marjon9

Mark I'm am thinking about dr. k also,just so I have a dr. in the us for followup. Do you live close to co.? I'm from WI. were their any hidden costs or anything?

Hi terry r, actually, I'm from Maryland. I still felt it was worth it since the price in my area is about double.

There are no hidden costs for surgery. The only thing "extra" is just the cost of getting to Denver and staying in a hotel.

From my experience out there, from talking to Dr. K and his staff, and from reading the comments of others on this forum, I'm convinced he is a very skilled surgeon and a good choice for the operation. If you have not yet done so, run a search for Kirshenbaum on this forum and you'll find some other comments from people who have used him.

Good luck.

All I know is I have already started growing my beard combover. I don't know why I never thought of that before. It looks great!

I agree with the others' descriptions, but for me I don't find it that horrible. It's the food you just ate coming back up, before it has mixed with digestive juices. So, to me, it is not nearly as awful as actual vomiting. Other people feel that it is pretty much the same as vomiting. In any event, it can be bad for the band and it is to be avoided as much as possible.

I am a new bandster and I have not gotten a fill yet after my 01/12/07 band date but I am eating as per the bandster rules and I find myself missing my fruits and vegetables. There is not as much room after eating my Protein as I would like, some meals. So my question is.. What if I drink one of those Protein bullets and ate fruits and veggies? Is that acceptable?

I know what you mean about missing fruits and vegetables. I'd check with your doc but I think that would probably be OK. I think people don't often do the fruit and vegie plan you propose for a couple reasons: a) quite a few people have trouble eating a lot of fresh fruit with the band, and the same goes for vegies unless they are cooked very well (overcooked), and I think it is the Proteins that give you that "full" feeling. Getting that "full" feeling without eating a lot of volume is what makes the band work for a lot of people. You may not be able to get the same full feeling when the bulk of what you eat is fruits and vegies.

Having said that, I don't think there is any reason why you can't do what you are saying if it works for you. But of course I'm no expert. I'd still check with your doc/nutritionist about this. I'd also be cautious about diving in to a lot of fresh fruit and vegies until you know these items will agree with your band, and not get stuck.

Talk about spelling problems! You might as well be speaking French!

Here's an article from Yahoo News

Child stomach surgeries more popular <!-- END HEADLINE -->

<!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->By DAVID B. CARUSO, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago

As the popularity of stomach surgery has skyrocketed among obese adults, a growing number of doctors are asking, "Why not children, too?"

For decades, the number of kids trying weight-loss surgery has been tiny. The operations themselves were risky, with a death rate of about 1 in 50. Children rarely got that fat, and when they did, pediatricians hesitated to put the developing bodies under the knife. Only 350 U.S. kids had such an operation in 2004, according to federal statistics.

But improvements in surgical technique and huge increases in the number of dangerously obese children have begun fueling a change of heart.

A group of four hospitals, led by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, are starting a large-scale study this spring examining how children respond to various types of weight-loss surgery, including the gastric bypass, in which a pouch is stapled off from the rest of the stomach and connected to the small intestine.

Three more hospitals have approval from the food and Drug Administration to test how teens fare with a procedure called laparoscopic gastric banding, where an elastic collar installed around the stomach limits how much someone can eat.

The FDA has hesitated to approve the gastric band for children, but surgeons at New York University Medical Center reported in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery this month that the device holds promise.

The 53 boys and girls, aged 13 to 17, who participated in NYU's study shed nearly half their excess weight over 18 months, while suffering relatively minor complications.

Crystal Kasprowicz, of St. James, N.Y., said she lost 100 pounds from her 250-pound frame after having the band installed at age 17.

"I'm a totally different person," she said.

Before the procedure, Kasprowicz said she took medication for a rapid heartbeat and was showing signs of developing diabetes. Every effort she made to stop getting bigger failed. Dieting didn't work, she said. Her heart problems made it hard to exercise. Even walking up stairs was a challenge.

Now, she's off the heart drugs. Her blood-sugar levels are in check. She also feels better about herself.

"I'm very outgoing now," said Kasprowicz. "I hike a lot ... I go to the beach in the summer now. I'm not as self-conscious when I go shopping for clothing."

Similar studies are under way at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago and at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, which recently opened a weight-loss surgery center for teens. Doctors there expect to conduct about 50 operations this year.

Children are only considered candidates for surgery after they have spent six months trying to lose weight through conventional methods under hospital supervision. But so far, not a single one has slimmed down enough to take surgery off the table, said Dr. Jeffrey Zitsman, associate attending surgeon at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital.

"That battle can only be won in a few instances," he said.

The studies have followed a huge surge in the popularity of obesity surgeries among adults. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery estimates that more than 177,000 Americans had weight-loss surgery last year, up from 47,000 in 2001.

Not everyone is pleased that kids might be next.

