NewSho

Any band... even with the newer technique... can slip. It's a device, not a guarantee. But wait, there was more hard-headedness: Well, now I see Dr.C went on to respond to that. I mean, although we're all (much more veteran and possibly, much better informed) banded patients - maybe having an actual surgeon say that will actually mean something. Oh, man this is deep. :nono; We never say never in LapBanding. Good Luck.

Well, all articles about LapBanding are welcome. And for sure any LapBanded patient can suffer complications. But still LapBand complications are less severe and more easily repaired than bypass-type operations. Plus I read the article... I put the "italics" on that second sentence because I think that's very positive. Of course, LapBanding is getting more and more common here in the USA and Mexico, and the techniques are more improved. I read all the negative about LapBand studies here and I have to remember - the early Gastric Bypass results were NOT good, and the mortality rate was so high, it was very sad. While RnY surgeons 'perfected' their techniques, because there isn't a device involved (like with the Lap-band) they weren't under FDA studies & other scrutiny. Remember: Gastric bypass surgeons had a long, hard road to get the success rates that RnY has now - and they didn't do it in six years (which is how long the LapBand has been performed here)... So let's always be aware of the risks, but remember the potential for long term success, too.

As the world's most (formerly) Remedial Bandster, I hate to see anyone suffer like I did with not getting to use your tool effectively. I'm not picking on you, but a couple of things concern me. Exercise can be very effective in jump-starting loss. How about that other part of the equation - restriction? Something tells me you can't be well-restricted, I bet. OK, you've only had one fill? Ever? And you plan to only get one fill a calendar year? I mean, that might be part of the equation, indeed. The LapBand is adjustable for a reason. It is not designed to necessarily deliver 'proper' restriction level after one fill. And honestly judging by your own admission, you're not quite losing at the rate you had in mind. It's too easy to walk around being under-filled and all it will do is help you maintain your weight. You won't ever begin to see real loss again. :cry And if you know you need another fill, why wait for nearly 3 months? Not only is that a long wait in between fills , but you have the Holiday Time coming up. The Holidays (and Holiday parties, foods, and meals) can mean trouble for under-filled Bandsters. I hope you reconsider. OK, that goal sounds 'doable' but since you're only lost 35# in your first year (so far, of course) you're going to have to lose 80# in the second year. You're 5'7" so getting down to 170# would put you into "very normal weight" range. That's awesome. But to do it, means you'll definitely have to turn it up big time, right? I hope you can make it happen. We're rooting for you, OK? :clap2:

Don't believe the hype. There is no average. Every patient is different. 100 people could give you 100 answers, and none may not apply to you. How much you lose can be affected by your starting weight, metabolism, caloric intake, activity level, medical history, hormones and other factors. So why make yourself crazy? Just concentrate on losing at your own pace. Good Luck.

I didn't even have a scale for the longest (my doc said I was obsessed with numbers. Me?) but now I have a basic bathroom scale that I use for holiday packages, and etc. Maybe my doc was right, because for me, it was too easy to get over-whelmed or discouraged based on a random scale weight. So that's why I stopped all that, and got rid of my ticker. I don't care about daily weight - it's clothes sizes that matter to me. And guess what? Even when the scale wasn't moving, I was losing inches and going down in clothes sizes. I care more about that than anything. So now I usually weigh at the doctor's office (actually I weigh at any doctor's office. I was mad that my podiatrist didn't have one! LOL, :phanvan) so if I only weigh once a month or so, then my losses seem more signficant that way. But remember, I'm practically at goal (so they say, ) and the scale moves very slowly and incrementally at this stage. So for me, daily weighing doesn't seem necessary now.

(The only substitute I could think of, for popcorn could maybe something like crunchy nuts, etc.) But I like the old-fashion movie popcorn - I just don't overdo it. Popcorn - at one week Post-op? No way, but I suspect you knew that. Honestly I snack on :popcorn: at the movies, every few weeks or months (depending on how the weather is... I go to the movies more when the weather isn't so good. When it's nice and warm, I usually find other things to do.) When I get popcorn, I usually get a Kids size at the theatre. Kids Meals often come with a drink & a snack-size candy (I don't like candy) so just give the little candy pack away. I can tell how restricted (or under-restricted) I am, by how much I can crunch. So my only advice is if/when you try it later, then chew, chew, chew. Enjoy!

I find it troubling that you're already banded but are just hearing this important piece of information - that carbonated drinks like beer are not recommended for Bandsters, especially new post-ops. (Likewise many RnY Bypass patients can't tolerate the carbonation or the alcohol of beer, so it's fairly well known that it happens after Weight Loss Surgery.) I don't drink the stuffv :beer:, but some Banded folk just can't tolerate the carbonation, especially when they get more restricted. The burping & hiccuping & tight feeling in the chest just don't make a cold brew attractive to me at all. (Luckily, I do fine with wine, but I didn't drink until months and months after being banded, honestly. ) (*shakes head*) Hopefully you'll find lots of information about the band process here, and at other places online. There is a lot to learn, especially when you're given incomplete information. Good luck on your Banding - welcome aboard.

YAY! Congratulations to you! Oh how I remember how GREAT it felt the day I realised I was "1-something"... More good times to come for you, I'm sure.

I try not to punish myself about eating/drinking anything, if in moderation. Eventually you realize that in Weight Loss Surgery there is no black or white, good or bad - it's all individual. If we want to eat some things, we might have to cut back on others. It's not about 'danger' foods to me. Since I've been banded I realized something. And this is to answer Telly's original question about weight loss as you get closer to goal. My favourite food groups are now: Seafood, Cheese, Fruit and Wine. :hungry: (Maybe not exactly in that order. ) Deep down I honestly eat like a chic Parisian woman . Who knew? (Only now, I don't eat the croissants, all that doughy bread is just no longer on my menu, at this level of restriction.) And now that I've lost weight, I can dress more like a fashionable French woman, too. Works for me! * * * * * J'aviais l'habitude de vivre pour manger, maintenant juste je mange pour vivre. (Roughly translated: I used to live to eat, now I just eat to live.)

Ah, this is familiar. Truthfully I didn't have 'real' restriction until a couple of fills later... so I totally understand. What I do know is that during this time, I just reminded myself that the end result was going to be worth it and I just tried not to completely overdo it. I am just someone who does better with restriction - which is what we got the band for. So don't beat yourself up, step away from the cookie jar as much as you can, and ask the doctor's office for the first available fill appointment whenever you're eligible. You'll make it through this.

Well, so I do a bit of acting on the side (just for fun, nothing big). I got a call to do a bit part in a Spanish-language tele-novela (or soap opera). How cool! It's not a big deal (basically a cool background role, LOL ) but I've with the difficulties I've suffered lately (death in immediate family) this was a nice change from the routine. I show up 'on the set' and they whisk me off to the Makeup Chair. I sat there feeling like they were sizing me up even though they saw my picture and were given a card with my height and stats. (In my mind, I imagined they were saying "Oooh, she's a big one, isn't she?" ) My fellow actress in this scene is a very pretty, fresh-faced, 18-year-old blonde who is 5'2" and a size 4. She's really nice. (The other two lead actresses are the stars of the show - they are both tanned, gorgeous, Size 2's.) Off we go to the Wardrobe Trailer... and there the Wardrobe Supervisor shows us our costumes for the scene. They are identical 2-piece white cotton outfits (V-neck Top and Pants) and both are size Medium. Um... a medium? So the other actress puts hers on first. It's so baggy on her petite frame :rolleyes they tell her to 'roll it up' a bit. Then, I go to change. I stare at the outfit with dread - I haven't worn a medium since I was too young to spell 'medium'. :phanvan I am sure they are going to kick me off the set when they realize I can't wear the costumes they provided. (And yes, this does happen.) Anyway, I slip on the top - its not baggy, but it fits alright. So far, so good. Next, I try the tiny-looking pants. I wiggle into them - and they go on. They're a teensy bit short (I'm a tall gal with lonnnggg legs) but I could actually get into them. I can't believe it ! :faint: I keep checking the tags, thinking - are these a Mens' medium, LOL? But they aren't. Luckily the pants did have elastic in the back waist so that helped. I changed from my higher heels to flat shoes, so the pants didn't look so short on me. The Wardrobe Supervisor looks us over closely, then declares the outfits look perfect. I barely remember anything that happened during the production because I was so happy. The scene went fine, but the greatest thing was I wore a medium top and pants and lived to tell about it. Sounds crazy, but it's a Non-Scale Victory (or NSV) that I'll remember for a while. Yay for me!:clap2:

Thank you everyone. It's nice to have a group of those, who understand how 'big' of a deal this was for me. I hope we all have more Non Scale Victories to come...

