gettinthelapbandtogether

I live here in Pensacola, Florida and we just had the joy of Tropical Storm Lee stalling out over us for the past three days. I am wondering if this low pressure weather could affect the band and make it feel tighter? I got a fill two weeks ago from 5.5cc up to 6.5 cc, and for the first 4 days seemed fine. On the 5th day, I could not hold anything down, including Water, but I chalked it up to nerves as I was going home that day for my sister's wedding. After day 5, things got better, and I was able to get food and fluids down, even though it was significantly more restricted. That brings us up to the last few days where it has gotten much more uncomfortable; fluids stay down fine, but most everything, including mushies, come back up. All of the sudden today, as the weather has started to return to normal, I can eat like a normal lap band patient again and fluids are not uncomfortable either. Could it be similar to the effect flying in an airplane has on the band? Just Curious? Surgery Day May 10, 2011 Weight at Surgery 457lbs Weight as of Today: 355lbs 4 fills @ May 4.5cc @ June .5cc @ July .5cc @ August 1cc

Awesome....another blogger to follow! I had my band put in a week ago.... My blog is at www.benworship.wordpress.com Enjoy!

I had surgery on may 10th and I consider the whole ordeal to be a success so far but just wondering if I am the only one who thinks he/ she is having the pod race scene from star wars episode 1 play out in my internals after I ingest anything? Lots of movement, tons of noise but the gas doesn't want to come out? I am considering recording it and trying to get my small intestines a record deal.... Thanks, Ben Banded on May 10th in Pensacola Florida by Dr. Jeffrey Lord. Follow my journey at Www.benworship.wordpress.com

My doctor made it a point to tell my family and I that he was able to put in the small band and the big port....he said in a way that we should have been super happy and overjoyed... What Is the advantage of having the smaller band vs. The big one? He did tell me that bigger guys like me usually have to get the bigger band but was just curious to the advantages and who has which one? Ben Banded on may 10 in Pensacola Florida by dr. Jeffrey Lord Follow my journey at www.benworship.wordpress.com

Mine was that severe as well.... Two weeks of clear liquids... Two protien shakes after day three Two weeks full liquids.... Two weeks of mushies... I am at the end of phase 1 and can't wait to get to the next stage.... Oh and to make it all better... When I get a fill it is back on clears for 2 days fills for 2 days and mushies for 2 days! But in my opinion it is a SMALL price to pay!

Had my surgery on the 10th of this month. Definite necessities.... 1. The pain meds the Dr. Prescribed. 2. Gas x strips. They have/are a lifesaver for me 3. Liquid Tylenol for when it is time to come off of the pain mess that the Dr. Prescribed. 4. sugar free Popsicles....they will give you something to chew on. Good luck you will do awesome! Ben Follow my journey at www.benworship.wordpress.com

I was banded on may 10 th and am experiencing a lot of the same things.... Everyone says it is normal. Lots of gas and bloating. I have found out that taking a long but SLOW walk without inclines really helps with the gas/bloating. When it gets bad at night I get up and walk the hallway a couple of times at home before lying back down. Hope this helps and congrats Ben Follow my lap band journey at www.benworship.wordpress.com

Had surgery on May 10th and survived. It was so much better than I ever expected... other than some issues in recovery, the pain was very manageable. I was in the hospital for right at one day... (overnight) and have been home for five days now and am starting to feel like myself! Just wrote a blog entry and posted some pictures about my surgery day at my blog... www.benworship.wordpress.com Go Check it out! Good luck to all who are getting banded... it is so worth it and so not a big deal!! You will wake up and within a few days will feel so much better.. Remember this.. Everytime you look in the mirror post-op, you are seeing yourself the heaviest you will ever be!

