LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Hi all, My husband and I are leaving out of Port Liberty NJ today for our frist Cruise to Bermuda, it has been 7 years since our last vacation far away. I'm doing very well with my band, October 18 will be 7 months. I was suppose to get OFFICIALLY weight at the doctors on Friday 10/14 in New Haven, but with all the flooding from the Rain I was not able to get their. I'm down another possible 7, weight loss is very slow about a pound a week, but heading in the right direction. Many people have said the food is enormous on a Cruise, but I will not be able to eat much. I'm going to try and make good choices, and excercise really hard while cruising. Jamie, I want to…

Done! I always said I would be thrilled if I got below 85kg (187lbs),, Well this morning I was 84kg (185lbs) I am so happy. This is the first time in 10 years I have been this light :Bunny My next real goal is 80kg (176lbs) for my plastic surgery.. then depending on how much they take.. 75kg (165lbs) And I will be done, done, done... At goal. Boy am I close! WooHoo! I had to share with people who would understand.

I am SO glad I had this surgery, but Im losing everything that was important to me. I finally realized that my 18th b-day is coming up (on 24th) and I have NOTHING special planned. I feel like such a loser. I cant have a party because no one will come because a.)they dont know me NEmore and b.)they cant have their alcohol. I am having a family party and I am going shopping 2morro, but I do that every year. Im going to be 18 and I dont even have anyone to go out and celebrate (teenage fun) with. My ex and I (when we were dating) were going to go out to a couple of clubs and stuff, but now hes gone out of my life (by my choice). Now I feel horrible because I have not…

Hey. I know you are out there. I see you on the list at the bottom of the screen. Lets Chat! See ya there!

I have been following fitness magazines, shows, books, you name it, if it had the word fitness somewhere in it, I devoured it to see if I could find what it was that I was missing. I was convinced that there was this secret that thin people knew about and I didn't. I was sure that if I could figure out their riddles, then I too would be able to finally be thin. There's no big secret that there is a lot of conflicting and contradiction in many of the articles put out there or discussed. It seems you get different answers from different people. Okay, so I tried to sort through all of this confusion and make an intelligent choice as to who was right about the things th…

Hey everyone, i had an infection in my tummy from a previous operation 3yrs ago. it was all infected and 2 lumps appeared and was very sore anyways so i had to go in for an operation. when i woke up from the op the nurse told me that there were 3 stitches left inside me and thats why it was all infected. I freaked out and thought yuk...how disgusting. People are now telling me to go and talk to a lawyer about this but i dont know if i should as im not really that kind of person. What do you all think i should do?

Hi Shan... I just read on the General forum that you got banded on October 11. Congratulations! :banana I'm a bandster wannabe, and hope to also have Dr Jones perform the surgery at Methodist. I got to meet him in 2001 when I had a consult with him on a different surgery - I think he's a great doctor. When you rest up, I would love to ask you some questions about what you had to do up to the surgery date. I already know that I have to go through an assessment with a nurse, have a half day of consults with psych, dieticians, and meet with the surgeon, but I'm most curious how long the total process was, like when did you go to your information meeting and how lon…

:Bunny Hello Minnesota Bandsters- I am looking for bandsters from Northern Minnesota. I have had a very good experience so far with no regrets. Cold weather is coming and outdoor activities will curb soon. Thanks- Laura

I know that the band is meant to be worn for the rest of your life but how long des the material hold up? I'm 23 and have pretty good genes so I estimate I got 60 or 70 yrs ahead of me, God willing. What material is the band made of that it can hold up that long without breaking down?

Just out of couriosity, did everyone on this board give up alcohol entirely once they were banded? That seems to be a big issue for some people who are interested in the band - they don't think they can deal with not ever having a drink again. I told them I would check with you guys (the smartest bandsters in the world) for more information. Please provide specifics - like when (after banding) it is okay and how much & how often or if Never. Thanks,

I'm overcoming a bad weekend where I most likely overate and caused some serious discomfort. Lots of people have called or written asking what's up. Thanks, by the way In a nutshell, I've decided to attack my situation in Las Vegas! I don't want to go to Mexico, I don't want to go to California (mind you Dr. Billy is a great surgeon, but he's not in Vegas.) Today I called both local band docs, and was turned away by the staff because I was banded in Mexico. I demanded they discuss my EMERGENCY with the doctors. Teng's office called me back and told me to go to my primary doc. Fisher hasn't called me back yet. Remember, I ran into Fisher at the pharmacy (smal…