"I don't think altering the human digestive tract is a solution to the problem of excess weight," said Joanne Ikeda, a nutritionist emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. "It's one of these quick-fixes that isn't a fix at all."

Doctors, she said, still know relatively little about the long-term effects of such operations on the very young.

The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a study in July that said four in 10 weight-loss surgery patients develop complications within six months. Among adults, mortality rates among gastric bypass patients remain at between 1 in 100 and 1 in 200 patients.

Laparoscopic gastric banding has been shown to have a much smaller death rate — about 1 in 1000 patients — but complications do occur.

Of the patients who participated in the NYU study, two needed a second operation to adjust a slipping band; two developed hernias; five got an infection; five suffered mild hair loss and four had Iron deficiencies related to their new diet. After the study was complete, one patient asked to have her band removed because of discomfort, said Evan Nadler, a pediatric surgeon and co-author of the study.

Nadler said those complications were minor compared to the chronic diabetes and cardiovascular disease teens would face if they remained that heavy into adulthood.

"These are people who have tried everything they could possibly try," he said, noting that their mean weight at the study's start was 297 pounds. "Once they reach this level of morbid obesity, the vast majority go on to be obese adults," he said.

Thomas Wadden, an obesity expert at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said surgery can be of immense benefit to some teens, especially those already experiencing health problems.

But he also advised caution.

Egged on by TV shows and commercials expounding the benefits of weight-loss surgery, adult patients have begun showing up at Penn's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders demanding an operation as an easy first step to thinness.

"When we ask them, 'What have you done so far to lose weight?' The patients say, 'Nothing,'" Wadden said. "They're going right to a $25,000 operation for which they are ill-prepared."

It would be tragic, he said, to see the same phenomenon repeated among children. "They have to be selected with caution to make sure that this aggressive step is absolutely necessary."

Since I got the band people tell me that I smell like a blend of lavendar, lotus blossums, rose petals, a pine forest at dawn, and fresh-picked apples after a rainstorm.

It must be the Protein shakes.

....in my own 'mushie phase' when travelling I carried a variety of Gerber's as back-up and snack food....some of that stuff ain't too bad....

I used to carry Gerber's when traveling also, but then my wife found it and told me I had some 'splainin' to do. :heh:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does puree'd chicken w/broth, puree'd shrimp with broth, and puree'd low carb Soup all qualify as mushies...or liquids?

Basically I'm following the big pamphlet of information that the doctor gave me and puree'd Proteins is what is on the menu for the 3 weeks following surgery. I've had no problems this far (knock knock knock on wood). Thanks!

Over the last few weeks as I've read this forum the advice I see most often is "follow your doctor's instructions." So, if pureed chicken w/broth is on your doctor's list, I say go for it.

As for whether it is a liquid or a mushy, I would say it probably just depends on how thick it is.

One thing to consider is whether chicken, even in a pureed form, may require digestive effort for your stomach. I think it is this stomach churning that people are generally supposed to try and avoid for a while after surgery. But I have no idea how this should apply to you in particular. I just know that for me, it would have been a bit tough to deal with that type of food for at least a week or ten days after surgery. If you are feeling good eating that, then it is probably fine.

I have to say, you guys are on mushies WAY faster than I was. I tried mushies after about 10 days on liquids and still could not get them down. I'm 2 1/2 weeks out and just beginning now on things like scrambled eggs.

I have to say, most doctors recommend quite a bit more time to let the stomach heal before moving to mushies. But each doctor is different, and you guys seems to be doing OK with what you are doing. So, enjoy!

Shesha and Mark...how are you guys doing??

I am going back to Dr K on the 19th for my 2nd fill, but have found a local Dr. near where I work that will do it for $150 and he'd do the first one under fluro to make sure everything is OK....so I think this may be my last trip to CO unless i get really good restriction and don't need another fill for a few months!

Mark....how much does the Dr. in Frederick charge, do you know??

Drews Lou....did you get your fill?? Did it help??

Hi Kirsten

The doctor in Frederick charges $200. I don't know about the availability of flouro at her office. I have seen some posts about her that are really positive. But then, just getting a fill may not require a particularly fantastic doctor. I really don't know since I have not had one yet (a fill, that is).

I know you have had the opposite problem, but my big problem so far has been too much restriction. This probably makes you jealous. Sorry about that. I think my restriction has just been from the swelling after surgery. It's starting to come down now. I'm able to get some things down now besides liquids. At this point I'm not really sure that I need any fill at all. I'm keeping my appointment for now, for Feb. 21. But if I still feel restricted next week I'll probably postpone it for a while.

I've had some concerns for a while because my port incision has not fully closed and continues draining. It never seems to be infected, but it just keeps draining a little bit of clear, thin, pink Fluid. But that's just about stopped now. I hope it fully closes soon. I think it will in the next day or so. I'm cleaning it often and keeping it dressed and covered. I really don't see any signs of infection so I think I'm OK.

