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Time to start this journey [03 Sep 2006|10:57am] [music | The first time ever I saw your face [03 Sep 2006|10:57am When did it hit me? When Chris said, "think of all the things you would have done in Alaska had you not had a mobility issue"(?) Probably. It all seem to come to synchronicity (great album BTW). Half day at school, I needed to renew my prescriptions and see the doctor about that darn rash. I went to my dentist after school let out and had that off bite drilled down since it hadn't really felt right since doing the new filling. It took but a brief five minutes and I found myself back out in my car and heading towards Main Street. Left. I think I'll get those prescriptions in person rather than waiting for the pharmacy to call them in. Five blocks away and I was parking right next to the front door. How often does that happen? I walked up to the window and signed in and sat down. "Mrs. Reeves did you have an appointment?", a new receptionist peered out from the glass partition, "No I just happened to be in New Port Richey for a dentist appointment and need to have a rash looked at" (TMI I though to myself, too much information) but it seemed to appease her and I waited. Less than ten minutes and I was walking down the hallway past the examination rooms, going, going, to the last room which I know to be my doctor's preferred examination room. Wednesday, he's not there on Wednesdays, it's his day off. "What are you here for today?". I like the older staff. I know them, they take their time and I can ask about the issue "downunda" without feeling like the PHCC grad staff is "sewgrossing" about it at lunch. I tell her all of the truth, that I have a rash down there and that I have another rash on my arm. My back is killing me ( couldn't be that extra 200 pounds could it..answer your own question Patty, YES!) The list is long. She smiles, she comforts me and takes my blood pressure. She leaves. I'm waiting for the nurse practioner to come in but I hear my doctor's familiar pitch and tone. It's Wednesday, he isn't here on Wednesdays. The door opens and my nurse has returned, "Is Dr. Sichelman here?" "yes" "he isn't here on Wednesdays it's his day off" I tell her, "Dr. Galadi is on vacation so he is covering" she tells me. (how often does that happen?) This is going to be a day for unexpected things. My doctor comes in, I show him my rash on my arm, it's not really anything what else? There is the lump on my stomach in the mass of large fat on my belly I feel a pea like object, he feels it, it's nothing. He notices the rash below my stomach. I've been treating it with ointment for how long? (should I tell him years? Should I tell him two baths a day?) "it's been there awhile" I managed. He pulls at my underpants and notices another flush of skin below that. I admitted sex hadn't been what it use to be and he tells me to go to my OBGYN, "we really don't deal with that". Before I know it the conversation has turned with the problem at the moment and he begins examining me. This is a man of medicine, a healer at heart and I never appreciate him more than this moment. I have a staph infection and then a yeast infection. Before I leave there I will end up have a stack of nine separate prescriptions. I cover myself back up and sit down on the bench. He sits down at the other end and the nurse is stationed with my chart and a pen at the desk. The greater question, the greater issue, my weight. "So when are we going to get this weight off?" It's a question, a subject that he and I have talked about for years. My doctor of 16 years. Through the phase of Phen-Fen, Meridian, Redux, 1200 calories, 1800 calories, over the counter products into last year and the diagnosis of Type I Diabetes, rehabilitation to begin some type of activity until now. It's serious. My back is giving under the pressure, I take Lasix for water retention, blood pressure medication and he switches me today to two types of medication. "I know Doctor. I don't know what to do. I've tried, I've tried for years." This is a moment of honesty, the reality that my life is on the line. He tells me I'm looking at ten years. (ten years until my body breaks a blood vessel in my brain, tens years until my heart faults, ten years of semi goodness left in my body) He goes on to tell me about another patient. "He had the same problem as you. He had the gastric surgery, came in a few months back and I hardly recognized him." *A year ago I couldn't have, wouldn't have entertained this procedure* I can do this on my own I said. But a year later and an increase in 25 pounds told me that there comes a time when one has to admit they are in over their head. I was in over my head and I knew it. "Where did he go?" I was ready. I'll take some fries with that bypass [05 Sep 2006|11:59am] I refused to go to Community Hospital. Some how my brain is in 1983 with my first pregnancy and the halting news of things that had happened in this antiquated facility. But that was then, this is now. Reconstruction, new specialists are the norm for hospitals. This one has taken on the issue of obesity with a center for Weight Loss Surgery. I called three gastric doctors before realizing that there was going to be more than just a surgery. I went online and found the center's information site and read. I read for perhaps an hour. There was gastric bypass surgery, there was another type of surgery that was invasive. There was also the type of incision. I was quickly opting for laproscopic surgery. Small incision, scope to aid the doctor to see what was inside. Less invasive, quicker recovery(...I'll take some fries with that). I phoned the center and the voice on the other end was a rich accent (Jamaica?) and gentle. She asked all the questions I anticipated. I'd been down this road with my children and their pediatric disorders. Who? What? What kind of insurance? The quicker route would be to have my doctor's office call this center because everything is a referral. Making a decision to have a procedure like this is the first step the second, step is the business of it. Is it covered by insurance? The following Monday was a holiday and as it just happened to be, she was having a seminar with a few other patients. I would attend. That weekend went fast and Monday morning I was on my way down to New Port Richey, to the hospital, to the empty parking lot (holiday) to the office of Ivy. The first thing I did was sit down OF COURSE that is what fat people do when they first enter a room! (note to self: send that joke to Louis). We made our way across the hall to the meeting room. There is something about conference rooms that put me at ease. I expect a lecture, a Power Point because the screen is down and soon we are joined by a couple. Later I would exchange email addresses with "Patti" who happened to have a favorite color too...PURPLE! She saw my "Pattypreferspurple" email address on the sign up sheet and we clicked from that moment on. She had come with her husband. Then there was Gerry. I looked at them and we all seemed to have this spiritual connection. I was past being shy about my obesity, I'm big and I know it. After a few hours I was hungry and my sugar was getting low. I asked Ivy for a banana or something to raise my sugar, FOOD? She called down to the cafeteria and ordered up a few breakfast items and coffee. What do fat people love to do when they come together? ORDER IN! What did I care that there were pastries on the tray, I was here for a procedure that wouldn't allow me to eat more than 1 oz. of food, " A shot glass" as I put it. We laughed, ate, drank and got down to the business of filling out paperwork, copying identification cards and preparing ourselves for the business of weight loss. and it occurred to me. These people were smart, well articulated and with the collective as a group, we were already breaking down the percentages of the data on the Power Point and realizing that a large % of the group did not return post the procedure in the study group. So I admit that I too have the misperception that fat people are stupid, food numbed individuals who wile the hours away in front of a television doing everything but being nutritiously sound in mind and spirit. I'm beginning to learn a lot of WRONG things that like the rest of the world, I believe to be true.

