mylynn1377

Hey I'm in Buffalo actually. I'm not banded yet but I'm going through Weight Loss Surgical Center in Springfield. I'm gonna say you would be better off trying the ER in Springfield at Mercy or Cox. They would probably be better able to help you then the ER in Bolivar. It's not a very big hospital and they may not know much about the band. You could try the CMH walk in clinic in Bolivar because it's really cheap and they can probably refer you to someone that can help you. It's on Springfield street before you get to the college. Hope this helps! CMH Walk-In Clinic (417) 777-4800 2230 S Springfield Ave Ste H Bolivar, MO 65613

Once upon a time loosing was easy for me, I had just never really made an effort and the idea of never eating some things again was so daunting that I gave up. Now after 2 kids, quitting smoking, severe postpartum depression and a thyroid that gave up the ghost, I think I'm ok with not eating a Big Mac ever again as long as my butt is smaller! I just can't stand the way I feel anymore and I would like to even loose 50 lbs. I am determined to do what I need to do, the exercise part well I will have to work up to that but I think I'll get there eventually.

Yay!!! I am waiting on my doctors to finalize some things with my insurance. After that its a barium swallow, EKG, and labs then I'm a go for surgery. I just hate this waiting!

Ok to everyone who actually reads this Hi! That being said, blogging makes me feel weird because I am ultimately typing to hear myself type. Yeah I know strange huh? My mom suggested this as a way to talk to other people who understand what I am going through and the things that I struggle with on a daily basis. I say its a place for me to rant about stuff that may or may not be read, depending on whether or not my audience finds me entertaining. My mother finds me entertaining but let's face it, she's my Mom, kinda part of the job description even though I'm 35 years old. So for this first foray into blogging let's make this an open forum to talk about.......tuna? Exercise that you hate or love? Things that we gave up or will give up eating that makes you want to cry? I got a good answer for that one! Ummm supportive or unsupportive friends/family? You hate doctors, needles scare you, you are traumatized by clowns (also one of mine). I can say if they {who ever they are} put a clown in my fridge I would be very, very, thin..or just not scared of clowns anymore. So feel free to read this, not read this, believe I'm insane (good luck cause they (again with the they) already know that I'm crazy) or just want to also post random replies to peoples blogs because you are bored and want something constructive or destructive to do....

Congrats to you..babies are wonderful, hard work, and worth it. My boys are 5 and 3 and I wonder where all the baby time went. It flew by and I wouldn't trade a second of the memories!

I used to do that with the treadmill too at my gym. What the trainer had me do is slowly back the speed down until I'm barely walking and then finally stop. After stopping I stayed stationary until the dizzy feeling passed and I could get down.

Congrats on eating right! It's hard to resist some of the bad/yummies when you go out. What I've been doing on my gung-ho pre/pre-op diet is figuring out where we are going to eat and seeing if the place has a nutrition guide online. That way I can see what the cal, fat, carb, damage will be before ever going. If I have a plan of attack I will stick with through the temptation of melty cheese and garlic bread!

Congrats on the loss so far, that is super awesome! I'm pre-op and decided to start watching my eating, so far I'm doing pretty good. The protein shakes actually help me because days when I don't care or can't seem to drum up the energy to cook something usually left me at a fast food restaurant but now I pop a can and go about my business. I am however pretty resistant to exercise. Last year I joined a gym with my Mom and I was stoked. I kept pushing myself and I built up stamina and felt better but....no weight loss. Oh I know I tightened up and lost inches but I wanted that scale to move! So I think this time around I am going to get my eating under control first and work up to exercise. That way I can see results first before I start putting on muscle and keep myself motivated.

I'm glad I read this. I've already started a pre/pre/op diet and it's going well but I occasionally have a problem with hypoglycemia too so I believe that I'm going to hop out and grab some of those Hunger Smart's to have on hand if I have a problem. Thanks for mentioning that!

I guess that's why in the article link I posted that they were advertising some of the liquid gels as no burp...that just sounds wrong..lol

Oh I have heard bad, bad, things about the gummies being super nasty...I've never tried them myself but I have heard enough from others that they are super gross.

