Lottie

Pineapple Juice helps get food unstuck? I've never heard that before but thanks for that tip.

Congrats to you as you start your journey. Please make sure you get your proteins in each day. My doctor recommends 64-80 grams. I to had thinning hair but along with my multi-vitamin I took the vitamin BIOTIN. My hair has thicken back up and is looking pretty and healthy again. I bought the BIOTIN at Wal-Green. It's also sold at Wal-mart. I wish you much success.

The support group that I attend, you do not have to pay anything. It is very well organized and there are people that speakthat has either been band or had gastric bypass. We talk about issues good and bad depending on our experiences. We went to water aerobics as a group (twice) since our meetings are held at the Fitness Center at the Hospital. Most meetings there is a speaker there to share information with us regarding health and diet. I've enjoy each meeting that I attended. Snacks are available at each meeting. (Foods that are band friendly) LBT is a great support.

Questions to ask during consultation: 2) Research the doctor. What kind of follow up care is provided? (ie: fills, unfills, endoscopies, fluroscopies, port revisions, removal, etc). Ask to speak to about 5 or 6 of his patients before you make a decision. Ask those people if they have any complaints or issues with their care before, during and after the procedure. How many of the procedures has he done? What types of complications can occur from this procedure and how frequently do they happen? (ie: perforations, etc) What types of complications has he personally ran into doing this procedure? What is his policy when a complication occurs during a procedure? (ie: does he discuss options with family or immediately convert to bypass or other WLS). Is he Inamed approved for the procedure? If not then who qualified him to perform the procedure and can you have literature to verify this? 3) Research the procedure. How is the procedure performed? Will you use the Pars Flaccida approach? What type of sutures do you use? Can I request glue and not staples? Will I have a catheter placed? If I am on my menses, can I wear a tampon? What will I need to have prepared when I get home in way of food items? What are the short term issues? What are the long term issues? How will I be able to take my pills? Will you write today for liquid pain meds? Do you want me to take antibiotics post-op? If so, will you write for Diflucan? 4) Follow up care. What is the schedule for fills? When can I get my first fill? How is the fill procedure performed? (ie: with or without fluroscopy) What is the cost for fills? (under fluro and not) How often will I need to be seen? Will I have access to a Nutritionist? How do you handle unfills? Is there a direct line in case of Emergencies? Does your doctor have email address? Should I continue to take Metformin? What Vitamins should I be taking? Will I need to crush my pills? If so then for how long? Are there any pills that cannot be crushed? If so then how will I be able to take them?

I wish you much success.

WELOME TO THIS SITE and I wish you much success. I've not been band by PCOS but I have been band and from Alabama. First call your insurance company to make sure they cover the procedure and then ask what are their requirements. Once you find out the requirements go to www.lapband.com and out where the closet seminar is being held and call and schedule an appointment to attend. During this time just research and find out as much as you. You've found a great place to start by coming here. Any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Congrats!!!! on being band. I doubt that your doctor would give you a fill if he felt it was not ok. I got my first fill in 5 weeks. Each doctor is different and because they are different doesn't mean that the results will be different. I had no problem and still doing great. Listen to your doctor because he knows your situation. My doctor's advice differs from most people on this site but he has not steered me wrong. Take care and I wish you well during your journey.

I am so sorry you had to experience this. That doctor should have gotten you back to his office the following day once you called his office. There are times a couple of days ease things but they are days it does not. My doctor only does fills on Monday and Wednesday so if they are any issues you can come back prior to weekend. Hopefully your doctor will do the same to avoid the ER. I know you are terrified but hopefully this does not happen again. He needs to give you a less aggressive fill. I pray that you never have to go through this again. I wish you the best.

Congrats!!!! to you. I hope timing is on your side because getting the band is one thing I've not regretted. My bandiversary date is Oct 30, 2007. If you have any questions about anything concerning the banding process, please do not hesitate to ask. I wish you much success during your journey. Let me know how everything goes.

Congrats!!! to you. I wish you much success during your journey.

www.myfitnesspal.com is very user friendly. I've used some of the others but came back to this. Check it out and decide which works well for you.

Alright my friend, please know that your band and port is not going to move so have fun with your exercises. Congrats on your weight loss. Hope everything is going well.

Congratulations on getting to One-derland. I agree with you, this is the best decision that I've made for myself. I hope to reach one-derland this year. I wish you continued success throughout your journey. You've done wonderfully. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the information. I wish you much success through out your journey.

This is the first time I've seen your thread. I live in Alabama, your sister state and I'd love to keep in touch with you and commuciate with you during your journey. My band-iversary date is coming soon and it's been a very good experience for me. I love my band and only regret that I didn't have it sooner. Please keep in touch or email anytime you'd like. prettyezes@msn.com I wish you much success during your journey.

CONGRATS on your journey and the support from your husband. Maybe he was afraid of you having the surgery and wanted you to give up. I am really happy you didnt change your mind. I think it's wonderful that your DH is now supporting you through this process. You will do just fine. Let me know how things goes. I wish you much success during your journey.

I have BCBS of Alabama. My doctor's office submitted my paperwork electronically in the AM and I knew about 4:00 pm the same day. I didn't get my letter in the mail until 2 weeks later but I had scheduled my date for surgery by then. I was band Oct 30, 2007.

I was band Oct 30, 2007. I went through the thinning hair phase also. I was told to get at least 64 grams of protein again. I've not found that I need 70-90 grams of protein. The surgery co-ordinator told me to get some Biotin. You can get that from Wal-Mart or Wal-green and take one day. In 30 days I could see my hair thicking. You will be able to take a difference. Biotin really work. I got the 1000 mg but I think it comes in a higher mg. Congrats on your weight loss and I wish you much success. You hair will grow back it won't be thin for long.

I think your girls will be able plenty of help to you. When I left the hospital we drove for an hour so I could be with my niece who was having surgery. She was diagnosised with breast cancer and we stayed at the hospital until 9:00 pm that night. This probably not the norm but I was never in a lot of pain. I never took pain med after I got home. I was up taking walks the night before I was released and the following day. Everyone is different but I think you'll do well. The coordinator told me to eat plenty of Protein prior to my surgery. She said the protein intake will minimize the pain afterward. I ate the protein and didn't have hardly any pain. Take Care, -Lottie

Thanks for the recipe. I buy splenda all the time but now I am going to be making lemonade. Some days I stuggle to stay on track but with ideas like this, it will definitely help. I wish you much success on your journey. -Lottie

Congratulations on getting your ban!!!! That is fantastic news. I am from Alabama also and was band Oct 30, 2007. I wish you much success during your journey. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I'll keep check on you. Take Care, -Lottie

I rode for one hour after surgery and didn't have any problem at all. I didn't even need a pillow but I had one. You might want to take one just in case you need it. I wish you much success on your journey. Congrats on being band.

What is your band size?

We are here to support you.

Please don't be so down on yourself. We've all felt this way at some point and time regarding ourselves. You might need some professional help and advice. Losing the weight is a healthy choice. Maybe you will later decide on some PS (exampe: Tummy Tuck or Breast lift) to help you achieve the look you so desire. Keep exercising to help achieve the body you want. Melissa McCreery, Ph.D. is a Psychologist and the founder of Enduring Change Coaching. She helps her clients create and live the life they crave. She is also the creator of the Emotional Eating Toolbox 28-day Program for Taking Control and Moving Beyond Dieting. Sign up for a free 5 part Self-care Package Audio Course, learn about upcoming WLS seminars and other programs or contact her www.enduringchange.com.ht take some professional help to get you through this process.