Toosywoots
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Everything posted by Toosywoots
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Hi Shasta1
I feel much better now that I have lost over 100 pounds in 1 year. I started looking into weight loss surgery over 10 years ago but my insurance would never cover it. Once I had a BMI over 50 they finally did. I was 5'6" and 375 pounds. I still hired beliteweight.com to get me through all the red tape with bc/bs insurance. There was a lot more of a wait for the gastric bi-pass surgery. I was in a hurry and opted for the gastric lap band. I was chicken for the drastic bi-pass. There was less of a wait for the band. I could always opt for the bi-pass later if the band didn't work. They put me on a liquid protein diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery to shrink my liver.
The lap band and gastric bypass has a diet to stick with so it is not easy and dieting free as I thought it would be. I automatically eat smaller portions of what I did eat before. It is a lot like the South Beach one with mostly protein, vegetables, low carbs and no "slider foods".
toosywoots
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Does Banding Work if you're over 50?
Toosywoots replied to knotchy's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I feeling much better about the lapband this week. I saw a different doctor this month and he congratulated me about reaching the 100 pounds off mark. :smile: I have lost 1/3 my weight in a year and no matter how I did it, I should be proud of myself. I am down 2 or 3 sizes. 2 shoe sizes at least. I seem to be loosing inches at this time and not too much weight. I have 100 pounds to go to reach the goal I set for myself though but the doctor assured me that I would be in a size 12 in 2 years. I guess I better adjust my leaping frog at the bottom of this comment for the 100 pounds. Physically I feel 100% better than last year when they gave me a year to live with all my problems that weight brought on. -
Hi, I`m Mary, You know me from Neopia. I have lost 100 pounds in less than a year with the lapband procedure. Thought we could be friends on here too.
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Dr. Mounir Gazayerli - Dr. G
Toosywoots replied to Libbyjane1976's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
Dr. G is a very positive person and gives very good advice for the lapband patient. He encourages me every time I come in for a lapband adjustment. Yesterday, he congratulated me for reaching the 100 pounds lost which is 1/3 of my weight in less than a year. He promises my husband and I that I will be a size 12 in two years. -
Went to see Dr. G yesterday. He was very proud of me for having officially lost 100 pounds. I had my husband come in and hear what he had to say since my husband tends to be a bit negative about my diet and weight loss, never thinking I am doing enough. I have lost 1/3 my weight in less than a year. Dr. G said that I will be a size 12 in 2 years. I hope so.
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I was banded in October 08 but had been loosing before that. This marks my 9th month and I have lost over 100 pounds total. However, the past six months I have been struggling with the last 20 pounds. I avoid the scale because it does lie like Jack said. I started out a 5x and am borderline 2x now. My doctor gave me a no-no list that consists of softer foods, candy and high calorie foods to avoid. I must confess that I do eat them more than I should. I am only supposed to eat 3 meals a day with no snacking. I snack. So if I am struggling with the band, it's because I am making the wrong food choices. I could count calories and exercise more if I really want to get serious about this. My doctor guarantees that it will work if I follow the instructions and I will be a size 12 in two more years.
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Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot
Toosywoots replied to IndioGirl55's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Ocotillo, you are right about the head hunger being a big part of it. Today I had my frozen shoulder manipulated under anethesia. It has caused me to wake up in tears several times a night, 12 weeks of physcial therapy that didn't work, and painful days for the past 9 months. I console myself with favorite food and candy when sick or hurt. I am sure this has played a big part of my staying the same weight all these months. Let's hope the physcial therapy that I start tomorrow will bring full arm control back, no more pain, and no need to console myself. -
Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot
Toosywoots replied to IndioGirl55's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
When my insurance finally gave the go ahead, things were rushed along so quickly that I didn't talk to the surgeon/doctor about the lap band being a tool. I had to talk to a psychiatrist who worked with the insurance patient approval for my lapband surgeon. He said that I had a lot of weight to loose and may need the gastric by-pass a little later to acheive my goals. He said I had a lot of physical problems that have caused this weight gain over my lifetime. He did make me promise to stick with the diet though. I see 2 surgeons for my fills in the same office for the lapband and they both say different things on what I am supposed to do. The surgeon that had a lapband done also, is more lenient and the younger surgeon sounds like a broken record of all my docotors I have had in my fat life who say diet, exercise, count calories. He really wants me to succeed because I was among his first patients. -
I had right arm manipulation to unfreeze it today at the hospital. They had to knock me out to do it. I have been in pain since the lap band surgery for it. I don't know what happened but 3 days after lapband surgery it started to really ache. Same kind of frozen thing happened to my left arm 2 years prior when I had knee surgery. When I am sick or in pain I eat to console myself. I had 9 months of horrible pain, sleepless nights and physical therapy to unfreeze it. I am hoping that this will solve the pain problem with a little more therapy. With that pain gone, I hope to stop feeling sorry for myself as much and stop treating myself with food.
