nip50

Mia - If I remember correctly didn't Dr. B say clear liquids for the 5-7 days? I tried to stay right on plan even though it wasn't fun the first week. Have you tried a little broth. Sometimes the warmth of the broth helps when you're a little tight. I'm sure I didn't get as much liquids as they told me to, but do your best. Just keep sipping. Once you're past the clear liquids it'll be much easier. When you start the protein drinks, watch the ensure. I know they're listed on Dr. B's list but they are a lot higher in calories and carbs than some of the others. I had purchased some before the surgery, so I drank them. A good alternative is the low carb slim fast or some of the powder protein drinks. Just read the labels. Remember, this stage will past before you know it.

I have loved my band from the beginning. I feel its the best thing ever. I've only had one fill so far. They won't let me have another until my weight loss is less than 2 pounds per week average. So I only have 3 cc's in a 14 cc band. I'm not at my sweet spot, but have a little restriction. I can eat about 1 cup per meal with no difficulties and am quite satisfied. I also can eat most anything, but am trying to stay with Protein first and then good carbs. I also try to stay away from anything white, but I do eat some whole grain breads. At times I feel that its too good to be true. I've always tried so hard in the past and it never seemed to matter. Now it seems to me that I hardly try and yet it still comes off. Sounds strange, doesn't it. It doesn't make sense that it works so good for me and others seem to have a very rough time. Thanks for listening.

Nurse - There's not too much you can do about it right now, but it will pass. How long are you on clear liquids? I had clear liquids for a week and then on to full liquids for a 2nd week. The 2nd week helps with the cream soups, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Before you know it you'll be eating regular food. It's definitely worth the inconvience of the liquid stages.

Mia- You sound great. Just don't overdo it. Take a few days and let everyone else take care of you. If the gas gets to bothering you chew on some gasx. No one told me about that at first and it does help. Good Luck!

I'll keep you in my thoughts tomorrow. I hope you're more excited than nervous. Hopefully you'll be as happy with yours as I am with mine. Keep us posted.

I was also told that if you drink something warm in the morning it helps to open you up. I haven't tried that yet. I can barely manage to get down my medications and then I wait an hour or two before I eat anything and then it's usually only oatmeal.

Constipation can be a problem for many and the water greatly aids that. It also helps to wash out the fat that you're loosing. Try your best to drink, drink, and drink.

Dr. Bagnato's fees were $17,400. This were all inclusive and you get 5 fills per year free. Not just the first year. The hospital has an obesity clinic and that's where you go for the fills. For this price, he also repaired 3 hernias at no additional cost. I was extremely satisfied with him and his staff. I have a friend who had Dr. Champion perform a by-pass and she swears by him. I did find that his price for the lapband was quite a bit more than Dr. B's. Good luck with your appointments.

Just today someone at work asked me if I was loosing too much in my boobs. I was a little shocked and said not really. Fortunately, cross my fingers, my cup size has stayed the same. I stated that it was just the shirt I was wearing. My husband asked me the same thing last time I wore that shirt. I'll think twice before wearing that shirt again.

The 7th should be just fine, I'm also off by 4:00 and its about a 50 minute drive for me.

Leslie - congratulations - you're doing great. Keep up the good work.

Update - 4 down and 8 to go name..........starting#....current#......goal#.....togo# Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19 Anna2766____.......232............232..........220.......12 Cagstorm(txarcher)360............357..........345.......12 Candle............218............215.5........207.......8.5 Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25 chickatee..........188............186..........175.......11 Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10 cQQlgirl...........220............220..........210.......10 Faithmd............306............304.1........296.......8.1 georgiagirl........275............275..........260.......15 Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13 Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20 Irishmae11.........233.8..........233..........219......13.2 Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16 jfran..............187............181..........177.......4 Jillrn.............176............176..........166.......10 Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13 juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8 KarenG.............207............199.5........199.......0.5 keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12 kjl315.............237.5..........233..........220.......13 legster............223.5..........219.5........199.......24.5 LessnLess..........172............172..........164.......8 liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8 Manatee............188............184..........175.......9 Mandyjo............191............191..........180.......11 metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12 MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15 nip50..............250............246..........238.......8 Rainer.............264............259..........248.......11 Redtulips3.........248............248..........235.......13 RenewedHope........228............228..........210.......18 rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8 Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7 Skinny_Jill........195............195..........180.......15 Stacy73............230............228..........222.......6 SueMagoo...........230............228..........220.......8 Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5 Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15 Suzzzie............303............299.3........290.......9.3 SWEETY.............180............180..........170.......10 Trystelle..........219............219..........205.......14 Twilight...........206............197..........185.......21 uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10 want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11 wombat712..........154.8..........152.8........140.......12.8

My lapband doctor repaired 3 hernias when he did my lapband. I had known about one of them and it had been previously repaired, but we weren't sure if it needed repaired again or not. The doctor at first thought he could just work around it, but once he got in to have a look, he said it was a real mess and found 2 more. So he repaired all 3. I didn't have any complications. I did have more incisions. I believe most have 5 incisions for the lapband, and I had 10. I also had a large amount of bruising, but this was in the area of the hernias. I was still able to go back to work 5 days later, but was on half days for the first week. I had the surgery on Thursday, went back to work on Tuesday, half days, and the following Monday was back full time. I'm really greatful that I was able to take care of everything at once.

