LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

For all of you who may be protien challenged like me I bought this fab cook book from Barnes & Noble...400 and some recipes with chicken...and stuff normal people will eat...not foo foo food...it was only $10 and every recipe has a picture...very cool! I see it is sold out online but if your interested I would call B&N and see if you can get a copy! http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2X7TWPVV2S&isbn=0760734542&itm=2

well i am getting my swallow study done thursday but it comes with a hefty pricetag of 600-800 smackers. then if nothing is wrong and i need another fill another 150. i ended up starting a 'diet' because i want to see the scale MOVE! i have 3.8 cc in a 4cc band and the band is not stopping my food i can feel it pass through the band. (if that makes sense) since bc bs has an a specific exclusion for wls looks like i am going to have to buy secondary coverage. my boss could care less he was like 'eh maybe you could appeal it' well eh maybe he's an asshole. sorry for the frustration in my post but there is no telling how much ins will cost a morbidly obese person.

OK, I have read "how to tell if you have the perfect fill" however, I still have a few questions. I'm at 2.5cc's currently and right after my last fill I had a good amount of restriction...4 chicken Mc Nuggets and I was satisfied...a few weeks out now and I'm able to eat quite a bit more...sometimes 2 cups...I do notice however that I do not get hungry nearly as often... Am I normal? I'm so paranoid I've stretched my pouch...

Well, let's see..if you read my other post about not knowing what is going on here is the verdict. I was scheduled for a fill today and since the last 2-3 weeks I have been unable to eat I decided to not get a fill and just let him check the band and make sure that nothing was wrong. The band was in place and had not slipped. I did the bariam swallow and my opening was about the size of a thread. So he decided to take some out:( I asked him if I could just stay like I was for a week and do only liquids, but he was not fond of that. So insted of getting a fill I got unfilled. I was a little depressed and upset but he reassured me that in 3-4 weeks I could just cal…

Today is exactly 12 weeks since I was banded and all my expectations have been wildly exceeded with this marvelous, wonderful band! I am so thrilled with my progress in these few weeks that I had to post, in case there is anyone out there still undecided about being banded! Apart from feeling really ill after the anaesthetic, the operation was a cinch and since then the weight has come off pretty quickly. I wouldn't say it was effortless, I try to make the best food choices every day and have avoided Mc Donalds & other fast food (which I was kinda addicted to!) and fizzy drinks completely. I try to stay away from sugar and high glycemic food but other than that I e…

Hi everyone, I have not posted in a while and thuoght I would today! I am just short of 7 weeks postop and have lost exactly 20lbs! (Ilost 10lb before sx, so a total of 30lbs GONE) I am ready to pass along all my "biggest" clothes- its weird, but instinctively I want to hang on to them in case I gain it all back! Of course this time I won't! I have had quite an easy time actually. Lots of people ask me how I am doing it and strangely I am comfortable telling them that I have a band. (At first I was nervous because I was afraid I would once again fail, so kept it fairly secret). I have experienced some middle-of-the-chest discomfort like something is stuck, esp with me…

I WENT TO MY FIRST MEETING AFTER MY SEMINOR AND THEY LOD US THAT WE HAVE TO PUT UP $1000:eek:(WHICH IS ALOT OF MONEY IN MY BOOK!BEFORE WE GET OUR INSURANCE APPROVAL TO COVER ALL THE TEST AND EVALUATIONS BEFORE SURGERY. ITS TO ALSO COVER ALL FILLS,A YEAR MEMBERSHIP TO THE GYM IN THE HOSPITAL AND OUR PROTEIN SHAKES AND VITAMINS FOR AFTER SURGERY. DOES THIS SOUND INSANE OR HAS ANY ONE ELSE DO THIS ?

I was just wondering if there is an average fill that gets us to the right place. I'm talking about the Inamed Band. My first fill was 1.5 and when I went for my second, there was only 1.1. They put me at 2.0 which was really great for the first 2 weeks but the restriction seemed to lesson over time. I called for another fill today. I was just wondering what the average fill is for everyone. 2.0, 2.5....etc. Thanks

I've lost 37 pounds which is exactly one third of what I have to lose. So that's good. I'm happy, I'm satisfied, etc. BUT. . .I am still wearing the same clothes. I've tried on some of my clothes in the next smaller size, but they are still too tight. It's a small matter, but it's frustrating. A companion issue is that only a few people have noticed - and they only made tentative remarks as though they weren't quite sure. I know from past weight loss experience that when I can move to a smaller size, it will be more noticeable, but when, when, when will that be? Nancy

I'm very excited today because last night when I was trying to figure out what to wear to work I decided to try on all my size 24 jeans that haven't seen the light of day in at least a year and a half. To my surprise they all fit! So today at work I'm proudly sporting a pair of size 24 jeans! Hooray! :D

Wow! After days of freaking out..... nothing! I love my doctor. I asked my husband to leave work early and a friend to baby sit. Got to the doc's office, he congratulated me on my weight lost ( eventhough I put on 2 kilos last night celebrating my birthday which is tomorrow and I thought I should get the eating part out of the way while I could still eat - I know.... i'm bad! but the lemon tart was excellent!) Ok... ahem, sorry, got off track, I'm like hyper with excitement and relief. So I jumped on the table, lift my shirt, he asked me to put my arms behing my head, and do a semi situp. I was looking away with the fear of needles and all, 2 seconds, he told me to r…

I started my pre-surgery liquid diet last Monday and was on it for 3 days before being told my surgery was going to have to be postponed. I continued on it for the rest of the week, but not the weekend. Today, I decided to see if I could get back on it for most of my meals. So far, so good. I had a protein shake (UNJURY-chocolate) for breakfast and just had an Ensure shake for lunch. I have yogurt and a Dannon Light n Fit smoothie for snacks later in the afternoon. I plan on eating solid food for dinner. My question is this--do you think this is a good idea since I know that I'm going to have to be on a liquid diet once my surgery has been rescheduled and then post…

My husband and I had the lap band surgery 4 weeks ago. My husband has lost 26 lbs but about 2 or 3 days ago he started feeling pain in his port area, especially when he was sleeping - he wouldn't be able to lay on the side the port was on. He could also feel his port under his skin. Then yesterday we could actually see a bump on his stomach where the port is and we can feel it. Has anyone else experienced this? Marilyn

Hi All, I am on pureed foods and I feel like I may be eating too much.. Can that happen.. I don't even feel like i have a band.. I must be healed up pretty well or all those liquids have just gone through fine.. and now the pureed.. I read where a meal should consist of less than 5 oz. a sitting.. well I think I'm doing that.. I guess maybe i'm just getting scared of eating.. I don't want to go through this and then fail!!! ugh!! I feel I have more confidence in myself than that.. I don't get my first fill until Feb. 9th and I am to start on a regular diet on Jan. 25th.. those were my rules from surgery.. I believe everyone has similiar ones.. I just wonder if anyone e…

Hi everyone, I just thought I would get this out of my system because its killing me and I have nobody to share my fears with. I probably shouldnt have but I have read a few horror stories regarding fills. I don't even know what to expect from mine, but: 1) I hate needles and blood ( I have the dentist drill with no anesthetic, to avoid needles... I know I have been lucky it hasn't involved nerves so far) 2) I still get all sorts of food stuck in the morning ( from mushy fruit to Protein bars or yogurt) 3) I dont yet trust myself eating w/o sipping Water after every tiny bite when eating in public ( which defeats the whole purpose, I know, but avoids unwanted situati…

I was scared to death...but guess what? I did just fine! No fainting, I didn't gat queasy or nothing! My Dr. put in 1.5 cc's I didn't feel any diffrent for three day, and then it kicked in! I can't eat in the mornings, very little until about 3pm. But night is another story. I'm HUNGREY and I can eat a fair amount,so I have to be careful. I'm staying between 800-1000 cal. which is what my Dr. recommends foe me.

I've noticed the bunless burger and the low-carb craze that's sweeping the nation. Hardee's and Carl's Jr. dumped the bread from some hamburgers last month, going lettuce-wrapped instead. Now its Burger King's turn to jump on the bunless band wagon. The bunless Whopper has 3 grams of carbohydrates, compared with 52 for a regular Whopper but what about calories and the fat? Note they cost the same as a regular burger. I haven't ran out to try one just yet. Subway partner with Atkins Nutritionals to make the Turkey and Bacon Melt Wrap, with Monterey cheddar cheese, and the Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap, with Swiss cheese. Both Atkins Friendly Wraps have 11 grams of Ca…

I had my appointment with the cardiologist yesterday and was told that my EKG was as close to normal as possible except for one small "blip". However, because I am a diabetic and have high blood pressure, he wanted to go ahead and do a stress test just to make sure there are no other problems. He did an echo-cardiagram yesterday and the stress test is scheduled for next week. If the stress test is ok, then I can re-schedule my surgery. Hopefully, I will be able to reschedule it for Feb. By the time I do have surgery, I should have a baseline health report for everything! I guess that's good for the future, but with weight loss, I expect everything to change! Good…

Hi Everybody - Sorry for "dropping off the face of the Earth" for two weeks, but I was on vacation with my Sweetie, and spent very little time on the computer. It was a wonderful 2 week vacation, and the icing on the cake was that I dropped 9 pounds while he was here. I'm positive it is almost all contributable to the extra physical activity that I never added on my own - lots of walking each day, and of course, the more pleasureable types of exercise performed between two people in love... ahem So, with the help of my Sweeitie, I am coming up on my one year bandiversary (1/23) at -80 pounds. This "year in review" is a little early, but I'm awake after droppin…

Hello~ I'm a little confussed. I just got back from my 2nd fill. Okay~ I drank that gross junk first and on screen you could see it went thought pretty fast. My Doctor even said puzzeled have you had a fill? GREAT! My first fill was only 2 months ago. Is this normal? Then when he stuck the needle in some comes out I guess?? Well, only .75 came out.. I had 1.5cc where is the rest of my 1st fill?? I then got over 2.cc put back in. It took the nasty drink longer to pass. How long does the tightness last? How long till I fill the tightness kick in? THANKS FOR ANY ADVISE!!

I wonder why the lap-band isn't mentioned in the article........I know the cover says it's about by-pass, but, they have a small article about a device similar to a pacemaker that's planted under the abdomen, which they say is promising........but not available to 2006. Although on the flip side.......maybe if they did publish in People the folks who are now in the process of banding may have to wait longer.....hmm. Which would not be good. I stumbled across the lap-band while researching the by-pass on the internet.....how did you find it? Are you pleased you did? I'm newly banded........Gabby

Well, I did it. Just got home from the hospital yesterday, and for the exception of some post-anesthesia nausea it was easier than I expected. Care at Abbott-Northwestern absolutely first rate, Dr. Schwartz was fantastic. I have to say that I experienced every emotion and almost felt like "chickening out". So glad I'm done, now on full liquids..........life is good. Good luck to all.........Gabby

Hi everyone, I was banded 8/7/2003 and are now about 10lbs from my goal weight. I have been experiencing a lot of restriction lately and am considering getting some taken out. My question is: when you are at your sweet spot does that mean you can eat a small size meal and be satisfied without feeling the golf ball or worse? I experience some level of discomfort or pain almost with every meal in the past 2 weeks. Granted there were a few meals in between that seemed to work well but most of them are very uncomfortable. Is that normal? Also does anyone know why I would feel this much restriction after 4 months of having a fill? I just want to know if everyon…

Never thought I'd jump on the blogwagon, but I wanted somewhere to chronicle this band process in one spot and didn't feel like taking the time to build a website, so I did it! Come visit me if you like! http://www.xanga.com/scarletini

I was pleased to see this story of someone who is down 110 pounds after being banded by Port Huron's Dr. Bhesania (yes, the article calls him Bhesanin, but that's just a typo). http://www.tctimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10792723&BRD=2524&PAG=461&dept_id=494488&rfi=8

hey guys i need tons of help here!! i'll just start that i am 19 years old and in college living with three other roommates. i am 5ft 9in and started at 207lbs. i am down to 165 which is awesome......but my goal weght is about 150. i have been dealing with a lot of emotional stress the past few years and i will feel finally done with all this when i reach my goal weight! anyway...... i have had 3 fills......and the third one was really tight, which was in september. i continued to lose weight but there was A LOT of food i could not eat. and that made this very hard because i would try to eat a lot of things and PB them. My roommates were kind of curious what was going on …

My surgery was scheduled for Monday, Jan 19. I went thru all the pre-op testing and thought everything was a go. I already received insurance approval. Started my liquid diet on Monday and it was going so well. Yesterday, I had a call from my PCP telling me that the hospital had faxed my EKG to her and wanted her to sign a cardiac clearance form, which she couldn't do since she is not a cardiologist. Now, I can't get in to see a cardiologist until next week, hence, surgery has to be postponed! Then the surgeons office called and said there was a problem with the insurance approval because the approval letter didn't specify the procedure or CPT being approved!! Wh…

Has anyone gotten the flu this year that has there band? I got it last week and it was horrible! I threw up a couple of times and my surgeon had me come in and do an upper GI to make sure that nothing was wrong with my band because I had some pain in my chest where the band is. I'm still having some muscle soreness in the chest area too. Has anyone else had this?

Well, I went to the Dr on Friday and a got another fill. I am now at 2cc's. Not nearly as restriced as when I had 2.25; but at least I can drink now:) I am ready to start shrinking!!! I gained 2-3 lbs after he took out some of my fill on Dec 29, so hopefully I start losing again! I have been kinda discouarged lately, well since he took some of my saline out. I was really losing when I was that tight, then I gained some and was really hoping to have dropped at least a pound by today! But no such luck, maybe in the morning I will get on the scale and I will be down 5 lbs.. Till next time....

I had read somewhere that if you called unjury that they would send you samples of their products. I did call them and received my samples, however I was told that they are no longer going to be able to send samples out because they have been inundated with requests. I just wanted to encourage anyone that is interested in this product to go ahead and invest in it. I tried both the vanilla and chocolate flavors and they both tasted great. I mixed mine with 8 ozs of milk and a couple of ice cubes and put them in a blender. Yummy! My 17-year old daughter even said she was going to start drinking them. I was impressed. I ordered some on line and they arrived at my hou…

and I feel absolutely NO restriction what so ever. I mean I can still chug water and although I HAVE been eating the bandster way I put the band to the test yesterday:nervous I wanted to see if anything would happen if I ate faster than normal. I made tacos and spanish rice for dinner. Although I only ate 1 taco and a little of rice I could have easily eaten another one!! The only thing that was visible to me was afterwards (about 10 - 15 mins later) I got the hiccups. So my question is this - should I wait a little longer for it to "kick" in or should I call the doc and have another fill?

Just wanted to let everyone know that Oprah will have a show on WLS on Monday Jan 12. It will feature Randy from American Idol and his experience with WLS. It will also deal with "problems" other people have had to deal with after WLS (emotional/relationship/eating stuff). Thought it might be interesting! Marsha

Well, the great countdown has begun! Today I started my pre-op liquid diet. Surgery is scheduled for next Monday. I can't believe it has got here this quickly. I got my letter of approval the day before Thanksgiving and the time since then has just flown. I went Friday for my pre-op tests and I have lost 7 pounds since November...was I shocked! So far today has been ok on liquids, but by the time Sunday gets here.......who knows? Once again I want to thank everyone on this board. You have been an inspiration and a fountain of knowledge for me. Even though I haven't posted a lot, I am a lurker and am on here everyday...sometimes several times a day. Sheila

My aunt bought me some jeans for Christmas....size 16. Then a week or so later, she asked me if I had tried them on. I said "no, I haven't tried them on....there's no way I'll fit into a 16". She said she could really tell that I've lost more inches and told me just to try. So I did...and they fit (a little snug, but I actually wore them out in public)!!!!!!!!!!! Although the scale has been at a standstill for almost a month, I'm still losing inches. It's so exciting to me because when I got married I was a 14 (which I thought was HUGE) and pre-band I was in a 22/24. So it feels so good to be almost where I was at my wedding. My first mini-goal was to be in a size…

Well, I had my surgery on Jan. 5th, and I'm so glad it's done! School started up again today and sitting here in class is really tough, my stomach's really hurting right around my port. Too bad I can't lay down in class!

:D i just found out that effective 1-1-04 our insurance changed to BCBS of TN and i am very irritated because there is an exclusion for "services and supplies related to obesity, including surgical or other treatment of morbidd obesity" well if i just had to pay for fills that would be one thing but the more fill i have the more i worry about my actual band needing tightning. i have 3.8 cc and 3 weeks since that last fill it is really loosening up :think :think so since i only have .2 cc's left i am getting pretty nervous... my dr told me when banded ' dont worry i put your band on a little loose' like that was supposed to be comforting!!!! DUH~ i want the band to be ti…

This may sound really trivial but I gotta ask anyway. I am scheduled to be banded late next month and I am really excited about everything except for one thing. I won't get to have a beer again... I know this sounds like I am a drinker, but I'm not. I only drink beer once a month, if that. But when I do I really enjoy it. I am really not looking forward to not being able to have a beer or two now and then. Stupid, I know considering all the band will help me gain. But it's something I am dreading none the less..... Just wondering what others drink when they want to losen up and have fun. I'm not a big wine fan, and stuff like whiskey and Water turns my stomach as does …

I have to start by saying this has been the hardest, easiest, fastest , wonderful, exciting most emotional year I think I have ever spent. I think this year I have learned more about myself then I ever have (44 years and counting) . I researched surgery years before I had my date. I quit smoking (30+years) so I would prove to myself this surgery was that important to me. Talked with doctors and counselors before I even went and saw the surgeon and started the process. Spoke hours and hours with my family and friends, some who were not happy with my decision and even won them over with all the knowledge I had and my determination. I thought I had all the answers.... NOT…

Wasn't too sure whether to post about this or not, but maybe someone has experienced something similiar. Up until last night my restriction has been pretty stable, have been very near if not at my sweet spot, dont get me wrong, there have been the odd few days where feels it has slackened slightly but nothing major and returns usually within a day or two. Well late last night, there I was watching the telly with my faithful pint glass of diluting juice, I took a gulp, a habit I'm still trying to break !, and I thought as soon as I swallowed - this is going to come back up.........but it never. Strange I thought, so I tried again, another gulp, went down no problems. I…

Where is that woman hiding?

Hello everybody: Well it's official. I was banded Saturday in Monterrey by Dr. Sanchez. I still cannot believe I did it. I've never had surgery except for a tonsillectomy. Never had a baby, nor a stitch or a broken bone. I'm even afraid to have a pap smear. So how did I do this? My husband said that I wanted it so, so bad that fear wasn't even an option. The whole time I was there, I wasn't even afraid, except for landing in Mexico and going through Customs and not knowing what was going to happen next. I can even remember laying in pre-op and thinking that I wasn't afraid and how strange and unlike me that was. But I'm back and feeling pretty good - just…

I was watching bits and pieces of an obesity show. Hard to watch with an entire family needing to talk to you at the time it's on. Anyway, they were discussing various weight loss options including the lap-band and were about to mention the group they find to be the most successful at the lap-band. Not knowing what they said I'm hoping someone here can shed some light. What characteristics are most common in successful bandsters? Thank you. Hopefully I have them but of course I wonder.

I had my 3rd fill yesterday, and i am experiencing some mild discomfort now. It is close to my chest/lungs. Sometime when i breath and when i cough, and when i swallow hard...... Has anyone ever experience such a thing....please let me know because i am worried!!! do you guys think i could be too tight????? The doctor has asked me to be on a liquid diet for the next 2 weeks....so i won't know until then if i am really too tight....any input will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

I am 22 yrs old. I am 5'4- 5'5 and I weigh 220pds. I havent talked with a doctor but, do I qualify to have the banding done. I have tried all the diets, exercise programs and diet pills including xenical from the doctor. Nothing is helping. I am so unhappy at my weight and am feeling pain in my back , knees , feet ect.. from the weight. I have lost all my self -esteem. I live in Minnesota, I was hoping I could get some advice on, if I would quaify? How much is costs? If any one know of a good doctor in Hennipin county. I know my insurance wont cover it, so if any one has paid for it on their own, or even know how much it costs. Do the doctors have any kind of finacing? A…

Hi fellow bandsters, I was wondering has anyone had trouble with gum and walking.. I usually chew gum while I walk because I get so dry. I thought of taking a water bottle along, but I was at work and I thought it would be a quickie.. I got back to my desk, took a drink of water and I felt like i had a HUGE AIR POCKET in my stomach or throat.. Is that normal.. ?? Should I give up the gum???? Also, I am 11 days post op and I am wanting real food.. I opened a can of tuna last night and ate about a teaspoon full.. I just needed something to chew i guess.. It's getting REALLY HARD on FULL LIQUID,, I can start really soft food on Sun, but I sure hope me cheating a few days …

Any other Minnesotans around these days? For those banded, how long did it take from 1st consult to surgery? Were you covered by insurance? How long have you been banded? How are things going? Just want to get to know a few people, and have a few questions answered at the same time.

I am 10 days post op and have been trying to eat full liquids since Sunday. I've been taking it really slow and even swishing it around in my mouth before I swallow. It goes down ok but I'm keep getting so bloated. Today I had to upzip my pants while I sat at my desk. I get little "pinchy" pains here and there like it could be gas. And even when I'm hungry and my stomach is growling, I feel like I'm full right up to my neck. Sometimes when I drink, I hear gurgling noises in my throat. I'm not getting nauseated, I haven't vomited. The Clear Liquids went down fine, but I was so hungry and looking so foward to full liquids. I took some gas medication and it has hel…

I have been feeling this strange kind of sensation on ocassion when I turn a certain way. It almost feels like I can feel the band itself. I know it's not the port, it's not in the same spot, which is near my belly button. This is up closer to my ribcage, near one of the incision spots. And it's not a painful feeling. Just like I know something is there. :cry Has anyone else ever had something like this? I don't think anything is wrong. Just curious I guess. Thanks for any input.

And I must say I wasn't prepared for what happened. There was a lot more pain involved than I anticipated and I am not a big wuss at all. My doc is very expereienced so I had no doubt that he knew what he was doing so that didn't scare me. All the while I was thinking to myself "I can do this - I've had 4 kids and I had the surgery done. I can do this." He numbed me with a local and I just knew everything would be ok. Then he pulled out the needle that he used for the fill and I must say it made me very nervous seeing how big it was. Anyways, it was done under flouro and he found the port right away BUT couldn't get it into there. That's were all the pain was invol…

HAS ANY ONE HAD THERE PROCEDURE DONE SOME WHERE OTHER THAN CLEVLAND?