NewGalWithABand

Sooo I was banded Feb 2008. I did awesome lost over 180 lbs. Bc/Bs stopped paying for any bariatric anything about a year in. I didn't care. My doctor cut me a deal on fills, etc. In Nov 2010 I had a panniculectomy and had 12 lbs of skin cut off my stomach. I believe during that surgery something happened to my band. I was still losing up to that point, but afterwards, I had no restriction. I filled and filled, and food still went down fine. However I had to have some removed because even though food went down liquids wouldn't. Weird I know. Sooooo now 2 years and 4 months later I have gained 70 lbs back. You.can imagine not being hungry for 2 1/2 years then suddenly STARVING all the time. Soooo disgusted with myself. Anyway, BS/BS if AL will not pay for any surgery to repair, replace, or even exploration to find out what the problem is. So sad. Anyone else had this problem?

I had to have a port revision in September 2009 due to my port being under my left breast, right on the bra line. It continued to become infected and once when I was getting a fill, my doctor withdrew pus and decided right then and there that I needed the revision. It is now 3 inches lower. I do hope though when I have my panniculectomy in Nov. 2010 that it can be moved even a little bit lower.

Dr. Freeman also did my surgery! I have had awesome results. He tells me that I am his #1 band patient! Sooooo excited that I am having a panniculectomy on November 12, 2010! Can't wait to see how different my body will be without all that hanging skin! YAY!

I haven't been on here in over a year! wow I didn't think it had been that long. Anyway I really need to update my ticker! My highest weight was 402 lbs. I was 375 lbs at surgery and I am currently 225 lbs. I am having a panniculectomy done on November 12th and am so excited to get all this hanging skin off of me! I still get adjustments done. Even though I am due for one because I have gained 6 pounds. My doctor wants me to wait until after my panniculectomy to get another adjustment so that I can heal better. So glad to be back on here!

I too have an apron. My highest weight was 402. At surgery I was 375 and now almost 11 months later I am 275. My apron is worse. I have gone from a 32 w in pants to a 26 or 28 depending on how they're made. If it weren't for the apron, I'm sure I'd wear a smaller size. Oh well, I'm holding out until I am under 200 lbs and then I'm having hernia surgery and a great Tummy Tuck. LOL

Hi all, I also have over 200 pounds to lose. I was banded Sept 9 and have lost 37-38 pounds so far. I know that I can do better, as I haven't been counting calories per se, and lately I have not been as regular about working out at Curves. I have just recently gotten to the point where I feel that I have good restriction and I am hoping that this will help me.

I recently hit my first "milestone" which was getting out of the 400s. Only a group like this can appreciate the achievement that seeing 3XX on the scale!

One thing I have noticed is that as I lose weight I can really see it in my face, torso, thighs, arms, even my wristwatch is loose, but I still need to wear the same pants size because it seems like all my weight is pooling around my hips. I know more exercise will help but I have had a belly since my teenage years and as I have gotten older it turned into an "apron." Two pregnancies have not helped matters. Now as I lose weight everything is sagging even worse and it seems that my figure is even more mis-shapen than ever. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

coolcrystal: I was 375 at the time of my surgery on 2/7/08. I have 6cc in a 10cc band. I just reached my 100 pound mark. I would like to lose another hundred. Hopefully since I still have 4cc left until I am completely filled it will get me through my whole weight loss.

It makes total sense to me. Honestly, with you starting pretty low, I think they should have given you a 10cc band to begin with, I know everybody's stomach is different, but usually people under 300 lbs only need the 10cc, at least, from the research I've seen that is. Heck, I've seen a few folks starting over 300 lbs that still got the 10cc.

My friend was about 355 and she got the 14cc band and she's down to 245 now and her 14cc band is completely filled too, but she still needs to lose about 50 more lbs. Her larger band did help her lose over 100 lbs, but now she's sort of stuck in this limbo.

