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:confused_smile:I agree, my doctor also says it is an individual thing. I had a fill two weeks ago now at 3.5 cc in 10 cc band and have another scheduled for this friday. I had a regular dinner tonight and don't feel that full. Roast pork, mashed potatoes, string beans two rolls and two small petit fours...shouldn't be able to eat that much. She's right why suffer,this is supposed to help us control our intake. I still am struggling with eating slower but still I can eat far too much and have my stomach growling all day long.

Do you feel it was worth it? I feel like if I can get 7-10 years out of my band it will have been a success. Of course, we all want more but you made it almost to a decade before the problems overwhelmed the band? If my band failed say after 8 years, I'd consider having another one. Of course, other bodily parts may not agree with that and I'd have to go with a sleeve or nothing at all? Or, maybe plication? Good luck and let us know how it all works out for you?

I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Every surgeon seems to have a different opinion about weight loss before surgery. Yes the fat from your liver burns first making your liver smaller and lighter. Surgeons requirements go from not required to absolutely required and large amounts at that! If it were me I would look for a different surgeon or at the very least get a second opinion. My surgeon strongly recommended a 10 lb loss, this was not a requirement but was stressed as being very important and to do the best I could. If you don't have any other options for a surgeon and you really want the band then you will have to meet his requirements no matter how grueling. Good luck we are all here for you

That is exactly what I would do. If you try to limit your calories to 1200-1500 for the next 2 weeks, plus get a bit of exercise in, then hit it hard the last 2 weeks with the liquid diet, then you should lose that 10 pounds. Have you tried different types of Protein Shakes? I have tried them all and I can't stand any of them, except for one. Trader Joe's has a whey protein powder (chocolate is good) that has more carbs than the others because it contains sugar instead of artifical sweeteners. I really like it. I blend it with 1% milk and ice and it makes a malt. It has a tiny aftertaste, but it is small and it doesn't hit until after you drink it. I love it... Do you have a Trader Joes? It costs about $8 a can... It is not the Designer Whey (that one is gross!) Good luck!!!

I've been gone from BandLand for awhile due to some technical difficulties as well as an extremely crazy schedule. I'm back thanks to my dear husband who got me a brand new laptop so that I would be able to stay entertained while recovering from my band surgery. I'm actually pretty discouraged at the moment regarding my future band. I was initially supposed to get my band on February 27th. However, I unexpectedly ended up in the hospital on Feb 7th with severe pains and ended up having a (benign) tumor removed that was pinching one of my ovaries. I was out of work for 3 weeks and had to reschedule my surgery for May 1st. Unfortunately, when I went in to my doctors office the Thursday before my surgery he determined that I had not lost enough weight to be able to proceed. I was supposed to lose 5% of my body weight prior to the surgery which for me was a minimum of a 19 pound weight loss. I had only lost 12 pounds and my doctor refused to go forward until I lose another 10. (Not sure why I have to lose more now than I did before) I'm super frustrated because dieting is obviously an issue for me. Otherwise, why would I be having the band in the first place? We have been under a lot of financial strain lately and so I've taken a 2nd job and am basically working about 70 hours a week to try and pay down some debt and save enough for my co-pay for this procedure. Mon-Fri I eat every single meal away from home. Which means I'm living on Lean Cuisines which, while tasty, get VERY old sometimes. My doctor wants me to be on a strict pre-surgical diet consisting of 3 Slim-Fast's per day and unlimited fruits and veggies. I'm supposed to stick to this diet 75% of the time. It's just so hard becuase I truly dislike Slim-Fast (as well as all other Meal Replacement shakes) and it's such an extreme diet that i don't understand how anyone could be expected to maintain this diet over such a long period of time. Especially a person who so obviously doesn't do well with diets in the first place. Plus, I've essentially been trying to stick to this diet since January and I suppose it's pretty obvious by my failure to lose enough weight that it's just not going well for me. I'm experiencing an extreme lack of motivation and an overwhelming discouragement regarding the band. I was so excited to have it back in February. To be delayed essentially 3 months has really eroded my confidence that this is really the right thing for me. What if this is a sign that I am not supposed to do this? What if I can't succeed in this? I've never known success in this area and this latest setback has really knocked my feet out from under me. I have so much goin on in my life right now. And I am so FRICKING tired of focusing on food so much! Whether I'm binging or dieting it's all the same. All I can think about is what I can eat and what I can't eat and then feel bad because I either ate something I shouldn't have or becuase I want to eat something I shouldn't. I'm just so damn tired of the whole thing. :think

