andyisbanned

My doctor follows the recommend guidelines from the manufacturer which is 6 weeks between fills. He will adjust the schedule based on individual needs of the patient. My fills have been every 6 weeks apart so far. My doctor did say this time after my fill, that if I needed to return early to just call the office. He did ask that I give this new fill 2-3 weeks to work. So if I need another fill, I will be going back early. Otherwise, my next fill will be in 6 weeks, which is June 12th. The following is information provided by my surgeon during my pre-op class concerning adjustments: The adjust-ability of the Lap-Band is one of the great advantages of the Lap-Band over the gastric bypass or duodenal switch. The Vertical Band Gastroplasty or VBG, is a restrictive operation but is not adjustable. After a period of 6 weeks following Lap-Band placement, a patient may require an adjustment known as a "fill" Three main factors are used to determine whether or not to add Fluid to the Lap-Band: 1. weight loss, 2. level of hunger, 3. degree of restriction. If the patient is not losing adequate weight (less than 1-2 lbs. per week), is ravenous, and seems to be able to eat more with meals, then it is time to do a fill. Most adjustments can be done in the office in less than 15 minutes. Fluoroscope or X-ray is only necessary if the adjustment port cannot be accessed in the office. My doctor uses the Fluoroscope over at X-ray for each fill, which makes a fill take less than 2 minutes. It takes longer to get on the table and the prep than the actual fill. It is so cool to watch your fill on the Fluoroscope. The 1st adjustment is done no sooner than 6 weeks post-operatively and is a 1cc volume fill. My 1st fill was a standard amount of 2cc. Subsequent adjustments are done at 4-6 week intervals based on the aforementioned criteria. The second and third fills may measure 0.5 cc to 3-4cc. My second fill was 2cc. I now have 4cc in my 14cc band. It is important to look out for negative symptoms after an adjustment. Symptoms of chest pain after eating and drinking, nausea, vomiting, and reflux can mean the Lap-Band is overly tight. More subtle signs can be night time coughing and choking, and inability to eat a range of foods. It is important that patients remember that weight loss is to be gentle and gradual. Patients must resist the temptation to be too tight too fast. This can lead to dysfunctional eating habits, in which the patients convert their diet to liquids calories. If obstructive symptoms are present, then fluid should be removed from the band. I just thought I would share this information with you. Each doctor is different in how he/she proceeds with your fill schedule and the amount of fill. Just remember to work with your doctor, you are a team working together to help you meet your goal!

I agree. Exercise is absolutely critical to obtaining maximal success following bariatric surgery. Durability of weight loss is predicated on compliance of diet but predominately on exercise habits. This is even more true for the Lap-Band than with gastric bypass or duodenal switch because these surgeries have a malabsorptive component. We should exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week. Any activity that increases the heart rate for an extended period of time can be chosen. This can include walking, swimming, running, aerobics, or hiking. The key is to find something that is enjoyable to you and make it part of your daily routine. I realize this is sometimes easier said than done, but it is most critical to our success and meeting our goals.

Hi all: Just wondering if we have had any luck with finding a place to host a support group meeting in Madison or Huntsville yet? I know Moon was checking a few places out. I would consider asking my boss if we could use the company break-room after hours in Madison, if everyone is interested and I could get some help to organize the meeting. How often would we like to meet? Once a month? Then when would we like to meet? I would have to make arrangements for my children if my wife is working on our meeting nights. I am sure others would need some time to plan and schedule to make room to attend as well. Just some food for thought. I saw the mention of the Parkway group in Decatur. When is their next meeting? If it is the second Monday of each month, is the next meeting May 12th? The Parkway meeting may be a good alternative than trying to start a new group in Madison or Huntsville. I still think a meeting in Madison would be good to get people to drive in from Decatur, Hartselle, Athens and Huntsville to meet. Madison is a little more centrally located to all of us. What do you all think? I would like to hear your input. It would be great to get into a group support meeting. I am surviving on the forums and chat rooms here now. My doctor does a monthly meeting but it is in Albertville or Guntersville. I would prefer to meet some where closer to home. Driving to Madison or Huntsville would not bother me. I look forward to hearing from you all.:frown:

I am from Hartselle, Alabama over in Morgan county and I work in Madison.

