andyisbanned

Agnes: Congrats on making this decision for yourself. I can say this has been the best thing I have done for myself. I do not regret it. Just realize, this is a tool that you must work with. It is a lifestyle not a deit. It is normal to get scared and to worry about this working or not. Just be prepared that you may have times of little or no weight lost as we all hit a pleateau. In fact, I just started moving down again after about a 6 month pleateau. The key is working with your doctors and getting fills (adjustments) every 6-8 weeks til you get restriction. It takes 3-4 fills for most people to get restriction. So be prepare for this to happen. Start now practicing portion control and not drinking with meals. You cannot drink anything with you meals. No drinking anything 30 -60 minutes prior to a meal. No drinking anything 30-60 minutes after a meal. liquids wash the food thur the band. Also remember to Celebrate NSV (non scale victories) such as dropping a clothes size. I had many of these nsv during my plateau. It helped keep me motivated. Remember to drink or sip you liquids slowly. I drink mainly Water or diet green tea. It is best to find some zero calorie drinks and save you calories for you food. Tho' I have my cup of coffee each morning. You will need to trial and error to see what you can and cannot eat. I have a list of no-no foods my doctor gave me, which I have avoided. Some of the foods on my list, others can eat without a problem. Just like we all are different people, we all react differently to the band. Our bodies tolerate different foods. So don't be surprised you cannot eat the same things as others do. I think you have done a good job educating your self about the band and I believe it is key to being successful. The chatroom here is a great source for support. There are groups on here and yahoo that may help you too. The forum provides good data as well. Just know this is your journey and it will be as unique and special as you are. Listen to your doctor and follow his guidelines & instructions. Find you a fill doctor here in the states and make sure to work with them to get your fills in a timely matter. Good luck and much success on your journey. July will be here before you know it. You can and will make it. Positive thinking, a great atitude, and working with your band equals great success. I hoipe this post helps you!

Your lap-banders group at Yahoo! Groups is good to go. Here are the details on lap-banders: Group home page: Lap-Banders : Lap-Banders On Yahoo Group email address: lap-banders@yahoogroups.com

Altho' you experience can happen, I believe it is a low occurring event. I am sorry for your troubles. I pray the doctor only has to replce your port. Good luck. Please update and keep us posted of your progress.

Back in the mid 1990's I had a blood test show high liver enzymes. Since I worked in manufacturing, the concern was it was from something at work. I had a bunch of test ran and finally a liver biopsy. It was determined fat in my liver and I was put on a diet. Once I lost a few pounds the liver enzymes came back down to normal. Prior to banding, the liver enzymes were elevated again. As mentioned in the thread earlier, this is common in obese people. My PCP checks me with a full blood panel work up every 6 months. My liver enzymes have been normal since banding. I had to do an Atkins diet for 7 days prior to banding surgery. My surgeon says my liver was small and easy to work around. He said he could tell I follow my diet. It took 20-30 minutes to install my band. A lady that was banded after me, took my surgeon almost an hour and a half to do her surgery as she had failed to do her pre-op diet. She also ate a regular last meal the night before. My surgeon was not happy with her. He spent extra time with her explaining the importance of following his instructions with her before he came over to release me from the hospital. So, does the pre-op diet help? Yes! Is it important to follow it to the letter? Yes! If your doctor does not prescribe a pre-op diet, should you do one any way? It cannot hurt. If anything it will help with surgery. Most pre-op diets are either an Atkins type diet or a clear liquid diet for 1-2 weeks prior to surgery. I hope this helps.

I am on Lexapro. I take a 10mg dose daily. It is the only med I currently take. All of my other meds are no longer needed since banding. I have been on it for 3 years and banded for 14 months. I can tell when I do not take my Lexapro. I take it to help with my depression, anxiety, and anger. I am a bear to live with if I am not on it. Just ask my wife, she can testify to that fact. I have not had any side effects other than I am more a difficult to tolerate if I miss doses. Lexapro keeps me well balanced emotionally. I love my Lexapro. It is worth the $40.00 a month. Maybe an increase in dosage or changing to a different depression med would help you. you should really discuss stopping or changing you med with your physician prior to just stopping. you could actually create more problems for yourself by just stopping cold turkey. Please seek medical advice before just stopping.

New NSV for me. Dropped a pant size in the last month! Yeah!!!!!!

Yes. Do it. You will not regret it. I do agree you need to realize and commit to this change in lifestyle. This is a life long commit to eat healthier and work with your doctor to obtain your goal. Just remember a lot of us here have done just this and we are doing it. You can too. As for a doctor, I used Dr. Stephen Britt in Guntersville. He is wonderful. His partner Dr. Groves is great too. You should check out their website and go to a seminar. http://www.samc.stirsite.com/home.html Guntersville is not far down the road from Cullman. Dr. Britt performs surgeries at Marshall Medical Center North on Highway 69. Dr. Britt and Dr. Groves are providing monthly support meetings. The meetings alternate between Marshall Medical North in Guntersville and Marshall Medical South in Albertville. you can reveiw this on their website under calendar. Free seminars are held monthly in Guntersville and/or Albertville at the hospitals. Again see the calendar for dates and times. With the high level of care and compassion these great doctors have for their patients, it is worth the drive to Guntersville or Albertville. Their aftercare and wonderful staff makes them the best choice in Alabama in my opinion. They are doing LAP-BAND® surgery 2-3 days a week now. They believe in the surgery & the need to provide great after care with follow up visits and fills (adjustments). In fact Dr. Groves has the Lap-Band and Dr. Britt performed the surgery.

