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I'm with you--hoping that the last 11 fall off (then I can go for 10 more LOL). I have my fifth fill tomorrow and was this close to canceling, but it seems like I've been ravenous all day. Fickle band. Thank GOD for fluoro!!! LOL

10 days

Very nicely written post. I can relate to so much of what you said. My husband was banded two years ago, he too chose it as self-pay rather then do the bypass our insurance would cover. I was terrified. I worried about him surviving the operation. I worried about him not losing weight and getting very depressed because he saw this as his last chance. I worried that he would lose weight and find someone prettier. Did I mention that I worried?! Well, he survived. He's healthier now then he's been in years. He's lost about 90 pounds, he's kind of taking his time with it. He looks good. I started to wonder if maybe there was something to this banding. So, I did more research. Ran some numbers, since I'm self-pay also. Made an appointment with his surgeon and said "OK, now I really have some questions". Got it all set up, got my date. Was told to lose 10-15 pounds and promptly gained 7! So now, I'm kind of in limbo. I had to wait until the end of August because of work deadlines. Giving me lots of time to think about how much this is going to cost, how much more in debt we will be. About how it will feel to have a device in me that has a say in what and how much I eat. How I'll feel if I can't, for whatever reason I think there might be, lose weight with this. I have a tendency to think things to death and over-analyze. To question my decisions. But I do feel this is a good choice for me. I've struggled with my weight since high school. I'll lose some, then slip up and gain it all back. I'm quite frankly tired of it. Of working so hard with nothing to show. I do realize that there is work ahead of me, but I feel like I'll have my little buddy to help. Hum, I think I need to come up with a name for my band... I agree, this is a journey and will be interesting. I have my op-day outfit picked out (A muu-muu from a recent trip to Hawaii), my shopping list written and my time of from work all figured out. Yay for us!

I want to thank everyone for their replies and support. I appreciate it more than you know. Now it makes more sense. The nurse is still saying they didn't order the anesthesia in time and then there were shipping problems, but I'm hearing more about the 'drought'. Bottom line.. I can't really change it. I can only roll with the punches and do what I have to do. My biggest concern wasn't just getting the surgery, but the date in which is now falls. I'm incredibly lucky to have such an understanding and supportive boss, backed by a compassionate company. So given nothing else goes wrong, I will be banded on 10/5, and I can't wait! It's weird eating normal again after 2 weeks.. now I'm never really hungry and I eat considerably less. I just can't wait to get this done with. But again, thank you all for your replies and support. I guess I have a tendency of overreacting and worrying.. the stress of being a full-time worker, college student, and the emotions that come with the LapBand process really got to me for a bit. I'm trying me best to just relax and go with it now.

Just remember that restriction and "feeling full" do not necessarily happen together. Sometimes the restriction from the band will not allow a piece of chewed food to pass through as we think it should. When I was in between fills one time, and had no feeling of restriction, I had overeaten and I knew I had ate too much. It is now a miserable "full" feeling. You do not get the satisfaction of that "old full feeling" such as before the band. I have had 9 fills with 8.6 in a 10 cc band 18 months out. I now know that feeling will never happen again. So physically it is better to just step away from that last bite or two left on that plate. let it go!! I will not be worth it. Good luck to all our new bandsters..:biggrin:

Thanks @Babbs. I think I was just thinking it was supposed to be something closer to 20 pounds in the first couple of weeks. Even my dr seemed a little disappointed when I had only lost 10 pounds in my first 10 days. Just thought maybe I had done something wrong. I know its a marathon not a race....

I was nauseous and it was hard to eat or drink and I would get sick after eating right up until like 8 weeks. I am now at 10 1/2 weeks. I am so much better. Just eat or drink only what you can. Some of us are slow healers. It will get better. I took all the nausea Meds from my dr and whatever I could get at the pharmacy. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't buy into this whole "pouch reset" business. It's not a piece of hardware that needs to be reset. Just resume the routine that worked for you in the beginning. Make a plan - work the plan. Sure, if you want to drop 10 lbs quickly and more importantly flush/cleanse your body then do a 7-10 liquid/protein diet but there is no "reset button". You have a tool and that tool is only as good as the craftsman wielding it. Just my .02

I am 12/19 on my 2-week liquid diet now, such torture can't wait to have my surgery so at least I won't feel hungry on this liquid torture LOL

Hi, I am a new member to the site and would like to see if anyone can help me out on some questions I have. I have considered having wls for over 2 years now and have finally made up my mind to do it! I went to the seminar to start that the surgeon requires. I know I was told there would be some pre-qualifications my insurance would require before approving the surgery. The insurance dept at the drs office sent me the paperwork saying I had to have 5 years of weight history with my bmi over 40 or my bmi greater than 35 w/co-morbidities. My situation is that my bmi has only been over 40 for 2 years and greater than 35 with NO co-morbidities for the first 10 years. Is there anyone out there who was/is in this kind of situation? And also with BCBS TRS activecare thru the school district, is there anyway to get around these "pre-qualifications? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Thanks for sharing your story, Eli. You are a true inspiration! I had my surgery 10 days after you did - it has been an amazing year. I admire your courage and strength at such a young age! Be proud of the fact you took control over your life and made changes. I wasn't as fortunate - I waited until I was 44 years old. I lost too much time. I'm making the most of it now, but my one regret is not doing this sooner. You are an amazing young man! I wish you nothing but good things. Again, thanks for sharing your story.

Doddie, She's here to push her book and to speak about having the band so she's not representing Inamed at all. She didn't even mention CIBO's actual name, she said she was holding an information seminar with Tom Saridis, who we all know is the founder of CIBO and she pushed her book. She didn't discuss anything about the actual clinic other than her comment about it being the best in Canada. Hard for her to comment on a clinic that isn't even built yet. They have a name and some offices but no surgical suites. All their hype about their clinic is just that hype and nothing more. They are up to maybe 10 bands at most by now and aftercare is still in the very new stages so hard to comment on it when very few patients and very little time. It's all a paid for smokescreen and anyone with half a brain can see through it all. Just be glad we were banded at some of the best clinics in Canada already and didn't have to try and decide now with all the advertising they are paying for to get their name out there. Actually most of us are smart enough to see through it all and probably would have still picked our respective clinics with proven stats.

June 19, 2008 Dear Readers: I’m a 57 almost 58 grandmother of 5. I am contemplating the lap band because I don’t have the will power to lose the 60-65 pounds that I desperately need to lose. I am so tired of hurting. My back was broken and the pain is excruciating. I weigh only 183-185 but all the fat is on the core of my body and the pain keeps me disabled. I have tried-- I have always had a problem all my life keeping my weight at a healthy norm which would be 110 to 135. In April of 2006 I broke my back and have gone to physical therapy and the whole nine yards. I have osteoporosis which contributed to the back breakage. My knees need total replacement according to the doctors. My medical doctor tells me if I will lose 60 pounds then I won’t have the back pain that keeps me in bed most of the time , about 16 hours. I have high blood pressure and am prone to diabetes so the 60-65 pounds have got to go so I can want to live the few years that we have been given on this earth. My problem, as in many cases, is money and I’m trying to save enough- but it’s challenging. Please understand that I don’t want any hand-outs, I just want you to know why my pain hasn’t already been taken care of. Sincerely, Vickie913

Well here I am sitting in a resort in Florida enjoying the fabulous view and sound of the ocean and enjoying my new body. I never dreamed I would ever be a size 10 and I am (depending on the make). I feel so elated when I am shopping for clothes and the sizes 12 and 14 are now too big. Wow. I have never worn size 10 in my life. I don't like wearing anything baggy now. I want fitted stylish clothes to show off my new curves. I can feel my bones clearly now and have shape. Who knew? I do miss doing Curves while we are traveling but am trying to swim and walk. No more buffet waist bands and clothes with no belts or buttons. I have a wonderful new wardrobe. I don't want to wear my old size 2XL coat and hide under it. I am thinking now about a new bathing suit. Life is good!:wub:

Gosh...I will "weigh" in on this one. I have not been around these boards for ages..or any lapband boards for that matter.I think my intro is posted around here somewhere. I was banded in August 2002, so I am just over three years banded and I have lost just about 60% of my excess body weight so far. I think I have another 40+ lbs to go. I have never been at a goal weight so I have no idea where that really is..just a figure or range on a chart. Why have I personally lost 100% of my excess weight yet?? Well..many reasons..mainly me and how I have worked this whole band thing, various circumstances over the last three years and now at a point where I am pretty complacent because I am size 10/12 and feel a little more "normal" in this world. I can shop for clothes wherever I want, not just the ugly fat gal departments or stores. More people take notice of me and though I do want to lose the rest of this weight and have at minimum a tummy tuck to make clothes fit better, I get tired of the whole band thing and worrying about calories and restriction and all that. I stillhave plenty of fill space left in my band since I have taken it easy on the fills or at least been lucky I didn't need to fill my band to the fullest in order to lose weight so far. I think I am still below 3cc's in fill.. If I was to do this all over again...I would have worked harder initially at losing as much as I could as fast as I could which would have involved more frequent fill schedule than what allowed me going back and forth to Mexico to see my doctor. It is not in my nature to go hard core at anything..and I excercise off an on and I eat what I want when I want(within my restriction of course).I now work in the wine industry which involves frequent intake of ahheemmm...liquid calories in the form of the grape stuff..so this makes it harder to lose more right now without some cutting back elsewhere... But for me...I am not really as caught up in the % of excess weight LOST since I was banded as I am in the reason I was banded...how much of the weight I have lost so far in three years have I kept off....100%!!!!! Now that is a number I have never achieved in dieting all my life. Three freaking years and dropped 100lbs and I have not gained back an ounce!! So..you can look at this any way you want. If losing 100% of your excess weight is important to you..then make sure you put in all effort to get it off and keep going when life gets in the way as it surely will..and you hit that somewhat happy point many of us do that says "I am fine where I am and the rest is gravy" from here point. THEN measure your success on the abillity to keep off what you have lost..no matter if it is 60%, 100% or anywhere in between. Best of luck to you! Patty 8/13/02 Dr Kuri -100

