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congrats to all of yall getting band today!!! I was band Tues Feb 3 and I promise you it is so much easier than any of yall could think! I was scared to death to be put to sleep and just scared of the surgery in general! I had never had surgery before... yall just relax and everything will be FINE!!! Yall update everyone as soon as yall can!! Goodluck yall!!!

Keep us updated on how everything goes! It is hard to find a Dr. that knows a lot about PCOS. I have the same problem. And tell your friend congrats! I too am banded to get healthy with problems associated with PCOS such as high bp. I had to take fertility drugs to have my 2 year old daughter and luckily it only took a few tries of doing the IUI procedure. I am hoping after losing weight for a year I can become pregnant again more easily! Thanks for the post op diet tips. I am 1 week out and was wondering if my diet should be a little different.

i am british and had my band surgery in belguim and now living in the u.s.a , yes i travel !! my husband is military and i go were he goes.... and the short answer to getting fills is it's been a headache. i had a bioring band put in thats not f.d.a approved and i now have to go to mexico at the end of the week to get a fill, as none of the u.s doctors will touch me. its crazy as i don't think theres any difference on the band except the name, and because of this this i am a self pay and its going to cost me a small fortune just to get a fill but i need one so bad.. i have been a whole year with no weight loss as it was not at the sweet point before i had to leave germany and come to the states, i am really scared to go all that way and get told somethings wrong but i need it looked at and i am looking on the dark side a bit i know but nobody on here has ever gone this long without a fill and a check but it was just the position i was put in . fill 24th feb fingers crossed !!!

Hi Everyone, I had my surgery 6-19-06. I have the Vanguard Band- my fill was 4cc, the second was 2cc. I have a total of 6cc. I had no srestriction after the first fill, after the second, I had a better restriction then it deminished. I am scheduled for another fill next week. For those of you who have hit the sweet spot- is this the way you progressed to obtaing the sweet spot. It just seems so odd that for the first week after my second fill, I was saying to myself "I've hit the sweet spot" and then I'm able to eat more but still less than I could before the previous fill. Thanks, Dwayne

There are some quotes and sayings I love that help me keep going in the RNY/weightloss journey and with life in general. I thought maybe they'd help some folks here and I'd also love for you all to share those that inspire you as well. Enjoy! You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserves your love and effection. There are 3 C's in life: Choices, Chances, and Changes. You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change. Don't give up what you really want, for what you want right now. Nothing worth having comes easy. Don't be upset by the results you didn't get with the work you didn't do. If you change nothing, nothing will change. Believe you can and you're halfway there. If you do not go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place. You don't always get what you wish for, you get what you work for. I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it. People inspire you, or they drain you - pick them wisely Your choices have consequences, so eat for the body you want.

Those are the things I worry about happening. Sorry, it has happened to you. I have had restriction the whole time but then the last couple weeks I feel like I dont even have a band. Good luck with your surgery.

My wife and I were banded on the 27th! She went in at 3:00pm and I went in at 6:00pm. I went in and had my IV put in at 9 in the morning and the rest of the time sat with family. I was really nervouse but everyone at the hospital was great. I got out about 9:00 that night and was half awake and the first thing I did was go to the bathroom and then they took out my IV and had me answer a few questions and then I was in the car headed home. Went to bed that night and woke up around 2:00am and then realized I was not getting out of bed by my self. I called my wifes brother in the next room and he came in and simply pulled me up. Getting back in bed was the same way I had to have him lay me back. The next day I was sore but better. Every day got better and I went for short walks. Friday night was the last day I took pain pills due to them not helping with soreness. I am back at work today and about 85% back to normal. I am a little light headed everynow and then. I have gone from 295 to 290 surgury day to 279 today. Feels great to come back to work and everyone is like..you lost some weight you can see it in your face! If you got any qustions please feel free to ask...

