Vicki Loichinger

That would be an awesome goal for me. I hate to have my pic taken. What a milestone would that be if I said Hey so and so would you take my picture. Unimaginable really. Lap Band Revision to RNY Waiting for Insurance approval

I am sure it is here on this forum somewhere, probably many times, but could someone or several tell what a normal day for them is post op, a few weeks out, like how is you day scheduled. I already take so many meds and insulin and testing blood sugars and breathing treatments, trying to have an idea what life will be like after. How do you get everything in that you need.. Maybe the same way I get the stuff I need now, just better stuff, lol. Any suggestions would really be appreciated.

How are you doing? I hope well. But I will be glad to hear any and all experiences you have went through in the past week or so. I am still waiting for another month of couseling sessions and then hopefully getting the show on the road.

I was just reading through the threads and it seems so many had surgery this week, Praying for each of you and feeling joy for you cause i know how hard you have worked to get to this poing. Just wishing everyone the best Vicki waiting for approval of revision from lap band (2005) to RNY jumping through all the hoops

Hi I am from Indianapolis. In the process of having a revision from Lap Band to RNY. Having my surgery at St. Francis. Going tomorrow for Dietician and Counselor apt. I have already had Psych Eval, and orientation and met with the Surgeon Just doing what they ask when they ask to try and speed this along. I had the Lap Band seven years ago. I have no horror stories, I have never had a problem with my band, I was unable to tolerate salads and healthy foods so I would go to softer less healthy foods, then I had my band unfilled thinking I would eat healthier. Well that didn't really work. I have lost and gained many times over that time. I need the RNY for the help in weight but more than that for the hope that it will reverse my Type 2 Diabeetes and my need for insulun. I take huge amounts a day, still have high numbers, continue to gain weight, and my body hurts all over, so much pain involved. I hope this happens sooner than later. But I admit I am nervous about it, but I am trying real hard to wrap my head around what life will be like after. Hope to talk to all of you and lend support as I can. Vicki

Hi I am from Indianapolis. In the process of having a revision from Lap Band to RNY. Having my surgery at St. Francis. Going tomorrow for Dietician and Counselor apt. I have already had Psych Eval, and orientation and met with the Surgeon Just doing what they ask when they ask to try and speed this along. I had the Lap Band seven years ago. I have lost and gained many times over that time. I need the RNY for the help in weight but more than that for the hope that it will reverse my Type 2 Diabeetes and my need for insulun. I take huge amounts a day, still have high numbers, continue to gain weight, and my body hurts all over, so much pain involved. I hope this happens sooner than later. But I admit I am nervous about it, but I am trying real hard to wrap my head around what life will be like after. Hope to talk to all of you and lend support as I can. Vicki

Hi My name is Vicki. I have been an absent member of this forum for a very very long time. I was banded in Feb. 2005. Intially I lost about 30 pounds. I had fills that first year, and then even a bit out. I think I have 1.75cc in a 4 cc band. I have restriction. About the end of the first year, I stopped losing and started gaining. Like so many I pd'ed a lot. So I started eating softer and softer foods. Also I had to go back on insulin for diabetes and the weight crept back up. I also have not seen my surgeon in two years. I know bad bad bad. I just have let all the weight creep back on. I eat very unhealthy due to not wanting to throw up. Also I want to eat. My real question is CAN I START OVER. I am presently trying to get in with a doctor closer to my home. I went out of town to have my surgery by what I consider the best surgeon anywhere. But I have found that with the distance I am just not making the effort to followup with him. SO I thought if I had a doc closer and some nurtritional counseling closer and support group closer I could maybe start over. I do not have a lot of weight to lose compared to some. But the weight I have affects my health very badly. I am 4'11 and weigh 176. Looking for the wisdom of all of you on what and how I should go about all of this. I DO NOT WANT MY BAND removed. I still believe in it. (NOW my family and friends don't believe in it at all and think I should just have it out) But I fought to hard and went through to much to even think of having it removed. I know that so many people have not been as lucky as I have to have the band approved by insurance and have this opportunity. I believe, although I am not treating it as one, the band is a gift. Solid advice and steps would be so appreciated. Has anyone "started over" Vicki in Indy

