Syrah

I was surprised at all the pressure and pushing! I guess I thought my port was more fragile than it really is. Big As Life - do you feel more restriction? I don't feel much more restricted than I did before my fill...

Tamjpjb - I bought a scale after my first fill (on 5/9) and have not even opened it up yet, lol!

Is it possible that the surgeon will consider your past dieting attempt to be part of the 6-month supervised diet? I hope you get some better news soon. I had my first appt in June of 2006 and was banded in March of 2007. I mostly was dragging my own feet though, because of job changes and other life events that got in the way. Good luck!

I just had the opportunity to see 3 band placements yesterday. I saw the band, there is no way it is the size of a 50 cent piece. No way a 50 cent piece would fit through that hole, even unfilled. Not even close. I honestly don't think a quarter would fit through there but I'm willing to try it next time I go to Mexico. If I am incorrect I will be the first one to tell you. If I am correct I'll take photos and post them. Some surgeons describe it as a nickel, some describe the INSIDE dimensions of a placed band as a dime. No way it's a 50 cent piece. Are you a surgeon or a nurse? I thought you said you aren't currently working. How do you explain the photos on that website then? Ok - so maybe not a 50 cent piece (and you missed my words “a bit smaller than”), but a dime? If you are talking specifically about the Inamed band having the space of a dime, then you should indicate this. Because not every Bandster has the Inamed band. I have the Vanguard band and my surgeon's group is starting to use this one most of the time. This band is a bit larger. So there is no point in disagreeing when we aren't even talking about the same band, right? When discussing fills and restriction, we should all keep in mind that not all bands have the same restriction / not all have the same sized passage. Again, I am not anti-Mexico, so please calm down about that before you start something nasty. I simply asked a question about tight anding that obviously lit a fire under your can. About overfilling – it is unfortunate that you were overfilled, but by far, most people here are complaining about not having enough restriction, even after a fill. In my limited experience, overfilling can be avoided by drinking barium before you ever leave the procedure and watching the Fluid pass on the monitor, so the situation can be corrected. I'm sorry if you had incompetent medical care - that sucks.

That is more clear, thank you. However, I think you should be more careful because you frequently tell newbies here that that there is no restriction without a fill. This directly conflicts with what you are saying now. And this is what I am talking about on this thread – no restriction without a fill. Not overfilling, as you are (“Have you EVER been overfilled? EVER?? To the point that you couldn't even drink water?”) We are apparently having two different discussions. I am talking about bands being installed too tightly, initially, and people (SOME people) who continue to lose weight without a fill, or with very little fill. I'll venture a guess his background beats your own doc's background. But yours is better because he's from the US, right? Isn't that kinda... non-PC? I think my doc and your doc are probably both equally qualified, but I’m not getting into a juvenile pissing match with you. My comments have nothing to do with racism; thread lightly there, my friend. I don’t have any stats that Mexican doctors install bands too tightly. (I never suggested they do. I simply asked whether it’s possible that they install the band too tightly after you said 70 percent of Ortiz’s patients don’t need a fill for the first 6 mos.) Do you have stats to the contrary? Do you have information to prove US doctors are creating myths? Sheesh. Relax a bit – I was just asking a question. You seem quite defensive, and even somewhat of a bully on this board at times. Maybe it just my perception, but you seem to try to intimidate people and cut down opinions you disagree with by demanding stats and belitting people in subtle ways (that you may not even be aware of). I hope you can relax and enjoy the board a bit more.

WABB, I know you aren't suggesting people do things your way, but I think you should be careful throwing around the ole line of "If I can lost 70 lbs in 5 mos, anyone can." Fatigue is a common side effect of this surgery (and GB) for up to 6 mos. post-op. I'm surprised you didn't know that; you seem pretty well informed about this surgery. hair loss is another side effect. Why are you so quick to ascribe side effects of quick weight loss to other things? You seem eager to define others' information as opinion or myth when you disagree with it. And to now suggest that people use "fat" head games to lose weight in a slower, more healthy manner? That is a bit over the top. You should be careful because you do come off as a bit high-and-mighty, and I don't think that really helps anyone. I've had numerous surgeries and never lost hair. I am not sure what questions you refer to. I looked back at your post and saw (below). Let me know if I missed other questions. Honestly, where is the horror? No horror noted. Like I said, I just think people need to be realistic about getting weight off, and I think many healthcare professionals will tell you that losing 3-4 lbs a week for months is not ideal. You and I can agree to disagree on that, ok?

I guess we all have to decide what is worthwhile and what we are willing to do / what we can tolerate to lose quickly. Personally I don't want to lose hair or have a ton of sagging skin when I reach my goal. I am eating really healthy, though not more than about 900 calories per day, and I do notice a higher level of fatigue compared with pre-surgery (even though I get a lot of protein in). I am not willing to experience even more fatigue to get the weight off faster. I just can't, with three kids and a full time job!

WABB, you say "Think about it, you suddenly have a hole in your stomach that is the size of a dime," yet I also see you saying here repeatedly that until you have your first fill, there is no restriction. Can you elaborate? I'm not sure I buy the whole theory of US docs making stuff up. US docs only lose business to patients who can't get insured and are self-pays. Judging from the number of these surgeries performed, and the number of obese people in the US, I don't think many US doctors are hurting for business. (I wonder - do people have more faith in a doctor from another country who they sought only because insurance would not pay, or a surgeon who works for a BC/BS Bariatric Center of Excellence in the US, such as mine?) I was told that initial restriction from the band is a bit smaller than a 50-cent piece. I've never heard the "dime" comparison.The pictures I've seen of the partially-inflated band look larger than a dime. The Lapband® and its Placement It's clear that my surgeon is a bit more conservative than some Mexican surgeons, however. Maybe that's because he's only an hour away from me. :mad:

But honestly, I think most medical experts would tell you that a loss 70 lbs in 5 months is not even healthy. I know in your case that for medical reasons, you are trying to get the weight off quickly because you are planning to have the band removed due to health reasons. (Do I have that right?) I just think it's important for people to have realistic expectations about weight loss here, and healthy ones as well. Truly, not everyone can lose 70 lbs in 5 months, and not everyone's doctor would encourage that. I know in my case, my surgeon like to see a steady loss of 5-8 lbs per month.

You can do that, I've lost 70lbs in 5 months. Believe me, if I can do it ANYONE can do it! However, Wasabubblebutt, I think it's fair to say that 70 lbs in 5 months is not typical bandster weight loss. Haven't you been unable to tolerate most foods because of some complications you've posted about here? If I recall correctly, you eat only tuna and Protein shakes, correct? Please forgive me if I have that wrong. But my point is that 70 lbs / 5 mos is, indeed, unusual for most bandsters. In my pre-op education, I learned that the average bandster WL is 50 percent of your extra weight during the first year, and that most bandsters who achieve their desired weight loss do so in 2 years (vs. 1 year for gastric bypassers). The band / fills require a lot of fiddling. Some people need 3-4 fills before they can start losing efficiently. If fills are done every 4-6 weeks, it will take awhile to get to that 'sweet spot' and people who require a lot of tinkering aren't going to see super fast losses. My surgeon told me that a loss of 5-8 lbs per month is iconsidered ideal, from a health standpoint.

As for your roommie, according to Dr. Ortiz 70% of people don't need a fill for six months. It's the luck of the draw on that one. Is he in Mexico? This makes me wonder if he installs the band too tight, to begin with, so his patients don't have to travel all the way back so often. (Or can his patients get fills closer to home?) My surgeon's theory is that people who lose a lot without fills have a band that's too tight, to being with.

Sherilynn, listen to yourself! You've lost 23 lbs in 3 mos. I happen to think that is awesome! Particularly if you -- like me -- would diet your butt off and lost about 2-5 lbs per month (in the past). Don't be so hard on yourself, but try to make better food choices. Crossants are full of unnecessary fat. Good luck!

I have the Vanguard 10 CC band and my surgeon told me that he is starting to use this one almost exclusively. I am one who went almost straight to mushies, post-surgery, which my surgeon's GB patients do, as well. I tell myself that my surgeon must know what he is doing -- the place where I was banded has been doing gastric bypasses for decades, literally, and is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, per BC / BS. I'm not sure I buy the theory that the liquid diet is necessary for healing, and I wouldn't be surprised if that theory changed over the next few years. But either way -- follow your doctor's orders!!

The cherry / pomegranite (sp) Crystal Light is also good, and it is reinforced with vitamins.

You can include protein shakes as part of your required daily intake (or so I was told). I also drink a lot of Crystal Light lemonade. Another good idea: If you are driving somewhere, take a water bottle in the car to sip on.

I'm not sure I can answer your question because I've never made juice in mine. I can't imagine that it would be completely chunk-free, but you could strain the juice to get the chunks out. I love my MB! I use it daily for my morning Breakfast Protein shake. I also use it daily to grind coffee Beans. Thank god - now I can dump my messy, hassle-laden coffee grinder (and get it off my counter). I've also used it to make salsa and to mix pancake batter for my kids.

I just had my first fill and I don't feel much different than I did before the fill. Don't expect miracles right away! That's the thing about lap band -- it requires quite a bit of fiddling around until you reach the spot where you are going to steadily lose weight. I have tried hard to stick to three meals and 2 small Snacks in between. I don't overeat or eat bread, steak (too scared), fried food, etc. Frankly I am just afraid to try a lot of different things that I've heard can be difficult to toelrate. However, I definitely eat things I should not eat (such as sneaking half a candy bar, 2-3 potato chips, etc.). So I'm not perfect, but I am trying to use this time to really work on my eating habits. The band won't do it all for you. Good luck!

I tried to take one of my bandages off and freaked out, so I left them all on until my first post-op appt (six days post surgery). I was told to go ahead and shower (not bathe), even if the bandages and steri strips came off. I was freaked out in my first shower because blood kept running out of the bandages, until I realized it was just dried blood being washed away. YOu can leave the bandages on until your first appt., if it's coming up fairly soon.

I live in Iowa City. New Hampton is in the northeastern part of the state. Jackie, who did your surgery? I had mine done in Grinnell.

Hey Susan I live in Iowa. Where, in Iowa, are you going?

I live in a university town with a giant medical school and a million doctors! LOL! Ok so I am exaggerating a bit. Anyway, I went 60 miles out into the country to have my surgery, at a rural / regional hospital. They have done gastric bypass as a niche for years (people came from all around to have it done there) and now they are doing lap bands too, so that's what attracted me. Sometimes rural vs. urban isn't a factor, though sometimes it is. At the university hospital here (where they do almost everything, and where people are transferred when they are in serious trouble), they don't even do the lap band -- just the gastric bypass.

I think weight gets redistributed too. You can gain 15 lbs and put it all on in your butt and thighs, then lose 15 lbs and it could come off somewhere else (like your arms and upper body), but your bottom half stays the same. It sucks. Wouldn't it be nice if we could decide where the lost weight would come off? lol! lol! I've lost 15 lbs and stuff just gets baggier and baggier on top. I still have my major problem area (my gut) which hasn't really changed at all. Meanwhile my chest (of course), arms and upper body is slimming down. I can't really change sizes yet. In facts, I'm at a stage where stuff actually works worse on me right now.

Hmmmm.... 20 percent doesn't seem right. I was told that the average loss for LB patients, over 2 years' time, is 50 percent of your excess weight.

I lost 14 lbs between banding and first fill. Contrary to what I read here, my surgeon says that you should have some restriction / should see some loss during that period. However, those of you who are only a few days or weeks out – relax. One piece of advice I would give you is to put your scale away. I didn’t weigh myself at all between surgery / 1st fill. I left that up to my doctor’s office so I wouldn’t get discouraged. Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you were hospitalized and had IV fluids pumped into your system, that stuff can be retained in your fat cells for about 4 weeks. That’s what I was told. So my advice is to be patient and keep your butt off the scale for now!

Remember, not all surgeons require the liquid diet for 2 weeks. I wasn't discharged from the hospital until I could eat cream of wheat and applesauce. I was on muchies almost right away and soft foods soon thereafter. Paula, one thing that helped me was FEAR. Fear that something I would eat would make me sick, or cause pain, etc. Or fear of damagine the stomach / band. Please proceed carefully. You don't want to go through all of this and cause yourself damage.