Corliss

Hi Spud Mama, I am going for my second lapband on June 18 or 19. I had a lapband in Oct. 2005 and lost from 373 lbs (356 day of surgery) to 160-170 range before loosing my band. I can tell you with 100% certainty, people absolutely treat you better when you are small. There is no comparison between the things life has to offer when you are small enough to access them than when you are morbidly obese, especially super morbidly obese. I am morbidly obese now and it is ten times better than being super morbidly obese and I never want to go there again. I can hold out to work my long shifts but don't have any energy left when I get home from work, and my legs hurt. When I was skinny, and I was skinny at 165 I could even take shortcuts between the desks and a big post at work that cut about 25 steps off going to the drug room and since I have to do this many many times in the day, it made a big, big difference. I didn't have cramps in my legs the day after I worked either. I am so looking forward to all these things when I loose my weight again. It will be amazing. Don't get me wrong, if I can keep this band and avoid a slip, by keeping it super loose and don't get back down that far, I will just be greatful not to keep gaining. I had hoped I might be one of the few who could keep it off without the band, but alas I am not! As far as the romantic end of the spectrum goes, please do not make the mistake so many younger bandsters and RNY'rs do and make radical changes because they are "high" on the attention which they begin getting from men that they have never got or haven't got in a long time. The results are usually disasterous. I know you don't plan on doing something like this, but just be aware that attention is addictive. Fortunately I was of an age where those things just aren't that big a deal and I was focused on the great fun my normal size partner and I could have together and the great fun the grandkids and I have had. Shopping, OMG, it opens up a whole new world, lol! I have had a friend tell me that I am much quieter now, that I don't have to make shocking or controversial statements in order to get people to see and hear me. They tend to look through you as a super morbid obese person regardless of how intelligent or creative you may be. Now being in my fifties and loosing a huge amount of wt. left me looking much older close up than I am. I am hoping a little bit of plastic surgery ought to help some people avoid hooking into their stereotypes of "old women" being almost as worthless as fat women are viewed. I just wanted to share some of my experiences as I have been there and hope to be back soon! Corliss:thumbup:

It is so scary that we have to go through these things. Who knows what the future brings? Life as a morbidly obese person is pretty scary too! Corliss :grouphug:

Atkins has 160 cals in chocolate and 150 in vanilla. Other than that I dont know of any difference. I think you are gonna get a little hungry if you leave it out. Maybe you could put half a banana in all four. Might even it out for you.

Initially she just had nutritional deficits then two years out her intestine was strangulated in her omentum. She became septic and had to spend a long long time in hospital with about a month in MICU, much of it on a ventilator. She had much of her colon and intestine removed which had died off, an ostomy for a while, multiple strictures. She has had over 20 related surgerys due to strictures and hernia repairs. She has had multiple hernias and has major nutritional deficits. She has had to have supplemental tube feedings for several months after getting out of the hospital. She has had numerous infections in her incisions, then due to the nutritional issues she has major dental problems. She has had almost every tooth in her head worked on, multiple root canals and caps, many of which crumble anyway. She now has short gut syndrom and has had to go on disability because she has to go to the bathroom about 12 times a day. She cannot hold out physically to do a job either. Her life will never ever be the same. It is horrible because she desperately needed WLS as she weighed about 350 with major injuries to long bones in her legs from an automobile accident. I would personally favor the Sleeve due to the fact that your intestines are not if my 2nd band doesn't work. I hope things go well for you. I know noone can ever perdict the future and no one knows anyone elses situation, but as you can see I have strong reasons for feeling so strongly about the RNY. I know several other people that have had major complications from rNY and I know of two that have died from them. The scary thing is the complications are just within the first week or two but can be years later. Take care. Corliss

Mandy, why not leave the banana out of two of them? Corliss

Well, here goes, I feel like I am jumping in, holding my breath, knowing I will rise to the top of the surface, but a little scared anyhow. Not of getting the band replaced but of possibility there will be problems ahead and maybe I should have done the sleeve instead......but who knows, I can't see around corners. June 19 is the big day and it is coming fast. Corliss

Well I had hoped I would be one who could keep their weight off with diet and exercise. Well it didn't work for me. I have continued to gain wt and hurt my wrist lifting wts. Now I am limited to walking. I am scheduled to have my band replaced June 19. I am so looking forward to it. I decided agains having the sleeve done, but reserve the right to have it done at a later time if for some reason this band doesn't work. I mean by "doesn't work" if it slips again or if I am unable to maintain my wt. If I don't loose back down to goal, that is not a big deal with me, but I hope I can. I mainly just don't want to get any larger than I currently am. ( cannot imagine having the RNY as my daughter almost died and is currently disabled due to complications from RNY. I can accept that I may never be thin again, but I am willing to do some things differently in order to keep my band. 1. I will not have it any tighter than absolutely neccessary to dim my appetite. I will not use it as a restrictive device. It is my job to do the work, not the job of the band. 2. If and when I do get a stuckage, I will go on liquids once it is past and stay on them at least 24 hours. 3. If I have continuous problems, I will immediately have all the fluid pulled out and go on liquids at least two weeks. The band was the best thing I ever did for myself health wise and I am still 140 lbs down from where I started. I am just greatful I am able to borrow the money to have it replaced. Good luck to all in what ever choices you make to deal with the loss of your bands. Corliss :grouphug:

