LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I love to cook new recipes! This holiday season will be my first as a bandster. I'm looking forward to it but I need some ideas for the menu. I don't do well with breads like stuffing. Deserts are great but I need to eat those few and far between. Who knows of some band friendly recipes that we can cook this Thanksgiving and Christmas? The pumpkin Pie I cooked today is calling my name. My 7 year old son loves Pumpkin pie and it was his birthday a couple of days ago. He requested that I cook him a pie instead of a cake for his birthday. I love it!

Hello: I am new to this board. I am in Chicago and I am looking for a fill doc who will take patients who were banded in Mexico. I dsaw one doctor here for my first fill but I feel that his hours are a bit different from my work schedule. Plus, he is way out in the suburbs and I would rather stay in the city. Does anyone out there hknow a doctor who will take a pationt he/she did not band? Thank you in advance, Jeanette

Preventing e-thrombosis: Keeping Healthy Through Inconvenience By June Campbell Are you at risk of developing e-thrombosis? You spend your day at a computer workstation or executive desk. The furniture item fills up the corner of the room, holds your computer, fax/phone/copier, scanner, filing basket and a year's worth of office supplies. There's enough space left over to spread out a picnic lunch if you are so inclined. You settle comfortably into a big executive type chair on casters and get ready to call a few colleagues in for a meeting. As you wait, you talk into a telephone receiver that you're squeezing in place by crunching your shoulder up towards your ear…

undefined :eek: My Dad called me yesterday about his test results. It seems like there is a non agressive form of lukemea and he has it. He will still need to be watched but he says he is going to out live me. I cried for the first time when I heard this. And I don't mean sniffs and one little tear. I thought I was being brave, but I realize I was just avoiding the fear of loosing him. But I know it's the love and support of all of you that made this possible along with all the prayers. Thanks to everyone.

Crap. The holidays have barely gotten here and already I'm overboard with indulging. Yesterday a professional associate dropped by our offices and gave us two presents. One was for "the office" since we had just moved into new digs and he was giving us a little housewarming gift--a pound of high-end chocolates, thank you very much. The other gift was for me personally, since I guess he thought I'd been extra helpful to him recently. This was a TWO-POUND box of the same high-end chocolates! Oh. My. God. Of course I immediately declared the entire haul to be office property, but it was very ego-boosting to be given such a gift I must say. And naturally, yesterday and t…

Hi everyone, I am wondering if anyone can tell me any of the old fashioned weight bearing exercises to do. Even better would be a book about it. I used to have an old book that was supposedly military based. It was just a little book, but it had charts and 'challenges'. I didn't need any fancy equipment, just me and my bod. oh and I chucked in a skipping rope for interests sake. My little fella thought it was fun to pull it apart one day a year or two ago and I would love to have something similar again. I move around a great deal and don't want to have tonnes of stuff. Walking isn't toning me up, so even though I have gotten down to a size 16 i don't feel as good…

Ryan's mentioning of the holidays has me thinking about what my family will see when they convene here next week. Last year at this time I'd lost about 30 lbs but I was still just getting used to being banded and it was mostly Water weight. I don't think I'd lost any clothing sizes yet; at that time I was just getting in to new things that I'd bought prior to surgery but never worn because they hadn't quite fit (you know, the wishful-thinking wardrobe). Now, another year out, I'm wearing a size that I don't think anyone in my family has ever seen me in. When I shop now I'm not looking for anything starting with a "2". That's a milestone of a magnitude I can barely get m…

I have told a few close friends and my family about my surgery, but I haven't told anyone at work. Today a nurse, who would also be a LapBand candidate, complimented me on my weight loss and asked me how I had done it. I don't know this woman well and I've never had a personal conversation with her, but I told her about the LapBand in confidence today. She was very interested, wanted to know my doctor's name, etc. I also gave her some websites so she can do some research (I didn't give her this one, though, because I need a little more privacy than that). I don't know whether she'll have the surgery or not, of course, but I just felt good that I had told her the trut…

