LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Okay-I have a question. For the last few days I have been eating a Protein bar for Breakfast, lunch and dinner-and I lost 3 lbs! I don't get my first fill for about 2 weeks, and I wonder if it will be easy to eat the Protein Bars, and how much will I be able to eat? Thanks! Joan

Check out this webite, very creative and easy to prepare fixins. Be sure to check out the pineapple shake. http://www.kqed.org/w/jpfastfood/home.html

Right into the DANGER ZONE (from one of my favorite movies - Top Gun). I have been soooooooo FOCUSED since surgery. NOTHING was going to stop me from reaching my goal!!! And right now I'm halfway there; but need your help to get back on track!!! I am falling back into my old habits....falling off the wagon fast and I think I know why! Now that I know the WHY, I need your help to find out HOW to stop it!!! Is anyone else is in the same boat. Is this typical after about 6 months? The answer to the WHY is that I have lost between 60-70 pounds in the past but have always gained it back. I was at this same point many times; but then people would say "oh how goo…

Hi All, Today starts my 7 day pre-op 1,000 calorie diet. I know I can do this, I have to do this! I saw my surgeon last week and he said please do the diet it shrinks the liver and makes the surgery easier for me and you. I can't believe it's a week away-March 18, looking forward to this new Chapter in my life. I could not do this without all of you. Can someone tell me exactly how to paste my ticker. I created it but don't know how to paste it? Thanks, Corgi "By his stripes we are healed"

I have mentioned before that since being banded I still allow my 1 single normal sized candy bar a day so I don't feel deprived, right? Tonight I decided to make myself work for it. I jogged all the way to the market (a few blocks) to get it tonight. Considering I haven't done more than 10 continous jogging strides in decades I was quite impressed with myself. I'm sure they felt the earth tremors in China but oh-well. Another thing I caught myself doing recently that would not have been attempted for the past several years is climbing up onto things. When I was painting our spare bedroom a few weeks ago I actually climbed up on top of this swinging bench I have so I could…

1:40pm March 11, 2005

Gano cafe. (ganoderma) Its a coffee/hot chocolate mix. Supposedly very VERY nutritious. Ever heard of it?

Let me introduce myself, My name is Cameron and I am A surgical first assistant and Bariatric coordinator for a Lap-Band surgeon in Southern Colorado. I am not here to try and find patients or to try and cure problems but I do find I am able to better help our patients and be more informative by reading others posts and seeing how other folks were able to solve insurance issues and I have learned some tricks from other posts. I am more than happy to answer questions that I can with the knowledge that I will always remind you it is the way that we do it so you should call your surgeon to make sure of what they want. I hope nobody minds me being here. Thank you for let…

I just read in my mom's Woman's World magazine that taking extra Fiber on a daily basis can aid in weight loss (geee, wonder why). Without copying and pasting the entire article, Im going to put down a few things that i can remember... 1. the article recommened taking fiber 15-30 minutes before each meal. 2. fiber actually expands in the stomach, creating a fuller feeling sooner (eating fiber with the band, gosh, we'll never be hungry again) 3. the article also stated that one can NOT take too much fiber (same as vit. C - cant overdose on it) It also gave names of 'better' brands of fiber to take. Metamucel is good, but may cause gas problems (like we dont have…

Tried to eat some Breakfast this morning - and I know this doesn't sound very breakfasty, but I've been so light on Protein - it was 3 oz of cooked chicken breast pureed with yogurt. I took a teaspoonful and it just wouldn't go down. I had real discomfort as I swallowed, further up my oesophagus. I stopped eating immediately, waited a while and took some Water. I made the puree even more liquid with more yoghurt and took it with me for lunch. I did manage to eat it, but it wasn't as easy as it has been in the past. Tonight I made some pureed of salmon and brocolli. I managed to eat it but again, it's quite uncomfortable. I suppose I want to know why this would have…

Hi guys! My Dr.'s support group is taking suggestions for upcoming months and I was just wondering what are some of the things you guys talk about in yours (if any of you go to group)?? I thought this would be a great place for ideas....next month there is a Plastic surgeon coming but after that I'm not sure what....any input would be great! Thanks a million! Katie

hello just wanted every one to know i had the surgery and i am doing fine .iam a little sore but its ok.i have been taking it real easy for now .thank for all the nice thing you have said on this board to keep my mind together .thank again and may god bless each and every one of you.

Ok, surgery is a couple weeks away. I've got quite a good list from my nutritionist of what to stock up on before surgery for my liquid phase. But if you had it to do all over again, what would your last-trip-to-the-store grocery list look like to prepare for after surgery? What items did you wish you had more of, and what didn't you use? Thanks. I'm sure this will help me alot.

