LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

well i dont get the heartburn but i still have that rock in the stomach feeling even after drinking..i really dont want to have to get unfilled.....please tell me this will pass in a few days?... i had an 8 oz protein shake for breakfast and that is about all i can take!

I was banded 3/18. Lost 30 pounds, but that was from my 2 weeks before surgury & my month after. Ya know drinks, mushy etc. Since then, I haven't been loosing weight. Got a 1cc fill, nothing, another 1cc fill nothing. then filled to 5cc's was too much,backed it down to 4.7 then nothing again. I didn't even feel I have the band put in. Turned out that I have a leak at the port. Going back in Sat for surgury. Has anyone out there gone thru this?

I am getting banded next Tuesday by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I am getting really nervous. Also, my doctor did not put me on a liquid diet and I am eating really bad. Up 3 pounds. He said not to gain anything so I will have to be super restrictive for the next 5 days. I am certain I can lose 3 pounds by then but I am so scared of being a failure. I feel GROSS right now. ABSOLUETLY AWFUL. This exta weight I am carrying makes me so tired/cranky/unmotivated. So, I go to the Yahoo groups from my area and talk about the nerves/excitement of the whole thing and I get a response back from some woman basically telling me not to go to Mexcio. THIS IS MY ONLY OPPORTUNITY. My insuranc…

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Sometimes when I'm viewing the post, I get a pop up that ask me to log on to msn communities???? Anyone know what this is about? I don't have msn to log onto????

I am so happy I got a fill today it is only .8 but will keep me from eating everything in site since I was unfilled. I lost 1.4lbs not to bad since I have been eating everything in site. Did I mention that I go back in 2 weeks to see if I will need more. Doc says while he was in there removing my Gallbladder that my band looked real good. (knock on wood). I Should have no problems but each day is a new day so we go with positive thinking. So liquids the rest of the day for me. Bummer I had orderd a chicken salad. Thanks to all the support I have gotten through out all the Gallbladder Saga.

Can someone tell me the doctors doing this surgery in Oklahoma... My younger brother is in serious need of this or the other surgery but unfortunately isn't good about finding things out for himself...comes from being the baby of the family I guess... Anyway, I'm trying to get information for him.... Thanks

Hi all, I just found this site yesterday, after doing a search on google for "port moving after lapband". Had noticed mine had moved up about 2 inches and asked the Dr if he knew why. He looked at me strange, then felt my stomach and goes, "Well, I was going to reassure you it hadn't moved, but you're right - I dunno..." LOL. Anyway, I'm 26 yrs old, living in Australia and was banded in March of this year. Down about 15 kilos so far and my sleep aponea has improved by leaps and bounds. Glad to have finally found a decent forum about banding and looking forward to talking to all of you. Pavarthi

I know that I am not supposed to drink while I eat. I have just started eating solids so I am trying to follow the golden rules. Today for lunch I left the Water away from my table to take away the temptation. After my first bite the problems began. I have NEVER in my life attempted to eat food without a drink so I knew that this was going to be hard. Nothing wanted to go down my throat! It just stuck there! I felt a dry pastey feeling like everything was clumping together and not wanted to go down. I ended up having to run over and sip some water so that I wouldn't choke! Ok, what now?? What am I doing wrong?? How can people eat without water?? The food just clumps u…

Does everyone's surgeon have only de-caffinated coffee on their allowed food list initially? Over the years, the FDA has found problems with different chemicals used to decaffinate coffee so I would prefer to stick with the real stuff. I don't drink tons - at most 2 cups a day. I would really like to mix coffee with my morning shake for an iced coffee but I don't want to buy decaf if it isn't essential. Any input is appreciated.