I found this article and it made a lot of sense. I thought I would share with my fellow pre-bands and it could also be a useful tool for the banded that have slipped a bit. Please feel free to read and follow the link! food, he measures his food, and when he needs to get an adjustment, he comes in. Recently Bill had a bit of pouch dilation so we had to remove Fluid for a few weeks and rehabilitate his band (he had been eating a bit too fast over the last months and started to notice heart burn.). During the band rehabilitation Bill gained 2 pounds. X-rays of successful patients Take a piece of food, like meat, and put some x-ray material on it (kinda ruins the taste) and have a successful patient eat it. How fast do you think it goes from above the band to below the band? Pretty quickly- usually less than a minute, but for most about 30 seconds. We use to think that food stayed above the band and slowly dripped down – like coffee through Mr. Coffee filters. But it doesn’t. Food, in successful patients- goes through quickly. What about patients who are not successful and talk to us about wanting the band tighter and more “restricted.” Their food stays above the band longer. They have more episodes of “productive burps” more trouble with meats and vegetables. But if you ask the unsuccessful patient they will tell you, “I know my band, and this is how I lost weight before.” It probably wasn’t- but now they think the answer is to make the band tighter and tighter. Drinking and eating Successful patients eat and drink at the same time. We use to think this wasn’t a good idea, and some patients from those days don’t eat and drink at the same time- and tell us it makes a difference. Exercise Did you know that 77% of our successful patients exercise. Lots do weight training, some cardio, but they work out and do it a lot and enjoy it. A very small per cent did that before the band. Exercise isn’t how they stay thin- but if you ask them, “When I exercise, I don’t want to waste calories on something stupid and give up all I did.” Unsuccessful patients tell us they didn’t exercise last month (the month before they came to the office). Measure everything They don’t “eyeball it,” they measure it. And in fact, they often don’t trust their own eyes because when they don’t measure for a few days and then test themselves they are shocked at how much they start to eat. Jacquie weighed 260 pounds when she started with us. One year later she weighed 130 pounds. What was her secret — she measured everything, “Everything I ate I put in those little cups.” Oh, after a year she got her first fill (her band was a bit lose). Unsuccessful patients tell us “I eat less than I ever did, and I just don’t understand.” Do they measure? No- they eyeball. Test this right now – get a measuring cup out and cut up the meat you would think is your portion for dinner. Successful patients know that they eat less for the first year or 18 months, then they increase the amount. Unsuccessful patients increase the amount. Never hungry, never full “I just live by never being hungry, but I never want to get full either,” said one of our patients. She ate every four hours, but never much, and she had gone from 220 to 125 in a year. Patients who are not successful tell us that they “can eat more than I should.” The answer is, they always could eat more – the band does not physically prevent them. But when you eat to feeling “full” you will eat more than you should. When you know how much you need to eat to avoid getting hungry, and not go over that, the answer is weight loss. Accountability Everyone has setbacks. But successful patients get up, come back in, and get adjusted. Sometimes it is their head, sometimes it is there band. Unsuccessful patients blame everything but themselves: be it drugs they are taking, a lack of exercise, or stress. The successful patient learns from the mistakes they made, know their trigger and figure it out. We had one patient get upset because she was on prednisone, had thyroid issues, had orthopedic issues, and just thought we were not nice because we didn’t accept that as an excuse (we would have the first time, maybe the second time, but a year of excuses to not lose weight with the band). Food restrictions Successful patients will tell you that they eat differently now than before surgery. Unsuccessful patients tell us that their diet can’t change because they are picky eaters, and their diets have not changed. In spite of signing the consent form, which on page 2 says they are willing to change lifestyle- these patients don’t change the most fundamental issue- what they eat, and where they eat it. Bad food, and too much of it, is bad food. Visits Successful patients see us about 6-11 times the first year, and 4-6 the second. Unsuccessful patients see us either much less – or a few see us more. Want to change? Consider this- there is nothing that is difficult if you are willing to change. Let the lapband be the tool. Our 90 day challenge is meant for those who either need to re-focus, get rid of things, and then begin again. Never stay down- always come back.

A thing to think of is making sure that you are working with a qualified nutritionist. A high protein diet can have adverse effects on a diabetic, because it makes already stressed kidneys work harder. I would make sure that you take in as much water as you can to flush your system and maybe ask your primary about tweaking the diet a bit. Your most important job is to get healthy while maintaining a desirable blood sugar level.

