lapbandbarb

I have SEVERE osteo-arthritis in my knees and was taking prescription meds for the pain and inflamation for years prior to my lapband. This did give me relief. I also had to take a med to protect my stomach. The thing is that after with the lapband, you are no longer allowed to take anything except tylenol, no anti- inflamatories (otc- not even motrin, advil or alieve! or prescribed by DR). The band erodes faster than your stomach lining and it just is not a good idea, even with meds to protect your stomach. I had relief when I first lost weight but now I am back in pain. Dr thinks that the meds were still in my system and that is why. I still know that my weight has a huge effect on my pain. Dr says the same thing- he told me that every 1lb of weight is 4lbs of stress on knees. This means I have lost almost 200lbs of stress on my knees! I am starting a series of injections to see if that will help. I need a knee replacement but I am only 43 and Dr won't do it yet. They only last 15-20 yrs. Good Luck to everyone!

Kat- Thank you so much for all that great info. and advice! It really helps to have someone tell it like it is after they have gone through it! Thank you for giving us the heads up about documentation for insurance purposes! I am curious to know how much scarring comes with a TT. I lost 100 lbs about 7 years ago. It took me about a year. I moved and stress set in and I gained it back.Getting the Lapband has been the best thing I could have done and I hope with this "tool" once I lose it,I will keep it off this time. Of course, then I was only 36 and my knees were in much better shape. When I lost it then, I did not really need any plastic surgery. I know it is really hard to know but do you think that this will be the case now when I lose it? I just wonder what you or anyone else thinks. I didn't give it too much thought till now and I will ask my Dr next Sunday when I get my fill. Thanks! You are a true inspiration! Thanks, also to you, karebare for posting this question for all of us! Good luck with your surgery. You are about to enter the journey of your life! Here's to health:thumbup:

I must thank you guys- after a very stressful L O N G day, I needed a good laugh. You guys gave it to me!:redface:

I agree with you 100%! I have been in many WLS groups and every single time, I have noticed that bypass folks give you the feeling like they are thinking they are so different from you and tend to monopolize things. There are so many more and different concerns with the surgeries(like nutrient absorption) that I think they should be kept separate. Also, as someone else said, the other surgical patients lose weight much quicker and that would be hard to constantly hear about that. I LOVE this Website just as it is!! It would be very hard to keep the other WLS surgeries in their own place on this site and it would take away from how wonderful this LAPBANDTALK website is. Its name implies it all and should remain the same. Those are my strong feelings!

I have the same issues- I am really tight in the morning and can only have a Protein shake. I try to get my Water in before lunch. As the day goes on, I can feel my band lossen and swelling go down. I asked my Dr and he said this is very common. Overnight, the band tightens and as we move around and stomach juices are active, it lossens up. Dr also explained to me how much our stress and emotions effect the band. A LOT!

That is SO funny:lol:How you changed the name of this tread from "are we ready for a woman VP to should Palin get a lapband? :shades_smile: I was just kicking back watching you guys, not wanting to get involved with this anymore (i had my share earlier in this thread). Simply hysterical how you swayed back to our real COMMON ground. I am proud of you! I bet with this thread going on, there have been a lot of PBing and sliming going on. Stress and tension creates it. That's why I stayed away! Hope everyone is in agreement about support with the band even if we can't reach agreement on support in the election! LOL! to both sides.

That is great! So did you discuss your feelings with Fielding or another staff member at NYU? I'm just curious what your experience with them was like. Good Luck. I am happy for you and hope you achieve success.

Jo- Here is your answer posted a few posts ago.

Your very welcome! I LOVE your quote in your signature. :thumbup: I had to send it to some of my best friends!

They are both cracking me up! I have to pee!!:thumbup: I wonder if we will hear back from the Dentist themself??

You must have been posting while I was-I'll just say this. SIMPLY HISTERICALLY FUNNY!!!!!!:lol::lol::thumbup::lol::lol:

Hey! Sorry, guys, I just realized you were not talking about my favorite Fielding, but the dentist troll who can't spell:lol:

I missed this quote before! I must state the facts about Dr Fielding! Dr Fielding is one of the top bariatric surgeons in the country. He studied under the top surgeons in Europe for many years before the Lapband was ever introduced in the US. He is banded himself and has lost 150 lbs. He has kept it off for at least ten years now. He banded everyone who needed one in his hometown in Australia, for free. He is a brilliant,caring, generous man and I would not change Drs for any reason! There are several threads on this site pertaining to NYU bandsters if you would like to hear more about him.

