kabeerah

I posted that my dh preferred that I get the balloon over the band. He has given up on persuading me. Thanks for the article and your concern.

VQ hopefully everything will be alright. Don't forget life is a test!

thanks guys. keep em coming.

Hello Everyone, My Dr. has recently started performing the Lap Band procedure. He has done 3 patients. He knows that I do a lot of research and is hopeful that I can help him with the establishment of the Clinic. I would like to hear from you all on what you think would make a successful WLC. This is a Government facility, so there are no seminars because there is no need to promote (not sure if that is the purpose), but there is a need to educate. I would like to suggest that he make it mandatory that his patients are properly educated before he does this. Perhaps by having monthly or weekly classes to be attended pre-op (is that the same as the seminar?). Please tell me what you think. I would like to print this thread out and show him. Thank you.

Congrats! I'm so happy for you.

O Kristi, I think you misunderstood me. I do not plan on getting pregnant anytime soon. However, I am still nursing. What I was saying is that I am always doing one or the other and sometimes both. This is why I am unable to do the weight lost phase of The Atkins Diet. I could do Maintance while pregnant or nursing but with my body not being in ketosis I find it difficult to control my portions and desires for carbs. This is one of the things I like about the band...I can still nurse and use it (I nurse my children for two whole years...plus!

VQ I don't think a support group would work because it may be considered shameful here. I think the doc should have pre-op classes because I am almost sure that post op many will not follow up properly. Kelly, it is exciting and I think i will start another thread asking for advise about this.

Hello Everyone! I saw the surgeon who removed my gallbladder, three years ago, today. He has since become a friend of the family and has helped us in so many ways. He is now performing lap band. Here is what I found out today: *The Ministry of Health has a Dr. who was trained in Germany and has performed over 5000 lapbands in the Kingdom (over 200 on the Royal Family), touring the kingdom training the surgeons at the Government hospitals. *Lapband has been in KSA for 10 years *Swedish band *My doc has only done three *Not sure if my doc will do mine or if the more experienced one will but they will both be present...one will assist the other. I completey trust my dr. and the training doctor as SURGEONS. However, I feel that they do not know much about after being banded. My doc told me that only 20% of my aftercare were with him and that the rest would be with a dietician. He told me to see the dietician for a month and then report back to him for the surgury. I told him that the dieatician there is not trained in bariatrics nor the band. She really can't help me. That I have been dieting on and off for over 15 years. He understood but I guess it is just procedure to say that so he is skipping that step with me. He did not require a pre-op diet and doesn't believe my liver is too big. They keep you in the hospital for 3 days but he said I could probably go home sooner (His only American patient and only patient who researches this stuff). Strange thing he saifd they do not do adjustments for 6 months!!! I said please...if I get hungry in 6 weeks I'm coming in! He smiled and said ok. I have decided that I will have the surgury done at the government hospital for free but will more than likely swicth over to one of the private hospitals in the area who have better aftercare. I believe the Government hospitals had the right intentions, by offering the lapband to patients who can not afford to go to private hospitals, but I think they have along way to go. They must go beyound training the surgeons on the procedure...these are not even bariatric surgeons. They are general surgeons. Ok. I'm holding my baby now so I gotta run. Just would appreciate you guys sharing your thoughts. I do not offend easily so please give me all things to consider...the good...the bad...the ugly Thanks

Dana OMG! Our kids are the same age! All 3!!! I have a 5yr, 3yr, and almost 1 yr!!! Only their genders are opposite. I have 2 girls and one boy (baby). Our goal weigh is the same and I only weigfh a smidget less than you (well I may have caught up with all my overeating lately). I'm almost 5'4. Who knows maybe we will have the same banding date. I'll call my doc tomorrow to see what's up. Wait..is that french you are speaking? MY SISTER SPEAKS FRENCH....ROFL!!!

My doc said that they do 3 days here. I'm gonna try to see if I can be out patient. For one I am nursing and my son is not interested in solids. Two...small town and they have your nationality written on your bedcard. I have been in that hospital enough to know that not only will all the staff on the floor come to meet the AMERICAN but the patients and their visitors will too! The whole town will know all my business in no time...

I have been eating alot lately too. Actually it's you guys fault! I'm serious. Every time I log on and start reading all the bandster stories I get really excited and HUNGRY. It's weird, i'll be like yeah I can't wait until I get banded...I can't wait until I can't eat all this junk that I am stuffing down my face as I read this...

Nykee, if done at the Government hospital it will not cost me anything. If I go to the private hospital for aftercare, I do not know how much they will charge for fills, but I do not think it will be that much...I'm sure less...much less than $100.00 VinesQueen, my doctor is saying that he hopes I can help him with the establishment of the wls clinic. A support group would be nice but I can't see it working in this country.

Oh Anne, thank you so much, for your concern. Actually, if I have a tool that works like I pray the band does, then hoarding will not be an issue. I believe I am mentally ready. I have done Atkins in the past and have had great results. The problem is that for the past 7 years, I have been pregnant and/or nursing...really they overlap each other. I like the band because it doesn't interfere with pregnancy or nursing and even if I do not lose during those times I may not gain much if anything at all. Thanks again.

