Leisalips

Hi Pam, Wow Tuesday is almost here! All the hard work paid off and your on your way. I'm excited for you and wish you the best! Fast recovery!

I do think Richmond is closer than Fremont would be to you. I'm in Stockton but it's closer to go to Fremont. How do you like your doctor there, is he for Lap Bands? My doctor is kinda poo poo ing them and prefers the gastro bypass. Well, hope to hear from you when you recovery and how everything is going for you. Good luck..Leisa

Vicki,

Hi, and thanks for that long letter. Obviously I can't write short letters either so we are even. I appreciate all the information and absolutely amazed and excited about your success. Like I was telling you that doctor was a bummer.

I was originally signed up for Gastro Bypass in 2006, had 30 lbs to lose and was to go home and work on that in order to get a surgery date. We (hubby) and I were just not comfortable with the surgery, I had told him before back when I heard Ann Wilson of Heart got the lap band done like in 2003 or 2004 that is what I wanted but Kaiser didn't offer it nor did they when I signed up this time. I went home and struggled losing (like I always do) then I got pregnant. I was ok for 3 months then had a miscarrage, had a lot of stress in my life at that time. I instantly losed 25 lbs and kept it off, I'm really good at maintaining. They called me asking if I was still interested as 6 months had passed, I said yes but I really wasn't. Then I went to my new personal doctor a few months ago, still trying to get healthy from the miscarrage, caused irregular bleeding, hair loss. She ordered blood work on me and said I need to consider losing weight. I sent her an email when I got home asking if Kaiser does lap bands and she said yes and sent my request back into Fremont. That is where I am now.

My thyroid is functioning normal, it has been for 11 years now. The problem is once it needs medication to function, your metabolism just doesn't work like it once did, the doctors say it should but my experience, other people with the same problem and my books say no it does not! So I get tired of the doctors saying there shouldn't be a problem losing, even the nutritionist said she knows its harder to lose after your thyroid. So it is working, I have been stable.

Now I know from my best friend having the gastro bypass that she is able to pretty much eat whatever she wants to, my other ex friend doesn't eat enough Protein and has been losing her hair. I am not worried about not having certain things, I know how to portion myself. So that's why I think the band can really work for me. I am going to take your advise with the research, with bringing in my facts, and talking to my doctor about how comfortable. I'm going to see if there is another option there for me if I decide to change doctors. You really made me feel a lot better, I really thought after talking to him that I was just going to be killing myself. Right now I've been following a 1200 calorie diet, not what they gave me, just one from Slim fast using their shakes, I like that one so far. I'm going to continue to ride my exercise bike the 3 miles a day or possibly up it to 5 miles each day 7 days a week. Some weight has to come off!! I am most defintely keeping in contact with you! Thanks for everything, you've helped me a great deal. I will keep in touch! Leisa

Latrice,

Hi, I'm Leisa, I was wondering how you were doing and if Vicki's advise was able to get you started in the right direction. Do you have a scheduled surgery and are you also going to Fremont California? I do not have a date yet, I need to lose 14 more pounds to obtain one. It is sure a tough road and I'm like you, I could use all the support I could get right now! We can only get that kind of support from those people that truely know from experience how we feel. My husband would tell me he knows how I feel (in a loving way) but the truth is he's only 20 pounds over weight and he looks skinny if he's wearing a loose shirt so he really doesn't have a clue what weight takes away from you. You confidence, your self-esteem and sometimes your beauty, for me, I don't feel beautiful being this weight so I can't act beautiful, you know what I mean? Well, I just wanted to chat..hope to hear from you and to hear your doing well.

Leisa

Wow Vicki, you speak with such truthfulness, motivation and true understanding of your mind and body. It was very inspirational and comforting to read your message helping a follow bandster in her time of dispair. I have been where she was but I have been where you are as well.