I was banded 3 years ago this month. The first year the weight just flew off me. I will say i was very strict with myself and followed every rule to a T. I lost over a 100lbs the first year. My mindset was this, i willingly had an elective surgery that i was fortunate enough to have had insurance pay for, i'll be damned if i was gonna screw it up. I kept having small frequent fills in order to keep feeling a certain level of restriction. I am filled to 9.2 in the large VG band. I did have one temporary set back. I needed port replacement, i struggled to maintain my loss during that time when we were trying to figure out where my fluid was going. Luckily i did maintain my loss but it was pure hell without restriction. I joined a gym when i got to the point where i was comfy enough to exercise with others. I go 4-5 times a week. I will be perfectly honest and say i still have food issues and most likely always will, i am a total food addict. That is why i MUST keep myself super restricted so that it is impossible for me to overindulge. I am still able to eat anything i want but i am only able to eat a very small amount. Thats what works for me.

I am 5 weeks post-op today. I have healed well, tolerate a regular diet, and exercise (C25k three times a week and elliptical at the gym twice a week) regularly. I have been maintaining this routine since about week two. I lost 15 lbs during the first week post-op but have fluctuated at 298-300 for the past month. I saw my NUT last week who recommended increasing calories from 850/day to about 1000/day. I have been meeting my caloric, Protein, and Water goals but still have not lost weight. I haven't done measurements, but my clothes aren't fitting differently either. I know every other person has complained about slow weightloss, and it's a waiting game or loss comes down to switching up your routine, but I don't know what to do anymore! I feel like I have all of the inconveniences and discomforts of the surgery without the pay-off--I'm pretty bummed about it. Am I missing something obvious? Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I'm also about 5 weeks out and have been stalled for 11 days. I've been told it's normal. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am 4 weeks post op this week, I have not lost anything. I go for my first fill on the 6th. But I feel hungry and before you know it I am looking for something to eat, I feel like I am slipping backwards. The more hungry I get the less I pay attention to what and how I eat. Good news is I haven't gained anything either! Any advice on this? Can some one please explain the "green zone" to me?

Hello. The last two fills i've had, my Dr. told me my band got really loose. He needed to add 2cc's. He wants to check me again in 3 weeks, to make sure nothing is wrong with my band. Has anyone experienced this??????

The gas pain is horrible...I take Gas-x, pepcid, and Tums!! I alternate between them. My incision is pretty sore also. I can't sit for too long, I can't lay down for too long, I cant stand for too long! AHHHHHHHHHH! Can't wait for this part to be over. The good part is that I have lost like 7 pounds since surgery! It takes me 3 sittings to eat a 6 oz yogurt! I am sick of the shakes so what I do it put 2 scoops in 4 oz of skim milk and ice, blend it well so that way I only have to drink it once a day instead of twice or three times. I wanna sleep on my belly again too!!

Not sure if you are willing to go up a little or a little further in distance, but Dr. Domkowski in Sebastian Fl. (about 3 1/2 hours from you) does both the Lap-Band® or the Sleeve for $12,500 inclusive, including a year of fills a follow up. Great staff, and he is very very nice, with a very empathetic attitude and great bedside manner. The Cost - Riverside Surgical and Weight Loss Center

Sorry, I should have told you about my post op. I was comfortable to go home the same day. I had my surgery at 8 am and Dr. Fielding sent me home after seeing me at 7pm. I only needed pain medication...IV in the recovery room. I didn't ask for it again. I took tylenol when I got home for the next 24-36 hours. I mostly took it, before bed. So I'd be most comfortable for sleep. I slept on pile of pillows as sitting up and lying down is the hardest move to do. I found at one week I was back to normal. Moving around and driving, cooking, shopping....but no heavy lifting. If you want to know more. Email me. put subject in email....otherwise I won't open.

Has anyone out there been banded at NYU- Interested in your experiences- Most curious about the first 2 to 3 week period post op- are you full, what is healing like, etc etc etc- what can one expect from someone who has had this ?

Yes, even after 3 years, I stil have times that food just won't go down, and doesn't appeal to me. I am not sure what to tell you, exept, it is pretty normal and to wish you well. Karen

Im wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I am nearly 6 weeks post op and for the last week I've been having sharp pain below the rib on the left side.

