2muchfun

As I said earlier, where the animation shows the band around the stomach surprised me? I wonder if there aren't several different methods of placement? And does each doctor use these different methods of placement. I always thought the band was about 2-3 inches from the top sphincter but in this animation it was directly under it? Do they make snap decisions where to put it once they get a good visual look at our stomachs or are they all place under the sphincter? The vision I always had was there was a pouch above the band. But, in the illustration/animation there really is no pouch, unless we create one by overeating, eating too fast or eating the wrong foods? The drinking part I had already heard about. A seminar on the West Coast spoke of this several months ago. It makes sense and I've tried it both ways and don't see or feel much different either way. Drinking wine did surprise me. I like that. tmf

The band doesn't start doing it's job until you get enough fills to slow the food down. She's still in the healing phase and her band has virtually no saline in it so it's wide open. She was eating solids when she should still be on mushies or semi solid foods eating less than a cup or 1/2 cup per meal. tmf

Every time I see a post like this I think of the plastic surgeon who has a $2 mil mortgage and a $100K Porsche payment he needs to make. I may be guilty of hyperbole but a bypass or sleeve is about 2.5 X more expensive and the fee to the surgeon is also much higher. Or like Christie said, he's ill informed. Make sure you vet your surgeon very carefully. There are some who get into this line of work who may not have the patients best interests at heart. tmf

It's a personal choice then? I couldn't see myself having a major part of my body removed so I went with the band. I guess if this fails I can always go to plan B? But I'm only 37 lbs from my goal so I'm OK with it. tmf

Many patients go into this with the assumption that the band will do all the work? If you gave her this impression I can understand. The band takes a lot of work. But so do the other methods. tmf

Go to youtube and search womens strength, women's exercise and womens cardo exercises. Lots to choose from. If you belong to a gym, I like the circuit training nautilus equipment too. tmf

Should depend on your physician's schedule and pre-op diet requirements? There is no regular or normal about how each doctor plans these operations. Each one will be different. Mine had no pre op diet and got me in to surgery 3 weeks after I got the insurance go ahead. tmf

The questions you ask can't be answered easily. It will be different for every patient and every insurance company. Even BCBS has many different rules. it will depend on what modules your employer added to their insurance when they were pricing insurance quotes. Every doctor has a different protocol for preop and postop diets. You're going to have to feel your way through this with meetings in seminars and nutrition classes. Most band surgeries are same day. You should be home before dinner. tmf

Talk to your surgeon or nutritionist. They have so much knowledge for you to tap into. tmf

I agree with the happy thoughts of getting stuck. I don't recommend getting stuck but it is one of those precursors that you are entering the green zone and weight loss is next. tmf

If you vomitted, you may want to consult your surgeon. The sutures that hold your band to your stomach are still healing and vomitting is not good. Not good at all. This is why it is so important to follow the rules. tmf

The short answer is maybe. Did you sip or guzzle? Once you get closer to the green zone you won't be able to guzzle any longer. Every fill can irritate the lining around the band causing some mild swelling. Of course, this will make the stoma(portal) smaller. Give it a few days and be very sure that once you go on solids, slowly eat small and chew big. tmf

Watched all 4 videos and there are several conflicting comments and rules that are contrary to what most of us have been told. I know some bandsters and many doctors would cringe to hear it's OK to drink wine(moderation) or even drink while you eat. The placement of the band seems to be much different than I've seen in other animations. I'm sure each doctor does this differently but now I'd like to know where mine is? All in all I received a lot of new information that I was not aware of so I would recommend this video set to anyone considering or already having the band. tmf

You should not be concerned with losing weight at this stage. Not until you receive enough fills to give you some restriction should you be concerned. Having a band is no different than going on a diet before the band. Your weight is subject to daily or weekly fluctuations from reactions to types of food, sodium, medications, menstrual cycles etc. The quick weight we gain or lose is usually mostly water/fluids retained by the fat cells in our body. tmf

No such thing as an average. Every patient will be different. It took me 6 fills to get there. I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nothing for 3.5 months. Every bandster has a different story to tell. I would say your journey is quite normal. tmf

I'm now watching video 2 and this is outstanding! If this physician walks the talk, he's far above the kind of doctor many of us have experienced. So many posts on this site are based on lousy doctor follow up or deficient education prior to surgery. Thanks, I've bookmarked the videos myself and will recommend them as well. tmf

I think you may be overestimating how big a support system you need? The fills could be problematic though. And I would strongly encourage the two of you visit a family counselor. There seems to be a lot more under the surface than we can see? tmf

We're not machines. You can gain 3 lbs just by eating too much sodium or too many carbs. Medications play into it too. Never fret over 2 little lbs. I gained 7 lbs in July when my grandkids came out. I lost all of it plus 1 lb a week after they left. Too many chips, ice cream, fruit slider foods. Fortunately the band kept me from eating too much so all my weight gain was Water. Going back to my band friendly foods brought me back on track. It's the same for you. You can gain or lose lbs of water in days. tmf

Well, you should be punished. Bad Girl, Bad Girl!!

Sorry girls, but sugar in popsicles and jello(the food topic) comes from sucrose which is refined by man(Elcee). And yes, it was an invented process and does not grow naturally. So, I stand by my statement that man invented/developed sugar and is in the top 3 contributors to obesity. The other 2 being refined flour and cheetos(OMG, I miss cheetos) tmf

Isn't it obvious? Sugar is empty calories. Sugar will spike your insulin causing you to be much hungrier than you would be normally. Sugar is one of the most evil foods ever invented by man. It's just bad for you. tmf

Your story is told nearly every day and sometimes several times a day. You're in "bandster hell". They don't put much saline in the band at surgery because they want you to heal before they start tightening the screws(fills) on your band. So, right now your band is wide open and if you lose weight it's all on your own. Nearly every bandster has gone through what you are going through. Of course, no one told you about this before surgery right? Dirty little secret. But, this will pass as you start getting fills and feel some restriction. I was in bandster hell for 3.5 months so I know what you are going through. Eat nutritious foods as much as possible. Follow your doctors orders as closely as you can. I personally didn't really diet much during BH. But, I wasn't able to eat nearly as much due to the band I believe, so I didn't gain, and didn't lose either. It does get better but right now it really sucks I know. tmf

We tend to eat a lot more sodium when we travel. Sodium will cause your entire system to swell. Airplane food, loaded with sodium. Ever watch one of those food channel chefs? They throw handfuls of salt on food. tmf

You don't say anything about restriction or fills? I lost 12 lbs the first 2 weeks and then nada for the next 3.5 months. It took 3 fills and a visit with my nutritionist to really get the ball rolling. I'm real big on nutritionists. I know we guys like to hold back on how we feel about food(and other emotions) but a good bariatric nutritionist can pinpoint right where you are going wrong. It's a cheap visit for the results you might gain. Seems like the ride is much less frustrating when you have restriction and feel less hungry. So, if you don't have restriction yet, get it. tmf

The lapband will not restrict you from any of your fears. You will simply eat less and lose weight. Unless you sleep on a slab of cement your port shouldn't bother you. You can be one of the gals, only you will have to be aware of the foods you eat and eat less, chew more and do it slowly. I'm not sure what "bad" food is? You should be able to eat all the bad food you want, just be aware that too much bad food equals failure. That's why we are or were obese most of our lives. Golf? It takes very little energy to play golf so that's not a problem. Running is OK too. Most high carb foods are slider foods and pass through the band easily. You should be able to live a very active, fun life with the lapband. The band is not a ball and chain. It's a tool in your body that you can choose to assist in your weight loss or choose not to. tmf