chefschoon

mine was only an hour, but 18 months out, I should have taken it more seriously. 3 months into my band, I left my wife of 10 years for obvious reasons. Got invovled with someone else. Then some more as I lost weight even more. in May of this year things got out of control and I tried to kill myself. THen in Sept. I tried to do it again. Spent some time in the hospital, now my band is messed up because of what I did. And my life is no better. So please take your eval seriously. I have lost 180 lbs total with the band.

:notagree had my surgery yesterday, other than some tiredness, I fell good. I don't remember any of the surgery. All I remember is being wheeled into the OR room, moving onto the table, and that was it. At 9:15 I woke up and asked the nurse where i was, and she was moving me to the same day holding area. We pickedu p my wife and away we went. They gave me some ice in same day surgery and I had no problems. Breathing was good, no swelling, not much pain. SHe gave me some lortab because I had a little bit of pain around my port, but I think it is my muscle. I had a good night last night, stayed in the recliner for a bit, then I sat up in bed for about 4 hours, then the gas started. So I went back to the couch and let it rip!! man that felt good. :heh: Today I am going to walk around and monitor my pain...so far so good. :clap2:

hang in there. I am 5 months out and I have lost 80 lbs. Never gained any weight. Once you get filled the weight will come off. Just watch what you eat. I know it can be hard, but think of the effort and all you went through to get this band. You don't want to mess things up!

I told everyone. I think I was so happy to get this done, plus, because I work so much, I needed all of the support I could get. Now that I am really losing weight, everyone talks to me about how well I am doing and how good I look. I wouldn't change whom I told at all.

I think as a man things are different because men act differently towards friends then women, however my friends have started inviting me out more, I think because I look totally different then I did before, and my confidence is up, so I am more happy to be around, if that makes any since. It is a new thing for me, never having any self confidience my entire life, now all of the sudden as the weight goes down I feel better about myself. Even though I am married, I have more women coming towards me now then I ever have.

everything here. I have a pretty good restriction. I don't even want to eat anymore

Today I am fine. Today is also my 1st day off in 8 days. I think it may have been stress related. I just finished a string working 14 plus hours a day for the past 8 days, and I had a fill in the middle of it all. I know stress hormones mess with your stomach movements, and it must affect the band as well. who knows. The pain is gone. thanks for the help.

I am 67 days post surgery, doing great with everything, but the past 2 days I am having terrible pain in the port site....same pain that i had the first few days after surgery (muscle type pain). Anyone else have this? My doc said it was probably just gas pains or something, but still this makes me nervous because it is a wierd pain. Thoughts?

and I have 5 ccs in my band, just have not updated my profile yet....

I have 4 ccs also in, but they did it 2 at a time. I definatly can tell the difference, I tried to eat pretzels last night, but that didn't work.

28 years old here banded 5/02/07. I am one of the youngest ones at my drs office.....

i also have my 1st fill tomorrow and I am not sure of what to even expect....

it differs for everyone, I work as a GM in food service in a hospital, and the weekend (5 days) after surgery I was cooking. I also walked a mile a day after the surgery, and constantly chasing my 18 month old around. Make sure you have plenty of liquids and protien and it should give you the energy you need. However don't push yourself. You need to heal 1st. You don't want complications.

My doctor in Bradenton will not touch anyone who was banded in mexico, however I know someone who had the same doctor put the band on but refused to pay the program fee. she goes to the fill center in St. Pete and loves it. Also one of my delivery guys was banded in celebration and goes there for his fills even though he lives in Tampa. Not sure the docs name though.

I have the same problem you are talking about. It is from eating to fast, not chewing enough, eating too much, and not eating the right foods. I found all 3 out the hard way. After 20 years of shoving food down my throat and eating like a dog, duck, or any other animal that doesent chew, I had to re-teach myself how to eat. just take your time, chew well, and eat very small portions. It will go away

I had my surgery on a wed. (may 2nd 07) and went to work on Friday for 2 hours to check email. Then on Monday I went back and worked a full 10 hours, and for that week I had more than 60 hours. Make sure when you go out you buy gas x strips and liquid tylenol. I didn't use any of the hydrocodone they gave me post op, but used Tylenol instead. It took me about 2 full weeks until I started feeling "normal", back to my normal sleeping pattern, etc. etc. You will do great. It is so much fun to go to the doctors now and get on the scale.

I can feel mine, I think it is cool. So does everyone else. Before they used to enjoy rubbing my bald head, now they like feeling my port. My wife and 18 month old son also have a facination with it. Some people think it is weird though, but I explain that some people need a pacemaker to help thier heart beat, I need a port to keep me from being fat!

didn't any of you pay a "program fee"? I paid a $2,000 program fee, which covered fills visits, fluro, etc. for the 1st year, unlimited visits. No co pay, etc. I have blue cross which is terrible. When I was doing the research, most doctors, if not all had a program fee.

I didnt have anything but water 2 days after the surgery...no need to worry. My post op instructions were nothing more than water/ice cubes for 2 days

if you can go without eating for so long you can do anything....and the best part is, everyone complains about being hungry a few days after surgery, and yes, it happens....but after eating liquids only for so long, you are actually afraid to eat! It is a wonderful feeling to be able to resist food. Just make sure you get plenty of water before surgery...drink lots of it, that way IV's go in easier, and as soon as you Pee, hold down water, and can demonstrate your walking ability, you can go home!!! Good Luck. This was the best thing I have ever done.

I work in food service and my schedule (5 am to ???) doesent allow for the best of eating habits (hense the lap band!)....I have an adkins shake in the morning around 8. At lunch, I have rolled up turkey/cheese (about 3 slices of each), and for dinner, I have some tuna fish with a couple of crackers. I used to eat everything in sight since I have total access to the food, but I learned to bring it in from home. I have an insulated lunch box with an ice pack in it, and it keeps everything cold. I know this won't work while you are on the road, but if you stop to get something, you can always get the sandwich and eat the inside of it, leaving the bread. When you eat out you have to be careful, if you only knew what was in some of the food you eat. You are safe though with a sandwich or salad, something to that effect.

Does anyone have any trouble getting lettuce down?

I havent been filled yet either, not until June 21st (a whole 7 weeks out from surgery). I am afraid to try certain things. For example, I was not feeling well and wanted some ice cream for my throat. I about died. It was plain old ice cream, which I used to eat gallons and gallons of. We were also at sea world in Orlando the day before, the only thing they had to eat there was steak or chicken. So I had a piece of chicken, and I felt it go all the way down, and I thought I chewed good too. Then I felt like I was having a heart attack for the rest of the day. I think it might have been my stress level too, but who knows. At this point, I will stick to my mashed potatoes and ground turkey. After going Clear liquids since April 22nd, I am afraid to eat! no wonder the band works so well!!!

nevermind I found a "lettuce" thread

it took me a whole year and a month after going to the seminar to get banded. The doctor, at the time of the seminar had only done 10 bands or so, and was fresh out of medical school. By the time I went to get the band done, after the 6 month diet and everything else, when I went into have the surgery, he had done over 150 bands and the hospital was ranked #1 in the tampa area for the surgery! at my 2 week apointment, the coordinator was telling me that they just schedled thier 300 something appointment. and I had no problems, surgery only took about 40 minutes. So don't be discouraged about anything. It all works out in the end.