Okay, I was banded on 3/2/05. At he pre-op vist I weighed 321lbs, day of banding 315lbs, and 3/9/05 was my 1st official week. I weighed in at 305. Is this right. Ten lbs in 1 wk. I am shocked. i wasn't expecting that. Everyone else says that they can see the wieghtloss in my appearance and attitude. I look in the mirror and still see the same thing before preband. I notice small differences. How long was it before you saw the difference?

Okay, this is my situation.... I went to see a US bariatric surgeon for a consultation a few months ago to see about getting banded. Her insurance lady told me that my carrier (Cigna POS) specifically excluded the lap band. This made sense to me because I have read that Cigna does not cover the band on this site as well as other boards. I didn’t bother calling the company or my PCP figuring I’d only get annoyed. I threw my energy into researching the lap band and Mexican surgeons and decided on Dr. Ortiz in TJ. I filled out my health questionnaire, scheduled the surgery and paid the surgical fee. I’m scheduled to be banded in less than two weeks. Today I called Cigna …

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice please. I've been banded for over 8 months now and within the last month I've had "episodes" of pain in my lower left abdomen. It usually happens in the middle of the night and I just can't get comfortable. I'm finding that when it happens I have a really hard time eating or drinking anything the next day. Is this just gas or could there be something wrong? I went to my doctor and he deflated me for a week which helped. I've been refilled for a week now and it's happening again. Any advice out there? Thanks!

how have the last two and a half weeks treated you? I know that Jack has provided us with a wonderful and inspriational running commentary about that week's NSV. How are the other members of the 12/21 posse fairling? How is your weight journy going? Have you hit any unexpect things in your way? I know there are several of us going in the next few days/week, and I know it would be benificail to see how you as a group are doing.

Hello all, 11 days post op....still enjoying those lovely liquids. But I've noticed that I've been having quite a bit of pain in my chest. Not a stabbing pain, but an extreme tightness right between my breasts. It can't be from food, 'cause I'm not having any! Is this gas? What can I do for relief? It woke me up with pain last night and it's been bothering me quite a bit at work. And I assume this is normal....I think I've read from others that they had this?

I just read on another board, this girl, she's 22yrs old. her BMI is 35,3 and she lives on the east coast and is going to Texas for her surgury. Don't know why? Her "Doctor" told her to wear 10lb weights on her ankles and wrote down that she's 2 inches shorter. This is going to sound pety of me and I'm embarrest. She has UHC and was approved. I have UHC, BMI 48, I'm 35, had 3 natural births, nursed my 3 little babies. UHC told me "sorry lady no can do". I know it's not her fault. But I'm struggling to get the money together, but I'm not giving up........I'm staying positive. Thers this other women on that board who has a problem with her legs, they swell up really bad…

I wasn't going to post this, just because its not that important & will be DELETING IT when its over> But would everyone please cross thier fingers for me & or say a prayer..I just called my insurance company-Blue Care Network & they say my paperwork is still under review.. I never knew how nervous I would be until I called. Now I know I want this.. I kept thinking if I didn't hear exactly what I wanted I was going to fight for it.. I must be more committed than I thought. Anyhow I believe in the power of positive thoughts & prayer & would love anyones help. I thank you in advance.. And once I here that magical "yes" I will let you all know the …

Okay, So I am on mushy food still for another week. I have ate: Beans, applesauce, yogurt, cream soups, tuna with mayo, ice cream, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, and bad me, I ate lot's of lays potato chips because they seemed to disolve really good and the dr. and nutritionist said as long as I am not having trouble with it then it's okay but try to eliminate them for now. So that is obvious, but any ideas for other foods? I am tired of the same stuff.

Boy oh boy was last night a dooseeee. I started feeling bad. The pain in my neck got worse. So I took some of the liquid vicodin they prescribed for me. A little bit latter, my nausea got even worse. I felt like I was going to throw up imminently. But I did not have a thermometer to measure my temp. So on the way into town, I had a burp and felt a touch better. Bought a thermometer and checked my temp. In the mean time I got a hold of my doctor and talked with him. My temp was below normal so no fever-just sweating from the nausea. Doctor said the pains in my neck could be from the gases of surgery. That I should just take it easy and let the nausea pass with time. So I a…

Hi, I live in Carrollton, Texas. I just had my first appointment with Dr. Veninga last week. Now I am waiting to see what the insurance company says. I have been overweight all of my life. The only times in my life I was even close to a normal size was when I was on diet pills. I started taking diet pills in the 7th grade. I am now 59 as of yesterday. I am nervous about having the surgery but I am tired of being overweight. Has anyone used Dr. Veninga? Any suggestions on what I should be doing while I am waiting to hear from the insurance company?

