DeV

well I went 1 month with hardly any fill due to slippage, my Dr. had me go a month and then retest. Last Friday I had the retest and things looked great..back to normal. Yesterday I had my first fill, only put in a little and taking things slow. I ended up gaining 2# in that month and I will take all the blame for that 2# gain. For whatever reason I didn't exercise and I really didn't watch what I ate....kind of like a "free for all". I do know my Dr. said that if it wouldn't of corrected its self we would of went another month with no fill before anything surgically would of been done. I wish everyone luck that has a slip...it is scary

I had the same thing. Found out my band had slipped when I went in with really bad heartburn and couldn't eat anything. Found out it was probably the combination of being too tight and then having the flu one weekend and throwing up the whole time. I was unfilled for a month and did a retest and everything looked good. Now I am just waiting for my fill appt. which is next week.

I realize that everyones case is different but it would be nice if there were guidelines that all the Drs. have to follow. I also was also found to have a "pouch" apparently my band was too tight and I ended up with the flu one weekend...needless to say there was alot of throwing up. They are guessing this is the reason for the pouch. I am completely unfilled and am to stay that way for 1 month. Then I am to have another fluero, if it is ok then I will start with small fills and if not then another month of non fill. I hate having no restriction and I am scared to death of any weight gain I may have during this time. Just makes me wonder when I read that some are told soft foods where as I have no restrictions of any kind as far as foods.

Please excuse me but I am not sure what you mean by some of your comments. Did you only have 1 fill? Sometimes it takes a few fills before you hit your "spot". It also takes some time to get used to the band and everything that goes with it. Its a learn as you go kinda thing. There have been times that I have gained a pound but that was due to my eating the wrong foods. There also have been times that I haven't lost for a few weeks. It isn't a quick fix, this is something that takes time. I was banded 06/07 and have lost 61lbs. so far. The more you work at it the easier it becomes and the exercising has to come with it also. It took me 4 fills and 1 unfill to get to the spot I have been at since October and I know that at some point coming up I will be needing another little fill. So if I am reading yours wrong I am sorry but it most likely will take a few fills.

Wow..I like a place where we can go with others our age. My name is DeVy will be 48yrs this year. Married 27 yrs. to a very understanding hubby. 3 children: 18yr old son first year at college, 16 yr old daughter and 14 yr old son. Banded June 07 and I living in wonderful Minnesota...although I am second thinking that wonderful part since today its a -20 degrees out.....Can wait to hear from all of you on your experiences with your band....

No words can express my sympathy to you....and I am grateful that after all of this you can come on and warn others. I had my surgery in June and have never had this test done...not after surgery or at anytime with fills.....would be nice if all the doctors did things the same say.

Wow..violeteyes37 you get full after eating a 1/2 cup? I wish I was there...I don't even get full eating more than a cup and I have yet to have that "full feeling" I make myself stop eating somewhere between 1-2 cups...even though I still could eat more and I don't feel full. But I figured even if I eat 2 cups it is still way more less than what I was eating before the band. Heck even if I ate 3 cups it would still be way less. I guess I don't know what that full feeling is and am still waiting to get there.

I have an AP small which was placed in 6/20/07. I have had 3 fills (the 3rd today) and one unfill (too much of a fill). I am currently at 6.7 and I would think once I start eating again I should know if I am close to the "sweet" spot. My Dr. has me do 2 days of liquids and 2 days of soft foods after a fill. I am also waiting to hit that "sweet" spot and get to that "full feeling". I know someone else that has had to be filled 5 times but her Dr. does her fills in much smaller amounts.

:confused:I went for my second fill today at 11:00 and everything went fine...even drank some water in the office. But a couple hours later...I am real burpy, hiccups and somewhat discomfort that comes and goes right where the rib cage starts. I can sip water and it has stayed down. I will be doing liquids for 2 days and the 2 days of soft foods per Dr. orders. Just wondering if this is something I should be concerned with or wait and see what it is like tomorrow? I know that sometimes a person is sore and experiences different things after a fill but this is only my 2nd fill and I didn't have any of this with the first one. So I am just wondering if I should be concerned or what? Thanks!!!

