TrimKim

I wonder if some of you long time banders can tell me, why do Doctors say Lap-Band will only help you loose just 40-50% loss of your excess weight? How likely is it that I can loose all my excess weight? So many LBT members have tickers that show them near their goal weight, so I know it is possible, but how likely? If I excercise regularly and folow the LB rules is that enought to guarentee that I can meet my goal within two years or less.:help:

Thank you so much everybody!! I feel so much better now. It only makes sense that rewards will come to those the work hard and follow the rules. My band-day is August 27th. As my date gets closer I find my self thinking constantly about the outcome of the proceedure and what I can (and can't) expect. This sight has really helped me work thru my questions and anxieties. Thank you!!

That's great! I get banded August 27th and am beginning to think a lot about the healing process and wonder what I have in store for me. What do you contribute your speeding recovery to? Positive self-talk, walking around during heeling?

Kacee, I LOVE IT! Your attitude is the one I aspire to have when I'm banded! I expect that there will be many trials, victories and disappointments throughout this journey and I have never been more ready got anything in my life! Yes, "This too will pass" gets me thru just about everything. Bring it and and let's get this party started!:whoo:

Dah! I didn't bother to read your signature or I would have answered all my questions. I have my pre-op appointment next Tuesday, the 14th. Any chance we could meet? I will be in town at 10 am for my metabolisim test, and 3:30 for my appt. Maybe we could have lunch. I would love to hear about your experience so far and any advice you could give me. Your 135 lb weight loss is most empressive! Congratulations!

He wouldn't be Dr. John Pennings in Post Falls would he? He's mine too. When did you/will you get banded?

I love to look through this site for tips, concerns, individual experiences etc., but I don't hear a lot of stories about everyones successes. I will be banded on August 27th (Yea!!!) and would love to hear about each phase and what it feels like to loose weight. Those that are toward the beginning, middle and end of their journey.:whoo:

..creamy tomato soup. I wanted something more today so I made cream of wheat very runny with milk so I could drink it though a straw. ... Thanks!!!! Happy Girl A Hi Happy girl. I too don't want to burst your bubble, :faint: but you might want to consult with your dr on your decisions to eat cream based foods. It's my understanding that until 3 or 4 weeks post-op you are to drink liquids only and never thru a straw due to potential gas issues. Don't get in too much of a hurry to eat what you don't have immediate adverse effects with. If you go against your Dr.'s advise the problems might arise later in the form of a slipped band or worse. Good luck to you.

Hey Chickie- 107 lbs! That is so skinny. I bet you look fantastic! Do you have any before and after pictures? I would love to see them. They are so inspiring!

Hey Congratulations! I'm scheduled to get my band on the 27th too! Yea! We are band twins. Ha. Only two weeks for the liquid diet? Luckey you. My doc but me on 5 weeks before my surgery date. It's Optifast and costs about $300 a month. I haven't been sticking to it 100% but doing pretty well considering. I haved a dinner out when I just can't get around it without being rude. The Protein diet is to shrink the liver becuase it cover part of the upper stomoch and reducing it helps prevent organ damage during surgery. Also, protein helps you heal faster after the surgery which has it's own rewards in and of itself. So only two weeks and you get to eat a meal everyday. Lucky girl. Enjoy. and congratulations again.

Wow Tonya! That was very well put. Thank you so much for the detailed relply. I've heard so many stories and everybody's experience is so different. I've heard a lot about the shoulder pain too. I had my gal bladder removed about 7 years ago laproscopically. The shoulder pain from the gas was miserable. I have dislocated both my shoulders years ago and am very overly sensitive about the empending shoulder pain. But I know it will only be temporary. Thank you so much again for your explaination of you journey so far. I would love to keep in touch with you. I am starting at about your starting weight and can't imagine being 170 lbs again. I was actually pretty happy at that weight. I've always been a heavy girl so my goal weight of 148ish seems so over the top. I don't know what my body wants to weigh. I was 175-185 in highschool. Thought I was huge then, but as I got older I dreamed of being that weight again. Anyway, blah blah. Thanks again! I loved the feed back!

BetsyJane, Thank you so much. You sound like you really have a handle on your eating behaviors. I know what you mean about being frustrated at times about loosing 'slowly' but being grateful for the time to get to know your body better. I think that's where I want to be too, as hard as it is to admit. I want to do this right, I can't fail again. Keep up the good work and keep us all posted on your successes.

I will banded August 27th!! (Whoo Hoo. I'm so excited) by Dr. John Pennings, Post Falls Idaho.:whoo:

Self pay for me is $17,500. This includes hospital fees, Dr.'s fees, anestesia, counseling (pre and post-of for life), office visits, dietition and one year of fills. It does not include lap work, ultrasounds or EKG, (my insurance covered those) The Optifast that my Dr. requires 4-6 weeks prior to surgery and three weeks post-op was also not included and costs about $11 per day. Dr. visits after one year are also not included. I really love my Dr. and know that I am getting excellent care before and after the surgury.

Yes, most Dr.s request that you (woman) get a minimum of 60-80 grams of protein per day prior to and everyday after surgery. Protein promotes healing and will speed your recovery as well as fill you up at meals and promote muscle growth so that you will loose fat during your weight loss instead of muscle. That's why they encourage you to eat your protein first. Also they usually but you on a liquid protein diet several weeks prior to surgury to encourage healing and reduce the size of the liver. The liver covers part of the upper stomach and must be moved out of the way during LBS. The smaller it is the less likely they are to damage the organ. Hope that helps. Anyone, please let me know if I have left out any other important info about protein. Good luck to you.

As hard as it is to do just remember that you didn't come all this way, surgery, and all the pain and pre-op diet and so on, just to give in to the dagging temptations that hunger can sometimes bring. The counselor at my Dr.'s office told me something that is really helping me. She said, self-displine brings with it self-confidence. Now I don't know about you, but that's somthing I would like to have tons more of. So every time you restrict yourself and stay on the program as instructed and practice self-disipline you can wake up in the morning and feel goog that you survived another day. Whew who! In the meantime, drink lots of water in between meals, excercise and know that your fill in coming in just a few more weeks. Good luck to you and know this. You can do it! You owe it to yourself!

Thank you for being so candid and sharing with us what you think caused the slippage. It's so important that new and old banders alike be kept aware of what happens when we sray away from what the Dr. advises. I'm sorry to hear of your delima and I hope that you find a resolution that will work best for you. Good luck to you. And keep in mind that when you are eating out and you don't want to have to explain to people, a simple "I got my fill" is all that you need to say.