I was banded by Dr. Simpson on April 21, 2009 and so far so good!

The office staff is super nice and Dr. Simpson is a pro at what he does.

I will get my first fill hopefully on June 2nd and cannot wait!

Anyone else out there banded by Dr. Simpson?

Chris

Today is the first time I have had any pain at the port/incision. It is so sensative to the touch. I am not sure if I did something or if the baby is moving up and is moving it up and out. But it is killing me!

I am pretty much stead with no gain and no loss at this point. I guess if I wasn't prego, I might actually be loosing weight. So we'll just have to wait for the baby to come to begin the weightloss journey again.

maybe the baby is pushing on it. . . but also i know that it's sewn to muscle, maybe you aggrivated it somehow. . . once in a while, if i sleep in an awkward position, or lean my stomach against the counter when brushing my teeth, etc. i get some tenderness at my port site

Lisa

how's everyone's progress?

Sorry I havent been on here forever! I have been overwhelmed with work, school and travel, I'm hardly ever home anymore!

I'm progressing well. I had my second fill 2 weeks ago, and this time it didnt even feel like I had a fill! So weird. I go back at the end of this month and hopefully get another fill and it will work out better.

How are you Lisa? Did you go to the most recent meeting? I cannot go since I have classes on Thurs. evenings.

Great to hear from you! It's nice to be able to talk to someone w/the same doc, and similar timeline on the band. Sorry you can't make the support group meetings.

Yes, I did go to the last meeting. I've been scheduling my appointments around the meetings so I only have to make one trip to Phx a month.

The day after the meeting, I had my 3rd fill. However, I had lost 10 lbs since my previous appointment, so the Dr. was slightly weary on whether or not I needed a fill. I told him, however, that I am losing because I'm measuring and working out (mostly :thumbup:. I DO feel hungry within about 2 or 3 hours-- and it's my understanding that his goal is for us to be able to go for 4 hours or so.

Also, sometimes the measured amounts of food don't seem to be enough for me. Dr. S went ahead and gave me the fill anyway- but he told me he was giving me a smaller fill than usual.

He also didn't schedule me for the next appt, he just said to call and schedule as needed. I went ahead and scheduled for one month anyway (which happens to be the Thurs of the next support group) and scheduled my appt. for Fri morning. That way, I can go if needed, but if I don't need to, I'll just cancel the week prior.

Sometimes I still feel like I'd like the band tighter, but then again-- I am losing. Dr. S. said that if it's too tight, it will greatly impact which foods I can eat.

As a rule, I already cut out all Pasta, rice, and bread. I think that's helping my weight loss a lot.

How about you? How's your loss, eating, etc?

When I had my 2nd fill, I didn't notice much for a week or two, but then, I started to feel as though food lasted longer than before the fill. Dr. S told me that sometimes it takes a week or two for a fill to "kick in" and register w/your brain.

Hang in there! If you don't feel this fill enough, I think the next one will have an impact!

I try to remember, that with each fill (big or small) it makes SOME difference over before!

I only get afraid of overeating-- I don't want to have a slip. Do you worry about that much? Maybe I'm just paranoid! ha ha

Lisa

Just wondering: Dr. Simpson says he will not do surgery on someone over the age of 60. What if we need a revision or something after we are 60. I am not too far from that age. What does he do? Doesn't he have to follow up with his patients?

Just wondering.

Pickles,

I'm not sure what he does in that situation, but I would imagine that aftercare would still be available, even if you happened to have a birthday! His office staff is great about answering questions. I would send them an e-mail, or give them a call. (simpson.office@gmail.com)

Also, once you have surgery, unless you have some bad complications, I don't think too many people have to have surgery again. I know it DOES happen, but he's a great surgeon, and there are also ways of fixing some things w/out surgery again.

Lisa

Hello all, just came across this site so forgive me for bein a newbie. I am now 12 days post op, seem to be healing okay and I got for my post op visit a week from tommarow. Dr. S told me he wanted me on full liquids for 3 weeks. I am getting through it, but seems like a long time. I seem to handle pudding ,jello and yogurt okay and looking forward to tryin hot cereal tommarow. Thanks for taking time to post info here, it really is a great site. Lookin forward to first group meeting, but not sure when it is so I'll just check into it next week.

