mommy2xp

Lisa, I think you and I are in the same boat. My band is horizontal after a slip and unfill. I have a small fill and do fill restriction, but I am gaining. My doctor hasn't advised me a special diet. However, I try to stay on the liquid side. I was told I was basically needing a new band.

With my slip I had tightness and heartburn at night. I could get water and liquids in, but I was eating only soft foods.

I am out 2 1/2 years. They noticed my pouch had stretched during my last fill. When I went in last week, I had a slip. I've always heard stretched pouches are a precursor to a slip. I should have known as I was eating only soft foods and had heartburn at night. I think I was too tight too long. I have 2 more weeks to see if I can be refilled. So, do what they say!

dodaditty21 I paid for my surgery out of pocket. Yes, you have to pay it upfront. I used Capitol One Heathcare financing. My payment was about $364 a month. Worth every penny. Good luck to you!

Activia yogurt is GREAT. I know it's not fiber, but it helps keep you moving and it band friendly. HTH

I love our Wii! It gets our kids moving too.

I am close to maxing out my band as well. However, if you look at the Inamed site there is a statistic about weight loss. A very small percentage loses 100% of their excess weight. "The average weight-loss in the US clinical study was approximately 36-38% of excess weight, 2 & 3 years after surgery" So, for me 291-165=126 pounds more than my ideal weight. 38% of 126 is 47.8 pounds. It's just some food for thought.

I'm at 3 cc's in my 4 cc band. I am going for a small fill today. I've lost close to 51 pounds, and it seems to have loosened up a bit.

Hi, I live in Springfield. My surgery was done on 2/13/06 by Dr Edwards. There have only been a few done in Springfield since then (I was the first), but I'd love to hear from some.

I'm in Springfield, MO. I was banded in Feb of this year. I highly, recommend Dr. Christopher Edwards here in Springfield. Good luck to you!

Yes, there is a meeting at 5:30pm today. It's mostly RNY people, all ages, mostly women. Yes, they have some St John's people there. The leader of the group is a five year success RNY patient. I am able to eat small amounts of most everything. The only think I really miss is chicken and scrambled eggs. They seem to stick and bother me the most. Also, drinking with meals was hard to give up, but I have done it. People ask me about the lapband all the time. Probably because I was on TV with it. I haven't gotten tired of it yet. I am always sympathetic to those that are taking charge of their health. I plan on going to the meeting. Good luck to you!

UN5, I totally understand your frustration. I am a self-pay. Only because I have NO insurance. My husband (cerebral palsy) and myself (obese) can not get coverage. Dr. Edwards is my surgeon. I HIGHLY recommend him. He has a great bedside manner, is very talented, and a great surgeon. I have heard many insurance companies don't cover bariatrics, because people change insurance companies often. They think, "Why should they pay for another company to reap the benefits?" It's sickening, I know. I have no regrets. I researched doctors in Kansas, Mexico, Ohio, and here. While I was the first in Springfield, I felt better being closer to home. It has been easier for followup too. There is a lot of pre-surgery stuff too. All day behavioral class, psych visits, dietician meetings.... The second Monday of each month is the support group. Feel free to come to that too. It's at St. John's surgery center (1229 E Seminole) in room 4B at 5:30pm. I used Capitol One Health Finance for my loan. HTH. Good luck on your road to good health!

Good luck to you! Try to stay out of the kitchen during the liquid diet portion. I bleached my teeth when I got hunger pangs.

Cathy, Good luck to you! Who is your doctor in Mexico? I had considered Rumbaut, but decided to wait and do it closer to home. However, I am missing that $8000 that I would have saved. *laugh* Day

LOVED it! *laugh*

LOVED it! *laugh*

OK, I just had to jump in on this. However, I don't know if it's already been said. When you look forward to getting a needle in your stomach, you must be a bandster.

I hope your appointment went well today. What did you think? I can't get your email off this, but if you'd like to email me it's daynjeff@sbcglobal.net.

Yes, I was the one on TV. Make sure you tell him you saw the segment. I am sure he would like to see the feedback. This has been an emotional journey. I have no regrets. I also see Dr. Edwards tomorrow. I am thinking about having another adjustment. I also researched other doctors and other cities, however, I am glad to have my doctor being in town. There is so much more to it than the surgery. The aftercare is crucial. Read as much as you can about this surgery. You will have to be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery - yes, you can do it. You also will have to wait 6 weeks before your first fill. So, it may seem like slow going, but it's worth it. I have lost 23 pounds since Feb 1st. I am on the slow side, but it looks like I am dieting, not that I had surgery. I hope to see you if Dr Edwards gets a lap-band support group going! Good luck!

ddillon01 How large is your band? Is it a VG 10 cc one? I think your doctor was my doctor's proctor. That's a mouthful-!!

I had to do the liquid diet, around 800 calories. Not only does it help shrink the liver, but it curbs the "last supper syndrome". You can do this! Keep yourself busy, drink lots of water, bleach your teeth, and stay out of the kitchen.

Well, I have almost made it to my first fill. Yeah! While I know I wont have my "sweet spot" restriction yet, I am still excited. I have been one of those post-ops that hasn't lost much. I am only down about 5 pounds since surgery. I know it's a bonus, but I have seen others, on the board, lose a lot more since the same week. My questions are about support groups. I am the first lap-band in my area, so at the support groups there is no one ahead of me to blaze the trail. I am in a group with RNY patients. This message board has been the BEST source of information so far. Are there support groups specifically for the first 6 weeks of lap-band in other areas? It seems that there is a lot of frustration in the first six weeks. For me, the gap between week 4 to 6 I have felt in limbo. How often have you been seen by your surgeon since surgery? I have had one surgery follow-up one week after surgery. Are you in a lap-band support group or with RNY patients? Thanks for your answers and your support!

Celebrity riiiiiiiiiiggght. *laugh* I'm stressin' now. I've GOT to make this thing work. I can't wait for my fill!!

*laugh* I just noticed my weight-loss surgery is linked on your blog.

My surgery was February 13 in Springfield, MO by Dr. Christopher Edwards. I have lost 14 pounds pre-op and 5 pounds post-op.