I got my first fill this morning and they gave me 1.2 cc. The fill center made me drink a glass of water before I could go home and as I was drinking it, I felt like I had a bubble in my throat. I was going to get some of the fill removed but then the bubble went away. They said I should be okay. I had some egg drop soup for lunch and it went down just fine. I told the nurse that I have been having dizzy spells and she said I may be anemic (sp?) and I need to increase my protein intake. I tried to have a protein drink a few minutes ago and OMG I had a mini PB! The protein drink is a liquid and I thought I would be able to drink that. Now I have a pain in my chest…

Hi All! I just found this board today. I have my first appt with my surgeon today. Has anyone ever used Dr Jacome in Hudson, NY? Thanks! You guys are the greatest! Barbara

Okay, I know what it feels like to PB - like an elephant standing on your chest. And I know that when I've had this happen, its generally from eating too fast and not chewing properly or eating foods such as bread. I'm just unsure of what it actually stands for (technical term) and if there are reasons to avoid this happening, other than the shear pain - ie, does it affect the band or pouch at all?

I'm about 99.9% sure I have a leak in my band When I went for my 3rd fill last Friday, (from 1.5 to 3.0 cc's total) He did not pull any Fluid back out. He said he was not that concerned about it, because I was still feeling some restriction and I'm still losing...I've lost almost 40 lbs since Feb 15th surgery. Well.....I can't tell a BIT of difference since my fill on Friday and today (Memorial day) I ate a hamburger AND a hotdog! I'm sooo ashamed of myself, but I should NOT have been able to handle that! Not will 3 ccs!!!!! What do you all think? If I do have a leak, what is it going to cost me to have it repaired/replaced?! HELPPPP!!!!!!!!!!

After the band are people dieting or do you just eat regular foods just less of them I'm so confused

What tests do they do for pre-op testing just wondering I have to go tommorrow and want to know what to expect thanks let me know

Ok, I know I shouldnt be wasting calories on booze, but..... We had a cookout yesterday and I said what the heck, so I had a glass of merlot, and another and another till the bottle was gone!!!! I didnt eat at all and I crashed on the couch about 8pm.... I dont normally drink and I hardly ever drink wine (now I remember why). Now I want to go home and crash!!! I havent eaten anything today cause I am afraid it will come back up!!

My husband went for his nutritionist appointment yesterday and she kind of scared him. She told him that there are a lot of banded people who can't eat solid protein, like steak or chicken. Is this true? What have your experiences been?

Okay... so I have to know... am I the **only** one that feels this way --> I am smaller than I have ever been in my adult life. Actually, I'm smaller than I was in 6th grade by a good 10 pounds. As excited as I am about being a "normal" size, I have this underlying, low-level, chronic anxiety. Sometimes I feel like a size 26/28 woman who's hiding in a size 12/14 body. Is that the weirdest? There are times when I'm shopping in the misses section, and I get this feeling like some arrogant sales associate is going to come over to me, tap me impatiently on the shoulder and say, "ahem.... don't you think you're in the WRONG department?" I sometimes have th…

So, I don't know about my portions. I am on week 5 1/2 post-op. I am finding that my appetite is getting a lot bigger. I am transitioning to solid/regular food. I am still losing but slower I think. Anyway, should I be measuring things into 1/2 cup portions or should I eat slowly until I am full? I am so afraid of stretching my pouch out. Any advice on how you control your portions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I have two weeks till my band is put in. I am on a low carb diet to shrink my liver (my surgeon's standard diet...nothing in particular wrong with my liver) We are already obligated to a cocktail party this weekend. I know I could just drink Water or diet soda, but...LOL I know that alcohol is empty calories and not ideal for weight loss....but will one or two low carb drinks (say rum & diet coke which is OK for low carb such as Adtkins) affect my liver in any negative way? I will call and ask my doctor if I have to. Was hoping to get input here though. Just hate to sound like a lush...LOL! Nita

I am about 7 weeks post op and I am eating like I used to, is this normal at this stage? I have not had a fill yet, am down about 10kgs, but starting to resume old habits, please help me, I have been told that at this early stage it is easy to stretch the upper pouch, I am worries I may do this? I have not experienced what you guys call a PB either and it seems I can eat and not feel over full? Am I strange? Thanks Tina

Hello, everyone, just wanted to let you all know what a fabulous holiday weekend I had. First off, I was able to meet Penni, and I have to tell you all she is even more wonderful and beautiful in person. She treated my kids and I too a wonderful lunch and I'm only sad that we didnt' have more time to spend together. She is just awesome and sooooooooooooo beautiful. After we left Penni, we went to check into our hotel in Orlando, it was fabulous, our room was really nice, with an awesome view, there were three pools at the resort and four restaurants and best of all, I had a facial at their spa. Really nice. The kids and I spent all Sat afternoon by the pool, they ha…

