toomuchsusie59

...and I am one of those who's lap band has failed them. I am going to make a 350 mile plus trip tomorrow morning (4 am) and travel to the Cleveland Clinic to have one cc taken out of my band. For the past 6 months I have been getting stuck during a lot of my meals, especially for Breakfast. The only thing I'm able to consume for breakfast is a Carnation Instant Breakfast drink w/ unjury Protein powder. I've tried scrambled Egg Beaters, soupy oatmeal, and cold cereals, only to get stuck after the second or third bites. Yes, I do take small bites and make sure they are chewed to a mushie or watery consistency, but they still get stuck. The same thing goes for most lunches...getting stuck after the second or third bite. I've come to the conclusion that I am too tight and need to have some of the saline taken out of my band in order for me to eat healthy meals. I have not been able to lose any more weight since my initial surgery. A total of 20 lbs in over a year is not what I expected from this band. All diets, including this band, just does not work for me. I'm destined to be this size until the day I die. So frustrating and disappointing. If I knew on July 1st of last year that this was all the weight I would lose, I would never had gone through this surgery. So having the 1 cc taken out, hopefully will allow me to start eating healthy meals 3 times a day without all the pain, and hopefully start to lose some more weight. Wish me luck...I definitely need it! Susie:sad:

EchoKitty...It's as if I wrote this very same post and you signed your name to it. I, too, had surgery a little over a year ago, and have only lost 20 lbs since my surgery. I have pretty much given up on ever losing any more weight with my lapband. It has failed me and I have failed it. I don't have an ounce of motivation to do anymore about it right now...very discouraged. I have a decent fill, but have to watch how much I eat and make sure I chew well, or I get stuck..especially in the mornings. I haven't gone back to my old bad habits of eating, but I"m not following the band rules, either. Maybe someday, I, too, will be able to start over again and try to get the scales moving. I wish you and me both a lot of luck...It's not easy. Susie

I was banded on July 1 of last year, and have only lost 23 lbs in almost a year! How sad is that? This 23 lbs came off before, during, and right after my surgery, and I haven't lost anything since then. I am so frustrated and disappointed in myself and want to give up. Why don't diets work for me? This is the reason I decided on the band, in hopes of losing at least 50 lbs in a year. I am an older woman, post menopausal, with diabetes and hypothyroidism. I take numerous medications for medical ailments, which I believe is holding me back from losing anymore weight. I know that I am 95% at fault for not losing anymore, since I don't exercise like I should, don't journal, and eat around the band quite often with bad carbs. But I definitely don't eat like I did before the band. I do have good restriction...maybe just a bit too much. I can't eat the Breakfast foods like I used to (ie: eggs, sausage, cold cereals, toast, etc). I have to drink my Protein shakes (CIB) first thing for my breakfast, then maybe eat a little solid food a couple hours later. I stuck faithfully to the band rules for so long after my surgery, saw no more results, then gradually started eating around the band. Will I ever lose enough weight to get off of most or all of my medications and be able to live a normal, active life? Just once, I'd like to put on a new outfit and actually look good in it. Heeeeeeeelp! Susie :party:

I have come back again to LapBandTalk after being away for quite awhile. I have been posting to another WLS website, but just wasn't getting the support I was hoping for over there. Too many posters giving me the same advice when talking about my weight loss stall for many months: do more exercising, journal your meals, drink more water, stick to the lap band rules, blah, blah, blah. :biggrin: I know all of this, people. I am an emotional eater, and closet cheater! I have no control over eating around my band, and therefore, the stall in losing anymore weight. I need someone to tell me how to get a hold on my closet eating, and emotional eating when I'm bored, alone, ashamed of myself, or depressed with my lack of results in my band. I am the one to blame for not losing anymore weight, but I haven't gained back the 23 lbs I have lost since my July1, 2008 lapband surgery. There is happy outcome to my dilema. :thumbup: I was lurking around on this website and saw a topic about emotional eating and some posters who can not control themselves while eating around the band, and I could very well relate to them. I need help on what to do to stop this eating around the band. I am at a good restriction now, and do get stuck quite often lately. :w00t: Can anyone suggest some tricks or tips on how to overcome the emotional eating and closet cheating?