Today's first fill/adjustment appointment went well. I laid down on this table and the doctor injected a numbing agent. That stung a wee bit but not bad. He inserted something - maybe a needle(?) and then made that table vertical so that I would be standing. I drank some of the white liquid and he filled me completely so it was just sitting there above the band; eww! I felt like I had bad heartburn! Then he opened it up to watch the liquid go through. We did that routine a couple times and I also drank some water. He took whatever it was out and I got some gauze and a band-aid. Tada, bye bye. It was maybe 10-15 minutes. For lunch, I had a protein shake, half of this small pudding cup, and half of a cranberry juice and was FULL. Whew! I can definitely tell I'm adjusted now!!!

So far it seems mine is any where from 10 to 12 pounds. I was wondering the same thing how much weight lost between needing fills?

Well it has been just over 8 months since I was sleeved. I cannot believe how much weight I have lost! As of today I have lost exactly 100 lbs since the beginning of my 2 week liquid diet...down to the ounce! That puts me 10 lbs below my goal and sitting at 140.8 lbs! I went from wearing a tight 20 size and 1x shirt down to a 4/6 and size small! I did my measurements a few days ago and has lost a grand total of 100 3/4 inches off my body!! NEVER did I picture myself wearing these sizes. I was always very size goal oriented. I really just wanted to wear a size 8 and a large so it amazes me just what the sleeve has done for me :smile1: Even with all the initial issues I am SO glad I had the sleeve done. Thank you all for all the support you have shown over these last few months and a huge thank you to those that really laid it all out there for me a week before my surgery when I was ready to chicken out!

I just nosed around (very quickly) and that appears to be the case. Inamed originally marketed 9.75 and 10cc bands that held only 4cc's in them. They are the old style bands. Then there was an interim 10 cc band, and now they have the AP (for "advanced platform) bands in 2 sizes...one holds 10 ccs and the large holds 14ccs . Having read this, if I were you, I'd call my surgeon and ask why he used the older style band, and what he suggest you do since you still don't have any restriction? If it only holds 4ccs, then he likely won't be able to tighten it enough to help you. How odd, huh?

First question : I'm about 4 weeks post op and have hit my first stall. I have lost 21 pound so far but that was all in my first two weeks. I haven't lost any weight in the last two weeks. How long will this last, and what can I do to jump start it? Second question : I must admit I haven't be exercising as much as I should. I brought a treadmill and low and behold there were no screws to put it together, so right now I'm In the process of waiting for the company to send me new screws but I don't want to sit around and wait to much longer. So how long did u guys wait before you went to the gym? I don't wanna just go to get on the treadmill I will like to do other exercises as well. My doctor said at this point I can lift up to 10 pound. Thanks in advance guys!

I looked into WLS a few years ago, but my insurance didn't cover it, so that was that. A couple weeks ago, my wife told me that someone at her work is having WLS and that her insurance covers it. I've always had her insurance as my secondary insurance, but it never occured to me that they would cover it even if mine didn't. I called the clinic that her co-worker had hers done at, and inquired about my insurance situation. Sure enough, if my primary insurance doesn't cover, the secondary will. That clinic is out of network, but told me that they will bill as out of network, but then for my co-pay they will only charge me as much as if I was in-network. I made an appointment. I completed my paperwork and faxed it in a few days ago. I was scheduled to have a phone appointment tomorrow, and then a meeting with the surgeon a week from tomorrow. The clinic called me today and said they had a cancellation tomorrow and wanted to know if I wanted to move my meeting with the surgeon to then. I'm super excited to meet with the surgeon tomorrow and get my process started. I'm hoping that my secondary insurance doesn't have a 6 month process the way a lot of them do. As for my story, I've been overweight a good portion of my life. When I was 17, I was helping my dad move an 1800 pound safe off a truck and it fell off the truck and onto my foot. It resulted in a 10 day hospital stay and amputation of my foot. Even with that, I've always been active but a few years later was north of 300 pounds. A few years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and also borderline high blood pressure. I've been trying, without success, to get some weght off to keep my diabetes in check. A year and a half ago, I woke one morning with incredible pain in my back. I went to my PCP, who told me essentially to quit being a baby and go home and walk it off, and if I wasn't feeling better in a few days to a week, then come back and see him. Later that afternoon, I went to my chiropractor, who advised me that with my symptoms I should go to the ER. I did and was diagnosed with cauda equina, which is essentially when a disc ruptures and presses into the nerves in your back. I was immediately transported to Swedish in Seattle (about an hour and a half away) and that night had surgery on my back. My neurosurgen told me that if I hadn't had surgery within 72 hours, she is pretty confident I would have been paralyzed. I ended up with some significant nerve damage in my legs, but I was lucky because I seeked out prompt medical attention so I can still walk and have use of my lower extremities. I do still have a lot of nerve pain in my legs, and right now my neurosurgen is trying to address that. Every day that I have to be able to walk and play with my kids is a blessing however. Now I'm hoping to get rid of this weight so I can be even more active and involved in their lives. Wish me luck at my meeting with my neurosurgen tomorrow! I do have my reservations however, because I'm going to Puget Sound Surgical Center, which, for those of you who have been following, is where iggychick got her sleeve done. However, her doctor was Dr. Billing and I'm meeting with Dr. Crouthamel. It will be interesting knowing iggychick's story, how forthcoming he is when I ask about complications, not only his, but of the clinic as a whole. It will show me how trustworthy Dr. Crouthamel is.

