GoingforGoal

Hi Donna, As you can probably tell from the previous responses, everyone's band and experience w/ the band is different. There are some people who when they drink fluids actually fill their pouches and it takes time for it to pass through their band. Putting food into a liquid filled pouch will do 1) cause pain due to increased pressure for some and/or 2) liquify the food allowing it to pass quicker (like a 'slider'). I think docs come up with parameters based on all the varying feedback they get and so to cover all the bases they give you guidelines to ensure healthy and safe eating w/ a band. Personally I drink up to 5 mins before my meal because fluids pass readily through my port. If I had the dilemma of fluids slowly trickling down the port I would reconsider. And same reason for not drinking too soon after a meal, you don't want to compound pressure in the pouch or force food to pass through the port etc. I think ALL the doctors guidelines are just that guidelines. At some point they need to be customized for you and your real experience. If someone is uncomfortable making those changes on their own, speak to your doctor about what rules you would want to modify and why. You'd be surprised how many docs will accommodate and support those changes if the rationale is sound.

Congrats on getting banded. Rule #1 Never compare your WL to others. Rule #2 Don't expect to lose 100 lbs overnight. Have the same expectations before the band, no more no less Rule #3 Followup and keeping your band in GREEN is THE #1 thing I can suggest. Even in the worse of times I didn't gain weight because my band has always been in the GREEN

Wow Pheath, I would definitely find a new doctor as well. As an RN I could never withhold information from a patient, it's unfathomable

And as a Registered Nurse I always advocate patient responsibility. Please support the understanding that patient's should always been full informed of their medical care and it is their right and responsibility to understand their medical care and conditions. Again, if a patient will be having surgery requiring anesthesia they need to inform their surgeon and anesthesiologist that they have a band and an OG tube cannot be place w/out first unfilling the band. Whether future accomodations are necessary to secure the proper needle may be a consideration, but those accomodations cannot be made if a patient does not prepare the medical staff.

Rebecca, Every doctor establishes their own standards or approach to how to treat their patients. However, cares are always individualized. If a patient complains of reflux after surgery, they will be less inclined to put 3cc into your band if that's the normal starting fill. Fills are very touch and go. If someone's been on the band for a long time and are at a high fill volume already, the doc may want to move up by 0.2 cc opposed to a newbie who can probably tolerate 0.5-2cc. A very important factor are those who are dishonest with their doctors and want to manipulate them to place a higher volume than is appropriate. They usually end up in the red and either have adverse reactions or lose excessive weight etc. And this is why some dr's are strict on their protocols. If you have a smart doc, he/she will use subjective data (what you say you feel) AND objective data (your actual weight loss) and make an informed decision as to what is best for you.

MedicRN I can understand his rationale but that's unacceptable. You have the right to your medical information. I want everyone to remember that just like diabetics wear medic bracelets, you as a bander need to inform docs that you have a band. Most will not have had experience w/ band ports and so you should also be educated on what guage needle to use. If you go into surgery which requires anesthesia you should inform the anesthesiologist that you cannot have an orogastric tube placed and if it's required they will have to unfill the band first. Otherwise you risk tearing the esophagus, aspirating or having excess air in your stomach that can cause rupture. It helps to know how many cc's are in your band so they know how much they should anticipate taking out. I find this all relevant information and a dr. never has the privilege or right to withhold information from a patient.

Here's a great outline for you to refer to http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/the_first_weeks/dietary_progression/

Are you kidding me..in 6 months you get to flaunt yourself in front of the ex... lol Good luck and congrats on the surgery... His replacement will come soon <wink>

Good luck and congratulations Support from fellow banders CHECK

Hi Fisher, Sorry to hear about your setback. Definitely file for an appeal, it doesn't hurt. As for the co-morbidity issue... I noted that your BMI is under 40. Depending on your insurance, a co-morbidity may be a requirement if you don't meet the minimum BMI (my insurance was 40). Some co-morbidities like sleep Apnea, Diabetes, heart disease etc are imminent diseases that are life threatening. Additionally, these diseases cost insurance companies far more in the long run than the LB procedure. However, other co-morbidities such as elevated blood pressure and cholesterol is questionable and not always obesity related. First, how elevated are your labs and are there any sign of disease from these elevated levels. Have you been previously diagnosed and treated for these conditions, has your treatment been successful in managing these levels. If there is not a extremely high level, the insurance company may disregard it and not associate the obesity as having any negative impact on your body (yet). Garbage, I know. But it's the game we all play

