jkhawk8

I was banded 4-14-08 and am getting my fifth fill tomorrow. I still have no restriction and I'm pretty sure my weigh-in tomorrow will show a gain. I've been gaining and losing the same 3 or 4 pounds for the last 5 or 6 weeks now. I know it can take several fills to reach good restriction, but I'm getting a bit weary. I can eat WAY more than I should, and I know I have to work at this, but if my self-control were all that good, I wouldn't have needed surgery in the first place. Thanks in advance for prayers and support. I'm glad this forum is here. Jan from KY

I, too, am married, a grandmother, and on meds for panic disorder and bipolar. I'm also disabled with fibromyalgia, so I'm home and on the computer quite often. I'm much farther out with my surgery, but I need contact and support often (DAILY!) so feel free to contact me. I'd like to have a buddy here. Jan

Hey Prodigal, there you go. I had my steel-toed boots on, did you feel it? That said, you are STILL down 40 pounds since April. Would you have lost that without a band? I had my surgery in April as well, and I've lost about 40 pounds. My weight loss was only fast and steady for the first month, then it became "work". If you're like me, you've been making bad food choices for a very long time, and using food to soothe yourself. It's going to take time to break out of those habits. Don't beat yourself up, just get back on the bandwagon and move forward. Set up your environment for success (purge your house of trigger foods) and do the next right thing. We can do this. Jan

When I get fills, I have to be on a full liquid diet for 3 days, then one evening of pureed/mushies, and then I go back to regular food. Everyone's doctor is different, but mine's "full liquids" includes strained cream Soups, smooth yogurts, pureed scrambled eggs, and pureed cottage cheese, along with the usuals - sugar free Jello and popsicles, Protein shakes, broths, etc. We're still required to get in our protein and fluids. Didn't your doctor give you a list of what you COULD eat? I'm always ready for solid food before they say, but it pays to stick to the rules as much as possible. Jan

Rockbandster, It's not that no one appreciates the help you're trying to offer, it's that your posts come off as being very hostile and combative. If you truly feel Lap Band is superior, state your case objectively then leave it alone. You can't take on the whole world by yourself. Everyone is going to make his or her own decision, just as the doctors at the hospital where you work have made theirs. By the way, how many doctors at your hospital actually do WLS? I know many nurses who react with doctors as well who may have a different opinion. Doctors in the same group tend to think alike. It doesn't mean they've found the Holy Grail. We all need to be careful in our choices. But in the end, the choice is ours.

Just another thought here about the Realize band technology. It's been stated repeatedly that the Realize band is the same one as the Swedish version in 1996, but according to the FDA, which approved its use in this country, it has been modified even since the US clinical trials in which it was tested. Anyone interested can go to the US government's website for the approval posting and summary letter, or I can post here. So basically, Endo-Ethicon, which makes it, didn't just slap on a new label over an old product. There, I've had my say.

There are doctors who will do WL surgeries on someone only 35 pounds overweight??

I've heard a lot of good about Dr. Curry as well. I was considering him as my surgeon, but at the time he was not in my insurance network...I had my surgery done at the Tristate Surgical Weight Loss Center in florence, KY by Dr. Thomas Sonnanstine. He and his office are really great too, I'm pleased I went to him. Dr. T "calibrated" my band today, at least that's what the nurse called it. He was able to extract 6.2 from my 7.3 fill, so that's about right. He says my band is working fine, and gave me another .4 fill, putting me up to 7.7. Apparently I have one of the highest fills in his office. Who knows why some of us take more than others. But I did manage to lose 2 pounds since last week, hard as it was. I guess I'll just have to hang in there on the days it seems looser. I'm just looking for a more consistent restriction. I'm sure it will come at some point, for all of us. Jan

Thanks, Lisa, for the heads up on the band pressure. I'll update here after my doctor appointment and let you all know how it goes. I live in Alexandria, KY, about 15 miles south of Cincinnati. Looks like we not too far apart. Jan

Hey Lisa - I see Dr. Curry did your surgery. Do you live in the Cincinnati area? I have 7.3 in my Realize band, with 7 . . . count 'em, 7 . . . fills. I'm going for my 8th fill tomorrow and my doctor is going to remove the fluid first to see how much is really in there. (He doesn't typically do that, but I pressed the issue.) I haven't felt much restriction either. I've lost 27 pounds since my surgery 4 months ago. But the "work" of dieting is harder than I'd like. I want my band to be more involved! I think we all need to hang in there :thumbup: Jan

I've just had my 7th fill (I now have 7.3cc in a 10cc band) and, as usual, several hours after the fill I get horrible gas pains, almost like the ones you typically get after surgery. They're in the middle and go straight through to the back. I've only had liquids all day, why would this occur? My doctor doesn't have a clue. Anyone else have more gas after a fill? Thanks. Jan

I stand corrected. My surgeon told me I had a 10cc band. The Realize literature does indeed say it holds 9cc of saline. I'll have to share that with my doc. (He previously only implanted Lap Bands, perhaps that's the source of confusion.) Jan

Yes, but they're the same protein drinks I've been using since my surgery.

Thanks :biggrin: Jan

You're doing well, at least compared to me (which, of course, we shouldn't do). I was banded April 14 and have lost about 25 to 27 pounds, depending on where and when I weigh. A lot is going to depend on the amount of restriction. While I'm getting close to what I would consider great restriction, I'm not there yet. I've had 6 fills to get me to 7cc in my 10cc band. I'm going for another fill tomorrow. From everything posted by other bandsters, the real loss begins after good restriction. Makes sense. Jan

I had a torn medial meniscus a few years ago, and I also have bone on bone arthritis in the same knee, so I know the pain you're talking about. However, my meniscus was torn, and there's no way torn cartilage repairs itself. At first, my doctor prescribed physical therapy, but all that does is strengthen the muscles around the injury to support better. But the only "cure" for it was arthroscopic surgery. After I healed from the surgery, I felt a million times better. At some point, I will need a total knee replacement, but even losing just 27 pounds since my surgery in April, the pain is greatly reduced. I would ask your surgeon what other pain meds you can take, because Tylenol just doesn't cut it for that kind of knee pain. Good luck. Jan from KY

There's a wonderful book you can probably get at your local library titled Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It's a lifesaver for people who are in toxic or otherwise damaging relationships, including relatives. It will help you deal with just such a situation. Hope you find relief soon. Jan

Thank you, Deanna, for your encouraging words. That's exactly what I needed to hear :confused_smile: And I'm definitely hanging in there, AND following the rules. Jan

I don't either, but I think if I could, I might fill up faster. Sigh. I'll know I'll get there eventually.

I'm now at 6.5 in a 10cc band, and had some restriction the first few days. But again, I'm able to eat more than I should be able to. For example, I had tuna salad for lunch (I used the entire 6 oz can since the drained tuna measures less than 5 ounces, mixed with sugar-free pickle relish and 1 T. low fat mayo) with 8 saltines, and was still hungry 30 minutes later. So I ate some leftover Pasta with sauce and ended up eating about 1 1/2 cups of that, too!!! It seems like when I follow the bandster rules about not drinking and eating at the same time, it takes a lot more food to fill me up (or at least get me to a comfortable stopping point). I'm not sure I have enough restriction for the "no drinking" rule to make much difference at this point. I hate to break the rules, but I also need to do what works best for me. I'm praying for the day of good and lasting restriction!! From "Hanging-in-there" Jan dbowers - where is Franklin IN? I live just south of Cincinnati. Are you anywhere in the tri-state area? NY2LAgirl - I know this sounds horrible, but I almost wish I'd have a "stuck" experience to know my band is tight enough. Kind of like when the nurses at our doctor's office tell the bypass patients she hopes they have dumping syndrome, because they'd never repeat it! Ah, yes, it's definitely a learning curve. It's just that I wanted to learn it yesterday!!

That's true, my doctor charged a $600 program fee that I had to pay half of before my first class. But $5000 is pretty lofty. Again, your insurance company will tell you if he's a provider, and if so, what he can and can't charge you. It'd be worth a call. Good luck.

I'm not an insurance expert, and maybe it varies from state to state, but generally if the provider accepts your insurance, he has to abide by their rules. Perhaps the upfront payment is for self-pay? I would call your insurance company and ask them.

I've got 5.7cc in a 10cc band. I had my first fill one month after surgery, then a few weeks later another, followed by a third fill one week after that (because I still felt no restriction, so he let me come back early), then the fourth fill about 2 weeks after that. The last 3 fills have been either .5 or .6cc, so yes, he's filling it slowly. And I could definitely join you at McDonald's!!!

I still struggle with how often to weigh. I should probably only weigh once a week, because there's so much fluctuation from day to day. And during the weight loss phase, weighing more often can be depressing. On the other hand, if we see a weight loss from one day to the next, it might give us liberty to have "just one more bite" that we don't really need. I think once I get to my goal, I'll probably weigh more often to head off any slight gains. Jan

I haven't started a regular exercise program yet, as I also have fibromyalgia and severe arthritis in my left knee, but I am doing more around the house and walking more. We also are buying back a recumbent bike we sold a few years ago. I think I can do that since it's seated. I can't wait to get it - it will be placed where I have to pass it to get to the kitchen! I'm glad you mentioned how many fills you had before you got good restriction. Mind you, I'm not HAPPY about it (ha) but I'm pretty sure I'm going to need several more before I get there. I still have no real restriction after my third fill. My doctor thinks he's being pretty aggressive with the amount he's filling, .6cc each time, but I'm ready for more. Did your doctor ever remove Fluid before putting in new to make sure your band was holding it all, i.e., no leaking? If I don't get restriction in a few months, I wonder if I should ask for a fill under fluoroscope? Thanks for being here. Jan