Now for the good news: I'm down 21 pounds now!! Hooray!

I hope everyone on the Dr. K team is doing well! Talk to you later.

As far as I'm concerned, Prime Rib is so good I don't even mind if I PB the darn thing. It just means I get to eat it twice, if you what I mean.

Well, now that I have taken off my bandages, I finally feel normal and ready to start exercising.

(I told myself I'd give myself a full week after surgery to just heal up, get used to the post-op diet, and just do the suggested walking.)

Now that the week is over I am ready to get this thing started!

* Monday I hit the gym! I will be back to let you all know how it went!

* I bought the South Beach Diet book - the most recent one that just breaks down the food. Doesn't include all that theory fluff...

* I also created my account on FitDay.com. WOW! I can't believe how few calories I am eating these days. I know that will change when I get to solids, but still, 600 calories a day??? Yikes!

I also need to get WAY more Protein in.

* I put a bunch of Protein Drinks in the fridge. EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control seems to be a good one. Only 110 Calories, 3 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbs, 2 grams of Fiber and 17 g of protein in a 11 oz serving. Plus it's only $4.97 for 4 at Wal-Mart.

So, let me get through the Super Bowl tomorrow (Go Bears!!) and Monday I start!

I don't know, maybe it's because I'm older than dirt. But there is no way I could have started serious excercise after 7 days post op. You youngsters sure do heal up fast. I'm 2 1/2 weeks post op and my port incision still has a little bit of draining (it's almost closed now. I think it will be by tomorrow). So I would definitly be reluctant to hit the gym even now. But I have lost 21 lb since 1/17. Yeah!!

Congrats on your progress, Sheila. It sounds like you are doing great.

Mark!

Take care of that band, kiddo! You went through a lot to get that bad boy. That, and I wouldn't want the wrath of Dr. K upon me... tee hee

Glad to hear you turned over a new leaf! Keep up the great work!

Yeah, I called him and confessed. He sentenced me to several days of broth and popsicles. I wasn't really trying to be bad. I thought that what I was doing was within the guidlines, if just barely. But, I pushed it a little too far. That golf ball feeling in the chest can really get your attention. I don't want to have that experience any more often than I have to.

I think that is the main thing I learned about the band over the last week. That is, if you have restriction the band is totally unforgiving. If you cross the line of your limit, you are not going to get away with it, there will be a price to pay.

My understanding is that chocolate is not a "No No" because it bad for the band. Rather, chocolate is a "No No" because it is, well, chocolate. From what I hear it really goes down easy and is no problem for the band at all. That's the problem. (It's not that I have any personal knowledge in this area. Right.)

I am able to eat soft solid foods, including cooked fish, well cooked vegetables, etc. I had some leftover fish the next day for lunch and that did not agree with me, but the night before I was fine. I think the second time the fish was too dry. I didn't PB, but could feel the bite sitting at the top of my chest for about 5 minutes. That did NOT feel good at all. I now make sure that I dribble Water, lemon juice or something on my fish to moisten it. When I get to regular foods, I'll probably keep doing this for a while.

The veterans say that eating with the band is trial and error. I think they are right. We are going to have to figure out what agrees with us. What works for someone else might not work for me.

Let us know what you eat and how you are doing. I'll be interested in the real food tests. Terry

I agree that eating with the band is trial and error. My experience so far has been a little heavy on the "error." I've been a bad bandster. It's not that I've eaten bad things, but I have not really followed directions as well as I should have. I moved past liquids a little too soon, thinking I was ready. I was not. I PB'd several times over that and then went back to liquids for a few days. I've also had some trouble with eating bites that were too big, eating them too fast, and not chewing enough. Bad bandster!!

So anyway, today I approached the matter with a new resolve. I made myself a one-egg omelet with cheese. I sat down at the table and ate it in tiny bites, chewing each one for a long time. I waited a while between each bite to see if I would have that "golf ball" feeling. Well, everything went well. I had no problems at all. I feel fine.

So, the moral of the story is, there are no shortcuts with the band. When you are full, or eat a bite that is too big, it is like driving a car into a brick wall. You are simply not going to get past that wall, period. So, you have to be careful. But if you follow the rules, you can find things to eat. I imagine once you get your sea legs the whole thing gets a lot easier.

I also want to say that from my point of view PBing is really not that big a deal. The only reason I am concerned about it is because people say it is bad for the band. PBing in itself is not that bad. When you "vomit," this comes from the stomach where all the digestive acid is and all that, and the material that comes out is forced out through strong convulsions of the stomach muscles, it tastes terrible, and you feel like crap afterwards.

