catfish

I would never tell my DH, he is 5'8 and 125 lbs. he understands nothing about being fat. One reason I won't is the other night we were talking about the band, a friend is having the band surgery and he told that her husband told him her weight. I would dead. Also I didn't like to give him ammo, if we have a disagreement.

Hi all, It took 3 fills before I felt any restriction. After my last DR visit I told him we need to get a little more aggressive with the fills. I have an 11cc band and he just now put 6 cc in it. I do feel a good restriction now. However because I was not restricted for so long its like starting all over again with the eating. I've lost 65 lbs since oct 06.

I was in for 24 hrs. Almost to the minute.

Chinamom, I live in the fredericksburg area of Virginia, and was banded on 9/26/2006. I have lost a little over 50 pounds. To be honest if I didn't have help after surgery I truly think I would have been fine on my own. You will need for someone to pick you up from the hospital. I only took one pain pill the day after surgery. Bending over is the hardest part.(to feed the cats). Struck my husband with that chore for as long as I could get away with it. My only advice is to be helpful with the Richmond area hospitals, I know of 3 or 4 people how had gastric bypass surgery in richmond and ended up with really bad infections. I truly think the band was the best decision I made. Any of us can do anything we set our minds to. Catfish (Lisa) :biggrin1:

Impope, I have been married for 14 years. I was banded on September 26, 2006. At first my husband was not for the idea........I to tried to explain the process and went over everything with him.......to no avail......so I started the process without his support. Once he realized that I was going to do this with or without his help, he slowly came around. I have even want as far as making arrangments for a friend of my to pick me up from the hospital the next day after surgery. Thats when he came around....I also told him I would have my mom come out the stay for a week to help me.....after that he was very supportive. (he doesn't want to have to deal with my mom for a week). After I came out of surgery and he saw me, he was fine. I think they just get really scared about something happening to us and being left alone. Now he is very supportive. I lucky because my husband knows once I set my mind to something there is no stopping me. So he generally comes on board. Hope that helps. Catfish(Lisa)

my doctor said Centrum Silver Chewables. Hope that helps.

Cleo, I wouldn't worry to much about the clots...if your Dr is on the ball and thinks there may be a problem he should give you a prescription for shots for 14 days after surgery. I had to have a shot once a day for 14 days after surgery because of my size. I was banded in Sept. 06 and haven't had a problem.

I think for me it a case of testing the waters..........

:speechles I had a fill on Jan.29, 2007. The Dr. put a 2.4 cc fill in my 11 cc band. I got a good restriction. Since this was my first fill I'm having to learn to stop eating before I PB. I can only eat about a 4th cup of food. I was banded in september and my Dr. won't due a fill for 3 months after surgery. Because I was wide open for so long I'm having a hard time adjusting to the restriction.......but I'm getting there. (Lisa)

:speechles I was banded in september, my dr. will not do a fill until after 3 months post op. I did drop 50 pounds without the fill, however I was filled on Monday Jan. 29. My problem is that I went so long without a restriction that I was eating faster that I should have and now I get sick when I eat because I'm eating to quickly. Point of the story even if you don't have a restriction remember to eat slowly or you will be starting over like me.(Lisa)

Goddespotential, The cpap is one of the best machine invented....my Dr. requires a sleep study before surgery. Whoever it was the pulmonary specialist how ready pulled it. With my Dr if you fail the test and have to get the cpap, they went you to have it for 2 weeks before surgery and take it to the hospital with you. However I didn't get the machine in time so the hospital put me on one of theirs. If you have to use the Cpap, you well feel better than you have felt in years. I couldn't believe the change in my energy level and even my personality.

Wheetsin, Thanks for the quick reply. I feel better now. You are a great person for all the help you give us on the web site. You make life for us beginners a whole lot easier. Catfish (lisa)

Hi All,:help: Sorry to change the subject for I need a little information. I'm a supersize bandster. I was banded on September 26 and have lost 45lbs.. My doctor told be yesterday that I have a 11 cc band. He was also suppose to do a fill but said the port was to hard to found and didn't went to stick me four or five times. So I will be going to the hospital to be filled using a floroscopy. Can anyone tell me that to expect. Thanks Catfish (Lisa)

My before surgery weight was 386 at 5'3 by BMI was 68.4 I'm down to 346. I had my surgery on 9/26/06. I think I'm doing okay. I went to my company's gym today and the trainer is going to work up a cardio and weigh program for me. (I'm lucky that my company has a full gym and trainers available for it employees at no cost.) I'm glad I found this site. When I was in my doctor classes (required) I was the only one who was having the lap band. My doctor seems different they most of the one's I've read about on this site. For example he will not do a fill for 3 months after surgery (he said it was because before he mess with the port he wants you healed.) I wish he would have did a fill a month or two out. I need to get better about write on the site. There is so much I need to say to someone who is going though this to. Maybe I get better in time with expressing my feelings in writing. Thanks for listening.(lisa)

Most insurances require the psych thing.......I took two, my first one was to old after I had to do the 2 supervised diet as part of their requirements. My first one was a test of about 550 questions (You would have to be a crazy to answer yes to some of the questions, like do you feel someone out to get you or do you hear people talking to you when your alone, etc) after she graded to test I meet with her again and she told me that I could have my surgery.......the second I just answer a short survey of questions, talked to the Doctor for an hour and they he wrote my letter. I felt I got more out of second one. We talked about eveything from relationships to stress, my role in the family. I think the biggest thing they are trying to find out is if you have thought this though and you are not compulsive. Hope that helps.

Bailey, When I first decided to have the surgery, I got very little support........my husband was not understanding (he's 125 lbs and 5'8, like he ever had a weight problem), one of the ladies I car pool with said she didn't think our company's insurance should pay for people being lazy, even my father in-law had something bad to say only to my husband of course (once again like he ever had a weight issue). But this was something I did for me, not everyone else. We will success with or without their support. Because we are strong and have sites like this one where we can get support. I think when people are not supportive of are decision, it comes back to their only issues that we will change or be different people. Putting ourselves first instand of them. Sorry to be so longed winded. Catfish (lisa)

The surgery is not that bad. After I left the hospital I didn't take any of my pain killers........Mainly because they taste really bad after you crush them. The only pain I really had was pain at the biggest cut out of the six on my stomach. To be honest I got really depressed after about 4 days at home. I didn't know if it is normal but I cried and wondered that I did to myself. Just make sure your have something to keep you mind busy and that you have someone you can call or visit. Other than that I'm really happy I made the decision to have the surgery and with the support of friends and family and web sites like this I know we will all success in reaching our goals. Gook luck. Please let me know how everything went.:clap2:

I would like to thank these of you how have answered my call for support. Having your input really helped me with my mind set. It has finally sunk in that support of people go down the same road as you can really help. I look foward to being on the site more. I might try the September bandster challange. Once again thanks for making me feel welcome.

I have been banded since September 26, 2006. My doctors are Dr. Hamli and Dr. Tran. To date I have lost 40 lbs. I'm due to go back to the Doctor on Jan. 19 for a full and check up. I'm hoping the wieght loss will speed up with the full. This is my first. I'm a little worried that I'm not doing as well as others who have had the surgery. Please let me know if you feel I doing okay.