LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

<!-- BEGIN MESSAGE BODY --><TABLE class=tblMsgBody cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%" height=300>I had my surgery done two weeks and two days ago. Yesterday I went to the chiropractor for some neck and upper back pain. I asked him to only work on the upper portion of my body. I motioned from chest up. He then ran a vibrator type thing along my spine several times and adjusted my neck and shoulder area. Right after the adjustment I noticed some swelling directly above my port area. It is not a great amount of swelling. It does not hurt. It is not red or irrtated. There is just an area that is sl…

Hi Everyone, I went to see if I could get another fill today. I have been gaining weight since I quit smoking and I cant seem to get back on track. I explained to the radiologist how hungry I am and that I am snacking between meals, eating more etc. He looked at my present level of restriction on the flouro machine after I swallowed barium and said if he closed me up anymore, I would not be able to swallow. I guess I dont understand. i dont have pouch dilatation, I dont have a slipped band, I dont have leakage, I dont barf and PB very often (maybe 3x per year). I can eat bread both toasted and untoasted, any kind of meat or vegetable and I dont get full til I have eat…

OK, I have read the other posts about plateaus and that they are to be expected...but I am soooo frustrated that the scale has not changed in 3 weeks. I was banded on 5/17 and proceed to lose 27lbs in no time. I DO see changes in parts of my body ( went from a 44DDD to a 40DD ) but don't want to lose all of it there! ...do plateauas last a certain amount of time as a rule? Does going back to liquids for 24/72 hours REALLY work? thanks for any suggestions...

I was banded on June 1st. Everything went fine until yesterday. My port seems to buldging out, swollen? Is this normal?? I have a doctor's appt on July 5th. Should I wait till then ?

I was banded on 4th April this year. I have had 5 fills in an 10mls band taking me up to 7.5mls. I have restriction after my fills for about a week and that is why I have lost any weight at all. I lose about a kilo or 2 in that week and then in the time up till my next fill I put a kilo or so back on. I am really worried I am getting to the max my band can take and I wont have proper restriction longer than the week or so. Has this happened to anyone else? Anyone get close to the max fill before reaching good restriction? Also does anyone else have restriction for a week or so after their fills and then it goes away? Is it true that the big bands are suppose to be put in…

Hi all, I am new here. I enjoy reading all your posts. I have become discouraged. I was banded 4 months ago. I have only lost 25 lbs. and 20 of that was the first 6 weeks. I have gone back to my old eating habbits. I eat fattening food, desserts, and regular soda. I feel like a complete failure. I waited so long for this band and now I can't quit eating. I've had 2 fills, and I only have restriction on some foods. But I can eat alot of the foods that I shoudnt. I feel that maybe I should have had the bypass, so it would stop me from this. I am really upset with myself. Whats it going to take for me to stop eating? HELP!

I had my fill (had lost only 4 measly pounds between may and june) and he added 0.2cc's to my band. I could drink Water in the office no problem. Since then, liquids are no prob as long as I sip sip sip, but I couldn't chug anything to save my live--ya know? As far as eating---tiny amounts--like five bites of whatever is before me--trying to concentrate on protein--and after those bites, feeling uncomfy, but no PB's. Don't feel sick (however, right after fill we went camping and I was weak as a kitten and in the middle of no where--so just made the best of it--better now) and not hungry. Anyone ever lose like 20 pounds in one month?!!!! Opinions? Thanks! Kim…

Well tomorrow morning Iam headed down to TJ to see Dr. Ortiz for a check up for my bowel obstruction surgery and to be re-filled. It will be exactly 2 months since my surgery. I am so excited to be re-filled and get going again with my weight loss, it feels like a fresh start. I have been on a 2 month haitus. Luckily for me in the last 2 months I have been able to lose 5 lbs and not gain any weight, it has been a struggle, trust me! It will be very interesting if I can be filled to 2.5 'ccs like I was before I was unfilled. I do not think I will be able to not because he will not do it but I do not think I can jump to that level of restriction rgiht from the get go, I may…

what are the rules for drinking before and after meals do you have to not eat 30 minutes before a meal and 1 hour after a meal what do you do.?

