mrsto

I know how good you must feel. Congrats on a job well done!

We're going to my BF's house for Rosh Hashana, and I'm sure she mentioned it to a few people who will be there. I'm already anticipating what I will say, if anyone brings it up. At this point, as much as I don't really care what others think, I just don't have the energy explain it. Nor do I care to educate anyone who might have a negative opinion about it. Geez...another glass of wine, please!

I don't think you can delete posts. I've tried, but it doesn't seem to be an available function of the site.

Me, too......I tell them the answer. I'm proud of it, and it rolls right off my tongue, without hesitation.

You can also find liquid vitamins, which by comparison, have a higher level of vitamins AND minerals, over gummies.

I'm concerned that your doctor agreed to set you up for weekly fills. IMO, it's way too fast, and doesn't give you or your body time to register the FIRST fill. If you pass green, going straight to red so quickly, you will have undesirable issues. Please keep in mind that the band is for life; not the quick fix that so many of us sought in past attempts at weight loss. To set such an unrealistic December goal, I fear that you're setting yourself up for a major disappointment. What's the rush? I'm guessing that you didn't gain 60 pounds in three months, so it's highly unlikely that you will lose it in 3 months. I don't know what you've got planned at year end, but just try and relax with this. As mentioned by posters above, if you rush the fills, trying to force rapid weight loss, you can have serious complications.

Pre-band, I was on a low dose of blood pressure meds, my cholesterol was elevated, and I was pre-diabetic. Happy to say, I'm off the blood pressure meds, and my sugar and cholesterol are now in the normal range. Side note: If it weren't for the blood pressure meds, I don't know that insurance would have approved my surgery. For that, I'm glad that I was on them, and even happier to be OFF them

EVERYONE in these forums has a right to disagree with a post. Retaliating by demeaning that person by pulling LB rank, is completely uncalled for. Though I agree with some of the info posted, when I heard the term "rookie" thrown at Sojourner for disagreeing with a point, I felt a knife go in......even though it wasn't directed at me. Is all this really necessary? Come on people! This is an open forum, and we ALL have a right to post, disagree, etc., without being attacked. Please don't let this interaction digress to a full blown LBT cat fight. We've all seen way too many of them.

Initially, I was told to have a minimum of 60 grams of Protein per day. My daily calorie intake is somewhere between 1000-1200. I say "initially" on the protein, because in the visit with my surgeon (little over a week ago....for a TNE), I mentioned that I was having a hard time getting in enough veggies. I told him (based on our training), that when I eat all of the protein first, there's very little room left for veggies, complex carbs, etc. He told me that at this point, he's perfectly fine with me having a minimum of 40 grams of protein, and bumping up the veggies. He told me that he cannot tell classrooms full of patients this, because with the change in eating habits, they want to make sure that everyone gets in enough protein, and shifts the way they think about eating. I've always been protein driven, anyway, so getting enough has never been an issue. However, many people love (for instance) a plate of Pasta with plain marinara, and don't make protein numero uno. Many (like my BF) hardly eat any protein at all. Disclaimer: I am not advising anyone to lower their daily protein intake from the 60 gram minimum, to 40. I'm just relaying a conversation I had with my own surgeon, based on my own diet plan/issues.

I guess I'm still feeling somewhat "private" on the subject of my surgery. Showing the card would make me feel "different" somehow, and I've chosen to avoid it. BUT, there have been a couple of times when I thought I would show the card, but the kids menu didn't offer anything worthwhile. If I saw good, wholesome food, I would be more apt to "expose" myself

For salmon and filet mignon, I would re-think my position on advertising my surgery

I've had three fills since surgery, and all of them were immediately noticeable. For you, I'm thinking that maybe the fill wasn't enough.....this time around?

I have the card, but have never used it. Aside from the kids menus being full of crappy food, I don't like to advertise that I had WLS. But THAT is just me. I'd much rather order a regular meal, and either take the rest home, or leave it behind. If I choose to leave it, either it wasn't very good, or I'm not going straight home & don't have a cooler in the car.

Me too. Had a root canal and a couple of crowns, without issue.

When doing my research, I read a lot of Simpson's information when making my decision on which surgery to have. I wish all doctors were that forthcoming.

