gowalking

I hear that Jack. for you it was kidney function. For me it was mobility. And I mean serious mobility issues...like in a wheelchair type of issues. I dropped the 70 lbs. I needed to in order to have the hips replaced.....kept at it and have lost another 45 lbs. and while still on the cane, am in no way looking at that wheelchair potential anymore. Heck, I can bend and tie my shoes....I can pick up my legs in the shower to shave them, I'm not afraid I can't walk a few blocks anymore. I can do so much that I couldn't before so yes...the lapband saved my life as well.

Good point about the Nexium Parisshel...I had forgotten to mention that. Yes...while on the Diclofenac, I was also on Prilosec to coat the stomach. I actually just stopped taking it as again, I'm off the NSAIDS now. Also...I so feel your pain as you write about stumbling to the bathroom. That was me before the surgery. Was on double doses of percocet literally round the clock and still having excruciating pain. I was bed-ridden for two weeks but that was the only option other than hospitalization on a morphine drip. Ugh... In fact, I am hoping that the image of myself being carried...literally carried out of my spine/sports medicine doctor's office will never leave me and that I can use it for inspiration if anytime I look too lovingly at some food item I don't need to eat.

Oh he's beautiful Cheryl. Congrats!

You must talk to your surgeon. I have joint disease and needed both hip and knee replacement surgery....which was why I had the lapband surgery as I was too heavy to have a good outcome. With all the pain and inflammation, I was on NSAIDS just as you...in order to function. I was even on Diclofenac 100 mgs. which is more potent than ibuprofen. Was it a risk? Yes. But did I have another choice? No. Any medication you consider is based on risk/benefit and only your doctor can help determine what is best for you. Oh...and just so you know, I had both hips replaced in October....my knees are much better because of the hips being aligned properly...and I've been off all NSAIDS since getting home from rehab. Good luck. I hope you get the surgery and have success in your weight loss journey.

I just spotted this thread. I have a similar situation with my sister. She and I are very close and till last year, both very heavy as well. I'm now considerably smaller than she is and wanted to make sure my weight loss did not affect our relationship. I talk about it as little as possible and usually only when she initiates the conversation. So far so good.

take a look at my ticker. I had a BMI >50 and have lost most of the weight I had hoped to. find another surgeon....there are other higher BMI folk on this site who have been quite successful so there's no reason why you can't also be one of those success stories.

Oh Tracy...those pictures brought tears to my eyes. You are beautiful my friend.

I think you may need to find another surgeon who is more supportive. Take a look at my ticker. I was also a smidge over 50 BMI when I started and look at where I am now. I'm fortunate to have had no issues and great success. I am nearly at goal weight and I had surgery 13 months ago. And I can say that while this is not easy, the lapband helps me enormously in terms of suppressing my appetite and allowing me the ability to make good food choices and to eat band sized portions. My primary physician wanted me to get gastric bypass. She said I'd lose 40 lbs. with the band, and that's about it. I'm making her eat her words....and when I see her for my regular followup next week, I'll weigh less than she does. I understand how sick and tired you are of being morbidly obese. I did tremendous damage to myself by being more than 100 lbs. heavier than I should have been. My life is amazingly better now. From major differences like being mobile when I was barely able to walk, to something as simple as bending over to tie my shoelaces...which I also couldn't do at my heaviest. Your quality of life will improve immensely so I applaud you for looking into WLS. Again...find a doctor who will support you and you'll do great. Good luck, keep us posted.

You're doing great so far. Average weight loss is 1-2 lbs. a week so you're well ahead of the game. I do a WW type of plan...3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup veggies, 1/4 cup carbs and stay around 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day. You have to remember, you didn't gain it overnight and you won't lose it that way either. Just keep your eye on the prize and watch what happens over the next 12 months. I had my surgery just over a year ago and only rarely lost two or more lbs. on any given week. I still managed to lose nearly all the weight I wanted. It's a journey...not a sprint. Good luck!!

Try to project a year from now...when you weigh less, when you have had dozen's of NSVs...buying smaller sized clothes, off your meds, feeling and looking better.... I was miserable on the preop diet....and I am so so much better now. I know it's easier said than done but one short year ago, I was where you were and the difference between then and now is unbelievable. Just this afternoon, I was sitting with my coworkers in the kitchen, finishing my 1/2 sandwich and clementine. Heck I even had a couple of thin pretzels. So...just know that sandwiches are still in your future. Oh...and while we were chatting, I leaned back in my chair a bit and crossed my legs. Such a little thing...unless like me, you haven't been able to do that in years. I feel so normal now that it still takes my breath away. Hang in there....it will get better...I promise.

