csccorona

I was banded Nov. 30, 2006 Have lost 50-54 lbs. Most by June of 07, but it is still slowly droping! I am not a model patient, I eat whatever I want, don't exercise... But, thats why i was fat in the first place! This however works...I actually have a pair of size 6 jeans that are bagging!(Thank God for Wal-Mart and their over-sized sizes!)

I have not posted for such a long time. I hit a wall the beginning of June, and after losing 1-2 pounds a week things sort of stopped. I have not had a fill since the end of Feb., but was losing a lot of hair so choose to hold off and wait. I have lost 50 pounds since my band last Nov. 30! I am getting ready for a tiny fill to help hurry up these last 10-15 lbs. Such an interesting journey this has been. I have actually bought size 6- 9 jeans! Looking for a nice comfortable spandex "suit" to help with the loose skin - I have improvised using a Spanx high waisted and sewing in a bra top. Will just get another and get out my needle and thread if I don't stumble on anything. Weird to not be able to find support undergarments in my size - they are all too big! Still think of myself as fat and ugly, but that maybe changing?? At 135 now on my favorite scale...That is about 145 on my doctors however...

Whoa! Hey this is only June! March 26th and lost 26lbs!, 10-12 weeks at 1 lb per week would be only 10-12 pounds! Give this band a chance, you do not even have a complete fill yet and you have lost more than 2/week!!!! Takes most about 3 fills anyway! Get yourself a couple more fills and sit back and enjoy the ride- next year you will be happy, not fatter!!!

I eat what I can. I try to think protien, so if I think I need it, I have an egg. I can almost always handle pudding, soup, ice cream, a couple bites of burger, crackers, candy. Strange, but I can eat more half sitting - half laying in a comfy chair. I can not think of anything I can not eat, some things just do not seem worth all the extra chewing and slowness. Somedays everthing must be...slow... slow..., but then sometimes I can handle a salad and oddly - yesterday I had 2 lobster tails! If I drink, I can't usually eat at the same time. I can eat a (1/2) deli sandwich minus some of the bread, a (1/2) juicy hamburger minus most of the bun, a Taco Bell bean burrito with cheese -just the insides (just suck it out and toss the tortilla), chips and salsa. I think it is trial and error. Plus each day is different. I think some would have gone for an unfill being as full as I was after my last, but I just made it work! I would rather work at being a bit too tight, rather than be too loose and not lose!

I eat what I can. I try to think protien, so if I think I need it, I have an egg. I can almost always handle pudding, Soup, ice cream, a couple bites of burger, crackers, candy. Strange, but I can eat more half sitting - half laying in a comfy chair. I can not think of anything I can not eat, some things just do not seem worth all the extra chewing and slowness. Somedays everthing must be...slow... slow..., but then sometimes I can handle a salad and oddly - yesterday I had 2 lobster tails! If I drink, I can't usually eat at the same time. I can eat a (1/2) deli sandwich minus some of the bread, a (1/2) juicy hamburger minus most of the bun, a Taco Bell bean burrito with cheese -just the insides (just suck it out and toss the tortilla), chips and salsa. I think it is trial and error. Plus each day is different. I think some would have gone for an unfill being as full as I was after my last, but I just made it work! I would rather work at being a bit too tight, rather than be too loose and not lose!

Do This! I eat what I want, thought small amts - because I don't want too or else it hurts or I spit-up. I do not follow any real "rules", just lose weight because I have no other choice! It took 3 fills to get where I think I need to be- Yes, I miss those huge stacks of buttery pancakes and syrup-ect... but I had to do something that would work for me- This takes all the real tough food choices away and leaves me with something I can deal with. Yes, I am mad at myself sometimes that it had to come to this, I could be mad at my husband for not being happywith my fat self, but now, I find myself almost inpatient with those who complain and complain about their weight! Just get up and do it!!!

Do This! I eat what I want, thought small amts - because I don't want too or else it hurts or I spit-up. I do not follow any real "rules", just lose weight because I have no other choice! It took 3 fills to get where I think I need to be- Yes, I miss those huge stacks of buttery pancakes and syrup-ect... but I had to do something that would work for me- This takes all the real tough food choices away and leaves me with something I can deal with. Yes, I am mad at myself sometimes that it had to come to this, I could be mad at my husband for not being happywith my fat self, but now, I find myself almost inpatient with those who complain and complain about their weight! Just get up and do it!!!