PBing is different. It is more like when you shake up a bottle of coke and then take of the cap, the coke comes bubbling up to the top by itself. You don't have to squeeze the bottle to force it out. And the material that comes out when you PB is not foul in particular. It's really just the stuff you ate without much change, before the food has come in contact with any digestive juices or other strange substances. I just didn't find it to be much of a big deal, except that people say it is bad for the band. So, since it's bad for the band you probably don't want to get into an recreational PBing, or anything like that, but I would not "dread" or "fear" the experience. It's not that bad. Think of it as a sort of christening of your bandster ship as you begin your maiden voyage. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Hey all,

I have 4 incisions, 1 is my port. The port steri-strip seems to be seeping a little bit. Not alot. Only if I touch it, I see a bit of moisture. Should I be alarmed? It's not red, inflamed more than normal after surgery, no big red circle around it, etc. I was told to remove the bandages that covered them after 48 hours, and let the strips fall off as they wish.

Should I be concerned about this little bit of clearish/yellowish seepage?

Thanks!

I had the same thing. In fact, I'm 2 1/2 weeks post op and I'm still dealing with some seepage from my port incision. My steri-strips are long gone, of course. So, I'm just keeping the port incision clean, dressed with Neosporin, and covered with gauze.

Since this has been going on a while with me I spent a good amount of time searching about it on this forum. My understanding is that this is within the range of normal, even for me at 2 1/2 weeks out. The main thing is, if you have any signs of infection (pain, odor, inflamation, pus that appears thick or creamy), then you need to get to the doctor asap. I have none of these signs of infection, I just continue to have a fairly minor seepage of a light pink, thin clear liquid.

Anyway, that's my story (and I'm sticking to it). I'd also like to hear what others have to say about this.

Thanks for bringing it up.

I just had my consultation today and I am sure this is what I want to do. I have told my husband and my best friend. I am still trying to decide if I should tell anyone else. I don't feel like I need opinions from anyone unless they have weight issues like I do.

If you want to tell everyone in the world you can still do that even if you stay quiet for now. However, once you tell everyone, there is no going back in case you wish you hadn't. You are too early in the game to make this final decision, in my opinion. Keep your options open for now. Hold off for a while. Once you have a little more experience, if you want to tell everyone, you'll still be able to do so then.

I feel compelled to mention that there are a number of U.S. surgeons who do this surgery for between $10,000 and $12,000. There is a current thread called something like "The cost of the lap band," or something like that, if you are interested. I hope insurance will cover you so that won't be an issue anyway.

Don't you mean "where's your sign?"

Back in the Pleistocene Era (where I'm from) "what's your sign" was the quintessential "pick up line." You're way too young to know that. The reference was to astrological signs like Aquarius, Pisces, etc.

puddin, you look awesome. By the way, what's your sign? Do you come here often?

Just kidding.

...I ... had some very thin cream of wheat for breakfast..it was the best thing I have ever tasted!

I'm noticing this type of thing a lot also. Some fresh made broth or Soup can be like the best thing in the world. Just a few weeks ago I was eating steak, fried chicken, fettucine alfredo, and other foods of this type and wondering how I was going to live without these things. As it turns out the lowly bowl of thin cream of wheat can taste better than any of that stuff. It may not always be that way, exactly. But I think in general eating the bandster way will result in a more enjoyable eating experience compared to the old way of bludgeoning my digestive tract indiscriminately with every animal, vegetable, and mineral I could get my hands on.

What I've always heard is that the body loses weight as a single unit, and there is no way to focus on a particular area. I know this seems like it could not be true when you find that you are losing weight everywhere BUT your stomach, but the exercise experts still all seem to say that you cannot target a particular area. If you do 500 crunches a day, you'll have six pack abs but they will be under a layer of fat. With the band the weight loss will continue, and eventually the stomach will lose the fat. I just don't think there is any other way.

Superdaddy, I wish you all the luck in the world, and thanks for sharing your story. But I do have to say I have a slightly uneasy feeling that I want to share with you.

You have set forth a list of major changes that you intend to make all at once. This is a huge challenge. You know the history of success people have with New Year's Resolutions. People do not follow through with them about 95% of the time. And that is even when they have just one resolution. You have half a dozen major ones listed in your "fresh start." This is a little scary to me. It seems to me that you have bitten off such a huge bite here that there is almost no way you'll be able to chew it. I am worried that if you start to have difficulty with any of the major changes on your list, you will start to feel like you are a "failure" with your "fresh start" as a total package, and just start to tailspin, thinking "Oh, well, I blew it again. I guess I'm just a failure."

I recommend a book to you. The Four Day Win by Martha Beck. I believe you would really find it useful in your present situation.

Best of luck to you. And please keep us informed regularly how things are going.

It seems to me that the best answer is to discuss this with your surgeon, just like you did here. It sounds like it will all work out since you've done all the studies. I think the best bet is just to pass along all the facts to the surgeon.