PhotoNut

Mandy, your NSV list made me smile - lots. I'm very happy for you. I've experienced these myself in prior weight loss ventures, so I can remember how great those victories felt and will feel again. So, thanks for sharing. What's really exciting is - it's only going to get better! Enjoy and sincere grats to you girl.

Kim - Sold!! *sticks her tongue out at Randy* Kim knows how to get my bottle. I'm down 2 1/2 lbs down from surgery day, but looking oddly shaped. I had a hernia repair done at the same time, so I was used to seeing a large protrusion just over my belly button. Now I'm just strange. *sighs* I want to move! Im sick of sleeping on my back, sick of moving slowly, I want to go outside and walk and breathe again! This must be a good sign. Yes? How are you doing Kim? Are you doing crunches yet? *grins*

Got my band in on Monday and have really gone through a lot of pain. I also had a hernia repaired so Im guessing that's what's caused all of the additional pain. How odd it is to finally have my band, after all this time of waiting and trying to psych myself up for the huge change in eating, and here I am not even wanting to think about food. Ive started on whey protien shakes, slim fast, some chicken broth, and still only reaching about 370 calories but getting in the minimum protien so I guess that's not too bad for the first day or two. No food between Sunday night and Wednesday morning (surgery was on Monday afternoon, came home Tuesday evening) and yet Ive gained several pounds. That band must weigh 4 pounds! LOL Anyway, Im slowly recovering and happy to be part of the gang now. This site has been a great help to me so far. Thanks to all who contribute even in the smallest ways. Every post has been an inspiration!

Kim! How did you get that pic of me? If you post it, I'll sue! Oh, wait.. that's you? Are you my twin? LOL Great news! The Milk of Magnesia worked.. :rofl: *relief* You know whats weird? I know full well that this is going to take some time, but every time I walk into the bathroom and see how awful I look, I get this fleeting thought of... $26,000 for THAT?? God, grant me patience.. and I want it NOW! Oh, one more thing.. I have a refill on my brown bottle! *huggles her bottle*

You could try having a protien shake (natural whey blended into one cup of skim milk - 210 calories and 31 grams of protien) instead of cottage cheese for Breakfast. Also, it seems to me that you are spending a lot of calories on the oil that could be used for more benificial things. Check this out: http://nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c208D.html

Ok, so even tho the surgeon says the port is fine (without looking at it) it still bugs me. It almost feels like its poking upward, as if it's on its side. Is this normal? Do you other newly banded people feel the same thing?

HeatherGurl.. What Ive done before during weight loss attempts, most successful just not lasting, was to find a good caloric food guide and really look at how many calories different foods have. (try nutritiondata.com) I then went thru and picked out the lower calorie items and started making menus from there. My most successful diet was 1/2 C Fibre One Cereal with 1/2 C skim milk for breakfast, a boneless skinless chicken breast, 1/2 C brown rice (or half of a small baked potato with butter), 1/2 C green Beans (or broccoli, or cabbage) for lunch and then again for dinner. Simple? Not much variety? True, but I found it easier not to have to think about food so much. I was never hungry between meals because it seemed to be a good balance of protien and carbs. I seriously doubt I could eat that much now, and that was probably about a 1,000 calorie per day plan - add in some sugar free Jello with a couple of ginger snaps or nilla wafers and you easily come in under 1,200. Let's face it, if we are still going after fast food and sweets, chances are we need to step back and think about our priorities. Like DeLara said, which do you want more? A healthy, good looking body, or the few bites of food that give momentary satisfaction but lasting disappointment? Something I've struggled with all of my life. I can stick to a diet, any of them listed here, and lose some weight.. 40 maybe even 60 pounds. But what convinced me to get the band was my inability to stay on a diet when life's unexpected distractions came up - my husband's mom and her friend coming to America for the first time and wanting to eat ice cream every freaking day, not to mention the meals they wanted me to try. The English do love fried foods. Anyway, I digress.. My biggest fear of trying another diet was putting back the weight PLUS more, which always happened. I finally made it over the 300 pound mark after my last attempt at losing (down 40, up 60). I may hit plateaus, I may stumble along the way and eat Wendy's or fried foods, but my prayer is that the band will at least help me control the portion sizes so I dont regain the weight. I see that bypass patients do gain it back after about three years, whereas the band patients do not. Thats a good sign. One last thought, and I dont like it anymore than the rest of you. If you are really comfortable with eating 1,400 calories a day but lose slowly.. (ready or not, here it comes) increase your exercise. Blah. *grins*

*happily passes around her large brown bottle of liquid hydrocodone*

Heyas Wendell, I've never weighed 570 pounds but I've sure felt like I have. You must be feeling great, not only because of the weight change but because you took control of yourself and your life and made the decision to live. Welcome back to life, my friend. I think that's why we are all here. Even though you have a ways to go, Im sure each day has enough rewards to keep you motivated as you continue the journey to good health. I pray that you and your bride share many years of health and happiness. Keep us posted on your progress. We are all beside you along the journey.

