snowbird

I had my first fill 7 weeks out, although my doctor usually does then 6 weeks after surgery. I had restriction at first, but it only lasted two weeks. However, I lost 10 lb in those two weeks! I had my second fill in January and was actually too tight for about three weeks, but now I am at a good spot. I've lost about 15 lb since the second fill.

birdee, I'm not a long timer by any means, but when did you last have a fill? The band is only a tool, but we need to tune it up to make it run right. I don't exercise like crazy--I ride my bike 5-10 miles a day, but I'm not sweating like crazy in a gym--and I don't measure my foods, because my band holds down the portions when I'm filled adequately. As for fluids, I'm already used to thinking about that because I live in Arizona and you always have to watch your hydration, but I just remind myself to drink a few times a day. I like the sugar free Hawaiian punch or Tropicana light orangeade as a tasty, easy alternative to carbonated drinks. If you're going to set goals, it might be better to set small, short term ones. I get too discouraged if I set a big goal and then start to see no results. Twenty six pounds in three months IS doable, but it would require a lot of work and constant vigilance. Why not just say, I will lose two pounds by the end of the month, and be thrilled if it happens sooner? That works better for me, and makes me feel successful rather than like a failure. I don't know as I am really in a position to give you advice, but unfortunately that never stops me!

It wouldn't "deflate" unless there is a leak, which I suppose could come from severe vomiting. It is more likely you could have caused band slippage with the vomiting, which might change your level of restriction. Neither thing is an emergency that you would have to rush to the doctor with, but either could cause a loss of restriction. You would need a fluoroscope and barium swallow to see what, if anything, is out of place. It could wait until your next appointment, but I wouldn't be surprised if your band doesn't work in restricting your appetite during your wait.

He said he feels a "lump" down between his breast bone. I say lump but he says it's almost as if there is something there poking him from the inside. Is this just the band he is feeling? Sounds most like the port to me. You can't really feel the band itself, but the port is right under the skin so they can access it easily for fills. It could also be swelling from being intubated or just generally from surgery. If it's the port, you can probably feel it just by placing your fingers lightly over the sport where he is feeling it. This is normal. If anything changes, like the lump gets bigger or he has redness around an incision, call the doctor right away in case there is an infection.

I just got a notice that my PCP in Washington state, where I spend summers, is going to a concierge type service where you pay an annual retainer fee for his services. As I am there only 3 months out of the year, this will probably not make sense for me. So I am looking for a new PCP in Arizona, since I'm usually here more than I am there. Does anyone have a doctor in the Surprise area or within 20 miles that is lap band knowledgeable and friendly? I don't want to either fight with a doctor that is unfavorable towards LBS, nor have to educate him or her in it. Please let me know if anyone has a good recommendation.

Good idea, Christal, but the doctor always wants me to come back in a week, and my hair doesn't grow that fast! Thanks, Wasa. I will keep him in mind.

General lap band wisdom is three meals a day. The band is supposed to work by limiting portion size. If you graze, it just isn't going to stop you in time. You will be able to eat more than you should because you will not be filling your upper stomach and stopping due to the band.

Thanks for replying. I had a doctor I liked in Gold Canyon, but that's almost two hours from where I live now, which is 17 miles west of Grand. I'll drive to Mesa to get my old hairstylist to cut my hair, but not to go to the doctor! Guess that shows where my priorities are.

Nevermind, I found it in an earlier post. I'm getting curious about this. Utahband has posted quite a bit over the last three months and even gave her full name and email address in an earlier post. It's interesting, because one time she relates the story word for word, but puts it forth as a friend's experience. The other time it is the same story, but the pronouns have been changed to "I" and "me." The story is written in decent English like the writer is a fluent English speaker. The shorter messages are not. I suppose the administrators can tell us if all these posts are coming from the same computer. Oh, what tangled webs we weave . . .

Is there something I am missing, or am I looking at the wrong post? I don't see any reference to Ortiz in the post I thought we were questioning here.

For me that is the sign I have just taken one bite too much. Not necessarily stuck, but full to the gills. It feels exactly like that, like I have filled my stomach to the brim and it is going to start backing up into my mouth. The sliming is the feeling that I am so full I can't even swallow my spit, although slime is more than just saliva.

