LollyMoe

Anyone up to try a Valentine Day challenge? We'll post our progress on Mondays as usual except for the last day, 2/14/2010 which is on a Sunday.

Next meeting is Nov 19th and the Dec 17th. Hope to see you there.

They have had some problems with a few of the band patients and they are doing the swallow on a regular basis now. Some of the band patients are even going back and having the by-pass or the sleeve done. NOT ME! I need to correct my statement of the "Panni" surgery. Actually, I had the abdominoplasty surgery done. My belly button was rearranged, 17 pounds of loose skin removed, I no longer have handles on each side of my belly, and I no longer have a roll hanging down over my pubic area or problems with rashes. I do still have a roll around my middle but it's a long story as to WHY he isn't dealing with it for now. He did say I could have my arms done next Fall (I need a year's recovery from this one) as he prefers to do these types of surgeries in the Fall/Winter due to faster healing. We are having to consider my age (70) in having elective surgeries done. BTW, the swallow is no big deal...you'll be there maybe 30 min total.

You might try looking for Bariatric surgeons in your yellow pages or online in your area. Make some calls, ask some questions, and hopefully you will find someone. You might call the local hospitals to ask if they have a Bariatric Support group also. Good luck.

Dr Jack said that some insurances will already pay for the arms but it takes loads of reasons to get them done and it's still hard right now. Since I have to wait at least a year to have mine done, I'm praying the insurance will have changed by then. If not, it will be self-pay. I went to group this past weekend. There were only 5 (five) post-ops there! I guess people just aren't interested in coming anymore. Personally, I learn something new every time I go and it helps to forge on for another month. Starting January, group will be at 10:30a.m. for post-ops and the people waiting after the seminar to get their certificates. We won't have the private 30 min time anymore unless we want to stay later. Good luck on your surgery and please let us know how it goes for you. I still can't realize how easy this "panni" has been for me. I have NEVER had a surgery that I didn't feel pain but not this one....

I am presently recovering from my Panni and doing very well. I can't believe that I haven't had any pain at all! It's unbelievable. Guess I got a lot of answered prayers. I want to have my arms done but Dr Jack says I have to wait at least a year & give my body some time to recover from this one. Besides, insurance is changing for these type of surgeries and it might actually be paying for it by that time. I sure hope so. Good luck on having your arms done and keep us posted please.

YIPPEEEEEE! I am so happy for you. You deserve it so much after all your hard work. I have put you on my prayer list for before and after surgery and pray that everything will go well for you. What doctor are you using and what hospital? I am somewhat discouraged. I have been unable to lose a single pound at all this year. I am weighing what I did at the 1st of January. I have tried several different things with no results. My regular doctor says that with hypothyroidism, my weight will slow down quite a bit and to be patient. I have to see Lisa in August but she probably won't do another fill since I am at 9cc now. I won't give up but I do wish I could start losing again. I went back on the liquid diet for 10 days and didn't lose one single ounce! It is frustrating!! Good luck and please keep me informed.

I simply cannot have the GB and at my age (69) it's not feasible for me because of lung condition and nutrition according to Dr Miles. I am like you...the idea of cutting things out and re-routed things isn't what I want for my body. Please come to group each month, talk with Veronica, get another appointment with the nutritionist, go see Lisa.....you can do it. Just hang in there. Vernoica told me that most insurance is paying for it now and some of her band patients are having it done. The thing about it is that either surgery will be only as successful as the patient lets it be. I have three friends in Louisiana that had GB done. ONE has lost her weight and the other two lost huge amounts and then gained it all back with some more. I go to church with a GB lady here in Alabama. So far (2 years) she has been successful with it. GB isn't a magic answer either. Think it over carefully before you act. It isn't reversible! You need to write down the "pros & cons" of both surgeries and do a lot of research on both. Educate yourself BEFORE you talk with a surgeon. Remember, they like to do surgery..... Good luck and let me know what you decide.

Oh Amy, please go back in. Let the band work for you and with you. You know it's not magic but it can work if you work hard at it too. I don't think you will be scolded if you come clean with everything and sincerely ask for help. Get a new lease on the situation. I also find that the monthly group helps me a lot.....it keeps me on track and helps me to have someone to account too. Don't give up...just start over. Success is measured by " How manys you get back up after falling down".

Thanks. I do get down about it sometimes because it is not moving at all right now. I have been at the same place for several months now. At least I'm not gaining!!!!!

I forgot you are in Georgia! I can't have the by-pass according to Dr Miles, my family doctor and my pulmonary physician. I'm 69 yrs old, a long-term history of asthma and long-term history of low blood count. They won't sign off on it for me. However, I am happy with my band. I've lost 95 lbs total (need to update banner) and have50 more to go. I think I can do it...at least I'm still trying. Time will tell the story but so far my health situation has turned around for the better and that's a great thing! No more C-pap, no more 19 pills a day. I take one synthroid and my inhaler daily. that's it! Take care and if you move back to Alabama, please come to group.

