hottytoddy

Hello Junies...

I'm half way there!! :whoo:

20 of the 42 pounds I've lost have been over the last 6 weeks... it took 4 1/2 months and 5 fills to get to the "sweet spot."

If you're not there yet... hang in there!!

My doc just started billing me last month. Mine are not done under flouro and are $49. Yours does seem outrageous!!

Question--please answer---does sliming after almost everything mean

a. you're possibly to tight

b. you're eating to fast

c. you need a fill

d. combination of a and b

For me it meant I needed another fill. I slimed and had to throw it up after just about everything at 2.5 cc (in a 4cc band). After I went to 3cc it has cut down dramatically... very rare now.

How much do you have in your band? What size is your band?

Hello all!

It's been a while. I'm just checking in and am very happy about the overall success of our group so far.

The site was too busy for me to keep up with! I was also not at all happy with my band, and honestly was feeling bad about myself for not having the success that others were having. I didn't feel that was healthy for me, so I dropped off the face of LBT earth!

Anyway, I'm doing better. I have had 3cc in a 4cc band for a month now, and it's made a huge difference. I was supposed to have an appt with my doc today (my monthly) but cancelled it cause I think I need to sit at this spot a little longer.

A little advice, if I may...

At 2.5 cc, I slimed on just about everything I ate! However, at night I was usually able to overeat and did so because I was so happy something was going down! When I went to see my doc, he insisted on adding more to the band. I was worried. I was already sliming ALOT and couldn't imagine being any tighter. Well... that's why he's the surgeon, cause he was right!

It's much better now. I still have my problem foods, but I rarely throw up (get stuck/slime) anymore. I am usually only able to eat a very small amount of food and have learned when to stop. If I don't, I still get in trouble.

I know one of the signs of being too tight is frequent sliming; however, it might be a sign of too little fill as well. I know that's odd... but here's my theory. I didn't discuss this with my doc, it's just my thoughts on it... At 2.5cc I think my opening was too loose to make things stay in the pouch, but too tight for things to pass through. It was the perfect size to "catch" everything, and therefore everything got stuck. NOW, I actually have it smaller and less gets trough the opening initially. It's actually sitting in that pouch and partially digesting and slowing passing on through.

Anyway, just a thought. If you're not losing and are sliming alot, talk to your doc about getting more Fluid put in.

For the first time in 5 months, my band is working! I lost 10 pounds in the last 4 weeks. I didn't think it was EVER going to happen for me!

This is the hardest thing I've ever done. Harder than any diet or weight loss program attempted in the past. I have had more physical and emotional pain with this band than I would have ever imagined possible. It's not an easy solution! It's hard as hell! To anyone reading this, it took over 4 months for me to have even the first ray of sunshine... 4 months of absolute hell.

May I never go back there again! Hang in there, and continued luck to everyone!

Hi Heather!!

I remember you too!! LOL You were the first person I heard when I woke up. I remember you telling me your story and I was so excited to FINALLY meet someone who had the Lapband! You were my first! lol I only remember parts of going back to my room, but I told my husband later all about this "beautiful nurse" in the recovery room that was telling me about just having the same thing and he said...I know, she brought you back in the room and got you all set up an told me about Dr. Carroll doing her lapband. He said you were very sweet and agreed with me that you were very pretty! ha! I just want to thank you for taking such good care of me! I had a great experience at River Oaks and I would recommend it to anyone. I absolutely love Dr. Carroll. He cares so much about his patients. I certainly made the right choice. I am very excited about the new support group starting Sept. 4th. at River Oaks. I'm already signed up. I hope I'll get to meet many "bandsters" and I hope I'll get to thank you again in person! Thank you for remembering me and much luck to you. Hope to see you soon!

Well aren't you just the sweetest thing! Thank you so much! I love Dr. C too (but don't tell him that!)...lol.. being colleagues, we tend to give each other a hard time! lol... :heh:

Hi Everyone,

I live in Brandon, MS. I was banded on 6-19-07 at River Oaks Hosp. by Dr. David Carroll. I have had an awesome experience so far. No complications....weight loss to date is 41 lbs. I have a large VG band and so far I've had 1 fill (3 cc's). I don't feel any restriction so far, but I try to convince myself I do! LOL Just seems to make it easier! ha! I am so thrilled to have my band and I look forward to the years ahead with some "help". This is what I've been praying for-for years!!! I love this board...it's been so helpful and now I look forward to talking and sharing with some "Mississippi neighbors"! Good luck to all! Hope to hear from you!

I remember you! lol... I work in the Recovery Room at River Oaks, and you were the 1st band patient to roll through after I got back from recovering from MY band! Dr. Carroll did mine as well on June 1 at River Oaks. Glad to hear from you! Great weight loss!!

My workouts are going great. My band is weird! It seems tight but i don't get it. I have to eat very slowly. If i don't there's hell to pay. I have a lot of painful, stuck episodes. however, i don't feel full easily. i'm counting calories now and making myself stop eating, but i was hoping with the band being tight that I would have restriction and feel full more easily??!! i'll never get this thing!

Hey guys!! I went in for my 2nd fill today and found out that I have a 10 centimeter band but that it only holds 4cc's of saline!! I was like OHHHHH really? Anyway I have a total of 2.4 cc's in the band now (he gave me 0.9cc today). I can't really tell anything diff. but then again I'm just on liquids till Thur!! UGH This is the WORST part of getting a fill!! I am hungry STARVING all the time on liquids! So therefore I'm VERY grumpy!

GOOD NEWS I have officially lost 50lb!! I was sooooooo excited I did a happy dance on the scales!! LOL They just laughed at/with me! So I'm right on my goal of 10lb a month! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO

I also have the 10 cm - 4cc band. I had my second fill last thursday and have 2cc of omnipac in mine. i can tell a huge difference! some of that can be attributed to my entire first fill disappearing... so i went from zero to 2 cc's!

I'm still not sure exactly what restriction is... but my food options are soooo restricted now! If it's dry or bready or gums up.... it HURTS!!!!

Anyway, good luck!

<Rob Zombie>

You're welcome; however, I would not consider Rob to be techno (unless you're listening to super swingin sexy sounds! lol). Rob is hard core sexy ass metal! (and i love him!)

Lunch today was painful. I'm glad I'm eating less; however, this hurts! The joy is gone... lol.

OMG... I have now slimed!

Attempted to eat a french fry tonight. BIG mistake! I felt pain like none other... eyes welled up... felt like I needed to puke. I went in the bathroom and it felt like I was puking but all that came up was a big pile of clear, thick slime! The french fry passed on through after that.

I think that is partly how the band works. It totally takes the joy out of eating. It's just not worth it anymore! I am 2 days into my 2nd fill (2ccs of omnipac in a 4cc band). I'm still not sure what restriction is. I'm not hungry as much, but I feel food going through my band.

I've heard that the band sends a signal to your hypothalmus in the brain just by being in the spot it's in on the stomach. It tricks the brain into thinking you're full. I think there is something to this. I'm not even sure food actually stays in the pouch.

If I eat small bites, I feel the food go through the band. If I eat a large bite, I have horrible pain and slime/pb or it passes very painfully. This just doesn't make sense to me. If the food is supposed to stay in the pouch for a long time, why do you pb instantly? You would think it would hang around in the pouch for a while and then you would pb later when there is just no way to pass it.

I think the brain is tricked and the joy of eating is lost... and that's how the band works! Or at least mine!! Just a thought...

Gadzooks!

LMAO!! I didn't know anybody ever actually had used that word! That's awesome!

Went to the doc today for second fill. It was most interesting.

First fill was 2 1/2 weeks ago. I felt no pain. I felt nothing when he injected the saline. I received 1 cc in a 4 cc band. I never felt restriction or PBed, slimed, etc. A few things got painfully stuck when I ate too fast or too big a bite, but always passed after a few minutes.

Well, I went in today and had gained a few pounds. **SHOCKING!!** Anyway, I asked him if it were possible my first fill was gone... absorbed... evaporated... whatever... He said it was and he was about to find out. He then stabbed me in my stomach! lol..the first time was a little pinch... this was a BIOTCH!! My port is right there. I feel it so easily. There was no digging involved... he just stabbed the hell outta me! lol... i still love him.

Anyway, he was going to inject me with another 1cc of saline (2 cc total). He stuck the needle in and pulled back... NOTHING!! Every bit of my first fill was gone! I heard him ask for the Omnipac (which shocked me cause he is so by the book..). Anyway, he put 2 ccs of omnipac in me and I FELT IT GO IN THE BAND!! It was freaky!!!

He waited a minute and took it all back out. All 2 ccs came back out. He said if I had a big leak some of it would have already been gone. Nothing to worry about he said. sometimes the first fill disappears. the omnipac should fix it.

I'm on liquids today. I can feel them, but they are passing fine.

The journey begins again tomorrow! I pray for results! I'm desperate!

Sorry grateful, I had you down as 6/21.

June 2007 Bandster Calender.doc

Thank you. That's very sweet.

My doc said my stoma was dime size with no fill (I have a 4cc band). I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and felt nothing. The only difference is I've had a couple of things get painfully stuck when I've taken a big bite or didn't chew well. It has always gone on thru... no pbing. My doc is pretty conservative. He says too tight, too fast is the main cause of a slip. I had to wait 8 weeks for the first fill. Originally I thought he said another 8 for the 2nd fill. But at the office he told me a month. I saw him at the hospital on Friday and told him how disappointed I was. He said it wasn't supposed to be working yet and that as long as it's been 2 weeks to come on in for more. I have an appointment on Thursday for my 2nd fill. He also said he normally does .8cc on the second, but he's going to put 1cc in mine. Hopefully, I'll be able to tell a difference. If not, maybe the 3rd fill will be in another 2 weeks instead of 4.

I've just been in the dumps because I'm able to eat whatever, whenever in any amount. I know this is a journey, but keep in mind with my original schedule from the doc, I thought it would be 3 months before my 2nd fill. I can handle a slow loss. But I've had no loss since the first month and am fighting gaining! I know the band is just a tool, but I had hoped my expensive tool would have at least worked a little bit before the 3 or 4 month post op mark. That's insane to me! I guess I thought bandster hell would be til the first fill... then it would work a little bit with slow loss til the next fill... etc, etc, etc. I didn't realize it was going to be all or nothing with this thing.

Thanks for your caring and concerns. It appears that recently more and more are feeling like I have been for a while now. I hope all of us in this sinking ship get a lifeline soon!

Ohhhhh.... I got it now! It was hard to make out the actual outline of the band. How strange that it's off center! But look at the barium just trickling through! Looks like only a piece of spaghetti could get thru that! do you have restriction?

During my first fill. All fills are done with flouro at my docs, and I always get pics of my fills. The technician is the one that noticed it, and sure enough it is!

You can see the left side of the band is far below the right in this pic:

I feel like I'm trying to figure out if it's a boy or a girl on an ultrasound! I just don't see where it's slanted! When you refer to left and right in the pic...do you literally mean the left and right side of the band or the left and right side of the picture? :help:

It is great to read about how well everyone is doing.

But, I was wondering if there is anyone out there that is unhappy with the way things are going for them. Maybe not losing any weight?

Do you feel like you have no restrictions at all. Obviously, that is how I am feeling. Am I alone?

You are not alone.

Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I'm to the point where "if you don't have anything nice to say (about the band), don't say anything at all."

Well, I have returned from my weeks vacation... AND I LOST WEIGHT!! OK, so I cheated a little... I get my FIRST fill on Monday, and I was paranoid that I would gain on vacay... SOOOOO, I had about 1 week left of a phentermine prescription, and I seized the day! I figured I needed to take it while I could still pass pills easily.

I ate like a bird..lol. My tiny size 6-8 sister said I was making her feel like a hog!

Toni is in Arizona on vacation.

Wow, we've grown so fast! Here's an update. Please remember to try to use this thread to only post names and dates for the calender... just because we're so big it's hard for me to keep up... :faint:

Thanks!!

June 2007 Bandster Calender.doc

I CANNOT wait for my numbers to look like yalls!! First fill will be in 1 1/2 weeks! :clap2:

Hey yall! Another Mississippi bandster! I live in Madison.