The band is, to a large degree, negative conditioning. We want to do something bad for us, but the band gives us pain rather than reward. If we get slapped upside the head enough by our bands, it eventually gets through that the bad behavior causes pain rather than pleasure. For the lucky ones, the mere threat of pain is enough to steer them away from the bad behavior. For those of us not so bright, we need another occasional slap to keep us on track. The band stops us from overeating. How does it do that? With a gentle "no, no, dear?" Well, actually it does that, but I often don't listen. The pain from eating too much, too fast isn't a complication to me; it's a sign that my band is working. If it didn't hurt, I would still be stuffing myself with donuts. And I am not in pain unless I do what I know I shouldn't do. The hair loss can come with any weight loss. I lost hair on earlier diets; I think it's your body reacting to less food than it needs to maintain itself, so it sacrifices your hair. It came back before, so I expect it will this time too. My incisions are four quarter inch marks that don't even look like surgical scars anymore, and one inch long line. I consider them fairly minor. Your questions are good ones, and ones we all think about preband. The pain right after surgery is minimal for most; I never even took the pain pills my doctor gave me, nor did my husband. The biggest adjustment I thought I would have was the loss of my best friend food; as I've said before, she's still around but I don't like her that much anymore.

Every doctor is different, and every patient is different. My doctor just wanted me to lose 5% of my body weight prior to surgery, and didn't require a liquid diet as long as I could lose the weight some other way (I used Atkins.) I wasn't hungry for about two weeks after surgery. I started wanting more to eat in the third week, but it was more boredom with the liquids rather than real hunger. Some people do complain about hunger in the liquid phase.

No, I go to my doctor's clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. He has two associates that do fills, and they are usually available. They always do their fills with fluoro, which I like.

My doctor had me on clear liquids for the first 7 days, and then full liquids for the next 14 days. However, I was not limited in what full liquids I wanted, nor how often I wanted them. I was probably taking in about 600 calories per day during the liquids phase. Are you sure you aren't allowed other liquids besides the shakes?

No wonder self payers go to Mexico! My husband's surgery was $8000 in Mexico and BCBS paid $7900, just to go to the other end of the spectrum.

Yes, I was right at 35, not on any meds for cholesterol or hypertension, but my doctor wrote up that I was on the brink and my insurance paid. My ticker shows higher because I had already started my preop diet when I went to my PCP.

Twenty four hours or less.

The best thing about successful weight loss is the way we can finally feel proud of ourselves rather than ashamed. Congratulations on your outstanding success, and keep us posted throughout the next six months!

The reason your doctor has you lay off solid food post surgery is to allow your stomach to heal. This is a short term thing, and you should follow his instructions to the very best of your ability. Why risk the success of your surgery over a momentary pleasure?

I couldn't find that, so maybe it has been edited out? Dr Aceves, Dr Ortiz, either way you are in good hands. Dr O asks patients to lose 5% of body weight pre surgery. However, I have not ever heard that he turned anyone down when it came time for their surgical appointment. Prices change over time, and sometimes there are extenuating circumstances for different prices. My daughter paid $8500 but my husband and I paid $8000 with Dr O because we were traveling together and didn't have anyone else staying in the hotel while we were at the clinic. Occasionally he offers "specials" too.

I'm in the same place. How is your weight loss over the past four weeks? If you are losing, I wouldn't do a fill. I'm kind of in the same place as you, being able to eat quite a bit sometimes and nearly nothing at another meal. My daughter, who is a year more experienced than I am, says that she actually slimes and pb's more when she needs a fill, because she isn't reminded to eat slowly and choose her foods well. I guess we both need to be hit over the head with the unfortunate consequences of bad choices before we do what we know we should be doing. You would think that the discomfort of that month would be enough to stop me from overeating now, but it doesn't seem to. Sigh.

Anita, I am very confused. You have had two fills, but are still on soft foods? Granted, every doctor is different, but that makes no sense. The fills are after your stomach has healed, and every doctor I know about says you cannot have soft foods while you are banded. Restriction means nothing to soft foods. Once you are past the first six to eight weeks, solids are a necessity. I have never heard of a doctor that continues you on soft foods after you start getting fills. Has anyone else had instructions like this? My doctor has me on liquids immediately after a fill 24-48 hours, but not continuously.

This comes more under the heading of insurance fraud rather than white lie. I don't think it is worth the risk, apart from the dishonesty angle. If necessary, wait until next year when you can sign up for insurance again.

Subway has Soups too, that are pretty good. If we are out eating Mexican I order a single chile relleno, no Beans or rice. Sometimes I will order bean dip with chips and share it with others at the table. I always check the appetizer menu and often order just an appetizer. It is usually more than I can eat, so I pack it up to take home. These are not liquid phase orders, obviously. When I was eating out on liquids I stuck to soups.