Anyone from Houma or Gray?? I was just banded on 9/19/07 by Dr. Richardson at Ochsner. Had my two week checkup today. Everything good so far...haven't had problems thus far. Just wondering how everyone else is adjusting to being banded. I don't have much restriction right now so I'm really having to watch how much I eat. I need to start exercising more so I joined our YMCA. The one thing I always had problems with was sticking to an exercise program. My son,he's 15, is going to come work out with me. I'm hoping he's going to keep me motivated.

Sorry so Long! Just wanted to chat with anyone!

I live in Houma also, I was banded by Dr Schwab on May 1, 2007 and to date have lost 118 pounds. I had a total of 8 fills so far. It has been rough at times but I would not have changed a thing.

hey darla any advice for someone who is about to go thru the procedure.....when u say u had rough times exactly how can someone avoid rough spots from your experience.....yes i know we all will have rough days but would be nice to have advice from someone so far along......

Follow your Dr. advice. Read about the surgery and what too expect. I ordered and read 4 books on the subject before my procedure. I got them on Amazon.com.

My biggest problem is I still sometimes have problems when I eat. You can not eat fast and must chew, chew, and chew again. Rice and Bread are not in my diet unless I attempt it at home and I usually get sick with PBing. However, you learn to substitute. I eat cracker and either baked or mashed potatoes. I can drink Diet Coke, however I do not like the way I feel so I may drink 1 or 2 a week. I was drinking 4 20 oz. a day before.

Work is a problem since I only get 30 min for lunch and I can't eat much in that time so I usually have chicken, Tuna, Shrimp, or Egg salad with a couple of crackers. It goes down well and I can get back to work not feeling bloated. Sure saves on the pocketbook.

Also, you must learn not to drink while eating. I thought that would be hard since I drank 4 glasses of Tea with lunch before. However, now when I drink more than a small sip or two I pb.

It seems like a lot of problems, but you adapt. It is all worth it in the long run.

I have been eating more and not loosing so I am in need of another fill. Do not ignore that fact. My Dr included free fill for the first year. I now have to pay about 100.00 for them, but it is a small price to pay. I am scheduling one for next week. I hope this helps.

How is everyone doing? I havn't lost anything since Feb. I'm still about 15 lbs from goal.

Hi,

I live in Thibodaux. My husband and I were both banded on 7/25/08

Hi there

I amf rom Houma, and I had Fredrick Rau do my surgery. I was banded on April 14 2008 so right now I am starting my solid foods..I will be at the meeting on wednesday, at least I hope..Before the surgery I lost 16 pounds, so I am really wondering how much I weigh now since my surgery..I was a self pay cause BCBS don't cover it..Hope to meet new people and get advices from them..Take care !

Kristy

Would you mind sharing the cost of your procedure? Im in the beginning steps of research. I live in Houma.

My surgery costed 14,100.00 and I was an out of pocket patient..But I went threw there loan called surgeryloan.com that's who they go threw..But they do take insurance, but I have Blus Cross Of La so mine isn't covered..

I am in desperate need of a support group in the houma, raceland, morgan city area. My surgery was over a month ago and I've only lost 11 lbs. I'm having a lot of trouble with not being able to drink while I eat and I think thats whats keeping me from losing weight because everything is going right through the band. I had my first fill Monday and still BARELY feel any tightness at all.. its like the band isn't even there. I need help and getting discouraged!

Who did your band?? I am from Houma, and there is a support group meeting next wedensday on the 22nd at 7:00 at the physican surgery department in the imaging area. Try to make it there. I should be going also. You and me are in the same boart. I was having trouble with it also,but I did learn not to drink. I had mine in April 2008 and I have had 2 fills and an unfill..Cause right now I am retining water and that is making me gain weight, but my Dr thinks I am not doing it right. Fredrick Rau did mine and believe me he will yell at you if you don't do it right cause he did that to me, and he is wrong not me. I just found out that my body is keeping the water in. So now I am on fluid pills to get rid of it. I have lost another 7 pounds since I am on them.

Dr. Clark Warden with Surgical Specialists of Louisiana did my surgery. Would I still be able to go to the support group even though I didn't go through them for my surgery???

Yes you can. It don't matter who did the surgery, the support groups are open to the public, weather youhad the lapband or looking into it.

Okay, thanks. What do they charge?

Nothing, it's free! You go there and talk to everyone and they go around the room and ask you to stand up or sit and give your name and how much you lost. Or you don't even have to say nothing. You can just say skip..Then they talk about everything or you can ask questions..

Ive scheduled my first consultantion. Im from the Houma area. If the support group is for pre-banders too I may visit.

Sounds great! Thank you so much!!