LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

HI all, i was just wondering how i might be able to prepare for surgery should have amy date in a week, im very nervous ( understatement) and i was wondering if there are certain vitamins ( chewable) certain meds or anything i should have before surgery and what kind of protein without dairy could i get? im really starting to freak out now that the office told me i was submitted and should have an answer in a week or 2. its getting closer and becoming more real. thanks Roger-fl.

Hi everyone, just wanted to update, my date has been changed to the 28th.

my surgery date is aproaching and i'm a little worried about something. lipomas are little fatty tumors, they're begnine (sp?), and nothing to worry about but they can get bigger. i happen to have one right under where my left breast meets my ribs on the left side and i'm wonderin how close to the band that would be and if it's going to cause any problems during surgery. i'd hate to wake up and not be banded because of it. i've had two dr's palpate it and a friend who is an ultrasound tech scanned it and it is just fatty tissue BUT do you think it could be a problem during banding? it feels like it's about the size of a fifty cent piece, it's gotten bigger, especially sin…

I got another fill last week, so I'm now at 1.5cc's. I think this is wonderful restriction for me as I can only eat 3/4-1 cup at a time, pretty much all times of the day. I can eat ANYTHING without any troubles. I've never gotten "stuck" or PBd or vomited. When's the other shoe going to drop here? Good restriction; losing weight; no PBs - Is it going to always be this way? Was it like this for you? When are all these band problems going to start? Don't get me wrong. I'm so thankful to have it this way, but I'm anxious to know if the honeymoon will end.

Hello Girls (and guys) I am excited/nervous about my upcoming surgery. But ~ I have lost the support of my friends because another of our crew had a gastric bypass procedure mid-October. She was in the hospital for almost two weeks with every complication known to this type of surgery - leaking, dissection of the pouch and intestine, latex and penicillin allergies (no one knew), had an asthma attack, ended up with sepsis(sp?), then went into heart and kidney failure. She passed away two days before Halloween. It has only been a couple of weeks, so I am very sad and worried about the reaction of others (lots of talking about vanity issues, is it worth leaving family and …

I had an interesting day yesterday with some confusion by the office staff at my doctors office. Needed to go in for a slight "unfill". They called me right before one and asked me to be there at one (40 minute drive). Then they called at 3 to get me in at 3:45 when the doctor was to be back in the office from surgery. Well I made the trip and when I got there was told he had just gone into surgery at 3:30, another missed communication. Won't go on with the blow by blow, but at 5:30 I finally saw the doctor. The doctor took full blame and aplogized, I had another place for the blame. At anyrate I get home today from work and I have flowers that have been sent by…

Hello all. Me again with another annoying question I am not banded yet... still researching. I was wondering if I could also benefit from Protein shakes?? I am up to 33 lbs lost since 5/31/05 and am pretty siked with that! Will adding more protein to my diet help? Or is that something that is more beneficial for someone after being banded? Oh... and since I have your attention... what is a good protein supplement to start on? Thanks! :)

Hi, I noticed that a lot of people have problem with bread. Obviously it's mushie and sticky so i can understand a problem, but what about a sandwich wrap. Has anyone had a problem with a wrap? Just curious, just started my mushies phase but daydreaming about regular food:) Janet

Okay... its a sensitive subject. I started on my liquid diet Saturday.. 4 days ago. I have had nothing to chew, only things that I could put through a straw. I have not had a bm since Friday. Is that normal? Is it because there is not solid waste? I have been peeing like a waterfall, but thats it. Sorry for the content. I cant be the only one.

I would like to challenge everyone to think about weight differently. Not in pounds and kg, but something different, some other measurement of weight. This is the site I used for weight conversions, and I find it facinating. (but I'm a geek, so there you go) http://www.onlineconversion.com/weight_all.htm What got me thinking about this was a converstaion on the official Turtle thread, Slow Losers Unite. We were talking about how easy it is to discount NSVs because they are not a socitial approved measure of success, like pound on the scale are. But pounds are just as arbirary a unit of measure as kegs and stones and Kg and firkins and pfunds and atomic mass. They are …

I started doing something that has really worked & helped me in my weight loss battle. (Besides this band of course!) I am not a good calorie counter. I have too much to do & it seems like stopping to count every little nibble I took was overwhelming. But, I have been at a plateau recently & knew that I HAD to take an inventory of what was going in my mouth. I made up a chart of meals that I like & they already have the calories counted out for me. For instance, One day I drink a Protein Shake for Breakfast & then a Wendy's Chili & ceasar salad for lunch. I already caculated exactly how many calories, Protein, carbohydrates etc. is in t…

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I'll be getting my 1st fill on friday the 18th. I'm not worried about the needle but I am worried about being to tight and throwing up, any suggestions?

