ennigmah

I hate to say this, but HotMama, you might just have the flu! If you have been on a preop diet, you've just had a very stressful experience surgically and now you are recovering, you might be a bit susceptible... Try to stay hydrated, you will definintely feel better if you do. Good luck!

Actually - it 11/2006! Sorry to mislead you!

Hello - I have lost count but probably 4 or 5 fills - I just had one this week after 9 months without one! And will probably get another one after the holidays... It's possible that that band can get "loose" with time because of changes in the fat/stomach under it. I picked up the book written by Mohammed Ali's daughter Fighting Weight: How I Achieved Healthy Weight Loss with "Banding," a New Procedure That Eliminates Hunger--Forever by [ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/102-8952640-6570518?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Khaliah%20Ali]Khaliah Ali[/ame] (Author). It was really affirming - reinspired me since I have been on a 9 month plateau. But, hurray, I am refocused! Happy Holidays all! Ennigmah

Hello - I was banded 11/06 and can feel my port (just above my belly button) but it's tipped so that it's not flat against my skin but pointing at an angle...makes for interesting adjustments! But along my left rib cage I can feel part of the tubing between the port and the band - this was confirmed by an xray this week! Ennigmah

I can tell you that I got my PCP referral in Dec 05, had my first appointment with Dr. Cobean in March 06, started working on the "requirements", signed my surgical consent in May 06, saw two or three surgical dates come and go (thanks to Aetna), and finally got banded in Nov. 06 - slow weight loss, VERY Slow - but absolutely not a single teeny regret - I am so grateful for this "tool"! Ennigmah :whoo:

Hi Kbzz - Dr Cobean was my surgeon - you will have a good experience with the folks at the Bariatric Center....Good luck!

Hello all - I am a banded Mainer (Mainah....) Where from? I'm in So. Portland. Banded last November and avid reader of the "Slow Losers" thread - yes, slow weight loss, but NOT ONE REGRET!! Welcome!

I am also a nurse in the "neighborhood" and have friends that have had both of those surgeons for bariatric surgery and other....you should be happy regardless of who you end up with....:whoo:

Hi Rae I was banded last November by Dr. Cobean. My weight loss has been quite slow but I wouldn't trade the band for anything! I had a great experience at Maine Med and the staff at the Bariatric Center are all very kind.... Good luck! Terry

You should wait at least until your incisions are completely closed.......

Denise, How many calories a day are you eating? I log into FITDAY and have figured I am eating about 1200-1500 calories a day (which is FAR less than ever before!) and go to the gym about 4 times a week and have had thyroid testing to see why I have been on a 4 month plateau. I am "satisfied" with the calories I eat now and worry I will be hungry all the time with less.......but it might be the only solution to jump start! Any thoughts? Ennigmah

one other thing to remember - you most likely got a small injection in your belly before the surgery and again after (if you stayed overnight) - it was a blood thinner which may cause you to bruise more than normal - it is standard of care for bariatric surgery (and other general surgeries too) and the effects are short lived but the bruising may take awhile to go away! Terry

Hey Rachel The other thing I forgot to mention to you is that MMC Bariatrics might not give you a fill if you are losing weight....by that, they assume that by whatever force of nature (yourself or the band) if you are capable of losing 1-2 lbs/week, they might not give you a fill during your first fill visit. Despite feeling hungry I worked my butt off to keep losing and they would not give me a fill - I had to call in two weeks later to say I didn't lose and needed a fill. T

Hi Maura's Mom I am sorry you are feeling so discouraged but these folks who have responded to you have given you good advice.....I am from Maine and had my lapband (I too am an adamant "NO BYPASS" kind of person) in Portland with Dr. Roy Cobean from the Bariatric Center at Maine Med. While a "slow loser" I have NO regrets - I LOVE the band and everything you hear about it is true - it's not an easy way out, you MUST follow the "rules" for it to work but I love the tool that it provides me. I eat only about 1/2 of what I did before surgery. In 6 months I have lost about 40 pounds. If I were you, I would ask for a second opinion and COME TO PORTLAND!!! Ennigmah

Regarding ibuprophen I was on prescriptive strength doses of it before surgery for arthritis in my knees, hips and spine and had to stop it cold turkey. Once able, I have been able to take glucosamine twice a day with great results - of course, I had hoped greater weight loss by now would have meant better comfort by now but even the 30 or so pounds I have lost since surgery in November has helped! Hang in there. Terry