A lot seems to be happening to me physically, and I'm wondering if I've turned some sort of corner. For one thing, I seem to be heading for menopause on a rocket train. My cycle is 23-25 days, now (compared to a normal clockwork-like 28)! Pre-menstrual carb cravings are worse than I've ever experienced them, and I can't stop once I start. At 120 lbs lower than my highest non-pregnant weight, I'm feeling very well thank you. But I'm 50 lbs heavier than I probably "should" be. Do I want to go there? I honestly don't know. For one thing, as my face gets thinner I think I look older, and at 43 looking my age is bad enough. With more weight lost I'd just look even older! I'…

I called my insurance company again today....I have called about 6 times since they recieved all my paperwork on June 8th. Each time they tell me that the paperwork has been logged and is in review. BUT, today I am told that my PCP must call the insurance company to request a "pre-certification for gastric banding". Then the nurse from Humana will call my doctor if or when she needs more infomation including "codes". WHY DIDN'T THE LAST FIVE PEOPLE TELL ME THIS INFORMATION......2 WEEKS DOWN THE DRAIN....WAITING, LOSING sleep, UNABLE TO FOCUS ON ANYTHING BUT MY APPROVAL...... I AM MAD...................................AND CRYING................ Margo

Did your doctors give you a weight restriction you could lift post op mine said 20 pounds for four weeks. does anyone else have that restriction and why

Can someone recommend a fill doctor in Michigan? Thanks!

Is there anyone who has a dr. in Naples, Florida. Please help! I really need to see one soon. Janine

Hello, im glad to have seen this site. I been reading on these forms for a week or so and i guess its time to let my presence known. Im not banded yet but am looking into starting the process as soon as i can. To tell a little about my self, im 32 years old come thurs. June 23 and am 450lbs+. Im about 260lbs over weight and need a lot of help. I have a loving wife and two great kids(a 1 1/2 year old boy & a 5 month old girl). I was a meatcutter purty much all my life untill Nov. 5th 2003 when i could nolonger work. I have 4 rupturd disk and a few other things wrong with my back. After finding this out, i went from 375lbs to 450 in know time. With my size, there is no…

Hi everyone I took my 14 year old son to see Green Day yesterday and they were awesome, apparently it is the biggest venue they have played at in the UK (65000 people). I'm not sure who enjoyed it the most me or my boy. Anyway it was the hottest day in England for years and boy what a difference my 47 lb weight loss made, as we had to do a lot of walking in the heat. I really do love my band, its the best thing I've ever done Gaynor

Hey all, well, my surgery is Thursday and so I'm doing liquids only now in preparation.....wowowow this is HARD work! I started with a Protein shake this morning, Green tea mid morning and some Imagine brand potato leek Soup. So far so good but I think by end of day I will be a mess. I couldn't get through all day yesterday on liquids so had a small meal around dinnertime. Thoughts? Advice? Suggestions? Man oh man am I peeing a lot too! (I know, TMI!) I'm sure hoping this goes easier after I get banded......woooo little light headed!

I edited the original version of this post cause things changed during the day; I originally posted that my wound had finally closed for 2 days, but it opened up again this afternoon. It was a thrilling 2 days while it lasted! So I'm shortening this long post. For newbies, my port site became badly infected so they removed my port in June, and the wound remains open. It's not infected but it leaks every day so I have to keep it clean and bandaged. My second update had me in tears this morning after hubby gave me my one-month-weigh-in-smooch. In November, I gained 6 pounds on vacation. It took me 2 weeks to lose it, but then I went to California and gained it ba…

I am going to get my lap band put on in two days I am in the market for supplements I can take after the surgery. How is viactin for Calcium? Anyone know the issue with to much Vitamin K? I plan on purchasing liquid glucosamine/chondrodine. How about crushing my Citrical? What about crushing Multivitamins? Annbo

hello, Im a Dr.Kwon pt. Have an appt 6/27/05 for surgery date. I've lost 11 lbs pre-surg...I've been fighting the ins. com. since Dec 04. Hopefully they'll say "yes" this time...I CAN'T WAIT!!!!...and yet I'm so NERVOUS....i need some support..had my psyc. with the guy in Matamoras,pa in dEC

Hey everyone, I know sodas aren't something that should be on a bandsters diet,and I don't intend to continue that habit after surgery.I am a total popaholic!Anyone else have that problem?How did you cope? redsaid5

Hello EveryOne, Just wanted to inform eveyone who cares about adjustment, That I am accepting new patients at this time and would love to hear from you if interested. 702-274-6763. I perform a non-x-ray adjustments and have approx. 57 patients in the Las Vegas, Laughlin, Bullhead City, Henderson and Summerlin. I Have achieved 12 patients to goal weight and my biggest loser past 200 lbs. I have compeitive prices and programs. Thanks Eric Tiesi Physician Assistant

Hello EveryOne, Just wanted to inform eveyone who cares about adjustment, That I am accepting new patients at this time and would love to hear from you if interested. 702-274-6763. I perform a non-x-ray adjustments and have approx. 57 patients in the Las Vegas, Laughlin, Bullhead City, Henderson and Summerlin. I Have achieved 12 patients to goal weight and my biggest loser past 200 lbs. I have compeitive prices and programs. Thanks Eric Tiesi Physician Assistant

Hi all, I am new to this forum. There are so many wonderful posts and inspiring posts. I am taking the steps to become a bandster. I went to a seminar on Saturday that the surgeon requires all his patients to attend, in fact he does the seminar himself, it was very inspiring and informative. I am reading through all the paperwork he gave out and I am reading the page about making an appt for a psych eval and pulmonary doctor and all of a sudden the excitment left my soul and nervousness hit. The surgery does not scare me as much as going under, has anyone felt this way? If so how do you get out of the funk? I know there is no other option for me, I am 43 and I have …

I just ate lunch and man o man am I FULL!! 3oz chicken breast, one cup of salad.... not much, but I think it was the ice tea before lunch that got me! Or was it the two chocolates that I shouldn't have eatten! I dunno, but man oh man, I AM FULL! I DON'T LIKE THIS FEELING. There is a difference between being comfortably full and uncomfortable, i am UNCOMFORTABLE and I did it to myself...How do I avoid this...DUH I know, stop eatting......But what should I be aiming for as far as a meal? One cup???? 3 ounce protein, 4 ounce veggies??? I think I may be eatting too fast too........geeez louise......just to be able to eat without having to think ya know? Does anyone els…

Hi How often do you take painkillers?I mean anything like panadol,Tylenol or any such thing for any pain? thanks

Ok I was banded on May 31. I started out at 257 in April. Between pre-op and exercise I was 243 on day of surgery. I have gone all the way down to 231 and back to 237 after starting solids. I can eat about anything, except bread. I have been on solids for almost a week. I am not losing any more weight. I almost feel like I have had nothing done. (no band) Dr. told me I have to be on solids for a month before an adjustment, so i guess i have to be patient, but darn it, i dont wanna be! I wanna feel some restriction, I wanna see the scale drop!!! I DO know that this is time of healing and all that lol. I can eat almost anything. I have had pizza for dinner one night and a b…

What a wimp I am!!!...and I'm an RN too!!! I guess it just goes to show you that just because you can do procedures to other people doesn't mean you are ok when they are done on you. I went to Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick in Portland. She was so nice and kind. She made me feel very comfortable. She found my port easily by palpation and had me stand up for the fill. I was doing ok at first, but then I started getting really hot and sweaty. Dr. Kelly and husband said I got really pale and lost all color. She had me sit down and then lie down when things started to get spacey and I felt like I was going to pass out. She had my husband wet a cloth for my head. After a few …

