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I thought I would be having surgery by now. This waiting game has been a rollercoaster.  I jumped through all the hoops required by BCBS Federal to get my revision (Psyche eval, 4 nutritionist visits) and my paperwork was submitted last month for approval.  The determination board said they wanted my old medical records from my lapband surgeon in order to determine compliance.  Its my fault that I didn't know my new bariatric doctor did NOT have them, as I assumed when I transferred to his care.  My lapband doctor retired in June 2013 and the only way to contact him was to send 75$ to a P.O.box to get my medical records.   I messaged him on his Facebook page and the VERY next day, his page was GONE.  Sooo...I mailed off the records request with a money order (didnt want him to make me wait for my check to clear). I also sent it via certified mail so I could get a return receipt.  I even got updated text messages from USPS telling me when it arrived in his P.O.Box on Nov 12.  There it sat until he signed for it on Nov 18. I got the records yesterday on Nov 20th!   

It was interesting seeing records of all my visits to him, including the initial psyche evaluation. "She was neatly and appropriately groomed and dressed. No abnormal movements were noted. Her mood was euthymic and her affect was animated. Her speech was logical and coherent. Her thought processes were goal directed and there was no history of delusional thinking or hallucinations. Further, there was no history of or evidence of suicidal and/or homicidal ideation. She was oriented in all spheres and her memory was intact. Her intelligence was deemed to be above average and her insight and judgement were intact"    LOL...Im glad he didnt write I was crazy to choose a lapband.

As I've said before, I'm thankful for the lapband but I do regret not getting a sleeve back then. I just now made a copy of these records so I can hand deliever a copy to Dr.Turnquest in the morning after my dental appointment.  They will fax them to the BCBS determination dept and HOPEFULLY the next call I get from Dr.Turnquest will be the one telling me I got a surgery date.   They've told me that they were sure they can get my revision before Christmas.  Its important that I get it done before January 1st because , of course, thats when my deductibles begin anew.  Because of all my husbands medical bills, we met our out of pocket costs back in June so I have ZERO copayments until then.

I hope this is the last hurdle. I really do.  It's scary to see this weight creeping back despite my best efforts.  My band is loose but I STILL get stuck on random foods.  I wake up with my stomach growling but get stuck if I eat too early in the morning. Protein shakes just don't satisfy all the time.  I want NORMAL...not this lapband HELL anymore. Enough is enough is enough.  

If anyone is reading this, please say a prayer for me...or think positive thoughts my way that I get a surgery date in December.....

I completed the insurance requirements for a revision to the sleeve. My surgeons office is submitting the paperwork this week or next so I hope to get a surgery date soon.  I wish the band had worked for me but I'm now just another one of the failed band statistics.  Four years ago, I was just too leery of most of my stomach being removed and just KNEW I could make the lapband work. Ha.  I am so tired of the first bite getting stuck and throwing up.  I always had a bag or empty water bottle in the car when that stuck feeling had to be relieved. So tired of excusing myself to the restroom several times during a meal at a restaurant. So tired of the random tightness and embarrassing belches. So tired of being able to eat a food one day and have my band reject it the next day.  I am scared watching the scale inch its way back up no matter how much I deprive myself or exercise.  

A new day...a second chance. Thank God!

About once a month or so, I get the urge to go clothes shopping at my favorite store:  Goodwill Select.  When I was
growing up in the 60's, my mom used to take me to yard sales and thrift stores.  You looked through  a lot of
not so pretty or fashionable clothes to find may be a few in decent shape.  Not  true anymore! 

On my shopping trip today, I bought 8 shirts, 1 pair of pants, skirt, and dress.  The best part of it all
was being able to fit into almost everything I tried on...and 1/2 the shirts and the dress were a size
M E D I U M.     I'm sure some of the shoppers were a little disturbed by the maniacal laughter coming
from the dressing room.

So here I am at work tonight with my new Medium shirt on.   Its a wonderful feeling to look
"normal"...like anyone else in the crowd,  AND to like what I see in the mirror.  I feel like my
real self is emerging from the retreating fat.  

In August, I will reach my two year mark.  I am hoping that i will be at my initial goal then. Its only 10 pounds
away, right??  I'm challenging myself to actually exercise more than once or twice this week.  I think I can,, I think I can
....   I really don't mind anymore that its taking me two years to reach my goal because I don't have major batwings
or parts of my body that make me cringe anymore.  Yes, I would like to get my "apron" removed someday ...maybe.
Frankly though, Ive had my fill of surgeries (non WLS related) so i really don't see in plastic surgery in my future.
I'm  okay with it because all my curves are in the right places now...and our sexlife has skyrocketed about 50 lbs
ago.    I don't need to be a Barbie Doll.  It just feels so awesome to like the me I see looking back at me.
...even with my scarred legs and missing kneecaps. 

