Search the Community

I am no psychologist but I would be willing to bet that she is in denial about WLS helping her lose weight and doesn't want you to get it and prove her wrong. WLS if a big step and you are changing your life forever. Anybody that is going to tell you that it is a mistake when what you need is support is only going to do you harm.

Hi all! I am new here and have an important question. I apologize if it is TMI but I am desperate. I have my first appt. with a band doc in April, but have been having severe bouts of dysfunctional uterine bleeding with no underlying issues identified (no cysts, polyps, hyperplasia, etc.). My current gyn is concerned about doing a hysterectomy because I carry most of my weight in my stomach and she would have to cut deep -- since I am diabetic, she is very concerned with healing issues and the risk of infection. Since the cause of this is probably an overproduction of estrogen cause by excess weight (bmi 48), I have been told that this MIGHT be improved or even cured with weight loss. I am trying to decide if I should wait or move ahead with a specialist. I am on double doses of birth control to stop the bleeding right now (have had 3 d&c's, etc.) but I cannot stay on it forever and am still having breakthrough bleeding. Please, please, please...if anyone knows anything about this, can you share it with me? Thank you so much. I look forward to being a part of this board!!! Karen

I'm 5'2" so I am sensitive to the unfairness of the universe when it comes to shorties and how little we have to weigh to be "thin". I bet you look great right now. I remember when I weighed 160 and I thought I was a fat pig. My high weight was 257 and today I am 222. I also remember 125 and that was fantastic. I guess all my rambling is meant to say that I doubt this is a permanent situation. Based on what I have read here, a 3 month stall is not unusual. Without scaring you, I have read about 6 month stalls. Maybe your body is just comfortable where you are for a bit while it adjusts and then it will start up again. I am sure it took you more than 6 months to get to your high weight. It took me 25 years to get from 125 to 257. I am frustrated that I have spent half my 30 days since surgery in a stall, but I believe I will continue to lose and based on what the folks here have posted, so will you.

- Putting socks and shoes on without working up a sweat. - Fitting into the rides at the amusement park. - Walking the dogs instead of just throwing them in the backyard. - Having the tray-table on the airplane come down flat. - Not needing for the extension seat belt on the plane. - Seeing parts of my body I haven't seen in years. (my feet, you have a dirty mind.) :wink2: PS. Until you lose the weight, fly business class on Air Tran. It's usually as cheap as 2 coach tickets.

Fabulous journey so far Melissa! I love your weight training, you're doing really really amazing! BTW I looked up Melissa Rausch and it came up with numerous choices. You may add me, my link is in my signature line. Continue with the good work!!

Hi. I have been visiting this site everyday for a few months now and I am finally posting something. I live in Charlotte, NC, I am 21 years old and plan to be banded by Dr. Roc Bauman in Concord,NC. Since July I have been completing all of the tests and whatnot. My information was submitted to insurance (BCBS Federal Basic) last Wednesday. Then yesterday, at work, I got a call from Kim at Carolina Weight loss Surgery telling me that I was approved. YAY ME!! I have a surgery date set for Dec 5th. I couldn't be more excited. What was really great was how happy everyone at work was for me. And my mom was super excited. Now I just have to contain my excitement for the next 33 days. tgirl03

Hi there and welcome! As you research more and more your choice should become very clear for you. There are tons of threads on both of these surgeries and both can help you meet your goal. I chose bypass in the end mostly because I suffered from severe reflux and type 2 diabetes. Bypass has a proven record in curing these diseases and getting to better health was most important to me. By the way, I have never had a single episode of heartburn or reflux and my diabetes is completely gone! I have lost 135lbs and have 10 to go to hit an ideal weight. 1 pound to go to no longer be overweight. I do not get dumping syndrome at all although on occasion if I eat too much sugar at one time I do get a tummy ache. Also I cannot eat eggs, those make me sick. Other than that I have no complications whatsoever. Having bypass was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Good luck and feel free to reach out with questions!

Not really sure I need to lose weight , I think just shrinky liver , buthow do you know if your liver is small enough, also I did cheat one day on my pre-op ate one slice of pizza

Hi my name is Becky and I will be visiting my surgeon for the first time next week. I have a couple of questions. Just a little backround so everyone doesn't think I'm crazy. I have been overweight my entire life. Always around 210 lbs and I'm 5'6. Currently my weight is up around 216. So many can tell from those stats that I'm not falling into the BMI of 40 that my insurance requires. I'm very excited and think this will be a good fit for me. I am dedicated to being healthy. O.K. I need to add some pounds on and don't want to eat my way to it. I really want this but can't afford to pay for it myself. Please help.:cool2:

Hi Becky-I also have UHC and a BMI less than 40. My BMI was like 37, no diabetes, no high blood pressure. I was so worried I wouldn't get approved. BUT I WAS!!!! The doc's office turned in a record of weights for past 5 years, all less than 40 BMI, some even less than 35. But it showed a gradual increase. He turned in a list of my present diagnose's, which I'm sure most overwieght people experience--cronic back pain, GERD(reflux), MILD Sleep apnea, arthritis, and urinary stress incontinance. Also I reported a strong family history of diabetes and high blood pressure. I dont what the deciding factor was or if the doc's office even turned in the family history. Whatever it was, it worked. My surgery date is scheduled for 8/13/09. Good luck to you. I'm going to reequest you as a friend because I don't want to loose touch. I want to now how things go

The crazy thing is the scale doesn't always make sense. I lost 22 pounds on the pre-op. It was two weeks, very restrictive. I felt like I was a super model because I starved the whole time and all I could do is remind myself it was temporary and I could do it. So can you! Try not to be too hard on yourself mentally because our bodies can do their own thing for a few days let alone the hormones and time of month etc. If you stick with it, the weight will come off and be so worth it. Colleen

I lost seven pounds in the first three days of my two week liquid diet. For the last two days, the scale hasn't budged when I am really needing encouragement. I know a lot of the weight was water. Just curious what others have loss on the liquid diet.

Hey all, I'm hopefully getting banded around the month of May. I went to the seminar in Dec and started the 6 month Dr supervised diet back then, (didn't really try until Feb) and lost 2 lbs, then a week after my birthday in Feb landed in the hospital for a day and half due to my asthma, but thought they thought it might be heart related, but after doing a bunch of tests, all's good there. After getting out of the hospital, I really started losing the weight, the first weigh in Feb a week after leaving the hospital I lost 2 lbs, then a month later which was last Monday I learned I had lost 4 lbs, and then yesterday when I went the cardic dr for a follow up, they weighed me, I couldn't believe it, I had lost a whooping 10 lbs in a week! I am surprised but excited!!:ohmy:

Believe it or not I rushed into this It's taken me almost a year and a half of work but it's over at least. This...meaning insurance approval with Cigna. I was Denied because I was shy a 40 BMI by 10 -12 pounds when I submitted everything they were looking for I jumped thru every hoop and paid out every last cent to docs. etc. but I should have know (and not listen to people on this site that said Cigna does cover with no co mobidities - NOT TRUE) they clearly state that they do not cover those under a 40 BMI unless you have grave illness that don't respond to meds.. Not only that but they will not approve any claim even related to this one in the future. Meaning if I gain 10 pounds in the next year.even if I maintain that for a year and..easy to do at my age...they won't even consider it. My fear is of dying of a heart attack like my twin sister did of obesity last year. My chest is so huge it strangles me at night and causes sleep apnea that doesn't appear on the "test" ...another few hundred bucks there. My warning to those seeking insurance approval with CIGNA....if you're not starting out with a 40 BMI save your money until you are or get a loan unless you can clearly prove a comobidity. __________________

I was banded by Dr. Kuri in TJ on Jan 10 and it has been great. His office just called me Friday to touch base.... make sure I am still doing okay. If I have any questions. Great Experience!!! Good Luck to you it is a wonderful tool for weight loss.

The sweet spot doesn't mean u can't eat certain foods..I wasn't able to tolerate pasta with no fill also bread. There's just certain foods that expand or don't break down while in the band..doesn't make it the sweet spot. Just means don't eat it bc its a "problem" food. Are u continuing to lose weight..like 1-2 lbs a week? If so, then u may not need the fill right away..but if its slower and stalling a lil then I would get the fill. U should be able to eat food that's the size of ur whole palm/hand..minus the fingers. My doc made that visual connection for me and it helps..but yea if ur not losing wat u should then get the fill. Good luck

I feel the same way, have only had one fill. my surgery was 9/1/2010. How much weight have you lost post surgery? I am down 12lbs, feel like I need another adjustment.

Hi everyone - Introductions always feel weird, but I suppose I can't jump into spazzing out at you. My name is jen. I'm 34 and.. well, I'm fat. I've been overweight since I was a kid. I've lost 50 pounds more times than I can count, and gained it all back every time. At my heaviest, I was 260 (I'm 5'2.5"). Right now I'm struggling to get under 240. Mid-last year, my blood pressure started to creep up, and my dad was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. That's what I see in my future, and I don't like it. I started looking into the lap band last year, and now I'm on my 5-1/2 month of my 6 month doctor-supervised dieting that my insurance company (BCBSIL) requires for approval. I have my final pre-insurance weigh-in in about two weeks, and go for my psych evaluation on the 22nd of April. And I've pretty much been reading everything I can get my hands on about people's experiences with the band. I've lost weight quite slowly (well, slowly compared to how I'd lose weight if I'd get serious about following the current 'fad' -- be it low carb, low fat, whatever) while seeing the nutritionist, but I did make a lot of positive changes that I've never done before -- things like get used to eating three meals a day instead of one or two giant ones (adding Breakfast was really, really hard for me), eating more slowly, not drinking with meals -- all the things I'm going to have to do once I'm banded, anyway. I've also been exercising three times a week for the past four months with a coworker who is also planning to be banded around the same time (we didn't find out till we were both about halfway through our six months insurance approval dieting time period, which is kind of hysterical. We're even both going to the same surgical center, though different surgeons). And now that I'm getting close to the time when I submit for insurance approval, I admit I'm freaking out a little about how much everything is going to change. Even though I KNOW I need to do something, now that it's really this close.. I'm both nervous and excited and overwhelmed. And it doesn't help that a friend of my sister-in-law has apparently had a terrible experience with her band (though I also hear that she got so upset at her surgeon that she had the surgery and then didn't follow up for a year and a half, so I'm not sure how much to take her "advice" about it) -- and who, now, is apparently only eating 600 calories a day, is losing her hair by the fistful, and who gets so hungry that she shakes. Of course, now my sister in law is very concerned about me going through this, as well... but to me, that experience doesn't sound like the norm of what I've read, both here and in many other places. She really wants me to call her and have a one-on-one conversation, but I'm kind of shying away from it, because I don't want to let one overly negative situation have too much weight. Anyway, I've been lurking here since I started the dieting process, but figured I'd come out and say hi.

