AudreyG

Hi Everyone, I had surgery May 23rd, 2007. I have yet to lose a single pound. I am so frusturated. I don't know what I'm doing wrong I have pretty much given up. I had surgery at NWWLS which I know is one of the best places. So why haven't I been losing. It seem sno matter how many fills or unfills I get I either throw up everything or can eat everything. I have been in and out of my surgeons office and finally stopped going. one because I was tired of the pain of getting filsl (my port is in a reaally painful spot and it always tugged on) and two because it now cost $150/fill and I just can't justify spending money on another fill. Right now in the morning my band is really tight and will losen after I eat one thing. I also seem to get air always trapped in my band an it is so painfulto the point where I will literally have to throw up air. Everyone keeps telling me I need to just hit my sweet spot but I just can't seem to get to it. I had this surgery when I was 18 and financed it myself and am starting to feel like it was a big waste of money. I look at everyones success stories and I am just so discouraged and feel like I will never get there. I mean it's been almost 2 years. Has anyone else had this problem? I feel like I am the only one having trouble. any advice guys? This is kind of my last attempt before I throw in the towel. I would really appreciate it.

I'm 18 and was banded on May 23rd 2007. Welcome!

I'm so glad you posted this!!! I am the same way....i had a wendys chicken cesar salad and a slice os pizza =[ i want my fill!!!! i totally feel like a failure cause the scale hasnt budged.

I turned 18 on March 2nd and was banded may 23rd. I couldnt be happier. :clap2:

Hey, I had someone send me a private message regading their daughter and the band, for some reason it sent to my hotmail but not my private messages. I feel terrible because now I cannot find the message. I would really love to reply to you, but I can't find the message! So if you see this please do shoot me another one. Thanks! Audrey:)

Thanks jetlagjane (love the name by the way) I appreciate the support! I'm sure I came off a little aggresive but man, I wish every obese teen could experience this. I am so lucky I did what I did in my life to be able to afford the surgery. I hope the FDA approves it for teens ASAP this could stop an epidemic. No person should have to go through the horrible taunting of being overweight especially when your becoming who you are (15,16,17,18) tough ages. I would not wish being overweight in highschool on worst enemy. I don't remember who, but someone on this thread posted something about being overweight in relationships and accepting such poor behavior from a significant other. I TOTALLY agree with this. When I was 15 I met my "dream guy" we were together on and off for a year or more. He was terrible, cheated on me made rumors about me and a still stuck with him cause I didn't know any better and thought that's the best I can get. I made a decision long before the band to 86 all of those negative people out of my life, and boy I can't wait until I am thin and that boy can see how Okay I really am on my own. Needless to say, back to duckys post, I am 100% for teens gettign the surgery. Again I'd be happy to talk to her if she has any questions, or mayeb just needs a friend, I like to believe I'm kinda cool.

Well I just saw this post at work and HAD to reply. I am honestly dissapointed to see so many people who are against the band for teens. I am 18 years old and was banded on May 23rd 2007. I STRONGLY believe in banding for teenagers. I had first heard of the band when NWWLS had the comercial on the television when I was 15. I had researched it and begged my mom ever since. She initially thought it was crazy. Last summer she agreed to come with me to a seminar at NWWLS and when we left she told me she would do everything in her power to help me get the lapband because she truley believed it would be the best thing for me, now and in the future. High school caused me so much pain from teasing and harrasment, I decided to go to an alternative school whereI could advance in credit and get the hell out of there. I am now 18, financed the band MYSELF and work full time and go to college. Just like an adult. I was the biggest bored eater ever. So far the band has been the best thing ever. I have lost 18 pounds as of today (need to update ticker) and would have never imagined the feelign of no hunger and being full so instantly. And thats without a fill. It is amazing. I had tried everythignt oo. Nutri-system, jenny craig, weigth watchers, curves, la fitness, slim-fast. I don't know how mcuh my mom has spent on fad diets for me. I just feel better. I know that if I get up and work out, that it's actually going to count, and I can't screw it up later by eating a double cheeseburger. I feel like every good choice I make isn't in jeopardy of beign reversed by my bad habits. I would have killed to have this at 16, but am so happy I got it at 18. I now have the chance to have a normal life. It's so hard beign a teen a being obese. It controls your life. When your friends want to hang out and they want to take their car I always dread if it's a two door, there is nothign worse then trying to SQUEEZE into the back of one of those, (that's why I got an SUV lol) but still, it controls your life. I don't know how much your daughter tells you about her issues but man, I totally feel for her. And no insurance does not cover it because the band is not approved by the FDA for people under 18. However the cheapest places I have found seem to be Dr. Ortiz in Mexico and Dr.Kirshenbaum in Colorado. I decided that I'd rather have 94' Ford Explorer as opposed to a 2006 Explorer so I can afford my surgery, and that's just fine for me. I'd take health and a better life over a new car any day! I urge your daughter to learn more about it and see if she really thinks it will be something she can work with. Feel free to private message me or I'm on myspace, www.myspace.com/audreyg I'd be more than happy to talk to your daughter more about it on a teen level and how it isn't just a quick fix. Sometimes teens understand more when hearing it from a peer. I truley do believe it is something that will help so many teens. My motivation for life is through the roof and I finally feel free. I have control over everythign in my life now, including my weight. -Audrey

