LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

:help: My surgeon doesn't do the fills with flouroscope, he says it's not necessary. I asked if he has ever acccidentally punctured the tubing when doing a fill. To my absolute surprise he said it happens all the time. He said I wouldn't need to pay for the surgery to repair the tubing if it was punctured. I don't want to have surgery again and again because he keeps puncturing my tubing and I don't want to lose restriction. I haven't gone ahead with my surgery yet. What you do you think? Should I trust the doctor and hope he doesn't puncture my tubing? Bluebutterfly

:cake: OK.....I was nervous in the first place to get my first fill. When the Doc came into the room and asked me how things were going and I told him I needed a fill. He pulled out his tools(Needles) which I am NOT a fan of, I almost fainted on him. He laughed and told me if he knew that, he would have turned his back.hehehe Anyway.....when he went in to do the fill, he had one hack of a time finding the port, (I felt like a pin-cushion)It was the most annoying feeling I have ever had. He told me that it will get easier as time goes, cause I wont be so thick. Thanks!!!!! So now I am really, really hoping that I don't need another fill. I have a Vanguard band in which hol…

Ok, I'm here to complain again. Or maybe have someone tell me this is normal, or ok or something. I was banded on 1/9/06 and I am down about 18 lbs now. Great right? Well, I don't know if I heal faster than most people or this just isn't working for me. I have no discomfort anymore from the surgery and can eat anything I want. I am only supposed to be on the mushies right now and I was eating steamed broccli and cauliflower for dinner! I know my time right now is supposed to be for healing. But I'm wondering if I need a fill at my 6 week visit. Will the Doc do this so soon? Am I doing something wrong, did the band slip? How come it seems weird to me that it…

It's finally happened. I went in today for a much-needed Fill under flouro and had 2 huge disappointments. Today was a great day. I am scheduled to go a birthday celebration later (so in case I was too late to come back home and change) so I was dressed up, fluffed up and was given compliments all day. Disappointment #1 At this office, after you check in, you're given your patient chart to carry into the examination room once it's your turn. So of course I spent my wait time, reading my chart information. (Do you blame me? Besides it's my information, LOL.) Well, turns out that I miscalculated my start weight from my LapBand surgery, in fact I thought I'd lost more…

i am sure this question has been asked many times, but here it is again. I just had my surgery at about 2pm on thursday the 2nd (2 days ago). I am still in pretty bad pain. I am stiff all over, but i figure that is from lack of motion. the gas has been pretty bad, but it is calming down. Right now the main thing that is causing me pain is the area around the insicions as well as my stomach in general (like sharp pains every couple of minutes). It also is very painful when i try to cough or take deep breaths and move around as well. What i want to know is how long this lasts and at what point is all the pain gone (as in the band isnt always on your mind anymore due …

Well, I woke up this morning with a sore throat. After my last debacle, having to cancel my surgery 2 weeks prior to the date because of a cough and fever that were gone in 2 days, I'm hesitant to even MENTION this to my dr's office (although they're not there on the weekends so I guess I couldn't do anything until Monday, my surgery date, anyway). My dh has had this "cold" (really it's only a mild sore throat) for a few days. No other symptoms. I do NOT want to have the surgery if this increases the potential risks/complications. On the other hand, I do NOT want to mention it to anyone if it's really inconsequential but will cause them to cancel my surgery. I can…

I am looking for advice on what I can do to ensure my success with the lapband. I have all the documentation ready to go for approval and anticipate a "yes" based on the criteria set by NGS-American....if not, I'll be researching the appeal process. What can I be doing right now to help even though I don't have a surgery date? Should I try to take some weight off using my excess Optifast shakes or perhaps save them until after surgery? Here's the details on the one pre-made shake: Calories 160 Protein 14 g Carb 20 g (this seems high based on some info I've read here) Fat 3 g Sodium 220 g Potassium 460 mg Fiber 0 g I've read that some docs put you on a liquid…

