Desparate for help!!

March 13, 2005

Hi everyone, I found your group during my online research of the band. I am desparate to lose weight and KEEP it off. 3 years ago I lost 100 pounds through diet, exercise, and ephedra. It took me a year to lose the weight and over the course of the last 2 years, I have gained 80lbs back. Now I am even more depressed than I was before.

My insurance plan specifically excludes WLS, so I will have to pay for the procedure. After reading some of the problems that can occur, I don't want to end up spending a fortune replacing ports, tubing, or the entire band. Do you think these issue sare product or physician related?

I know the band doesn't do all the work for you. The real question is will the band give me the control that I seem to be missing----to stop at only 1 cookie?

Thank you, Holly

Alexandra · March 13, 2005

Hi Holly,

I'm glad you found us, and am sure we can help you see the band clearly so you can decide if it's something you want to do.

After reading some of the problems that can occur, I don't want to end up spending a fortune replacing ports, tubing, or the entire band. Do you think these issue sare product or physician related?

It's a message-board truism that people with problems post more than those without. MOST people don't have the sorts of problems you are worried about. MOST people do have multiple adjustments, but that's normal and should be in your budget for banding. Problems are possible, sure, but not likely.

The real question is will the band give me the control that I seem to be missing----to stop at only 1 cookie? -- For me, the answer is a resounding YES. Maybe it's two Cookies, sometimes three, but whatever it is it's not going to derail me. The actual sensation of FULLNESS is what's new and different. So it's definitely possible to stop before I've undone all the work I've done. That was never possible before.

Scotty · March 13, 2005

Hi Holly

You're going to get some great replies from all sorts of people at all stages post-band. I'm three weeks & 2 days since the op and I feel great. 12 lbs down and still slightly disconcerted by how little i need to eat to feel full.

I certainly sympathise with your history. I've never lost as much as 100lbs. 30lb was my biggest loss a couple of years back and I put most of it back on within 18 months. That was when I made my decision to get the band. I paid for it myself too.

Yes - there are complications but if you look closely at the board you'll see that out of all the members, the numbers of people with serious complications are pretty few. They are on the board a lot because they value the support they get here. All that said, there are risks. The question you have to ask yourself is, are you willing to weigh the risks of having the band versus the risks of living with obesity.

Can it give you the control to stop at just one cookie? No. You can cram in more than that - if that's the food choice you want to make. But you'll most likely to be unable to eat anything else for several hours. What it does do, is make you less likely to want the biscuit because the good food you had at lunch will be keeping you satisfied until dinner.

I sound really holier than thou...I know. And really I've no reason to. I counted my days intake of calories tonight and realised I had only had 600 all day. So I went an blended up some shrimp with some lo-cal mayo, lemon juice and chili. Had it with some mashed potato and an ounce of cheese. Total cals = around 400. I am now so full I feel uncomfortable. My doc told me that I had to stop eating as soon as I feel full. I haven't quite learned that my 'full' feeling doesn't register for about five minutes after I stop eating. I couldn't eat a cookie now if you paid me a million dollars.

BeachBabe(soon) · March 13, 2005

Welcome to the board, Holly. you'll find a lot of help here. Plus you can just do your own search, alot of the members have "done that" "been there" and asked almost every ?? imaginable. Just go to search right on top of the page.

Good Luck......and enjoy.

I'llsucceed · March 13, 2005

HI Holly!

I am in the stage they call- waiting-waiting & waiting for insurance. But if you are going to pay for it yourself you could be a mere week or two away from the band. Gather info as much as you can & ask questions till your blue in the face. That way you can really be successful when you enter you new way of living. Best of luck to you.

I'llsucceed · March 14, 2005

Last night I ate in a restaurant with friends....normally I would have had the fileted razor clam....but had the chicken pot pie...and asked them to puree it...still it was wonderful, I was plenty full...and had a wonderful social event.

Jack- Are you still in the mushie stage? Why the puree pot pie- Aren't you able to eat that slowly? Or is it too soon for you still & will you be able to eat it w/out having it pureed sometime in the future?

March 14, 2005

Thanks to everyone for the comments. I appreciate your insight.

A couple of people have mentioned puree/blending food. Is this something that always has to be done, or is it short term, or a preference for some?

Holly

claraluz · March 14, 2005

Hi. Welcome. Like you, I had lost 100 pounds twice. Both times it took me about a year and then I regained the lost weight and more in record time. That's really why I got the band. I want to make sure I don't re-gain the lost weight and I think the band will help me. I've been banded for 19 months. I'm not cured. I still tend to turn to food for comfort and to make wrong choices sometimes. But the band keeps me from eating too much at any one time, so it helps minimize the harm when I do get off track. By the way, no you won't have to eat mushy, pureed food forever - just for the first month or so, different docs have different instructions. Keep researching and we will answer any quetions to the best of our ability.

Nancy

jqpublic · March 14, 2005

hello, holly its all in your mind you can do this if you want. I was eating almost one pound candy bar aday and drinking lots of pop i had tryed dieting a few times and gave up

why because that was my life style, eating all hours of the day night,snacking all the time <this has to be a life change> smaller meals&walking you can do this I, have faith in you. also maybe a higher power, for me that God! if you ever need to talk just email me I, have now lost 34 pounds not banded lots of walking.take care God bless you. and remember you can do this.

Chiefjohnjohn@yahoo.com