88KEYZ

The EKG is very simple. There are little stickers put on your legs, chest, arms and they have a snap on them - wires connect to these stickers and then to a machine. You just lay still, the machine records all of your pulse areas for a couple minutes and that is it. The printout tells the doctor of any irratic heart beats or problems. They can even read if you had a prior heart attack. No pain, just gain!

My doctor had me on a 7 day pre-diet of 40-50 carbs a day, liquids - broths, jello's, Protein Water drinks, unlimited Protein Shake drinks, protein food bars, and no sugar. I lost 7 lbs.

I lost 7 lbs. on prediet and had my surgery 4/19. I have not gained at all, kept losing and today 25 lbs. down. I have followed the guidelines, mostly Soups, soft foods, etc. But I am watching the numbers and intake. I don't do Protein Drinks I just eat higher Protein foods. chicken, eggs, creme of wheat, potoatoes, veggies, etc. NO breads, or things like that yet. I love the raspberry sherbert too and have a bowl daily. I'm not hungry.

This is a test to look into your stomach and esophogus area. You will be relaxed on medication, not totally asleep as the doctor will talk to you, but your mind is very sleepy. I barely remember anything from mine! A small tube that has a camera on the end is inserted through your mouth and they look on a screen at your insides. Does not last long, they can take a little biopsy of tissue if needed and soon you are finished. A slight sore throat may follow for some and you will eat light mushy foods or liquids after. It is not bad at all. Truly!

My first fill will be 5/31. I think if you have been losing without a fill in the band, think what you will do with a fill!! Should lose more.

I would look at the positive and if the prediet works that good, stay on it and you won't need the lapband. For me my thyroid kept any diet from working properly, so lapband was the only choice and it is working great. Hang in there, be positive and just work on a life change.

If you have tried Weight Watchers, etc. and no luck, then yes this is the best alternative! I would do it again tomorrow if I had too.

Welcome to a new world and a new life! This is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Best of luck, follow all the rules you are given by the doctor and you will do great!!!

Go to www.lapband.com call them and they will recommend surgeons in your area that are certified in the lapband surgery.

If I'm able to go at that time - it would be great! Maybe we could plan a different one in the Atlanta area. We should hit the west coast, the south, then a little east toward Atlanta, then on up the east coast and then the midwest. Have fun at all of them! Speakers, Entertainers,etc. I would suggest a Nashville location too and have LuLu Roman sing and speak as she has done better than anyone on the LapBand!!!!!!!

I have lost 25 pounds!!!!!!

Banded on 4/19/08 in Tijuana!!!!!!

I know we are not to drink for 1 hour after eating, but I sip slowly on Water when this happens and it helps me a lot. I don't drink a lot, just enough to help it move.

You are going to do great! I'm 4 weeks past surgery and would do it again! You will be sore, but you must walk 15 min. per hour. This will help to pass all that gas out of your system. Follow all instructions!!!!!

With my own experience, that pain you described was gas. Eat slower, breathe deep between bites and it will pass.

I bought a book of smoothie recipes and they are fabulous! Worth the investment. I carry it to the grocery store and buy the ingredients of the smoothies I wish to try.

Good luck and keep up the hard work, but also keep supporting your girlfriend in her loss too!

You sound like me! I truly am hungrier, but told it is normal. The fill will take care of it and the first fill should be at 6 weeks post-surgery. My first fill is set up for 5/31. Just eat slow and watch what you eat, the band is only a tool. Good luck!!

I experienced the same pain, but no fever. Please don't miss out the appointment with your doc, fever is a sign of an infection, which could even be a cold or virus - but you must check. The gas pain is horrible! Mine lasted 2 - 3 weeks.

I started out the first week with Jello, smoothies, broth, fruit juice and Water, then adding in pudding, creme of Soups, sherbert, then grew into softer foods by the end of the 2nd week into the 3rd week, now at the 4-5 week area I am eating fish, chicken, potatoes baked / mashed, vegetables, etc. pureed and normal. Chew = Chew! My favorite dish of the day is my creme of wheat! That came in my 2nd week!!

I want you to know this surgery is not that easy, I hurt for 2 - 3 weeks, but absolutely followed the rules by the book and now at four weeks after surgery including a 7 day pre-diet I have lost 24 lbs.! Purreed and regular foods are not causing me gain. Believe me if the band is at the right tightness, you will not eat too much, because you will be full. Hang in there, just do what the doc says and you will be fine. What you are feeling is normal. Read my blogs and I hope they will help you!!

You are going to be great! The gas pain was horrible for me too, my left shoulder was the biggest pain I had. Finally after 2 - 3 weeks it let up. Some have more than others, that is from the CO2 they use in the surgery to blow the stomach up. Go by the rules, you will be good in no time at all.

You will do great! You are absolutely right to see this as starting a new life. Be excited, and stay that way! I was banded on 4/19/08 and did a 7 day pre-diet of 40 - 50 carbs a day, Protein Drinks / liquids and from that week through today have lost 24 lbs. I am happy I did this and would do it again in a heartbeat! Best of luck, follow the rules and you will do great. By the way, who is doing your surgery?

I was banded at Hospital Angeles in Tijuana on 4/19. Dr. Juan Antonio Lopez Corvala did mine and he was just wonderful. Good luck and it is a great thing to do!!!!

I was denied, so I went on to Tijuana and had the surgery there! I would do it again tomorrow!

I could probably have gotten insurance to cover after months of letters, etc., but I did not want to wait.

Best of luck and keep battling!

I understand your feelings, as our parents grow older and become ill life gets to be very hard for them. They remember better times, or days of old, they are depressed and miss working, etc. You do not need to apologize for your Mom, but always in private let her know what she may have sounded like. She has to be the one to apologize!!! You see, my parents have just retired, Dad is not that healthy and getting ready for lapband himself. Life changes! Also my mother-n-law is wheel chair bound due to a neurology issue like yours. She gets very down and can get very irritable as well. Just keep your chin up and hang in there! One day we won't have them to help any longer. You are doing a great job.