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I finally recieved my date for surgery yesterday, the 19th of Nov. three days before my birthday, Happy Birthday to me. I like this gift but am really scared. Woke up this a.m. and first thing I thought of is "what the hey am I doing, this is so drastic". wish I could do it on my own, but I know I can't, have tried it many times. I just pray I am doing the right thing. I know if I don't do it I won't live to see my grandkids grow up. I am so tired of not be able to do anything because of my weight, and I want to do everything. My husband and I retired and now is the time to play. I can't so I believe I am doing the right thing, we'll see. :mad2:

I am so happy finally the day has come. I started the journey February of this year. My insurance require a 6 month medical supervised weight loss program with my PCP. July 10 was my last month. I only had to so 5 because I first went about my weight was October 2013. My PCP office faxed everything to the surgeon office on Tuesday July 16. I was told that it would take about 2-3 wks before I knew it got approved from the insurance. Well I got a called Tuesday July 22 to tell me that it is approve my pre-op is schedule for July 30 and my surgery date is August 11. I have been waiting for this day it kinda a bitter sweet I'm excited and nervous at the same time. All I can say is Wow.

It's frustrating to have problems with hair loss. My hair started thinning drastically when I was around 19 years old, and it has remained very thin. My oldest daughter (26) has hair that is so thin that her scalp is very visible. We've never had any clear explanation. It has been suggested that ours is male pattern baldness associated with PCOS. There is also a very strong family tendency toward baldness--my younger brother was completely bald by the time he was 20. I hope your doctor will be able to help you find a solution. The surgery may exacerbate the problem, but it sounds like there are other underlying causes too. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

Katt, No i was not Protein deficient prior to surgery. Yes i was consuming large amounts of broccoli, but that was far from the only thing i ate. I consumed 10- yes ten- carbmaster yougurts (high protein, low carb) daily, which gave me 120 grams of protein, and i also ate almost 2000 calories in other food. Close to about 3000 calories a day and i had at least 200 grams of protein daily, so i know that i was not deficient in protein or any other nutrient. The hair loss started a few months ago i believe due to a loss of my period (gone since September), and which they could not find a cause for. I was far from nutritionally deprived, and had a BMI too high to cause absence of periods. I did see a OB-GYN and had tests performed, and they were still unable to determine the cause of it, or my hair loss. To this day it is still a mystery, and to this day i am still losing hair.

Unless your at the max CC for your band you have not stretched it you just need a tune up aka adjustment. Your stomach gets used to the fill and your pouch also gets used to the amount so sometimes you can get it stretched but by tightening up your tool will make a difference on how you feel when you start to put the food in and it sits on top of the band......OUCH believe me the pain is what reminds me to slow down or just stop. You have really made a huge achomplishment by getting down to a 8-10 so 7 pounds is controlable and just hit the exercise and start your food journal and counting calories. I need to do the same as I am reaching my 2 year mark and still have 25 pounds to reach my goal. I too am frustrated about not making my goal yet but I have slacked off since the end of summer about going to the gym and getting my exercise in. It is very important not just lowering calories but working the calories off threw out the day. Hang in there because I know exactly how you feel. I need to go back to how I was when I first got my band and stop snacking and overeating now I know what my band can handle. I don't so much feel I need to be tighter just strictor with my food intake and get back to the gym!!!!!! Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey all, 9.5 days post op and fealing prety good. 19 lbs lost already! Here is my question for all of you; I started to introduce mushy foods today i.e. mashed potatos, pureed scrambled eggs, thinned out oatmeal ect. I am supposed to be on a liquid diet for three weeks but i sure am enjoying the mushies. What diets did your doctors have you guys on? when did you start eating pureed and mushy foods? When did you start eating solid foods? Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi, I had my surgery on 5/22. I had to do clear liquids for the first week. I am now on the second week and I can have full liquids. Next week I can have soft foods for 1 week and then the next week I can eat whatever I want. I am eating a lot of the same foods as you and I feel fine as long as I don't eat too fast. I think you should be ok. Congrats on the 19 pounds!!

For those of you who drink a Protein shake in the am, how long does it hold you? Since my last fill I am tight and in the mornings I don't really feel like eating something solid, so I decided to give the Protein shakes another try. For the last two days I have drank the Slim Fast High Protein, it has 180 calories, 20 g of protein, 2g of carbs, 2 g of Fiber. The shake taste pretty good and it doesn't give me indigestion like other protein shakes have done so a plus plus. However, about 2 hours after I drink it I am hungry. I drink it around 7 am so by 9 I am starved, but I don't want to eat my snack (greek yogurt) until 10 so that will last until my lunch at 12:30-1. How do the shakes work for you?

