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hello! wow you live in huntersville? I work there! So im in the process of getting a lap band (I hope). I had my initial consult, had my labs, got the 5-year weight history, and have my psych consult and nutritionist consult on Monday. From my undertanding it will take 10 days to get the psych report back and then it will all be submitted to BCBSNC for approval. two questions:: ON my 5 year history, it shows that I have had weight problems (40+) for 3 years, but not 5. Will that hurt me? Also, how long after the info was submitted did it take you be approved?? Thanks for any info!!

How many calories are you getting in a day? Did your nutritionist put you on a certain caloric intake? If so did they also tell you how many grams of dense Protein you should be getting in? I need 80 grams of protein a day and I'm a 5'3" woman, as a taller male you would need more and you need the dense protein to help you stay more satisfied and full longer. I have a chart for protein if you want to tell me how tall you are. But you should probably see if you can get this info from your nutritionist. As far as calories and protein needs go. I eat 1200 calories right now because I can still loss weight and if I eat less I'll starve. I need another fill. As a male you can get away with more calories. Good luck ~~~Stephanie

Welcome to the best RNY forum on the net! Surgery takes about one and a half to two hours (assuming it is done laparoscopically). It seems that the majority of doctors require patients to lose approximately 10% of excess weight prior to surgery. Doing so reduces the size of the liver and makes it easier for them to access the stomach during the surgery. Exactly how you accomplish that weight loss depends on the doctor. Some folks are given specific diets to follow for two or more weeks pre-op. Others (myself included) were not given any specific diet - my doctor just said you must lose 20 to 25 pounds prior to the surgery. No weight loss, no surgery. I found the pre-op lab testing quite extensive. That's a good thing. They want to be as certain as possible that you are healthy enough to have the surgery. Exactly what testing is done depends on your individual health history and any comorbidities that you may have. Some doctors will test for nicoteine right up to the surgery as well. If it comes back positive, some will not operate. Hope this helps!!

This may sound like a stupid question, but why do you have to have this done before surgery? If it's to find a co-morbidity, I already have plenty of those. If it's because of increased anesthesia risk, why don't they have you do it before gall bladder and hernia surgeries? My doctor said I might not have to do one if I lose enough weight pre-op, but I really think I have it (even wake myself up snoring) and I believe I had it back when I was the weight he wanted me to get down to.

I am the same way if I don't track my food every day. I have to log everything I eat every meal, every day. I find I tend to really underestimate my calories and Protein consumption if I don't track it. I was reluctant to have to weigh, measure, and log every bite I eat because I don't want to be on a diet the rest of my life. However, right now, while I have the most potential to lose most of my excess weight, I need to make the most of it. I made myself a deal that once I get to maintenance then I can let some of the tracking slide as long as I maintain my weight. Right now tracking every time, every day is going to be the best way for you to take control. As far as not eating until late in the day and being hungry or needing to eat quickly, plan and set yourself up to succeed. Buy a big bag of nuts, Jerky, or whatever else you like for protein Snacks. Take the time to take the big package And empty the bag by weighing out individual servings and pack them in snack size containers or ziplock bags. Also the "bites" recipes on the world according to eggface blog are GREAT for this type of situation. Each recipe makes 24 mini muffin quiches and they freeze really well. Every week I make 2 varieties. Once they are cooked and cooled, I wrap 2 "bites" together at a time in waxed paper. I take all 12 of the wax paper bundles and store them in a gallon freezer bag labelled with which flavor they are and the date I made them. They taste great, reheat easily, have so many different flavors and combinations so you don't get burnt out, and keep well in the freezer. By cooking 2 batches every week I usually have 6-8 different flavors in the freezer on any given day to choose from. Another option is getting a large container of Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese and portioning it out into single size servings when you get home with it. Then it is ready to go when you need or want it. One of my favorite quick snacks on the go is the single serving packages of apple slices with my Peanut Butter dip. I have found a bag with 12 single serving packages of apple slices inside. They are ready to grab and go and I find them in the refrigerated produce section of my local grocery store. I make a dip for the apples using plain no fat Greek yogurt, PB2, and sugar free Torani vanilla syrup. You mix equal parts PB2 and the syrup together until smooth and then mix that into the yogurt. Now you have a protein packed peanut butter dip that tastes like it should be bad for you. I use the 16 oz container of yogurt with 3 TBS each of the syrup and PB2. Once it is mixed I put 1/4 cup of dip into individual bowls with kids and store it in the fridge next to the apples. You may want to play with how much PB2 & syrup you put in to make it taste good to you. You can use either myfitnesspal or sparks people recipe nutrition calculator to figure out the calorie, protein, fat, carbs,etc per serving based on the brands and quantities you used. It is a great tool for anything you make so you know exactly what you are getting. Another thing I find helpful is keeping a few individually packaged servings of Protein powder in my purse for when I am caught or delayed unexpectedly or I forgot to bring food with me. This works best with the fruit or juice flavored powders (ie: grape, lemonade, fuzzy navel, cherry, etc). You can easily scoop servings from your large canister at home into snack sized ziplocks and seal them up yourself instead of spending the extra $ to buy the single serving pouches. The individual servings are great for dumping in a bottle of Water. Just cut or rip the corner off the ziplock bag and it becomes the funnel for the bottle. I always have a few bottles of water stashed in my car if I don't happen to already be carrying one. The Syntrax Roadside Lemonade is my go to for this. It mixes and dissolves easily by just shaking the water bottle around. It doesn't require a Blender Bottle to get the lumps out. Use what works for you. That is all I have right off the top of my head. I hope it helps you! It all comes down to taking an hour or 2 to get things prepped and ready to grab when you need it. You can even break the tasks up and do one a day so you only have to squeeze 15 minutes of prep in on any given day. Please ask me if something I said didn't make sense or wasn't explained well.

This article may help. I'm just starting out on my WLS journey and since I have to wait 6 months for insurance - I figured I would get ahead of the game and get counseling on emotional eating and mindless eating. Good luck! Stay strong! http://www.helpguide.org/articles/diet-weight-loss/emotional-eating.htm

:confused:So, Im new to this and dont really know how this works...Im really needing some people that have some things in common with me or that can some what help me through this. So I am 22 years old and had the lap band on Dec. 20, 08. I am down 15 pounds so far. I was in doubt with the surgery just a few days ago because I am so hungry. And I was thinking about all of the foods people say that I cant have and it just depresses me. I love breads and pasta but once I seen the scale go down, I feel a bit better. I am disappointed with myself though because I am on the liquid diet and I have ate some whole foods in very small portions. It is so tempting but I am working on it. I go to my doctor tomorrow and hopefully I dont get in trouble. At times I Feel I can do this but other times, it is alot. I worry about alot of things. If anyone can help me, please let me know. I am 5'6 and my starting weight was 275lbs. I am now down to 260lbs. Can anyone tell me about extra hanging skin or anything? I need someone to talk to! THanks

I've talked with lots of other PCOS sleevers and they all seem to say that the surgery helps with their insulin resistance, helps with their patches of darkening skin, helps to make their periods more regular, helps them get pregnant naturally... but we are stuck with the hair! I'm hoping that once I reach a more normal weight my hormones will even out enough that I'll at least be able to get electrolysis and have it work! I once looked into it and the doctor I saw told me not to bother because the minute my hormones fluctuated I'd be getting it all back again

this is what I'm going to do once I get down to a normal weight!!!

I'm in Ireland and Bariatric Surgery has only recently become generally available. I will be one of the first to have the procedure in a newly established Clinic. I'm 62, 5'10" and weigh 232 lbs. I developed a neurological illness in my 40's and piled on weight. Up to then, I had been slim. I want my skinny self back !!! My daughter is soo against me having the surgery - she says I'll never again be able to enjoy a meal and will miss out on so much, skinny isn't everything (she's skinny !!), etc., etc., etc. To me - Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels !!! I still have my skinny clothes in my loft, in the hope that they'll see daylight again. What do you guys think ?? Do any of you ever regret having the surgery ??

I take 2 Flintstones w/iron. It's easier for me to take because anything else makes me sick. Plus it takes care of Iron and multi Vitamin at once:-) highest weight 224#<br />sx weight 212# (11/20/12)<br />current weight 180#(2/8)

We have a TAYLOR also. We got it because my hubby weighed over 450#'s. This is the same one that the "BIGGEST LOSERS use". We have had our's for over 5 years and have only changed the baterys 1 time. Not to sound weird but did you check the battery? My hubby had went so long without having a scale to weigh on that when he started losing weight he was jumping on them every few minutes. LOL Myself NOT SO MUCH!!! I have always hated to weigh, in fact I have been known to cancel Dr appointments because I knew they would weigh me. Even now I have been at my goa weight for over 3 years and you would think it shouldn't bother me!! Somethings never change. LOL

Hi, my name is Tricia, and I had surgery bank on August 18th. I have 4cc's in a 9cc band. Problem? I have lost 20 pounds - all of which happened in September and October. The scale has not budged since. I do not have any restriction at all, and feel like I am still doing this on my own. It is getting scary, I don't want to gain that 20 back. Can I call and tell them I need a fill? How often is everyone else out there getting them? The most frustrating part is : yes, my close friends and family say they are seeing a difference, but I have had people at work ask if it is not working. It's kind of embarassing, even though I know I should not care!!! lol Any input would be appreciated!!

I am in the same boat. Up and down and have only lost 20 in 2 months. Although I have not been counting calories, but I can't hardly keep anything down. I am going to start a journal (after christmas - LOL). Maybe that will help me realize what I am doing wrong My logic is probably a little off, but if I am not eating the same stuff before the surgery and have such drastically reduce portion sizes and sweets, then it would only figure that the weight would fall off. I mean if it took thousands of calories to maintain 280 lbs (beginning wt), one would think limited intake would cause the lbs to go away. Maybe my body has gone into starvation mode (again). I'm getting frustrated!!!

Give yourself time to heal. The weight will come off. Congrats on your new journey. I was banded at the NWWLS on 2/12. The entire staff is very supportive.

So help me out here. The day of surgery I weighed 225. Day after surgery 227. Today I weight 230! I've been following my liquid diet to a t... and we're talking clear broth, tomato soup, slimfast shakes, crystal light, tea. Maybe...just maybe 800 calories a day. What's going on!!! Please advise! :thumbup:

Don't worry about it. Eat and gain weight! (saying that lightly) Your innards have just been tinkered with...that's gonna cause swelling...that causes the scale to move up. What you are experiencing is normal. You are not supposed to lose even 1 pound until after you have had adjustments, and several to get restriction. And you have read people losing weight even before then, right? Don't worry! Congrats on being banded and enjoy this phase of your life. (oh, your body is a well developed machine. Once it senses you are trying to kill it...and that's what it thinks when calories are reduced or dieting takes place...it goes into a mode to protect itself....stores everything as energy aka fat cells. This is normal.) come back to the board and post your weightloss next week!

If you completely lost all restriction, there is a chance you have a leak. I know someone that this happened to after several months of good restriction, although you generally expect it to happen soon after a fill (if there was a puncture). She was able to have it repaired. I think she had a leak in her tubing, but I can't remember for sure now. On the other hand, maybe you just need a fill adjustment. It took several fills to get me to where I have long lasting restriction. I would have decent restriction for awhile, and then it would diminish after several weeks. Since you've lost a good amount of weight, maybe you've lost all the fat stores around your stomach, and your band just naturally loosened.

@LadyVS Thank you. I've heard about these different weigh ins and how people can become disqualified because of their BMI dropping below the minimum. Especially if you have to follow a supervised diet plan for 6 months, I would lose weight doing it, but I wouldn't be able to maintain it without the surgery. Am I just reading it wrong?

Wannab - I'll definitely keep everyone updated! I'm very encouraged by this site and I can't imagine having any issues with my insurance company. Thanks to EVERYONE for the replies. As far as the "Cheater" business goes - I'm just taking the attitude of "we are friends no matter what my size" so basically HOW I lose the weight is my business, if they don't agree - that's really not my issue!

Does anyone use a diet tracker app with an Itouch or I phone? I have seen a few but not sure which one is best for us? Any ideas gratefully recieved. Kathy

Some DR's offices don't require the 5 year weight records........Thank God.... Mine only asked for 2 years ....that was easier, but I have the 6 month nutrition classes one a month for 6 months........I really am just like "whatever". Hold on like a dog with a bone lol........ Whenever I hear they are trying to weed people out.........I get out my bone......laura

i am hungrier then ever,i had my first fill on march 1st and i am very hungry all the time.i'm not gaining,but i'm not losing either.i try to control myself but i cant,could i be stretching my pouch???

I too eat what I want, within reason. I don't count calories. I just eyeball it, exercise a little, & manage to maintain my goal weight. I also got the band to change my relationship with food and no longer be a slave to dieting. Goal achieved. I am at my goal weight after a little over 2 years being banded. Love it! Am going for my tummy tuck next month by the same surgeon who did my band I loved him so much. I am glad you are leaving that PCP, he sounds like a fool to me. Good luck and yes, my doc also says low and slow is the way to go. Dr. Titus Duncan in Atlanta a pioneer in the Lap-Band field.

I met my new PCP today. (THIS WILL BE SHORT LIVED !) He claims he is Banded, and it doesn't work ! His reason is because "HE EATS WHAT HE WANTS !!!!" What do we all try to do on this site ? Count Calories More Protein then Carbs. Stick to a plan ! That's a start, Am I right ! So I told him that I do about 1200 Calories a day. He said for my weight, I should lose 6Lbs. a week ! (My Eyes about Fell out of my Face when I heard this. I thought where were you Banded at ? 1-2Lbs a week is the Norm., cause this is a s l o w go.) So he thinks he will Monitor my weight loss. Then he told me to Maintain my current weight, I could eat 3000 calories a day, and not gain a pound ! I Laughed, and he said that's to Maintain it I said ! O.K.... I think he was Fascinated that I have the Band, he kept bringing it up. Where was it done who takes care of it,, when will you see them again ? Never asked me the size though. My old surgeon said "NO MORE THEN 1 1/2 Lbs a week in loss. That's about where it is now, but it still coming off.. Sure, I would like to see more but, it took time coming on, it will take time coming off. His weight Loss was UNREAL !!! To Maintain my weight was OUT OF SITE !! I new he was full of something. He does not add up with his thinking. So ADIOS DR. DOMINGAS. I'm movin on to someone else. The good thing was I dropped 5Lbs. I'll take that over his advice... :tea: