aneffie53

My band is great and has changed my life ....... Because everytime I eat I am conscious of it. The awareness forces me to make a choice everytime I eat or drink. It's like keeping a journal of what you eat, only instantly. Because I am feeling better, less tired, less sore, not bloat, etc. Because I actually believe I'll be at a normal weight in the future.

Any better today? I just noticed your post after posting a similiar problem. Sharp pain when I got up from the desk almost very painful to walk to my car. The area has been sore since my 1st fill and the dr though my rector muscle might have been bruised, but today the pain was real sharp like you discribed above. Any resolution for you? Did you talk with your doc?

Yes I do . . alot less, but about a 1/2 glass some nights.

Paul I have never heard of anyone else doing this. It's been years since I've had this type of dream, but they were so fun. At one point I tryed to put one down in screen play format. Unfortunately I don't have dreams that I remember at all anymore. The doctor that I went to for my sleep study thought I would again with my CPap, but it was not to be. I miss my dreams!

At the preop seminar I attended there was a very large woman who was hoping to get a lap band. The interesting thing is she already had a gastic bypass and had lost 175 lbs only to gain it all back. I think weight loss success depends on commitment versus procedure. As for me I choose the Lapband, and have been happy with my progess so far. Good luck!

I got a 40. Fun "feel good" test.

I'm 52 and just had the surgery in August, glad I did even though the weight is coming off pretty slow (my fault for not exercising). My reason for the surgery was health, which is a thread with those of us who are older it seems. After 50 I was so tired I almost couldn't function, years of a highly compeditive stressful job, combined with packing around 100 lbs made me feel like I had a couple of years left (at the most). It was just one health problem after another including sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, asthma, back pain, knee pain, and mobility problems (1/2 block I was out of breath). I hope to loose 100 lbs but will be happy with 80, and I plan to take early retirement in 2 years (as soon as I am eligible). Can really afford to start over with something new, but can't take the pressure of the corporate environment either. I'm just sorry I didn't wake up years ago, but grateful I did wake up. Even though the weight is coming off slowly, my life is improving. I can walk almost a mile (slowly), I eat primarily healthly (white bread, white rice, white flour and white sugar, has become a thing of the past), mostly vegetarian, some fish. I don't feel bloated all of the time, and I don't feel like a glutton when I eat. I feel better when I take my vitamins, but I forget alot. Drink alcohol alot less, 1/2 glass of wine is the most I have. Before surgery 2 dark beers followed by a large glass of wine with dinner was the norm. I guess what I'm trying to say is the surgery won't cure everything, I do have to work with good healthy choices too, but the band helps to make me think everytime I eat and drink. I too think it's the best thing I've done for me so far, retirement just might top it however in a few years.

Then: 1/3rd of a slice of brie with tons of crackers, 2-3 dark beers, crab with butter, several hunks of sour dough bread, huge salad with blue cheese dressing, piece of cheese cake and coffee. Now: 2 small pieces of brie with 4 crackers, 1/4 glass red wine, 3 bites of salad, 3 slices pieces tempura sweet potatoe and one bite of fish.

Jachut -- Question how was the heel spur surgery? My heel has been very painful for about 6 months and I keep hoping the weight loss will make a difference but not so far. I've heard horror stories about the heel spur surgery -- what was your experience? As for me I had galbadder surgery, wisdom teeth, and the endoscopy and colonoscopy. The gas was an issue for me after the lapband, but not the surgery or the insisions.

Yes, every since I had my first fill my port area has been really tender. It's been two weeks and I still get a sharp pain when I move wrong. I was worried to.

1)How much of a fill you all got the first visit? .5cc 2)What size and brand of band?4 cc Inamed 3)Did your Dr. use floro or not for this first visit?no 4)How much did you get on your second fill?none yet 5)How long before you NEEDED (not got it, but needed it) your second fill?2wks but I got very little the first time due to an extended trip which was 3 days following my first fill.

I ate about 1.5 hrs ago, and for the last hour I've had TREMENDOUS pain around my port area. I've tryed pain meds, walking (can barely walk), heat, mint tea. It seems to be coming in waves that are almost unbearable. Any ideas?

Yep that was my first experience with something getting stuck, and I hope my last. Nacho's were the dreaded deed, and won't be repeating that any time soon. Thanks for the well wishes! i'm still sore today, but taking it real slow.

Thanks for your reply SuperDaddy. It must have been from overeating or food stuck because after about 2 hrs it started to feel better. My goodness that was so painful, but it was so strange that I felt it by my port not higher. At anyrate I'm better and I will be realllly careful for awhile.

I went for my first fill today, it wasn't any big deal didn't hurt a bit. Only got .5cc so not feeling alot of restriction, mainly because I'm out of town for 2 weeks so I was a little scared of getting too much. Many of you had fills this week, what were your experiences?

Rosie's mom --my prayers are with you . . . get rid of that infection and heal . . . the weight loss with come.

I'm going to name my band "Grace", as in graceful. This was a fun idea - - thanks Candy!

Angie -- I have my first fill scheduled tomorrow. Have been able to eat pretty much anything without restriction for the last week and then today I thought I was going to die while eatting a cracker. I think this is as close to a PB as I've ever been; pain, sweating, feeling like I was going to vomit. So yes there must be something to the pre-fill jitters.

Haven't found a problem with childrens chewable asprin. I take it for the health benefits, so there isn't a subsitute. Does it hurt if there aren't any side effects?

Get some "oscillococcinum" at a pharmacy or heathfood store. I have used it for years at the first signs of the cold/flu and each and every time the duration and severity was diminished remarkably. My husband (a non believer) will be sick as a dog and I will bounce right back.

The prune juice works for me to, I put my vitamins in it in the am and walalala I'm feeling good!

I was banded 8/25 too and am down 23 lbs, unfortunately I didn't measure before surgery so I don't know inches. I have my first fill tomorrow, and I've just started noticing I can eat alot more than I did last week, so it will be good to have a fill. I feel alot better since the surgery, not as sore and stiff, more energy, asthma is better, and walking more. Down 1 pants and 1 shirt size. One of the big NSV's is my belly isn't putting pressure on my lower ribs, so they aren't sore like they were before. The hard part is the mental, lots of issues that I've buried with eatting -- and they aren't much fun to deal with and resolve. But all in all I am happy with my progress, and while it's not easy. . . the band sure makes the weight loss doable.

Didn't have one unless it went in and came out during surgery.

It takes a while to feel normal again. I can say for sure the day after the surgery I wasn't close to normal for me. Yes it takes a few weeks to get used to the band. And it is work (a lot of mind work), but for me it is offset by the joy of: - going to dinner and feeling full after I've eaten a third of my meal - jumping on the scale to see the number going down. - being able to go for a short walk on the trail by the sea (instead of looking from the car window). - waking up and feeling -- rested. - taking my blood pressure in the pharmacy and seeing a new lower number - already taking less asthma medicine. - taking the dogs for a walk - separately since they are such a pain together. All these and more, are things that I hadn't been able to do but have done in the 5 weeks since my surgery. It's been hard mentally, not to have my favorite "friend", but I'm learning new "favorites". Nothing worthwhile comes easy, but hang in there. The payoff can be huge, I can feel it changing my life, and I'm excited for the months and years to come. I want my life back!!!!

I guess I would ask "what good could come from her knowing?" If the answer is nothing, I'd wonder why would you risk it?