skittles108

Hi all. I'm just dropping in to say hi. It's my 4 year bandiversary and I couldn't be happier. I have lost over 120 lbs., am wearing a size 10, and have stayed at goal for 2 years. I just turned 68...wow I sure don't feel it. I'm doing all the things I didn't (couldn't) do at 58. Hope you are all happy and successful and loving your band life.

Hi folks..well it's been months since I've checked in. I turned 68 in February. I was banded in 06 with a BMI of 40. I would have been happy to lose 50-60 lb., but I lost 100 and have maintained since then without problem. I have never once had a single problem with my band. I hear people say they are "stuck", "sliming", etc. and I have never experienced it. I love my band. Now back to real life, and I wish you all the best.

I had a barium swallow a week ago, really kind of routine, as it had been a year. I felt like I could eat a little more then I should, so no problem in having it done. My dr. unfortunately is out of town for 2 weeks, but his associated called today and left me a message. He said "Your pouch is slightly tipped, but nothing to worry about"...nothing to worry about? I don't understand what this means. I've heard of pouches being enlarged, I've heard of slips, but I've never heard the term "pouch is slightly tipped." Is there anyone familiar with this term that can explain to me what this means. My dr., like I said, is gone for 2 more weeks. The dr. covering from him is not a lap-band surgeon. They left a message not to worry..like that's going to happen. So, what is a tipped pouch? Please someone help me out here? Thanks so much:confused:

He there, all my lapband friends. It's been a long time since I posted here, but I have more time on my hands now. I'm 66-years-old & my birthday is creeping up in Feb. I had lapband surgery in 06 & I've lost 100 lbs. I feel good, except for some fatigue, which I can't quite put my finger on. I'm certainly much thinner & I'm sure much healthier, & I take my vits, but I can't get past the tired. I wonder sometimes if it's depression, but I do take some meds for it. I guess I wanted to know if anyone else is feeling like this, or if you are all feeling great :rolleyes2: I really feel the need to re-connect with people my age, as I know nobody here that has had lapband surgery. I've never had a single problem, & the last fill I had was a year ago. I'm maintaining, but not losing anymore, but I'm in a size 12, & I can't ask for anymore then that. I'm a widow, & have been for 14 years. I pretty much keep to myself, except for family, so I wanted to connect with some of you & say hi, & happy holidays to you all. Take care, & please say hi if you have the time, & let me know how you are doing. Skittles:smile:

I hope my band lasts me a lifetime, but IF I needed a revision, I wouldn't be going for a VSG, but a full-blown DS. Why waste the time with a sleeve? Sure you have a lot of malabsorption with the DS, but you also get to eat well, and compliance with my Vitamins would never be a problem for me. I just don't see why if you are getting your insides rearraged you don't go full bore...just my thoughts.

Two more boys have come forward claiming they slept with this girl about the time of conception and could be the father. Stay tuned. It's definitely getting more interesting.

I don't post here much, but I'm almost 3 years out and love my band. I'm down about 130 lbs. and have never had a single problem with it. The band is far from "crap" for me, but I don't choose to speak for others. It may not be for everyone, but it definitely was the right choice for me. I have maintained my weight for well over a year now, and in fact lost 6 more pounds, so I consider myself a success. I was older getting this band, and worked hard to get approved. I'm sorry BubbleButt that you hated your band, but "one man's trash is another man's treasure" and so it is with me and my band. I plan on dying with this wonderful little device inside me, AND absolutely no one can tell me I didn't do the right thing for me. I didn't want my guts rearranged, and that is the reason most people choose the band. I am going to end this post by saying I have never regretted a single day of having this band..not one single, solitary day, so please speak only for yourself. I choose to speak only for me, and I live each day like it is the beginning of my life thanks to this band.

I'm so glad a few of us check in here regularly. I had a dr. appt. a couple weeks ago and the dr. took out some of my fill. I knew I had been tight for awhile, but he took me down quite a bit. I am eating more then I should be, and I will be glad to go back on the 9th of March. This band is indeed fickle. I wonder if there is truly a "sweet spot" or just plain good restriction. I am going to NYC in May for a vacation. Your trip to Korea sounds like it will be fun. Is your daughter's family military. My SIL spent 2 tours over there unaccompanied. He brought me back some beautiful things, including I mink blanket that I cherish. Check back in and let me know how you are doing. Let's keep this thread going if we can. Skittles

