ousooner

Great job Alicia! I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I had a cool SV for Christmas. I made Onederland. I weighed 197 on Christmas day. I weighed againt oday to make sure it was true and it was. Have a great and safe New Years everyone.

I have been able to stay away out of fear. I fear trying something in fear I won't be able to stop and slip into old habits. For me personally, its easier to resist all together than to sample goodies. Nothing wrong with it, just too hard to me to stop once I start.

Hi Rhonda. It sounds like you are having pre-surgery jitters . The reality is that there are very few complications with the lap-band. Lap band is totally reversable and should you develope a serious complication (which is very rare), the band can be removed and everything goes back to the way it was. The most serious complications that I am aware of is slippage and erosion and again are not very common. There is nothing to worry about. To me the band did the opposite. My kids got their dad back. I am healthier and happier and can play with them a lot more than I could before the band. If I had kept going in the direction I was going before the band, I have no doubts I would not have been around long enough to see them grow up. Lap band and WLS is not for everyone, I understand that. Just know that if you decide its not for you, its not because you are worried about the complications. Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.:huggie:

I couldn't feel my port when I sat anymore than I could standing. I could feel it internally at all. Now, if I rub my fingers over it, it feels like a golf ball right under my skin, but its not irritating like it might sound . In fact, sometime I catch myself rubbing it just because, like a good luck charm. From my understanding, Its stitched into the muscle, not the fatty tissue. The needles are pretty long. But because they numb the area first, you don't feel a thing when they actually do the fill. You all are asking great questions. Not to promote my site, but I do have a link on my personal site that lets you watch the entire surgery and a doctor that does a good job narrating telling you what is goin on during it. Don't watch if your squeemish :huggie: Good luck.

Great post. Hell, I wouldn't have dated me at my heaviest. Glad I have a wife who stuck by me, although I have always been heavy.

Welcome aboard!

You are so right, Its easy to find low fat OR low carb, but very hard to find both! Possible, but hard.

Susan, congrats on starting this path. I was borderline diabetic and my Dr was about to put me on pills for it (same with my blood pressure). Hope all goes well with insurance. Its a hit or miss thing, some companies are very good (mine was great). Each doctor is so different in there approach. My experience for my consultation was this: We had a group meeting in the doctor's waiting room ( probably about 20 of us). He went over the various types of WLS, went over pro's and con's of each. Answered any and all questions. Then we were taken back one at a time to have a personal consultation while his coordinator took down our insurance infomation and the nurses took all our vitals to make sure they felt we were qualified from a physican stand point. It was painless for me. I have heard some have to sit through an all day seminar. Its hard to say what your doctor does. Whatever you have to endure, let me state it is all worth it. i would do it again in a heartbeat. Good luck.

Woody's - Great job on your loss!

Welcome Tracy! Lap Band is great. I have freinds also that have done well with RNY, but this was for me and has been successful so far. Having the "foreign body" is not an issue, no worse than having an artificial joint (knee, hip) put in or numerous other procedures. Very safe. Wish you well!

Awsome!:clap2:

Thank you, I have been very blessed to have lost so well.

My original goal was set by my doctor based on average weight loss with the band. he set it at 226. I then set my personal goal at 190 because I wanted to see the scales read under 200 for once in my life :girl_hug:. I have since chaged it. I have lost so well and quickly that I think I can acheive 170. THis would be very close to my ideal weight on the Medical charts.

Thats exciting. Keep up updated. We need more band babies! :girl_hug:

My doctor and insurance did not require one.

Awsome! Your date will be here before you know it. Keep us informed.

I have been very lucky to have been a fast looser. I am just over 7 months out and have lost 131 pounds. One more pound to "onederland".

I had similar situation. She did not give me much problems with the band, because she knew if she agreed with the band, I wouldn't pursue RNY (which I was leaning towards at the time). She told me in no uncertain terms that I couldn't have RNY. So that band was a good comprimise. So glad I chose the band too. Couldn't have asked for a better outcome or weight loss.

Happy birthday to you!

First of all, let me say that I am proud of this group! The May bandsters are terrific and are doing so good. I just wanted to share my weekend with my family here. "Normal" life became a reality this weekend. We went to East Texas for the weekend and celebrated mine and my wife's birthdays with her family on Saturday(hers is Dec 13th and mine the 15th). Had a great time. Then on Sunday, we went to her 7 year old nephew's birthday party. First of all, my shorts were too big. The party was outdoors at a park and it was in the mid 70's. So I went to Wal-Mart to see if I could find any shorts. Limited supply this time of year. I found a size 38 pair of pants that had the zip off legs to make shorts. The only ones they had and that was my size. Well, I got back to my MIL house and put them on and they were too big! I can not beleive I am going on a size 36 pants. I haven't worn that size since middle school. Then my MIL had a pair of 36 mens cargo jeans that she had, but can't wear. I tried them on and they fit too. a little snug, but wearable for sure. I ended up having to return the pants from Wal-mart and just getting a belt for the shorts I brought. Then at the party, I was able to slide with my 1 year old on the playground. It was an inclosed twisty slide that I know I would not have been able to do before the band. Then I was able to go run and play touch football with my Brother in law and the kids with out feeling like I was dying. Sorry for the long post, but such a great weekend of feeling normal.

Awsome Julie! Great job!

:welldone2: That is a very common feeling and will be fine Just remember that any side effect (saggy skin, etc.) is far better than keeping the weight on. I am no longer borderlined diabetic or have high blood pressure. THe doctor wanted to put me on Meds for both, but I held out (I know not the right thing to do :success1:) but now I don't have either problem.

Hi Heather! I had the lap band put in about 7 months ago. It is a minimly invasive surgery where they place a silicone band around the top part of your stomach. This band can be adjusted (tightened or loosened) with saline injected through a port that is stitched under the skin in your abdomin. What this accomplishes is to assist with portion control. smaller portions=less caorieintake=weightloss (in theory). Lap-band is the only adjustable WLS. Just like all the other WLS, the lapband is just a tool and not a magic cure. You still have to make good food choices and do your part to make it work. But since you fill up quickly and stay less hungry, it is easier to make those good choices. Obviously it is not successful for everyone, no WLS is. I have had great success with it as have most on here and most that have had it. That is just the staring point. I am sure you have many more wuestions than I answered, but wish you well in your search for answers. By the way, there is a link to a video of the operation on my website linked below. It is like an hour long and the doctor/narrator does a good job explaining things. Very graphic though if you are squimish. Again - Welcome:clap2:

My wife lust sent me this at work. She was so nice to try to send something healthy instead of Cookies or cake. I had to share since there is so much, but it is delicious! http://www.ediblearrangements.com/default.aspx

Thanks, your right I would trade the skin for the weight any day! We will see how much tightens up this next year and I amy look into PS next year. Only for the stomach and thighs. I can live with the arms and turkey neck, they arent too bad and I am sure will tighten some. Thanks again for your encouragement:)