Search the Community

I have been considering getting a boob job every since I finished nursing my three boys. I don't want something crAzy and fake. I'd just like them to not look like deflated balloons when I don't wear a bra:). My question is do you have to lose all your weight before doing so or can I get it done now. Any feedback would be great and I'd you have had this done even better! I have lots of questions:)

Hi there I am 6 weeks pregnant and 2 years post surgery. Super worried about the weight gain but not feeling too bad. Have been very tired though. I have an eating plan from my nutritionist which would have me eating all day everyday! How did you get on with your appointments? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It is a matter of BMR... Basal Metabolic Rate At 180 pounds, 47 years old, female I need about 1500 calories a day to maintain my current weight while being totally sedentary. If I am moderately active I need about 2200 calories to maintain my weight. At 130 pounds, I need 1290 calories sedentary, and 1900 if moderately active. SOOOO... Your body will need fewer calories when you reach goal so you just need to make sure you get in about the right amount so you are not at a calorie deficit when figuring your activity calorie need and your intake calorie need. I recommend taking a look at this page to figure out your BMR http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ Good luck!

I'm similar to you. 5'2" and starting at 185. Sleeved 8/4/14. My entire 3rd month was a stall. No weight loss. It kicked up again when I began exercising. I do Firm tapes which have cardia and weight training and Brazil Butt Lift tapes which are cardio and toning. I'm a pear shape. Has really helped w/ loss. But Low BMI'ers like us will lose more slowly. Keep at it! I've still got 24 pounds to go, but I've accepted it'll be slow and steady.

You and I were banded the same month, same year and I'm happy to tell you that you CAN start things over again and be successful. Due to some health issues (Vitamin deficiencies caused by really bad food choices) I stopped using my band for almost a year. I "re-started" last August and am happy to say that I'm only five pounds away from hitting the goal that was set for me by my weight loss center. My weight loss has been very slow, but I've finally learned what fill level works for me (looser instead of too tight), how important logging my food is (I use the My Fitness Pal app religiously) and most importantly, how exercise plays a key role in keeping me healthy and happy. I've lost 25 pounds since my restart, but I've dropped four clothing sizes and many, many inches because of the exercise. Best of luck to you. Please feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat.

Thank you..that was encouraging words I needed. Hormones....yeah...that makes a lot of sense! I too do not want to be told how I look like I lost weight...hurts me right now. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I went through this as well. It's so many things. I was sleeved the 17th too. Physically fine, not a problem at all with soreness. But..mentally not so good. I have had a tough week. I think of food all the time, and have crazy cravings. I have also experienced hunger which has been disappointing. Started with 1st real food today, 1/2 scambled egg...was so looking forward to it. It tasted good, but I did not feel good afterwards. I get heartburn and gassy. Hoping it gets better, but so far, I have serious "buyers remorse". Doesn't feel worth the 22 lbs down since surgery. #1, when we lose weight fast, if your a woman, it releases all the stored hormones in there. #2, what we did by having this surgery is completely change how we live our lives and for some of us there is a mourning period. I cried solid for the 7 days between week 4 and 5. That's when I learned the only way out of it...is through it. I had to feel all those emotions, the regret, the fear and loss of how I used to sooth myself with food, all of it. Most of us, 99.999% of us get over these feelings, we are relearning and with that comes letting go of the past. It's OK to feel how you feel. Just keep pushing through. 23 doesn't seem worth it but wait till you are at 50 or 100. Everything is so much better! #3, are you on a Proton pump inhibitor like Prilosec? It's helped me so much. I had 24/7 acid and the doc told me to use that. Hang in there, it does get better. I'll be honest, I told everyone to not compliment me on my weightloss for the first month or so because it just upset me so much. I said "I'm miserable, I'm upset and I regret it right now. People telling me I look good just makes me feel like they only care that I'm skinner not that I'm miserable and can't stop crying". I swear, for most of us it gets so much better!