Thank You so much for all of your replies. Yes I need to recommit. There are a lot of band rules I follow, always have. I think I do need to be unfilled, and do the liquids start eating solids, SLOWLY, then slowly add some fills back in. I had restriction right out of the gate. I think if eating was not so uncomftable (and I know that some people have a lot worse pain and pb'ing then I) I would eat more healthy and feel full longer ect. I have stayed away from any of the boards for the past two years becasue I do not want to discourage anyone. I truely do believe in the band. I wonder what my weight would be now without it. A lot more than I am now I am sure. I guess I was just wondering if anyone was like me, and how they got back on track? I remember how I felt when I got the call that I had been approved to have the band HOPE> a HOPE I had never ever felt in my life about anything. I want to feel that HOPE again. Again thank you all so much. I need support, and I have not sought it out. The first year of my band life, I gave support. Hope some of this makes sense.

Congratulations Jonathon, Today it has been a year for me. I kinda feel a bit like you in that the band has not exactly been what I had hoped for. I have not had a slip or anything like that. I have been too tight and needed to have an unfill and that certainly slowed the weight loss down. I have lost 40 pounds and then gained 10 and keep gaining and losing those same 10 pounds. I have not exercised, I have not always followed all the rules. But I am still very glad I have my band. I need to begin today as if it was a year ago and abide by the rules and exercise and put this tool to good use. I say none of this to discourage anyone. I would be banded again today in a minute. I do think that it is a tool, and like all tools it is how you use it. It is not magic. But it is fantastic. Hugs to all

I was just thinking the past few days "if I could tell a prebander one thing, it would be that you need fills to have restriction for the band to work" It seems that so many are beating theirselves up or thinking the band is failing because they aren't losing in the first six weeks or so. My heart hurts for them so much. It scares me to think of those who have no support, like this board, and other boards, and are questioning theirselves everyday or not getting fills, or eating wrong and possibly hurting themselves. Okay my rant is over. I am just sad when people get so discouraged, when they don't need to be. Hugs to all

Very encouraging and inspiring. Happy Bandiversary. You are doing fantastic.

Congrats to all you Monday May 2 bandsters. Walk, sip, rest and then do it some more. Each day will be so much better.

HI Well I have been wondering the same thing. I have lost 22 pounds, most of that right off the bat some even before surgery. I take 40 units of Lantus a day. I was also taking Regular Insulin with meals, but I am allergic to it and taking it causes great pain (my reason for having surgery to begin with) I am a type 2 diabetic. I so hoped that having the surgery and losing weight would mean no more insulin. But my sugars still run around 200, even with the drastic change in my diet. I can't help but believe the insulin has something to do with not losing more. I wish I had an answer. I am going to go for my third fill next week. I am not sure that will make a difference, because I don't think I am overeating. But I don't want to not use the band to it's fullest potential. It is hard to exercise because I am still in some pain even just being on the Lantus. Take care

Okay you should lose three pounds just for being brave and eating brussel sprouts alone. LOL. Seriously you are doing great.

Hi for those of you that have bought or been given one of these (magic bullet) is it worth it. I want one, and I think I am going to get one today but I really wanted to know how much someone uses it. I am kinda going from the mushy stage to the solid. But I can think that some meats would still be better chopped a bit before trying to chew them to death. Also when I get a fill, each time won't liquids and mushies for a couple of days be the norm. Also it could just come in handy for any meal prep. But before I buy yet another gadget (i am so the gadget queen) I really wanted to hear from some that have it. Is it better then a plain blender? Thanks so much Hugs and wishes to all for a wonderful Thursday. Vicki In Indy (cold Indy)

Good luck. I am nine weeks out and still have problems. I used to be a two times a dayer and now three times a week if I am lucky. Drives me nuts. (gosh I ate a lot of "stuff" before surgery) Benefiber chewables have helped some. But I swear I feel like I need some of that prep stuff they give you before surgeries. I feel like I need to be cleaned out from top to bottom. So I am just comiserating. Hugs

