kacee

You're fixin' to climb over the fence kiddo! Congrats!

Wow, it's GOTTA be an art form without the fluro. I watched as they put a tiny bit in, drank, watched it go down, pulled a little out, drank watched it go down, put a little more in, <repeat>. At one point when I was overfilled and it showed it, you wouldn't have been able to tell by drinking because the drinking went down fine, but we could SEE the restriction on the screen and knew it was too much. Man, Kudos to those folks who can get it done right by just guessing!

<p>I just got back from getting my second fill. The first one was done without the fluoroscope and I had no response to it whatsoever. This time they used the machine and I drank the barium and it was filled, then I plugged up, then unfilled a little, then the barium went through, and then filled a tiny bit after that. They think they got my "sweet spot". I am really wondering how on earth you could ever possibly accomplish a successful fill WITHOUT a fluoroscope! Watching the adjustment on the screen...it was VERY EXACTING. There's no way you could just guess at that kindof thing because we were also watching the degree and speed at which the liquid and barium flowed through the opening. I went from a 1.8 to about a 2.2 (omni). We shall see how long it lasts.</p>

How much is the service? I went through the entire website but they don't seem to say anywhere (until you join).

I also think that secretly a LOT of people are extremely interested in the procedure. I have people who initially get the news and go...Oh, gee, is that what you really want?...(I say HELL YEAH) and then I find them sidling up to me later and going, "Eh....so tell me more about this thing...what does it do? How does it feel?" I am all for education. When I was at my GP's the other day I had to explain the lap band to the medical assistant. She had never heard of it (that's scary) and I had to explain it was NOT gastirc bypass.

I too told everyone who asked or seemed interested. I also explained that my initial weight loss after surgery was due to the healing process and restriction to liquids and mushies during healing, more than the typical weight loss that you will see when you get in the full swing of things. When folks ask how it is going I tell them now that having knocked off 22 pounds I am well on my way to a head start and now the regular effect of the band will take over and I will not expect any more weight loss than about a pound a week, and anything more than that is just gravy! I also explain that this is the only SAFE and HEALTHY way to lose the weight....FAST weight loss causes a myriad of problems and the band is designed for slow healthy weight loss over a period of time, unlike the immediate results of gastric bypass. I tell them I will be happy to reach my goal within two years. That certainly seems to satisfy them.

<p>You hear differing explanations....that it is referred pain from disrupting the muscles over the chest cavity, that it is gas. I had it off and on for two weeks after surgery and I think because of the sporadic-ness of it, I would go with gas. Sometimes it was there, sometimes it wasn't and sometimes it traveled into my neck, etc. Suffice it to say, it will probably be the single most bothersome thing you go through after surgery. The surgery site itself (at least for me) was a real non-issue (and I think that is because they were all surface cuts, and none of the gut was sectioned or cut). That area was more like getting over an injury (I ran through a plate glass window in the 5th grade and had 150 stitches in my legs to close them up....this was more like that rather than feeling like your insides had been invaded....like an appendectomy or c-section or something).</p>

I was banded by Dr. Spivak and I think that folks who go to his support groups need to bring this up in discussion and emphasize this. I certainly will when I go in July.

bumpin' it up...

Food addiction is a disease, just like alcoholism and drug addiction, though we don't like to think of it as such. Obsession and addiction to food can be similar to addiction to alcohol or drugs. Food addiction is a disease in which the addict craves refined sugar, flour and fats just as a cocaine addict craves cocaine. Food addicts get a feeling of pleasure and comfort from these foods and therefore continue to seek out the pleasure/comfort feelings. They use food to numb feelings of pain, anger, or depression. The food addict is often obsessed, unable to control the behavior even when they know intellectually of the negative health consequences. The physical craving overrides the power to make better eating decisions.

I've also heard that a major factor is the fact we chew our food so much...apparently it works air into the food, which we swallow.

Get with your provider of the machine. They should have MULTIPLE masks for you to try. Keep trying (use it about a week before you decide it doesn't work unless the initial fit is just ridiculous). These masks are not cheap, so you don't want to go past your exchange period and have to foot the bill yourself. I use a 2 prong nose mask. I wonder if you have the same thing I do. What is the mask name? Mine blows out (but not in my face, unless I really get my face squashed down in the pillow and smush the nose prongs. At first I thought it was a faulty mask, but they said it was supposed to be that way. My machine is absolutely quiet and the air escaping (correctly) from my mask I consider "white noise" which helps me sleep.

Okay, your insurance should cover the changing of your mask withint something like the first 30-60 days. Don't wait. Contact the company you got your CPAP from and tell them that the mask is not right for you. It should be totally included that they will bring you back in and try on several masks until you get one that works. You don't want obvious leakage around your face (though some, like mine, do blow out in front of my face because that is the way they are made, but you should not have any leakage at the sides, etc.). This should all be covered by your insurance...but do NOT wait.

I also find that "mini-goals" are really the answer. Don't look at a long-haul....divide your loss into sections. My first section was to get down to 199 by the time of my first fill. I did it and I was jumping around as if someone had told me I weighed 130! My next goal will be 190. Otherwise you wind up looking out over this vast expanse of poundage to lose and it can be pretty overwhelming.

I am 5'3". I was 217 at surgery time. I am now 197 one month later prior to first fill. Doc wants me down to 160....no way....I wanna be down around 145.

