accurate than the other one. I love the scales. They keep me focused and it is a part of my morning routine. Different strokes.

My doctor recommended Milk of Magnesia which I took on day 5 after surgery to help me go. Contact your doctor and I am sure they will tell you what they would like for you to do.

Sugar free ice pops were helpful for me although mine was not severe and only lasted a day or so. Congratulations on being able to get out and go on day 2. I was no where near that shape on the 2nd day.

TheNewMe, I see you are using Dr. Touliatos. I used Dr. Pennington in the same office. Aren't they a fantastic facility with a caring and concerned staff? I love the nutritionist. And the hospital staff at Trinity were wonderful. I am very pleased with the whole of them and I am so confident in my doctor. I have had nothing but good come from my banding with plication and am very glad that this practice offers that option. The level of information they offer, including the binder, really put them over the top. I use my binder all the time and it has answered many questions for me since having the surgery and helped me to stay on track. Regarding the plication, I am definitely glad I made this choice. It has already proven itself to help me through "bandster hell" by keeping my hunger at bay. I am not scheduled for a fill and if things continue as they have been, I will not have one for a bit. Congrats on having the surgery and maybe I will see you in a support group meeting or at the office one day!

I can see a change in my face as well. Not quite as round as it was. I am down about 23 pounds since the beginning of my preop diet, Sept 1. That is a lot of weight to lose in one month!! I am having all kinds of NSVs. Back in jeans for the first time in forever. I had refused to buy any larger AGAIN after ridding myself of the 24s and above the last time I lost it. So I just had to wait to get back in my 22s that I outgrew this time last year. My shirts that were tight are beginning to get a bit too lose as well. I love this part of losing weight. Also, I am finding it easier to shower and can reach parts of myself that had needed assistance. I may just retire the back brush in a few more pounds. that may be TMI, but it is a real NSV in my book.

I have only A and B and no gap policy, so that is why my deductible was 1100 for the hospital and the 220 for the doctor. My surgeon's office let me know at the initial seminar what the out of pocket costs were for Medicare patients so I would imagine your office should be able to tell to what is the norm for his office and the hospital if that is the route you are taking.

Mine is on the left about 3 inches from my belly button and 2 inches above my natural waistline.

Looking to join a gym in three weeks when the doctor said I could do more than walk. However, realizing that it is hard to go from being a couch potato to even walking I am taking advantage as of today of my apt complex fitness center, such as it is. I walked down the hill to it today (my complex is built on the side of a mountain) and could only force myself to do 10 minutes on the treadmill, but, hey, that is a start, right? Then I had to trudge back up the hill to my apt. My rear was sure dragging when I got home but it was worth it. Hopefully by the time I join the gym I can do 30 minutes on a treadmill like your trainer suggested you to start with. Lol. And I can drive there and the hill to my apt won't look like an Alp from the bottom.

I just got the band, but my mindset is similar. I like that it is there and yes, I will get fills if and when I need them. However I want this to be a lifestyle change for me and just having the surgery put me in that mindset where nothing else would. I am trying to follow the program, learning about new foods that I never tried because it was so easy to get a whopper and fries and a large coke. Now I am forced in my mind to a place that requires healthier eating, portion control and better habits while eating my food such as chewing well and smaller bites. I am going to succeed with this for the first time in my life, not at losing weight, but keeping it off and being healthier and I know that it would not happen without the band. It is making me accountable to myself. I do not consider what I am eating to be a diet but a pathway to a better future. One filled with hikes, ballgames with the grands, and just plain fun in doing whatever I want not restricted because of the size of my body or the lack of exercise. And hopefully as my life edges closer to those winter years, I will be able to enjoy life longer. The band is exactly what I needed to do this.

