PangeaOne

Now that I am past five weeks post lapband I am on a 1200 calorie diet with regular food, no restrictions. This will change once I begin to have fills. My goal is to try to exceed 70 grams of protein a day which does help with ones appetite. But I am still having appetite issues. My first fill will be on the 29th of June. Hopefully this will help.

I had lapband surgery on the 15th of May and in this past week am becoming increasingly hungry. After reading your blog I feel encouraged that once I begin to have fills I will begin to get the eating under control.

Thanks so much for your response. My BMI is 37. The surgeon did mention that he didn't think I would qualify for Gastric Bypass. I really couldn't figure out why he had mention this but you're right on about how effective Gastric Bypass is for Type 2 Diab. I guess I need to research this. Didn't really think I would qualify so I know nothing about Gastric Bypass.

I just saw the surgeon today and he told me that I may not qualify with Medicare since I only weigh 200 #'s and haven't weighed this much for more than 5 years. I have gone through this program for 9 months now and no one has ever mentioned this before. I have gone to a therapist connected to the program since last October and have attended at least 2 groups a week for the past last 9 months. The surgeon also told me that the majority of lap band patients lose only 50 % of their extra weight which would mean that I would only lose 40 #'s. I have severe diabetes and feel losing weigh will improve this. He also told me that he feels that lap band surgery has been highly overrated and gastric bypass gives the best results. I have to say the meeting today was less than inspiring but probably realistic???? Any reaction to this??

Just hearing that someone else is making a decision that really should be yours makes me feel so sad and would make me feel trapped because of someone else's opinion. I am so sorry. I have used Meridia (Reductil) in the past and combined it with Xenical and lost 35 #'s but walked constantly but slowly gained it all back and more. I am determined to have the surgery even though at this point the therapist who did my assessment withheld the results not wanting to send it on to the bariatric center. After a call to the bariatric center who instructed I call her to let her know she needed to send the assessment to the center. Now I'm trying to find a therapist to deal with this food addiction prior to surgery. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that there are so many variables to wade through. Each center and doctor, the clinican who does the assessment and the insurance company all have their own their own criteria. As this isn't enough, each of these entities doesn't inform of each of their criteria. You should research Meridia. While it works, it's reported loss as I recall is not really very significant and once you stop taking it you may be back to where I am now. Good luck. You sound very strong. This will happen. :-) Pangea

This has nothing to do with my insurance since she didn't even know what insurance I had and had forgotten my phone call to her in which she said she didn't take my insurance. I did sound like she was trying to drum up business but again reminded her that she didn't take my insurance. I'm glad to hear that you have never heard of extended therapy to qualify for Lap-Band surgery. I will call the Bariatric Center tomorrow. Thanks so much. Pangea

I just had my psych assessment and was told that she (the therapist would hold onto the assessment until I complete sessions with an eating D/O therapist. She couldn't be the therapist since she doesn't take my insurance. When I called the Bariatric Center they told me to call her back and tell her to send the assessment to them, that she can't "hold" back on this. My question is this: How long to do I have to go to therapy? Three months, six months, etc? I don't know if I will be able to afford this for an extended period. Thanks, Pangea

I am so sorry that this has happened to you. It's very scary to hear this since I am at the beginning of this process. I'm sure you have discussed all of this with your doctor. What explanation do they have for this. There must be some recourse for you to take given that you are still experiencing hunger. Please let me know what the doctor plans to do about this. I will certainly bring up your experience with my medical team before I have the surgery. Let me know how you're doing. Bev:confused:

WOW!! You are so beautiful!! I am so happy for you! I am still awaiting a call from the surgical team.

Wow!! I am still in the research stage of looking at lapband surgery. I have gone to the introductory meeting and am scheduled to see my PCP on Friday. The comments that people make who don't have weight issues are maddening but they have no idea what we deal with. But given that I also am wondering if I can do so many days of a liquid diet prior to surgery and the restractive diet after surgery I ask myself why can't I just do this on my own. Of course the answer is that I lose the wieght after great sacrifice but always return to my heavier weight. I now have diabetes, now take insulin and now have gained even more weight. My thoughts always come back to "Why can't I do this on my own?" Gigiswords, you are one smart cookie to do this at a young age so that you can enjoy your life to the fullest. I have spent a good portion of my adult life in seclusion to the excess weight. You are doing the right thing!! I will keep you in my thoughts,

I don't think that's sick! You have taken survival methods with you and incorporated them into your current life. Although I haven't had your experience I have similar feelings about being anxious if I feel like I may not have the opportunity to have whatever the food is before me. The end result is that I struggle with portion control. I am curious about your disbanding due to erosion. I have a history of GERD. Does this pose a problem and lead to disbanding?

Oh God! I am 70 and researching lapband to reduce my weight and reduce my diabetes which both are out of control! I went to an informational meeting and was told the doctors have done lapband on people as old as 73. I am otherwise in good health. I will begin attending support groups to learn more as to whether this may be a tool to controling my weight and dabetes.

I'm curious. I have diabetes. Is your husband on this diet prescribed by a physician? I'm asking because my diabetes is out of control and am researching the lap-band surgery to help control my weight and cravings. Is your husband doing this in preparation for some sort of weight loss surgery.

I am going to a seminar on the 15th and am wondering the same thing. What happens at the consultation?

I am in the process of exploring the possibility of being banded. I have hesitated to join the blog because I'm not as overweight as others. I am probably 70 #'s overweight. My BMI is 36. I have struggled with my weight all my life. I am now struggling with out of control diabetes, elevating blood pressure, sleep apnea. I keep thinking "why can't I do this without banding?" When I hear all the struggles banders have to deal as well as their eating being out of control when their banding isn't tight enough, I wonder if I am making the right decision.