LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

I scheduled an appointment for my first fill today. Dr. Lavin in Mandeville, LA. will do adjustments if you get an upper GI and bring the films. He charges $250. cash for the first fill and I think 150. for subsequent fills. He doesn't do fluoroscope, but he is well experienced, as are his associates in his practice. His staff seems to be very agreeable to deal with, I'll let you know after the fill how it went!

I've noticed that most of the people on this forum have been banded for a year or less (mostly way less!). I am curious about the folks who have had the band longer. Like all the way back to the trials. I want to find out how the band still works for them. Also, I have heard that the lap band has been used in Europe for many years. Does anyone know of a site that gives updated info on people who have been banded for a long period of time????

Ok, I think this may have been brought up in previous threads, but it was so long ago I can't remember what the general consensus was. A friend of mine is morbidly obese. I've known him for years and he's the coolest guy, but I can see the pain that being overweight gives him. He constantly breathes heavily, like he can't catch his breath; we went to a baseball game this weekend and he was so uncomfortable in the seat because he could barely fit in it. I'm not judging, because, hey, we've all been there. But here's my question: I think he could really benefit from LapBand surgery, but I don't know if 1)I should bring it up, or 2)there's any tactful way to do so. He kn…

Yes I knew that you can buy Crystal light in the bottles now ...but these packets are sooo convienent when you go to resturants and everyone else is ordering cokes and you feel deprived....also much cheaper than tea, etc I found another site where they sell lots of individual packets.. http://www.minimus.biz If you do a search on there site for "Crystal Light on the go" a page will come up with lots of individual packets;) I just ordered 31 packets and the shipping was not bad either!:cool:

Well, I'm all packed and ready to head to TJ tomorrow for pre-ops and then surgery on Friday! Any words of wisdom to offer? Wish me luck!!! :nervous

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting, I believe some of you may already know my husband (Laserjock). Anyway, I've been reading this board and have obtained a lot of very helpful information, so I decided to join in and maybe help someone else if I can and seek advice from others that have been banded. I went to Mexico to have surgery last Monday. Surgery went very well except for some nausea episodes and soreness, but I'm feeling very well today and it's only 4 days after surgery, so I'm very happy! Today I'm struggling with hunger pains - I started feeling hungry yesterday afternoon and it hasn't left me since. I'm drinking Water, apple juice strainge…

I'm just curious when everyone went back to work after their lap-band surgery. I had surgury on Monday (26th) and was originally planning to return on Monday (Aug. 2nd). Is one week enough? Am I rushing things along too much? Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

Jennye: HAPPY BIRTHDAY miss young person only 28. Hope this day was all you hoped for and more. Wishing you lots more.

Hi everybody, I had my post op visit today with Dr. Abkin and everything is fine. I'm down 10 lbs. and he told me I can start experimenting with real food next week. Hooray I'M STARVING, but I feel terriffic. Janis

I'm in day 8 of liquids and just started getting an appetite today. Any suggestions? I get my staples out tomorrow and wonder if I should even ask if it's okay to start mushy stuff. I feel great, really don't know that I'm banded except for the incisions. HELP!!!!!!!!!

Someone mentioned Fredericksburg for a place to possibly get together. I found this link that tells about hotels, lodging, etc. I am single - so my weekends are usually pretty free. However, I will be in Los Angeles the week of August 16th, so I don't think I can make it the weekend after which would be the 21st. The weekend after that would be Labor Day, right? No hurry - this is purely for input and discussion. http://www.wliinc2.com/cgi/foxweb.dll/wlx/dir/wlxdirecatn?catid=39&city=&lcZip=&client=FDCC

Well, I decided to do something I never in a million years thought I would do. I'm about to make an appointment with a personal trainer. (Just typing that makes me want to laugh, or cry, or something.) I've been going to the Y about three times a week for the last several months, where I do a minimum of 20 minutes on the treadmill plus a Cybex circuit. Exercise is good, and there's no question that I am able to do more now (30 minutes at a pace of 3.7) than I could when I started (20 minutes at a pace of 3). Recently I upped the weights on the weight machines and was surprised at how high I could put them. But I can't help thinking I could be doing better, more effect…

How long were you on liquids after being banded? My dr said six weeks, but I was thinking I had read about the liquid phase being much shorter than that for some people.

Hey all my bandster friends I have a question for you does anyone know why we are not suppose to drink with meals? Its really hard for me but I'm doing it just wondering why I'm doing it? Thanks. Nanny:D

Just thought I would pop on here and let the board know that my wife was banded this morning by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, and the surgery went perfectly with no complications. The hospital [saint Engracia] is as nice as any I have seen and the nurses have been incredibly attentive to my wife during the day. Dr. Rodriguez is one of the most patient and gracious physicians I have ever dealt with, both personally and professionally. He answered many [and I do mean many] questions via email and phone leading up to the surgery without any reserve or hesitation. My wife is feeling no pain today [good drugs] and getting plenty of sleep...taking in some of the juice and ic…

Hey, has anyone heard from Michelle? I responded to her post about me, then PM'd her. Her box was full, so I emailed her. This was a few days ago. Nothing. I just tried to PM her again and her box is still full!! She's only banded a little over a month, and I'm worried about her! Shellybelly, where are you?!?!?!?!

