marfar7

I've been thinking about having this done also. I've had my band for 3 yrs, have lost almost all of my weight, but in the past 6 mths, I've gained 16 lbs, bringing me to 25 lbs to goal. My band slipped 6 mths ago, requiring it to be 1/2 unfilled and then he put another 2 fills of 1cc ea back in. After the 2nd fill, the severe reflux started again, so he took the 1cc back out. I now have about 6cc in a 14cc band, no more reflux (actually, I still have it occasionally), but my band is still slipped. My dr treats according to my symptoms, not according to my xray. So if I have no symptoms, he just wants to leave it alone. The problem is is that I have minimal restriction. If I have any fill whatsoever, the reflux starts again. I still have great restriction in the morning and afternoon - after 6 pm tho, it's totally gone. I can eat my weight in the evening. I'm wondering if just going on a liquid diet for a few days would help? What does everyone think? Marci

Everyday is different. Yesterday: Breakfast: 1 scrambled egg, 1 link of sausage Lunch: 1/2 ham and cheese sandwich (sliced ham, sliced cheese, whole wheat bread, and mayo), about 10 grapes Dinner: About a 1/2 cup chili (I don't measure anything, I'm just estimating), pinch of shredded cheese Snack: small can of pineapple chunks If I go out, I usually order a salad or 1/2 sandwich and Soup. Or a burger (I eat about 1/3 of it). And I go out often (usually about 4-5 times a week). Now, I'm 3 yrs post op and not at perfect restriction as I used to be, so I can eat more things than I used to! I used to not be able to eat grapes or pineapple. Good luck! Marci

The crock pot is a good idea. I made chili today in my crock pot for our weekly poker game tonite. Serving it with cornbread. I can eat almost anything, just in smaller quantities. The crockpot is a good idea because things don't dry out - which makes it hard to go down. I'll put a couple of chicken breasts, a can of Italian seasoned chopped tomatoes, a small can of chopped green chilis, some italian seasoning, and chili powder. Yummy. Cook it about 8 hrs and you have a yummy meal! Almost, a website called allrecipes.com is a good place to find recipes. You can type in the type of food you want (ie: low fat, low carb, low calorie). The Betty Crocker website has lately become my best friend. It has really easy, healthy recipes. Good luck! Marci

I'm 3 years post op and there's almost nothing I can't eat. I have problems with pizza crust (no problem with bread, so I wonder why?), pancakes, and pineapple (my fav fruit!). If I take tiny bites and eat really slowly, I can eat everything on that list. Popcorn is a slider for me, but ice cream and pudding are not??? I can only eat 1 scoop of ice cream, but I can eat a whole tub of popcorn...I don't really understand that logic... I agree with Missy. You should try everything and see if it works for you. I eat bread, Pasta, rice, popcorn, corn, and Jerky all the time. Before my band, I could eat 2 grilled cheese sandwiches, easy. Now I can only eat 1/2 of one. Luv my grilled cheese sandwiches. Good luck! Marci

I'm 3 yrs post op and I can tell you - I was starving at 3 weeks out! I was still on liquids and thought I might die of starvation! But from what I read, about 1/2 of the people here are starving, the other 1/2 don't have an appetite at all. So I think you're perfectly normal. My appetite came back fierce after the first week. Everytime I would go to Albertsons to stock up on tomato soup (about 3x a week), I would smell the deli fried chicken and almost die! So, take your lack of appetite as a gift! Enjoy it while it lasts! Marci

My 3 yrs was Oct 1st. I've lost 104 lbs, but gained about 16 back this past 6 mths (due to a slip and unfll/fill/tweaking of my band), so I'm still 25 lbs from goal. Ugh. 6 lbs away muct feel fabulous! Last Dec, I was 9 lbs away and I thought I had it in the bag! Little did I know.... Congrats! WTG! Marci

My first appt and my seminar was on Aug 10, 2009. My surgery was on Oct 1, 2009. So less than 2 mths. My insurance approved me rather quickly (less than 10 days) and I wasn't required to do any kind of pre-surgery diets. Marci