It seems that the New Zealand doctors DID finally publish the results of a study regarding pre-op diets!!! I wish to point out that the Optifast diet is a different diet than the one they were pushing at the time we corresponded and that they still think of it as a "test of compliance," to predict how well we will comply with instructions AFTER band placement. But it seems that--according to this study--if you live on Optifast for a couple of weeks your liver (and everything else?) will be somewhat smaller. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/fd/os/2004/00000014/00000009/art00005;jsessionid=4nin938vafmfw.victoria

Hey, everyone. I had my consult today with the surgeon I want to use.... first off, let me say kudos to everyone in Dr. Avara's office in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. They were all fantastic! They took so much time with each one of us today and just made you feel so great and welcomed. AND they didn't even charge for today's visit!! WOO-HOO! There were 4 or 5 of us there for consults today and first they separately got all our weights, etc., gave us some info and then took us all as a group into kind of a little mini-informational seminar. They were very knowledgeable. After that we all went into separate rooms and they came in to do our work-ups (for lack of a better term…

i am going for my first fill this afternoon and i forgot to ask my doctor ....should i not eat anything before the fill?? my doc is not in untill noon and i dont know if i should eat anything... i am not going until 2:00... anyone?????

I was banded in Houston, TX. I just recently moved to Redmond, WA. I am looking for a support group near me. Where do I go?

I'm allergic to penicilin, so I have to take this stuff called clindamycin for a week post-op. I'm telling you.. it's so grosse, it smells and tastes like POO. Is anyone else blessed with having to/had to take this? It's torture! I brush my teeth 5+ times a day and I still can't get the nasty taste out of my mouth. I'm only on day 3!! OMG.

I went in for my first fill last Wednesday (5-23) and since then I've gradually had more and more pain in the muscles around my port. This morning I woke up in bad pain in this area, and anytime I move, the muscles cramp up horribly and I can't move. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm really worried...

Just wonderin'...

HI ya'll, sorry about not being on too much. June 17 is the end of everything for my quarter at school and got upteen projects to finish up before then, like 1000 frame animation for finals, 5 part project for my character Pogo, the blue kanagaroo, lol anyway my mom emailed aetna and told her that they would have to check with the doctor to see if it's good for me?! HEHE im soo excited, im confident Aiden will find this surgery healthy for me, although she likes to stress exercise, i walk a lot but my eating habits suck, i dont drink coke, but only once in a while, but i tend to overeat anything, hell i'll overeat a salad, but my find has been fixed with this so, im not a…

Hi, all. I live in Lutz, Fl, near Tampa, and am looking for some lap band groups near by. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jeanne

I went to see m doc the other day and brought blood work that was ordered by another doc. According to my blood work I had a high protein level. My doc told me to focus more on the whole picture,rather than concentrating just on the protein. I now have veggies and fruit with every meal. Just thought everone should know.

Today I was at work and the Inamed Lap Band commercial came on, it was the first time I had ever seen it. Robin ( coffeewench) was on it and one of Ortiz's patients, it was so great to see that the word is finally getting out. Anyone else seen it yet?

as i posted i had my first fill today...i was filled at around 2:00 well it is 7:00 and i am starving... i had some tomato soup when i came home and around 5:30 i had some egg drop soup... i am starving and i feel like i have heartburn...HELP!!!

Interested in locating doctos in the Houston area that will do fills for paitents that have been banded in Mexico. Any information would be appreceiated.