I just wanted to say "Hi" to everyone....I just joined ! A little about me... I've always had a weight problem, but not as bad as the past 10-15 years. i had to always "watch" what I ate, or I would pack on the weight. I did have a "thin" period... Not a very long one.. but I was thin for a while... Then came a divorce and I had to care for my mother the past 15 years... I started really putting on the weight.. and then it felt so futile to even TRY to diet... Excercise?? What was that?? I felt work was all the excercise I needed.... I became so stationary... come home, get on the couch and that was it. I had been looking into weight loss the past 3 years, and I tried to file with my insurance each year thinking that they would improve, but no luck. then in Oct. of '08 I had to have a total knee replacement and I KNEW I had to do something. The surgery was a success.... but my weight was overwelming. I had no stamina... I could hardley walk to the mailbox without being winded. I had already been to a few seminars... and I finnaly made up my mind to try again. I went, and I talked with the doctor afterwards and asked how soon he could get me in being a "self pay", I explained I was already on a leave of absence and coudn't afford to lose any more time, he told me to call the office in the morning and tell them he said to schedule as soon as possible. I called and thy got me in to see him in 3 days! I went and we talked for almost 2 hours... and I decided to go with the VSG, Best decision of my life! That was Jan. 12th.... I had surgery Feb. 9th! I am 5 months post op... I started this with a weight of 354 the day of surgery and today I am 223.. a loss of 131 pounds! I still have over 60 pounds to make "goal" but I am so glad that i had this surgery, and it has deffinitly improved my quality of life! I still have my struggles, as I will be posting them tooo... but i just wanted to share my story and a bit about me.... I hope to make some friends here and to have a support group here as well... I don't have one close to attend to in my area...

I was told 10 - 14 llbs means you drop a dress size, but I think it really depends on your body structure and fat deposits etc. Congratulations on reaching GW !! Kate ps: I have lost 103 llbs and gone down 6 dress sizes. I have just had plastics and my weight might not change but my dress size may. Heres hoping

40, Dr. stated that there were reduced leak rates with a 40. Recovery has been relatively easy. 9 days out, 10 pounds down and getting all my water in, and 50 gms or protein (need more but ok for now). Hopefully that will help with less hairloss!

My activities for Wednesday 7/23/08 I started another BFL challenge on Monday, it is 84 days and I'm hoping it will get me back in the grove of exercising. Today was the lower body workout, I went to the gym and gave it my all. My knee just wouldn't let me do some of the stuff, and when I felt pain, I had to stop because I didn't want to damage it further. I was afraid pushing myself/my knee/ would cause a set back, so I held off on some of the stuff I wanted to do Quads - leg presses Hamstrings - lying leg extentions, straight leg dead lifts Calfs - calf raises Abs - ab crunches with 10 lb weights, and inclined sit ups Menu bfast - cottage cheese mixed with yogurt snack - 3 strawberries lunch - whole wheat tortia, 3 oz chicken breast and hot pace picante sauce snack - necterine dinner - 3/4 cup of pinto beans wt - didn't weigh, trying not to focus on the scales for the next couple of weeks and really focus on feeling better and exercise.

I'm 10 days out and that normal as swelling goes down..............

I have started my lap band journey. I have attended the seminar, had my lab work done, sleep study, and started a 6 month supervised nutrition program required by my insurance company. I have had the PFTS. I also need to get a cardiology clearance. I have lost 10 pounds since I began the supervised nutrition program. Staying off of all things white has been surprisingly better than I thought. I do however cheat on Sunday since we go out after church and eat. I was surprised that last week (1st week) I was not a enticed and ate less than I usually do - only 2 tortillas- yeah!!!

Do you think you'll really be up for a 10 hour flight and related business obligations only 4 days after surgery? I wouldn't have been....... If you do fly, I'd make sure to get traveler's compression socks, walk a bit up and down the aisles at least every hour. Honestly, if it were me, there is no business worth risking blood clots for and that is your greatest risk sitting in a plane for 10 hours. Not to mention you are still VERY early in your recovery from a MAJOR surgery. Me? Wouldn't do it - but wish you the best if you do

You can also try drinking lots of water and other very low calorie (5 to 10) fluids like Crystal lite. It won't work a long time, but it will help tide you over a little until the next "feeding time".

it just depends the fluid doesn't always come back out cause it gets stuck in the tubes. My first fill i had 4 ccs already in and they put in 3ccs that makes 7 right at the second fill they pulled out 6 and put but in 2 so that makes 8 right or 9 cause there is a cc floating around 1 week later i needed alittle pulled out and i was back down to 7 but i felt like i had 10 so i hope this makes sense. It gets stuck or lost and no one really knows where it goes or why it doesn't come out but it doesnt and some how still finds its way to the band its self.

