Corrigan

Yeh, how about those Red Socks? Can you spell Home Run with 2 Outs?

I was one of the lucky ones, able to sleep on my back or either side from the first night home. I had almost no pain except for just a little at my port site. Credit to that hearty, midwestern stock : > ).

Congratulations. Now get up and walk and don't forget to drink. Best of Luck.

Well Joe, lets see, you just had 4 or 5 holes cut in your stomach, you were pumped up with gas, you had a camera and a bunch of tools stuck in there. Then they put a band around part of your belly and you wonder why you feel strange? I can't imagine. You'll be up and around before you know it, hang in there. Everyone goes through the same thing.

Why say anything to burst their bubble? How and why you lost weight is your personal business and you are under no moral obligation to tell anyone.

Our nutritionist said a cup of hot tea sometimes will help. I don't know how, but it's worth a try.

Why wouldn't a Lap band work for you? A lot of people heavier than you have been successfully banded. Look through this forum, you'll find many of them who have lost all they wanted. Talk to a good hospital that does weight loss surgery and see if they can't help you, and best of luck.

Bill, I have what my doctor called the Lap band with plication where a large part of the stomach is pulled over the band and sutured in place. I had my surgery three weeks ago and haven't been very hungry yet. Maybe it's something you could look into. It has the advantages of the Lap band and the sleeve and is reversible, (supposedly).

My surgery was similar to Bromo's with the large part of the stomach pulled up over the band. I am scheduled for a fill, but my surgeon said if I'm still losing weight and hunger is not a problem it'll just be a checkup.

According to my nutritionist, bread is something we should really avoid, and liquid after bread is a certain recipe for a stuck Lap band opening. I've tried it without any problems, but all the literature says not to.

These classes are quite valuable for your success as a Lap band patient. Ask anyone who's gone through them. They contain diet, nutrition and medication information and help guarantee your future with your surgery. Most of the classes content is available elsewhere, but the classes help assure you know it when you're discharged.

The deaths in California all happened in one organization. Your doctor has performed surgery on 19 people on this forum and I haven't heard one complaint. Lapband surgery, done by a competent surgeon is probably the safest WLS there is. Follow your doctor's instructions and allow yourself time to heal and you're going to be just fine. Any questions, just ask.

Everyone's nervous going into this, it's a big step in your life. Five minutes after you're wheeled into the operating room, you won't remember anything until you wake up in recovery. I've never heard of anyone waking up during surgery. The intubation tube will cause a little discomfort after you wake, and it usually lasts a couple days, but isn't anything major. The diet before and after was a bigger problem for me. You'll probably get tired of protein drinks, but you'll still drink them. My doctor told me to drink only clear liquids 24hr before surgery, nothing after midnight, and one week after. It kinda sucks but you'll have to heal and that won't happen on steak and potatoes : > ).

I was very glad to have a pair of loose fitting, long pants so I didn't have to hold that stupid gown closed when I walked anywhere.

I've only been banded for a few weeks, but I researched it for several years and I can tell you that it takes a lot of commitment to be successful. You'll have to follow your surgeons instructions and it takes a bit of will power. There will be some (a lot) of hunger and you'll get awfully tired of protein drinks. Given all that, if you truly want to lose weight and are willing to put in the work, you'll do great. This is an excellent place for support and if you stick with it, you can meet some good friends here. Good luck and let me know if there's anything I can help you with.

Hi Stacey, I'm am an old, retired guy who has allowed himself to gain a little weight each year until I found myself with diabetes and sleep apnea. According to my PCP, the only way I was going to get rid of the symtoms of these was to lose weight. I've tried diets for years and always seem to gain it back so he suggested the Lap band because it was the least invasive of the WLS. I've already lost 40lbs and see no reason why I can't lose the other 60. I've already cut way back on my meds and my blood sugar is normal.

Find out if there is a Center of Excellence near you. You won't find better service or more highly trained surgeons. Search around and see other people's opinions of CoEs.

There are three Centers of Excellence in the Chicago area, one in Evanston, in the city itsself and one in Oakpark. These are hospitals with excellent reputations and well trained staffs. If you can, give one of them a call and I can almost guarantee you a great experience. (I grew up in Naperville).

I agree with Shirley, I would go to the American College of Surgeons website and find a Center of Excellence in your state and contact them to get the ball rolling. You can be assured that the care and education you receive will be as good as you'll find anywhere.

Hi Bob, What you eat postop is really important to how successful your surgery is. I went to Cedar-Sinai where the gave me a huge binder that describes, in minute detail, just what and how much to eat for the first 6 weeks. If you don't have this info when you get out, let me know and I'll be happy to share it with you. Good luck and I hope all goes well.

This is your decision entirely, Just make sure you have all the correct facts before you make up your mind. I'm a member of the forum you mentioned and I go there only to mention Lap band and watch the feathers fly. They are very GBS centric. If you want horror stories about GBS, go to Google and look up "Gastric Bypass Surgery CBS". In reality, LBS is probably safer than any other form of WLS. Try reversing GBS or the sleeve. Again, you're the one who has to live with whatever decision you make so make it an informed one. If you are going to a Center of Excellence, I can almost guarantee your success

I wouldn't think so. Start on full liquids, Protein shakes, jello and popcicles, quit lifting more than 10lbs and drink about 64 oz total liquids a day. This is a bit of a rough patch until you get your first fill, but just keep your eye on what you're trying to acheve.

There is a CBS story stating that 1 in 50 people undergoing GBS (Gastric Bypass Surgery) die within one month, and the number is greater if the surgeon is inexperienced. Look up "Weight loss surgery CBS" on Google. No WLS is absolutely foolproof. Lap band surgery has proven to be safer than any other. One of the problems is that LBS is easier to preform and some surgeons with less than adequate training, are performing it. One way to protect yourself is to seek out a Center of Excellence. The ACS has a website that names the CoEs in each state, where the proper education, physical and physiological examination is given each patient, greatly improving their chances of success.

I guess you'll have to wait and see. On day three we went for a two mile walk and I had almost no pain. I don't have any idea why some do and some don't but I suspect it has to do with the skill of the surgeon and quality of the hospital. Most patients at Centers of Excellence seem to do quite well.

Just about everyone feels that way. You'll be fine. The band technology has changed greatly over the years, as has the surgeon's level of training. Be sure to check your surgeon and hospital's record to check their level of expertice. If it were me, I'd ask my surgeon how many WLS of the type you're interested in, he's done.Don't be afraid to ask because you'll have this for a long time. Whatever, good luck.