Hi, I am from Mn but live south of Fargo, ND. Had my surgery in Fargo on 6/20/07. There are a few on here from ND that I have met. One from Fargo and the other is from Jamestown, ND. Good luck to you!!

Thanks for all your info..appreciate it !!!!

I enjoy it when pictures are put on here...seeing what each of you have accomplished is inspiration to me. My husband reminds me that even though I may not see any difference when I look in the mirror doesn't mean it isn't there and that others will always see things that my eyes do not. We are always harder on ourselves than we need to be. I want to thank each of you for the pictures and the belief that I can do this too!!

ronda135 I also have BCBSND. I was very surprised at how quickly I was approved. I had my consultation with Dr. Monson on 5/15/07 and recieved my ins. approval on 5/23/07. The only thing I was on at the time was Lipitor, besides being 5'4" and weighing 258#. I do have a family history of diabetis, heart issues, etc. But right how I have been basically healthy....well as healthy as you can be weighing that. So I was surprised at how fast my approval came. I haven't had my first fill yet and my surgery was on June 20th and since 6/6/07 I have lost 28.5#....I am very happy with it....I don't care if the weight comes off slow....just so it comes off...

I totally understand how you felt/feel. I was banded on 6/20/07. The day of my surgery while waiting for "my turn" to go to the surgery room I kept thinking I was going to run out. My surgery was delayed by 2hrs. due to the Dr. running behind, which didn't help the situation. I kept asking my husband if I was doing the right thing. He pointed out that my mom died at the age of 64 and my dad who had 2 heartattacks, by pass surgery, a massive stroke and now had his leg amputated due to his diabetis and he just turned 65. And asked me how I wanted to live. I knew that even though I was scared to death I had to choose to live ...if not for myself but for my 3 kids. Even when I was on the table counting backwards I was still wondering if I was doing the right thing. I can tell you now ...NO REGRETS!! I haven't even been banded 1 month and I am already off from my Lipitor. I know the new way will not be easy but neither would be going through what my dad is... Have faith...you can do it!!

I was banded on June 20th...I am also from Minnesota..Banded at MeritCare Fargo, ND. My Dr. had me do the 2 weeks liquid diet prior to surgery and then also 2 weeks after surgery. I am now just finishing up a week of pureed diet...4 protein shakes during the day..4 oz. with 4 oz. of pureed unsweetened fruit, 4 oz. of low fat no sugar yogurt and then 1 tray of pureed food from the hospital and this is my current daily food intake. Next I move to soft foods.....funny how all Doctors have different plans. You will have to keep me updated on how you are doing. As far as feelling....I feel great and did right after surgery also. Good luck to you...

Had my surgery on 6/20, spent the night in the hospital and came home late morning 6/21. So far I feel good. Had some uncomfortable gas/shoulder pain durning the night of the hospital stay but that was it....so far. I look like I am 8 months pregnant and I walk slow but otherwise I feel good. The only issue I had in the hospital was it ended up with the dry heaves which worried me some but the nurse said it would be ok...I am so looking forward to the new adventure of finding the new me. I am now back on the 2 week liquid diet and taking it one day at a time...:biggrin1:

I am on the liquid diet...protein shakes...water...broth. I was also worried about not being able to do it. I felt if I could stick to a diet it I wouldn't be getting banded. I will admit the first few days were tough...but it does get easier. I think it was more the mind game than anything...I felt sorry for myself when everyone else was having that pizza or hamburger. And I was told the diet was for the same liver reason. The 2 weeks will go by fast...I am now getting ready to leave for the hospital for my surgery TODAY!! Oh and I will have to do the liquid diet 2 weeks after today also but I know I can do it..and so can you. You have to go into this with a I can do attitude...... Good Luck!!!

