LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

My friend had gastric bypass and did GREAT, my BMI is 35 and the Lap Band seems much less invasive however the weight loss also seems lower and slower any ideas from those who have researched the differences?

Hello everyone....My name is Tee and I go get my first fill on thursday(6-09-05). What should I expect? Will it hurt? What should I eat right after and for how long? I am really scared, only because the nurse told me that it will hurt just a little. Oh yeah......before I go one last question. How soon and how fast does the weight come off after you have your band filled?

I finally have this lap band, the thing that I have been wanting for years. But, I am scared to death that something is going to go wrong. :nervous Either erosion, a slip, or an infection... Is there a way that I can prevent these things from happening to me? Or is it just random who it happens to? I will do EVERYTHING right if I just knew how to avoid those problems. I hope nothing goes wrong...I am being waaay too paranoid huh? I am still on liquids and am scared to try anything but milk and clear stuff. I think I just have that worrisome personality. Help me to not be so scared!!! :paranoid

So they told me that even though I am on liquids for 3 weeks after op, said I can have applesauce. The whole little container with crushed meds. Well meds are tiny, so i dont crush. SO i decide to have some applesauce. OMG it is sitting right in my throat. I only ate about half the little container bc I was feeling full. Ugh now i feel awful. I am so confused about head hunger. How do we describe it? Do u feel it in your belly? Or just in your head literally? Thanks for listeing to me whine!

Just wanted to share an awesome post from ObesityHelp.com concerning Pre-op research and understanding of what this procedure entails. I highly suggest potential and new bandsters to read this very carefully. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/postdetail/96691.html?vc=0

I finally decided to tell my best friend that I had a lap band and guess what her reaction was?? Of course, she's skinny...perfect body. She says, "So this thing will help you control portion sizes? Why don't you just try and eat smaller portions? Then you wouldn't need to get the surgery." Gaaaaaah! I respond with, "That's the point, I can't control my eating. That's why I needed this." Her response, "Well I think all you have to do is eat less. Smaller portions!" OK! OK! How can I possibly expect someone without an eating disorder understand the thinking of someone with one. But she's my BEST friend! Now she must think that I'm "weak" or "taking the easy way" out. "Oh s…

had my fill last thrusday and dont feel any restricstion. I am 5 weeks post op. i initially lost about 15 pounds in the first 2 weeks. now it seems the scale is going up because i feel i am eating way too much and i am hungry. I am worried that i may fail at this. my fill was 1cc. if i fail at this i dont know what i will do.i am worried that i may be one of the people that will have all 4cc filled and still now be able to lose weight. i need some help.

Just wondering for the people how many lap bands have your doctors done mine has done approx 35 and I'm just scared he might not know what he is doing he seems nice but what is like a magic number to become qualified at it. scared

has anyone heard of anyone over 70 having a band placed? My mom is going to be 72 in September. She has diabetes, high blood pressure and has had a hip replacement. Considering that she has all of that, she is otherwise very healthy. She is a very determined and headstrong person, but has struggled with weight her ENTIRE adult life. She's about 5'2" and about 245 lbs. She NEEDS to lose weight, but can't exercise because her knees hurt, which I'm sure is from her weight. She has medicare and Principal Beech Street insurance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated:)

I just have the band surgery on may 17, 2005 and would like to know about everyone whom has had te band and lost rapidly if you did aLOT of exersize. I would also like to know i anyone was prescribed medicaton for the mental hunger (i know it sounds stupid) but it's SOOO hard i have had the bad habits all of my life! I have lost 10 12 ponds in i week, i was relly excited at first but now i am starting to wonder if this is going to be like all the rest of the diets were i gain 25 pounds back? Any sucess stories would be much appreciated!!:straight

Ok, look at this site. http://droakleymd.com/index.php?page=debate So is this page full of BS or do they have any hard facts? I came across this page randomly and am thinking that either these people are off their rocker or banders have been poorly informed. Obviously this company feels threatened by the success of the lap-band. What are your thoughts when you read things like this? Just curious.