I am currently going through the 6 mo. monitored diet plan. Actually I just started a week ago and I have a question... A little history -- I am borderline for qualifying for the surgery -- if I lose over 13 lbs in this 6 months, I will no longer qualify...BUT my question concerns a statement my nutritionist made last week in our first meeting. She stated that if I did not lose in this 6 months, the doctor would want to do gastric bypass rather than lapband because many people do not lose more than 30 lbs with the lapband. Is there a good place to go to find stats on this? I have no interest in gastric bypass -- the only reason I'm considering lapband is because it is less invasive and I feel I need help in getting the weight off. But I also have no desire to go through any surgery for 30 lbs....if I can't lose 50+, then I'm not interested. Any information of input from you folks that have been through the surgery would be greatly appreciated!

Hey Joe, Thanks for you posts. They were very encouraging. I have high blood pressure and am a boarderline diabetic. I have 3 children so I know what you mean when you mean when you want to be healthy for your wife and kids. I'm from Ansonia, CT and am having my surgery in Bridgeport. Good Luck to you with reaching your weight loss goals. We have a Connecticut post in here, if you like, it would be great for you to come on in and let us know about your post op experiences. 42, 300.9lbs, 5'11", BMI = 41 12/08/07 - Initial Seminar 12/18/07 - Therapist & Nutritionist Appts. 01/03/08 - Met w/ Dr. Ehrlich - Surgeon, Bloodwork, Gallbladder ultrasound 01/08/08 - Primary Care, EKG, more bloodwork 01/15/08 - Blasted the PC office so the Surgeon's billing dept. should have all of my paperwork 01/29/08 -I got my band date 03/04/08 at St. Vincents in Bridgeport, CT, my pre op diet begins on 2/14/08. Thanks again and Good Luck, CTman = Chris

I have not have the Lapband yet but am in my 5th month of the 6 month supervised diet. I have gained three pounds, and I honestly have tried very hard. My surgeon made no mention of gastric bypass if I did not lose enough weight. I also know my particular insurance uses the very 1st weight as the weight they submit for approval. I have been on this site for a long time and if you look around there are lots and lots of people who have lost way more than 30lbs. Look around and all your questions will be answered! Good luck on your journey!! Tamara

Thank you for your words of encouragement. Your weight loss has been awsome!!

I was monitored by my physician. Had an elevated bp at a yearly checkup, so she started seeing me every 3 months to take it, and after a while she said she thought it was time I went on a medication. we tried a few different things until we found one that worked. as far as the sleeve, my surgeon said keep taking it and most likely with weight loss I could come off it. I'll go back to monitoring with my fam. doctor every 3 months and let her handle it. Being on BP medicine was one of the biggest reasons I qualified with my insurance company for surgery.

What day are you post surgery? I hit stage 2 at day 8. If that is the plan you are on you will not be full for 4 hours on tomato Soup. I would recommend spreading out your "food". I would have soup (usually tomato or tomato/sweet red pepper with MRS Dash chicken flavor non salt spice mix added before heating), and a hour later have the Protein shake. Another hint. Measure out your soup. I used a coffee cup, which was just that a cup. Measure how much fits in a mug you will be shocked usually more like 2 cups. You could well be getting much more soup than you're planning on. This is a good time to retrain yourself about eating and food habits. And it is training. My mother used to say somewhat jokingly "What happened to the other half of my sandwich?" She had eaten so fast she did'nt even remember eating it. Presurgery I had to attend 3 sessions on eating habits where we discussed thinking about each bite and savoring it. Do you savor each bite? I did'nt. If you have'nt done so I highly recommend getting a digital food scale (one that you can zero out the weight of the plate). I was using it once I moved into the mushie stage. My doctor calls for 3 oz of protein and you would be suprised how little that actually is! Until you get restriction you will need to measure out food (or at least protein) The first week weeks are about healing but be sure to pick low cal/fat choices. There are a lot of nice Soups in the deli section of the grocery but some of them are super high in fat (anything with milk base). And, yes some of us are slow losers. Just had a huge talk about that at my PCP's office this morning!

I am not an emotional eater, nor do I eat because I "love food". My thyroid went bizerk 5yrs ago, and it took 6 months before I got a diagnosis, and 40 lbs packed on my tush. I then had a set of twins, and after they were born I gained some more. I have to stick to Weight Watchers to NOT gain weight, not to lose it. It's been frustrating to say the least.