Laweezmi

Today is my 4 yr bandiversary and I am depressed. I started at 225 and got down to about 180 but now am back at 190. I haven't had a fill in three years but have recently been having more and more reflux. I am thinking about having a revision to the duodenal switch because I seem to have no metabolism. I work out at Curves three or four times a week and also do a two hour Tai Chi class once a week. I still struggle with strong sweet food cravings in the pm. I went crazy over the holidays and gained six lbs....Back to the guilt and still holding on to those six lbs. How are you other March 2009 bandsters doing?

Hello Lucky Losers! It looks like we've all been busy. Not too many entries in the last two months. March 10th was my new birthday and things are progressing for me SLOWLY. I now have 9 cc in my band and that's about at tight as I can probably go. I am still losing but at a rate of about .5 lb per week. I have now lost about 45lbs. I had hoped to get to -50 by Christmas, but now with the feasting holidays starting, I find that I'm getting weaker in resolve. Can anyone relate to that? I also want to mention that I still have episodes of PBing about twice a week. I have trouble getting in enough Protein even though I start each day with a Protein shake and eat cottage cheese for lunch most days. Does anyone else have trouble digesting chicken and/or beef? I am going to work out at Curves at least three times a week, sometimes more. But at my age, 57, and being post-menopausal, I have virtually no metabolism at all. If I had eaten as little as I am now and did as much exercise as now 20 years ago, I'd have been losing 5 lbs a week! So that's frustrating. I do feel so much more healthy and am enjoying "shopping" from my closet full of clothes from yesteryear. The other day I tried on a pair of pants from 4 yrs ago and they were too big! Nothing feels better than that. And I'm feeling so much more positive about life in general. I am so happy not to be where I was a year ago--depressed and eating everything in sight. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have much to be thankful for this year!! I hope you find some time to get back online and let us all know how you're doing. Laweezmi

Hi! I am also a March 10th alumni--down 36 lbs but due for a fill next week. Really slowing down to less than a lb a week. Still waiting for my sweet spot...

Hi all, this is Laweezmi checking in. I had second fill a month ago and I'm up to 8 cc in my Lapband. I feel the restriction most of the day, especially tight in morning,though I often have trouble with mind hunger after 9 pm. I have lost 35 lbs and feel so much better! I only lose about a pound a week even with working out at Curves 4 to 5 times a week. I haven't measured recently but I know I've lost lots of inches. Trying to remain upbeat and not compare my slower progress with anyone else's. Good luck to all!

I made it back to Onederland about a month ago and yes, it feels great! I was just thinking though that it seems so unfair that men lose weight so much easier than women... Nevertheless, Hurray for you!

I had my band surgery on 3/10/09. I've since lost 35 lbs and no longer need to use my bipap!!

Just had to share this good news with people who can relate. I stepped on the scale today and it was 198--I am officially back in Onederland! My surgery was 3/10 and I have lost 32 lbs. Still a long way to go,but it is comng off --slowly but surely I have had one fill and the next one is 6/19. I hope the loss improves or at least stays constant. Good luck to all the Lucky Losers! --Laweezmi

Hello to all my fellow March losers! I have not been online for a few weeks due to a busy schedule. I have lost 29 lbs so far,though I had two weeks in April before my first fill when I hit a plateau. My fill was on 4/22 and it was 5cc for a total now of 7cc. I feel restriction all day until about 4 pm when I get ravenous! I crave carbs and bread which unfortunately I can eat without trouble.I have only had food stick/slime once--on a piece of apple. I have been walking every day and started back working out at Curves which I think is helping my flabby arms and legs. I recommend Curves to all if you have one nearby. I am surprised at the slow progress but then I am 56 and post-menopausal. I wish I still had a metabolism! Concentrate on being healthy. The best thing for me so far is being able to stop using my bi-pap machine to sleep and my husband says I now seldom snore! Just being able to sleep 7-8 hours is amazing! Anyone else out there seen a similar sleep improvement? Let's stick with it for the longterm health benefits and keep our chins up! Laweezmi curves

Wendytip, How much total protein do you eat in a day? My dietician suggested between 70 and 90g per day total, but closer to the 70g. If you start out a day with 42g, what do you eat for the rest of the day??

I found that Gas-X strips dissolved in the mouth were very helpful with the gas the first few days. Keep walking, too.

Did you have an endoscopy during the surgery? I had to have one six days prior to my main surgery for the doctor to look around and down into the stomach to check for any damage to the esophogus from acid reflux. After that procedure I also had a terrible sore throat. I was able to take liquid tylenol (children's but in a larger dose) and that seemed to help. I also had warm tea. It was better after about three days. Good luck!

Hello all, Laura from W. Mich here. I was banded on Tues. and have had a progressively improving feeling of returning to my "old self." I ended up having two hernias repaired as well as the lap band. I am so glad the doctor went ahead with those two repairs because I don't know if I would want to go through the recovery period again. So I spent one night in the hospital and was well cared for there. Still and all, the worst day for me was day three. It does hurt, I need to tell you, and it took until today, day five, for me to feel like I'm getting back to normal. I have really no hunger. At this point I'm finding it hard to get enough protein in. I meet with my doctor on Mon. for post-op and the nurse/dietician on Tues. I have been writing down my questions to keep track of them. I did weigh myself today and after the 2 and a half weeks of liquid diet, I've lost 12 lbs. That is inspiring! So good luck to all you Luck Losers who will go in this week. And how are you other earlier March Losers doing?

