Nursedeeva

Hello fellow lapband patients! It's been a very very long time since my last post. I am approaching my 2nd year anniversay this Feb 09. I have not had a fill in about 7months. OK i'v notice 2 things: 1. I have consistently seen the scale go out a total of about 7lbs(freaking out) 2. I am always hungry as if I've never had surgery at all.Now I've made an appt for a fill and it is mid Jan 09. Now let me be honest I have broken every band rule . Which is th purpose of this post. I have been consistently eating and drinking together. Is it possible that I may have permanently stretch my band. I am so back on track now. I've must have terribly lost my mind. My band story has been an easy one. I started at 215lbs day of surgery size 16-18 lost 50lbs with no real problems now 165lbs size 8-10. I am so obsessed about weight gain that I am freaking out about this 7lbs and the possibly of messing my tool(band) up for life. Please help! All suggestions appreciated!

Thanks! And I have a 4cc band and its about 2.5cc's filled.

Thanks so much for the advice. And maybe right about me not needing a fill but getting myself back to the good old days of following the rules!

Hi guys its been awhile since I posted. It's been about seven weeks since I was banded. I had my first fill last week. It was painless. However, I am concerned because I can eat anything and any amount. I am making better choices and trying to stick to the correct portions. Which leads to my questions how do you know if you have stretch your band. I did see the nutritionist who said I would know and its takes a lot to stetch your band. I guess I am still concerned because I really feel like I am eating to much. I have loss about 27lbs since Feb 16. So my question is How do you know if you stetch your band or not. I have not been sick at all, no nausea or vomiting. Nothing has gotten stuck. I really can eat everything. Even though certain things I just will not try like bread and steak. Please advise. Thanks! Happy Banded 2/1/6/07-218 1st fill March 26th-191

I was banded 2/07 and I have recently notice that I am losing hair also. Because I researched this surgery for 1 whole year I was suprise because yes hair loss can occur with any WLS but it is more commom with gastric bypass patients because of the protein deficiency. So I had my blood work done and I was deficient in proteins. In spite of the fact that I still drank 3 protein shakes a day. So I would have my blood work check just to make sure everythng is OK.

OK I was banded 2/16/07. I had my first fill mid March 1cc in 4cc restriction was pretty good. Lost about 35lbs in 6 weeks without any side effects. So of course my second fill appt. The doctor said she did not think I needed a fill. Against my better judgement I agreed and did not get a fill. Lately I have noticed my appetite increasing and I am hungry all the time. This has been going on for about a month. So I know I need a fill. But how do I know if I have truly stretched my pouch or not. Because I have really been eating more than I should. I just put myself on a liquid diet until my fill appt next week. Should I request a fluroscopy with fill to make sure its not stretch. Please advise

I was banded by Dr. Christina Li at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore on 2/16/07. My expereience so far has been great. Sinai program is great support from the information sessions, pre-op and psot consults and the nutritionist on staff is great. I highly recommend looking into their program.

I know you are discoouraged but this actually your healing time. Trust me the band works just give yourself time. You will start losing.

I was banded 2/16/07 by Dr. Li at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. So far so good. I have not had any real side effects. I had my first fill a couple weeks ago and it went OK. The only thing is I am losing slow in my opinion. Which I did expect with this type of surgery but to read others post and how much they have lost so far can sometimes be a little discouraging. I was a lower BMI (35) and a lower start weight (215) which according to my doctor and everthing I have read the lower your BMI and start weight the slower your weight lost. Go figure. I have lost about 29lbs in a little of six weeks. The most encouraging thing is have not gain any weight and so far since the surgery I have not really experience hunger. Which for me is great. I was self pay. And the actually surgery for the lap band was about 6, 000 because I guess the hospital submitted the claim to my insurance company by mistake (I knew it was not a covered benefit) and they pay for the hospital staY and anesthesia. So it cut off about about 7, 000. I don't regret the surgery at all but keep in mind it is to be used as a tool. Good Luck to you and keep us posted.

Thanks guys for all responses. I did call my DR. and according to her I did not stretch my band I just don't have restriction yet. And its only been one fill so I am going to just wait it out and continue to monitor the amount of food I consume. I will keep you posted.

I think you should educate yourself a little more on the band. In all my information sessions it was told that the band is a slower way to lose weight. And if you want to lose weight fast you should consider gastric bypass. And again it is a tool not a miracle.

When you post your diet on obesityhelp I notice you mentioned 1% milk a lot are drinking this milk with your meal. Because I was told to never drink and eat together. I am a bit confused. Thanks for your response

Shelly I definitely feel your pain. Banded 2/16. I am now on the mushies. I am so sick of everything. I too have had no real discomfort since surgery. So I almost feel bad about complaining. Luckily I go back to work on Monday the distraction is going to be great. Congrats on your 14lbs. I am down 15lbs and was able to get into a pair of old jeans. Like wow! Its only been 2 weeks.

