faithmd

Thought I'd chime in on the AP band. Yes, it is an Inamed, it is the latest band released from them. The AP small holds 10cc/mL the AP large holds 14cc/mL

In fact it is VERY common to GAIN weight at least until the first fill and in some cases until you get proper restriction. That may not come with the first or the second fill. It may take a few.

Everything you asked is a yes, and is totally normal.

Sounds like you are totally normal from all I've read around here and other places. I know, it's annoying, but that's the way it seems to go.

No this doesn't mean you can't get anymore fills. It means that for now you need to wait a bit. What do you mean you are eating more than you want to be? How much do you want to be eating versus now much do you eat? You should be able to eat 1/2-1 cup of food at a time (according to my nutritionist). What food you do eat should be good choices. 3-4oz Protein and then 1/2 cup of two side dishes of veggies. Some people here report only being able to eat 1/4 cup. To me that is way too little. But if it works for them and their surgeon and nutritionist are happy with what they are eating, then fine. Are you losing weight at about 1-2lbs per week ON AVERAGE? It sounds like you are. You say you've lost 3lbs since your last fill two weeks ago, that is good and right on target. As you lose more weight, the fat pad that surrounds your stomach will shrink a bit and you will lose some of the tight restriction, you will loosen up and will need another fill. Hope that helps.

Sounds pretty normal to me. Try to sip sip sip non-caloric and non-caffeinated liquids all day between your "meals."

Hang in there, those requirements are not easy to get around, and in most cases, are impossible. To do the required dieting shows the insurance that you are ready to make a change and can follow doctors orders. That is sooooo very important with the Band. BTW, I had to do 12 months, and then had to do another month because I hadn't lost the required weight in 12 months. so it ended up being 13! Six would have seemed like cake. Though right now it does seem daunting. You CAN do it. In many cases it takes a few months to get through all the required pre-oop testing and appointments with the nutritionist, etc... You can be working on that while your six months is going by. And do NOT miss one month's appointment. You MUST go EVERY month for six months. You miss one and you reset the clock.

Many people LOVE their bullet. Please don't think that it's crap, because it isn't. I just wasn't completely happy with the way it pureed foods. It does a GREAT job with most protein drinks. I've read a couple comments from folks who like to use lots of ice, or who use globs of peanut butter, but most folks love their Bullet too. I just wanted to mention that there are other options with more power for a LOT less money. But the other options do not come with as many cups as the Bullet does. However, you should not mix your protein drink and sit it in the fridge and sip on it all day, they say the protein begins to break down after a while.

I'm not sure I see a lot of difference. I DO know that I ordered new bras afer seeing the pics from thr trip we took to Traverse City a couple weeks ago. I look like I've got long ones in the three month pic. The before pic is the one I mentioned in another thread that I have posted on my fridge. It's from October and I'm guessing I was about 365-370 in it. I'm about 305 in the lighthouse pic.

Dumping is a one way bypass patients stay sort iof honest for a while. but then lots of them grow out of that dumping problem. How many bypass patients do you know that 4 or 5 years out are as thin as they were 1-2 years out? I know of NONE. EVERY one of them has gained back a good chunk of their weight. Now it is true that they are still smaller than they were in the first place, but if that's the case, I would much rather lose slower with the band (and not everyone does) than have my intestines cut and rerouted for the same amount of weight loss. a confession: Sadly I eat more Oreos now than I ever did. I don't think I had an Oreo cookie in a couple years, now I CRAVE them. ARRRGGGHH!

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Laura. There is a chance this might not end. But there is also a chance I will someday win the lottery. Do your best to keep up these good spirits, for me Bandster Hell wasn't as bad as I've read it was for others, but it still happened. And yes, the cravings came back, the head hunger came on BIG time. But you get through it, just as you get through life, one day at a time.

Honey, you needed that bottle right then, don't beat yourself up over that! A few calories (and 2200 is my average day) is not going to hurt right now. You are doing INCREDIBLY well for what all is happening to you. I would NEVER kick your ass. What's your four letter word, cake? I'll tell you that's not worth it, but a five letter word: "vodka" is. I think you're starving because you are beyond stressed. Completely understandable. A puppy? He really does need his head examined, again. I agree, he HAS GOT to get help, for you, for him, for your kids. Even if this doesn't help the two of you stay together (I am guessing the damage is irrepairable), he desperately needs the help so that he can be the best dad he can be. Your girls don't deserve to see him act like this. But he doesn't get that right now, I'm guessing in his mind he's doing the right things and you are doing the wrong things. He's ill.

