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I'm scheduled for my lap band surgery on October 5th. I actually backed out of gastric bypass in June. I am wondering if its normal to be back and forth between the 2 surgeries. Im so confused. I feel like I want the band for the right reason, and I want the gastric bypass for the wrong reasons. I love the fact that with the bypass the weight just flies off, but I know that the risks are greater. I know that with the band, it will be a lot of work on my part. Please, someone tell me its normal to feel up in the air. :blushing:

You and I sound the same. Give you body time! Easier said than done - but be patient. You went through a MAJOR change. That change will have to catch up at some point Hang in there and focus on how you feel rather than the weight (again easier said than done)

This time 6 months ago I was waking up after my surgery in the ICU. After a moment on confusion and throwing up I started my road to recovery. Before surgery it scary and so hard to imagine what life would look like now, and now I dont know what I was scared of. The journey hasnt always been easy but it has been worth it. I spent alot of time working on myself, my relationship with food and with others. I still have a way to go to be where I want to be both in weight, the way I look and the way my life looks, but it all feels very achievable now. As far as stats go to to date I have lost 105 pounds, and about 5 pounds from my first major goal....i work in kilograms, so to be in double digits will be my first big celebration. From there I have another 60 pounds to go.I wear anything from a 20 to a 14 now depending on the make. It is hard to judge but have been splurging on some goal outfits as I go along....at times I have bought clothes that are already too big for *shrug* I still have some minor issues with reflux but control this with medication at the moment, still am hopeful I will get off these soon. I eat what I want, tho my body does crave healthier more nutrient rich food and am learning to control the binge urges more than I ever have. I have been working out intensely since 6 weeks out, now work out twice a day averaging 5 days a week. My fitness is getting better and better. There have been stalls and downs but I try take them with a grain of salt and keep working on the next goals, mix it up and keep moving forward. They can really do your head in if you let them. I had my follow up with my GP last week and he did not recognise me. I am getting alot of comments, positive feedback and endorsements of what is happening, alot of positive, some people have also decided to add their opinions about who I was before and how I ate without really knowing anything about what i have gone through and the mental changes I have had to make with the physical. Some highlights (NSV's if you like) from the last 6 months: - Being able to run for over 20 minutes straight and extending that - Fitting in and feeliing confident in my first little black dress - Not complaining and actually wanting my photo taken now - Last Friday night, being able to dance the night away in heels with only minimal pain after 7 hours - Walking the whole parade route (back and forth) while in New Orleans for Mardi Gras - No more extender belts on planes, feeling more comfy in those cattle class seats - Not sure if this related but feeling less stress in my life, being able to hand stressful situations better, think this is more to do with my mental health that i have been working on, before I was a major stresshead - Only taking pain killers twice since surgery, once because I drank way too much the night before, before I felt like I was always having some ache or pain - Feeling like I want to jump, dance on a regular basis Below are the before and todate pictures, the newest picture was from a work Ball I went to last Friday and we had our hair and make up done, I got so many comments and felt so good all night. I still have work to go and plan to keep on keeping on. At the end of the first year I am planning on taking a celebration road trip around the US...not celebrating with food.

I have lost 45 lbs since the middle of June, and I am also pre-op looking to get my BMi down and health better before surgery. My plan: eat between 1200 - 1350 calories per day eat high: protein, fiber, calcium, potassium eat low: fat, cholesterol 30 - 60 minutes of aerobic exercise six days per week. track everything I eat on myfitnesspal, no exceptions drink at least 6 cups of water per day other than water, drink only black coffee and one cup of skim milk per day. My nutritionist has had me bump up both calories (to 1400-1500) and exercise (extra 15 minutes a day) going forwards toward surgery. I haven't weighed in yet so I've been doing that the last ten days and am not sure of the results. That's another part of my plan -- I do not weigh myself except once about every three weeks at my doctor's office. Oh and I do not count carbs or sugars right now although I am advised that will change at least while I am in weight loss phase after surgery.

I felt guilt or weird too about the first cpl bites I took. Same thing about being hungry a cpl hours later. I am taking Famatodine for acid. Works awesome and you can take it twice a day. How much weight have you lost since your surgery?