Thanks for posting those pictures, boy i hope mine look as good. I am really concerned because I have so much skin below my elbows, I am afraid mine will continue to hang there or be twisted or something. The surgeon said not, that i will be pleased. I sure do hope so. I am really proud for you. Corliss

Hey, I am trying to limit my intake to shakes, veggies an fruit. I am not doctor ordered to do this, so it is my own idea, I started out on just liquids but went with additions and just keep cals low for me. But if veggies are okay per your docs instruction, try some wonderful steamed asparagus, cabbage and sauteed spinach. You may or may not feel like you can add the fatfree dressing to them, but I like them that way. Also, i love microwaved baby carrots. And lets not forget delicious raw veggies. Good luck to you. Mine is scheduled June 19. Corliss

Wowzer! I am so glad you posted those pics of your arms. I am getting mine done June 22 along with my face. Would you post some updated pics of arms and some before if you have them? My arms are horrible and it is hard to believe yours were as bad, cause they look so good. I am afraid mine will not look good because i have so much loose skin below my elbow. Anyhow congrats, you look beautiful. Corliss

Debbie, have you considered going to Mexico? I am having mine done there for 7600 as there is no way I can afford or come up with 17,500 or the twenty something it would be here in my area. I know many people are not comfortable with the idea of going to Mx but i have met my surgeon and have great respect for him as he evaluated me and assisted me when I first began having problems. He is in Monterrey Mx and works in one of the most beautiful hospitals I have ever seen which is JACHO accredited. There are many good and qualified surgeons in Mexico and Costa Rica which have even more expertise than most US surgeons in Banding and other bariatric proceedures. Regardless of where y ou have it done, just follow most of the rules most of the time and you will quiet likely loose all the wt. There are a lot of people who are not willing to do what it takes and end up very unhappy. There are a few for whom the band just does not work but those are extremely rare in my opinion. It is a fact the less calories you put in and the more you expend the more wt. you will loose. The band is not magic but it is a very effective tool which when managed correctly greatly reduces hunger and allows us to control how much we choose ot put into our bodies. The hard part is in making the choices of what we eat. It is much easier to turn down chips and pizza when we are feeling satiated from some nice succulent roast beef and asparagus. Even 3 hours later we might feel hard pressed to eat anything. I was very blessed to have had this tool. I am thrilled about getting another one. I will work till I drop to pay it off, and thats okay at least I will be able to have a life. If you want to see a tremendous difference, check out my profile. I am no longer that slim, but shall return there and fortunately now I am able to work 13 hour shifts and continue to make a good living and help others. Good luck to you. Corliss:seeya:

debbie, don't worry about what other folks are doing, just do what your doc told you to do. I think a lot of the stuff about preop diet depends on your docs personal philosophy. I had first banding Nov. of 2005 and was not told to do any specific diet. I did low carb for a month and lost 17 lbs which gave me a nice start on my journey. It also gave me confidence that I could do what was asked of me after banding. I had a great journey loosing a total of 203 lbs but it did unfortunately culminate in a slippage. I was unbanded Sept. 2008 but am scheduled for rebanding June 19, 2009. Whoooohooooo I can't wait to get my new tool. Life is so different when you aren't consumed with thinking about food 24-7. The band even changed the way I thought about food. I was not one of those who resented not being able to eat as much as i used to. I loved eating like a normal and food even tasted better. I had hoped to be one of those who could keep it off, but deep down, I knew I would not as I am a stone food junkie. I am so looking forward to being released from this addiction once again. For anyone reading this, do not let my experience discourage you. The old smaller bands had about a 13% slippage rate and the newer ones the rate is 3% or less. Even if the slippage rate was the same, I would still be doing it again. It has changed my life tremendously:Banane21: Corliss

Hi there, I am scheduled to have my surgery June 19, same day as you! Corliss:thumbup:

Hi, I had a slip and was unbanded Sept. 2008 I have gained 60 lbs. I am being rebanded June 19. I was wondering how your second band is doing. thanks, Corliss

I am sure not expert but it may not all be panic attack. You could be having some very real pain fromt he food. Lots of bandsters can only eat fish. Very many cannot eat chicken. If you can eat a small amount of chicken or fish, I would say, stick to chicken or fish. As far as veggies go just eat a little of some very soft veggies. you might try drinking some hot tea, immediately before eating your meal as it will loosen you up. Stuckages are very painful. So are esophageal spasms. You may be experienceing one or both of these. take it easy on yourself. Do not try to force yourself to eat things that you know will cause this problem. Go with what you know works, but since you have actively been throwing up, I would start just taking liquids for a couple of days so your stomach can become soothed. It will just get worse as long as you continue to throw up. Good luck, Corliss