Another Roll Call

This board is entirely too quiet for me.  I think another roll call is in order. Last time I posted a roll call, I was pre surgery.  I had my lap band surgery 12/12/07, and so far so good. To date, I have lost 15 pounds post surgery, and 40 pounds since June 07, for a total of 55 pounds.  That is one HUGE  sack of dog food that I am no longer lugging around.  And truth be known, I am pleased.  My surgeon was Dr. Emma Patterson at Legacy Good Sam.  Oops, almost forgot, I had lapband.  

Brandon,  You are doing great.  Those dog food sack can be heavy!  I am struggling to lose my last few pounds---actually I am really not struggling that much---more like eating to maintain.  I do want to lose a few more pounds however and then see the plastic surgeon.  Have a great weekend.  Julia

Hi, you've done freakin' awesome!  I agree the board is VERY quiet! I had lapband surgery 11/09.  Lost 40 since surgery, didn't have a presurgery diet so no pre-surgery weightloss for me :(

I don't have ANY restriction, can eat pretty much whatever I want.  My first fill was 1/2/08 and I have 3cc's in a 10cc band.  I can't wait for restriction to kick in :(  I'm white-knuckling it from here on out until restriction-heaven.

Biimbii 

 HI- I am a newbie here. Banded by Dr. Patterson on 10/27/07.  I have had two fills and scheduled for a 3rd on the 24th. So far no restriction. I can eat anything and haven't noticed much of change in appetite, though no desire to binge.  I have only lost 8# since surgery and none in the last month- I haven't weighed in 3 weeks though, but I don't really feel like I am loosing. A bit discouraged, but hoping for restriction with the 3rd fill. Otherwise, the post-op course has been uneventful.  I need to be drinking more water and I am making an effort. I have made a committment to working out 3 x a week for the last couple weeks. Prior to that it had been intermittent.  Since I am not loosing much, I guess I need to take a bit more of a active role, so I am working on i****er and exercise.   I am eating pretty healthy. Jennifer

Hi Jennifer.............an 8 pound loss is better than nothing.  And I agree, you commiting to an exercise program will be beneficial.  Glad you are making changes to the challenges of your weight loss journey.  We had the same surgeon....when did you get your first fill.  I have my post op appt next week, which is five weeks from when I had my surgery.....hoping to get a fill then. I was under the impression that she did them 6 weeks, but since I travel from Eugene, hope she will bend her rules a bit.   Thanks!

Hi- I had my first follow up appt about 3 1/2 weeks post op. I didn't get a fill then because I told her I hadn't been eating solids yet- because I wasn't supposed to be according to the post op eating schedule.  My appetite had been pretty minimal until then, just the post op stuff I guess. Anyway, after that appointment- I of course started eating, and discovered that I could pretty much eat anything I wanted.  Though I didn't gain any weight, I felt like I was eating too much and called to have my next appointment moved up.  So about 3 weeks after the first appointment I went in and got a fill. 1.5cc the first time.  Three weeks later I got the second fill on December 27- because I kept my previous scheduled appointment. They gave me a 0.5cc fill. I guess I didn't really answer her questions right.  She asked me a bunch of questions to determine the amout of fill she was going to give me.  What I didn't say was that I could eat anything I wanted and that I was hungry!  What she asked me was if I had anyt restriction at all and/or if I had any trouble with breads or chicken or any other foods getting stuck.  I told her that I had been eating bread and on one or two occasions I had breif episodes of food getting stuck and one time with chicken, so I think she deduced that I had some restriction. She is the expert however, and now that I have been reading the boards, I know that you don't often get restriction till the 3-4th fill. However, next appointment on 1/24, I am determined to be more vocal about not having restriction.  I have never had any pb'ing or sliming and the couple times i felt stuck for a minute was my falut for not chewing very well- old habits die hard. I guess I would suggest being very honest and forthright about what you are experiencing. My guess is that you would get a fill. By the way, it was very simple and painless and I didn't get the local anesthetic- it's another needle that probably stings more than the fill needle. Is everything going pretty well for you?  Are you actively dieting, exercising and drinking your water? Good luck and keep us posted. Jennifer

Hi-I am still waiting to hear whether i get to take the next step and see a surgeon at OHSU. I called today and they said the results from my psych evaluation are sitting in a pile of papers that have not been looked at yet. I guess i should look at the glass half full and say that at least the psychologist has sent it to the office! Im feeling down today because I washed my jeans today and they were so tight that i stepped on the scale that is conveniently located in the laundry room and :( ;( i found that during my wait and crazy -this might be the last time i have a pice of pizza or piece of cake or piece of french bread fest- I have gained 15 pounds. I do not want to buy any clothes that are bigger than what I already have so I am now doing what i should have done from the beginning and trying to stop the madness. It is funny i was really good and motivated the first month after I decided to pursue this but with every passing month i seem to get more and more crazy with food and then depressed because it is going so slow and all i am doing is gaining. Tina

Hi Tina,

I am still pre-op myself. In fact, all I have accomplished is going to the 2 intro meetings - OHSU and Legacy. Based on the combination of my PCP and Shrink's recommendation plus my own research and overall impressions, I've decided on Dr. P.

I haven't even submitted my application yet, though. I started it, but have not gotten back to it. I'm swimming 3x a week to get in better shape and have started making better food choices and trying to eat less.

My biggest challenge is quitting smoking. I've been struggling with that since May 07. I've been smoke-free for periods of various lengths (3 days to a month), but keep coming back to it. Part of my prob is that I smoke Cloves. Not many a day, but not only do I get the niccotine boost to my brain chemicals, but they also TASTE GOOD. I had "quit" in Nov. I have signed up for Free & Clear, but even once I quit, I still have to wait 6 mos. I understand and support the reasons for the my wait, but it is frustrating.

My shrink told me that as I move along my journey, I'm gonna have all sorts of feelings that come up. Dunno about you, but one reason I overeat and smoke is to soothe those feelings.

Waiting is HARD.

Patty

Yes, things are going pretty well for me.  I have joined the gym with two of my friends, we keep each other motivated.  I am paying close attention to what I eat, but have finally decided,now that I am eating solids, that I can pretty much eat what I want.  I am eating about 1000 calories daily.  I haven't had any episodes.  I am not pleased that I can eat what  I want, and am hoping she does give me a fill at my appt.  I am not alwaysg etting in my required fluids, but daily I give it a valiant effort.  So, I am pleased with that.

I am kind of here right now. I had my second sleep study in 34 days last Thursday nite, using a CPAP machine for the first time in my life.  It was set at 7.  I didn't sleep that well because of the machine, and the king-sized bed was a bit uncomfortable.  But at least I got all 4 stages of sleep plus REM sleep this time.   I was very tired yesterday, so I went to bed early last nite. Still pre-op for DS.  It looks as if it may be early spring before the surgery will happen.