rlamato

Congradulations! 48 hours and counting. Thats great. You sure sound motivated. I know your going to do fantasic. Good luck.

Every Hospital is different. Duke Univ. Hosp. seemed to take forever. By the way my doctor came from Vanderbilt, in Tn.. I know right now you probably feel like your life is on hold waiting. I know you will do good. Good luck.

I heard the same thing. You need the protein, and adding powered milk will do the trick. Good luck to you.

I think I am confused. If the band is not suppose to keep you from overeating why did we pay 20,000.00 to have it put on?

Thank you Bandster 1007. Its true I have lost weight since I was banded, but I walk 2 !/2 to 3 miles a day and workout in my gym every other day. I don't mind working out, I wish I had never stopped years ago. One way or another I am going to lose weight, for my health. What gripes me is that it took many months to be approved for the surgery. I had every test imaginable and then some. After waiting that long, it seems to me that if I don't feel the fill they did is enough I should'nt have to wait 2 months to get another one. I guess one of the main problems is all the folks in my surgery group were gastric by-pass, I was the only Lap-Band and I don't have anything to relate to. If each bandsters fill is done on an individual basis then the individual should decide when they need it not the doctor.

Seventeen pounds!!! Your already a winner. I know you will be a great success. Good Luck

Sounds like you got a good deal. I know you will be a terrific success. good Luck.

Dear Billswife Thankyou for responding to my problem. I need recent bandsters to compare whats going on with my own situation. I don't even know what kind of band I have. Let me tell you a little bit about me, and if you will please continue to compare notes. I am a guy, 67, married 44 years and live in N.C. I couple of years ago I started out at just about 400 lbs and managed to lose about 71 lbs on my own. I could'nt lose any more, thats when I decided almost a year ago to do the Lap-Band. Since I started I went from 329 down to about 289, but the weight I have lost has nothing to do with the Lap-Band around my stomach and everything to do with it being around my brain. I have to get all of my weight off in a year so I can start plastic surgery. Most P.S. around here will not operate after age 70 and they will only do one procedure at a time for safety. Lets keep comparing notes and progress and anyone else that reads this who had surgery around the same time please jump in. Did I tell you I had my surgery done at Duke Univ., Durham, N.C. Bob P.S. I hope this does not discourage anyone from getting the band. I would do it again. I am going to be successful one way or another, I just want to get the most out of what I have already done.

Thats happened to me before along my life long road of dieting. I always thought it had something to do with something shifting in my back as a result of my stomach getting smaller. Drink a lot of water. Good luck. I hope you feel better as you move toward your surgery Bob

Sounds delicious. I am a choclate lover.

I ease dropped on your conversation about frequency of fills etc. I had my first fill april 28th and if I let myself I could eat a whole cow. I'm losing weight, but like you, I have the band around my head. I have always been able to lose weight but never keep it off. I got the band to keep it off, but I'm beginning to wonder. I don't feel any less hungry that I used to, am I doing something wrong. If anybody knows please tell me. Is this as good as it gets. Do people re-gain their weight. Should I insist on more fills. Is their a magic time one should have to wait to get a second fill. I would rather feel sick than not be successful at what will be my last chance to get and stay healthy. If anybody has answers or opinions please tell me. Thank you. Rlamato (Bob)

Yes, they have all three of the flavors you mentioned. I use to love the coconut. Be sure to get the vanilla flavor egg white powder. We're all anxious at times. I had my first fill 4/28 and then she gave me an appointment to come back in 2 months. I'm wondering why I should have to wait 2 months; you can tell in a couple of days whether or not you feel full. In fact, I think I'm going to give them a call right now. Talk to you later Bob

Jena, Make it with skim milk, add some McCormick strawberry flavoring, 5 packs of splenda and some crushed ice. Whip up in a blender and drink it. I guarantee you will think you are eating something your not suppose to.

