slikchik10

Hey, I'm moving to the Sanford/Spring Lake? area this summer. I'm 3 yrs. out and am wondering about finding post op Doctor care in NC (check ups, support groups, etc). Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

I'll try and be there...and maybe a few extra buds attending...not sure. ????

Hey Sherry....I know it's been a couple of months but what are the Kaiser Fontana times coming up? My schedule during Nov. & Dec. has really gone wacky and I'm still trying to see when I can start attending a group again. Is the Ontario group mostly newbies? Hope your holiday was great. Annette

I think my folks will attend. Maybe 3 or 4? :-)

Nice job. Looks like if we keep spreading the word things will grow. :-)

I don't know if I now count as a vet (1yr. +) but in my 1yr. appointment the Dr. actually emphasized waist measurement instead of weight amount and BMI #. She said to watch and go for the <35" rule as a woman. Waist measurements smaller than this are a better indicator of health than the weight. Don't know how y'all feel about this, but just an FYI.

Well...let's see. Banded in 2006. Got the typical probs...reflux, vomiting, uber restriction w/fluid removal. Fast forward to 5/20/13 and had removal, revision AND hernia repair all in one surgery. Now...I am 70% down in weight and in a size I've never seen in my life! I got the best reaction on my visit home this summer. One of my best friends of 20+ yrs. walked right past me until I said something to her back and then she recognized my voice! This surgery is what I hoped my band would do. Good luck to those upcoming revision folks. Work the plan, stick to your mini goals and long term goals and it WILL happen for you!

Hey, I had a band In 2006 but began the "too tight/reflux" problems in 2008/09. Pre-band I was at 248 and dropped 60 lbs, but with the probs regained about 30. Now, I'm just past my 1yr. mark w/ my revision to a sleeve. I'm down to 155 and in a size I've never seen in my life! I set a lot of mini goals over the year, with my main goal being to hit 70% loss of weight in my first year. (The Dr. said the expectation was this to happen in 2 yrs.). I DID IT! Now, I'm still pushing on to my next goal, but after my 1yr. check up, my Dr. said my blood work is great and I was doing fantastic with things. Here's the key....EMBRACE THE CHANGE! I took the eating and exercising seriously. Don't get me wrong, I hate any and all forms of exercise (PE was NOT a fav in school) but it is a job I must do to maintain my change. Clearing the house of junk and making sure my body is taking in what it needed and not always what it wants helps the process. OH, and the biggest thing (for me anyway) is learning to recognize the head games my brain will play about wanting food. In the last year I have really tried to focus on learning what is hunger and what isn't, and how to compensate with new things instead of old habits. A phrase I've adopted is "It's a marathon, not a sprint." As long as I work the plan and stay focused (recording what I eat, exercise 3-4x a wk for 30-60 mins., make healthy choices) my Dr. says I'll stay on a successful path. So, best of luck on your journey!

Hi all. Had a band In 2006 but began the "too tight/reflux" problems in 2008/09. Pre-band I was at 248 and dropped 60 lbs, but with the probs regained about 30. Now, I'm just past my 1yr. mark w/ my revision to a sleeve. I'm down to 155 and in a size I've never seen in my life! I set a lot of mini goals over the year, with my main goal being to hit 70% loss of weight in my first year. (The Dr. said the expectation was this to happen in 2 yrs.). I DID IT! Now, I'm still pushing on to my next goal, but after my 1yr. check up, my Dr. said my blood work is great and I was doing fantastic with things. Here's the key....EMBRACE THE CHANGE! I took the eating and exercising seriously. Don't get me wrong, I hate any and all forms of exercise (PE was NOT a fav in school) but it is a job I must do to maintain my change. Clearing the house of junk and making sure my body is taking in what it needed and not always what it wants helps the process. OH, and the biggest thing (for me anyway) is learning to recognize the head games my brain will play about wanting food. In the last year I have really tried to focus on learning what is hunger and what isn't, and how to compensate with new things instead of old habits. A phrase I've adopted is "It's a marathon, not a sprint." As long as I work the plan and stay focused (recording what I eat, exercise 3-4x a wk for 30-60 mins., make healthy choices) my Dr. says I'll stay on a successful path. So, best of luck on your journey!

