steelemagnolia

The endocrine system is a very delicate balance. I had thyroid cancer 30 years ago and they removed 90 percent of the glands. This test costs $2.50...maybe it might help you. http://calciumpro.com/ and there is a test from the Canary Club that can help you discover other issues. Hope this helps.

I'm sure that you have your reasons for not speaking about it. That is your choice. But, what if you can help your other co-workers or friends? I think that it shows great courage on your part to have the surgery. In my eyes, you're a hereo! I wouldn't be ashamed of taking positive actions to make yourself healthier and looking more beautiful! "Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid." I will pray for your success!

Rebecca, We are all different and we all respond differently. It sounds as though you have poured everything you have into this. Don't beat yourself up. I had my band in Dec. 2008. I lost from 230 llbs. to 170. I was thrilled! BUT, on New Years Eve, 2009, I found out that I had breast cancer. On top of that, I could hardly walk because of no cartiledge in my knees. I went through the radiation (Thank God, it was found in a mammogram early!) Then my mother had emergency surgery. My sister was acting strange and we found out that she had brain cancer. She lived until March 2010. Many family tragedy's happened over the next 2 years. My doc had to remove all Fluid from band because of scar tissue. I still need to have the problem fixed, but I had to have knee replacement and then a hip replacement last year. I am now 67 years old. With absolutely no fluid, I still get choked swallowing med's. I still get choked a LOT! I am sharing all this because I still want to live and be mobile. I still want to go on cruises! I still want to live a happy life! If the doc agree's, I would love to go from band to sleeve. As the Monty Python movie say's "I'M NOT DEAD YET! PUT ME DOWN, I'M NOT DEAD YET!" LOL I pray that you will continue to thrive and be HAPPY! Please keep me posted! Merry Christmas! Shirley

Thank you so much for sharing your age! I am 67 but my band has given me problems for a few years. Theere is no Fluid in it but I still get choked and cannot swallow my meds at times. The x ray looks normal according to doc. ahe thinks I might have scar tissue and doesn't recommend anything else. He said bands usually do not work again after that. Now I'm afraid to have it removed! I was 230 pre band, now I am 201. My lowest with restriction on band was 170.

You are and will be absolutely beautiful. Don't give other people your power. And, you are a powerful woman!

You're living your life, not theirs. If you can just joke about it. Maybe they are just trying to make you feel better, or maybe they think you look great. Just enjoy your life. For me, I have 1/10th of my thyroid gland. I have a low metabilism. I am 66 and my thyroid cancer happened when I was 36. I learned many years ago that people think low metabolism is a cop out. I just rarely mention it.

I am not a doctor, but if I understand correctly, your appetite should be less with the sleeve, but if you are not careful, you can stretch the stomach and eat more than you should.

I am anxious to hear the others response. One tip. liquid Stevia is natural and a wonderful substitute for sugar or honey! You usually cannot buy at the grocery store (thank you lobbyists for Equal,etc.) but you can buy at GNC, or any good health food store. It has a little dropper to drop the liquid Stevia onto whatever you want sweetened. It's wonderful and healthy! You also can cook with it! God Bless.

Wonderful advice! Eating Blizzards every day! LOL Just kidding! Do you have any symptoms of sleep apnea? Arthritus? High bloop pressure? Any other complications that losing weight will improve. Any reason that really should make you healthier in the future.

Just visualize your angels holding you during the procedure. They will be. I will also pray for excellent results tomorrow! Please keep us posted....when you recover!

I am so glad that you shared! Lap band enabled me to lose 70 pounds. For some reason, my band seemed "out of whack" and I needed knee replacement and then hip replacement. I recently had my band x-rayed. They said everything is fine. I have gained weight because doc drained all Fluid over a year ago. I am 66 and I wonder if my age would be a problem in a revision? I still throw up and get choked, w/o fluid in band.

I had an x-ray of lap band. It seems ok, but have had no Fluid in over a year and I still choke, gag and throw up. I am 66 years young now. Has anyone my age had the revision to sleeve? I am healthy. I was 238 when I had the lap-band in 2009. I am 205 now after 16 months with no restrictions (except the band). I have arthritus. One year ago this week I had right knee replacement. In December 2013 I had my right hip replaced. Now I need the left knee replaced. I have always been healthy and a very good healer. I know that it would help if I could lose 50 pounds or a little more. I am happy that you had such wonderful results!

