New 60+ Thread

[JoannMarie 0]

Hi Everyone,

I have lost 22 lbs. since 12/17/08 surgery date. Slow Slow Slow but I do notice I lose better if I eat lighter in the evening.

If you do not feel uncomfortable after you eat more than a cup of food, I would say you need a fill but I went in to get a fill and they wouldn't give me one because even though I am losing slow, I am losing. So don't listen to me.

Oh Roxie - you are funny. Of course we are going to listen to you. Your comment about a cup of food is right spot on! After my fill on Monday I can't eat more than a cup of food w/o being very uncomfortable. This is exactly where I need to be! Now I just have to retrain my eyes to match my stomach. I am certainly measuring right now! For the first time since surgery I feel like I have a band and it feels great! I do think some doctors are not aggressive enough with fills. My doc gives fills in increments - starting with 3cc, then 2cc, then 1cc, all about 3-4 weeks apart. I don't know what the 4th will bring but if I continue to feel the way I feel this week it will be a while before I find out...

[phyllser 3]

Hi,

Excited to say the scale moved BIG TIME this morning. Being one of those who sees big losses and then nothing for WEEKS, it is very exciting to have a big loss day! 5.6 LB! BMI went below 43 and weight below 220 for first time in almost 30 years!

[KarenIn 2]

Hi,

Excited to say the scale moved BIG TIME this morning. Being one of those who sees big losses and then nothing for WEEKS, it is very exciting to have a big loss day! 5.6 LB! BMI went below 43 and weight below 220 for first time in almost 30 years!

Congratulations Phyl! Doesn't it feel great to be moving in the right direction, and meeting those goals that seemed so unreachable before the Lapband? Keep up the great work. You help to motivate us all.

[mamajude 0]

Hello I am joining this group. Was banded on saturday. still sore and gassy but seem to be healing. went on the pre-op liquid fast and loss 15 pounds from highest weight. Have not been on the scale since right before the surgery. I will wait until I go in for a check up on the incisions on monday. I am in need of support and not familiar with how this site works. I really want this surgery to work and am following my surgeon's directions to the t . I have the realize band; the surgeon told me she put in 4cc rather than leave it empty. I can get food done but the pouch does not hold much. anyone have had experience with the realize band? Is there a big difference with the other one?

I am looking at 150 lbs as my goal.

[phyllser 3]

Hello I am joining this group. Was banded on saturday. still sore and gassy but seem to be healing. went on the pre-op liquid fast and loss 15 pounds from highest weight. Have not been on the scale since right before the surgery. I will wait until I go in for a check up on the incisions on monday. I am in need of support and not familiar with how this site works. I really want this surgery to work and am following my surgeon's directions to the t . I have the realize band; the surgeon told me she put in 4cc rather than leave it empty. I can get food done but the pouch does not hold much. anyone have had experience with the realize band? Is there a big difference with the other one? I am looking at 150 lbs as my goal.

Welcome, mamajude! Glad to have you join us here.

Can't help with info on the Realize band, but know there are some here than can.

[KarenIn 2]

Hello I am joining this group. Was banded on saturday. still sore and gassy but seem to be healing. went on the pre-op liquid fast and loss 15 pounds from highest weight. Have not been on the scale since right before the surgery. I will wait until I go in for a check up on the incisions on monday. I am in need of support and not familiar with how this site works. I really want this surgery to work and am following my surgeon's directions to the t . I have the realize band; the surgeon told me she put in 4cc rather than leave it empty. I can get food done but the pouch does not hold much. anyone have had experience with the realize band? Is there a big difference with the other one?

I am looking at 150 lbs as my goal.

Welcome! You will get lots of support here. There is nothing like chatting with someone who is going through the same process. Best wishes for a very successful weight loss journey and new way of life.

I had the Lapband in August of 2008, but I think you will find most things are similiar to the Realize band. I know a few here have the Realize band like you.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

[JoannMarie 0]

Hi Mamajude!

It's great to have you here with us. I have the Realize band, installed on Dec 4. I've been very happy with it, but I don't know if there is much difference in the way the bands work. You will have success with either band. My surgeon said she has had better luck with Realize in her senior patients (I guess we qualify!). I just had my 3rd fill on Monday, 1cc after a 1st fill of 3cc, 2nd fill of 2cc. Each of the first fills helped for a while, then the restriction seemed to fade a bit. Doctor says that is because I am not yet at the right level of saline. This fill is still restricting me quite a bit after 4 days, so I am hopeful it will last longer this time. I feel great right where I am, have restriction, and have lost a little more than a pound since Monday. Welcome to this thread - it's a good bunch of people and very supportive.

Congratulations to Phyll!!! You are doing so well! I know your frustration with the immovable scale. I have that issue too - no loss for 2 weeks, then 3 lbs all at once. It is a hard way to lose, but you have a great attitude and you know yourself well. Just keep on doin' what you're doin' and it will come off. I hope your cold is better so you can get to the pool again. I've been on the recumbant bike 4 days this week, and it has really made a difference in the way I feel. I still have some trouble walking very far, but I'm going to be working on that, too. During our upcoming Korea trip walking may be the exercise of necessity, so I better be ready.

Hugs to all today. Make good food choices and move around a bit.

[mamajude 0]

Thanks for your support. One problem, the port site is red and tender to the touch, no oozing or bleeding. But you can actually see the swelling. Any advice? I see the doc's nurse practitioner tomorrow.

[pennyw 0]

Thanks for your support. One problem, the port site is red and tender to the touch, no oozing or bleeding. But you can actually see the swelling. Any advice? I see the doc's nurse practitioner tomorrow.

I am a newbie also; I had my surgery on February 5, and my port site is still bruised and swollen. (I get my first fill on Tuesday and since my doctor always uses a floroscope, I guess I will find out that it really isn't a tennis ball that he put in there. - LOL) So, as far as I know - your tenderness and redness in that area is normal, but I don't know much.

Hugs to all,

Penny

224/201/140

[Memere-9 0]

let's see if we can get everyone to move over to this new 60+ thread!

i'm celebrating today.... My 6 month bandiversary!

congratulation !!!!!!it really encourages me that if i hang in there it will work. Seeing what you have accomplished is amazing !!!!!

[Doddie63 6]

Hi: I haven't posted for awhile, but thought I would today as I have just been to see my fill surgeon(not the band surgeon). I celebrated my 2 year anniversary without problems (except for times of barfin). He told me that most weight is lost in the first two years and after that, the pouch has become stretched and holds too much food. So I would have to get to goal by exercise and diet.

I can't say I agree with that, because I still can't eat more than a cup of food at a meal time. I have kept a loose fill to prevent the food from packing and stretching the pouch. My weight loss has been slow but still consistant.

Has anyone else been told by their surgeon the pouch is no longer effective after two years? :thumbup:

[JoannMarie 0]

Doddie, I have not heard that from my surgeon, but my earlier research indicated most of the weight is lost in first 2-3 years, no reason stated. One of my books - my favorite because my experiences have been so similar to the author's - says your body will settle in at the weight it is most comfortable with and you will gradually stop losing. Other posters on LBTalk have had the same or similar experience. Personally, I believe I will accomplish my goal - to me that is a given - and the timing is not the important thing. For me it is important to reach a healthy weight and maintain it over my lifetime. I think you and I share that philosophy. Most doctors say we will only lose 50% of our excess weight. I think that is an old statistic and as more and more people are being banded that percentage will rise. I plan to add to that increase!

[mamajude 0]

I am two weeks post op and feeling pretty good. But the weight is not dropping off. I can eat anything. Nothing gets stuck, although I am very careful. I am already eating real food. Hummus, eggs, and tuna. I have no restriction and it is very hard. MY question is have you noticed that us older people lose less weight or more slowly than the others? I have not been on the scale since I went to the surgeon's office last monday but I don't feel like I have lost alot. I try to keep the calories to 1000 or less. Also my primary care physician says that my thyroid is very low and I have to now take thyroid medication. Any comments?? I really want this to work.:thumbup:

[Doddie63 6]

Hi: mamajude, don't rush things. The weight will come off and you should be aiming for less than 2 lbs a week for a healthy loss. Also, don't cut your calories too low as the body will resist this and the weight will not come off. If you keep around 1200 to 1500 calories a day and exercise in some form, you will lose weight. Yes the older you get the slower weight comes off.

I have been keeping track of my food consumption and average 1500 calories a day and my weight loss has been arounf 2 lbs per month with one plateau.

Having said all that, relax and take it easy. You have to allow the band to heal and scar tissue to form to hold it in place. Follow your surgeons advice to the letter as the next 6 weeks are crucial in healing first. You have the rest of your life to lose. Hope my answer help.

[Doddie63 6]

Doddie, I have not heard that from my surgeon, but my earlier research indicated most of the weight is lost in first 2-3 years, no reason stated. One of my books - my favorite because my experiences have been so similar to the author's - says your body will settle in at the weight it is most comfortable with and you will gradually stop losing. Other posters on LBTalk have had the same or similar experience. Personally, I believe I will accomplish my goal - to me that is a given - and the timing is not the important thing. For me it is important to reach a healthy weight and maintain it over my lifetime. I think you and I share that philosophy. Most doctors say we will only lose 50% of our excess weight. I think that is an old statistic and as more and more people are being banded that percentage will rise. I plan to add to that increase!

Hi: You are absolutely spot on. I don't give a darn about statistics. It is all about me (selfish aren't I), but I am tired of being the jolly fat girl that agrees with all professionals. I agree, weight will reach a set point at what we are consuming every day as a natural habit. If more loss is wanted then one has to work and diet hard. But what do we accomplish but to put it all back on again to the point our body wants to be.