So I just went for my post-op at NWWLS aaaannd, I asked what size band I had and Dr. Montgomery told me I had an APS 10cc, I was like uhm you mean the new one that isn't realeased yet???!!! And he said yes that since they have so many patients Inamed gave them the AP bands before the realease in june. I am soooo excited!!! I was kind of bumbed when I heard about them they sounded just fabulous, and come to find out I have one and didnt even know it!!! Just thought I'd share the good news!!!!! :clap2::clap2::clap2:

Just added you. LOVE the song on your page by the way! =]

Haha Angela! I love your blake icons. Your guna hate me for this buuut. I went to school with blake. I live in bothell, WA he was a senior when I was a sophmore at Inglemoor. Haha. Find me on myspace if you have one www.myspace.com/audreyg

I was banded on the 23rd of May by Dr. Montgomery. So far I've lost 11 pounds woohoo!!! When are you looking to get banded?

:help: :help: :help: Ok So I have surfed through the food threads trying to find this out but I can't. So I was banded on May 23rd. So far I have been having lots of Propel and Special K Protein Water and the fabulous Slim Fast with Protein we have all coem to love. However. I am REALLY confused on what counts as liquids and what counts as mushies. Two things I have been doing that I'm not sure if it is ok or not. I have a magic bullet so I mixed half a can of bean and baccon Soup with water and made it thin with no clumps what so ever. Went down great and was full of protein and was yummy! Also I took soem mashed potatoes with low fat cheese and milk to make a thin potato soup. I also did this with Taco Times White chicken Chile, again I could drink these Soups through a straw but they are not clear. I beleive they go down ok, but I'm not sure what is a godo sign and what is a bad sign. I feel very full off of a small portion of these blended soups, however I do't want to stretch my pouch or anything. So if someoen could PLEASE share your thoughts or advice. The only thing thats different is when I dirnk water it goes down fine...when I eat the soup I feel like Ihave to burp more, this also could be cause of the gas they put in you, I relaly don't know. Will some one please xpalin to me exactly what liquid stage and mushy stage really means? My DR was very vauge and I just NEED to know that I'm not hurting myself in anyway. Help? -Audrey

Thanks for all your help! I decided to just to liquids for a two more weeks, I am scared to death I will stretch my pouch! After $17,000 that's not something I want to happen. I have lost 12 pounds so far! So stoked. Can't seem to figure out how to change that on my ticker I guess I'll just make a new one. Also the potatoe Soup is sooo good. Yes, it's thin but so yummy. I took premade mashed potatoes...refridgerated ones and put them in my magib bullet with milk and lowfat cheese, blended and then microwaved. Was delish! Buuuut. I won't be having that for a while. Oh well. =/ I wonder why so many DR have different post -op diets if the goal is to not stretch your pouch?

Ohh goodness!! It sounds like I really am rushing things!!! No wonder I have been feeling not so good. I appreciate all of your ideas! You have some great ones. I'm going to go back to clear liquids today and then in a week full liquids. Scary stuff and so much to learn! Thanks for your help!

SoapOperaStar86. I'm 18 years old, just turned 18 March 2nd actually, and was banded two days ago on the 23rd. The younger you are the better. I did howver graduate highschool a year and a half early so by natural default most of my friends are about your age at work and school and I have waaayy more support from them then any of my "close" friends." There is no reason you should have to be told your too young. The younger you are the better your skin heals my dear!:clap2:

Sugarandmagik, My DR was Montgomery. Very very nice my anthesiologist was even better. One of the weetest guys for sure. Day two isn't as bad as I thought it was going ot be. Mostly port pain and I have virtually no gas pain anymore. Crazy huh? Can't complain. I so cannot wait until I can start exercising! Yippee!

Now, don't get me wrong I'm not a negative person whatsoever. But I really am tired of people saying "Gosh why are you freakin out, YOU CHOSE to have surgery" All I want to do it scream yes I know...but don't I have every right to be scared. I am scared. I have never had surgery before. This is different too because it's not like they are going in to fix somethign an dI'll wake up and be like "Oh cool glad that's over." This is a huge life long journey. I'm really sick of people minimizing it. Did anyone else experience this? And also if one more person tells me I'm too young (18) to have the band and not big enough (285) UHM HELLO. OK Why don't I wait until I'm 30 and 400 pounds to get it done. yes cause that would make sense. Oh I am just so frusturated with people's closed mindedness. One of my good friends since 7th grade got upset with me because I wouldn't go to her family ruinion On Saturday. I'm having surgey tomorrow morning there is no way in HELL I could do to a party on a saturday. I just want some one to realize that it is OKAY to be scared and it is OKAY to have these feelings. Why are people to dumb when it comes to this stuff?! I don't know what I'd do without this website. Ya'll are so helpful!

I posted this on another topic but thought it was appropriate here. I woke up at 5:20 this morning and took a shoer...headed out to NWWLS. I got checked in and everything went fine I was very scared, I didn't cry though, which suprised me. My mom stayed wiht me up until the put me on the operating bed. Going under wasn't so bad. It was more scarey waking up. I felt like I couldn't breathe and felt like I was choking I IMMEDIATLY said "I NEED TO SIT UP" and they let me. I sipped soem water but was sooo full after just a glass. I was home by Noon. I took a nice little nap and my best friend came to see me for a little while. He was so cute, first thing he said was "Can I touch you, I don't want to hurt you." I don't think he really understood how huge this was until he saw my insicions. I don't have much insicion pain yet just the shoulders are killing me. I have been taking gas x strips to try and cool that done, Other than that I have been walking outside and then laying down with a heating pas watching little miss sunshine =] I feel like I have great restriciton with just water and broth right now. I felt full after half a protein drink. That was so promising. It's a little hard to beelive that I ACTUALLY have this. I have waited for so long and victory tastes so much better than a cheeseburger. =] All of the posts on thsi thread REALLY helped me. No one in my immediate family is as big as me and no one really gets it so to have support here really does make all the difference. Thanks so much guys! Made one scared girl feel alot better!

I woke up at 5:20 this morning and took a shoer...headed out to NWWLS. I got checked in and everything went fine I was very scared, I didn't cry though, which suprised me. My mom stayed wiht me up until the put me on the operating bed. Going under wasn't so bad. It was more scarey waking up. I felt like I couldn't breathe and felt like I was choking I IMMEDIATLY said "I NEED TO SIT UP" and they let me. I sipped soem Water but was sooo full after just a glass. I was home by Noon. I took a nice little nap and my best friend came to see me for a little while. He was so cute, first thing he said was "Can I touch you, I don't want to hurt you." I don't think he really understood how huge this was until he saw my insicions. I don't have much insicion pain yet just the shoulders are killing me. I have been taking gas x strips to try and cool that done, Other than that I have been walking outside and then laying down with a heating pas watching little miss sunshine =] I feel like I have great restriciton with just water and broth right now. I felt full after half a Protein drink. That was so promising. It's a little hard to beelive that I ACTUALLY have this. I have waited for so long and victory tastes so much better than a cheeseburger. =] All of the posts on thsi thread REALLY helped me. No one in my immediate family is as big as me and no one really gets it so to have support here really does make all the difference. Thanks so much guys! Made one scared girl feel alot better!

Kelsey! Oh my gosh 40 pounds in just over a month WAY TO GO GIRL! That's soem serious inspiration. I'm down for 40 pounds. Lol. Thanks for the compliment on my name, I use to hate it cause everyone couldn't spell it and called me Aubrey :tired that was lame. But growing up I have found that I la la la love it! Anyways, thanks for sharing your story with me! I honestly love hearing about everyones experiences! It gives me so much inspiration. I'm so glad I posted this thread! I am feelign a million times better! no joke. I can breathe now! Haha.

That made my day. You are the first person to say that to me! everyone tells me I'm crazy and I'm going to get into so much dept cause I'm young. My mom gave me $5,000 the other $12,000 I financed. And honestly I live at home work full tiem and school part time...If I pay $1,000 thats only a year. It's going to be so awesome to say, yes I did this and ye sI paid for it. Can't wait.

Hahaha. You guys are soo funny! Way to make me feel better. I am sooo glad you all here understand the more proactive you are the better. I am just praying I won't need plastic surgery. I am freaking out over laporscopic I couldn't imagine anything else! I just had a talk with my boss about the people who have said something rude to me, she is also a bigger girl and has considered the lap band. She said she would take care of it right away. Hehehe. I <3 my boss. Anyways. I am still super super nervous. I hope all this anxiety goes away. first thing I'm going to do when I walk in the dorrs is ask for a sedative STAT!

Cathy, Thank you so much. that was such a sweet post! you made me feel alot better. It's such a good feeling to know I'm not alone in this. By the way I'm glad to see the name Audrey is coming back I love it so much but man I always hated when my sister amanda and Amber got cool personalized things and mien always said "#1 Cool kid" becaus eno body made anything with my name on it. =] Glad to hear you doing well. Barium does scare me! I hope I never need fluro! yikes!

PineNut. I'm having my surgery at NWWLS too, Dr. Montgomery, Did the DR come and fallow up with you after words. I'm so affraid it's guna be a wham bam thank you ma'am kinda deal.

It is so good to hear from people who understand! I can't deal with anymore arrongant people! Lol. I'm glad what I'm feeling is normal because man, I really feel the kickign someone in the shin! Today I had a wendy spicy chicken sandwhich and someone said to me "You realyl shouldn't eat that, it's deep fried chicken" and I looked at them and said "If you coudln't have a wendys spicy chicken sandwhich ever again wouldn't you want it?" Yeah thats what I thought. Did any one find it hard to sit up for long perido of time? I'm scheduled to coem back to work the fallowing tuesday...I do have a desk job though so I'm not sure how difficult it will be.