Remember, today you are not only fight head hungry, you are fighting real hunger, in a stretched out stomach. I had my surgery 10 days ago and I can't believe how NOT hungry I am. I do have some head cravings, but I recognize them for that and move along to something else. I think once you are sleeved and healed you will think this is the best decision you every made. Good luck on your surgery in a few days......it will work out fine and you can start your new healthier life!

I think you should try to give your some slack. You are only human, and I'm sure that you would have eaten far more if you hadn't had the op. i am allowed to eat anything, I'm 6 months out, and just let myself be" norma"l... Which means now and again eating things that are not the most healthy (but no sugar...) and when i do its maybe 10%of what it would have been. I try to ask myself before eating it if its really what i want/ need and if theres a healthier option. I try not to have things that i would crave for at home ... Such as pringles!!!! You are doing great with your weight loss and please dont feel guilt about it... Hugs

I was at 8 CCs of a 10 CC band but it was too tight and caused me too throw up a lot which escalated my bulimia. I was brought back down over time to 4 CCs. Once I get more comfortable just eating until satiated I may go to a local lap band fill center and ask for another CC or Two which I think would bring me to green. I am really forcing past being stuck and eating till I'm sick. Sometimes I purge and then return to eating. I know I have restriction. So I need to learn to work with instead of against the band. I intend to keep it and overcome this. I have been doing good the past two days, especially journaling my intake and trying to stick with a healthy meal plan.

