LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Hi everyone, Our new grandaughter Nevaeh was born Saturday at 5:45pm she weighed 8lbs 2oz and she is beautiful. I will try to load a picture hope it works. Mom and baby are doing fine, thanks for all your well wishes. Talk to you soon, Kathy Alex thanks so much, I am using my daughters pc and couldn't figure it out. Please see the picture of Nevaeh posted on Alex's post. Thanks again.

I am sick of cottage cheese and milk for the daily minimum of 60-90 grams of protein besides chicken and fish any suggestions?

This is gonna be a long post, so either move on, or grab a cup of Jo: This is to apologize for all the skinny women I've judged as being a bitch just because they look good. It's wrong of me... it's wrong for any of us, to snare at cute, thin girls. I myself have made many derogatory comments and often judge the skinny book by the skinny cover. After spending the weekend with my 90 pound, big booby friend, she taught me a lot about what it's like to have a rockin' body. My other friend, Jessica, has the same type of figure, and she topped off everything I learned, so I got a double-scoop of what it's like to be thin. Thin women hate comments we (me, anyway) make …

Hello had my first fill last week and now it is black and blue I had it done in the doctor's office so it took a few times to find the port is this normal?

Hi All, I sure have to agree with Alex that this fill journey is a mystery. I felt very tight after my fourth fill, and even had heartburn for about a day and a half. In retrospect I think part of that may have been because I was hungry! Now I am back to feeling pretty normal, and I can still eat pretty well. I am at 3.0. I do notice that mornings are tighter, but the consistent restriction that I expected does not seem to be there. Again, agreeing with Alex, I am definitely eating less, but I think it is because I am afraid of PBing! Yesterday I ate at an Indian restaurant and this is what I had: 5 quarter size chunks of chicken in tikka masla (tomatoish) sauce,…

Does anyone out there know the standard protocol for fills? I have heard anything from being filled 2 weeks post op to every 4 weeks post op to every 6 weeks post op. Is there a protocol for each doctor or is there a standard and then it is adjusted per patient? Anyone know? Anyone given literature or instruction on how their fills would be managed pre or post op? Curious as there seems to be this haphazard approach from some doctors and they are making up their own protocols as they go. There should be a standard and then adjust per patient as needed.

I got my second fill already and now I am at two cc's. This lapband is not working at all. I can eat like normal. My doctor is lying to me. He said that the band is full all the way. I believe he's lying because the fills were included into the payment of the surgery. I am so sad, It cost so much money and it's not working at all. I'm reading all your stories about how the doctor gives you a fill while you are drinking some stuff, my doctor hasn't done that. Not to mention he poked with the needle about 20 times to find my port. Please someone help me find a doctor that will fill me in Southern California. Please!!!

I am in the process of having the lap band procedure done and I had a question. Once or twice a month I like to go out with my friends and have a beer or two. I know the beer has cabination in it so I was wondering if a fruit juice with a liquor would be okay to have (Malibu rum and pineapple, screwdriver)? I am aware that the liquor has high sugar in it, but if I do it in moderations will it be okay. Has anybody tried this?

Buy 4 new Cockatiels because 2 dogs, a cat, an 80-gallon aquarium, and a 9-year-old husband aren't quite messy enough. Yes, ladies, my husband built me a bird cage and was going to buy me parrots, but the selection was nil so we decided on a couple Cockatiels. Don't ask me how a couple turned into 4. **** shakes head side-to-side grumbling like Lurch from the Munsters******** I missed my boards today because we had out-of-town company, plus we have Chloe (Babs' 5-year old angel-monster.) She helped us pick out the 4 birds. Aye yaeh aye.

I called my drs office this morning to set up a fill as I am starting to gain weight and feel no/VERY little restriction. The receptionist told me that they have a new procedure where the pt comes in, gets weighed and fills out a questionaire before getting set up for a fill. Okay, sounded fine. Well, I went in, filled out the questionaire (very basic, like how often do you vomit, how much do you eat, how often do you exercise, etc) and got weighed (- and payed a copay). Then the nurse turned to me and said , see you, bye, we will call you. I was a little taken aback, and asked her was I to wait in the waiting room for the dr ? No she says, we will call you. I said about…

I've been a hit and miss board lurker recently, so I just saw in your signature that you have to have your band removed. I'm so sorry. How are you feeling? Nancy

I was told people with autoimmune diseases should not be banded. But I just read what the literature actually says, which is Contraindication #18: "people with autoimmune connective tissue disease such as lupus" should not be banded. Who is our autoimmune expert around here? Penni, Nightengale, Sandy... are you there? I have Sarcoid Disease aka Sarcoidosis. Dr. Lopez knew I had this before implanting the band. How can I find out if my autoimmune disease falls in this category? Why would Lopez give me a band if he knew I had an autoimmune disease? Did I max my quota of posts for the day? Love you!

Hi everyone..... I'm new to the board and I am SO glad I found this place. I have been overweight for as long as I can remember and have recently had some very scary experiences that sent me running to the doctor. My ankles have been swolen for almost a month and I can't get them to go down. I can't even walk for a small amount of time without profuse sweating. :cry When I went to the doctor last Thursday, he asked me if I had ever thought about weight loss surgery. Truth is, I have thought about it .... ALOT. But, I've always been against it because I have heard so many horror stories. I'm not naive though, I know there are FAR mo…

Dr. Lopez prescribed Dolac after my original surgery. I took 9 pills in total without knowing what drug I was taking since I trusted my doctor knew what he was giving me. Dolac is the Mexican name, so I just researched and learned that Dolac is Toradol, which is a Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. If we are supposed to avoid them, why would a band doctor prescribe them? Could erosion begin from Day One? When avoiding these NSAIDs, is occasional use okay? I wrote to INAMED for more info but they haven't responded. Thanks.

Hello all you wonderful Bandsters, Guess what got my surgery date...July 5th OHH i'm so excited but soooo nervous I guess this is normal. Tuesday is my last time to eat food, then I start the liquid pre op. Please keep me in your prayers any advice is gladley welcome, thank you all for all your support and encouragement don't know if I could make it with you. luv you guys; Nanny

I am 29 years old and have been overweight my entire life. I have been on every diet imaginable and did good with loosing the weight just to gain back everything I lost plus more. I am scheduled for lap band surgery on August 23rd. Right now I am going through the dieting, exercising, chewing the food, sipping the water and quit smoking phase. At first I was very excited about everything, but when I have time by myself I sit and wonder if I can do this the rest of my life. I am so scared that I am not chewing the food enough, sipping the water slow enough, what if the band deteriorates and I don’t have the money to get it removed, what if my stomach stretches and I spent …

If any Oregon Bandsters want some support from a neighbor ... I'm here! Just drop me a line. Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 email: meswede@yahoo.com web: http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html:coo

I started taking birth control pills again since 3 years last Sunday. I went in and got a fill on Monday. I have restriction; but, I have not a lb. Could I not lose since I started the Birth Control pills? I have edema to my legs, so I know I am holding fluid. I was told that I will probably gain 10-15 lbs since I started taking the pill again. Please tell me that that could not be true in my case since I am banded. August will be my 1 year anniversary and I really want to have lose 30 lbs by then.. Ok maybe 15 will work. Any suggestions or comments will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

Hi All, Since the day after my fourth fill (3.0), I have had terrible heartburn, and it does not seem to get better no matter what I do. It seems pretty obvious to me now, because of the unrelenting nature, that I need to get some fill removed. Any suggestions for dealing with this until then? I am going to call my Dr. on Monday, but I don't think she had office hours until WEDNESDAY, because she does surgery 3 days a week. Her office is in the hospital, so maybe she can see me briefly. I am really miserable. I ate one scrambled egg, and after two hours I started drinking water. I have not vomited in any way, but the PAIN of heartburn is terrible. I even took one …

I had a second fill on Wednesday.This time a have a huge bruise where he picked me.It seems to have a dark red line through it but i think that it's just more blood.SHould i be concerned or just wait for it to fade??

Hey everyone!! I went for my 4th fill on Friday and boy let me tell ya - IT'S WORKING!!! Prior to this fill I had felt it every so often and was really working hard to keep the weight off that I had lost. Well I just couldn't do it anymore cause I was trying to eat the whole cow and then move on to the horse!!! I am now realizing that prior to feeling this level of restriction I thought I was taking small bites........boy did I get a reality check. I was going to eat a banana for breakfast - nice soft and easy. Well first bite into the banana and swallowed - BAM - I felt it and was like oh boy.......not good enough!! So now I am re-evaluating how I chew, how big I …

Hey everyone I haven't been on the boards much. I am staying in Reno with my daughter she is going to have our 2 grandchild. Nevaeh is expected to arrive tomorrow. We leave for the hospital in just a just a few. My daughter is going to be induced in the morning, tonight they are putting some kind of pill on her cervix. Maybe that will work. I will let you all know and share pictures when she gets here. Take care everyone and talk to you soon. Kathy

Hey guys anyone out there in the So. Calif area that would like to get a Support Group going? I know there is a support group that meets in Orange County but how about getting one closer to maybe the Los Angeles Area? Some people will go to both and some will go to one or the other. We could have annual Bandsters Conferences down the line with guest speakers and the like. I am willing to work with someone to set up the meetings and get them up and running. Let me hear from you guys out there.

You guys are going to so laugh, but guess what? I'm having feelings of "last supper syndrome" before LOSING my band!!!! OMG!!! WTF?!?!?! :D Check out how this is "working" in my wee little brain. I find myself thinking, "I should eat some of that NOW, while my band can stop me before I go overboard, 'cause I'm afraid LATER I won't be able to stop at a reasonable amount." My tummy's feeling tender (I'm sure psychosomatic - or just psycho!), so I haven't been eating hardly anything since Saturday. But last night Mom had ordered pizza, and my sis had made caramel popcorn with peanuts. So I'm thinking I don't really need the caramel popcorn, and pizza is one of…

I go back to see my doctor on June 22nd and that is the first time that I could potentially get a fill. I read in another forum that a "pouch" is not formed until you have a fill - is that true?? I was under the impression that the pouch was formed when the band was put in place. Also, what is the "average" for the first fill?

Hi All, After my fourth fill (3.0), I started eating solid food today (small bites and chewing well), and I feel it going down--painful. I am also burping a lot as I eat and more when I drink. I do not feel like anything is trying to come up, but I have had heartburn all day. Now, I do have to say that I was having stomach problems (I have these episodes sometimes-I think stress related) BEFORE I had this last fill, and I did have some heartburn then. I think I may have some spasticity at times that affects my whole digestive system. I guess what I am asking here is if this heartburn could be just a too tight fill thing? I don't want to panic because it might just …

Hello all...haven't been posting but have been reading adding my two cents once and a while... Hmmm...what's been up...I'm still stuck at 180...haven't went up or down which is fine...I started taking an antibiotic which I think was getting stuck and making me really tight so I got an unfill back to around 3.20...on liquid antibiotics now so that seems to be helping a bit...my problem...I'm hungry all the damn time but am not eating the right foods...I have to get back on track to solid protien and veggies...there I said it... Anyway...had a date on Saturday night from match.com...ended up the guy (who I emailed) looked at my condo...LOL...I thought things were going …

Hi everyone. I have been doing some internet research about having fills in california. I was very excited to speak with Gerald. Dr. Joyas assistant and he told me of a Dr. in Los Angeles who does fills for just a bit more than in Mx. His name is Dr. Bill and Gerald said he would send me the number. When I have it you'll have it. I awm so excited. Rica

http://www.smh.com/sections/services-procedures/medlib/docs_articles/Bariatric/bariatric_pdf_articles/bariatric_surgery/Spivak%20&%20Favretti%20-%20Avoiding%20Postoperative%20Complications%20with%20the%20LAP-BAND%20System.pdf In many cases, the first indication of possible erosion is an infection at the access port site. The connecting tube provides drainage of gastric content to the port site, which causes the infection. Erosion should be ruled out at the first sign of port infection. http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94800-12_LB_Product_Data_Sheet.pdf Erosion of the band into stomach tissue has been associated with revision surgery, after the use of gast…

Hi All, I saw my Dr. today, and she did add .9cc to my band, filling it to 3.0. As she had instructed me prior to my appt., I brought a thick puree--an Atkins peach yogurt, and she was astounded that I could easily eat half of it (maybe more; I didn't try) after my fill?? She told me that I am only the second band patient (and she has done THOUSANDS) she has filled to 3.0??? She says most are at 1.4, 1.8 or 2.0 at most??? I felt like a freak! At my doctor's request, I am going to schedule an upper GI early next week. She says that it is a standard 6 month check, but she wants to make sure that I have not stretched my esophogus allowing me to eat so much??? Is this…

It has been great reading what everyone has to say. I just don't seem to be losing any weight and was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? I have been banded for 11 weeks. I got my first fill of 1.4cc at week 6. Now five weeks later I have only lost 4 pounds. THe doctor did another fill today but only put the band at 1.6cc. I just don't see how .2cc is going to make that big of a difference. Any suggestions on what I should do? THnaks

Hi! Can anyone tell me if it is true that lapbanding can cause gangrene???????????????

Hi Everyone, Today I woke up and thought to myself, its my bandiversary!! Yeah! Its hard to believe that it has been one year since I have been banded. For the newbies, the time goes very fast even though the liquid phase feels like it will never end!!! Gosh, where do I start? So many good things have happened to me with -120 pounds lost forever. THese are the highlights: I can run up a flight of stairs without even being slightly out of breath. Last year this time, I could not walk up a flight of steps without stopping 3 or 4 times to catch my breath. It would take me 5-10 minutes for my heart to stop pounding in my chest. I flew two times on an airplane withou…

I am starting to get a little paranoid here lately. I have a couple of questions: Do you ladies loose restriction during your TOM? I've been banded almost a year and I have random abdominal pain as well as shoulder pain. Before I was banded I thought that I might have had IBS?!? Not really for sure. I have been abusing my band and I have made a stand to starting looking at my band as a friend NOT an enemy!!!!! I just hope it's not too late! :sick

My hourly anxiety strikes again. My incision is flooding. Not just leaking, but change-the-bandage-every-hour leaking. The pharmacist saw me fretting over the hundreds of bandages and asked if she could help me find something. I showed her my incision and said I needed allergy-free bandages for my weeping wound. She saw the allergic reaction from my old bandages and said I might need to have my dissolvable stitches removed and have the real surgical ones to sew me back up. She said some patients can't heal because they are allergic to dissolvable stitches. And then my dog made me spill BBQ sauce all over my crispy soft Downey-fresh favorite sleepy shirt. PENNI... …

Hi All - I wanted to post a reply I made on the SmartBandster board regarding someone's strongly stated opinion that band erosion is almost always the patient's fault. I think it is important to accept responsibility for our actions and their possible consequences. However, I also think it is equally important to be able to accept that certain outcomes of events may have not been under our control, or may have happened anyway. Perhaps my occasional overeating contributed to my band erosion (frankly, I was doing a lot of that in the past four weeks). HOWEVER... erosion is a possible complication for ALL implanted devices. ********** //It is actually the stomac…

Grampa bought a rubber. Sorry, thought we could use some comical relief. It's getting deep in here! Wacka wacka boom boom.

Now that I have my first fill, is it normal to cough like something needs to cough out of my throat? Does anybody have homeopathic remedies for gallbladder cleansing? I think it's honey, lime, cayenne pepper... isn't that what I've heard, or is that an anti-fertility remedy?

Hello all, I just registered for this board. I've been using obesityhelp.com and the folks are terrific. I was banded on 4/30/04 and have lost 33 pounds thus far. I feel great and have made several friends and received tremendous advice on the other board, so I thought I would give this one a shot. Just a note to give you all a big Texas HOWDY! Keith

well I have gained 5 lbs in the last month and can see an increase in my food intake. Am i pushing the food yes I guess I am. I have rededicated but wanted to hang this out for everyone. I have been the type thats lost slow yet been able to eat almost anything from the beginning. I am considering another fill but want to see if I can rope this in myself. I can eat a whole turkey sandwich tosted/ A new york strip.! This is still a fraction of what I used to eat but I wonder if I have stretched my little puoch out and if I gradually pull off will it return like regular stomachs. :)

Finally, I have had no pb in 2 days... I have slowed my chewing down and I have taken smaller bites. took everyones advice and as usual it worked. I also called my Dr. he told me I was probleuy fin. but I should come down for a xray just to make sure...but he did say that I had to do what ever I had to do to stop pbing........... well so far so good... Francesca

Thanks to encouragement from many of you -- I got a second opinion about my slippage. I went to the world-famous band surgeon Dr. Ponce (banded FDA trials and beyond). Turns out it is not a little slippage as my surgeon suggested. But a significant one. He called it "anterior slippage." He explained that food just sits on top of the band instead of going through it. No wonder I've been so miserable! He also said I had more fill than I thought -- 3.2 cc's (after three fills). My surgeon's office said I had 2.0??? Go figure. He took it all out to avoid any further complications, which I'm glad he did. The bad part is I was forced into self-pay after insurance denie…

Wanted to let everyone that was banded or has plans to be banded by Dr. Spiegel in Port Neches that we are starting a support group. It will be called The TLC Support Group. Our first meeting will be on July 13th at 5:30 in the NederlandPt. Neches area. We are still deciding on a location, I will post it once we decide for sure. We will start having these meeting the second Tuesday of every month. If at all possible let me know if you plan on attending. I will be looking forward to putting your face with your screen name!!!

Well for several days...well weeks..I have been reasearching my options. I found out about the lap band and it really impressed me. I been reading everything i can get my hands on about it. But I guess i still have a few questions if anyone would be willing to answer them. First when do ya finally give up and get the lap band done. Before today i had heart set on getting this done. Was looking into doctors ect. Been bouncing the idea off my mom. Well today i told her i was gonna get it done. She is agianst it. She thinks i should give the atkins diet yet another try. Or maybe some other diet. So when do ya finally give up on all the diets? As i said i was all exci…

Hi everyone , my oldest first baby is having her first baby tomorrow. She is 31. This will be my 3rd grand child. Any way with being at the hospital and helping her at home for a week or so I dont know if I will get achance to be on the computer very much.But I am still here. Will miss you all . Will be back later...Janie :notagree

Recently there seem to have been a rash of slips and erosions so naturally I'm all nervous now and imagining things. Suddenly I'm reminded all the time about this plastic thing I have cinching my stomach into an unnatural hourglass shape and thinking I feel it. Yesterday I spent a lot of time pushing a swing and every time I raised my arms I wondered if this was potentially the push that would dislodge my band. Today my chest muscles hurt a little from the exertion, and naturally I'm worried that I did something I shouldn't have. But then I remember that it's normal for muscles to hurt after unaccustomed use. Hello? OK, I'm scared, I admit it. But maybe that's a go…

Is it me, or did they forget to mention "dropping stuff" on the list of side effects with band/port surgery? Has anyone noticed the need for bending over to pick up dropped stuff has increased tenfold since surgery? Where is that Murphy?

HI everyone. I need help from you all. Last night I went to my Doctors mandatory support group meeting. There were about 20 people who had RNY and only one other person who had lap band surgery. We are all treated the same and I think we are diffrent. I was mixed up about how much we can have at a meal from day one. I have been having 4 oz. or a little more and seem to be doing fine. I get a slightly full sensation and stop eating and feel satisfied. And I have lost 27 pounds now in less than 7 weeks. Thanks to this board.Reading about giving yourself a higher calorie day to jump start your metabolism, I have done that and got off my plateau and lost 4 more pounds. I hav…

I'm having a hard time getting my antibiotics down. At the suggestion of an RN, I broke my antibiotics into many pieces and took one tiny bit at a time with milk. But 1/2 hour before that I have to take something for acid reflux to prevent ulcers from the antibiotics, which I break into pieces. I called my pharmacist who said the Reglan that I have on-hand should work. But I also have to take my thyroid pill in bits. I'm spending 2 hours each day taking meds. I was thinking of crushing them int a fine powder and snorting them like the Cocaine people do. No, I'm not that dumb, but it sounded like a good idea at the time. Last night I was choking. I think my antib…

Please don't look if this will gross you out. This is what my stomach looked like after port removal. Those horrible blisters are allergic reactions from the bandages I wore for a week. The round red dots were a bonus - I had broken capillaries and asked the surgeon to remove them while she had her cauterizing [sp?]machine out, and she was nice enough to zap them for free. The next picture will be my scar today after port removal.