Rachel412

Yes, you have to wait the whole 6 months before it's submitted because your doctor has to prove you did it. My surgery was really soon after my paperwork was sent in- between 2 and 3 weeks. I'm GLAD I couldn't get the surgery fast ,though when I found out about the wait period I was heartbroken. Use this time to learn as much as you can about what you have to do post-surgery, you'll be glad you did!

Hi! This thread might help you... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/131158-surgeon-gave-impression-gastric-bypass-was-better/

Hi Simone! I LOVE your story about how you got your band, and what I love most is that you left his office a month after you had the surgery. That's awesome You're having an amazing amount of success. I'm sure you'll be able to lose the last "few" pounds. Welcome to the site!

I saw the title of your post and thought it was a new kind of potato chip Sounds cool! Does it come with the bells?

I couldn't have any sort of food until 2 weeks past surgery. If you tried mashed potatoes and it didn't go down so well, stick to your protein shakes for a few more days. You don't want to disrupt the healing of your band site.

I'm usually between 50 and 75 grams. No bread, just fruit and a little bit of high protein and fiber cereal in my yogurt.

It's definitely normal to still be in pain at this point.

True, they're different, but I know I had plenty of both after surgery so the Gas X did help- particularly in the very beginning when it hurt to try to burp!

So far I haven't found anything that I *can't* eat. I don't know if it helps or hurts, but I can feel when everything I eat or drink passes through the band. So I'm always so aware of it... but I've tried bites here and there of pretty much everything, and haven't had a problem yet.

It's fine to find a new doctor. Just make sure you know their policies on charging for fills, and make sure you're comfortable with them!

congrats! do you know how much you have in your band now?

Make sure you tell them what you eat in a typical day, what your biggest challenge is, and what kind of non scale victories you've had. You'll do great!

Yep, what the worm above said. You'll get out of it what you put into it. Some people only lose 20 pounds. MOST people lose a good amount. SOME people lose ALL of their excess weight, and get fit and skinny and fabulous. How will you do? That's up to you. Really, it's a diet with a bonus helper. Until you get to a good fill level (possibly 2, 3, maybe more months after surgery) you will be going on willpower alone. The band does not do any of the work for you- ALL it helps you do is feel full faster. It won't prevent you from eating unhealthy foods. Ice cream, chips... that stuff slides right through the band without a problem. Yes, excess weight is the difference between your ideal and current weight, provided your ideal weight is realistic.

I would think that you'll do well with a band if you're used to higher end foods. If you're addicted to the foods that are shoved at us at every turn- full of fat, salt, and sugar- then it's hard to understand that you'll need to limit it. But there's nothing wrong with having a small steak or some delicious seafood! Protein will be your focus once you're banded, and many of the foods you mentioned are high in protein. Perfect! Street food, well... you'll have to pick your battles with that But if what you crave is gourmet foods, I think you'll be just fine.

I don't have any suggestions, I just want to congratulate you on your amazing loss over the last 3 years!

Will one day of "cheating" lead you down a bad road? Will a beer trigger you to eat other foods you shouldn't? If so... don't do it. Honestly, you're way too new to the band to be "cheating", in my opinion.

You need a small unfill so you can tolerate the healthy foods and not have to resort to ice cream. Also, you should keep repeating this to yourself, which Lap Band Gal has on her blog header- "If hungry isn't the problem, then eating isn't the solution."

You're not doing anything wrong! Most people have a LOT of weight loss right away (or pre-surgery if they do a liquid diet) and then their body sort of goes "woah, slow down there" and it hiccups for a bit. Don't think of it as a plateau, think of it as your body getting itself used to your new way of life and trying to figure out what to do with this new amount of food, and this new exercise. Keep at it, keep doing what you should be doing, and it WILL come off.

Definitely go! My doctor will let me get fills every 2 weeks, except for the 2nd fill- that one they do a week after your first fill if you want it.

No, I wouldn't say that's normal. I mean, it is for what you went through- but THAT isn't normal and fills should be quick and easy. Yuck!

Mmmmmm. I love mine mixed with 1/4 cup of Kashi GoLean, which gives me something to chew and adds even more protein, plus fiber. It's tangy, not too sweet. Look for the protein and carb count and try to avoid the ones with fruit on the bottom, as that adds a lot of carbs.

wow, big difference already!

It's pretty normal when you blend the shake. Try stirring it with a spoon in the bullet to break up the air bubbles.

I was just reading information about the recall, and it was from October, but it looks like at the time they said there had been no incidents of bands needing to be removed because of the tube sheath recall. And I went to the direct link on their website but it's gone and searching for recall gets me nowhere. Hmm. Have you talked to the company directly? In your case I would certainly be looking into pursuing legal action. They KNOW there's a problem, they've made media statements, it's ridiculous that they wouldn't pay to give you a new band. I will say though... I can't imagine them agreeing to pay for you to get a LapBand. If they paid, they'd probably only give you another Realize. (This is the recall that the OP is referring to, for anyone interested- I highlighted in red)

Yes, you still might get them. Try not to stress about it and just enjoy felling good!