My surgeon is highly reputable, and though he's been doing the band since it was approved in the US; trained prior to its approval, and trained numerous surgeons on the procedure, it's not his first "go to" surgery. He felt the bypass would have been good for me, and I was actually scheduled for it. The extreme nature of that surgery wasn't sitting well with me, so I cancelled it. I did more research, and settled on the band with plication. He told me straight out, his lack of love for the band is the ongoing inherent issues. Although, he also said that with the newer techniques on placement, he sees a lot less issues. STILL - it's not his first choice, and he makes no bones about it. Does that make him a "bait & switch" surgeon? I'm not convinced. However, I do agree that there are TONS of them out there. We read a lot of s-hit in these forums, coming from many patients who went to the "1-800" type of facility; people who were taken in by the advertising, and let dollars and cents be their guide. When taking on something as serious as weight loss surgery, falling into the trap of "discounted rates", is a huge mistake.

It's so true about the other sites being "anti-band". When I started out researching, I went on all of the websites, and found Thinner Times and Obesity Help to be very negative towards the band. I also read many horror stories from people with the bypass, so clearly, the margin for complications is present no matter which way you go. As stated above, yes, there is continuous aftercare with the band, as opposed to the other surgeries. However, the band can be removed if there are major issues, and most all of the time, everything returns to its pre-band state. THAT alone was my reason for going with the band. I was very clear that my work would start the minute my eyes opened from surgery.....and I was okay with it. No matter what surgery, the work has to start at some point, and I was fine having that be immediate. Being 5 months out, I have no regrets, and I'm still thrilled with my choice.

I'm really happy for you, and completely relate to the lifetime of ups and downs (most all of us here, do). The band is a tool. Use it as prescribed, and you will never see that needle on the scale climb to the point of (what feels like) no return. I wish you all the best!

WOW, A-mazing transformation! You look positively fantastic!! Lying, really? Why on earth would someone lie about that?? Geez.....

I can eat just about everything, but the one thing that has changed, is honeydew melon. I used to LOVE it, but now, I get stomach pains rather quickly when I start eating it. Other than that, I haven't had any problems. As ladybandito said above, I rarely eat sandwiches anymore, or a burger on a bun. I order it as is, but end up taking the bread off and eating the meat. If (on rare occasion) there are french fries on the plate, I'll eat about 4-5 if they're thin, and I'm done.

GOOD that you're calling your doctor tomorrow. I don't think anyone can really comment on whether or not your band has slipped from this. But continual vomiting isn't good. About three weeks ago, I bought some liquid vitamins. I mixed the dose with some Water, and starting drinking it. I guess I didn't have enough food in my stomach, because rather immediately, I ran to the bathroom to throw it up. I ended up over the toady heaving like crazy, but nothing actually came out. In the five months since surgery, I've never had any issues with vomiting, dry heaves, etc., so I was concerned about the band slipping. I emailed my doctor (on the weekend), and he said that if I was vomiting/dry heaving several times throughout the day, there may be cause for concern. But one episode, he felt that I was fine. So, YES - call your doctor first thing in the morning. Only he/she can advise you. If it's been as bad as it sounds, they may want to take a look. I hope you feel better sooner than later.....

I'm 58, and had lap band with plication surgery on 3/25/13. I'm down 42 pounds so far. As far as it being more difficult to lose weight at this age, yes, for me it is/was. After menopause and a total hysterectomy, the weight started coming on a lot more quickly than before, and it took three times longer to lose the same pound. It felt futile. Thanks to the surgery, I've been able to put that in reverse, and I'm able to eat small amounts, while staying satisfied for much longer. Do I think that I'd be losing more quickly if I was 30? YES, I do. But I'm perfectly happy with my progress, and I'm grateful for my banded plication every single day. Welcome to this site, and please feel free to ask me anything you'd like

Did you talk with your doctor about it? That would be the best place to start.

It is very frustrating when stupid people make the comments they do. They love to criticize things they have absolutely no clue about, and pass judgement as if they were the almighty Himself. One dimensional thinking.... I'm one who rarely talks about having surgery. I'm to a point where I don't really give a s-hit what anyone thinks, at the same time, don't have the time or energy to educate the ignorant. I'm happy, and the immediate people in my world are happy for me. That's all that really matters. I also avoid the subject, because depending on who is making the comment, I could respond in a very calm, but demeaning way. So, I don't even start