I'm 3 yrs post op. I've never counted or measured anything. I felt that it's too much like dieting to do so, and I'm so done with all the dieting! I eat what I want, just very little of it. I eat carbs, fat, Protein. If I had to guesstimate (I was a very proficient dieter in the past and memorized calories in everything and occasionally find myself adding them up in my head), I'd guess I ate about 1200-1300 calories a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. In fact, I don't bother with low fat or low calories versions of anything anymore. They taste yucky to me and I don't eat enuf of them to count for anything. Except milk. I've always drinken 1%. I don't like full fat milk. I mean like salad dressing, mayo, butter, etc. I use the regular versions of all of those. Good luck to you! Marci

I went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in So Ca a few months ago for the first time since high school (over 25 yrs ago). I'm not a coaster fan but my new husband is. Let me tell you -I must luv him lots! He got me on everything! Scared me to death. I think if God had meant for you to be upside down, you'd have been born with feet on your head! I never tried to get on the rides when I weighed 248, but at 150,I fit perfectly. The seats are smaller than I thought they'd be, however. Not sure if you would fit at 260 or not. If you fit on 1, though, you should fit on all of them. Good luck and have fun! Marci

I can't believe your doctor told you to drink diet soda! Never heard of a dr that recommend any type of soda, before or after surgery. Sorry, can't be of much help. didnd't have to do any kind of preop diet. My dr just said a lite dinner the night before surgery. Went to outback and had ribs. Thats what I considered lite! Marci

Hint: Weigh yourself first thing in the morning with the same amt of clothes on everyday (like naked, or jammies). After you potty. The first 2 yrs, I weighed in once a week. Now, I weigh almost everyday! I like to nip it in the bud when I gain anything. I don't recommend it tho. Good luck! Marci

Every morning when I let the dog out to potty, I open my sliding door and leave the screen closed (to get some fresh air). The stench from the smoker UPSTAIRS comes floating into my bedroom everyday. Not too fresh. Can't believe I used to smoke! Quit 20 yrs ago. Can't stand the smell of it. In our apt building, there's no smoking allowed inside,. so everyone sits out front and smokes. Can't even keep my door open for fresh air! Yuck! Marci

WTG! Keep it up! Marci

My insurance paid for the first year. After that, I pay $160 each visit (whether I get a fill or not). Some peoples are more, some less. I think mine is average tho. Marci

((HUGS)) First of all - I know exactly what you're going thru. 5 yrs ago, I also lost the love of my life the day before our 19th wedding anniversary.I was 40 yrs old. No kids. I was in a funk for a long, long time. I thought I'd never again be happy. In the 5 mths after he died, I lost 30 lbs (bringing me down to about 170). Then, as surely as I lost it, I started gaining (that's what depression does to you). 2 yrs after he had died, I had packed on a whopping 80 lbs (bringing me to 248). I don't think I'd ever weighed above 200 my whole life! I bought all new clothes, I ate all day long and I slept alot. Friends kept supporting me, but I wouldn't listen. I just wanted to curl up and died. 2 yrs after he died, I decided to start over again. I moved from VA to OR (never been to OR till I went 2 weeks before moving to look for a house - I just chose it off a map!). The movers packed up a truck, my mom flew out from CA and we packed up my Jeep with my dog and 2 cats, and started our way across the country, 3,000 miles to restart my life. A couple of months later, I was on the operating table getting my band. That was my first step in starting over. My brother in law drove 6 hrs to stay with me for a week (remember, I didn't know a soul in OR). Slowly, I started climbing out of my shell. I began going back to church every Sunday and started attending a widows support group once a week. They were truly a lifesaver. After a yr with my band (3 yrs after my husband died) and I was down about 75 lbs, I began dating again. Put myself on about 3 different dating sites. Had many 1st dates of coffee, not too many 2nd dates. After about 4 mths, I got into a relationship for about 2 mths. Then he dumped me. Get this: Because I was getting too skinny! He was a "chubby chaser". About 2 weeks later, as I was nursing my broken heart, I accepted a coffee date at 2 am at a local coffee shop. Sparks flew. That was 2 yrs ago and we've now been married almost a year. I'm so unbelievably happy now. I still remember Kevin (my first husband) and talk of him fondly. I still have a couple of pictures of him on my bookshelf. I still miss him alot. I wonder what he would have thought of me losing 100 lbs! He'd be so proud! I used to hate it in the beginning when numerous people would tell me that I'd be happy again someday, that I'd "get over it". I'm here to assure you hat you will never "get over it". You will miss him forever. But, you WILL be happy again someday. I promise you that. God's not going to allow you to be sad forever. I recommend that you look into a widows support group in your area. I wish I had found them when I was in my first stages of grief. It's so wonderful to have friends that are going through the same exact thing. Please let me know if you need anything. Again, I'm so very sorry. I know you're sad, angry, hurt, confused,and unsure of your future. Don't let it sidetrack you from your weight loss goals tho. You don't want to wake up in 2 yrs 80 lbs heavier like I did! Hang in there. And take support from anywhere you can get it. Email me if you need anything else. Don't forget - he would want the best for you. So whatever you do, after your done curling up in a ball wishing you were dead right alongside him (and everyone does), get back up and proceed forward with your life! You're worth it! (((MORE HUGS))) Marci

