restricted

I think we all have trouble occasionally. We didn't get obese overnight, and won't lose our weight instantly either. Try to take it one day at a time. The good thing about a bad day, is a new one starts again in less than 24 hours!

These are the side effects for Prilosec. My experience with it was not good, hope it isn't the cause of your pain. Questions and Answers on Prilosec OTC (omeprazole) What are some possible side effects of Prilosec OTC? Although side effects from Prilosec OTC are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: headache diarrhea constipation upset stomach vomiting stomach pain cough cold symptoms dizziness rash

My doctors office was very professional, and gave me a list of things to take care of. It was a pain, but I went down everything on the list. Once it was all done, I got a green light for surgery and am happily banded. The entire process from initial interview to being approved for surgery took about six weeks. I could have done it faster, but wasn't in a great rush. At all times the office staff were professional, helpful, and both the staff and I knew exactly what we expected of each other. If you are uncomfortable at this point, it may be worthwhile to investigate other alternatives as things aren't likely to improve after surgery.

Fen Phen use may cause heart problems for some. Instead of problems during surgery, it is better to find out about any problem before surgery. Answer the question honestly, at worst, an additional test or two will be required. Do you have insurance which covers the procedure and pre-op testing?

Some who report massive weight loss may have been very heavy to start with. Are you able to schedule a visit to a nutritionist?

Like the others have said, it isn't that you can't eat stuff you shouldn't. It is that you shouldn't be eating that stuff. The diet is to protect you and the band, not to punish you. I found the 2x protein Carnation Breakfast flavored as rich milk chocolate to be the most palatable of the drinks for me.

Best of luck Lauren!

I'll second the question, how did you get a surgeon to agree to do lap band surgery with a BMI of under 35?

Lauren, I was terrified about the surgery. Turned out, my fear should have been directed toward the pain of after surgery. I'm very old compared to you, and survived quite nicely. If I can do it, old and with several co-morbidities, I'd have more confidence in a younger person getting through. Ultimately the lap band is a tool, one we don't have naturally. It helps us to better control our tendency to overeat. If we work against it, weight loss will be minimal. Working with it, amazing things are reported to happen on this forum. You have an opportunity to get an aid that can help you resolve a problem, one which will probably get worse over time, and which will cause other problems. I'm saddened to read you don't have a supportive family. However, you have support here, online. From people with the experience of actually being banded. Try to let us help you online, as the band will one day help you personally. If you are very overweight, this is a godsend. Try to think of the lap band as an opportunity. One which has only relatively recently been available to people. There are very few proven methods of losing weight for obese people, the lap band is one of them. Accepting that we are obese, and need help is painful. What is joyful is knowing that there is help out there to be had. For most of human history there was no real help, or what help there was could be very dangerous. The lap band is the least invasive of the weight loss surgery's, and for those who apply themselves to their band it seems to have a decent outcome history. If your family can't or won't hear that, then you need to tune them out, and listen to your own heart and soul. If there is any specific question you have about the surgery or having a lap band, please ask. I'm certain you'll get several answers.

Isn't medical care in Canada free?

It was nice to read your positive and enthusiastic post.

My doctor said my surgery took about 45 minutes.

I'm more than twice your age and then some. This technology didn't exist until recently. If it had existed, I'd have had a lap band long ago. You are doing the right thing, and shouldn't be embarrassed. Diets don't work. Exercise works for a few, but not for most. Eventually your body will develop co-morbidities, like diabetes, and you'll be in a tougher situation than you are now if you do not get the lap band. I admire you for having the courage to go forward, and start to resolve your weight problem earlier in life than most. Just remember, the lap band is a tool. You can work against it, or work with it, ultimately we all decide how to relate to it. For those who work with it, the lap band is a life saver, literally. I hope for you it'll become one of your best friends, the quiet, shy one that helped you lose a lot of weight.

My dietitian suggested avoiding caffeinated products when possible. Though no stern warning, or ban. Not a peep about if from the doctor.

During my first intake session, the surgeon indicated that we were smarter than the band and could defeat it. He said if we worked against the band, our results would not be very good. We all need to try and work with, not against, our bands. Using them as a tool to achieve weight loss. If you can, would a visit to a dietitian to help you get back on track be helpful?

This has become chronic on the board. I'm fat, or gaining weight, but only drink diet soda. I'm surprised at how many seem to gain weight on 0 calories.

If you believe most of the posts in this thread. Just about everyone became morbidly obese drinking diet soda.

The doctors assume you are compliant with your sleep apnea treatment. Sleep apnea is dangerous, if you have it, it'd be a good idea to use your CPAP machine. For more info see, note on the link is a graph which helps illustrate the benefits of using a CPAP machine vs. not - The danger of untreated sleep apnea Everyone agrees that the breath-stopping type of snoring known as sleep apnea isn’t a good thing — it disrupts your nighttime rest, makes you sleepy during the daytime, boosts blood pressure, and increases the chances of developing heart trouble. Just how bad is it? Pretty bad, according to an extended study of almost 1,500 Spanish snorers. Researchers followed the men, who had been referred to a hospital sleep clinic, with yearly checkups. All were offered the most successful treatment, called continuous positive airway pressure. It involves breathing through a face mask that delivers a stream of air into the nose. Many of the study volunteers decided not to use the device. After 10 years, the researchers tallied up how many of the men had suffered a heart attack or stroke, needed a procedure to bypass or open a clogged heart artery, or died from cardiovascular disease. About 1 in 7 men (14%) fell into this camp. Cardiovascular trouble was three times more likely in men with severe untreated sleep apnea than it was in men with treated sleep apnea. In fact, rates of heart trouble were about the same in men with treated apnea as they were among simple snorers — who have noisy but regular breathing during sleep — and nonsnorers. The results appeared in the March 19, 2005, Lancet.

Untreated sleep apnea can kill you as surely as morbid obesity can. I'm surprised they didn't do a composite study on you, to both determine if you have sleep apnea and to fit you for a mask at the same time. However, you need to be treated for this. Don't feel that you have been presented with a problem, instead you are being presented with a solution to a problem which was potentially killing you. You'll feel better when your sleep apnea is taken care of. I know from experience. Trust your doctor, and get fitted for a mask. Weight loss surgery is not a sprint to a finish line, it is a journey. At the end, it won't matter if you started slightly later. Congrats on finding a problem, and dealing with it. Don't worry, after you have a mask there won't be another delay for sleep apnea. Just be careful when they fit you, make sure the mask they propose is one you can wear to sleep every night!

I wonder what percentage of people with lap bands watch the Emmi programs?

Anyone ever do Stillman's Quick Weight Loss Diet? It was a precurser to Atkins.:scared:

I'm starting to eat solids again! Yay!!! At the same time, I've got a new problem. When starting to eat, chew chew chew, after swallow, often I start to sneeze, multiple times. Has anyone else sneezed after starting to eat solids? Will this go away, or do I have a new reflex to tell me I'm on solid food?

Thank you so very much. I'll have to learn to listen to my nose.

I pay more than $309 for my 11 year old daughter. You are getting a good deal.

I miss regular Coke.