Hi there, life gets in the way and I forget to check in. My grand-daughter and I share the same birthday and just celebrated together. Life has been busy. I'm also flying to NYC for a week in May and I'm really excited. I'm glad your surgery went well and you are doing good. Congrats on the weight loss. My sleep apnea is gone. My blood work is all fine, but the dr. said "you are still 67-take a nap if you want one". I guess I don't like wasting a minute in a day, but hay maybe I need that little nap. No harm done, right? I'm so glad everyone is doing well. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and still a kind of tough day to get through..when does it ever get easier, or is it just me? Love, Skittles

I found the comment about Kate Winslet's breasts in "bad taste" really. It just isn't something that should be blurted out on a TV show. I think it's a case of "maybe you had to see the show" to see how it was presented. Kate Winslet is a wonderful actress, did a great job in Revolutionary Road (although the movie is a whole nuther subject), but that was over the top even for Oprah. Kate replied with gesture-"oh you mean down to here" or "under my arms when I lay down". Give me a break, that was such an unnecessary comment, & it in no way mean I approve or disapprove of breast surgery, because I don't give a fiddler's damn about it. It's a personal decision. It just seemed inappropriate in the way it was said-but Oprah, well I guess she can get away with anything-sadly.

I like the girl that takes care of her 93-year-old Grandma. That girl had a really nice voice. I don't care much for the try-outs though.

I'd be hard pressed to top her latest blunder. She told Kate Winslet "I so glad you have real breasts" WTF kind of thing is that to say to anyone, & how come she took such note of it?:thumbup: Even Ellen topped her favorite Christmas gifts this year. Oprah went with cheap & free (why? she is rich as hell) & Ellen gave away some awesome crap.

Hi there in Sandpoint..waving from the other end of Idaho, near Boise. I'm 2 1/2 years out from banding, & now 66-years-old. I'm at goal weight & have been since a yr. out, with no trouble at all maintaining. The only thing that is not my friend seems to be bread (unless it's toasted). I've kept a fairly tight fill (but not too tight) for over a year now. I think I'm going to get some taken out next mo., as I'm really through losing. It's a whole new life now...no knee problems & far more energy. I wish you luck. :thumbup:

Hi, I just wanted to check in & see how everyone is doing on this busy thread. I am 2 1/2 years. out from lapbanding, & I have lost 130 total. It's like a new life for me. I was pretty well confined to a wheelchair, had been told I needed new knees, but when the weight came off so did the pressure on the knees...2 1/2 years later & no new knees yet, & no more pain. Today I spent 6 hr. out shopping with my daughter for Christmas, & never even got tired..had a great day. This is a brand new phase of my life & at 66 going on 67, I feel better then I did at 45-50. I have gained nothing back...absolutely nothng. I love my lapband. I didn't read all your posts, but I hope you are all happy with yours, or looking forward to it. It was a life saving surgery for me. If you have any questions that you need to ask someone further out, prease feel free to ask, & I'm happy to meet you all. Dee:smile2:

Hi There, I would be happy to talk with you, while you await your surgery. I had surgery 2 1/2 years ago & have lost over 100 lbs. I am at goal & feeling good (although somewhat fatigued at times). I was 64 having my surgery & I'll be 67 in Feb. Keep in contact if you want to talk. Skittles

Hi there Karen, & yes indeed we have a lot in common. Before my surgery I was told I would need 2 new knees, & I was prepared for that when I lost some weight. Strange thing though is that they have gotten so much better. I was to a point where I couldn't shop without one of those carts you ride in, & now I walk all over the stores. I also went through a series of Synvisc injections which helped a great deal. It seems like my weight alone was a lot of my problem. I hope you continue to feel better. My hands seem to be the only thing that don't work right. I have an essential tremor for one thing, & some arthritis in them also. I take antidepressants, but they can only do so much. They truly can't fix real life can they? I think the fatigue is probably a combination of things. Thanks for checking in on this thread, & please keep in touch.

Hi again, it looks like we kind of own this thread, huh? Your date is getting close, so I'd love to keep in touch with you. I'll be going to one of my daughters for Thanksgiving (going over the day before to help with the cooking), & I will spend a night or so with her. I have 5 kids, but they are all grown & out of the house, so there is just me & my dog. That would be wonderful if I could trade in the machine & not have to go through another sleep study. I will most definitely ask at my next appt. Considering my blood work is fine, it just may be the sleep apnea, but before I knew I had it..I would wake up gasping for breath. That never happens to me anymore though. I'll check tomorrow & see if you are around. :laugh: Skittles

Hi, I will check with my PCP again about the sleep apnea. She thought that probably since I had lost so much weight it was gone, but perhaps it isn't at all. I know I shouldn't be feeling as tired as I do. My labs are good, with the exception of my Vit. D., & that is my own fault for not keeping up on my multi-Vitamin like I should. We don't have malapsortion, but I've begun to realize just how important those Vitamins are. I felt good for so long, that I slacked off. I usually take 2 of the Centrum chewables. I will most definitely see if it's possible to trade the machine in. I hope I don't have to take another sleep test, because Medicare requests it be done in 2 parts. I have a little dog, & I so hate to leave him overnight. I hope you are as happy with your surgery as I have been. I haven't had one single thing go wrong...knock on wood. I'd love to keep in touch with you. Skittles:teeth_smile:

Hi there, you know I had sleep apnea bad when I started this journey, & I have one of the old CPAP machines with the large Water reservoir. My hands have some arthritis, & I could no longer change it all the time by myself. My dr. felt I was ready to give it up with the weight loss, but I think maybe that isn't the case. It could very well be fatigue from not using it. I know they have a new model out that is a lot less work, but I think you have to have your old machine 5 years before they will trade it in. It does me no good, because (yuck) you have to be able to change the water. I'll talk to my dr. again about it. I'd love to keep in touch with you & see how you do with your surgery. I surprised myself. Except for the port area being sore (like a pulling sensation when I got up & down), I did great, & 3 days out was shopping Walmart with my daughter. I didn't push it but I managed to walk some every day, & every day it got better. I was off Lorcet in 2 days & taking Tylenol. I think the older we are, the better we seem to do to be honest. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself, because I could hardly walk anymore, & knew I was destined for a wheelchair. It was so important to me I was able to stay in my home & take care of myself, that I knew I needed to do this. It has been wondeful. I still marvel at going from a 22-24 to a 10-12, & I can shop for hours (seems like that is my cross-addiction:) People that tell you that you can only lose 50% of your weight with the band have never really worked it, or experienced it first hand. I have a friend with RNY, & I've done better then her. I wish you the very best of luck with your surgery, & if you have any questions at all feel free to e.mail me. I think you are doing the best thing in the world for you, hubby & grandchildren. Skittles:teeth_smile:

Hi there, I wanted to let you know I had 5-way-bypass heart surgery 8 years ago. My arteries were 95% clogged. I have done great, even though the healing phase was horrible. I had lapband surgery in 06, & I've done wonderfully with it. I have been on 81 mg of aspirin every single day since surgery without a problem. I did stop taking it for just a week before surgery though. I have never had any stomach or band problems, whatsoever. I think everyone our age should be taking a baby aspirin a day as prevention for heart disease. It is not going to hurt your band in any way. It's a very small dose, & washed down well with water, it doesn't even present any form of GI upset. Good luck to you.

Pasta and rice don't agree with my band. I don't know about other people, but with the band protein is the key word, then veggies and if any room left some potatoes etc. I try hard to stay away from things that are high in carbs to be honest. I have no luck with bread, rice or pasta, but things are different for different bandsters. I'm sure you will get a variety of answers on this one.

I had lost weight often on my own on every diet imaginable to man and always, always gained it back and more. I knew for me the band would finally be the tool to not only losing but not regaining. I will be out 2 years very shortly and am at goal and maintaining. I wouldn't trade my band for anything, but if you weren't nervous I would be worried about you

My dr. advised me against the bypass being over 60. He felt the malabsorption part is tough enough, and even tougher as you get older. I felt safer going with the band. I truly didn't want my insides rearranged, nor be committed to taking all the vits you have to take. I think age should play a huge part in the deciding factor. For me the band was much safer and I am at goal having lost well over 100 lbs. I'll be 2 years out shortly.

I'm so sorry about the loss of your husband. I am also a widow so I can definitely relate to what you are going through. I will send up prayers and good vibes that you can get your lapband. Keep on plugging away and please don't give up. Feel free to PM me anytime.

I hope I get to see 89 :party: I lost my dad 3 years ago at the age of 100. I used to always send him baskets of cheese and meat from Hickory Farms. I would just order online and have them send it out and he loved it. They have some nice baskets with bigger cheese and meats in them. Just an idea. He also loved getting items from Swiss Colony. Both of these have a website.