I am two weeks out and as a side sleeper who phyically cannot sleep on her back, last night was the first night I have spent the whole night in bed. The recliner has been my best friend at night to sleep since surgery. I was happy when I woke up this morning and it was time to get up and not 2 or 3 am. lol

smkeller, I don't know why you are trolling here. This is not obesity help where band bashing is accepted. You said in another thread that you chose the vertical sleeve, correct me if I am wrong. I am sure that there are people who have had your surgery that are not happy with it and have had complications. There are promising studies at the Cleveland Clinic and Duke University about the banded gastric plication I place a pretty high value on the opinions and studies of doctors at those locations. My doctor and I discussed this and the pros and cons of all the different types of wls. One doctor's opinion does not negate all other doctor's opinions about the value of this surgery. I suppose I would not have a problem with you discussing the lap band if all your initial posts here had not been cloak and dagger type with immediate band bashing.

I can empathize with you. My husband passed away Sept 10, 2007. I had my surgery 2 weeks ago on Sept 14. I was an especially emotional mess around the anniversary of his death this year and part of it I contribute to being on the pre op diet. I was missing him and his support of everything I did in life. I wanted to share this with him as well. In the end, I realized he was supporting me, and would be proud of this step I took to a better and healthier life. Hope you are able to work through this.

I took a lightweight robe to keep my fanny cover while walking the halls, slippers, hairbrush, toothbrush and paste, deodorant since I couldn't put any on the morning of the surgery, chapstick and my cell phone. I used everything.

So, why are you here? This is a forum for lap banders and the support thereof. If you do not "approve" of lap band surgery perhaps you would be better suited posting somewhere else.

This is the second thread that I have seen you post this same thing, smkeller. Did you have plication and have a problem or what? I don't understand why you are posting this in threads where we are being supportive of each other. I prefer to make my decisions based on conversations with my doctor and my own research. Oh, and my doctor is a part of a Center of Excellence, not a band mill.

My doctor just told me in 3 weeks I could do anything including working the abs and I am 2 weeks out from surgery, so 5 weeks is my magic number.

Good luck, peps!! Will be thinking about you tomorrow and will next see you as a bandster.

Yes, I find this forum confusing as well. It is very large. I will be happy to "converse" with you about this and answer any questions that I can. My doctor was pretty informative about the surgery and why it should work well. Although I am far from being an expert. Good luck to you.

I am 2 weeks out post surgery. At my doctor's visit yesterday we decided to let the plication work and I have no fill scheduled. I am not hungry at all,other than that infernal head hunger that comes around occasionally. A half of a cup fills me up at this time and I think the plication is the reason. I am happy with it.

Randi, there are several of us here that have recently had the band with plication. Good luck.

Talked to my nutritionist about carbs today and she advised me just to stay under 60 grams a day. I think that is a reasonable amount while in the losing phase.

Peps, I am pretty stoked after this visit. I am happy for you to be getting banded on Thursday and starting this journey. Just remember that even though the first couple of weeks can be tough we all eventually get through it. 2 weeks ago I never thought this day would come. LOL

SDBandit, I had my 1st postop today too. My nutrionist gave me an A+ and put me on soft foods so I stopped at the store for some tilapia and green beans for dinner. Eating canned tuna right now and it is soooo good. Especially the chewing. I asked the nutrionist about carbs and fats as well as calorie intake today since we all have been discussing that. She recommended me to never drop under 600 calories per day and never go over 1000. 800 is a good happy medium and I think I can live easily with that. Carbs to stay under 60, with no more than one fruit per day, Fat under 25 grams and protein always over 64 grams. I think this is workable for me and she wants me to cut back to one protein shake a day and to try to get everything else from real food. I go back to the doc and the nutritionist again in 6 weeks unless I begin to get hungry and eat portions that are too large before then. He said my lack of hunger is due to the plication and we are going to try to let that work before he starts adjusting my band, no so fill in my immediate future and I am ok with that. Can start regular exercise in 3 weeks, for now just keep up walking and the like. He was happy with my progress. So it was a good visit for me.