Bjc1227

For several years I've had to deal with asthma. If it was cold out, I couldn't breath. i hated talking on the phone because talking would start me coughing. Exercise would set off wheezing and coughing. There wasn't much I did that didn't set it off, before my WLS. While I was sitting here, reading the posts and responses, I realized that I have not had any coughing or wheezing for some time. I can talk on the phone, any situation and not have to excuse myself because of non-stop coughing. I can exercise, sing, anything I want. How great is that? Has anyone else had a problem go away since losing weight?

Originally, when I told my PCP that I was considering LapBand Surgery, he tried to talk me out of it. At that point I had pretty much made up my mind, done the research and met with the surgeon. When I went Back to the PCP the next time, he asked if I'd ever thought of having LapBand Surgery. lol. Once he understood that was the direction I was going, he was supportive. Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with the PCP. He hasn't seen me since before surgery. It's time for labs and med. adjustments. It will be interesting to hear what he says.

Years ago (early 70s), I worked in down-town Boston, and in the alley next to my building was a place called The Hole In The Wall. You could walk up to the window and order breakfast or lunch to take with you. Every Friday they had Lobster Salad on a big Kaiser Roll on the menu. It was to die for. Now, I can only dream. I can't imagine being able to eat that now.

My surgery was on a Monday, and thought that surely the following Monday I'd be ready to go back to work. I also have a desk job. Before I went out I told everyone, no lifting, no getting on my knees to to fix the copier or hook up anyone's computer. On Saturday I drove to the grocery alone, to test myself, plus I was tired of asking for help. By Monday I was still having back pain and very weak, so I worked half days (on boss's orders) through Wednesday. By Thursday I bit the bullet and stayed all day. Pay attention to your body. Do what you feel you can, but don't set yourself back. It took a good month to get my strength back, but now I feel great. Best wishes. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Some time before I was banded I discovered My Plate Calorie Tracker by Livestrong. When filling out your profile, you decide how active you are and how many pounds you want to lose on a weekly basis. With your height and weight, it automatically tells you how many calories you need each day. I track everything I eat and drink, and I can keep track of my protein intake for the day. If I'm low on protein, I add a protein shake or a glass of skim milk, depending on my needs. I really believe that keeping recording my food intake has kept my weight going down.

Last minute jitters are normal. Once you're at the hospital, they will keep you too busy to think about being nervous.

Ask your nutritionist if she can give you a sample of Unjury. My hospital gift shop carries it, but I've always bought online.

I like unjury. It is high in Protein, low in calories, and I like the taste. 28 grams of protein and 180 calories when mixed with 8 oz skim milk. I buy it online and have it delivered to the house. The other brands I've tried, that can be bought at walmart or the grocery and higher in calories and lower in protein. I haven't cared for the taste...kind of gritty or chalky.

Since my banding I have been determined to lose the excess weight. I set a calorie limit for myself, and I write down everything I eat...everything. I rarely go over my limit but if I do, I forgive myself and keep going. At my height (5ft) I knew that it wouldn't be difficult to consume more calories than I could burn in a day. On one of my early visits to the surgeon I asked him if I should be worried about not eating enough. As long as I am taking the vitamins and calcium that I need, I needn't be concerned. Having been overweight by roughly 100 lbs., I have fat stored aplenty. I liked that idea. I am turning the fat into energy, and as I use it, my weight goes down. If you're hungry all the time, I've found that chicken or fish, a dense protein, stays with me longer. You have to give up the junk food. I know that you know this, but you have to just do it. I know you can do it.

I was approved on 2/4/13, and given my surgery date the next day. Blood work was done, x-ray and the week before surgery, I visited the surgeon. My surgery was 2/25/13. I was so excited, I could have tap danced if I didn't have two left feet. Looking back the time went quickly, as it has since the surgery. Try to stay calm and do everything the surgeon's office tells you. You'll be fine. Congrats and good luck.

I completely agree with Mis73's response. If you follow the guidelines it's nearly impossible to fail. I hemmed and hawed for several years over weight loss surgery. I wish I'd done this ages ago. My weight has gone down, clothing size has gone down, blood pressure is down, cholesterol is down, and self-esteem is way up. You have to remember that everyone is different. While one person may have problems with acid reflux, etc., there are others who have no problems at all. Ask lots of questions at the informational meeting you attend. Read all that you can on the various options. (The Lapband is the least invasive and has a relatively short recovery period.) The choices are simple, lose weight on your own, don't lose weight and increase chances of dying early, or have weight-loss surgery and live a healthier, longer life, and likely a happier one.

Good luck to you also. I wish I'd gone with another 2cc but the doc is cautious. I must use patience.

Is it possible you are constipated? That's fairly common and would cause some pain in the lower abdomen. Make sure you are getting enough liquids and if you have a heating pad, that might help you with the pain.

