LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I know ya'll are getting anoyed with every other post being from me but since I am in recovery I have nothing to do but surf the web! So, ya'll have answered all my ?'s about eating bread - but can I still eat whole wheat or low carb pasta sometimes? Will it go down ok? I know carbs are bad for weight loss but if it would go down ok I would like to continue to eat the "healthier" pasta from time to time. What do ya'll think? Does pasta go down ok?

I have an appointment to get another fill tomorrow. I was feeling like I really needed one when I made the appointment. That same day at lunch I could barely get my food down. I have felt great restriction for the last week...then yesterday I was able to eat more than I should be able to. I have not really lost any weight since my last fill and then unfill. Maybe they took too much out? If I could have restriction like I did last week it would be great. My challange is to make the decision to go ahead and get the fill or to see if the restriction starts back up again. Since it went away yesterday I feel like I should still go ahead with my appointment. Has anyone…

Some how I managed to miss something. Why is ibuprofen bad for the band? I have been using it up until today to kill the pain of a root canal. Now I am scared to use it. Whats the deal on ibuprofen and if this is not a good choice...what is?

I know erosion is unlikley, but how would one tell if thier band was eroding? Just curious.

As I stepped off the scale yesterday, disgusted with myself for only losing 5 lbs during the first 5 weeks of the Fall Weight Loss Challenge, I decided to think positively. I've come up with a list (some of it just a tad tongue in cheek) of why we should never lose more than 1 lb per week. 1. We've all read it time and time again. It's much healthier to lose weight slowly and steadily, blah blah blah... wait - did I already lose everybody's attention? 2. Give those naysayers time to accept your decision to have WLS. Maybe if they see you're not emaciated and malnourished 3 months out from surgery they'll come around to our way of thinking and get off your back.…

Thanks to all of you for the advice on my prolem I posted back in september about vomiting and band issues. I also want to thank you all for the prayers during Rita. Thanks God it missed Houston. Evacuation process was a nightmare. We drove almost 15 hours from Houston to Austin with 2 and 4 year olds in the car with no AC in Texas heat (horrible). What is even worse is my 4 year old has Asperger's so her patience was really going out there. However, we survived and got back home to everything good. Once again thanks a lot.

Let me say that I am alright so far. This morning after being up for an hour I started to get a pain in my chest just like the Gall Bladder attack that I had back in May.( Gallbladder removed) Anyway after dealing with it for an hour and it ingulfing all my upper chest and dropping off my kids, my mom took me to the ER. After chest Xrays and blood work they can find nothing. Needless to say I am die hard workaholic and came in. What they think is happening is that even though you get your gallbladder out you can still develope stones or sludge. Does anyone still have problems like this after your gallbladder was removed??? They gave me several things to calm my tummy dow…

I keep reading that if you have an eating disorder you can not be banded. There are so many categories of eating disorders, so which one eliminates you? What if you HAD a specific eating disorder and have stopped? In high school 10+ years ago, I tried the bulimia thing, no eating thing, etc. I am still a compulsive eater, but have not binge/purged in 10+ years. Do you think that eliminates me from being a band canidate?

I had a great week of weight loss, BUT I am even more thrilled with one of my NSV's this week. In the last 8 weeks I have lost 27.5 inches!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE MY BAND and I love you guys for all the wonderful support!!!

Hello everybody, Just got my first fill and I can't tell any difference. How is it supose to feel? I need help with this. Hope to hear from people that can help Pam

Is it true that we are not supposed to have any type of diet soda? I love the twister orange soda diet.

Hello, lap banders. I have a story that i NEED to share. I need support from every aspect of my life and you all are one of them. I broke and dislocated my knee cap 2.5 inches in June 2004. Yes, ouch. Major surgery and recovery. Obviously I was prescribed pain meds. Percocet and then vicodin. For the 1st 5 months i needed the pain meds in order to walk and recover from my fall. But for the last 10 months I have continued to take these pain meds with the dosage increasing weekly. A doctor kept presribing them and i kept taking them. In May when i was banded I said no more. Then i took more. Then in July when I got a fill, i said no more, same thing in August. Well that h…

Noone is responding to my post in food so help me make a list of mushies I can eat on Friday.

Hi everyone. I just watched one of the saddest and most disturbing episodes of a television show I've ever seen (seriously). It was the episode of Cold Case tonight on CBS. Did anyone else see it? What did you think/feel about it? I was literally crying and very upset at the end. Why are people so cruel? As many of you may know, Cold Case is often based off of "somewhat" real scenarios/cases. The fact that this storyline could be even remotely true is horrifying... Just wanted to vent. :think

Hi Guys! I was banded 9/19/05 and am feeling great. My 1st fill is scheduled for 10/24/05. So far 12lbs down post-op and 6lbs down in 2 wks before surgery so 18lbs total! Here's my weird experience that I think my fellow bandsters can (maybe!) appreciate or...laugh like I am crazy! Here goes: One day last weekend my hubby - who is an amazing cook - was making steak and gravy for the kids and himself. It smelled sooooo good and I wanted a taste really really bad but didn't want to do anything stupid or painful. But mmmm, it smelled so good. I went over to the plate of sliced steak he had prepared and looked longingly, then peeked around, made sure no one was ne…

This is hard. I have cut down but I wanted to quit by now.Going to talk to counsler Monday.Can't do this alone. It would help alot if husband did not light up around me.But I can only blame myself. ladysplenda

WTF!!! I think I am coming down with something. My throat and ears are really bothering me and I am afraid I might be end up with a full-blown cold or flu before my surgery Thursday! Will they have to call the whole thing off? Man, it would totally suck to use the last of my vacation to travel to Mexico, just to have to reschedule for next year when I have vacation again. Not to mention the money I would have lost on my non-refundable tickets to San Diego. Holy cow. Am I freaking out for nothing? I keep whispering to myself not to be stressed and that I am healthy hoping to help my immune system. I thought I would just freak out here too and see if that made me f…

Someone told me along time ago that bandsters can't eat "fibrous food" such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, and tomato skins. Is this true??? (and more importantly, can I have the blended broccoli cheese soup I am craving?)

I want to ask the more experienced bandsters about plateaus. I believe it is normal to have periods where your weight stays the same...a body adjustment, so to speak. But, when is more than that, and an "official" plateau? And when do you need to do something about it, like get another fill, or rework your eating plan? I am trying to find the balance between patience and complacency. I await your words of wisdom....and thank you in advance. Cindy

The following is a response in Mariposa's "Frustraing" thread. I decided to continue our discussion under a new topic heading so those of you interested in a parent topic won't miss it. Hope that's okay. Please see the thread "Frustrating" for the first part of what generated this response. -K - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okay all of you w/ children--please immediately go out and buy the book "CHILDREN THE CHALLENGE" by... I think Theodore Driekers (but not sure if that name's quite right). I have to tell you *I* was a spoiled child when younger and my parents sure did me no favors by letting me be so. I remember being in preschool and misbehaving and my mother …

I’m just wondering. Because for the past week, I’ve been going on and on about waiting forever to get a referral from my PCP so I can get the evaluation process started. “Waiting is horrible,” I said. “I can’t stand it,” I said. “This SUCKS,” I said. I spent all weekend agonizing over it. So this morning, I decided to call my health ins. and get some more info. The guy I spoke to said I’d have to be screened by UCLA bariatrics and UCLA would make the yes/no decision – not Healthnet. However, the guy on the phone was a nice man who struggled a bit with his English (he said the requirement is a 40kg BMI, LOL), so I won’t take it as Gospel, but it sounds like that’s one le…

I was flipping through the channels on TV tonight and found WWE wrestling. I weight more than most of these big guys and I can't tell you how much that sucks. I know I won't be this way for long but, it still wasn't the way I wanted to end my day. Maybe I could beat one of them mup pre-surgery. Yeah, that would feel good!

Hi, I'm home yippie! My new life had really begun! Don't worry Loretta (Starr). and Melissa about my hospital stay. I was still high on morphine when he came and and said we'd talk about going home tomorrow. I asked the nurse and she said he likes to keep all his patients 2 days. It was fine with me. Last ight around 8 I wanted to escape, but then I woke up at 2 and took some pain medicine and this morning he was in the room before 10 and said everything is good, go home, take a shower and see you next week. LOL David the PA said please take a shower....LOL.. So I'm home I ate a TBLS of cottage cheese. Garry just mixed me a protien shake and I'm good as can …

10/2/05 Ok, dont know if im pmsing or what but today and yesterday has not been a good day for this bandster. So much seems to be going on that im not focusing on what i should be doing. Am 8 weeks post op, had first fill 9/8 but dont feel too much restriction. Know I have lost, im down 3 sizes, my rings are really, really loose, others notice but I feel like im sliding down to bad habit land. Shoot today I had 3 med size slices of pizza and yesterday I had some cake and ice cream (father in laws birthday). Thought I have been eating the right things but some of it didnt feel right so when I went to a number of band sights for food Ive found I havent. I think my ca…

Hey all! I've been gone for several months... but I'm back. I've decided to give this all another shot, as frustrated as I am. I'm not sure if you guys remember from previous posts, but I was having a lot of problems with my doctor. Basically, I was seriously mistreated and now have a $2,000 hospital bill because of it. This happened back around June or so. I've avoided going back for a fill since. I tried going back once, but I got such a horrible panic attack while pulling into the parking garage, that my mom refused to let me go in. This entire ordeal has been one bad situation after the other. I'm frustrated because I was a self-pay... I shelled out $15,000 and…

so my parents are coming up this weekend so hubby and I decided to go through EVERYTHING in the house and get a truckload of stuff to take to the goodwill (no joke either hehe we had 3 bed house now 2 bd apartment no room!) so tonight i decided to go through my closet... I found a pair of jeans that i wore pre-surgery that were size 34 I held them up to my body and HOLLY cow im like half the size of them now lol its soooo crazy. I have only bought two pairs of pants and a few shirts since after surgery and 70 lbs ago but as my last NSV when my nurse laughed and said it was time to retire my fat clothes i had to. The problem now with money so tight and STILL trying …

http://similarminds.com/othertests.html I came up Sunset Blvd and Sadam Hussein. Drama queen that likes power. Best comment was if people don't like me I will blow them up!

10/3 Thought I had a handle on the band rules. Have been doing so well yet after first fill 9/8 didnt really feel all that restricted. Anyway this weekend have been out of control!! from eating my some of my father in law birthday cake to 3 medium slices of pizza. there wasnt anything i didnt get into. didnt seem like i had any restrictions. am in my period so thought maybe that had something to do with it but there is something else. It has slowing been creeping up on me....as much as I have been so positive and have seen some amazing results I think little by little I have been pushing the envelope. you know having more that I should, not necessarily the right t…

10/3 Ok am 8 weeks post op and I have totally confused myself and cant seem to get a good schedule down on when to eat and what to be eating. ----Should I be counting calories (which I hate) ----What is the amount I should be eating ----What do other eat in a day ----My shedule is crazy....up @ 3:30am leave for work @ 5:45am arrive @ work 7:30am (have a nonfat latte) lunch @ 12:15 leave @ 3:45pm …

Is there any reason why the chat room is always empty. I was just curious because sometimes it's nice to just strike up a conversation with someone and share your thoughts, fears, accomplishments and just daily life with someone that is going through the same thing that you are. Not that I sit at the computer all day but sometimes at night I do sit and read the message boards for awhile and click on the chat room and I am the only one there. Like I said, just curious!

Hooray Hooray! Just 3 days shy of my 18 month bandiversary I have lost 100 lbs Finally after months of no movement on the scale....this week I lost 5 lbs. I was amazed to see such a huge weight loss in just a week this far into my journey..I have changed a few things over the past month, I have been journaling my food intake, eating 3 servings of dairy a day and I'm under some stress with my husbands health problems and when Im stressed I have zero appetite..whatever the reason for such a huge loss..Im very happy I LOVE MY BAND!!

Does anyone know of a surgeon who will perform lap band on someone older than 65? The surgeon in my area makes a cut off at age 65. I will travel anywhere in the US. Thanks for your help.

I had my bandiversary last week. While reassessing the past year and the lack of loss over the past couple of months, I realized I needed to get back "on the band wagon". I bought Protein powder and Vitamins again, and started paying attention to what I was eating. I made smarter eating choices, skipped the cream Soups and ice cream that go down so well, & increased Water intake and Proteins. At a year out with no additional fill, one might think I simply needed one, but I know that I don't because I still have significant restriction. I had simply grown tired of paying attention to the band, and took a bit of a break from it. While the band saved me from the u…

Hello everyone-long time no talk-ive been SO busy-and SO emotional. I had the surgery thing august 29 to take out the stitches-and after about a week i stopped taking the pain meds that i had been on for 5 months...i FLIPPED out and called my surgeon and my PC,they gave me a med thats supposed to mask the withdrawls.i wasnt craving the drug by any means and i only used it for pain but since i was on it so long....had issues. so its been about 3 weeks. since then my anxiety level has dramatically increased,i get really depressed,then really happy and i swing back and forth randomly like this. my docotr mention i might be bipolar about 1-2 years but BEFORE my surgery i had …

Firstly I'd like to thank everyone who has written here and posted their comments and advice. It has been great reading everyones stories and I've been trying to absorb all your letters and words. I fly out tomorrow to PV and will be banded on Wednesday. Not sure what time yet but when I come back on Friday I hope to join the many of you who said it was a 'plesent experiance'. I'm still very nervouse about it but know its the right thing to do. So anyway as you all say to each other when banding is about to happen.....SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!!!!!!! Regards to all of you

i know that there was a lap band doctor who posted to a recent thread. sorry, but i can't find the name/thread. dr., do you think that lap bands will ever be approved as a preventative weight-loss tool for people who are not currently obese or overweight, but have a history of it? thanks.

Hi everyone, I need some support and have no where else to turn. My boyfriend and I unexpectedly split tonight after living together for 2 years. We had been in a cycle of fighting off and on, not that bad, but I really didn't think it was worth throwing it all away over. I really thought we could work it out. He's done, he's made up his mind, its over. He said I knew it and he knew it. Well I didn't know it until today. Our anniversary is next month on Halloween. Halloween will never be the same anymore. I really don't know what to think or what to do, but its really over. We were planning for our engagement in February, we've been looking at rings. I'm just so blown …

I'm seven days post op and I'm starving and don't know what to do I'm in full liquid diet need some advise

OK I am finally gotten to the point that I am sick and tired of this reflux. It is not like anything that anyone discribes - it has a mind of it's own. I was at 1.00 cc's as of this morning but am at 0 now. I eat and drink fine all day long not one iota of reflux but the minute I am in a deep sleep and around 2am I can literally feel my stomach lurch and up comes that foul liquid into my throat. I run to the bathroom spit or vomit it up and then have to use my inhaler cause my lungs are having trouble with the air intake. I have seen my band doc who says it cannot be band related might be run off from the sinus. I have seen the ENT Doc who says it cannot be sinus draina…

I am trying to change my habits before any cuts are made. Although I am not banded yet, I have been "practicing". I made it one week on only Atkins shakes morning, noon, and night. So I know I can do the pre-op diet. Now I am trying the Protein first thing but want to make sure I am doing this right. I wake up and eat Breakfast. Don't drink for an hour or so. Then I drink my Water (although I don't know if I am sipping). About 30 minutes before lunch I stop drinking. Eat protein first, veggies second, and my low carb items last. Then 30-45 minutes after I eat I start drinking water again. That is super hard. Although my portions are tons bigger than they will b…

I will be banded on 10/28 and want to be excited, but do not have the support of my family. My husband is supportive so that helps. I am starting to question my decision now, and feeling a little depressed.

Has anybody here been rebanded? Would your insurance pay for it? My previous employer's insurance would not so I went to Mexico. My band removal WAS NOT my Mexico doctor's fault. I got a horrible stomach virus that caused me to throw up violently for days and that made my band slip down to the middle of my stomach and it had to be removed. So now I'm at a different job with different insurance-PacificCare PPO. Even though Dr. Ortiz will cut the price back it would still be $6800 and that doesn't count my airfare (which I can get cheap thanks to my airline attendant sister) and my hotel, I can't afford it at least right now. Figured I would contact Dr. Patterson and …

Did you know that 90% of WLS in Australia are the LapBand or that studies have shown that at 72 months out the weight loss between RNY and the Band are the SAME? Check out this very informative article on the use of the band in Australia from The Medical Journal of Australia: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/183_06_190905/obr10369_fm.html

Hi all! I am having some problems and need some help desperately. I am a nurse and work in a busy ER. I seem to be doing ok while at work with my band, its the drive home that is killing me! I leave my house at 5:30 in the morning and get home at 8:30 at night. I do great for breakfast, I take it with me to work. For lunch, I eat whatever they have in the cafeteria, just small portions. It's supper that is making me feel horrible! I know I should just pack something to eat(I don't get to eat until I get off work at 7pm) but that would be the smart thing to do! Obviously I have trouble being smart or I would never have gotten into this situation! You see, I am o…

Hi All I was just wondering if any of you had or are experiencing the pain that I am now. I was banded in Brussels at the end of June and had no saline in my band at that time as the surgeon said it was a 'comfy' fit. I gradually started to eat solid food and had no problems at all eating anything! So 6 weeks after banding I went to London for my first 'in-fill'. I had 2.5cc pu tin and angain had no prolems with any kind of foods. 6 Weeks after this, I went again for 'in-fill' and this time had another 2.5cc put in to tak emy band to 5cc and this is where the problems have started. I managed OK for about a week and then started to get terrible pain across my back…

Hi All! I was just banded on Friday Sept 30th and was wondering what day you really started feeling good? 2, 3, 4 - 10 days post op? Yesterday I could hardly get out of bed, today its a lot better except the gas is gonna be the death of me. And I'm still pretty sore. I think I put too much of a high expectation on me being a tough girl. Thought I would feel a lot better at this point. I have absolutely no interest in food right now. I even smell things that would have made my mouth Water 3 days ago and I still dont want them! Love it. My roomie at the hospital had Roux en Y and seemed like she was in less pain than I was. Any thoughts on that?

After lap band surgery how soon do you start drinking your 64 ounces of water? I see that right after you just sip a little bit or suck on ice chips, when do you get up to drinking alot? Edna

Hi, I am going for my consultation with the surgeon tomorrow, Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that he will accept me as a patient, and that I will get insurance approval. I only have about 80 pounds to lose, but to me that is alot when you get out of breath just bending over to tie your shoes, and get out of breath just walking up one flight of stairs. Don't get me wrong, I have sympathy for anyone overweight, and I am supportive of anyone that wants to get help with their weight. Edna

well Ill finally meet the wild and crazy Road Queen tomorrow-she is riding her motorcycle up from Bismarck to see me in my school in North Dakota-she sounds like alot of fun and possibly a handful so I best watch her in this little town-lol. She is spending the night-like a good ole slumber party-then heading out on Sunday.

and of course it is too late to call the doctor. I haven't had a soda since 9/3 - is it okay to have diet soda?