I got a really cool 3 teir steamer for Christmas and I finally opened it and got it all set up. I made shrimp in it a few nights ago and they were great. I made some lemon and garlic butter for me and my DD and I made butter with red pepper flakes in it for hubby. I need some ideas for more stuff to make in it. I already know about veggies, but the book says you can do meats, fish, chicken and even meatballs in it. Anyone got any really good recipies? Or a link to a good steamer website? ~Mandy

Hi, everyone. I was banded in November and havent yet had a fill. I'm losing 1-2 pounds a week and havent planned on getting a fill until I stop losing. The main reason I'm not anxious to get a fill yet is because I seem to be pretty restricted as it is and cant imagine being MORE restricted. The foods I can eat are very limited: watery mashed potatoes, Soups (which I avoid because of the salt content), packaged chicken of the Sea brand salmon (it's very moist and it the only kind of fish/meat I can eat, so I eat it 3 times a day), watery cottage cheese and jello/pudding. I can also eat very soft chocolate, but I've lost my taste for it and other sweets totally since be…

Hi Everyone! I want to thank all of you for all of your help and support! This website has been great for information. I plan on sending in my paperwork today to Beth Israel, hopefully my experience will be a positive one! I have heard of some people where they had band slippage. Can anyone explain to me more about that? How do you know the band has slipped, what are the symptoms? I've also heard that lap band people get a similar symptom as Gastic Bypass patients where they have "dumping". Do people with the lapband get that same symptom or something similar? Thanks!! Sherri

Please forgive me if this has been posted before. I was just surfing around the net and stumbled across this site. Has some excellent recipies and other info. Seems to be a bit more for RNYers, but does have some great info for bandsters. http://store.bariatriceating.com/

WHAT WILL IT TAKE? <O:p</O:p I’m pondering this question tonight. What will it take? What will it take for my mind and my body to finally connect? Permanently! I sat here earlier with a bag of potato chips in my lap, munching away. And I don’t even like potato chips that much. I was so “good” today watching my calories and making healthy food choices. My surgery is 25 days away and I know I must be disciplined. And yet, at 11pm, I walked over to the cupboard, pulled out the bag of chips and started munching. What is my problem? :target: I wish to God I knew. <O:p</O:p I think it’s rather ironic that I’ve spent my entire overweight life feeling like n…

both my wife and i are banded, my wife has had hers since 5/03 and ive had mine since 5/04 . we've been married since may 1988. yes we do alot in the month of may. never had kids, till now :target: we have a verry pretty 5 and a 1/2 month old little girl. the only thing that has changed in all the time we've been married was the sudden weight loss. for your viewing the walters family web site. http://familylobby.com/mikeandmarinawalters/

i have suuuchh a hard time not eating at night... my boyfriend says its better not to eat after a certain time. What do ya'll think of that? Is there a certain time at night that you stop eating...and furthermore do u think it makes a difference?

Its the strangest thing...something that i can eat for dinner i can't even touch in the moring! Whats the deal? I feel like my band is tighter or something... can this beeeeeeee? please explaine this one to me bc im very confused lol

hiya aweebitsmaller i'm jenny r u in melb

Hidy ya'll! Well I was whining for not losing the weight fast enough or any at all! NOW Im back, because since my last fill I went down 4 pounds!:clap2: I am F I N A L L Y having restriction! I'm learning how to "hear" my body! My question now is, should I go in for my next fill in 2 more weeks? I get chocked up pretty east right now. I had my first "spit up", if you will, today. I can usually choke it on down, but today it was like, NOT! It wasn't bad or anything, just liquidy. Im also trying to change anti depressants. I was on 300 mg EFFEXOR and I am in a constant stage of confusion right now! SWIMMY head feeling. PLUS I've been sick and 2 boys! GEESH! Fever junk! If…

