bromo

No way I could have enjoyed a road trip much less been comfortable riding in a car. I didn't get really functional until day 5 after the surgery. I was in a lot of pain and discomfort. I realize everyone is different but you are pretty much recovering from a major surgical procedure. I will put it to you this way, my brother in another state was killed in a car accident right after my surgery. I did not go to the funeral. Firstly because I was not up to it and secondly when I called my doctor to ask about it, he said unless I could fly down he really didn't want me to go, professionally speaking, and even then he had some concerns. But he told me that his personal opinion was to do what I felt I could handle.

I lost weight from the very beginning and continued to lose without gaining or going through "bandster hell" for about 5 months. After that I plateaued and even gained just a few pounds so I started getting fills. The scale has started to move down again albeit slowly as I am not quite in the green zone yet. I am fine with that.

I stayed overnight but I am glad I did. My pain level was pretty high and it was nice to be able to get some strong drugs that first night. As far as nausea, it was a while before I became completely free of it. I can remember posting about it here with some others that had plication around the same time. It wasn't an everyday thing but sometimes I would be just fine and then would be hit with a round of it. As time went on it tapered off and now 8 months later I can't remember the last time I was nauseated.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have about it being 8 months out from this surgery.

I had the band with Plication in Sept 2011. The nausea subsided pretty much within a few days. However over the first couple of months I occasionally had a bout of it. Now it is nonexistant. I lost about 40 pounds without a fill until Feb 2012. My portion sizes were getting bigger and although I was still losing it was way too slow for me. I am glad I had the plication done as I never actually went through "Bandster Hell" because of it.

Dr. Pennington is my doctor. He is a very kind, compassionate and extremely skilled doctor. He takes time with you, makes you feel important, is willing to take the time to answer all your questions and I am very thankful to have found such a wonderful doctor. His office staff is top notch and the preparation and information that you receive prior to your surgery is very informative. The after care is wonderful as well. I feel very blessed to have found such a fantastic bariatic surgeon and would recommend him to anyone.

Just had my second fill today. So I am at 4.5 cc in a large band. Although my weight loss seems to have stalled, I know it is my own fault because I stopped tracking my food and eat more carbs than I did in the beginning. Although, I am happy about the fact that I did lose 6 pounds since my first fill and the fact that my eating habits have changed so very much. In the past I dieted and then regained more each and every time I came off a diet. I no longer consider myself on a diet, my whole life has changed and I think it will continue that way from now on. So if I only lose 5 pounds or so a month for the next year or two, that is alright too. I am still losing, not gaining, and I am enjoying life so much more. How wonderful it feels to not eat a package of cookies in a day and feel so sluggish and unable to climb the stairs to my apartment. I can now get up them like I could have 20 years ago. And if I lose 5 pounds a month, or even at 4, that is still 50 pounds in a year! I can live with that. If nothing else, I have learned so much about my food intake and the band definitely has helped me to learn about portion sizes and to stop eating before I am overfull. I love it!

I am down 55 pounds and am about to go back for another fill since I have had only one fill. I have 4.5 in a large band. I gained a few pounds over the holidays and am just getting them off, but even though I am losing slowly, at least I am still losing. I still struggle with eating from boredom and I guess that is a battle I will fight the rest of my life. I was in a size 24 when I went for surgery and just this week bought some 18 jean shorts and got into a pair of 18 jeans I bought on sale sometime prior. My tops went from 3x to now a 1x and some XLs so I am happy with it even though I still have a long way to go. Glad to hear from some of the rest of you September 11 bandsters.

I had my first stuck episode yesterday and believe me, you will know what it is even if you never felt it before. I got a very tight feeling in my chest and stopped eating, then the sliming started. I finally threw up and felt better but still had a residual feeling around my band all day. Ate tomato soup for supper and feel fine this morning.

Has my first stuck episode yesterday and believe me, nothing else would go down. Now I understand sliming at its finest! lol Lesson learned, no eating and driving no matter how rushed you are. I had to pull over and get through it and lost all the time I thought I was saving.

