I'llsucceed

I was told that the larger band was typically used in males because they tended to have more fat around that area & that their organs were typically larger. neither band preforms differently. They each just hold different amounts of saline. I am only repeating what I was told- so don't hold me too it;0)

I totally agree-I too think it was RNY- She almost looks too skinny in the face.

One - Soy burger will do it for me. No bun - just a soy / garden burger & a little mustard. Huge protein - min. calories. But high sodium. So I drink alot of H20.

Your fine - don't worry just follow your Doctors instructions. You'll feel so much better after your first fill when you know your band is still ok. I know I did. But to answer the question in general: I was told the answer is "YES." The band can be forced out of position in the early stages of healing from forcing too much food down & than cause the band to move & force more of a stomach pouch upward through the band. Therefore you pouch will have gotten bigger. Also if the band is very secure & you force too much food down & continue to do so - over & over & over again, you can actually stretch you esophagus out near the bottom. So even if you mess up a few times - just don't keep doing it & try to get back on track right away. Talk with your Doctor & get an x-ray done if needed. These incidents DO NOT Happen easily nor are they COMMON- so chances are way in our favor that we all will be fine.

When were you banded? June 3,2005 What was your weight ON DAY OF SURGERY? 251pre-op & 244 day of surgery What is your weight now? 229 What size do you wear? was a 1x (what ever that is - I think its a 20 or tight 18) now i am a 16 ( loose) How tall are you? 5' 61/2"

OH My Your not even banded yet- LOL I thought your were on the post-op diet. Ok so your on the 2 week pre-op diet. Yes thats a tough one also but just know the more weight you lose right before sugery - the easier it is for the surgeon to get around the liver. It helps to have little fat around the area. I wouldn't cheat at this time- just do what the doctor tells you. You don't want to make it hard for the doctor during surgery, Plus you'll be eating cream spinach & all kinds of stuff before you know it. So hang in there- Time will go by & just think of how much weight you'll loose. Good For you!!

I would be strong & hold off until you hit your 3 rd week & are into the mushie stage . Your band is now trying to heal itself into place & any extra struggle your stomach has to do to break down food & wiggle the band around. Just try & wait if you can- you'll be so much happier if you follow the rules in the beginning instead of pushing the envelope. I did & regretted it a few times - luckily I didn't damage my band. Best of luck. Add some bannanas or berries or even a little penut butter to your protein shakes & liquify them all the way.

most all of us were on a post-op 6 or 8 week diet, so that part is normal. I also remember I will never have a normal BM again. But things get better really fast. The liquid diet is transitional into mushies & soft solids so you are going to feel better really soon. Hang in there! Be happy about this weight loss so far because the larger weight loss is yet to come whne you get filled. I never thought I would loss this hungry period & now I find my self struggling to eat enough everyday. Go figure!

LOL LOL LOL - Just to recap again- I never felt the fires blaze my way but am always in defense of forest fires that may burn out of control. LOL The girlscout in me came out to stand up & take responsiblity & honor my GS Oath- LOL LOL ( On my honor I will try to serve God & his country with liberty & justice for all Who would have thought I could have remembered that. :0) So anyway I thought I would say how it really happened & why Dr.P actually posted to begin with. I sure hope we welcome him. By the way my scale STILL won't move- this is so much harder than I thought. Its been forever! I feel it only fair for all my work that next week awhole 20 pds drops off in one day & stays off forever!!!

Don't be scared - I am sure everything will be wonderful:0) I am THRILLED For you & wish you smooth & calm waters until the day you take your bundle of joy home!!!! God Bless & Congrats!

I must say- I really find it hard to get the calories in. Its already almost 6pm & I had an ensure for Breakfast & also a 2 egg omlet w/cheese & tomatoes & a couple green olives. Than for lunch I had 4 large crackers & a 5 layer veggie dip on top of them. 4 bottles of Water & thats it. I know I need more but simply can't right now. Tonight I'll have my Protein shake & walk & try maybe a veggie burger w/cheese & a pickle. Thats still under 1000 calories. That will not move my scale- this is really hard- because I don't want to be hungry & am happy were I am BUT am still NOT LOSIN. I really need a nutritianist(spelling)

Thanks everyone- Jamie- your doing soooo well- I remember only yesterday waiting & waiting until you got your band! Now over 50 downs down - WOW!! Thats Dynamite!

Congrats BARB & Welcome to a whole new way of LIFE:0)

Well I had my second fill last Wednesday( i think it was) & wow what a difference!!! I mean I will try & explain the sensation compared to my first fill. With the 1st fill (1cc)I could feel restriction BUT would still eat untill I felt full which was when I felt like throwing-up. I mean I ate more than I should because I felt hungry & the only time I didn't feel hunger was when I felt pain. Also I would be hungry about 1 to 2 hour later. Now with the second fill(+.5 total 1.5cc) I actually don't feel like throwing up & feel this satisfaction level unlike anything before. I mean I am literally full in about 3 to 4 bites of pure protein & about 10 bites to 12 of non protein. I am full for HOURS! All liquids I have zero problems with. Its wonderful to feel so full & truely SATISFIED:) NSV- At Boston chicken I ordered a single dinner & could barely eat 1/2. Normally I would have ordered a family dinner & even though it would have served me for several meals - I would have ate enough for 2 or more people. Now the only BAD part is I am not getting in enough calories I think?? Because the scale has not moved at all which is discouraging. I have been getting around 1000 per day & tons of water but no luck in moving the scale. So I guess I need to eat more? at least I think so? Anyone have ANY Ideas??? Anyhow - I just never knew the TOTAL AWE I would feel over this band! I mean I can't believe this feeeling of fullness & satisfaction in such a small amount of food. It really does work!!!