GooGoo I am so sorry about your band experience. I agree it probably was not a fit for you and your system. It is bad that this cannot be detected in advance. And I wish your Dr. was more supportive so this experience could be easier. Be encouraged and know that you can sustain your weight loss. The band was just a tool it was you who lost the weight and you can do it again. I wish a healthy painfree future! God Bless :-)

I was banded 2/16/07. I had my first post-op appt everything was OK lost 11lbs.

Macabella wow 80lbs thats great!

Hi I was banded 2/16 with a BMI of 35. So far so good no real side effects except for loss of appetite. It is really hard for me to get protein shakes and fluids down because I am just not hungry. I am at the mushies stage now and still no appetite. But everyone says it will slowly return. My surgeon told me that the lower your BMI the slower your weight loss. I started at 219. Day of surgery 209 and because its only been about 10 days post op I have not gotten on the scale. My first post op appt with the Dr is tomorrow so I will know my weight then. ? how do you attached the weight scale from TickeyFactory.com to your posts. Thanks and keep in touch.

I have asked everyone surgeon in the world and even called the Bariatric Surgery Board. The band is intended to stay in forever unless you develop some complications.

I felt the need to respond I actually agree with Carlos and several of the other repliers in that it is not the patient fault that her band slip. Before I got my band on 2/16 I was very concern about all of the side effects I was reading about on this site. I know everyone experience is different but some of you really seem to have had a hell of a time. On my final preop visit with my Surgeon she notice I was more nervous than she had notice before. I started to explain what my concerns were and why. She explain that yes slips are a possible side effect but it is not the norm. I told her I am starting to feel like it is after visiting this site some have had more than one slip revision procedure. She question the surgeons qualifications and the weight loss center program. My program is hospital base and a Center of Excellence of by the Bariatric Surgery Board. As a nurse this was important to me because it demands that you run program a certain way because of the regulatory issues and have handy your statistics for side effects. Anyone getting any surgery should want to know the surgeons stats. For example my surgeon has done 217 lapbands since 2003 and has had only 1 slip. Now is that a coincendence or skill. I hear many say my doctor is great or I went to Mexico and it was excellent. But when we use these adjectives we should be speaking of skill not personalities. Weight loss is a booming business and many are not qualified and just in it for the money. I just wanted to add my two cents. I know we all are striving for the same result. To live healthier lives for ourselves and our families.

Thanks for the link it was very informative. I was considering the VG if my inusrance company refused the band. But they approved me and everything is OK thus far. Many insurance companies do not pay for the VG. Where you self pay and if so how much was it.? Another thing is many programs don't have a surgeon who does VG in Maryland anyway. So far there is only one program that offers it as self pay only because again no Maryland insurance policies cover it yet. After reading that it is sometimes used as part one of the other surgery I do not know why there are not more surgeons who do it. Again thanks for the link and Good Luck

Thanks for the replies I feel so much better now. I think I will get some refried beans tomorrow since several of you mention you at this in your mushies stage.

Ok i was banded 2/16 everything went well no real side effect except my appetite was really gone it has been difficult for me to get my proteins in and liquids. Yesterday was day 11 post op and I was finally starting to feel hungry I kinda of ignored it all day and continue my protein shakes and fluids. I took my son to a B-day party and was good didn't eat anything. But on the way home I stopped and got a bowl of cream of crab soup. I was able to get the entire bowl down. I did not eat the lumps of crab meat for fear it my have come back up. But was this too much and the wrong thing to finally eat. My Dr. suggest a protein liquid diet for 10 days post op and then move to mushies. Was this a wrong selection for the mushies stage. Again nothing happen after I ate it but I am concern that the choice and portion may have been wrong. I didn't feel stuffed after I ate either. Another question can I have oatmeal at the mushies stage because I am feeling a little hungry this morning. Please help! Another thing how do you attach the weight scale from ticketfactory to your post. I know its a lot for a Sunday morning but thanks :-)

Congrats I was banded on 2/16 and my first post op visit is Monday. I am feeling pretty good. No major side effects except lost of appetite except severe loss of appetite. It is a real chore to get my fluids down because my appetite is so gone. My doctors nurse was real funny when I call to tell them my appetite was gone and I did not feel like drinking anything. She said well be prepared to buy a cute wig when you hair falls out from not having your proteins. Can you believe after that it became easier to drink. Vanity is amazing at my age I am still emotionally attached to my hair. Go figure :-)

Congrats I was banded on 2/16 and my first post op visit is Monday. I am feeling pretty good. No major lost of appetite except sever loss of appetite. It is a real chore to get my fluids down because my appetite is so gone. My doctors nurse waa real funny when I call to tell them my appetite was gone and I did not feel like drinking anything. She said well be prepared to buy a cute wig when you have falls out from not having your proteins. Can you beleive after that it became easier to drink. Vanity is amazing at my age I am still emotionally attached to my hair. Go figure :-)