lf1227

I tried to read through this whole 8 page thread but couldn't seem to find what I was looking for. My questions is my surgeon made me quit smoking cigs, which was a blessing, but he said it is because what ever is in the cigs that mix with my saliva will cause ulcers. my question is, if you are smoking marijuana weather it be by joint or bowl... will it cause the same reaction? I want to ask my surgeon but I feel like he would just tell me to quit that as well because its "bad". I am willing to quit or take another route like edibles if joints pose just as much of a threat as cigs but I was hoping someone could tell me their experience. Most of the people seem to have the sleeve and you don't have to quit smoking with the sleeve

Hi guys! Thank you for al of the responses! It is very exciting to know there are some people around who have had or are going to have WLS! I have sent you guys all friends requests!

Hi there! I am looking for people who have had WLS or are going to get WLS this year in the NY/LI area. My band to bypass is scheduled for 04/05/17 with Dr. Ahmad! I also have instagram and Facebook. Even if you aren't in the area but you are planning on having WLS in the spring, it would be cool to have some people to chat with aside from support groups!

Hi there! I am getting a band to bypass surgery on April 5th! I am very happy as I have struggled very badly with the band since I had it in 2013. Now I want to read up about eating and how eating with the bypass is different then with the band, ect. good luck!!

Hi all! After 3 years of suffering with my band, today with my first visit with a new doctor I already have a surgery day! I thought I was going to have to fight tooth and nail to get a revision, I can't believe how fast this process went. My surgery day is April 5th 2017. Now I have to quit smoking and lose 7lbs. My insurance required 1 month of a weight check in but I have 6 month worth of documented check ins from within the last 12 months. I am getting a band to bypass revision and now I am on to educating myself more about the bypass. Any tips, food suggestions or any other advise is GREATLY appreciated! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you everyone! You guys are really nice and I appreciate it! Thanks for the advice Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I haven't posted in a while, I moved back to New York in September and I am finally settling down ( a lot has been going on), before I left Arizona I went back to the Weightloss Institute where I pei ally got my band in 12/2013. After 2 years of not being able to afford fills I went back, found out I had kept 20lbs off, got a new EGD and was filled to my green zone. Now that I am in NY and I have some food restriction I no longer have a surgeon to go to ( they seem to not want to take a patient who has already been touched lol) but that's okay, sometimes I throw up food if I am Careless so I know I have good restriction. My point here is what do you guys eat? I enjoy meal prepping and I KNOW I have to get back to the gym I just need real life suggestions. I haven't found much helpful info on the Internet (post and pre op diets- I'm passed that) I can assume chicken and veggies, but I just want real life advise and experiences I have no one else in my life who has had wls. Please help, I'm sorry if the question is redundant, I'm just embarrassed that I've only lost 20lbs in 3 years. -thank you Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was actually told by my practices NUT that there was research that proved drinking with your LapBand was okay and didn't affect it, he told me this after I brought up that I was waiting to drink after eating. Also I've had my band for 3 years so No I'm not one week post op. And I am actually proud in the strides in making in changing the way I eat/drink and working with my band as a tool. I notice your pretty negative/condescending when you reply to people's post so please don't feel the need to give me advice again, although you bring up good arguments and points, it's hard to hear you over the attitude, thank you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi!! I'm writing today because as of now I am 5.4 cc full in my band. (The doctor tried to add 1 cc to get me to 6 but I couldn't swallow water) but I am feeing okay, yesterday was all liquids which was fine and now today I just tried to eat a boneless chicken wing... Why you ask? Well they had a catered lunch for me as today was my last day at work... Imagine my face when I want to tell everyone that I actually can't eat that because of my Lap Band Well I sucked it up an had 3, fully chewed bites with 60 second intervals between and no Water to let it slide... I AM FULL!!!! I don't mind this... I'm just apprehensive as I am leaving the state and driving across country for a permanent move. I have an appointment scheduled for Monday at a location 2.5 hours away (they were booked and quite honestly I thought I'd be able to fill more of my band). I left this appointment open in case I need some saline taken out but I think I'm okay so far. What does your green zone fee like? Am I at a dangerously high fill? ( I know this is all relative to how I feel but it never hurts for friendly, constructive input) Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Following! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

We have all been there. When I was 18 I decided that after being obese my whole life that "18" was my year... After my 6 month diet the doctor came back and told me the surgeon that worked with our insurance had left the practice so I was SOL! ... Needless to this mast this was a very devastating thing for me at 18. But then 3 years ago I did it all on my own with my "big girl job" insurance and it was the best thing I ever did!.... Until I lost my big girl job and couldn't afford $265 for every fill! So now it's 2016 and I've just finished my 3rd fill (I'm at 5.4 cc and can't go anymore) and I'm already starting to lose weight! All in all my point is we all go through some hard stuff to get this surgery but it is worth it no matter how many times you have to resubmit, spend hours on the phone fighting for it! Best of luck to you and please keep us posted! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

