Healthy Grandma

Today I realize that I've lost 100 pounds from my first visit to my surgeon's office. Woo-hoo! Then I started thinking about other goals I've met. First big one - DO SOMETHNG ABOUT MY WEIGHT!!! Start the process by talking to my PCP and getting a referral. Initial weight at surgeon's office - 326.:thumbup: Told I had to lose 10% of my body weight to around 290 before he would submit it to insurance. Weight 1/1/08 321. Was in "twoterville" by the end of February. Official weigh-in on 3/27 287 pounds. Next goal was not to gain weight back before surgery. Surgery date 5/19/08 - weight 270. By end of August my BMI said I was obese - no longer morbidly obese. Today down 100 pounds. Faster than I thought it would happen with the band, but I'm keeping the calories down and exercising more. I still have goals to meet but I'm doing pretty darn good! I'm following the rules (not perfectly as far as eating some ice cream or chips once in a while), trying to eat around 800 calories a day, and have been walking a mile or more around the inside track at the school. Some other goals are to join the fitness center, be in onederland by the end of the year, be able to shop for regular sized clothes, become just "overweight" and not obese, have plastic surgery, and finally to be in my normal weight range and not even overweight. No particular time frame but hopefully by the end of 2009. :smile: Sorry this is so long, but I'm really reflecting a lot today on my weight loss journey. I'm so thankful for the information and support I receive on this site. Healthy Grandma

That's great. You're really working it! I love my band (most of the time). I feel like I'm in control of my eating with the band's help.

Restless Monkey, you're right on. I ate a small bag of baked Lays and felt bad for eating them (mini binge). Before surgery, a binge would have been an entire big bag of Doritos or cheese puffs--and I mean a big bag. Before, I would let one binge derail my whole diet, but now I count the inappropriate food in my calorie count and get back on track.

The support group I have been attending is all bypass people. One time a married couple of bansters were there but they never came back. I have been asked three times by people there why I chose the band. I give them the answer and then say that I think we have a lot of the same issues although not exactly the same. They accepted it well and we get along fine. It's valuable to go because it is a weight loss support group and luckily there is support, but it would be nice if there were more bandsters and maybe even a separate group to discuss our particular concerns. They just wouldn't understand, like I tune it out when they discuss dumping and watching for sugar grams in foods. I hear that the band is becoming just as popular as the bypass so maybe the group will even out. Maybe I can help someone considering the band. Healthy Grandma

My main goal is to to be healthy, get rid of my blood pressure medicine, and be able to walk and play with the grandkids. But I would love to walk into a store and go to the regular women's clothes and not have to go to the plus sizes. The selection of plus size clothes is terrible and the prices are so high. Originally, I just wanted to be below 200 because the doctor showed me charts showing that I couldn't expect to lose all my excess weight with banding. After reading about all the success stories here, I think I may set another goal to be below 170--then I will be merely overweight and not obese. Sounds good to me. Healthy Grandma

I was banded on May 19 and had my first fill on June 24. I lost 15 pounds from the banding day to the first fill. Woo-hoo. The nurse-practictioner numbed me up first and then had me partially sit up after she felt around for the port. I think it took 4 tries because I have four puncture holes. She pressed quite hard and it hurt a lot with the pressure on the port. I'm envious of those who say they didn't feel a thing. All in all it wasn't too bad though. Anyway, I'm still having pain around the port area and when I lie down, I can see that it's a little swollen. There's no redness. Is this normal? Is it because there was a lot of pressure on the almost healed port? I hate to call the doctor if this is normal, but it seems that it's hurt more yesterday and today. I've never read about anyone else having this problem, so I thought I'd ask. Healthy Grandma

Thanks for the answers. It's still a little sore, but it makes sense that all that stabbing and pressing would hurt. Since she numbed it first, I didn't feel the needle go in but then it seemed to meet resistance when she tried to get it into the port--that hurt. She said I had "tough skin." I'm hopeful that the next one on June 30 goes easier. Maybe the port will be totally healed. I think she's the only one in the office that does the fills. I can feel the port quite close to the skin and the roundness and indentation in the middle. I can't figure out why it should be so difficult to find, but I guess it's not as easy as I think it should be. Feeling Better Grandma