Congrats, I remember that day so well. Keep up the great work! GO GO GO

The biggest thing I found wrong in your post was the part about not going to the doctor because you were afraid. Don't think you have to be perfect at this to be a success. Most of us eat against the band (wrong food, drink w/ food etc) on occassion. The difference is, if you keep the band in green it prevents you from going overboard (ie I dare you to eat a cheeseburger on a well restricted band- you cant). So those 2 bites you got in is not going to make you gain weight or keep you at a standstill. Your dr has seen every kind of patient and I would presume most have had their setbacks. Dr's won't grill you, rather they should just do what is necessary to get you back on track. Share your setbacks w/ him/her and see if they have any advice. Most importantly, take control. You are not there for your dr's wellbeing, you are there for yours. Despite your successes or failures, you are acknowledging what you need to turn your failures into successes. You are being accountable to yourself and not relying on others to do it for you. You are too much in your head right now..you are fearing what others will say/think/do before they even say/think or do anything. 99% of the time, you are most important to you and will dwell while others just consider you for a minute and move on. Go green

Congrats on getting back on track. I was banded in Nov 2009 and in between I got pregnant and had numerous medical obstacles. Fortunately I didn't gain, but I had to make a conscious decision to lose again. I havent been on this site for nearly 3 years and I find coming back has really remotivated me. Don't look at this as a setback. I am finding 3.5 years later that many bandsters who are 3+ years banded are still not at goal. We fumble and we get right back up because life just has an awesome ability to interfere w/ our goals lol. But you are taking the right steps, and before you know it you'll be a losing machine. I'm terribly sorry for your loss, but she's with you...helping you make all the right decisions for your happier and healthier life.

Hi there, Sorry to hear about your discomfort. These symptoms are not consistent w/ lapbanders and I would assume they are affiliated w/ your hiatal hernia repair. (See http://www.medicinenet.com/hernia/patient-comments-95.htm where are a woman had similar arm pain/problems). As for weight loss, it's hard to not compare your results w/ others. The key is to focus on tuning into your own body. I know 1200 cals seems low, but in reality, it still may be high. I am 1000 cal person because any higher I won't lose a lb. I recommend (if you are not already) keeping a food journal specifically to look at how many cals you are taking in). If you are at 1200 and not losing adequately, drop to 1100 and so forth until your body responds. This is a helpful tool because if you know 1000 instead of 1200 is the key you'll be more mindful to not consuming excess calories you thought were harmless. Also, it's difficult to know how to help you further without some insight into what foods you eat, portions, time of day, exercise levels etc. Some of the most minute details is where the answers lie

Hello Everyone, So nice to see a RN group here. My name is Stephanie. I am a NICU RN in Colorado. Mom of 3 boys (ages 1.5-10). I was banded in Nov 2009 with my husband. I had a pregnancy in between than and now but still reached my 2nd goal of 175. Now I'm looking forward to losing the rest

Its normal. The CO2 they use to expand the abdominal cavity during surgery is compressing against the diaphragm and thus compressing on the phrenic nerve. This is what causes the shoulder and arm discomfort most people experience at some point post-surg. Congrats on your surg!

Hi there, My husband and I were banded 11/3. Email us!

Hello everyone, I'm in the preop stage awaiting my 1st consult w/ the surgeon. I'm excited about getting lapband and am seeking any guidance and support out there. I am 5' 5.5" and weigh 244 BMI=40. I'm most nervous about the insurance approval process but will wait to see what the dr. says. On a personal notes, I am 31 years old, married, mom of 2 (age 6 and 2), a NICU nurse and a grad student. I reside in Virginia and enjoy travel/outdoors. Hope to hear from all of you and would love a few buddies for some extra very needed support.