azoreangal

I am really sorry to hear that. I sprinkle Fiber one Cereal with my other cereal and it keeps me regular. It works great. I also take Iron which really constipates you and the fiber one is working fine with that too. I feel like I didn't have the surgery except I do feel some restriction when I eat meats. I started at 237 lbs. Went down to 221lbs with the liquid diet just before surgery and I am at 124lbs now. Up from when I had surgery on July 15th 08. It gets very discouraging and you lose motivation because nothing is happening. I was walking 2 miles a day and it didn't do anything. Although, I know it could be muscle, confused metabolism etc. , it still doesn't help my thoughts of failure just like all the years of failed dieting. I think things will turn around. Try to keep positive and hang in there. I know how you feel. Marilia

I feel your pain. I am in the same boat. I can't loose a pound and I am getting so discouraged. I get my 3rd fill on Wed and I sure hope things start to get better. I too am depressed and understand what you were going through. Have things gotten better for you since you wrote in Oct? Marilia

Hi there, Just wanted to tell you that I will be there at the conference tonight. I live about 10 mins from the hotel. My name is Marilia and I look forward to meeting you and others too. Can't wait to meet you. :tongue:

I was never told either. Just to do fluids then, mushies and ease into solids. My nurse told me that I am working only on will- power until my first fill. My fill is 27th Aug. I hope it starts working for me soon. I haven't lost since surgery but, gained 2lbs. Marilia

lynlynkr, I have been reading your latest posts and they sound like what I am going through. I am getting my first fill on the 27th Aug. I feel like I have no control. I wasn't told to eat only a cup of food or anything like that. I haven't lost 1 lb since surgery. actually I have gained 2 lbs. Getting depressed although they told me not to worry about it till my first fill under fluoroscopy. So I am trying to hang in there but it was a disappointment not losing after the surgery. I have also had pain in my mid abdomen sometimes first thing in the morning. Sometimes later. It scares me because I don't know what is causing it. Reading your post has made me feel like things will fall into place. Not losing has made me lose motivation on the weight loss journey. I have even stopped getting on line because its not so much fun when you are gaining weight. Won't touch my "ticker" till it shows a downward slope. I hope things go well for you after your first fill. Marilia

Emily111, That is awesome that we are in about the same place in our journey. I would love to keep in touch and see how we are both progressing. It is always nice to compare with someone similar in journey's. I am also on www.obesityhelp.com under azoreangal. I frequent the lap-band forum and texas and main forum. So if you are ever over there drop by and say hi. Also there is a light weight forum for people with our starting weight. I have added you to my friends. Marilia

Okay, after reading these post in the early morning I headed out to the mall this morning. I walked for at least 30 mins with my husband. Then I headed to walmart and got "Titralac plus antacid". Very hard to find and I gave up at first then there is was in a little White plastic with a yellow top and blue and light green labeling. My husband who never can find anything found it. I was so glad. I took 2 once I got in the car. Chewable and not bad tasting. It has been about 1 hr and I am feeling better. NOt 100% but not miserable. U can take 2 every 2-3 hrs. I will be taking 2 more very soon. Gas-X did not work for me at all. I also got Lactaid and Maloxx just incase. My doctor was specific on titralac but we couldn't find it before. Then the pain came and as you can see I took action. I will be walking again tonight. Don't feel like it but the pain has me motivated. It is Sugar-Free and the pharmacist said it was "non-magnesium" unlike the others but I don't know what that means. However, I can say I feel it is working for me. Good luck! It is very painful to deal with so for those who haven't had surgery yet be sure to get what you need.

:thumbup: Had surgery on Tues 15th July and I am up at 3:20am to try to figure out how to get rid of the gas and incision pain. I feel so bloated and have sharp gas pain all the way up to my left shoulder. I have been walking ( mostly in house), and take Gas-x chewables. The first day I thought I was lucky and didn't get the gas pains. I feel like it is worsening each day. Like Emily111 I also have a burning/stinging pain at the port incision. So when I move it burns and burns. I feel miserable. How long did it take most of you to get over the gas from the lap pain??:confused2::hurt:I feel like I am going to pop!

Thank you Minpinmom! I bet many people don't know this. I plan on going.

klbs, By the way I also frequent the www.obesityhelp.com site and I like it too. There is a Lapband forum and a state forum. I navigate that site easier for some reason. Check it out. Lots of before and after pics too. Good night

KLBS, I qualified because my BMI was over 40, I had sleep apnea, plantar fascitis. I decided to take a loan out and pay for it myself. I could have gone thru insurance but it was going to take too long. I recently injured my arm at work and had surgery on it and thought I would take advantage of the time off and have my Lap-band. When I decided about a year ago that I was going to have surgery. I also through caution to the wind. I quit all dieting. It felt good in a way and I did gain weight but I will be taking it off. I stopped exercising over a year or 2 ago because of foot and joint pain. I have been off work since May and my feet still hurt terribly. I am not really nervous about the surgery. I had several in the last few years (neck, shoulder and now elbow). My joints dislocate easily and with the weight and age it is worse and I have more pain and injuries. I am anxious to get this surgery over with and move on. I have been on liquids and want to get that past me. Well I am off to bed. I am going to add you as my friend. Feel free to keep in touch. Marilia

KLBS, I am glad someone was able to let you know the drill on Freemont. This way you are not sitting around wondering and waiting. Hang in there. I have sleep Apnea. About 2 yrs ago, I was so tired all the time. Even if I slept all day I was so sleeping all the time. I would go to work and come home and sleep and the next morning I still was too sleepy to feel rested. I was so concerned. My doctor sent me to a sleep study, they prescribed a CPAP machine and I feel soooo much better. More energy. Now after the band I hope to have lots more energy.