Dee Dee & Karen - thank you for your kind words. I am very happy to see so many LBTers enjoying all kinds of information from all kinds of sources.

Cheryl- Did you get your fill? How did it go & how much did you get? I just got my second fill & feel the difference BIG TIME! I just LOVE it. I am at 1.5cc & can really tell a huge difference in how fast I get full.

Had it before surgery pretty bad & now haven't noticed any signs since my surgery:0)

I was the member that begged my Doctor to post this thread & introduce himself. I told him the people on LBT would appreciate him & find his imput useful. I also told him that there were many pateince in need of a good fill Doctor & port revision Doctor. He is one of them. Prior to this he had been asked many questions by his patience from others who were not his patiences for help & advice. His website had been mentioned several times from past patiences BEFORE he ever was on LBT. He is not here for the main purpose of advertising AT ALL! It was to help & inform those who may want a Doctors opinion. I think its wonderful that he takes time out of his extremely busy schedual to offer advice to those in need who are not his patiences. Name me one other Doctor that does??? So he mentions his website-so what. I was the one who told him to make sure he included it because many had mentioned it before in other threads! Everyone & anyone can metion websites. I sure hope that we WELCOME him here instead of Blackballing him. The Doctors who have threads mentioning problems are from patiences that have had problems with those Doctors. They are legitimate concerns & should be heard. Any comments should be directed to me personally- I feel complete responsiblity. Sorry if this is offensive in anyway. Thank You Christina Crystal & Pathworker- Thank you for your comments & stating everything openly.

After I researched the backrounds of two highly professional & respected Doctors, It came down to one final question. I asked Dr.Pleatman(whom you can talk to here on LBT) "Why should I pick you over Dr. so&so?" Well he was a little takin back that I was asking him that (I think) But They were both qualified & I needed to know that he felt confident in himself to the point that he felt he was a better surgeon. He never taked poorly of the other Doctor & told me how he felt he was very well trained & whom & how he learned the procedure & how he will care for me after. I wanted him to basically sell himself to me & he did. I think it was very hard for him to talk so highly of himself. Most are not into selling only healing & fixing. He was the Doctor I finally choose & I couldn't have been more happy!

I am so happy for you! That is such a great accomplishment. Our Mothers sound simliar;0) Thats good & bad-huh?-LOL LOL LOL

What a great job you are doing! Well done. You'll be at goal before you know it!!! WHOOOHOOO For Christina!!!

Ohhh ((Huggs)) Listen I will admit I too would eat too much in the beginning sometimes. But you need to think of this. NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THE WEIGHT LOSS!!!! Repeat it again. NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR WEIGHT LOSS!!!! This is a very important time. The most important "PREP" time. You'll be healing for a min. of 8 weeks!!! So remember you are in the process of prepping your band into place so that you can lose & succeed later on. In about 2 months or 11/2 mnths from now you will feel like you really are losing & you will be. I haven't felt much success & i am 2 months out BUT with my second fill (its been only 3 days) & I feel so much more like "I Can DO This". The second fill was very different from the first. With the first I didn't feel full until I was hurting & wanted to vomit(which I did 3 days). I was so scared like I was ruining everything I had did. BUT with the second fill its so different. Yours may be the third or forth fill- everyone is different. I feel full & with no pain & no over eating. Well except one time & not again b/c it really hurt. The band takes time to learn all the little signs it gives your body. BUT the signs do get stronger & you can learn to live with them & lose weight. SO hang in there, your on your way & very soon you will have a whole new feeling towards your band & will be much more happy. I Promise!!! :banana :banana :banana

First & Foremost my prayers are with you and your sister. For all its worth my advice is if she goes with the larger band & its sucessful won't that be wonderful. I do agree that she should get a second opinion no matter what on if she should heal first prior to placement of the new band. If the larger Vanderguard band doesn't work she would than still have an option of RNY at that time. BUT NOT TRYING the larger band & doing RNY right away may leave her guessing "I wonder if it would have worked." That being said its such a personal life decision. I know many people who have had success with the RNY. But the 2 that I know really well BOTH gained their weight(a portion) of it back after only one year and are very depressed. God Bless your sister & I wish her health & healing. Good Luck & let us know-either or you have our support always! P.S. If her insurance is covering it , I would also check that second opinion & maybe a third as to why this happened. Could it have been Doctors' poor choice of bands to begin with or just a complication that was no ones fault?

Hey Girlie- Sorry just got on & am just going to hit the hay! But I know I'll be talking w/ya soon. Hey I ordered our shirts today. All xxl b/c the xl looked really small & may shrink- I hope thats ok. You got beautiful deep purple & I got forest green & kirsten Black. They'll say- "Lapbanded & Losin' It " Ready this Monday! Talk w/ya soon- have a great nite!

HI Girlfriend- You are a winner! Plain & simple. I want you to think about one thing. Athletes. Yep Athletes. Do you think they jump on the scale every week? Or are concerned about their weight? NO They are not!!! Here is what they are always aware of: 1) How fast or far was I able to run today? 2) How & what did I put in my mouth today? 3) Did I get in my Protein today? 4) How long was my workout today? 5) Did I get all my Water in today? 6) How can I be faster/stonger & more healthy tomorrow? You are a Athelete Crystal & so are we all. Throw the damn scale away. Take your body measurements & chart them and your diet & activity only- not your weight from today forward. My advice is find your inner Athelete & let her take control. She knows what is important & how to prevail. You can beat this pleatue & so can I ! See you in Vegas-roomie;0)