Well, by this time tomorrow I'll be all done with my surgery. I have been nervous all day but I've been busy without much time to think about it. I have to be at the hospital by 6 a.m. and will be the doctor's first surgery for the day. I know that there are other March 10th people out there, so here's a toast (with a glass of crystal lite) to our success and the future success of all the Lucky Losers. LET'S ROCK!

I agree that it's getting better every day.

Well, I was also banded on the 10th, Laura from W. Mich. here, and I agree that this hurts! I ended up having two hernias which the doctor found and decided to fix then and there. Perhaps some of my pain is from that. I have this big elastic corset type wrap that I have to wear around my middle and that is also uncomfortable. I do think I started to feel a bit better this eve. but all in all, I'd say I'm pretty miserable. It can only get better, right? I'm glad that there are others out there to share this with. Thanks for the support.

Hi and thanks for the link to this group. Has anyone out there started the liquid diet yet? I'll start on Feb 24 and wonder how hard it is and how hungry you get. After waiting 10 months to go through the insurance approval steps, sleep apnea study, etc. I'm really anxious to get this show on the road. I'd like to hear from anyone in SW Mich. who may be having surgery at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.

T-minus ten hours! You go girl! I'll get back to you when I get home from the hospital tomorrow. Let's rock! Laura S. in Kazoo

Hi Tammy, I'm Laura and and also a BCBS of MI member. The way it works with them is that you do all the prep work, appts, jump through all the hoops, etc. then you have the surgery and it will be submitted. BCBS of MI recently dropped paying for this for people who have individual contracts. HOWEVER, they still do pay if your insurance is through a group plan as mine is (through my husband's work.) I called them before I started anything and asked for the protocol for gastric surgery. They gave me a list of things to do which were also requirements of my doctor (Alan Saber, Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo). So, now I have the surgery --TOMORROW!-- and the bcbs wil pay for 90% of it. The other 10% is my copay. They also have been good about paying for a lot of the pre-requisite appts., except for the psych consult. I started over ten months ago, so I am really ready to get this done tomorrow. Where are you located and who is doing your surgery? Good luck with the journey to get this done. It has taken me a long time, but it is so worth it to have insurance cover most of it. I'll keep posting updates on my progress on this forum. Laura S. West Michigan

With my upcoming surgery on March 10, I am currently experiencing what we in Weight Watchers used to call "Last Super Syndrome"--the urge to eat anything and everything that will be forbidden once the diet starts. Yesterday I went to the store and bought chips and Valentine's hearts. I am thinking that I'll have to get a double cheeseburger one of these days... It's really dumb! Does anyone else feel that way? I am also afraid that I won't be able to stick to the liquids only diet. I have failed at dieting so many times. Help!

I'm on the second week of my liquid diet. I would really like to chew something, anything. However, I do have a Protein shake recommendation that I got at a health foods store. It's a brand called Spirotein and comes in a variety of flavors. My store had sample packs which is nice so you can try a flavor out before buying a huge tin of it. There's a thickener in this brand so the shakes are more like a real milkshake and not too watery. My favorite by far is the Cookies and Cream and contains 15 g of protein in each 8oz serving. I have to be on liquids for two weeks post-op as well so I bought a large size of it. Another thing that my pre-op diet allows is Greek yogurt which is also found at the health foods store. I am T-minus 3.5 days until surgery and can't wait! Good luck to all the Lucky Losers! Laura S. in MI.

Make that 3.5 days for me....I had to have an EGD on Wed. which also included full anaethesia. Did you have to get one, too? It's a procedure where a scope is put down your esophogus all the way into the stomach to check for any internal problems like erosion from acid reflux, etc. So for two days I've been nursing a super sore throat/esophagus. I haven't been hungry and the warm broth and milkshakes have helped with the sore throat. I'm also getting nervous, but the EGD two days ago has helped with the fear factor. I now know what to expect from being put under and then waking up after. So I go on Tues., the 10th at 6 am. Good Luck to you and all the other March bandsters! Laura S. in West Michigan

Thanks to all for the above notes! I will add a few more: 1. Recently at a grocery store I bent over to pick up a coupon I'd dropped. An elderly man behind me said, "You shouldn't bend over like that, lady!" 2. On a family trip to Mexico, my husband and three kids went parasailing, two by two. I was thankful that we ony had three kids so I could use the excuse of "not wanting to go by myself." 3. I've been a yo-yo dieter all my life but didn't start to REALLY gain until my last pregnancy at age 42--after which I went into perimenapause and have never stopped gaining. My now 14 yr old "baby" recently saw some pictures of me in 1992 and asked, Who's that with Aunt Kathy?" He didn't even recognize me! Thank God my surgery is a week from today!

I also gained 10 lbs in pre-op 6 mo., but BlueCrossBlue Shield of MI did approve me.

Good for you and Good Luck you Lucky Loser! My surgery is a week from today! Only one more week of pre-liquid diet...