Well, it not completely dead. I'm still here sometimes. I stopped posting for awhile because no one was here. Can't help you on someone to do your arms but I did like Dr Cohn that came to talk in January. I was impressed with his information. Veronica is thinking of combining the gastric & lap-band groups together. The lap-band group is almost dead. We had 8 members there this past Saturday and it's been that way most of this year so far. She works hard to keep it going and people don't come. I told her it's like church......you can announce the meeting time but it's up to the individual to decide on their priorities. She said a lot of the lapband patients are now coming back in to have the gastric by-pass done because insurance is paying for it and they want to lose faster. Go figure!

To FF: Actually I have had times when I needed advice and help from others on this forum. You are the only person that has ever been rather accusatory towards me, so, I have considered the source and will leave it at that for now.

CONGRATS to you! I'm glad to see that your band is working for you. Keep up the hard work and I hope your team wins.

Sorry if you don't like what I posted. It was my own opinion and I'm entitled to it as you are to yours. I've lived long enough, been on enough diets, had enough medical problems, etc. etc. to learn that "what goes around, comes around" as the old saying goes. As for being JUDGEMENTAL as you accused me of being, everyone is somewhat judgemental...just as you have been over my intentions of my post. You're right that I don't know her situation, your situation nor do you know mine.

Swirl, you ask me what has changed for me food wise and what I eat now that is different than before. To answer your question, in some way my food "type" has not changed as much as my "behavior" towards food has changed. I have chosen to give up certain foods that everyone knows is not exactly the most healthy things you can be eating. exam: rich sauces, fast foods too often, cakes, candy, soft drinks. excessive fried foods, too many carbs. Do I ever have fried chicken...yes...but I only eat 1/3 of a fried chicken finger...not the whole piece or several pieces. Do I ever eat out...only once in awhile but that's mainly because I am now retired and can fix my own meals. I have chosen to eat smaller bites, slow down my eating, and be more aware of my choices. What I have done and chosen to do for myself, was to search out my "trigger foods" and "trigger situations" so I'm not put between a rock & a hard place where food is concerned. I educated myself prior to surgery and determined beforehand what the band could do for me and what it would take for me to make the band work for me. I searched for a surgeon and a good support group that would continually give me information and support so that I wouldn't find myself out on a limb hanging on for dear life.I paid for a good nutrition class in order to learn the "what cans & what nots" I got my family members and friends on board with their support and help. I cleaned out my pantry and got rid of my trigger foods. My dear hubby, who doesn't need to lose anything, has chosen to give up a lot of his junk foods so I don't even have to buy them anymore for him. Another benefit I have had during this time beside the weight loss, is I no longer have to use the C-pap machine, I no longer have to take 19 pills a day, my respiratory system is in better shape, I can now climb stairs, I have more energy, and I am very thankful for all of these benefits. My primary care physician now thinks I might actually live pass my 70th birthday and when you're in your 69th year, that's fantastic news. Better odds than when I started all of this journey. I am 18 months out, have lost 90 pounds, have 9cc in my Realize band. Has it been easy street for me....I can honestly day that in the beginning, it was easier than it is now. I haven't lose anything for 2months. I have had to "revamp" my program, increase my Protein intake and get rid of too many slider foods. In other words. I looked in the mirror and decided that I wasn't giving up! I have worked hard and the band has been doing it's job for me...so why stop now. All in all, the BIG scheme of all of this is a Behavior modification lifestyle and it's up to each individual to make their decisions about health and weight. I just wish I had learned all of this years ago instead of spending my life Yo-Yo-ing with my weight & health.I now choose " to eat to live, not live to eat"

I'm so sorry to hear about your pain level. As someone has already said, everyone is different. I had my surgery 18 mos ago. I had more trouble with gas pains than actual surgery pain. I was sent home with meds for pain, nausea, and gas discomfort. I didn't use the pain or nausea meds but I sure used the gas-X strips. Walking helps the pain & gas. I lost 17 lbs in four days and to date I've lost 90 lbs. Just hang in there, it gets better.

I'm so sorry that you feel this way about your band. The band is a tool and it's only as good as it's operator. You get out of it exactly what you put into it. It's not magic. It takes a lot of long hard work to get to the end of your journey. Too bad you are giving up so soon.

Support meeting --December 18, 2010. 10:00 a.m. Come one, come all. We miss you. This is the last one for this year. Merry Christmas everyone.

NOVEMBER 20, 2010----Saturday Support Meeting Please come if you can! Come early if you can volunteer to help Veronica....she needs some help.

We used to have a dear friend in Rome but he has since died from cancer. Hubby is from Warner Robins, which is more South of Atlanta. Hope you enjoy Georgia. It really has some beautiful areas and you are so close to a lot of fun type things to do and go too.

Hey Kaninag. Where in Ga are you now located? I married a Ga man, his family is still there and we have some very good friends there. I too hate that this forum is dropping off. I miss "talking" to everyone. The meetings are having less and less post-ops show too. Veronica was somewhat discouraged last meeting. Take care. Hope you can come to group after all.:eek: