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Hello, my name is Audree. I was banded in January of 2007, so over 6 years ago. My surgery was done in Mexico by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I am a self pay lower bmi bandster. I also have the Inamed 4cc band, low profile port. My highest weight before surgery was about 195. My lowest was about 160 and I am now a little up in weight at 175 or so. Its been a few years since I was able to go back to see him for a check up or fill, so I can eat with almost no restriction. The only exception to this is right before my cycle, if I am stressed or eat to fast. I had originally been on this board even before I got banded in 2007 under the screen name Babygotback. I tried to reactivate my old account but was unable to, so I created this new one. I recently got married and have a new insurance. I was happy to find out that I could be seen here for check ups and fills by my new doctor in the States Dr. Phillippe Quilici in Burbank. I had my band checked and they said it was fine. I got a .5 fill which supposedly put me at 3.5 I thought they said. I felt very little restriction. So, I am going back this month on the 24th to get another fill. I am excited to use my band again after all this time and finally get down to my goal of 150.

Where is that statistic? Geez, I'm gonna get the meanie award I know it but your port coming out of your skin WAS YOUR FAULT! You need to address an infection ASAP...no matter what the cost. I do not know the makeup of the band but in other implants.....we use silicone, titanium, silastic tubing,silk, nylon etc all NON REACTIVE to MOST people. There have been people who rejected knees/hips. Hell, I know people whose teeth won't hold a filling. This is your lot in life. It sucks yes. And I KNOW I would be infuriated reading replies here....its the nature of the beast. The beast being text on a screen without voice, tone and inflection. B U T, you posted here....I assume you wanted to have this conversation. One of the replies suggested you make a blog....that's a great idea...you can go on and on and no one will bother you. you can disable comments if you so choose.

I am one of ones here that can honestly remember being both skinny at 5'9" 112 pounds---I was skin and bones, not much muscle---just skinny. It was not intentional---it is how I was. I ate everything in sight, and never gained an ounce. I fought like crazy to gain up to 123 pounds so my wedding gown fit! Then I had a baby---and for the first time ever I gained weight. I went home in jeans I wore before the baby. But it soon ended! When I stopped nursing, I was hospitalized for a mastitis infection that hit my blood stream and caused sepsis---I gained 80 pounds in 3 months time! Seriously! I was not eating different. It was extreme! From there I went through bad marriage, abuse, and more serious weight gain! Ironically---some of it totally intentional! (shaking head at self here!!!) Before long, the weight was totally out of control. I could lose pretty well, but it would not stay off. Then it got to where losing so much as a pound took weeks of HARD work---and even then any semblence of normalcy and it come back! I found myself facing very close to 300 pounds, and being morbidly obese. In the time since being banded, I have had to have most of my thyroid removed, and in the medical processes for that, I learned that the inability to gain when I was younger was my first sign of thyroid trouble----and the hormone change of pregnancy, and sudden cessation of nursing, flipped the switch he said from hypo- to hyper thyroidism. Not an excuse, but an explanation---it was pretty scary to be young and out of control like that. But with no insurance, I had no real options for figuring things out. Both extremes, as well as the years I spent in the middle, at a normal weight are both well in my mind, and I can say without a doubt....no questions ask--------morbid obesity brought with it much, much more personal heartache, peoples cruel comments, and open disgust from not only yourself, but even medical personel! I do remember being told I needed to gain a few pounds--by assorted relatives I seldom saw and a Dr. None of which saw me eat! More people by far were envious of how I could eat without consequences---and for the most part I ate healthy enough, just more than you would imagine for remaining so bony! My hip bones jutted out so far, I would have to sew the front pockets of my jeans closed, because the white pocket was forced out and showed! I could have ---not based on looks, but on build---beenon any magazine cover with todays stars....I was EXTREMELY thin---I referred to myself as skinny. The word did not bother me then, nor does it now. None of it compares to morbid obesity. I do not mean to be argumentive Jachut----but as I went up the scale--it got worse the higher I got. The heavier I got, the more invisible I got to parts of society, and the more others thought they could say hateful things without issue! Every single thing you have health wise, is an easy call for a Dr. It is all due to your weight! Until you have felt/heard others talk about you based on nothing but your weight...had a room fall silent when you walked in, simply because they were staring, then jerking their heads away---seen them share looks with who they were with--or been "mooed" at, (and these just a few among many, many ways people find to be cruel) morbid obesity has not touched your life. These did not all happen to me, but I have read about them right here at LBT. I have read the pain involved in each of the situations---and experienced similar things personally, or similar enough situations to know the shame, the hurt, and even the anger they invoked. Should I have gotten control much earlier, of course! I am willing to bet most of us by far wish we had found help before reaching the morbidly obese category. For many of us it didn't come until further down the path of obesity though. Depression, lack of funds, lack of availability all figure into the issue--but having seen and lived from one end of the spectrum to the other----I do believe that unless one has lived and experienced morbid obesity, it is hard to understand or explain. I also believe it is hard to explain to someone in that position (obesity in general) how much better life is, or how much better they will FEEL---at a normal healthy weight. I am quite sure it is difficult for both to see or understand the other --obese vs. thin- without ever walking in those shoes. I think we all want to be accepted where we are--not just at where we want to be. Whether we all strive to be a perfect BMI, or if we are happy elsewhere, if we are working hard where we are, or if we have arrived at goal, and are thrilled with the newfound freedoms of not trying to lose weight still, we all just want to be accepted and have our efforts recognized. Belittling one another, whichever direction it goes is really kind of sad, and usually indicates an unhappiness in ourselves. My experiences show that people usually tear others down in an effort to build themselves up. Maybe the next LBT banner needs to be our own Dove commercial---but without me!!!! LOL Kat

If I don't eat enough Protein I drink a protein juice drink. I like the flavor and it is from Syntrax....nector. They have some cool flavors. I also have protein meals from Blissfull Wellness. I like their hot chocolate. They range from 15 to 30 g of protein per serving. I have just found out that I am reactive Hypoglycemic so now instead of eating 4 times a day I have to try to eat 3 meals and 3 Snacks. I had no idea that I could get that but they said they did not want to tell me because why add another thing onto what I have already have..But like me I got it so they say.LOL I drink 64 oz of Water a day. Ii love water and when it gets closer to summer I will drink more....I can't handle boiled eggs. They are too dense for me so I eat scrambled. Weird to be able to eat it one way but not another. I try very hard to make food interesting and different as much as possible. I eat so many different kinds of things now. Except. Beef it hates me. Pork does not care for me either. But I eat a lot of Beans and legumes, peas, nuts and seeds like squirrels do..lol If I am shopping it takes me forever to buy food because I always look for salt content. Calories and amount of protein. Their are a lot of tasty recipes on Pinterest for salads and healthy meals that look and taste great. I never count calories and I eat very slow....I sometimes can eat more then I need and other times I can't eat much. But I put a plate together. Protein, veggies and carb and I always eat the protein first. Then the veggies and last but not least the carbs. I am a true believer that we need everything in our diets as we live in the real world. But in moderation and balance..... Hope this is what you were looking for.....

MichiganChic got it right. So that being said, I'll going to address a few things I learned with whatever medical resources I have. Please note that I have a local medical school with the best librarians in the world, and I use those resources a lot. I realized I don't have all of them on me, so I'll go this weekend and get specific references. Always pays to ask your doctor as the references I have come to 2 different conclusions (regarding Protein binding of calcium, whether or not its charged on the negative areas or truely is free of the protein molecule itself). I'll try to keep to the "lighter" end of things so you get useful info rather than a lot of scientific snooze material (or as my sister calls it, my reading & video material). Calcium: Several ways calcium can be measured: Serum blood Ionized Urine (24 hour collection) Differences between blood levels and ionized levels is serum blood calcium (what you find in a BMP (basic metabolic panel)) is your total calcium level, whereas the ionized calcium is the free in plasma type only. ** My sources differ on this** Serum blood calcium measures calcium that is attached to albumin/globulins or Proteins AND the free or ionized calcium in plasma OR it attaches to the negative charged sites on protein OR it is bound to proteins, bound to anions, and free/ionized. Parathyroid hormone & Vitamin D regulate your calcium. However, the kidneys assist in getting rid of the excess, so if they are not functioning right, you can find this out by doing urine studies. Many molecules attach to proteins or other blood particles and use them as a sort of "ferry" to get to where they need to be. If you have problems with abnormal levels of proteins like albumin or globulin, this may be one reason you need ionized levels checked. I'll list some items here that would be pertinent to us. Normal ionized calcium levels with high total calcium levels is called pseudohypercalcemia. It can happen due to hyperalbuminemia (basically an edema type condition where the Fluid leaks from your cells surrounding the tissue) or excess Vitamin D. Normal ionized calcium levels with low total calcium levels is called pseudohypocalcemia. It can happen due to hypoalbuminemia from liver/kidney disease. Low ionized calcium levels with low total calcium levels can happen due to parathyoid issues, Vitamin D/Magnesium deficiencies, and high phosphate levels. High ionized calcium levels with normal total calcium levels can happen due to hypoalbuminemia, parathyoid disorders, or acidosis. High ionized calcium levels with high total calcium levels can happen due to parathyroid issues. I'll stay away from high levels because lower levels would make more sense to us, excess Vitamins A & D would probably be the main causes for us. If you have lower levels, hypoparathyroidism, malabsorption, osteo types of problems, but mostly Vitamin D deficiency would be the big issues. Increases in pH levels in the blood, aka alkalosis, will cause more of the calcium to bind to the protein molecules and will decrease your ionized calcium levels. Decreased in Ph levels in the blood, aka acidosis, causes less of the calcium to bind to the protein molecules and will increase the free calcium levels. I add this due to authors' interest, as since the surgery, metabolic acidosis and alkalosis seem to be my buddies. Acidosis in the hospital after the surgery, alkalosis doing a number of endurance athletic competitions. When you get these tests done, make sure to review things such as your other electrolyte levels, PTH levels, Vitamin D, and phosphorus & magnesium. A change in this electrolyte can cause or be influenced by changes in other electrolytes. Calcium is excreted out of the body in urine and feces (a few other things but those are the most important). An increase in pH, alkalosis, promotes increased protein binding, which decreases free calcium levels. Acidosis, on the other hand, decreases protein binding, resulting in increased free calcium levels. Total calcium measurements, as you've seen, can be misleading. If you have hypoalbuminemia, you will have normal ionized calcium levels but total calcium levels decrease. There are ways to compensate for that, what I cheat and do is look online for the medical calculators. If you have kidney or low bicarbonate or serum albumin levels, you should measure the ionized free calcium to diagnose hypo/hypercalcemia. A few of the reasons to test the ionized calcium would be liver or kidney issues, abnormal total calcium issues, parathyroid issues, numbness or muscle spasms around the mouth, hands or feet. Drugs that can increase your ionized calcium levels would be things like thyroxine. Drugs that can decrease your ionized calcium levels would be things like heparin, epinephrine, alcohol. Urine tests measure how much calcium gets excreted out by the kidneys. It can look for problems with the parathyroid glands or the kidneys, or to check and see where the body is getting calcium from. Normal levels for urine calcium can be anywhere from 100-150 to 300. A calcium free diet goes from 5-40, low diets are 50-100 or 150. High levels can be caused by kidney issues, taking too much calcium, too much parathyroid hormone, and very high Vitamin D levels. Low levels can be caused by too little parathyroid hormone, low Vitamin D levels, and not enough calcium and/or malabsorption. If you show up with higher levels of serum calcium, lower levels of urine calcium, and possible bone loss changes, what is happening is that your body is leeching calcium from the bones (bone loss), causing the higher levels of blood calcium, the kidneys are holding on to the little bit you have and not urinating it out (low urine calcium).

Do you know what all an endocrinologist tests for? It’s not just hypo and hyperthyroidism, right?? I am in maintenance and struggling big time. I feel like the only way to maintain my weight is to be on a diet (and hungry) for the rest of my life cause I add in a few calories and I gain. I feel like there is something going on with my hormones that my primary doc is missing. I see him today and plan to ask a lot of questions. Just wondering what conditions cause weight gain that I should be questioning him about.

