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Hi hi I was soooo excited to see a San Antonio group on this site! I'm hoping to connect with other local "sleevers" to create something of a real-life support network for us all... A little about me: I recently had my knee 'scoped to try & figure out why my torn meniscus wasn't healing (after 5 months) --- once inside, my knee doc saw that the cartilage was completely shredded (the pictures looked like cotton candy) & gave me the news that I needed total knee replacement. He also let me know that he wouldn't be able to do the surgery until I lost a significant amount of weight & referred me to Dr. Ramiro "Sonny" Cavazos, a bariatric surgeon at The Texas Center for Medical & Surgical Weight Loss . I saw him a few days later on 5/27 & had my Nutrition/Psychological consult. My insurance will cover WLS after I complete 3 months of medically supervised weight loss --- so that's where I am in the process. So far I'm down 23 lbs. It's been fairly easy -- had a few episodes of extreme hunger, but nothing I couldn't handle -- the hardest part has been making good choices when I'm around my extended family, especially when we're out at a restaurant -- but the more I do it, the more comfortable I am. I think the shock of being told I needed knee replacement surgery definitely helped me wrap my brain around the necessity of WLS... I've been a somewhat militant fat person (!) for a while now & always told myself I'd NEVER EVER EVER do WLS -- I insisted for the longest time that my weight had NO impact on my health & that the doctors that told me how bad it was for me were just being fat-phobic. I always took pride in the fact that I really never let my size slow me down or keep me from doing the things I wanted to do. Then...my blood pressure became an issue...then diabetes... and now, my knees -- which is making mobility an issue... and I've HAD to accept that those doctors were right all along! I'm sorry that it's come to this --- but I'm also sooooo grateful! I had a doctor that cared enough about me as a human being to be honest with me, even though it was uncomfortable. I have a fiance & a few close friends that are totally supportive of my choice to have WLS. I'm lucky that my insurance will even consider covering WLS! Anyway -- I guess that's enough of an introduction for now.... I look forward to the possibility of getting to know other San Antonio folks!

I lost 127 pounds my first year. I counted calories and my protien to make sure I was getting enough. I never drank a protien shake after the first two weeks. I was pretty much a rule follower 1200- 1400 calories a day 64 oz of Water everyday (or more) never drank soda never drank caffinated coffee (I do now) Never Ever drank with my meals Exercised regularly (but not obsessivly) Ate what I wanted but really made healthy choices. However, if I wanted something that was a "treat", I had it. After that first year (it's been a year and 3 months) i got a little more lax. And my weight loss has shown that. I have only lost 5 pounds in the last 3 months. I think I need to get back to the basic rules and see if I can kick it back in to high gear. Good Luck to you!

I called my insurance. The 1 800 number on the back of the card and they told me the entire requirements and e-mailed me the portion of the benefit explanation guide. For me I was about 40 BMI but if I was below 35 BMI it was not covered. The Nutrition appointments ARE NOT for weight loss. The requirement is to educate you on what you are about to go through. In some ways it is also a way to put some time in your decision making process. Insurance companies do not want patients to rush into such surgery. Please do not attempt to lose weight or they are not going to cover the surgery and you will have to start the process all over.

Hello Pokeyvenus,well done for your weight loss so far!!!,I've got my op-sleeve in January 8th,just can't wait!!!,I've got only6-7st to lose,but can't lose them!!!!So fed up with the diets!!!!!!!On NHS I wouldnt get it because I. Not fat enough,so I'm paying for it,going to have it done in Prague.Just can't wait when it over and I will be slim!!!!!!How is your family and your friends dealing with your decision,that u had it done???ive just told only my best friend and my boyfriend.Im scared that my work colleagues will be jealous!