Did you mention your pain to the doctor? He is the one who could best answer that question.

I went in for my first fill yesterday also. No problems, and I'm feeling great. I had 2cc from the surgery and 1.5cc added yesterday morning. The weight has been coming off, but this past month it slowed up some. The doc and I agreed it was time to step it up.

You're doing great. You'll make it. I'm getting close to my first 50 also. It's so exciting reaching goals and fitting into smaller sizes.

I haven't had a drink....wait,I take that back. I've had two shots of Bailey's Irish Cream, and it was good. I have a few bottles of wine that I need to dust off, but I have always been a light weight when it comes to drinking. Two glasses of wine and I start telling everyone how wonderful I think they are. I'll wait till I have company to open the wine.

Texflea, congrats on being banded. It sounds just like gas pains. Each day you should feel better. It took me a least a week or more to stop having the back pain, so what you're going through is normal. Use your pain meds as needed, but as Stept04 said, if your pain becomes worse, call your doctor. Best of luck. In no time the pain will be just a memory.

All the literature I received from the doctor's office says no straws, for the same reasons mentioned above.

My first thought is that's a tough one, but not really. If there is a moment when you feel comfortable, go ahead and tell your date. If it's too much information for him to handle, wouldn't it be good to know up front? I was lucky. I started dating someone in October last year, and had my surgery in February this year. We're still seeing each other, though it's long-distance. He liked me then, now and I expect he'll like me in the future. He knew I was planning surgery before we ever met. Good luck and have fun.

I will say, I thought about surgery for several years until I saw a friend's success after surgery. I used to think surgery was cheating, that I had lost weight with Weight Watchers before and I should be able to do it again. Meanwhile, I wasn't getting anywhere. I was frustrated , depressed, and over eating. Not for one moment do I regret deciding to have surgery. It took a year to be approved by the insurance company, but years go by quickly. Good luck whichever way you go.

Right now it seems like I have a long way to go till my surgery, but life has taught me, time goes by before you know it. My year of working with the insurance company began on February 1st this year. I wish I hadn't waited so long to come to this decision. I kept thinking I could lose weight through Weight Watchers. I'd done it before but it always came back with a vengeance. Anyway, I'm imagining, if all goes well, that I'll have surgery mid-march, I hope. I have to do this for me. My ankles seem to be always swollen, clothes never fit, my knees are starting to ache if I walk any distance. I still think I'm too young to be falling apart. Anyway, nice to meet you and any advice you care to share, I am happy to listen. I live alone so an extended family here would be a good thing. Thanks. Bonnie

I may have said this before, but when I went to the informational meeting, at least 1 1/2 years ago, I asked about the success rate for "older" patients having Lapband surgery. The surgeon told me that the success rate went down the older the patient was. My immediate thought was "Ha, you don't know me." I was and still am determined. This morning I tried on pants that were too tight last week. They fit this morning, and as the day goes on, they have gotten looser. I've been playing with the same pound for the last two weeks, up and down and up again, but I'm exercising. the scale may not be telling me what I want, but my clothes certainly are. It's a great start to a week. We're never too old to do something, if we want it badly enough. If you can't make up your mind to have surgery, take off your clothes and stand in front of the mirror. Be honest. Is this what you want for the rest of your life?

My surgery was Feb. 25, 2013. So far I have lost over 30 lbs., but I have not had a fill yet. The first opportunity to have a fill, I opted out because I was losing steadily. This past week I visited the surgeon and he thought I should not have a fill, since I am still losing weight. He seemed concerned that I wasn't eating enough. I track everything I eat, keeping track of calories, fat, and Protein intake. I always have between 60-70 grams of protein, and in the range of 800 calories, sometimes a little more, or less. I occasionally get hungry, but not regularly. I take Vitamins daily and Calcium supplements twice a day. My Breakfast is usually 1/2 c. of fat-free cottage cheese, or an egg, soft boiled, or fried in pam, and apple sauce. For lunch I like 1/2 c. greek yogurt with fruit on the bottom (80 cal.). Sometimes I'll go out and have chicken salad, or 1/2 a chicken wrap. dinner is 1 1/4 ounce of solid protein, a vegetable, and fruit. If I need more protein, I have a Protein shake with skim milk. I like what I'm eating right now, but don't mind changing things up a little, especially if I need to. I live alone so I don't have to worry about cooking for someone else. I'm gathering that the surgeon wants me to eat more, so my weight loss will slow down, giving reason to have a fill, to restrict my eating and increase weight loss again. He is wondering why I needed the band to do this, and all I can say is that I tried WW numerous times and was never able to get below 205, and I have broken through that barrier, finally. So, what are the opinions? As long as I'm meeting my nutritional needs and not getting very hungry, should I be concerned? Any suggestions?