DBAGuy

wow - I appreciate that you didn't blast me, but those ideas are part of a program from a very successful Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence program - I guess ymmv. For you, maybe the ideas don't work. And we have to be very careful treating the band as a 'limiter'...it WON'T keep us from eating too much...we can shovel just as much food down our pipes as we did before if we want to...it won't stay down, and will cause plenty of problems over time. also, if you eat the wrong kind of foods, it won't limit you at all. So - we DO have to change what we eat, how we eat, and how much we eat in order to be successful. I was just trying to share ideas from the program I'm in...maybe I'm too new here to be allowed to do that.

I was banded 5/21/07...weighed 354 when I went in to qualify for surgery, now weigh 305. I think bigdaddynomo hit the proverbial nail on the head...we need to re-learn how we eat. I went through a whole program (still going) before surgery to teach me how to eat after lap-band. They really pushed the fact that the lap-band isn't a 'fix-it-all' solution...just having it there won't make you lose weight...you can graze, eat high calorie liquid/slurry foods that go right through, overeat and stretch the pouch, etc. Lots of ways to sidetrack the program, and we all need to be aware of them.

My understanding is that the whole lap-band approach is a change to lifestyle...the program I went through before surgery pushed us to take a small bite, put down the fork, chew thoroughly, swallow, pick up the fork, etc. They strongly encouraged us NOT to treat the band like it was a speed limiter in a car...don't rely on it to keep you from eating, especially if you haven't had a fill yet...there IS some restriction, but usually not enough to provide the full effect. Since it takes 20-30 minutes for the "I'm full" signal to get from stomach to brain, eating slowly should make a big difference, as most folks eat too fast. Even after fill, if you 'graze' or eat high calorie foods that turn into a liquid or slurry (ice cream, chocolate, most chips, milkshakes, etc.) the lap-band approach won't be successful. Like 'ontheway', I set out the amount of food I want to eat, then that's all I eat...right now its 4 - 5 oz. of food per meal. I drink lots of liquids, and that helps me feel satisfied. I don't have my first fill until early July.

For my surgery, I was kept overnight only because of my sleep apnea and vein problems in my legs...otherwise they would have discharged me the same day...wanted to make sure I didn't have a pulmonary embolism. So...the overnight or not may be generally based on comorbidities. My surgeon's motto is 'no surprises', so they put me through extensive tests before surgery...found a hiatal hernia that they fixed when they put the band on.

I was banded on 5/21/07 by Dr. Amir Moazzez, who works out of Inova Fair Oaks. The Fair Oaks hospital is a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. I'm sorry that I don't know Dr. Elariny, but wanted to let you know about my very positive experience at Fair Oaks.

On my third week of 'mush' food. I was at 354 lbs when I walked in to qualify for surgery, lost 25 before surgery, and am now at 306. Goal is 200. Dr. Amir Moazzez and the folks at Inova Fair Oaks hospital did a wonderful job - no complications, overnight stay, and I feel great!