Jim1967

No, it is not used during the surgery because they have a breathing tube inserted. You bring the cpap to the hospital with you in case you need to stay overnight. I didn't use mine in recovery but I did end up staying overnight and used it.

Wow that Nurse is so full of ****!! I had a BMI over 78 and my Doctor told me if I make the changes and follow the rules he sees no reason why this wouldn't work for me. So far I have lost 28lbs since surgery on April 16. My BMI is still over 70. Have no fear if you make the effort and work with the band change will come. If I were you I would tell the Doctor exactly word for word what that Nurse said. Those types of statements are reckless and does nothing but plant a seed of doubt...

I was banded on April 16 and I am on mushies stage until next Tues. I cannot stand puree food. I am doing protein shakes, liquids, jello, broth...

I like the chocolate body fortress from walmart for 20 bucks. 1 scoop of powder, 8oz of simply smart milk and a little ice. Tastes great and gives 36g of protein.

Great thread ladies...good info for the pre-banders and us newbies who have yet to experience that. I go for my first fill 5/29 and have often thought about this. I will be sure to experiment for a while before going out to eat.

Congrats on the approval. It does seem like a long time and at the very end you cross your fingers you'll get approved...

Hi Rebecca and congrats on joining the banded ranks!! I was banded on April 16th. My Doc had me on Clear Liquids the week after surgery and now I am on a puree until may 8th. I am not a fan of the puree stage but I am doing what I gotta do to get through it. I am down 28lbs so far since surgery. Looking forward to solids again and my first fill. Good Luck!!

I believe the reason you hear more negative than positive is because the people who are successful are just plain busy getting on with their lives and those with problems post to either complain or for help and support. While I also believe there are some with legitimate issues I do think some of the issues are either from a lack of education or down right not following the rules of living with a band. Now before anyone jumps on me I did say I do believe there are some out there with legit issues but I see posts made daily about stuff that if people did Band Class 101 they would know better. Sorry but if you're in puree stage of a diet and you're stuffing bread down your throat and it's getting stuck then well...you asked for it. You are either uneducated or ignorant. I have only been banded a short time (4/16) and so far I would not change a thing. Jim

Great article Jean. Thanks. I am newly banded (4/16) and I am amazed at how un-interested food has become. Perhaps it is because I am still on the puree stage or perhaps I have prepared myself mentally more so then I first thought. I have had no cravings and no feel of hunger and in fact my Wife has reminded me a few times that I have to eat something. Now I am starting to wonder if I am taking in the calories enough to burn fat. I am losing weight but I am hoping its not muscle. I guess I have to get better with documenting my intake. My first fill is scheduled for May 29 and I don't know what to expect from that. Hope you are well and your recent procedure went off without a hitch... Best..Jim

Congrats on the loss!! Sounds like you are determined and I am sure you will hit your goals. - Jim

I had surgery on April 16th. I officially went back to work last Thursday but I have not been in the office since before surgery. A lot of people knew I was having the surgery but I think they will be pleasantly surprised how much I've lost already. I am about 28lbs down post op.

Try the link at the bottom of my signature...

Try the instructions in my signature. There a pics and step by step...

Thanks...how did you apply for the permanent one?

Hi All, I was banded on April 16th and a few days prior to that I had what is called Band class where they prep you for the day of surgery. Kind of like an orientation class. Well in that class everyone who was a band patient was told they would get a medical card either lapband or realize depending on what you had done and it would contain the serial number of your band. According to the Nurse who gave the class we should get this before being discharged from the hospital. Well I didn't get it and I forgot about it. I called two days later and they told me a nurse would help me with that when I arrive for a follow up visit a week later. I went in for my post op follow up and no one seemed to know what I was talking about and the nurse who taught the class was not in but a left a message for me. I am yet to hear back and I am wondering if I am going through all this trouble for nothing? Realizemysuccess.com is shutting down anyway so it's not like I need it to register. Is there any other reason I should push to get this card? thank you, Jim

Mine is not filled. Surgery was 4/16 and first fill appt is 5/29. Doc wanted to give my body a chance to heal and get used to the band before putting in a fill.

Wow this is such a huge statement and so true for all of us. I went through the same thing agonizing over whether or not to do it because I may not be able to eat the same foods.....DUH that's the whole point. Sorry Andy I didn't mean to hijack your thread. You asked for a guys perspective so that being said I am only a week out post op just having surgery on April 16. Everyone is different and I am very big and have a lot to lose. That being said so far I am seeing the weight falling off me. I see it and feel it. Surgery is a big step so do plenty of research and if you plan to use insurance be sure to ask for your companies policy in writing some insurances require a 6month supervised diet before they will approve. I would do this over again in heartbeat. Wish I did it years ago... Good Luck, Jim

Good luck to you both!! Let me tell you getting that approval letter in the mail is like being a kid on Christmas morning.

Good luck to you and hope you have a speedy recovery!! Worse part for me was the severe gas cramps but other then that it was a breeze. I was walking the hospital floor two hours after coming out of recovery. Jim

I will check it out thanks a bunch :-)

Hang in there LuLu you can do this. You want it bad enough you can make it happen. It does go to show you how much doctors differ though. I had a BMI of over 78 and all I was asked to do was lose 5% of my weight which was 24 pounds. I am now day 8 post op and my BMI is still 70...weird

Hi and welcome to lapbandtalk!! Best of luck to you on your journey. Lot of good people here and such a valuable support tool.

Anyone ever use it before? I was banded on April 16 and was given a lot of documentation on the Realize band and was told I should register at https://www.realizemysuccess.com/ as it has tools for tracking and journal. Well it is being discontinued on May 31st. Based on the booklet I have it appeared to be a great resource and had useful tools. Kind of discouraging...

I suggest you think long and hard before saying no. Approval is one big pain in the a$$ and so if it were me if only one gets approved...go through with it and then that way it's one less battle to fight. You can continue on working toward getting the second approval. Also the one who goes through it first can provide experiences for the one in waiting. I have a rather sedentary job. I am a software engineer and bang on a keyboard all day. I am 7 days post op and I am fairly confident I could have returned to work three or four days after surgery but I took a week and half off for recovery and follow up visit. Pain was minimal for me and the worse part was the gas cramps. If you see my stats below you can see I am no small guy either. Good Luck to you both....

No...I think that would be crazy. What they could do is ask you to weigh in prior to starting and if you've gained weight they may postpone but I doubt it. My Doc didn't force me into a all liquid diet. Week before surgery he had me on 2 Protein shakes a day plus one small meal. I am now day 6 post op and my doc couldn't have been more pleased with how it all went. He said he had a pretty easy go with it. I think the key is to just do the very best you can with the guidelines they provide and you'll do fine. Remember they are not asking you to do this as a test or even torture. They want to ensure to have the best possible conditions to ensure success without complications...