LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Just an update to let you all know, my EGD was uneventful and there are no signs of erosion, no esophageal dilitation, the esophagitis seems better and I had 3cc fill replaced, so I'm back on the road again. Thank goodness. Thanks for all your well wishes and support. Now to nurse this sore throat... fun, fun, fun..

Hello, My sister and I just were banded about a week ago. We are doing good so far, but we are having shoulder pain (from the gas I presume). I have heard that we are not suppose to take aleve or iburophen, but would it really hurt? I mean if we didn't tak eit all the time just every once in a while? Also can anyone suggest anything for us, tyllenol has just never seemed to work for either of us. I am a person who depends on aleve during that time of the month. I really need a solution before that time. Thank You Gretch :help:

How long did you wait before you went back to caffeine?! I was told only decaf coffee/tea pre and post op, but have yet to find out when I can go back to leaded. I know it's a stomach irritant, but ... I live in the Seattle area (aka latteland) and I work graveyard - hello, I need my caffeine!!!

Maybe not so much advice but opinions. I was banded on November 26th, I feel great and am still losing an average of 1-2 lbs a week. I am scheduled for a fill on the 16th of this month BUT, if im still losing and still feel restriction, (which is a different subject becuse I was told if I dont have a fill I shuldn't have restriction) BUT I DO!! Anyways, should I have a fill if im still doing just fine for weight loss? Or will it eventually catch up and be hard to get on track as far as fills and weight loss, im afraid that if I get a fill I will have a harder time eating then I already do,AND mostly why spend the money now for a fill if im still losing weight, right. Al…

I sent my paperwork in at the beginning of the month and got the call two days ago and they gave me a surgery date of Jan 26th. post op seminar was last night Wed 18th apt with dr. Thur 26th surgery. I am nervous about slipping because I have a weak stomach and vomit easily. And last night it hit me that when I am 75 I will still have the lap ban. I wonder how many surgerys I will have to have in the next 50+ years to correct slipping. jen

Hi, I don't post very often.....actually it has been a very long time. I do get on line occassional to see what is going on though. I have been banded since June 30, 2003. I am at 2.8 cc. This last fill has been very tight (October). At first I was vomiting every day. food would go down fine and in about 30 minutes it would decide it did not want to stay. That had seemed to stop, but in the last week it seems to have started up again. My theory is that I have alot of sinus drainage and that is filling up the pouch and there is not enough room for the food too. I never seem to know what food to eat either...pork and beef (steak) are definitely bad, I do not eat…

Hello All, I didn't see a Health thread or anything close so I hope I'm posting this to the right one. I have a question regarding Iron supplements. When I had my first fasting bloodwork with the bariatric center it came back with a few things funky so they sent it to my PCP. My PCP hauled me in and told me my iron was low and she wanted me to take an iron supplement. A slow release one such as SlowFe. So here is my question.....I wasn't taking vitamins when my bloodwork was done and I've taken them since. The vitamins (Flintstones chewables) has 15mg of iron...well...do I still take the supplement? If I remember right...my PCP said the iron levels have a wide range from…

Anyone in Houston attending the H3 Wellnesss support group on Nov 12th??? :alien

Let me start by saying I was banded on 9-15-03 by Dr. Spivak here in Houston. Anyone with an upcoming date with Dr. Spivak, don't worry your in the best hands! I started at 241 and now a little over 2 years later, I was down to 195. Not great I know...and I have been too restricted since October, I finally made myself go into today to have some fluid removed. I am at 203.5 today in Dr. Spivak's office, I had managed to gain almost 10 pounds. And what is really bad, I was keeping next to nothing down. This is bad, very bad I know this. So of course they removed all the fluid from my band for my stomach to rest. I had been through this once before last year. And had my fl…

With Me The Fat Fairie tricked me she told me she'd be My friend My family My love so sweet.... The Fat Fairie she left me with all of her lies... Wear black, Wear heels, Wear no stripes to the side. The Fat Fairie she's sly... She's living rent free. She built an addition... She's living with me. Don't Feel Sorry For Me Don't feel sorry for me. Don't look my way and think to yourself "She's so pretty...if only she could lose some weight". I know it's a touchy subject but I don't care. I am full of life and love to share. Maybe it's my private shield, usually people don't enter who are not for real. S…

Ok I visited my PCP today, and she updated my Letter of medical necessity, she signed my (so far) 2months of doctor supervised diet, I also have my phyc eval letter, my medical nec. letter from podiatrist, my medical clearance from cardiologist, and diet history. And I nice little 2 page letter from ME. Pray that it be enough for Aetna to approve. Thanks for listening....

hi there I am new here. I am looking into this surgery, I am in Utah county and I would love ANY info that you have from Doctors - how much it costs. Also what is the reason for having to keep getting fills?? Thanks.