No, insurance did not pay. I paid cash, about $11,500 for surgery, hospital and doc and 3 mos of fills in College Station, Tx. I do/did? have high cholesterrol, high triglicerides, and urinary issues. (I have had uti's for years,but always with pain and blood in urine- after months of stress incontinence that I assumed was physical- turned out to be a weird uti, so that comorbidity was not real). My insurance did however pay for all my pre-op blood work and tests including psyc exam and chest xray. At first the doc refered me to Houston to a doc there who does "on demand" low bmi's, but then he said an artical came out (I think about Sept or Oct 2006) that recomended the band in lower bmi range that had co-morbids or upperward weight that would just get worse. That was me, I did try- maybe why that is why I was only 191.5 lbs instead of lots more like my gradndmas, my mom and both of my sisters! The loss was of course great the first couple of weeks but then slowed. sometimes i lose nothing for a week or 2 (or once god forbid), 3 weeks, but then I drop a little. Over time It is about 3 pounds every 3 weeks. With out the surgery I would be over 200 pounds, so... This is the best answer for me. I am eager to get some new blood work at the one year point to see what effect this has had!

I Know You Are Just Tring To Do Everything Right, But Really If You Go Out And Buy A Bunch Of Special Things For Post Op Now, You May Find You Want/can Only Tolerate Something Else! Relax And Just Have Some Broth, And Maybe Some Pudding On Hand. Before Too Long You Will Be Up And About And Will Need To Experiment On Your Own. Weird, But All I Felt Like Eating After A Day Of A Pudding And A Serving Of Broth, For A Few Days Was "chicken Express" Mashed Potatoes And Gravy. One Small Would Give Me 2 Servings And Satisfied My Hunger Like None Of The Expensive Protien Shakes (which I Just Threw Up, So Am Still Not Going To Try Again!

Yes! I Had A Low Bmi, But No Control And Knew I Needed Help. I Have Lost Over 40 Pounds Since Nov 30. Yes It Is An Adjustment To Not Be Able To Eat Till You Pop. I Do Miss Some Things. I Wish I Would Have Been 125 Pounds And Could Have Continued To Eat Eat Eat, But That Was Not Me...i Love My Band. I Still Need To Lose A Bit To Get Into The Normal Range, But It Is Going To Happen!!! Just Moving From Obese To Overweight Was Great!

I was banded in College Station in November! Need a place for my 2 golden girls for June 2 to 7th! please contact me!!

I used to have a ticker? How do I get it back?

I had my done where I live in College Station Texas. I was looking at Mexico, Coos Bay oregon (10), and Houston(15K). After checking things out, I re-visited with the local Dr. to double check that the local community hospital (were having a 12K special for 35's & up) really would not let him do low bmi.(Mine was 31.5) Thankfully, a artical had just come out recomending bands for low bmi's so he was able to convince a local private hospital to allow and match price (plus my insurance paid for my pre-ops via my local family doc so saved $500 or so)! Being local has been great, but I have not needed anything but regular fills the first 3 months, so out of town would have been okay. I am real "tight" now, knowing I have Dr. right here is comforting in case I need a little let out. If you get a local fil Dr you would have the same comfort level. I felt pretty wiped out and took pain med post op, but could have traveled I think if I had to have! Maybe a few days in a hotel post-op would be better if you have a long trip. When I was doing research I seem to remember some Doc in Florida that did fills in Fl, but flew to Mexico once or twice a month to do the surgeries cheaper.

I was banded @ 31.5 in College Station,Texas by Dr. Mason $11,500. Dr Spiviak in Houston, somebody in east Texas, San Antonio, and Coos Bay Oregon also does lower BMI's. I think it will be easy to find a Dr near you! Approved for lower Bmi's, and who wouldn't want a self pay paitent? .