SOOOOO today i saw a client of mine (who i havent seen in a while) who had the band put on last may... and i swwwweaaar i had to do a tripple take she lost so much weight (maybe like 70+ lbs). I was in shock! I was so happy to see her bc it just confirmed my notion that thiiis thing reaally works. I mean i know the band works...but sometimes i get so discouraged reading on these sights about how people have a hard time loosing the weight and/or are having problems... i was sooo happy all day i was beaming ear to ear. I just know this was the best thing i could have ever done for myself health wise and not to mention it gives me hope to be able to sqqqquuuuueeeeezze …

Ya'll I heard a rumor that there is going to be a clothing swap sometime at the first of January....I am trying to confirm this info. I heard that you could find the info off of DFWBansters...I am not on that yahoo list...can anybody else confirm this? I would really love to get somebody all my clothes and start finding some smaller clothes for myself.

Who else took this stuff? Did you have any luck? I had it with and without ephedra. The ones with ephedra were huge, tasted really bad, and gave me the tremors. I remember driving all over the place looking for them because they'd been pulled off the shelves at GNC. The ones without ephedra did nothing. I gave them both up because at the time I was dead broke and at 6 pills a day and $40 a bottle, it really added up. Plus neither of them worked. What's the consensus on Anna Nicole Smith? She has an absolutely rockin' bod. It seems like she lost the weight very quickly, but she doesn't look like she had GB.

hi guys, im almost a month out, is it ok if im eating rice and chewing it really good?

over the summer while my wife was still preggo with our little girl she had to go in for weekly ultrasounds.(long story as to why it was weekly) anyway, our little girl was in a bad postition for the ultrasound to get good mesurements. so the nurse starts to try to rub the side of my wifes belly to find the babys foot to wake up to roll over. heres how the converstation went: nurse: I found her foot and we'll see if we can get her to roll over. wife: thats not her foot: nurse :yes it is. wife: ummm no its not, thats my PORT for my band that i told you about. nurse: no ive got the babys foot. wife: Im telling you thats not her foot at this time my wif…

Hi! I had my second fill two days ago. First day I didn't eat anything but a yo-baby yogurt.....because I didn't feel any hunger......and the second day wasn't any different. Now I drink milk just to give my stomach something to help it from embarrising me in public by rumbling inappropriately......but other than that.....no hunger! Is this going to last? Is this how all of you just started loosing pounds upon pounds of weight? I want to be like you.....I want to loose 10 pounds pretty much in the blink of an eye! I'm bursting with excitement! Go band! Go fills! Pump up my baloon with more saline!!!

I am scheduled 2/16, First, should I be on a "special" pre op diet? I know they told me to keep my diet low fat and low sugar two weeks before, but I've heard of people having to do protein shakes....? Also, did any of you wake up with a Foley Catheter in place? I'm getting nervous!!! Thanks, Carmen

OK, most of you know I have lost my band due to erosion. I went through a "bad patch" right after. I slipped into a deep depression and almost let it control me. I talked with a good friend and was encouraged to grieve and then let it go. Which is exactly what I did. The thing is, I didn't really realize I was grieving till I spoke with her. Then it became clear to me I was doing just that. I had to work through all the stages of grief. I am presently in anger and acceptance. One minute I am pissed off, then the next I am "ok I lost the band." I am leaning more toward the later nowadays. More calm now. It all comes down to just accepting where you are in lif…

It does come up from your gut and flys out of your mouth when you open it when you would rather it didnt. when ever i have this it always sounds like a drain letting that last little bit of Water down at the end. kinda wierd. several months ago i was just sticking my hand out to a local cop to shake his hand and introduce myself, but when i opened my mouth this noise flew out like a burp on steroids. i droped my hand and head, said "scuse me" while i reached for my wallet to show him my card with my band info on it and told him sometimes it just happens, and told him about my band. thankfully he kinda knew about it from some friends of his that have had the bypa…

Does anyone have any info on J & J lapband I know the FDA was in the process of approving

I heard that Xenical, a prescription drug intended to block the absorption of fat you eat, is going to be over-the-counter pretty soon. Has anyone taken it? Did it work? Would you take it? I'm wondering if it would help us bandsters.

