VegasGrace

Hey, congrats!!!!! My bandaversary is in June...haven't even thought about celebrating..yet. It is a good idea. Happy band day!

Take a waterhose and turn the Water on. Now take your hand around it and squeeze (if it's a soft one) you will see the amount of water decrease. Now kink it. Water stops, right? That's the band. My capacity in the band for Fluid is 4cc and I have 2. And I'm done already. Some go up to 3 or more...but your doctor will ensure you get the right sized band and just go for the adjustments....you'll get the restriction.

Just coming back to this thread to see if kim updated anything. I'm still curious as to what a slipped band feels like.

Sure you are doing fine! You are supposed to be hungry. You are supposed to be eating a ton. All you had was the lapband implanted...it's not operational, yet. Just wait till you get restriction and then you will be in a different world. And remember, that may not come after the first fill so if you can still eat like a horse after your first fill.....don't worry about it!

I don't know about his stats...but I can tell you this. My twin and I both had WLS. She had the bypass, RnY. The next year I had the band. 1 year later, I am 6 pounds lighter. I struggle more than she to keep it off as she can eat what she wants...and that must be true...her desire for food has decreased. Mine, I still want that stuff. But I do enjoy a healthier lifestyle and can say 3 bites of pizza and I'm done. I was self pay, $7000. She had a copay of about $1000. I saw the surgeon a few times, 3 adjustments. She had to go thru programs, see the doc frequently. Talk to patients of both. And then YOU decide what you want. But remember, you can have RnY if the band doesn't work for you...but I'm not sure about the band after RnY...so if that doesn't work for you ....you will lose out on the band. Good luck and keep us posted.

Lapband is an outpatient procedure. So any stay isn't protocol...but having your doctor go to bat for you to get a stay...wow. You have a great doc! I stayed for 2 days....slept most of the time. Was nice to have a little break from laundry and cooking.

I was too.

Hi and welcome to the boards. Going thru the process- how exciting! You hang in there with your insurance company. PB is an acronym for Productive Burp. I can't really help you out with this one as I've never experienced it. But what I understand is it's simply burping and the air that comes up moves the food. But I could be wrong. Sliming.... now that one I know. I do this frequently. Everyone has this, banded or not. The esophogas produces slime to help move food from the mouth to the stomach...it's a natural occurance. Those banded with restriction....the food moves slower (as a few bites fill the pouch and those other bites...hang out in the esophogas). The build up of this slimy substance is the body's way of helping digest food. It will help it slide thru the band or help bring it back up. Want to make this clear that sliming is not vomiting. Vomiting involves the stomach and sliming is nothing like vomiting. Of course, you can vomit and slime at the same time. It's so important to chew well and eat slowly. ... and walk away after a few bites because you may be full and don't realize it yet. Hope this helps!

Hi was banded in June at reached goal in January. 200 to 150. So about 50 pounds in 6 months. Since January I've lost another 11 pounds, so 11 pounds in 3 months. But I'm on maintenance and have to keep my calories up or I'll keep losing.

No...you ask...well, tell your doc you'd like the procedure. He will hook you up with a referral or whatever. If he won't....find someone who will. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi,welcome! The forum is a great place to exchange information or just ask questions. Congrats on taking charge of your weight. Your doctor will guide you thru the entire process. But as many on here post, sometimes they forget to tell you certain things...like hidden fees and such. Ask! Don't leave any stone unturned w/ your doc. I was banded and reached goal while others starting the process are just now getting their approvals. I am not insured so I had to pay cash. But believe me, getting someone else to cover this will be such a blessing. There's no use in paying all this money if you are going to be in a financial rut... trading off fat for debt is never good. Mine was only $8000 and that includes everything from surgery to adjustments. I don't think I'll be seeing my doc anymore unless there's a problem and I call him. Welcome again and good luck on your journey.

First, ask yourself are you really vomiting...as in food in the stomach and you go into convulsions to bring it up...going back thru the band. Or, are you just sliming it up. If you vomit...get a slight unfill as that's not good. Sliming? Well, do you mind it? If not... enjoy the weightloss. If so, get a slight unfill so you can actually digest what you eat. Congrats! You've done so well!

You are really putting alot of effort into this...you go girl! It's not unusual for doctors to not have a programmed pre-op diet. Some docs take the simple route and do what's medically necessary and treat this procedure the same as other abdominal procedures. They aren't treating obesity, yet...they just prepare the body for surgery. And some docs go all out with programs... which can be a plus. They do more than just provide the lapband, they monitor diets, emotional needs, etc. Some find that too much involvement, but others love it. So kudos to you! Seems you are really taking this seriously and working out things to suit your needs. Keep us posted!

I was given a crate of oranges a while back...didn't know what to do with them as I eat fruit too fast...gets kinda stuck and I can't seem to slow it down. Thinking outside the box...orangeaide! W/ splenda, of course.

