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I am presently in the process of finding a lawyer and bringing a suit against the doctor who put in my band. It was done in Mexico, and was not sutured in place, so was slipping around and causing pain and nausea. It had to be removed back here in the states a week after it was put in. Of course my insurance company here won't cover the bills because they were related to a "non-covered" procedure. So including the initial surgery fee, I now have $38,000 of uncovered bills, oh yeah, and no band! Legally, it is more complicated since the surgery was done in Mexico. I will post when I have more concrete information, but right now this is in the preliminary phase.

My seminar is tomorrow!!!!! How long is it usually between seminar and surgery? I'm a self pay. Someone I know who used the same doctor that I am said she set her surgery date at the seminar for 3 weeks later. Has anyone else done that or heard of that?

I'm so glad you asked this! (And that PdxMan answered it) I was really sweating this for exactly the same reason. I can't do my surgery for another few weeks just because of vacations and other issues, but I still plan to be strict on my diet and exercise... I've already fallen below 40 BMI but I still have a long way to go!!

I felt the same way too and lived on gas X strips as well. Those things are awesome!! It gets better after a few days (within a week for me) Good luck

i understand all of you completely i had my surgery 12-12-07 so a week after my surgery i went and bought a scale. so i was wieghing myself weekly and i was dropping weight like nothing i was 2 1/2 weeks in and i was down 44 pounds then i weighed myself last week and i was down 55 pounds i was like woooooohooooooooooooo then i weighed myself again it it showed me at 190 and i was like yea that aint right. evil thing so i went to doctors it gave me the accurate weight at 24 pound weight loss and i was disappointed i thought i had at lease lost more. and dr was like what do ya want 24 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks is excellent. then i went to weight myself again and i was down another 8 pounds wooooooooohoooooooooooooo im so excited now getting back on track. the evil scale was thrown outta the house now i need to find a good accurate scale. lol:whoo:

It reinforced what I thought about fast food. I'd go so far as to say that letting your kids eat McDonalds several times a week ought to be a crime punishable by law. The absolutely MOST horrifying thing about that movie though was the school lunch thing. Please tell me that wasnt typical of what kids in American schools get fed for lunch? Did you see that muck - all that neon yellow and orange food and barely a vegetable in sight and that stupid stupid moronic woman trying to argue that it wasnt their responsibility that if they served poison that kids chose to eat it. Somewhere there was a bowl of sad, tired fruit hidden away and she had the gall to suggest that the kids could choose that if they wanted to! We dont have school lunches provided here, they either bring from home or have a lunch order from the school canteen. The government has just banned soft drinks from ALL school canteens which I think is a good thing but I"m disgusted by the options offered by our school canteen locally, its run by a business separate to the school and they have no care in the world for children's health, just in selling what kids will buy. I still let my kids eat Maccas of course, but we've actually never really touched KFC or Subway or any of that, it looks too disgusting for words, I havent eaten KFC since I was a kid myself. But I swear there's something addictive in that stuff that makes kids want it more and more. Its a constant battle. Now, I'm all excited this mornign because we have our first local farmer's market down at the football oval near the shopping centre this morning, loads of lovely organic produce from surrounding Gippsland. My kids actually do get excited about organic fruit because it tastes so good.

Kristi, You are not alone with your struggles with the band. We all have our own "little" things that make us depressed and drag us down. You can get through this. I, too, compare myself to other banders, but we have to try to stop doing that. Everyone is different and everyone's body is different. For example, just last week I saw a womans profile that was very similiar to mine. She currently weighs one more pound than me and she said that she wears a size 12 pants. How could that be, I thought. I weight one pound less and I'm in a 16/18. What in the world is going on? Then...after about a day or so...I realized that we all have different body types, different shapes, sizes, heights, etc. I cannot focus on her great accomplishments...I need to concentrate on myself. I have come a long way and I have a long way to go. We can do this!!! It's a journey that we signed up for when we went to the doctor and said that we wanted the lap band. Every ounce lost is an accomplishment. I can't imagine what my weight might be right now if I didn't get the band. It was a steady climb up and it never went down. food was running my life and for the first time in a very long time, I feel like I'm in control. I love the saying "Thin feels better than food tastes". Although I'm not thin (yet)...I am smaller than I was and I'm starting to feel good about myself. I notice that I hold my head up higher than before. I am actually enjoying shopping for clothes. All of these things I dreaded before. I didn't buy clothes because nothing would fit and I would settle for anything that I could get on, no matter how ugly it was. Now I have a variety...I feel like I have a choice in what I buy. I too have a bad back. I just had x-rays on Friday and I go back to my doctor this Friday to try to figure out what is wrong. It's painful, but I try to find exercises that aren't uncomfortable. It's difficult, but I manage. One thing that I found enjoyable that didn't hurt me was Water aerobics. Prior to going to my first class I thought that I just crawl into a hole because I had to put on a bathing suit. Much to my surprise, the class was filled with woman of all shapes, sizes and ages. I felt like I really fit in. Everyone was so nice and nobody judged. It was great. You should look into something like that. Kristi---pick your chin up...face the evil of food!!! I will be your buddy...I will help you in any way that I can. I'm no expert by any means, but I know how to be a friend and if that's what you need... I am here for you!!!

I had my lapband surgery on October 21st and I've been wondering the same thing! When will I feel like I'm really doing good and get all this wonderful energy everyone talks about? I work out 4-5 times a week and work full-time and I'm just so tired all the time. I'm 3 months & one week out from my surgery and have only lost 30 lbs. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one feeling this way and losing slow because I was starting to think there's something wrong with me or that my band isn't working. I've had 2 fills and the doc wouldn't give me a third last time I went because I'd lost 8 lbs in a month. He said I can't come back for 3 months but I'm going back in 1 month and thinking about putting rolls of quarters in my pockets so he can't say I'm losing enough weight and refuse to give me another fill. lol

I have a million things running through my mind (as you can see with all me responses and threads). Now I am worried about work now though. I work for USPS and lift up to 70 pound bags of mail/parcels. Will the Dr. do the FMLA paperwork for 2-3 weeks? I don't want to hurt myself or ruin the surgery.

Ok the title seems harsh but it is true! I have had 5 or 6 fills and the last 2 about brought me off the table! He numbs me but it is not working to well. I was numb at the surface but I could feel the needle sticking me deep inside my tummy. He could not find my port :tt2: Ok question, that is quite a long needle that they are sticking in there, cant they hurt something buy poking around looking for the port? I was filled to 6cc in a 10 cc band, I went in last week and he put me to 6.5 because I felt I was just about where I wanted to be and now I am upset because before I got another fill I had good restricting ( not great, but good ) and now, I can eat a lot of food again... I feel like I went through that fill for nothing..and it is frustrating and I don't know what to do. I have the choice to get a fill whenever I want one, but I am so darn scared to do it now, in fear of it hurts so bad. He mentioned doing the next one under that x-ray thing so he could look at things and I am wondering if that would be a good idea or not? Anyways thanks for letting me vent and ask some questions, any advice would be great. I am up in the air about this thing.. and could just use someone to talk to who understands what I am feeling! Lisa

I have only been banded for a week, so I have not had any fills yet but I hear the flouroscopy is better for finding the port. I am now praying it is bc you have me scared . I am not one for needles but if I was in your situation I would try the other way and if you can't you can always just say to yourself "it hurts to be beautiful". My mother used to tell me that when she was brushing my hair as a child. Now I totally see that with eyelash curlers and such tools she was right all along. :tt2: Good luck!!

I was noticing the NSV of seeing my stomach go down for the past four weeks. However, as of Saturday, my stomach has dramatically inflated. What could be happening?

I just got my secound fill after my band has been empty for almost a year. I have 3cc in it and i'm really tight. no hamburger meat, steak or any food with using roast or hotdogs. I can handle chicken cut up very small and bacon. For the past two days I've lived off lettuce cut up in very small shredds with bacon very small peices and fresh tomato diced added light miricle whip 3 table spoons. It gives it a juice effect and i get the blt taste which is great. I do the same with chicken. That is what I've had three times a day a cup at each meal. does anyone else have the problem with getting meats down?

No imagination at all...hee hee...I think I was on a holiday sugar high at the time and I can't be responsible for my actions. The two of you are a little newer here than I am, but I'm sure you're doing your research and should feel comfortable with your decision (I'm sure I'll be a ball of nerves right before my surgery too...everyone is). My opinion only...If you know the work that you're going to have to do to make this tool work for you, and what can potentially happen if you don't follow the rules, as well as possible complications, then you should know now whether it's a good choice for you. Personally, I think this 6 mo. diet I'm on is a little long, but I've been researching this for over 3 mo. and only now do I feel really comfortable with it. I can't imagine being one of those that has the surgery a few weeks after starting to look into this...I think those are the people who are surprised that the LB doesn't do it for you, how hard it is, problems they have. It's not the right choice for everyone. I can follow a diet and an exercise program and I don't mind that the weight will come off slowly, have done so before. I have a person close to me that cannot, but would be better suited for a different procedure. I'll be nervous at my surgery, but most of that will be nervous anticipation and excitement at getting the tool I need to make this work. Good luck with your upcoming new-you's! Keep me posted as to how you're doing!