You've already reached goal. The number on the scale is truly of no importance. And CG is right..you had a nice time with your daughter...no harm in that.

Feel better!!

Nope. I hate looking at the extra skin and would love to get it removed. I don't need saggy skin to remind me of my journey as I already have a permanent reminder of what I did to myself..two ten inch scars on each hip where they took out diseased bone and replaced it with metal. The surgeon swears this was due to joint disease and a generic pre-disposition, but I know better. I'm sure that walking around with 100+ extra pounds likely exacerbated the bone degeneration to the point where I needed the joints totally replaced.

Hi kmo. You should start a separate thread so folks reply to your question. In the meantime, did your doctor's office give you any sample menus? If not, a few examples are tuna and egg salads...chopped or mixed very fine. Hummus, yogurt, soft cheeses. For snacks, pudding, Jello, pops...all sugar free of course. It's really anything that is naturally soft or you can make into a mushy consistency.. Good luck.

Libb...I'm sorry you are struggling and I do hope that you can find a doctor who supports you better than the one you have. Regarding the graphic..or ticker..it's not there to show you up in any way...it's part of chasing's signature...and mine...and plenty of others on this forum. It's there for informational purposes..and no other reason.

For those interested, we're doing our first NYC and surrounding area meet and greet. Details below. Hope to see as many as possible. Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2014 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Europa Cafe. 1412 Broadway (between 39th and 40th streets) If we find that we want to do this on a regular basis in future, we'll look for public spaces that aren't necessarily food related

We're shooting for another meet and greet in May. Hope you can make it.

I just went through this and it was awful. But did want to give you hope...it was really bad over the summer and fall especially as I had hip replacement surgery in October and even more hair came out. But about six weeks ago, I realized it was coming back in and today, no more thin spots..no scalp showing anymore. So hang in there...it will get better.

I ate so much before being banded that I made myself sick. Fast forward 13 months and thisclose to goal and who cares about eating to excess...I look great and feel so much better than I did last year. Once you see results, you will feel the same way.

It's very painful to lose those we think of as good friends but it happens all the time..and not just because of this weight loss issue that she has...not you mind you. I've had similar situations with people leaving my life who I thought were there for the long haul. It is what it is unfortunately. People will come into your life and people will leave it as well. I learned that the hard way....tried to keep some friendships going long after the expiration date. But I also made new friends along the way and that helps an awful lot. Good luck to you...and not to worry...you will get past this and do great.

Went to my seminar in July of 2012 and surgery was in January 2013

Well said Cheryl.

The 4 CC bands have a much higher fail rate than the newer bands. The only advice I can give you skywalker is not to overestimate your weight loss as it might set you up for feeling like a failure even though you aren't. I never lost more than 12 lbs. in one month. It was more like 6-8 lbs. a month and yet...take a look at my ticker. 113 lbs. in total and in just over a year...though that does include the 17 lbs. lost during the pre-op diet. If you don't set expectations too high, you'll be fine. Even if you lose it at just a pound a week, it's still like 50 lbs. in a year and for most folks, that's significant. Good luck!!

I've got a cousin in Washington Heights....easy ride up to her on the A train...LOL. I hardly ever cook...who does in this city, right? Anyway, it's easy to put your own meals together...and healthier too. You can PM me so I don't bore others on this thread and I can give you some of my personal experiences. I know everyone has their own way of doing things, but I'm finding it pretty easy to do it this way and it gives me a nice variety which helps not get bored with the same thing all the time. Oh and I also eat out regularly as well. I just make some better choices when looking at the menu and I do fine. I'm literally 30 feet from the A train on 181. Just moved up here recently. Because of this I had to give up my dunkin donuts, Starbucks Snacks, and this crazy Irish restaurant all within the same one block radius. I'll miss them forever, but I'm just happy I am not going to be described at "the fat one". Guess what....the more weight you lose, the less important the dunkin donuts and other crappy foods become. Not to say you won't want it at times, but it feels so much better to be smaller then the fleeting feeling of eating something that tastes wonderful but isn't good for you. My friend calls it a foodgasm. Short, intense, and gone in an instant...LOL. Except the consequences don't go away in terms of weight gain and all the rest of it...high bp, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. I was on hypertensive meds for years. No more. My sugars are normal as is my cholesterol. All good stuff.

Been going for massages weekly to help with the lower back pain/sciatica. Got a really good masseuse today and gonna stick with her since she did such a great job. So I also told her my tailbone (which is not aligned particularly well) was bothering me and she started working on that area also. As she worked, she asked me if I used a pillow when I was sitting because I must need something to support the area since I have no body fat back there to pad me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The girl with the big bottom just heard someone tell her she literally wasn't a fatass anymore. Whoopee!