Hi all. Had a band In 2006 but began the "too tight/reflux" problems in 2008/09. Pre-band I was at 248 and dropped 60 lbs, but with the probs regained about 30. Now, I'm just past my 1yr. mark w/ my revision to a sleeve. I'm down to 155 and in a size I've never seen in my life! I set a lot of mini goals over the year, with my main goal being to hit 70% loss of weight in my first year. (The Dr. said the expectation was this to happen in 2 yrs.). I DID IT! Now, I'm still pushing on to my next goal, but after my 1yr. check up, my Dr. said my blood work is great and I was doing fantastic with things. Here's the key....EMBRACE THE CHANGE! I took the eating and exercising seriously. Don't get me wrong, I hate any and all forms of exercise (PE was NOT a fav in school) but it is a job I must do to maintain my change. Clearing the house of junk and making sure my body is taking in what it needed and not always what it wants helps the process. OH, and the biggest thing (for me anyway) is learning to recognize the head games my brain will play about wanting food. In the last year I have really tried to focus on learning what is hunger and what isn't, and how to compensate with new things instead of old habits. A phrase I've adopted is "It's a marathon, not a sprint." As long as I work the plan and stay focused (recording what I eat, exercise 3-4x a wk for 30-60 mins., make healthy choices) my Dr. says I'll stay on a successful path. So, best of luck on your journey!

I have found that my "full" feeling is different with the sleeve compared to having the band. However....we ALL have to learn to deal with the emotions that cause us to eat. Although surgery was a year ago, I can pinpoint moments over this last year that my emotions influenced my food choices instead of being hungry. By recognizing that there is something triggering the desire to eat, I can better handle it. Having restriction doesn't always fix that, you still need to face the issue. That being said, my sleeve has given me the chance to be successful with weightloss, to recognize what it truly feels like to be "done" with eating something (and stopping) as well as realizing when I'm eating because of emotions instead of real hunger. When you fully embrace the process, transform your life and move ahead, success can happen. Best of Luck, Annette

Hey, if you're with Kaiser I had my revision done last May and it's been great. Best of luck on things.

Hhhmm, I don't know if I agree. I didn't have reflux prior to my band and the GERD I began having was caused by the band. I had a revision to a sleeve last May. He fixed a hernia while doing the revision and I've not had ANY reflux issues since my band removal. I think it would have to be based on previous GERD problems prior to the band in the first place. What does their Dr. say?

Ok, here's my opine, and it might seem harsh. 1) have you hit the 70% of the total amount you need to lose according to the Dr.? 2) are the people that are saying you look sickly heavier (or slightly overweight) themselves? 3) Are YOU at the goal that you invisioned for yourself when choosing this surgery? See it really has nothing to do with others opinions about your journey in this process we call WLS. I just had my year check up w/the Dr. and my only long range goal was to have made the 70% weightloss mark by this checkup. Sure, I gave myself lots of mini goals along the way, but 70% was the biggie for me. And damn if I didn't achieve it!! Now, do my arms jiggle, sure. And I won't even get into what's happened to the "girls!" So, who cares, I sure don't. Instead of limiting yourself because of things others are saying, focus on what YOU want out of this experience. Weightloss IS going to slow down after (if not during) month 6 and beyond. Focus on YOU...the final results are really about what makes you a happy and healthier person at the end of the day. So, if people are commenting about your looks....it's probably because they're having a hard time adjusting to the new you. But are you happy with how you look? If so...then don't worry over their comments. If not...start saving for plastics or work on toning what you can so you might improve things. . Take care, Annette

Oh for Pete's sake....your NUT is a nut! I am approaching my yr. mark and have lost it all slow as molasses. Big frickin' deal! It's come off hasn't it? If you've truly embraced the change this surgery is, then you'll be fine in the long run. If you haven't, well...we all know what happens. Call them on the comment, they need to understand how to better communicate to us as bariatric patients. When I had my lapband in 2006 the Dr. AND his staff (nut, assistants, etc.) had horrible communication skills with me and I probably should have called them on it, but being uncertain I didn't. Now, since my sleeve, the new Dr. And team are amazing. Chalk it up to your NUT needs to be schooled and do some schooling. . Best of luck.