How do i make my story short and not so sweet? Anyway I had my sleeve done August 15th and was oh so happy and was dropping pounds like bombs and my doc was like you can exercise after 2 weeks. So what does Tashara do after 2 weeks? I went for a nice little bike-ride around DC, 2miles tops. Anyways, I came back and collapsed at my desk and had a high fever. (this was last Tuesday 8/30). So I go to kaiser urgent care who checks my blood and sends me home with Tylenol and says I have a bug. OK. Wednesday I call my surgeons office (Dr. Salemah and Dr. Mayes) and go in to have a UGI to make sure my sleeve is in good condition. So my sleeve is great, and then I suddenly get sharp pains in my left side along with my 102+ fever. But they too send me home and say follow up with PCP. Now its Thursday and I'm about to die and so I see my primary who puts me on an IV, antibiotics (Invans) and liquid Tylenol for my fever. They check my blood pressure and it has dropped to 88\48! Usually I have to take Lisinopril for my pressure but I haven't even taken it since my surgery, so that is some very low numbers. So my doc puts me on another bag of fluid and sends me home when my fever drops to 99 and my pressure is up to 95\56. I woke up early Friday morning shivering like no other and a temp of 104.3. I called an ambulance and was rushed to the ER. So they gave me a CT scan and come to find out..my spleen has an abscess of liquid on it. So now i'm being transported to Virginia Hospital Center (where I had my surgery) and of course Dr. Mayes comes to meet me and he is rushing me to their CT scan so they can take out my infected spleen and place a drain tube through my back to get all of the excess fluid. Pain Pain Pain Pain. Saturday, the infectious disease doc comes in and totally freaks me out saying that the spleen and the stomach are basically connected by some blood vessels. When they cut my stomach they had to remove the cells connected to the spleen which usually dies off and grows back. But instead mines picked up salmonella. SALMONELLA!!!! Has any body ever heard of a crazy thing like that. I caught salmonella during surgery on my friggin spleen. Like of all the times I have eaten somewhere that might not have been the cleanest or pigged out on some nasty fast food, I catch salmonella poisoning on my spleen during surgery. So my labor day weekend was spent in the hospital and I came home finally today with a taped up back and a drain with yucky stuff dripping out. Would i be wrong to ask my surgeon to foot my hospital bill, I mean c'mon son!

Well, I can acertainly sympathize with the upper respiratory roller coaster. I rode it for years! A few things to consider. 1. Do you have any allergies? You may not know for sure but you might discuss this with your general physician. Even mild allergies can lead to post nasal drip which puts mucous down your esophagus and that can in turn create a mucous plug. Yiou might try drinking a cup of hot (as hot as you can comfortably drink) tea or coffe before meals and see if that breaks up the mucous plug. 2. I was hospitalized 3 times in 18 months with bacterial pneumonia. I had numerous bouts with bronchitis and ear infections and sinus infections. I was a mess. Once I was well for a s couple of days my doctor gave me a vaccination for viral pneumonia. Yeah, I know sounds like it's not related but it worked. Apparently what was happening was that I would get a mild viral infection with the virus that causes viral pneumonia. I wouldn't even be aware of it and then a secondary bacterial infection would settle in. The vaccination is called a pneumovax and insurance should cover it and you have to repeat it something like every 5 years. My first one was in the mid-80s and I have had bronchitis exactly 3 times in the more than 20 years since then. 3. If nobody is sure about the allergy question, you might get a referral to an asthma & allergy specialist. Mine did a pretty comprehensive interview, did only about 20 skin tests for specific allergies -- and I tested positive for 17...yeah, 17! He did immunotherapy (injections) and included "adult B virus" in my mix because I was getting sick so often. Now, I never, ever have an allergy problem. None. It was worth it. Let us know what you figure out. Unfortunately, sometimes the patient has to ask the right questions. Maybe this will help you find the right questions.

Hi Ashely! I am 28, I also have PCOS. I was diagnosed when I was 18. I have been on a diet my whole life it seems lol. I had my sx on 3/1/13 and have never been happier. Down a total of 15 lbs so far. Most I've ever lost in a month before this was 5 lbs so I feel like this will be the tool I needed so long ago.

