kjillcarr

Don't be discouraged. I was banded in June of 2008 and have lost 50 lbs. I am down to a 14-16. My medication has been cut by 3/4 and all my blood tests are great. Just remember that not everyone loses at the same rate. As long as you are losing, while slower than you want , remember it is a lifetime commitment. You are getting healthier. Keep up the GOOD work. It is a difficult process but you are winning and will win big in the long run.

Did the scars fade a lot and do you wear sleeveless dresses and tops now?

HI Janet and everyone else, I haven't posted for quite awhile but have been following as often as I could. It has been a year and 1 months since I had lapband and I have lost 44 lbs (over half way there). I know it is not as much as many of you in a year but with all the medication I was taking, etc. my doctor is very happy with my progress even though I have been a "lot" impatient. He tells me it is a 2 years process. I am off a lot of my medicine. I have gone down 4 sizes in clothes and everyone is being very complimentary when they see me especially if it has been a while. I just returned from a family wedding in Manchester, England and was able to wear a dress that I thought I would never be able to wear. It fit perfectly and I felt very proud of myself. Everyone at the wedding had not seen me for 1 1/2 years and one person even said he did not recognize me--said I looked great. What a fun trip and a big boost for my ego. I have myself in a routine with meals and eating and have not had any problems. I have a lot of restriction and I am very confident I will be at my goal or better by my 2nd anniversary. I just want to say that everyone on this thread has been an inspiration and to thank you all. Keep up the ggod work.:tongue_smilie:

Hi everyone, It is so nice to hear all the good news everyone has--you are all such an inspiration for me. I had some good news of my own. I went to my family doctor last week and he took me off one of my diabetic medications and cut my blood pressure medicine in half. So far I have come off 3 1/2 drugs since my surgery. I still have a couple more to go but what a change. My lapband surgeon was soooo happy. His goal is to make me healthy and for us to "grow old together". He is about half my age so that is a good goal for me. My weight is coming off slow but it is coming off. I didn't get (or even need) a fill this past Friday. I believe I have good restriction. And I have started doing some walking on the treadmill--my knee is even better. I thought I was going to have to have a knee replacement but now I may not have to. The dr said for evey pound you lose it takes 4 lbs pressure off the knee--so my knee is thanking me for 140 lbs less pressure. People I haven't seen for a couple of months are now noticing my weight loss. It is such a nice feeling to get that compliment. It is amazing that these few words are so motivating.

Welcome to lapbandtalk. You will enjoy the people who write and ask questions and the one that can give answers. I was banded in June 08 and I am thrilled I did. Be of luck to slimland!!

I have had 4 fills without any numbing agent. I wasn't aware fellow lapbanders were getting numbed. While the four times weren't "real" painful, the first took a couple of pokes, the second hurt somewhat and I made some sort of groan and the doctor commented to stop being a baby, I think if I had my choice I would get numbed. I think it would help me more mentally than physically. I guess I should not complain as my grown daughter had to have tubes put into her ears and they inserted them via a cut in the eardrum without any numbing--she said it hurt like hell. So maybe I am a baby.

As with any occupation there are always a few that reflect badly on the rest. Teachers are no exception. I remember a teacher my youngest daughter had that told her she could not play basketball with the boys--she had to play Barbie dolls with the girls at lunch or stay inside. She actually grabbed the basketball out of her hands several times. Even after many years that school year was one I can't seem to forget. No matter what someone says just remember you have the good manners and common sense to walk away. What a small minded/uneducated person to even approach you with questions such a she did. Hopefully she is not a teacher anymore. Many of our teachers are just not equipped or understand the complexity of children and developmental issues or any issue out of the normal spectrum. I have a 8 yr old grandson who is autistic. Fortunately he is very high functioning and he talks and is mainstreamed in most subjects. There is a book I just finished reading titled The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. If anyone is interested in autism from a 15 year old autistic boy's point of view--I reccommend it highly. It is a best seller in England at the moment. Sorry to be on the soapbox--but it really hits me when people, especially teachers, sterotype children into groups or ailments--each person is an individual and has individual needs and goals--no matter what. On a different topic--I am looking forward to a trip next weekend to NC for a meeting (Thur-Sun). I am anxious to see if I get any comments about my weight lose as I have not seen most of them since Sept. I am going to have to break down and buy some smaller pants/jeans real soon. I look like a clown in baggy pants lately--what a wonderful feeling. I was going to go to the Inauguration as my youngest daughter works as Chief of Staff to a Congressman and lives in DC but I have decided to not fight the crowds and go visit her in March instead. I have three daughters and they are all very supportive of my weight loss efforts. Have a great weekend.

Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a while but have a question. Have any of you developed a cough after a fill? I seem to have a cough after I eat or drink since my last fill. It is not like PBing or anything, just annoying. I have a lot of restriction since my last fill and was wondering if anyone else had this situation.

Hi Janet, I haven't been on the website for a while as I was so disapointed with my weight loss even though the doctor says it is fine. My surgery was June 10th and only 31 lbs lost but 8 inches in my waist and two sizes smaller. The doctor says to have patience. He says my age and the medication slows the weight loss but it WILL come off but just slower. I am off two medications and a couple of others have been reduced in the strength. I thought I remembered a question a while back about developing a cough. Has anyone developed a cough usually after eating or drinking? I was wondering if it is associated with the band or not. The cough seemed to have begun after my last fill which has a lot of restriction. One other good thing that happened is that I went to Siesta Key in Florida for the past week and actually wore a bathing suit and did not feel uncomfortable and I even bought a new suit a couple of sizes smaller than the one I took. My summer capris I took were too big and baggy--what a good feeling. I hate to buy smaller sizes in a way--I like to see that I have really lost the weight and I guess the baggy pants boost my good feelings. I did buy a couple of tops and for the first time in a long time I bought regular XL and not XXL. I know I still have a long way to go but it is nice to realize that I AM doing this and I feel SO much better--both physically abd mentally.

I was banded on June 10th and have lost 28 lbs so far. I am disappointed but my doctor is happy with my progress. I do some exercise and eat what I am supposed to eat and but I don't exercise every day. I take several medications and some of them interfere with weight loss but I am not giving up. I figured I have lost an average of a little more than a pound a week. I just want that to keep going. I do not have a problem with flabby skin and still need to lose 50 + lbs. Losing slower helps in that area. Hang in there. I know exercising is important but you have to prioritize your life and family is important--but so are you. Getting healthy is the best thing I am trying to do for family and me.

I am very interested. I would prefer NYC. Put me down as a possibility--it will depend on airfare and the schedule for my grandkids spring break. Jill

Hi Becky and others, I have been told that when we eat a salad that unless it has some Protein in it that it is the same as drinking a liquid as the lettuce is mostly Water turns to liquid and does not stay in the pouch. Have any of you been told that also? I haven't been eating a lot of salad because of that reason. I try to eat protein first and then some vegetables. I am at a plateau and get me second fill on Friday. Looking forward to a jump start but still happy with the lbs and inches so far--just wish it was faster.

I use www.dailyplate.com and I really like it.

Hi, I live in Louisville and had my surgery at St Mary and Elizabeth Hospital with Dr. Schuster on June 10th. I have been very happy that I had it done and feel sooo much better already. I have lost 26 lbs since the surgery and although I would like to lose faster the DR is quite happy with my progress. There are several others that I work with that have had the surgery at St Mary's and we compare weight loss and experiences. It has been a very easy process and I haven't had any problems and I truly recommend it to anyone to help them get healthy. You have to work with the lapband tool but it is such a great help for me and I know it would work for you. If you have a special questions please email me and I will respond.

MY Dr. makes me stay on liquids and mushy food for 3 days after a fill. I have not have any problems doing it that way. Then on the 3-4 day I make sur that I chew extra well. The pain you are experiencing could be just not chewing good enough right after a fill. I have that every so often when I don't chew enough.

Hi Janet and everyone, I went to the Dr today for what I thought was going to be my third fill. My first wasn't enough and I went back two weeks later for a bigger fill and today was the third. The doctor asked a few questions and decided I didn't need a fill at this time and that was what I thought he might say. I do have good restriction and have been losing about a pound a week since the last fill. The Dr says that is all he is expecting and that I was doing real well. I would like to lose at a faster rate but he told me to have patience--I seem to be doing real well with eating the correct portions and calories. I am trying to exercise 3 times a week. He said to schedule another fill in a month. I was real happy that I have lost 6 inches in my waist and although I have only lost 26 lbs (I know I should be more excited about the 26 lbs but I wish it was 40) I am wearing smaller clothes and a lot of people have started to notice the weight loss. My surgery was June 10th and the 26 lbs is since then. I also have a lot more energy. I can tell a major difference in keeping up with the grandkids and even grocery shopping is a lot less tiresome. I am so glad I had the surgery--and now since I know it is working I can concentrate on losing more weight so I will look great next June (9 months away) when my DH and I plan on going to Manchester, England for a family wedding and then on to visit with family in Ireland. It will be 1 1/2 years since most relatives in England and Ireland would have seen me so hopefully I will be a NEW person by then and surprise them. It is a double goal worth working hard for. :thumbup:

