lkhoward@safeli

Yes, I have been on Byetta since October 2005 and initially lost 64 lbs on it over I year. Then I started to gain the weight back. According to Lily, it is not meant for weight loss though and I does help to regulate blood sugars. I was banded a week ago tomorrow and took myself off Byetta until I am through with my 3 week liquid diet as I thought it might be the cause of the stomach upset I was experiencing the first few days but I plan to begin using again as soon as I start eating real food. If it were me, and I could not get my sugars under control, I would definitely check with my diabetes care giver about using it again for that.

Brand new to this site as I actually had my band done this last Tuesday, 12/11/07. I was diagnosed with type II diabetes in 1992 and with the different medications prescribed over the years, including insulin, watched my weight steadily increase. In October of 2005 I reached an all time high of 310 pounds. I was desperate! About that time I heard of a new medication just released by the DEA for the treatment of diabetes called Byetta. I spoke to my physician and he prescribed it for me. One of the side effects that Byetta can have is weight loss due to decreasing the appetite. Over the next year I watched my weight fall to 244 lbs. I was ecstatic (I have since found out that my 66 lb weight loss was VERY unusual). In October of 2006 my weight loss stopped and I began to gain again. In March of this year I went to a seminar put on by my surgeon outlining lap band surgery. Since then I have been working hard to loose most of the weight I gained back in order to qualify for the surgery. My weight prior to the surgery was 253. I am now down to 247. :clap2::clap2::clap2:

Yes we are on our way. My doctor was Bryan Anderson, Boise Idaho. How do I get that cute graft that you have in your reply? I'm really not very blog savy?

Just had my band on Tuesday. I was, what I told the anesthesiologist, appropriately nervous but also excited. I am a nurse and actually work the surgical area where I was prepared for my surgery and the area where I was cared for after. I really believe that attitude after surgery is about 80% if the battle. The pain I felt just after surgery was small to moderate, maybe a 3 to four on a scale of one to ten. I described it as like being kicked in the stomach by a very small mule. Wednesday the mule had gotten a bit bigger, but Thursday the mule had shrunk again. I was given liquid Lortab for the pain but it gave me a headache so I switched to liquid Motrin and liquid Tylenol. I would alternate them. Yesterday and today no problem. My daughter is also going to have the surgery early this next year. She had to wait until she could switch insurances to have coverage. My heart goes out to all of you who are having to pay for this yourselves. Some insurances are sooo short-sighted. Good luck to all of you.