I'm asking for a friend of mine who doesn't have internet access. She was banded in Mexico and is looking for a fill doctor in Buffalo N.Y. Does anyone know of any doctors in Buffalo that will fill a patient banded in Mexico? Thanks ! Tricia

Here is a new link to Jessica O's story for those that have been following her sad story with her GBS. I couldn't get the other link to work. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=O1024075523

Hello, I'm getting a surgery date on Nov. 2nd & I've decided not to tell anyone, except my husband, that I am getting the band. I came to this decision because of the negative people I have in my life. I needed a babysitter when I went for my psych. eval & then again when I met with the nutritionist. I told my friends/family that I was seeing a nutritionist to help me with weight loss. Had I known that this would cause negative responses I would have just shut my mouth. I heard things like "You were thin when you were younger, you already know how to lose weight"., "All you need to do is eat less & exercise"., "How many times are you going to try losing weight…

Im pretty new here no date set so far i have gotten the paper work from my dr went to the seminar my dr did ekg blood work chest xray i have my surgen appt shedulaed for dec 2nd ! what are the main questions that the physiatrist asks? im a very sensitive person and can start crying at the drop of a hat ! im afriad i might say something wrong and then i will be given a sorry wrong answers ! any help ? any suggestions? Michelle

Hello. I was banded on the 7th of november and I am feeling so down tonight. I had my post-op appoinment yesterday and they remove all of my staples...thank goodness!!!!! I forgot to ask what size band the doctor ended up using with me and don't go back for a month. I am wondering about some things..... My doctor had me on liquids and then mushy foods by the 5th day. At my appoinment yesterday he said i could move to the soft phase which is anything you can mush with your fork including chicken, In two weeks, he said I could have whatever I want (within reason), including beef and hard fruits and veggies. Is this normal? Also, after the first three days beyond surger…

Near my port is absolutley killing me. It looks fine does not feel hot. Anyone experience this? This just started 2 days ago. I have called my dr who said to alt ice/heat. It is so bad it hurts to walk.

Can anybody give me some honest appraisals of Dr. Spiegel in Houston. I'm scheduled to be banded next month. I know Bobalooey had him and had one of his nipples "nicked" during surgery, but other than that he thought highly of Spiegel (Bobalooey, if you are reading this, please come out of hiding and respond). Any other opinions would be appreciated, I'm starting to load my shorts over the thought of having this procedure done and any words of reassurance would help right now.

- 48 lbs!!

I am a little (to say the least) surprised and confused by some lab results I recieved in yesterdays mail. I had my annual physical in mid October. I went in last week to have my blood drawn for some routine testing-blood sugar, electrolytes, cholesterol & the like. These lab tests were set up for me at the time of my initial appoinment--I forgot until I got a phone call that said I hadn't taken care of my labs. Got the results back yesterday and was floored. My blood sugar is fine, however my cholesterol has gone through the roof. Combined number is 221!!! I had my physical last year and if I remember correctly, I was at about 180. The Doctor made a not…

Has anyone felt any different while on your cycle with the band. I have heard some people say their band feels tighter and am wonder if this is true.

1. After I eat I have a tight pain in my chest right below my left breast. It just feels really tight and I don't know how to make it go away? Is this restriction or did I eat too much? 2. I was banded on the 9th, when can me and hubby "get back to business"? I asked the pre-op nurse, but she never got back with me... Thanks!

Do any of you regret having a Vanguard band? I go back and forth. When I first found out that my dr. had had given me the VG band I was surprised and a little disappointed. But then I heard good things about less erosion, yada, yada, yada. I'm at 9.5 cc's and am now just starting to have restriction. Just wondering if I had it to over again if I would ask to be fitted with a smaller band. Not that I don't think my dr. did a great job just wondering if I would be losing a little faster if I had a smaller band. What's your thoughs?? Are you happy with your VG band? Is it hard for you to get restriction? Don't get me wrong, I'm VERY happy to be banded. And …

