LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Hi everyone i had my first filling on the 20th of october but i dont feel restricted and im going to have my second one on the 17th i hope i will feel restricted, is this normal?

A Dr. Barker will have a seminar this coming Tuesday in Mesquite, TX. Wondering if anyone is near by? Like to meet someone and see a real live banded person!! :banana I'm hoping my aunt can come with me but if not, I'll be going alone because I want to be banded ASAP and going alone ain't gonna stop me!! :rambo Laura a.k.a. TannsGranny or Granny LaLa

Hey gang, I am back from Tiaujana last night and man I am so so sore. I didn't expect to be so sore in the tummy. It's not like a pain or anything, just like someone has stabbed me in the tummy about five times. Go figure! How long does this last. I had dry heaves really bad yesterday so I figure I put a lot of pressure on my stomach. Oh well... here I sit at 6am unable to sleep. Also, anyone know of some good liquid vitamins to take? Thanks for all your advide pre op. Melissa :Bunny

Hello all, I am so frustrated. I drove to the fill doctor today which is about 2 hours from me. I had gotten a lot of great feed back about him from other Lopez patients but he had a hard time accessing my port. He must have stabbed 20 times at least and just couldn't get it. We could all feel it and all felt so close but alas, no such luck. The flouro office in his building wasn't open today so I am going to have to drive up in a couple of weeks to get a fill. I'm so bummed... :think I know I need a fill because I can definitely eat a lot more in the last few weeks and have only lost a pound in the last month so I was determined to get one today but no such luck. Oka…

Can't share this excitement with anyone else but you guys! Well, I went to my GP yesterday to get some nerve pills so I could handle Thanksgiving week at Hell-cat's (MIL's). So, at the doc's office, you know how you have to weigh first? So I took of my shoes and stood on the scale (I actually wanted to strip, but figured the doc would give me more then just nerve pills). I weighed 215 - actually it was 214.8, but she charted it as 215. My last visit was May 15th and I weighed 246. When the nurse told me this my mouth dropped open. I made her repeat it like 3 times. Its one thing when you see the scale going down at home, but when you have it "officially" …

I am 5'2 191lbs. I think that is 34 BMI. I am considering the lap band and have been reading alot of the post here. You all are doing great! However I haven't found anyone who started at below 200 when they got banded. I am struggling with wether I should or shouldn't get it, am I heavy enough? I feel like I am and I have exausted most of the diets out there. Any thoughts? Thanks. Danyielle

I called for a fill since i KNOW i need one.I am one fo thoses who is in total denial about it and feel like it's just that i am not trying enough. Sooo, i schedual a fill and call my Mother for a ride to Montreal.it's about 2 hours each way.They offered to bring me for the appts right from the beggining.We have been there 3 times.I am still at 1.8 in a 9.75 band.I can eat a whole burger with the bun,a whole chicken breast with the sides of salad and whatever.I KNOW i need one... She says, oh the 24th sure,when is this thing gonna work anyway!I was shocked into silence and felt like a total failure in about one half of a second.I ate one small diner plate the other day …

Hi Guys, I decided to be a very very good girl this week. I am back on Atkins to lose the last 21 pounds. And I went to the gym and worked out last night and plan to go at least 3-4 hours a week til I get the last of this weight off. Lo and behold, just one day of being good dropped me from 194 down to 191 today!!! I was up peeing all night and I knew the scale would show a downward trend this morning. I was eating too many Snacks in the evening like popcorn which is loaded with sodium. So I am looking to reach the 180's before the week is out. I can do it... I can do it... I am a meataholic and I love it.... Babs in TX 334/191/170 -143 6/23/03

Deb and I had surgery Monday. I'm doing great, but deb has been very sick with reflux (hot water coming back up) and vomiting about 1-2 times a day. She is staying on clear liquids. She seems to be a little better today, but Friday was real bad. Dow

I had my first solid food today, some moist chicken breast. I was in heaven! I have already figured out I may never have warm dinners again! lol It takes so long to chew each bite, after just a couple of bites your dinner is cold. I will trade that weight loss for the cold dinner any day though.

Hi Everyone, Gosh, I have been getting hungrier and hungrier over the last month or so. The weight loss is slowing down and I want my fill back that was taken out in September. My doc wanted to wait until December, but screw it. I am getting some this week! Its been a struggle. I am still losing a little, but less than a pound a week. The weight just keeps going up and down the same three pounds for the last month. i know it has a lot to do with me. i have not been as compliant as I should be. But I know I am tenured enough to handle more. I am at 2.4 and would like to go back to 2.5. They had me at 2.6 and this was a little too much for me to handle. But I had 2.5 for …

Someone explain to me why we need to get more than one fill? If we have good restriction with one why would we ever need another? Where does the fluid go? Does it dry up? Does it stretch out? I have no clue. Please explain. Thanks Kathy

This afternoon we're going to a party for a friend we don't see much. (Hell, we don't see ANYONE much anymore; you know what life is like with kids.) The last time I saw this particular circle of people was probably in the summer of '03, when we went swimming at their lake club a couple of times. No one in this crowd is close enough to know about my banding, but they are close enough to remember what I used to look like. It feels like I should be excited and proud and happy to be seen, but I'm not. What's wrong with me? I can't even decide which would be worse, them asking about my weight loss or them not asking. Rather than a win-win situation, it feels like lose-lo…

Just want to take a moment to wish you the very best for your surgery and subsequent recovery!! Please let us know how you are doing once you feel like it!!!

i relly like to see every one pic befor and after.......:banana if you can iam glad to be on this site

I was supposed to have my first fill today but got a letter in the mail that said due to a scheduling conflict my appt. had been canceled...so I'm kinda bummed out. I was really nervous and excited about getting it today. I am eating pretty much whatever I want and I dont like it (you guys know what I mean). I guess I will just reschedule and hope everything works out.....bummer.... btw thanks for letting me vent....plus its all rainy and yucky today so that doesnt help matters, just one of those days I guess....

So ok, I am at my one week mark from my surgery. I am finally dealing with what my body is going through after asking myself earlier in the week why I had banded myself and caused this kind of pain to myself. I am a baby when it comes to nasuea. Now 7 days later I am feeling so much better. Still trying to overcome the gas pain, but learning how to handle it. I got on the scale for the first time since the surgery and technically I am down 18 POUNDS!!! WOO HOOO!! I started at 271 before I started my pre-surgery diet and now I am down to 253. I still have a week of liquids and 2 weeks of mushies to go. This makes all of the pain so much worth it! I know the weight…

Sometimes i get discouraged about how long this process is,how hard it can sometimes seem.Sometimes i forget WHY i wanted this so much.Then i think of the reasons why. The thing that i think about is my moment,the moment i knew i had to change my habits and my weight. For me it was in 1999 when my husband and I had a car accident.I was 8 weeks pregnant and we thought it better not to move me because of the pregnancy and i thought i had hurt my neck and back from the impact.It took 5 people to get me on the stretcher.I was totally humiliated and it really brought home the fact that i needed help! When i get down i think of this and reinforce that thought with how good i…

As most of you know Sept brought about the death of my step-father's Dad. Then Oct brought the unexpected death of my dear aunt. Well two more losses have come and I want the universe and the powers that be know and hear me. "I have had enough losses for one year." First, did I tell you about our coi fish? John needed to learn how to drain the coi pond cause it keeps getting too full. So he calls the Coi people. THey send a tech out, mind you he speaks very broken english. He shows John how to drain the pond then John demonstrates to the guy how to return it back to normal. The tech shakes his head yes. So John drains the pond some and then puts the pond ba…

Hey, girl, sending you (((hugs))) and prayers for an uneventful surgery and rapid recovery! This is your last day of your old life! Best of luck to you!

Hello Everyone.. it's been since 10/19 since the banding. I am in the mushy or soft phase right now. I tried egg salad the first day and experienced terrible cramping that lasted for two days under my left breast and into my back. The waves of cramping literally (when they would happen ) would stop me in my tracks.. and make me bend over and have to hold my stomach Is that what they mean by not chewing or tolerating a certain food??..I have had mashed potato with gravy ok , applesauce- which gave me pain right away and tuna which I had pain with but short lived . I wanted to know what can/ should I eat right now besides cream soup???? I am supposed to be on mushi…

Hi folks - I guess I'm looking for some cheerleaders today . I feel pretty depressed and completely unmotivated. I had my long awaited (11 months 2 weeks!) fill last week, and it was not a pleasant event - I was so grateful to eventually find an english speaking lap band surgeon to monitor my progress/do fills etc and was so looking forward to getting my weightloss kick-started again by a fill.... The Doc was a bit of a cold fish, - he is belgian, and also does other wls - duodenal switch, gastric bypass etc.... he asked me why I got a lap band when it only works for about 50% of people in his experience... I was a bit taken aback and unhappy to find myself defending my…

Blossom, I want to wish you all of the luck in the world on your banding surgery and minimum pain recovery! So glad to have you become a "Band Sister"! Best of luck to you! (((hugs))) and prayers!

In Dateline's hour-long report, "Weighing the Risks," NBC's Al Roker reports on his health since his documented gastric bypass surgery; and the dangers and benefits involved in the procedure for obese people of all ages, from teens to adults. I thought it would be to all of our interest, it will air tonight at 8PM Eastern time, 5 PM Pacific. Dan

You'll will have to keep my excitement down a bit, LOL. I just got approved for Lap Band surgery! Finally, after 5 months of tests and waiting. Now, the hard part- the meetings. One place lets you do two of them at home, but the first one, you must attend in person. I can handle that, but why do they have them only once a month? So, I have to wait another 3 months before they schedule surgery? Oh, well, that's the breaks. I'll just have to contain my excitement and wait it out a bit longer, until I get my Lap Band. Keep your fingers crossed for me, that this goes smoothly! Thanks, Audrey

Okay, with a constant influx of new people, it gets very confusing to explain the jargon that is specific to WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) and LBT (Lap Banding Together) as well as the Lapband (Laparoscopic Gastric Banding) to new Bandsters. So how about a glossary thread that has been stickied? We can appoint one victim to do it, or we can all post there and help the new folks out. I mean: Fill, Unfill, Port, Port incision, PB (what if you PB a PB&J?) WLS, Swedish vs Inamed, restriction, etc. What about it? Huh?

I have been checking in and reading about how everyone is doing. I hope that doesn't sound too creepy, but on my harder days, I find so much comfort in this forum.

I should be in bed, but I just had to share this with all my wonderful Bandster family! I have a NSV!! I rode in a 20 mile bike benefit tonight! I didn't lead the pack, but I didn't bring up the rear either! I was smack dab in the middle, blending in, feeling almost normal. I wasn't the only short fat person on a bike. But I was able to hang in there and finish, without having to stop. There were plenty of "skinny minnies" stopping and resting along the shoulder. Gosh, I don't tell this to brag! I just want to encourage each and every one of you to get out there and try things that you probably never would have dared. If you'd told me 4 months ago that I'd d…

Hello all, I'm Pati, I've been reading all of the posts I can for two weeks, and am ready to be banded:) Here's where I need everyone's advice. After checking with my insurance co. and finding out that they will NOT ever cover this procedure, I've decided that I have to go to mexico for my surgery. I've spoken with Sylvia who is (I assume) a rep. for Dr. Kuri. I was very comfortable with everything she said about Dr. Kuri, and would definately consider him to perform my surgery. I am a part time R.N. and mom of 4 small children, so each and every dollar is pinched at our house. I will have to finance the ENTIRE amount. My questions are about who/where is the best plac…

Iam Going To Start The Paper Work And All The Evaluations And Work Groups . Iam Hoping The Middle Of December. I Read Where Someone After 2 Months Said It Was The Easiest Diet She Has Ever Been On . That She Could Eat What She Wanted But Only In Very Very Small Amounts , Which Meant Weight Loss , Has Any One Expirenced This Way? Very Excited To Get Going On This , And My Insurance Will Not Pay So Iam Private The Price Is 14995.00 For Everything And 50.00 For Each Fill .

Remember my post about restriction being a mind game? Well, I think I’ve got it figured out. Bear with me and I hope I can explain this. Back in late September I started feeling a little less restriction, so I made an appointment for a fill. Because of my doctors’ schedule, that appointment was about 6 weeks away. So what happens? Restriction immediately returns. At least, that’s what it felt like. Then over the next few weeks I became aware of not only increased restriction, but some stranger symptoms I’ve never had before: a little extra gurgling, a sensation of food hanging up in my pouch only to go through all at once later on, and one episode of nighttime waki…

ok so I've lost 25 lbs so far- and today i get out of the shower--(keep your minds on track with me here) grabbed the towel sheet and well-- OMG- it closed all the way around me-- WHATS UPPIE WITH THAT!!! think i'm gonna look at the Fredricks Catalog now!!!!!!lol (ok so i'm pushing it a little) lol but this is cool!

I had an Upper GI 2 weeks ago, but nobody has called me with the results. I just called the doctor, and his secretary read the results. She said the doctor will call me later to further discuss. I don't know what it means, but I have "relatively mild limitation of gastric distension at EG junction." Other than that, I have good results. Normal, no leakage, barium moves normal, no esophogeal (doctor speak that I have to wait for him to call to explain.) I don't know if this doctor will want me to have an endoscopy at this point. I'm sure my insurance won't cover one, since he didn't find anything remarkable in the Upper GI. So now all I want for Christmas is a…

Well... I'd been having PB issues, and found that there's a few things I was trying to eat that weren't working for me that I didn't realize, and also that I needed to slow WAY down. Now that I've done that, I'm doing alright and I'm debating about getting a fill. I'm super tight in the morning. I had 3 bites of a Breakfast burrito yesterday and while I didn't PB I was kind of uncomfortable for a while. I'd actually previously sworn off breakfast, but every once in a while I'll try a bite or two. Anyway, lunch is a bit more food. Even more if I have coffee or tea in the morning. I guess it loosens me up. For dinner, I can eat 'normally'. Not 'preop' normal, but…

Just wanted to say Thanks Michelle! Just talking to you over the Vegas weekend open my eyes to enjoying life more, spending more time with the kids and basically seeing the world. I took a good look financially and after talking it over with Bill I'll be going on part-time or at least a 30 hour work week hopefully by next year. That way I can pick Roxanne from School on the way home and be able to get dinner made by 5! I also booked 3 nights in South Lake Tahoe during Christmas break so the kids can play in the snow... I remember not being able to do things or go anywhere as a child cause we were poor and my parents were always working. I don't want my kids to gro…

Hello Everyone! I have a question to ask. For the past few days my port has been very sore. Also when I drink something, the noise of the liquid going down is very loud on a left hand side where my port is located. Can it be a sign that my port is disconnected? Any help is appreciated.

Second full day of pre op diet, gasp, gasp. If you don't see me on here much it's 'cause the keys are so hard to push down, and I'm so weak! Four carnation instant breakfasts a day, and veggies. Veggies. Veggies. Oh, yeah, and broth. Don't forget broth. No liquor for me Lisa Green! LOL. Shhh. Gotta go, them vultures are hoverin' and circlin' again.

So I have been having a few problems latley with reflux and PBing.. so I had an upper GI.. evrything showed up fine. So now the doc asks me a few questions.. He asked me about liquids.. I explained to him that some parts of the day (morn & Eve ) that liquids sometime back up on me, he said well that's it.. we have to empty your band.. I begged him not to do this.. I knew I was kinda tight with all I have been expeirencing and I just wanted a slight unfill.. he would not give me a small unfill.. was addimit about empting my band. I am very scared, he said I have to go until Jan with an empty band. I am so affraid of gaining weight. Has anyone had their band emptied…

I did talk to my GP and he said that with my blood condition it would be easy to Creatively mark it up to make it look like a diet program...I had my best blood test ever last month too!!! Plus, the fact that I have been on Xenical and Meridia for a couple years helps too. I know that it is wrong but, so is making me jump through hoops that I can't get through because I am to fat!@!@! Review committee my butt!!! :rolleyes What is a committee? A group of the unwilling, picked from the unfit, to do the unnecessary. Thanks to all of you for your input!!!

I am trying to get the approval to be banded. I think that I am going to get the run around. Has anyone had to do a 12 week supervised diet? To be approved for surgery. Now there are telling me that I have to have a Psyche Eval. I am going to have to change my life, I am going to have to control my eating,,,, NO SHIT! I would not be doing this if I could be trusted around food!! My stomach is like a dog, if it is not on a leash it will run and run and run........... They are also trying to tell me that my BMI has to be over 40. when I am at 37.8 right now. I think that this is going to turn into a horror story, maybe I should just give up.

I'm looking for some experienced information; I have an 11 band, and the staff here hasn't much experience with them yet. My first fill was 4 cc, and when I went in yesterday, she (P.A.) went to remove the saline in order to refill; she was only able to remove 1 cc, and wasn't sure where the other three went. She then filled with a total of 3.4 cc. If the remaining 3 cc's leaked, I would have less than I had after the original fill (which wasn't enough). But I feel like the band has tightened, so I'm guessing that the 3.4 cc is in addition to the 3 that she couldn't find. Could the 3 ccs still been in? Thanks for any light that anubody could shine on this. :ermm

Hi all, Got my band on Thursday and I'm feeling pretty good :Bunny :Bunny . Just that port site incision hurts and makes it hard to get in and out of bed. Johnell keeps us on full liquids for 2 weeks, then puree for two weeks. So far it hasn't been bad. I'm sure I'll be wanting something substantial sometime soon though. Still bloated but no unbearable gas pains. I keep moving around as much as I can. All in all excited to be on my way to weight loss! Yeah!

Tomorrow's my first & I'm psyched. Wish me luck.

I went out to lunch with my Lap Band Angel the other day... and I was left to wonder... When will be banded be less of a focal point in my life??? Sure... we talked about other things BUT... the way we ate... the slip of a sip of Water DURING the meal... the eventual need for a "to go" box... the look from our waitress of distress that we ate so little... all of that seemed so obviously present. It led me to wonder... will a time come that I won't think about my band and live without feeling banded? Do I want to stop thinking about my band? Will I forget that there is a foreign object stitched around my stomach and just live a healthy life??? My sister had …

when u guys say 2cc about a filling thats means how many cm? coz my doctor says cm not cc so im really confused someone help please

Well, I am on day 3 after banding. I am not hungry, but my stomach growls for food. Anytime I try to drink something more than water or Gatorade I feel like I need to belch but can't. This gets painful but less scary now that I know what it feels like and that I won't throw up hopefully. The area where my port is at is swollen and sore, but getting better by the day. Other than that just a little sore, no major pain. I am making my laps around my 1 bedroom apartment to keep my walking up. I think I will venture outside today since it was my first day with a shower since Monday. Hopefully I will quit having the gas buildup because I think I should be getting more d…

My comfort foods used to be macaroni & cheese or anything on a bagel. Ice cream used to be a treat and I almost never had any in my freezer. But Pasta and bread have been out for a long time now, and I thought I'd been doing well without a replacement for them. Ice cream has taken over, though. It's unfailingly delicious and blessedly easy to eat. Of course, I know it's not good FOR me. So I'm publicly facing up to the fact that my relationship with it has changed and now borders on the pathological. Of course there are worse vices I could have, but when a comfort food becomes a staple of a diet it's time to face facts. Here's hoping I've taken that all-important …

I feel so much better today. No more fever or nausea (and I am well stocked on the phenergran suppositories now!) I am starting to get hungry. Not raging hunger but twinges. I have been doing the cream Soups and jellos and popsicles, etc. Can't wait until I can progress to mushies! Thank you all for your support!!

More details are posted under the Texas Local Lapband Forum, but didn't want to miss anyone. (Galveston Overnighter - November 13, 2004) A Galveston condo. is reserved for us Bandsters for Saturday, November 13, 2004. But it won't be complete without you! It will cost $50.31 each for 8. This is for one night. 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 have a question for the experts on here. I am almost two weeks out and still on full liquids. For the first week I had the "runs" and really lost a lot of weight. I am still on full liquids, but eating thicker ones like blended potato Soup with Water added, yogurt and a few really mushy noodles with broth, so I feel full. Now the "runs" have stopped. actually it has all stopped. I have not gone #2 in two days. Is this normal when you start eating more solid foods? I am a suriver of cancer and have had part of my colon removed and usually never have this problem. Any thought? Just want to make sure that this is normal and make sure that I should not call my doc…