Is there anything better then pan roasted garlic ? you bet, MORE pan roasted garlic. well before being banded i could eat a pound of the good stuff, now not so much. yesterday i ate only a few small cloves of this tasty treat. and last night found that it now creates a very big problem. it was never a problem in the past but now,,,, :bananapowerslide: :painkiller: even the dogs didnt want around me. so just like a glass of wine or a shot of vodka, a little goes a long ways. yep its a gross topic but it is what it is.

Hi, My name is Barbara Meyer. I have a Ph.D. in Health Education and am a movement instructor/personal trainer in the Austin area. My colleague Linda Scott, a licensed professional counselor, and I have been working with women with body image and compulsive eating issues for over 20 years. We would like to invite you to join us for a free introductory session for women who have had weight loss surgery up to two years ago. The focus of the session will be to explore what would support you on your journey to well being. Attend a free session to share your experience. Inform the creation of an aftercare program to support you in finding joy and ease as you attune to…

Monday is D-Day (or B-Day) for me and I'm trying to find the list of things one should considering having on hand. Can anyone direct me to it or give me some keywords to search (that work better than the feeble ones I've been using, "surgery" and "list"). Thanks!

Every since my third fill which put me up to 2.5cc I can not eat breakfast, Is this normal. I can eat lunch and dinner. All my food tends to get stuck in the morning or my chest hurts.

IMPORTANT........ I was reading around in the INAMED web-site and found out about a new Lap-Band, it called the Lap-Band VG... http://www.inamed.com/products/obesity/us/clinician/lapband/prodinfo.html#VG

Hi Everyone, I kinda disappeared for a while. I moved house, opened a new office for my company and went on a couple of business trips. Things have been well since my plastic surgery in August last year, but I still dont have good restriction since they emptied my band during surgery and the refill process has been slow (mostly my fault) I plan on getting a fill in February to help me make it to my final destination. I gained some weight when I quit smoking last year and since then have not been able to get to my lowest weight. Still wearing the same clothes, but they are noticeably tighter. So I am hoping a fill will jumpstart my weight loss again. Well, lots of pe…

Hi, I just got back from a support group at the local hospital. Come to find out, this Hospital doesn NOT do lapbands so everyone at the meeting were bypass people. I have had two really bad episodes in 5 days with food and I have only been banded for three weeks. My body knows I shouldn't eat this stuff and my brain stays it is ok. I want to stop praying before the "porceline" goddess"..... MY TOILET! I left the meeting feeling really alone and crying all the way home. I know this is stupid, but they didn't treat me very well at this support meeting. Thanks for being there ..:faint:

Hey Everyone... I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the new year.... A while back I had made my next goal....I had met my earlier goal...(250 lbs :rolleyes )....So I decided that My next goal would be 2 things...I want to be about 225lb by my Birthday...(March 28th)...and to get into this "certain" outfit... Well the weight is not moving as fast as I would like...BUT... the other night my SIL was at the house...We were going thru a bunch of her clothes (she is losing weight also) And we come acrost some that she still wasn't quite in yet...I was telling her that this one outfit should be her GOAL OUTFIT....So I told her that I would show her my GOAL OUTFIT.…

This week I've had real trouble with getting stuck. I've not really had much experience with it except for occassionally eating too fast in the mornings. But monday night I tried to eat some hamburger helper (which I didn't want, but I was too tired to fix me a seperate dinner) I ate about 1/4 of a cup. Got stuck...but then it wouldn't go away, I kept slimming and I ended up throwing it up. Not just a little, but like all. I still have the spots on my face from where this happened. Then just a little while ago I was eating a chicken kabob with onions and peppers. It wasn't dry, and seemed to be working fine. Then I got stuck. I though...well just stop eatting.…

Does anyone ever use the chatrooms?