Hi every one I am a single mother of 3 & @ my biggest weight. I always been over weight but now @ 30 I'm ready 4 a change I'm on month 4 & I know it's close but it seems so far lol. I dream about the day when I wake up a smaller size lol

Did you weigh yourself when you came home from hospital? I actually gained 11lbs in hospital from all the fluids. It took 4 days to lose that. Then I started losing.

I didn't lose but a pound or so the 3 days in the hospital, but from the 20th to the 25th I lost almost 11 pounds. when I was sent home with 6 liters O2 and a JP drain- by a few days out, (even though I'd been cleaning it) I KNEW I had an infection at the drain site. I called, reported it and at my 1 week they took it out- it was badly infected. I had to have Antibiotics and another liquid to coat the stomach too. I didn't lose anything from Jan 27th to Feb 10th-2 weeks! I was panicky because I'd lost the 11 in 5 days and now nothing. finally started losing again, but when I got to 260 (started at 300) I got sick n spent the night in the hospital with severe pain in my stomach, nausea, vomiting and back pain. plus a weird severe allergy- I itched everywhere! so badly that Benedryl didn't touch it and I couldn't sleep-after 3 days of that I took myself to the hospital. I was badly dehydrated too. Although they got me back to "normal" the staff/Doctors never could tell me what happened and why. I hadn't eaten anything I hadn't had before ect.... but again kept floating weight between 260-267. and couldn't understand how I could gain!!!! I was following the parameters, getting my fluids and protein, everything for weeks- nothing past 260 was lost. very discouraging. did start to lose again last week- now 249. I KNOW that is a LONG story but do any of you know why I stopped losing and why I kept going between 260 and 267?

i know i have care first blue choice something under the umbrella of bcbs and my doc told me i am not required to lose weight but just not gain. also im in a diffrent situation that you bmi 48 with 2 co morbities so im not sure what your doc will tell you

I was similar. The PA at the doctor actually suggested I use 5’8” for my height vs 5’9”. That increased my BMI by almost 2%. I also wore a coat and boots when I got on the scale for weigh-ins. Even considered putting a small weight in my pocket if needed.

If you're that concerned, wear some small ankle weights or carry a few rolls of quarters in your pockets to the initial consult. That's a lot safer than eating a couple of large pizzas the night before.

My husband is currently being "trained" to not set me up for failure! I just set up my first appointment for my mandatory 6 month doctor assisted weight loss program. I have instructed my darling to start throwing out or donate any food he wont eat within the next month in the pantry. I will do the same with foods I normally eat. I will re-stock with "acceptable" foods. He also knows that I will become all kinds of crazy if he tempts me with naughty foods when I tell him I am on strict foods. Gotta love my hubby, he is a real trooper <3

It eat the Special K Protein cereal also. It really does curb my appetite. I have it maybe twice a week. I only eat about half a cup (if that, sometimes I can't even finish the half a cup). The Special K protein cereal is not a slider (for me). I actually get full from it, and I am still loosing weight (so far, went from a 20 to a 12). I switch off with different things for breakfast so I don't get burnt out.

I wouldnt hesitate to have an unfill. I got another fill about four weeks ago despite having decided Iprobably wouldnt have anymore. My weight just hadnt moved in about 2 months. I've never wanted to be tight in any way, shape or form and I couldnt see a reason in the world why I personally would need to be as I've lost all my weight quite well on 1500 to 1800 calories a day until the last little bit before goal. So I was perfectly prepared to find myself too tight (for me) and go back and have it removed, I said to my doc "I just want to try this, I'm not sure its what I want but I really want to lose these last 2 or 3 kgs". That was fine by him and as it turned out, just all of my other fills, it made only a teeny bit of difference, not the huge difference I thought it would. Dont hesitate. You cannot be nourished and healthy on 600 calories a day. You'll be starving and you'll end up eating crap that will go down.

i would listen to your doctor. as long as you're not hungry and are losing weight i wouldn't get a fill just yet. i had my 2nd fill in june and haven't felt the need for another one (if anything i'm a little too tight). my weight loss had plateau'd for about 2 weeks but now i'm losing again. patience is the key here. you want the weight to come off slowly.