Terry Way to go. Wishing you many more steps. Hugs

I have had a sorta difficult time with my meds since surgery. A lot of it is my fear of one getting stuck. I have had two incidents where a pill got stuck right in the middle of my chest and I was in agony for two hours. Some tricks I have learned: If your med comes in a liquid get it. I am now on two of my meds that are liquid and I am much better about taking them. If a pill is scored and can be broken in half do so and take each half with a lot of liquid. If it is a capsule, hold the capsule in your mouth for a bit to soften it then take it with plenty of liquid. If the capsule is large, put a small amount of juice or crystal light in a medicine cup, open up the capsule and let the powder dissolve and then chug it back, followed by a lot of liquid. I feel like I am taking medicine all day. But acutally I am taking a couple less then before surgery. I am also still on four insulin shots a day, that bites. I take the chewable Viactive Multi vitamins, I have a chewable allergy pill I take and I use childrens chewable tylenol or Adult Liquid Tylenol if I need something for a headache or whatever. My hope and prayer is that some of these meds will not be needed soon. But until then I am trying to do the right thing and take them with out causing myself great agony. Hugs

Kara I had my first fill last Wednesday. I got a 1cc fill. I ate less than half of the pintos and cheese yesterday. Prior to my fill I had gotten a soft taco and scraped out the meet and cheese into the beans. UMMM,

OH yea refried beans are great. When I am out, only been a few times and need to eat something, like yesterday after teaching painting class and before a doctors appointment, I stop at taco bell, I get the pintos and cheese with some sour cream. I can only eat about a third or half of the little bowl. Fills me up for a long time and is so cheap. Since I don't order a drink I am saving there too. When I think what my preband Taco Bell meal order would be, ohhhh my. On the few occasions that we have ate out at nicer restaurants, the money I have saved in not getting a drink sure helps with the tip. I tip a bit more generous now adays. Of course we eat out a lot less. It is almost a treat now instead of an every other day event. And Hubby or my step daughter and I share a meal.

The other day, I popped a prozac and an amaryl (diabetic med) in my mouth took a drink of water and swallowed. BIG mistake. Those two pills sat somewhere about my breast bone internally and hurt and burned and hurt for two hours. I thought I was going to go crazy. After a couple of pepcids, some warm tea and a soak in the hot tub, the pain finally went away. I had read a suggestion before about holding the capsule in your mouth a bit to let it soften. That is what I try to do with small capsules. Larger ones I open up and put it into a small (capful) of crystal light and drink it. I take the viactive chewable vitamins. I now take a liquid metformin, that helps because the glucophage are huge. My PCP ordered some liquid antidepressant yesterday (after me describing my fiasco with the pills) but the pharmacy had to order it. I think taking meds has been the hardest thing for me to get in since banding. Hopefully my need for them will decrease more and more. Hugs

I can't add anything to the wonderful things all of you have written. My heart is heavy. God be with Blossom's family. Oh what an angel in heaven we have. Vicki In Indy

I had my first fill on Wednesday. It went very well. The procedure was truly painless and Dr. Curry was so fast and acurate. He said you will feel a stick and then he said all done, I swear it took me longer to type that then it did for him to do it. I stayed in the office a bit sipping a drink. Then I stayed in a hotel overnight before driving back home (2 hours away) just in case I couldn't keep liquids down. So far so good. I have only had liquids and a couple of mushie things. I do feel restricted but not overly. And that is fine. I ask him to be conservative so he put in 1cc. He also said I could come back as soon as two weeks for another fill if I am not losing. I told him taking it slow was fine with me and I would probably wait longer then two weeks. The true test will be when I move on to more solid foods. Hope your fill has loosened up a bit. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend

found it Saveromeosmom.com

Hi I know who you mean. But of course I can't remember what her name is. I can see her picture in my mind. She has a small child and seems like her name might have had her childs name in it. Her web site said that if she raised the money to have the band she would in turn help others as she could. I believe I sent five dollars to her through pay pal. I think she took some heat for asking for donations. Not sure what ever happened to her. But I would love to know too. I know this didn't help you at all.