lapbandbarb

Jodi- Thanks for the info! A medical card sounds like a necessity! I am going to get one from Doc. Where can you download the food card? That would be good- no buffets for me anymore! but kids menu would be perfect!

Hey guys, Thanks to those of you who posted yours cards! I had no idea there was such a thing. You would think that my surgeon, who has a great reputation and was banded himself, would have mentioned this to me! I will be calling the office. Not only is the buffet card a good idea, but I think a medical card is necessary.

I keep hearing about the medical card. I am kind of upset that my Dr, who has such a great reputation, and had the band himself, did not even mention it to me. I will call later! I think my Dr does aggressive fills-in my 10cc band- 3cc at 1st and then 3cc at 2nd fill. Mornings, I am really restricted. At night, not so much. Anyone else feel this too? (I also think about food more at night)

Interesting! I never thought about setting off metal detectors. You know, I am a bit upset that got banded by one of the top Bariatric surgeons in the country and no one ever mentioned a Lapband medical or any kind of food card to me. I had to find out about them on this website. I am calling my Dr office later. Did you automatically recieve one when you were banded? Thanks for the info.

Good luck to both of you! Wow, you were are off and running less than a week after your surgeries. I was still taking it easy although I had a pretty easy time, too. I am exactly seven weeks out today. Feeling pretty good,too. Have a great day but don't forget you did have the surgery only a week ago! Take it easy,don't forget, you are still healing!

Very Funny! But the funniest thing is that I know exactly what you mean! :w00t::tt2::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Congradulations on your band! What on earth kind of pill did your Dr give you? I never heard of that before. I take a chewable vit and swallow a small pill everyday without a problem and I am well restricted. There are different feeling and things that go on when food gets stuck or you eat too fast, take too big big of bites or swallow before you chew well enough. There are also signs to tell you that you have had enough to eat. You "PB"(productive burp) when you are full and may have eaten too much. It is when food or heavy flem (we call this slimming too) comes back up before sliding through your band. This does not hurt and it is a sign to stop eating if you do not know the "physical" feeling before this happens. Usually I get the hiccups before this happens and I know I have had enough. Then you know you have restriction and the band is working. When food gets stuck, this is different and painful! I read someone else on this site explain it like this "it feels like a flaming golf ball in the middle of my chest between my boobs" and they were right on target. That is why I chew and chew my food and try to eat slow. It is a new way of eating that we all must learn. Good Luck, you should be fine!

Aubrie, The way you described it is right on target! Exactly the way it feels! Need to print it out to remind me! Thanks!

For me to really get into exercising, I need a schedule. I joined a gym to start in Sept. when my kids go back to school. I have an elliptical at home and have started slowly doing a little at a time every day at the same time. Routine works for me and it helps keep my motivation up. I can't wait to really have time to go on a schedule. Whether you decide to rejoin or not, having a plan to follow will keep you going. At least, that is what helps me.

You are a funny guy, Florida Pete. You gave me my first laugh today! And incase you didn't see my other post, you really supported Hammer and I admire that.:smile2: I have cut down on my coffee intake and gave up soda all together. I was never much into soda anyway. My Dr said up to two cups of coffee a day is fine both pre and post op. I used to have it with tons of sugar but now have gotten used to it with just a little skim milk. I make sure that I drink tons of Water a day to prevent dehydration. It would be hard to keep going without my cafe! :wub:

Reading this forum and how supportive most everyone has been to Hammer has brought tears to my eyes. I am so proud of you, Hammer, for going and getting a fill. If this one doesn't help, go again! Keep talking about your feelings and keep a positive attitude. 80lbs is a great start! The future will be brighter, if you want it to be. Hearing the inspirational stories from Big B and Florida Pete has really impacted me. We all have emotional issue of why we have got to the point of needing WLS and we must deal with them. The amount of weight we have to lose really is not the issue. It takes dedication to change your habits and recognize your shortcomings and stop yourself before you start to eat and sometimes it is so hard. The Lapband is a great tool and we are fortunate to have it. We consider ourselves even more fortunate when we are properly restricted and find it helping us. Even then, the old habits and obsessions with food are still part of us unless we deal with the issues and get good support. I have had individual counceling and have been involved with OA from the get go. This website helps me tremendously. We are blessed to have each other!

That article is obnoxious! At least, the band was not really mentioned except in reference to having it removed. Clayverde-Thanks for pointing it out to us and supplying the link for it.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Fluffycat. They do still use 4cc bands. Interesting! Glad you are doing well. Yes, It is a learning experience!