HI all..Yesterday was one week that I have been banded. As of this morning I have lost 11 lbs! I know this wont continue..for as of now..Im happy to see the numbers getting smaller. I do have to say tho.,I am feeling a lot of hunger. Well..its either hunger of reflux since i found out pre -surg that i have GERD and a hiatal hernia. Also......I was diagnosed with pneumonia on the sunday after surgery as I reported on here. Anyone know what i can do to kill this hunger?? Ten min after i eat a shake.....it starts again..ARGHH! My stats:279/268/not sure of goal..right now..250 is my minii goal

I am on day 6 post surgery and the list from my doctor says "pureed meat". What is that ? The only non baby food thing I can think of is the armored deviled ham/ roast beef stuff ( which, while not a porterhouse, is ok). Is it safe to try this now? Does that qualify for pureed, or is it to the baby food aisle. ( sounds really really gross)

I was wondering if there are many people in their early 20's (like me)in here who are or have gotten banded-From what ive seen and heard on-line and around where i live that most people banded are late 20's-30 +... Not that theres a HUGE difference-Just curious =-) Thanks!

Well I was banded on Wednesday and still am on water and gatorade only. But my son had the most beautiful pepperoni pizza for dinner tonight. I have to ask. Is pizza, once in awhile, just a bit here and there, stilll in my future?

Well, I experienced my first two PB's this weekend...... OMG..... I will never again make the mistake of eating something that is dry. Anyhow, I am almost 4 weeks post-op and on soft foods like chicken and fish and vegetables- I seem to feel some restriction (I think) so I wanted to check with the pro's on this. I get the sensation that I am about to have a PB if I swallow that last bite. Does this sound like restriction. I can only eat about 1/2 cup of Soup that has consistancy to it like chicken. I am going this thursday for a possible fill and I dont want to go through the process of discomfort as I have read with others and them getting their fill. I guess I am …

I had my second fill a week ago. Before that I had no restriction from my first fill. I had 2.0cc at the first and he added 1.4cc at the second. So, I did liquid for 1 day, then mushy, then on to regular food. The first day on regular food, I got sick on lettuce. I think the rib of the romaine was too fibrous. I did liquid the next day, but did do one of those fruit cups. It was tiny pineapple tidbits and they were quite mushy to begin with. Well, then I got sick for the second day in a row. Back to liquid yesterday. I did try to take a pill and it got stuck too. I kind of feel like it is still there. I feel like I can't burp all of the way. I have a lump in the b…

Hi everyone. Well its 3:15 am AGAIN! I have this habit the last 3 nite of waking up in pain around this time & needing tylenol. Thats all I am on now-which it was more. Its very tough for me to sleep on my back now, especially because I was having back problems prior to surgery. WHEN WERE ALL OF YOU ABLE TO SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACHS???? I tried in vain to turn over tonight. That was a big no no for me so far. I normally am a stomach sleeper with one leg up & bent. But there is no way right now. This seems like a really slow healing process for me (maybe hematoma related). IT could also be that I am WAY TO IMPATIENT> I do better with goals to reach for…

I'm a week out and I just assumed that I would drop some weight during the liquid phase. I'm on my second week of Clear liquids and I haven't lost anything in five days. I'm trying not to panic and I know I have to have patience. Just wondering if this is normal or what I should be doing. Any help??

Well, I was disappointed went for my 7 week follow up and 2nd fill and only down 4 more pounds, BUT I have to say I'm headed in the right direction. The PA told me to start excercising more. Five days after my 1st fill I had to go back due to excessive vomiting and I get an unfill, the PA told me that I am behind schedule far as cc's are concern, I should have more in my band at this point, but because of my problem they don't want to put in too much and have me come back again due to vomiting, so they are going to take it slow with me. My first fill was 1.75cc, then unfilled -.25cc, today they filled me another +.35cc's for a total of 1.85cc. The office said to come back…