Well I will have the start of a new me on June 20th. Dr. Monson at MeritCare in Fargo, ND. I started the whole process on Jan. 22, 2007 and thought 6/20/07 seemed so far away. Now it is here and I still can't believe it. The only ones that know are the hubby, 3 kids, and sister. I have had enough slaps in the face with other failed weight loss attempts and felt I could not face the comments, looks, etc. from others if they knew. I have been so busy with everyday life to worry or even think about it until now...I find myself scared, nervous and excited. Please keep your fingers crossed for me and say a prayer for my family and myself... "I am jumping in with both feet and eyes wide open".....

I am to be banded on June 20th. When ever I start to get nervous or scared about the surgery I just think of my grandmother who had diabetes and died while having a limb amputated. I think of my dad who is 65 yrs. old has had 2 heart attacks, quad by pass surgery, a massive stroke, and just had his leg amputated due to diatetes. My mom who had a stroke, high blood pressure and died from a blood clot at the age of 64. Then I think of my husband and 3 kids ages 18,16 & 13 and I know if I don't do something I will not be here for them. I realize that I can not do this on my own otherwise I wouldn't be doing this. All of this reminds me that even though this might be scary it isn't as scary as to what will happen to me if I keep going like I am. I look at June 20th as the start of the "NEW ME" and longer healthier life to enjoy....good luck to you...

Well my surgery date is now June 20th....I am not nervous or anything..maybe I will be once it is here. I guess I am more excited than anything...I have a very calm feeling about all of it and I am just looking forward to the new me....to be able to play with my kids and enjoy doing things together...to take hikes with the family and now sound like I am having a heart attack....life will be better and better....

Well my surgery date is now June 20th....I am not nervous or anything..maybe I will be once it is here. I guess I am more excited than anything...I have a very calm feeling about all of it and I am just looking forward to the new me....to be able to play with my kids and enjoy doing things together...to take hikes with the family and now sound like I am having a heart attack....life will be better and better....

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I had my Dr. consultation today ...all set to discuss lapbanding, mind made up. The Dr. was very personable and discussed all options and my questions. But he "suggested" that the laparoscopy by pass was a better option. It had nothing to do with me personally. If he had to choose between the 2 he would do the lap bypass, overall better success rate and less complications later on. He stated that in Europe they are finding complications after 10yrs. so they are not doing as many. I walked out preauthing my ins. for lapband and we are planning on lapband but I "can always change my mind". Guess now I am second guessing everything. :help: Has anyone else Drs. done this during their consultations? Does anyone know the overall success rate of lapband? He also stated that since I have a little over 100 pounds to loose I could expect to lose about 50-70% of that versus the 90% with the bypass. I am just kinda confused now...guess I need reassurance about my decision between the two surgeries....thanks:confused:

I attended the informational meeting Jan. 22, 2007 and will "finally" have my "mental evalutation" on March 30, 2007. I have yet to meet with the physician but I am told that will happen after my "evaluation". It seems to me like this is taking awhile but since everything is out of my ins. network it takes time for all the referrals. I have a couple questions...has anyone had their lapband performed at MeritCare in Fargo, ND? Also, what is the shortest time span possible between the surgery and actually returning back to work? I am excited and "kinda nervous" about the actual surgery but I am so looking forward to beining the person I used to be to my husband and 3 wonderful kids. I have found this site to be helpful with many things I questioned. I thought I was the only one who didn't want people in my life to know I am doing this...but I see I am not....Thanks!!

Sue, I am sure that things will go just fine. Please keep us posted on your updates. I am still waiting for my surgery date, or my "new me" day as I call it. Wish you the best!!!

Hi, I have my consultation appt. with the surgeon on May 15th to go over the procedure and I am sure for him to "check" me out and see if I am a good candidate. I am starting to put together a list of questions that I would like to ask him. I am sure that there are questions out there that I am not thinking of. I am asking you for your thoughts/ideas/suggestions of some of the things I should ask. What are the type of things you asked or was there something you didn't ask but thought of later??? I would appreciate any help. Thanks to all of you, DeV