jkhawk8

I, too, am married, a grandmother, and on meds for panic disorder and bipolar. I'm also disabled with fibromyalgia, so I'm home and on the computer quite often. I'm much farther out with my surgery, but I need contact and support often (DAILY!) so feel free to contact me. I'd like to have a buddy here. Jan

Hey Prodigal, there you go. I had my steel-toed boots on, did you feel it? That said, you are STILL down 40 pounds since April. Would you have lost that without a band? I had my surgery in April as well, and I've lost about 40 pounds. My weight loss was only fast and steady for the first month, then it became "work". If you're like me, you've been making bad food choices for a very long time, and using food to soothe yourself. It's going to take time to break out of those habits. Don't beat yourself up, just get back on the bandwagon and move forward. Set up your environment for success (purge your house of trigger foods) and do the next right thing. We can do this. Jan

When I get fills, I have to be on a full liquid diet for 3 days, then one evening of pureed/mushies, and then I go back to regular food. Everyone's doctor is different, but mine's "full liquids" includes strained cream Soups, smooth yogurts, pureed scrambled eggs, and pureed cottage cheese, along with the usuals - sugar free Jello and popsicles, Protein shakes, broths, etc. We're still required to get in our protein and fluids. Didn't your doctor give you a list of what you COULD eat? I'm always ready for solid food before they say, but it pays to stick to the rules as much as possible. Jan

Rockbandster, It's not that no one appreciates the help you're trying to offer, it's that your posts come off as being very hostile and combative. If you truly feel Lap Band is superior, state your case objectively then leave it alone. You can't take on the whole world by yourself. Everyone is going to make his or her own decision, just as the doctors at the hospital where you work have made theirs. By the way, how many doctors at your hospital actually do WLS? I know many nurses who react with doctors as well who may have a different opinion. Doctors in the same group tend to think alike. It doesn't mean they've found the Holy Grail. We all need to be careful in our choices. But in the end, the choice is ours.

Just another thought here about the Realize band technology. It's been stated repeatedly that the Realize band is the same one as the Swedish version in 1996, but according to the FDA, which approved its use in this country, it has been modified even since the US clinical trials in which it was tested. Anyone interested can go to the US government's website for the approval posting and summary letter, or I can post here. So basically, Endo-Ethicon, which makes it, didn't just slap on a new label over an old product. There, I've had my say.

There are doctors who will do WL surgeries on someone only 35 pounds overweight??

I've heard a lot of good about Dr. Curry as well. I was considering him as my surgeon, but at the time he was not in my insurance network...I had my surgery done at the Tristate Surgical Weight Loss Center in florence, KY by Dr. Thomas Sonnanstine. He and his office are really great too, I'm pleased I went to him. Dr. T "calibrated" my band today, at least that's what the nurse called it. He was able to extract 6.2 from my 7.3 fill, so that's about right. He says my band is working fine, and gave me another .4 fill, putting me up to 7.7. Apparently I have one of the highest fills in his office. Who knows why some of us take more than others. But I did manage to lose 2 pounds since last week, hard as it was. I guess I'll just have to hang in there on the days it seems looser. I'm just looking for a more consistent restriction. I'm sure it will come at some point, for all of us. Jan

Thanks, Lisa, for the heads up on the band pressure. I'll update here after my doctor appointment and let you all know how it goes. I live in Alexandria, KY, about 15 miles south of Cincinnati. Looks like we not too far apart. Jan

Hey Lisa - I see Dr. Curry did your surgery. Do you live in the Cincinnati area? I have 7.3 in my Realize band, with 7 . . . count 'em, 7 . . . fills. I'm going for my 8th fill tomorrow and my doctor is going to remove the fluid first to see how much is really in there. (He doesn't typically do that, but I pressed the issue.) I haven't felt much restriction either. I've lost 27 pounds since my surgery 4 months ago. But the "work" of dieting is harder than I'd like. I want my band to be more involved! I think we all need to hang in there :thumbup: Jan

I stand corrected. My surgeon told me I had a 10cc band. The Realize literature does indeed say it holds 9cc of saline. I'll have to share that with my doc. (He previously only implanted Lap Bands, perhaps that's the source of confusion.) Jan

Yes, but they're the same protein drinks I've been using since my surgery.

I've just had my 7th fill (I now have 7.3cc in a 10cc band) and, as usual, several hours after the fill I get horrible gas pains, almost like the ones you typically get after surgery. They're in the middle and go straight through to the back. I've only had liquids all day, why would this occur? My doctor doesn't have a clue. Anyone else have more gas after a fill? Thanks. Jan

Thanks :biggrin: Jan