AWESOME! Good for you! :clap2:

For me, it's easy. I always thought for years (before she was famous) that she had a lot of self-confidence and chutzpah. Oh, and I won't even address the sickening wedding fiasco, I'll just stick to the weight loss angle. She lost nearly 155# in one year (while being on TV each week day) and refused to say how she did it. Fine. But then she wrote a "self-help/weight loss/improve your life" book that she promoted as a way to find out how she lost the weight. Conveniently, however, she forgot to write "how" she lost weight in the book, which cost US$26. Then after being repeatedly asked she would only say she did it "eating less and doing Pilates." Pilates? We're supposed to believe she lost 155# in one year by doing Pilates? :faint: And I stand by my opinion, I think her not telling how she lost the weight adds to the stigma that losing weight via surgery is somehow less honourable than by any other methods. Plus fat-prejudiced people probably saw her lose 150+ lbs in a year and think that all other obese folks could too"if we just tried." Anyone with a weight problem deserves to do anything to succeed. But we all don't have to go on TV and lie about it. So for me, that's what did it.

Oh, you lost me at pantry, LOL.:heh: I mean, I can't imagine what I'd use one for. Wait, Brownie Mix? Cake Mix? Coffee Maker? Popcorn Maker? I don't even use an oven. I use the kitchen to keep my beverages in and to pass through it, to get to the laundry area. I have absolutely no concept...maybe I was the world's laziest obese person. Considering I hate to cook, hate the grocery store, and never have 'real' food, or groceries, it's amazing I got so fat in the first place. Luckily, my band usually minimises my kitchen time, or else I guess I'd feel like I had to fill those cabinet thingies. Ignorance is bliss, kitchen-wise, :tsk: (Yes, I'm single and childless so an empty pantry is not a bad thing, in my case. ) But seriously, congratulations on ridding yourself of that unneeded junk. :clap2:

Bless your heart. I found out during a TT that I had fibroids. Me? :faint: I couldn't believe it. I had zero symptoms, regular cycles, no cramps, no indication. The only related issue I had was long term iron anemia (which everyone said was due to either the LapBand or being a non-meat-eater). Anyway, they offered me two choices to handle this issue: Lupron - which I suspected and my doctor confirmed, would absolutely eradicate my weight loss) or Surgery. Even my PCP was like, 'I know you don't want surgery but you won't like what Lupron will do to your body or your weight. You've worked so hard, Lupron would be a huge setback.' It was like "Deal or no Deal" because I was weighing my options. I chose surgery. I am so sorry that none of your doctors told you that Lupron would counteract any work that the LapBand could do, especially if you're going to be on it long term. You were horribly misled. I hope that you & your medical team can make some better choices on how to proceed from here. (( hugs ))

Absolutely rumor. Star had a RnY Bypass - not a LapBand. She won't tell (although she wrote a B.S. book about losing weight but forgot to tell us how - how nice of her.) I've seen Star for years in person (since college, in NYC, and lately) and this is clear. I saw her in person at NYC (she was spotted exiting a New York bariatric surgeon's office) in October 04 and then in person here in October 05. Believe me she lost more than 150# in less than 13 months and she didn't do it with a band. That would not have been a good choice for her lifestyle and eating habits. Look at her, she has "bypass face" (the telltale, overly narrow jaw where the face has lost its padding) and the dreaded "bypass butt" (whereas the body burns its own derriere fat, as a much-needed source of fuel once the malabsorption gets going full blast ). I'm not knocking the bypass, because it obviously worked for her, but her weight loss would have been different with the LapBand, and not as drastic. Bottom line - Star has been obese for years and years. Even the world's most Turbo-Lap-Band couldn't peel that much off of her in that short time. She had RnY.

Aw, sorry that happened to you. (( hugs )) Think of it this way - this procedure allows you to go at your own pace. If you had gotten Gastric Bypass and your pouch was too small or too tight - well, you'd basically be stuck until you could slowly increase the size or have to have another surgery. But a slight unfill seems to already have you feeling better, and doing better. So, it's good to see you back on the road with your band...

The breath thing is common - yep, it's ketosis. Drink a lot of water - it's not easy soon after banding, but it really does help. Just make sure you get in the habit of drinking before you eat. :hungry: It's a chemical process your body is going through as it burns it's stored fat. Don't worry, it might eventually pass. Besides, not only did I have the breath issue but I had ketosis manifest itself in my underarms. :faint: So even as a heavy person I was never one who sweat a lot, but as my body burned fat, it was secreted in my underarms. I had to use Mens' extra-strength Anti-Perspirant (not the flowery, feminine stuff I like to normally use) for a few months. Luckily it passed after the 3-4 month mark, but those first few months were something else. (I won't even discuss the stronger u - r - i - n - e but those who were on Atkins might remember that, too. ) Drink LOTS of water to flush everything out.

I enjoy these types of threads but I as a veteran Bandster, I caution us against thinking that if your band journey isn't smoothly, perfect that you're not successful. Au contraire! I'm proof positive that you can have a sometimes not-so-smooth journey with the band and yet still triumph. Basically, I was about 80# or so overweight. I wore my weight well (tall, large frame, thick bone mass) but I knew I needed help because I was getting heavier each year. I wanted to look better, (I stress that because it was most important to me) and feel better. I realized surgery was my only chance for long term weight management. I got myself fully approved for surgery - using my long, unsuccessful diet history to help my case. It worked. I got approved for RnY but preferred the LapBand. I was told that in a best-case scenario, I'd lose 75# to 80# with the LapBand in about 18-20 months versus 85# to 95# with the RnY bypass in about 12-14 months overall. This is important - because I had a lower BMI and lower start weight, I was never going to lose magnificent numbers at high speed because I didn't have as much weight to easily lose. Mine would be the long, slow haul either way. So the LapBand would return me to 'normal size' but would not make me 'skinny.' With the RnY I'd probably get much smaller than my normal size, but I gambled that an extra 10# or 15# wasn't worth getting my intestines re-sectioned, so I went with LapBand. (Crossing my fingers that it works out!) The doctors goal was about a 26 BMI for my larger frame with LapBand. So now, 19 months after getting my low-profile port, I have hit what my team (my doctor, my surgeon and my Plastic Surgeon) think is my 'normal weight'. I'm hardly thin but I hit the 26 BMI goal they set. Plus I've gotten rid of almost all the excess fat I had to lose easily, so a bit of body-sculpting and lipo will remove the stubborn flab and excess skin that remains. That's all on my next step of this LapBand journey. Now my new personal goal is to whittle that down to 25 BMI (wow, 24 might be awesome but unattainable) just to keep things in check. That might take months to lose those few pounds, so I'm going to try not to stress myself about it. So I'm at doctor's goal, look great, and most importantly I've gotten down enough sizes to shop anywhere and wear nearly everything. (I need thigh lipo or "Thi-Po" :biggrin1: so I can wiggle into some little small designer things, but that day is coming soon! ) So enjoy your journeys - smooth or not - there is light at the end of the Band Tunnel. :clap2:

Congratulations.:clap2: They say every 10# we lose, affects our hormones and our fertility - so you're a prime example of that. I have no first hand knowledge of this (I'm very single, whew! :guess ) but lots of other LapBandTalk members have been there. Since so many Bandsters have been in your situation (do a keyword search here for PREGNANCY and you'll see the many threads about it) and please know that we have a bunch of very healthy Bandster Moms and Bandster Babies here. That's what's great about this tool - it can be adjusted to accommodate any situation. You'll do fine.

Yay for Puddin' :clap2: HEY! It's time to update those numbers in your signature, Missie!