 HT 5'3"  WT 186  Shirt: MEDIUM  Pants: 16P    WT: 266  Shirt: 2X   Shorts: XXL

I have noticed some posts lately asking folks here if they would do it again. I answered yes I would but events of last week had me 2nd guessing for a little while. I suppose it's natural to fear making a wrong choice because of past bad choices..wondering if this WLS will be like every other failed diet....


Recap of my history so far: 10 years ago, I was critically injured in a head on crash which resulted in 16 months off work, 20+surgeries to repair broken hip and both knees...one which had to be totally replaced. I was 279 lbs at the time and I truly think a physically smaller person wouldn't have survived. As it was, I did code the first night of my 4months in the hospital. Fast forward 8 years later...266 lbs..daily pain meds for chronic joint pains, and pre-diabetic. Then..my husband gets diagnosed with throat cancer.

Well..because of the high costs for cancer treatment, we met the catastrophic limit for BCBS, which meant that any medical costs for the rest of the year would be no cost to me. It was difficult to feel like I was "benefitting" from his cancer but...it was also some good to come out of the bad. My husband DID recover completely, losing 80 lbs in the process.

Because of all the surgeries, including one that gave me a nearly fatal staph infection, I was reluctant for any invasive surgeries. I knew the risks of the lapband but i chose it because  I did not want to get my inner anatomy re-routed, nor did I want to lose at a rapid weight, risking gallstones or looser skin. In my experience, some friends that had the gastric bypass were more depressed with all their hanging skin.

I will admit that I too believed Allergans selling points, but I also trusted my surgeon and his track record. I knew the risks but hoped I would be one of the successful ones because this was my ONLY chance to afford this.  My doc was careful to explain all the risks.

With all the negativity about the band lately, I have sometimes second guessed my decision, wondering if I should tried to get the sleeve but...then i read about acid reflux being common. Yeah, the band is much more "high maintenance" but...then I look at my life and my results so far.

I was 266 lbs the day before surgery. Size 22-24, waist 46". I am presently 190lbs..size 14-16 (and even a size 12 dress!) with no comorbidities. 

I had three fills during the first year with a small unfill at 9 months out when I started PBing too much almost every day for a week. That adjustment lasted almost a year, until 6 weeks ago when I started getting hungry every 2-3 hrs and could eat more if I wanted to. I asked him for only .1 or.2cc but he looked at the pouch under fluoroscopy and added .5cc.
Two weeks later (last week), I started PBing again and during the weekend, my pain pill got stuck and I couldn't even drink water except for a small swallow at a time.

Soooo, I got in to see my doc first thing after the weekend and he took out 1/2 of what he put in last time and I am happy to report that I am back to normal...and losing again. The doc said I was right 6 weeks ago when I asked for a smaller fill. And now I know what is "too tight" for my pain pill.

If I had to do it over again, I would've still chosen the band but..if something happens to make me lose it (getting another pill stuck), I would most likely revise to the sleeve because the risks of losing a 2nd band is even higher. I just want to keep it,as long as it works for me, grateful that my problems have been minor and fixable thus far. I know if I lost the band, the sleeve would help me maintain the weight loss i have already achieved via a slower route.

Right now, my life is great. My husband has been back to work over a year now, successfully working as a Critical Care licensed paramedic, with every other weekend off.  After 26 years in my shiftwork job, i finally made it to the top of the seniority list so I have weekends off now too. Both our kids left the nest in February and we have been loving every minute of this new chapter. We are both skinnier and enjoying a sex life like we've never had before. He reminds me to get "my drink on" every night before dinner and makes sure I get the tenderest cuts. We go out a lot more often and sometimes just share an entree since both our appetites are much smaller. Good lord, we haven't had to go major grocery shopping since the kids left in February! It's so amazing to not buy a gallon of milk every other day....or to find my leftovers are STILL there the next day. :)

I especially love feeling beautiful again. I know I still have 20ish lbs to go but I am inching my way there steadily and wearing clothes that fit me instead of HIDING me. I look in the mirror every day and like what I see....even the not so pretty parts because I know it's just a shell anyway. I love my husband and his nickname for me. (little butt!).