Hello, after being so excited about getting my second fill on Tuesday, I am so disappointed. I saw Dr. Eddie Gomez in Coral Gables, Fl (man, he is so fine!!) on Tuesday and he removed about .5 cc's from my band (I had 1 cc's in Jan., wonder what happened to the rest???) Well anyways, my port is flipped (he said I will eventually need to get it stitched back into place), but luckily he was able to do the fill, he played with the amount of liquid to get it just right and we thought he found it at 1.25 cc's, but it has been two full days and I don't have any restriction. I have called and they are going to fill me again next Tuesday. I was really looking forward to losin…

Is anyone as frustrated as me? This is very slow weight loss, and I'm impatient!

I have "cut, copy , paste" on my keyboard, I'v been useing that. What part do I cut, the first url or the bottom http? Tina

Okay, my surgery is in a week. I’m a wreck, just a nervous wreck. I’m not sleeping, I’m pacing, my asthma is threatening to flare. I’m trying to keep myself distracted, but it isn’t working. Night is worse for some reason. I’ve tried to focus on other thing, like tomorrow I start my horseback riding class, and Friday I go home (a temporary reprieve from my exile). I have a dark chocolate bar softly whispering my name oh so seductively. It is probably lonely. That same bar has been in my fridge since October, so I’m not really in any danger. And I have a gi-normous math test on Thursday. You would think that would capture my attention, given my l33t m4th skills… (as if…

How'd'ya get through 10 days of preop liquid diet?? Coz I feel like a raving lunatic. If I could've eaten 1000 cals of liquid diet, I wouldn't be getting the darn band next week would I? But seriously - I'm not whining, I honestly am curious to know about how long others followed a pre-operation liquid diet. I am also curious to find out how to add one of those cool tickers to my signature...since I'll be on here a lot :-) Thanx.

You know, the R word! RESTRICTION! I'm just 9 days post op and sipping on some hot tea and got to thinking....what's it like? I mean, when you are able to eat real food.....do you just feel full like we did pre-band after a whopping meal? Or is it in a different place? A tightness? A pain? I've been looking through threads but couldn't find a detailed describtion of how it felt.

So I was at the nail shop and I had not been in for about a month... I mention this because people who I haven't told and see me regularly don't know exactly what has changed about me. It's only when they have not seem me week to week or day to day that they say, "Hey have you lost weight." I am good with that. So anyhoo, I am at the shop and it's rather late and there is just one other woman getting her nails done. She is on the heavy side, (I know the lap band could help her) and my nail woman petite and hungry looking (lol) starts to mention that I have lost so much weight and now she can really tell. Well I say thanks and begin to talk about something else..…

Hi, I am just starting this process for the lap band. I met my doctor last week and am waiting for the psyche exam and a meeting with the dietician. These must be done before my insurance will consider the WLS. Hopefully I will get approved and get on the way to my new life. Dannie's Darling

Hi everyone, I wanted to get ideas for what I should seek for medical damages in that auto accident I had back in december. I had soft tissue damage and will have had 12 sessions of massage therapy. My primary doctor doesn't think I'll have any other long term damage. I go in for a final check up from him at the end of the month and he thought I should try to start settling then. I was put on 2 prescriptions for pain and muscle relaxing. I have experienced numerous headaches since the accident, had to drive 200 miles to have my port checked out because of the accident and will have had about 20 doctors appts in regards to the event. I just have no idea what I should eve…

Lets expose our values to the world. If you believe in decency and you'd really like to see this board return to its original intent of providing friendship and information take the Pledge. I PLEDGE NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY OPEN FORUM THREADS THAT VIOLATE THE GUIDLINES SET BY THE OWNER OF THIS BOARD. I am going to ask that this thread not get hijacked and also I am going to ask that there be only one simple response here. Simply state you agree to take the pledge and then be done. Everyone will know they can count on you not to part take in the open forums what has gotten out of hand. I hope this works My Friends. I will be the first to make the pledge.

this is my first post here but i started looking at the lap band about 2 years ago. i know most of you are glad you did it, but i just wonder if its really worth it for me. i know it takes a lot of hard work to actually lose the weight even with the band but....i just cant help but thinking that if i have to put so much work into it, wouldnt i lose it on my own with that much work?????? i guess my real question is...how much is the band and how much is you??? and possibly, how much is mental??? for example, i know that atkins really works for me, but every year i manage to fall off it for a few months, gain half the weight back, and then i start over. its a vicious c…

well.. i just got back into town after spending a couple weeks with family and came to check my posts and well.. like 5 of them are gone? I guess I have a question for this.. why are posts being deleted without at least a PM of why? I do see there was a lot of drama stuff on here.. but I cant figure out what it has to do with me or what I posted. any help? =(

I know this question has been asked to death, and I DID read through all the questions/answers in the fill section (ok, well maybe not ALL!) and I still feel I need more answers... Just to re-cap - I have the Inamed 11cc band, which has a fill capacity to 9cc.... I was filled to 4cc during surgery, and 15 months after banding, I had my first fill! My fill doc took out just under 4cc and filled me to 6cc - I got such a shock! Restriction for the first time! I couldn't believe it - I always had low restriction since the surgery - ie I could eat a personal size Pizza Hut Pizza - toast, sandwiches etc....ANYWAY, I had the fill on the first of feb, now down 16lbs since then -…

Agh!! I think I have gained about 3-4 lbs!! I am not filled and have some restriction (trouble with bread and meat) but other than that I can eat anything and have been doing just that. I am trying anything, good and bad for me. I know my portions are about 1/4 of what they were pre-surgery but since being on liquids for a month I feel like I am eating sooo much!! I also have not started exercising yet - I just bought a dvd yesterday to get me started. Anyone else have these problems?? I need motivation again and cannot wait for my fill!!! Lauren

Okay, so I went to see my Primary Care Physicain today. This was my last step before scheduling with Kuri. I wanted to make sure I at least had her support, should I need to see her after banding. Antibiotics? Whatever I might could possibly need without having to drive 2 hrs to my follow up Fill Dr. and pay cash. Here's how it went... What was my Cholesterol last time I was here, and blood pressure? 267 and 142/88 I have been exercising faithfully 3-4 days a week for the past year, and I have lost 12 lbs since I last saw you. Good. Twelve pounds in a year is not so good. Also, last year you were concerned about the possibility of sleep apnea, due to my red bloo…

How long does it take to drink 16oz of liquid? Has this been a problem or do U just adjust since it's a new way of eating/drinking and it's something U get use too?

I was reading a thread here tonight about Support Group Topics. I had an idea that I wanna run by you guys. Get some feedback. We have this wonderful tool on this website and we aren't even using it properly. The Chat tool. What if we see if there is enough interest in scheduling a structured 1 hour chat on a specific topic for the month. Maybe one of the moderators could either lead the chat or someone could volunteer to lead it. Feedback guys? Let's get back to what this site is all about. Support, information, guidance, love, and caring about each other. Who's with me? Geez I feel like Jerry Maguire. LOL!!!

Hey, girl, you leave for Belgium this Friday, 3/11, and get your band on 3/15! Just wanted to wish you the very, very best and can't wait to hear about your banding journey and your European vacation, all in one. That is so cool! May God guide the surgeon's hands and your recovery be quick and as painfree as absolutely possible. Please let us know how you're doing when you can.(((Hugs)))

I leave to go to Belgium for my Lap Band surgery in 6 days. Do you guys have any last minute suggestions for the trip or any neccessary items that I would need to take with me?

You know what I am sick of? I am sick of people announcing they are leaving because of all of the negativity. They are perpetuating it, and keeping it around if you ask me-because they are bringing it up constantly! There...I said it. I feel better. Thanks. By the way...I'm, SOOOOO NOT leaving!~ Joan

I'm going for an echocardiogram this afternoon, and it suddenly dawned on me that my being banded might matter somehow. It's an ultrasound of the chest, I gather, which I presume will be able to see my band. Has anyone had this done? Anything I should know? (And no, there's nothing wrong. I had told my PCP about some episodes of dizzyness I was having and she's one of those better-safe-than-sorry doctors. I'm fine!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHIPPLEDADDY Whippledaddy where ever you are I hope your day is long and full of joy. And a happy birthday to the others celebrating today

I am fixing to have lap band surgery, I have heard some good news about my dr. and some bad news. Bad news was six deaths, which I was told to get his license and look on the interent, also local site for where I am at a woman was asking anyone from our area if they had complications from this doctor to email her, she is having complications.....I want this surgery so bad, but now I am so very leary......what do I do

Congratulations, girl, on becoming a LBT moderator! I can't think of a better person.

I have had the most unberable gas that I have ever experienced in my life. It's from both ends. My burps are so long and loud that it's almost unbelievable it came out of me. At night I experience awful pain. It's such a sharp pain. I can't lay down with out talking milk of magnesea. Does anyone relate?

I started LBT a while back to help the current and potential LBT community. I own a busy company and I feel really bad that I don't have so much time to be involved with LBT on a daily basis. All of the new issues that have cropped up at LBT over the last few weeks have gotten me very upset. Why can't we all just get along ? I haven't read one email or private message anybody has sent me and for this I apologize. I'd really like to hear back from everybody in a short concise manner on how you suggest we fix the moderator and privacy issue on LBT. There's no reason why anybody has to leave or feel bad about anything. I'll be watching this post and I'll attempt to r…

Everyone survive?