OMG, exactly! Sometimes it happens without notice. Those few extra pounds turns to 40# overweight, then the 40# over turns quickly to that "only 70#" like you faced, and one day that is now 90# or 100# overweight. Next thing you know, it's morbid obesity and that's not far from super-morbidly obese. Every single bariatric surgeon I know (and I know quite a few, LOL) says that early intervention is key for higher patient success, and lower surgical risk. Ask any bariatric surgeon if they'd rather see a patient 70# overweight or 170# on the Operating Room table. But yet here we are: WLS patients judging those desperate enough for extreme measures (and yes, flying to a foreign country for surgery is an extreme measure to me, because many would prefer not to go that far. ) Remember flying abroad due to cost is no less extreme than gaining weight to qualify to have it here. Either way, it's unfortunatel :phanvan Yes, I say unfortunate. And no matter what - almost ALL self-pays I know would have had it here in this country if the price had been more affordable for them. There are always exceptions who could afford to go anywhere, and they proudly let us know they chose XXX country due to their exceptional surgical reputation. Hey, that's fine, but they are still the minority among self-pays. Most have to choose by price. And I hate that we have to put price-tags when it comes to our health. I just hate it. Now this is very, very intriguing. What do you do for a living, if I may ask, that weight is a job requirement? Are you a flight attendant (nope that federal lawsuit ended the weight requirement for U.S. airlines)? A Ballet Dancer? A Fashion Model? C'mon. You gotta tell us! So true. I absolutely don't do any of the above professions, yet I make more money in the hated hell of Corporate America when I weigh less. I can make a clear chart that shows my weight and corresponds with my income. It ain't pretty - the heavier I am, the less people want to pay me to do the same job. And that's if they overcome their prejudice to GIVE me the job in the first place (which sometimes doesn't happen). Face it, the more you earn in this country, the less people expect you to be overweight. And if you're rich? Forget it. (Ask Oprah, ask Star Jones, ask Wynonna Judd, ask Roseanne Barr ... we take special pot shots at someone here who dares to be rich and fat. :faint: ) If I dare go back to the hell of Corporate Job-Hunting... we'll see if it's different now that I'm back to a normal-ish weight. I don't think I'll like the answer, frankly.

Well said. What is this self-righteous judgmental streak that allows some of us Bandsters to look down on other Bandsters or PreOps? That makes us as bad as those normal sized people who 'judge' us because we are/or/were obese. How dare one person pass judgment on another person who chooses this surgery? :faint: Unlike the DS or the RnY, the LapBand can be a great option for those who are not quite morbidly obese, but want to prevent long-term obesity. In other countries where the Lap-Band has been performed much longer, the LapBand is routinely offered to patients who are 40# overweight or so, depending on how long they've been overweight. And that's been acceptable for a while. So face it. No it's not good to be 40# overweight - but it doesn't mean you're morbidly obese generally. So you could be overweight and not have any significant evidence of heart trouble, diabetes, apnea, or other weight-related health issues. I have no qualms, issues, or problems admitting that I had this surgery to look better. Yes, I wanted to feel better - and taking off a lot of weight is a great way to do that. Plus I thought it wise to handle it before my health issues increased as my weight increased. Period. This is my life and I live it according to my terms. As a single woman in my 30's being overweight was an absolute nightmare. Enough trips to bars, nightclubs, parties, fashion shows and other social situations where I was the biggest woman in the room and judged negatively because of it were a great motivator for me to take my highly attractive-but-just-plain-fat self to the nearest Bariatric surgeon. My weight was a problem, had been a problem for years and I needed help. :help: I did tons of research, I weighed my options and I made the best choice for me. If others choose to judge me because I decided to combat obesity before it became a bigger problem - then that's THEIR problem. Ask any bariatric surgeon if they'd rather see their patients come in with 90# to lose or 190# to lose... they will tell you quick that early intervention is better all around. I often say, Weight Loss Surgery is the only avenue where people pat themselves on the back for waiting until they are super-morbidly obese before they take surgical action while looking down on those who do it sooner, rather than later. (Those patients who say "Oh I lost 175# after surgery, but you shouldn't have had it since you had less to lose" come to mind. ) So I had WLS to look better. And after a more-than-thorny-path, it might actually be working. Hopefully I'll stay healthy - I pray that I do - but I know I didn't do this for the wrong reason no matter what. And I do look much better with that weight off me. Works for me.