The Marshall hospitals are wonderful. The staff really understands the neeeds of a Lap-band patient. I have heard from others that use hosptials where the staff is not familiar with the surgery. It helps knowing these people at these hsopitals in Marshall county understand you and your surgery. It was a great comfort for me. another plus is Dr. Britt and Dr Groves have offices right by the hospitals and are close at hand to see you during your stay. I was able to have my surgery and leave the same day. If you need to stay the night, this staff and hospitals really know how to properly care for you. I have no regrets on my decision to get this surgery or in choosing Dr. Britt has my doctor. I have be very pleased with the high level of personal care and concern he and his staff have shown me and my family. These doctors believe you and them make an unbeatable to tem to help you achieve your goal of losing weight & get healthy. I really hope you consider using this group. I will answer any questions I can for you. I would recommend going to their seminar. Check their calendar or call the office to find out when and where the next one will be. It is free and very informative. These doctors really believe in this surgery. Dr. Groves has been banded, so he can really relate to you. Dr. Britt is wonderful too. I hope this helps you.

Christy: Dr. Britt and Dr. Groves do their surgery at Marshall Medical Center North in Guntersville and Marshall Medical Center South in Albertville. I had my surgery at Marshall Medical Center North in Guntersville. They are currently perform the Lap-Band surgery at Marshall Medical Center North two days a week and I think one day a week at South. I hope this helps.

Happily: My visit with PT was to show me how to excerise and to make sure I could do certain excerises. It was more instruction to help me be successful with the excerise.

Dr. Britt and Dr. Groves will be providing monthly support meetings beginning this month. The meetings will alternate between Marshall Medical North in Guntersville and Marshall Medical South in Albertville. See the following link to view their calendar for dates and time. http://www.samc.stirsite.com/page/page/2453219.htm Just a note for all those wishing to use Dr. Britt or Dr. Groves. They no longer have a Madison Office and will not be holding any more seminars in Huntsville/Madison. Their last 2 seminars only produced 3 attendees each. Seminars will now be held in Guntersville or Albertville. With the high level of care and compassion these great doctors have for their patients, it is worth the drive to Guntersville or Albertville. Their aftercare and wonderful staff makes them the best choice in Alabama in my opinion. They are doing LAP-BAND® surgery 2-3 days a week now. They believe in the surgery and the need to provide great after care with follow up visits and fills (adjustments). Self-pay is about $16,000 with these doctors. I was fortunate to have BCBS of AL to pay for 80% of mine. __________________

Dr. Britt and Dr. Groves will be providing monthly support meetings beginning this month. The meetings will alternate between Marshall Medical North in Guntersville and Marshall Medical South in Albertville. See the following link to view their calendar for dates and time. http://www.samc.stirsite.com/page/page/2453219.htm Just a note for all those wishing to use Dr. Britt or Dr. Groves. They no longer have a Madison Office and will not be holding any more seminars in Huntsville/Madison. Their last 2 seminars only produced 3 attendees each. Seminars will now be held in Guntersville or Albertville. With the high level of care and compassion these great doctors have for their patients, it is worth the drive to Guntersville or Albertville. Their aftercare and wonderful staff makes them the best choice in Alabama in my opinion. They are doing LAP-BAND® surgery 2-3 days a week now. They believe in the surgery and the need to provide great after care with follow up visits and fills (adjustments). __________________

Dr. Britt and Dr. Groves will be providing monthly support meetings beginning this month. The meetings will alternate between Marshall Medical North in Guntersville and Marshall Medical South in Albertville. See the following link to view their calendar for dates and time. http://www.samc.stirsite.com/page/page/2453219.htm Just a note for all those wishing to use Dr. Britt or Dr. Groves. They no longer have a Madison Office and will not be holding any more seminars in Huntsville/Madison. Their last 2 seminars only produced 3 attendees each. Seminars will now be held in Guntersville or Albertville. With the high level of care and compassion these great doctors have for their patients, it is worth the drive to Guntersville or Albertville. Their aftercare and wonderful staff makes them the best choice in Alabama in my opinion. They are doing LAP-BAND® surgery 2-3 days a week now. They believe in the surgery and the need to provide great after care with follow up visits and fills (adjustments). __________________

Dr. Britt and Dr. Groves will be providing monthly support meetings beginning this month. The meetings will alternate between Marshall Medical North in Guntersville and Marshall Medical South in Albertville. See the following link to view their calendar for dates and time. http://www.samc.stirsite.com/page/page/2453219.htm Just a note for all those wishing to use Dr. Britt or Dr. Groves. They no longer have a Madison Office and will not be holding any more seminars in Huntsville/Madison. Their last 2 seminars only produced 3 attendees each. Seminars will now be held in Guntersville or Albertville. With the high level of care and compassion these great doctors have for their patients, it is worth the drive to Guntersville or Albertville. Their aftercare and wonderful staff makes them the best choice in Alabama in my opinion. They are doing LAP-BAND® surgery 2-3 days a week now. They believe in the surgery and the need to provide great after care with follow up visits and fills (adjustments). __________________