Hey everyone! I hope you guys don't mind that I've started a new thread. I've been talking to Terri from Dr. B's office, and she wants to email all of Dr. Bagnato's patients about this website and this support chat that all of us Bagnato Bandsters have going on. She was really impressed by how we've been supporting each other and wants all of Dr. B's patients to be able to come here and get support.

I wanted the title of the thread to be clear and make sure everyone who was banded by Dr. Bagnato knows that they are welcome here, even if they don't live in Albany.

For anyone who is interested, we have formed a support group and have decided to meet once a month.

Our first group meeting will be Feb. 7th at Ruby Tuesday in Tifton, Ga at 6:00 pm. This meeting is basically just a "get to know each other" meeting. I hope to see all of you there!

It's already gone! I had a fill on 6/9 and they can't schedule me in again until 8/9. Oh well, no worries. Hope all of you are doing well.

:Angel_anim:

Hello everyone! I am back from the beach and I had a great time. I think this little break from LBT was good for me. It helped me put my priorities in order. Anyway, just wanted to say hey to everyone. Looking forward to our meeting!

Hello everyone! Am a patient of dr bagnato's . Having my surgery july 25th. Can some one give me any advice?

Countrygirl welcome to the group! We're glad to have you and congratulations on your upcoming lapband. My best advice for you is to follow the guidelines. If you follow these you will be very successful. You'll be on sugarbusters for the 2-3 weeks prior to your surgery and that's very important. If you can tolerate the sugar busters its a great way to eat once you're banded also.

Everyone on this site has been very happy with Dr. B and his staff, they're very supportive. As you think of questions, just ask away, someone here will be happy to answer them.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks nip50. I look forward to talking with you.

Hi countrygirl...welcome to LBT and the group.

Like Nip told you - you'll start your sugarbusters diet 2-3 weeks prior. Terri or someone with Dr. B's office will get you a copy of it before hand. It's important to follow the diet, you'll need to lose weight to shrink your liver prior to surgery.

Make sure before surgery to get plenty of liquid and mushy foods on hand. Dr B.'s office will give you directions and the diet to follow. I started tracking my foods right away. That's helped me stay focused. You can just use notebook paper - there is also online food journaling sites. I use thedailyplate myself and love it.

Good luck and if you have any quesitons, please ask away

I'm heading out of town tomorrow - so I'll be out of touch with everyone until next week. I hope everyone continues to lose and stay focused on what goes in our mouths (my biggest prob. right now). I had my first official fill today, so I'm hoping that'll help me some. Have a great holiday weekend!

Country girl, I can't add anymore to what you've been told other than if you don't have one, get a heating pad. That thing was my best friend after surgery. The only pain I had was horrible back pain from the gas they pump into you for the surgery. The heating pad definitely helped!

Good luck!

Country girl - One more thing. Since I see you're not from Albany, you will be traveling. Take a pillow along to hold agains your stomach. I live almost 2 hours from Albany and no one told me this. I was continually grabbing and holding my stomach as the car turned and stopped. A pillow would have helped greatly.

As I think of more things, I'll pass it on. Good Luck.

Hello countrygirl! Just wanted to welcome you to the group and congratulate you on your upcoming surgery. It's nice to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you.

I did something today that I never would have a year ago or 20 years ago and its all due to the band. My band has been a blessing. This may seem ridiculous to some, but I went tubing with my family today. We went to Ichetucknee and went tubing for 2 hours down the river. If this would have been last year, I would have sent my teenagers and my husband down the stream and I would have waited for them at the car. At 300+ pounds there would have been no way for me to fit on a tube and float down that stream. I have always had to be the bystander while they had all the fun. Now I get to join in on the fun and without the band this would never have happened. Thanks for listening.

Now for all of you who haven't been to Ichetucknee, you need to go. We had a great time.

Very cool, Nip! I bet you had a blast. We are actually planning a trip there later this month. I haven't been in years.

Good for you!

Nip-That sounds like a blast!! Congrats on the NSV! I can only imagine how good it felt to be an active part of the festivities!

You continue to be my inspiration!!!

Do ya'll know if the OTC does unfills on an emergency basis or if you have to make an appointment?

I had my first fill a little over a week ago. Some days I'm okay if I eat mushy foods - I don't PB. I can't eat anything solid - I chew chew chew and it still comes back on me. Most days I'm PB'ing just about everything. Although water and liquids go down fine. I couldn't even eat yogurt or runny grits on Friday. I think I'm a little too full - a small unfill would probably get me to where I need to be.

Sorry, Leslie. I had my first fill shorted because I was going out of town the next day for a week. Mine doesn't have enough - I think I could eat anything I wanted and not have problems. I really have to make myself not eat (sometimes not so successfully!). My next fill is on the 22nd and hopefully I'll notice a difference - but not what you're experiencing, I hope!

Good luck and keep up posted. :smile2:

Leslie~ The OTC will do an unfill without an appointment. I've never had to but Elizabeth said anytime you are too tight to come in and they will do an unfill. Sounds like you need one.