Dr. Curry is trying out a new ultrasound instrument and said that for the next two weeks he would do fills on anyone. Whether they were banded in Mexico or the USA. He has a message posted on the Ohio forum on OH.

Hello, I have been lurking again...I know...I was chastized for just lurking, but I had been busy, went on vacation, gained only 2 pounds from it(did a lot of walking) came back and was banded on the 24th. I am back down again and feeling ok physically. Just going nuts because I am on liquids until my post-op appointment on the 14th. Anyway, I thought I had read on a forum(may have been this one) that Inamed has cards to give out to Bandsters to carry...is this true? My surgeon wasn't aware of this, but they are bigger on doing RNYs. Thanks! Kristine

I had my first NSV today. My fiance and I made love, and I was in a position that, was, well, doggy-style. He said "wow! I can really tell you've lost weight when you're in this position!" So, at least from one angle, I can tell this is working

Hi Everyone, I want to say thank you to everyone - with here & smartbandsters - you have all so helped me with my decision to go forward. I have my date - 2-15-06 !! It will be with Dr. Simpson in Phoenix. I am a self pay. So - hope all goes well. The procedure is done as an outpatient - with the opportunity to stay overnight if needed. We live in Tucson - about 100 miles away - so we will be spending the night in Phoenix, even if I do not stay at the hospital. So - what should I expect that day & the next few days?? Thanks Diane 278/???/150

I think it would be neat to have like a everyday person to check in with about failures, and improvements. Also to get tips from. What does other members think? Maybe through email. And later in a month or so come back and post the success the two have done together.

Just got a call from my plastic surgeon's office. He's agreed to do both the tummy tuck and breast reduction at the same time. He had previously said no, as it will be alot of pain/healing, but when I explained that a) my parents are visiting and will be able to help around the house and I'd rather get the pain over with in one go, he agreed to do it. So I go in on 10 March for my final consult with him, then the surgery is on 03 April. Already starting to get the jitters lol, as I did preband about not waking up from surgery .. but that's normal *shrugs* I'll make sure to take several full body shots before hand this time, so that I can do a proper before and aft…

Its vent time, Well I finally found the group of dr's. that I want to get to do my lapband surgery, they are in Covington, LA, the name of the center is Surgical Specialists of Lousiana, Southern Bariatric Associates. I will be paying cash for the surgery 12,900.00 and my insurance will significantly benefit from this transaction that I will be paying for. Just think about the money they will save in the long run, I won't be a diabetic anymore, my chances to get cancer are WAY lower, heart attack and stroke will be superduper lower. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying for the surgery as this will help me live a longer, better life and will make life better in gener…

Wondering if anyone on here had Pleurisy Post Op?

I was banded last August, and since then, whilst I've lost some weight, but most of it was due to a well-disciplined diet. I could pretty-much eat what I wanted, as my frown sincerely points out here - However... Since my second fill, I can now see what the fuss is about. I little bit of meat, and a bit of veg, and I'm stuffed to the brim. I'm no longer cynical about my band. Anyone who is still waiting to get a decent restriction - believe me, when you do, it will be worth the wait. Time for a smilie, here - :bananapowerslide:

I may be a little slow, but I can't figure out how you all get those cute funny faces from? I have searched & searched this entire forum & can't find them. Also, how do you underline or make different fonts & colors?!? Have I completely lost it? Please tell me there are others out there who don't know how to do this either. Help!!!

had surgery about a year ago had 2 have it corrected in nov so they sd i hd scar tissue over portal so i cld nt keep anything down hv hd only 1 fill since & i sometimes i can eat sometimes i cant especially if i go out 2 eat. i need to know if this is common or uncommon plz help....i hv lost about 63 lbs so far & i am at a standstill...

I am interested in getting banded in Mexico, but can't seem to locate a doctor to do the fills. I live near Windsor but am willing to go to Toronto if necessary or even to Detroit. Any input is greatly appreciated.