I am a bariatric physician practicing in Sacramento who has been trained to do band fills. My charge is around $400 for an initial consult and fill, and we are getting some insurance coverage. Follow-up fills are $110. In my opinion, having a lower priced option will encourage band patients to use their band as it was designed. I see many patients who had only one or two fills, then stopped because of the expense. Here is the page on my BestBand program: http://www.keepitoff.com/our-programs/best-bariatrics-weight-loss/best-band-postoperative-weight-loss-program/ Also, I want to invite you (and any other band patient) to a monthly band only support group. It is held at Sutter General Hospital the third Saturday of the month from 10:30-12:30. Sincerely, John Hernried, MD The Hernried Center for Medical Weight Loss www.keepitoff.com View my Bandster Profile! Help!!! Just moved to CA and need a new Dr. permalink I just moved from WA to CA. I live 1 hour from Modesto and 2 from Sacremento. Most facility's are not accepting patients from other doctors. And when they are I am quote $1800 for an intial visit and fill. I don't currently have insurance until the begining of the year. Does anyone do where I can get fills for a reasonable cost?? Or is there an insurance company that I can pay for to help with the cost of seeing a new doctor? Join Date: Nov 2009 Age: 24 Posts: 2 City: Walla Walla State: WA View my Bandster Profile! Help!!! Just moved to CA and need a new Dr. permalink I just moved from WA to CA. I live 1 hour from Modesto and 2 from Sacremento. Most facility's are not accepting patients from other doctors. And when they are I am quote $1800 for an intial visit and fill. I don't currently have insurance until the begining of the year. Does anyone do where I can get fills for a reasonable cost?? Or is there an insurance company that I can pay for to help with the cost of seeing a new doctor? I just moved to the Sonora area and have been shocked at the prices I have been quoted for a new patient. $1800 for first visit and fill (no payments allowed). I currently do not have insurance and can. Does anyone have ideas on a doctor that I could go to for a more reasonable cost. Or know of any insurance that I could get that would cover the intial fees for a new patient?

@@Zachnchrissy After surgery there is a tendency to retain Water. However, if your pro-op diet was mostly protein and then you switch back to a mostly carb diet you will automatically begin to gain weight back as your body can more easily process the carbs into sugars and fats and store them in your live or fat cells. Once you heal from surgery and can eat regular food again try to go back to a more Protein based diet. Or talk to your doctor and see if you can do it now. That means you will need to cut out all sugars, no fruit juice or other sources of sugar either.

My dietician put me on a schedule to eat 3 meals every 4 hours. She also told me that if I feel like i have been eating all day then she will know for sure i am following the diet plan correctly. If i feel like i have not eaten hardly anything, then she told me this is a sign of not properly following her diet. All Dr.'s and dietitians are different I would consult your bariatric surgeon and dietician to see if they can put you on a schedule. I hope all is well with your Hubby in Iraq, as well as your weight loss!

I had my RNY Gastric Bypass on November 14, 2016 and lost most of my weight in the first 9 months. I started this journey at a maximum weight of 360 pounds, and on my day of surgery, weighed 334 pounds and am down to 234 pounds. When I was released from the hospital after my Gastric Bypass, I wasn't sent home with instructions to stay on any PPIs or antacids, so since I was feeling great, I stopped taking my daily regimen of Pepcid. In February earlier this year (2017), I had a perforated intestine that nearly killed me (became septic) and was hospitalized for nearly a week after they repaired the hole in my intestines (near the pouch). I went through another treatment for H. Pylori and was on strong oral antibiotics for 6 weeks, and then have been continuing 20mg of Prilosec every day (have recently started weening myself off of it). In mid-April, I became severely constipated and impacted and was back in the hospital with a diagnosis of Prostatitis. Since then, I have suffered from chronic constipation and have had solid plateaus for several months at a time. I am posting my story because I am trying to see if anyone else out there has gone through anything similar, and I would like to understand if anyone lost more weight after their first surgical anniversary? I am having a Resting Metabolic Rate test tomorrow morning, so I am trying to figure out why I'm not losing more weight, but thought I would post and see if there is any hope. I am taking Probiotics (Culturelle), multi-vitamins, Calcium/D3 chews, and get all my Protein and Water in every day. I also exercise at least 2-3x per week. To get by, I wind up taking milk of magnesia roughly every other day...I only recently stopped taking Stool Softeners...I had been taking a Stool Softener (2x at night, every night for months). Ironically, I notice things move more easily on their own when I drink a glass of red wine after dinner, but don't want to depend on alcohol to help me go. So, I'm posting because of 2 things: the constipation and the amount of weight loss (the length of time, the plateaus, etc). I am hopeful that as I reduce the Prilosec that things will get better as my body starts producing more acid. Keeping my fingers crossed. Any thoughts?

I am almost at my goal. I have done weight watcher in the past. I am pretty confident in my food choices most of the time now. But I think having the scale once a week would be good for me. I don't know how they would react with my surgery... any ideas?

In order to receive authorization to see a surgeon for lap banding from Blue Shield, I had to provide them with 6 months of documentation that I was participating in a physicians managed weight loss program (Weight Watchers). Authorization was granted and I had my consult visit and was considered a candidate and proceeded with obtaining the various authorizations for testing to determine my eligibility. I am now waiting to hear from the insurance carrier and my surgery has been schedued for October 30. I have Type 2 diabetes, hi cholesterol, hi blood pressure and a BMI of 48.9. Obviously these are all co morbities and should qualify. Does anyone have experience with Blue Shield of California and their approval ratio?