Devana: Yes I have. I am now banded. I am 79 days post-op. I have lost 29 lbs since surgery. I have 2 fills so far. Each were 2cc. !st fill on MArch 20th and the second fill on May 1st, 2008. So I have 4 cc in my 14cc band. Things are going well. This second fill has provided some restriction at least it appear to have. I am not able to eat as much as before the fill. Of course, I am only a few days post fill and I know it will take a week or two before I can really tell how well the fill is working.

I have been overweight for years and obese for the last several years. I left the Army in 1989 and weighted 174. I work at a desk job and I have worked long hours over the last 18 plus years which has added to my weight. I also seem to eat a lot during the time our children were in the womb. I ate when my wife ate during this time which was at all hours of the day & night. I gained weight with her. She had the children (a girl in 1997 & a boy in 2000) and lost her weight. However, I did not. I have been over 250 lbs for the last at least 6 years. I can not seem to lose weight through diets. If I do lose weight, I always seem to gain twice the weight back once the diet fails. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and severe obstructive sleep apnea. About three or four years ago, I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. According to my sleep study, I was having 109 episodes per hour and my oxygen level was falling below 70%. My sleep doctor put me on a CPAP machine. After trying for a year and failing to be able to sleep with the machine. I was referred to an ENT for surgery. This first surgery was an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP, which is intended to enlarge the airway. This is completed by trimming or removing the uvula, tonsils and adenoids (if present) as well as part of the soft palate or roof of the mouth. While doing this procedure, the doctor tied my tongue down a little and straightens my bent septum (Septoplasty) in my nose. After this surgery, I had a second sleep study. We saw some improvement as I only had 103 episodes per hour but my oxygen level continued to fall below 70%. Again, we tried CPAP which failed. I changed to a BIPAP machine, which will breathe with you. I still felt like I was suffocating when I was on the machine. The doctor reduced the pressure and added oxygen, but I continued to have difficulty. On December 5, 2006, I went for my annual check up at my sleep doctor. With my severity of OSA and not able to sleep on the machines, my doctor recommended more surgery. He referred me back to the ENT office. On December 20, 2006, I went to see my ENT doctor, where I had a consult for surgery with two of the surgeons in the ENT office. We discussed my options of either maxillomandibular osteotomy (MMO) or a tracheotomy. An MMO is a procedure to extend the lower jaw bone to align the teeth and provide a larger airway. The recovery period is 8-10 weeks with 6-8 weeks of having your mouth wired shut. The benefits of this surgery for me would be minimal in the doctor's view versus the pain & recovery. It was determined my best option for immediate relief would be a tracheotomy. This is considered the most effective procedure for OSA. I had surgery for the tracheotomy at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham on December 26, 2006. I was released three days after surgery. The benefit of the tracheotomy has been to provide immediate relief to my lack of air, increase my oxygen and provide me with a good nights rest while sleeping. I keep a cap over the Trach tube during the day to talk. I uncap it to sleep & breathe at night. This Trach could be removed once I lose weight and complete a sleep study to show I no longer need it. My ENT and Sleep doctors would like for me to get qualified with Blue Cross Blue Shield for a gastric weight loss surgery. I have done much research and decided the Lap-Band would be best for me. I have begun my journey. I have selected a surgeon, Dr. Stephen Britt. I completed my 6 month doctor directed diet. I was required to complete a consult with a dietitian and with a physical therapist to get approved for surgery from my insurance carrier. I will have surgery on February 14, 2008. :tt1:

Gigi: I take my regular meds that are pills, one at a time with a sip of Water as directed by my surgeon. As for Vitamins, I was instructed to take Centrum Chew-ables (Orange flavored and available at Wal-marts/Walgreen/etc.) Most of your over the counter pain meds like Tylenol are available in liquids, which are easier to take than a pill. You really need to discuss this with your surgeon. Each surgeon is different and some will not allow you to take a pill unless you crush it. I hope this helps.

Yvonne: I purchased a Magic Bullet at Wal-Mart. I love my bullet. It does a good job and it is easy to clean.

Thanks Ready