Lizalee

Angelshere: Have you figured out your calorie intake for an average day? I find it hard to believe you will gain "fat" weight at what seems to be a low calorie count. Commercially prepared Soups and boullion do contain a LOT of salt - sodium will cause Fluid weight gain. Plus, you're healing, and even thought it doesn't seem like it, there is fluid from swelling of internal tissues. I did notice the same things going on post-op and from time to time. Also, certain hormones and cause cyclic weight gain. It's really hard when you think you're doing everything right, and the scale just doesn't cooperate! If your calories and Proteins are where they should be, I really think you will make progress. I think solids are easier since you have other choices than all that salty stuff like soups. I too have been on plateaus, even gained weight and I can't figure out what the problem is, but they do end! I must have a pretty low metabolism, because I have found I need to keep my calories to about 1,000 or less a day or I don't seem to loose. But when you add up the totals, I am doing great. SO...hang in there. Keep up the exercise, look at the total picture of what you're eating. Give youself time to heal. Consult your dietitian for some suggestions and advice.

RE: Refund for scale! LOL! If only it was that easy!!! Actually, I spent the last 3 days at a horse show, hauling stuff, lots of walking, and having very little "real food" (ate high protein granola bars and stuff like that on the run). Thankfully, my scale is working again, and I'm back down a few pounds. AND, my BMI is under 40 for the first time in decades!! Yippe!!!

Mrs. J. J. Prayers and thoughts are with you today! Keep us posted!

BACK AWAY FROM THE ICE CREAM! Put your spoon down! You can do this...it's only FAT LADEN artery clogging sugar rich goo that after you eat it you'll regret it when you wake up in the morning! And it' won't even taste that good! Better yet ....throw it away! Nobody needs it!

My scale is worse than stuck...it's going backwards! The past 4 days it's gone up. I guess I can't really blame it, since I ate 1300 cals yesterday and 1700 today! (ate out for lunch at a very unhealthy place ...but that greasy broasted chicken tasted pretty good!) I have to wait 3 more weeks for a fill...this is going to take willpower! I've also had a sore back and am tired...don't feel like walking. OK, there, I'm done whining and I feel better for the moment.

Hi I don't have enough restriction, so I can still eat pretty fast. At this point, I can't imagine waiting 1 - 2 minutes . MINUTES? That's a long time! Especially when bites are supposed to be about dime sized anyway. However, food does still get cold. What I do is only take a little bit at a time, so that you can take more from the serving dish, which keeps it warmer. Works with some stuff...but not everything. The good news is, hot stuff doesn't taste as good cold, so then you don't bother finishing it anyway! And then I realize that I really am not that hungry, so why eat it?

Oh, I can't wait for my "sweet spot" -- so I can forget to eat dinner!! :-) Actually, I must confess, I have forgotten to eat Breakfast for a short time...maybe once! But I always remember soon enough to make it up. LOL.

Hi Beverly, Sure sounds like what you are experiencing is from the Ambien. That's a tough one. Tylenol PM is just Tylenol with some benadryl (antihistamine) added. You might try it, but I doubt it will make you sleep as well as the Ambien....and you should check w/ your doctor or pharmacist if it's recommended with your other meds. Good luck!

Hi, After my port revision, I only ended up with 3.0 cc -- .5 less than my first fill. I just started getting a little hungry again...hope I can make it without starving until my next fill, July 18. Seems like a long way away! Although, Turler, too tight is definitely not fun! :-( Hopefully you'll loosen up soon!

Hey, I work for Aurora too. Dr. Chua is very nice, and very gentle! He also has a new doctor that just joined his practice. She is being trained, so not sure when she sill actually start seeing patients. Dr. July, his associate is done as of today I think. Anyway, the new doctor seems very nice - I met her recently.

Hi Smartgirl, I had my band by Dr. Chua. He is extrememly well qualified and does a great job. Will you be going through Aurora Sinai's program, or St. Francis for your surgery?

Ladina, Congratulations on taking the frist step! I agree with Sara h. - there is no way to predict how much you will loose, and it is very much up to you and your body! I started about about your weight back in the end of November 2007. I had to do a dietitian supervised diet before being approved for the band x 3 months because I didn't have any documented medically supervised diet within the past 2 years. While I wasn't happy about the delay in surgery, this did teach me to start listening to my body's hunger cues vs head hunger, changing eating habits, and starting my new healthy lifestyle. I lost 30+ pounds. I was banded April 9, and have lost weight since then - total now is about 86 pounds - in about 7 months. So that averages out to about 12 pounds a month I think? I think I'm about average - I do walk every day (30 -45 minutes) and get exercise around the house & with leisure activities, but I don't do hours of aerobic workouts like some do. I eat 800 - 1200 calories generally, +/- ~200 calories depending on where my restriction is at. I have a relative who has lost about 120 poounds in almost a year with her band. I don't believe she exercises excessively either. Basically, it comes down to the same program - eat less, exercise more - even with the band. What the band does, once you have a good restriction level, is keep you from feeling like you are starving! I don't get that nawing hunger pain/craving for food as much now, and when I do, it only takes a small amount of food to tame it. And, it's there all the time, so you don't just give up one day because it's taking too long - it enforces a long term committment to a healthy diet! This is very important to me because otherwise I'd get hungry and frustrated and go back to my old eating habits and gain whatever I lost back + more! I have seen on this site peole who say they haven't lost much or have even gained weight with the band. I'm at a loss to explain that, except that you STILL have to do the work - meaning, watch what you eat and get exercise. The band will help, but it's not a cure all for bad eating habits or sitting around all day. The good thing is that you don't have to wait till you reach your goal weigh to enjoy loosing weight! I have lost about 3 clothing sizes, and feel 100% great! I've been able to stop all my diabetes and cholesterol meds, and now only take 1/2 of a blood pressure pill! So, I'm already enjoying the benefits of loosing weight, and can only imagine how wonderful it will be when I reach my goal weight! So, don't look at this as you don't 'win' until you reach your goal 1 - 2 years from now - there are plenty of victories to enjoy along the way. Best wishes for your success!