Nancy. I am so sorry to hear about your difficulties! So frustrating! I agree that maybe you should look into having a bigger band replace the small one while having the port replaced. Talk to the Dr. It would make a big difference! I have restriction. I have a 10cc band and about 6cc in now (with two fills) My stomach feels full when I have ate enough. If I push it, which I do sometimes because I have only had my band 6 weeks and trying to learn new habits, I feel like the food is backing up and I have to stop. My Dr told me this is how we train ourselves to know when we have had enough. It is a learning process. I hope things work out well for you! Please let us know what the Dr says about maybe needing a little bigger band to work with. I don't know for sure, but I don't think that they even use 4cc bands anymore. GOOD LUCK!!!!

MY VOTE:NO!!!!!! There are several other sites out there that are geared to Gastric Bypass and RNY surgeries and I have gone on them. The Lapband is rarely mentioned and the surgeries are very different. The main concerns with people who have had the other surgeries are getting all their vits and nutrients and triple the amount of Protein we need per day so they don't lose their hair or get really ill. They lose much, much quicker than we do because they have a "honeymoon" from food for about a year! It is like they have a super tight, restrictive, permanent band right away. They lose and then have to deal with the emotional and personal reasons why they became candidates for the surgery in the first place. We have to face the food and demons right away in order to succeed. After they lose all their weight, they then have to face the food issues and a lot of them gain back weight, stretch their pouches (it is less likely we will because we get adjustments) and that is why some get the band as revision surgery. It would be great for those people to join us but we do deal with many different things than gastric bypass and RNY people. I love our forum the way it is, I have gotten so much out of it! I hope I did not offend anyone. This is just things that I KNOW. (My debate team days in college are coming back to me--Watch out) :laugh:

I am wondering if anyone in Westchester has attended the support group at 19 Bradhurst near Westchester Medical Center. I was not banded with that medical group but am allowed to attend($10fee). I know this Thursday is the post-op support group and I wondered what other people have thought about it. Also, one time I was told it is at 5:00 and another at 6:00. What time does it start? I can't get a straight answer from the hospital and they keep disconnecting me. I'd appreciate some info if anyone knows. Thanks!

Are you talking about the support group for the practice at Westchester Medical Center? The one at 19 Bradhurst? I will probably be there. I asked and I can attend even though I didn't have the surgery with them. Has anyone gone to that group before? Does it start at 5:00 or 6:00 I got two different times quoted to me an need to find out. Thanks!

Glad to help! Good Luck!

My Dr is Fielding and from what I understand, the dietician is available by appointment only or you can call her anytime. I don't think there is a charge for seeing her either if you had your surgery there. I asked a while ago.I have not seen her since the day I was released from the hospital after my surgery but I have called her and she got back to me pretty quickly. The fills are done by the Drs (any of them) and I went to one of their satelite offices last time. They are aggressive with your fill if you want them to be. They do not numb the area or use any instrument to locate where to put the needle. I have had no problems and I trust them. I have had two and I am restricted. I have a10cc band- got 3cc first time and 3 cc last time. My band had about 1cc when he put it in. I asked. I ask a lot of questions all the time and get good responces. I will tell you that the NYC office is always very busy and you have to wait usually. Dr Fielding has the band himself and he is a great Dr and person. I just finished reading "Fighting Weight" written by him and Khaliah Ali. Great read Good Luck! :thumbup: Feel free to ask any other ???.

You are lucky, but TAKE credit for it too! It sounds like you have stayed with liquid Proteins mostly, which is what I have tried to do. I've had some tough times turning away certain foods that I used to binge on(like pizza and ice cream) Didn't want to even attempt them incase the old demons returned and I lost control. Could really hurt my band. I have also lost about 1/3 of my excess weight. This is from my very heaviest back in late April when I really decided to go for the surgery. Thing is that I have managed to lose 100+lbs 2x before. Difference is, now with our special tool, we will keep it off!!!!Yea for US!:smile: That is where we can really consider owerselves lucky!!!!!!!:mad2:

I feel the same! I was banded on 7/7 and had my 2nd fill last week and feel like it is all I need. The thing that I know from my Dr is that as you lose weight, the band will become looser and then you will most likely need another adjustment. Lets consider ourselves lucky!

I can understand being so frustrated! I am new and reading what the others have to say hepled me and made sense. Please don't get your band removed! Give it some more time and I can almost guarantee that things will turn around for you. Good Luck and keep us up to date.

what a shame this thread turned so nasty. There's a lot of good advice in here, but I have a feeling none of it will be taken on board. I have to thank you guys for giving me a good laugh while reading this thread!

You have lost weight(and a gallbladder) since your third fill at 8.5 cc that is why you are handeling 8.5 better now. Your gallbladder is in the same general area as your stomach so not having it gave you more room.You have been through a lot. Are you sure it is true hunger? I know I get confused with my head hunger esp when so much is happening. That is why you are hungrier now. How long did you go when you were vomiting all your food and liquids? I had a fill yesterday and have been having that problem(not with water) I am concerned that I could damage or slip my band and I was wondering if you know or anyone out there knows more about that. Thanks