Kim, I suggest burping and farting a lot. *laughs* ow ow *evil grin* Seriously though, if I had to face going to work on Monday morning I'd be in a panic. I see these folks that went shopping within three days and I think "What a wus I am!" But DeLara's words keep rining in my ears. Everyone's different. My doc told me to try Milk of Magnesia, which I got today and will try tonight. On top of the gas pains, I haven't had a bowel movement since the day before surgery. I'm thinking constipation will be worse than gas. *chews nails* (not a pretty subject, but all's fair here right?) Speaking of "touchy" subjects, my husband says that since the women on here talk about their sagging boobs (kneepads someone called them) and other more personal things, he wondered if the men talked about equally private nsv. *laughs* I won't go into details. I'm in a "mood" and need to behave myself. *laughs more* Anyway, many grats Kim! *links arms with you and Kennedy927* Here we go.. and! Did you see that? Candice has lost 50 pounds in three months! WooHoo! I'm so excited! Hmm.. I wonder if she's doing so well because she loves to shop? Maybe WalMart has some benifits afterall? hehe

I technically live in Meridian. When we moved out here four years ago, we were in the country. Pastures, horses, cornfields everywhere. So refreshing. Now I don't think there's even one of those open areas left. So many subdivisions and shopping centers. It's crazy how fast Boise is growing. I have to wonder.. where are all the jobs to support the people who are buying these $400,000 houses???

Hey all, Im in Boise. Just got my band on Monday. Jessicazi, youre in Idaho!? Cool I guess we are the Idaho newbies.

To Kennedy: First of all, grats on your band! Yay Yuppers, my band area has been the sore spot for sure. I even called my surgeon and asked if I'd done something to dislodge it because it felt like it was sticking out all weird. He assured me that there was nothing I could do to harm the port or dislodge it, and that there would be some expected swelling and Fluid build up under the port. And, just as he said it would, it has gone down in just two days and I'm able to bend over more now. Haven't had any nausea, they put Pepsin in my IV prior to surgery and then again that evening. They said they have had more success preventing anesthesia sickness if they administer the Pepsin prior to surgery. And yes, let's do keep in touch with our progress, and let's include Kim who just got hers too by the looks of it. Kim: Did you go home the same day?? Wow, they couldnt have paid me to leave the same day. Brad: Rubbing your buddah belly good luck charm! Im still chuckling over that. Is this your form of initiation? Making newly banded people laugh? :confused: Jessicazi: Three weeks down already, I bet it went by quickly. So you are on to mushy foods then? Were you afraid to swallow that first bite of "semi-real" food again? Dolphin: Thanks I do have a wonderful man. We met in 1998 in a chat room. He lived in England and I in Idaho. He flew over to meet me and my then teenaged kids, stayed with us about three weeks, returned home, sold everything he had and came back to the states in Sept of 1999. We were married just 21 days later and have lived happily ever after. We still marvel at our story. I'll be sure to pass on the kisses and compliments. It will make him all embarrassed and stuff. *grins*

What Casinocat and ReneBean have said is so true. Also, there was a great thread on this very subject that you might want to read: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=12356 And, keep in mind that the complications you see reported here are fixable. Take note that you dont see leakage, extreme illness and even death listed in the complications of lapbands. You might consider finding a group for those with bypass surgery. Compare their concerns and complications to those of the banders. The stats I have seen are showing that, of those who live through bypass surgery, most of them begin to gain the weight back after a few years. And once you have had the bypass surgery, all future chances of getting the lapband are close to nill. Fact is, either surgery can have its drawbacks. I wish you all the best in your decision making. *hugs*

Thanks everyone! I am indeed tired, sleeping a lot but doing better each day. I actually stood up without even thinking about it a few minutes ago.. Yay! My husband has been so sweet. Making sure I'm doing everything I should be doing, encouraging me to get up and walk, fixing my shakes. I am so blessed to have a guy like him. Anyway, I plan to take everyone's advice and take it easy. I guess I heard it a lot but hadn't let it sink in enough.. "everyone's different" I will get the avatar pic up as soon as I dont look like death warmed over. *laughs* (ow)

I take Efexor. Only 75mg. After a year of deep depression Im finally starting to feel normal again. I even had one entire day of feeling "happy". The drug doesnt make me feel numb or too excited. Just.. normal which is perfect.