Hi everyone! I am so excited that I will be getting banded soon! I have never felt more sure of a decision that I have made...except when I married my hubby! The one thing I want to make sure that I do is to prepare. 1)What things did you all do to prepare and work through your first few weeks banded? 2) What things do you wish you would have done to prepare? 3)What has been the hardest part of being banded for you? Thanks for your honest answers! I want to be totally prepared!

With all the debating over gastric bypass vs. the Band, I still don't understand the difference between roux en y (sp?) vs Duodenal switch. Which one of these causes some people to battle severe odor? Why does one have a pouch but the other doesn't, and which is which? I'm suddenly facisnated with the gastric bypass and must have info!

Hi everyone. I was banded on 12/26. Did well until 4 days post-op when I had severe nausea and dehydration. I was hospitilized 4 nights with IV fluids and given steriods. My surgeon felt the nausea was due to swelling. Anyway I felt fine until this Saturday when I started on mushies and ate some potato soup from Chili's. It had a little cheese and a few bacon bits which I know I should have not eaten, but I chewed very well. Then I took a few bites of pasta which I chewed very well. Ever since then I fill like something is stuck in my esophagus. I can drink liquids without problem and eats mushies (soup,yogurt, etc) but I have a pain in my left upper chest that f…

i have a french lapband called bioring and it is really only used in europe and i have just been told by doctor gonzalas in winstom-salem he won't fill me as he has had no training with that band, i am so dissapoited you would not believe as up to now he is the only lap-band doctor near to me here in fayetteville nc that fills patients from other doctors, i had my lapband done in belguim and to get my fill done there is not possible. oh my god where now i have been a year now without a fill and just so depressed about being in limbo. i am in tears right now feeling very sad

I just dont get it, ever since August 26, 2005 (my band date) I have been doing great, my knees havent hurt, and my wrists and shoulders and TMJ havent been bothering me as much. During Christmas I had gotten down to 209, my knees and wrists starting hurting again yesterday....now I have missed 2 days of school since last Tuesday! I just dont get it, AND!!! Ive gained like 4 or 5 lbs without any changes to my eating (Im not eating any more than I was, in fact Im eating less). Im soooooo discouraged right now, I thought I was fixed (well kinda) I knew that a fall or extreme activity could push me over the edge, but I havent done anything but start school after 2 weeks …

Here is where I will make promises and keep them. The other day I promised I would Iron and by golly, I did! The ironing is caught up, and I did it at midnight because I said I would and I did. I also promised I would have my desk cleaned by Sunday. I won't promise what the floor will look like, but the desk will be in order. Here are other projects to be done: Hang the pictures from Christmas Hang the bed canopy in DDs room (DONE!) Clean the attic Put away the Christmas decorations properly (DONE!) Clean the bonus room Move the bookshelves (DONE!) Move the desk and mirror (DONE!) I don't know why but if I post it here I get excited about posting th…

is it possible for your pouch to get bigger? If so how can it be fixed? I know I don't have enough restriction but am AMAZED at the amount of food I eat before I feel full. Its scarey actually.:omg:

Well, tomorrow is the day for me. I go in to Dr. Benevides tomorrow morning at 9:30. I'm off to try and sleep tonight - although a little nervous/excited! Have gas-x and popsicles ready thanks to a couple of you out there! The doctor said he was going to try and use a small band on me because it had a smaller port and would keep it from showing when I lost weight (I'm really short AND short waisted). He wouldn't know if he would be able to use the smaller band until he got in there and looked around though. Anyone know the difference between "small" and "large" bands besides the smaller port? Anyway - wish me luck! Thanks again for all the info shared on this s…

YEAH! Well, after this long battle, Dr. Lopez's wonderful staff got all of my insurance information transferred and I'm scheduled for surgery on Wednesday January 18th! I'm so excited! Again! lol! Just wanted everyone to know the good news! Hugs, Sherry

I'm sort of sad today... I just found out that I didn't get the job I really thought I'd get:think The "other guy" got it. I really like the job I have now though so I'm sort of ok with it. This job was in the same division but a different department than I currently work in. Right now I do web design, which I love, but this job was designing multimedia applications for online courses which is a much better fit for me. Oh well, I guess there's always next time! Just needed to commiserate with someone.

Okay Little did I know that I would have to diet my whole life....I thought that Weight Loss Surgery was my way out.. sorta speak... Okay the band is GREAT I am not complaining... even though I have had problems... But hear me out... We diet over and over again... and what.. we get the band.. and then what it cures us??? I dont get it... are we all afraid of what we will do to our bands, and that if we "eat right" Its like we will be ok... its like a life long diet anyway... Why cant we do this all along.... The Band Helps us control how much we eat.. but still we can eat junk and junk and more junk... we need to learn to eat right and in the right amount..... Well it…

:omg: I need my fill NOW! Not on the 26th! I had Olive Garden for lunch and it is killing me!!! No breadsticks...but I did have the potato Soup and a grilled chicken caesar salad. I am still munching on the salad but this is killing me!!! And I am craving all the bad stuff:decision:....but I did get a new pair of Nike's and got on the elliptical machine last night so the guilt isn't that bad...but the cravings are!!! AAAAAGGGHH!!!:omg: Sorry...had to BF! (***bitch fit***)

Looks like my bad eating habit (binge eating) is not going away. After 3-month great weight loss progress post lap-band surgery, I'm gaining my weight back. I've lost 16 kilo post surgery,only to gain 3 back in the past couple of months. I'm losing my motivation and my focus. I can't seem to focus on mindful eating-chew slowly, drink slowly, choose the nutritious food. I still crave all the bad stuffs, consume too much sugar, carbo. I still eat a lot at night (night after night) to fulfill something that's missing in my life. Many nights I puked the thing I've eaten and just to eat more afterwards because I was starving. This is awful. I think my band has either sli…

I was curious if anyone else was at their sweet spot, but then seem to lose it. I currently have 2.75 cc in a 4cc band. I hit my sweet spot in May 05 with my 3rd fill and had another fill in July 05. The July 05 fill was too much and had that fill taken out during x-ray drinking barium (fluro?) due to lots of acid reflux. After the last fill was removed i could tell it was loser than i prefered, but i was able to lose weight so i stuck with it. My last fill brought me to 2.75cc was on 12/8 and i was really looking forward to restriction, but never got the restriction. After the 12/8 fill i could feel liquid gurgle through which is usually a sign of restriction, but…

How much is the procedure in Mississippi? Does anyone recommend a particular surgeon here? How do I find out if my insurance covers it? After consultation, how soon can I expect procedure? When will I start seeing results? I am in poor health due to weight and extremely depressed. I feel that this is my last resort. I need my life back.

my gi doc says I need one... is it safe?

I am off to attend our monthly lab band meeting and I was wondering if any of you also attend these type of meetings held by your Dr.'s offices. I love this group but let me tell you if it wasn't for this site - I don't know what I would do. I need much more than just a monthly meeting. Just wondering if any of you go to these meetings also? Nancy

I know, I know, I got myself all psyched up and made my appointment to get rebanded January 19th. Now I am having SERIOUS thoughts about cancelling it. Between the problems I had last summer, then my sister got in trouble recently but thankfully it was corrected with an unfill by Dr. Martinez. Then all the erosions being reported here on LBT... I know the band is a wonderful tool, but I'm wondering if I'm just too emotional (plus the fact that I'm at the change of life age). Both my sister and I struggled with eating when we would get tired, stressed or emotional at all and our band would basically put a tourniquet on our stomaches. I also am afraid of going more …

I am a newbie, I have been scheduled for surgery on 2-9. Any help would be appreiciated. I'm thrilled but anxious. Any help on what to do until surgery would be a great help.

hi everyone, my name is peggy and i live in chandler. i dont have a banding date scheduled yet, im still in the authorization process. but, both my husband and i are going to have this done we are hoping sometime in february. im so glad i found this site. i know there will be lots of encouragement and information here. we will be going to scottsdale barriatric to have this done. im really excited but still looking for lots of info. anyway, just wanted to say hi.

Hey all!!! Well I made it through. I came home from the hospital yesterday and other than the gas pain I must say I'm surviving. My back has been very sore and I actually took a shower and feel pretty good now. Thanks for all of your support and KARE, I got the CD and I am totally looking forward to it!!!! Thanks guys, Kim:D

Last night at my support meeting I found out that one of "lap sisters" had labs done at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. I am nearly 5 months out and have been in for fills, but no one at my doctor's office mentioned or scheduled any lab work for me. Did you all have post-op lab work done?

