ParrotheadCathy

Hi! My surgery was February 10. I lost 17 pre-op and since surgery have lost 28 more for a total of 45. I'm out of the 3X/26-28, in 2X/22-24 and some of that stuff is too big. My third filll is scheduled for the end of April. Once upon a time, I had set a goal of 50 pounds down by June 12, but here it is April 8 and I'm down 45. Never, ever in my life have I set even a little weight loss goal and met it but here I am, staring one in the face. The pride and excitement is an incredible feeling, isn't it?!?

Working Mom got it right. You need to discuss the complications you experienced when you talk to the anesthesiologist. Sometimes, all it takes is a different anesthesia (there are quite a few to choose from). The actualy complication rate is .01% for lap band (as opposed to a whopping 10% for bypass). You're out for less than an hour usually (I was out for 40 minutes total). With proper planning, you should wake up feeling sleepy but well.

Hey, I agree with Talk! The doctor's office screwed up, not you. They need to get you in on the first cancellation or work you in! Call them back and be polite but demand that you get in sooner than 4 months away. That is nothing short of ridiculous! GOOD LUCK

Gas. You had it after surgery most likely and then it stopped. But the darned stuff comes back every once in a while. Same as before... Gas-X, movement/walking and a heating pad will help.

That wasn't vomiting. Just a pain-in-the you know what PB! Happens when you take too big a bite, eat too fast or something gets stuck and can't move. I've PB'd once and it was because I waited way too long to eat and when I did eat, I ate way too fast. Guess I learned my lesson, LOL.

Zicam or Airborne would be a good thing for RIGHT NOW. Could stop the cold in its tracks.

Suzie, I live in Conyers, too! What a coincidence! I had my surgery through True Results in Atlanta (Dr. Hart). I was self pay and it was $15,000.

Vacation in the tropics, temps in the mid-90s or above ... I felt less restriction than at home. I could eat anything for breakfast without even coming close to getting stuck. Didn't have to drink a cup of hot tea before or any special effort. Stress also is an important factor. I was in a car wreck last week and spent the whole next day struggling with the guy's insurance company (a very reputable but very uncooperative company). By lunch time, I didn't even try to eat anything but just drank a shake. By dinner,well, I just didn't even eat because the first bite I tried stuck so bad. Others have mentioned a similar experience relating to stress.

Not all (Aetna or any other ) policies are created equal! Employers customize the coverage offered to their employees to keep the premiums within their selected range of premiums. Once may require more than another. I say call your insurance company and ask all the questions you can think of. BMI? Do they need years of weight history? If so, how much? Do they require any doctor supervised weight loss attempt before approving surgery....ask it all. That way you know for sure.

I am soooo sorry about your pup! I too am a pug owner and Belle is my companion, buddy and constant companion. I can imagine all to easily how hard this is for you. It's really hard now, I know. I can only hope that each day gets a little easier. You will always remember your pup and how much you loved your "baby" and with time, I hope that the memories are no longer tinged with sadness.

There's not a person here who didn't have that thought in the back of their minds: "What if I'm the one it doesn't work for?" As long as you remember that the band is a tool to help you do the right thing AND you make the right choices, it works. You obviously can eat around the help the band provides and even gain weight. But if you don't try to live on junk food, the band will help you to control how much you eat. Unlike gastric bypass, you won't have some terrible case of dumping syndrome if you eat something sweet. You have to pick the healthy foods. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Jim, by the first week of May you will be feeling so much better. I, too, had lost more than 100 pounds more than once and always gained it back with a little extra for good measure. My PCP told me before surgery that starting with the day of surgery to not take any of my meds until he told me otherwise. I am not quite 2 months out and I've seen him twice (once I had a sinus infection) and he says I'm doing really well, come back in May and we'll see how it's going then. I feel better than I can remember. I'm down 43 pounds since I started the pre-op diet through today. This forum and others like it are a great source of information, ideas and suggestions. We'll look forward to hearing from you on your progress!

I have a friend in Chattanooga, TN who had LB surgery yesterday. She was required to get her BMI down to 50 to have the surgery because the hospital where she had the surgery had arbitrarily instituted that restriction for all WLS starting on January 1, 2009. But physically, that would not be a limitation for you.

Only two fills in over 4 months? I've had 2 since surgery on February 10 and another one scheduled for the end of April. I'm thinking maybe you need to make an appointment for another fill much sooner than the time between the last two.

Very typical. In the morning, "real" food just takes too long, so I drink a protein shake. By lunch time, I can eat anything I want and the same at dinner. Sometimes, I can eat something on one day with no problem and another day eat the exact same thing and struggle with getting stuck. I'm beginning to think that temperature plays a role .....the warmer it is, the easier things are for me to swallow. It's cold outside today....soup and cheese was about all I could handle for lunch. On a warmer day, I can eat meat, salad, a few crackers...all with no problem.

You didn't go to the doctor about your weight, but what does he do every time you walk in the door? He WEIGHS you and TAKES YOUR BP if nothing else. Relax. That's all they need.

I had surgery on February 10 and went back to work on February 13. Felt fine, had no problems. A positive frame of mind can make a difference. Instead of worrying that you might not be ready, believe that you will be and, if you get tired just go take a nap! You'll be on vacation. What's a little nap now and then on vacation, LOL?

I know a song that goes "you've got to know your limitations"....seems like you know yours for these circumstances. A protein rich liquid diet a couple of days a month won't hurt you. Make sure your family knows that you are addressing your nutritional needs even if you can't seem to chew them on those days.

Catherine, it sounds like you are really not eating enough to me. Are you eating 60+ grams of protein a day (I'm thinking no). Calories should be 1,000-1,200 and you are no where close to that. Try increasing your intake some, using healthy choices of course :thumbdown: and keep everything else the same.

Relax! The upper GI is just because that's the only way to see if anything is going on. It could (and likely is) nothing, but who wants a doctor to tell them that without being sure?! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

If you are taking any pain medication, stop it. It can often cause nausea. Stick to clear liquids like chicken broth, water, apple juice, etc. for today and see if that makes a difference. hard to say what could have caused that feeling without knowing what you've been eating/drinking. If it doesn't start improving call your doctor.

I too knew I was self-pay. At my first visit, I was weighed, BP taken, some measurements. I was told the pre-requisites for surgery. My doctor would make the referrals for all the tests but I chose to use my PCP for all referrals and my insurance covered all that testing. I had also already gotten my financing in place for the part I could not pay in cash before I went for that visit (yeah, I knew what I wanted!).

Have you never dieted successfully, only to gain it back? That's a big question. If you haven't, then maybe you should consider diet and exercise. But 99% of us here have lost LOTS of pounds more than once, only the gain it back every time with a few extra for good measure everytime. For me it's been 4 times I've lost 70 - 110 pounds each time and i've regained it every time with 5 or 10 extra every time. Lose only 50% of the weight you need to lose? There are thousands of people with bands who have lost all they wanted/needed to lose (and some who lost even more). Initially, when GB was more popular and LB was somewhat new, the thinking was that you would lose about 50% of what you needed to lose. But it's now 7 years since they started doing LB surgery....and with a larger patient pool and more numbers to look at, that outlook has changed. It is a tool to help you stay the course and lose all you want to lose.

Never heard of it. PBing, after all, isn't vomiting. It's simply regurgitation and takes place in the esophagus rather than the heaving that takes place when you vomit from your stomach. If you have any doubts, talk to your doctor.

"Ideal weight" is derived from height, age, bone structure and where you are healthy (Healty BMI). There's some range to that and it's really for you to discuss with your doctor. My doctor never mentioned pounds. He said "I don't look at pounds. I look at BMI. We will get you to the healthy range BMI." You may or may not lose faster than someone with less weight to lose. Men usually lose faster than women (hormones play a big part in that). And that's about all I can tell you.