Bensmum1109

Well, Karen has the same group of surgeons as I do, so as you can see she knows what we go through with them. I have great restriction with my fill, my clothes are getting looser and even though I spent the last week in Disneyland and Vegas, I still lost 4 more pounds!! I have also noticed my thighs and butt feel firmer. I think I will just keep doing what I am doing :-) Seems to be working!! And Daisybelle, flaxseed oil is supposed to combat hair loss. That seems to be the only problem I have really been having lately other than a few pbs and golfballs. No complaints here!!!

I can't eat at all in the morning. Of course like a MORON I keep trying, and after a few bites of anything get the golf ball in my chest. I definitely open up as the day progresses but fortunately I always have restriction.

Hi Melissa!! Welcome to my hometown. There is so much to do in the city I don't even know where to start! It really depends what you are looking for. If you are into shopping I recommend Union Square. Every high end shop that you could possible imagine is in the square. If you are into interesting cultures I highy recommend going to Chinatown (GREAT food there as well). Or the Mission (little Mexico)- where there are lots of great clothing stores and touristy knicknack shops where you can buy things at a discount. They have great street vendors there as well. Fisherman's Wharf is very touristy and cool- you can see hundreds of sea lions lounging at the pier, have crab legs (Scoma's ROCKS), and see Alcatraz and both bridges. At Fisherman's Wharf you can also catch a cable car for a ride which is really fun. I would really recommend taking a ferry from Fisherman's Wharf to Saulsalito and back- it's a fun ride and Saulsalito is a beautiful little seaside town with great shopping. If you are into decadent craziness, the Castro is a lot of fun. There are funky shops where you can buy some really "interesting" :-) things, and where else can you see burly male couples walking hand in hand down the street in buttless chaps in broad daylight . There is also a fabulous restaurant in the Castro called Cafe Nirvana. They have wonderful exotic martinis and I highly recommend the chicken Kama Curry. If you go there for dinner ask for a table in the back garden. In between the Castro and Noe Valley there is an area called Twin Peaks. It is simply a very high point in the city with amazing views. Most people go at sunset to watch the sun fall into the sea. If you have never been to the west coast it is really a sight to see. The Haight is historic, and still very much a hippie neighborhood. There are "smoke" shops, record stores, funky boutiques that are actually pretty cheap, a few drag queen clothing stores in case you need some size 13 stripper heels or feather boas. There is a wonderful carribean-latin restaurant called Cha Cha Cha's that has plantains to die for. I have covered just a little bit of what is available in the city!! I haven't even gotten to the nightlife :-) Feel free to PM me if you have questions or need more info. And I fly a lot for business (I am in Vegas now). I tighten up A LOT when I fly.

I am three weeks post-op, and eager for my first fill in three more weeks (not eager at all about the procedure, but eager to feel some restriction as my swelling is down and I've got NOTHING- following my food plan so of course I am starving all time!!). I have a 4CC band. How much did your doctor give you for your first fill and how did it do for you??

Congratulations!! Please keep us posted on your progress. Hubby and I would like to try again next summer so I want all the info I can get on how pregnancies with the band progress.

Thanks, Kay! Your post (as well as many other on this thread) was very informative. I am following all of the bandster rules MOST of the time (that's me being honest). There is room for improvement of course, but I am losing weight at a reasonable rate and I don't seem to be suffering from any adverse health issues other than a little hair loss. I am trying to combat that by adhering to a high protein intake and flaxseed oil capsules. I am so very grateful for the support of the people on this board. I have learned so much about my band and all of the highs and lows related to it. I am glad to be going through this with such an amazing group of people!!

Such good news!! Congrats! It's good to know that it is possible to fix a slipped band without surgery- I'm guessing this doesn't happen often, but it happens!

Yes, Pepsi, I did not feel any restriction for two weeks. I don't really understand why this happens but it seems pretty common for it to take a while.

After my surgery, my doctors gave me a wallet card that explains that I have a Lap-Band and my food intake is restricted. Being a closet bandster, I really didn't think I would ever use the card. But while in Lake Tahoe on Thanksgiving Day, my husband really wanted turkey and the works, and there was a Thanksgiving buffet at our hotel. I am really restricted right now and I don't have much interest in food these days, so I was not concerned about being in a buffet style restaurant. But there was no way I was going to pay $17 to eat when I am lucky to get 1/2 a cup of food down!! So I asked for the manager, and showed him my card. TO MY SHOCK AND SURPRISE, he said he sees these cards all the time and agreed to charge me $6.00 (childrens price)! They still made money off me :-), but how cool is that!! So my question is, how many of you have card like this?? And if not, WHY AREN'T YOU ASKING FOR ONE???

SLOW DOWN, KIDS!!!!! I had my first fill on 10/31. I felt NOTHING until November 14, and I mean nothing. Then when it hit me it was like a MACK truck. I have 1cc in a 4cc band, and 7 or 8 bites of food and I am done. We went to a Thanksgiving buffet in Lake Tahoe last Thursday, and I had 3 bites of prime rib, two bites of mashed potato, two bites of sweet potato, one bite of stuffing, and 2 green Beans. I almost pb'd on that amount of food. On the way home my husband wanted In-and-Out burger so I got a Protein style cheeseburger (wrapped in lettuce leaves instead of a bun- is that cool or what!), and that turned out to be THREE MEALS for me!!! I know everyone is different, but I implore you all to wait at least two weeks before getting another fill. Especially if you have to pay for it. If I had any more saline in my band right now I would be choked off. And I remember those first two weeks thinking I didn't have enough! And Laura, my period was due the day after my surgery. I just got it November 22th, after spotting for 13 days. Apparently that is not abnormal after surgery like this.

