mnn2501

There are a lot of gastric bypass patients who are now getting a band too.

Sorry, but if you've ever seen diagrams of what the bypass is, thats just not possible. It BYPASSES the stomach, so putting a band on the stomach would do nothing

Correct me if I'm wrong guys, but if I cant lose weight by diet and excersize, why should I expect to lose weight with the lapband if Im expected to follow a strict diet and excersize?

I'm going to give you the other side of what everyone is saying and may not be too popular but its honest.

I was banded last Feb and lost 50 pounds almost immediatly -- but since then I have gained back 15# and while I can't eat quite as much as I did pre-surgery, I can still eat enough to gain weight. Ice cream, most candy bars and corn chips still go down easily, for me Potato chips do not. Frankly the last couple months I have pretty much given up. I did decide to get another fill (my 5th) in hopes it will help.

Frankly I think if you are extremly overweight (ie have more than 200# to loose - and I was over 450# when I started) the lap band is not the choice to make. If I could do it all over again I would do gastric bypass. I am somewhat pissed off at my surgeon for not pushing for the more drastic bypass surgery, but then -- would I have listened?

My wife who only had 100# to lose has lost 85# since March, but she was much more disiplined than I am.

I guess bottom line for me at least is, if you are not willing to change your habits/lifestyle you might as well save the money -- the lapband is only a tool.

You find out, let me know too. I'm on month 9 and had 4 fills, there is restriction, if I eat too fast or certain foods I PB and/or slime, but like you I can eat much more than what most people say they can and am always hungry.

I'm on month 9 and lost 50 lbs and now have gained 10 of that back.

I'm starting to believe that really obese people (I was over 450 and am still over 400) probably should skip the lapband and go for something more drastic.

I called my UHC and they do not cover it AT ALL so they are out.

I had United Health Care, they covered 100% after my deductable. They required an: exercise evaluation, a psychological evaluation and a letter from my GP stating my co-morbidities (In my case: diabetes and high blood pressure) My BMI was over 50 though.

Can't go 4 weeks without a drink? Alcohol is empty calories and no doubt has contributed to your needing a lap band -- if you can't give it up for 4 weeks and then cut way back on those empty calories you just wasted a lot of money (yours or the insurance companies).

The lapband is only a tool, you still have to watch what goes into your mouth.

I blended....why would you strain? you might as well stick with liquids if you did.

You can not go without liquids for 2 days, I would give it a couple hours and if you can not drink small amounts of Water then go to the ER. if you can drink even in very small amounts I personally would wait til Monday and go to your doctor again.

Sounds like your stomach may get irritated and swells shut when you get a fill, but then relaxes in a couple days.

1 can of tuna -- no a big deal.

It took 4 fills for me to feel restricted, my wife had 1 fill ( 3cc)then 2 unfills of 1cc each. So she has restriction with 1CC whereas it took 9cc for me.

took 4 fills for me to have restriction, while I lost 50 # before restriction, its really starting to come off now.

After 6 months and 4 fills I finally have restriction and know exactly what you meaan, yes I have experienced it now and have to stop eating mechanically and think about eating so I slow down and chew, chew, chew and also wait a minute or so between swalling one bite and taking another. I have never felt pain while eating like that before.

The person that should not be paying a dime is you. If port was defective then the manufacturer should pay, if the surgeon did something that damaged the port then he/she should pay, either way they need to fight it out, not you.

Wow, thers still a Shoneys open somewhere? thats amazing, have not seen one for years.

Buffets are a whole different animal (I managed them for years) we never go to buffets anymore. Go to a regular restaurant and share or plan on doggie bags.

Having both managed and owned restarants in the past I understand your frustration, I've often kicked around the thought of opening a restaurant that served served healthy food in real portions but I just don't think theres a market for it. I think restaurant protions are a terrible waste and the cause of much obesity, but the public has been getting that sized portion for years and has come to expect it. My gosh the smallest steak at a local steakhouse is a 10 oz, then add salad, bread, potatoes -- thats 2 or 3 meals!

We have a local meat market that we buy filet migon at and we get about a 5 or 6 oz piece, and cut it in half and grill it -- when you figure out the portion even at its normal $14.99 a pound the price is very reasonable (both my wife and I are banded) we're both eating about 2.5 to 3 oz. each, and sometimes its on sale for $9.99 a pound.

I must say the quality of what we eat has gone way up as the quantity has gone down.

My port has flipped twice, the first time they flipped it back (from the outside), next time I went in for a fill - yup, flipped again, they left it this time as they do stich it in and it had probably healed in the meantime. My doctor always uses a floroscope for a fill so its not a big deal. Doc says when I loose enough weight he'll go in and put in a smaller port and that'll take care of it.

It flips cause I sleep on that side and there is constant pressure. I suppose he could have sticthed it better but because it does not cause a problem I'm not worried about it.

but can someone tell me - Roughly, how much in food equivelant is 100g of Protein?

Thanks xx

100 g of Protien is about the equivelant of 1 pound of Beef. I don't know about you but I couldn't eat that much if my life depended on it after being banded. Protein Shakes are your friend.

Contact your doctor, this is not normal, I am 7 months out and have not lost a hair at all.

You say you're getting your Protein in, perhaps you need more than the average person does. By all means check with your doctor.

hair loss is usually due to lack of Protien and occasionally lack of Vitamins. Get enough of both and you don't have to worry. Protein shales are your friend. I like good old fashioned Slim Fast High Protein (getting harder to find as they are pushing their Optima shakes - YUCK!). There are many many brands out there.

This is much more of a problem with Bypass patients than with band patients.

I slept in my recliner the first 10 days, I could not lay down without pain during that time.

No problems from the band with scents, but there have always been smells that make me sick including most perfume and cologne.

I have actually had to get up and move away from people (usually women) wearing purfume.

No, not worth it at all. I got a bunch of free sample in my info pack before surgery, the lemon creme are nasty though the watermelon were ok. Then I looked online at the prices -- my gosh they're outrageous

I find that if I cut regular generic $10 for 200 Vitamins in half they go down just fine.

I don't like Flintstones either (taste or texture).

We've also had gummi-vitamins -- look and taste just like gummi-bears, they're great! and while more expesive than generics they're still half the cost of the vastly overpriced bariatric advangage vitamins.

My doc has a floriscope in his office and always uses it for every fill.

Its possible your port has flipped, mine has and they have to go at it at an angle. They flipped it back once but it re-flipped -- I sleep on that side which probably caused it in the first place.

I cheated a lot, but then as I am finding out now (after 6 months and 4 fills) I had very little restriction until this last fill (last Friday). Finally I have the restriction everyone is talking about and that I wanted, now maybe I can loose some more weight.

While its possible to change doctors its not easy. I was in for a fill today and one women in the office was talking about having changed doctors (to mine). She had to talk with my doctor and get him to agree and then have her old doctor send all the records and even then, if something happens to the band my doctor ahas already told her she will need to get the old doctor to fix whatever it is.

I would schedule an appointment with your current doctor first and tell him exactly what is happening.

You might also ask what people who get their bands in Mexico do for fills, I believe there is a national company in the U.S. that handles after care and fills from what I have read on these boards, but knoe nothing about it.

Your body thinks its being starved and is shutting down your metabolism.

I didn't start losing until I got up to 1200 - 1500 cals a day (I'm a male that started with a BMI of 51)

I would also go a step further and write on your abdomin with a sharpie "lapband surgery only"

I was going to recommend the same thing

Run some Soups or chili through a blender (just enough so you still have texture but no hugh chunks and eat them. Progresso Veg Beef Soup did wonders for me the first week. You can also add small amounts of Protein powder and not even notice it.

Just remember small amounts and eat sloooooowly and if you have any chunks; chew, chew, chew!