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I'm Southern California Kaiser and I had to do a 12 week class, plus all of the testing and had to lose 10% of my body weight before surgery. My process was much longer than most - start to finish I waited 17 months.

Update : Had surgery on 9/24/09 lost 25 lbs went for my first fill to find out port is tilted had a revision done on 1/14/10. On date of surgery was 230 lbs now weighing 222 lbs. Feeling ok but kind of scared again I do not want to go through another revision. Does anyone have any suggestions of light exercises that I can do or should I wait until after my visit on 1/22/10?

Wow! Thanks for the update. And a job well done to you! I did my band/plication in July of 2011, and have lost 110 lbs. since then. I had my gallbladder removed at the same time and had my severe hiatal hernia fixed as well--not fun, but looking back, I have no regrets whatsoever... I started at 253 and I'm down to 143 now which is about 10 lbs. below my goal. Again, great job & thanks for the update!

I'd go see a new doctor who has fluroscopy and barium and get my fills from someone who knows what they are doing.. That's nuts that you are a year into this without decent restriction. I go to mexico for my fills but i live in california. I had 2 fills and I"m 8cc in a 10 cc band. I'm tight but not excessively.. warm tea opens the band most times if i really feel too tight. but the bottom line is i was banded feb 9 this year.. have lost 40 pounds.. and don't see any reason not to get to goal by september 5th ( my birthday)..

Some of the individuals on this website did have that condition and it caused them problems. It is important to get this condition treated before surgery. According to the internet: Therapy for H. pylori infection consists of 10 days to 2 weeks of one or two effective antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, tetracycline (not to be used for children <12 yrs.), metronidazole, or clarithromycin, plus either ranitidine bismuth citrate, bismuth subsalicylate, or a proton pump inhibitor. Another article says: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present.

This is all new to me. I am hoping by keeping this journal I will be able to stay on track. I have been banded 10 days now. Basiclly, I feel good. Usally I'm alway on the go but now I get tired very easily - have been needing naps. Incisions are 99% healed and the port area is the only place that's tender. I still get shoulder pains though. I'm able to eat now and that scares me. I am only 10 days and can eat almost normally just less of it. Does this mean soon I will eat more and more and MORE....... Today, I was at a meeting where I ate lasagna, bread and brownie. :think I feel guilty and horribe!

I really must agree also about the clear liquids. I am 8 days post-op and I must say that even though you will get extremely tired of them you must hang in there. The pain doesn't last forever. I am still not totally pain free. Just make sure no matter what you stay hydrated even if you have to take a single sip of Water even 10-15 min or so. It will make you feel better. Then after a few days try to atleast get in 1/4-1/2 of a Protein shake in the mornings that will help with your inital energy. I know you may think that you know what is best for your body cause I thought the same thing but you really should listen to some of the advise that others are giving you. We have gone through it. Your doctor may be the expert but nine times out of ten he or she has not personally experienced the band and they can never truely know what you are going through.

My hubby and I are bikers, Bikers for Christ members to be exact. I had surgery 3/19/12 I've list 27 lbs so far, I have no restriction yet, just cut out carbs. Anywho, my man told me today that he could tell I'm losing weight because my stomach used to be against his back and now he doesn't feel it. WooHoo, thats even more awesome being as its summertime and it feels so good to have some air between us. C:

im getting nervous. i have no idea if the hospital has sent in my clearences to the insurance company. they're being very vague. they keep saying "well it looks like everything is in order. now you just have to wait for someone to call you with insurance approval" does that mean everything is order and you are about to send it in? OR did you send it in and you're waiting for approval? and how long does approval take anyway? also..no offense to anyone!! but i havent been able to find anyone to talk to who is my age getting the surgery (im 19) what if when i get the surgery there is no restriction and im eating more than im suppossed to and i wont even know it? sorry about venting..i just dont have anyone to talk to about this