Tomorrow I go for my last test. I have to go for my Endoscopy. Can anyone tell me how it is? I am a little nervous! I am excited though since it is my last test!!!! Whoohooo!!! :banana

I am scheduled on Thursday for my consultation with Dr. Spivak in Houston and am wondering what to expect. Not really sure what information I need to bring with me for my first visit. I would love to have everything he needed so that I can just sign on the dotted line, but I know it won't be that easy. Any suggestions on what information I would need to bring, what to expect from a consult and what generally takes place afterward? I would love my insurance to pay, however I haven't seen much information about Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, so I am not sure how willing they will be to assist in this. Hopefully the doctors office will handle all of that side of t…

Hi, I am new to this site, my daughter found it for me. I am thinking of having lap band surgery. Honestly, is it worth it? thanks for your input!http://lapbandtalk.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I have a stomach bug and I can't keep anything down. My pcp perscribed phenergan but that doesn't seem to be helping. I am throwing up from my toes up and I know this can't be good for my band...Any suggestions???

Hi there, I just had the lapband put on yesterday here in Monterrey and nothing hurts except for the huge bubble of air. The incisions don't hurt, I do ache a bit when I use the stomache muscle (especially when I clear my throat), but the thing that is killing me is the air. I burp once in a while but I just know that if I could pass gas I would feel so much better. Any suggestions on how to make this happen? Thanks! I can't wait to see myself in a few months. I've been so inspired by all of the patients that I've met and seen their results. Tara

I feel I had an NSV last night. One of my dearest friends that I thought was going to have a problem with me having the surgery and not support my decision came through for me last night. He told me that he will support my decision and will be there for me if I need him. That is just plain awesome. It made my night. I was on cloud 9! I know I shouldnt really care if they are behind me or not, but I do. I am doing this for me to better myself and want to make my family and friends proud of me!!! I am having my surgery on the 30th of June and I feel like I have already gotten an NSV without it! Look how it is going to make me feel once I have it. I have a…

I have only been banded for 7 days. The first few days were okay, but now i feel like I am ALWAYS hungry. I have done shake, carnation breakfast drink w/ extra protein, yogurt, pudding etc. I have had a few moments when I got the cold sweat, then started to dry heave. Is this all normal???? I don't really know what else to eat to make me feel satisfied...any suggestions? They would be muchly appreciated!

Hi everyone! I am finished with most of the model homes and I survived. I have had a chance to get on and read some of the time. I really enjoyed seeing all the pictures and reading the posts of the Vegas Bash. I would definately come to next years Bash. I have lost 4 more pounds during September but gained 1 lb today. I got some new clothes and actually bought a few extra large shirts in normal sizes. I even got a size a size 16 pants. That was exciting. I have a question? Are we supposed to avoid exercises that crunch or strech the port ? I am thinking about joining a fittness center and I really wondered. Cause I usually baby my port but I was banded on the 6th of May…

Ok, I am now 3 week post op and 18lbs down, I am unsure as to whether I am eating right or not so someone please direct me and tell me if I am hurting myself. WATER..........always Breakfast: Protein Drink from GNC: 35 grams, 1g sugar, 2 carbs Snack: small applesauce lunch: Soup (cream or tomato) getting OLD! Dinner: Last night: 2 eggs smashed with Miracle whip light in a 1/2 of a wheat pita thinly sliced and I chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed. Snack: skinny cow Today however I am really tired, did I do something wrong?????? Sherri