I am really sorry that you are having such a hard time. Dr Fielding is my surgeon and I find it uncomfortable that he did a lapband on you when you only had 35lbs to lose. I would never consider having it if that was all I had to lose. I lost almost that prior to my surgery. I know he is really well known and very expensive so you must have really wanted it. Did you try to go through insurance at all? I knew a lot before I had the surgery and everything that is happening, I fully expected. Between the psychologist and the nutritionist, I felt very informed and prepared before hand. I have had great experiences with him, he is very kind and willing to explain everything. He has even worked with me with a great $ discount when he does my fills because he dropped my insurance after I had my surgery. He is not a greedy, arrogant man in my view. Have you tried to talk to him and express your concerns? He actually fit me into his schedule to accommodate me and he has been nothing but wonderful. As many have stated here, the band is just a tool and it is up to you how you use it. If you get totally unfilled, that may make you feel better and you will be able to eat. Good Luck!

I hear you! My band treats me the same way. I am restricted early in the day and stay with protein shakes, mushies and I get all my water in early. I can eat dinner fine. Then I start feeling those old Pre-band urges coming at night and I have to fight to keep them under control. I distract myself on the computer and try to go to sleep early. I spoke to the Dr and he said this is normal for some people.

Janet- You crack me up! Why doesn't anyone remember how well the country was doing when Clinton was president? It has been a long 8 yrs with no promises kept! Can't bear another 4. :lol:OH NO-I didn't mean to start something here!

The book "Fighting Weight" is written by Mahammad Ali's daughter and my Dr, George Fielding. It is excellent. I did a search on my libraries' website and came up with alot of books strictly on WLS, not particular to the band. I want to read Dr Ortiz's book. Alot of people have recommended it. I guess I will have to buy it. Carney Wilson wrote two books, "Gut Feelings" and "I am Still Hungry" There is also "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies". Did you know that there is a "Before and After Website and store online by the same author? It is interesting, but expensive! This is a really good thread. I love to read. Hope to hear about more good books.

I have problems with chicken, too. The easiest way to eat it, I found, is cut into small cubes. I have tried slices, shredded and even ground.It is torture! I don't want to give up my chicken. I don't like red meat. Try it cubed and see if it works.

You can download one from: www.gastric-bypass-guru.com/restaurant-card-bariatrics-surgery.html

I haven't used my card either, but I am not embarrassed. It is my husband who feels funny. But he is the type who hates when I send back unedible food(even a really rare steak my son ordered well-done!) He just hates conflict of any kind. Good for our marriage, I guess:lol:. I can't wait to go out with my GF and see if Charlie Browns lets me order off the kid's menu. Anyone have any experience with Charlie Browns Restaurants?

What an amusing thing to say!:thumbup: I have noticed my shoes fit looser, not to mention my knees not hurting anymore no matter which shoes I wear! Before I lost, my knee pain varied with the shoes I wore! What joy not to have the pain!:tt2:

It seems like you have been putting ALL of your time and energy into trying to get your point across about Obama. Ok, you are definitely intitled to your opinion and to spend all your time the way you choose. I give you credit for that, although our views are different. Today is my last day of being able to spend so much time on this and my computer. I go back to work tomorrow and my kids go back to school. The routine will be welcomed. The "View" is on now and they are discussing the election and the candidates. It is interesting, reminds me of our discussions right here. If anyone sees it, let me know your feelings. Have a great day, ladies! :tt2:

This is totally normal. Most Drs do not fill your band before they put it in. They just fill it and let the fill out to make sure it doesn't leak. The first six weeks after surgery is supposed to be for healing. Most Drs will not do a fill until after six weeks. The first two weeks after surgery, you are swollen and that is why you may not have been hungry. Sorry to tell you this, but it is unlikely that the first fill will make that much difference. The WLS we chose is a slow losing surgery, which in my opinion is healthier if you can be patient. We are adjustable and it can take a while to get to that "sweet spot" when you have the right restriction. Some people have to go back and forth filled, then unfilled, but you will get there. The good news is that since we are adjustable, it is less likely that we will stretch our pouch so the weight will stay off. Don't worry- just take it easy and read, read, read- if you want to learn more. This site is full of information! Good luck! Feel free to PM me if you have any other ??.

Take it easy tomorrow and the next day with just liquids and Protein shakes. If you can handle them, you'll be fine. Let us know how you do! The pain is the swelling, just like after you are first banded. It will go away. No more killer chicks:lol: for us!! FYI-Untoasted breads and soft pizza dough do the same thing to me:thumbdown:

This totally makes sense to me. I have to stay away from the foods that I used to binge on (ie. potatoe chips) because I feel like if I eat even a little of it, I am setting myself up to start thinking the way I used to about them. Getting the band has made me think differently about food. It is hard, but you have no choice. The band is a big part of the work that we have to put in to lose weight and change our relationship with food but it is not the whole answer. The thing that I have the most trouble with are bagels and I am doing fine without them. Protein first!