When I first spoke with my doctor after being banded, he told me that on average, they wanted patients to lose:- One-Third excess weight in the first 6 months One-Half excess weight in the first 12 months Two-Thirds excess weight in 24 months He said to try for as much as I could in the first six months, because after that, it would slow dramatically. I saw him today for a check up. In 9 months, I've now lost over two-thirds of my excess body weight (-75lbs). He said he reckons that if I were going to slow down, I would have done it already and that my success so far makes him think I'll travel along like I have til I hit goal (155lbs or there abouts). I can only pray he's right. If I do slow down, you'll see me here whinging about it LOL. While all of that is well and good, after losing just 25lbs, I was feeling better than I had in ages. I was able to sleep well at night and my sleep aponea had all but disappeared. I was healthier and happier. If I never hit my goal, I'll be extremely disappointed, but I'll still be 10 times happier than I was before I was given this wonderful little tool. Good luck with making your decision.

I got banded Monday 8/9/10 & today was my first day on the protein drinks. I had 2 today with a lot of water and took a nice walk. I'm so looking toward week 2 when I can have other items.

...and I Have To Say I Am Sh*ting My Pants! I Am Freaking Out Over Here - Trying Not Chicken Out! Oh Gosh I Hate {pain} Please Any Last Minute Tips/ Reminders/ Prayers I Should Say! I Guess This Is Just The Immature Side Of Me. Oh Well Though Even Though I Am 21 I Am Still 20, 19 , 18 17, ...6,5,4,3,2,1 Underneath So I Am Allow To Act Three Sometimes Right? (we Are All Like A Big Snowball Just Getting Bigger But Inside We Are Still Who We Used To Be Years Ago).

Wednesday afternoon I entered the club officially. Woo-hoo! Things literally couldn't have gone any smoother, at least thus far. Went into the hospital at 1pm intending to begin surgery at 3:45, only to learn that my surgeon was ahead of schedule for the day - thereby moving me up from 3:45 to 2:30 or so. I remember making it as far as the OR at around 2:20pm, but the next thing I rememebered after that was waking up in recovery at around 5:30, fully banded. On a 1-10 scale I'd rate my abdominal pain as a 1/2 immediately after surgery (though it's now up to about a 2-3 - worth noting, but not worth crying over). My biggest problem thus far has been cotton-mouth, a by-product of the anesthesia and that I'm only allowed to drink 30ml/cc of Water every 15 minutes. The only thing I'll advise fellow Bandoleros: if you smoke, STOP WELL BEFORE SURGERY. The reason? Cough. I'm a smoker (or having stopped 3 days ago, hopefully an ex-smoker) who literally wasn't made aware that quitting was an important pre-requisite to the operation until it was too late. I haven't coughed often, but when I have, it's hurt quite a bit. So even if your doctors don't tell you about it - STOP SMOKING WELL BEFORE YOUR SURGERY DATE! Anyway, I got home around 8pm and promptly went to sleep. Woke up this morning around 2:30, not due to any pain but due to a cotton-mouth episode. I don't want to jinx things, but things as a whole seem to be going great thus far. Have a follow-up appointment next Friday morning, with a first fill slated for late March. I don't miss food yet, I have absolutely no sense of hunger nor nausea, and in fact if it weren't for the cotton-mouth I wouldn't even want water.

I'm 52, and I've never had a band, but I did make the decision to have bypass after breaking my leg through the knee joint. I had considered bypass for several years, but it took the ortho doctor telling me that I needed a total knee because my weight caused the fracture repair to fail to get the ball rolling. One thing that he said that really stuck in my head was that for every pound you lose, that is FOUR pounds of pressure off the knee. I'm sure its about the same for the hip. Surgery was 6/10, and I'm down 18 pounds since surgery date, and a total of 29 pounds since 4/26 when I first visited my surgeon. (I was fast tracked because I was self pay) My surgeon does not even do the band anymore because of the number of revisions that she was requested to do in the past few years. I already had bad GERD, so I opted for bypass. I can honestly say this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I had probably lost and regained the same 29 pounds on WW five or six times over the past 4 years. I'm looking forward to a healthier more active life. At times I think my weight loss should be more, but I am really limited as to walking because of the knee. I know that once I get my knee replacement in October that I will (hopefully) lose quicker. Hope my reply helped. Just consider where you are now, and how much better it could be. I don't think age should be a factor, its quality of life. I work in a doctors office, and I see our older patients who are active and able to do for themselves, even after hip or knee replacemnets, then I see our not so older patients who are barely able to get around after hip or knee replacements because of their weight issues. And I DO NOT want to be a part of the later group.