Because bands do have metal parts and could set off a metal detector. At least that is what my surgeon told me. My mother broke her leg in April and they had to put a metal rod in her leg. She also has a card that she has to show in airports, because she always sets off the metal detectors now :-) I have flown several times since my surgery and have NOT beeped yet :-)

Nykee, I felt a little funny about it at first, but I got over it. Like I'm ever going to see those people again :-). And if I did try to use it and got an attitude from a restaurant manager or server, I would not be quiet about it :-). I also enjoy leftovers, but when you are staying in a hotel leftovers are pretty worthless unless you have a refrigerator and a microwave in your room!! And my card does have medical information on it as well, but it also says "this person has a very limited food intake". I never thought I would have the nerve to use it in a restaurant and originally kept it in my wallet because I didn't know if the band might set off the metal detectors in airports (I travel a lot!!). But I am glad I have it and will continue to use it often!!

Awesome, Candy!! Thanks! I have ordered a copy and I am going to try it.

I'm back :-) I spent a wonderful holiday in Lake Tahoe with my husband and son. It snowed all day on Friday and it was beautiful!! After reading these posts and speaking with my Primary Care Provider, I have decided that 800 calories a day is way too restrictive. Problem is, it took awhile for my restriction to kick in (had my first fill 10/31), but now it has kicked in HARD (I have only 1CC in my band). So while it is a struggle to maintain a 1000-1200 calorie intake, I am doing so with lots of Protein and I have lost 5 more pounds. I'm happy with my weight loss so far. 26 pounds in 2 months works for me, and I am not going to push it!

Michelle, what a bummer!! I just know, though, that you are going to keep the weight off and then you will be an inspiration to others that have lost their bands. Just as you have been an inspiration to the rest of us. HUGS!!

Decaf green tea for your nausea and Isopure water. One bottle has 5 grams of protein and it just tastes like flavored water.

Hi Ladies- I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I have been through it myself. I promise it does get better!! Five years after I got out of a horrible, depressing relationship I am married to a wonderful man and have a beautiful 1 year old son. Allow yourselves to grieve, take care of your children, and don't step off of the path you have been put on with this wonderful band. In fact, be motivated by the fact that the door to a whole new, WONDERFUL LIFE IS ABOUT TO OPEN!! Much love-

Just an update for you girls- On 11/9 (my baby's first birthday!!) I started bleeding- well more like spotting. I would go a day with nothing, and then suddenly a spot. Yesterday (the 22nd), I started bleeding HEAVILY. I am in all kinds of pain!! Anyone else experience anything like this? I have left a message for my PC and my surgeon. I suppose any period that is two months late is going to be bad!

Way to go, ladies!! Just an FYI, I only got 1CC for my first fill and really did not feel very restricted at all (had it done 10/31). Last weekend I flew to Vegas for a conference and BOOM- I felt it. I could barely eat more than 3 or 4 bites of food at a time without being in pain. I originally thought it was because of my flight-I hear airplanes can squeeze you up a bit-but I have been home for 3 days and I still feel it. So give yourselves some time. It may take several days or even a week or two before the restriction kicks in!

Shari Lou, only had to do a liquid diet for 1 day before my surgery, and my doctor made me take Milk Of Magnesia the day before my surgery. Afterwards, it took me 11 days to go. Try some Milk Of Magnesia if you are concerned.

I have a sweet tooth,but I don't believe it sabotages the band. I eat less, period. And to be honest, I don't really have food cravings of any kind any more!! I think that means my brain is starting to work with this band :-)

I was only banded 9 days ago so it will be a while before my first fill , but I have been reliving the two conversations I have had with my doctor about it and I need some advice. I am totally needle-phobic. Tiny needles don't bug me at all, but big needles do, and especially needles that have to stay inside you for more than a second. My biggest fear when I had my son last year via C-Section was not the C-Section, but the IV and epidural. The epidural turned out to be fine (awesome, in fact because I had already been in labor for 10 hours) because the doctor gave me 3 or 4 little lidocaine shots first and never let me see the epidural needle. The IV, on the other hand, only exacerbated my phobia because I had toxemia and was so bloated with Fluid that they had difficulty finding my vein. They stabbed me 4 times before they hit the spot. I forgot all about my contractions during this! Fast forward to my LapBand surgery. I had let them know at my preadmission about my needle trauma, and my nurse was an angel that gave me Lidocaine before inserting the IV needle. It was not bad at all. And the surgery went well and did not scare me at all. The problem. My doctor refuses to numb me before my fill!! He seems determined to prove to me that it won't hurt, and he is really arguing with me about it. I am a self-pay and have paid for my surgery PLUS 1 year of fills in advance, so I am a little hesitant to just find someone else to do the fills. But I am starting to obsess over it, and I almost feel at this point that if I were to finally talk him into numbing me, he might really jab me with the Lidocaine just to win the argument :-( Can someone give me some advice about this?? Sorry to be such a wuss!!

Here is how I am handling Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving to me is about family, not food. I am taking my family to Lake Tahoe for four days of gambling, snowboarding, swimming (Caesar's has a beautiful pool), and relaxation. Not one person cares about the fact that we are not having a big feast. The important thing is that we are all hanging out together and having fun!! Maybe it will even be a new tradition for us, instead of sitting around all day stuffing our faces :-)

Go for it. I waited about 10 days and I have had no problem.

Oh, Karen, that's hilarious because Dr. Feng says it was HIS patient that had the popcorn slippage. Wonder if she really exists :-)