I tell people. I've had a few unpleasant experiences with some co-workers who try to be the food police, but basically everyone has been very supportive. Last night I was volunteering at a Clinic and one of the nurses asked me how the surgery went. Then she proceeded to tell me about her minister who starting losing weight pre-surgery and did so well that she skipped the surgery and lost 150 pounds. She was so admiring and proud of the minister. Maybe I'm a bit too sensitive about this, but I felt like she was implying that I took the easy way and the minister did it the real way, the hard way, the way worthy of our admiration. Grrr.... Healthy Grandma

I told the group of women I work with that I was getting banded and that my doctor wanted me to lose 30 pounds before surgery. I told them that I was counting calories to lose weight. After I lost the 30, I kept on losing before the surgery. A couple of weeks before surgery, I went to another co-worker's retirement party. I took about 1/2 of a small square of cake and didn't intend to eat the frosting. One of the women I had told walked up to me while I was talking to someone else and loudly and rudely asked, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT?" I put my hand up and said "Don't do that. I don't need the food police." She shut up and just looked at me. Later I reminded her that I had the calories figured in my daily total and all was well. I would never walk up to someone and be that rude, even if they were eating something I thought they shouldn't. I also don't like to answer the "How much have you lost?" questions. I've been saying, "I think I'll tell people when I'm all done" (whenever that is will be my own business). One woman here has had bypass and weighs herself every Tuesday and tells everyone how much she's lost. I don't feel comfortable doing that. Healthy Grandma

I was banded 5/19/08. They weighed me when I first went in. The morning after surgery they brought a scale in and weighed me again--I was 10 pounds more. But the nurse warned me that it would be higher because of all the IV fluids. I weighed myself this morning at home and still have the 10 pounds. Today is my third and final day of Clear liquids. I'm not hungry at all--nothing sounds or tastes good. I'm drinking lots of Water and I'm ready with Soups, etc. when my appetite comes back. Grandma

Tomorrow I go in to be banded. I first called the doctor in September, so it's been a long process. I'm so ready. :leaving: I met with the doctor and had the pre-op tests last Tuesday. He said I only needed to be on Clear liquids today and then for 3 days post-op. Then full liquids. It's funny how each doctor has his or her own way of doing things. The doctor said that I have to spend two nights in the hospital because it's a hospital rule. I don't mind one night, but two seems kind of excessive to me. Oh well, I'll just go with the flow. I'll let you know how it went when I get home Wednesday. Helen

I was banded May 19 and stayed one night. I think it's good because they can give you pain and anti-nausea meds. I also had those leg thingys on that periodically squeeze your legs to keep the circulation going. The only thing to complain about is once they told me I'd be discharged, I got dressed and sat in a chair for over an hour. I hadn't had any pain meds that morning and was really starting to hurt. My sister finally went to the nursing station and asked about my discharge. My nurse was working on the computer and said, "I've got the paperwork right here" and she got some paperwork from the end of the table. It was obvious she was working on something else and forgot about me. When she came in, I had to ask for a pain pill so I'd be okay for the ride home. Then the person who was getting the wheelchair disappeared for 15 minutes, so all in all it took well over two hours to get out of there once I was dressed. That was frustrating, but it's over now. Healthy Grandma

I'm banded! Everything went great. I even got to go home after one night since the hospital was short of beds and I was doing so well. The doctor came in Tuesday morning and asked if I felt good enough to be home and I sure was. Can't sleep very well in the hospital. I didn't have a pull bar for getting out of bed, but I used the bed rail and the nurses hand. It didn't hurt very much after surgery but the next morning the port site hurt quite a bit. They were giving me morphine in the IV and I remembered that I had morphine a couple of years ago when I had a kidney stone and it didn't work for me. They switched to Toldol (sp?) and that worked great. They sent me home with a prescription for Vicodin. I'm feeling great. It still hurts but not to bad except for getting in and out of bed. Thanks for all your good wishes and words of encouragement. I love this site. Healthy Grandma

Hi, Paisley, I was just approved last week but haven't been scheduled yet. Sometimes, I wish the whole process was faster, but I'm getting closer now! Helen

I lost the 30 pounds required by my doctor and went last Wednesday for my official weigh in. Today I got a letter from my insurance company (Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield) that said, "On 3/28/08 the Medical Services Department received a request to review for gastric lap band surgery for above member. Based on a review of the clinical information provided, the above request has been approved from 5/12/08 through 5/15/08. Based on the information provided to us, we have certified that the requested services are medically necessary and/or appropriate." If they had just left it as "has been approved" and stopped there, it would be more clear cut. Does anyone know what "from 5/12/08 through 5/15/08" means? I'll definitely call the doctor first thing tomorrow but I can't wait!!!! I'm so excited. They must have mailed the paperwork out immediately for the insurance company to receive it so fast. Did I mention that I'm excited??!!??:bolt: I'm on my way. My twin grandchildren deserve a grandmother who can play with them and go to the zoo, etc. and not just have to sit around and watch. Helen

I am approved! The insurance company said they ask the doctor for a tentative date but it doesn't have to be those days. Woo-hoo! The person who does the scheduling wasn't working today so I'm hoping to hear from her on Monday. Helen

Hi, I don't live in Elmira, but I am going to Dr. Moon in Elmira. I just got approved but haven't been scheduled yet. Helen

I'm in Watkins Glen. I haven't been banded yet. Have done a lot of the preliminary stuff. Dr. Moon said that I have to lose 30 pounds before he will submit it to insurance. Down 20--10 to go! I can lose weight but can never keep it off. That's why I want the band. I'm afraid that my insurance company won't approve me until I do the 6 month supervised diet. My PCP wrote a letter with weights from my appointment and said I was on a calorie restricted diet, but I don't know if that will do the trick. I researched the band for so long, and now that I made up my mind, I want it NOW! Helen

I'm at the stage where I'm having the medical tests done before they submit my request for surgery to insurance. I had the endoscopy Thursday and the doctor said I have a hiatial hernia and some damage from acid reflux. He gave me a prescription for a antacid and said that it wouldn't interfere with the surgery. The thing is that I don't have any symptoms. My sister pops OTC antactids all the time, but I don't. Has anyone else had surprising results from the endoscopy? Helen

I have one brother who's rather judgmental about my weight. One time I was singing along to a song on the radio "When will I be loved?" and he said, "When you lose about a hundred pounds." One time a few years ago, his son (about age 4-5) asked me if I was going to have a baby. I explained that I wasn't --that I had gained some weight. I didn't mind him asking the question, but I did mind the look on my brother's face and his comment, "Well, what do you expect." He never said anything to his son. Sometimes, I hear people say that the overweight are one of the last groups people can make fun of. Aren't we supposed to be fat and jolly. If you say anything, they say, "I was just kidding. Can't you take a joke?" Sometimes friends and family seem not to notice any more. They will talk about how fat someone else is right in front of me. Hellooo. Helen

That's very encouraging. I want to be able to enjoy food--just much less of it. I don't have a date yet for my surgery. This board is a great source of information. Helen

I'm just getting started with the process. I always thought I'd lose weight "someday" but I think I need some help. Gain and lose, over and over :cry. My twin grandchildren were born in October :) and I want to be able to play with them and go places like the zoo and museums. I've had my initial appointment with the doctor and told him I'd done research on the internet about the lap band. He thought I'd be a good candidate. Tomorrow I have the required appointments with the dietician and social worker. My insurance should pay for everything--thank goodness. Wish me luck. I'm kind of excited. I know it's not a magic pill by any means but I think it will work for me. Helen