Loosing s-l-o-w-l-y... Banded 11/30/06 started at 191.5, now 150. Hope for 20-30 more. Still a bit baggy and saggy over waistbands ect. Think 20 -30 more should help. No body has noticed the weight loss, still look overweight, so will keep loosing if I can. No loss in a couple of weeks, but several pounds 3 weeks ago so think I am just "stabilizing".

I was 191 at my banding Nov. 30. After 2 fills (first 1cc, 2nd 1.2cc) I have offically lost 14 lbs. (more like 16-18 on my scale) I am 5 ft 5 1/2 inches. Was 31.5 bmi, now 29.5 SO NO LONGER OBESE! Weight is coming off oh ...so...slow..., but I am losing. My dr office says 1 lb a week is good. I do not really do anything I am supposed to do as far as eating/drinking/exercising. The protien shakes make me sick. I have a real hard time drinking enough. An egg in the morning really helps get me going. I am finally feeling good after how many weeks? This is going to work, although slowly.

I had my band Nov. 30. I can eat. At first I was carefull as could be, as my hunger increased I just increased my food. Oatmeal is pretty filling. One day I went to Taco Bell and had the beans from a bean burrito. Hardest thing is the continuing pain-just keep drinking the pain med. (I just sip right out of the bottle now-) I had barbeque beef sandwich Sat. Faitas Sunday. Entire bean burrito yesterday. Pretzels really helped when I was hungry and sick to stomach! I guess because I have no fill, as the swelling goes down, I get hungry, but I can eat. Still have pain when I breath deep or God help me, hick-up! But no pain med yet today, so ??

I had my band Nov. 30.

I too have a lower bmi (31.5). I am now 2 days out. Had a large hiatial hernia repaired. Pain is pretty constant with our my pain med. Pretty minimal with. Most pain is at port site and in my chest. Worsens when take deep breath 0r God forbid.. cough! I am getting hungry. Any help out there with the chest/shoulder pain?

Surgery date Nov. 30! Getting nervous/excited! BMI is 32.

I am only 32 bmi and am self pay. Surgery day Nov. 30 in Texas! Starting to get nervous, but excited too!

Don't beat up the job seeker, forget it - everyone just wants to help this guy. To the real point- You need to figure out your priorities- her weight or one or the other issues. When ones DH is unhappy with several issues, the wife sees it, rightly so, that she is not good enough. Every one has weaknesses, but having your spouse disappointed in you can be paralizing. (Imagine how you would react if you KNEW your father was dreadfully dissapointed in you?) I say, the medication needs attention call the Dr instead of refilling next time. Next, find something your wife does to your satisfaction and tell her, show her, get the kids to /show tell her. I once thought of the anology of a depressed "self", as empty bucket with the bottom bashed out. To give to others and to yourself you must "pull something" from the bucket. Problem is, bucket is empty, to fill the bucket you and family must refill the bucket. At first the things you give to her will just fall through but eventually something will stick. From that point if you continue to give - without making her give up that valuable "plug", the bucket will begin to fill and the plug will become less fragile. Then, when armed with a full bucket, she can begin to function and occasionally even begin to assorb and then....give back. She needs herself back and respect for something before she will have the strenght to give you and herself a thinner body. For now maybe she can hope that she is dissappointing because she is fat- what if she loses the weight and learns it is not the fat but really her?

To answer yesterday's question- My Dr is John Mason in College Station, Tx. He just agreed to take BMI"S 30+ this month after reviewing the new data out. I am self pay however only $12,000 and includes follow-up and fills, so decided to go local instead of Mexico since I am determined! Got the call to set a date yesterday afternoon-now It is really getting exciting. Do I choose the 21st and skip Thanksgiving, or the 30th when the movers come to move my daughter to Germany?

My BMI is 31.5 and my Dr is doing me this month. New data suggests patients with BMI"s of 30-35 make great candidates for Lap Bands. Why wait until you are sicker? Get banded ASAP! Just because some of us are not morbid, we still can't do it alone!

:clap2: I have been reading for a while. I had my first visit with my prospective doc. I will be getting my pro-op labs-test next week I hope! Hope to be banded mid November in College Station Tx by Dr Mason ($11,400) I am so excited, I have trouble doing anything but thinking and reading about this. My bmi is now 31.5. If I can get rid of even 50 of these extra 70 lbs I will be so much better!!