Very inspiring Amy. Looks like you are doing really well. My start weight was the same as yours. It is my goal to lose at least 100 pounds by my 1 year bandiversary. Congratulations to you on your weight loss! Donna

by the way if you are paying out of pocket i totally suggest eating like a horse for a few weeks and getting your weight up to 35 BMI. i would hate to go through meeting and what not only to be told" i don't do surgery below 35 BMI."

Hi Guys!!! I too was banded on 10/22...........I was in surgery for an hour and a half, and I had a bad reaction to the anesthesia and didn't leave the ICU for 2 hours after my surgery, and than I had a very low heart rate. They almost kept me over, but they let me go home later that night. That was my biggest issue.....it is such a big adjustment! I have had one fill and I am up to 6 cc's. I started at 4 cc's after the surgery. I started at 279 pre-op and I am now 236.5 post op!!! WAHOO 43 LBS!!! I feel like after reading other people's blogs that I haven't lost real well, but I guess any weight loss is good!!! I go for my second fill on the 21st of Dec, and I am excited to start to feel some restriction!!! Hope all you OCTOBER BANDSTERS are doing great!!!

Hi! I am from south Georgia also. Live in Blackshear, but had surgery in Waycross. I am 55 years old and teach school. I have weight issues all my life and am now willing to face them. I am learning what a stronghold food has in my llife. This is not going to be an easy journey, but definitely a very worthwhile one. I want to be able to keep up with my precious 3yr old grandaughter!

I'm glad to hear other people have needed many fills before being restricted. I'm restricted at 5 cc's to the point where I can eat less and not be hungry for about 1-2 hours. But, I was hoping for enough restriction that I would have more help in being prevented from eating as much as I can. I am a food addict. I have no problem saying that. I have a very big problem with food and am thinking about following the Weight Watcher's program in conjunction with the band. I lost 30 pounds the first month of my band on 8/22/07. Since then I've only maintained. With my last fill in March, it was so tight I couldn't swallow my own spit. I don't know if this is normal. I think I should get another fill, but at $200 a pop, it's a painful concept monetarily. In addition, will I need to suffer not being able to swallow anything for a day again. It was rough and caused me to call out from work. I know I need added help from the band to get my weight loss started again. I was 280 at surgery and have been 250 for at least 7 months now. I would really love to lose another 90-100 pounds. At this point in time it almost seems impossible. Has anyone else experienced this? :confused2:

I have 8 cc in a 14 cc band. Some days I feel it and things get "hung up" but most times I can eat anything and everything. Have never had any difficulty getting water down. Gulping even not problem. Told my Dr. that i can't wait to not be able to eat breads. He says I will get there, but not soon enough for me. Surgery was 9/25/07. Fills every 6 weeks since then. I'm pretty much at a stand still in the weight loss dept. getting frustrated. Exercising(water aerobics, weight lifting machines) more than ever. Weight yoyoing up 2 lbs. down 2 lbs. over and over again.

@@WhitneyMc - Welcome to the community! I was a self-pay patient (mostly because of the time insurance takes to approve), however I did look into it, and I know many on here have been through it. If you have started a Medically managed weight loss program for your insurance, then you should be getting diet advice directly from the medical personnel who are assisting your weight loss. Your surgeon most likely has a Nutritionist on his/her team that will give you instructions on what they recommend. If you ever have a question on whether something fits into your new diet, you should just ask your nutritionist. They should be able to provide you with literature and some resources that would benefit you in this part of the process.... Good luck on getting the approval!

I should have stated this that in 2008 I weighed 350 lbs. In May 21st 2013 when I started my journey with meeting the surgeon I weighed 282 lbs. On the day of surgery which was September 25th 2013 I weighed 242 lbs. As of yesterday I weighed 160 lbs and we agreed that I was close enough to a normal BMI and that I felt great at this weight that this is where I'm staying. The bariatric hypoglycemia is different then regular hypoglycemia and is treated differently from what I was told yesterday. I will meet with my nutritionist to figure out a game plan. I have sagging skin but I don't care because I am so much healthier now then I've ever been after being overweight and obese most of my life. This surgery saved me I truly believe that.