Hi everyone, I haven't written for a while as I have been at a convention for 10 days and now haven't had any power since Sunday--I live in Louisville and we got the hurricane Ike winds and mass destruction of trees, power lines and poles. Most of our electric company guys had gone to Texas to help them. They are returning today to help us. It is amazing how spoiled we are and how much we take for granted when it comes to our comforts of life. I have been doing pretty good--although my loss is slow it is steady. I knew from the start it would be slower than some but it is not difficult--just frustrating. A friend of mine has lost 12 more pounds than me and she had her surgery 2 weeks later--she is half my age but she has the bragging rights as biggest loser so far. Beckyo--I know what a horsehoe is as you know I grew up in Springfield--I don't think they are served anywhere else in the country--unless some person from Springfield opened a restaurant and put them on the menu. They are very tasty and we always called them a "heart attack on a plate". There is an Irish restaurant in Springfield that serves all kinds of them and my brothers always take me there when I get back home. My "first" fill is doing great--that is, after I went back after two weeks and got my first fill adjusted. I have restriction and I am not hungry most of the time. I have my second official fill on the 28th. Janet, Congratulations on the commercial. Where will it be shown--i haven't read your original post about it so don't know the particulars. Jill

My doctor says when you get to normal food to each anything you want--only small amounts and chew real well and don't drink when you eat. You don;t want to stay on mushie, soft things--you have to use the band for the right reasons and that is as a tool. You don't want to eat "around" the band so you can eat more than you should.

I don't have any restrictions regarding caffeine--only carbonation. They said if you want a diet coke or sprite let it sit for a while to get a little flat if you really have to have one--a 1/2 to 1 hour--then add some ice. You can get unsweetened tea at most fast food places--there are also various tea flavors in Crystal Lite and Lipton has several diet teas in bottles that I take with me in a small cooler when I go to my grandkids ballgames.

I meant 3 - 5lb bags of sugar.

Hi Janet, What do you think of the "protein bullets"? A friend of mine mixes hers with Water or crystal light and loves them. I have been reading a lot about them and that they come in 25 gram and 42 gram Protein amounts. I also read that your body can't use more than 20 grams at a time. I really don't know what to believe. I am trying to get in the 60 grams of protein from regular eating but they could come in handy during some hectic days. I also got a fill on July 25th for 1.75 cc and I don't think it was enough and I may get an additional fill this Friday. I have lost 18 lbs and 14 of it was FAT--I also gained a lb of muscle. The exercise guy was real happy about it. He said you have lost nearly the equivalent of 5 - 5 lbs bags of sugar. Now your body is not lugging around all that sugar. When I thought about what he said it is amazing how that comment makes me feel like I have accomplished more than I thought.

Becky, I was banded on June 10th. I get an update of weight loss tomorrow. My scale says I have lost 18 lbs and I am a little disappointed but I will probably get an additional fill next Friday as I don't think I got enough last Friday. One day at a time.

Janet, Size 2 wow, size 4-wow, size 6-wow!!!!!! Glad you had a great time. You earned it and all the credit card charges! I got my first fill last Friday of 1.75 cc. I really don't think I got enough. I think I was a little too nervous after the DR was having a little difficulty getting the needle into the port and maybe over reacted to some pressure in my band area. He has agreed to inject more next Friday after I monitor it until next Tuesday to see if I get any restriction. What was the amount of your first fill? I am kind of stuck for the past two weeks without much weight loss. Also, Janet, I didn't see any reference to salad on you menu plan. Do you eat salad? I know you list veggies. Is salad part of those veggies?

How much did you get in your first fill>

What was some of the amounts you got in your first fills? I got 1.75cc for my first fill--I was wondering if that is about average or not enough.