You can get it at a GNC store. Its about 45.00 for a large plastic jug, but it is so packed with protein and you can mix any flavoring in to it and sweeten to taste. 100% powered egg white. It will keep you from getting hungry. Don't worry about your hair, if you loose some it will come back. The mcCormick strawberry flavoring is delishious. I know you will do well because you want to. Good luck! Keep me posted on how you are doing. Bob

Hey Beckn, I got the big 100% egg white powder and mixed in a blender with Skim milk and a flovoring, Strawberry, Etc ETC and splenda to taste. I would also put a little crushed ice in the blender. the powder and milk are 30 protein per 8 oz. cup. That use to keep me from getting hungry. Good luck. Keep in touch. Bob

Hey got2gethealthy, Congradulations on taking a giant step toward better health. To answer your question, surgeons specificly want you to reduce your liver size. Since the stomach lies behind the liver they have to move your liver to get the band around the top of your stomach. IT REDUCES YOUR RISK OF COMPLICATIONS. How do you do this? My nutritionist had me go on a no fat, no sugar high protein diet several weeks before surgery, but when I met my surgeon he had me fast on high protein drinks for 10 days before surgery and about 3 weeks after surgery. Let me give you a hint, the higher protein content in the drink, the less hungry you will be. I will help you with any experience I picked up along the way. Good Luck. Bob

I know your excited about getting your lap-band surgery this month. I had mine Mar 18th and got my first fill Apr 28th. I'm sure you know what to expect. I can tell you I'm real happy that I had it done for many many reasons. I had mine at Duke University in North Carolina. They had me fast on liquid protein for about 10 days before my surgery and then they weighed me. I wish they had weighed me first then my loss would seem more dramatic. I had been dieting most of my adult life without much success until I joined a program with BC/BS. I did good with that but as usual I stopped and started gaining it back. My official weigh in was 329 March 18th and I have lost, so far, down to 287. This is the first time in many years that I feel so encouraged I have been going out at sun up and walking 2 1/2 miles. If I can give you a heads up on anything let me know Bob

I had my lap-band surgery 3/18/08. I have been heavy for many years, but a couple of years ago I managed to lose about 80 lbs. I gained about 25 lbs. back and so I decided to get the band. Since 3/18 I managed to lose about 32 lbs as of the 4/28. I weighed in the 28th and also got my first adjustment. I don't feel any different with or without the adjustment. I'm still hungry. I can still eat very large amounts of food if I let myself and I can chug a 20oz glass of water. It does'nt sound normal to me. If anybody has had many adjustments please tell me what it is suppose to feel like. My name is Bob and I live in N.C.. I'm 68 yrs old in June. My wife and I live in the back woods with six dogs and other critters. I'm not sure if anyone will even see this because I don't know what a thread is or a tag. I'm about 5'10". When I started the banding I weighed in at 329 March 18th.I just weighed in at 293 so I must have lost 36 lbs. I walk 2 1/2 miles a day and I just got the okay last week to do resistance training. Accept for feeling hungry a lot, I feel pretty good. I dumped my diabetes and cholestoral meds because my HG1AC is 5% and my chol. is real good. I still have HBP and I still use my C-pap. One of the main reasons I am trying real hard to get in shape is the doctor made me get heart clearence for the surgery and they found 2 blockages that were'nt big enough to stint, but he said changing my lifestyle was an absolute. So here I am like everybody else I guess trying to get healthy and real anxious to be able to go into a mens shop and buy some fashionable suits and slacks etc. I guess title means my name goes there.

Hi I called and your right this was just the 1st of many fills. I guess I was looking for instant everything. Your well on your way. I hope you don't hit any pre-op snags and you sail on through. As I gain experience if I can help you let me know. I know you will be real successful.

Hi I talked to my nurse practitioner and what she said was that they will give me several adjustments over time, this was just the first. My problem is that everyone in my class of 03/08 was gastric by-pass except me and I did'nt have anybody to compare notes with. I know you are excited with your surgery just around the corner. I hope you don't hit any snags in the process. I wish you a lot of luck although the surgery is a piece of cake. They were extra carefull on my pre-op stuff because my age, 67, and a lot of the health things that go along with being large for many years and not exercising. If I can give you the benefit of my experiences so far let me know. I can tell you my weight started coming off as soon as I started exercising, now I think I might be turning into an exercise freak. well, take care and good luck Bob

I had my banding 3/18 and the doctor made me fast on liquid protein for 10 days before to reduce my liver size. He said its easier to get the band on if your liver is smaller. The only thing it really did for me was to make it easier for the post surgery fasting.