I found this article that relates to the topic, only this is from a well known surgeon in the US. What We Know from Successful Lapband Patients Posted on 05.27.12 Band Help 2 Comments There are several characteristics that we have identified from those patients who are successful with their band. Sometimes what we find out from them surprises us, and changes the way we think about the band. But we spend a lot of time with our successful patients, and learn from them as to what we can do to help others. All I do is install a tool. It is up to you to use it The band is a tool One lovely patient of mine said that if I told her this one more time she would choke me. But this is what our patients who lose their excess weight tell me. “The band doesn’t do the work,” Bill told me, “I’m doing the work. The band just makes it possible.” Bill has had his band for five years. When he came to me he weighed over 300 pounds at five foot six inches, and was not a happy man. He now weighs 160 pounds, but he will tell you that he works at this every day. He eats healthy food, he measures his food, and when he needs to get an adjustment, he comes in. Recently Bill had a bit of pouch dilation so we had to remove Fluid for a few weeks and rehabilitate his band (he had been eating a bit too fast over the last months and started to notice heart burn.). During the band rehabilitation Bill gained 2 pounds. X-rays of successful patients Take a piece of food, like meat, and put some x-ray material on it (kinda ruins the taste) and have a successful patient eat it. How fast do you think it goes from above the band to below the band? Pretty quickly- usually less than a minute, but for most about 30 seconds. We use to think that food stayed above the band and slowly dripped down – like coffee through Mr. Coffee filters. But it doesn’t. Food, in successful patients- goes through quickly. What about patients who are not successful and talk to us about wanting the band tighter and more “restricted.” Their food stays above the band longer. They have more episodes of “productive burps” more trouble with meats and vegetables. But if you ask the unsuccessful patient they will tell you, “I know my band, and this is how I lost weight before.” It probably wasn’t- but now they think the answer is to make the band tighter and tighter. Drinking and eating Successful patients eat and drink at the same time. We use to think this wasn’t a good idea, and some patients from those days don’t eat and drink at the same time- and tell us it makes a difference. Exercise Did you know that 77% of our successful patients exercise. Lots do weight training, some cardio, but they work out and do it a lot and enjoy it. A very small per cent did that before the band. Exercise isn’t how they stay thin- but if you ask them, “When I exercise, I don’t want to waste calories on something stupid and give up all I did.” Unsuccessful patients tell us they didn’t exercise last month (the month before they came to the office). Measure Everything Measure everything They don’t “eyeball it,” they measure it. And in fact, they often don’t trust their own eyes because when they don’t measure for a few days and then test themselves they are shocked at how much they start to eat. Jacquie weighed 260 pounds when she started with us. One year later she weighed 130 pounds. What was her secret — she measured everything, “Everything I ate I put in those little cups.” Oh, after a year she got her first fill (her band was a bit lose). Unsuccessful patients tell us “I eat less than I ever did, and I just don’t understand.” Do they measure? No- they eyeball. Test this right now – get a measuring cup out and cut up the meat you would think is your portion for dinner. Successful patients know that they eat less for the first year or 18 months, then they increase the amount. Unsuccessful patients increase the amount. Never hungry, never full “I just live by never being hungry, but I never want to get full either,” said one of our patients. She ate every four hours, but never much, and she had gone from 220 to 125 in a year. Patients who are not successful tell us that they “can eat more than I should.” The answer is, they always could eat more – the band does not physically prevent them. But when you eat to feeling “full” you will eat more than you should. When you know how much you need to eat to avoid getting hungry, and not go over that, the answer is weight loss. Accountability Everyone has setbacks. But successful patients get up, come back in, and get adjusted. Sometimes it is their head, sometimes it is there band. Unsuccessful patients blame everything but themselves: be it drugs they are taking, a lack of exercise, or stress. The successful patient learns from the mistakes they made, know their trigger and figure it out. We had one patient get upset because she was on prednisone, had thyroid issues, had orthopedic issues, and just thought we were not nice because we didn’t accept that as an excuse (we would have the first time, maybe the second time, but a year of excuses to not lose weight with the band). Food restrictions Successful patients will tell you that they eat differently now than before surgery. Unsuccessful patients tell us that their diet can’t change because they are picky eaters, and their diets have not changed. In spite of signing the consent form, which on page 2 says they are willing to change lifestyle- these patients don’t change the most fundamental issue- what they eat, and where they eat it. Bad food, and too much of it, is bad food. Visits Successful patients see us about 6-11 times the first year, and 4-6 the second. Unsuccessful patients see us either much less – or a few see us more. Want to change? Consider this- there is nothing that is difficult if you are willing to change. Let the lapband be the tool. Our 90 day challenge is meant for those who either need to re-focus, get rid of things, and then begin again. Never stay down- always come back. http://azlapband.com/blog/what-we-know-from-successful-band-patients/