I'm pretty sure the next support group meeting is this Thurs (usually at 6:30pm). I live out of town and won't make it to this one, but I generally try to make it-- because the meetings are very helpful/informative.

Good luck- soon you will be eating mushies, then on to regular foods-- once you have a fill or two you really start to see the benefits of the band. It'll happen before you know it!

Lisa

Thanks for the support, and thanks to pickles123 I was able to attend the lapband 2 class last night. It was very informative and everyone seems very friendly. I was unexpectedly able to weigh in after the meeting. I was amazed that I had lost almost 17lbs in 2 weeks. I started to drasticly increase my protien today as per the advice of the nutritionist. Not sure how that will effect my loss one way or another but I'm gonna due my best to follow their order's. I picked up a pedometer today, so now at least I know how much i'm walking and I will continue to do it 7 days a week. Definatly will be @ the support meeting thursday. take care and thanks again.

Hey everyone! Just popping on here real fast to say hi! Sorry I havent been on here much, Im currently taking a full load of art courses and working too, so I dont have much time to myself.

Ive been doing ok, band wise, Ive had 3 fills and Im getting ready to schedule my 4th. I havent had any complications (No pb, none of that stuff) except if something isnt chewed enough or its too dry (Ive learned that leftover chicken is always a no-no) I get horrible pain in my left shoulder, just like after surgery. I always have it in the mornings when I wake up. Dr Simpson says its from having my esophageal hernia repaired during my lap band procedure, and that it will eventually pass. I hope so, because its frustrating! I do find, however, that I can still eat pretty much the same foods as before, which is frustrating as well because if I couldnt eat them, it would be easier to resist. I wish I could go to the groups but I have classes on thursday nights. boo.

So how is everyone else doing?

April

I'm doing pretty well. I've had 4 fills, but one was only a "Half fill" because the doc thought that was all I needed at the time.

My next appt is mid-Nov. By that time I might need a small fill.

My loss is going ok. It keeps stalling, and then all of a sudden it picks up. It scares me a bit, because I worry the loss will halt. I'm committing more to workouts now to hopefully avoid that.

I can eat most of the same foods as well. I don't let myself eat rice, bread, or Pasta though. I think it's helped my weight loss. I do eat crackers on occasion.

I have to be careful to measure my foods, because I KNOW I can eat more than I'm supposed to. Do you measure? Or do you get full quickly?

I also wonder if I eat too fast sometimes. I really try to eat slow, like they say, but it never takes me 20 or 30 min to eat one cup of food. How about you?

My band is tighter in the morning-- but no shoulder pain.

Looks like you're losing pretty well based on you stats! Keep up the great work.

Lisa

I am the worst at measuring! We usually "eyeball". but I want to, Im just too lazy I guess!

One thing I forgot to mention, I'm losing my hair! Do any of you have this problem as well? My hair has always been thin, so this really sucks, its making me a bit depressed, I cannot do anything with it now. Any suggestions? I was going to ask Dr S about it when I have my next appointment.

Please DO ask about the hair and let me know what he says? I have the same problem! I mentioned it to the nutritionist-- asked her if I should take Biotin (which I've read about on this site quite a bit). She said that hair loss is not due to the band, but it's due to the after effects of anesthesia. However, I don't buy that! Please ask Dr. S and let me know what he says?

I've read (and also a banded friend reassures me) that the hair will grow back normally.

My hair is noticeably thinner now, and it's bumming me out too.

As far as measuring goes- I bought some plastic rubbermaid tupperware that's 1.2 cups, and i combine my veg and Protein in them for my lunches at work. At home, I try to eat out of a coffee cup, cause it helps with measuring.

Have you had any plateaus? I seem to keep hitting them every week or two, but then it slowly breaks. . .

Lisa

oh- also- my hair was pretty long, and I recently had it cut (little longer than shoulder length), and asked my stylist to put a few more layers in it, told her I'm dieting and my hair is thinning, so she helped me out.

Hair professionals can help you get the best out of your hair. The layers, and cutting my hair shorter has really helped give the illusion of more body- thus making me a little less self conscious :scared2: