mattie7632

I get Ideal Protein, available in many chiropractors or healthcare providers offices (not doctors). They are high protein, ratio of protein to carbs is good, and taste good! BUT they are super expensive. I just couldn't find any that tasted any good in the stores, and if they did, well they weren't exactly the nutritional value I was wanting.

good lord, he sounds like an idiot. Hope you have found a better doctor for your future care.....

OMG you ARE busy!! My friend is making me go to the gym with her next week. (Yuck)

Do you think the weight loss is due to the band or all the exercising you are doing?

Yea! That's awesome news!!!

I guess the pressure of the band around the stomach......I believe this is why when people are filled to that "spot" they will also lose desire to eat and lose appetite. Wish I was there!

I love this post! There definitely were things I wish doctors were more forthcoming about or that I would have known to ask about. Would it have made me not do this? Probably not, but here they are: The Band won't necessarily restrict how much I can eat until sweet spot hit, and maybe not even then. The doctor's fill policies might not be what I expected. Some doctors are too conservative and some hold fills hostage! It turns out this seems to be a very big deal and could determine our success! Wish I'd asked about this beforehand. I guess those are the 2 major ones for me.

Oh wow I'm so sorry! That is a big fear of mine that something will go wrong and they'll have to go back in. I really, really do not like having surgery of any kind. I hope it works out and finally you get a band that works right!

Actually he did prefer the Realize band but lets the patient decide. I was thinking "okay, whatever, that Realize band looks nicer and the port is smaller so......." LOL, hence a decision was made!

I have to say that I am disappointed at what I keep reading about people's doctors pushing bypass and sleeve! People DON'T be talked into these procedures, do your research and be sure it's right for YOU! Consider this: OB/Gyn's today routinely do cesarean sections-- General Surgeons will take out your gall bladder in a heartbeat. And your bariatric surgeon maybe just suggests you consider bypass or sleeve when you initially were thinking the band. This is how doctors make a living you know, medical care is a business as well as patient care. I'm not dissing doctors, this is their passion and their world. They are biased. Just as I'm sure you and I are biased about what we know and live. But they are the cutters and you the cuttee. So please please please, if you're not pushing 500 pounds or have an immediate medical reason to lose weight asap,think long and hard and do much research before you make your choice! Just my humble 2 cents from someone who's been in the medical world a long time.

I have the Realize band got it in St. Louis, MO. The port is definitely slimmer on the Realize Band.

Yep, I'd definitely be looking for a new doctor. Sounds like he hates fat people and doesn't sound like he's interested in helping YOU.

I personally know 3 people who are 2 or 3 years out and all three have been extraordinarily successful. I agree with the other posters that losing weight even if not exactly what my desired goal is--is still a blessing. Also, I believe the band requires life long maintenance. I actually believe that if I don't visit my surgeon regularly for LIFE, at some point I will regain. So I plan to be sure that DR. and I are always friends. LOL

Too funny! I have the realize band. My doctor showed me both and let me decide. Seriously what qualifies me to decide? LOL I picked the one with the smaller port. I did notice that the realize band was smooth where the lap band seemed to have separate adjoining pockets or ridged or something like that. Not sure if that would make a difference in any way.

Post moved to Pre-OP

So now what? If the port is leaking, do they have to replace it? You are right about the judging....we never really know someone's intent. Behind a "negative" post could be a person struggling with a personal tragedy but all we see is the message board post. Leave the judging to GOD.

I guess all you can do is research, research, research and make an informed decision. Bypass and the sleeve are very invasive whereas the band is minimally invasive and can be reversed if necessary. A friend of mine was about 350 lbs, had the band and now is size 11-12. Another friend of mine was about 250 now weighs 98 pounds. There's always someone trying to discourage us.....always! I've had no problems personally, either, lost 20 out of my 80 goal so far.

Correct Elfiepoo. Outside of a contract it is not tough to fire anyone at all in at will states. You don't even need a reason to be fired. The employer is just CYA so he doesn't have to pay unemployment.

I asked about fills hurting before I got my first fill....and wish I hadn't! I think maybe knowing what was going to happen actually contributed to my being faint! Sometimes it's better not to know so you don't get yourself all worked up beforehand!

The needle stick pinches a bit but no big deal. For me the worse part is I got faint, and if you are at all like that, warn them first so they don't have you stand up only to go down!

That's awesome Elfiepoo! I know you've had your struggles from other posts, so I am so glad to hear that you've gotten to this point! You deserve it! And I surely hope that this amount will stay working for you!

Very very good point. If I took out the Snacks, or just had the 30 calorie sugar free Jello....I'd be allowed those extra calories during the meals that seem to make me get up there in calories. Thanks for stating the obvious!!! Sometimes I am so dumb !!

Ughhhh! I'm so confused! Do I have restriction or don't I? Am I hungry, or am I not hungry? Did I eat too much? Or did I eat too little? My "restriction" seemed to have run away the past couple days....and wow I probably ate 1500 calories or more daily lately...popcorn, cheese n crackers....I must have eaten 6 times each day. And then, it happened again! Stepped on the freaking scale and down 2 pounds! I gain or maintain when I play by the rules, then I break them and I lose? This keeps happening and I'm so confused about how much I need to be eating and what restriction I really should have then! Yikes!

Of course there are ways to discipline or write up and train, and what makes you think I don't do just that??? Because it is my right within the law to fire a crappy employee- and because I agree with it--doesn't mean I'm a bad boss. Sorry, but I don't have to counsel bad employees just because employees think I should. My job is to keep business running, not pamper and coddle.

Yes I see what you're saying.....contrary to most people's beliefs though, in general ("in general" is the operative word there!) most bosses do not like to fire, write up or discipline. Personally, it is my worst nightmare. I want nothing more than employees to work out. The cost and expense of hiring and training is astronomical and strains the business like you wouldn't believe. What SHOULD happen isn't necessarily the law, and sometimes we can't just can't keep employees hanging around because we know how it will impact their life to be fired. I know, it sounds terrible, believe me I've been on both sides AND been fired before. But unfortunately, as much as it sucks, it IS business and employees can help or hurt it. I've had to make the hard choice of picking the employee--or what is best for the business I did understand what you were saying. I asked in a reply to the OP why she was written up. That part didn't make sense and she didn't answer. If her work had not been satisfactory and the employer used her upcoming surgery as a reason to fire her, then that is wrong. There should be an evaluation process in place and if the employee needs to improve, it should be spelled out with a probationary period for doing so. If I had $10,000 to have work done I would require that I got my money's worth and that is why there would be a negotiated contract between that contractor and me. Things would be clearly spelled out. If you have work done and it is not to your satisfaction and you complain to some agency - the first thing they are going to ask you is if you have a contract. A contract spells out sick leave, vacation leave, the process for evaluations and firing, among other things. This allows both the employer and employee to know what the rules are. Lack of these clearly defined expectations or treating employees case by case is never wise or productive. Employee morale is seldom helped by seeing favoritisms with some given perks denied others. I know that the employers have all the power now with 6 unemployed people for every available job but that kind of thinking - that employees are dispensable and disposable is the root of many problems.