Alexandra I've been following your posts and have a question. If I remember correctly, you had your surgery on 8/20. I'm right behind you - on 8/26. So, you're just 1 1/2 weeks post-op. Correct? And you're on mushy food already??? I'm amazed. I am just 4 days post-op and am on Clear liquids until next Tuesday, then I have a week of full liquids (Protein drinks and yogurt, etc.), before I am allowed to go to mushy foods in week three. I'm surprised that you are able to be on mushy (and soft?) already. Nice to hear though. What are the guidelines your doctor gives you? Your words of wisdom about protein are helpful. Actually, I'm pretty amazed I'm not starving right now. I've been having basically clear broth, Jello, fruit juice popsicles - AND a clear liquid Protein, which I think really helps. But I must say, I'm ready for the next phase. I'm sick of the clear liquids. Thanks for all your helpful posts. Mary

Wow!! I was borderline diabetic too! It's completely under control now as well..about your reflux..if you get anxious does it flare up?? Nerves might be getting to you?? I know waiting for all the requirements to be met made me so stressed I had headaches and stomach aches!! :cool2: Well I had to wait with my family doctor too but when she found out that my liver doctor was going to write a letter then she jumped on the band wagon and then the heart doctor but come to find out I didn't need all of those! Just getting the lapband doctor to do his report and have all my morbidity problems and my excessive weight and having proof of a supervised diet plan within the last five years..and failing of course..set me up! This is the first year my insurance covered the lap band. They would the by pass but my liver doc and family doc said they wouldn't recommend it because of so many problems that could be incurred..so my liver doc said..now a lap band I'll go for since it's reversible if things don't go well! So 2 years later I finally got my band! I just wish they had this available through my insurance years ago!! It sure would have saved them so much in prescriptions and doctor visits!! But better late than never!!:biggrin2:Please keep me posted as you go along and get things done and if you need anything I'll try to help you as much as I can! One thing I suggest..just because..if there is something that you really love to eat..get it and eat it!! I had steak for 2 whole weeks before my preop diet! HA! If I knew that those great rolls wouldn't go through my band I would have made myself sick eating those too because you are getting ready for a real strict amount and type of food you can eat! I can eat just about anything but chicken that's fried..forget it, if it has dry meat I gag!! I eat steak but my hubby cuts it really tiny because I'm real bad about not chewing as throughly as I should!:w00t: I eat fish, beef, pork (which seems to be the easiest for me to digest) and my veggies are limited because some of them are pretty stringy and you will fill up pretty quick with fiber!! I always try to eat my protein (meats/cheese/eggs etc) first..then proceed with what ever is on my diet! One mistake a friend of my daughters made was assuming the band was a cure all..it's not..it's a tool to HELP you but you have to follow the diet and be ready to exercise..all I do is walk and it does help!! You can still cheat but that's when your will power has to be overcome!! In the lapbandtalk forum there are a bunch of us that have plead guilty of cheating once in a while and it's really strange that the good stuff will make you puke but the bad stuff just goes right through! HA! But we are all trying to keep from cheating now! If it goes down that easy then that tells me it can be stored as fat!! I'm so tight right now I should be losing weight but like I said I haven't been exercising so I know it works because I'm eating a lot less but the scales are moving soooo slowly!! Anyway..just wanted to let you know some of the things I can look back on and wish I would have done but didn't..and now what I can do but try not to! I'm only half way through but my girlfriends at work think I've lost enough..as well as my hubby, but if I'm going to pay for plastic surgery I want to at least reach my goal first!! So I will plod along and maybe this time next year I can start my second phase of becoming a new me!! Best wishes for you!!

Yes, I think it will work out. I am so glad you are having so much success and feeling better! It's really weird, since I started the process to get the band I have been having terrible acid reflux and had to increase my med for that, I also had some lab done and am pre-diabetic! Guess I should have decided to have this surgery last year and then I would feel great, too. I am glad your doctors support you, it has taken me 3 years to convince my family doctor to write a referral letter. He has always supported my efforts to lose weight, he just wanted me to do it without surgery. I guess I finally proved I needed some help and that the lap band is it! Thanks for the 'support' LOL, too bad they won't count online, I would have it made.

In my support group we meet for an hour every other week. The meeting is run by our outpatient exercise coordinator and either the dietician or psychologist. the meeting consists of powerpoint presentations and handouts. We are allowed to ask questions and make comments throughout the course of the meeting. I've been going to the meetings since March until last month, but I no longer go. I don't feel I'm getting anything from these meetings.