faithmd

sstasevich: wow, you've lost 125lbs in just over four months??? Holy crow, that's amazing!!! What's your secret, I just gotta know! I hope the Michigan forum picks up some more. I have a consultation with Dr. Obeid at Hurley in Flint scheduled for 3/27.

Exude: Wow! Looks great 9 days out. You heal fast!

There are many posts about this, but here is the "official guide" so to speak: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html

Hold up! Don't be so hard on yourself, you are gaining muscle. That is why the scale hasn't budged much. Muscle weighs three times more than fat. You said it yourself, you are losing inches. That's the key. Also take heart in the fact that the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn. I watched "You On a Diet with Dr. Michael Roizen" last night and he mentioned something about muscle burning something like 50 calories for every calorie that fat can burn. Congratulations on getting in shape!

Congrats on the band!!! Glad to hear everything went well for you. I just wanted to let you know there is a scar stage Sticky in the General Lap-Band Discussion Forum. I really like seeing those pics, helps me plan for the future. Here's a link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/scar-stages-share-t6117.html

Come on April 2nd~!!!

Donna, you are in my thoughts and my prayers. You CAN beat this! Yes you can!

It does look interesting, will you let us know how you do with it? I think I might like to purchase one.

myfoursons I agree with you about how any baby could have issues, but in this case since the "surrogate" would be her sister, I think there are many more significant issues here. To me those issues outweigh any possible bi-polar diagnosis.

I have read on this and other boards that some can tolerate the rice, some cannot. It totally depends. Many have said that one piece would be three or four bites now, versus the one bite it was pre-band. A good suggestion many have is to order sashimi instead (no rice) and most people say they have been able to tolerate that. I'm just going to buy a set and make it myself.

Once the Dr. has put it all together I will ask to go back in and have him go over it with me, even if I have to pay for that myself. I had to retake the MMPI-2 because my first one scored "too high" on the K scale. I'm glad I didn't know that before I went to retake it because I would have argued that there are those who believe the K scale can run high in folks who are well-educated or are "thinkers." I only have an associate degree (a two year degree) but I have always been a "thinker" and have read and read and read. I also am a MENSA member. He didn't ask about that nor did he ask if I ever had my IQ tested (I have, it's embarrassing). I'm guessing that he probably said to himself, she's only got a two-year degree, there's no way this high K can be valid. So I went in and retook it and knowingly changed some of my previous answers so I could get through it. I had asked what happened if I still scored high in K and he said I'd probably be retaking it a third time. I wan't going to do that... We'll see.

Go to the Allergan site, they have a list of doctors that you can look up by location. www.lapband.com I called my insurance company and: 1) made sure they cover the band 2) asked what the requirements were and had them fully explained to me 3) got a person at the insurance compnay who will be my "complex case manager" that I can call and ask questions of anytime I need to 4) asked for all of those insurance requirements to be sent to me so that I have them in writing. 4a) got together with my PCP and made sure all the ducks were in a row 5) asked the insurance company what surgeons they would pay for me to see-got that in writing too 6) compared the insurance list to the Allergan list 7) picked a couple and called and started asking questions and signing up for information sessions 8) attended an information session 9) made an appointment with the surgeon for a pre-op consult 10) made an appointment for the psych consult, got that done Now I'm waiting to see the surgeon on the 27th.

People certainly are. I'm a snot sometimes, I'd have probably told her to go ahead and make a footlong, but save the other half for herself because she looked like she needed a good meal. Goodonya for speaking up and saying that you can't eat that much. I can't believe the gall of some people.

Thanks everyone. I just told myself that it's a good thing because now I can see the surgeon AFTER I see the cardiologist (who I am seeing for a previous condition) and I'll have a chance to get him to write a letter and fax it up so it's there before my appointment. I'm hoping that this will actually help speed this along. I was going to see the surgeon on the 20th and the cardiologist on the 22nd, now it will be the cardiologist the 22nd and the surgeon the 27th. Thinking positive

Well, I just got a phone call from my surgeon's office and they had to reschedule my consultation appointment for a week later. It was going to be the 20th, which was great, I'm on vacation, it's perfect! But...he's not going to be in town. So they gave me the option of the 27th of March or into April. I took the 27th...duh I guess I should be happy it didn't get postponed until May or something. It's just been a very long year to get to this place, every further delay will stink.

I took Chromium for quite a while, but then I saw this paper: http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsChromium.php and stopped. I was taking 200 mcg three times a day. I didn't really feel that it helped me much, either. But hey, if it stopped any of my cravings, I'd still be taking it I am glad it does seem to work for some. And congrats on your band date!!!

You're very welcome

I will go ask my mother to dig out my old set. I think they have Pluto and Mickey Mouse on them Thank you!