Good luck alfie! I stayed away from the Magic Bullet, I know lots of people love them, but considering I was planning to puree real food frequently and give my blender a workout, the Bullet just doesn't have enough power for me. It is only 205 or 250 watts, I can't remember which. 205, I think. Walmart sells a version online that is 350 watts and is less than 1/2 the price: Back to Basics 3-Speed Brushed Chrome Personal Blender Express, BPE3BR - Wal-Mart If you are not a Walmart fan, you can get it a bit pricier at: Back TO Basics Products BPE3BR 350W Blender Express I just went ahead and purchased a regular Oster 450 watt that came with a personal sized blender jar. For $40 I got a 450 watt blender, a personal size blender and it had a food processor attachment, too! Also from Walmart.

Just remember, if you start Rogaine, you can NEVER stop it, or you WILL lose EVERYTHING you would have lost had you not used it. Starting Rogaine means using it for the rest of your life. Forever. That's why I haven't started it.

That's a heck of a goal, but if anyone can do it, YOU can!!!! Okay, I'm going to be much more conservative because I'm still going to try to fly without a fill for a bit: Name.............Chall. Start Wt......Current......Chall. Goal......To Go losingjusme...........273.....................273. .............238...............35 faithmd................303.....................303...............283...............20

I would guess you are still on liquids or at the very most, mushies? Liquids in=liquids out. It will sort itself out soon.

Well, clear liquids are just that, CLEAR. You can see through them (water, crystal light, apple juice, jello, iced tea, lemonade, popsicles, broth, boullion, etc) Full liquids are liquids you cannot see through such as cream soups (no chunks in the initial post op period, though), milk, protein shakes, thin runny potatoes, puddings, thin runny malt-o-meal, etc.

Remind me when you were banded? I was banded June 21st and haven't gone for my first fill and you've had four, that's pretty darned cool! If I had been ready for fills I know that as conservative as my surgeon seems to be (or so I've heard) that I'd only be on *maybe* number two by now. Sweety, I'm liking your surgeon's approach! I'm so glad to hear you've found your "sweet spot!" I think it's awesome, and I'm pulling for ya! P.S. Thanks for adding the bit about the shoulder feeling being your full signal, I'm still trying to sort all mine out. I get the marble in the chest feeling, and the little hiccup, but no runny nose (yet-again, no fills though), or any number of the other ones I've read about.

Every doctor is different. Generally speaking we always say to follow YOUR doc's advice. I know that this year at the ASBS (the Bariatric surgeon's) conference there was some data presented about allowing patients to eat foods sooner. But I just can't wrap my mind around that yet considering how the band "seats" itself by forming scar tissue and snuggling into a sort of "pocket" or "ridge" around the stomach. That scar tissue can't form if the stomach is churning to digest food. Liquids dont' require as much churning to digest as food does. But if the data says it is okay, and your doc does, too...then I guess that's the advice to follow. I wonder if part of the change is the wider "grippier" AP band as well as patients bitching, moaning, whining and complaining that they just can't do it!!!! (I am including myself in that group, I complained too, so please no one take offense.) I kept telling myself I didn't get fat overnight, and I won't lose it overnight. It is a tiny, little, insignificant four ot six weeks out of my life. For cripes sake, can't I make it freaking six weeks? I made it. I wasn't perfect, but I had very minimal slip-ups and they weren't that bad when I did. I kept envisioning my band on my tummy in my mind, then i'd visualize the part of my insurance contract that says it pays for ONE bariatric procedure in a LIFETIME, that stopped me most days.

