moonshadow2468

I've got the realize band and love it. I think both bands are great tools for us to use. The most important thing is that you trust your Dr. and listen. The worst thing is to "put down" someone else's tool.

I didn't stay in the hospital but wish I had. Got home (2 1/2 hrs from hospital) couldn't urinate so my PCP had to put in a catheter, dealing with it at home was a pain.

For me...... I had only very minor problems with gas pain. Walking took care of it. It is not in the digestive tract. Most people have some gas left over from the band surgery. They inflate your abdomen so they can see and do the procedure. They let most the gas out of you when they are done but..... some of the gas is trapped in you, it takes time to work it's way out.

Hi, I'm 53 and was just banded 3 months ago. I wish I had done it when I was 21. I could always lose weight but it always came back plus some. Your life can be very different.

Hi, I was banded on 3/25. Medicare paid the hospital bill, but I paid the surgeon ($2500) probably cost another $500 on the consultants and deductibles. I wanted a really good surgeon. Ask him what he/she would charge if you were self pay. Love my band!

OK, I was banded on 3/25, Had my first fill, 3cc in a 10cc band last week. I am wondering if it is enough? I have never had food stick, never had a PB, I can eat anything, but I'm full after 3/4 cup of food, I start to get hungry about 2 1/2 to 3 hours later. I'm eating about 1/3 of the calories I was pre Band. And am losing a pound or so a week. Clearly more restriction would cut down on the food I eat but I don't want any problems.... Any thoughts?

questions, 1. How many band surgerys has the surgeon done. 2. Will he/ she do the actualy operation? as opposed to teaching someone else to do it. 3. What is his/her complication rate. 4. Is the office available 24/7 for post op problems? 5. What is the fee for fills? 6. Will a catheter be used during the operation.

Hi, I was banded on 3/25 with the realize band. It's all my doc uses. I love it. No cc's at surgery. Then 5 weeks later I got 3 cc's. Feels like 1 or 2 more will do it.

Hi, I liked isopure, lots of protein. Like a soda, no carbonation.

Did you start taking vitamins? That will do it.

OK, I didn't have one during surgery but after the band I couldn't pee. My PCP at home (2 hrs from the hospital) had to put one in. Being a guy, it was no fun and I had to deal with it at home for two days. Turns out I had a blood clot in my bladder from the heprin. within a few days everything was fine. Now 9 weeks post op I'm loving my band.

I didn't stay the night in the hospital but wish I had. I couldn't urinate and my PCP at home (two hours away from the hospital) had to put in a catheter. Two days later everything was fine, but a hospital stay would have been easier. My recovery was very easy once the catheter was out. Complications are rare.... but they do happen. Expect the best, plan for the rest.

Hi Lise, you look great, Thanks for all your posts.

Hi, I got no help from my surgeon or his staff. Fortunately, I have a great PCP who helped me alot.

I got the Realize band and am happy with it. Let us know if this is what they were talking about.

All Drs are different but.... I have never heard of a Dr. saying it is a bad thing to be on a low fat diet prior to surgery. I was on liquid protein shakes only for the two weeks prior to surgery. Lost 20 pds and had a very short surgery (12 mins) that was very easy to recover from. Then being on the post op diet was a snap. I'm down another 20 pds in the 4 weeks since. That's 40 pds since the process started.

Hi, I'm 4 weeks post.. it only gets better. Good for you, we each are traveling at different speeds, hit different bumps, but are all traveling in the same direction. We all want to be healthy and happy and have made a big decision to that end.

I wasn't weighed the day of the operation.

I'm a Chaplain for Hospice in the Fla. Keys.. Great Job.

I get my first fill today, it is only 25 days post op but my Dr. says I'm doing good and the hunger is just starting in so he is going to do the first fill. I'm 20 pds down pre op and 20 pds post op. so 40 in all. half way to my goal.

Hi, I have a 10 cc band and had my first fill Friday. The Dr. put in 3 cc's. Feels like I need a little more. He said most people end up with 5 to 7 cc's.

Call your Dr, There are lots of pain meds out there.

Hi, Just to share my experience. I was on a two week pre op diet of opti fast only. It was hard for the first three days but then not so bad, My surgery was the fastest the doc had ever done because my liver was in good shape. He said it was a 12 min. operation! Very little general, very easy recovery. So.... two points, always listen to your Dr. and I have never heard of a Dr. saying a low fat pre op diet is a bad thing.

Had my first fill today... 26 days post op. My Dr put in 3 cc in a 10cc band, will I have any restriction?

Thank you all!!! I'm so glad I did this. The first two days were very hard, I couldn't urinate and had a catheter put in. Being a recovering addict (five years clean and sober) I didn't take any pain meds. But after two days the cath came out and all things were fine. The healing was better every day. I never cheated on the food plan and so far have not had a PB or any problems. My Doc is real good in my opinion, he has done a couple thousand of these. He tends to evaluate how each patient is doing rather than saying all patients should follow the same time table.