My insurance company stated that they needed more information in order to approve or deny my surgery. My PCP did not have a weight for 2009 and they needed that. Thank God my OB doctor had it! My insurnace is also required 2 more worksheets for the Phych eval, so I guess I will have to go see him again! The insurance also need to see the comorbidities, we sent them the first time! The one thing that really worries me is the fact that I have not lost 10% of my body weight. I have lost 19 lbs though, go me! I am not sure that elevated bp, elevated lipid panels, sleep apnea and shot knees are going to be enough to get around that. I need a prayer yall. My surgery is suppose to be April 9th and if we don't get all these things in and get them to look at it stat I will have to reschedule. I am trying to put this in the Lord's hands, but I am a worry wart! My insurance said with the first one that they have 7-14 days to give an answer. It took 7 days. I am running out of days. I am almost 2 weeks out from my surgery date.

Actually compared to some of the deals I find on beautypedia those prices are kind of steep. I can get a 16 oz bottle of 10% AHA lotion from acne.org for $33 and the MUAC lotion is $25 for only 8 oz. But it looks like it has a lot more ingredients than just AHA and a very low pH. So perhaps I will give it a try.

Hi bandsters Thought I would start a new thread that shows what happened when you get off track with the stress in your life. For the last 6 months I have beening caring for my 85 year old mother, who died in the end of January 2011. I gained 39 lbs in that time period, by not eating the correct foods and stopping my exercise. Now I'm going to fight my way to one-erland. If any of you would like to join me please tell of your struggles which caused you to gain and then everyday we will post the positive things we are doing to get this weight off. I'm starting today using my little tony 3 times for 10 minutes each. I am also going to drink 8-8 oz glasses of Water.

Since 10 days post-op I started with walking (faster and faster) One and a half hour everyday until it started to rain so I joined a gym near my work place where they have a few dancing workout classes so it became my workout regime. Monday - L.I.A. (Low impact aerobic dance) 1 hour Tuesday - rest Wednesday- Sh'bam 45 minutes, Body balance (yoga&pilates) 1 hour Thursday- rest Friday- Zumba fitness 1 hour Saturday - Sh'bam 45 minutes, weight lifting 1 hour Sunday - Zumba 1 hour The rest days I try walking around (shopping lol) to get 10,000 steps per day. Now I'm addicted to dancing workout. If I couldn't go to the gym on my class day I feel so upset!

Ok I tell her twos months. My surgery is sept 10 but hers isn't until October

You can chew gum. You're just not supposed to swallow it. I chew gum sometimes when I am trying not to eat. Head hunger really is hard. Sometimes I really crave sweets. If I don't eat them, I don't crave them as much. I try to eat mainly Protein and veggies and the head hunger isn't as bad. I don't keep junk food in the house. I eat sugar free popcicles in the evening which are like 10 calories.

ht3013 - (sorry for the delay, work)....I am still pre-op, (having my VSG on the 27th). My gastroenterologist is on board with this, (and her opinion was a very big factor for me). She would prefer I get it done in the US, but understands the need to look elsewhere due to way the US medical and insurance industries are. My PCP has not been supportive, but since I see my gastro doc much, much more than the PCP, I could not care less. At this point, my plan is to go to one of two pre-selected, (by me), highly rated ER's in my area should an emergency situation arise. I am still hunting for a bariatric surgeon in my area who would be willing to provide post-op followup care, but so far have been unsuccessful. Heck, no one is even willing to do a simple 10-day post-op incision check for me. It can be frustrating, but you have to weigh what is important to you. For minor things, I can use my gastro doc. For surgical needs that are an emergency, you should do your homework on your area ERs and the surgeons that are affiliated with them and the hospital. A general surgeon spends plenty of time on people's insides, and will be able to handle things that pop up.

Rosswife. So glad to hear I am not the only one. I am 19 days post and after every meal for about an hour and before bed and through the night I feel like I'm having a heart attack. It's awful. I am on ppi but am struggling to even eat two spoonfuls of food without incredible pain. Going to see doc tomorrow as quiet worried about this.

I had surgery on 10/3/12, i lost 20lbs pre opt....i lost 23lbs the first month, and have been losing 10lbs every month since..... I dont know if thats the norm... I guess slow but steady is good ....