In closing, I have to say for the sake of pre-ops, that I would not encourage someone to get the lapband, knowing what I know now, thanks to those who have shared their unfortunate experiences with the band. That's the big reason I am quick to call my surgeon for any issues. In almost 21 months, 4 fills & 2 unfills, and only 2 stuck episodes, I am doing well.
I can eat almost anything except for reheated chicken, doughy bread, or meat that is too dry....just much much smaller portions

To those that still choose the band over the other options, I would encourage them to follow the rules and never hesitate to call their doctor. Many issues can be remedied if handled promptly. I know I was reluctant to call at first because I was losing weight but...too many scary cases here made me call.

I thank everyone for sharing their experiences, good or bad andThanks for reading :)

BEFORE:



AFTER:

 

 About two weeks ago, I started waking up hungry.  My stomach has been growling at me ever since.  So, I decided to make an appointment with Dr. Collier to take a look at my pouch under fluoroscopy and see if I need a fill.   The last time I had an adjustment was in May 2011 when I had a small .5cc unfill.

So, I get to the doctors office this morning and their scale says I am down 22 lbs from 10 months ago.  That means I lost 50 lbs in the first 10 months and 22 lbs between then and now.   I have a follow up visit in three months.  My goals are to really make an effort to exercise AT LEAST 4-5 days a week.   That has been the hardest thing to do...not overdoing it as well because my hip and knees rebel and make me pay for it a few days.  Ugh.  Easy to make excuses.

My pouch looked fine said the doctor but I could use a fill.  It looked like little tube sock above the ring, not overlapping the edges at all. Whew.  I asked him if it looked stretched out at all and he assured me it looked great.   He gave me back the .5cc that he took out last May. He says I need to up my protein and really exercise.   Okay, okay, I *will*- I PROMISED him I would and then made my next appointment before I left the office.  I go back in three months on June 29th.

I look forward to seeing the changes between now and then. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.

I arrived into Onderland sometime during then night.  I am so excited!

Post Date: 3/4/12 7:46 am
After 19 months, I made it to ONE-DERLAND!!!  I am so thankful my my little band!!!   23 lbs to go!

Top 10 Hidden Sources of Salt

Rebecca S. Boxer, M.D., Caring.com senior medical editor, and Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editor After a diagnosis of heart failure, "reduce salt intake" is one of the first pieces of advice doctors offer. Sodium contributes to fluid retention, and too much sodium is one of the most common triggers for exacerbation. For this reason, doctors recommend that those with heart failure limit salt intake to 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day. But how to do that? Start by following recommendations for managing diet for heart failure. Putting away the salt shaker helps, as does learning to cook with other flavors, such as garlic, citrus, and herbs. However, many people find it's much harder than they expected to reduce sodium intake, and the culprit is often hidden salt. Here's a list of some of the biggest "salt traps" to avoid.

The condiment shelf

Many people are surprised to discover that many salad dressings, sauces, dips, and condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and relish rely on high sodium content to achieve a concentrated flavor. Soy sauce, for example, has about 1,160 milligrams of sodium per tablespoon, while ordinary chicken bouillon has about 1,100 milligrams per packet. But while bouillon and soy sauce taste recognizably salty, this is not true of many other condiments. Your taste buds may not recognize the flavor as salty despite high quantities of sodium. Some examples:  

• Italian salad dressing: 430 milligrams in 2 tablespoons
• Spaghetti sauce: 850 milligrams in a half-cup
• Alfredo pasta sauce: 1,080 milligrams in a half-cup
• Pickle relish: 240 milligrams in 1 tablespoon
• Sun-dried tomatoes: 1,050 milligrams per cup

  Barbecue sauce, store-bought gravies, meat tenderizers, and steak sauce are also offenders; almost all brands contain extremely high levels of sodium. Olives, capers, and anything pickled are on the bad list too, because pickling requires salty brine. It's also important to realize that the salt content in condiments is often listed for small quantities, so those who eat ketchup on everything or like their pasta with lots of sauce could be eating double or triple the dose of the sodium listed. And that dehydrated onion soup mix used to make so many party dips? It's one of the worst traps of all, with more than 3,000 mg of sodium in one packet.
Cheese and other dairy products

Salt is used in the making and preserving of many cheeses and cheese products, yet often we don't think of them as salty. Rich, piquant cheeses like blue cheese, gorgonzola, and Roquefort are among the saltiest, all of them coming in between 350 and 500 milligrams per serving. Cheese spreads and dips often have as much as 500 milligrams of salt per serving, as can good old cheddar cheese. Parmesan, Romano, feta, and many of the other cheeses used in cooking are high in salt.   Milk itself has 120 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving; choose buttermilk or chocolate milk instead and the level rises to150 milligrams. And a half-cup serving of a low-fat cottage cheese has twice as much sodium (360 milligrams) as a bag of potato chips.  
Canned soups, stews, and vegetables

