LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I have an appointment to see the surgeon on 9/7-next week. I am feeling like this is going to happen now. I see the clinical nutritionist shortly afterward. It is great to see this all begin to take place. I started going to a new support group for bandsters at the hospital where I am to have the surgery. Hopefully I can have the surgery in the Fall. YEAH. Say a prayer for me, anyone who reads this, that my insurance covers this. They are usually very good about covering "medically necessary" things. Thanks everyone for all your good advice. :cheeky

Their is a new fill doctor in Nederland Texas...I called and they said the first consultation is 150.00....and fills are 100.00 insurance covers the consutlation..but wont cover fills if the band is done by someone else... His name is Don Schmitt...Not sure if last name is spelt right ...his number is 409-721-5150

Ok-I back again looking for some guidance. Im coming up to six weeks post op and my doctor said this would be the time for my first fill. This is all so new to me - how do I know I need it? I know theres no magic bell that goes off but what did everyone who's had one know it was time. In my gut (no pun intended) I really feel I need one. The reason for this is that I seem to be able to eat more that I think I should be eating. I get hungry pretty often, almost every 3-4 hours. I've heard that I should'nt let myself get hungry but boy this whole thing a real balace act. Some time my head tells me to eat but my stomach feels full then other times my stomach grumble…

I am looking for some carry-with me low carb snack ideas, any suggestions? Thanks.

After dieting and then Lapband surgery. My wife has done it. She has gone from 314lbs to 199lbs. That was her goal. Anything below 200. I believe she will try to make around 180lbs at 5' 10" She has gone from a 28-30 dress to a 14. I am so proud of her. I am so thankful to be able to do this with my wife and best friend all in one. I still have a way to go I've gone from 406lbs to 235lbs and I'm 6'3". I would like to get to 220. We are 10 months post op.

I am seriously considering doing this Lap-Band thing, I'm 5'3, about 270lbs and have a BMI of 47. I hear a lot about how you have to chew everthing to mush. Will this affect my ability to take my meds and supplements in pill and capsule form?

My BMI is 37 and I have hypoglycemia, and prediabetes which do NOT count for the surgery. But just find out my triglyerides are 320 (fasted on the blood test) but cholesterol is fine but good cholesterol is kinda low. Hard to get through to my dr I have Kaiser! thanks. Rene

Just getting started. I have a lot of friends that have had both banding and GBP. Going for my consult next week. I already had a pre-approval from insurance so as long as the doctor does not scare me off I think I am ready to take the plunge. The family and friends are behind me all the way. Your posts have been an inspiration and comforting. I am young and have been a diabetic for 5 years now since the birth of my second child (gestational stayed...). This surgery will hopefully assist me in finally taking control of my weight and my health. Any suggestions for this Newbie? I am in Florida....anyone else?

I have been on a major plateau now since July, only losing 7 pounds since my last fill on July 6th. Does the Dr. Fox's Plateau buster diet really work? I joined the YMCA and have been walking 40 minutes on the treadmill and working out on the weight machines for 25 minutes 3 times per week. I try to drink 64 oz Water per day, but still the scales go nowhere! Any suggestions? Thanks

Hey everyone, Now i dunno if this is a stoopid question but with the band what would happen if we got severally injured? Like if we fell off a bike or in a car accident or something along those lines. Would this have any effect on the band? thanks in advance Fee

It's been 4 weeks since surgery and I am still on soft diet - on the 8th of Sept. I am supposed to be able to eat normal food again. My question is - Why would I ever need a fill when I feel so totaly restricted right now and can hardly eat any more than 1/3 to 1/2 cup of food at a time. I never seem to feel hungry. I cannot imagine needing a fill. Does this all change over time - or am I just this way because it's only 4 weeks out. Also, my side (front) is still sore (must be where they stitched to the muscle) is this still normal? I cannot bend over - just does not feel good at all in that area if I do. I have to sit up straight or it bothers me. (I spent…

If you are able please go and donate blood. There is a critical need for blood right now. This is one way we can help and truly make a difference.

Has any one else had shoulder pain not related to gas but the port hitting a nerve on your diaphragm? I was told that is what is happening to me. it feels like the gas pain but they say I am too far out of surgery date to still have gas?? if anyone has heard of this what can I do??

I have been losing alot of hair lately. Does anyone know what it is caused by. (not enough protien or fat) Please help me. thanks gwinky Just wanted to let everyone know that problem has been solved. thanks gwinky

Does the scar go in the same spot a caesarean scar is - like right down low about the pubic bone? Just interested, I'd suspect I probably wouldnt ever need one - still in my 30's, not too enormous a weight problem and blessed with good skin genes, dont have a single stretch mark after 3 babies. But you never know do you? I'll definitely need to do something about the old bazoongas - I've breastfed for 6 years in total! They look bad now, they'll be deflated baloons minus a bit of weight. My DH is already dreaming about a holiday to Thailand - our equivalent of Mexico for all things cosmetic.

My DH is right behind me if I feel this is what I need to do but when he was complaining about his back last night (he's about 25kg overweight too) I said to him "would you consider this too?". He said "no, I wouldnt risk a general anaesthetic with you and the kids to consider for something I should be able to handle on my own". I said no more about it but I was thinking on it more later on. He had a long surgery for compartment syndrome in both his legs about 2 years ago, our little girl was only 7 months old at the time and we've got two older boys. Why can people not view obesity as a debilitating condition that needs to be fixed, just as his compartment syndro…

Hi I will be banded a week from today. Can anyone tell me what proecdure is better the 3 incision or just the one longe incision, and what incision heals the faster.

I"m 2 weeks away from my lapban surgery, and I am getting abit nervous. someone come to me rescuse and ese these jitters. This is all new to me, know hardly nothing. Went blank when i was in the doctors office. Had no questions and now thats all I have.

I got filled on wednesday, I am at 1.6 I have lots of pain everytime I try to sip any juice or milk or a popcycle. In fact its 1pm and I just slimed up after trying to get down 1/2 a popcycle. But around 8 to 10 pm I am able to drink some made with Water, tomatoe Soup (a 10 ounce can) and some milk. I think any thick Protein Drink would kill me so I am scared to even try. My instructions were 24 hour liquids, then mushies.. Its been 4 days and I can barely tolerate liquids and its HOT and its driving me mad.. lol My experience has been.. I was filled to 1.1 and it wasnt enough at all, I could still eat all kinds of junk and I didnt lose any weight. Then I …

I've been miserable over the last four weeks with varying degrees of reflux symptoms, and i've decided it's time to just go for a significant unfill to see if that helps. I haven't had a really good night's sleep in quite a while, and I'm not eating well either. I do think I irritated my system while I was in California, but some of the symptoms had started before I even left. Now it's pretty bad and even though I'm trying to stick completely to liquids I can still feel there's something not quite right. Thursday I'll go for an unfill, taking as much as half of my fill out. Wish me luck!!

Question for all. I have already been approved for surgery, but there seems to be an issue with my Triglicerides, which is in the 400 and my HDS are low, as well as my platelates being low. The Diagnostic facility was concerned about both issues and wanted me to go see my primary care dr asap. Also, they said it could delay my surgery. So I go see my dr and she reruns the blood test because my initial results are almost 3 weeks old. My doctor focuses mainly on the platelets and doesn't seem terribly concerned about my lipid levels...so I think it is all fine. My platelets come back normal, but of course no lipids, because she didn't test that. So now in the morning …

Any suggestions to help me slow down my eating? I have never been a really fast eater, but as I heal I am finding I can eat faster than the recommended 30 minutes....

Hello All- I'm feeling a little down about my weight loss- I was doing well and am down 32-33 lbs. but I've plateaued for several weeks- and now, I'm eating crap! I think my mood severly effects what I eat- since I stopped losing I've had baked chips, chocolate, Cookies, 2 HAMBURGERS!!! I hadn't been to a fast food place in months and now I've had dinner from Taco Bell (bean burrito) (nachos) and McDonalds (small chzburger and small fries) twice. I feel like a failure and I just started- I need help getting back on track..... HELP ME BANDSTERS!

Hello everyone. I am 36 yrs old and had a RNY (gastric bypass) 11 years ago. I got down to 135 lbs. but regained and now am about 165 lbs which is a lot on a 5'3 frame. I am interested in getting the lap-band on top of the RNY. I'v e heard of a few people who have done this with success. Is there a specific weight requirement with this procedure? Anyone have it done in Mexico where it's much cheaper? I'm sure my insurance would not cover it since I am not BMI over 35. Any add'l advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. MC

Hello all-Im goin in again! August 29th,to take out the stitches. My port area has been so sore,and its gotten worse considering my doggie punched me in the tumy a couple days ago-right in the port! Im not going to be completely under whuich is good because i have a rough time with that-its just like a "twilight"sleep,and i`ll be back home the same day. Anyone else have this happen? Pray for me on the day for some relief!!!!

Sometimes I just need a hug and not food. I think that is what I was going through this weekend. I wanted to eat everything but the band kept me from doing so. Thank God for my Band.:cry

I'd really like to hear from some long-term banders and how they are doing. I'm still in the "decision" stage of determining what type of WLS do I want. I know the answer will lie somewhere in the LONG-TERM effects. I mean 10 years out, anyone out there who can help me with this type of info?