They make a good point. There are tons of people on here that have gone to Mexico and can recommend doctors to you! The max price I see is 6-8,000. My lap band cost 24,000 because I had a hernia repaired in surgery. My insurance only required I pay 1,200. 3 years later and I saw the real price and almost died. If it wasn't for my insurance I would have considered Mexico. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you @@MaryZ!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today I had a NSV. At work (a popular gym) it was pizza night ( don't get me started on that), and I didn't have one peice not even a BITE and for the most part I wasn't even tempted. I ate my lunch and drank my Water. At one point I walked over to the boxes and even opened it up and I was strong enough to say no. I've also been doing really well with my eating. Side note: anyone else who was told to swallow and wait 60 seconds to take another bite? I've been using the stop watch on my phone and find it helps me a lot! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am just waiting for someone to post that they make banana smoothies and drink it through a straw . Then the fireworks will begin. That was HILARIOUS Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I would also recommend taking digestive enzymes Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Gas pain is usually a bloated pain/ sometimes in chest feeling.. I had another EGD done on Friday and that night was the worst gas pain I've ever experienced. When food has gotten stuck for me it felt like a scraping feeling in my esophagus. I was eating breads mostly and sometimes meat. I was irresponsible then though! It's SO worth it just to take the small bites and wait 60 seconds between bites. Otherwise I would have to wash whatever was stuck down with Water and I'd feel sick or dump. Bleh Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Kathleen, I actually experienced the same problem! I lost my job right after I was banded in 2013 and had to pay 265 out of pocket for fills and could only afford two, I've been at 5cc this whole time with minimal restrictions plus I owed my surgeon money so I was afraid to go back. I went from 270 to 250 by my second fill and after that ended up gaining the 20lbs back! Within the last yer though with diet and excessive I've lost 30lbs. I actually went back to my surgeon this week for the first time since 2014 and he was shocked I was under the weight I was at my last fill. Luckily I have insurance now but I paid them back why I owed and the. The next day paid 800$ for a new EGD to be done. I've spent 1400$ this week but it was worth it to get back on track. My whole point is to be patient. I would say find a new surgeon- have them talk to your current office and trade patient files so they know you are up to date. 150$ for 1/2 cc is BULL. Please keep us updated and I will send positive vibes your way! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you so much, Bandista! I went to get a fill today and turns out with my now insurance my doctor is out of network... Long story short I'm getting an upper GI first thing in the morning and then my fills within the next week! After two years I still had 3 cc and my NUT was very impressed that I still weighed less than my last fill in 2014. I will keep you posted if you like! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Thank you, GoWalking! Any advise is appreciated! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for replying. Essentially since I haven't had a fill in two years I decided to try weight loss naturally and lost 40lbs this year on my own and did not lose anything close to that when I was actively using the band. I have recently reached a plateau and I am hoping getting a fill tomorrow since I can now afford one, will help further weight loss. I only was up to 7 cc still feeling no restriction so I was asking what people's green zones were. Your reply seemed kind of condescending but I thank you for taking interest in my post. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello! I had made a pervious post about how I got my band in 2013 and after only two fills lost my job and couldn't pay out of pocket anymore so I haven't had a fill since April 2014. In the last two years I've gained and lost on my own but I have an appointment with my surgeon in Wednesday for my first fill. Unfortunately I am moving to a different state in 3 weeks but I was hoping to fill it passed what it was filled last time (7cc) and get it taken out of needed. My tea question is I think my band is okay and the woman scheduling me didn't say anything when I made the appt but do I have to do anything special if it's been two years? Also: I feel like I never lost much weight with the band, has anyone had to go over 7cc to find their green zone? I really want this to work, and advice or experience of dearly appreciated. Thank you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello there! I'll try not to make this too long! I was banded on 12/2013. My pre op weight was 280.. Dropped to 260 on pre op diet and all was great.. Until I lost my job and couldn't afford but 2 fills. I was only able to get up to 7 cc and never felt much restriction. Fast forward to 2016 I haven't had a fill in 2 years and since I'm the worst I would drink when I ate and eat bad. Until fall 2015 I started working out hard and eating very little helping me go from 270lbs down to 240 which I am currently at. This Wednesday I have my very first appt with my surgeon because I have insurance now. I am hoping to kind of start over and retrain myself and use what I spent 10,000 on! I am asking for shopping lists, lists of food to eat and to avoid and do y'all eat 6 small meals? Also mea prepping... I am used to it do you guys do it? And nutritional advice and work out advice pleeeeeaaase!!! Thank you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App