Hi everyone! I was banded on 2/19 and everything went smoothly. The thing is, I was prepared to experience problems drinking, and I haven't. I can still gulp down water( I know this because I awoke thirsty in the night and guzzled water before I remembered my band!) I am also experiencing pain in the port incision( which my nurses said is larger than normal,) I also have bruising around the incision. I tried to go to work yesterday but it was too uncomfortable. I'm on liquids for three weeks and the store bought broth is disgusting to me. Has anyone made their own? I tried it and it was delicious but it sent me right to the bathroom. Any advice/thoughts are appreciated!

How unfair (I said like my 10 yr old daughter) We get none of these here in the UK!

It will all come together. I am a little over 10 weeks out and eating regular foods. I get all my liquids in and then some. I still don't have much of an appetite so eating is sporadic and I still use Protein drinks to make sure I get all my protein in. Initially, I couldn't imagine how in the heck it was all gonna work because I could hardly drink-but it will...

Good luck to you all! I work for Anthem, and believe it or not they cover WLS surgery. I have to fork out 10% co-insurance. I am calling to setup my consultation with the doctor....wish me luck Dacoz21

I was born a healthy baby on March 30, 1973. I weighed 8lbs, 11 oz and was about 21 inches long. In first grade, I weighed 70 lbs. In 5th grade, 120. By the time I was a junior in high school, I weighed 206 lbs. I was 5'4" tall. It's not a sedentary lifestyle that led me to be a heavy girl. Lord knows I was active...riding bikes, playing tag, being the only girl among a ton of boys took a lot of energy if you wanted to have something to do besides watch TV. I swam, I ran, I spent years in the marching band huffing and running and carrying instruments of various weights. Yeah, I was active. But I ate. I snuck food, I binged, I stole food from our pantry. Cookies and candy were my favorite. I would eat 3 or 4 pop tarts for breakfast, finding it odd that m friends only ate 1. I drank milk and soda. I would get ice cream from the ice cream man, hide to eat it then go inside to eat dinner. I remember drinking a 2 liter bottle of coke between my grandmother's house and mine. 5 doors down. I was 10. When I got into middle school, I realized I didn't dress the way my friends did. I dressed in the "women's department" becuause the Juniors department clothes didn't fit. I remember crying with my mom in the kitchen one night because kids laughed at me for using a diaper pin to hold the seam of my pants closed. I remember being teased for having breasts in 4th grade. When I joined the marching band in 9th grade, Mom took an old pair of her slacks and added the stripe for the uniform on each leg so I would look like the other kids. When I went to Europe in 1990, she altered my marching uniform by adding gussets in the torso & thighs so a mens' XL jumpsuit would fit. No one knew but me, but that was enough. None of that stopped me from eating. At that time, my afterschool snack, before band, orchestra, jazz band, choir or drama club practice was a bottle of orange soda & 2 king size packs of peanut butter cups. Fruits & veggies? a rarity in my diet because I was rarely home to eat dinner. Nothing seemed to take away my need to put food in my mouth. It didn't matter what or when it was. Food has been a major part of my life. A way of life. My life has revolved around food for most of my life. I have really needed to find a way to stanch the flow of food. What would the breaking point be? Insulin? Nah...blood pressure? Nope. High Cholesterol? Oh no. Knowing how rampantly heart disease runs in my family and that my own father had a stroke at 17 didn't stop me. In 2005, my brother & sister in law blessed me with my oldest niece. I wanted to live for Emma. Still, I shoveled food in. In 2010, I became an aunt again. As I sat and held Caroline, I knew I needed to do something, so I joined a gym and would go almost every day. I joined weight watchers and attempted to stick to it. I herniated 3 discs in my back in 2011. Stopped going to the gym, which wasn't that difficult since I had stopped going so faithfully, and ate like it was my last meal. On January 2 of this year, during a visit to my endocrinologist, there were 2 words next to my name I never associated with my name. MOrbid Obesity. It was right then and there I made the decision to make the change.