mattie7632

Yea! That's awesome news!!!

I guess the pressure of the band around the stomach......I believe this is why when people are filled to that "spot" they will also lose desire to eat and lose appetite. Wish I was there!

Wow, here I sit quite concerned that the failing time starts. I've been on a "diet" since December, banded 12/27 and lost about 21 pounds. Just like every other time I've dieted, the motivation and discipline lasts a while, but then the results aren't terrific enough and I start losing will power and end up gaining the weight back. I fear I've suddenly reached that point. My first MINIMAL fill restriction has worn off, I am able to eat and have appetite as if I have no band at all now. Now I'm feeling angry! Angry at the expense of surgery and angry that I don't have restriction and angry that I have no will power to diet! I feel like the doctors should fill my band enough so that I have restriction! I don't want to wait 6 months and 6 fills later after I've gained all the weight back to finally (hopefully) have the band working for me. I know, it might be different tomorrow, next week or next month. But damn, this is not how the band is talked about before you get it. Sorry for the vent Just very crabby about it today and don't want to fail at this!

I love this post! There definitely were things I wish doctors were more forthcoming about or that I would have known to ask about. Would it have made me not do this? Probably not, but here they are: The Band won't necessarily restrict how much I can eat until sweet spot hit, and maybe not even then. The doctor's fill policies might not be what I expected. Some doctors are too conservative and some hold fills hostage! It turns out this seems to be a very big deal and could determine our success! Wish I'd asked about this beforehand. I guess those are the 2 major ones for me.

Oh wow I'm so sorry! That is a big fear of mine that something will go wrong and they'll have to go back in. I really, really do not like having surgery of any kind. I hope it works out and finally you get a band that works right!

Actually he did prefer the Realize band but lets the patient decide. I was thinking "okay, whatever, that Realize band looks nicer and the port is smaller so......." LOL, hence a decision was made!

I have the Realize band got it in St. Louis, MO. The port is definitely slimmer on the Realize Band.

Yep, I'd definitely be looking for a new doctor. Sounds like he hates fat people and doesn't sound like he's interested in helping YOU.

I personally know 3 people who are 2 or 3 years out and all three have been extraordinarily successful. I agree with the other posters that losing weight even if not exactly what my desired goal is--is still a blessing. Also, I believe the band requires life long maintenance. I actually believe that if I don't visit my surgeon regularly for LIFE, at some point I will regain. So I plan to be sure that DR. and I are always friends. LOL

Too funny! I have the realize band. My doctor showed me both and let me decide. Seriously what qualifies me to decide? LOL I picked the one with the smaller port. I did notice that the realize band was smooth where the lap band seemed to have separate adjoining pockets or ridged or something like that. Not sure if that would make a difference in any way.

I have to say that I am disappointed at what I keep reading about people's doctors pushing bypass and sleeve! People DON'T be talked into these procedures, do your research and be sure it's right for YOU! Consider this: OB/Gyn's today routinely do cesarean sections-- General Surgeons will take out your gall bladder in a heartbeat. And your bariatric surgeon maybe just suggests you consider bypass or sleeve when you initially were thinking the band. This is how doctors make a living you know, medical care is a business as well as patient care. I'm not dissing doctors, this is their passion and their world. They are biased. Just as I'm sure you and I are biased about what we know and live. But they are the cutters and you the cuttee. So please please please, if you're not pushing 500 pounds or have an immediate medical reason to lose weight asap,think long and hard and do much research before you make your choice! Just my humble 2 cents from someone who's been in the medical world a long time.

Post moved to Pre-OP

So now what? If the port is leaking, do they have to replace it? You are right about the judging....we never really know someone's intent. Behind a "negative" post could be a person struggling with a personal tragedy but all we see is the message board post. Leave the judging to GOD.

I guess all you can do is research, research, research and make an informed decision. Bypass and the sleeve are very invasive whereas the band is minimally invasive and can be reversed if necessary. A friend of mine was about 350 lbs, had the band and now is size 11-12. Another friend of mine was about 250 now weighs 98 pounds. There's always someone trying to discourage us.....always! I've had no problems personally, either, lost 20 out of my 80 goal so far.