I don't think you ever should have gotten the larger band, but we have discussed this. Your band was always too big for you from the very beginning. Congrats on the new surgery and I know it's gonna go well for you sweetie!! :tt2:

hi china, First of all thank you. I do Water aerobics and I walk. I also gave a Fast Track, it's sort of like a skiier. I used to be a member at Curves and wished I hadn't quit before I knew I was having the surgery. Curves is a great work out. Low impact and its only 30 minutes 3 x a weeks. The inches literally melt off. I lost more inches than pounds when i went and that was before surgery, so I am considering going back, now that I have the band as a tool to lose the pounds as well. As for food, I don't count calories. I can guess that I get in about 800 to 1000 calories per day. I am losing about 2 pounds a week now and my MD says that is perfect for how far out I am now. I cannot eat beef at all. It just will not go down no matter how well I chew. chicken and fish have been good to me. lol. I no longer do my Protein Shakes unless it's a day when I feel I'm not getting enough in. I have had to add some fruits and orange juice because my 6 month lab work showed my folic acid was low. Also my B12 was low, so I started taking a supplement. Fortunately I don't have to take the sub lingual B12 like bypass patients. I also take a multi Vitamin and a Calcium 600 plus D. I took those prior to surgery anyway, because I have had a total hysterectomy. My arthritis in my knees is MUCH better due to less weight being carried around. My cholesterol is lower, though it wasnt high anyway, but my triglycerides are lower which is awesome. I do occasionally have a treat of candy or ice cream. I dont feel it is good for my success to completely deny goodies ALL the time. Hope this helps you. I know its been he best thing I have ever done! Danielle

I was banded on 02/07/08. My highest weight was 402. I was 375 at surgery and now today on my 7th month bandiversary I'm at 297. I want to get down to around 150, but I am so excited to finally be below 300 for the first time in 11 years. My MD is very happy with my success so far. I was so scared of the bypass, but was considering it because I was afraid of not losing enough with the band. However, with 78 pounds down in 7 months, I am more than satisfied with my band. I think it just depends on how determined you are to lose. I truely believe that you can lose as much weight as you want with the band. It is an awesome tool. Best of luck to you all.

I was soooo excited the other day when I had to move my seat forward in my car because I could'nt reach the pedals. It was like overnight I just needed it moved up. I am a nurse and almost daily now one of my co-workers tells me I need new scrub tops because I look like little orphan annie. AND these were tops that used to be too tight. Congrats to everyone!

As of June 21st, my 4 1/2 month bandiversary, I have lost 60 lbs since surgery on 02/07/08. I have had 3 fills equalling 5.5cc in a 10cc Inamed Band. However, due to bringing up everything I ate, I had an emergency unfill of 0.5cc leaving me with 5cc which seems to be my sweet spot for now. Congratulations to all of our successes!

I have 5cc in a 10cc band. I had 5.5cc but was too tight and had to have 0.5cc removed. I'm hoping I continue to do well. 58.5 lbs lost since 2/7/08 banding. woohoo

I was also getting the pain you describe as well as the stuck feeling and daily PBing with everything I ate. I had to have 0.5cc removed from my band as I was too tight. My MD says that the "magic" number for most people is 7cc however I am only at 5 right how after having the unfill. You may be too tight since your fill. If it doesn't get better you may need to contact your MD.

I have 5cc in a 10cc band. I had 5.5cc but was overtight and EVERYTHING came back up evem liquids so I had to have an emergency unfill of 0.5cc. It helped thank goodness. I also cannot eat breads or steak/beef or Pasta. I do very well with baked chicken, fish, and tuna.< /p>

My doctor says NO sodas EVER and NO CAFFEINE. I can have Decaf coffee and teas with artificial sweetners, but the caffinated stuff cant count toward ur Water intake. My best friend was a diet coke junkie and she has survived well. I became a crystal light drinker before surgery so I"ve had no problem with fluids. Crystal Light also has an awesome cranberry flavor, and I love to mix it with grape. Wal-mart brand is actually just s good and in some flavors taste better than Crystal Light.

my port is under my left breast. right in the crease there. its not tender except when my MD presses on it during a fill. it is very easy to find and makes it easy to fill in the office. my MD puts all of his ports in that area now because on some of his very large pts. he was having trouble filling them.