*** hanging head low*** I get "hypo" and "hyper" thyroid confused. I have to take meds cause my thyroid is slow. Did I finally find a delicious milk product that I'll actually drink, only to learn it will hamper my weight loss? Is whole milk the same as 1%? Regular milk is too thick, so if I drink milk it's only 1-2%. Betty and Alex, you girls just have to try this stuff. Maybe I bought sweetened or something? But it's like drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast or eggnog. I can't believe how good it is. I started reading labels when I bought the stuff, but there are about 25 different containers of soy milk, which is why it was easier for me to ask here. The carton I bought had all sorts of health benefits from Protein to Calcium.

I finally think I have it figured out. Today I ate sushi and then ate a couple of fries. I mean I ate a small fry. It was one of those days when I was so hungry I just took what I could get. NEVER AGAIN!!! EVER EVER EVER! Basically I ate WAY TOO MANY CARBS...This is not dumping. I thought it was caffeine a few months back...but it isn't. So yeah...I will never eat a carb heavy meal again! Reactive hypoglycemia occurs in people who do not have diabetes. It's a different type of hypoglycemia than the one that affects people who have diabetes. Although the causes are unrelated, the symptoms of both kinds of hypoglycemia are the same. Symptoms of hypoglycemia: Trembling or weakness Lack of coordination Drowsiness or confusion Headache Dizziness Double vision Convulsions or unconsciousness What is the cause of reactive hypoglycemia? The exact cause of reactive hypoglycemia is still unknown, but there are several hypothesis that might explain why it can happen. Sensitivity to epinephrine, a hormone that is released in the body during times of stress. Insufficient glucagon production. Glucagon is also a hormone which has the opposite effect of insulin. It raises blood glucose levels. Gastric surgeries can also cause reactive hypoglycemia because food may pass too quickly through the digestive system. Enzyme deficiencies can also cause reactive hypoglycemia, but these are rare and occur during infancy. How to manage reactive hypoglycemia Limit foods with a high sugar content, especially on an empty stomach. For example, eating a doughnut first thing in the morning can trigger a hypoglycemic episode. Eat small, frequent meals and Snacks. Eat a varied, high Fiber diet, with adequate servings of Protein, whole grain carbs and vegetables, fruits, and dairy foods Carry pieces of hard candy with you, for those times when you feel your blood sugar dropping. What to do if you are having a hypoglycemic episode. Eat or drink something that is a fast sugar source, such as orange juice, regular soda, a few pieces of hard candy, or sugar cubes. This should relieve the symptoms within 15 minutes. Avoid choosing chocolate as a sugar source. The fat in chocolate makes it absorb more slowly and it won't raise your blood sugar up as quickly as you need it too. Make sure to eat a small balanced meal after the symptoms are gone. This will prevent another blood sugar spike and consequent drop.

Hi! Can you tell me what reactive hypoglycaemia is and how you deal with it?

Obviously, patients should not violate dietary restrictions imposed by hypo- or hyperglycemia. However, barring these medical conditions (most of which go into remission after weight loss), there is absolutely no empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of abstinence from certain foods in weight loss and weight loss maintenance: NONE. Barring the aforementioned medical conditions, rigid abstinence from certain foods, such as a hamburger or piece of cake, is a psychological issue, not a medical one. I can write this with confidence as a professor of psychology who worked in the field of addictionology for over 15 years. The problem with abstinence is that it leads to the well-documented abstinence violation effect: I must abstain from doughnuts. If I break down and have just one, then I must have 100. This effect is psychological, not medical. There is no more evidence to suggest that compulsive eating is a physiological addiction than alcohol dependency is a disease. Porting over the AA philosophy of disease and allergy to overeating is a psychological travesty. I challenge anyone who disagrees with this to present empirical evidence to the contrary that has been published in a referred professional journal. You won't find any. Granted, abstinence may be temporarily working for someone (although it won't over the long haul). However, this does not mean that those wedded to the abstinence model should try to shame those who are trying to learn how to eat in moderation. The underlying premise of abstinence is unfounded, shaming and chastising are never helpful, and that kind of post is entirely self-congratulatory. If I were unable to eat, for example, one hamburger without obsessively craving more and more of them, I'd see a cognitive-behavioral therapist who specializes in eating disorders. I would not be attempting to shame those who are able to successfully eat just one in an attempt at denying and avoiding my own highly conflicted relationship with food. Doing so may not rise to the definition of Nazism or fascism, but maybe we can all agree that it's not very nice.

