loridee11

Well I have my date and it is Dec 31. Later than I was hoping since it would be much easier to take the time off in dec then January but they’ve co firmed if something earlier opens up they’ll call me. And at least I have a date and it is 2019 😀

Congrats all with dates! Turns out my dr is on vacation this week so he still hasn’t reviewed anything. He’s back Friday and nurse said she’d get it in front of him but soooo frustrating. Still hoping for December date!

Congratulations to all of you with a date! Still waiting but keeping my fingers crossed. When I was there a week ago Friday they were still scheduling in November so I'm hopeful they'll have space in December (and hopefully early December). For those of you who have shared a Dec date, I'm following you on the site so we can stay in touch through this journey. Go us

No call yet but the office warned me it could be up to 2 weeks. I’ll call back Monday if I don’t hear anything since I’m Impatient 😊

Hi All, I'm getting ready to have surgery in Dec (just waiting on final surgery date) and I'm wondering if anyone was all by themselves at the hospital? I'm not married or in a relationship right now and all my family lives out of state. I do have local friends who I've told about the surgery and one of them is going to stay with me for a couple of days after surgery - but I don't really want to ask her to also come sit in the hospital day of (no real value). What I'm wondering is was anyone else in a similar situation? Were you able to take a bag and did they just put it in the room for you? Appreciate advice from anyone who has been through this! Lori

Thanks all! I’ll Uber there and I have a friend who will pick me up and stay with me so I’m all good for after. Glad to hear the time in hospital should be fine 🙂

I'm in a pre-op stall right now. I'm tracking all my food and eating between 1000-1300 calories a day, drinking lots of water and getting protein in. I'm wondering if maybe I need to up to 1500 calories a day? For reference, I'm almost 5'10 and still over 300... It's been about 10 days this time (second stall since July)...

Thanks for posting this video!

Congrats! I'll share my date when I have it. It will be great to have a Dec cohort

Congrats! I also had a lapband removed after 13 years (removal in August). The approval for the RNY was separate for me. Lapband removal was based on issues with the lapband, then I had to qualify for RNY on it's own. Every insurance is likely different. I'll let you know my date as soon as I have it! ~Lori

Can anyone recommend a good blender for the pureed stage - something that's not expensive like the vitamix but still works well?

My psych appointment is scheduled for Oct 25 and that’s the last milestone. If all goes well I’m hoping for surgery the first week of Dec. I’m vacillating between excited and second guessing myself. I’ve been able to lose the presurgery weight pretty easily so I am telling myself I could just keep going that way. I also know I’ve lost weight before and it’s keeping it off that’s the real challenge... back and forth back and forth ...

I’ve told my mom and 2 friends. My boss only knows I’m having surgery. I’ve asked those I’ve told not to share but I fully expect my mom to talk to my aunt. I have a cousin that had it last year so I’m sure they will be told as well.

Hi all, What is your favorite clear liquid protein? I tried the Premier Protein fruit punch and it was WAY to sweet for my taste buds so I'm curious what others have liked. Thanks in advance! Lori

Thanks!!!

For anyone who has Kaiser insurance in northern CA - my surgeon is requiring weight loss before surgery. The office tells you to call when you are about 5 lbs to goal so they can start pre-op reviews and then schedule. I'm curious what all the pre-op reviews include (I know it includes a psych review but not what else) and how long from when you hit your 5lbs to goal until your actual surgery. I'm really hoping to have surgery in early December since it's a quieter time at work, but I likely won't hit my 5 lbs to goal until mid-October at the earliest. Thanks for sharing! Lori

My doctor requires you to lose weight before considering you for surgery. In my case, 28lbs. I've been weighing daily (I went back and forth on daily v. weekly but decided daily makes sense while I am learning how my body responds to things). I'm down 20 lbs (ish.... I think it's closer to 15 because my scale reads lower than the Dr.'s). This week, despite doing really well with food (between 1200-1500 cal per day) I gained weight. I KNOW sometimes this happens - it could be water weight or could be my body just being weird - but it's super frustrating. My plan is to just ride it out and keep being good, but would appreciate any tips from others. Thanks, Lori

Hi all, I'm having issues with my band and my doctor is saying we may need to remove it. If so the option is to either simply remove or to remove and if possible switch to a bypass. I'm very nervous and am wondering if anyone would be willing to share their experience? A little background: I had my lapband in 2007 and for the first few years I did great. I lost 145 pounds. At about the 4 year mark I started having issues with heartburn and night cough (basically, I would wake up choking on fluid0 and had a series of unfills that put me at about 50% restriction. I've been there for awhile and over the last 6 years I've gained back about 100 lbs. However, after a cold in January I started having serious issues. I could eat food, but when I would drink fluids without food they would get stuck above the band and I was again waking up choking. Doctor did a complete unfill last week and I am feelig better. She wants me to wait 2 months with NO fill so I can heal some, and then we can try small refills to see if I can g3t restriction again without the issues. She is doubtful of success and wants me to start thinking about if it fails do we remove or do we remove and convert to Bypass. For those of you who chose the conversation, what helped you make that decision? And, how has life with Bypsass been different than with the band? I really appreciate any insight anyone can share! Lori