Hi I would suggest you contact a bariatric program in your area. They generally have information sessions that will explain a lot of the questions that you have. Many bariatric programs require the info session as the first step to being accepted into the program. (mine did) Also, look around on this web site on some of the threads on general info. There's a ton of information out there. The medical librarian at your local hospital can also help you find information if you don't have a bariatric surgery program nearby. There are studies on long-term weight loss/maintance. Good luck with your journey. I love my band and I've had great success so far! Generally the band is left in - not taken out.

My lap band has been worth it's weight in gold to me (and more, actually, since it doesn't weigh very much)! I haven't been this weight for more than 15 years, and I'm loving it - even though I still have a long way to go, I know that the band has been the tool that has helped me actually stay on a diet long enough to loose this much! It keeps me from feeling like I'm starving myself, meanwhile, I have learned new eating habits, and am exercising more, and doing things that I haven't been able to in years and year. Not one regret here! (except that I didn't do this many, many years ago)

I had the same thing...took the combination of antibiotics and bismuth, along with Prilosec, which cured it. It is VERY common, many adults have it. You get it from other people who have it (which really makes you want to wash your hands before eating...) The antibiotics can give you some stomach side effects, and it isn't very pleasant, but tolerable. Good luck.

Hi I was never one to 'formally exercise' before the band, and I don't really see myself doing it now. However, with summer here, I have been more active in the garden, walking to work, taking the dogs for walks, parking farther from an entrance, etc. I've thought about joining a fitness club next winter - when I can't get out as much. We'll see. I don' t know how people do it -- treadmill, etc - I need to be going somewhere! As far as finding time...I work full time, and have a couple kids still at home. Summer we have horse shows on many weekends. There's up and down stairs for laundry, housework, etc. I can't imagine finding time in a daily schedule to go away from home and exercise for a few hours... I am hoping to start riding one of my daughers' horses when I am down to a reasonable weight. How do you do it? Do you enjoy it, or are you just more focused & dedicated than I am?

Mrs. JJ & Auntlacy, I can fully understand! When I was 4 my neighbor called me a "butterball." I can remember my mom having a really hard time finding a dress for me to wear the first day of school...it was tight and uncomfortable, and I felt so different than all the other kids. When I was growing up, kids used to make fun of me when they drove by. My mom used to make me and my less-overweigh sister drink skim milk, while every body else drank whole milk and chocolate! I hated it, and never drink milk again since I was 13. I was near normal weight by crash dieting for about 1 year when I was 21....and it was back to obese along with 4 pregancies. Now my kids are nearly grown up (3 in college and 1 more year in high school) so I did this for myself - I wanted to be there for my future grandkids and the way my health was going, I wasn't sure I was going to make it! It's been the most wonderful thing I done for MYSELF in all these years! I feel great, have cut down to 1/4 of my diabetes med, 1/2 BP med, and can walk and enjoy life so much more now...and I still have a long way to go! Mrs. JJ - good luck with your surgery!!

Bettybboop, You gained 20 pounds? What are you eating? Are you exercising? If you are sliming, then isn't that restriction? I'm confused!!

OK = but please get more fills! You really need more restriction!

You are not alone...for some reason Wisconsonites are just not seeking out the Wisconsin threads! I was happy to see somebody out there too! I was banded by Dr. Chua from Wisconsin Bariatrics, but I went through Aurora Sinai Medical Center's Bariatric Surgery program (insurance required it.) Dr. Chua is very nice, quiet, and patient. He has EXCELLENT credentials, and has TONS of experience. I live 60 miles N of Milwaukee. Costs will depend on your insurance. I can't tell you the final cost because I'm still getting bills, but if you want to private message me, I can tell you what I know so far. Hope you stayed dry in the recent floods!!!