I had a long talk with my aunt about this. She works with a very well known personal trainer here in San Diego and I was complaining to her that I hit a plateau and she kind of told me some things to do to try and change that (but, my plateaus are nothing to complain about TOO much -- not a year or anything like that . . . just more like little hiccups along the way). So, I'm sorry to hear you've hit such a major plateau. Here is what she told me. 1. Log every morsel of food that is going into your mouth. Are you REALLY eating your Protein first? What kind of sauces are you putting on your food (are their hidden calories)? Stuff like that. You can take your lists of meals for the week and have it analyzed by a nutritionist or your doctor. They can tell you if you aren't getting enough calories, if too many of your calories are coming from bad carbohydrates, etc. They might also suggest little metabolic shocks to your body (for instance, I started losing again when I went on liquids for 2 days after my fill -- I think the sudden switch to liquids made my body "let go" of the weight). 2. Change up your exercise. The personal trainer here in San Diego would ask whose cardio classes you are taking and then if you plateaued, he'd tell you to go take different cardio classes. Are you doing strength training AND cardio? Here is what my doctor told me . . . I asked him merely about calories. He weighs me on one of those scales that measures your body fat composition and Water and all of that (Tanita, maybe? I can't remember). Anyways, he told me that he measures my metabolic rate on that scale, too, and he can tell me that my metabolic rate is at 1790. He says 2/3 of your metabolic rate is ideal for weight loss, so he wants me to consume 1200 calories. I was only consuming 1100, so I thought, cool! 100 more calories! yay! LOL! It's basically the equivalent of PART of a yogurt . . . but you know what I mean. Anyways . . . you might try doing some of that. I also read an article lately that plain old table salt (not sea salt and not the kind of sodium in processed foods, but plain old iodized table salt) is really good for your metabolism (I think it's the iodine). Anyways, you might want to check with your doctor and see if you can have more table salt (I have low blood pressure, so I've never really had to limit my salt intake), or see if your multi-Vitamin contains iodine in it (some do). I hope some of that helps. :thumbup:

My name is Lakeisha and I am 33. I am currently awaiting approval from my insurance and I am looking for a mentor here in Houston. I am not telling many folks what I have decided to go through becuase I have heard too many negative things. My husband and one of my daughters are the only ones that I have deicided to tell. :party: I have been married eight years and mom to five ( two of my own and three wonderful girls from husband's first marriage) I love to read, cooking for my friends, and spending lots of time with family. I have tried all of the diets and weight loss things out there. ( atkins, weight watchers, etc) I am looking at the band as a tool, knowing I still have to do my part. :tt1:

I haven't had any hair loss. It's pretty hard to get protein in with as little as most of us eat.. so I use protein shots and eat lots of grilled chicken and such.

Well, I took the paperwork today. I was out and about, so my hair and makeup were done! :wink2: I put the letter from the dr to my pcp and the request for files and a hand written letter on top for him. I said I was wanting the lap band surgery for slow, safe, permanant weight loss, that I had done the research and thought long about this and would really appreciate it if we could continue our association through this journey. I haven't heard back yet. Will let you know. Just wonder. Should I try to gain a couple pounds before I go in for my first weigh in (I have to do a 6 mo dr supervised diet for my insurance) so that my bmi is a bit higher, so that when I lose it will still be above 35 (I am currently at 41 bmi, thinking 5 lbs a mo, 30 lbs will get me to 37 bmi maybe... will that knock me out of the running for my surgery?)

The average weight loss is 1-2 lbs a week and you're averaging better than that. Why would you be jealous? It's better to concentrate on your progress and following your prescribed plan than to compare yourself to others. You're a success!

I started a meetup for people who have had WLS on www.meetup.com it's for those who are in the poughkeepsie, NY area. Just a chance for us to get together have some fun and get moving together. Poughkeepsie Weight Loss Surgery Meetup Group (Poughkeepsie, NY) - Meetup.com or go to the meetup website and search for poughkeepsie WLS groups. Also, I'm looking for an assistant organizer, so if your interested, let me know.