I still feel like crap. Missing food but can't eat anyway. Having trouble drinking sips of clear liquids. Drinking powerade, broth, jello and ice pops. I still feel pain in my stomach, hate chewing the pain pills...uh liquid is avail. why did they give me pills. Will ask Dr on Tuesday. Eric trying to help out but at night when he drinks he says stupid ass things. Called me a douchbag, baby, asshole, bitch...wow this is really helpful in my healing process. Todayhe put some clothes away...not mine only his. At least he is trying to keep house clean, complaining all the way but trying. Will take Nicholas out to Taco Bell for lunch I think so will be quiet a few minutes (I Hope).

Wow, you have lost 10 lbs per month! That's great! Here is a little reality check, people are more interested in themselves and seldom pay attention to what others are doing. And if they are paying attention and criticizing you, then kick um to the curb and move on because they are not a loving part of your life. You will lose more weight and have less loose skin to boot! It will happen, just give it time. Now it may be time you start eating adult food though. Like lean meats and lots of other Protein based foods. Try to avoid sugars and carbs for a while. You should be at a stage where you can eat regular food now. I eat a lot of chicken, fish, pork and beef. I will then eat a little bit of veggies if i have room. The baby food you have been eating may have too much sugar and is also processed. I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. Hope this helps.

Hello, I am pre-op and I have a “habit” I need to change. Right now, my 10 year old niece and I meet over Zoom once a week and simultaneously try a snack from a different part of the world. I ship it from Amazon the week before so we both get it in time. I’m wondering what else we can do. This bonding and shared experience has been really great during COVID and I don’t want to lose the shared experience, but it’s not sustainable as I approach surgery. I’ve thought of toys as a replacement, but neither of us really need toys every week. Books would be great but I don’t want to pressure her into reading by a deadline or anything like that, especially while she is in school. What else could we do that we could share, without mixing unhealthy foods into it? Thank you all for answering my questions that I’ve posed so far!

Well my time is almost here and I am somewhat calm (surprisingly). I feel good! I'm going home and clean a little bit and get my hospital bag together for my two day hospital stay. I will get there at 5:30am and I'm guessing the sugery will be at 7:00am. That's about it...so no stress to because I'm too BLESSED! Sheila Be BLESSED!

2 - 10 minutes machines, 10 minutes elliptical, 30 minutes bike, 25 minutes treadmill 4 - 25 minutes elliptical, 25 minutes treadmill, 10 minutes bike 5 - 60 minute spin class 6 - 15 minutes elliptical, 25 minutes treadmill, 20 minutes bike 7 - 60 minute spin class 10 - 60 minute spin class 12 - 60 minute spin class 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 -