I am currently waiting for my surgery appointment trying to get to my goal of 265 so they will schedule me. I am in therapy for my broken ankle so my exercising isn't as intense as I would like at this time. But when I started this program and first weighed in I was at 296 and now at 280 so I'm slowly getting down. I just don't feel comfortable with my doctor in Fremont. He really didn't like the lap band and tried to make me chance over to the bypass which I just do not feel comfortable with. He spent the whole time telling me and my husband all the bad things like he was trying to scare me. I went there excited and left there confused. He said he doesn't have any success stories to share with me. He said everyone he banded had problems and he can't guarantee I won't.

I don't have the problem of eating too much in fact for awhile I would skip meals in kinda of a way to punish myself for my weight, telling myself I didn't deserve to eat. After starting classes at Kaiser for the program, they made me 3 times a day with 2 Snacks and I conditioned myself to do that. In fact, I can't skip at all now and don't even try. I have never been a large amount eater and exercised like crazy. Until I had my son I was a good weight. I choose sleep instead of food my first few months but I was extremely tired and wore out. I went to the doctor and she tested me and found my thyroid was so low it was dangerous and I was gaining weight like crazy, she said my body was hording food. I ended up gaining 80 pounds, (only 18 1/2 lbs during pregnancy). No matter what I did the weight wouldn't come off. Here I am 12 years later still trying with no results and I am easily discouraged. I have to work twice as hard as the regular person so see the tiniest results. I was just hoping the lap band would be the jumpstart my body needed to drop this weight that shouldn't be here!

So basically, I was wondering about any problems you may have had since being banded. How the fills are, who your doctor was and how are you eating now. Did getting your mind ready before surgery help in your success to your goal weight after? Did you experience any depression from missing certain foods (I've heard that happens) just wanted to talk. Hope you have time. Thank you, Leisa

Oh thanks 80's chick! Good info. Went today to Fremont to speak with the doctor, he really tried to discourage me from having the band and trying to talk me into the R N Y. He just didn't have any good things to say which scared me. I'm glad to hear the fills aren't a big deal. He was trying to tell me that I could have them as much as once a month and they hurt. I think I could handly it. Keep in touch please! Leisa

Even though this may be late information, I am getting the Lap Band in Fremont California with Kaiser, I too was scheduled for Gastro Bypass in 2006 but didn't lose the weight they required (30). I think I was just scared of that surgery. Then 2 months ago I heard they started doing the Lap Band now so they put me back into the program I was able to go straight to the Orientation class and start from there, instead of starting over. I just got home from Fremont today from talking with the surgeon and nutritionist. I need to lose 15 more pounds to get a date. I was disappointed with the Dr. He seemed to really not like the idea of the lap band and told me more of the risks and things he didn't like than positive things. Kinda scared me. He wanted me to have the gastro bypass. I went there so excited and came home so confused. I just wanted to talk to others that have to go through Kaiser and find out how they are doing. He said not a lot of people have had this surgery done there and he can't give any success stories. I want to hear the good stories from Kaiser, so I can get excited again!!

Leisa

Stockton, CA

Hello, My name is Leisa from California. I just came from a seminar in Fremont today. I lost 15 pounds since I saw them last which was 2006. I was supposed to get the gastro bypass then but I couldn't lose the 30 pounds( and I wasn't too sure about that surgery, they didn't offer the lap band at that time.) So, I'm back again this time for the lap band, I have my one on one with the surgeon in 2 weeks and will try to lose as much as I can by then so they'll schedule me soon! They did try to scare me today, I think they are in favor of the bypass instead of the lap band. Telling me the pain of the adjustments, sometimes several times a year, how the band could slip. I know there are risks but I feel this surgery is the right one for me. I just want to hear from everyone about the pain after the surgery, how they feel when eating, how much they lost, just everything there is to know and talk with people that have experienced it. For those about to have the surgery, good luck, hope it goes just fine, I'm happy and excited for you! Hope to hear from someone. Thanks...Leisa