Just checking in. Had an appointment this week but had to cancel so I will see the doc in March. I think I am going to get a fill. Although I am still losing with the plication alone, it has slowed a lot and I am ready to get back to bigger numbers. Time to put the band to work.

Long time no see. Just checking in. I was terrible over the holidays and only lost 2 pounds from Thanksgiving until the first of the year. Am back on track and am almost at the 50 pound mark. I see the dr. on Feb 7 and think I am going to get my first fill. All of my loss has been to changing of habits and none with the help of the band, so I want to get to my sweet spot and see this thing in action. Hope everyone is doing well.

So sorry to hear this, Texasbandit. Lots of good thoughts coming your way.

Texasbandit, so very sorry that you and your husband are having such a hard time medically. Best thoughts and wishes coming to you. I think many of us are struggling during this time. My weight loss is still happening but has slowed due to not being as strict as I was in the beginning. I am trying to decide if this is the route I want to go, slow but less diet oriented, or back to watching everything I eat with a more rapid loss. Maybe after the holidays are over and the new year begins I can motivate to get back to the faster weight loss. Right now I am just glad to still be losing and still being able to enjoy myself and family.

That would be about 5 pounds a week for 4 weeks in a row. Not to be a debbie downer but that seems to be a pretty unrealistic goal.

The scale is moving again! Happy Happy camper. I am in the 220s today and only 7 pounds away from 50 pounds lost. This is a great day.

future, I don't think anyone has the right to say who should or should not be posting here. Many people come to the boards for many different things. Personality types are spread all across the board here. I post at several boards and the tone of each one is different, but I would never take it upon myself to tell anyone that they shouldn't be posting if they didn't meet my standards. I personally do not think care is better or worse in Europe or elsewhere. It is just that I live in the US, my insurance covers me here, and I have access to some of the best doctors anywhere. I live in the city which houses UAB which ranks in the top five hosptials in the US in many instances. We have a very diverse population due to people from all over the world coming here to study and research medicine. My reasons for not considering surgery in another country have nothing to do with level of care, but with finances and logistics.

Name, real or screen~ Pam Age~ 57 Weight on December 1st~ 229.1 Goal weight for December 29th~ 222 Dietary goal for December~ Stay on size with portions Exercise goal for December~ To do it Personal goal for December~ Be positive Date banded~ 09/14/2011 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 42.9 One thing that has improved with your health since banding~ Can climb stairs without stopping in the middle

Every day weigher here. My Wii records it so I can look at the graphs and see where I am at any time. It keeps me accountable. I don't freak out about the variations of a pound or two if I know I have done well. But if I slipped it makes me get back on the program of healthy eating.

My copay was around $2000, my doctor and all his office staff were and are fantastic. The hospital was clean and the nurses were the best. From seminar to surgery was 2 1/2 months during which time I was able to make sure the lap band was the right procedure for me. Your experience was yours and mine was mine. I have no problem with the care and service I received and it would be irresponsible of me to think of spending that much money to fly overseas to have the surgery done, when I feel I had the best of the best right here at home for much less money. I think you are being met with resistance because of a general feeling that you are making the judgement that our care here was less than yours there. Every situation is different and broad statements saying the surgery and care is better one place over another is erroneous.

I weighed this morning and had dropped a pound and a half since yesterday! So today I am only 2 tenths of a pound away from my November goal. Even though our last official weigh in was yesterday, I will take it and consider myself successful this month since today is stil November. looking forward to being successful next month as well.

Lisa, My doctor recommends less than 1000 calories a day, so you are right in line with his plan. For the first 2 months I had a hard time getting in over 700 but after that, it seemed to loosen up a bit and I have been able to eat more. Regretably. I wish I was still in that unable to eat more than a few bites stage. Your scale will move, just give it time. Good luck to you.

Pam checking in. 231.7 is my final weigh in. didn't make goal, but managed to lose a little less than a pound last week and FINALLY hit the milestone of 40 pounds lost. So I am happy with it all considering Thanksgiving was a hard food holiday to get through.

Congratulations Shirley!!

I am a happy camper. I made myself get on the scale this morning and have only gained 3 tenths of a pound this week. And that may be due to not getting my water in anyway. Yay.