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

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

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

Hi All WAY TO GO RACHEL!! As for the back pain - it can be "referred" pain from the laparoscopic gases they use to inflate your belly as well as some tugging on the diaphragm/liver....it lasted about a week but without another thought it was totally gone!!! Go gently... Terry

Denise Thanks for your last post.......it is so frustrating to balance what you want in your heart with what you know in your head and then to top it off, check out these threads and think you're the only one who will fail with the band....In my gut I know it is absolutely the best thing I have ever done for myself but I get so freaked out when I step on the scale and haven't lost in two months even though I am enjoying my "sweet spot", not overeating, choosing well and working my butt off in the gym...I am trying to look at this plateau as an opportunity - this thread is where I belong! Terry

Hi I was banded Nov 06 at MMC and my doc told me "if it hurts, don't do it." I was basically back to work 5 days later (I am a nurse and push stretchers and lift patients....). I should think that you could give it some gentle riding - I was even back in the gym, on the treadmill, within 2 weeks.... Good luck!

I too have PCOS, take Metformin 1000 mg twice a day, and was banded on 11/06. As much as I crave hearing success stories I know I need to pay attention to MY BODY and how I am handling the band and not compare myself to other women with the band.....I personally believe for myself that my own weight loss is slower even with the band but because of the insulin resistance. It doesn't matter to me because I am 100% committed to working my behind off for this. My PCP suggested I stop the Metformin because weight loss itself should help the PCOS. My gyn suggested I stay on it because of the issue of anovulatory cycles. My surgeon could care less. I decided to stay on it because I know that "every little bit helps!!" It is a HUGE pill but as long as I drink a lot of fluids, I don't seem to have trouble with it. Good luck!

Rachel GREAT NEWS~!!! Keep me posted...you know where I am! T

Hi all - I know it is hard to allow your body to heal but you really don't want to push this...if you are finding yourself too hungry try to focus on getting your proteins in first - the nutrients from protein will help keep you feeling full a bit longer.......and drink that water, drink drink drink!! Even after 2 fills of 1 cc each I am not quite at that "soft spot" and the weight loss is slower than I secretly desired but I still have no regrets.....Stay focused as you have done a great thing for yourself. Ennigmah

Hi Lizbit Another Mainer here......thinking of you.......today is YOUR day!!! Hope all went well. Ennigmah

They usually do the fills on Tuesdays if you don't need Flouroscopy and on Fridays if you do (at MMC). It's generally not too hard to get in.....Sharon did my first fill (the first one always an adventure!) and will do my second one next week.........good luck!!!!

Hi Lizrbit the MMC program in Portland is starting a lapband support group, 2nd friday of the month, 2 - 3 pm starting on Feb. 9th. Something to keep in mind if you get "stuck!"

Hi "Formykids" I am living in Maine and had my band put in on 11/27/06 by Dr. Cobean. Sure he is the quiet type but I have had a great relationship with him and while the choices in Maine are limited, it wasn't hard to pick him! I am a nurse as well and have actually seen his techniques in the OR and that's where it all counts!!! Good luck.......I go for my second fill next week!!!! Not my favorite part - especially having to wait two weeks.....but I'm on the right path! Ennigmah :clap2:

Hey Sophrosyne - I don't know how serious you are about this but I would suggest that regardless of your opinions right now, pro and con, you should consider pursuing the "band path" to see where it will take you - it does involve some serious "why - why nots" and some required education/talking/meeting with dieticians and therapists........it may all sound daunting but it puts the entire process in a real light. At age 47 there was one thing for sure, I have mastered dieting....but not keeping it off. I did a ton of my own research and decided that the marginal rate of complications with the band (the majority of which are easy to fix) were worth the risk to me (as opposed to the HUGE number of risks with the gastric bypass). I was banded in November and have lost 35 in 6 weeks. If you are serious, do your own investigation - you may decide it's not the right tool for you. Good luck.

I had NO idea what to expect because I had never had any surgery on my belly but other than the bloating discomfort from the gas (the anesthesia gas and MY OWN!) which only lasted 3 or 4 days I did not take any pain medicine at all. In fact, I put my prescription for pain med through the shredder! YOU WILL DO FINE!!! Go for it!