I don't have to lose 10% - I just have to fulfill the requirements of the program above by meeting multiple times over the 90 days with a psychologist for behavior mod, a NUT to learn how to eat better, and a personal trainer (certified) to increase pulmonary function and learn how to exercise for optimum post-surgery outcomes. And I have to see my surgeon 1x a month to oversee all of the areas and document them thoroughly (they all have forms to fill out and submit to him). I don't have to lose 10% though. I'm sure every plan is different though. Mine is just the basically outline on Aetna's website without anything additional. And my surgeon doesn't require anything beyond what insurance does. Thanks for all the responses - I was just hoping for some clarification prior to meeting with my surgeon's coordinator in a couple of weeks, but they felt sorry for me after I pestered them with calls and explained on the phone so I could start with the NUT, psych and PT now.

i haven't had the surgery myself, i'm in the begining stages. my story is similar to yours except for the medical problems. i've been obese all my life and never had any surgery except for dental. i'm an ob/gyn and do surgeries all the time. there are no guarantees in anything, for the most part the complication rates are minimal. one of the keys is making sure your surgeon has enough experience (make sure he or she is a bariatric surgeon), don't be afraid to ask for his complication rate. first find out if your insurance covers bariatric surgery and what their requirements are. then find a bariatric surgeon. they will guide you from there. my insurance requires me to lose weight (10%) first and since i don't have any comorbidities i'm don't know if i will get approve. if not i am heading to mexico (it's going to cost about the same as my copay for surgery here anyway), that's how serious i'm about being at a healthier weight and prevent my family's medical problem from becoming my own. weight loss has been shown to significantly improve morbidity/mortality. you may end up having to take less pills everyday for blood pressure and even require none at all. good luck with everything.

I am six weeks out and lost 15 lbs and about 12 inch all over. I can eat alot and I am never really full. Also I can eat everything. I am not sure if I need a fill. My husban thinks I need one. 230 Pre-op 224 9/18/06 212 10/23/06 What do you bandits think ?? Thanks

Hi everyone, It had been a while since I posted anything related to my surgery. I got banded on May 12th and today (June 3rd) I went in for my Post-Op appointment. Since the surgery I've been doing okay. I did about 18 days of liquid diets and then switched to pureed food. (I normally pureed about 2 oz. of meat with about .5 - 1 cup of boiled veggies from a chicken Soup I made: Carrots, Spinach, pumpkin, Onion.) I bought a hand blender and I'm so in-love with it. After 29 days of liquid, puree tasted so fantastic! Although the majority of my Protein still comes from Protein shake (2 a day/ 17g of protein each). Puree was a nice addition to my daily diet. Enough about the intro... so here's what happened today. I went in for a Pre-Op around 9AM, my doctor said everything looks good, I have lost a total of 21 lbs since May 1st. He said that he would give me my first fill today (Good thing I only had some protein hot cocoa this morning!). He had me lay down on the bed with a pillow under the arch of my back. He asked me to flex my stomach by lifting my head up. The fill needle was GIGANTIC. But, I didn't feel a thing at all! After a fill (which took about 20 seconds) he asked me to sit back up and handed me a cup of Water. The first sip, no problem... second sip... Major problem! I felt like there was a tennis ball is my throat, my chest started hurting, and I kept on burping out air. :eek: I started getting nausea:confused_smile:, The doctor said he probably put too much in, so he told me to lay back down, he took some fluids out, asked me to get up. I couldn't even take more water. Still not feeling better (Tears are streaming down my face...). I felt like throwing up:drool:, the doctor said he'll take more fluids out, just try to hold it in for like 10 secs. The nurse who was standing close to the bed started backing away (I guess it really looks like I was about to go...). So we repeated the same routine, Doc took more fluids out, I got up, felt a bit better. My doctor noticed that I was drinking really slow, so he said just to be sure, he'll take a bit more out. After the 3rd try, I was okay. The first 3 hours, I could feel the tightness. It took me 2 hours to finished 10 oz. of protein shake. Now, (8 hrs later) I feel okay. My doctor said just to stay on liquid for 2 days then ease into puree, then chopped, and go to regular food... So yeap, that's my crazy day. Just wanted to share with my bandster family!! :biggrin2:

i can gain easily of up to 10 pounds per liquid...it happens...and it will go away