I've now had my band for 3 yrs. Lost almost all my weight, but over the last 6 mths or so, I've gained back 16 lbs with a slipped band. Still trying to rectify it. Since my dr took out my last 1cc fill (since my band is slightly slipped, it caused severe reflux and the 1cc fill made it worse), I don't have any restriction at night anymore. No clue why I can do good on the portions till after 7 - then it's a free-for-all! Last night I ate dinner at around 6. Had meatloaf and peas. At 8, I was in the kitchen making chicken salad with mayo and celery. Ate 1/2 a sandwich. At 9, I opened the box of Nilla wafers I bought last week (no clue why I bought them) and ate about 10-12 of em. At 10, I ate about 6 Ritz crackers with Peanut Butter. By the time I laid down to go to sleep at midnight, my belly was about to burst. Before 6 mths ago, if I tried to put in 1 extra bite past fullness, I would have vomited (which got me the slipped band in the first place) Please tell me there's other just like me out there! I know there's perfect people out there also who would never dream of eating nilla wafers or bread in a sandwich. But I'm imperfect. In fact, I'm a total rule breaker (which is probably why I'm having trouble with a slip right now). I'm working on a latch hook rug right now in my bedroom while I watch tv. Trying to keep my hands busy so I don't want to eat. Doens't work very well. Last Dec I was exactly 9 lbs away from my goal of 135. Now I'm a whopping 25 lbs from it. It seems so far away. Does anyone elses band feel like it's not even there at night? Marci

Hey everyone, I've had my band for 3 yrs now and happy with the results (lost 104 lbs). However, my band slipped about 6 mths ago and I still haven't gotten it fully fixed. My Dr says he "treats the symptoms, not the xray" meaning that when he unfilled me partially, my reflux stopped. So he left it alone. Unfortunately, at this current fill level, I no longer have that same restriction. Not to say I have none, I can tell it's there till about 7 pm -then I can graze like a cow. Used to throw up quite often cuz I ate way too fast. Haven't thrown up in 6 mths since my partial unfill. Still have occasional reflux (about 2x a week). I was banded for a reason: Diet don't work. Hate dieting. When I was banded, I swore I'd never count another calorie or fat gram again - and I don't. Like I said, I've been pretty successful with it but after my slip, I find I can eat tons more - causing a 16 lbs weight gain in the last 6 mths. I was 9 lbs from my goal last Dec now I'm 25. But I know if I have my band removed, I will most likely gain all that weight back. Does MEdicare (who covered my band) cover revision surgery if there was a problem with my band? Or do they only cover if I gain all the weight back and my BMI is >40 again? My current BMI is 26. But obesity is an ongoing medical condition and it really doesn't matter how much you weigh at any given moment, if I have the ability to gain it back, I probably will. What do you think? Marci