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Hi. Thank you for commenting on my blog. Today I went into the hospital for a right arm manipulation. I am still a bit groggy. I had over 12 weeks of therapy that didn't unfreeze it. The pain started 3 days after my lapband surgery. I can't say for sure but I assume it was caused by them tipping me up legs high to have everything slide out of the way for the surgery. My left arm had it happen a few years ago after a knee surgery so it might be hereditary joint problems or something.
As for the lap band frustration, I stuck with reading for hours on this site and felt a bit more encouraged to stick with it and try harder. I think that is what I need most is encouragement. My husband thinks he is the food police and has a prefixed WW type diet in his mind of what I should eat. It is a constant anger source for me but we had so many talks and it he won't quit with his judgemental comments and glances. So I am here everyday to make it work.
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:mad:Okay today I am 9 months out from Gastric lapband surgery. I haven't posted in here for 6 months. It seems to be going rather slowly for weight loss and at times I think I have been scammed. I do NOT do what the doctors tell me to do however so it's not their fault. It's my fault to believe that lapband would be a cure, that I would never have to diet again, and that the pounds would just peal off from lack of being able to eat. I keep hearing after the surgery that lapband is just a tool and that I still have to diet and exercise. The band is as tight as it's going to get and I have problems getting that first meal down and staying there. Once I do, I am all set for eating the rest of the day. I snack heavily on the no-no list of soft foods the doctors advised me to quit eating from. I'm not supposed to snack and only have 3 small South Beach Diet type meals a day. I exercise maybe 3 times of week which is just walking slowly in stores instead of vigorous excercise daily. I didn't want to have to diet or exercise again!
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:mad:Okay today I am 9 months out from Gastric lapband surgery. I haven't posted in here for 6 months. It seems to be going rather slowly for weight loss and at times I think I have been scammed. I do NOT do what the doctors tell me to do however so it's not their fault. It's my fault to believe that lapband would be a cure, that I would never have to diet again, and that the pounds would just peal off from lack of being able to eat. I keep hearing after the surgery that lapband is just a tool and that I still have to diet and exercise. The band is as tight as it's going to get and I have problems getting that first meal down and staying there. Once I do, I am all set for eating the rest of the day. I snack heavily on the no-no list of soft foods the doctors advised me to quit eating from. I'm not supposed to snack and only have 3 small South Beach Diet type meals a day. I exercise maybe 3 times of week which is just walking slowly in stores instead of vigorous excercise daily. I didn't want to have to diet or exercise again!
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Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot
Toosywoots replied to IndioGirl55's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I am beginning to think I should have gone with the gastric by-pass and that this lap band system has failed me. I have been playing with 10 pounds up and down for many months. The doc says no more snacking, no sweets, count calories, South Beach type dieting, and lots of exercise. I never knew that I would have to do those things after lab band surgery and it was only a tool. On the positive side though. I have lost at least 80 pounds total and was a BMI of over 53 when I started, I am now at 43.8. Most of the weight came off with the 4 week liquid pre-surgery diet and the soft 6 week post surgery diet. I am feeling healthier, medical tests show better results on liver, sugar, and other health levels. I'm taking less medicines. I'm down 2 sizes and able to walk distances without pain. I can now wear regular shoes again with regular ladies socks. My left ankle is still swelling but my feet are not turning purple anymore. I am happy that I feel better but I still need to loose 100 pounds. I want to see that come off after going through all of this. I am back here after not visiting this site for 6 months for support and a reminder to stick with it. -
Before and After Photos of my Lap Band Journey.
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Does Banding Work if you're over 50?
Toosywoots replied to knotchy's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I had a c-section, laproscopy incisions around my navel for ovary camera scans and gall bladder laproscopy done. The 3 small incisions and the 3 inch center cut to put the lap band in didn`t interfere with any of those. -
Hi, I haven`t been here for at least 6 months. You are the only person on my friend list. I know it was because we were both over 50 yrs old. How are you doing with the lap band? I am not very happy with the results of mine.
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Does Banding Work if you're over 50?
Toosywoots replied to knotchy's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I'm 56. October 08 I had lab band surgery. I lost nearly 100 pounds that year by pre-surgery dieting and the 6 weeks soft diet that followed. I was told I could eat anything I wanted by my lap band doc after that 6 weeks right in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas eating. I wondered why I wasn't feeling the lap band working. It took until February with 100 mile trips to the lap band doctors to get fills every 2 weeks before I could feel the band was beginning to tighten. I wasn't loosing very much if anything. I have been going up and down 10 pounds but have remained the same in weight even though my band is tight enough now. The lap band doc told me to stop snacking, stay away from soft foods and only eat 3 meals a day and follow the South Beach Diet. That the lap band is a tool. Well it definately is not the solution. If I could diet, I wouldn't have needed the lap band! I should have gone gastric by-pass and I am very unhappy with my recent results. I need to loose 100 pounds more. I am able to do more this year and feel healthier but it was do to the pre-surgery weight loss. -
I am very frustrated. It took from the October surgery until February before the numerous fills were enough to even feel like they might work. I went up and down in weight but basically have stayed the same since surgery. Most of my weight loss was from the liquid protein diet for 4 weeks prior to surgery and the limited soft diet following surgery for 6 weeks. I alternate seeing 2 different doctors 100 miles from my home about once a month. The younger one who actually did my surgery wants me to stop snacking and eat only 3 small meals a day. If I could do that, I wouldn't have needed a lap band! Lap Bands are just a tool to help you loose wieght I`ve been told, not the solution. Wish that would have sunk home before I had the surgery. Wish I would have gone gastric by-pass now.
muvhp7jwrn
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My story is much the same way. Lost lots of weight before surgery (59 pounds last year) and by the 6th week out, I was back to old habbits and life style. I have lost 6 pounds total since November and I am very disapointed. I have had 4 fills since October in my 14 cc band but can still eat 1 cup of cottage cheese and a bag of microwave popcorn without feelling full. My doctor said that those were wrong foods and they pass through the band too easily. I am loosing my hair too but was told that I didn`t need protein suppliments any more. My doctor says that 6 pounds over Thanksgiving and part of December is average loss and he is proud of me. As of the first of the year, I am back to counting calories, using my exercise bike, and looking into swimming pool exercise class. Might even try the 2 protein suppliments a day with a small dinner at night to get back into the diet again. Going to test my sugar and start taking the diabetic pills if needed again.
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Thank you for the response to my post in the Hey 50 & over thread. I really needed to hear what you had to say and responded to your post.
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Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot
Toosywoots replied to IndioGirl55's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Thank you for your input Indigo and you must know what you are talking about because of your huge weight loss. I was just complaining about not loosing anything for two weeks to my husband and how frustrated I was before I read your response to my post. I guess I was like most of the public sector and that waitress that thought lap band is the easier way out. I really hope the lap band fill will help. The nurse told my husband that I should only be able to eat 1/4 cup of food after having the lap band. Maybe right after surgery that was all I could eat but not now. You tellling me that a cup is your normal, helped me to relax a bit. I had to re-adjust my thinking and Indigo, you have helped me today to get back to the right reasoning. So thank you! :thumbdown: I was in a life and death situation and still am. I had lap band to prolong my life by eating right, getting my non alcoholic fatty liver healed, get my heart healthier, and loose the weight that is causing type 2 diabetes and edema from poor circulation from being a fat chick. The side line benefit is how much I loose, or how good I will look, or what size I will be. I took stock of what I am eating and I am eating much healthier. Junk food carbs were my major diet before this lap band experience and I don't eat that anymore. Thank you for the wake up and re-programing my brain glich. -
Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot
Toosywoots replied to IndioGirl55's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Well I finally feel a bit better. My weekly weigh was today and I was back to what I lost before the flu. Two weeks of coughing and sneezing had me eating just about anything allowed on week 4 and I had gained 6 pounds during that episode. I told myself that it was Water weight from the edema that returned because my type 2 diabetes reacted to the carbohydrates I was able to add to my diet. So last week I started keeping track of calories, carbs, fats, salts, etc. and making sure I kept within the 800-1200 calorie range like the dietician had told me. I am back to what I weighed prior to the flu. The problem with all of this is that I feel hungry. I hope the band didn't slip with the coughing because now I can eat a full cup of something and not feel full but some foods do make me feel full but it takes like 3 fish fillets or a cup of squash. Keeping track is good but I feel like I am on a regular dieting situation and doing all the work that I thought the band should do automatically. I still have the edema and my fasting sugar was 109 this morning. I may have to go back on the diabetic pill I was taking. I go to the surgeon on Nov 20th for my first fill and I have bunches of questions for him. -
Any October Bandsters!??!?!