Thank you! And thanks to everyone else for their welcome:) My insurance coordinator is wonderful and has been doing this for a long time, so hopefully that works in my favor. I'm just above BMI 35 but I do have sleep apnea, which is hopefully my green ticket in. My biggest concern right now is the physician evaluation. My PCP of 10 years retired last month and closed his office doors. I have to start seeing a new PCP and for one of my first questions to be, "Hey can you write me a letter clearing me for bariatric surgery?" I'm just nervous as to how this is going to go.

Hi all! I just went for my 10 week appt. I am down 52 pounds! I have had no complications, and I am feeling great. Hope everyone is feeling great and ready to take off some pounds this July!

Hi there, I do about 60 minute workout, 4 times a week. I may power work 7mph on the treadmill with 4-6lbs weights, just to tone up on arms for 15 minutes, then run for another 15 minutes at 10-11mph. Then on the step, bike or rowing machine for another 15 minutes. I change my exercise routine every day, to jogging on the treadmill for 30 then 20 of weight training. This way I keep tricking my body not to stay comfortable with my workouts and not stall. It seems to work. I started my workouts after surgery doing 10 minute ls on 3 cardo machines and increased the intensity as I improved. Then 10-20 minutes using weights or kettle bells. Good luck.

At 15 1/2 months post-op, 5'10", SW 326, CW 158. I always convinced myself I was "large boned". Turns out, not so much. In fact I feel like I look too thin and haven't had any plastics yet (first round 3 weeks from today!!!). Anyway, one of the comments I get the most is "look how tiny your wrists are". It is so strange to hear.... As far as size, I am down to a 10 pants, medium tops, etc. I never dreamed I would get here and again that is with a lot of extra skin so I can't even imagine what I will look like after my LBL. As far as hiphugger jeans with a shirt tucked in and cowboy boots, YEP and looks fantastic - so don't worry, you may totally get there. But as that picture above shows, everyone's shape is different. Even someone my same height and weight will carry their Wright differently and look different than me. Trust me as you lose, your confidence increases so much in so many ways, that you can rock just about any clothing item you want!! Sent from my HTC One M9 using the BariatricPal App

I hear you Brother, I have the same issue,but I have so many aches and pains they all blend into one another, I'm approaching 30 days post Op. July 14 was when I got sleeved, The past 10 days it's hurt a lot less but the first few weeks it was almost unbearable, I did all I could do to avoid the pain but I also didn't want to baby it, so i eased into a little more movement each day, BUT like they say,We are all different. Best of Wishes

I got sleeved in oct and im still struggling. Everything still makes me sick and either heartburn so bad, i just dont drink anything at the time except Water. Ive had to have surgery last month because of a blockage and i couldnt have a bowel movement. Had sleeve 10/4 and i went a month without 1. Woke up and thought i was having a baby. Pain was so bad. Went to er and they did xrays and thats when they saw that i was enpacked. The tech just looked and asked when was the last time i went. I said the night before surgery....lol. they called someone from gastro and they saw the blockage so they ended up going back in. I dont feel any better and i still have to take something everyday just to go maybe once a week. So thats why i dont wanna eat and im losing weight in the worst way. I just dont feel healthy. But it wasnt because of the sleeve. Its my system. Always been slow at digesting anything and i thought this surgery would help that situation, but it has only actually made it worst. Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

Im in the Kaiser program now too, It's actually a great resource to learn everything you will need to know before the surgery (mind you some of the stuff they talk about is just repetitive and overkill for anyone who has ever tried to lose weight ). My program is 24 weeks as opposed to 12, but it has gone by pretty quick so far (6 weeks in). I know I have to start getting on track to lose my 10%, but I also kind figure that I can lose it in the 4 months of classes that I have after the first of the year...good luck to you!!