I am happy to see this thread has been reactivated. My name is Llyra and I have thirteen years of clean time. My banding was done on March 3 of this year and I have lost 26 pounds with approximately 60 more to go. Until I got the second fill, I was afraid I was in line to be one of the lap band failures- the weight simply was not coming off. The second fill helped immensely as has a gradual adjustment to a new way of eating. I teach belly dance, garden and maintain two horses so exercise is not as big a problem for me as for some, though I do tend to spend too much time on the couch if I am feeling low. After six years of not attending meetings, I returned to the rooms in October. The catalyst was the death of a friend in a motorcycle accident. I saw so many old faces at his funeral and realized I missed them. Didn't expect to be recognized after so many years and a 75 pound weight gain, but I was welcomed back with open arms.

OM, YES! I first called my gastric band Dr.'s office and they said the pain I was having wasn't related to the band. So I call my regular physician and she tells me to take gas relief pills or heart burn meds and if it is still bothering me in a few days to come in. So, a few days later I come in. She runs all types of test and everything is normal except the c-reactive test. Took almost a week to get an ultrasound...I too thought it was ovarian cysts or appendix since I was told it's not band related and the pain was that bad. Go in for a fill and they can't get Fluid back out..uh oh better have the doctor see me. Wait another few days and uh oh - yep there is a problem. GRRR, I am so mad right now. Now I have to wait for them to get the paperwork to the insurance to find out if its covered. Hello, I can't sleep at night because I can't get comfortable...sorry, I needed to vent. I am glad to hear everything turned out ok for you once they finally repaired it. How long did it take you to get surgery once they figured out what was going on? Thanks for replying! TJ's Mama

Second guessing and some regret is normal when one runs into problems. It is well to realize that whatever road you chose in the past was likely to be bumpy, even if the bumps might have been different. The bypass, in addition to having its own quirks (someone just showed up on today's recent topics column who is having reactive hypoglycemia problems - that's one of those quirks,) that can cause regrets, would not likely have been any better on helping you with your regain (RNY and VSG are very similar in that regard,) and is also more difficult to revise should you have had problems. So, there is (and was) no easy, straight answer. We follow what looks like the best road for us and take what life throws at us over time..

I just set my date for surgery and got some blood work back showing a really high c-reative level. I emailed Dr. Alvarez's office to ask if I might not be able to have the surgery.... I was hoping for a " well of course you can still have the surgery!" email back and I didn't... I need to wait to hear what the dr says.. soo nervous now.. anyone else with high levels before surgery?

I'm just one person, but I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (hypo) and I had lapband done in Feb 2011. I had a personal trainer I worked out with for 6 months and worked out at Lifetime Fitness with him twice, sometimes three times a week, and worked out at home also. I bought a Polar to monitor my progress. I started jogging along with my walking regimen. lost 30 lbs--that's it. No more. Not one ounce, not one gram. It is September of 2012 now, and I'm still sitting at 30 pounds down. I went through intense feelings of guilt, disappointment, every negative you can think of, that was me. It still is to some degree. I am now coming out of my funk, well over a year later, and realizing that I have to live my life anyway, that I might just be fat the rest of my life; but I don't have to be out of breath all the time, and I don't have to be tired all the time, so the working out has started up again. Just be prepared, and be informed. Good luck.

I have reactive hypoglycemia since my surgery. If I eat anything too carb heavy, sugary, or fatty (mayo) It'll make me have all sorts of nasty symptoms such as headache, heart flutters, pounding heartbeat, weakness, blurred vision, dizziness, sleepiness, and sliming. I have to really watch that my eating is balanced, and then I feel great. I wonder if you had a touch of this? My doctor says it is because the smaller stomach empties faster into the intestines than the normal stomach, which means the body may produce too much insulin, swinging you low after you eat.