Dear Pre & Post-op Lap-banders, We will be meeting this coming Friday, Jun. 24th in Durham at IHOP. Time will be 6:00pm and dress is casual. It really will be fun and completely open to all NC lap-banders. Just tell the folks at IHOP that you are meeting Judy Bellyband. Also, in order that you may recognize me, here is my picture: costco & Bath & Beyond located at the opposite end of shopping center. Their address is: IHOP 1821 N Pointe Drive Durham , NC 27705 Phone: (919) 317-4161

Hello Everyone, My name is Iris and I am with Bariatric Support Specialists and I would like to take this opportunity to invite the members of LapBandTalk.com to join us and Dr. Lloyd Stegemann of New Dimensions Weight Loss Surgery based in San Antonio, TX for the LapBand Buddies Weight Loss Surgery Cruise & Conference. The cruise & conference is scheduled to sail aboard Carnival's Elation from the port of Galveston, TX to Cozumel, Progresso and Belize, May 14 - 21, 2006. We have a great educational conference planned that will cover things like nutrition, exercise, mental health issues, fashion shows, makerovers and much much more. We have some great p…

Hi Everyone, Been a very long time since I have been here. TOO LONG!! But I am going to have lots of time on my hands the next few weeks. My last few days!!! Wednesday: Layed off from my good job, good money. Don't know what I am going to do. Scared as hell. Thursday: Dr. Eubanks in Oregon no longer does fills. Friday: Cancelled Hawaii Trip planned for our 30th wedding aniversary. I really need some encouraging words here!! And I know this is a strong support group that I have missed being a part of. I feel like I am drowning and the Water is coming in fast. I know everything will work out in the long run just going to take some time. Any great advise…

I'm thinking of getting stock in this. It was at $63 a share. As more and more ins cos go up and then when medicare (i have medicare) will start to cover it I think its gonna skyrocket. Since like me, I have but on 50 pds from being sick for 6 yrs as a lot of people do who have medicare. Rene

I got my band yesterday too but am not doing as well as Kerri. I hurt pretty darn bad. The gas pain is rough and is a stabbing sort of pain in my shoulder...this I expected. What i wasn't prepared for was how much my whole abdoman was going to hurt. I feel like I have been punched in the stomach a few hundred times. This feeling wasn't helped any by all of the vomiting and heaving I did after sugury. So I am taking meds, sipping Water and broth and trying to move around. I am nowhere near doing the block though. hats off to Kerri on that one. I am just circling the downstairs of my house. Well, my latest circle put me over here by the computer so I thought I would drop …

can you drink coffee after lap band keep getting different stories let me know thanks

Hi, I am going to Mexico on June 21st. I have only told one person about my surgery, I dont know if I am embarressed, ashamed or what. All I know is that I am so excited I cant sleep. My heart is constantly racing. Does anyone have any advice on what I should bring that the dr. hasnt told me. Thanks

I'm not sure why but ever since my surgery I get very very tired at any given time day or night. Mostly in the afternoon but my wife thinks I'm not getting enough protein and maybe to many carbs???

Are you really content with less food just wanted to know my issue was eating large quantities of food does the band make you full with less food give me your thoughts

Hello, I was banded on Monday June 13th. I thought yesterday I was doing alot better. Today I have noticed the area around my port incision is very red and yellow. It seems like the area of soreness is expanding further from the incision. Is this normal? Could I already be having a reaction to the port? Or could it be just because there is a strange object in my body and this is the way it is accepting it? Any help would be greatly apprecaited....

Hi KarenB, I'm new to the board and ran across your post from back in May about a low BMI study being done in Westchester. Could I trouble you to pm me with any information you have about it? Sorry to do this so publicly, but your mail box is full so I couldn't pm you. Thank you, LizzyD

I have heard some people say that it's bad to take tylenol & asprin after surgery. I get severe migranes and regularly take Hydrocodone 7.5/750...would this be included as a drug to stay away from?? Whenever I take my pills... I usually only take 1/2 at a time and chew them before swollowing them. What complications does taking Hydrocodone (vicodin) after lapband surgery cause ?? Thanks!

After your banding what foods were the hardest to eat again? What foods gave you problems and how did they affect you?