The Campbell Soup Company made headlines recently by putting the sodium back into some of the company's canned soups that had previously had the salt content reduced. The reason? Consumers weren't buying the products because they didn't taste as good—and therein lies the problem. Many flavors of canned soup, from home-style chicken to simple tomato, contain 700-1,300 milligrams of sodium per serving. French onion soup is one of the worst, with 1,300 mg per serving. Canned beef stew and chili both have 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams per serving, and vegetable soups, like minestrone and split pea, contain 800-1,000 milligrams per serving. It's also important to realize that a serving is often just half a cup, much less than the average person eats at a sitting.   One last surprise lurks in some types of canned vegetables. One can of kidney beans contains 440 milligrams of sodium, and canned tomatoes with spices added ("Italian style," for instance) can contain up to 600 milligrams of sodium per half cup.

Breakfast cereals

Store-bought breakfast cereals vary widely in salt content, so read labels carefully. Some of the most popular brands—including Chex, Total, and Wheaties—contain between 250 and 300 milligrams of sodium in a one-cup serving, though many people eat double that much at breakfast. And beware the "healthy" label; some of the highest-sodium cereals are those we consider healthiest, such as raisin bran. Kellogg's Raisin Bran has 340 milligrams per cup; instant oatmeal has as much as 350 milligrams per three-fourths cup serving, depending on the flavor.

Baked goods and bake mixes

A bagel might not taste particularly salty, but one bagel can contain 500-700 milligrams of sodium, depending on the size and flavor, while one piece of whole-wheat pita bread has 340 milligrams of sodium. Baked goods made with white flour aren't necessarily worse than those made with whole wheat; one slice of whole-wheat bread contains 132 milligrams of sodium, and a sandwich doubles that. Sweet baked goods can be loaded with hidden salt. One doughnut contains close to 300 milligrams of sodium, and a blueberry muffin is close behind at 250 milligrams. But an even bigger surprise lurks in baking mixes: One box of self-rising cornmeal contains a startling 1,860 milligrams of sodium, or 440 milligrams per one 3-tablespoon serving; a single corn muffin made from a mix has 400 milligrams of sodium; and one slice of yellow cake made from a mix has 220 milligrams of sodium.

Cured, smoked, and deli meats

Three ounces of sausage—a very small serving—contains 600-900 milligrams of sodium, while one hot dog has 600 to 800 milligrams. And that's just the beginning. Bacon? 621 milligrams per 3 ounces. One piece of beef jerky has more than 400 milligrams, while two slices of salami tops 600 milligrams. There are low-sodium deli meats available, but read labels carefully for the actual amount of sodium per serving rather than the percent reduced.

Products labeled "reduced salt" or "less sodium"

The key word here is "reduced"—the definition of this term is that any product labeled "reduced sodium" must contain at least 25 percent less sodium than the regular version of the same product. The problem is that if the original product had a high sodium content, then reducing that by 25 percent may not in fact result in a low-salt food.   Fast food, including "healthy" choices

It's probably no surprise that French fries aren't the best choice for those trying to avoid salt, but where many go wrong is in choosing supposedly healthier choices such as salads and sandwiches, which can be loaded with salt hidden in sauces and dressings. At McDonald's, a premium bacon ranch salad with grilled chicken has 1,010 milligrams of sodium, while a grilled chicken ranch BLT sandwich has 1,190 milligrams of sodium. Compare that to a large order of McDonald's fries, which contains 350 milligrams. Hamburgers are also big offenders, particularly once you add cheese; a double Whopper with cheese from Burger King or a Wendy's double cheeseburger with everything both weigh in with approximately 1,450 mg of sodium—pretty much a full day's maximum for someone on a low-salt diet.

Products labeled "low fat" or "heart healthy"

This one's seriously counterintuitive; wouldn't you think products that make health claims, particularly regarding heart health, would be low in sodium? Not necessarily. An investigation by Consumer Reports found that low-fat processed foods are often higher in salt than their full-fat counterparts, probably because salt is added to compensate for the lost flavor that comes with reducing fat. For example, Newman's Own low-fat Family Recipe Italian salad dressing has a whopping 730 milligrams of sodium per each 1.5-ounce serving. And Ruffles Original potato chips have 10 grams of fat and 160 milligrams of sodium, compared to the baked version with just 3 grams of fat but 200 milligrams of sodium. Specific heart-healthy claims can be misleading as well: Prego "Heart Smart" pasta sauce, which carries the American Heart Association logo, contains 430 milligrams of sodium in a half-cup serving; it's allowed to carry the AHA logo because it's low in saturated fat and cholesterol

Salty sweets

We don't usually associate sweets with sodium. In fact, we think of them as just the opposite. But many prepared desserts are high in sodium, often from preservatives. Puddings and cream pie fillings can contain as much as 285 milligrams of sodium per serving, for example. One piece of gingerbread has 240 milligrams of sodium, cake has between 250 and 300 milligrams per piece, and even a crumb piecrust adds 180 milligrams of sodium to a slice of fruit pie. Home baking uses sodium, too; one teaspoon of baking powder has 488 milligrams of sodium, and one teaspoon of baking soda (the amount used in classic chocolate chip cookies) introduces 1,259 milligrams of sodium per batch. Of course, that's not so much when you consider it on a per-cookie basis, but if you eat the whole batch over a couple of days, it's important to keep the sodium content in mind.  

I went shopping with my 24 year old son today.  He works two jobs so I don't get to do things with him much these days.  He just got promoted to a supervisor at a Ross store in Houston, so he had to get some new pants to look nice. I tagged along for fun...though I don't always look forward to being a passenger in his car. I usually close my eyes for the drive...less scary that way.  To his credit, he *has* improved his driving a bit.

Driving down the highway toward Houston with his ipod plugged into the car stereo, I was soaking up the beautiful day listening to my son's tenor voice fill the car.  He wanted to be a music teacher when he was young but ..he's found himself on a different path and I'm just
so proud of him.  He's had to struggle working two part time jobs (like so many of us I know) for the past 6 years but he's making his way.   He played me some songs from Three Days Grace, Maroon 5 and a Christina Aguilar song that made me nearly pee my pants with laughter (lyrics include "every time I look at me, I turn myself on"...  What a great day.

The icing on the cake?  Fitting into a size 16 dress from Ross (that only cost me 15 dollars) woohoo. Life is good.
I'm in my 17 yr old daughter's room b/c she has good sunlight in her room. 

 

I just wanted to say thanks to you both for posting your journeys.  i just posted a couple of days ago on my 1 yr "bandi-versary" having ALSO lost 52 pounds and I was feeling
reluctant to post because I didn't feel successful enough.  Maybe its of all the failed diets, its easy to be quick to assume this band will fail too.  

And I think many things just need a change of perspective to appreciate the goodness of it all. My perspective has certainly shifted in the past couple of days as I truly realize how far I have come, how wonderful it is the KEEP OFF what I've lost already, that I'm liking who I see in photos lately...and that the scale just tells a small part of the story. Today I am comfortably wearing my new peach denim Lee Capris..size 16 and I can scratch ANYWHERE I may itch ...oh the little things.

I am rambling and I apoligize to any teachers out there for my grammar.
Mainly I just really wanted to say thanks to Jenny and Lauran for sharing. I feel so much better about *my* success now.  Congrats to you both! 

 

Topic: One Year Anniversary...pics

Gulp..Its my one year "surgi-versary".  I had a whole lot of higher expectations starting out, I must admit. If I had to do it over again, I would probably opt for the sleeve but here is where I am.  I was going great scale-wise all the way to March of this year and since then I have been on a plateau.    

I started out size 22/24 and now wearing 16-18's.   I have had a rough time concerning my pain management this year (old leg injuries) that ONLY in the past few weeks does it seem that I am not waking up in pain anymore.  That by itself has been a big factor in my lack of exercise.  It also took me most of the year to get the fills just right  (where I am now).

I really didnt want to post anything today since I havent lost any weight for the past 6 months but I'm biting the bullet and committing myself to use at least SOME of the exercise equipment taking up a whole room in my house.

Life is going actually very well...now that hubby is working, he is very happy. He also said to me that if I didnt lose any more weight, he loves the new me.  Don't I wish SEX burned more calories than it does cuz  we are just having so much fun.  We are almost empty nesters when both kids are at their jobs!

And we are saving so much on groceries. Just in the past few weeks, it seems my appetite has gotten smaller.  I'm following all the rules but I really have to remind myself to drink enough water.  I don't drink at all during my meals..not since day one.  I just need to exercise...sigh.


Here are some pics of the last year including the pic I took tonight on my way in to work while I was at the grocery store.