Yes, I have decided to do this. I have read of other people being their docs first band patients. And from what I am reading about some of the more experienced bandster docs it still seems like their after care is also based on the patients knowledge. If there is a problem with the aftercare I will go to one of the specialist hospitals here that actually have baratric clinics. This is a general government hospital and a general surgeon. As far as the 6 month fills. I can see why after reading some of the post here about learning how to eat properly. English is the main language for the internet and with out the internet I doubt many of us would get all the infro we have to make this a smooth jouney. The people here that get banded, probably don't have the resouces we have, not to mention eating is a huge thing here and it will take these people at least 6 months with no fills to get a hang of the idea of changing their eating habits. My doc said that the band will not work if they keep eating the foods they eat, so I guess he wants to give them 6 months to get use to it so that they will not ruin their band. However, I will get my fill when I think I need it.

I with everybody else...It's something I like about you! I think you are a huge success story. I was reading your post thinking, isn't this one of the promotional thingys about the band? I mean they always mention how you can take some time off for other things in life that may have pririoty over weight lost such as ptregnancy and them start over when you feel like it. You have maintained your weight fior this long and I don't call that giving up. You have a family and sound like you put your all into them. It seems like you eat well but maybe lack exercise and with a family like yours that can be difficult to do (it is for me). Stick around and continue to be another example for why I want to be banded!

Thank You everyone. Do not worry, my mind is made up...the balloon doesn't tempt me one bit! I've decided to limited my discussions with dh about this. I mean I don't even have a date yet. He did go with me to the doc and he totally trust him, so that is a big plus. He really wishes I didnt need to do any of this. He thinks I make poor food choices and sholud just stop. The other day I had him take the kids to play on some rides while I did the grocery shopping. I past the bakery and couldn't resist when I saw brownies and chochalte mousse cake. I am so tired of arab sweets and really missed some american treats and picked up two pieces of both. When I was almost finished I spotted some Reeses vcups and put 1 pack (of 3) in the basket. Low and behold who walks in but him and the kids. He looks in the cart and says ."put this stuff back. You don't need surgury you need to just stop buying junk." I was livid. I wanted to cry. Better yet I now know why kids throw tantums in the store. I was not going to embarrass myself so I just remained calm. Once I got some composure, I told him that I know he is trying to help but I didnt like how it was done. I said it is stuff like that that made me start hoarding food as a kid because my mother wouldnt allow me to have seconds but let my brother and sister who were not chubby. She also didn't allow any junk food in the house so I would hide it in my drawers (and still do). He said, ok you can have the reeses cups. i wanted to say I dont need you to tell me what I can have...but the morbidly obese person in me went skipping over to the candy isle to get me a pack...

You should be on cloud nine! Make room for me, here I come. I too have childrren that have were a determining factor in my desicion to get banded. Yes, I worry about them if something were to happen, God Forbid. However, I want to be able to enjoy as much as their childhood WITH them as I can.Also on a vanity sidenote. My mom was the prettiest mom in my school. I would be so happy when she would come to school. She made all the other kids happy and they would tell me how pretty she was. I do not want my children on the other end. I don't want them ashamed of me or embarrassed (for me) in front of their peers.

Hi All! I am breastfeeding my 8 month old son. I'm sure it will hurt to do so after surgury. I have bf all 3 of my c-sec babies and survived. I also bf my then 2 month old daughter after my gallbladder removal. I guess I can handle the pain but do you think it can cause my band to slip or some other damage in the beginning? The thing is he is HUGE not a newborn like in the past.

Thanks Annette and Paula. Now that you mention it he is probably the least of my concerns. I should be more worried about my over active 3 and 6 year olds! I do have a full time Mommies helper, so I really need to worry about nursing positions. I guess I can put a pillow on my stomach and lap and have him lay on that. At bedtime we lay down and I do it on my sides. I use to have a very low tolerance for pain but this 2rd c sec I forced myself to get over it the next morning when I was allowed to get out of bed. I have learned that mind over matter really does work (except with food...sometimes!)

Jacqui's comments are interesting. I mean what do you consider a 'sweet spot'? Is it that you want to be able to barely eat anything or would some people be happy if they could just eat half of what they use to eat?

It's great hearing stories of this procedure done other than in the West. I plan on having mine done in Saudi for reasons similar to yours. My doc has only done three but the doc who trained him and will be there has done 5000+. It's not strange to know that obesity is a probablem in the Middle Easy (my dov said over 65% of Kuwaitees are overweight), but I will say it seems odd to hear of this being done in Oreintal countries, like Korea and Japan (read on another board about an American getting her's done there).

Jess, I saw your pics and was amazed. The before and after is so inspiring. Please share with us some of your program (what do you eat? how often? do u exercise?). I'm glad you went on holiday (i'm American but have been overseas long enough to make the switch from vacation to holiday without being annoyed) and managed to lose weight. Just maintaining would have been a wonder, but you lost! Bravo! Where'd you go? What kind of food did they have?

Janet, that makes perfectly good sense to me. I read this to dh and he disagrees. He thinks that you may gain some back but not all. He is very opionated even (especially) when he is wrong.

Sleepyjean, I don't think the balloon is done in the States. Sara, he really doesn't 'get it'. I told him that I was worried I would gain it back. He said, after 6 months you will have had behavior modificatuion and will learn the right way to eat. I told him knowing the right way will not stop me from overeating but having a band in place will. He said, "well then you really do have a problem". And he wasn't being mean or funny, he just honestly doesn't get it. BTW his overeating is worse than mine but he is in a serious state of denial.

Megan, that is great to know! Jode 2cc sounds good to me. Congrats on your pregnancy! How long do u plan on staying filled?