I was banded on July 25th 2005 and have recently experienced bad reflux that made me feel like something was stuck in my throat forever. I never had it before banding and would like to know if anyone else has had it. My lap-band nurse said none of her other patients had this. I thought to myself "of course - I would be the weirdo to do this"

It's one of the things Im most afraid of. Anaesthetics make me morose and weepy anyway. Will I come home and cry over what I have done? Do you find enormous challenges in overcoming the reasons you overate despite the band stopping you from doing so. I can picture myself prowling the house desperate to relieve those feelings that I used to eat to relieve. At the moment, I think about food and my weight constantly. What I'm not going to eat, how I'm going to avoid it, how I can get away with eating it, etc etc. Does that ever go away? What I would like is to one day be a normal person who eats whatever they feel like eating when they're hungry, until their not hu…

I had to band surgery a year ago this Aug 2005. I have had several fills. I have only lost 30 lbs. Within the last 3 months I have had to have some of the saline taken out due to vomiting. The last amount taken out was .4 however, I am still vomiting even in my sleep. I am eating as slow as I can. I did notice when I ate some popcorn recently it cause vomiting. However, when I ate it in the past it didn't bother me or the band. I have had an upper GI and, the band is in place okay. Are there any bandsters out there that can give me some life experience? Please help. P.S. only serious concerned parties please apply.

I need some advise. I have had a few dizzy spells lately. Today was bad though. I was driving my parents to the airport and suddenly felt like I was in a third dimension. I had to pull over on the highway and let my dad drive. Luckily I was fine after about 15 minutes and managed to make the hour drive home with no problems. This happened to me last week while driving with my two kids also. Scared the hoot out of me. I'm wondering if my body is not getting enough of certain foods or nutrients. I'm still nursing and only taking in around 1000 calories a day or really 500 after nursing. Any advise out there? I feel like all I eat is pure protien and no veggies-- …

Just wanted to check in had my port revised on August 8th what had happenen was where the port pokes out of the muscle the tube should move freely with movement from your body my case the area healed and there was scar tissue and it was fixed in an akward position that did not allow movement and it flipped the port well it pulled the port out of the muscle my doctor said he has never seen that before well it seems to be ok though now I am on antibiotics because they did so much work in there and fluid built up however I have lost 36 pounds in 2 months but all this is listen to your body and ask questions we can all tell when something is not right and the port wasn't so h…

By that I mean are you guys following any programs while having the band. This week when I weighed in I have gained back 4 pounds. Which is weird I thought that I was doing good. My mom said I am looking thinner but I would think if I was looking thinner it would be less swelling but shouldn't that have been gone by now? I don't know but I was wondering if anyone could suggest a program to stay on while working with the band. I am one of those people that to be told you can only eat these things and these times. I don't like having choices in food because I will go for what ever tastes best and usually that has the most calories. So if anyone could suggest somethin…

So, like many of you have mentioned here....my first fill didn't really "kick in" until about a week after and then hoo boy did it kick in! Wowzers. I used to scoff when folks here would say "I ate a few forkfuls and was STUFFED". I thought "yeah that will never be me". I'm here to testify....:hand on bible:...it's true. WOW. I humbly bow before all you amazing bandsters and your generosity with your experiences. I have learned much from you and will do my best to continue to pass on my own experience. Wow. :full: What a concept!

LOL!! Bet you thought this would be a bunch of pics of hunky guys huh? Sorry to disappoint you guys. I have 5 more classes till I get my Bachelors in Holistic Nutrition. WHOO HOO!! I am right now sporting a 4.0 grade point average. WHOO HOO!! Doing the happy dance here. See the banana's? :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Happy Day To You !!!

Anyone here subscribe to the ObestityHelp Magazine? Do they talk about lap banding and not just RNY?

O.K., you know how you have to look everywhere for a watch band that fits?! Well, my "extra links" watch just lost one of its links today!!!! I am so excited....

I have been having what I believe are gall bladder attacks - these awful middle-of-the-night pains....I'm calling my surgeon as soon as they are in the office this morning...anyway, I am wondering about the post surgery.....I teach 5th grade, and next Wednesday is my first day of school with kids...:0 I would hate to have to miss that, but I've had 3 episodes in the past week - guess I can't ignore it any longer. If you have a band, did your band surgeon do the surgery? Was it an easier surgery than the band, or more difficult? I know I did not bounce back like many of you after the band, and I wonder if that'll be me again.......UGH....Anyone who can tell me about th…

Wow I can't believe I am being banded on Monday after a year of fighting for it. I have been on my liquid diet for 6 days now. I am really hungry today..lol Clear fluids tomorrow and banding at 1:30 on Monday. I can't wait to be part of the banded world. I have learned so much from all of you here. It has made this journey easier. I am sure I will have tons of questions after Monday.. Wish me luck!.. Amy

