LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I'll be leaving in a half hour for the hospital to be banded. I want to wish good luck to everyone else starting their journey today! See ya'll tomorrow!

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!

:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana NOV 3RD IN HOUSTON:Bunny

I think iam anticipating too much. Had 1st fill last Wed 9/8 (2cc's). Wasnt as bad as i thought it would, the port had shifted some. took nurse a couple of pokes but was successful. Anyway its been a week now and i have had a number of PB's. i truelly believe it was because i wasnt chewing enough or rushing but it was something i could eat before the fill. did anyone else experience this? that you could no longer eat the same?? would someone please tell me what was your feeling after your fill. i have a smaller band and the nurse told be 2cc's was alot but im not really sure how my band should feel. i know im loosing and have been treadmilling everyday. i do fe…

I had a fill on the 28th of August and since then (until a couple of days ago) I didn't really feel any more restriction than before. Just yesterday I had a quarter of a hamburger. Chewed well (I thought). Had terrible pain in chest for 15 minutes or so. Next day (today actually), I had 2 very small swedish meatballs and proceeded to get pain and then actually vomited a small amount. Mostly liquid. (I know, gross). Tonight, I ate a small piece of chx...I have been eating this chx because of its moistness...never had a problem before. I got that terrible pain and vomited again. Is is the band talking or maybe just intolerance to hamburger and (OH NO) chx. I think…

Sounds strange huh? 1 day post op and my stomach has been growling, but I'm afraid to put anything in it (even liquids) because I my stomach still feels really tight. Each time my stomach growled, I had a couple sips of water or juice and then I was fine for a while and it started all over again. What's up with that??

Hi again. Its me the one with a million and one questions. Ok Today is 2 weeks since banding and I have lost a grand total of 1 1/2 pounds... Yup you heard right. Don't you let the green eyed monster get you. You too could lose an entire 1 1/2 pounds. What is that all about? I am so discouraged right now. I have been crying all day. I know what you will all say. The first 6 weeks are for healing not for weight loss. But I am big. I mean big. I lost 10 pounds on the pre- op diet. Did I make the wrong surgery choice? I am just beside myself. Thanks for listening to me again.. Amy

Hello All Chicago/ Illinois friends: Please see the Chicago Luncheon thread started by piercedqt78 in the Lounge talk area- We are finalizing plans to meet up on this Sunday the 18th at 3 p.m. at the Flat Top Grill downtown- Who's coming along????? Piercedqt78, Zoe, Keri, Joy-Joy, Bernadette......Anyone else- Who's out there???- let's have a mini Chicago bash! See you there.

I am feeling very guilty over what I had for lunch today and I need to know if I am just being a worry-wort! I had a baked potato with butter and sour cream and I tolerated most of it pretty well. I stopped when I felt like I was full and I didn't drink anything with it. I think my problem is that it was a "baked potato" and I associate that with "bad and fattening foods". So should I feel guilty for eating it or should I just get on with the rest of my work day and forget about it?!

Hi everybody! This is one of my favorite casseroles. It is easy to make & can be made low fat by using low fat items. Here it goes! Hope you like it! 1 cup sourcream 1 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. salt 2 1/2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breasts 1 can cream of chicken Soup 1 (4 oz.) can of chopped green chiles 1 (2 lb.) package of o'brien hashed browns (they have onions & peppers) 2 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup cheese for top after baking. Pour into greased casserole dish & bake for 1 hour & 15 minutes. This recipe can be cut…

Hi I am new to the site and having a hard time navigating -- I was just in a "chat" but could only see my own typing, then I went to set up a ticker and have tno idea how to link it with my name..............and I though being fat was hard!

I am 12 days away from bandland! AHHH I'm emotional! Scared! Hungry! Excited! Grumpy! I want to do everything right! Do you have any advice to give me that I should do now before I go in on the 26th? I started my liquid phase on Monday. I am not in good shape physically which scares me. I know I should walk more and do more crunches and other exercises. What else should I be doing? And the grumpiness! Don't you DARE LEAVE A DISH IN THE SINK!

I was just wondering, once I have my band in place, I want to make sure that I am staying away from soft Proteins once I am on regular food. Is tuna and chicken salad consider a soft Protein or are we talking liquid Protein as being soft? I did try to locate a thread with this information, but I didn't see anything that specifically dealt with this question. I did read the post from LaMadam I believe that talked about staying on soft proteins longer than one should and what could happen to your band. I want to avoid that.

I am having surgery soon and want to get ready -- the products all come in large amounts and I don't want to buy the "wrong" one is there one that is the best? What about if you are diabetic?

I was banded on August 29, 2005 and I have been in ketosis ever since. I eat the low carb yogurt(dietician directed) And sugar free everything. I know that the inches lost is a great result of the ketosis. Ketosis is fat loss, I know this. I did the Atkins diet before and lost 60lbs in 3 months and I gained back the sixty plus 20 more. I don't want it to happen with this band too. I know that I am getting my Water and I am concentrating on Proteins first. The problem is after I eat my Protein I am not hungry for other food. My yougurt is sugar free, my pudding is sugar free. I just don't want to stay in Ketosis for a long period of time because it is just not healthy. Wha…

I was banded July 8th and lost 40 pounds since. I go to TOPS and weigh in weekly. Last week I gained 2 pounds and was visibly upset. That night I cried. I know I need a fill and my appointment is 9/21. I have NO restriction and I found out that I need it bad. I have been eating all the stuff I could not eat. I now really appreciate my band and I know what it is doing for me. I have been exercising a bit more because I know I have been eating more. But for whatever reason I just won't stop eating. I can't get it together to even plan, shop and prepare a healthy meal. Yesterday I tried to get it right by starting the day with a low fat bacon, baked chicken salad.…

My hubby went to the eye doctor yesterday. He has been having trouble with his vision since last fall. The doctor referred him to a specialist because he has early stage cataracts. My husband is only 35y/o. He had a kidney transplant in 2000 and one of the side effects of his medication is possible formation of cataracts. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, he is having a tough time dealing with this. I know and he knows they can fix the problem with surgery, but he has already been through so much with his kidney and everything. Thanks for listening!

I have been really searching for all stories. I find that 99% of all the bandsters are really happy with their decision. However, who is not at all satisfied with their choice? I want to know all and be prepared for the consequences before hand. Thank you in advance for your help.

The "lack of DeLarla's port" topic has come up too many times for me to ignore lately. Fact is, the thought of another surgery makes me physically ill. The gamble of another port infection is less than appealing considering I can't even win a 4-of-a-kind on a damn nickel machine with only one nickel in. I've been working my butt off to start a new business while keeping my head above Water at my law firm. Plus, I'll be renewing my real estate license this winter. Working three jobs should take me to a feathered mattress in Bora Bora, not another stainless steel bed on wheels in a surgical suite. So, if any of you nurses will volunteer to come to Vegas and Teq…

It,s important to be healthy we all no that.....As people are using the band or an exercise program/diet.......While losing weight are you checking with you doctor on how you are doing on your Cholesterol, How is your Trigycerides & Your ("bad") Cholesterol doing? That is very important to! The numbers. with Obesity you almost have some sort of Heart disease/diabetes waiting around the corner for you. Exercise Quiting smoking, if you do will help our Cardiovascular health. also shut the tv off and just go for a little walk,its a start.The band works I encourge every one to make time for your self, even ahalf hour aday. make time /take time for your health!!…

I am now a resident of Bandland! My surgery went great. Don't remember a thing except waking up to a beeping noise. Quick question- did anyone have trouble burping afterwards? I'm still sore at the top of my abdomen, and before I left, the nurses kept telling me it was gas, so I haven't taken any liquid Tylenol. Is it OK to go ahead and take a chewable gas-x now or do I need to wait?

I am being banded in 2 weeks. I am scared I will not be able to do the liquid diet. I have cut down on smoking but haven't stopped! Anyone have comments on the smoking thing?

I have come to a decision and I can't say I'm not nervous about it but I have decided I have to do it....I have to not be ashamed to admit my weight! I have gone to TickerFactory so many times and made my ticker only to look at it and be ashamed that it shows either what I weigh or what I weighed when I was banded but no more! I went to our health clinic to check my weight the other day since I hadn't weighed since my last fill in July and to my great pleasure I have lost 87 pounds since my surgery a little over 3 months ago! I couldn't wait to get back to my office to tell everyone what I had just found out when it hit me......I was ashamed to tell people that I had lost…

Can't remember where I read it and I did a search but I remember reading that sometime people can become lactose intolerant after LB surgery. Anyone experience this?? I

I just talked to a friend of mine who was banded yesterday. The question is has anyone had a scar on their abdomen before surgery and did you have any problems or more pain following the surgery. I'm asking because she has an old gallbladder scar and she says it WAS NOT the piece of cake that she thought it would be and she thought she was in so much pain because of issues with her scar tissue. I have the same type of scar and am being banded next week and I really would like to know if anybody else has had this problem and what I can expect.

Rather large crainum Haha. Could some please help me make this smaller.

Hi all! I go in to get my first fill in about 2 hours from now. I'm really nervous about how it will go but am very excited to really get with the program. I have not had any restriction since surgery and have been eating way too much food. I need that restriction to hold me back! That's all -- just needed to release some of the anxieity I'm feeling. Thanks for listening

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Anyone out there? I'm Dawne from southern Vermont. Divorced mom of 3. 2 Boys/ 19 & 17 1 girl / 13 I'm soon to be 45 yrs old. Banded since Jan 2004 Surgery in Albany NY. Surgeons name is Dr. Singh Awesome Doctor..... 75 lbs gone.....

Tomorrow is my day!!! I'm anxious. I woke up at about 4:45 this morning thinking that I needed to get to the hospital. Oops! I have to be there at 5:30AM so I'm going to bed early. I know I probably won't be able to sleep because I'm so ready to get my new banded life started!!!

Banded on Wed. Sept. 7th. Surgery went good, recovery is going good, went back to work today, not much pain. My question is is it normal to have a stomache ache, not a bad one just a dull stomache ache alot of the time, kinda comes and goes, been real bad since I got off work about 4 hours ago. Also, I see people talking about having protien shakes the first few weeks of the liquid diet, is this normal? I have not been told to drink any protien shakes the first week, I suppose I can the second week because that will be full liquids. Also seem to be quite hungry, I think I am really missing the taste of food and not actually hungry.

Most of the time the band keeps me in check and sometimes I override it, no matter how I eat I always feel like i'm overeating even when I am not. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Due to some complications that have been occuring over the past year, and my new inability to keep anything down my surgeon is recommending that I have my band removed, or at least revised to a RNY. I need some feed back. My fear of removing it is that I will gain all of my weight back. I have to have surgery anyway because my gall bladder is full of gall stones. I was hoping that we would just take out the gall bladder and see, but he really thinks there is more to my problem than this. I have had my band since 11-18-03 and have lost 140 pounds.

Hi, Just had to shout it out that I had (for me) a big NSV today. I have been working out about 2 hours a day and I have a trainer I work out with twice a week (just started that 3 weeks ago). I do spinning, kick boxing, yoga, and run about once a week, in addition to lifting. Today, my trainer said I was doing dips for my triceps. I was like...well, wait, I've NEVER been able to do those...I don't know how many I can even do (of course, I thought I was going to be able 1 or 2 at the MOST). Well, I shocked myself! When my sets were done, I had done 48!!!! I'm still in shock that I did it!!! YAHOO!!!! It was a HUGE accomplishment for me! Just wanted to share! Rose …

I need all your prayers.

I had my first fill on the 15th of this month (about 2 weeks ago) I haven't noticed a difference in restriction--if anything, I am a lot more hungry than I was before!!! Has anyone had this happen, or can you give me any tips? Thanks!

I am so happy!, today I received a mail from Dr. Verboonen, I finally have a date September 30, just 17 long days away, and I don't have to travel because he is Cancun to do lap bands the last week of every month. I just made my ticker and will be reading every post here night an day!, I think that because of this forum I have realistic expectations of things to come. Thank you all for sharing and cheering!!!

Hello Folks, I live in Lake Charles, La. and teach in a small rural school nearby. I am a teacher/librarian with 500 students, grades pre-k to 12. So far the hardest part of all this is planning to be away from school for a few days...lol. We just started school a couple weeks ago and my little students are "hungry" for books. My surgery will be in three days, Aug 31st, by Dr. Spiegel in Houston. I am excited but a little nervous. I have total confidence in Dr. Spiegel. He seems very conscientious and thorough. I had pre-op tests (EKG, blood, chest xrays) a few days ago but need to see a cardiologist for an "all clear." My EKG wasn't quite right, but I am thinking it…

After lifting something kind of heavy (nothing major) does the area around your port hurt a little? By the way, I am only about 4 weeks out....

The Central Florida Bandster Bash is on Saturday, October 1, 2005 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa from 10 AM to 10 PM. The date is approaching fast and we need to wrap up the details of the bash. So with that in mind, a few things; more information can be found at www.centralflbandsterbash.com BASH PAYMENT If you have not paid for the bash yet, please do so by Tuesday, September 20, 2005. To Pay for the Bash only: cost is $75 per person ($40 for your guest/dinner only- we are not opening the Dinner/Party to people who did not attend the Bash). Submit checks to: Florida Obesity Surgical Associates (FOSA) 37840 Medical Arts Ct Zephyrhills, FL 33541 …

Sorry it took so long to get the picture too you. I'm not the greatest sometimes with technology. Melissa As far as Dr. V leaving. I'm pretty angry right now. Though I'm not sure who I should be angry with? Myself, for not picking Dr. Bauman in the first place. Dr. V's office for not being able to still do the surgery. I'm totally stressing about the extra costs involved with changing doctors. We are SOOOO totally strapped for cash right now and Dr. Baumans office thinks he will make me do his nutritionist. Thats 500 dollars I don't have. Plus from what I read on their forms I filled out ...it takes the longest to get an appointment with the Nutritionist. Take into t…

Just got back from the dr. and I lost 6 lbs in a little over 2 weeks and I'm shocked and realllllly excited! I put my scale away like you guys suggested cause it wasn't moving and I was getting frustrated....Now, I thought I either gained or didn't lose because I can eat everything but I guess I ate smaller "everythings"...I also got a little fill (0.25) so right now I floating Happy!!!Thanks guys for always being there with great advice!!!!!.....Cindy

Only my 2nd day on Optifast and I already blew it. I did not lose it really bad....just a piece of bread with a tiny bit of peanut butter on it! I just got so bloody hungry! I just had to come on and tell someone...confession is supposed to be good for the soul right? ha!

I just got banded Aug 22 2005. I am having a huge problem eating breakfast. I'm hungry but just cant find anythng that does not upset my stomach. I tried oatmeal but i hate it. I have been eating mooshy cereal but i also really dont like that either. does anyone have any ideas on what i can do???

Even as I type this she is going into surgery. (7:00 am PST) Everyone send her warm thoughts!

It has been about 6 weeks since I had my lap band surgery, all has been well.......but starting yesterday my port area is really sensitive and sore. Any thoughts on why this might be??? Has any one else had this problem???? Sues05

How do you keep eating like a bandster should when life shifts direction? My life took a sudden turn to the wild side when we bought motorcycles last year. Suddenly I have an active/hectic social life. Now I started my own business that has me traveling, socializing, constantly surrounded by groups of women, parties, meetings, and I keep using every single situation as an excuse to eat bad for just one more day. I'm completely out of control and even drinking friggen Coca Cola, which I never touched pre-band. I have excuses booked for the entire month of September. This weekend is the Bash, next weekend I'm having two parties in addition to Vegas Bikefest, the…

I have come to the point in my life where I can no longer allow food to be my best friend. I will miss my life long friend, but I must move on. I have found a new friend you see, someone that I can trust and confide in. Someone that will not treat me to those naughty little late night snacks.Someone that will not be negative towards my decision for WLS. Someone that is a GOOD LISTENER! I would like to take this moment to introduce you all to my new friend.

HI , 3 of my friends and I just returned from TJ , mexico Wher we Had our lapband surgery performed by DR. Kuri. Now we need to find a local Doc. who does fills . Any that anyone knows of???????????

Hello to every one. I'm just needing alittle help getting started with my new band. I had my surgery on Aug 24, 2005. Doing great and feeling great, Just can't get it out of my head that I'm hungry. I do fine at breakfast and lunch, but after supper I feel like I haven't even eatten. I don't like feeling that way and I really want my band to work. If anybody has some sample diets that they went by, I would love for you to send me a list or something to follow. Is there a diet to follow with a food list to follow. Please help if you can. Thanks a bunch. Pam

Im near willowbrook mall and want a band buddy to go to movies and stuff with-so this is my "Wont you be my friend?" thread-lol. I may also try to drag you into packing and distributing sandwiches to the homeless.Actually I'll ask ya and if you say no then thatll be it-Im not high pressure