I have come back again to LapBandTalk after being away for quite awhile. I have been posting to another WLS website, but just wasn't getting the support I was hoping for over there. Too many posters giving me the same advice when talking about my weight loss stall for many months: do more exercising, journal your meals, drink more water, stick to the lap band rules, blah, blah, blah. I know all of this, people. I am an emotional eater, and closet cheater! I have no control over eating around my band, and therefore, the stall in losing anymore weight. I need someone to tell me how to get a hold on my closet eating, and emotional eating when I'm bored, alone, ashamed of myself, or depressed with my lack of results in my band. I am the one to blame for not losing anymore weight, but I haven't gained back the 23 lbs I have lost since my July1, 2008 lapband surgery. There is happy outcome to my dilema. :thumbup: I was lurking around on this website and saw a topic about emotional eating and some posters who can not control themselves while eating around the band, and I could very well relate to them. I need help on what to do to stop this eating around the band. I am at a good restriction now, and do get stuck quite often lately. :w00t: Can anyone suggest some tricks or tips on how to overcome the emotional eating and closet cheating?

I have visited these boards previously, and am back again. I just recently had a milestone birthday of 60 years old on Aug. 30th. I have been on another lap band website, but there has been way to much drama over there for me, and not enough of the information I need now. I had my lap band surgery on July 1st, lost 22 lbs from the pre and post-op liquid diets. When I started on my mushie phase and solid food phase, my weight loss stopped and I started to gain a little at a time. I have gained about 6 lbs since then, and am desperately needing my first fill. But, because of complications with the healing process, my port incision still hasn't closed completely up yet. I had to postpone 2 appts with my surgeon for my first fill because of the open incision. I have another scheduled for Sept 8, and just put in a call to my surgeon's office whether I need to reschedule again or just come in. My husband and I have to travel over 190 plus miles (4 hrs) just one way to get to my surgeon, plus the same to get back home. The nurse just called me back and my surgeon has prescribed levaquin for one week to help get rid of any infection that MIGHT be around my port incision to prevent any complications with my port. But I am to keep my Sept 8th appt with him because he wants to see the incision for himself, then decide from there if I get a fill or not. You wouldn't believe all the "brick walls" I had to get through to get to this point. I just know that it will all be worth it, though. I'm glad to be back here again! :crying: Susie

Hello Bandsters... I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind answering them. 1. Was your surgery paid for by Medicare? 2. Did you have any problems getting approved by Medicare? 3. Did Medicare require the 6 wk pre-surgery diet?:thumbup: 4. Was your surgery date faster with Medicare?:cursing: I am waiting for my "doctor of choice" and the hospital to be approved by Medicare. I am not worried about being approved for surgery, because I have all of the "conditions" for the lap band (ie: many medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). I am 5'8 and weigh 270 with a BMI of 41, and have been obese all of my life with no luck with any type of diet I've been on. Lose some weight, give up, gain it all back plus more. Any answers would be very much appreciated.

I, too, have a date for my lap band surgery....July 1st. So far, I am not too nervous about it. I've been through open gallbladder surgery in '85 and a triple heart bypass in '05...so this isn't as severe as those were. I am so ready for this, and I'm sure the closer my date gets, the more nervous I will be. But look at the results of this surgery for us....a healthier and thinner life! I start my pre-surgery 2 week- 800 calorie diet this coming Sunday. So much for a big Father's Day dinner! We will Celebrate the day before on Saturday. Good luck on your surgery! Susie

Thank you, froggi1985. I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm sure everything will go smoothly. Susie

I am scheduled for an echo stress test this coming Thursday morning at my cardiologist's office. I have had stress tests before where I walked on the treadmill, and also had an echo test for the valves in my heart. But this test IS a combination of the two with no treadmill involved. The nurse will inject me with a medication (dobutamine) through an IV while I am lying on a bed/table (?). This dobutamine will make my heart race as if I WAS walking on a treadmill, and the nurse and doctor will monitor my results...also being on standby JUST IN CASE! :rolleyes2: They don't let the heart race too long, so we should be okay. I have had one heart attack and a triple heart bypass, so I am a little gun shy when it comes to my heart. I hope this information helps you a little. Susie