I am sending prayers to all of you in the path of Hurricane Katrina. I was scheduled to speak in New Orleans this week and just cancelled all my reservations this morning. I hope you all evacuate and get out of harms way. Thoughts and Prayers are with You'll. Barbara

Well, I don't know how much I weigh--have been camping for three days (as opposed to weighing myself at least 5 times a day when I am home)--so I know what the number is in a general way (I know, I know, I shouldn't weigh myself like that but I can't stop it)...... So we go camping--it's me, hubby and DS age 6. We have a pop up camper, a big honking canoe and all the stuff you have to lug along with you to "camp". We had never been to this park--but it looked pretty so we went. All weekend we were on the go--Lugged that canoe down to the lake, hopped in, paddled all over the place--all stuff I would NEVER have tried when I was pre-band--and it was soo fun! I can …

I go in for surgery on Monday you guys!! Yes!!!! I am soooo nervous and excited! My surgery is scheduled for 6am. I am the first on the surgery schedule! I guess it helps to be an employee and have friends in surgery(wink). My mom says thatI should not be nervous(she is a nurse) because this is something that I want very much I say anesthesia is scary! LOL I am so glad that I have yall for support!. I stopped by the nutritionalist's office and purchased my Protein drinks. The name is PROTI MAX they taste really good! Well please keep me in your prayers and thoughts on Monday at 6am. I know that you all will be there with me in spirit. Thanks!! I love you guys!!! Dee…

... and has the band helped you to overcome those cravings? My food weakness is the potato, in all of its various forms. More specifically though, chips. Potato chips have been my favorite food, for as long as I can remember. In the past, I've been known to sit down with a large bag and finish it off in less than 30 minutes. I'd have still been hungry afterwards. I'm amazed by how long a bag of chips can last in my house now lol. The bag currently sitting in the cupboard, has been here nearly 3 weeks and is still half full. After picking my daughter up from school one day, I was having a huge craving for chips, so we stopped at 7-11. Got two tiny bags. Les…

I was so happy this morning when I weighed. My first goal since I got banded between me and hubby was to weigh less than him. As I got closer he said he was going to start watching what he ate so he would lose and I couldnt catch up with him lol. Well this morning I am .4kg less than him woooooooohoooooooo, shoulda seen me jumping up and down screaming. He mentioned that my clothes were lighter and he had things in his pocket lmaooooo. He was kidding and congratulated me and bought me a bunch of flowers home this arvo. Weeeeeeeeeee just wanted to share!!! Onto double figures!

Three months ago I sat in a small sandwich shop and ate a huge turkey sub. Turkey, cheese, and a mountain of veggies covered with mayonnaise, that was delicious. It is also just a memory. I can no longer handle meat. My first experience was 45 days post op. My wife and I went to a steak house. I ordered a small steak and planned to take a few small bites to Celebrate liberation from the rigorous post-op diet my surgeon put me on. The steak was so juicy and tender. I chewed slowly in appreciation of solid food and swallowed the small fillet of heaven. I threw up the moment the steak hit my stomach. Not the best start to my new lifestyle. I was in plent…

Hello dear Bandsters all over the world, my name is Maria and i'm 33 yo, from Athens Greece. I'm banded since 6th of July 2005, and i lost 32 lbr so far. I feel great and sometimes anxious when the scale doesn't move. Pretty normal i guess . Before 3 days i did my 1st fill, im on 4 cc right now! I would like to have a little pic of me dunno yet how i will do it! Have a good weekend all.

I thought I was doing so well. Since surgery 5 weeks ago I have lost 17 lbs....will go Thursday for first appointment and possibly first fill. I thought I had some restrictiion still until a few days ago. Now it is like I am not even banded. Is this normal.....help please!!!!

I was banded on 06/29/05 and had my first fill on 8/15. I am usually fine and can eat whatever I want. I have even scheduled an appointment for a second fill because I am still hungry. There are days, like yesterday, that I cannot hold anything down. I am extremely tight and even thin liquids like water come back up. This is happened to me twice, and both on Sundays (not that that really matters)... IS this normal? I don't think that I am overfilled, I only have 1cc. Does this ever happen to anyone else?

Hi everyone. Well it has been since January 2005 that I had my surgery. I really had a rough time with severe shoulder pain after surgery. Well, it has been all these months and my shoulder pain is still pretty bad on and off, comes and goes. What gives with this? I told the doctor about this and he said after a year what you see is what you get after surgery whatever point you are at at that time with side effects. He said to take Motrin. Okay, well, did that and soaked in a hot tub, nothing helps. It is the exact same pain I had from surgery in the same spot and feels very uncomfortable. Has anyone else continued to have this as a side effect of the band or pos…