I know this is a crazy one, but I have a week till my first fill. Ive lost 12 lbs in my first -liquid only- week and nothing else since. Im getting hungry... and eating quite a bit! And of coarse, scared Im gonna gain. Just wondering.... anyone know if there are any Vitamins or herbs that can increase the metobolism? Ive read that (excuse the spelling) chrominum piconate and chitosan helped.... anyone know for sure? Ive even thought about taking the old diet pills out of the cabnet and giving them a try .

Some of you might remember that I wrote asking if any of you could find "Crystal Light On The Go" in your local grocery stores. ( These are the individial size packets that are for bottled water) Well I have learned that they are not sold in grocery stores but I have located them on this site: http://www.discountcoffee.com/CrystalLightLemonade.htm Now I wish we lived closer to each other... free shipping with a $50.00 order! I'd like some of all the flavors:) Maybe some of you that use Dr. Speigel in Pt. Neches Texas might be interested in group buying?:guess They are also on eBay, but not as cheap as this site.

Hi I am going in for my first fill on the 13th and my apt person said the dr. will probably put in 3cc's does that sound normal to any of you?

I don't know if I need a fill or not. I have been stuck at this weight for a couple of weeks. Sometimes when I eat I feel like it gets stuck, only after a few bites, I could puke if I would let myself. This is usually the first meal of the day. So I quit eating go for a walk and it feels better. Then I don't finish my meal. I can't say that I have truly felt much hunger since my banding. I know that I am eating way less than I did before surgery. But the scale seems to be stuck. I am down 36 sometimes 37 pounds in 8 weeks. I am just afraid if I get a fill that I will have that stuck feeling more often. Also gas, I always have it. When I drink lots of Water it seems…

I am investigating going to Mexico since, in it's wisdom, my insurance has declined my surgery. Most doctors there offer 2 other types of bands along with the one appproved here in the states. What are the pros and cons of each type? Dave

As stated in an earlier post, I had my first lap fill on July 19th and during the wee hours of this morning I started having awful pain .... like terrible indigestion only it was in the stomach area and went clear through to my back! I thought I was certainly having a heart attack! So when my husband got up at 4AM to go to work, I squeaked out ..."Please bring me some water" After drinking some water, I was able to relax and get some sleep. Got up feeeling fine. Then I started sipping some slim fast and BAM started all over again! The only way I was able to live was to make myself BELCH....over and over! Sounded like an 'Ole drunk man! Finally it passed..after several hou…

Well I have a surgery date. I will be banded on October 21, 04. I am so excited and I cannot tell you all how great it is to come here and have so many of my questions answered just by reading around. Thanks and I am sooooooo excited!!!

I have Crohn's disease. I'm over 100 pounds overweight. My best friend was banded a year ago and has lost over 90 pounds. She looks great. Everything I have read regarding IBS or Crohn's says that we are not canidates for the Lap Band surgery. Can anybody tell me why? Seems like the band would slow down eating and digestion, which would give the colon more time to recoup and heal. I'm very interested in hearing if anyone out there has this disease and if they have been banded sucessfully or not. Thank you very much...and hi...I'm new to the board.

I just wanted to let the patient's of Dr. Spiegel know that we are planning another support group meeting!!!!!!!!!! It will be on August 5, 2004 at the Holiday Inn on Jimmy Johnson Blvd in Port Arthur at 6:00pm!! We had a really good turn out last month and I really encouarge you to come. If you have any questions feel free to pm me and I will be as much help as possible, or you can call the office at 409-719-0009.

I was just banded Friday the 16th, and sore as I can be, feeling quite bloated, but happy it's done and hoping all I'm experiencing is normal. Anyone out there care to share your thoughts as to whether it is normal or not? I haven't had solid food since Tues, the 13th, liquids only, but I really am feeling bloated in my tum region, feeling like I need to burp but cant. Im drinking alot of water and juices, and ok, I had coffee this morning, but besides the soreness and bloating, I feel pretty good, no nausea, thank God! Im a happy camper!

