SPARKLES10

are the majority of people getting the band done laparascopically now? I'm a little upset because I got my band done early this year and was not even given the option for a scar-free band procedure. two weeks ago a friend of mine got it done and it was done laparascopically and she said that most of the doctors were doing it this way, she thought. I paid cash for my procedure AND am left with a huge scar.:thumbup: But don't get me wrong, I am still happy to be loosing weight. :thumbup:. I just would have preferred less scars!

well you have all answered my question. Thanks y'all

oh my. maybe I misunderstood what that meant.maybe she didnt say laparscopic? I must be getting the words mixed up? thanks for sharing the photos, Amy. I wonder if the procdure through the bellybutton is very common?

Hello Amy. for some reason I am unable to view the photographs. so yours was laparoscopic and still scars? I was under the impression that laparascopic meant through your mouth versus cutting on the abdoman.

I recently posted a thread about how I am unable to eat hardly any veggies or fruit! I realize that nothing beats the real thing but does anyone have an recommendations of a good multivitamin (preferable one that won't get stuck)? before my surgery, I had a whole vitamin regimin. I'm embarrassed to say that I think my hair is thinning.

:confused:I was terribly frustrated at the fact that I wasnt loosing weight. Infact, my doc even acknowledged that I was "behind pace" (only lost 16lbs in 6 mo!). I was beginning to give up hope and thought that I might just be one of a tiny few who this procdure didnt work for, but NOW have been feeling elated because 2 weeks ago, I finally felt it when I got my last adjustment . My sweet spot is here! my only problem is that this past week I have noticed that I can hardly eat ANYTHING except for stuff that is so soft and seems more unhealthy. chocolate, ice cream, creamy Soups. I have tried Proteins like my old usual of mostly lean meats and veggies and now that stuff gets me stuck! surely, there must be some SOFT healthy alternatives? I feel like I am finally loosing weight because Im finally eating dramatically less but I dont want to eat tiny portions of stuff thats bad for me! any suggestions or shopping lists? the only things that I have are: -veggie and fruit juice smoothies -yogurt -healthy soups -oatmeal -apple sauce thanks o wise bandsters!

thanks for your replies, all. I have been able to eat mostly soup and tiny amounts of chicken and fish. I am really struggling with my veggie and fruit intake. I still feel I am not getting enough becaue they still get stuck. I may need to get a .1 or .2 unfill. but Im going to give it a little more time because it seems like some days I can get more stuff down than others. its so strange.

Hello, I just got a biggie fill (at 7ccs finally). in 4 days Ill be traveling with a group of my sorrority sisters to mexico for 7 days and then to florence italy. my physician said that if I have any medical complications, i should google "allergan" surgeons for lapband physicians. huh?! it was easry to find dr.s in mexico--but does anyone know of how I can find a dr. in florence JUST IN CASE so i can have this information before hand? Thanks

Hello, I just got a biggie fill (at 7ccs finally). in 4 days Ill be traveling with a group of my sorrority sisters to mexico for 7 days and then to florence italy. my physician said that if I have any medical complications, i should google "allergan" surgeons for lapband physicians. huh?! it was easry to find dr.s in mexico--but does anyone know of how I can find a dr. in florence JUST IN CASE so i can have this information before hand? Thanks

Thanks for taking the time to share and encourage! I was feeling like a big huge failure. I have had 3 fills and am at 6cc out of 10cc possible. and I have been ashamed to admit that I feel minimal restriction. after my first 2 fills I was miserable because I lost ....0 lbs!!! that was when I started really WORKING to eat more Protein and practice more willpower. but I was so angry because it felt exactly the same as it had when I didnt have the band. now at 6ccs, I have to admit that I probably only feel like I'm satisfied after eating about 90% of what I used to. thats not quite what I was expecting. so now I have hope that maybe I just havnt reached my "sweet spot". I was shcocked because my doc actually said he anticipated he could stop at 6cc. tomorrow is my next fill. I beganhaving crazy thoughts like "what if there was a hole in my band" yada yada yada. thanks for sharing!

I got my first fill today. my doctor said my band holds a max of 10 CCs. Today he gave me 4 CCs. What concerns me is that he said wants me to come back in a few weeks for 1 more CC and then again in another few for an addtional 1 CC=a total of 6CCs. IN TOTAL, He wants to stop fills after 6CCs. This concerns me because I just read another person's thread where she said she STARTER at 6CCs and just got 4 more? it seems like alot of people have said they are up to 8ccs at least? what is the average amount? or where did u feel adequate restriction? THANKS!

:-)

Thats good to know, Okie. Today, I felt very little restriction. I guess its time for me to stop feeling all sad and disappointed that the procedure didnt result in INSTANT gratification. I suppose I should be happy with the fact that it will eventually happen. I am really struggling with my own will power which has kept me from eating how I used to. I cant wait to get a nice good restriction to kick in! thank for sharing everyone.

wow, so now I see that everyone really is really different then! he said he stops at 6 because thats probably where Ill feel good restriction. I guess Ill just wait and see! thanks!

I got banded on dec 30 & I get my first fill next week. I feel like I have quite possibly GAINED weight since my procedure. my dr. put me on a post op liquid diet for 4 days and then mushies for only about a week. initially, I felt good because I lost about 7lbs by the time of my two week post-op. HOWEVER, as of the past two weeks my appetitie has been downright insatiable...oh man, over the past two weeks I have been really struggling and afraid to weigh myself but I think Im pretty much the same weight I as before the procedure. my doctor said that right now I am not to worry about diet and that I only need to be healing until my fill. I havnt lost a thing & its sooo depressing and anti-climactic. I have even pushed myself to start excercising but sooo hungry. I did so bad with my eating and will power I was an inch from taking my phentermine diet pills that I had a major problem with once upon a time. I paid cash for this procedure, went through sooo much pain & and although I know its just an aid and not a cure-all...Im struggling as much as ever and really feeling down and defeated and ashamed with my eating , today especially.

Thankeveryone!!! I get my fill on thursday. yay. I have to admit that I did an ultimate no-no and took a diet pill today. I finally had no problem with eating. but Im going to take one poster's advice and give them away. at least I have been eating healthy since the surgery...but portion control is what i have been struggling with. Ill keep you all posted. and am so very thankful that I found this board. I was really really depressed this weekend. but feeling a little better now.