kiz

Nazzy, if you have the opportunity, ask your surgeon if (s)he has the bands for you to compare side by side. From the info I had found online, I was leaning toward one brand, but being able to compare them sealed the deal for me. But, just like MiniBand said, what's important to me, may not be important to you. My surgeon has done hundreds (700 - 900, I forget the total now), and he sees no appreciable difference in the weight loss between the bands in his practice and in the published literature. If your doctor sees similar results, then you need to make your decision on other factors. Good luck on your decision. Get the facts from your surgeon, and then go with your "gut".

I love it when an honest misunderstanding gets resolved. Good luck Sue, and I hope your appeal goes through!! Let us know how it goes, we really care.

Hi Lynn, unless I'm misunderstanding you, I think you mean you're not supposed to drink any liquids during meals, and each meal should keep you feeling sated or at least satisfied for 4-6 hours. 13 pounds in a month is FANTASTIC! That's three pounds/week!!! You lost that seven pounds during the pre-op diet because of a lot of water weight, so much of that wasn't true fat that you were losing. I'm not sure how much you're eating at each meal, but that varies between doctors. Meals, snacks, amounts are all over the map. My doctor wants me to eat 1/2 cup meals (heavy on protein) three times per day, plus one healthy snack. We don't have a lot of restriction now, so we're going to feel hungrier quicker, until we get the proper restriction. Right now, I try to stick with the 1/2 cup meals, but a few times I've eaten a little more but it's been veggies. I've definitely not gone over a cup though. I feel full for about four hours. I was trying to keep my snack very low cal (sf jello, for instance), but the doctor said I should try to add something with protein now for fullness (Greek yogurt, tuna, as examples) until I get my fill.

I can't imagine a major middle America company like Levi's going this route with an ad. I suppose they must targeting an older teen/young adult audience, but it's pretty over the top. I bet old Levi Strauss would be turning over in his grave he he saw it. I'm pretty sure we won't be seeing this one on mainstream TV. It is getting press though. I got the link from the Drudge Report. I don't necessarily think all publicity is good publicity.

I hope you felt the seminar was informative. That's great that you have an appointment already. I hope you can get the support you need from your husband. As far as PB, it's a productive burp. I haven't had one, thankfully, because I've read that they are very unpleasant. It happens after something gets stuck, and can't go down, so it comes up.

That's the office I used, but I saw Dr. Brengman. I would highly recommend either doctor. They've done hundreds of lap bands, and their office is designated as a Bariatric Center of Excellence. I appreciated the time Dr. Brengman took to answer all my questions. I never once felt rushed. I really liked his demeanor, as well. There's a support group that meets at St. Mary's on the first Monday of the month. Dr. Shroder spoke at the last meeting I attended, and I was impressed by him too. If you can go to the support meeting, it was very helpful for me, even before I was banded. So far, everything has gone even better than I expected. I had a quick recovery, and other than the few incisions that are healing, I would never know I had surgery less than a month ago.

My instructions are: "No solid food 2 hours prior, but you can have liquids throughout the day."

I totally agree with lauralee and dacty. Also, I felt like this was a permanent change I was making, and with the help of the band, I won't regain as I had in the past after a diet. I got to the point where the word "diet" = "what's the use, I'm going to fail". With lap band, I feel I finally have a fighting chance. One other thing, is that not every doctor requires as restrictive pre and post op diets. Maybe you'll be lucky! Mine really wasn't too bad. But even if your doctor is one of the more strict ones, you'll find the strength to do it, because the outcome is well worth the initial pain.

Yes, Sherri, it is a little bittersweet. There are a few things I really loved, but I can't wait to be too small for them. I was at the mall today, and I was so excited at the prospect of actually finding clothes that fit, without all the hassle and gnashing of teeth.

pjop, I was worried about that too, and I weigh more than you. For once in my life, I tried to gain weight, but only put on a few pounds. I had my husband measure my height and I was a half inch shorter than the last time I went to the doctor. I think he measured wrong, but I didn't question it. It wasn't on purpose because I didn't tell him why I wanted a new measurement. Anyway, I like my old height better - lol, but I'm officially a half an inch shorter now. When I went for the weigh-in at the doctor, I wore long pants in the summer for that extra edge. I'm self-pay in Richmond too. I've never worked so hard to give somebody so much money!

Cute Name!! Congratulations on your insurance approval. It won't be long until you can be counted among the bandsters and on your way to a healthier life.

For your second question, check the nutrition label. Many of the Protein mixes I bought had Fiber added. If that's the case, your body should soon adjust, especially if you're only having one a day. While I had several options pre-op as far as Protein shakes, for the one week post-op I was on the required liquid diet, we were given one kind to drink, with a second brand as a backup, if we couldn't get the first.

LOL...Liz, they're outa here!! Well, not quite yet. I can't believe I've lost 20 lbs, and they still fit pretty well. EEK, I must have really been pouring myself into them.

Beth, to be honest, if you're bumping against 300 pounds, this is not a cosmetic problem you're facing, it's a real health risk. There are no guarantees, but I would have to believe you are risking a much shorter life if you don't do something soon. It sounds like you're in a loving relationship with your husband, and he has tried in the past to accommodate your needs, but he fails. I would tell him what you've said here, and treat this obesity problem for what it is, it's a disease. If you had a cancer that could be controlled by diet, I'm sure he would make darn sure you had his complete support. As far as going out to eat, there are so many great choices on the menu, if we look for them. Also, since the band restricts the amount of food we can eat, even a somewhat bad choice occasionally won't derail us.

Fall weather is almost here, at least where I live, and it got me to thinking about my summer clothes. I've been wearing the same size for two years, and I was bound and determined to not go up to next size, regardless of how uncomfortable my clothes had become. I was also having trouble buying new clothes in that size because, well, mine had most probably stretched at the seams a little, so finding replacements was becoming increasingly difficult. So, farewell, old faithful clothes. I'll not be seeing you next summer!!

I got out of my sweats and into my pants two days post-op because there was a going away party for a close family friend that I really needed to attend. Nobody knows I had the surgery except my husband and kids, and nobody was the wiser. I meant to take my extra strength Tylenol before the event, but I forgot. I could definitely tell I had been standing for two hours when I got home, but I did just fine. I still had some abdominal swelling, but I guess with the weight I lost pre-op my pants weren't too tight.

I asked my doctor at the consultation where he would place my port, and this was before I decided on which band to get. He said he bases it on the shape of the stomach area, and told me where mine would go. It's on my left side, just above my waist line. At my two week check-up the nurse practitioner showed me how to feel it (I can't feel it all unless I do the maneuver she showed me). While I was laying down, she had me put my right hand behind my head, and to raise my upper body a little. She put my hand on my port, and I could feel it then. She said as I lose weight, it would probably shift up a little higher. The port incision is just above the port.

OMG and YIKES!! :cursing: (I think that about covers it, lol) Unbutton Your Beast

Somebody (cough ^^^) must have gone to the fair. LOL

very funny!!!

Hi Trina, and welcome to the forum! First off, don't be too anxious about the surgery, it's really not that bad. I know some people have a lot of issues with gas pain up to a week after surgery, including left shoulder pain, so be prepared for that. I, unfortunately, was not a surgery "virgin", but I knew that I always throw-up (sorry for the TMI) at least once after anesthesia, so I asked for extra meds. Because I get motion sick, I got a motion sickness patch behind my ear, and an extra shot after surgery to ward off getting ill. If you tend to get motion sickness, let your doctor know (I was told to tell the anesthesiologist, <-- thank goodness for spell check, the morning of surgery). The IV doesn't hurt, and at most a little sting as the nurse is inserting it. Read all you can to prepare, and ask questions, because someone here will have an answer.

Congratulations, and welcome to LBT, Nu life!! As far as sleeping on your stomach, I think everyone is different as far as when it's comfortable due to their incisions, the port, and bloating. I'm pretty sure I was sleeping on my stomach at about a week. I could sleep on my left side the second night, although I could feel the port. After a couple of weeks, I couldn't even feel any pressure from the port site.

Rhonda, that's a great link. Very informative. Thanks. I started walking, slowly, around my neighborhood at one week. It was more of a walk to stretch, than to burn calories. I had been doing the elliptical for 40 mins three to four days a week for several months, so I was used to getting some exercise prior to surgery. At my two-week check-up the doctor said my walking was fine, and to continue with that. Last week (three weeks post-op), I added the elliptical back, without doing the arms, and at a slow pace for 30 mins. Since I was doing the elliptical in the a.m., I decided to keep my walking up in the p.m. I cannot believe how much more energy I have with just a twenty pound weight loss. So, I know I'm pushing a little, by about a week. This week, week four, I included the arm exercise on my elliptical and increased my time back to the 40 mins I was doing before surgery, and I've added a little jogging to my walking. Not a lot though, just enough to get my heart rate up. In fact, I was going to get new walking shoes for my 20 lb weight loss gift to myself, but now I'm thinking of getting running shoes. :cool2: As far as weight strengthening exercise, I believe my doctor says to wait six weeks, but I need to get clarification on that. I'm definitely not going to push that, even by a week. First and foremost, go by your doctor's recommendations. Although, I am very overweight, I'm pretty fit as far as cardio because I've been exercising for months, and I'm also a fast healer. I also didn't push the speed of my cardio workout until I had absolutely no port pain. At that, I'm probably like Ricky Bobby in the movie Talladega Nights when he gets back to racing, and he feels like he's flying on the race track, when in actuality, he's barely moving at all. If you haven't seen that movie (I have boys, so I've seen it), that scene is hilarious.

My elliptical is beside my bed. I get up early, have a glass of water, turn on the TV, and keep my heart rate up for 40 mins. I have another 16 oz of water afterward and have breakfast about two hours later. I'm really not the least bit hungry after the exercise. I also go on a 3 mile brisk walk/jog about an hour after dinner. I also have water before and after my walk/jog. I have a healthy snack a couple of hours later, although the exercise and water take away my appetite for the most part. We have a family gym membership. Due to post-op recovery, I can't go anyway, but I'm hoping to start in the near future. It's crazy thinking, I know, but I want to lose another 20 lbs before I put on stretchy clothes and work out among the trim and toned.

I'm supposed to have three 1/2 cup meals (heavy on the protein) and one healthy snack. Since I don't have a fill yet, a protein snack such as Greek Yogurt to help keep me sated was suggested by the doctor. After I have a fill, the diet sheet gives SF Jello as one recommendation for a snack. Fingers crossed, so far, no "bandster's hell".