LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Its time for us to get up and move. Exercise is so important (even if I don't like to admit it). Exercise and Depression What are the Benefits of Exercise? Regular exercise has been proven to: Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression Boost self-esteem Improve sleep Exercise also has these health benefits: Strengthens the heart Makes the body better able to use oxygen Builds energy levels Lowers blood pressure Improves muscle tone and strength Strengthens and builds bones Helps reduce body fat Makes you look fit and healthy Exercise and Depression: What's the Link? Research has shown that exercise is an effective, but often underused, tre…

Happy Birthday Jessie :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana HUGS AND KISSES

and I already well enough to take 1 1/2 hr. trip to see my family. Not too shabby for a 47 year old with rheumatoid arthritis! A message to future bandsters- it's not too bad!!

I was a patient who had a lower BMI, and got a tummy tuck before my lapband surgery. ( because I had not heard of the lapband before) Well now that Im almost at my goal weight, my port sticks out and I can feel the lump on my belly. It really bothers me, even more so when your partner who doesn't know you had the surgery is starting to ask questions. Yes, I do not tell everybody about my surgery, I told him I had my gallbladder taken out. :rolleyes

Hey people! I have noticed that since I started to drink my protein shakes, I havenot lost any weight. I am able to drink a whole glass too. I am concerned that it is messing with with my weight loss. Anybody else experience this??</p> <p>

Ok, So I have been tracking myself on fitday.com for a week. I am eating 1000-1200 calories per day, but I can't get my calories burned up that high. I put in 8 hours of work, some walking around at work, I played tennis for 30 minutes, went for a 30 minute walk, did housework, and all that added up to only 780 calories burned. I am so pissed. There is only so much time in a day. Are they saying that even with my BAND I am going to have to work out 4 hours a day. I mean 1000 calories isnt that much people. i'm barely eating. I'm starting to think this band is just going to maintain me at 227 for the rest of my life and that mean I am going to be morbidly obese forever. CR…

Hi all! I'm in New Jersey, and am 235 at 5'6 and 42 years old. Asthma, fibromyalgia, high cholestral, Trigl. etc. Polycystic ovary syndrome. I am considering the Lap Band as I can't control my portions and the weight and health issues are getting worse. I would never take the risk of RNY, but getting the Lap Band is also scaring the beejebus out of me. I wanted to come to a board that would be more objective than those singing the praises of the thing (it's okay to do that too, if it warrants it! :-)) Thanks for any help you can give me. Leener

Hey all, I am on Medicare and was wondering what you paid out of pocket for your band and fills, etc. Most of it is covered, correct?

I'd like to thank my friend's and every body out there for there help! kind word's and encourgement over this last year "I have droped 115 pound's and starting to tone up! This is all due to balanced diet/exercise. THANK"S AGAIN.......JQPUBLIC. also could some please post this side by side thank's................................................................................:squareeye Have a Merry Christmas with your family and no drinking and driving, most of all god bless you

I thought this was a really great FAQ that answers a few more questions beyond the usual what is a band/how is it adjusted type of question. Also, interestingly, the doctor talks about the causes and repair of erosion, slippage, and pouch dilation. This docter says erosion has to do with the way the band is stitched to your stomach. If that's true, it might explain why erosion is more likely to happen with some surgeons than with others. Just a thought. liquids. That said, average weight loss is 50% of excess weight at 5 years. But this includes all patients, including those who have lost little or no weight. How is the Band adjusted? The Band is tightened by acce…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060102/ap_on_he_me/fit_obesity_surgery

Hello everyone!! I had my two week check-up today with the surgeon. I lost 12 pounds in 2 weeks!! YEAH!!!! I am so happy. I was hoping to loose a little more but I am not complaining!! The crappy part is that I have to stay on liquids for 1 more week. They have a strict 3 week liquid diet, then 2 weeks of mushies, then solids. So I have a new goal for the new year...20 pounds by my birthday, March 5th! Think I can do it???

I have to let you know after visiting this forum for almost a year now that I am the exception to the rule because I have not had an easy time of this whole thing. After all the waiting for my insurance and the phycological evaluation, and the nutritionist evaluation that took 3 weeks and the exersize trainer I had to pay for out of pocket(400 dollars), it took me 11 months before my surgery. I almost didn't get the band near the end because I suffer with severe migraines and I was so worried about the vomiting I do when I get a migraine that it might make the band slip or something but I worked it out with my physician and with the positive encouragement from this f…

I know someone just posted that people should essentially quit thier bitching, but I don't care if I'm bitching b/c I have EARNED that right too! I have been at basically a 10-11 week plataeu, I'm eating under 1200 calories per day, I'm tracking my everything at fitday.com, I'm exersizing 20 minutes per day (I know I need to make it more but from someone who NEVER exersized pre-band I'm doing pretty damn good. Anyways, to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you eat. I am convinced those 250 calories an Isopure shake with skim milk is what is making me maintain. I'm thru with them! I will just eat meat everyday and hope that is enough protein. Now without that …

A week late of my goal date, but i finally did it:Bunny :Bunny :Bunny btw..whoever gave me the idea to take a picture, THANKS, i'm stealing your idea LOL

im wondering if we could maybe get a thread off and running that gives advice to aussies about appropriate diet. im sure you have all had the problem of trying to work out food and recipes from american sites where you have never heard of the food, would not know where to begin to look for it and struggle with many of the measurements as well. also, we could share ideas about the good (and bad) food experiences that we have had with a view to making everyone's journey maybe just a little easier. im in the very early days right now - having my first fill in a couple of days. (banded 8/12) im really quite confused as to what i should be doing. i thought i was sup…

ok I have been trying to post all day hope this works. Wednesday I am going to stand before the appeal board and I am just curious if anyone has done this and what they will ask me, or any advice to improve my chances?? Jill

Hello everyone, Maybe it's sound dumb, but i won't two know the difference between Mid-band and the other band.

Has anyone had luck with TriCare Insurance in MA

I think its called Epilite... anyone had this done??? Im checking into it for facial hair but Im a wee bit nervous. Its a little expensive too. Just wondering if anyone has heard anything about it

Just wanted to know how the recently banded have been doing? So far I have not had a whole lot of trouble with the gas. I have been sipping on broth and Protein shakes. Still a little sore but it is slowly easing. Hope eveyone has a safe and merry Christmas. I know us newbies will be drinking our broth for Christmas dinner I just keep telling meself this is only one day and it will pass quickly. A holiday hug to eveyone Karla;-)

Doctors Debate Safety of Obesity Surgeries By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Mon Jan 2, 9:22 AM ET As more people abandon New Year's resolutions to lose weight and turn to obesity surgery, doctors are debating which type is safest and best. And researchers are uncovering some surprising trends. The most common method in the United States — gastric bypass, or stomach-stapling surgery — may be riskier than once thought. Yet surgeons still favor it for people who need to lose weight fast because of heart damage or other serious problems. A gentler approach favored in Europe and Australia — an adjustable stomach band — can give long-term results that are a…

Hello Everyone, I was banded on 20th Dec 2005 in The Ave Private Hosp Melbourne Australia - I was scheduled the month before but I changed my mind and changed my mind again. I feel great! Apart from the annoying gas and sometimes shoulder tip pain I am roaring and ready to go. My sister was banded several months ago and she has been sick every day (hence my decision to cancel) But she has now discovered she has gaustones and needs an op to remove the gaubladder. I havent felt hungry at all and forget to drink my Soup. Is it common to feel hungry? I have lost 7 kilos already! Hope you are well! cheers Alicia

How long did it take you to get through each of these steps? 1. get referral --> surgery consult 2. surgery consult --> surgery scheduled 3. surgery scheduled --> the actual operation 4. operation --> leaving the hospital 5. left hospital --> first fill (If you're self-pay or self referred, you can skip #1) I'm hoping everyone's answers will help me feel a little less frustrated. It's been about three months for me and I'm still trying to get a referral from my PCP! In the immortal words of Gwen Stefani: It's bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. http://www.ebaumsworld.com/flash/peanutbutter.html

Courtesy of my mom & safeway, I have a 10lb. turkey in my fridge. A girl can only stand so much turkey salad, care to share any recipes that doesn't have the word surprise in it?!? :laugh

Hello fellow DFW Bansters, I am looking for a support group that I can attend in the DFW area. I live in Arlington and would prefer somewhere near my area. Does anyone know where there is a support group meeting I can go to? My surgery was done by Dr. Robert Snow in Decatur but I would rather not drive over an hour to go to a meeting there. I see him in Hurst for my weigh ins and that would be so much more convenient for me to go closer to home. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Again, Josephine

Hi all, I think I've shared before that I will be banded the end of January. I've decided not to share this with my co-workers of my family (my mother's reaction when I first told her of my surgeon's appointment was 'how un-natural! why do you want to get involved with that <expletive>?' So, I am doing this for me and will keep it to myself. except for the person I've been dating for two and half years. He knows about my date and plans to drive me that day. Recently though, I shared with him that Banding (the emotion,the insurance battle, finally the decision) is THE most important thing in my life. He thought about this a few d…

Happy Birthday Kellie !! New Years Baby :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

I have some problems swallowing food. It's been happening for about 3-4 years now. I have to dirnk a lot at every meal. Meat and bread are really difficult for me. I worry that if i get the band, I will have to drink at meals to get food down but you aren't supposed to drink with meals! Anyone have any advice?

1. What's the whole fear of bloodclots thing about? I lie in bed at night for hours without developing clots. Why would you get clots from lying on the operating table for an hour? 2. Related to the FAQ I just posted in another thread: The Band stays in forever. If it is removed you will regain all the weight you lost :eek I don't get it. The band forces you to change your behavior. If you change your behavior and live the new way for ten years, wouldn't it be odd if the band was romoved and you went right back to eating the way you did in the pre-band days? I guess I thought at some point you get accustomed to life with the band and learn to master it. This makes…

I'm feeling rather discouraged with my band. I had decent restriction after surgery and did very well - lost 30 pounds in a month and a half. Then I got my first fill and ever since then I have NO restriction. I've gained at least 8 pounds and can eat anything (and everything!). My discipline is out the window. I called my doctor and the receptionist told me most people with the VG band don't have restriction until after three fills. What?????? That is contrary to everything I've heard. I suppose I have a few concerns.... First, I have to wait one month between fills, so if my second fill (scheduled for this week) doesn't provide restriction I have to wait anoth…

Hi, My name is Jessica. I was banded by Dr. Kuri Aug. of 2004. I am down 110 lbs. I now work for and schedule surgeries for Dr. Kuri, and also two wonderful plastic surgeons in Mexico. I anyone is interested and would like me to send our price list or info on a particular procedure please let me know. I also had a tummy tuck and breast lift aug done this August and it brought me from a size 10 to a size 6... Yeah. Please contact me Jessica jessesp9@comcast.net or # 503-539-3023

Those of you who got banded in Mexico, did the doctor take credit cards, or did you have to bring a cashier's check with you? When they ask you at customs whether you're there for "business or pleasure", what did you tell them? Jonathan

I am coming to San Diego this week. I have a fill in Mexico. I decided to bring the family and make it a vacation. We want to go snowboarding...do some shopping and maybe an amusement park type thing. My questions are this: Where is the nearest snowboarding place?? Can we rent the equipment we need when we get there?? Is there anything within a couple hours of San Diego that is a "don't miss" activity??? My daughter wants to shop at "Forever 21"...is there one in the San Diego area??? Thank you for helping me with this! Dana

Hi everyone. I'm starting the banding process. The message boards are a wealth of information but where else did you do your research? There is so much information out on the web and one never knows if it's all true. Does anyone have some excellent sources of information I could check out to add to my folder of information? Thank you!

Finally...my co-worker comes back to work on Tuesday after being out since October, my last fill!! I am wayyyy too tight. Soup even makes me PB. I PB an average of 4-9 times a day, depending on what I have tried to eat. No meat, fish, veggies, etc. The only thing I can keep down is Starbuck Frappachino (BTW...my birthday is coming up...all gift cards to Starbucks will never be turned down! LOL) :ermm :ermm Before anyone asks, no I haven't been doing any Protein shakes. I just don't want them. I have been watching the tickers everyone puts on. I have lost all my weight way too fast compared to everyone else. I know we all lose at our own speed, but mine is too fast. My b…

Hello All, This is my first time posting though I've been a lurker for months. I am planning to be banded in January, so still a little ways off. I have been diagnosed with Insulin Resistance and PCOS for 5 years now. I take 500mg 2x daily for the Insulin Resistance and while initially I lost 20 lbs with the meds it has since come back plus some. Its barely keeping the Diabetes away at this point, my blood sugar levels are just barely in the safe zone. Anyway I've always been told that its really hard to lose weight with these conditions and whether or not its been the power of that suggestion I have certainly had trouble doing anything but gaining over the last severa…

No matter what, there's no way Chris is gonna let me out of this house tonight. Not that I'm feeling well enough to go out, but missing New Year's Eve is like missing the birth of a child in some cultures (DeLarlaLand, for example.) So, tonight at midnight, would all my friends please raise their glasses twice and take a swig for me? Heck, go ahead and kiss a hot guy/girl/both? if you gotta. Let me know how it went, and have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I found this medical guide written by doctors for doctors, so it's very technical. There are photos of the procedure. It's hard to tell what's what -everything is pink and yellow - but it's kind of interesting. It's kind of weird to see the band it there. It really does look like a foreign object. http://thinforlife.med.nyu.edu/assets/REN%202.pdf?RCD=J53039&NAME=Christine_J._Ren

Hey everyone! Day 21, on mushy foods - fell waaaay off track during Christmas and worried that I had done some damage BUT was reasured that I, at the most, had caused some inflamation...but today (after being good for 3 days plus) had kinda pins and needles in my stomach area (solar plexus), a few sharp little pains (level 2 out of 10) that went away, and this evening have a dull ache. Have had two Protein shakes, sucked on a potato chip, 40 oz plus Water...I should be doing fine - babying the pouch, but it is complaining!?!! Should I move back into paranoia, and freak out that I really did something but no reflux, no pb, no vomiting - just a dull ache... Any feedba…

Hello, I know this sounds like a dumb question and I should be aware of this already, but I am not. When is the first fill generally. Thanks, Schel

Happy new year to one and all!!! This is the year I find myself again.... I know I am in there somewhere...:confused:

If you've been banded more than a year and haven't had your band looked at from the inside, it's time. Some of us had perfect Upper GI (barrium swallow) results even though we were eroded. My Upper GI results a few weeks ago came back normal, but I'm about 50% eroded according to the pictures taken with the endo camera yesterday. Getting a band means a lifetime of band maintenance. Even though the surgeons say erosion isn't emergent, I haven't seen a surgeon tell anyone to go on vacation with their eroded band or anything like that. I was warned to take it very easy from now till band removal. I'm to chew extra well and stick with mushies and liquids. A perforati…

Found out three weeks ago that my company is changing from Healthnet to BC california care effective (in theory) today. However, last week, our HR lady was still fooling around with the paperwork. (She told me the doctor I'd selected was no longer taking new patients. I had about 2 hours to find a new banding program I was comfortable with and find a medical group that would refer me to that program. Night. Mare.) Anyway, I'm ready to go. I want to get in to see my new PCP as soon as humanly possible. However, since the HR lady hasn't finished everything, Lord only knows how long I'll have to wait to get a membership card, number, etc. Is there anything I can do to get …

Who coined that phrase anyway? I am not Morbid!! I am fluffy, and warm, and smooshy... not morbid!!! Hate that word.:confused:

I had my surgery on 5/17/05 in Maine. I relocated out of state 7/05. As nobody would take me on ( as they state I am a liability ) I have kept my Dr. ( who I love! ). My fills are 300.00...kinda pricey compared to what I have seen. My insurance-Cigna- was not covering anything to due with weight loss surgeries but I requested we try to see if anything would be approved as they are always changing. Well, I got great news stating not only would they cover my fill scheduled for December but would also pay for my fill in August! I was beyond happy! I had my fill in December and a week later I received a call from the office that Cigna was having to do an authorization. Come t…

I know I saw on one of the boards a web site that helps you find doctor's who do fills. Now I can't find it! Why didn't I copy it when I had the chance! Does anyone know what I am talking about??

Just would like to wish my friends in Colorado and New Mex. a safe and happy holiday season.

Has anyone here been banded by Dr. de la Garza in Monterrey?

I was just banded on 12/28/05---3 days ago and I have been hungry since the day after surgery. I drink my Protein shakes, but nothing keeps my hunger down longer than 2 hours. I have been on full liquids as instructed since the surgery, but I want to cheat really bad. I really didn't expect to be this hungry after surgery- although part of it is probably just the fact that I am not ALLOWED to eat. Anyway- what is the shortest amount of time that someone has been allowed to move up to "mushies"-- (I am assuming mushies include some textures like noodles or something). I did lose 4 lbs since yesterday though- probably Water, but at least the scale is moving in the righ…