For the people who have hypo what were your numbers before meds if you don't mind. Just want to know where I fall. I'm like right I'm te edge but since there is such a huge "normal" range I'm curious. I hope this all make me feel better bc right now I feel like crap. Taking my first rx sleep pill even though I've had insomnia all my life. Taking my first thyroid med tomorrow and I got an X-ray of my back and might have to start pain injections. It's nice to start gettin answers about my health and start doing something about it

My thyroid blanked out on me while I was pregnant and we didn't catch it until 2 years later. I remember the end of the day feeling bone-crushingly tired. My levels have been played with and my old doctor (insert bad words here) would never listen to me. My new doctor is the best, she is young and willing to listen and help me however she can. She got my levels up to high end of normal, and she told me that she really wants me to pursue lap band because it will be hard for me to loose it on my own. She whipped up my referral right quick as soon as I said I think that's the way I should go. So far no one has said anything to me about my hypo being a problem as far as WLS is concerned. The main concern is scar tissue from 2 c-sections and a gallbladder removal and the fact that my BMI is so high that any surgery is a risk.

Hi @@Phoenix40! So last Thursday I went for my Nutrition/Surgeon/Coordinator appointment. I'll describe each appointment below: First you are weighed in and your height is taken Nutrition: The nutritionist is a very nice lady and she will ask you about what type of diet you have been on (I started following the 1200 calorie diet after orientation). You will have to describe what you usually eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, Snacks,etc. She also talks about Vitamins and what type you will need post op (this will depend on if you get the sleeve or bypass) and what to expect as far as diet goes in the first weeks after surgery (i.e. liquids, soft foods, etc) She also informed me about the different types of Protein drinks and answered any questions I had. Surgeon: Dr. Hahn was very patient. He went over my BMI, co morbidities, medications, etc to ensure that I would be a good candidate for surgery. He said it would be my choice whether to go for sleeve or bypass as I would be great candidate for either (I don't have acid reflux). We talked about the differences between sleeve and bypass (right off the bat he discouraged from the lap band so we were in agreement about that). He reiterated that regain was possible with either surgery and so is dumping (so it really comes down to the patient being willing to put in the work to not only lose the weight but keep it off). He went into detail about possible complications withe each procedure (ulcers, reactive hypoglycemia, reflux, etc). He then set a weight loss goal for me. Normally they ask the patients to lose 10% of their body weight but Dr. Hahn only requires a 7-8%, of total body weight, loss. For me 7-8% was 19 pounds (I had already lost 9 pounds since orientation and he credited me so I needed to lose 10 pounds to get a surgery date and 5 pounds to get a psych appointment). The only other requirements Dr. Hahn set out for me, besides weight loss, is attending at least one support group, and an EKG (I already finished my bloodwork). Coordinator: She was very pleasant. She informed of what my next steps to surgery are (support group, psych appointment, etc) and that to be sure I call monthly to update them on my weight and progress. Before the psych appointment each patient must fill out a surgery quiz (located in Chapter 9 of the Bariatric binder) and send it in before the appointment. Overrall it was an interesting yet quick appointment. I was told to expect to be there for 3 hours but for me it was more like 2 hours. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App Thank you for posting this! Your timing was perfect! I was struggling with one of my bad habits when I saw this and it helped me get passed it. Hearing about the appointment made me excited for my next step and reminded me why I am doing this. You are very welcome! I can't wait to hear about your appointment. Always remember..you are not alone in this journey:) Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App