Awww! so sorry you had trouble... HopefulLy just a speed bump on the way to happy trails and smaller waistlines

I am at the end of day 2 of my pre op diet and was just wondering if I was the only one who had homicidal thoughts toward my wife, friends, co workers, random strangers on the street? It's a catch 22 with the fluids; drink enough not to feel super hungry and you have to urinate every ten minutes. Stop drinking and you want to gnaw your arm off! Any advice for dealing with the queasiness/nausea and the excruciating headaches? My Dr. said no OTC mets in the last week before surgery... Thanks Ben If you want a perspective on the liquid diet day 2 then, follow my lap band journey at benworship.wordpress.com

As a husband, I can say that if he loves you, he will support you 100%. I am having surgery on Tuesday, and my wife has not been as supportive as she could have been, but she supports my decision 100%. With us it is complicated by the fact that she has a weight problem as well. I have to keep reminding myself that it is hard for someone to change and support when they are just as addicted to food as I am. Your husband will appreciate the honesty; trust me. Don't be surprised if he is frustrated for hiding it so far, but try to include him in as much of it as you can from this time forward! Best of luck! You are going to do great, and know that all the LapBanders out there are thinking about you!! Ben follow my lapband journey at benworship.wordpress.com

When you get in with a reputable clinic, the process is amazing. I am having mine done next tuesday (the 10th) at the Institute for Surgical Weight Loss at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. They had a G.P Primary Care DR on staff who took care of the referral and my weight trial and everything. I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!! A true Institute/Center of Excellence will have people on staff who know what they are doing, and they will also do multiple procedures. Like many have mentioned, the pros/cons of all the procedures were mentioned. There was no advantage to my Dr. letting me get a band; actually he would have made more money off of a bypass. The next time someone says that diet and exercise alone will work, ask them what you are supposed to do when you fall off the wagon and start to regain? The band is there for permanent accountability. Yes it requires lots of work and it requires discipline, DIET and EXERCISE, but it is that nice and not so gentle reminder at 3 in the morning when you think about going and demolishing that half of a pizza that is still in your refrigerator. I have lost over 50 lbs twice in my life and gained back more each time. I lost 160 lbs on the Optifast diet only to regain almost 200lbs afterwards! The lap band is not for everyone, and yes there are failures; there are failures with Gastric Bypass as well. Has anyone ever asked about or looked into the number of gastric bypass patients now undergoing revisions and getting bands placed on their stretched out pouches? It is happening! Good luck in the process... I followed every step the Institute here in Pensacola set for me and the insurance approval process was almost a joke because we had done everything right! Do the same; find a great clinic that does WLS exclusively and they will take care of you! Ben read about my lapband journey at benworship.wordpress.com

My surgery is May 10th too.. Under a week and here we go! I had my preop orientation Monday and they talked a lot about the shoulder pain from the gas. I had my gallbladder out two years ago and that is exactly what it felt like. Not too comfortable but it goes away pretty quickly. I have my last supper tonight and then on the the pre op liquid diet to prep! If you are interested in what goes on at Pre-Op orientation and what they tell you, I just put a post up about it. benworship.wordpress.com Good luck all!

Just wondering if I am about the only guy getting banded? Or perhaps one of the only ones online and talking about it? So glad to be meeting all the awesome ladies on here who are going through what I am, but wondering if I am the only 30ish guy getting this done? There seems to be more of a stigma (where I live at least) for guys getting Bariatric Surgery.. what about where you live? 17 days and counting! Anesthesiologist Consult on May2nd Surgery May 10th www.benworship.wordpress.com

Awesome man! One day after mine!! My protien samples come today and then it is preop dietland starting next week.. Keep me posted on your progress and how you do! Ben benworship.wordpress.com

I am 27 years old..being banded on May 10th!!! WOO HOO almost here! My weight this week at the pre-op orientation was 456, making my BMI 55.5 I have over 200 lbs to lose and it would be awesome to at least lose that! It definitely feels like most of us 'larger' large people go with the RNY instead of the band, but I am encouraged that it is going to work! Best of luck to you! Ben www.benworship.wordpress.com

just went through my pre operative orientation and I survived.. Nothing too major...really surprised at how lax the pre op diet is... was scared I would be on liquids for weeks.. but only five days... Can't believe that surgery is in less than eighteen days!! May 10th here we come! Read about my journey at benworship.wordpress.com

I am scheduled for surgery on May 10th at Sacred Heart in Pensacola. Dr. Lord is my DR. Pre Op Orientation on 4/21 and Pre Op on 5/2 Excited and scared!!!