Hi all, Has anyone here switched from a lap band to gastric bypass? I'm having issues with my band and my doctor is saying we may need to remove it. If so the option is to either simply remove or to remove and if possible to a bypass. I'm very nervous and am wondering if anyone would be willing to share their experience? A little background: I had my lapband in 2007 and for the first few years I did great. I lost 145 pounds. At about the 4 year mark I started having issues with heartburn and night cough and had a series of unfills that put me at about 50% restriction and over the last 6 years I've gained back about 100 lbs. However, after a cold in January I started having serious issues, I couldn't even get water down. Doctor did a complete unfill and now we are waiting for things to heal before we try to add restriction again. If it fails she is recommending the bypass. I really appreciate any insight anyone can share! Lori

thank you all so much for the feedback and sharing your stories. It's good to hear the overall change was positive for all of you. LaLa Ladybug, keep me informed how it goes with your surgery in July!

Hi All, I am almost 7 years post op. Originally I did very well. I went down from around 335 to 184 in a little over two years. I had several skin removal surgeries and at 4 years out I was doing great. I was working out regularly and had a good handle on my diet. A few things happened and I stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. Of course, I started to gain weight. I tried tightening my band to counteract and ended up with heartburn, reflux and night cough. I took my band up and down and finally removed most of the Fluid in November. All heartburn, etc... is gone, but my weight is up - over the last 3 years I've gained 80 lbs back and I'm at 265. I am ready to recommit to losing weight. I know what it takes - healthy food and exercise. I want to add some fluid back into my band to help but am afraid too. I don't want to experience the negative side effects. I'm mostly looking for support and am hoping to find it here. If anyone has been through this and was able to relose the weight I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I'd just love to hear from those who have lost the weight. Success is the best motivation. Thank you all, Lori

I read once that there is a hormone that is released that causes hunger. Dependng on band placement you can actually trigger a response that stops that hormone - I really can't recall what it is - but it sounds like that may be what you are experiencing. While I'm a little jealous (I am hungry all the time!) - please make sure you are eating and getting your nutrients! Being malnourished is worse than being over weight! ~Lori

I can relate about falling off the wagon due to issues impacting you. I won't go into details, but after doing great I had a few things happen and started to eat more and stop working out due to emotional issues. I'm trying to get back on track, and it is significantly harder than it was the first time. I feel like I can't get started. I am going to go in and get a fill (i had a significant unfill after some issues with being too tight). In addition, I just joined Weight Watchers. Looking back, I wasn't eating the right foods when i lost the weight last time, I was just working out enough to compensate. I am going to try to really learn how to eat right in addition to the exercise to see if I can't make it stick this time around. Feel free to message me - I could also use the support! Lori

Thank you all for the feedback and support! Even before I took the Fluid out I was gaining weight as I was eating around my band - too many sweets and slider foods and I wasn't exercising. Loosening the band just made it worse. I will make an appointment with my dr. and talk with him. It's expensive for me to get my band filled as I've moved and am with a doctor who did not do my surgery --- but better slow and a little expensive than going up an down. I'll also see if he thinks there could be a placement issue. I have a good friend who is a dietician who would probably help me out - that's a great suggestion! Again - I really appreciate the support! ~Lori

Hi Everyone, I had my band surgery just over 6 years ago. In the first 3 years I did great. I lost 145 lbs, was eating well and working out regularly. I had cosmetic surgery to remove extra skin and was doing great. Then I had some life issues and I stopped working out and watching what I ate (looking back I think I as depressed - but all that matters is I fell back into old habits). Since then I've had 2 deaths of those close to me and moved 3 times, one to a new state. In the last 3 years I have gained 60 lbs back. Part of that is due to the bad habits, and part because I had my band deflated due to night cough before i moved out of state. I have decided to get back on wagon and recently got a fill. I am trying to eat better and really trying to get back to working out. Since my fill I am good during the day. I have some restriction, but can still eat any foods I want and drink as much liquid as I want- just the quantity of food is restricted. However, after I stop eating at night liquid has a hard time passing, and I find that it sits above the band - and if I lay down I feel like it is coming up my throat. Any suggestions? I'd like to avoid an unfill if I can since my restriction the rest of the time is good. Thank you all! ~Lori