OMG!!! You always hear the saying "you didnt gain it overnight, its not gonna dissappear over night" Well.... It really is dropping overnight!!! May 12th i had my first consult with the Dr and i weighed in at 380 May 26th I had pre-op testing and i weighed in at 375 June 2nd was surgery day and i weighed in at 363 June 5th i weighed in at 362.1 June 6th i weighed in at 359, then right before i went to bed i was 357...i drank alot too...hehe June 7th TODAY!! This morning i weighed in at 355.2. I cant believe it. Im gonna stop weighing daily tho because i know this will eventually stop/platuae(sp) and then i will be bumbed. Im drinkin plenty of Water and do…

Ok, I need some major good thougths sent my way!! I was supposed to be banded on July 7th, was kinda bummed that it was going to be that long wanted it to be like June 20 th or so. Just got a call that there was a cancerllation and I will be bended on June 16th!!! I am SO excited! I got the good Dr. too! He has done over 500 of these surgeries in Washington state. Now I have to do all the preop testing in like the next week!! Keep your fingers crossed for me! I am SO happy right now!!! What kinds of things should I do to get r5eady? I don'[t have to do any preop diets cause they don't want me too loose any weight - Tell me that isn't ironic!!

I am so pissed off right now! I am just so grateful that I have all of you to support me!! I just called my drs office and AGAIN, they were short with me and rude. I told the receptionist that I had the last of my docs they required and I would drop them off this morning. I asked if they could pull my chart to check to see what is still needed as far as bloodtest results, etc. for insurance coverage. She sighed and at one-hundred miles per minutes told that "blah, blah, blah and I should not stop in until after 3:00 p.m. then MAYBE someone can pull my chart. (this treatment has been since day one...I hate when I have to call this office). I have NEVER had any drs off…

Ok, So i am on shakes and clear liquids for THREE weeks. One down, 2 to go. Weight is going but stilllll........... i need something different. Are Boost shakes ok for a protein shake? Please any advice will help me.

I am driving down to TJ for a fill (with Dr. Kuri) on Saturday 06/18/05, if anyone is interested in sharing gas expenses, I live in Lakewood and I would like to leave about 8:00 am (to get in about 10:30 and sign in) please e-mail me.

I am 12 days out of surgery and it is itching inside of my stomach. Is that a normal part of the healing process?

Back in April, I had a fill to 3cc's. Surprisingly it seemed to make me LOOSER! So, I waited several weeks to see if it would ever kick in...never did. Then I worried if I had a leak. I went back to the doc at the end of May. He took out the same amount that went in in April and added 1/2 cc more...so now I have 3.5 cc's in my 4cc band. I am even LOOSER! Last night, for the first time in a yr, I had a slice of pizza. Not only did it go down just fine, I also had another piece with no problems. I didn't even feel it pass through the band. WHAT gives? My doc checked my band in May for slippage and for any other problems but sees nothing wrong? I don't get it! I feel like th…

Ok, I am less than a week post op. I keep weighing myself, at least twice a day. Isnt this a bad habit? I think it would be so much more rewarding if I weighed in every Tuesday. Guess it was a bad idea to get my new scale. I cant help it though, the numbers are dropping so quickly and when I wake up in the morning, I cant help but wanna see! Ugh!

Ok I ate way too much this weekend! Saturday was my 42nd birthday and boy did I celebrate! Friday The girls at work got me a pepperoni pizza, cake and Ice cream. I ate everything. 2 pices of pizza, large piece of cake and 2 scoops of ice cream. YUMMMMMM. Then Friday night My friends took me out for Mexican food (My favorite) 3 enchaladas, beans and rice and of course chips and salsa. I was good as I didn't have anything to drink with dinner. Saturday My family also took me out for Mexican food. ate the same as Friday night. I also had double stuffed oreos and a Ice cream cake from Dairy Queen! See I told you I was bad! Today I did very good! woke up at 4:30a.m. exc…

Well I just told my mother about the surgery i'm getting next week of course she freaked and made me so sad she's crying i'm crying i am very emotional now this is so hard i'm 41 and still feel like a little kid telling my mom shes such a wreck now but i felt I had to tell her after all she is my mother she has a right to know having so many mixed emotions I hope this is all worth it my ultimate goal is better health feeling better about myself and having new self esteem which I seriously lack always thinking everyone is better skinnier prettier so many emotions sorry to unload on you guys thanks for being there I love lbt thanks

what a breeze...i am so glad it is over and i now know what to expect...i got 2cc... i just hope i get some restriction because i was wide open before the fill...i watched the barium just go right through...well i guess we will know soon enough!