Your band is your tool and it is up to you on what you do with it. If you eat foods that you are not suppsed to be eating then you will not lose much weight. If you eat the right foods and work out it will do amazing things. I hear of so many people that get banded and the next week they are eating at pizza buffets and lasagna and they wonder why they are not losing weight. Fight your temptations and thow away any bad foods that you may have in your house. If you feel like a snack grab a strawberry or a grape instead of chips or crackers. Eat chicken and fish instead of hamburger or steak. If you take the yolk out of your eggs you are saving 5 grams of fat! But the egg white has just as much protein! :mad2: You may want to get a fill if you feel that you are needing one. I am not the biggest expert on fills. I have only had one and I am 8 months post op. I hope this will help you fight your temptations! Hang in there. Best wishes to you!

I haven't been very active on the forums due to my very busy job schedule, but now I have left my job to stay at home so my free time will be more. I would love to become much more active on the boards and I seriously need some input on these issues that I am having I am almost 7 months post op. (surgery was Dec 21) I still have a ton of trouble eating food...almost all foods. I only have 3cc fill n a 10cc band. Because of lack of being abll to eat, the surgeon has been hesitant to do fills. Things have been so tough that I actually had a swallow test to see if there was blockage or slippage and there is not. I cannot eat bread, ground meat or a lot of other food. It is so frustrating. I have lost a lot of weight because I simply get frustrated and don't eat or quit eating as I know that I cannot keep it down. i spend a lot of time "praying to the porcelein". I can get down non carbonated liquid, fliet mignon(seriously) and really crunchy stuff. That is about it. I can get canned tuna down, but I cannot do ground meat, bread, Pasta, anything with breading (not fried, but baked). chicken seems impossible. Roast is very difficult, but doable. Potatoes are also very difficult regardless of cooking method. I can manage a cookie or ice cream, but that is obviously not the type of food I want to be eating. I feel that I have kept myself healthy by making sure I have a Protein shake every morning. Often I have two of those a day. I rarely have a meal that I don't throw up most of it. It doesn't really seem to matter what type of food I try except for the filet, and even that is difficult at times. It doesn't seem to matter time of day or anything. i guess I just want to know if this is at all close to normal. I was talking to someone the other day who said that her sister had banding and she couldn't eat a lot of food and had to have a hot drink with every meal. I have been told not to drink during a meal at all. i don't feel that I am eating too fast or taking too big of bites (my husband calls them mouse bites...they are very small) My surgeon was not really much help. I discussed this with him at my last visit and he didn't give me any real answer except that he was surprised that I could eat steak and not eat chicken. I don't know whether visiting the dietician at the clinic would be helpful. I would be willing to pay the fee if I thought it would make any difference. I know how to eat, it is the process of eating that is difficult and I doubt the dietician can help with that. I am pretty frustrated at this point. It is a good diet plan as I rarely keep a meal down, but it is setting a dangerous pattern that I don't like. I have more of an appetite than I expected, but since I don't have much fill I figure that is the reason. I have gotten used to very little food and am not truly hungry, but this is not a permanent solution. I have actually considered having the band removed. I don't really want to do that, but I am very frustrated. If anyone has any insight or helpful hints, I am sure willing to listen. Thanks for listening to my frustrations

Hey there! I was on Paxil at one point in my life and it did cause me to gain weight. Now I am on Cymbalta and it seems to do just fine ( I have to open up the capsules and swallow the beads). I dont seem to be gaining any weight off of it, and like you I need them.

I had that a little with my husband, but I talked him into going on a "diet" with me for support and he has lost more weight then I have. I was band on 3/8/2012 I tell him everyday how good he looks. This is taking the attention off me and on him.

2B, I am in the same boat! I am looking at my 5 year anniversary and I am so disappointed in myself. I have gained back almost all I have lost. I too just lost motivation and all those bad habits came back. What finally lit a fire under me was a recent back x-ray I had taken because I hurt my back. The x-ray techs were all staring at the screen and I was getting a little nervous and wondering what they were seeing. The nurse came back, asked me if I had on any jewelry and I said no. She described what she was seeing and I knew immediately that my band showed up on the x-ray! They let me see it. It was amazing. I had never seen it before but there it is, plain as can be. Evidently not too many medical people in my area see a banded person. They didn't know what it was. Wish I had a copy of that x-ray; that would be real motivation. But it got me thinking again and I made an appt to go see my bariatric nurse to check out my band and fill level. I am ready to start again. I have had no support of others, I live alone and no one sees how much I eat. I am going to make frequent visits to this web site to find support here. I also advertised on Craigslist for anyone interested in a support group in my area but so far no takers. It's hard to do this alone. Hope you find support here and are able to get back on track. You deserve this!