I have had the band since 2009. Before the procedure my wonderful doctor,Dr. Richard, advised me that IF I had a hiatal hernia, he would repair it. I did have a hiatal hernia, he did repair it and I've not had acid reflux since. I don't have much knowledge about the sleeve. Ask your doctor.

Did you have the sleeve as your first choice? I'm having x-rays next week to check my lap band. I'm just wondering if you had lap band first? Congratulations!

In 2009 I had BCBS and they covered my lap-band, sleep study, etc. I wish you all the best! I didn't think I had sleep apnea either! I did.

Many Blessings! Prayers for you and your new body!

I am so excited for you! Nothing ventured, nothing gained (no pun intended)! Should I say LOST? Nothing ventured, nothing lost! I am with you! I had my band in 2008. After that I had breast cancer 2009, 2010 my sister passed. 2011 my wonderful mother passed. I really could not take the time for replacement surgery and still care for my mother.September 2013 I had my knee replaced. A month before that the doc had to remove all fluids from my band. In December 2013 I had my hip replaced. sigh! The day after Christmas I had to have emergency surgery from a hematoma. A few weeks ago my cousin passed. I was his legal guardian. He was 5 years younger than me. (Whew! I am so tired of writing this negative stuff)! Anyway, I am 66 years young. I still need the other knee replaced. Actually we chose the timing of surgeries because of changes in medical practice. Now, I hope to have a revision to sleeve. I have gained in the past year being inactive and no band restriction. So, what do you guy's think? Should I try the sleeve? I am not sure how much I've gained. 30 to 40 pounds maybe in a year. Maybe less.

Honey, Life has started and is with you every moment. It doesn't drastically change with weight loss. You must heal your mind,body and spirit in order to be happy. I just don't want you to be dissapointed. Praying for both of you.

Hopefully it will be much easier with both of you doing this together!

Just a thought for all of you slow losers. In 1986 I had thyroid cancer and dr.'s had to remove all but 1/10 of one lobe. In research of my thyroid it has taken me many directions but one of the important things I've learned is that Iodine makes the thyroid function much better! Iodine is a mineral found in your body and sometimes goiters are formed when you have deficient amounts.That's the reason for adding iodine to salt. I was banded on 12-23-08 and have lost 56 pounds so far. I'm extremely happy with that!!!! Research it yourself and ask your dr. if it's ok before you do. Almost all Americans need Iodine because we do not eat sufficient amounts of seafood. I buy my Iodoral here https://vvv9.com/iodoral/?gclid=COvOi5G20pYCFRMvHgodinqE3Q if you're interested. Also you can order the book Iodine Why You Need it and Why You Can't Live Without it. Amazon.com: Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It (4th Edition By David Brownstein, M.d. and a Bottle of Old Fashioned Lugol's Iodine (2 Fl. Oz.): Health & Personal Care

OOPS! I went back to re read and the following is the lady that I was talking to....She's been banded a year! I would like to ask anyon if they think that she might not have enough of a fill? Thanks! Shirley well I been banded for a year and have only lost 30 pounds and feel like a failure and would love to have any help ..suggestions ...anything. b4 band I exercised but had problems with eating.. I find that when i do exercise now I gain rather than loose and very frustrated...I know I should have been eating more calories..I tell i cant eat what i used too and have not exercised lately..(too busy) I feel like I am just ranting and raving and not really making any sense..sorry. If you could tell me what you ate when you first had the band and your ideas on what i could do to lose some weight i would reallllllyyyy appreciate it... __________________ :tt1:wildmom

This response was because she has been banded 5 years and lost very little weight. IF you can eat breads great! I'm sure that we are all different. I read the bread info on this site with info about the lap band surgery.

Also, believe me when I say I have not tried to kill myself with exercise! 10 mnutes on the bike 3 or 4 times a week....usually! Sometimes less!

I am 61 years young. For me this was like my last resort! I cannot eat any type of bread, can you? If you are eating breads without a problem, my guess is that you are not tight enough. I now have 7 cc's of fluid. I went on a cruise to Alaska last month and my wonderful Dr. Richard (Obesity Solutions, Gainesville, GA "Center of Excellence") removed 2 cc's so that I could eat more comfortably, travel easily and try the wonderful food provided. I only had a problem 3 times in 9 days. I ate quite a bit of food! I also had martini's, wine, and every other tropical drink that you could think of! LOL I still had a restriction of 5 cc's. I think that you are being way too hard on yourself. If you can't talk to the dr. you have now find a Center of Excellence dr. to talk to. I also drink wine in the evenings before and with dinner. I have lost 51 pounds as of today. Please keep in touch...I know that you can do it!