Whhoooohoooo I am a banded Gal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here was my experience in a nut shell: Got to the hospital at 10am- surgery schedualed for noon. Waited*waited*waited- was delayed 1 1/2 hrs do to the anesticologist(spelling). Was rolled into the surgery without any sedation that helped.... until the "big" one & than it was lights out & I was waking up. GREAT people to help in recover-BUT_ was in recovery for a min. of4 hrs because they hadn't gotten me a room. This was tuff but when I did get a room the service wasn't has good like it was in recovery - so It really worked out 4 the better. It was loads of ice-chips trying to keep mois…

First off I feel GREAT! I have lost 27lbs in 3 weeks....I am transitioning to the "slush and mush" phase and loving it. I now have 4oz yogurt at lunch and I feel FULL! I won't lie and say there haven't been some hard times ( watching my kids eat pizza! ) but this has been so worth it. I fly to Florida on Sunday to look for our new home....I am excited and nervous wondering if the seat belt will fit on this trip....when I went down in February I can tell ya it was an act of god getting that buckled as I refused to ask for an extender. Cross your fingers!! I will let you know how I did. :0)

ok so after reading about these dredded pbs i have to admit i thought maybe some of you were exagerating...well i have to apologize for my thoughts because now i know what you are all talking about!!!.. that was probably the worst feeling i ever had and then the throw up happened...well up came the meat and better i felt....liquids for me today!!! just had to share my expierence... and i hope i never have that happen again!!!!!

Well, I just wanted to share the joyous news that I will be banded this Wednesday (June 8th) at the Rijnstate Ziekenhuis in Arnhem, The Netherlands. Ok, so yeah, I'm not being banded in the states, but that's because I don't live in the states anymore. I'm originally from Kentucky. Anyways, I'm trying to go ahead and have things on stock for when I come home. I am throwing away all the junk and sweets cause those are my red flag foods, even if I'm not supposed to have them. So does anyone have any suggestions of what to have ready besides water and broth? LOL My surgery date came sooner than expected and I haven't spoken with the dietician yet, so I'm clueless! Li…

If you were a self-pay and had surgery in FL can you email me with what you paid and who the surgeon was? I was all set to have Dr. Ortiz do the surgery but I am having second thoughts for no real reason other then the inconvenience of travelling, taking time from work (me and my husband) etc.... I just have to see for my own peace of mind if there are other options that are affordable. Thank you so much!!!!!

Hi, I would love to hear from anyone in the state of Utah. I am scheduled to have my surgery on April 5, 2005 in Orem, Utah with Dr Mc Keen. Please respond so we can compare notes.

Was today the day? Are you now in Bandland? Please let us know how you're doing. Rest up and let someone else walk that lovely Boxer for a few days!

Hi, My name is Laurie and I have decided to have lap-band surgery. I had my inital consult and started going to the required classes, etc. Just wanted to write and hopefully will get lots of good advice from people who are going through the same things. Laurie

Ok, here I am going through many appointments where people are picking and poking and taking pics of my innards, and all of a sudden, I am getting cold feet, Waffling--- should I do this or not Look at the complications some people have what if I can't control my eating monster brain, what will my family (only told my adult children) think--- what about vomiting, sliming, infections of the port, == what if I die while I'm operated .....(I know dumb stuff, but it does swirl through the brain) Has anyone else felt like this????