Elaine - Welcome. I have a question, how much is 4 stone? I've never heard stone as a unit of measurement. I was banded in October and love my band. I've also only had one fill. Keep up the good work.

Chaos - you asked what our thoughts are and how we feel about the lapband. I LOVE my lapband. I only wish that I could have had it years earlier. I have struggled for close to 40 years with my weight and never was successful. I've only been banded for 3 months now, but I can say that I weigh less now than I did 20 years ago. I never believed that it could be so wonderful. In the past I've tried and tried and have never been successful. That is really hard emotionally, but now, I feel like its too good to be true. I can honestly say that I don't have to work as hard to loose the weight as I did in the past. I still have to watch what I eat, but I did that in the past and that still didn't work. I'm sure that if you decide to have the band and you follow the protocol, you too can be successful. The surgery is not difficult at all and you can be back to work in a week or even less (5 days for me). You will have pitfalls, the first few weeks you will have to be on liquids and mushy foods (that's no fun). It also takes awhile to get your fills at the right spot - this makes the lapband work more efficiently. You have to watch what you eat. Protein is the most important and most doctors recommend only good carbs - nothing white like bread, flour, sugar, etc., but if you follow the plan the lapband works wonderfully. Like others have said, read, read and read some more. Also, attend a seminar and take notes. The seminar will answer a lot of your questions. Good luck with your journey.

Feb. 7th should be good for me also. Georgia girl - how many fills does this make for you? I'm still on my first, keep loosing just enough so they won't give me a fill. I'll try again next month. I seem to be cycling - one or two weeks I won't loose an ounce. Then I'll have one or two weeks where I loose 4 or 5 pounds per week. Right now I'm at one week with no loss again. Hopefully I'll cycle back to loosing again.

I pretty flexible also as long as I know in advance. What time are we looking at? 6:00 or 6:30 would be great if that's not too early for any of you. Just let me know, I'm looking forward to it.

I was banded 3 months ago and have only one fill, 3 cc's in a 14 cc band. I have to admitt that I don't have a lot of restriction, but I do have some. Enough to keep me loosing for the moment. If my family has pizza, I can eat one piece. Where before it would have been 3 pieces. The most I normally eat is one cup of food. If I go over this I will have some difficulties. At times I feel I want a fill so my weight loss will speed up, but I'll then remind myself that things are going great and I'm still loosing. I'm going to save my fills until the weight loss slows way up. Also, the clinic where I have my fills won't give fills if you loose over 2 pounds per week on the average. So I couldn't get one if even if I wanted.

Here's a few things that I take - open faced tuna sandwich (1 slice of whole grain bread) I'll make my own chicken salad (sometimes by itself or with Kashi crackers) sliced meats and cheese (no bread) Soups Boiled eggs Yogurt (activia and low fat) I also keep a low carb slim fast handy just in case I find myself really hungry. Fortunately I rarely need these anymore. Just remember to try and stay away from the carbs.

I occassionaly eat them, but try the south beach brand, they are low in carbs. They come in handy when the rest of the family is having burgers and fries or something like that.

I also don't know about fibroids, but I personally had 3 hernias repaired. Instead of the usual 5 small incisions, I have 10. Its quite common to have multiple surgeries at one time. In the past, I had a hysterectomy, a bladder repair, and a hernia repair all during the same surgery. Good Luck

Tifton is only 45-50 minutes for me, let me know what everyone decides.

Thanks for thinking of me mia, but if I'm the only one that lives in this direction, it wouldn't be fair to everyone who lives closer to Albany. I would love to go, but it is too far for an evening trip. Let me know where everyone decides on. Thanks again.

I made last months so I'll try it again! name ...... starting# ....... current#.........goal#.......togo# Rainer...........264................264..............248.........16 wombat712....154.8.............154.8............140.........14.8 LessnLess......172................172..............164.........8 metawnny......252................252..............240.........12 Skinny_Jill......195.................195.............180..........15 Candle .........218.................218..............207.........11 KarenG..........207.................207.............199...........8 Hopping to it .350.................314.............294..........20 SWEETY........180.................180.............170..........10 juliegeraci.......220.................220.............210..........8 Trystelle.........219.................219.............205..........14 Susan4794......240.................240............225..........15 rharriet...........367.................256.............248..........8 nip50.............250..................250............238..........12

I also have the 14cc band and have only had one fill for a total of 3 cc's. I'm not at my sweet spot, but definitely have some restriction. I normally eat about 1 cup of food at a meal and feel full afterwards. I'm also loosing at an acceptable rate. About 2 pounds a week on average. The clinic where I have fills will not give another fill if you average 2 pounds a week, so I don't know when I'll be getting a second fill.