slbedgood

Hi all, I got my lapband about 3 years ago. I went from 246 to 202 over the next 6 months. Then, my weight loss plateaued and slowly started to creep up. My doc tried some nutritional supplements to boost my metabolism and they did not seem to help. But, the metabolism testing that he has done show I should be burning 1800 or so calories a day. I put all my food in MyFitnessPal on my phone, so do it when I am eating, not trying to remember later. And I keep my calories around 1500 to 1600 a day, so I should be slowly losing, not gaining. :-( I do admit to sometimes drinking with my meals (I know I am not supposed to), but if my calories for the day are 1500, should that really make a difference in terms of weight loss? At my last appointment, he suggested going in again for surgery and getting gastric plication, basically where they fold in your stomach and stich it to create what works like a gastric sleeve, but without cutting your stomach. He has been doing it for about 6 months and now it is his standard protocol when doing a band to also do the plication. He says that he has done it for existing band patients like me that have either stalled in their loss or started to gain. He says that they have been losing again, but of course, since this is a new procedure, he doesn't have more than a few months data. He claims the insurance approval process is not anywhere near as difficult as the first time around since it is considered a revision to my existing band. So, he says, make the decision and give us a call and then I could have the surgery within a month (since you still have to do some pre-op testing and a pre-op diet). Anyone with any first hand experience as a band patient that went back in for plication?? Stacey

The lap band is supposed to stay in for life, unless you have a complication that requires its removal. The generally accepted thoughts on it is that if you remove it in the future even after losing lots of weight, you will gain it back, even if it is slowly since you would be able to go back to eating the volume of food you did prior to getting the band. Hope this helps, Stacey

Hi, This a Weight Watchers recipe that my mom got that doesn't use cool whip at all. It tastes good too. ORANGE Jello salad (WEIGHT WATCHERS RECIPE) Ingredients: 1 small can crushed pineapple 1 box Orange-flavored jello 1.5 cups buttermilk Drain crushed pineapple, saving juice. Heat juice. Add orange Jello. Dissolve. Add crushed pineapple and buttermilk. Pour into bowl and chill until firm. By the way, you could use any flavor jello that would go well with pineapple. Also, you could put a bit of whipped cream on top as a garnish.

Hi I was banded on 7/23/09. I just had my 3rd fill today for a total of 4.5 cc in a 10cc band. I have lost 33.5 pounds since the start of my pre-op diet on 7/13/09. Today's appt was 4 weeks since my last appt. I had lost 6.5 pounds in that 4 weeks and the PA seemed very pleased with my progress. Stacey

Hi I didn't have surgery with my spouse...he is a skinny boy and doesn't need it. But, there is a couple in our local support group that both had surgery with our surgeon earlier this year; he had lap-band and she had RNY. They had them like 2 months apart because our surgeon thinks it is better to have only one patient recovering in the house...in other words, he wants your "support person" to actually be able to support you, both emotionally and physically. I appreciated my hubby being there to take care of me the week after surgery. So, I would recommend you do the surgeries at least 3-4 weeks apart unless there is some deadline you are trying to beat like a change in insurance. Even then, at least give the first person a week to recover before the 2nd one has surgery. Just my 2 cents. Stacey

I just had my followup today also. I had surgery on 7/23. I did a 10-day pre-op diet and my total loss (including pre-op diet) was 18 pounds!

Hi- If you want something unflavored, you can get the Beneprotein from Walgreens. You usually have to order it online as most stores don't carry it yet. It is whey Protein and unflavored. I add it to shakes, Soups, pudding, yogurt, etc. Stacey

What I do with my pre-schoolers to make sure they get veggies is serve either baby carrots (pre-washed in the bag) or grape/cherry sized tomatoes with just about every meal. They are easy to prepare, just put in a bowl and rinse off and they are finger foods that kids like. I also try to have at least one fruit which you do have to cut up, like apple slices, grapes, pineapple (the kind in juice, not syrup), bananas, or strawberries. They love their fruit. So, if you have an easy veggie and an easy fruit, then just adding some pre-made chicken fingers (grilled if you can find them) or some cheese sticks for protein and you have a decent meal. My girls also love egg salad, so sometimes I will use that as the protein with a few crackers. You can make ahead and just serve at dinner time. Hope that helps, Stacey

Hi Mom2trips06, I am also at triplet mom, although my girls just turned 4. We also were in the process of adopting when IVF #5 worked, so we also have 4.5 year old daughter from China. I am guessing that the lap band surgery recovery will be easier than my c-section, but since I don't have surgery until July 23rd, I am just guessing. Actually, one reason I think that this might work for me in terms of long-term weightloss is that the only time in my life I have had a small appetite, been full on little food and just not cared about eating was the only time I needed to do it, the last 4 months of my pregnancy. Once the girls got to a certain size (about 3 months into the pregnancy) the pressed on my stomach so much, I couldn't eat much. I had to keep drinking Boost Hi-Protein shakes just to get enough nutrition in. So, I am hoping that my appetite for food after banding will be similar to having 3 babies crushing my stomach. But, without the unpleasant feeling of them crushing my lungs and bladder also. ha-ha. Stacey

Hi all, I am new here. Finally got my approval from Bluelincs for my lapband. I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Gornichec in Oklahoma City on July 23rd. I am both excited and a bit nervous about the surgery itself. Anyone getting banded by Dr. Gornichec? Stacey

Hi, This is my first post. I searched the forums and couldn't find this covered anywhere, but if it has been discussed on end, please just point me to the thread. Anyway, I am in the last month of my insurance-required 6-month diet and hope to be banded in late July. I have been overweight to some extent since junior high. Current BMI is 42.6. My DH on the other hand has always been thin. At least, UNTIL he met me! He is still not fat, but probably is 10 - 20 pounds over his ideal weight. For example, he is 6' tall and wears 38" jeans...he wore 31" to 32" jeans when I met him 9 years ago (probably a bit underweight then) so I take some responsibility for his current weight, as I probably do encourage him to eat with me at times where on his own he would probably not. Such as "let's order a dessert and split it..., etc". I was wondering if my DH might lose the 10-20 pounds he is over his ideal weight after I have surgery just because I won't be buying fattening food to have around the house or be encouraging him to eat with me. What have others' experiences been? Thanks for your help. Stacey

Hi again, I think I should note that my husband is still in the average weight range and before I met him was slim or skinny. Perhaps being overweight most of my life makes me attracted to skinny guys. :-) Before meeting me, he was never overweight even. Anyway, I am not really worried about my hubby gaining weight, as he has been about the same weight for the last 3-4 years. I am just wondering if he will go back to the pre-Stacey eating habits he had before we met. I do tend to suggest eating things for dinner/snacks that might not be the best choices...thus my need for WLS. Stacey