Mags

Hi Everyone, I feel like I'm going through a bad patch with my band and need some help and advice!!! I was banded on September 14 and after 4 months I'm thrilled to be down 45 pounds. The first 3+ months were fine, but lately I'm feeling more band restriction and I'm finding that foods I could tolerate just two weeks ago are making me throw up. I'm trying to be mindful of taking small bites and eatling slowly, but just can't seem to handle the solid foods my doctor wants me to eat. Has anybody had this happen to them? Any advice? Thanks everybody. Magis

Hi, I was banded on Sept 06 and lost 75 pounds. Except for some pb-ing I've never really had any problems so was shocked to discover this week that my band has slipped. I have an appointment with my surgeon next week to discuss options. Does anybody have any feedback they can give me? Is it possible to repair a slip surgically or does a new band usually have to be put in? This is a big disappointment. I don;t want to lose my band, I don;t want to have more surgery, I don;t want to gain weight again!!! What torture!!:help:

It's a great comfort for me to read everyone's posts. I don't feel so alone. I was banded Sept 06, lost 75 pounds so far but last week it was discovered that my band slipped and also the port dropped down lower in my body. I don;t have any discomfort, it's really strange. Appointment next week with my surgeon to discuss options and I'm really nervous. How long have any of you gone with a slipped band before it was replaced? Should I be eating differently now I know the band is slipped? Feeling clueless. Mags

Thanks for everyone's comments...they are really helpful. I was banded 4 months ago and everything was fine until a few days ago. I can't keep any solid food down and even when I eat very small amounts I PB, even a couple of spoonfuls of oatmeal seem to bother me. The difference is that I haven't yet had a fill, so I guess there's nothing to unfill. Is that right? Has anybody else had this experience? Mags

Dear Lianna -- What great advice! I will definitely try this. Mags

Hi, How exciting your surgery is coming up in October. I just had mine five days ago and I'm amazed at how quickly I recovered and how well I feel (even better than before surgery). My doctor had me on liquids -- Water, broth, clear juices, etc) the day before surgery and then nothing after 11 pm. I was scheduled for surgery at 7:30 the following morning. Doctors have different ways of doing things, I just think it's best to follow your own orders to a t! Good luck with everything. Mags

Hi everybody -- This is my fifth day post surgery and I'm feeling great. My list of foods is a little different. For instance, I can eat small portions of oatmeal thinned with skim milk and I find this seems to go down the best. My nutritionist also recommended to have at least 64 oz fluid in phase I and to plan around 6 very small meals. After experimenting a bit, I've found I like to have 3 meals of Whey Protein powder mixed with 6 ounces of skim milk, 1 meal of oatmeal, 1 applesauce with a packet of ProCel added for extra protein, and 1 meal of either lentil or pea soup very well pureed in the blender. All of this gives me around 85 grams of protein, which the nutritionist says is most important, but also the oatmeal has been keeping things "moving along" if you know what I mean and the applesauce (no sugar added) is a nice sweet treat. Right now because I'm still swollen from surgery all of this keeps me feeling very full. I'm most worried about getting to the regular food phase. I've seen many postings on this site from people eating pizza and other stuff (one recommended macaroni and cheese as a "soft food" during phase II). I wonder about this. I hope everyone, especially those with new bands, are doing well. This certainly is an adventure!!! Mags

Hi, I was really moved by your message and just wanted to encourage you to seek therapy. I've been treated for depression the past few years and it has saved my life. Yesterday I had a consultation with another psychiatrist who specializes in bariatric medicine and sees many patients having surgery. This was something I had to do to get signed off by my insurance company but i'm glad I went. It made a big difference talking to someone who specializes in this field. I wish you the best of luck with everything. Mags

Dear Cinderella, Boy, can I understand why you're nervous!!! What I would suggest is getting the requirements for lap band approval from your insurance company IN WRITING and bringing them to your doctor. Also, find out what your company's policies are if you get turned down, but think positively!! I'm in the middle of an appeal with my insurance company and I went to a pre-op lap band meeting at my surgeon's office the other day. I was surprised at how many people had no problems getting clearance. Good luck! Mags

Hi, I'm interested in everything you all have to say. I'm hoping to get banded sometime soon. I'm in the middle of an appeal with my insurance company but somehow I think it might come through. My surgeon requires all of his patients to have nutritional counseling before surgery and I thought I would share the sample plan I was given. This is the regular diet, about 4-6 weeks post-op: Breakfast - egg white omelet, 1/4 c sauteed veggies, 1 slice melon lunch - 2 oz turkey, 1/2 c. green salad with 1 tsp vinagrette and 3 whole grain crackers dinner - 3 oz broiled salmon, 1/4 c cooked spinach, 1/4 c sweet potato Also, you can add two Snacks through the day and they recommed eating a small serving of fruit with 1 oz lo-fat cheese or a Protein shake or bar. I hope the band can help me stick with this plan. I could never do it on my own! Good luck. Mags

:help: When it comes to insurance -- I feel everybody's pain!! Iwas just turned down today by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. According to my surgeon's office, BC/BS said I didn't have enough appointments with my doctor during the required 12-months period of medical supervision. Although I went through the 12 months I only had 10 appointments and they claim I should have had one every month. I can't believe this!!! Other than this I qualify under every other point - high blood pressure, high bmi, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, psych consult, nutritional counseling, etc. etc. I am now in the process of trying to find out what I can do to remedy the situation. I don't give up easily but I'm really disappointed and losing hope. I was hoping to have surgery in May. Has anyone else out there had this particular experience? Mags

Hi. I also have BC of Illinois and have had wait 12 months. I started monthly visits last year with my primary care doctor and have only one visit left!! I've also had apnea tests, nutrition counseling, a psych evaluation, and assorted other tests It's been a real long haul. We're hoping for a surgery date at the end of April. Good luck to you. Mags

To Dawn in MN, Kudos for quitting smoking and trying to deal with eating at the same time!!!! I also feel like my weight problem got worse when I started to diet. You're either on a diet or off, and when I was "off" I gave myself permission to do very bad things. I'm trying to think of it as an every day lifetime commitment rather than a diet. I've also found that dieting in recent years much harder, from no fat to no carb, what's next???. I go from one to the other. In the end, there is only nutritious food and non-nutritious food. Has anyone else had a problem with too many diets giving mixed messages? Mags

I'm working with Dr. Larry Gellman through LIJ/North Shore in Manhassat. Has anyone had any experience with him? Thanks... Mags

Thank you all for being so brave and posting your thoughts. One thing that strikes me as I read is that many of us are dealing with a great deal of pain in our lives -- past, present or both. And, unlike the alcoholic or drug abuser we all wear those problems for everyone else to see!!!! What I want more than anything is to "fit" into the world. At 292 I can't sit on a bus, train or airplane and feel uncomforable in restaurants and other public places. I've lost and gained 50-60 pounds 3 or 4 times in my life, always putting it back on and more. The last time was 3 years ago when I lost 55 pounds. I was doing spinning and yoga classes and the gym and went hiking in Colorado. I wasn't even near my goal weight but I could live a life. I hope the lapbanding can give me that back again and help me keep from regaining the weight this time!!! Good luck to you all. Mags

I think the reasons for being overweight/obese my whole life are many. My dad died when I was five and our family situation was pretty sad in general. I remember being a real anxious kid. I discovered at an early age that eating tons of starch (in those days bread) made me feel physically better. Using food as a tool to beat back anxiety and depression has followed me my whole life. Does anyone else relate to this? Mags

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and have found all of your comments very helpful and supportive. I'm tentatively scheduled to have surgery in April after ONE YEAR:cry of monthly visits to my primary care doctor for weight-ins and general monitoring. My insurance company -- Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO -- requires this before approving lap-banding. Obviously somebody there thinks that if people have to go to so much trouble and wait so long they'll just drop out. I'm curious about everyone's experience with the actual surgery. Was it painful? How long was the actual recuperation? Any hints on how to prepare? Glad you guys are all out there. I look forward to hearing from you and reading all of your postings. Mags (Hopefully 140 pounds down some day)