keiko

Hi Nimble Bean, I'm so sorry to hear of your health problems! I have not been at this forum for a long time, but I am so glad to hear from you. I have had various medical issues over the years, but like you, I tried to fight my band instead of working with it. I never got close to my goal weight, but with weight watchers and exercise I had done OK. Then I had a bunch of surgeries and gained weight, UGH! I also had my band totally unfilled, which was horrible. I was hungry alllllll the time. However, I'm done with surgeries and rehab ( back to "normal") and slowly got fills until now I'm at a good point. I started listening to my body instead of fighting it, rejoined weight watchers and started back on an exercise regime. For me the following has been what has been successful for me working with my lap band: 1. Listening to my body instead of lying to myself 2. Joined weight watchers which I consider the only program that really works with real food. (I wish I had known to do that after surgery instead of floundering around with half-a**ed weight loss programs and ideas.) 3. After a long search, found an exercise regimen that I could live with and stay with without feeling like I'm being run ragged. 4. Finally realized that at that my age I'll never be Angelia Jolie, nor do I want to be. I want to be healthy, relatively fit and healthy for my age, and happy with where I am with myself. If any newbies read this, I would only say that I wish someone had told me these things a long time ago so that I wouldn't have wasted time with nonsense thinking and wishing. Good luck to you and I hope your recovery continues and your health remains good. Keiko (Diane)

Hi all, I still haven't seen the new doctor to get a second opinion on surgery. My DIL just had a new baby and we've been babysitting our 3 year old grandson. Great joy but boy what work! I forgot how tiring a 3 year old can be, especially since he's staying with us for a week. Anyway, after all the hoopla dies down and my grandson returns home, I plan to see the doc for a second opinion as to why my original lapband doc wants to have me go through a gastric bypass surgery rather than replace my band. Stay cool and happy summer to all. Keiko

Congrats, Jsrico! I hope everything continues to go well for you. I am especially interested in how you are doing since it looks like I'll have to have revision surgery also. I go to the informational seminar Saturday and check out all my options. I am also trying Weightwatchers, based on Nimblebean's success. I really, really, DON'T want to have more surgery, but it will depend on what my insurance and the doctor says. I feel that I'm just kidding myself that WW will work this time, when it hasn't any other time in the past. But I look forward to your updates to guage how I might do if I have to go you're route. Fear can be sooooo debilitatiing, which is what I experienced before choosing lapband surgery 5 yrs ago. Good luck and keep us posted! Hugs, Keiko

Hi Everyone, I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner, but I still haven't had my discussion with the lapband counselor at my doctor's office. It's been a very hectic week and she and I keep missing each other with our voicemail. I'll let you know when I know something. Keiko

Hi Everyone, I just got back from my doc and he said my band is slipping. I have to get info. from the insurance gal at his office, go to a seminar to see what's available, check what my insurance will cover, and try to come to a decision about what to do. I don't want my band removed without having some other solution for my weight problem. While I've lost 50 lbs., it had been 70 lbs. until I started gaining weight with my band slipping. I'd still like to lose more weight but I really don't know which way to go. He said Medicare won't cover gastric sleeve, though I do have supplemental BC/BS insurance that may cover it. Any other information or suggestions for me as I try to work on this? I don't want to gain my weight back, and I do want a bigger weight loss than what I have experienced. I really would prefer not to have gastric bypass. Help! Keiko

Hi everyone, I tried replying to your posting, Nimblebean, a few weeks ago, but I was having problems either with my computer or this website, so I couldn't reply. I can't believe it's going to be 5 YEARS!! Well, I have not come near where I hoped to be at this point after surgery, but I'm still better than before. I continue to see my doctor (since November, 2011) to try and get my band filled correctly. It's still not where it was, nor as effective. However, since the alternative is to not have lost any weight in the last 5 years, this is OK. I hope others have had good results. Nimblebean, how are you doing? You said you joined weight watchers and it seemed to be helping. Devcopley, how have your results been with lapband? Yes, we still need one another...support is so important as we continue our journey.

Great news, Margaret! You're results with WW are inspiring. I went back to the doc in January, and the results were pretty poor. He filled me just a little, (1/2) and told me to come back in 6 weeks. I will go back to get another refill, then continue to try to make better choices than I've been doing. I know a couple of things I've been cheating with and lying to myself about why I'm not losing weight anymore. This site helps to keep me honest with myself and to try to improve. Keep up the good work! Keiko