I have a question - Has anyone found that there's a formula to reducing the amount of sag during weight loss? Water? Exercise? Is age a factor that we can't get around? Have some of you done all you can but still wound up with sag? Have some of you beat the odds and found tips you can share that proved successful in bringing that loose skin back into reasonable shape? I want to know before this journey begins so I can hopefully save money and having to go under the knife again.

w00t! Yay Kim! You'll have to let me know how it went. We can compare success stories when we get home!

Just today, I handed over checks in the amount of $11,000 to the hospital and $8,500 to my surgeon. $19,500.. but wait! There's more: psychologist evaluation - $ 400 nutritional counseling - $ 100 sleep study - $3,622 CPAP machine - $1,350 pulminologist exam - $ 263 blood work, EKG, chest X-rays, primary care visits - unknown yet Have I sat up at night thinking how much this money could help my family with debt and other important things? Yep. Have I felt guilty spending this money on me when I -should- be able to control myself and eat like a "normal" person. Oh yes. But I have a loving family who insists that having me healthy, happy, and around for a lot more years is what they all want. So my meager savings account is empty again and here I sit wondering what life is going to be like after Monday when I cross over to the "other side" and enter band land.

DeLarla - Im wiping the tears away from laughing so hard. Panty liners in his boxers! Do it! About two days ago, I weighed one pound lighter than my husband but he has since passed me up again. He's dieting the "hard way" while I have been on the pre-surgery diet. He is visually impaired, so he can't drive to get the bad stuff. He's stuck with what's at home, and right now thats Slim Fast shakes, tuna, and Healthy Choices meals he can microwave himself. Basically, we're turning this self-pay surgery into a "toofer". He'll lose while I'm losing so we end up with a "toofer" the price of one surgery. Wow.. it just occurred to me. An unexpected perk.. he fixes his own meals now! Woot! God I'm lazy! LOL

I started with a Canon digital point and shoot, and then progressed to the Canon Digital Rebel. As a newbie in the world of photography, I have to say that this camera makes me look like one talented PhotoNut! It's a great starter camera for the serious photographer. However, when I bought mine it was right about $1,000. There are others out there now for that price that are more advanced with way more pixels. I would recommend buying the best you can get for the money because technology is always coming out with something better. If you want to see any of my pics, PM me.

Hi Pat! I'm glad you asked this because I had seen your thread in the lounge and forgot to add to it ( http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=13228 ) I will now though Has anyone out there had success/experience with fighting the after weight loss sag? Dying to hear stories and tips. I know you must have some.. share!

*blush* I thought it was August of last year as well.. I was about to get all kinds of excited about the next 6 months! *laughs* So, Cindy.. do tell. How good does it feel to be 110 pounds lighter? I'm guessing it's more than wonderful. Have you been exercising and have you had any problems with loose skin?

I know this was a difficult thing to experience, I am certain I will experience something similar after my banding but, I had to laugh at the irony of this thread. You see, Ive been on the liver shrinking diet for the past week to prepare for the surgery (one week from today) and have been desperately craving Cracker Barrel's roast beef dinner! I had planned to have it prior to the beginning of my current diet but didn't get to it. My wonderful husband kept talking me out of it. I swear sometimes I can smell it cooking.. its driving me nuts! *laughs* How do you think pureed fried ocra, mashed potatoes and roast beef will taste? *laughs* *stops laughing* Ok, I'm nervous! But you people are wonderful. Thanks for all of your encouraging tales. I am really looking forward to this journey. The good and the bad, because... baby, I know where I'm headed! *big smile* Hang in there Cheri

When I went to see my surgeon's presentation on the lap band, he told the group that the US is the only country still doing gastric bypass surgeries. Other countries have discontinued this extreme form of weight loss surgery because of an alarming fatality rate (usually due to leaks). Dr. Cahn (Boise, Idaho) also stated that none of the surgeries he does, even the most risky, have a fatality rate as high as the bypass surgery. He also showed the group the results of studies done by various doctors around the country which documented that while bypass patients may loose weight more quickly in the early months, there is clear evidence that over a two year period the lap band patients lose the same amount of weight, -and- they keep it off. Many bypass patients tend to regain the weight after a few years. The group of medical professionals who have screened and helped prepare me for this drastic change in my life have all made it very clear that for real success I must begin making healthier choices in my life (diet and exercise). I have always been willing to do this on my own, but my weakness lies in the quantity of food I eat. So, for me the choice is clear. I will be banded in 8 days and I'm fully prepared to make the necessary lifestyle changes to ensure my success. And to me success -is- being healthy and active and happy. The band is only one third of the equation to my success, the other two thirds being exercise and healthy foods. Afterall, why would I put myself through a $25,000 surgery and expect to be able to live the same way that got me in this mess in the first place? Like others have said in this thread, there are those that will find a way around the band and won't see the same success as others. I wouldn't attribute the 25% failure rate to the band. I would attribute the failure to the people who thought of their band as a device meant to deprive them from food and found a way to defeat it.