I have not yet been banded and one of the things that has worried me most about being banded is feeling like I was missing something because my eating will change so drastically. I'm following this thread with great interest and feel very heartened by reading what you have all written. I love to cook, I truly, truly love it. Though I usually only cook when we are up at a house we have farther up in the state (Michigan) because it has a big kitchen with lots of counter space and it is bright. When I'm there it is a pleasure to cook and I carefully plan my meals. For whatever reason they are made with fresher ingredients and are usually a more complicated recipe. Here in the small apartment we live in I have a tiny dark kitchen with virtually no counterspace. I hate cooking here and rarely do it. It's a chore, it is cramped and the main oven's thermostat is broken so all I have is a tiny side oven (an old avocado-colored double stove, but I love it) and the burners on top. I am pretty limited in what I even want to cook here. I was thinking that I need to do something ASAP about this kitchen so I will find more pleasure in cooking where I live full-time. If I find more pleasure in it, I think I'll be more likely to choose better foods. I have been reading LBT for a number of months now and finally joined a little while ago. I have learned to listen to what you wise folks have to say and to try some things now so I won't have as big of an adjustment later. So I've been trying to eat more like I've been banded (though my portions remain larger). I've been practising chewing and chewing (I still don't have that down yet, I can't stand the warm liquidy texture it becomes) and taking smaller bites. It is nice to read Kat's post about a shrimp being 4 or 5 bites instead of one because that gives me some idea of what I need to aim for. I have been using small plates and cups and bowls and it does help even pre-band with portion control. I have given up almost all refined sugars and white flours and I have almost toatally cut back on all artificial sweeteners. I bought some Stevia and have been using that for my tea. I'm eating whole grains and lots of green vegetables. It is truly amazing how just those little changes have changed my desires. I don't find myself craving sweets anymore. Granted I still would love a nice slice of fresh baked sourdough with some butter on it, but I don't *have* to have it. I hope that this is similar to the feeling you get after banding when you don't have certain cravings any longer. So far I don't miss eating the way I did in December before I made these changes. Though I will still have a big change ahead when I get banded. Hopefully I'll make it through okay!:hungry:

Surgery can be done while pregnant, though certainly it is not ideal. Precautions must be taken (google surgery during pregnancy, there's useful info out there), and the internet certainly isn't a substitute for a professional's opinion. The biggest thing is to weigh if the benefits of removing or replacing your band will outweigh the risks of surgery. And by risks of surgery I do not only mean the risk to your baby. I also mean risks to you, and whether you are getting in the correct nutrition required for your developing baby. If you are unable to eat well, then the baby is at risk for being born small or with a variety of issues related to nutrition. This is something you need to discuss further with a good OB. If you are going to have surgery on your band I would think you need to do it sooner rather than later in the pregnancy, as I am sure you can imagine the larger your uterus is, the harder it will be for the surgeon to move things around and visualize what s/he needs to see to truly ascertain how your stomach looks and whether or not the can replace your band. If you are getting enough nutrition in and are not in danger of harming your stomach further, I guess I'd wait.

Hiya travelchicky, I had this same question, so I called Allergan (the people who make the band in the US) and asked that (and some other things). I know many people here are going to answer and say that 5000 is better than 500, etc... Which is probably true to a point (though sometimes I think if that's all they do all day it becomes so automatic I wonder if they really pay close attention to each and every procedure like they did when they were pretty new at it...) but back to the subject at hand: Here's what the band guru at Allergan told me about band surgeons (the one I'm going to go with has only done about 100 bands, but over 2000 laparascopic procedures). He told me that after surgeons have done 100 bands they are considered an "expert" by Allergan and then can begin proctering (teaching) other surgeons to place the Lap Band. Long story short, I think 300 Lap Bands is plenty of experience. The other option my insurance comany would pay for is the hospital where I am and those surgeons have not even placed a single band yet. That is too inexperienced for me... :faint:

Ya know, you *do* make an excellent point! :heh:

Yeah, people can certainly be a**holes! I remember once I was in line at the local Dairy Queen (an outdoor ice cream shop) which is situated at a traffic light on a rather busy street. A car was sitting at the light and just before the light changed someone yelled out the window at me, "Hey fat ass, YOU don't need any ice cream, why don't you go on a diet!" Little did they know I was there for the sugar free/fat free soft serve they carried. Jerks!

I love those grilled Honey Mustard wraps! But I've given them up (white flour tortillas) for now. I started making them at home with low carb wraps. It's pretty good, but it's not McDonald's! :eek:

Now that you are toning and doing resistance training, you will be gaining muscle, remember that muscle weighs much more than fat for the same mass. So while you are getting slimmer and toning the scale won't budge a lot. And that's okay. You are healthier. Muscle burns about 50 times as many calories than fat, so the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn (I'm watching "You on a Diet" with Dr. Michael Roizen right now and he just mentioned that fact).