The first time I heard about lapband surgery was from a dear sweet lady named Theresa passing through my life--leaving behind in her wake--a hope that things could change for me. I did look up the surgery then--but my insurance didn't cover any part of it--and self pay in this area was so high--it was unthinkable for me--even with the changes I now know it brings. So--a few months later--I was on the path to gastric bypass--which my insurance does cover--ever more nervous and getting more frightened as I heard first one then many side affects/risks--which I had to decide if I was willing to take for the drastic change I needed to make in my life if I wa…

I have researched the three closest sites to getting banded in my area (and excluding my area because of their lack of experience). I have talked to Portland; Utah and Seattle. Utah is the closest for me, about a 5-hr drive, very quick by air. My insurance Medicare is covering the gastric bypass at this point and not the lap band as I was originally told. (good thing I found out). Medicare will be covering the banding by Feb 2006. I got this info from all three offices in no direct correlation with each other. OK, should I wait until it is paid for; should I go to Mexico and pay; should I suck up the huge expense and not wait till Feb. From my perspective the wait…

with or without clothes? With or without shoes? Just wondering what the norm is around here lol.

I had my surgery yesterday and feel like I am recovering well! I spent the night at the hospital for insurance reasons and actually glad that I had to. Gave me time to meet another bandster that had her surgery a few hours before mine. We had a long chat at 12:30 am and took laps around the ward. Was out of the hospital by 9 am (at my request) this morning. Now I am experiencing the "fun" gas pains that I have read so much about. Other than a little incision discomfort, I feel really good. I plan to go to work tomorrow night for a 1/2 shift - I sit on my duff answering customer service calls. Looking forward to getting on full liquids in the morning!

Hi everybody: I have been a member of this site for a while and have been getting all of the info that I can. I am having my surgery in January and I am so excited! I think I am even more excited now that I have read everybody's posts. I have gotten so much good advice and information here. I hope that I can get to know everybody a little better. Heres to better health! and I hope to talk to you soon.

Does anyone know what the purpose of the liquid diet is before surgery? Why couldn't you eat high protein, low cal, low fat, low carb and low sugar diet instead of having to be limited to just liquids? Schel

Hi all, I just had my lap band op on tues and now i'm regretting my decision. Everytime i drink sometime my stomach starts to cramp and it will cramp up to hours. I'm getting very depressed over it and has regretted my decision to have the operation. I was b4 healthy 23 yr old but now i have no energy to even talk on the phone. Though i dun have and vomiting episode but i can feel that my body is rejectin the band. I cant walk or sleep properly the last few days and medication does not help at all.I cant tolerate the liquid diet at all. I talked to my doctor abt removing the band but he said i just had and op and cant go thru another 1 so soon. Has anyone been thru…

I had some baked chicken with ranch dressing and at first thought I was just going to have to deal with a PB....but NO....I ended up vomiting for the 1st time since being banded. Ugh!! I never want to experience that again. I think I'll make some chicken salad and try that next time.

I know this may sound nuts, but I was just fine prior to my first slime/PB on Sunday...then Monday morning woke up feeling yucky and now I am stuffed up and have a sore throat. Could there be a corrolatation between sliming/Pbing and this "cold"?!!

I have done my seminair my 18 mo supervised diet and all the other hoops. My insurance I called 5 times to verify coverage and read it in my handbook. I had my pre op with the dr and they told me they were sending stuff in that day and that was the 14th I think. I called my insurance a week later they didnt have I called Dr they said oh we are sending it today. I called a week later again insurance didnt have it. SO I called the Dr they said we sent it today-- I was getting a little frustrated but I thought "just be patient" So I called yesterday to find out if I am approved and they said I am denied that dh work put an exclusion on it as of NOV 1 they day they rece…

I completely understand the reason behind limiting/eliminating regular sodas and beer because of the sugars and calories. I also understand that pounding back anything that is carbonated will cause some MAJOR undesirable side effects What I want to know is can you slowly work on a diet soda, a beer, or some other type of carbonated drink w/o these undesirable side effects? Is it an Urban Legend that drinking these will damage the band? I don't drink regular soda, but I will admit I have been known to indulge in a brew or two. I can and will live w/o if necessary. If even attempting to drink a fizzy drink is going to make me feel like I am passing a kidney stone or some o…

I was only banded 9 days ago so it will be a while before my first fill , but I have been reliving the two conversations I have had with my doctor about it and I need some advice. I am totally needle-phobic. Tiny needles don't bug me at all, but big needles do, and especially needles that have to stay inside you for more than a second. My biggest fear when I had my son last year via C-Section was not the C-Section, but the IV and epidural. The epidural turned out to be fine (awesome, in fact because I had already been in labor for 10 hours) because the doctor gave me 3 or 4 little lidocaine shots first and never let me see the epidural needle. The IV, on the other hand,…

I'm in Conway and had my band done on 7/1/05! 18 lbs gone so far.

