momcof3

Glad to see you back on-line. I was wondering how you were doing. Have you heard from Jason R.? I too am stuck in plateau and have tried to only weigh once a week as daily fluctuations cause me mental grief. Keep up the good work.

I put Benefiber in at least two of my waters a day and also take one stool softener a day. I have found that when I am diligent with the Benefiber, I actually get results. I was also told eating cooked carrots helps.

When I went to orientation it also included the nutrition class so we were there all day, but it saved a trip back. We were also given our first appointment dates at the end of orientation. I think they have more people actually going through the process now. I had lost 12 lbs by the time I saw my surgeon and only needed to lose 8 more. I saw the psychiatrist a month after the surgeon and I was at goal so they gave me my case manager appointment that day and they had an opening for the next week. When I met with Liz she asked me when I wanted surgery - so I ended up having surgery Aug 26. I have had one fill - on Oct 6 - so now I have 4 cc in a 10 cc band. I only feel restriction with certain foods and if I eat too fast - otherwise I don't feel any restriction. I am going back to see Robin and Dr. Im on Jan 16 and I am hoping to get another fill. I had bloodwork done on Sunday. I have been stuck at 225 for at least a month. I ate some cookies the week of Christmas which caused me to go up to 227, but I am back down to 225. I hope my body is just adjusting to losing 60 lbs and will start losing again. I go to Curves three times a week and also walk. I was really excited at the beginning because the weight just kept coming off, but now the routine is getting kind of old and I am struggling a little mentally. Sometimes I think it would be just easier not to eat at all. I am looking forward to Jan 16 as I feel more motivated after talking to Robin. I would love to get together with the group and to help you through surgery and post op. Let me know when and where. thanks.

Can others join your Sacramento group? I had my surgery in Richmond on Aug 26 and have yet to find a lapband support group in the Sacto area. It's kind of hard for me to meet in the middle of a week day due to work, but I am interested in getting together for support.

I was up 2 lbs at the beginning of the week, but I am back down to 225. I am hoping this next week to break my plateau.

I also was laying on the exam table and it only took a couple of minutes to do the test once she hooked me up.

I didn't have hernia repair when I had my surgery, but the port incision is sensitive for a long time. I am four months post surgery and I still have times where the port incision area hurts. As long as the area isn't inflamed and red I wouldn't worry about it.

Welcome Back. Have they rescheduled you?

I am also interested in a Sacramento lap band group. I live in Elk Grove and was banded at Richmond Kaiser on 8/26/08. I went to a Kaiser Elk Grove bariatric support group meeting, but I was the only one who had lap band and I haven't gone again.

I don't know how old you are, but if it has been more than 10 years since you remember getting one, I would get it before your surgery. They combine the diptheria shot with the tetanus now - my arm hurt for about a week.

If you are going through Kaiser, you have to be up to date on all of your preventatives - ie immunizations, female stuff. Mine came due during the process and I had to get a tetanus shot.

I have been banded almost 4 months and I can't eat a hard boiled egg plain any time of the day. The yolk gets stuck. I have 2 hard boiled eggs each morning for breakfast mixed with a little mayo and mustard. For some reasons two hard boiled eggs keep me fuller than two scrambled eggs.

I am still at 225 - also stuck on a plateau. I am .2 away from 224 so maybe this week it will drop. I get my second fill on Jan 16 and I am looking forward to it. Everyone keep up the good work - this is a hard part of the year.

My dad went with me and drove me home 4 1/2 hours after surgery. I was not able to drive for at least a week - you can't drive while taking the pain meds anyway -. Is there someone else who can drive you there and back? I got my surgeon appointment at the orientation and then my other appointments while I was there at an appointment. I did not call and try to get cancellations. I recently got put on a cancellation list for a fill, but never was contacted back. I go for my possible 2nd fill on Jan 16. I don't know if it is a good thing to try to hurry through the process to get surgery. There is a lot to think about and absorb and a lot of habit changing that needs to happen. I went through the process fairly quickly by losing the weight quickly.

I took Phentermine two different time for 12 weeks while I was going to Healthy Ways. Yes, it made me not be hungry at all and I could easily lose 35 pounds while taking it, but then I would gain it all back and then some. I have been banded since 8/26 and it is nothing like being on Phentermine. I definitely feel hungry in between meals (not as much as at the beginning) and I have more energy - but that is not from any medication- it is from eating healthy and losing weight. Good luck on your journey.

Even with a BMI of 40, Kaiser wants to see that you have tried all the other avenues - ie Healthy Ways at Kaiser and other weight loss programs like Weight Watchers. There is also a Mindful Eating class at Kaiser (I took it at So. Sac) that is in adult psychiatry. My PCP at Elk Grove Kaiser is also not big on WLS, but I had already done Healthy Ways twice, the Mindful eating class, and Weight Watchers a few times. I don't have any co-morbidities - he sent me for the sleep apnea test a couple of years ago when Kaiser only did gastric bypass, but I didn't have it. You can switch PCPs at Kaiser to see if you can get one that is more open to WLS but I think they will all look for certain things in your history as far as attempts to lose the weight. Good Luck.

I didn't give up my Diet Coke until the day of surgery and I used to drink it from morning until night. I did try to cut down though. Now I haven't had any soda or caffeine since Aug. 26 - I only drink water - some plain and some with the sugar free flavor packets. I must have gone through the caffeine withdrawal headaches while I was on the Lortab pain meds after surgery.

I had a large bruise on my left hip after surgery - after seeing a series of photos taken during surgery -I figured it was from one of the tools they used to retract my liver- I could see the tool in the picture. Maybe your bruise is from that?

My program at Kaiser Richmond CA told us no alcohol ever again. I think their biggest thing against it is it is empty calories and they don't want you to trade one addiction for another. But they also have the no carbonation, no caffeine, no gum, no drinking from straws, no smoking ever rule too. So it really varies from program/doctor.

I had to do the Milk of Magnesia the morning before, but I was allowed to eat until 6 pm the night before. I did not have to do the enema or antibacterial shower - just a regular shower.

Maybe it depends on the surgeon. My surgeon was Dr. Im.

I just talked to Richmond Kaiser and they said they changed their phone options two days ago so listen to all of the options before choosing one. I was able to leave a voice message for Robin the nutritionist on her machine.

My Richmond Kaiser surgeon said I have a 10 cc band and when I had my first fill there was 1 cc already in the band - left there when they primed it. That isn't 30%. He put 3 more ccs in at my first fill on Oct 6 for a total of 4 ccs. I am supposed to have my second fill in January.

Dr. Im was also my surgeon - he did my surgery on 8/26/08. I think I know which case manager you are talking about - yes she is blunt, but she can be helpful too. Dr. Im is also very upfront - I got a bad scolding from him at my first fill for eating a couple of items that aren't allowed - ie one small piece of cheese pizza, a hotdog bun. I had a good cry in the car. Good luck with your surgery - it is right around the corner.

I did not stick to the 1200 plan exactly and I ate a healthy snack in between meals - ie fruit or veggies. I know they want us to start to get used to not eating certain foods and to only eat every 4 hours, but the approach I took was whatever worked for me to be able to lose the weight to get a surgery date. I had to lose 20 lbs before surgery and I lost 30 between May 9-Aug 26. I started out being pretty strict the first couple of weeks and then adjusted some. Physical activity will also help.