xavier

I was 46 and I wish I could have done it in my 20s! Best decision ever!

I am also pretty sure Dr Davytan is the guy who has a lap band himself! I almost went to him but even though I was a self-pay I thought I should try to find someone on my provider list in case there were complications. I went to Dr David Oliak In Orange (he has two other offices, one is in Brea) anyway I LOVE him and all his staff! They were great and I dont have any complaints at all. Dr, Oliak stitches your band in place and has never had a slippage! I cant say enough about him or his staff! Good luck!

Let me guess, insurance paid your whole bill? I self-payed and it really made me value what I had spent the money on...good luck.

The preop diet is brutal but I told myself it was the last diet I would ever be on and it was! Hang in there!

Well I would think the only risk would be if you accidentally swallow it! Otherwise I cant think of any reason not to...I just dont like gum so I guess I dont know.

But why do you think the pouch is stretched out? Your doc would have seen that with the Barium. What do you mean by eating way too much...how much are we talking about?

Go to your doctor! This might not be related to your band...

Seems like it would be better all around to take one multi, the Vit D if needed, and get the rest from real food...just sayin'!

I think you should prob get a fill but if not here's some advice that many people might disagree with: I dont want you to get stuck but if you chew your food a little less well, it is more bulky and takes the body more work and time to digest. Also, when I was first banded my stomach would growl like crazy at really weird times and it tuned out (well I have no idea what it is but...) Iwasnt actually hungry but it was hard to learn that...that may not be the case and you might actually be hungry. In which case, I say eat. Its important to train yourself to heed the body's signals but hopefully a fill will help you space out the hunger.Good luck...

Find a new doc...he sounds like he hates fat people or maybe just people. Those are the docs that later on a really stingy and harsh about giving you afill. It seems like they withhold fills to be a punshment...run!

Totally normal but it will get better every day and it will be worth it!

This is crazy! BOTH PBing AND reflux can be caused by what and how you eat so you cant automatically say you are too tight! This is just a band holiday and since I look at this as a lifestlye for life (I dont diet and Ireally dont work out) I am completely against unfilling for a holiday pig out! I would expect a good doc to give you a similar lecture...snap out of it!

But why would you let yourself gain 25 pounds and not go to your doc for a consult and/or a fill?! If people are losing weight with no fill, great, have a gold star, but most people need their band to do its job with the right amount of fills. I have had two fill docs tell me except in the rarest cases, if your band is less than half full (5cc in a 10cc band) it is not doing anything to make you feel lull on less or keep you satisfied longer...

I agree, RUN dont walk away from a doc like that...he'll never listen to you about your body and when you know you need fills! Ick!

I left the same day and was fine...good to have the option of overnight though. There is usually a criteria for letting you go...like, you have to walk around, you have to pee, and you have to be able to keep down liquids...hope this helps!

The percoset, if on an empty stomach, can cause it...you might have to choose nausea o rpain...it wont last in either case!

Good luck to all...this is the best thing I ever did for myself! Getting the hang of the band is a bit of a struggle but now that I am cruising in maintenance its actually pretty easy. I self payed and I would even do it all over again! I just really had to realize that every diet I did over almost 20 years actually ended up putting a few more pounds on! I have never dieted or exercised, I just eat less but regular food. I wear a size 6.Sometimes I still start to suck my gut in to zip my jeans but there is no gut there!

You sound just right! Let us know how it goes!

I couldnt live without saag paneer but maybe you shouldnt eat the paneer...give it to me I'm a cheese addict! Indian food always make me feel better!

My fill level means I cant overeat, its as simple as that. And yes, sometimes I still try to overeat and its very painful. I had two very long plateaus (Many months) where I thought my restriction was good so I resisted getting a fill. I guess my restriction was only good enough to maintain that weight and I didnt want to settle for that. I dont have a lot of discipline and I need a nice snug fill to keep me thin...try a fill instead of giving up...what do you have to lose?

OLD BANDER HERE: Lighten up everybody! Those rigid rules are setting you up for failure and they are just not reasonable! Have a margarita or two...they're not poison!! I have NEVER dieted and NEVER exercised beyond walking my fat dog...I have tried to only make changes I can live with forever...I have a glass or two of wine every day...I'm French!

Stress! This whole experience is a much bigger emotional upheaval than we really want to realize!

This time is TOTALLY different! My story was exactly like yours and I did in fact plateau for many months at one point and thought what you are thinking...I did end up getting a tiny fill and long story short, I KNOW I will be a normal BMIer for life...I LOVE my band!!!

Dont make any decisions based on one measly week and what it showed on the scale!

If you are drinking enough water to be peeing dilute (light yellow) urine several times a day you are fine.