AliNSanDiego

I consider myself another success story. I was banded 3 years ago in July. I started at around 250 pounds and now I am 150 pounds. My advice is to follow your Doctors instructions. That's what I did & it does work! Feel free to send me a message if you have questions or want more info on my band experience.

It's been a while since I posted my progress pictures. I'm currently 18 months post-op. I'm still losing slowly and my body is toning up nice. I couldn't be happier! Love my Band!!!

Everyone is looking great! I'm at 13 months post-op. Still loving my band!

Here are some new after photo's.

Before...yuck!

Now

I am 1 month until my year post-op. Still have about 15ish pounds to go. I love my band!!!

I am near Temecula and went to Dr. Bhoyrul who has his office in La Jolla. He is an excellent doctor!

http://www.lajollasurgical.com/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+testimonials+Sunil+Bhoyrul+fcd.html

I was not self pay so I can't help with the cost part of your question.

At 8 days post-op my port incision still hurt pretty badly, especially when moving in certain directions. A few times the pain was so severe I dropped to the ground for a moment. It felt like it was ripping open from the inside...

I never had an infection, I guess I am just very sensitive...

Very important that you get your Water in & follow your doc's diet orders. It's hard, but you CAN do it! Like the poster above, I was not allowed creamed Soups for the first few weeks post-op.

Talk with your doctor. Let him know that you are having pain.

I have around the same fill level in my 10cc band and I have plenty of restriction. I don't measure my food, but I can only eat small portions. I take very small bites and chew, chew, chew. At this fill level I am not able to eat Rice, Breads, Pasta's. I can eat pretty much anything else...

Lady: Most Doctors fill at a slow level. My Doc says fast fills can cause slippage and other problems...You are probably in what we call Banster Hell. I went through it...It was not easy, but following my Doctors orders is what has made me so successful I'm my opinion

I have to agree with you!

I believe I have been so successful because I followed my doc's diet plan early on and through bandster hell until my fill level started controlling my portions and restricting me from certain foods (breads, rice, pasta's).

The only time I deviated early on and through band hell was when I ate sugar free pudding after a fill (was only supposed to have liquids). It got stuck and I suffered for 4 days with an irritated band and had to have some Fluid removed...

Since then, I have been at a good fill level and I make healthy food choices.

My band wont allow bread at my current fill level. However...I would have NEVER eaten a sub sandwich with the bread even if I could! What I would have done if I just couldn't control the urge would be order the sandwich without the bread...That is a much smarter, healthier choice as a bandster.

I will say sorry now, but when I read about people eating a whole footlong sub, and then the statement- "trying so hard" I laugh. Not to be mean, but how hard what that? I battle every day not to eat fast food. I am a fast food addict. Oh I get broccoli Soup from McDonalds and Subway- but I woudn't even TRY a sub.

I know someone will get offended with my post, but I really am trying to help you see that you still have to change your eating habits with the band. Why are you eating that much bread? If you have to go to subway, get double meat and cheese with veggies, roll it up and eat it. Bread is air and disappears quickly. Protein takes longer to digest and will keep you fuller longer.

A lot of people think the band will work just because of Portion Control. That is NOT the case. I have learned it is a tool to help me diet (eat healthier). You have to change your state of mind about eating or the band will not work for you.

Good luck!!!

If anyone has a Fresh & Easy near you, I highly recommend these items...

Pop chips (100% popped potatoe chip). Low fat, low cal, low carb for 22 of them!

Lemon Cilantro Hummus (dip the pop chips in this).

Veggie Chili (very low in fat)

chicken Tortilla Soup (very low in fat)

Veggie Samosa (the serving size for the entire package is 2...low in fat)

sugar free dark chocolate pudding... YUM!

Nosh salad (high in good fats because of the fresh coconut)

Fresh and Easy is my new best friend! There is tons more I could list here...

My favorite is not a chain.

Indian food is very easy for me to eat post-band.

I usually get a chicken masala or a chicken curry and I also order the pureed spinach or the paneer (indian cheese).