Brian & Savery... While I respect your doc's honesty and ability to be bloody blunt you have to understand that he has to tell you folks the worst possible scenarios. Hypertension is a problem if it is not under control at the time of surgery. Is Savery on high blood pressure meds? If so, may I ask which drug(s)? If it is well controlled that part shouldn't be an issue. Sleep Apnea, the key here is to make sure that you bring your C-Pap to the hospital with you. There will likely be extra orders written for the PACU nurse regarding breathing issues. As long as they know what to look or it shouldn't be much of an issue. If they did not know about sleep apnea that could be a little un-nerving but since they know, the necessary precautions should be taken. Hiatal hernia or a wide hiatus... not a biggie. It does not affect surgery unless it is so huge that they have to do that repair first and the banding another time. However, if your doc knows about the hernia he already knows how large or small it is. He already knows if he can fix it at the time of banding or not. I've only heard of one case where it was a consideration to fix the hernia and do banding at a later time and they ended up doing both at once. Obesity is a big cause of hiatal hernias thus, many of us had them. Most docs will fix it while they are doing the banding. It usually requires 1-2 sutures, it's not a big deal in the least. Most people don't even know they have a hiatal hernia or a wide hiatus until they are told after banding that it was fixed. Diabetes... that is certainly something that is a consideration before surgery. Again, if the docs know about it up front they take the required precautions. There is currently a great deal of hoop-la regarding WLS and diabetes. I would encourage you to read the following study. This is not the full study, I have read the full study and this is just the beginning of the study. It applies to banding as well as bypass but with banding, diabetes improves with weight loss so results end up being the same: Welsh Medics To Examine How Surgery Can Cure Diabetes Stopping weight loss... many people have a slight unfill if they have reached their goal and they wish to maintain vs. losing. It's just a matter of increasing caloric intake a bit. Longest anyone has had their band, I honestly don't know. I don't recall when the first adjustable band came out. There was/is a non adjustable band that has been around longer and it had horrible results, but remember, it was a completely different band and non adjustable. Complications from the band can be immediate or years down the road. No way to tell. However, they are not common. Slips are 3+% and erosion is 1.3% per Inamed. Coffee... most can, a handful cannot. Coffee can be an irritant to the stoma and some people swell after drinking it and others end up with reflux but for the vast majority of people they are fine with coffee. Soda... that one is up to your doc. Docs differ on that one. I can't/don't drink it because it ends up being very painful but docs have differing opinions on this one.

From what I've read here, this is a very normal and common fear. I know I had it. "What if I fail at this too?" I've lost 63 lbs so far. Your weight loss will individual. But I would say if you follow the rules and do what your doc recommends...read all you can from the boards. You'll be fine and you will be a success. Right now, focus on the finish line not the many steps it takes to get there.

I thought the guidelines were pretty much the same for Cigna in general minus the fact that employer could opt out, this is the one they kept reading to me when I asked for the their policy https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf I searched through the whole thing and I didn't see anything on weight gain or loss during the 90 day nutrition, when I called several times I asked the representative as well (although they can't be 100% trusted with exact details) but she said I should try not to gain but she didn't see anything in it that stated I had to lose. I actually already had my weigh in on Saturday and I did gain 3 lbs from my last weight from water weight for certain reasons, so I guess we'll see what they say as she was supposed to be resubmitting tomorrow or the day after.

Quantity doesn't matter to us, quality does and from the list you've described you should have any of this stuff at this stage of the game anyway. What about your Protein? Rice (carbs), rice cakes (carbs), salad (no nutritional value alone, lettuce leaves) all can swell and or go down too large to pass through. Rapid weight loss won't hurt you, but if you aren't getting the proper nutrition your body will eventually respond in kind. You can expect to feel weak, suffer from hair loss, brittle nails, poor skin quality and the elasticity in your skin will also suffer. Until you can adopt better food choices, you should show diligence in taking your Vitamins and supplements.