I'm in. I already committed to the other thanksgiving challenge, but I borrowed from your other thread and made goals for all three Holidays. I am ready for my challenge. Challenge #1 November Challenge: ends on 11/22/12. ~ Surgery Date (SD): 9/4/12 ~ Starting Weight (SW): 301 ~ Surgery Weight: 269 ~ Current Weight (CW): 234.9 ~ Goal Weight (GW): 160 ~ Thanksgiving Goal 225 Challenge #2 December Challenge: ends on 12/25/12. ~ Surgery Date (SD): 9/4/12 ~ Starting Weight (SW): 301 ~ Surgery Weight: 269 ~ Current Weight (CW): 234.9 ~ Goal Weight (GW): 160 ~ Christmas Goal 215 Challenge #3 January Challenge: ends on 01/01/13. ~ Surgery Date (SD): 9/4/12 ~ Starting Weight (SW): 301 ~ Surgery Weight: 269 ~ Current Weight (CW): 234.9 ~ Goal Weight (GW): 160 ~ New Years Goal 212

I'm excited yet I'm nervous 10 days left

I started the liquid diet today. So far I'm doing really well. I had a premiere protein shake(caramel) I added 1 scoop of genepro and topped it off with some coffee. That took me up until a little after 10 a.m. I started at 8:30 a.m. I'm not hungry but I have some Gatorade2 lime that I've been sipping on. I have some jello for lunch. I'm not supposed to start the diet until next Wednesday on the 22nd. However, I want to start early so that I can get the most out of my sleeve. Surgery is on March 1st. Pray for me Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello, I also have UHC and they are pretty strict with the 6 month program. It seems like a long time but really the time flew by. I would suggest you make sure you are on a good 6 month plan. I know someone who did WW but didn't track all of the exercise etc and got denied. My surgeon's office has a whole team that will assist with the 6 month program and they know what it takes to get you approved through your insurance. I just got approved for my surgery, it only took them 10 days from the date the ppk was submitted. Also the plan helps you to start eating better so it is not such a drastic change. As for your job, I am not sure about that but if you lost it, it would probably still be cheaper to get the COBRA coverage than to self pay for the surgery. Best of luck.

There is nothing that says it should be replaced every 10 years or so....... I am a size 8 (Australian) which equates to a size 4 US. My port doesn't stick out but I am sure everyone is different. It depends on where the port is placed and where you lose your weight. I have skinny hips/legs but do not have a completely flat stomach.

I'm on a similar pre-op diet but mine is 1200 calories and my NUT wants me to lose about 10 lbs before surgery (even though I don't have insurance approval yet). 1700 is fine. Your body needs a minimum of 1200 calories a day in order to prevent it from going into starvation mode.

glad to hear everything went so smoothly. mine went fast and smooth too. the only pain i felt was on the left side for 10 days , felt like a badly pulled muscle. hope all goes well for you. im banded 4 months ago, best decision ever ! Good luck and let us know how you're doing. you've got lots of support here !

Okay guys....IM BORED~ And this sucks. I hate to be bored. My boy is asleep....my mom is watching TV...Im on this computer....WHAT TO DO WHAT TO DO~~~ Its too cold outside to do anything......My cleanning is all done. My sons birthday party is all planned. I actually have free time and I dont know what to do with it. My body is in shock and its retaliating with BOREDUM....I could read, but Im too restless. I have my Christmas cards all ready done and sent out........I could wrap presents but then I run the risk of my son catching me......8 years ago today I was admitted into the hospital to have my son, and he was born THREE days later. I cant tell you how much pitosin I was given...GALLONS it seemed. But I had my little boy on 12/19/97....at 6:15am.........He is my Christmas Mirical thats for sure. He was sooo little when he came home, he was a month premature, I was going to bring him home in a stocking..ehehehehehe He was born early on purpose, because I was having such a complicated pregnancy. DUMDEEDUUUU I am so bored....I am so bored......why am I bothering you all with this?? Well thanks for listening...maybe I will listen to some music...STAINED....that show by the way WAS SOOOO FREEKIN COOL!!! Hey, the bar is right down the street~~ with in walking distance, so I could technically go have me a calorie infused drink and walk it off.....eeeeyaaaa no...That could be bad....this bored and drinking..... wouldn't mix well...I would have to wear the happy boots and a trench coat~ ehehehe HAY THATS NOT A BAD IDEA.......ok going to do something...maybe take a HOT SHOWER....or lay here and count arm hairs or something equally stupid. LATER GUYS

Surgery went well, after a few hours of being in the hospital it became so overwhelming. I had an anxioity attact. I came home yesterday. Still overwhelmed. Please keep me on prayer. Sharon