Yooper

I asked the new doc what the difference was, (I have the 4cc) He said the 10 actually is less constricting. It doesn't put as much pressure on the opening. I would have thought it meant you could get more restriction with that, but especially in the beginning it really doesn't provide the great amount of restriction felt by the "old" band, I believe they went to the bigger one for several reason, a couple I'm sure you can guess, but the big one was for "safer" initiation into being restricted. You really can eat larger amounts of food after surgery. This would explain why so many are saying they have "none".

I finally got to meet the new doctor taking over for me since I moved. He won't be doing bands until after January, he says he wants to use a different brand name and that's when it will be available. I'm wondering what type of band you all have who are not losing wt. Do you have the 10cc or 4cc capacity band?

I felt no hunger at all for the first 2 yrs after surgery, I actually had to remind myself to eat. Now I feel hungry occassionally, but I fill up really fast.

Once I was approved I had a date that day. But that was back in the "early days" I'm sure since so many more are being approved it takes longer to get the surgery date. Good for you!!!!

Betsy, you are so right!! Reading all of these stories made me start thinking something is drastically wrong with me, but I've been banded for 4 years, I feel fine, same thing with the reflux, don't drink a lot of alcohol or eat before going to bed. Duh, that's true for most of us over 45 anyway. Thanks for lending a voice of reason, you're right, most people only speak up when they have a complaint. I never posted here before and that's because I haven't had any problems. I'm glad I came because it made me get off my butt and find a new doctor in my new area who would be willing to "supervise/monitor" things. I too blamed myself for being a failure, but when I look back, I'm the one who tried to "get around the band" with my eating habits. I figured out that ice cream goes down real easy, and rich creamy soups do too. Again, Duh, that doesn't mean the band is no good or something is wrong, it means I need to take responsibility for my actions and the foods I pick.

Sorry Sherri, but I've never had that problem I have no idea what would cause it. This is something I would call the dr's office about. When was your surgery??

Ok, now ya got me scared again! I do have reflux, but it's normally associated with eating just before going to bed or drinking alcohol. Neither of which are uncommon in people over 50. That's the only thing "wrong" with me to date. My new PCP didn't seem too concerned and gave me a script for Nexium, it was great, so far no new problems. I do see the new doc for follow up on 7/11.

I love Dr. Bhasania in Port Huron, I was something like his 350th band, since then he has done over 1000 and now he is an instructor who teaches other surgeons, so I feel pretty lucky, I just wish he wasn't so far away now that I've moved to the UP, but there is a new Dr. in Marquette I'm going to see next month for follow-up. My band was done in Feb. 03, no problems so far but I need someone near-by who is familiar with the proceedure just in case.

Thanks, I needed to hear that! I haven't had a fill since Apr. 2004, but I still have restriction. If I eat too fast, or too much I can't keep it. I have no pain, so thank god no erosion. Mine was done in Feb, '03. I feel fine. I had a doctor appt with a new doc, since I moved 500 miles away from the original, but I had to cancel because the records had not been received yet, (friday) I'm doing ok, but I really have to diet now, I am doing Nutrisystem, and the portions seem to be getting me back to where my stomach was in '04. I see the new doctor 7/11 now, this should be interesting. Thanks again.

I keep seeing people report having bands removed due to erosion. What is it? What did you feel? Anything, nothing?

<br /> <br /> Jo, you have nothing to apologize for. I totally understand what you are saying. Mind-set has a tremendous amount to do with this whole experience. If you come into this thinking it is a "cure" you will be disappointed. If you think you never have to "diet" again, you will be disappointed. I had my surgery 02-03-03. By November I had lost 100#, it wasn't easy, I had a fill every single time I went to the doctor from the first post op appt. 6 weeks after surgery. I had lost 23# at that 1st appt. I have talked to too many people who try to "test" the band, it's almost a game for some people to see how much they can eat. I stopped drinking carbonated drinks before the surgery, they said this will cause the pouch to expand, I wanted this to work so I made it work. I found myself subconsciously eating the foods I knew I could get by with, creamy soups, gravies make things easy to go down, etc. The band never stopped working, I DID! I eventually lost 140# then over the past 2 years gained back about 30, I'm dieting again, and it seems to have caused my pouch to shrink again. Now that I've been eating much smaller portions, protein first, then fruits and veggies, no bread, no total fat ice cream and very little alcohol, I've been able to utilize my band and have lost 22# in the last 8-10 weeks. We have to take responsibility for what we put in our mouths, if you want to play games with the band, go ahead, you will find a way to pack on the pounds, but don't blame the band.<br /> <br /> If you are really able to eat an egg sandwich with 2 slices of bread, your doctor should be looking into a slipped band, 4 years later, I still cannot eat bread like that. In fact if I want to cut back on eating, all I do is eat a small amount of bread or a roll before a meal and I'm literally done, I cannot eat anything. Talk to your doctor, don't leave the office until he takes you seriously. Something is wrong.

I was banded 02-03-03, I lost 140# I gained some back but am now back to a loss of 120# I would like to lose 50-70 more.

Are you saying you have Medicaide? If so, you might want to check that out, they tend to pay for the surgery before an insurance company does.