I am happy to report that I was able to have Olive Garden!! Woohoo!! My husband and I work together and he wanted the salad and breadsticks and I wanted the soup for lunch yesterday. I had the Pasta Fagioli and it was great!! It stayed down and was very filling. I am very aware of my fill and take my time. I guess I chew my food very well because I ate the take-out size bowl which is actually a 16oz. size container but not filled to the top. Is that good or bad?? And I ordered 2 soups so I could have some for today and I have noticed that eating it today that I am filling up a little sooner than yesterday. Now I know that is a good sign. I miss the breadsticks but my thi…

Just wanted to tell all of you that I have appreciated all the info that I have gleaned over the past 2 years. This is a great website! I finally have a surgery date for Nov. 16th with Dr Speigal and will be having surgery in Houston at Twelve Oaks.

I am back at work after my banding on the 9th! WOW!!! What a week it has been. Just reading over some of the recent posts, I am glad to find out why I have been crying over everything I see on TV. Oprah had me crying all week. I feel like a million bucks! I have already in one week lost 17 pounds!!!!!!!!! I am doing the BIGGEST happy dance in the world. We are going out for Mexican food on Sunday for my dad's bday... I am on the mushie stage... what do you guys suggest I eat? Thanks!!!

I have some diet pills I have not had a chance to take before I had my surgery; and I was wondering would it be ok to take a half of one to curve my appetite a little more to help with the weight loss process?

Hi I'm new to the group. I had my surgery in Oct 2004. I was given the 11cc Vanguard band. Even with 10cc of fills I can still eat just about anything. My surgeon told me today that the band may be too big and I should have the band removed and the smaller band put in its place. Anyone else ever have this situation?? Thanks, Cathy

Trying to get info on doctors in Oregon that do fills for surgeries done in Mexico. Looking into Dr. Kuri doing my surgery in January 06.

Hey guys, I'm pretty new here on LapBandTalk and have not been banded yet. I looked deep into the lap band, into the problem sides as well as the good sides and I decided to do it. I found a place where I will have it done. I found the doctor. I found out if my insurance will cover it. I called the place where I will get it done and they told me that I have to go get a psych evaluation and some blood work. I got the paperwork all ready and for some reason it's just sitting here in my room. I think about it every day and I think about the lap band daily but yet I haven't seen a doctor yet. What is wrong with me? I'm not afraid of surgery. I'm not afraid of the possib…

I am probably going to ramble a little. Over a year ago I attended a seminar with Dr. Duckett in Maumee. Paramont is my insurance. Dr. Duckett's office said they were in the process of signing a contract with Paramont for lapband. I was told to keep calling the Dr's office as they expected to sign soon. Finally in Sept. they reportedly signed and Paramount will now pay for lapband through Dr. Duckett.....they neglected to say that only 25% of the company policies will cover with 75% not covering even if it is a Paramont covered service. Additionally, NOBODY seems to know that Paramont will cover the surgery as long as it is not excluded from your employer policy. O…

Hey if anyone is having a bad day and you need a little pick me up then go to this site and get these MP3 downloads. In St. Louis we have a morning show called MJ in the Morning. MJ is awesome and does these awesome Crotchety calls. He GUARANTEES you'll like these! I love them and if im having a bad day i listen to them. Check it out. RadioMJ

I'm scheduled for Friday and kind of freaking out. I'm so scared, it's like what if i regret it, what if i get depressed, what if i never feel healthy again. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I hate this feeling.

Here is a sggestion on how to make this board even more valuable than it already is. In the Insurance forum, can we have a list with members who paid for the surgery through their insurance with the date, the insurance, their BMI submitted to the insurance and any comorbidities? kind of like how obesityhelp does it? I didn't know who to direct this to. Just a suggestion thought it might be helpful.

I have searched high and low here in Dallas and cannot find liquid Gas X to save my life. I even checked online drugstores and found nothing. Is it a liqiud that the Gas X brand makes or is it just that type of thing. My surgery is on Wednesday and I would like to be prepared. I live in Dallas, Texas if anyone has any thoughts. Thanks!