Correct Elfiepoo. Outside of a contract it is not tough to fire anyone at all in at will states. You don't even need a reason to be fired. The employer is just CYA so he doesn't have to pay unemployment.

I asked about fills hurting before I got my first fill....and wish I hadn't! I think maybe knowing what was going to happen actually contributed to my being faint! Sometimes it's better not to know so you don't get yourself all worked up beforehand!

The needle stick pinches a bit but no big deal. For me the worse part is I got faint, and if you are at all like that, warn them first so they don't have you stand up only to go down!

That's awesome Elfiepoo! I know you've had your struggles from other posts, so I am so glad to hear that you've gotten to this point! You deserve it! And I surely hope that this amount will stay working for you!

Very very good point. If I took out the Snacks, or just had the 30 calorie sugar free Jello....I'd be allowed those extra calories during the meals that seem to make me get up there in calories. Thanks for stating the obvious!!! Sometimes I am so dumb !!

Of course there are ways to discipline or write up and train, and what makes you think I don't do just that??? Because it is my right within the law to fire a crappy employee- and because I agree with it--doesn't mean I'm a bad boss. Sorry, but I don't have to counsel bad employees just because employees think I should. My job is to keep business running, not pamper and coddle.

Yes I see what you're saying.....contrary to most people's beliefs though, in general ("in general" is the operative word there!) most bosses do not like to fire, write up or discipline. Personally, it is my worst nightmare. I want nothing more than employees to work out. The cost and expense of hiring and training is astronomical and strains the business like you wouldn't believe. What SHOULD happen isn't necessarily the law, and sometimes we can't just can't keep employees hanging around because we know how it will impact their life to be fired. I know, it sounds terrible, believe me I've been on both sides AND been fired before. But unfortunately, as much as it sucks, it IS business and employees can help or hurt it. I've had to make the hard choice of picking the employee--or what is best for the business I did understand what you were saying. I asked in a reply to the OP why she was written up. That part didn't make sense and she didn't answer. If her work had not been satisfactory and the employer used her upcoming surgery as a reason to fire her, then that is wrong. There should be an evaluation process in place and if the employee needs to improve, it should be spelled out with a probationary period for doing so. If I had $10,000 to have work done I would require that I got my money's worth and that is why there would be a negotiated contract between that contractor and me. Things would be clearly spelled out. If you have work done and it is not to your satisfaction and you complain to some agency - the first thing they are going to ask you is if you have a contract. A contract spells out sick leave, vacation leave, the process for evaluations and firing, among other things. This allows both the employer and employee to know what the rules are. Lack of these clearly defined expectations or treating employees case by case is never wise or productive. Employee morale is seldom helped by seeing favoritisms with some given perks denied others. I know that the employers have all the power now with 6 unemployed people for every available job but that kind of thinking - that employees are dispensable and disposable is the root of many problems.

Not sure you understood my post ...I was trying to put it nicely because I don't know the poster or her situation. What I simply meant is that employees don't get fired JUST because they want time off for surgery. I have good employees and I'm going to hold onto them surgery or not-- the good one's, that is. Times are tough, and if employees are not pulling their weight, I as the employer, have no obligation to do them favors outside of the law. Not trying to start a war here....but think of it this way....if you had an extra $10,000 to have work performed --such as work on your house, housekeeping, babysitting, whatever it may be, you probably want your money's worth, right? It's the same on the business side, especially when we have small businesses. We NEED our employees to be there and to do the job we are paying them for. There's another person waiting in line for the job if the worker won't or can't do what is needed.

Thanks guys! I hear what you're saying.......even though I "pig out" and seem to lose, I can't seem to allow myself to do that regularly, so I hope that's the right way to go!

Let me just be the bad guy here as I read all these posts. I am a business owner. I have employees. A few are remarkable and would have no problems from me if they came in wanting time off for this surgery. However, people don't seem to understand that the bottom line here is that business can't function when employees aren't there. There have been many, many, many situations and staff that would have received the very same outcome from me had they sent me an email, or however it went down, telling me they were taking off for surgery. The employee-employer situation has to be win-win, and when it's not...well then, we all know what eventually happens.

Good Luck! You'll do fine!