RondaBen

Hello guys. Been a while since I have been on and almost as long since I've been hitting the weight loss road. I was banded back in Oct of 2007. Between the loss pre- and post op I lost around 85 pounds. Had 3 fills and was doing very well. Then all kinds of hell broke loose. In hospital with dehydration and stomach bug, blood clot, car wreck, job loss, father dying, house foreclosure. All in about a 6 month time frame. It sucked. I didn't want to go back in for a fill because the amount of stress along with my band gave me PLENTY of restriction. We ended up moving to a small town 2 hours from my doc. No fills anywhere near where I live. I've also been working two full time jobs (~100 hours/wk) for going on 18 months now. Unfortunately both jobs are fairly sedentary so I've managed to put back around 40 pounds. No problems with the the band during that time. So yes. I'm now backslid and un-filled since Feb of 08. I want to get started back now. I've gone back on liquids for the past week to shrink up any pouch expansion (pretty sure most of my weight gain was to eating around the band...I still have some restriction but have consistently chewed really well, but didn't obey the no-drinking rule). I'm embarrassed that I have let things go so long. I am hesitant to go back to my doc but I know I need to get restriction going again if I'm going to be successful. I dread going back. Do any of you have similar experiences? I'm not concerned about being successful--I know that with restriction I can be. Is there anything else I should be doing before going back to my doc? Thanks for listening. Wish me luck (and a few prayers if you have any to spare!) Ben

Thanks guys I appreciate the support AND the swift kick in the pants. Day 8 of liquids. First fill in 2 years on Wednesday. I'm excited. Lets do this.

I had lost 22 lbs pre-surgery and the rest since then--its easier for us guys and I certainly had enough to lose to begin with

Well, one week until my 2 month bandiversary (banded Oct 15) and I had my second fill yesterday. Totals this far: Shirt sizes lost = 4 pants sizes lost = 4 lbs lost = 61 Insulin = down about 90% from pre-surgery All and all I'm very happy so far. I hit a plateau for the last 3 weeks or so where I lost 1-2 lbs/week but was still losing size very quickly. Now the weight is dropping again and I am hoping that this fill will deal with some of the hunger issues.

Hey guys, figured I would give a one month update... Everything has been great so far. Not much in the way of restriction after the first fill (2 weeks ago) but really not that hungry. I'm not losing as much actual weight right now but am really dropping in size. I figure as long as I keep plugging I'll start losing the weight again before too long. Heres the stats so far... Fills: 1 LBs Lost: 48 Shirt Sizes: 5x to now able to wear most 1X comfortably Pants: 58 (down from 62) Insulin dosage: Down from about 150 units/day to about 40 units/day food problems: None so far...some discomfort from chicken because of eating too fast. Pushed the plate away and the pain stopped. Hope everyone is doing well with thier band thus far. Next fill is the first week of December. Ben

Hey all...had surgery this morning! Everything went well until post op. Radiology was "backed up" for an hour after my surgery and the nurses couldn't give me more pain/nausea meds until after my barium swallow test. That sucked being on the wrong side of the pain curve! Since then I am feeling much better with my own pain med and tylenol alternating. Hot tea has been wonderful and has helped the gas pains immensely. Just tender in the abdomen, real pain in the chest and back. The best news? my pre-op weight loss shocked me. I lost 42 pounds pre-op (5 weeks worth!) and so it begins...Thank you all for your support and prayers! Ben

Hey all, just an update. I am still having major intestinal gas pain...not gas from the surgery. I am having BMs and venting some gas but it is pretty brutal at times. The surgical site pain is fine--I just want to fart! Ben

Hey guys, I too am in Keller. Dr. Smith is doing my band on Monday (Oct 15th). kinda nervous but ready for results! Ben

Hey guys, I'm being banded on the 15th as well. I had my pre-op workup today (blood draw, chest x-ray and EKG). Looking forward to being banded but starting to get a little nervous as well.

Just got my date this afternoon...Oct 15! Lets get this train rolling! Ben

Hi guys...i've been a lurker for a while now and decided i better step up (and away) from the plate! I've been looking at Lap band for about a year now, making sure that understand what it entails and that I am ready to go through the process. I just finished the psych and nutritionist visit Monday and got my insurance approval Wednesday, so it is all moving very quickly. I hope to talk to all of you during this process so that I can learn and be successful. Thanks for having me! Ben Dr. Adam Smith, Fort Worth, TX