NaNa

Honestly to me, that sounds very painful, I would never want a port above my breast, hopefully it works out well for you. I've never had a port flip, or leak or any long term port issues. Both of my band surgeons placed my port near the same place right of my belly button and I am very happy they did. With my first band, my port was more noticeable after weight loss, but was never really painful, my second AP band I have a low profile port and I can't tell it's there, no pain or visible. I guess it depends on how well the port heals and how good your surgeon is with attaching the port to a muscle firmly and more importantly, LET IT HEAL post op. I never lifted anything over 10 pounds or bathe, (showered only) and never let anything hit my port area until about 2 months post op, I guess it worked for me because I've never had any port issues in 8 years with both bands.

You are still newly post op and I will not be concerned about 2 pounds!! It could just be Water weight. My weight loss was never consistent, I would drop pounds in bulk, I would go a week or two without losing any weight, or sometimes gain a pound or two and then the third week I would drop as much as 7 pounds. Just take a deep breath, calm down and keep focused and your eye on the prize, keep up with your monthly visit to your surgeon for any needs fills, you should be ok.

Well...if you want to see the scale move consistently, you may want to back up off the chocolate until you get near goal weight and then you can have little splurges. I will warn you don't open up that gate until you are at or near goal, sliders, and junk can get REALLY addictive to lap banders since they are easy to eat and slide down, but full of calories. Many people who are at or near goal eat sweets, and candy weekly, but they are probably skinny enough to exercise it off, and probably offset the treats with healthy meals, aka...you can't eat tiny bites of junk like spaghetti, raveoli, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, pizza, and then eat tiny bites of sweets and junk and expect the scale to move. Many people eat baked chicken, tuna, eggs, broccoli, spinach, and then may have a treat every now and then and it may not affect their weight loss. Good luck.

Did your surgeon tell you that your band don't work until the fill process start? The first 6 weeks are for healing, not really for weight loss. Most people are still in the mushy stage at 12 days post op. I would think most surgeons provide patients with a pamphlet with food progression and what to eat. Also, once you start getting fills and restriction, your band STILL WILL NOT keep you from eating junk and things you shouldn't. Researching a weight loss surgery prior is crucial to see if it will work for YOU. Many people get the bypass because it makes them sick to eat too many carbs, the band does not make you sick, UNLESS it is dangerously too tight and that does not work long term without complications. Some people get therapy to help them stay on track with the band.

Congrats! Woohoo

Yea, but every time I think of someone getting a lap band in a "surgery center' it brings back haunting memories of many lap banders having horrible infections over the years, because the "surgery centers" had either low accreditation or was a set up shop and go out of business type operation. Typically surgeons who performs in hospitals are more stable and less likely to "disappear" and have less complications under their belt because surgeons who have a High rate of complications CANNOT perform surgeries in accredited hospitals. And it also reminds of that great 1800-get-thin scams that ONLY did their lap band surgeries in their "surgery center" and a few patients died, had horrible complications, etc. Thank god those centers are now closed, gave the lap band a bad rap, and even sparked a congressional hearing and probably part of the demise of the lap band, and one of the many reasons Allergan wants to sell the band because of BAD surgeons and ILL INFORMED DESPERATE patients who are willing to risk their life in a sub par "surgery centers". I am not saying all "surgery centers' are bad, but MOST of them have been, and anyone who cares about their health would steer clear from them. Most reputable lap band surgeons do not perform lap bands or any bariatric surgery in "surgery centers". Also I would personally feel comfortable in the event of a complication, a highly accredited hospital would have all the resources, ICU, etc there if I need it. But again to each his own.

The only thing I will take with a restricted band are gel type capsules since they slide down, and chewable Vitamins, if I have to take prescription pills I will crush them or take them liquid form. I had a pill stuck with my old band about 7 years ago and ended up in ER from work, vomited about 10 times before finally dissolved and it was a small round hard Iron pill, I made a mistake and drank a cold Protein shake after I took the pill which anything cold will further constrict the band. Thought I was going to die, it was cutting off my breath since it was lodged in my esophagus. That that point since...Big pills scare me with a restricted band.

My advice, you got that old 4cc band and it has probably run its course and has done ALL that can be done, you've lost weight been successful all these years. If you have the 4cc band, it probably needs to come out, I loved my old 4cc band too, but unfortunately they are hard on the body long term and this is the reason 4cc bands are no longer used in the US because they easily caused pouch dilation's/ esophageal dilation's, hernias, horrible reflux, everything you mentioned, I've had... I got sick and tired of the unfil/refill game and reflux . I got my old band removed hiatal hernia repaired and new AP band installed all in one surgery, and I am very happy I did. My old surgeon wanted to revise me to the Sleeve, I refused, don't want my stomach removed and it stretches out for many long term and it was worth getting a new band even if it only last for 10 more years. This new band feels a lot better for me, no reflux or burning or Pbing since my surgeon over 10 months ago. Good luck

Good answer! We don't know her health history, but what we do know is that she probably should not go too aggressive especially with a damage band. Most surgeon do slowly start to fill the band again, I've never had a prolaspe band -- never got to the point of prolaspe, meaning a huge pouch, my pouch dilation was small (concentric) so her problem is way worse than my mild pouch dilation was with my old band, so she really needs to be careful. I've seen many go back and get aggressive fills after a bad slip and ended up getting emergency surgery to remove the band, so sometimes surgeons are not in control and give the patient what they want -- a big fill, even if it results in a complication. It's her body and the surgeon works for her and the surgeon will get paid just as much money to remove a slipped band, unfortunately.

I know it sucks, but since you had a huge pouch dilation (prolaspe), I would go slow, if you have absolutely NO restriction, I would ask for 1.5cc instead of 2cc, then see how you feel, and then try to ease up on the next subsequent fills until you get near the green zone. If your band has prolasped you may want to start looking into getting your pouch fixed, with the AP bands they can be easily unbuckled, without removing the band. From personal experience with a previous pouch dilation, it's nothing but a "band aid" to a damaged band. And with future fills, you cannot get back very tight (without issues of reflux, and risk a full band slip) Good luck

I would ask these questions: 1. How many bands has he/she placed, you are looking for a high number, a couple of hundred is a good. 2. How many revisions to other surgeries have they had to do, if they take out more bands than they put in--run, ideally you want a very low revision rate to any other surgery. 3. Aftercare is MORE important than the band, ideally you want a surgeon that do his own fills, but if he is busy, ask if he has a physician assistant that is trained in surgery as well as perform fills. Also part of aftercare is diagnosing and treating any type of lap band issues, you want to make sure that your surgeon will not outsource this, many lap band surgeons either work closely with GI doctors to do EGD's or Radiologist to do Upper Gi,'s etc, and most lap band surgeons are skilled to fix hernias, etc. Also your lap band surgeon should ONLY treat and diagnose any lap band related issues you may have, such as determining if your band is adjusted properly and following your progress, you don't want a PCP doing this, they are not skilled to do so. 4. Fills, should be administered by your surgeon, or a skilled PA, not just anyone. Ideally you want a surgeon that will be available to fill/ or unfill your band if needed and not on a set schedule, but ideally every 4/6 weeks the first year. Good luck

Congrats! Keep on working that band!

If you ate 1/4 eggs in 5 minutes you are differently not too tight, congrats on getting restriction. Most people who post here about being too tight, can't even get down a Protein shake in 20 minutes. Seems like you hit the green! Happy losing.

Most insurance require them in the US, they want to make sure the patient is full aware of what they are getting into and responsible, I guess they want to make sure they are getting a bang for their buck... Surgeons don't care, they will gladly take anyone's money that are self pay, psych exams are not required with most self pays in the US. Most surgeons in the USA don't tell the patient what band they have until AFTER the surgery, but usually the patient WILL KNOW in the hospital or during their first post op appointment. My point to this poster was SHE SHOULD have gotten a post operative report BEFORE she left Mexico, many others do that have surgery in Mexico. I've known a few people that had surgery in Mexico with reputable surgeons, and got their post operative report BEFORE leaving Mexico and they had a US surgeon lined up for their aftercare, THERE IS a BIG DIFFERENCE IN BEING RESPONSIBLE AND NOT RESPONSIBLE. Also, this patient was told something, she was told she had a non-adjustable band, if she was not told anything we would not be in this discussion.

I stayed overnight, with both my first and second band, and I really needed it, everyone is different, I prefer a hospital in the event complications occur. I honestly would not feel comfortable having surgery at a surgery center, especially where the lap band has to be in a very sterile environment to prevent any infections.

There will be pain at the port area, you need to call your surgeon if it is unbearable. What helps most people is to wear lose clothes, sleep in recliners, and keep a heat pad and pillows and walk, walk and walk. Also Gasx helps a lot of the pain is from gas and port pain. The pain should get better in about 1 week, but again call your surgeon if you have redness or warmness at your port area.

You got support, it may not have been rosey, but you got support, I did not yell or scream at you or call you names, I was just being honest, I've never heard of any surgeon in the last 15 years in the USA or Mexican performing any non-adjustable bands, so as concerned lap banders we had to call you out on this and let you know of the possible consequences. Also in the US most insurance companies make people undergo a psych exam to make sure they are responsible to take care of themselves after weight loss surgery. There are no rules in Mexico, I am sure they will perform weight loss surgery on anyone who have cash on hand, also it is your responsibility as an adult to know what was done to your body, most people who have surgery in Mexico are given some type of post operative report indicating what was done to them. I can't believe you left Mexico without a pre operative report, you should know if you got a non-adjustable or a 4cc band, hopefully you are not that irresponsible.

Sorry but you are not correct, the 4cc band IS NO LONGER SOLD in the USA, even IF surgeons wanted them, if you got a 4cc band in 2012, IT WAS NOT IN THE USA. I lived with a 4cc band for over 7 years, I lost 130 pounds with it, I got restriction very quick with it, but NOT without problems, I had acid issues from day one of surgery, it was hard on my body, I had it removed last year due to chronic back pain, reflux, gastritis, inflamed esophagitis. I've not had to take any PPis' or acid reducers since my 4cc band was removed and hernia repaired with my new AP band.

Why are you thanking this poster? You DO NOT have a 4cc band, you have a non-adjustable band, that has not been used for over 20 in the USA (it was only done under clinical trials), the non-adjustable band has NEVER been FDA approved in the US.

Missy, You've been very polite with this poster, I am more direct, but honest, I sometimes have to be direct because I've seen so many things on these boards over the years and sometimes trolls will try to peddle or advertise on the sly and hopefully she is not trying to resurrect the "non-adjustable band" I am not sure if this poster is REAL or not, because as you mentioned anyone who cares about themselves and their body, would NOT have gotten a non-adjustable band if they've done proper research. And you are correct, the 4cc band DOES NOT COMPARE with a non-adjustable band. The non-adjustable band was NEVER FDA approved in the US. The 4cc band was, even though it causes issues for many long term, it was still better than the non-adjustable band. I lived with a 4cc band for 7 years, and there IS a difference with a 4cc band and AP band. The 4cc band was MUCH harder on my body, I had constant burning from day one of my surgery and reflux and had to be on PPis all the time. With my new AP band, I've never had any burning (so far), or reflux or had to take PPis, also I developed a large hernia with that old 4cc band that had to be repaired, reason I had to get the old band removed, also the 4cc band could not be unbuckled to repair the hernia, the new AP bands can be unbuckled to fix pouch dilations and hernia without removing the entire band. However, most lost weight quicker with the older 4cc bands because they were high pressured and many got restriction very quick with the older bands, but they are NOT safe long term, for many people, some still have them long term, but probably not without reflux and acid issues. If this poster is not a troll, she needs support, but she should not be rude and attack people who are trying to help her, support is not about roses all the time. I find it offensive for anyone to lie to this poster (and sugar coat) and tell her everything is going to be OK, when it's probably NOT, she needs to prepare for complications and have a rainy day fund in the event complications occur, she needs to UNDERSTAND clearly that if her non-adjustable band erodes in her body, it will take a SKILLED bariatric surgeon to help her, whether in the US or Mexico and she will have to pay out of pocket if complications happen, and if she goes to the ER in the USA they will NOT know how to help her with a non-adjustable band.

Congrats! Job well done, you look beautiful!

No one knows how long the band will last, it's a foreign object, there could be many reasons why someone may have to get their band replaced or removed. Some have medical reasons, sometimes there are malfunctions with parts like leaks, some have very poor aftercare. The best thing you can do is arm yourself with knowledge of how the band works: Here are some things you may need to ask your surgeon: 1. How many lap bands has he/she has performed? greater than 500 is best 2. What is his/her complication rate? Do they convert many band patients to Bypass or Sleeve, if so, BEWARE. 3. Research the new eating habits of how to chew your food with the band to prevent frequent vomiting (frequent vomiting can cause lap band complications long term, like horrible reflux, bad enough to get the band removed). I will be 8 years post op this month, however I had my older band replaced 4cc band, that is no longer used in the US due to higher complication rate from Pouch and esophageal dilation. However these same complications can occur with the newer bands, but they occur less often, as long as the patient don't keep it dangerously too tight. The reason I got the band was because I can get it removed if something happens and I can always get it adjusted to help with weight loss. I would do the band over again in a heartbeat. Good luck.

Not sure why you are getting pesky with me, I am just being honest, we can only pray for you -- and you will need lots of prayers...and you tell me to go to Hell? I am putting those links out there, in case others are thinking about getting a non-adjustable band, I only speak the truth regardless if it stings or not.

Mexican surgeons could ONLY get the old 4cc bands, probably of lower quality also, so those who go to Mexico are gambling with their health, more than those who get their bands in the US. Who knows, Mexican surgeons have probably RAN OUT of 4cc bands, since Allergan has halted product, and it could be that Mexican surgeons have now concocted some type of "vooddoo" procedure...aka non-adjustable band again.... Mexican surgeons CANNOT get the new AP bands, they are ONLY sold to surgeons in the USA. http://www.lapband.c...fording-lapband CONSIDERING HAVING LAP-BAND® SURGERY OUTSIDE THE U.S.? The LAP-BAND® AP System is the most technologically advanced gastric band in the world today; however it is not available in Mexico. For long-term success all bariatric procedures, including the LAP-BAND® System, require follow-up and support from a bariatric practice—something that a doctor in another country may not be able to provide. Regular care and follow-up with a qualified surgeon close to home is important for losing the most weight with your LAP-BAND® System. Contact a local LAP-BAND® System specialist, to learn more about your insurance coverage an

How can anybody HELP you when you got something done to your body that NO ONE gets any longer? We have NO CLUE of how to help you, you don't have lap band, also if you have any problems, you will have a VERY HARD TIME getting help from any surgeon in the US. US Surgeons barely take other patients from the US, due to legal reasons, let alone someone who had a procedure done they are probably not familiar with, hopefully you can go back to your surgeon in Mexico if anything goes wrong. I wish you luck with it and hope you have an uneventful and successful journey.