May 21, 2014 will be 1 year post op from gastric bypass, my goal was 200 lbs, but have changed it to 199lbs., current weight after 11 months is 210, started at 340 lbs. may not make 199 by May 21, but should be close. have no regrets in doing this, feel so much better. I have had my ups and downs, but glad i did this a year ago

I think that's pretty common for heading into mushies. You're right. Most bandsters, except for a few lucky ones who have great restriction right outa the box (or men) generally slow in the losses or even gain during this re-introduction of solid foods and that is when they start to react, thinking this thing is not going to work for them. The 'real' weight loss begins once there is restriction and that person begins implementing the rules for bandster weight loss. Proteins first, veggies next, and anything else IF they still have room. Sounds like you're doing well and you have one of the most acclaimed docs on your side so you'll do fine! Those ice cream sundaes go down WAY too easy. I've had to ban it from my house. lol. Good luck!

OK, need to help and going to open up a bit here - I stated at 338lb and went down to believe it or not 185 (lost a bit too much being a 6'4" guy) My surgery was 5 years ago and I was doing fantastic until about 18 months ago - thats when my band slipped and I had to have surgery to fix the slippage. Regretably, in the time my band slip until the repair, my stomach was stretched. The surgeon even told me that after the repair, that my stomach was larger than he'd prefer it to be. After a couple fills, I was not losing weight. I simply gave up and stopped having fills. Well, since then, have put on over 70 lbs. I'm devastated. Still 50 lbs less than when I started but, nonetheless feel defeated. I want to go back to my doctor and start over, but, have two fears - one, although he is a fantastic doctor, he has no bedside manner what so ever and I'm not mentally prepared for the scolding! Secondly, and I take ownership here, I was not able to pay the dr's office my outstanding balance due to some unexpected financial hardships. Instead of confronting the problem, I ignored it and my balance went to a bill collector, then court and now wages garnished - (only 1100 dollars), but, I should have been upfront with my doctor and let him now of my hardship. OK, now that I have that out of the way, I need to do something to get back to healthy weight. Is is even possible to get back on the lapband wagon with new fills and find the right restriction, sweet spot after nearly 18 months. I can't face my doctor (although, I should be a brave man and talk to the office manager) or do I seek a new doctor to do my fills. I'm thinking a new doctor will want my medical records, but, my surgeon won't release t hem due to balance due. Feeling a bit weird writing all this here, but, have to start somewhere. Thanks. Tom

The budgeting is a great idea. I just want to remind you that after surgery, you will be eating alot less so your food budget will be much less. If you are on any prescription medications, more than likely it won't be long before you are able to stop some of them, especially if they were for blood pressure, diabetic problems. For example: Before my surgery, I was spending approx $500 a month of prescriptions. I am off all prescribed medications now except Prevacid solutabs which are $80 co-pay. I used the $420 plus the extra I was saving on food to pay off the loan I took out. I paid the loan off in 2 years instead of 4. Wishing you all the very best on your weight loss journey!

I used money from my savings and went to Dr. Aceves in Mexico. It was 1/3 what it would have been at home. Remember to keep receipts of all your medical bills for the year to deduct the medical costs from your tax return. Weight loss surgery for obesity is an approved medical tax deduction by the IRS.

So this is just my 2 cents, but this happens -- the brain is an amazing and irritating thing! My personal name for this is "eating my fears before my fears eat me" - mainly the brain's auto-response that by having surgery, I'd never enjoy my favorites again, etc. Plus my fear of failure in losing the required weight (I had to lose a certain % of weight so that my insurance would pay). The good news was that after I freaked out for a week or so, I realized I was more motivated to lose weight and have the surgery than I was to have all that food - but this took some deep thinking and bargaining with myself. You might also be having "food funerals" which a lot of people do, thinking they'll never be able to eat a certain favorite again. Turns out that after surgery you can eat most anything once you're released for regular food, it just becomes a choice of whether you should have those things. Anyway, you're going through what I would call a natural process of realization and it's what you do next that matters. The way I got through was a very stringent daytime eating plan, and then a dinner of something slightly off my plan - that way I was bargaining for what I wanted but the majority of the day I was on plan. It worked, I made my required weight and surgery happened! You can do it!

I haven't used any lotions specifically for firming your skin. I simply use a sea salt scrub in the shower to exfoliate, and then a body lotion while I'm still damp. In the winter I was also using a body oil. I don't know to what extent firming products help. I think whether or not you develop loose skin depends on various factors, such as how rapidly you lose weight, how much weight you lose, how long you were at your highest weight, and your age. I've lost weight at a very s l o w pace, but the silver lining is absolutely no loose skin. You might want to look on MakeupAlley and see if you can read product reviews for lotions that are supposed to firm your skin. It won't be as specific as feedback from here, of course, but there are far more people who use that site.