Ok, I have read here that people recommend sugar-free Jello and sugar-free popsicles. If you are on the liquid diet stage and your body is already getting very few calories from just water, juice, and broth; why cut calories in popsicles and Jello? You don't want to starve to death. Your body will shut down if you don't get enough calories. I never bothered to get anything sugar-free during clear liquid phase. It just didn't seem to make sense to me. What do you guys think? :ermm

I have a date. June 15th.....can't wait!!! Nita

haven't had surgery yet but, kind of scared of the post-op feeling. Is the feeling going to be unbearable or not so bad what is the worst thing that hurts you I'm really nervous.?????

hi I bought this book "I will get you thin" and thought great this is going to help me as well.Until I saw that I wasnt able to weight for 2 weeks..... I have a complete obsession with my scale(s).Yes, there is 2 side by side just to make sure that I dont miss the .2 up or down.Like that would make any difference what so ever. When someone suggests that I put the scale away for a time it feels like I am setting myself up for a disaster.What if I dont weight for 2 weeks and I gain 5 pounds?What if I only lose 2 and didnt know that I should control it more to lose more?How will I handle the dissapointment after 2 weeks? bla,bla,bla......... I am like a lunatic and t…

has anyone come across people who are on WW or Atkins and tell you they thing getting banded is cheating?? I was so shocked, I couldn't reply to them... I have been morbidly obese now for about 27 yrs. I have tried every diet under the sun, more than once. My problem is, I never feel full. I feel the band can help me get my appetite under control. Shame on these people who think I am cheating. They should applaud me for wanting to become healthy. juju- wanting and waiting to be banded

Sigh...I have lost 80 lbs....went from a size 22-24 (just before surgery) to a 6-8 right now...so WTF? It seems the closer I am to goal, the harder I try to sabotage myself. My sweet cravings are OUT OF CONTROL. AND, even worse, I am back to eating just to eat...not out of hunger...not an emotional response...just to eat. Luckily, I have NOT regained anything...But this has GOT to stop. I am not sure how to do that though. I am GREAT at justifing stuff to myself. I think I have decent restriction, because even though I just eat....it isn't alot. BUT, I am really not sure anymore...oh, this is just depressing and stupid. -Paula-

I live out east and my surgeon is DR Rubenstein anyone else from out on the island???

I got my first fill done on Wednesday. I was on a liquid diet for 48 hours, and was finally able to eat food again today. Has anyone experienced feeling really dizzy and short of breath after eating for the first time after a fill? Tonight I ate and immediately felt like I was going to pass out. Is this common? What could this mean?

Just something that I've been pondering.... Who sponsors/owns this site? It obviously takes time & money to maintain this site, so I am just wondering.... jayme

Calling fellow banders could you tell us what the procedure is the day of surgery there are alot of people going in june and I was wondering what it is going to be like the day of surgery like the minute you go in the hospital doors how are you prepped what is post op like just curious if someone wants to share I'm sure people will be interested to know thanks

Hi everyone, I'm preparing for my June 15 surgery. I was wondering what those that have been banded say is must have items at home after surgery. I don't want to have to be running out to the store to pick up something I had forgot. My Dr. also allows Protein shakes after surgery. I have tried these before and gaged them down, I definately don't want to be throwing up from drinking a shake. What kind of Protein Shakes do you all recommend that is at least drinkable? thanks Sara

I am in the liquid phase - 5 days after surgery. I had the broth from wonton Soup yesterday and for lunch today. I'm thinking of going back to the chinese place and getting hot and sour soup and straining that for supper. Do you think its too spicy? The 1st day I had the wonton broth I watered it down with chicken broth - maybe I could do that with the hot and sour soup too. Any suggestions?

I just had my surgery on the 27th of may, and since then I am only able to have some apple juice 3 times a day with the antibiotics i'm on (because I know I have to take them) even that's hard for me to take.. I just feel sick at the thought of anything, is this normal? I don't think i'm recovering well either, it still hurts to move and walk.. this could be because i'm 420 pounds, as i'm guessing, but I have heard people are up and back to work in 2 days. I can barely shower myself without needing to sit down right away. Am I over exaggerating?

I cheated. I confess. I really tired to hold it together through this liquid diet thing. I started my Clear liquid diet on Last Thus and last night(sat) i couldnt stand it anymore...i have to get an ultimate cheeseburger from Jack In The Box. I really tried...i almost cried over it. This is bad....now i know how i got this big...im definately realizing whenever im stressed i get cravings like a pregnant woman. So then today i said to myself....im gonna do better i dont need this and i can fight this...so i took my fiance and took him to see 2 movies today. We saw Madagacar and Monster In Law.....welllllllllllll little did i know the urge of movie theater popcorn would …