I have trouble with beef and breads. ANY kind of bread. It just wont go down. The first problem with beef I ever had was when I made a roast in the crock pot. OMG it was so tender and good, but it just wouldn't go down. HELLO SLIMING....gross. And for JoyAddison...please be careful eating that much food. You could cause your band to slip or tear your sutures or have a prolapsed pouch. Use your band as a tool and listen to your stomach, not your head. Stop eating when you feel full. You should be able to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food comfortably. Head hunger makes you want to eat even when your not really hungry. Also, be sure you DO NOT drink when you eat. It washes your food through the pouch and your hungry again. Good Luck.

I feel like the oddball. I nevr eat before a fill, even though I wasn't told not too. And afterward, my MD just says to take it easy for the rest of the day, nothing too heavy. As a matter of fact, my MD actually gives his pts. 2 crackers and a pint of Water after to make sure it goes down. Weird huh!

I'm born and raised in Alabama. I can agree with Mommy2 about the weather. Our weather here is like that of Florida. I have my heat on first thing in the morning and my air conditioner on by afternoon. But I love it. Sweet Home Alabama!

I suggest to stay away from the scale. I no longer have a period due to a hysterectomy last year but my best friend does and she goes through the same thing every month. You just have to be patient about the Water weight. Remember water weight loss isn't fat loss, so once the water is gone you will see the difference in your fat loss. It is also not uncommon to not lose as much before your fill. Remember the four rules for using your Lap-Band as a tool, 1. Protein first, 2. water water water, 3. exercise in some way each day, and 4. NO GRAZING. lol. I don't study "dieting rules" such as counting calories, and carbs, etc. If I could follow a diet I wouldn't have needed the Lap-Band. Best of luck to you. You will do fine!

If i were you I would ask you surgeon about changing the site of your port. I thought my port would be in my stomach too, but I found out after surgery that was not so. My port is right on the crease under my left breast. At first I thought this was a weird place due to the tenderness when a bra touched it, but my surgeon assured me after it healed it wouldnt be sore and I would be glad it was in that pklace when it was time for a fill. HE WAS RIGHT. I had my first fill on march 19 and it was sooooooo easy. No flouroscopy, no xrays. My port is easy to feel right though the skin. I had no restriction prior to he fill (my girlfriend got 2cc during surgery itself). My surgeon just found the insertion point and injected 3cc and that was it. No anesthesia no bleeding no pain. It was no different than getting blood drawn. It hurt more with him pushing on it than the needle itself. Good luck to you. I'm sure you will do well.

I have had popcorn. I waited until I was on solids and ate one piece at a time and chewed very well. It was strange to eat it like that rather than whole handfulls crammed in my mouth, but for an occasional treat those buttery bites kill the craving. And by occasional I mean for example I have only been to the movies once in 2 months. I do miss STROMBOLI. I used to get it alot. Thick doughy pizza dough filled with bacon, cheese, bell peppers, and a special ranch sauce then each end folded over, cooked, and sliced up. YUMMY but I cant even imagine the fat and calories. Its so good a friend of mine once told me the first bite was better than sex. I do miss that. There is no way that bread would go down. Oh well nothing tastes as good as losing weight feels.

Danielle ~ March 19 Sorry I couldn't add my name to the list of fill dates. I am on my cell phone and I can't cut and paste.

kjeter, I'm right there with you. Alabama girls would have to have the mustard too... I love the refried bean and salsa recipe.. I'm gonna have to give that one to my best friend. She has been craving salsa. Thanks for the awesome recipes.< /p>

My surgeon requires 2 weeks Clear Liquids and Protein Shakes, therefore tomorrow I get to start mushy foods. woohoo I made it! Of course when all you take in is liquid you can imagine what must come out. Anyway as happy as I am with my 25 lbs down, I am ready to try a few bites of mashed potatoes. My MD also suggested tuna as a good source if Protein and said for most people it is easily tolerated. I went shopping today and bought anything easy to mush..lol.

JillS, I really hope your feelings about the surgery changes. I know its frustrating, I am on my 14 day of 16 on clear liquids. When I move up to mushy foods on Thurs, I may never eat Jello again. LOL. I know its going to get better as I heal and am able to eat more foods. Just hang in there cuz you can do it...your already losing and that is awesome! Best of luck to you