So glad I found you all to share this journey with. I am now in mushy foods and doing really well. My starting weight was 209 and am currently 192. My goal weight is 135. I started some exercise this week. Just low impact . So far so good.

So I feel fine in the morning then at night ifeel horrible, nauseated horrible, ever since I got banded I want out I feel horrible

Banded 11/07 March 2008: Lost about 25 pounds I started having port rejection problems that were just resolved in August 08. I had a new port put in. The surgeon said she filled my band all the way up to 4cc FULL. I had great restriction but now just a few weeks later I feel like I can eat again. Example, last night for dinner I had 1/2 a baked pork chop, mashed potatoes, and peas??? Can I loose the fill that quick?

I like to leave myself notes around the house, especially at my desk and on the refrigerator and other places near where I do work. Any suggestions for some encouragement? I am still lingering in "Insurance Purgatory" and I have been really sick for weeks. I could really use some uplifting. (comedy is always appreciated, also - I have a pretty quirky sense of humor! :biggrin:) Thanks! You are all awesome! Finding this place has really helped me over the last year of trying for surgery. I am just starting to wear down a bit.:cool2:

Wow! It's been a while since anyone posted! I was banded 10/07/11 and am down 71lbs. After my last fill on 07/03/11 I lost 8lbs in one week and have been stuck there ever since! I have had 5 fills and am at 7cc's in my 10cc band. I don't eat very much at all. I think it's what I am choosing to eat lately. A lot of personal life stuff going on makes it harder, but I am pushing on! How is everyone else doing??

I Completly Understand How You Feel......i Had My Surgery The Week Before Thanksgiving And I Had To Sit There At The Table And Watch Everyone Else Enjoy All Of My Favorite Foods, But I Promise You It Will Be Sooooo Worth It

I had my LAP-BAND® 3/09. I am down about 60 pounds. I am having a lot of difficulty with the surgery. Lots of chest pain and vomitting. Not able to get much down. Have not had a fill since June and have had saline taken out the last three times and will be going Wednesday to get more out. :scared2:Also my hair is now coming out in handfuls. :thumbdown:Anyone who has experienced this and can help me out please let me know.

Hi Mark, CONGRATULATIONS!!! LET THE COUNT DOWN BEGIN!!! How are you going after a week of Optifast? It was pretty ordinary, but I felt in pretty good health going into surgery because of it. I was banded last Thursday at The Valley by Mr Chris Hensman. Mr Richard Gilhome assisted. Dr John Zubevich was the anaethetist. It was a bit rough to start with, but now at a week out, and I am feeling much better. You will do fine - the hospital and everyone involved were terrific! Just a hint - I was very nauseous post op - I found out after I got home and reread the dietician notes that ice can upset your tummy - I had been chomping down the ice chips like a demon! After the first day post-op I recommend that you stick with the room-temp Water jug instead. Keep sipping as often as you can to keep you fluids up, as dehydration also makes you nauseous. Hope to meet you at Bandworks on the 31st at Mulgrave. All the best, check in and let us know how you are going. Cheers, Anna.

Well I gained a pound after Turkey Day....eating leftovers. So this week I was pretty good lost that pound. Back on track with food and excercise this week. Hope to be 176 or 175 by next Friday. My goal was 170 by New Year's and I should make it. It's hard during the holidays to get that exercise in. Today and this weekend getting all the Christmas in house decorations up and the tree. Hope everyone had a good week.

For me, I can eat any amoumt of chips, biscuits, ice cream or even Cereal that I want to. I can go out and eat fattening meals too - not much of them, but I can eat Pasta and stuff. But I know I have good restriction when I eat well. When I eat healthy, Protein packed, vegie packed meals, I really struggle to get through 1500 calories in a day. I get my three meals in and that's it. when I eat that way, I lose even now, four years down the track. Good restriction to me does not mean not being able to eat bread or getting full on half a cup. Today I had a huge Protein shake with a banana blended in (took me a while), a chicken schnitzel sandwich (bread, small schnitzel oven baked, baby spinach, tomato) and a bread and butter plate sized dinner - meatloaf, a spoon of mashed potato and some creamed spinach. other days I can get through twice the calories with poor food choices - which doesnt mean I dont have restriction, it means I'm not using my band well.