DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

YouTube is about the worst place you can go for medical facts. Here's some actual facts: Lap-Band slippage occurs in approximately 2% to 18% of bariatric patients The mortality rate for Lap-Band patients is only .01%. That is LESS than one percent. Feel free to look up these stats for yourself, but my point is Lap-Band is very safe and people don't die from Lap-Band slips.

This is my thought. I don't doubt her band slipped, but it's biological impossible for the band to get near your lungs due to the very strong diaphragm muscle between the abdominal cavity and chest. Seizures are caused by something effecting the brain, so possibly there was an issue with her lungs cutting off oxygen, I don't know. I just know it's not physically possible for the band to slip and strangle your lungs. Regardless, I wish we knew the whole story. I think it would ease a lot of peoples' minds.

that is WONDERFUL!!!! Congratulations!!!!

This is the approximate weight they recommend for your height Small frame: 120-133 pounds Medium frame: 130-144 pounds Large frame: 140-159 pounds Your doctor took out the Fluid because he was concerned, 109 was way too thin for your height. It sounds to me like your problem at this point is your excess skin not your weight, and unfortunately no amount of being underweight is going to change that. Have you talked to plastic surgeon about having it removed? That is what I'd do.

109 is really light for a grown woman unless you're 5ft tall or less. How tall are you? That makes a pretty big difference in what your ideal weight should be.

holy cow this is terrible!!! I am in shock, I've never ever heard of someone dying from a slip before. My heart and prayers go out to her family

Congrats, Andy! I think it's normal to feel like that in the beginning, especially when you're so soon after surgery and not back eating real food yet. I know I did, too. The thing is, there is no reason you have to give up what you love entirely or your social life. It just changes a little. For one thing, despite many people reporting the inability to eat Pasta or breads once they have restriction, that's not always the case. I have excellent restriction, but as long as I take really tiny bites and chew like crazy, I can eat anything I want. You'll also be surprised how much your tastes will change as your eating habits do. I was a HUGE junk food junkie. I really think I was a sugar addict. Now, because my body is used to eating so much healthier, I don't miss it at all. In fact, much to my shock, my cravings have even changed. Do you know how shocking it is to be craving a salad when normally I'd be craving a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup? *laughs* I also allow myself one freebie day a month. After my fills (once I'm off liquids) or my doctor's appointment if no fill, I have anything I want for dinner and don't count calories. I also allow myself any desert I want. Last night happened to be that night for me, so we went to Chili's where I had a cup of my favorite Soup and pasta. I really wasn't craving any sweets, so I am saving my monthly desert splurge for another time. But here's the thing- I was only able to eat my cup of soup and about six bites of pasta before I felt positively stuffed. For me, that's the beauty of the band, because even when I do have my freebie meal or treat, I don't do any weight damage because I can't gorge on it like I used to before I was banded. Things will change but for the better BTW, I lost considerable weight on Phentermine many years ago, too. Problem is, I gained it all back and then some when I stopped taking it.

wow thanks for sharing this info, it definitely makes sense biologically. I am definitely going to have to look further into this. btw, congratulations on your transformation! I peeked at your profile and that's HUGE change from your before pic to your after pic!! Very inspirational!!

Here is a simple calorie calculator: http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm Despite what the calculator says, my nutrionist says 1000-1200 calories per day are good for a woman with Lap Band. She also recommends at least 60g of Protein, no more than 125g of carbs, and no more than 20% fat daily. Do you have a nutrionist through your surgeon? If so, I'd meet with them and ask them, especially since protein vs carbs advised seem to vary greatly from surgeon to surgeon.

I take 5000IU's of vitamin D3 daily, however I have Multiple Sclerosis, and vitamin D plays a rather large role in MS.

Waiting patiently raises some excellent questions. From my understanding talking to the nutrionist, if you're a woman eating less than 1200 calories per day and your weight still stalls out for a long period (plateaus are normal), chances are good if you increase your calories a little you'll boost your metabolism. If you're eating 1200 or more a day (and some do need more!), then you might want to play with your nutrional intake. For instance, if you normally eat considerable carbs, you might want to cut back on them and increase Protein. Vice versa if you normally eat mostly protein (but never below 60g per day of protein, she said). If you do increase your carbs, be sure it's good carbs: Whole grains and high Fiber. We want to stay clear of anything white, enriched, and/or bleached. Really, it all boils down to everyone is different. I can eat good carbs daily (and I do) and still consistently lose weight. Some people simply can't. Some lose great at 1000 calories a day, however considering I'm still very obese, my body needs more or my metabolism slows. We're all different. Just like there's no one size fits all that actually does fit all in clothes, there's no nutritional plan that fits all either. Btw, side note, be prepared to adjust your caloric intake as you lose, too. Obviously you don't need as much to sustain a 150 pound body as you do a 300 pound body, so needs will change.

Good luck!! You'll do great!

Have a look here, at the starvation mode thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/146096-starvation-mode/

Good luck!!! Let us know how it goes!

A little bit of info... I just got back from my monthly doc visit, and I saw the nutrionist in the hallway and asked if I could speak to her. She's a lovely woman and of course said yes. I told her specifically about this thread and the starvation mode debate. She said she hates the term "starvation mode" because that is not what it is at all, it's really a self induced metabolic syndrome by lack of calories. She said when you aren't eating enough calories to sustain your body, it's not a matter of hanging onto calories but more that your metabolism goes "Oh I don't have to work so hard" and slows way down. That is why sometimes even a little caloric increase, 100 or 200, can make a huge difference in waking up the metabolism. Now, when you TRULY are starving, it's a complete lack of nutrients and your body starts essentially eating it's own muscle tissue, resulting in the skeletal figures we think of when we think of starvation or even anorexia. (this is also why so many anorexics die from heart failure, the heart is a muscle). So, straight from the expert. We're not starving by eating too little, we're slowing down our metabolism. I think that is where the debate comes in, because we call what is essentially a self induced metabolic syndrome "starvation mode", creating big misconceptions.

No, there's no binders after Lap Band surgery. Just some standard dressing over the incisions.

People simply make suggestions based on their own personal experience. No one is claiming to be a doctor nor is anyone forcing pills/potions/lotions on anyone else. We're all adults here and we're all quite capable of making our own decisions, including when we need to ask for a doctor's advice before taking OTC medication. No offense, and I don't mean this harshly, but I think you're underestimating people's common sense and intelligence here.

Once you've had a couple fills and have good restriction, I doubt you'd need (or even want) diet pills. The band not only restricts how much you can eat but because of where it's placed on the stomach it also acts an appetite suppressant. Granted this is my opinion only, but I personally would wait until you've had a couple fills to make a decision. Either way, definitely talk to your doctor before taking any diet pills, even over the counter, just to be safe.

My nutrionist and doctor both say we should be eating between 1/2 and 1 cup of food per serving. The demonstration my nutrionist did was putting a small piece of meat, some veggies, and cut up apple into a measuring cup and saying "this is as much as you should be eating per meal". She also suggested using a salad plate rather than a dinner plate. And of course, always eating Protein first in case you run out of room for the rest. Sometimes I can't eat a whole cup, depending on what it is, but I can always eat at least a half a cup.

Amazing story, congratulations and thank you so much for sharing it