spealex

I used De La Cruz. So far, I cant really say anything negative. I also cant help you on the cost issue, I was an insurance pay. He did great with the surgery though, I have healed relatively quickly and an looking forward to losing more weight. Let me know if you have any questions.

Just wanted to say that what you accomplished is awesome, you did it without a fill. As for the question as to why you were banded, I believe being obese was 80% or more mental. Having the band helps even if you are not feeling restriction yet. The fact that a year out you may need a fill causes you to feel this way I think is normal. You figure why now if I have done it for so long without. But IMO, your body has accustomed to the reduced amounts of food and now has learned to live with less, causing it to maybe store what you do take. Getting a slight fill hopefully will give you the feeling you felt anfter being initally banded for the first time. Just my opinion, obviously not a proffesional one. Good luck, get that fill and use the band for what its worth.

I was banded 8 days ago. IMO, the second day is the worst. To be honest though, aside from that it has really been great. The surgery day itself is well, how you would expect to feel after surgery. Day 2 you are in pain. You arent cringing in bed bad, but it hurts and you are sore. For me, after that I was better every day. Walk. I dont know if it really helps but I walked and am doing great. On day 6, I ran alomst a mile and played softball later that night. I took off one week after surgery. Honestly, I have read some horror stories but from my perspective, I have been pleasantly surprised at how smoothly everything is going. Good luck.

You know, if there is a response that really stuck for me, its that you start choosing quality over quantity. The way I went about eating was about getting the most "bang" for my meal. There could be a small item that was absolutely amazing in taste, but if I found a larger plate that may not be as good, I would ALWAYS go for the not so good but bigger. I am only 6 days post op but you definately see that your once bottomless pit is not so bottomless anymore. So I think that its natural to order better tasting, smaller foods now which in the end you will end up enjoying more because your number one goal isnt to eat a whole cow anymore, just the filet mignon part of it:tt2:.

Oh yeah, I actually posted about this 3 days ago. I was banded on Monday and I since the majority of the pain has subsided already, I noticed that the most uncomfortable position to be in is laying down. Strange I thought. As the days go by, you will feel less and less pressure hopefully, and soon, if not already you should be able to lay on your side. I am not able to lay on my stomach yet, hope thats coming up. -Alex

Was just banded on 9/8 and was wondering why I am mostly only feeling pain when I lay down. Also, will I ever be able to sleep on my side or stomach again? Since the operation, I ahve only been able to sleep on my back, not my favorite position.

I have been reading alot about foods that you dont eat after banding and just wanted to hear it from those of you that are a few months out already and eating solids. I was just banded this week, and will stick to the diet but was wondering if there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Can you eat steak? pasta? salads? sandwiches? rice? mexican? bread? I know the key will be moderation for the rest of my life, but can you eat your 3 or 4 ounces of the foods mentioned above? How is it when you go out to a mexican restaurant with friends? What about a steakhouse, how do they handle you? How do you handle ordering foods at a restaurant? Do they let you share a plate? Tell me your stories.

I was just banded on 9/8, during my pre-op diet, I went from 322lbs to 297lbs. It is totally possible. That just shows how much we were regularly consuming and how much our body is actually capable of burning if we give it a chance.

I was just banded on 9/8 and I think my port is above my bellybutton. That seems to be my biggest incision.

Personally, I think they make more $ with the bypass. With the band, they generally charge less and still have to buy the band to be used. With the bypass, there is no products to buy and they charge more because the surgery is longer and more difficult.

You will definately be in my prayers. Good luck to you.:tt2:

I am starting to think the dr.'s make money off of these shakes. Mine said I had to have a specific shake, which of course he sold in his office. I have been on the shake diet now since last Sunday, and today, 6 days away from surgery, I had a piece of chicken breast. it was small, about 3 ounces and that was all. I was feeling weak today and thought I would puke if I had another shake. I do not intend on doing that again but after 8 days of shakes only, I really needed something with substance, especially if I am not able to stomach another shake.

When I went to my seminar, the doctor touched upon this and said that altough it is still not certain, it appears the gastric bypass could almost instantly cure diabetes due to the rerouting of the intestines and where certain chemicals are made in the intestines. I am no doctor and did not really pay much attention to this as I dont have diabetes and wont be doing bypass. But again, it had to do with certain chemicals or hormones that are genereated in certain areas of your intestines, and by rerouting them it does something for diabetes. My doctor even mentioned cases where people enter the hospital on diabetes medication and leave off of it. Definately something worht looking into for those woth diabetes. Hope my half-ass, so not scientific answer helps.

I am on day 8 of my 2 week liquid diet. Its hard, you will not get anyone to deny that. Many thoughts enter your head, my most common one is why did my doctor subject me to this. As you read througout this site, many people were not put on liquid diets. Regardless, ours did and its for the best. If the surgery is a little easier for the surgeon, then its got to be much better for us. Hang in there, I find not being home works best for me. Bored at home is what made me eat more. Go out, see friends or family or go catch a movie. Step away from the refridgerator!

I am finishing up day 7 on my liquid diet and yes, the breath stinks. Some sugar free gum should do the trick. I am down to 307lbs, down from 322lbs. in 7 days.