DBAGuy

ok - I don't see how relaying information from a successful program tells you that I know everything and won't listen to anyone else. ...and you seem to be taking everything as if I was lecturing you...I honestly was just trying to clarify my first post, because you seemed to disagree with me in your response. No lecturing intended. Seems like lots of inference going on...looking into what i'm saying instead of just reading what is typed. If I want to say something, I come right out and say it - if I don't say it, then I probably didn't mean it. Seems likes that's the best way to truly communicate.

this is what's confusing me...we're essentially agreeing, but you *appear* to be disagreeing with me. "But what do I know right? You have a month under your belt, and I only have 2.5 years, and close to a year at goal. You know better hon." Based on what I had posted, did I really deserve this? And I quote: "YES! The band WILL keep you from eating too much!". To me, this is a misrepresentation, since it won't really keep you from eating too much if you aren't following the rules. What I've been saying all along is that the band alone won't cut it, but that we have to make changes in the way we approach food and eating. Are you disagreeing with that? As far as your 'aside'...where in the world did I say that I think I know everything, and won't listen? I think you're making significant assumptions. Maybe there's some unwritten rule that unless you've been a bandster for a year, you're not allowed to post opinions or relate what you've heard from professionals. I'm not looking for a forum argument, and (to my best knowledge) I haven't said anything disparaging about you - but it certainly seemed like your responses were, at the least, contentious. But I can accept that I misinterpreted. If I have offended you, I apologize. I certainly wasn't trying to explain how the band works to you - I was trying to clarify what I'd said in my original post, which you seemed to disagree with...

umm...I said (and I quote) that you DIDN'T blast me... Are you just spoiling for a fight? Neither did I claim that I know better than you...I thought these forums were all about sharing ideas, not putting each other's ideas down...guess I'm really confused. I haven't attacked you or your ideas - so I don't know why you are reacting the way you are... The band restricts eating if we follow the rules...it doesn't do any good if we don't. For instance: - if we eat all day long, we can easily get too many calories past the band. - if we eat ice cream, chocolate, chips, etc. - any food that becomes liquid or slurry, it goes right through the stoma and won't give us the sated feeling. - if we constantly overeat, the pouch WILL stretch and be less effective. So - that's what I was trying to say...the band isn't an 'eat whatever you want when you want' kind of solution...we need to modify our approach to food in order to be successful. ...and that's not me being a newbie...that's what nearly every bariatric surgeon/nutritionist will tell you.

wow - I appreciate that you didn't blast me, but those ideas are part of a program from a very successful Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence program - I guess ymmv. For you, maybe the ideas don't work. And we have to be very careful treating the band as a 'limiter'...it WON'T keep us from eating too much...we can shovel just as much food down our pipes as we did before if we want to...it won't stay down, and will cause plenty of problems over time. also, if you eat the wrong kind of foods, it won't limit you at all. So - we DO have to change what we eat, how we eat, and how much we eat in order to be successful. I was just trying to share ideas from the program I'm in...maybe I'm too new here to be allowed to do that.

I was banded 5/21/07...weighed 354 when I went in to qualify for surgery, now weigh 305. I think bigdaddynomo hit the proverbial nail on the head...we need to re-learn how we eat. I went through a whole program (still going) before surgery to teach me how to eat after lap-band. They really pushed the fact that the lap-band isn't a 'fix-it-all' solution...just having it there won't make you lose weight...you can graze, eat high calorie liquid/slurry foods that go right through, overeat and stretch the pouch, etc. Lots of ways to sidetrack the program, and we all need to be aware of them.

My understanding is that the whole lap-band approach is a change to lifestyle...the program I went through before surgery pushed us to take a small bite, put down the fork, chew thoroughly, swallow, pick up the fork, etc. They strongly encouraged us NOT to treat the band like it was a speed limiter in a car...don't rely on it to keep you from eating, especially if you haven't had a fill yet...there IS some restriction, but usually not enough to provide the full effect. Since it takes 20-30 minutes for the "I'm full" signal to get from stomach to brain, eating slowly should make a big difference, as most folks eat too fast. Even after fill, if you 'graze' or eat high calorie foods that turn into a liquid or slurry (ice cream, chocolate, most chips, milkshakes, etc.) the lap-band approach won't be successful. Like 'ontheway', I set out the amount of food I want to eat, then that's all I eat...right now its 4 - 5 oz. of food per meal. I drink lots of liquids, and that helps me feel satisfied. I don't have my first fill until early July.

On my third week of 'mush' food. I was at 354 lbs when I walked in to qualify for surgery, lost 25 before surgery, and am now at 306. Goal is 200. Dr. Amir Moazzez and the folks at Inova Fair Oaks hospital did a wonderful job - no complications, overnight stay, and I feel great!

I guess the thing that surprises me most about the original post is that it says '1 or 1 1/2 cup per meal'...my understanding was that the pouch could only hold about 1/4 cup at a time...? I'm still on mush food for another week, so haven't gotten to the real food stage. I'm eating 4 oz. of food/meal and not starving, so I guess the band is tight enough to give me some restriction without being filled yet.

For my surgery, I was kept overnight only because of my sleep apnea and vein problems in my legs...otherwise they would have discharged me the same day...wanted to make sure I didn't have a pulmonary embolism. So...the overnight or not may be generally based on comorbidities. My surgeon's motto is 'no surprises', so they put me through extensive tests before surgery...found a hiatal hernia that they fixed when they put the band on.

I was banded on 5/21/07 by Dr. Amir Moazzez, who works out of Inova Fair Oaks. The Fair Oaks hospital is a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. I'm sorry that I don't know Dr. Elariny, but wanted to let you know about my very positive experience at Fair Oaks.