Toosywoots replied to SoCalCass's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I was banded on Oct 8 and am just checking in. A bad cold or flu hit me a couple of weeks after surgery--no vomiting just a horrible head cold that caused a lot of coughing and sneezing. I was worried that my band would slip. I was able to eat more (a cup or more of soup) and when I am sick, I feel sorry for myself and used to eat more anyway. I weighed myself two weeks ago and stayed the same after having huge weight losses of 10 pounds each week. I also had the edema return to my feet and I am not sure what causes it-the type 2 borderline diabetes or what? I have not taken my diabetic pill since surgery but may have to do that again. My fasting sugar count was 109 this morning. I am scheduled with my first fill on November 20th and I plan to discuss a lot with that doctor since my primary care doctor is of very little help by saying just check with your surgeon when I have questions. So I panicked and began keeping track of calories, Protein, fats and carbs trying to keep it between the 800-1200 calories diet that the dietician said I would need to do. I weigh myself weekly on Thursday and this week I lost the 3 pounds. I am walking more too. So far this is like being on a regular diet and I do feel hungry at night mostly even with Snacks. I hope the fill changes all that. -
I am getting my first fill on the 20th at the 6 week mark. I am very nervous about where they might find my band because I had a nasty coughing sneezing cold 2 1/2 weeks out from surgery. I wasn't eating much up until then and now I can eat a full cup of food without even feeling full. I am still very tender around my largest cut so I hope this doesn't hurt much. I hope the insurance pays for the doctor calls but my copays haven't paid for office visits for over a year now. Last week I didn't loose but the edema came back too so I figured it was Water weight. I started a daily calorie diet and try to keep it in the 800-1200 calorie range and do a lot of walking 3 or 4 days a week. I hope the band is in the right place yet. I will be glad when this first time is over.
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Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot
Toosywoots replied to IndioGirl55's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hi--I am new to this lap band but I am definately over 50. I had my band installed on October 8, 2008. For over 10 years I wanted weight loss surgery and it wasn't until I hired a service to dance me through the insurance hoops that I was able to achieve it. They are supposed to pay 100% of the bills. It's still too early to tell on that. I have always been a person that all I had to say to my body is diet and I would catch a cold or bad case of the flu. I am amazed it hasn't happened before this. I was on 5 weeks of liquid protein only prior to surgery. A full week of clear liquids after surgery and am now on soft foods. I always get the flu shot every year but this year I had to pass because they didn't want me having it two weeks before surgery and I passed on it right after surgery because I always come down with a mild form of it. So I babysat my twin grandaughters last week and later found out they were sick. I caught a bad cold that causes me to croup and sneeze just awful. I have had it for 5 days now and no sign of let up. I am very worried that I might rip the new healing loose and move the band since it has been only 2 1/2 weeks since I had surgery. My first fill will be in two weeks, 100 miles from where I live. I don't want to call my surgeon about my cold because I don't want to drive that far. My primary care doctor just wants to pass the buck to the surgeon so that would be a waste of time going to him. Any thoughts of what I should do and if at 3 weeks out are we allowed cough and cold medicine? I am not supposed to have asprin or blood thinners for 3 more weeks yet.