See, that's one of the great advertising tricks. The ads all say it tames the hunger. Well it does, once you get to proper restriction. Restriction is achieved by filling the band, first fills aren't until AT LEAST four weeks, and sometimes eight weeks after placement. There is a little restriction there simply from the swelling form the placement itself. It seems to go away after a couple to a few weeks. I was banded over eight weeks ago and still have restriction at times during the day. The BIGGEST problem we ALL have is the HEAD HUNGER. If we didn't suffer from head hunger (wanting something even though we may not be hungry), we wouldn't all be fat, would we? Anyway, back to restriction, the docs generally tell you that after the first fill you should feel restriction (and for a description of what that is, do a search, please. There are LOADS of threads here about what it means/feels like-it is VERY different for EVERYONE it seems). Most people don't feel restriction or get to their "sweet spot" for at LEAST three or four or sometimes more fills. But once there, it's generally mimimal "tweaking" just with weight loss. The stomach has a fat pad layer on it, as you lose fat, that shrinks. So occasionally you need another fill to get proper restriction. Overcoming head hunger is the biggest challenge for us. I can be totally satisfied on 1/2-1cup of food, but if what I am eating is delicious or something I LOVE, I have to force myself to stop, I once could eat four or five cups and want that uncomfortable full feeling I used to get. We don't get that same full feeling anymore. It's different, and I can't really describe it, it may be different for you. For me sometimes it is a mrable in my throat, sometimes it is the hiccups, sometimes it is a mild burn. Some people report runny noses when they are "full."

There's a whole food forum here, go check it out. You'll find recipes by stage in there.

Think of what you are hungry for, then toss it in the blender with some fluid that would thin it. I wanted Mexican, so I tossed some FF refried Vegetarian beans, salsa, Greek Strained Yogurt (I use it instead of sour cream b/c it has good protein) and some cheese queso in the blender, it satisfied the Mexican craving. on the Fourth of July I tossed a small can of baked beans and a hot dog and some BBQ sauce and a little catsup with it to thin it and pureed that. I pureed some cucumbers and dressing, I pureed some crab and mayo and Greek yogurt and onion. I pureed chicken and grapes and Greek yogurt and mayo and a little apple for a chicken salad. I pureed eggs and mayo and onion and a little pickle when I wanted egg salad. Get creative!!!!!

:welcomeB: I'm not sure what kind of advice you are looking for, but the very best bit of advice I can give you is take some time and look around the boards here. One VERRRY important forum to read is the FAQ and references forum. That's where you will find loads of info on the bands, questions to ask the surgeon, lists of things to have on hand before surgery, etc. If you think of a question, there is a GREAT search function here in the blue toolbar near the top of the page, you might be able to find the answer that way, if not, please by all means ask away!

Yep, had surgery with Dr. Wagner on June 21st. Could have had it in May, but I wanted to wait until they got the AP band in and I was lucky enough to be their first (don't know if that's lucky, but I really wanted that AP band). I believe Hurley only uses AP bands now, at least that's what they were planning to go to according to Kathy (one of the nurses). What's the AP band? Do some looking around on here, and here's a little info from some other sites: There are a couple of differences in this band and the previous ones: 1. Cuff - the cuff on the AP band is 360 degrees around, as opposed to about 300 degrees on the prior bands (there was no cuff around the buckle on the old ones) 2. Cuff length - the cuff on the AP band is 18mm longer/taller than on the previous bands, so the surface area in contact with the stomach is much greater, hopefully increasing the speed of weight loss and maybe reducing the risk of slips 3. Cuff volume - the AP small holds 10cc, the AP large holds 14cc Note that we do not believe that AP patients will lose MORE weight, just possibly faster. ------- So far I collected the following information with thanks from my doctor and other AP bandsters: They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc). They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs". They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types. They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types. They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types. Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved. The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove. The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types. They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types. The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better. The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism. The balloon is wider. A sideview of the band shows the balloon protruding top & bottom rather than sitting flush. They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be. They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach. AP type bands have been FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest. We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band. Word to the wise about Hurley, expect to WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT. If your appointment is for 12:30p, you *might* be seen by 3:00pm. So PLEASE don't plan anything during the day after your appt with them that is crucial that you are at. I loved my inpatient experience (except the blood draw at 4:00am, but as a surgical patient, that's the way it is) and felt well cared-for (believe me, I'm a VERRRRY particular patient, not difficult, but particular). The nutritionists are pretty good, Devora knows loads! Keep on top of your insurance approval information and when you get a date, call them back about a week ahead of time to confirm it. :welcomeB: to LBT and if you have any questions, feel free to PM me!

Or SCD's (sequential compression device) or PCD's (pneumatic compression device). PlexiPulse is a brand name of one of them. Shannon is sooooo right on target, they are VERY important.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->