I need to make a correction. When it aks :When was the last time you cried? I answered last weekend when I saw End of Watch. It was actually this past Tues when the vet told me that my 15 yr old cat has stomach cancer and isn't going to live much longer Marci

<p> Joined:Feb 13, 2012 Posts:1,923 posts Topics:160 Gender:Female My Surgeon:Patient Info:View my profile Social Groups:Tricare , Lap Band w/plication, Women with lap bands,Military Wives with lap bands, 100+ Club Posted 16 minutes ago 1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my grandma. Her name was MArceline till she was adopted at age 3 and renamed Gladys! Glad I didn't get that name! 2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? this morning watching a movie called touchback 3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Last Sunday while watching End of Watch at the movies 4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE lunch meat? turkey 5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No, but I have 2 step kids 6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely 7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? yes 8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes 9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? no 10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? granola or Life 11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no. 12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes 13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? coffee 14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? teeth (hate ugly teeth!) Could never be a dental hygienist 15. RED OR PINK? Pink 16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my weight 17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My late husband 18. WHAT IS THE PAUL MCKENNA TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST? No clue what this means 19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? brown 20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? meatloaf 21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Nothing, cept my husband playing a video game 22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? pink 23. FAVORITE SMELLS? vanilla and anything from Bath and Body Works 24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? sister 25 . MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Mountain Hideway 26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? HATE ALL SPORTS 27. hair COLOR? Light brown 28. EYE COLOR? green 29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No 30. FAVORITE food? Mexican 31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings 32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? End of Watch 33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? tan and white stripes 34. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter 35. HUGS OR KISSES? both 36. FAVORITE DESSERT? cheesecake 37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? cardio 38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? Television 39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? not into 1 right now 40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Army Strong (gotten from the Army recruiter) 42. FAVORITE SOUND? Rain 43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones 44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Europe (all over) 45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? No 46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Texas 47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Oregon 48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Blue 49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? Green 50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONs? Nothing else to do! Marci

I love spicy food! And I physically CAN'T drink while eating - I'll throw it all up. Sometimes if it's really spicy, I will take a mouthful of iced cold Water, swish it around in my mouth, and spit it out. Helps with the burn a little. But I know exactly what you mean. I look longingly at my husbands drink during dinner and wished I could have some! Once in a while, I will try it to see what I can get away with. I can't ever get away with it. It's really bad in a restaurant with having to run to the ladies room. You'd think I'd learn! Good luck! Marci

Lucky you! I'm up every 2 hrs EXACTLY at night peeing. But I've always had a small bladder - guess the weight loss didn't change that. My husband wants me to hook up a catheter when we travel. We stop at every single rest stop there is! I think if you're drinking enuf, you're urine is light in color, not too smelly, and it doesn't hurt to urinate, you have nothing to worry about. Good luck! Marci

Medicare covered my first year of fills. Now they cost $160 for each one. Some are more, some less. Get your money's worth that first year! Marci

The first 6 mths or so, I went every 6 weeks. Then, it was like every 3-4 mths. After the first year, I didn't see him for over a yr. I was at great restriciton and didn't need to see him. This past year, however, I began having problems with my band, I've seen him about 6x. Haven't been there for about 3 mths. My dr office requires an every year visit for eternity, I guess. My drs office is also 3 hrs away, so it's an all day event! Marci

Popcorn has always been a slider for me. Funny thing is that ice cream is not. I can usually only eat a few bites of it before I'm stuffed. But give me a jumbo popcorn at the movies and thats all she wrote! Marci

Unfortunately, most people get no restriction until the 2nd - 4th fills. I didn't feel anything different until 5 mths post op and my 3rd fill. I don't remember learning that at my seminar! And, until you start eating actual food, you're not going to know how much restriciton you have anyway. The liquids and mushies slide right thru. Have patience! Your time will come! Marci