Chrissi

Hi, Jessibear and LHenry35 First off, my heart goes out to you, noone wants problems with their band. If anyone out there has had surgery to repair a slip or to replace your band what was the cost? A breakdown or total cost? I am having problems and am a self-pay and wonderered about this. I hope all is better and if anyone else had surgery to replace a band or suture it up, please feel free to reply.

I eat 1/2 cup per meal. But, that is when I actually eat a meal. Usually I try and have mainly protein, since that is the most important thing. My protien takes the form of things like nuts, 1-2 oz. cheese, a protein shake, that kind of thing. You know it really varies and what works for one doesn't work for all. The first 4 months when someone said I should eat 1/2 I just looked at the doctor like he was crazy. But now, at 1.8 ccs if I eat more than 1/2 and it isn't something like soup....I'll be so---rr---y!!!

I'm at 1.8 ccs in my 4 cc band. I'm at a great level and can only eat 1/2 of healthy food at one time.... Now the fattening foods...that is another matter!!!

I've been hearing conflicting things on how long the lap-band will actually last around my stomach. I've heard it isn't meant to be permanent and might need to be replaced. I'd like to know others opinions on this and the years everyone thinks it will last. I am wondering if it is like the breast implants that should be replaced every 10-20 years.

Well to reply to the original post... I can eat in public just fine..What I can't do is eat like a ravenous littly piggy like I did before being banded. That's why I like this band. It prevents me from being that piggy I was before. I'd rather have a band complication anyday than the complications that go along with the gastric bypass!

Any cosmetic surgeon who HEAVILY advertises I would not use unless you know a few people who have had great results from him/her. Take it from me, just my personal opinion, I went to a dr. who specialized in faces... He heavily advertised, and he touted being a dr. who specialized in just faces...Needless to say, he didn't do such good work on my face and didn't want to fix the mistake because he was afraid he would do more damage since he said my skin was so "sensitive." So, please beware of drs who advertise heavily, and I do mean heavily, in more than one or two outlets, like newspaper, radio, Sunday paper clipper section, other local papers, etc... They are advertising because they need the business. Why do they need the business so bad if they are so good?

Be honest, this seems like a diet to me. Yes, I knew I'd have to not eat or avoid eating fattening foods, but I'm feeling this as more of a diet, than a surgery that prevents me from overeating.

Well, I am two months out now, and have had 1.5 cc in my band and can say some days I feel mild restriction and some days I think, band, what band? So, I am hungry quite a lot. But, I thank all of you for your input since you all know what it's like.

I got my band from Dr. DiMarco too! Maybe nexium would help the heartburn. Banded: Recently byDr.DiMarco 1st fill 1.5 CC and STILL hungry!