Hey everyone!! I am 19 years old, weight 319lbs, & my height is 5’81/2 (my BMI is 45 I think). I’m really nervous over my insurance not covering the surgery due to the fact that I don’t have any comorbitities. I’m generally pretty healthy aside from the fact that my feet hurt from carrying so much weight. My health insurance is healthfirst through Medicaid & I am on the last month of my “6 months weigh ins”!!! Do you think I might have a problem not getting covered?

I am on day 10 of my pre-op liquid diet. Day 3 was the absolute worst for me. I felt terrible. I had a headache, felt weak, cranky, and just wanted to sleep. I woke up on day 4 and felt SO much better! It will get better and you CAN do this! Hang in there!

I hired a personal trainer since I was 4 weeks out. I work out 3 days a week. $200 for the first 10 sessions, then 35 dollars per session after that if I buy more than 20. I purchased a 40 session package and referred some friends and got 15 more sessions for free. he's certified and he is great for weight loss. Love him!!

MissSammyD, First of all congratulations on your decision. You will not regret it. My success is due to multiple events that worked in my favor. First, I was falling apart medically. I had or had been recently diagnosed with multiple co-morbitities before banding and I was starting to feel the impact. I just could not go on living with all the pain and suffering. When my grandaughter was born I made up my mind that I wanted to be around for her and of course my family also. My doctor advised weight loss surgery. I was so serious about changing my life that I quit smoking the day after the lapband seminar. I was scheduled for surgery in September, but a few days before my surgery the hospital called and said that I was to be re-scheduled because there was a shortage of a drug used in surgery and all non urgent surgeries had been cancelled. I was already 12 days into the liquid diet. My next scheduled date was 2 weeks away and I had to continue the Protein diet. This diet consisted of 2 low cal Protein drinks, one for Breakfast the other for lunch, then 1 can of Soup at night with all the sugar free popcicles and sugar free pudding(s). I was on the required protein diet for 1 month. I lost at least 30 lbs. on the protein diet alone. I cringe with the thought of drinking another shake. lol When I went in for my first fill I ended up getting an unfill because I was way too tight. I'm one that needs very little in my band for restriction. They had put in 3cc's in the 10cc band during surgery and unfilled me down to 2cc's. I'm doing great with 2cc's. I started losing immediatley after surgery. Remember that it could take several fills at 6 weeks apart before you have restriction. We are all different. I was just lucky to get restriction right a way. On the other side of the coin, was that I was losing too quickly, I was getting too weak and was looking rather sickly. I know this because I had only told a few people at work about my surgery. I was approached by a couple of very concerned co-workers who thought I had cancer or a very serious illness due to the amount of weight I had lost and how I looked. I then decided to announce the lapband. They have all been very supportive. I started exercising as much as I could handle at first. I started with small walks around the block, at the school track, riding my bike on low gears, started walking in the pool, walking on a treadmill, 10 minutes of step aerobics. I have built up to working out 40 minutes a day at 1or 2 activities mentioned. I can now jog 2 miles. I can swim 40 minutes. Last weekend I did a 20 mile bike ride. Its awesome!! Most importantly, all of my blood work has come back normal (diabetes, gout, cholesterol). I am off 5 different medications, off my CPAP machine. I am normal medically except for high blood pressure which will be evaluated in july. Take it one day at a time. There is no big race to lose so fast! Also, keep in mind that fast weight loss can lead to gall bladder problems and require surgery. In addition, you want your skin to tighten/tone up as you go. You also want to keep your hair from falling off. In my case, I'm a bald male so I'm ok with it falling off. lol In all seriousness, I now eat properly and even if I did have hair I'm sure it will not fall off. I have never eaten properly in all my life, so this has been a win win situation for me. As I said, you will not regret doing this for yourself. Yes, the journey get difficult at times, but, you get back on the wagon, especially when you start seeing the results. Keep me posted on how you do please.

Daisychains FYI. Proving you can loose wt can cause your insurance to deny you. The dr has write that you have failed all other attempts to lose wt. the time to prove your dr wrong is after you get the band. Remember some people have been denied because they were loosening good without the band. I went up and down during the the 6 month dr supervised time only loosing 10 lbs showing I was motivated but still needed help. they set you up you need to fail so you can get the band