Hi everyone, I've been reading everyone's comments and wanted to give you an update. I did go to my doctor, who told me I should see him once a year for a checkup on my band. I, too, thought I had somehow "lost" fluid in my band, and that was why I was able to eat more and slowly putting weight on. Had an upper GI (right in his office) and it turned out my band hadn't slipped but I had developed a "bulge" above the band that was allowing me to eat more. Needless to say that was not good. He did a total unfill in October and has slowly added some restriction back. I am now 1/2 filled. I'm supposed to see him at the end of January for an update on my weight loss. With the holidays I've not been doing too well. It seems as though I can still eat more than before. I'll let everyone know my update after I see him. At least I'm relieved to know that my band didn't slip. BTW, when I was completely unfilled I hated it! I felt I could eat the world, and didn't like that uncontrolled feeling. But yet, I was still hungry and wanted to eat so I wouldn't be hungry any more. GAD, HOW HORRIBLE. I hope I never have to have my band removed. I would definitely try to get a sleeve. Keiko <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w08Lf7w/"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w08Lf7w/weight.png"></a>

Hi Devera, Your story sounds very similar to mine. I've been thinking of going back to the doctor for a fill, since I haven't been back in 2 years. I guess I didn't feel that I needed it. I was at a good place and slooooowly losing weight without any work on my part. However, since I have gained 6 pounds back, which I've never done before, I, too, think it's time to get real, face the music, and go back to see the doc. BTW, I'm so glad this thread has been revived. Keiko

Wow, I haven't been on this site in quite some time, but I'm glad that I received the email alert. I am so sorry, soulful Grandma and NimbleBean, that you have had so many problems. While I have not lost the amount of weight that I wanted, I have lost about 70 lbs. In May and August of 2010 I had both my knees replaced, and feel that I have received a new life. I had been in pain and unable to walk well for a couple of years, so the knee surgery was a godsend. Since knee surgery I have plateaued, which I find very strange, because ever since my knee surgery I have been exercising religiously and watching what I eat, so that I can remain healthy and limber. I exercise much more regularly and completely than I ever did after lapband surgery, so I can't say that exercise is the answer. Lady Lana, I'm glad this has worked for you. Soulful Grandma and NimbleBean, unfortunately I have no great words of wisdom for you, except to say that after lapband surgery I did change my eating habits out of necessity, not from any great desire. I can no longer eat rice, and have very little refined carbs such as bread, as I get terrible stomach pains which can last for hours if I don't force myself to throw up and get rid of the offendiing food. I also eat a lot more fish now, and I can't say that that was by willpower, I just find myself choosing fish A LOT, since I digest it so easily. I, too, have to ask how someone knows their lapband has slipped. If anyone has an answer, please let me know. I will keep you both in my prayers, and would love to know how any other May 2007 lapbanders are doing. Keiko

:biggrin: OK, Manatee, I give up. What does the word mean? I used the Microsoft thesaurus, as well as their other search options and it couldn't come up with a synonym. Are you talking about a disconnect between how you think you look and what the mirror, scale actually says? If so, I can understand that, since I've experienced that. However, at my age I'm not concerned so much about how I look to myself or others, it's how I FEEL now. Not that I don't care if I look slovenly, I just don't care if my skin is wrinkled or my boobs sag. What's important to me now is how much my knees and feet don't hurt so much, how much less winded I am when I walk up the stairs. These are the things that interest me now. I'm not discounting what you might be experiencing, but perhaps you might look at it from a different perspective. I hope you find an answer to what you're seeking. :svengo: Good luck, Keiko

OK, just to get up to date, in June the doc didn't think I was losing good, so he sent me to get an upper GI to see how well my band is slowing the liquid. Last week I went to see the doc, and the test results showed there's very little restriction! So the doc somehow measured to see how much fluid was in the band and it turned out to be measured at 5 instead of 9, which is what he supposedly has filled me with over the yeaar. So he filled me up to 5 1/2. Now, I'm supposed to see him in 5 weeks, but what I'm going to ask him is what happened to all the fluid in all the fills he supposedly gave me? Do I have a leak? All I know is now I'm hungrier and eating more than before I saw him. On the one hand that means I can still be filled a lot more, but now I'm worried that there's a problem with my band and it will need to be replaced. BTW, I'm glad to see that others have been losing in spurts. Manatee, what a terrific job you've done. If I had a 33" waist I'd be taking pictures of me too!:embaressed_smile: Cheers, Keiko

HI folks, It's been quite a while since I've posted, but I've lurked alot. Just celebrating the 1 year anniversary was amazing to me! While I'm not as far along as I'd like to be, I'm so thankful that I had this done. It's taken forever to get to my sweetspot (I'm at 9 on a 10 cc band) and I've only lost 40 lbs, with ~60 more to go, but some medical problems that interfered with exercising have been taken care of, so I have hopes that this coming year will go more smoothly. I'd like to see a more steady weight drop. I seem to lose a couple of pounds, then remain at a standstill for weeks. Does anyone else lose this way and have you come up with anything to jumptstart the weightloss again? Also, I somehow lost my ticker and haven't been able to get it back in...any suggestions? Keep working at it! Keiko

Thanks for bumping this up, Paulax. I'm also losing very slowly (22 lbs in 6 months) and I'm up to 8cc's. I go back in 1.5 weeks and am going to ask for another fill. I still get hungry between meals, and I really expected this to be less of a struggle than it is. The only good thing happening is that my exercise is improving and while my arthritis still can be painful, I now can see improvement in my mobility and strength. I have to keep reminding myself that I didn't get this way overnight and it will take a long time to reduce my weight and reverse years of bad habits. My husband also keeps reminding me that at least the scale has gone down in 6 months. If I hadn't had the surgery I could have easily gone up 22 lbs.