Hi @@Phoenix40! So last Thursday I went for my Nutrition/Surgeon/Coordinator appointment. I'll describe each appointment below: First you are weighed in and your height is taken Nutrition: The nutritionist is a very nice lady and she will ask you about what type of diet you have been on (I started following the 1200 calorie diet after orientation). You will have to describe what you usually eat for Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Snacks,etc. She also talks about Vitamins and what type you will need post op (this will depend on if you get the sleeve or bypass) and what to expect as far as diet goes in the first weeks after surgery (i.e. liquids, soft foods, etc) She also informed me about the different types of Protein drinks and answered any questions I had. Surgeon: Dr. Hahn was very patient. He went over my BMI, co morbidities, medications, etc to ensure that I would be a good candidate for surgery. He said it would be my choice whether to go for sleeve or bypass as I would be great candidate for either (I don't have acid reflux). We talked about the differences between sleeve and bypass (right off the bat he discouraged from the lap band so we were in agreement about that). He reiterated that regain was possible with either surgery and so is dumping (so it really comes down to the patient being willing to put in the work to not only lose the weight but keep it off). He went into detail about possible complications withe each procedure (ulcers, reactive hypoglycemia, reflux, etc). He then set a weight loss goal for me. Normally they ask the patients to lose 10% of their body weight but Dr. Hahn only requires a 7-8%, of total body weight, loss. For me 7-8% was 19 pounds (I had already lost 9 pounds since orientation and he credited me so I needed to lose 10 pounds to get a surgery date and 5 pounds to get a psych appointment). The only other requirements Dr. Hahn set out for me, besides weight loss, is attending at least one support group, and an EKG (I already finished my bloodwork). Coordinator: She was very pleasant. She informed of what my next steps to surgery are (support group, psych appointment, etc) and that to be sure I call monthly to update them on my weight and progress. Before the psych appointment each patient must fill out a surgery quiz (located in Chapter 9 of the Bariatric binder) and send it in before the appointment. Overrall it was an interesting yet quick appointment. I was told to expect to be there for 3 hours but for me it was more like 2 hours. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App I am also going through kaiser Fremont the haven't weighed me yet .. Did they weigh you at the surgery orientation? I would love to start dieting again I feel awful not doing anything .. but I'm scared if I drop down below the 40 BMI it will disqualify me for the surgery Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Exactly this! Now I literally eat what ever I want because I exercise a lot. Early on, my cravings were for protein, fruits, and veggies. I do not eat much in the way of concentrated sugars at this point, due to reactive hypoglycemia, (said as I munch on some teddy Graham’s). 🤦🏼‍♀️With that said, I am in maintenance, ran 4 miles today, and do not want to lose weight. In maintenance, you can eat foods you want to eat providing they do not make you physically ill or cause you to gain unwanted weight.

I finally had my first fill this past Saturday ~ 2 1/2 CC's. There are a couple of reasons why I wasn't able to gett a fill sooner.... 1) my insurance would only cover it if it was at least 90 days after surgery... and 2) I was going on vacation... and my Dr. didn't want me traveling across the country for my first fill (just in case I would be too tight). So........... this past month I was totally stalled. It was pretty frustrating... plus I found myself to be REALLY hungry. Well, so far the fill seems to be working.. and I'm not hungry. My Dr. has me on liquids for 2 weeks... YES ... 2 weeks. Seems everyone here is only on liquids for a couple of days. Well.... I asked why.. and they told me that they have found it very successful in "jump starting" the weight loss again. I have a hypo-thryroid... so I definately could use a "jump start". I'm gonna give it my best shot. So far.... so good. If a few more days go by and I find myself craving solids... I'll call my Dr. and see what he says. I also have to admit that prior to my fill, I was able to eat everything and anything. On vacation, I found myself going back to "BAD" habits. So, maybe, if nothing else, the 2 weeks on liquids will get me back on the right track.

When I landed in the local ER after my motorcycle crash last summer, my band was *tight* from the trauma of broken bones and stress. The idiots in the ER tried to give me frigging Pepto Bismol as I told them I was banded and was complaining that I barely swallow my own spit, but I felt nauseated. I immediately got on my cel phone and called my band surgeon. I finally got an anti-nausea med that melted in my mouth and was OK after he told me to tell them what to give me. He said if necessary he'd walk them through the process. My point being that if trained medical ER staff aren't familiar and proficient with this process, what makes one think one can do it ones' self? Crazy talk. If you want to be a fill nurse, then get trained as a fill nurse and make it your new career. Don't go giving shite advice on a forum. Oh, and if you don't use huber needles on your port, it lessens the ability of the membrane to seal as you are cutting a "V" shape flap out of it. All the clinic staff has to do is X-ray or fluoro the port and see the 'whisker' like appearance left by the hypodermic needle versus the huber. There are new huber needles that look a lot like hypos, but aren't. I strongly suspect the RN suggesting her doctor is using a hypo *is* mistaken and is setting herself up for a leak, infection or a piece of the silicone membrane floating around in her abdomen. Pass, thank you. Be well. Ducati Bonnie

