JOANNE M HOLL

Welcome to our banding world on the 19th! I joined on September 8th in 2006.

The surgeon has always done my fills. However, when I went in to have all the saline removed so I could have my cancer surgery the next week, his nurse said, "Oh, there probably isn't anything in your band as they all leak!" But there was, as I saw all that he took out. I wish I had reported her, as I'd never had heard of a leak until she made that statement. Now that I am cancer-free I'm having fill put back the first week in October. It is hard to control eating without the assistance of my tool/lapband.

My insurance company requires a follow up on all bands covered by their policies. Can you discuss the problem with your bariatric center that your surgeon represents? I don't understand why you would sue them. . . .

Best wishes to both of you and we'll look forward to welcoming you to our banding world!!

I'm a happy old bander from the great state of Minnesota!

:wub: Thinking of you. Welcome to our banding world!

I think I would have liked mine there as I do a lot of gardening and bending I can feel mine move a lot. (Occasionally it gets sore in the bend at my waist.) But last year I had a breast removed because of cancer and my head would have had some awful thoughts about having the band placed and being the cause. Anyway I will say my son had a pacemaker & that is where it is, as it is an out-of-way location. Let us know sometime in the future how you like it. We all wish you the best of using our little tool, and a happy healthy future!

You will do well because you have done your homework and the LapBand is the very best tool! Walk, walk & walk and listen to your bariatric people. Good health & happiness are in your future.

Please turn him in to the state medical board before he kills someone! (Perhaps forward this blog to that board, as this should be part of their duty as member of that prestigious position.) What you have written should make all of us on lapbandtalk.com shutter with concern!

I called my Bariatric Center & made an appointment with my Doctor and the Nutritionist. This will be the first Monday in October. In the interim I will use a few more low-cal lattes and salads for my meals. I'm still not drinking sodas nor eating cake, cookies, brownies or etc. with sugar in content. I'm eating fruit for binges & trying to add more fish, turkey & chicken. The nutritionist will give me more ideas. They should put saline back in my band so hopefully I'll get the "enough" message and cut back on quantity. I'm wishing to find my "zone" again after my visit and the refill. So relieved to be over my cancer surgery and pray that will never reappear! It is not an easy visit to appointment as it is over 200 miles and I have to find a driver for my car, but my friends will be there for me . . . and thank you all for your best wishes!

You are an inspiration in our World of LapBanders! Keep up happy thoughts & walk, walk & walk on the path to good health and a bright future. You will be a Bariatric Doctor's success story.

When the swelling goes down won't it get better? Walk, walk & walk is my suggestion. Welcome to our world of banding!

Yes, it does indeed get better. And when you start to feel the "zone" you will cheer with success. (The "zone" is when your pouch silently signals "enough," and you quit eating and do not clean what you have put on your dinner plate!). . . . . a few people never reach this, but I did, and at that point I no longer had fills put in my port. I do hope you experience this time in your journey as the feeling makes all you have gone through really worthwhile, and you will love your band!

Yes, it does indeed get better. And when you start to feel the "zone" you will cheer with success. (The "zone" is when your pouch silently signals "enough," and you quit eating and do not clean what you have put on your dinner plate!). . . . . a few people never reach this, but I did, and at that point I no longer had fills put in my port. I do hope you experience this time in your journey as the feeling makes all you have gone through really worthwhile, and you will love your band! (I TRIED TO DELETE THIS DUPLICATE BUT IT KEEPS RETURNING!)

Welcome to our world of positive Bandsters! :wub: You are on the road to a happy healthy future! Keep your thoughts riding high and steer clear of all bumps that may pop up along the way! These Lapband Forums are of a great assistance on our journey.

Welcome to the world of the banded. You have taken the first step. Work with your bariatric people & listen to their people. We will cheer you on & try to inspire you & wish you a future of good health & happiness! :wub:

Welcome to the world of the banded! Keep up the walking. That helped me recover faster and not complain of the discomfort. I love my band and haven't wished it gone a minute since I was banded. Listen to your bariatric doctor & their staff when you have questions. We are here to cheer you on & wish you good health & happiness. :wub:

There should be a section in these forums for those doing well & those doing just so so & needing some inspiration & an occasional push. I am one who did well for a few years then got to a long time stretch where I stayed the same and thought "this is it, I feel great". Then after I had a mammogram things changed and my bariatric people thought I needed to have my restriction unfilled. Now I've gained 30 lbs! The oncology people have told me I am cancer free, so the next step is to visit the bariatric people to get my restriction back. Huh? I know this, but I don't seem to find the oomph to proceed. I've been trying to do this by myself, but am not succeeding. I should light a fire under my behind. Right? (I have seen my GP.) The Band really is the best thing I ever did for myself. . . . . so will I just sit and whine/cry??

Hi, You have made the first move in the right direction. I hope you contact a good bariatric clinic. By GOOD, I mean positive and helpful after the fact. Question them about follow-up as I am seeing many on our forums that are asking questions that their Clinics should have taken care of long ago. There is a lot more involved than just placing the Lap Band! After having my band placed I am no longer diabetic and my blood pressure greatly improved. I walk, walk and walk! It is not the lbs. lost so much as my daily vitality and good health. I love my Lap Band! :wub:

I think we are proud of you for sharing your story. Lean on us for a bit and do call your Bariatric Centre and request help. Your GP should also be aware of your high BP & etc. and follow your health including your depression. If you have kept a file or any records, please review what you went through after original banding. Read "The Big Book on the LAP BAND" as it is so inspirational. Find a local group and attend meetings. And now that summer is here walk, walk & walk. Get a buddy or Hubby to walk with you. I have a next door neighbor who has a bike & she & her 3 youngsters go biking together many evenings. Turn off the TV, get out of the kitchen and change your thoughts to a happy future. You can do it!

What is the 5 day pouch test? I haven't found it in my search & it is not in "The Big Book on the LAP-BAND"? Joanne

How can I help? Share a homemade latte with me: 1 1/2 C. cold coffee, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 tbsp. Splenda, 1 tbsp. cocoa, 2 tbsp. powdered protein 4 ice cubes and a little skim milk to fill to the line in your blender. (Change the amounts to your own taste). I sip with a straw and it is really good. Under 100 calories and it kills all hunger. The next real meal I cut all portions in 1/2. (Also the next one.) I plan to do all my eating slowly & in daylight. No eating after dark. I find I don't have to change family meals this way and I lose without any fuss or mess. I do think of fresh seasonal fruits & vegetables and pass on salted foods when shopping. Also no sodas, regular or diet. (I don't crave them after a few days and the latte fills that criteria.) I have not tried sugar-free jello lattes (You could change flavors in this area.) but just want to keep the food cravings at a minimum. I can truthfully say my simple plan works and I don't say "dieting"! Wishing you good Sparking! :wub:

I think I would call my Nutritionist. One of the criteria my insurance company calls for is that we have a session with a certified nutritionist. She has been great. I think these busy doctors can't be bothered with our little pesky questions. They should all have a good bariatric staff including personnel in this specific area. After all you have gone through to have the band placed and following rules to lose as you have, maybe go the next step and secure (or hire) help to get you beyond the cravings. Love yourself and think of your future healthy life. Wishing you only the best!

I had reflux several weeks during the night last winter. I was up spitting and sitting up and finally thought about what I was really doing in the evening. Then I tried eating my calories earlier in the day and nothing during the 4 or 5 hours before bedtime. I concluded I had too much in my pouch when I was laying down and gravity was letting it level out. Anyway I got over the backing up of the contents. I didn't go to the Bariatric center as it was winter & I live many miles away. Maybe