Okay so I am five days into the liquid diet and it totally sucks! LOL I keep telling myself its not that long. I know how this will benefit me, but it sucks! LOL I did eat some tuna earlier today. My instructions where if you had to eat something, eat something high protien and low carb. Tuna has no carbs and decent amount of protien plus low cal. and low fat. I hope I didn't screw up too bad. Otherwise I am sticking to the liquids. I tell ya though, I had no idea Tuna could be so good! LOL Does anyone think it hurts to eat tuna? My surgery is Thurs. in Monterrey Mexico, I leave Tues. I am taking my little mixer with me. I am so excited and scared at the sa…

i was thinking lately how much i missed an ice cream! i had it in my mind for days and i was fighting the necessity of the sweet for days.. but today :D i just couldn't handle it anymore! i bought 5!!! scoops of icecream! arghhh like what i was doing before the surgery! no 1 no 2 but 5 scoops! OMG what i did! im sure i gained weight today! aaahhh pls tell me that i didn't destroy my diet and everything! i don't wanna get back on old horrible eating habits!

I saw my PCP on Monday for a sinus infection. He's referred me to Dr. Kuwada. Dr. Kuwada's nurse just called, and the ball is getting ready to roll! She took down some basic information, and I should get an evaluation appointment within the next week. Now if I only knew how to insert the dancing bananas, this post would be complete

I turned in my paperwork to the surgeon on Monday and they told me to wait to hear from them probably in about a month or so! I was kinda disappointed on how long it would take. 2 days later the office calls me to make an appt to see him. I said "why?" She said are you no longer interested in the Lap Band? I said No I am very interested, does this mean my insurance approved me? SHe said that they verified coverage, but now we have to prove medical necessity anyone know how hard this is?? I have a BMI of 44, I am border line diabetic taking oral agents, I have PCOS, GERD, hypothryroidism, and problems with sore feet from my weight. I am hoping I can qualify. I hav…

Soooooooo I am down to 217 today. Thats 40 lbs since April. Not bad for not making a huge effort. So now that I have been trying, I have lost 5 lbs in 15 days! Sooooo thats encouragement. My brother and my sister in law and my 2 nephews, Nickolas, 2 ½, Austin, 5, and my niece Kayla, 9 next week will be here tomorrow!!!! I was 257 the last time I saw them. So I am kinda excited about that. My niece and i share october 19th as our birthday, with her father, (my brother) following on the 20th. So on the 19th we are having a big barbeque. I miss them all so much, and I am looking forward to spending the week with them all. Have a great weekend, ya'll. I know I will.

Well, 1 month officially post surgery and I have lost 22 pounds... I am so happy. I haven't even gotten a fill yet so this is just amazing to me. I have never been "hungry" yet... Mental hunger yeah, but starving for lack of food? Nope. I still go out to all the places I used to go out to for dinner but I am eating about 1/2 of what I used to eat. After the fill I am sure it will be less than that... wow!!!! I have so much energy... I play tennis 3 hours at a time 2-3 times a week, I walk every night, and I went rock climbing yesterday!! 5 hours of climbing... and I just feel great!!!! I measured myself and wow since the week before surgery to now? Date....Weight..…

What are the real risks of anethesia for a surgery like this? I know that it is actually a very short procedure, around 30 minutes or so? I have this irrational fear of having anethesia and not waking up from it. I also know that it is a rather common fear for people going into surgery. Being cut open, foreign object in my body, recovery.....those dont really worry me. I worry about the damn anethesia, lol! Does anyone actually have any info or statistics on the safety of being under anethesia for a surgery like this?

Since my last fill, I've had the gurgling thing going on alot. Normally, this wouldn't bother me, as I'm quite used to it. My hubby always gets a good giggle from it. But this week, I started training my replacement (I'm moving into a new section of the company). Her laptop has not come in yet, so we've both been working off mine, side by side. The gurgling is soooooooooooooo loud and embarrassing, that I feel like crawling under the table at times. I realize that this can sometimes be a symptom of being too tight, but honestly, I don't feel too tight - more, just right. So does anyone have any ideas on how to quieten this beast in my esophagus?

Calling all Aussies Just saw that A Current Affair (gotta love Ray Martin lol) is having a story tomorrow night about going out of the country for discount plastic surgery, if anyone is interested in watching... A couple of us were talking about it a few weeks ago, so thought it might be relevant.

Hey lady, how are you feeling ? How's the tum tum ? I hope you've been good to yourself.

Hello all! I went to my surgeons office yesterday for my 6 week checkup (really it was 5 weeks). He said I was doing well. He asked how much food I was able to eat and I estimated a cup, plus I snacked once a day on healthy stuff (carrot, etc). He said he only wanted me to eat 3 times a day (Protein first, veggie or fruit next), and NO SNACKS! He feels healthy snacking turns into unhealthy snacking. I said that I was snacking because of being hungry and he questioned my hunger as possibly "head hunger." He also said he could be wrong, but felt that once I moved to solids that I would eat less. I received no fill as I lost 4 pounds in the last 3 weeks. He said to call h…

Hello All, I am 3 weeks post opp and I have a few questions, maybe my dear friends here can help me with: #1 I feel like I can eat just about anything now, just in moderation, is this because I have not gotten my first fill yet? 1 week ago I would wake up and feel instant restiction, now I am not feeling as much restriction these days. #2 I went back to work this week (Monday) and wouldn't you know by Wednesday I had a full blown chest & ear infection, I was so hungry all day long I didn't know what to do. Was it because my body was working over time to kill off this infection? What do you guys do when you get ill? I am back to work today, but my port incision is…

Yesterday was a terrible, terrible day. It was one of those Calgon - Take me away days!! I just about had it with my kids, husband, the dirty house, my in-laws, my overwhelming responsibilities & life!! I didn't tell anyone where I was going, I just got in the car & took off. I had no clue where I was headed. I just went. Lo & Behold, I ended up at the IN-N-OUT Hamburger place. (One of my old time favorites & I hadn't been there since being banded.) I sware the car just drove me there!!!!!!! I ordered a Cheeseburger & a fully loaded Dr. Pepper. I have not touched a DP since surgery. (3 months ago) I also LOVE their french fries but I knew t…

Does anyone have any suggestions for Dining Out? Like specific restaurants and specific items to order. I know that everyone's tolerance is different with the band but I just need suggestions. I finally got my 1st fill on yesterday and next Friday my co-workers are taking me out to a "going away" lunch (I am starting a new job). So, I would appreciate all suggestions on where to go and what to order. Thanks

I have no idea and I have not heard of anything referring to a fill. Can anyone help with this?

Well, I have officially survived my initiation into Bandland! We got home yesterday. I wanted to leave a post to say thanks to everyone who wished me well! I am 3 days out and I am getting around pretty good. Still a little tricky sleeping though, since I am a belly sleeper. My start weight was 261lbs, by their scale. I guess I put on some weight with that all inclusive thing. I haven't weighed in yet. I am going to try to only weigh in once a week. Which reminds me, I need a new ticker. I guess it all went well. But the worst part for me was waking up from anesthesia. I woke up feeling like I couldn't breathe and with a raw pain in my chest. The first thing I said…

9th of December. Eeeeek, 2 months away. No big Christmas dinner for me this year (I'll still be on liquids - which includes champagne right?) and I dont care. And I have the perfect excuse to avoid the stress and expense of having the family to my house this year too. Somebody else can do it. Of course I'll do it next Christmas when I'm a tiny, fit dynamo.

Something I have been thinking about lately is how I will be treated once I lose my weight. In 8th grade I was a size 20, I graduate high school a size 22. Before surgery (almost 10 years later) I was a size 24. I am now almost an 18. My doctor expects me to get down to 180 by Labor Day. I guess I've kinda hidden behind the fat at times. I am a very outgoing person, but to have someone say whistle at me I think "smartazz" instead of taking it as a compliment. I just hope I am not one screwed up skinny person when all this is done. LOL

Hi Everyone I had my surgery Sept 12th and it says on the list of paper the doc gave me to only eat a couple of ounces of food at a time. I feel very little restriction at this point and naturally am STARVING. So of course I am eating more. Will this hurt the pouch or do me any harm? I have my first fill Nov 1st, so it will hopefully make it possible to eat less. Any advice?

Last week I went to Chicago for a seminar. When I got there I could barely get anything down but it got better as the week went on. Now I have returned I am even tighter. What happened? Has anyone else experienced this or is there something else going on with me? One other thing is that I am sore where my stomach is. Not when I touch it but if I cough, laugh or hit a bump while driving. And help or info would be appreciated :cry

I had surgery a week ago and since then, I have had frequent bolt of pain under my breast. It feels like a bolt of electricity in my stomach area that leaves me crying out loud in pain. Had anyone experience this? How long does it last?

OK so I am one month post op today - boy how time just goes flitting by. I thought I would post my info just to share - feel free to post your also if you would like <TABLE cellSpacing=0 align=center border=8> <TBODY><TR><TD>Weights and Measures<TD>275<TD>266<TD>-9</TD></TR> <TR><TD>Parts<TD>9/11/05<TD>10/11/05<TD>Difference</TD></TR> <TR><TD>Bust<TD>49<TD>48<TD>-1</TD></TR> <TR><TD>Waist<TD>45<TD>43.5<TD>-1.5</TD></TR> <TR><TD>Hips<TD>56.5<TD>53<TD>-3.5&lt…

Can someone please try to explain to all of us new bandsters how our new stomach should feel? I am having a hard time trying to work with this new tool. I have very strictly stuck to liquids the first three days post surgery, and only yesterday added "mushies". This a.m. I had a 1/2 cup of applesauce and a bottle of water and somehow I now feel a very fullness in my chest. I am thinking that I need to drink a protein drink or something since it is mid-day. So... describe some of the sensations that you have felt and maybe some remedies. Thanks for your advice in advance.

Hello, I just wanted to hear some encouraging words about having the band put on. I've read on here that a lot of people have problems with it. Should I cancel and have the whole bypass. Can people who have had some success, post your success stories? Thanks for listening. Randy

I fell off the band wagon hard. I had surgery Sept 2nd did great , not one cheat. The other night I went to a restaurant with my mother and sister and had a great big salad and then a huge piece of pizza, I am SOOO down that this happened ...now i can't get back in control. I am scheduled for my first fill next week. The past week I have been aware that I don't feel much restriction with the band the way it is. I have lost 29 libs since the week before surgery, I Worked out like a crazy women walking and exersizing every day and now I am like a junkie out of control....I feel like such a failure. help me somebody

Ok, so doc says it's Ok that there is a hard area of swelling with a diameter of 6 friggin inches around my port. He said it was ok and it was normal and it would just be that way for a few weeks. But I have to complain b/c this didn't start until one week out and it's growing and growing and getting super hard and it hurts SO BAD. Did this happen to anyone else? I guess it's ok if my doc says it's ok - it's not red or infected looking - just painful and hard! I am 2 weeks out - when will this go away? Is this really normal b/c I'm having a hard time believing my doctor since I've never heard anyone else complain of this on LBT and I really beileve if you guys had felt th…

I'm in a bit of a funk... I had my consult a couple of weeks ago, and was instructed by the surgeon to lose 20-25 lbs before surgery. Since then, I've come up with every excuse under the sun not to go the gym. Maybe it will change when I actually have a surgery date.... How have you all been successful at losing weight pre-op Thanks, Melissa

I'm feeling VERY good right now. I had my port removal surgery last Friday (due to infection), and the weekend was tough emotionally. I'll admit it. I was able to get my wound vac yesterday and am very grateful for all of my blessings today. I'm grateful to live in a time where the LapBand is even an option. I'm grateful to live in a country where it's available. I'm grateful to have such a great insurance company (Cigna sucked for us, but United Healthcare has been wonderful) that will allow me to have these much needed surgeries and pay 100% for all of the nurses I've had coming into my home taking care of my 'wound' infection. I'm grateful to live in a Country where I'…

I am one day post op and can't keep and sips of water down. I end up vomiting a foam like substance. Also, I am in so much pain it feels like a heart attack after I take a teeny tiny sip of water. Has anyone else experienced this?

Okay I had my surgery on 8/17, got my first fill on 9/15 2cc and ever since then every type of meat I eat except for fish gets stuck! Most of the time I suffer for at least 30 minutes until it goes down but these past couple of days I have had to get it back up (sorry don't know the right term for this). I don't know what to do as I have gone back to mushie stuff because I'm afraid to eat. Anyone else experience this and what would you recommend I do? Thanks guys you are the best.

I'm home, and am now an official bandster! I had my surgery yesterday (Oct. 11) in St. Louis Park, MN with Dr. Thomas Jones. Overall it was a good experience. I could use some sleep catch up though and plan on doing that next! I'm a bit sore and feel a little light headed. The doctor said that I was his easiest banding yet. I asked him what he meant by that and he commented that I was easy since I was "open and clear"- easy to manuever". I know...what? Just glad I'm safe and sound. Just proud to join you all and wanted to let you know of one of the newest bandsters. I'm ready to keep losing- already lost 17 lbs from the last two weeks- hope to never see that …

For those of you who know my story, I feel like ......trying to think of a nice word for it.....but can't come up with one. I am tired, very very tired. I am not sure if it is some type of withdrawal symptom...or what. I feel ok, lack some energy. My hair is falling out, I suppose from slacking on Biotin. And multi-vitamins. I napped for like 4 hours yesterday. I go to my surgeon tomorrow to let him know that some of these pain pills I was taking had ibuprofen and to see what we can do, if anything. Then in the back of my mind, I am wondering if I might be pregnant, as after I stopped popping pills, hubby and I took a up a new hobby. Last period was September 16. So it sh…

1 year ago we left Chicago and flew to Monterrey MX and got the Band. We have had a good year. I would have like to have lost more weight. My wife is already below her goal and has set a new goal of 180lbs. We just had a fill last week. Our web site has picture update.

Hey there Band Brothers and Sistas... I did a search on this topic, head colds, and found NOTHING...so I am coming to the board with this question....What does everyone take for head colds? I should just call my doctors office and ask them...but I have a head cold from hell, and the Childrens Chewable Tylenol Cold and Cough just isn't helpin....Any suggestions? Thank ya in advance! TTYL

So I went to my appointment this morning and I am almost 50% fat! My BMI is 46.4! How on EARTH does that happen??? Am I the only one with a BMI that high? I have been on a low carb diet for 3 blasted years! I finally went off the deepend for lunch and ate pizza. (I am paying for it now...tummy ache). I want to cuss and throw things. I went to my PCP this afternoon and told him and he shook his head and told me I should be in the 20's to be "normal range". Then he had the guts to tell me to go on the ADA diet and keep my calories to about 1000, and he noted that in my chart. But he also said he would write a letter to my insurance company recommending the band. …

I am on Medicare and it seems that doctors in Dallas are no longer taking Medicare because they are not getting paid. I was scheduled with Dr Benivedes and as of Sept 1st he will no longer take Medicare. I have a psyc eval tomorrow and no doctor. Any help would be great as I am very frustrated. Thanks!

Or something. I've been a horrible lap-band patient - I haven't been to see my surgeon in over a year. Between filing bankruptcy, fighting off anxiety attacks, and having my soon-to-be-ex-husband move out, it seemed like taking care of myself was pretty low on my list of priorities. I feel sure I need a fill. I'm maintaining well enough, but I can eat a lot and I'm certainly not losing. I'm scared to go back, though - I don't want a lecture from my surgeon, I'm worried that maybe I've done something else to myself like stretch the pouch out, and I don't know if my current insurance (different from what I had when I had the surgery) will cover fills. And I don't ha…

Most of the people I know and see regularly know that I have the band. I decided to tell my closest friends and well, now everyone knows. Unforunately, one friend told her mother who has a BIG, BIG mouth. This is just fine, but now I am starting to get ticked off with the way many of these people react to me. Comments like, "oh, you can't eat that", "should you be eating that", don't even look at the snack table, you can't eat that stuff", "what are you doing in the candy aisle, bad girl", "do you want the potatoes that come with the meal you ordered", "are you ALLOWED to eat that"......I could go on and on. I need some suggestions as to how I should deal with these …

Does anyone know of an active clothing exchange program in the DFW area? I need 20's and 1x, I have 22/24 and 2-3x.