I found these softgels but I'm not sure on the size. Their are some vitamin companies that actually have a liquid version that is flavored but they are kind of pricey! http://www.naturemade.com/Products/Supplements/Fish-Oil-1200-mg

One girl in another post got the coolest tattoo. She got onederland tattooed on herself after she got below 200. I thought that was the neatest thing and one of the coolest ways to commemorate something so important. Personally I have been waiting until I lost weight to get about 3 tattoos. The are already designed and waiting for me. I can't wait until I get below my 200 mark and can get them done!

You could try some of the flavored coffee. Once in a while my lovely fiancee will dig out the coffee grinder and make me some vanilla Carmel Starbucks. I find that I don't need as much stuff in the coffee that is already flavored. My best friend gets some brand of Chai that is Vanilla Carmel or something like that. She doesn't like sweetener in her tea so she drinks flavored tea to get the benefit of pretending she's doing something bad when she's really not.

My Mom uses Truvia or Agave nectar, both are natural sweeteners. My Mom swears by the Truvia (stevia) but I hate it. The only alternative sweetener I like is Splenda. My mother in law had to give up sugar and alternative sweetners because they made her break out in hives and gave her a bad headache but the all natural ones don't bother her. I would suggest you try the truvia or agave nectar and see what that does for you.

Well we love new people and all people that are on the journey to get healthy. Have you guys tried the gastric bypass forums though? Pretty much all of us here are on our way to getting Lap Band or have already gotten it, and while we enjoy hearing from everyone, you might find more information that helps you on the other forum. That website is http://www.rnytalk.com/ hope this helps and congrats on you and your husband taking the journey to health together!

I told my Mom that the only advantage to being severely overweight is that my doctor is waiving a lot of the prereq's for me. I just have to do a barium swallow, EKG, and lab work. It's about time being this big was beneficial, or at least it's nice that it's going to benefit me in being smaller lol.

Ok I just got my consult today and I had done my research, they carefully explained stuff to me. I am motivated and already whittling my calories down trying to get to 1200, hoping that after banding it will just seem like normal eating. My thing is trying to take small bites and chew, and the no fluids thing. This is my homework that I am working on because these are major issues for me. While I don't eat fast I do take big bites and I don't always chew it up as much as I should. Now I am working on that, my problem is that I am going to be sitting at the table eating for at least 20 mins after everyone else is done, maybe with the exception of my 5 year old cause he is the slowest eater ever in history. But he had choking issues when he was small and we drummed it in his head to take small bites and chew, chew, chew. So maybe he can just hang out with me and we will chew together. The fluids one is a big thing with me. I have started getting back in the habit of drinking a glass of Water before a meal and then I sip a drink with my food. I know the physiological reasons for not doing this with the band but....psychologically I feel if I don't have a drink when I'm eating that I will choke or something..yeah I know I'm weird but this is a big one for me. My question is how did all you that are banded overcome this? I would really like some tips to help out with this issue.

That is super awesome!

My PCP suggested lap band over bypass because I have no gallbladder and my intestines and colon are frequently unhappy with me over the whole situation. I would suggest a call to your insurance company to ask what they cover. See if your PCP can order a sleep study and do some labs to check for anything else I. e. high glucose, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, thyroid issues. And then proceed from there.

Each state requirements are different I think. As far as I know my state doesn't require one but I had already been on a supervised diet for cholesterol with my physician. It's a good bet if you've had the same primary doc for a while that they have records of any weight loss attempts or discussions that could possibly be subbed in for what they are wanting. I would check on it at least.