Hello from Ohio... I am considering the lap banding, but was wondering what precautions does a person on blood thinners have to take before, during, and after surgery. Have any of you banders been on coumadin before your surgery, and what did your surgeon have you do before the surgery. Did you have to go off of the coumadin, and for how long? My cardiologist doesn't want me off of coumadin for very long and before my colonoscopy last week, had me go on Lovenox injections for 3 days prior and almost 8 days after the scoping to prevent blood clots from forming. I had many pulmonary embolisms a week after my triple heart bypass in 2005, and now my cardiologist wants me to stay on blood thinners the rest of my life. Did anyone else have an issue with blood thinners before your surgery? :confused:

Yes, your reply did help answer my questions, Sharon. Thank you for your quick response. Susie

Thank you for your reply. No, I am not old enough yet for Medicare. I am on Social Security Disability because of all of my medical problems. I had a triple heart bypass 3 years ago and haveType 2 Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. Because of breathing problems, temperature extreme intolerances, and being on blood thinners for the rest of my life, I am not able to do the type of work I did (piece work in a factory) before. Susie

Hello Tarasa...I haven't been banded yet...in fact haven't even had a consultation with my doctor yet. But wanted you to know that I live close by you in Northwest Ohio...close to the Ind/Ohio line. Where did you get your banding done? I am closer to the Ft. Wayne hospitals, and will try to have Dr. Sloan do it at Lutheran hospital in Ft. Wayne, In. I've been reading soooo much info on these boards to get me familiar with the procedure and what to expect before and after the banding. Good luck to you...and hope you become a "big loser" like I wish to become soon. Susie

Thank you, Angie....that's very reassuring.

I am new to these boards and to the Lap-Band. I am waiting to hear if my doctor of choice is accepted by Medicare. I am 59 (will turn 60 in Aug.) and on SSDisability. I live in northwest Ohio, just across the line from Ft. Wayne, In, and have had weight issues all of my life, and not successful with any type of diet. I have a lot of medical issues, (type2 diabetes (which my mom died from), heart disease (had a triple heart bypass 9/05, and a heart attack in '91),hypertension, high cholesterol, and am currently on a blood thinner. I weigh 270 (5'8"tall) and have a BMI of 41. Have any of you lapbanders had to go off of your blood thinners for the surgery, and for how long? This is the only part of the surgery that worries me...I am very susceptible to blood clots since my heart bypass. :wink_smile:

Thank you, Kat, for your reply. I usually get my protime about every 6 weeks and finally got it to a good level (2.6) before having to go through this scoping procedure to check for colon cancer. I know that the lovenox injections are very expensive ($100.00 per shot) and I need 14 altogether before and after the procedure. That's why I was inquiring about it now, because I am sure I will need it again whenever my surgery will be scheduled...which may be another 6 mos or so. I dunno! I will leave the decision about the coumadin to my bariatric surgeon when that time comes. Thanks again!

Thank you for you and your dad's reply...I know I will have to go off of my coumadin, but wondered if they have you take lovenox (anticoagulant) injections while off of the coumadin. These injections are very expensive ($100.00 per injection). Just curious.

I am new to these boards and to the Lap-Band. I am waiting, too, to hear if my doctor of choice is accepted by Medicare. I am 59 (will turn 60 in Aug.) and on SSDisability. I live in northwest Ohio, just across the line from Ft. Wayne, In, and have had weight issues all of my life, and not successful with any type of diet. I have a lot of medical issues, (type2 diabetes (which my mom died from), heart disease (had a triple heart bypass 9/05, and a heart attack in '91),hypertension, high cholesterol, and am currently on a blood thinner. I weigh 270 (5'8"tall) and have a BMI of 41. Have any of you lapbanders had to go off of your blood thinners for the surgery, and for how long? This is the only part of the surgery that worries me...I am very susceptible to blood clots since my heart bypass. :biggrin: