Ruthi

there is a great tasting chocolate shake with 30 grams of protein and 1gram of sugar and 160 calories. It is from Premier foods and sold at costco and online. Only comes in chocolate and single paper containers but I like it Ruthi

Hi all, I just lost my band a few weeks ago and underwent a partial gastrectomy. It is a very modified sleeve but the surgeon suggested if I start gaining weight I may want to complete the sleeve..My question is, how much does the sleeve cost in a mexican hospital. I am private pay and dont think I can afford another 18K. I am not sure that I need it yet since I am still losing weight but that may just be from my healing stage from the partial gastrectomy. Any info would be helpful. Ruthi

I had a total of 7.8 cc's in a realize band. My band surgeon does know about the complication and actually trained with the surgeon that did the repair surgery. No one blamed me for doing anything wrong and both surgeons were extremely supportive. I was lucky I only spent a week in the hospital although 5 days of that was in intensive care. Even with surgery as with many other things, attitude is everything. Good luck to you also

Hi Everyone, I recently lost my band on March (Friday the 13th) due to a sudden onset of pain that was unrelieved by anything I tried even morphine in the ER. It all started on that wonderful Friday, I had some oral surgery the day before and was eating a liquid to soft diet all morning with NO problems. After lunch my jaw was hurting from post op pain and I took a Vicodin and my antibiotic from the oral surgeon and the whole thing started. The pills although broken up got stuck and I started with the horrible pain. It got worse by the minute and within 3 hrs was headed to the emergency room. The first ER sent me home to take laxatives, he couldnt find anything on a CT scan or in the labs. He medicated me with morphine and dilaudid and sent me home on liquid vicodin which I couldnt take. About 1 AM I woke up in more of the same pain and went to a different ER and had an emergency gastrectomy for a necrotic small pouch about 10 hrs later. The surgeon said that the small pouch has become so inflamed (for unknown reasons) that the circulation was cut off from the band and part of it was already becoming necrotic and had to be removed. This is such a weird type of complication but I do remember for a couple of weeks before this happened, I remember feeling tighter off and on and having less and less of an appetite. At the time I thought it was a great thing, my lap band was working... I should have said something to my lap band doctor then. I now have an elongated esophagus (the small pouch is now esophagus) and somewhat smaller stomach) My surgeon said it was sort of a modified sleeve. I have continued to lose weight as before but just slightly faster. I entered onederland this morning (my happy dance is still going on). I was devistated at losing my band, if I could, I would do it again but that wont be happening. I am a self pay and felt I may have just wasted 18 K. My new surgeon isnt sure if the modified sleeve is causing the weight loss that I had recently or if its just part of the heeling process. He said he recommended the full gastric sleeve if I start gaining. If I can afford it I will. This is not a story to scare anyone from getting the band, I just wanted everyone to understand that complications can happen to ANYONE. It sometimes isnt anyone's fault, they just happen. Everyone's body is different. I wish you all the best of luck with your band or future bands. I feel blessed to have had mine for even 6 months. Ruthi

Chayamom, Dont wait, call him as soon as you can. I was experiencing some pain off and on also and was able to eat and drink then all of a sudden on a Friday afternoon started to experience severe pain and well, long story short, I had to have a partial gastrectomy. I had been having a slow brewing inflamation beginning that eventually got bad enough that it cut off circulation to my stomach and became necrotic and had to be removed. It was about 20 hrs from my last meal that went down well to surgery. Dont wait! Good luck Ruthi

Hi everyone, meat is a problem or me as well, to the point that I just use alternative Protein, its better for me anyway and I really dont miss the meat. Try tofu if you have difficulty getting enough protein. I hope you like it as much as I do. Ruthi

Hi Lucy Mae, I am 54 and in California too, had my banding on 9/19 and just had my 3rd fill last week. I am finally feeling some restriction, the first 3 months were frustrating for me.

find someone that has some pot, it helped when I had chemo

I have a realize band also, I just got my 3rd fill and finally feeling the restriction, I LOVE it. the first fill was 3.2, the second got me to 6.2 total and the last to 7.8 cc's total. Hang in there everyone, I know it is difficult to wait. I wanted to get there as fast as possible since I am a self pay and only get 5 fills with my program without having to pay for more. I got banded 9/19. Now starting to see the scale move downward.

15 since 9/19 here, I am ding better since my 2nd fill a couple of weeks ago

try holding your breath, it may take several tries but it works for me

I could use a buddy, Los Angeles, Ca banded 9/19/08:wub:

Yes, I am happier, not because I lost alot of weight so far, just in that I know I have hope. I think some people have issues and blame anything to avoid the reality of a situation. I think anyone who needs this procedure and was able to have it done should be grateful and do anything they can to improve their lives... Sounds like some people hide behind any excuse rather than to face the fact that they just dont want to do what is needed to achieve a healthy weight. I am so glad people in this forum share good and bad experiences, it is such a help to know what possibly can happen and what great goals can be achieved. Thats my 2 cents worth:blushing:

You are all so fantastic, you have answered just about every question I have had this week, THANK YOU! I am so grateful you are all out there.

I ahd my banding on 9/19/08 and had my second fill yesterday. I only had 3.2cc in a 10 cc band for the first fill and they put in 3.2 yesterday. I am definitely feeling the difference but afraid it wont last. I am losing very slowing with only 10 lbs down. My doctor didnt have me on a pre op diet except for the surgical prep 3 days before so no weight loss before hand. I have been going up and down with 2 to 3 lbs due to water retention but I am hoping to get some real results now and will have my 3rd fill on Dec 15th. Any advice? I need to increase the exercise, dog walking just isnt enough

I went to mushy earlier too and of course didnt have problems. My band is doing fine and got my second fill yesterday. I am starting to feel some restriction and more satisfied with smaller amounts, I hope it lasts.

take emetrol, a tsp or so, its over the counter. It helped me alot