Wow, my first thought...that's alot of food. But it's not, really. Something weird is happening to me...when I eat with others, what they have seems like a gigantic amount of food. It's shocking. My teen had a triple stacker w/ king fry and king drink at BK. I couldn't believe she got all that down. Looked like food for 4. But, I used to eat like that. Today... probably some grits, rice cooked in chicken broth, maybe a chicken quesadilla for supper. I liked Atkins...think that was the only diet I felt good while doing it.

I have one question to whomever will answer it - Weighing all factors (expense, time, results, pain, lifestyle changes, mental changes, physical changes, etc.) equally - is it worth it? yes Really worth it? Definitely Would anyone change anything? done it sooner Does anyone regret anything? not doing it sooner I've been there and done that when it comes to the band. My case has been textbook, meaning everything has gone according to plan w/o any goofs. I'm on maintenance now so feel free to ask questions.

I came to the board to see if anyone could offer assistance on loosing too much weight. I shared my experience and my desire and BOOM! Some took offense, as evident by some of the posters. Never did I say what others should weigh....or how others look. I said "me" and "I". Wish I could delete a thread I started as there is vulgar language in some of the posts. But for everyone...I, me said I didn't want to be less than a size 6 because of knobby knees and such. Me, I....didn't say anything about anyone else. Thanks for all the support and advice. Loosing too much weight..... up the calories a tad because you could be like me....borderline losing...if there is such a thing. Just some candy at Easter held my weight. So, an extra glass of juice or some extra fruit will solve my problem.

Hi. I'm actually a textbook case...if you've ever heard of that expression. Everything has gone according to plan. Feel free to ask questions as I'll do my best to answer them. I was banded last June. I've lost weight steadily w/o plateaus (found a key to avoid that) and with only 2 fills. It's hard, and at times painfull....emotionally and a tad physically as well. But keep the goal in mind and keep on the straight and narrow...you'll get there.

Hi...you've got a good doctor! On top of things it seems. 6weeks out for the first and every 4 weeks until you reach restriction 2cc for the first and then .5 for each subsequent adjustment until you reach restriction...these are just guideliness from Inamed for the 9.75 band. Everyone is different so your fill may vary.

I had to look at cost effectiveness, MaidMarion. I was about to join another health club and go back to WW or Jenny. I was calculating everything over 2-5 years.... more expensive than the band. BTW, I did all that before and didn't lose much weight and gained it all back..... so you bet, $8,000 is alot cheaper than dieting. Got to admit the results are way better, too.

Wow, Angie...you are doing great! You are so right! It's what you think of yourself...that's what matters. Keep us posted on your progress...you'll be at goal in no time it seems.

Hi, thanks for your input. Everyone is different and the band will work for us differently as well. Hang in there. You are doing fine. No, I don't exercise. The band for me was a tool to help me with my food issue. I used to binge eat and overeat daily. Destructive, of course. The band is helping me get a grip on my relationship with food...but this is a life long thing. I so wish I didn't have migraines. But when they come there's nothing like a BC powder and Cocacola. I just use Mt. Dew. I use it medicinally, not for fun. I drink orange koolaid (sf) most of the time and now am switching to juices for the extra calories.

Wow, chickie, bless your heart. You must be having a tough time of things. I feel you misread my post and you are taking things I said about me...and applying them to you. Perhaps you should not have posted anything to my request for advice. Take care of yourself and yes, having Easter candy at Easter will most definitely work for me. The lapband is a way of life, doesn't restrict or forbid foods. Make wise choices and the weight will come off. But that doesn't mean you can't eat chocolate at Valentines or candy at Easter, or even alot for Thanksgiving. food should be enjoyed, just like every aspect of someone's life.

Want to clarify..... many people get the lapband because they can't diet. So those who diet....they lose weight but it's not the band...it's them. I lost ZERO until I reached restriction...as my doc said would happen. I don't diet, have for 20 years and got nowhere.... so, let the band do it's thing. Don't beat yourself up if you have a lifesaver or something, or sneak a french fry.... your doc understands. So, above average is what I rate any weightloss before restriction of the band. Congrats again and you others are doing so well!

Hi, I've reached my goal back in January so I can help you with this. As far as getting the band unfilled SO you can eat tortillas, rice, etc.... well, I ate those all the time and still do. You don't need your band unfilled to eat these things. To eat 'more' sure...you'll need to have the band unfilled. And I don't know anything about the 60/30 rule...never heard of it. When I reached my goal I made an appointment for a lapband adjustment. My doc took out .3 cc. Not alot, but going down is just as important as going up...do it slowly. I must admit I have lost a little more than I'd like, but a few tootsie rolls and ice cream took care of that....I just have to keep my calories up.