How I met a real live whore!! Current mood:I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth Category: Blogging So, I was at work esta noche, and my scheduled patient did not show up. As it just so happens, there was a previous study to score (a real monster...8.1 hrs of recorded time). I decided to take a break around 10PM and go to Burger King (take that, diet). I placed my order, pulled around to the window, and paid the cashier. At this point, there was a knock on my passenger side window. It was obviously a homeless woman. "Sir", she rasped, "Can you please give me a lift to the shelter?". I looked at the BK cashier, she looked at me, and we both kinda shrugged like WTF. Please keep in mind that it was around 35 degrees outside. Long story short, I felt bad enough to give this chick a lift (generosity has always been my weakness....too much love for humanity, doncha know). As we near the shelter, she (inevitably) asks for 10$, and I tell her sorry, but all I can give her is the ride to the shelter. "I'll give you a blowjob", she said. Man....did I mention that she looked around 75 and stank really bad? This encounter really floored me, and left me incredibly depressed at the plight of some people.....so as her head was a-bobbin, I reflected that (unlike her) I was really, really lucky. Howso? When I checked my e-mail today I saw that I had apparently won not just one, but 4 different foreign lotteries (suck it, Texas lotto!)....and had 2 different business proposals (with minimum monetary investment).....and also discovered that a long-lost distant family member died, and I could claim the estate (as long as I prepay the taxes, a small amount compared to the 2.4 million euros I stand to inherit). So, yeah....I'm one lucky bastard.....How many other dudes get the chance to get cheap head from a member of the homeless while eating BK (Actually, I guesss that means that we were both munching on a whopper, eh?) Ya-da-dant da-da Dant !

Awesome! You must be in San Diego area! We will be getting sleeved around the same time since we'll be finishing classes around the same time! So it's 10% of your starting weight at the orientation that they took? Do u know if you lose too much you can then not qualify?

I notice that also, thought it was me. I am always checking my pockets looking for my cell phone, thinking it is vibrating. I am trying to figure out if it is a sign that I am hungry. I had my surgery 9/22/10 and have lost 100 lbs. It is annoying sometimes.

:thumbup::thumbdown:Hey guys, so three weeks ago, I went in for a unfill in my band. I was eating very little and knew that it was time to take some fluid out. So, I did....WELL since then, I have gained 10pds, I can eat more however, I am gaining weight and I don't know why! I charge my eating and I am eating around 1200-1400 cals. Can someone help me? Is this normal, to gain that much weight, if any? I don't want to gain!!! I have about 60 more pds to go and I am sooooo upset about this! PLEASE HELP Me!!!

All drs seem to have different criteria they follow but it's basically the same for the most part...I will answer your question based on my experience. You will want to check with your dr before deviating from his rules. I had to give up carbonation..the is my drs #1 rule. No food is off limits once On solids but my band isn't fond of rice or thick pasta. First month Week one clear liquids Week two creamy liquids Week three mushies....like yogurt, hummus, mashed veggies, mashed potatoes, oatmeal...anything blended to the consistency of baby food Once on solids at week 4 I started eating the way I did throughout my journey. 1000 calories each day with portion controls being paramount. I ate three meals a day of 3 oz protien, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 starch. I was allowed 2 snacks of fruit or a sugar free treet or something salty like 10 small pretzel sticks

Banded 10/31/2011, down 80+ pounds.

I'm 4.5 months post op and I'm just now able to handle chicken and turkey. I still can't do ground beef... But I can do premium steak. Chicken just didn't go down right and it didn't even taste good. What I did notice is I'm able to eat marinated chicken tho and also oven roasted. It has to be super super moist. ~Leticia **HW: 259**PreOp: 216**SURG: 3/21/13 **Discharged @: 221** 4.5 mons post op. CW: 160.0 lbs. --- Only 10 lbs to my goal ---

I don't want to be petite. I love my height. They just tell me that my goal of wearing my shirt tucked in with nice jeans and a cute belt will never happen. I will never be small enough to do that. I want to be able to do that. Throw on a pair of cowboy boots that I've never been able to fit into either. I've always been big. Always. Even as a 10 year old I look back at pictures and I was big. So ya my mind fears I never will. Right now I just want healthy. To be able to chase my grandson. To ride rides at the park with my teenage autistic son and to experience life outside and not hidden away. Proud Nana of a very handsome grandbaby