DebLPN

Pleaseeeeeeeee dopn't get caught up in the "am i lsoing enough" trap. If you are doing what you know is right, and you are losing,,,give yourself credit!! Try not to worry about the rate at which you lose,,we are all different. I only had to do Atkins shakes for 2 meals a day prior to my surgery. You're doing much better than I could have done on all fliuids!! Keep up the good work!!! banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

Hi Patricia and welcome!! I'm 53 and my pre-surg wt was 331 and i'm 5' 2". As far as do 'we' lose faster than our lighter weight conterparts,,I have no idea. MY road on this journey is measured soley against myself,,not anyone else. I focus (try to,,lol) on how I feel, how I look, how much I'M losing and am tackling some of my emotional issues that caused me to become morbidly obese. This site is great to share experiences and strength and support. Pleaseeeeeee don't worry about how much anyone else has lost,,,concentrate on YOU!! Heck,,I went to a support meeting last month and sat next to a woman how has lost 20 pounds more than me and she has been banded HALF the time I have. If I start looking at her and measure my sucess or failure by her program,,I'm sabatoging my own self. If I know I'km doing what I'm supposed to be doing, I'll get the results in the end. Everyone is different. EXERCISE,,,,,I do water aerobics 3 times a week and do a few gym things,,nothing real heavy or hard. The gym has a water aerobics called "Gentle Joints" and even tho it sounds like a breeze,,lol,,it ISN'T! It also has an underwater sit up thing,,underwater treadmill and bike. My knee is shot, so it really helps. Be kind to yourself along this journey. You're not alone. banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

Well,,,,,,my arm/shoulder pain went away after 8 days of hell. I just woke up and it was gone! BUT,,now I have tingling and some numb areas on my arm. I asked my surgeon about these symptoms yesterday at my monthly visit. He said yes, it can cause SHOULDER pain but not the arm pain, tingling and numbness I'm experiencing,,that its probably something cerviacl. *sighs* Ohwell,,,i can live with it as it doesn't really interfer with my ADL. banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

Hi rogers! Where in MS? Congrats on taking the plunge! banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

I hope no one takes my above post as me thinking I'm 'high and mighty' or an authority or anything other than a garden variety, middle-aged obese woman trying to learn and share my experiences. I guess sometimes when I post, it's almost like I'm writing to myself. Kinda of like a kick in my own bum! We learn things by repetition and I try to repeat positive things in my head and aloud. I like brutal honesty from others and I tend to be the same way when share my thoughts and experiences here. Never in a million years would I ever talk down in a demeaning way to anyone new. If I came across that way,,,please accept my sincere apology. (and if it was just my paranoid personality thinking it was me,,ignore this post,,hahahaha) banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

bradslpam~ Glad to hear your pain is subsiding! Never be afraid to call your surgeon and or the his/her staff when you have concerns. He/she works FOR YOU! banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

OK,,here's MY take on it: I'm intelligent and I read up on every aspect of the surgery and the aftercare. I read posts on this site and others,,listening to the problems of others. Nah,,I wont have any problem controlling my eating, because,,hey,,I'm smart,,I've been preparing for this mentally for months and I'm a self pay,,lol. If almost 20 thousand dollars doesnt encourage me to stick with it nothing will. WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL,,, 1) THE BAND IS A TOOL. Could you build a bookcase without a hammer? I can't control what I eat without my 'tool' either. If I'd wanted to give up total control I'd have done the roux-n-y, eatten whatever I wanted and watch it go in one hole and shoot right out the other. My band helps restrict the portion size of what I eat. It does NOT restrict the KINDS of foods. Malts and chocolate syrup can still go down that small hole. 2)IF NOTHING CHANGES,,NOTHING CHANGES. You can't keep on doing the same ole things and expect to get different results. I still have to NOT eat candy, cake, white flour, fizzy drinks and sugar. I DO have to eat Protein, veggies and carbs,,in that order and in the amounts specified by my surgeon. Expect tough love from somer bandsters and your surgeon. While we can empathize with you,,we can't take the steps for you. Having said all that,,hahahaha,,I STILL fall prey to fatigue, not being prepared, rebellion and lots of other emotions. It's essential for ME to realize that I am not perfect but I can damn well do my best to comply with the aftercare plan laid out in black and white by my surgeon and dietician. That includes taking time to analyze why I overeat. Identifying emotions that lead to eating crap. It may mean that sometimes I feel 'head hunger' and I need to learn how to deal with those emotions that lead me to make bad choices. SO,,,my advice is,,,sit down and really think about your decision. Truely understand on an intellectual and emotional basis that the band is not a magic cure. Eveyone's experiences are different. I honestly believe that if I do what I know to be right, the results I seek will be realized. Would I have still done the lap band, knowing that it would still require some self control on my part? You're damned right I would. In a heartbeat. Know that you have an enormous community of people who have walked the path before you and are here to share their experiences. You are not alone in your journey. (man,,when i get on a tear i can't stop,,hahaha) banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

TexasRose - For years I worked as a volunteer for a 24 hour crisis hotline. They trained us thoroughly and one of the BEST lines I've ever heard was " Would you like to talk about why you feel the need to (fill in the blank), ie, make comments like that to a total stranger,,or,,comment on something so personal as my weight,,or,, come to a bar, get drunk and humiliate yourself by asking asinine questions of a lady? The list is endless and applicable to every situation. Years ago,,one of the men I worked with insulted me at a business luncheon. He thought he would make himself look big in other's eyes or somehow inflate his sagging ego I suppose. He waited until I prepared my plate of food and sat down at the table and said "Damn,,do you think you got enough food on your plate? Trying to remain cool, calm and collected and not rip his throat out,,I replied, "Bill,,would you like to talk about why you feel a need to to watch what I eat and try to embarass me in front of my peers?" You could have heard a pin drom. It pissed him off royally. He shoved back the chair and stomped out of the room. Using that statement took his power away and ended up making me look to be the more mature person. Did i just cringe inside when he said those things? YES Did I want to curl up under the table and die? YES Did the world end? NO. Keep your head high. I love the Desiderata,,,and when I feel like I'm struggling, I like to remember a part of it that says: Nurture strength and spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born out of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholeseom discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less that the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Hold your head high,,you are a wonderful creation!! banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

sweetsue--you wondered if people will notice you taking tiny bites and chewing, chewing chewing. When preparing my plate, I cut my meat into small--not microscopic pieces-because that is what works best FOR ME. I think us rubenesque girls are so used to being self-conscious that we are kinda paranoid. I like to tell myself ,,"What makes me think that I am so important as to be the center ot discussion ?" I believe we are much harder on ourselves than our friends, co-workers, relatives could ever be. For ME,,,it takes self-talk and therapy(ongoing,,lol) to get past the fear of others judging me. I am me,,i take small bites and chew thoroughly and I smile and listen to the conversations going on around me. I enjoy who I'm becoming,,and worrying about what others think of ANYTHING I do will not impede my progress!!! WHEW,,,I needed to hear that ,,hahaha. Banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland_CMMC-Jackson, MS

I've stuck my 2 cents worth in the other threads about left arm/shoulder pain,,,I'll say it again here. I woke up abut 2 weeks ago with horrific left shoulder/bicep pain. Sharp, stabbing,,aching pain,,,allllllll day and night for 8 days. I took every pill I could find,,gas-x, ,alox, muscle relaxers, pain pills, anti anxiety pills, sleeping pills(all left overs from nothing related to upper body stuff) and NOTHING relieved the pain. Then,,,I woke up one morning and it was almost gone. It still has an occasional deep aching in my shoulder down the top of mya rm,,and it tingles and is numb most the time but the pain is hardly noticable. It never mattered what I ate,,or how much, or when. I'm beginning to think it IS a nerve that becomes impinged during surgeryand only shows up after significant weight loss. That's MY theory anyway. As long as it doesnt start hurting horribly bad again,,I can live with the numbness and tingling. WHEW! I think I've finally gotten it out of my system. Thanks ! banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

WOW,,it amazes me that he charges that much for a one minute simple procedure. All I do is lay down on a table in the examining room witha a smalll pillow underneath my waist, he palpates my port,,sticks it,,withdraws to check it,,injects a little then withdraws. Takes all of a minute or two. Of course, I dont know what he charges those that have insurance. Yeah,,I worked in the health insurance industry for 24 years bofore going back to school for my LPN. ICD-9 and CPT-4 codes are constantly being up[dated as new procedures come along,,alot of the time they cant keep up with all the new procedures but eventually develope a code. Take a look at this site,,it give s a Medicare HPCPS code for the fill(see page 24 at teh very bottom) Adjustment of gastric band diameter – use the HCPCS code S2083 ANYWAY,,,,,here is Dr Cleveland's office number, I dont know who does the insurance there:Phone: (601) 376-2474 or 1-877- LIGHT WT (877-544-4898) Email:lightwt@cmmc.hma-corp.com Good luck!!

Haven't reached my 'sweet spot' yet and I have 1.6cc in a 4cc band. I feel no restriction at all, actually. BTW,,I take Calcium Caltrate 600 Vit D, chewable,,,as well as my multivit and Biotin,,both also chewable. Banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

<p>Wish I could help, but I was a self-pay and all my visits and fills were included in my global fee. I'll ask next Thursday when I go for my doctor visit and see what they do to bill for a fill.</p> <p> </p> <p>banded 1/29/07</p> <p>Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS</p> <p></p> <p>

When I first started thinking about exercising after being banded,,I was mortified. I'd not done anything strenuous in so long(other than go to LPN school) I joined a place at a local hospital called Healthline. It is a gym and an indoor pool(and a therapy pool). I go to water aerobics 3 times a week, one hour session plus I do 30 more minutes. My left knee is shot, so it really helps to be in the water rather than pounding it out on a hard surface. PLUS,,,I ENJOYYYYYYYYY it! That's a big deal with me,,I have to enjoy what I'm doing or I wont stick with it.

Hello from the Jackson area! I was banded Jan 29th, 2007 by Dr Ken Cleveland at CMMC. We have a support meeting the 2nd Tues of each month. Also, there is a support meeting with a psychologist prior to the other support meeting,,lol. Last time I went, I was the only bandster there,,out of about 25 folks. I've seen 2 or 3 other times. There IS a Mississippi thread, under the states section and a few have posted there. Good to see other G.R.I.T.S.!!!!!!

Welllllll,,,I woke up yesterday and my left shoulder pain was GONE! Actually,,,it moved down my arm to my bicep, but was MUCH less hurtful, altho I do have some numbness,,ohwell,,it's not gonna kill me,,i hope,,hahahaha. My surgeon poo-pooed the gas theory, its common after surgery, but I'm 6 months out,,any CO2 that was shot into me is long gone by now. Anywhooooooo,,I just hope it doesnt come back.

I was banded on Jan 29th, 2007. I was a self pay and it cost me $16,500. That incliuded the surgeon, anesthesia, hospital charges, the preop scope, any complications the first 6 months, office follow-ups and all fills for one year. Bariatric Surgeon Profile - Kenneth Cleveland, M.D. Central Mississippi Medical Center I'm very pleased with my treatment pre and post op. I see Dr Cleveland once a month for one year. He is thorough and no nonsense, and I like that. I highly recommend Dr Cleveland and CMMC. :clap2:

Interesting article,,,,,,,,,,what i want to know is,,,is there anything they can do to stop the excrutiating pain?????????????? I'm 6 months out and its killing me. It interfers with my everyday life adn is constant.

My left shoulder/arm pain started 8 days ago and hasn't eased any since. It doesnt matter if I'm full or empty, active or sedentary, awake of asleep. I've tried Gas-X, pain pills, antiiflammatories, antianxiety pills, coldpacks, hotpacks, hand held vibrator,,nothing helps. I almost cry everyday, knowing I can't exist like this the rest of my life.

This is day 8 of my shoulder pain. It is constant,,doesnt matter if i'm empty, full, active, sedentary and exercising doesnt help any either. I've taken pain pills, Gas-X, antiinflammatories,,nothing helps. I cant live the rest of my life in this pain.

I've been banded since 1/29/07 and one week ago, woke up with what i thought was a crick in my neck. My left shoulder/arm has hurt like holy hell every waking moment of every day since. I"ve eatten gas X, Tylenol, Aleve, Xanax, Flexeril and Tramadol and NOTHING helps. I cant live with this kind of unrelenting pain for the rest of my life. Ohyeah,,there is numbness too,,along my arm and my fingertips. I find it peculiar that with as many people on this site that have it,,and all the websites I looked at(i just typed in 'left arm pain bariatric surgery')they ALL mention that it is common to have this type of pain, yet my surgeon never mentioned this as a side effect or complication. None of the sites say if it lasts forever or comes and goes ,,nothing,,and they sure dont mention what the hell to do to aleviate the pain. Its 11pm, i just took my xanax and Tramadol,,HOPEFULLY I will get some sleep.

(checking to see if i actually learned how to chankge my ticker)

Well,,,its 5 days since my last post here and my arm/shoulder.scapula still hurt like hell. Nothing helps. My next visit is next Thursady,,if I can make it that long without calling him to amputate my arm. sighs

Went to water aerobics today,hoping it might help my left shoulder/arm pain, but it didn't. It has hurt nonstop until I've almost gone to teh ER except I have no insurance and I know they cant do anything anyway. Gonna call my surgeon Monday,,I cant go on like this much longer.It hurts regardless of whether I've eaten or not, whether I'm standing, sitting, laying down.

My shoulder pain has been awful all day long today. No matter what I do, it hurts. I read alot of articles online about bariatric surgery and left shoulder pain and it appears that it is a fairly common problem. Diaphram nerves irritated/injured and referred pain to the left shoulder. None of the articles gave any indication of how long the pain will last, what to do to aleviate it,,nothing. Just says 'it happens'. PFFFFT