FYI - I don't eat the rice and I don't worry about ordering a kid portion. I love to take home my leftovers for my next meal. :thumbup:

I was throwing up badly when I woke up. They gave me Phenergan and a strong pain med through IV for the entire night.

My suggestions for you is to tell them how sick you have been in the past. They will have something prepared and ready in case you need it.

You are too tight.

I was too tight for 4 days. It was pure misery for me as I could not even keep Water down. Once my doc removed just a few small drops, I felt much better and have had nearly perfect restriction since. Not to loose and not too tight...

Please go ask your doc to remove just a tiny bit of Fluid. If nothing changes, go back and ask for another tiny amount to be removed.

You need to be able to keep down small portions of solid Proteins. Those are the foods that will keep you satisfied and help you start to lose.

I have had the band initially in October of 2004. I have had so many problems that I wish I never had it done. In July of 2007, I had to have it replaced due to slippage and since then have been afraid to go for adjustments. I have the first fill of 5cc and still am unable to eat much but I have not lost any weight because I am so hungry that I eat the wrong things. Ice Cream goes down really well, so does chocolate which melts, many Soups I try to eat do not go down and if and when I do eat, I have to follow that with very hot coffee or tea to make it go down. I make my own trying to keep it very thin because I seem to have trouble keeping that down. to say the least, I have not lost any weight because the foods that I can eat are the foods that are not good for me. I am also a cancer survivor and am concerned about Calcium due to the fact that my body no longer creates it and osteoporosis runs in my family. I talked to my doctor and he keeps telling me that it is because I eat to fast and I eat the wrong things. I can't even keep yogurt or shakes down, the consistency is too thick.

Congrats on your loss so far. You are doing excellent!!

My doc restricted my activity to only walking for the first 4-6 weeks. Once I recovered from the trauma of surgery, I started walking up hills. My doc was fine with that during my first 6 weeks.

You would be surprised how effective just walking is! It is a workout!

bread is one of those foods I can't eat since being banded.

I can still eat many kinds of crackers and other whole grain foods so I really don't miss bread.

I tell/told everyone and I still do. I'm not comfortable lying (I am a terrible liar!).

To each his/her own.

I don't believe for one second that people CAN'T lose with this tool.

The ONLY excuse I am willing to accept is a malfunctioning band or an unfilled band.

That being said...I am not nearly as hungry as I was pre-band. I have a 24/7 appetite suppressant (my band) and I love it!

If you are not losing IMO, you are either eating WAY to much fat/calories (who cares if its smaller qty's, you still WONT lose eating junk and sitting on the couch!!!) OR you are not exercising.

If your diet consists of high fat and high calories AND you are a couch potato too....DOUBLE whammy! You are NOT going to lose with the band or any other weight loss tool!

Walking always helps me as well as bending down/forward.

When I stand bending down/forward, the food will gently come up (aka PB).

I have had 1 episode last a few hours. It was no fun and I will NEVER eat that food again.

Not ONE SINGLE regret. I love my band!

I had gas coming out all directions! :thumbup: I lived on extra strength gas-x for quite some time. Now the gas isn't nearly as bad, but I do have more then pre-surgery.

Mrose is right. Everyone handles post-surgery differently.

Feeling like I had been run over by a semi was the worst part for me. I could have delt with the gas and port pain much easier.

Everyone is different.

I for one was a huge baby after surgery. The pain at the port incision, the gas and just generally feeling like I had been run over by a semi truck a few times were too much for me. I took that vicodin liquid pain killer religiously and walked as much as I could. Those were the only 2 things that provided me some relief.

It wasn't until about 3 weeks post-op that I started feeling like myself again.

Email me anytime with questions or just needing support! We have enough of us to start our own little support group!

myboy_owen@yahoo.com

Hi Ladies!

I am in the Insland Empire as well. I was banded July 9, 2008. Couldn't be happier with my band!

My secrets are not really secrets, but I will share what I have done to be successful.

#1 - follow my doctors orders

#2 - work out regularly

#3 - stay away from carbs and sugar

Good luck!