Corrigan

I don't know what you feel is adequate weight loss, but most doctors say 11/2 to 2 lbs is enough. Much more and you run the risk of muscle loss. Water won't help weight loss directly, but it does help with bowel movements, and keeping hydrated helps all other bodily functions. Follow your surgeon and nutritionist's instructions and watch your calories and you can't help but lose.

If this has you really freaked out, I'd call your surgeons office now and see what they say. You paid $17000 or so and have a right to adequate aftercare. My port goes up and down, but I've never noticed any lateral movement. Your port is anchored in your stomach muscle and shouldn't move. Someone's doctor said to put a dot in the center of the port with a Sharpie and check to see if it really moves under your skin. FWIW Good luck.

Many people have a period of depression after surgery. It's not an easy period, and I don't know anything to say to make it easier. All you can do is to follow what you know is right, eat the way you're supposed to and wait for your fills. Thousands before you have done it, and you can too. Try to lose one pound, then see if you can work from there. It's no fun, but it'll be worth it.

Congratulations Rose! We'll be watching your progress and be here to give any help we can.

Betty, I'm a few years older than you and I had the easiest surgery possible. To dateI've lost 50 lbs in a little over 2 months. Believe me, age has very little to do with it, its all attitude.

I don't know you, but we've had a few posters from the "web site whose name must not be spoken", and at first, I suspected you might be one. I guess not. It's pretty clear you got screwed by a bunch of quacks and I'm surprised you're not going after them if your account is accurate. This is exactly why I recommend Centers of Excellence. Many people think they can't afford them, but how do you know if you don't ask? Band surgery is quite profitable if the surgeon doesn't provide any support other than anesthesia. Fills are a very simple procedure, the actual fill takes 2 minutes. You can go to any of a hundred clinics to get one. As far as the band itself, I can provide reliable statistics that the band is easier and more reliable and dependable than any other WLS provided it's done by a qualified surgeon. I don't want to make an enemy of you, even when you introduce yourself the way you did, and if there is any help (other than financial) I can give you, I'll be happy to.

My surgeon told me that one of the quickest ways to sabotage a band was to eat solid food too soon. It makes me think of all the people who have the band and complain that they can't lose weight on three Big Macs and a dozen donuts a day.

My son has a friend who is banded and dives all the time. If you're concerned, give your doctor a call.

There are several Costco stores in Korea, and there is a lady who had WLS, in Korea, on this site occasionally.

Medicare is my primary and I have a secondary. The way it works in CA is you have the surgery and then you find out if medicare will pay. In my case they did and with my secondary I think I'm home free. I went to a Center of Excellence and they did all the billing and so far so good. I called Medicare beforehand and the first time they said no, the second time they said yes, so I went ahead and had the surgery, figuring I'd pay if they wouldn't. I wish I could give you a better answer, but that's all I've got. I had diabetes an sleep apnea so that made it a little easier.

I think what you're feeling means you're full. When you get that feeling, stop eating. Nothing to worry about. Just take it easy. You're not completely healed for about 6 weeks.

Here's an article that might help ease your frustration: Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

I had a very boring recovery, no pain, no gas, walked two miles the next day. Couldn't have been better and I attrubute it to going to a Center of Excellence. I know I say this a lot, but I believe it is a certain way to a successful WLS surgery.

You are the only one who has to live with your body,skinny or fat, and the health consequences you'll have. If we have to ask a committee to approve everything we do, not much would get done. The only thing to really be careful of, is to pick a good surgeon and hospital. If there is any way you can go to a Center of Excellence, by all means do so. Many of the problems you read about here have been done by other than well trained surgeons. They may be cheaper, but this is something you'll have for the rest of your life, and you want to have it done well. I hope you get what you want.

This is an article that helps explain a cause of stalls: Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

Well done,Trish. There's nothing easy about it, keep up the good work.

If a living will gives you peace of mind, why not. I'm sure you know the odds of a fatality in band surgery are about like winning the lottery, it just doesn't happen (assuming you choose a competent hospital and surgeon). This is a very safe surgery with very few complications.

I was told by my nutritionist that we weren't to eat popcorn, but my binder says that air popped is OK. I have a big, almost professional machine and my grandkids made a big batch which I ate about half of with no ill effects. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else, but it worked for me, just watch the calories.

Way to go girl! Give him my best. Let me know how it turns out.

One problem that some people on liquid diets seem to be having is low blood sugar. The symptoms that might indicate hypoglycemia are shaking,sweating, light headedness and hunger. To cure these, any glucose source such as fruit juice, table sugar or even a piece of bread. To find more information check Google or any search engine.

The surgery you're so concerned about is the very easiest part of the whole trip. You show up and they do the rest. I can't tell you how your recovery will be, mine was uneventful, no pain, very easy. If you can get things on line, you can get everything you need. Amazon has every thing you'll want. costco also sells Protein powder on line. You're making this much more difficult than it has to be. Probably the most important part of the whole thing is a good surgeon and good pre and post op education and support. As far as medical support, the band is the simplest and safest form of WLS, I can't imagine you are anywhere that any unlikely problems you might encounter can't be taken care of. With that I wish you a successful journey.

I'm actually a pretty good cook and I was certainly a good eater. I made beer for 25 years, made what I thought was excellent bread, we made most of our ham and sausage, etc. I gave it all up to get rid of a serious case of diabetes and to do that I needed to lose 100 lbs. I'm half-way there and will have lost it all by summer. All this is on the band and I still have all of my stomach, just in case. Things are beginning to change for me, I'm not as interested in eating, don't care to go out as much, I can look a pizza straight in the eye and not waver. I haven't had a beer in a month although I have 20 gal. in my tapper. Now if I can do all that, you can too. I won't tell you what WLS to have (although the band is safer and just as effective), You make up your own mind. Whatever you do, good luck

I'm not quite sure of the object of this post. There are people on this site that have lost over 200 lbs on the band and still have their stomachs.

As I understand it, when your band slips you have severe pain and are unable to eat or drink anything. If you have any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. You didn't mention just what problems you are having so we're unable to give any nonprofessional advice, other than good luck.

This comes up quite often. Make sure you're drinking at least 64 oz of water and try some warm prune juice in the morning. It's probably best to stay away from chemical laxatives for a few weeks. Hydrocodone causes constipation