Finally after plateauing for a long time, I have lost nearly 5lbs. What have I done differently? Well I listened to the psych finally. I stopped weighing myself altogether, and stopped getting weighed and measured at the gym too. His concern was that the small difference I would see from weighing daily, or even weekly could have a detrimental effect how I eat if it doesn't look good. I only weighed at the dietitian's and when I went for my last check up and fill at the specialist's rooms on Thursday. Anyway they are both pleased with my progress and say I am right on track with the weight loss progress. I have also increased my sessions at the gym to compensate for not being able to walk far because of a problem with my ankle and that too seems to have worked in my favour. In all the time that I was plateauing, though, I was getting smaller and everyone was making favourable comments. I could see it in the clothes I was wearing too and that there were less bulges poking out everywhere. I have gone down from a size 20 (Australian sizing) to an 18, and can fit in some size 16 long pants and tops. For the first time in MANY years I have bought clothes in 'normal' shops as opposed to 'fat girl' shops, and am buying 'Large' as opposed to 'extra large' or even 2XL. I do feel good and love being banded. It is definitely working.

Hi Debbi, It really sounds like your friend is genuinely "concerned" but I am willing to bet that most of those people posting on that site are totally UN-informed as to what you are doing. Just stay POSITIVE about yourself and try not to let the negative comments get to you. It's so important to do TONS of research about Lap band. I bet a million dollars that all those people haven't a clue about what you are doing. They read the news and hear about weight loss surgery when in fact it's probably BYPASS surgery they are mostly hearing/reading about. Just do your thing girl! Don't lose your friend over it.. but I totally understand why you would be upset over the post she made. best of luck to you!!! 278/230/180

My closest friend supports me 100%. She even sends me cards on the mail to congratulate and encourgae me. My second closest friend didn't say much when I told her I was getting the band. And here 10wks after, she still doesn't say much to me. I see her twice a wk and maybe once in a while she'll say "you're looking good". It could be the personalities, but to me, complete 180's between the both. So I keep #1 updated even when she doesn't ask, and #2 only when she does. No biggy but a surprise! I do have 2 friends who keep drilling me about my weight loss but til yet, I don't care to tell them. They're the "hey my friend" in your face until you turn your back....I just don't want to hear about their snickering, at least not right now. I image though, they keep drilling, they'll find out eventually, from me or someone else...who cares!

Well I just returned from weighing in and lost 10 lbs. this first week following surgery. That combimed with the 14 I had lost the week and a half before surgery comes to a total of 24 lbs. total loss. I know I have to increase the activity to keep losing. So this week I will begin walking daily.

Hi Heather!! Welcome to LBT!!! My port hurt me for a few months after. But it is allllll worth it!! isn't the weight loss fun? I love my band!! Good luck!

Okay, just popping in to say, I want to go on a cruise too!!!! As for the hair, I am starting to have a problem with a bit falling out now. But, mine is so thick, I could stand to lose a little. But, I went and got mine cut the other day and my hairdresser commented on how a lot of my new hair growth is coming in curly. I have always had really straight hair. Has this happened to anyone else?

I can happily report that I've done 30-60 minutes of exercise daily for over 2 weeks. I'm trying very hard to get my weight loss going so I've really committed to the exercise. I'm getting in over 10,000 steps a day. Generally 12K to 15K steps and adding in swimming on the weekends along with stretching. It's not helped my weightloss a bit, but at least I'm getting the good feeling of accomplishing the exercise and sticking with it.

Have you ever done Weight Watchers? My insurance accepted 6 months of continuous weigh ins from WW. Mine were almost a year old too. Good luck. Insurance companies are such a joke. Mine will cover weight loss surgery but not a nutritionist to avoid the surgery. shesh!

Where do you get this folicure shampoo? Do you think it makes your hair dry? I was using Nioxin but it seemed like it was drying out my hair. I used it from day one after surgery, and it didn't seem to help. My hair is falling out like crazy.

This is so scarey!!! I'm very partial to keeping my hair. Does this happen to everyone? Katydid.