@@Bufflehead thanks for sharing. Great advice as I don't want to live on supplements. Right now my weight is all the load bearing I can handle, but as soon as I get off 50 pounds I plan to expand beyond walking. The doctor believes my knees will hurt less as the weight comes off. Thanks! Banded 10/12/16

I was banded on 10/13 and was very lucky not to have any gas pains at all. I got my first fill of 4.5 cc's on 11/18 and am scheduled for my second fill on 12/23. My doc said I will probably get another 1.5 cc's. That will be a total of 6cc's in my 10cc realize band.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea three years ago. I had no idea I had apnea until I woke up one night gasping for air and ended up having a panic attack. But it was all right in front of me. The snoring. The EXHAUSTION (which at the time I blamed on having a new baby). I was a mess. But I'm happy to report that I am sleeping perfectly all night long and feeling rested and happy all day long. :biggrin: The sleep study had me anxious. I was sure I would be uncomfortable with all that stuff on me. And it certainly wasn't the best night of sleep I'd ever had (went in at 9pm, in bed by 10:30, discharged at 5am). But it wasn't as bad as I thought. The mask took a few weeks to get used to. Mostly I didn't like the feeling of the air blowing into my nose and down into my lungs. The sensation of having my breath taken away took some getting used to. But after two weeks, I didn't even notice it anymore. And the truth is this... I LOVE my mask now. Can't sleep without it. I am able to sleep in any position (side, stomach, face-down, whatever). My husband is also happier because I'm not snoring and gasping anymore. But the most important thing is this... I'm finally SLEEPING. Its glorious. I had no idea how miserable sleep was for me until I was finally able to get a good nights' rest. You'll do fine and I promise you'll be so much happier after you start sleeping again.

Just had RNY on Aug 18. Can't eat enough protein and what little I do get doesn't stay in! I can't stay out of the bathroom. I start running within 5 minutes of eating and then keep running every 5-10 minutes. I can't even sleep through the night without getting up to run to the bathroom several times. Anyone else have this problem? How long does it last? Anything I can do?

I've heard several people on the board talk about DaVinci Gourmet sugar free Syrup and I finally found some yesterday. This stuff has no calories, no carbs, no fat...just 10 mg of sodium per 2 tbsp. I got the vanilla and kahlua flavors. I used some in my coffee this morning and it was pretty good. Just wondering if anyone could share some creative ways to use it, other than coffee. In greek yogurt maybe?

This is good to read. I am 10 weeks out and sometimes a reminder is good to read through. I have kept to most of the basics since my surgery with the exception of going on a cruise a few weeks ago. I did make some mistakes on my cruise by drinking some alcohol and eating a few spoonfuls of desert. Since I am home again I have been back on my regular schedule and am back to my "new normal" eating." New normal" is getting in all my Protein, having enough Water, no snacking and taking my supplements. I am feel so much better since losing almost 40 lbs. 1st Mistake: Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results. Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include: Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning. Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible. 2nd Mistake: Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back. A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery. 3rd Mistake: Drinking with Meals Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating. 4th Mistake: Not Eating Right Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice. And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you. 5th Mistake: Not Drinking Enough Water Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too. 6th Mistake: Grazing Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned Snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing. Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement. 7th Mistake: Not Exercising Regularly Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest! 8th Mistake: Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much) Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut Pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies. 9th Mistake: Going Back to Drinking Soda Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there. 10th Mistake: Drinking Alcohol If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it. Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations. If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker[/b]

So I completed all of my prerequsites to have my lapband. I am so elated that I have finally placed all of the expectations that everyone else has had for me aside and I am doing this for AJAXX :thumbup:. My surgery date is officially May 19, two and a half weeks away! My goal is to lose a minimum of 75 lbs. but I'd really like to drop 100lbs. Keep me in your prayers.

i am 10 days post and today i seem to be really wanting to eat eat eat....i have been having the same stuff everyday now ..shakes shakes and more shakes and finally added in sf jello and gelatin and milked down oatmeal...and i drink water in between...i am not much of a soup person and i still have 4 more days b4 i can move to mushy foods..and then what ?am i gonna live off mashed potatoes...noone gives you a menu ...i kinda feel alil lost right now...any advice would be really appreciated and tips on foods too..plz plzzz and plzzzzz again...and most def thank you!!!