I just love this thread! I am pre band and also have hypothyroidism. I have lost almost 40 lbs over the past year just trying to get approved for the band and it has been incredibly hard, but I haven't given up. I always come here and read all these posts from the "hypo bandster" and y'all keep me going! I just wanted to say THANK YOU ALL for sharing.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Details Pseudotumor Cerebri Symptoms The common symptoms are headache, dizziness and impaired vision. Headache is often worse on awakening, and can be intensified by coughing, laughing, bending over, crying, and increased physical activity. Impaired vision shows up in several ways. It can be visual blurring, brief moments of dimming or loss of vision called transient visual obscurations (TVO's), small specks appearing or vision distortions (items moving up or down). Blindness can occur. Other symptoms affecting PTC patients include: shoulder/arm pain, neck pain, memory problems, awkward coordination, muscle weakness, fatigue, back pain, and depression. Possible symptoms include dizziness, hearing loss, ringing in the ears or noises within the head called tinnitus. Regarding headaches: a study showed 92% of patients interviewed had headaches; 93% of those with headaches said it was the most severe headache they had ever experienced. The head pain was described as a pulsing headache that kept increasing in intensity. Another description was a "pressure" headache, resembling a percolator. Seventy four percent of those with headaches had it on a daily basis. Can also experience neck stiffness or nausea. Pseudotumor Cerebri Characteristics By appearance, a person looks well. PTC can last for months or for years. It can go into remission. For those in remission, PTC can re-occur 5% to 10% of the time. 80% of PTC patients have some positive response to treatment. (This means that the PTC symptoms improve, not that the PTC necessarily goes away.) Pseudotumor Cerebri most commonly appears in women of child-bearing age. However, this disease also occurs in children and teenagers (both male and female) and adult males. For women of child-bearing age, there is often a history of menstrual problems. Frequently these women are overweight and/or have had a recent weight gain. Although physicians recommend weight loss, there are patients whose weight loss has not affected their PTC. A number of PTC patients have had a previous history of sinus problems. Many patients are light-sensitive; bright lights bother them and fluorescent light will fatigue and bring on confusion. Endocrine studies can appear normal. Often PTC is complicated with high blood pressure. PTC does appear to have a relationship to adrenal hormones. Things Linked to PTC Secondary PTC has appeared with the use of oral contraceptives, prolonged use of corticosteroids, large doses of Vitamin A, use of tetracycline , nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, sulfa drugs, lithium, indomethacin, and phenytoin. Rapid recovery often occurs when drug use is stopped. Chlordane toxicity (an insecticide) can also cause PTC. Other things linked to PTC include: Tetracyclines (including doxycycline and minocycline, antibiotics for chlamydia and acne) Lithium carbonate (a mineral salt to treat bipolar or manic-depressive disorder) Systemic lupus erythematosus Lyme disease Addison's disease (a condition in which the adrenal glands hypofunction) Cushing's disease (a condition in which the adrenal glands hyperfunction) Prednisone (and other steroids, possibly by any route including topically, nasally, orally, etc.) Hypo-thyroidism Hyper-thyroidism Pregnancy Obesity Head Trauma Irritable Bowel Syndrome Empty Sella Syndrome (condition in which the pituitary hypofunctions) Licorice (the inciting ingredient is glycericic acid) Vitamin A or its derivatives (used in bone marrow transplantation patients and to treat acne) Respiratory infections sleep apnea (a condition in which the patient snores and has headaches upon awakening) Norplant (a contraceptive that is implanted under the skin) Growth hormone therapy Climacteric (the start of menopause) Kidney disorders and kidney transplants