Hello All, I'm scheduled for banding on July 27th at MIBC in Chicago by Dr. Horgan. I have PCOS and I am wondering if any of you existing banders with PCOS could share the benefits you've experienced since your procedure? I hope there are some, no I'm sure there has to be! I know that the weight loss is a positive benefit of course, but have your symptoms linked to PCOS diminished, i.e. acne, irregular cycle, etc.? Also has your insulin spiking decreased? I'm just curious. Thanks.

Hello. This is my first time here. I attended a seminar about banding it sounds interesting. Aetna, our insurance carrier, would rather I get Roux-En-Y, but will pay for banding if I have liver or respiritory problems, or abdominal adhesions. I have adhesions, but can't prove it. Here is Aetna's reasons for wanting GB, over LB. Please share your thoughts. Laparoscopic Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding (LASGB or LAP-BAND): Recent advances in laparoscopy have renewed the interest in gastric banding techniques for the control of severe obesity. Laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) using the adjustable LAP- BAND, has become an attractive method…

Okie Dokie! Here I sit, suitcase on the way to being packed. I leave for Monterrey in the morning... tests in the afternoon... surgery on Tuesday. My wonderful hubby informed me that Tuesday is a special day. I said, "I know. I'm getting my surgery." He said, "Yes, but it is also the 11th anniversary of the first day we met." (swoon). Wow! A man that remembers! No wonder I married him! I'm so nervous about this. I know that my doctor is considered very highly in the field, but geeez... it's SURGERY! What if he pokes a hole in me? What if my band eats through my stomach? What if my port pokes out of me? ARGHHHHH!!!!!!!! Anyway... keep me in your prayers, everyon…

Although you will have to do the free registration to read it, I found this quite interesting and in the Business section of the very well known New York Times: "One Alternative: A Ring That Squeezes the Stomach" http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/business/27band.html http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/27/business/27bariatric.html?8hpib

Okay all, I've been studiously looking at all the threads here and trying to pull out all the things it looks like I should stock up and have in house to get ready for my surgery in just about three weeks (very excited). Here's my list so far, anything to add? I'd love to hear from everyone... popsicles (any recommended brands. Should I go sugar free?) crystal light Jello (sugar free?) gatorade ensure chicken/beef/veggie broths (any good brands? should I get low sodium?) Protein powder for shakes frozen fruits for Protein Shakes Soups (tomato? Other good flavors I should consider?) liquid tylenol liquid gasx heating pad Thanks in advance for any other…

Just wondering how involved is it to take the band out just wondering if anyone has had it done just thinking if something went wrong just a thought

Did anyone put any thing on their scars to help them heal better after surgery I just was interested and also can anyone see their port of do they have to feel for it I really don't want my port sticking out

We went and saw Guitarman's band last night, SoulDoubt. They played at a place here in McKinney. They were fantastic! They give 100% to every song they play! They are also a bunch of very nice people and that makes it that much more enjoyable. Go to their website www.soubdoubtband.com and check to see if they're playing close to you. I can guarantee you will have a good time cause they sure know how to put on a great show! After I lose some more weight, I might even have to hit the dance floor cause they sure make me want to now! :banana

I just turned 59 and am trying to get approval from my insurance company. While I am waiting I have had a lot of time to think about things. I have a question for the older women who have the band. Do you have a lot of excess skin and wrinkles when you lose? I am about 36BMI now. I know I will have some excess skin because of my age but does your skin shrink at all at this age? Thanks for any info you can give me.

hi all I have been complaining and asking the same questions for the past 5 weeks and want to repeat it again.....I am 3 days away from seeing my follow-up doctor and will then ask him about all this.....problem is when I had a temprature the first week he said nothing can be wrong he saw what was done inside and all was fine......on another board I've heard a lot of complaints about him and now I dont quite know how to aproach the man..... I am a RN and very optimistic about the operation.I have lost 28 pounds in spite of all this because I stick to the calorie counting and dieting this dr prescribed....I have no eating problems.I eat small amounts and sometimes it f…