Well, I haven't posted in awhile and I need to get back on track. I had my first fill on 6/28, 4 cc's in a large band. The doc said to come back in 2 weeks if there was no improvement. Well, it's been a week and I don't feel any restriction! In fact, I seem to be cheating more now than before! So I'm going back this week for another fill. I also need to get off my butt and start exercising. I'm glad to see many of you are doing well, but I can't seem to get my head screwed on straight without seeing any movement in the scale. I hope this next fill helps more.

Pebbles, I'm 4 weeks out and I can drink several gulps at one time. I don't think you're hurting yourself, because you haven't had a fill yet. I get my first fill in 2 weeks, and I can't wait, because I'm definitely eating more than 1/2 cup at meal times, actually it's more like 1 1/2 cups! While that's nowhere near what I used to be able to eat before, it's still more than I hoped I'd be eating. When is your first fill?

BTW, I went for a "healthy lifestyles" meeting at the hospital which everyone post-op, has to attend. There were about 30 of us there, and considering there are only 4 doctors (all in the same group practice) affiliated with the hospital that do lapband and RNY, there was wildly different advice from a couple of the doctors as to what could be done! Also, the dietician that gave part of the presentation was giving some totally different information and advice about drinking water, etc. than all the information the doctor gave me and that was in my packet of info! Really weird! I had to see my sleep apnea doctor afterwords for a checkup with my cpap machine, and when I told her what the dietician said about not worrying about the amount of water I was drinking, the doctor said NO WAY! I take 2 bp meds, and she told me to take one of my BP meds only every other day, not to drink ANY decaf coffee or tea, and to increase my water to get at least 50 ounces a day and really try for the 64 ounces. With all the different advice out there, I'm surpised that the lapband procedure is as successful as it is!

I have a really dumb question, but for those of you still having port pain, when you go to bed at night do you support yourself with a pillow by your port? I do that every night, even though it's been 3 weeks, and for me it makes all the difference in the world. If I don't use a pillow my port hurts, I guess from the pulling of gravity. Anyway, I then put a pillow so that I'm laying lightly against it and it's enough support so that I sleep wonderfully. If you haven't tried it, maybe you should. Someone else wrote about feeling her port or something move sometimes. I've had that situation, much more so when I was still very swollen. Now I don't really notice anything unless I try to roll over in bed, then I feel something, and have a bit of pain. Anyway, I thought I'd add my 2 cents!

No. the doc said to keep taking all the meds I was taking before surgery except for the anti-inflamitory meds.

Cathy, I had BCBS Illinois and I had to be on a supervised diet for a year. Everything I did was through my bariatric surgeon's office rather than thru my pcp because he was a jerk. My bariatric surgeon's office gave me a recommended clinic to go to which I did. I then went back to the bar. surgeon's office and they told me what other records I needed from my pcp (5 year's worth of records!), etc. They basically held my hand the whole way and told me what to do for each step. I didn't have to deal with my pcp except to get them to send the records to the bariatric surgeon's office. That office sent everything to BCBS and then fought for me to get the surgery when BC originally denied me. Hope this info helps!

BTW, I take Centrum chewable, which are fine, but I keep forgetting to take them! I'll have to put the bottle in my purse and take them to work. Maybe then I'll remember, because the bottle sitting on the kitchen table isn't doing it!

Hi Gina, Get all the information you can at the seminar and visit this site anytime to get more information on our experiences. This is a life-changing experience - good luck!

Michelle, As my doctor's info said, the first concern it to be healing. Sip plenty of Water throughout the day. I was on Boost and Ensure high Protein drinks after the 4th day, along with full Clear Liquids. You probably won't be able to get anywhere near the amount of protein in that you hope to, but you need to heal and not put stress on your band. Powdered protein mix can be added if you tolerate it. I personally couldn't stand the taste of any of it, so I stuck to water, Iso-Pure, Ensure and Boost, for the most part. After awhile you will be able to tolerate more and can try increasing your protein intake. My doc's sample menu for the clear liquid diet was 38-42 grams protein. Full liquid was 42-48 grams of protein. I probably didn't get all that in, but I just concentrated on drinking. Good luck!