HANG IN THERE! YOU can do this. It will work if you keep at it. Follow the suggestions of JJSmiles - they are excellent and echo pretty much how I've been using my band to help me lose weight. I am not sure what your doctor meant about abnormal swallow. But, I too have a somewhat delayed swallow on my pre-op barium swallow, and all that meant is that when I swallow several swallows, it doesn't always go all the way down immediately. Which just means I am prone to reflux, and could have more reflux problems if my band is too tight. That's it. Didn't mean my band wouldn't work. Even with the band, it comes down to eating less, and exercising more. There is no magic. The band is all mechanical - it just helps you have a smaller stomach that tells you "i'm full" quicker (but you have to listen to it). This is much easier once you get a good resriction - which it doesn't sound like you do! I highly recommend food journaling - I do The Daily Plate online and love it. I also pre-plan my major eating for the day to I know right up front how much Protein I'll get and how many calories. That way I don't fool myself by thinking - oh, this one cookie won't matter. It does! If it's a cookie I REALLY want, then I eat it, but make compromises elsewhere in my intake for that day. You don't have to be perfect, but I agree - write everything down - I know otherwise I get into the old habit of...well, it's just a bite here or there...and trying to play head games with myself. YOU CAN DO IT!

Hi Bridgett, I'm from Wisconsin, was banded in Milwaukee April 9th. You thinking about a band?

I agree with Sisterc - perhaps if you are eating mushie food it's slipping through too fast to keep you from feeling hungry. The other thing is..obviously you're not at a fill level that is right for you yet. That's not unusual. Also, 13 pounds is great weight loss - remember, a pound a week is reasonable. Also, sometimes you hit a platueau, for a few weeks even, and then all of the sudden you start to loose again. How many calories are you eating a day? How much exercise are you getting? Try bumping up your exercise. And are you getting enough Protein, to keep your metabolism up? YES - please talk to you dietitian or your surgeon's office if they do nutrition counseling. Most of all...it's early, hang in there! I get frustrated too when the weight doesn't 'fall off' fast enough. We all want instant results - but remember, you didn't get to need to loose all this weight overnight...and it's harder to get it off than put in on!!! (Life's not fair!)

HI, If you go to the official Lap Band company web site, and read up on life with the Lap-Band, you'll see they have a little chart that talks about zones - green zone means you have enough restriction that you're loosing weight, not feeling hungry all the time, but not having symptoms of being too tight - can't eat enough, reflux, etc. Meaning - you're right where you should be. My Dr. has one of these posters up on his office wall. I'll try to copy it below. It's more a personal response to the fill than the actual amount of liquid. As you lose weight and your stomach wall loses the fat too, you may need more in your band to keep the right amount of restriction. I have 3ccs in a 9 cc band - and have a little restriction for now, but will probably need a little more in a few weeks. Some people reach their "green zone" with only 1 fill, and some it takes more. It just refers to how you feel and your symptoms. Due to problems with my tubing, I ended up with about 6cc's in my band last week at my second fill - way too much! I couldn't get Water to go through, and had instant severe pain until it came up. That would be the red zone! Had to have minor surgery to unkink the tube and now I'm fine again.

Well, I want to start out by saying that you will get lots of different opinions. I will share how I made my decision. I considered both types of surgery - started out with a BMI of 54, so I could have been approved for either type procedure. Things I heard was that sweet eaters and compulsive eaters may do better w/ gastric bypass, since you have the side effect of "dumping syndrome" if you overeat sweets. Dumping syndrome is unpleasant in that after over eating sweets you can get nausea, sweating, and so ill that some people actually end up in an ED. It's kind of like 'antabuse' for overeaters. I did like sweets, but I also overate other foods too. In gastric bypass, your anatomy is actually changed around (there have been different types over the years). The stomach and intestine are cut, and this increases the risks of the procedure - infection, leaks. There's also this newer procedure, gastric sleeve, that sounded interesting too. Gastric bypass patients can have problems with nutrient intake - they can eat more, but the body can't absorb enough nutrients. That also didn't seem healthy to me. They can also have problems with diarrhea - not fun. I plan to live another 20+ years, so I don't know that I want those kinds of issues when I'm old! I also didn't want to be dependent of Vitamin replacement forever. And yes, they do loose more weight and faster, but when you look at the studies and statistics, it didn't really seem that that HUGE of a difference! The last statistics I saw was only a few percentage points of difference in excess weight loss. On the other hand, the lap bad does have it complications too...but at least for my surgeon, it is REALLY low! It is by far safer than bypass type procedures. I need to be here for my family! And yes, I've already had a port revision due to a minor complication (kinked tube) but that was local/sedation and an few hour outpatient stay. Not a major surgery. If I would be so unfortunate to be battling a chronic disease in the future such as cancer, my band can be unfilled to allow me to get in the nutrition I may need at that point. Bypass is permanent. My doctor does both, has a long history in bariatric surgery. For me, the risks of bypass were too high, and the risks of banding tolerable, and I went with the band. I am VERY happy with my band (only 2 months) - have lost weight what I consider pretty fast. Yes, I do have to work at it. But it's much easier than without the band - I never would have gotten this far without it! Read up on both procedures, and when you finally have your consult with the surgeon, discuss both options. Decide what's best for you. I certainly would think that banding would be better if you desire to have a baby! You can have a bypass after the lap band, but not the other way around (although many insurances will only pay for one procedure/ lifetime. IN the end, low risk of dying and infection, knowing that I could control my sweet intake by doing a 3 month supervised diet, and seeing that the results are pretty similar, It was easy choice to go with the band! Good luck!