You are giving them power by your thinking....they may think they are superior to me being in their upper class group...and what does that entail? They're in a higher tax bracket? They drive a Benz? They wear Prada shoes? Excuse me but BFD (expletive deleted). That means nothing. The measure of a man is his heart and nothing else.

Well, I have found in my life that there is no such thing as a secret unless you are the only one who knows it because someone somewhere....and I don't care how much you trust them....will inadvertently spill the beans. And then also....a lie perpetuates a lie and it can get very convoluted and messy until the lie and the fallout from it takes over your life. That's why I am up front about everything having to do with the band. If they cannot take it and have a bad attitude about it, it is up front and in my face and I will deal with it and that's that. Your husband was wrong but you just learned a lesson about trust and secrets, unfortunately. Best thing you can do now is go on with your head high and ignore everyone, husband included. Do not give them any power over you by worrying needlessly about their reaction or judgdments.

I believe I had dissolvable sutures beneath the skin with possible glue, and then steri strips on the outside. The incisions were just too closed up to be totally steri strips, so they must have used some kind of glue too.

Also, if you are a beer drinker and you find it "doesn't work" for you....you certainly WON'T be a beer drinker after that!!!

It's the carbonation that will get you. I'd be VERY careful. That being said, there seem to be quite a few people on the forum who say they have no problem with things like sodas, so it appears to be an individual thing.

Wow, it's gonna depend on your body style (where does your fat mainly sit...belly, all over, etc.) and heavily on your genetic predisposition and your age and probably also how fast you lose too. I think a lot of the "horror stories" you hear about are tied in with gastric bypass where the weight loss is extremely fast and the skin and tissue has no time to adjust. Might as well not worry about it though. It will be what it will be and you can only be proactive to a certain extent. You've got the rest of your life afterwards to consider the possibility of PS. Good luck! (I'm 55 and keeping a close look at my double chin going away.....that's the first thing I will be tackling if I wind up with an "old lady turkey neck"...ICK!

I have also seen where people can use (not 100% of the time, I would suppose, but worth keeping on hand) papaya enzyme lozenges to try to break up the food. This is basically meat tenderizer. There are products available, notably Clear Ease which is marketed for sinus problems and used by scuba divers (I know, sounds weird). I bought some and keep it in my purse "in case of emergency". Some clog ups you can maneuver apart by moving, walking, twisting, stretching....some not. Nothing's more "fun" than feeling like someone has a sharp knuckle stabbing into your breastbone for about 3 hours. Mashed potatos did it to me once just after surgery. YUCK. Never want to go through that again.

<p>I was banded on 5-23. I was aware that there would eventually need to be some adjustments done on my various meds, including the three (Toprol, Diovan, Aceon) taken for blood pressure. However, I figured it would be after a substantial weight loss. I was wrong. I began being light headed this weekend, my sight was "vivid" and strange, I had "speckles" like before you pass out...I didn't feel "right". I attributed it to being hungry, but it didn't go away after I ate...I made the MISTAKE of driving 34 miles to my house Sunday and I should NOT have. Nothing happened, but several times I thought I might have to pull over to the side of the road. Because I was not "quite right" I was only partially aware that I was taking a big chance. I took my BP when I got home and it was about 62/46 on my cuff (which I assumed was wrong). Took it several more times and it was always below 90/60. Got up yesterday to go to work, and instead took only my Toprol. Even THAT was too much. BP through the day was extremely low, I was dizzy, speckles in the vision, etc. Went to the company nurse for confirmation and I was 88/50. Called my doctor and they fit me in immediately. I was heavily overdosed on my meds. I was cut back from 3 pills a day (including 100mg Toprol) to 50mg Toprol ONLY... My doctor said that you can need an adjustment after only a ten pound weight loss. (I have only lost about 20). Word to the wise folks on BP meds....be very aware of your reaction to your meds and stay in close touch with your GP. My situation could have easily been a disaster...passing out in the car, passing out at home or work and falling, etc.</p>

I am going to assume that a small band holds fewer cc's....he probably picked it because of your body size and amount of weight to lose (don't quote me on this). I too have a "low profile port" (I requested one). That just means that the port you have is smaller than the "normal" port put in. I asked for one because I have very little belly fat. I didn't want to run the risk that the port might stick out a little bit when I lost my weight. Don't know if it would or not (some people say they can see their ports bulge a little when their weight gets down), but thought I would be safe. I was banded 5-23. Had my first fill last Thursday which did nothing, and am going back in on Wednesday for additional fill.

I was banded by Spivak on 5-23. I think he is dynamite. His office staff is the greatest. You may, or may not, see him after the surgery. He's a surgeon foremost, and many times when surgeons are done you don't see them again unless there is a problem. I went in for my first fill yesterday which was done by Leslie, his nurse, who was wonderful. She also had nothing but praise for Spivak. She said he is a dream to watch him operate....he's like an artist. She was very impressed with him. I think you will be happy with him, and happy with your aftercare. There are some threads devoted to Spivak on the Doctors part of the forum and everyone just sings his praises....me included. For info on the procedure, read the posts about pre- and post-op. Find out everything you can about how to plan for your hospital experience and after. Can't tell you how you will be hungry wise, but I was totally NOT hungry for about 2 weeks after surgery. When my stomach growled, I fed it. Going into week threeI noticed my capacity for food was quite a bit greater...this is as it should be....it means you are healing. You just have to stick it out until your first fill. At Spivak's you will get your first fill 30 days after surgery. Then it will be trial and error to get to where you are sufficiently restricted. May that 1, 2, 6 trips....everyone is different.