mickeymammoth

That was rockbandster's intention. If I were the lap-band folks, I would want to create an aura of doubt about the quality of my biggest competitor. What better way to create that aura than to send people onto widely-used discussion groups to bash the Realize band? Because it works! I also felt bad every time I'd read one of these posts (did I make a mistake??). I talked to my Dr. about it, and he has years and years of experience with the lap-band, and only started using the realize ban in June. He is very agnostic re: the two bands; he thinks they are the same. If people were really losing lots more weight on the newest lap-band vs. the earlier la-bands included in the Realize vs. Lap-band comparisons, he would be in a position to know. And he hasn't seen any dramatic difference like that. In fact, the only thing he said to me re: the new lap-band was that it was "less forgiving" than the old lap-band (he has a nurse who had a slipped band, and he replaced it with the newest lap-band AP. She described it to him that way.). Personally, "less forgiving" sounds like a WORSE quality of life. There was a study I found on google with the older lap-bands vs. the realize band that found that the realize band didn't have as much food intolerance issues, and that the weight loss was initially a little slower for realize, but the conclusion was that the weight loss equalized after 18 months, and as far as they knew, the quality of life was the same in the end for both.

I just got my second fill yesterday (5.5 cc total), and I'm really feeling it now. It's just the first day, so I don't know if this is too much restriction now, or if it'll loosen up a bit. I was able to eat two pieces of cheese before it started to hurt, so I need to guard against heartburn... My first fill was 3 ccs, and that didn't do much. My fill nurse said that with the realize band, you need bigger fills at first than the lap-band, so she's being more aggressive with 1st fills, up to 5ccs (I only got 3 ccs because I had a different nurse do it, and she's not the expert). She told me she just gave a 3rd fill to someone, up to 7ccs, so this seems to be the trend. As always, everyone's different. My Dr. told me not to worry, that the realize band WILL work. I got the impression that he wasn't that concerned with the 9cc limit, I guess there's a little play.

The port is only connected to the band by a thin tube, so they can place it anywhere within reach of the band. Mine is 4" to the left of my belly button.

Please let this be true!

I have the Realize band (8/7/08) but have only had one fill so far, and I need more. So I don't have much info to give yet. I don't use the website; I'm a big computer person, but it just isn't that interesting for me. I'll post more as time goes by and I get more restricted.

I had my first fill a couple of days ago: 3cc's. I feel slight restriction, but clearly will need more in there. I can still eat around 6 oz. or so, and I think I need to get down to 3 oz. So I'll call for an appt. in 2 weeks, and see how fill #2 goes!

Only time will tell if the new Lap-Band AP is really that much better than their earlier bands. Remember that Paul O'Brien is one of the Lap-Band developers and he has a financial stake in the product. So it's in his financial interest to play up the new and improved band (it's called marketing). Also note that only the small AP band had that awesome 1st year rate. And there's no telling what the 2 or 3 year rate will be; it might be the same between all the bands at that point. After all, don't the rates show that gastric bypass and lapband are equivalent over time, despite the initial increased weight loss for gastric bypass? I have the realize band, so I certainly hope it's not inferior. But only time will tell. It seems to me that rockbandster is selling this a little too hard, if you know what I mean.

Since this pig-out was before your first fill, you really shouldn't feel too bad. The band wasn't doing anything for you yet. We are all here because diets alone do not work long term, and that's what you've been on since your initial surgery swelling went down: a diet. Post a fill or two, hopefully you won't be able to pig out anymore to that degree.

I'm finally feeling human today. Admittedly, I was feeling better each day after the operation, but today I feel a lot less fuzzy. I think getting off the anti-nausea patch last night helped with that (although my vision is still blurry). Yesterday, I started on mushies, and even before I put anything in my mouth, I had bad heartburn and felt kind of bummed out and uncomfortable. I have a lot less heartburn today. My incisions are itchy, but don't hurt as much. All in all, I'm feeling a bit more positive about the operation. I've lost 10 lbs or so so far, and it's probably mostly Water, but I like how loose my watch and ring feel! I have been eating my cottage cheese and refried Beans and eggs and yogurt, a little bit every couple of hours, and I don't feel starving like I did at the end of the liquid stage. I'm even considering what recipes to make that I can blend up in the soft foods stage. It's like being ill and getting better; the best feeling in the world!

It seems all the nutritionists think that you should avoid sugary, high calorie drinks just on principle. I'm not doing the artificial sweetener thing anymore, so I had to drink real juices and protein drinks with calories during my post-op liquid phase. I figure this is a time for healing, not starving.

My surgeon had us on 5-7 days of full liquids. By Day 5, I was really hungry. I also couldn't stand drinking the protein drinks after awhile. I was very happy to start with cottage cheese and refrieds on day 6. I don't think I could have made it for 2 weeks, although in my liquid phase, I didn't think we could have creamy soups, so it was a bit more limited than yours. Even though I was hungry, I found that just a little bit of mushies was very satisfying. I'm taking it really slow, and my stomach isn't as growly.

My nurse said the blurry vision is due to the anti-nausea patch behind my ear. Sure enough, when I looked at the pharmacy info, that's one of the main side effects. Also, I looked in the mirror and could tell my eyes are dilated. In the meantime, I am wearing 2x magnifying lenses over my regular astigmatism glasses. Looks ridiculous!

I don't have any sharp pains, but I do feel kind of gassy and bloated and heartburny. I have been burping a lot, too. I gave in and took another oxycodone today. Amazing how that takes the edge off! The thing I can't wait for is the mushy phase. For 5 days, I'm on full liquids. I can't tell you how sick I am of sweet Protein drinks and broth. I'm not really hungry per se, and I feel real revulsion for the things I can eat right now. On Tuesday, I can add in cottage cheese, yogurt, egg beaters (I think I'll use whole eggs), and refried Beans. That's for a few days, and then on to soft, pureed foods for 3 weeks. I can't wait!!! I have a bariatric cookbook with recipes you can blend etc. Nervous about 1st fill and having to avoid PBing, etc. But I know that's the whole point of being banded, and I just have to suck it up re: checwing, chewing, chewing... It's all very exciting!