Tomasa

I posted my experience to discourage bandsters from drinking soda at all. Considering the risk, I have given up soda. But thanks for your concern Mindy. Tomasa

If you keep thinking about the cost, you will keep second guessing. I also was a self pay. ITS WORTH IT! Sure, my family could have used the money for other THINGS. But your health is the best investment I can think of.

I have found that I usually dont have a problem drinking the diet cokes, but later I have a problem eating food. I usually have to throw the food back up, or Im very limited on what I can eat...up to 3-4 days AFTER I drink diet coke.

I wore one for about a week after getting the lapband. Actually, my Dr said it was a good idea to wear it not only for the support, but it would help to keep my skin from being so saggy during weight loss. However, I cant make myself wear it all the time, because it is so hot and uncomfortable.

I've lost 75lbs so far. But I have to say that I noticed a difference in my back and knees after 25-30lbs weight loss. I hardly ever get knee pain anymore and my back hasn't gone out since I had the surgery. You mentioned somthing interesting about allergies. Mine have gotten worse since the band. Anyone else have more problems with their allergies post surgery?

I had my surgery done at Day One Health by Dr Shayani in Aug 07. He is no longer with Day One Health. He is one of the best surgeons in the Chicago area. I do know that Day One Health offers one year of free fills for self pay patients, after the first year then its 250.00 per visit. Every person is different for fills. You might need 1 or 2 per year or you may need 5.

Try some homemade soups. The possibilities are endless! The soup is a good way to get lots of vegetables in. Good luck.

I wouldn't be worried so much yet. I doubt your band slipped from that one incident. I do think its a good idea to go easy on the solids until your appointment. Good luck!

Low Carb! It's questionable on how safe this diet is for you long-term. But if you follow the strict 2 week phase of the Atkins diet, you could lose 10-14 lbs. I have done this in the past.

Happy Birthday...and DONT give up.

Why do they think you have a leak? 34lbs since January is great!

If you have only thrown up 5 or 6 times, I doubt your band has stretched. Are you sure your band only holds 10cc? If you are at 9cc and have only lost 11lbs in 5 months, that seems highly unusual. At 9cc you should be extremely tight!

My daughter is going thru this process now. She went to a bariatric Dr. They sent her paperwork to insurance w/bmi weight etc. They told her the insurance would deny on the first try. The insurance wanted 6 months of supervised diet/nutrition plan. So my daughter goes in once a month to have her weight taken..she went to a nutrition class...that office documents everything...and will send in the paperwork after 6month. The bariatric center said that the insurance then approves 90 percent of the patients on the second time. Of course this process is not so easy if you have an HMO. Good Luck!

$95.00 for fills? Are you kidding? I have never heard of them being so low! I do have free fills until the end of August with my surgery center, but thanks for the info. The surgery center charges 250.00 after the first year for fills. What time are the meetings on Saturdays?

Does anyone know of a support group near Naperville Il:confused2:

It's so sad. Im sure the parents are torn apart by this. I have my faith and I believe in God, but I am all for going the see my doctors! On the other hand, we can not judge this family's action. I think they were relying on their faith, and for God to answer their prayers. We can not judge this family.

No, thats not dumb at all. As a matter of fact; my name is Tomasa and I am a diet pepsi addict. Actually, I almost considered not getting the band because I would have to cut out the diet pepsi. About a week after surgery, I had my first taste again. First it was just a sip, then I worked my way up to 1 or 2 cans a day...not the 4 or 5 pre-surgery. My Dr said if I tolerated it ok, to go ahead and have maybe 1 a day...Im like ok...so I had at least 2 per day. It went down ok, but I kept having trouble eating. I kept thinking my band was too tight. Guess what, the band wasn't too tight, but my stomach kept blowing up from the carbonation. After getting extremely sick and being unfilled twice: I realized that it was the pop. Its been 6 months since my surgery, but only 3weeks since my last can of diet pepsi. I finally feel like I can eat like a normal human being. A lot of different foods, just a lot smaller portion. I dont have the bloating and vomiting anymore. So dont play mind games with yourself. I was in denial about my "drug of choice", and it caused me lots of problems....It really is one day at time...Im mostly ok with not having the soda, then I hear someone pop the top on a can and it makes me want it sooo bad......

Natalie, Im really sorry about your brother's wedding. What a terrible and hurtful thing for them to do. Anyway, good luck on your new journey in bandland....

I think the whole scenerio is WRONG. How unprofessional is this place? I can see 1 reschedule, but two in a row? I mean, they already know you have been on the liquid diet. I say you make a phone call...to a different facility!!! If they cant stand by their commitments before the surgery, what is it going to be like, once they have gotten your money? I say take a good look at whole experience here, if there were anymore red flags, go somewhere else. Whatever you choose, good luck to you.

Ive lost an elephants penis....love it!!!

I say call your Dr and get in for another fill after a week. That's why you have the band...sometimes willpower isn't enough. I had 3 fills within 7 weeks.

I had gas pains for almost a week. The pain was in my shoulders and neck and in my ribcage. It was sooo bad. My Dr told me to walk as much as possible, take warm showers, and take advil for the pain. I used the GAS-X strips that melt on the tongue. And yes, sometimes I didn't know if I was hungry or just sick to my stomach. Everyone is so different. But it does get better little by little each day. Hang in there.

Oh, I remember sneeking my first bite of food...8 days post surgery. It was only a few bites of chicken breast, but it was the best chicken ever! I chewed it forever. I did confess to my Dr., but he just asked how the band felt after I ate the chicken.

I Dont Think You Will Be Sorry About Your Decision To Go With Dr Shayani. Good Luck On Your Surgery.

I dont know Im too late to give my opinion, but Dr Shayani did my surgery at Day One. I would have like to stayed overnight "just in case" but I was a self pay, and Day One was my best option. I did my research on Dr Shayani before I had the surgery and he is one of the most experienced Lapband Dr's out there. And the one year of free fills? I got banded 6 months ago and have had 4 fills, that is a major plus. My follow up with Dr Shayani is more than I could have asked for. I have his personal email, anytime I have quesions or think there is a problem, I email him. He returns the emails personally and in a timely manner. Good luck!