I had my surgery August 23rd. My first fill was Tues November 16th. I was told to do liquids for 2 days and then food as tolerated. While doing liquids I had 5 episodes where I had BP. 3 were while I was drinking my protein slowly, 1 was on OJ and the other 1 was when I took a vitamin. I called the doctor and they told me to come in and have some saline removed. Last night and this morning I was doing great and had no problems getting anything down so I was second guessed going to the docs office today. Around 10:00 I attempted to try real food so I had some eggs. Because the band is tighter in the morning I had a protein shake for breakfast and was going to do eggs as a…

I had my first fill this past Thursday. It went well. I recieved 4cc in my band. I really haven't ate in solid foods yet so I don't know about my restriction. I have just had soft foods which are easy to go down. My doctor says it takes a couple of days before feeling the restriction. I finally weighed in since my surgery. I lost 10lbs. Which is good for me, considering last week, when I was in my home town for a week due to death in the family. I had no restriction and had to miss my initial appointment for my fill. I ate all kinds of stuff. I am back on track now. Selecia Watson banded 10/06/04 first fill 11/18/04 4cc 290/280/140

Hi everyone, Heard this on the news on monday and found it... well, scary to say the least. A woman drinking cold soda tore her esophagus from the gas build up! http://seven.com.au/todaytonight/story/?id=17340

hi everyone, i just wanted to know if alcohol effects the band in anyway other than the calories does it harm the band?

Yep, I'm 12 days out and somehow or another I've misplaced 10 pounds and 16 inches!!!!!!!!! I'm not even concerned about looking for them either!! They can just stay gone forever. LOL Just wanted to share :banana Becki 11/05/04 340/330/185 Dr. Jose Rodriguez

:laugh :laugh :laugh wow, ican't believe it. although my weight isn't necessarily doing much, my bod is changing heaps. I have just been on a trip to alice springs where i finally had access to clothes, full length mirrors etc and discovered i am now size 16! I stared out as 22/24. Woohoo! It was my goal to be a 16 by new years, but I might even make it to a 14. I bought a short denim skirt and some togs yay... Over the past two weeks I have moved my watch band hole up two holes. i started at the last hole and am now on the fourth hole out of eight. It is so amazing and i still can't comprehend it. The best thing that has happened is that a co-worker didn't…

Hi everyone, I've been gone for a long time due to the hurricanes here in Fla. Well, I'm back and have a question for you long timers. I've been banded for 8 months. I've lost 40 lbs! My first fill was in may and my 2nd fill was in July. I currently have 2.6cc's. I had been doing great loosing until about 8 weeks ago. Then I stopped. Since then I've gained and lost the same 2 lbs several times. Untill then, I had pretty good restriction. I would feel full quickly and if I didn't chew...I got stuck (although I never pb'd). I could eat everything (including bread and pizza) just chew, chew chew and of course only in small amounts. I started to be able to eat a …

Everything went well. I'm now home, and kinda tired. I'll post more later, and thanks for all the well wishes you guys!

I also had Dr. Deol do my surgery, she is great and so is Rebecca. lost 70lbs. in a year feeling like a new person

After eating a big serving of ice cream (at a friend's house, because I can't keep the stuff in my own refrigerator), I'm feeling philosophical. Last weekend I ran into a woman who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. She is highly intelligent, but doesn't have a clue about how to relate to people; a therapist shows her diagrams of facial expressions and what they usually mean, and coaches her on tone of voice and the most basic parts of social interaction because they don't come naturally to her. She has to concentrate on deciphering things that seem obvious to most of us. I've been thinking about her the last few days. . . and I realized that I've be…

Well I am happily back home after receiving my first fill today. They used the flouro (recall last weeks fiasco w/out flouro) and it made it a whole lot easier. The fill doctor is also a band surgeon and he said my band looked perfectly placed. My concern and paranoia have kind of resurfaced again now that I have just read the new thread concerning more erosion issues with Lopez so I was glad to at least be told today nothing has slipped or looks odd. My port is kind of flipped on its side which is what made the fill attempt last week so impossible. Rather than being able to go straight down from above, he'll have to go from my left side in. He didn't think I would need p…

Sometimes my stomach feels a little sore even hours after I eat. Is this normal? Any idea what causes it?

A Galveston condo. is reserved for us Bandsters for Saturday, November 13, 2004. But it won't be complete unless you come! It will cost $50.31 each for 8. But if we have more, we'll manage! This is for one night. Please post your name and approximate arrival time so we can get a head count. More details soon. Hope to see you there! Condo. website: http://www.spectrumvacationrentals.com (click on beach rentals for actual pictures of condo.) It's gorgeous, big, and on the seawall! Galveston weather: http://galveston.com/weather/ 10 day forecast shows Friday, 11/12 78* high, 58 low, Sunny!

I am trying to find out why an adjustment wouldn't kick in for a week or so. I had and adjustment a week ago tomorrow and am beginning to feel more restriction today than any other day last week. Why does it take a few days sometimes? Anyone else have this happen to them? I'm also slightly discouraged because I have only lost 10 pounds in 8 weeks. I guess it's better than gaining 10!

On the subject of food there are a lot of posts. I would like to read about what the long time Bandsters eat during the day, when you go out for dinner, parties, BBQ's, Thanksgiving....

HI, HOPE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUES. FOR ME PLEASE..... IF YOU LOOSE YOUR HAIR , DOES IT GROW BACK. WHEN YOU START TO TAKE YOUR PROTEIN AGAIN. IS THEIR ANY OTHER SOURCE OF VITA OR MINERALS THAT CAN REPLACE THE PROTEIN... AND PREVENT THE HAIR LOSS? YOU GUYS ARE SO GOOD AT KNOWING ALL OF THIS , HAS ANY ONE OF YOU GROWN YOUR HAIR BACK. OR HAVE GROWN YOUR HAIR BACK TO NORMAL. DOES IT EVEN GROW BACK NORMAL AGAIN..... :think MARGIE ---------------------------------------------- margie 295/257.8/-37 THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TO MANY THOUGHTS CLOUD THE MIND..

Hi everyone, I have noticed that I am feeling very bloated and sluggish the day after I eat refined carbs in a higher proportion to my meal. I did have this issue pre band and worked it with low carb dieting. Does anyone know if low carb is ok with a band? (Especially considering that all the stuff I am talking about gets stuck at some stage anyway...) Cheers

The hectic holiday rush is about to start for ALL of us. So how about taking a few moments now to list some of the things you're thankful for this year? When things get crazy, you can look back on this and draw some much needed calmness.

Hello all, I was wondering what kind of protein should we be taking in? Whey or soy. I have a GNC by me. Plus I'am looking for unflavored. Any info would be great.

I called the doctor's office today because it hurts when I breathe and burp and hurts really bad to swallow anything besides mushies. They told me to come in. They didn't really seem too concerned. Just told me to take the diet back a step and give myself more time to heal. But it has been 3 weeks! You'd think I could eat SOMETHING by now. Any suggestions or comments? Oh yeah, I lost 3 more pounds! I need to change my signature

Hey Everyone, I got a coupon in the mail for the Avenue store. If I buy 75 dollars worth of stuff, I get 30 dollars off my purchase. So I went there yesterday because I need a new coat for the winter and I figured that would eat up the dollars. I also dont own a sweater, need pants etc. Truthfully, I dont have anything for that matter and I have been too cheap to buy clothes. I tried on a 14-16 coat. It was a little too big, but I figured if I put on heavy sweaters underneath it would be fine. It was the smallest size in the store, so it wasnt like I had a choice anyway except to leave. I know that this will be the last year I will be able to wear it, but it was cheap…

Hi, I've noticed many of you long-time bandsters say that white bread, white pasta or white rice is a problem to eat. Why is that?

hi all i just receive call from my dr at the wish center telling me that my lapband surgery will be on 1/4/5 and i only have to be on liquids diet for ony 24 h befor surgery .yahoooooo ( but) why is that ......why only one day and why everybody telling me about tow weeks is my dc is wrong thanks

Ryan, I am so excited for you. You have worked so hard and jumped through so many hoops to get to this day before your surgery. I hope you can take all the best wishes and love that we all have for you with you into the surgery. I will be praying for a safe, smooth surgery and aftercare. Please post and let us know how you are as soon as you feel up to it. You are such a gifted and remarkable man. You deserve this opportunity to get the tool to help you soar with the eagles (not to mention buy smaller sized leathers for your motorcycle adventures in your future). Hold you head high, smile bright, and let the healing begin. Write to me band brother and let me kno…

I am trying to get down a vanila chai and cherry smoothie this morning. I saw the nutritionist yesterday and I am NOT getting in enough food, Water or Protein. When you add anything to the Protein powder and milk it gets so think. All I added today was a few frozen cherries to try to get things in my body moving again. However it is going to take me over an hour to get this thing down. Although it is 37 grams of protein. How do you get in all of your water and protein in in one day if it fills you up so much? I had my first bit of real food last night, started on mushies. I had one ounce of chicken and not even 1/4 of a very small baked potato. I was full for 3 …

Ok, I have a question about burping. The past three days has gotten gradually worse. I am burping alot! It is to the point where I burp it feels like someone is slamming a sledge hammer into my chest. Also feels like that when I take a deep breath in. I have had a lot of gas since the surgery 9 days ago but just the past few days started with this really painful feeling. Also, there are times when I have to burp but can't and then like foamy stuff comes up. Does anyone know if this is normal?? I haven't had anything to eat.. just drink. The only thing is vitamins. My doc said chew up flinestones and that's all i've put in my tummy besides soup and water. Should I go to e…

And so, today, the pre surgery visit. Tests were done, I'm down 21 pounds since this started, and people came and talked at me. They did their job. Now I stand a foot from the shore. The ship is in sight that will carry me to a new land. Here I am besieged on every side, enemies seek to destroy me. But before me is a path I have never trod. It is dark, that path. Sometimes it feels like I will be jumping into the abyss. Maybe I'll stand on the edge, lean over, and look into the darkness. But, once on the ship, and once on the journey, I'll arrive in sunlit lands. I'll step ashore a quite different person. I wonder if I'll like him. Will he be kind and …

I finally have before and after pictures that I would like to post, but I can't figure out how. I tried to attach the files but it said they were invalid. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks, Janel

I got my first fill last Monday. It was 2cc's which according to my doc is about half way full. My question is how do you know if you have "good" restriction. I am trying to eat about 1 cup of food per meal, but feel like I could easily eat more. I don't get hungry in between meals. I don't feel any discomfort or fullness or anything when I eat. It pretty much feels the same as before. If I continue to lose 1-2 pounds a week even without good restriction, should I get another fill? I am thinking I should feel physically full when I eat. Is this right? Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey everybody! It's only been 9 days since I was banded and I'm so down. What's wrong with me? I've only lost 3 lbs. and find that I am feeling so sorry for myself because I can't have this or that and wondering if I will ever get to really enjoy food again. I feel like it's not fair because someone can eat something and I can't. I'm kind of regretting that I did this, is this crazy? I don't want to remove the band, but I'm so sad about something, just can't put my finger on it. Has anyone else felt like this in the beginning? Every single time I eat, (mushies right now) I hurt so much in my upper left side, right behind my left breast. It's not just a small am…

I just needed to get this off of my chest. Sometimes....Well, alot of times, I just want to scream ENOUGH!!!! I know that I haven't had as hard of a time as some people but I am really tired. Truth be known if it weren't for all of the caring, fun people here and the support that I have received I am not sure how I would be dealing with things. The thing is I feel so guilty for feeling as depressed and hopeless as I often do. It seems like my whole life has been one struggle after another. When I was born, my lungs weren't fvery strong and I had severe allergies. I spent the first several years of my life in and out of the doctors office and such and my poor paren…

I received my first fill today. Come to find out there .6cc in the band already and the Nurse Practioner added 1 cc. That sounds like a lot but so far I'm doing okay. The best part was when I weighed in I'm now down 19lbs from my pre-op weight! I love my band!

I have heard from a couple of different surgeons offices that the price of the actual Lap Band device is going up in Jan 2005. I have emailed Don Mills at Ionamed and he says that he does not know what the price increase will be but that the Dr.'s and Hospitals will be notified. I contacted the DR.'s offices but they do not yet know what the price increase will be. Does ANYONE know anything about this and know what the new price will be. It is my understanding that the current cost of the Ionamed lap band is approximately $3,5000.

Hi everyone, I haven't posted here in a while.But I was banded by Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Acuna MX last Friday. I'm one week out and honestly Ifeel great. I was released on Sat and home in my own bed by Sat Afternoon. Sunday we went into Austin and I walked the grocery store and then we went to A Soup R Salad Bar. I whipped out my trusty "I've Been Banded and can Only Eat 1 Cup of Food" card and was charged the child's price of $1.49!! What a deal!! At that rate I'll have this band paid for before I know it!! LOL I had a half cup of the broth from the chicken noodle soup and a half cup of the potato leek w/o the potato chunks. I haven't paid $1.49 for a meal since I wa…

after just 1 week on solids? No pbing, no restriction, nothing just hard burping a few times a day, irrespective of mealtimes. Suddenly I feel like when I had the most restriction last year. And my esophagus moves ( spasms?) funny. No reflux though (which is what happened last time). Since it was my second surgery, I gave myself 3 more weeks on mushy food to be sure. Now this. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?????? would love to dig a hole and crawl in til next year...... Been on liquids since I felt this yesterday. I am terrified of eating again.... tellie

I went back to my surgeon in CR and had a fill on Wednesday. Everything went fine. I got 1.5cc's in my 11cc band. He put 4cc.'s in during the initial operation so with the fill I am at a total of 5.5cc's. He did it under the X-Ray machine (aka floro???) What exactly is flouro? Is that when you drink the barium? Anyhow, I got to see the band and the port which was easy to access. It took about 1 min, and only as painful as a sting from the needle. I can barely feel a difference in the fill though. Does it take some time to have the fill set in? I will go back to see him at the end of January (summer there) and have another fill. I was able to get the flu shot while I was …

What are some of the things you found most difficult to change since banding? Chewing gum - I use to chew gum all day to help me keep from eating. Drinking water with my meals Eating small bites and chewing, chewing, chewing, very slowly

I have been waiting a week now for my pcp to write my insurance company a letter of consent. The first one he sent them was a faxed copy of a prescription and all it said was "Ok for surgery". Can you believe that crap?? I called yesterday and his nurse said she would check and call me back...havent heard didly. Should I call today and nag them? My insurance company is changing and I have to have this done by the end of the year!!

Welp, I'm back from my fill and I'm interested to see how it goes. :nervous He bumped me up from 2.4 to 2.9. :eek I have lost exactly 50% of my beginning excess weight. That may not sound like much to some, but to me, it's been the difference in life and death, literally. The doc was very cool, saying 'isn't that just the neatest thing? that you can do that with this one little band?" He was just going on about what a neat thing that is. Then, he wished me luck on tackling the last 50%. I really hope this fill does the trick. I'm sooo not wanting to go through the reflux and trauma routine again. At least he's close. . I guess we'll know in the next day or so.. …

I got my first fill yesterday...Dr. A gave me 2cc's and I'm on liquids until tomorrow, but it's ok because I didnt even feel it and I havent been hungry at all!!! Ok guys I'm starting to think this thing might actually be working! I actually lost weight before my fill also, so that's a plus in my book! Just wanted to update!! Talk to you guys soon!

Hello Everyone, I was wondering if any of you had any good links to personal journal/inspirational lapband websites where someone has been tracking their progress.. I have found a few online; in yahoo groups but keep running into gastric bypass ones.... thought you guys might have some to share! Thanks

Fill, Fill, he's my man... if he can't do it... NOBODY can!!! :banana Since I very rarely start a new thread unless I have something to complain about... I thought I would share some happy news! I went today for my second fill in my second band... and I am happy, no thrilled, to report that my doc was able to pull out everything bit of saline (1.3cc) that she put in 7 weeks ago. Yeah!!! This new band is holding the saline, no leaks here baby! She was also able to stick me the first time, which is now two in a row and something she was only successful doing when I layed on my side with the first band. And lastly, I am now at 2cc's. This is the most fill that I …