For those of you have had, or are looking into band removal. Can you please provide me with information about surgeons/pricing? I am in California, and have been quoted a cash rate of $6,500 for removal. I have heard from a select few around the country (on other boards) about how inexpensive removal can be. I am willing to travel basically anywhere within the US.

Hello, Can someone tell me if Vitaminwater is good for the band? And how much can we drink? Banded 11/08/05 286 01/08/06 255

Finally!!!!! I wonder if Inamed had anything to do with it.

Two I've tried that are so good I'll never miss the real thing: Cauliflower rice - process the edible parts of a cauliflower in the food processor till it's just crumbs (like grains of rice). Pop into a sieve, a fine metal one, prop over a saucepan of boiling Water and steam till it's tender. It tends to fall though an ordinary saucepan steamer. Use it in place of rice - with your dahl or curry/casserole or as a side dish or whatever. It tastes pretty mild and doesnt disrupt the taste of the meal, just provides the texture of rice. Zucchini Pasta - take a zucchini (courgette, whatever you guys call them), cut into long matchsticks (the lenght of the zucchini), its…

:clap2: I can't help myself but I really need to tell the world, the banster world that is !!!!!! Today marks 2 months since I had my surgery (11-10-05). I went to the doctor today to get weighed in and BAM lost 49 lbs. I can't believe it. Even my doctor is in shock. I haven't even had my first fill yet. The way everyone talks about them at first scares me anyway. I only ask myself why did I wait so long to get this done? God I feel great ! Josephine 251/202/140 someday

Went potty in regular stall, not handicapped! Those handicapped stalls are so nice and roomy. (I don't feel bad about using the handicapped stall at work, no one uses them here) :clap2:

I read in a few posts about women needing smaller rings. I said to myself that will be the last thing...Who looses weight in their fingers when there is so much else to lose other places with lots of fat on it. Well there is a method to the body losing weight. You do lose all over. More in some than others. However...to my point....I shook my wedding rings right off my finger. Who would have thought!!!:faint:

Anyone here banded at Hopkins Bayview? I am hoping to be banded by Schweitzer in March or April. I just switched insurance and am trying to get everything together to seek approval. Were you happy with the drs? What were you required to do in terms of a preop diet ??

Hi there, I got back from my three weeks vacation to Texas and Mexico on Saturday, did any one miss me? I see there are lots of new members and lots of posting going on. I am so swamped with work this week, it will take me awhile to get caught up on what's going on. Well, I am doing really good and lost some more weight on vacation. I am down to 142 and can see my final goal weight is finally approaching. I wanted to share with you all how exciting this past month has been for me. These 7-8 lbs I have lost this month have really been a defining point in my weight loss journey.. I am not fat anymore. I have been fat for so long that I never realized how good this fe…

Hi all, thanks in advance for your help with this... I'm going to Mexico for surgery late next week & was wondering what to pack and if there's anything essential I should buy that will help make the trip more bearable, in your experience...thanks!! Mikkie

I have one more NSV to report today.....I can no longer wear my wedding rings and my anniverary rings....TOO BIG!!! I am afraid they will fall off so into the drawer they will go until I am ready to have them re-sized. Hey, I just had a thought.....maybe this means I can go out and buy an "in between" wedding ring to wear while I am losing???!!!:confused:

Did your insurance also pay for the other tests and office visits? I have to see my PCP and get a referral for an upper GI and endoscopy (I think that's what it was), and I have to meet with a dietician and a social worker before I can get in the door to talk to the surgeon. Are those things usually covered? LBS is clearly medically necessary, but I don't know if those other office visits are.

I was just thinking about the foods I'm gonna have to stay away from. The no bread thing KILLS me! Those of you who are off mushies and on "regular" food, what are the things that you band just says no to?

I am confused? I just had my first fill... Is 2.7cc too much? If there is only room for 4, is 2.7 ok? I do not know what the machine is called, but the Dr. put some saline in, I drank some barium, then she put a little more in which was too much because it didn't go thru (which was so cool to see) and then she took a little out... (I thought it was neat to see the stuff going down because I guess I get paranoid that the stuff I am swallowing doesn't go where it should, but it did!) Thanks!!! Just mainly looking for others with the same experience...

on Monday (hopefully). He is going to use the same doctor I did. I hope he has the same wonderful experience I did. Everyone that used SCOR did you have a good experience? I was banded at Renissance (sp) Hospital. I have used SCOR for fills and have been happy... Please keep him in your thoughts... I have the jitters and it's not even me having the surgery.

:clap2: Happy :confused: Birthday!!