Hello everyone...... It good to know your all out there to help with any questions, no matter how silly we may think they are. I've learned a lot just from reading though your threads. I was banded on Tue 20th. I'm doing good. I'm exp. the bloating and the wind. My sores are getting better each day, I was invited to a BBQ tonight, couldn't go, but, would have loved to sink my jaws into a nice BURGER..... but I guess I've had my share of burgers and nice stuff......lol. I know i'm being good only liquids =0). Well never told you anything about myself, I'm Irish from Co. Derry in the North. Been here 10 years, my friend had the bypass in Dec. she has a lot of diffic…

Today my shower stopped draining. I was taking a bath instead of a shower, so I had to get the plunger out. Damn, a wad of hair the size of 2 golfballs came up from the drain. I just cleaned that drain a couple weeks ago. I have longish kinda hair, so I have to clean the hair from the drain every month or so, but only half that amount usually comes out. So my hair loss has increased by 5 or 6 times its normal rate. Any mathemetician wanna correct my percentage based on listed facts (don't throw your other shoe at me.) Is this permanent? Should I start buying scarves now? Meanwhile, my friend bought me a bottle of hair & nail Vitamins. I've been taking the…

WHERE ARE YOU??????????? Ok, It has been 4 days since your surgery! I am a little worried, hope your ok and that everything went well!! Please PM me and let me know! Miss ya! Baileym ____________ June 14th

OK, NO EROSION. Everything is fine and dandy inside my stomach. We still aren't sure what caused the redness and allergic reaction so we are gonna watch it. NO INFECTION either. Dr. Billy went in through the original incision for the port. I have that ONE incision. He did not have to do a laparoscope after all. He just went in and repostioned the port and one dressing. No bruising so far but man it is tender. My throat is sore now but that is to be expected what with the ENDO and the Intubation tube. Taken into surgery around 12noon. Woke up in recovery, virtually no pain, around a 5 on the pain scale so they gave me some Fentanyl to dull it. WHOO HOO!!! Love that dr…

Hey everyone...I have a question I've been thinking about for a few days and I just can't figure out on my own. What is your experience in knowing when you're full? I eat, and when I get that "full" feeling, I stop. But then a few minutes later I can tell that some has fallen into my stomach and I eat a few more bites. I probably am eating 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food this way. I'm wondering if I should be stopping right then...cause I'm not. I PB only once in a blue moon (or a time or two during the week before my period when my band goes into lock down). I think I'm at a good restriction because I'm still loosing as I have been...but I'm wondering if I need a fil…

Hi to all... Well I am very constipated now. I think its from eating so much protein. I have been taking Colace and Magnesium pills at night and its not really helping. I have thaught about drinking hot chocolate in the morning because I dont drink coffee, And everyone that I know who drinks coffee dosent have this prolbem. Does any one have any suggestions ? My hemorids and I would really appreciate it... Thanks Janie

Hey everyone, just wanted to blab a bit about these things called plateaus... Yes, just that word instills fear in all us bandsters But really its overrated, I have been on so many plateaus its just not funny. But you know what? They always went away, just ignore the times when your loss seems to have slowed down to a crawl, enjoy the weight you have lost up to the plateau. And eventually the loss will start up again. I posted a chart of my 1 year of weightloss, you can see that 3 or 4 weeks plateaus are very common, the longest one was for nearly 4 months, during that time I only lost 1 lbs a month. Thanks to my band buddy I didn't get the chance to give up and reve…

How much is a normal fill? I had my first on July 19th. And how often are we suppose to get them? I cannot get any info from my Doctor and when I call his office I get voice mail.

How do i put an Avatars under my name? I went to the list of them, but when I clicked on one nothing happened.:think

Okay everyone! 8 days until I head to TJ and am needing suggestions as to what to bring. So far these have made it on my list: 1. loose fitting clothing (drawstring pants so the staff can have easy access) - wow that came out wrong 2. reading material 3. Snacks for my travel buddy 4. liquid tylenol and gas-x 5. e-mails and receipts Any other recommendations? Thanks!!!

i have had two fills and am at 4cc and feel little restriction ? i eat alot less and stay full for alot longer so i suppose the band is working .i have lost 10lb to date since may but still eat a fairly good size meal, well not enough to lose steadily . i know my doctor will give me another fill but i am getting this done in europe and i think i have had a newer type band .i am concerned that everyone else seems to have had alot less than me with far better results is there bands that take far more fills than others ??my band is called cousin (gastric banding bioring)has any one else out there had 4 cc or more ? 3rd fill due 8th july;)

I am kinda worried about my weight Loss....(Like who isn't huh.) Well I looked at the calendar and I am almost a year out. It's been a long but short year.....if that makes since. From one stand point it seems like forever, but then again, maybe not. When I look at so many bandster stats and I feel like I am a failure. I know I have not played it straight either. For some strange reason, I thought the weight would come off easier than it has. I guess I thought that just getting the band would be enough. It has taken me a whole year to realize that getting the band is not enough. :think It's obvious that I am a slow learner . So what's a gal to do??!!…

Hey after two weeks at the same weight I decided to use the fitday and track my calories and stay off the scale. This morning I could not resist...addicted to the scale as we say. After only three days whoop there it was 4lbs gone. I was not hungry and thought I needed a fill or worse yet that I was going to fail at this too. But nope I am doing it. (sorry I just have to pat myself on the back a little) Yea me! Mu husband has said that he can see it and my co workers too, but I wanted that scale to say it and now it has. I have officially lost 27lbs! Hip Hip Hooray!

current weight 230!!! from 350!!! size 16/18 pants from 30/32:eek: i know i am a picture taking fool but a girl in my office wanted to see my before and during so i took some new ones today! michelle

I am researching the band and there are two things that have come up that concern me. First - can you take aspirin or advil once you have the band? I was in a car accident years ago and have pain and headaches that require medication. I also have braces and when they are tightened I cannot image not taking advil! Second - can you drink soda? I am addicted to Dt. Mt. Dew and need my caffiene. I'm not a coffee drinker so this is my only source of caffiene. Thanks for your help!!! Darci

I just got back from a family reunion and and saw that I had all these super nice and positive responses to my "new girl" post. It feels really great to have people that relate to what I am going through. I mean my doctor is nice but he doesn't really know. I have the strangest thing going on I hicup once really hard now every time I start to laugh. Things are going well. you were right about gaining a little when I started back on solids but the scale is going back down again. Your wisdom is so comforting. I don't know what PB means, but I am very curious. I hope everyone is doing well. I look forward to hearing from you and talking to you more. chloe

Hey guys: I just got home from my pre-op visit where I had my blood drawn. OUCH!! No really the nurse was really good and I didn't feel a thing. Wonder if Dr. Billy can do that too. You know reposition the port and me not feel it after. LOL!! It seems I am not the only person that thinks Dr. Billy is a hunk. The admitting nurse said, "So you doctor is Dr. Billy." I said, "yeah." She said, "He sure is easy on the eyes, isn't he?" I laughed so hard. I told her that I am planning on bringing a drooling rag. She and I agreed that we wouldn't mind being operated on by him at all for whatever reason. LOL!!!! OK, nothing after 10p tonight. That is gonna be har…

OK, this may be a dumb question, but here goes. What happens when you reach goal weight? I mean if you have a lot of fill in your band, does the fill just stay there for always? :guess

I was reading Smartbandsters tonight and someone included a link to the RNY memorial page. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/wlsmemorial.phtml I don't know what possessed me, but I decided that I would take a look. WAKE UP CALL...anyone who is currently struggling with the "I've only lost..." or "I'm a failure" needs to take a look at these pages. Not because of the RNY factor- but because these are the beautiful faces of people who had so hoped to be where we are today- and were willing to risk everything. We are the lucky ones- we survived surgery, we are living the lives they hoped to live. I guess it stopped me from feeling sorry for myself. I'm…

Hi Ya'll I have an ignorant question for you more experienced bandsters. I'm not quite sure where my port is, and I have an appointment to get a fill on the 23rd of this month. I've read that it should be the largest incision, but my largest incision is about 2 inches below the waist and off a ways from the other smaller ones. I asked one of the nurses at the hospital where it was and she indicated an incision just inside my ribcage. There is a hard mass under both of these and I just can't tell which is the port. I could e-mail Dr. Rumbaut, but I figured I'd throw this out there first in case there is some "trick" to locating the rascal by feel!

I feel like I have been gone forever...I'm a lurker...yes I've entered the official I've been banded for 8 months and cannot find the time to post...or perhaps my neurosis has resolved and I'm no longer needing to be a codependent freak checking my LBT messages from work getting in trouble for illegal internet access...LOL Anyway...lot's of new faces...it's good to see...now as a seasoned bandster (uh hum...can I officially call myself that) I should be on here answering newbie questions like others did for me... So...what's new...I've been reading and replying when I could...so sorry to hear about Donali again but good Lord what a great attitude...Michelle looks grea…

I have heard that people who have had this surgery can no longer drink soda's(DIET COKE.)

We all know the support-group dynamic that those with problems are the ones who are most vocal. That's as it should be, and it's very important that it be so for everyone's benefit. We've been hearing a lot lately about erosions, slippages, leaks, infections, reflux, and I'm really glad people are sharing their stories. I love you all and hope very much that this post doesn't offend any of you. Sometimes it can seem like all bandsters have such problems. Certainly, everyone CAN have such problems and not having had them at any given point is no guarantee that they won't occur in the future. But people considering banding can also benefit from hearing that it is possibl…

Debra, I just wanted to wish you well at you travel to bandland today!!!! Sending wishes and prayers for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery!!!!!!! Please come and update us when you are feeling up to it. We may not be band twins ... but definitely band siblings! (((((hugs))))) Darcy:banana