You will do just fine. It is such a quick surgery and short recovery time. It will be over in no time. Lately, I have been on a surgery band wagon and each time they give me something to relax and before I know it I am awake an ready to go home. I work at Baylor Plano and believe your doctor is there as well. ( I work the outpatient area). If you are going there you should be in good hands. They will take good care of you and you will be on your way. Save me a seat on the loser's bench. I will be there on July 15th. Marilia

just check out your space page link. Very nice! Keep up the great job.

Hi, Thanks for the encouragement. I have done much better than I thought. As long as I keep the Protein Drink going I feel better. My hardest part is that I am home with an injured arm and Dr. won't let me drive so my imagination runs wild. In a way it may be a blessing because work has tons of tempting food everyday and free food too. Actually, I love the little cottage cheese in the little red cups. I think I will do well post -op with the occasional cravings. I plan on going to the support groups to help reset my mind after all these years and learn to eat to live and not the other way around. Glad to see you are going good and strong. Marilia

Okay, I think I am understanding it now. Sometimes Docs send over information ( to fremont in your case) so they(Fremont) will call you for an appointment. Sometime (lots of times) your information gets lost in the suffle and they don't call right away. I am in the medical field and know this for a fact. If I were you I would call your docs office and ask then if Fremont is suppose to call you to make an appointment or what. If so tell them they haven't and you would llike to get the ball rolling. I would ask for the contact number to the Fremont place and call them and ask them what is the process and when will they call for an appointment. Where are they in this process. I don't know how long you have waited but don't be afraid to ask them "what next". You wouldn't believe how things fall through the cracks in the medical field. You have to be the one to take charge. Let me know how it goes and if I can help anymore.

Sorry, I want to help but I am confused as to what you are asking. Also, which doctor is which. Who referred you for a mammogram? If you are saying you asked your family doctor about the lapband and he said get all these tests first, I think he just wants to give you the best chance at getting approved for the surgery. Especially, if you have HMO insurance. Maybe he wants to show you have enough problems to warrant a surgery. By the way the mammogram should not even be needed for lap-band. It may have just been time for you to get one. Just a hunch! The where we go from here is either he has called a lap-band specialist to call you for an appointment or he has given you his approval to go and find a lap-band doctor to have the surgery with. The lap-band doctor and his staff are going to gather as much information as they can to get your insurance to appove the procedure and/or make sure you are safe to have it. I think the way most people do it is...... they find a doctor they want to go with, investigate his qualification, go to one of his seminars and then make an appointment with the lap-band doctor you choose. It is usually your choice on who you go to. On Obesityhelp.com they have information on doctors there as well. Let me know if I can help you more.

Bandtime, sorry for all the typos. I want you to know you can email at anytime. Good luck! I know you will do just fine.

I am on the liquid diet right now. The first 3 days are the worst. Like withdrawls from what you love. I think we are all here because we are addicts. We are all at different stages in our life. I am 45 at I have exhausted all attempts and in the last year I didn't even want to try anything. I knew I would fail. I knew I wouldn't be able to do the liquid diet at 100% but I gave it my all. I have lost 9lbs in one week. Everyone, including your doctor knows that the reason we are getting surgery is because we are addicted and can't stick to diets ( which are useless anyway). They just want us to make a last attempt at getting some of the fat off. Naturally, they won't say do this liquid diet and oh BTW you can cheat if you have to. They want you to give it your best try. You may be perfect but just do your best. I stocked up on jello, chicken broth (i but a little black pepper in it), Optifast ( I keep it thick by using less water, adding 2 pcs of ice when blending and use a frozen frosty mug) It makes it a little like melted ice cream. Crystal lite, and water ( with "water sensation" peach flavor). I am a caffiene free diet coke drinker. I have not had a coke in a week. I don't know why I haven't even missed it. Coke was one of my biggest fears. I keep busy on the internet on this website and Obesityhelp.com. I also got a jigsaw puzzle in the living room. Even with all that I have cheated a little here and there. Personally, I have seen counselors, psychiatrists and psychologists for years on weightloss and here I am a week from lapband surgery and out lots of money. You just have to hunker down and do your best and the best is all you can do. Don't beat yourself up about it. I think you will do just as well as we all have. You will find lots of helpful people on this website and obesityhelp. I live on here now and it keeps me from eating.

Patty, thanks for sharing your progression! You look great. I will have the band on July 15th and seeing your results gives me hope that I can do it too!

I know what you mean. I see young people at work that start all these fad diets and I tell them that the best thing is portion control,less sugar, protein and the things you have said.However, like me when I was young I thought a diet would fix everything and it just started me on a rollercoaster I couldn't get off. You gave her good advice. That is all you can do.