realme

It has been more than a year. Before I was banded I had dreams of getting thin. I smiled and cried at various success stories. I thought that my life would finally change for ever. I thought I would again look great as I used to 8 years back, I would get healthy and most importantly I would get pregnant. Except for losing 20 pounds in first month (pre and post surgery weeks) since then I have not lost any weight. I started at 230 and currently at 210. What I have today - big dark ugly scars on my stomach and pain when I touch those areas. People who operated me told me this pain is due to scar tissues that my doc gave during surgery. I had 3 fills in past one year and I was told that's enough. My mom and husband tells me to take this stupid band away as they are worried about me and have completely lost trust in this concept. Is there any hope for me??? It is hard to accept that it has failed. I have failed despite of following all the instructions. Is there any angel out there who can show me some direction?

I moved from Dallas to Chicago downtown. I was wondering if someone can guide me regarding two issues: 1. Any info regarding support groups near Chicago downtown area. 2. Where is the best and economic place to get the fills in Chicago.

Hello there, I am getting banded tomorrow. Is there anyone from Dallas Tx. I live in Coppell. Would love to connect and share/learn the experiences in person.

It's a good thread. My port is on left side (waist area). I didnot know if I have the option to suggest the location preference to my doc. I was operated on June 2nd. My problem is when I bend to pick something. I feel that my body is bending at the exact spot where my port is. I am very careful but not sure if it would continue giving me discomfort on bending post my healing period. Can one get the location of the port changed? If yes, it might mean opening me again to do the same. Well in that case - it is a scary thought.

I started this process exactly one month back - I lost 10 pounds before surgery during 2 week pre-ops. - 5 days after surgery (June 2nd) I checked I had lost 4 more pounds. - - - For past few days I have noticed I have gained weight by 3 pounds. Funny... Nothing changed in my consumption or life style :-( (I hope after all this - this works)

Hello there, I need help in understanding my situation better: I was banded 5 days back and I am facing following : 1. Sever pain on left side (I believe where the port is), so bad that my husband has to help me in lying down or getting up from bed. If I try myself it is so painful that I literally scream with pain. However I can walk and sit for a while with minimal pain. 2. My incisions ( four - 1" and one 2.75"- 3") are so badly swollen that the whole area around it hurts if I touch it. 3. If I try to walk/ work a bit there is a sudden pain that starts from my tummy goes to my neck/shoulder till my head. 4. Cannot talk for long - my chest starts paining. 5. I also feel lot of pressure on my heart. It would pain for few seconds and then after some time comes back. I have gone through CT scan and other tests. According to my doc the surgery went well since my liver and other things were in perfect shape. My reports seems normal too but he also feels that the pain is abnormal. Not sure what would happen next. We are waiting till monday to see if there any improvements. I understand there are post ops pains and hope that my situation improves with time without any drastic steps. My question is that - is it normal to have such severe pains? Did any of you had similar experiences.

My status - I am feeling much better emotionally and physically. - According to my doc my reports were normal except for that I am little anemic and have little large ovaries (have to take this separately with my Gyn). - My pain in neck when I work is still there and pressure I feel on my heart is still here. My Dr. said he is unsure why and suggested if we wish we can do the 3rd C-scan - for only chest.. - Another thing he suggested that Becky also mentioned above to use that devise to breathe for lungs. It is important otherwise it can cause pneumonia (newbies- please remember this). I didnot take it that seriously. - I have decided to hold on to c-scan for a week and see if there is any improvement. I would also talk to my primary care doc. At the end I would agree with losing it in ne that we have to be our own health advocate.

Thanks for your sharing your thoughts and experiences and also for your sincere wishes and concerns. I feel better in terms of energy levels and would like to feel that I am improving. I still have the pains. Any change in emotions - if I cry or laugh or even speak continuously – it would pain my chest and the left side where the port is. Still having problems in getting up and settling down on bed/ chair, but I am completely mobile. I noticed that the shoulder pain that I also thought might be gas related pain, happens when I lift anything with my left arm or after little extra activity and omg - it is so painful. I also sometimes feel pressure on my heart - a really bad feeling. I hope that all this is the referred pain that Amanda explained above. I want to be positive and want to believe that everything would be okay with time and these are normal after ops nuisances. Because if this continues my Dr. indicated last week that they might have to go back, open me and look for the problem. I am SO very scared of this. According to my Dr., CT scan report seems okay. Some other tests indicates - no infections. But he did mention that my incision looks “interesting” and may be there is some allergic reaction. My tests were to find out white blood counts etc. I am meeting him tomorrow to discuss rest of the reports.

Thank you so much for your responses and best wishes. I am suddenly feeling a great support structure around me. I am getting banded through TCL Edge by Dr. Victor Gonzalez from Center for Obesity Surgery, Dallas tomorrow morning around 7.30 - 8.00 am. Little nervous about tomorrow. Would keep you updated.

Hey Eliz, I am on Optifast liquid diet. Here are few suggestion if it helps. 1. Soups - Add garlic salt and pepper to the soup. It would taste much better. I too hated it initially but now it's okay. Also you can try other soups - you can find choices at Whole food Market. Ensure similar Protein and cals levels. 2. shakes - I was so bored with optifast's two flavors (chocolate and vanilla) Didnot like it's strawberry one. You can try Adkins they have caramel latte and mocha flavors. 3. Other - I am actually taking semi solid egg (70 cal / 6.5 g protein) . I have a small microwavable egg boiler and I microwave it for 4-5 min. 4. I am also having - Diet Green Tea (0 cal 0 protein). I think let 3 days pass you would be okay. Having said that even after 8 days of diet - I still get so tempted by - hearing "food", seeing yellow boards of fast food rest. and seeing someone eating. :-) . I am trying to find distractions.

Hey elvisfan - I am based in Dallas and going through TCL Edge. No - no Protein bar for me. I actually found out that it is good to have one egg (70 cal and 6.5g protein) without oil. I cooked one egg in little hot Water till it took semi solid form and then had it with garlic salt and pepper. Somehow that tasted so good --after these sweet drinks and soups for now four days. Leighdee - great to know you too are getting banded on June 2nd. Sure - I would look in the thread on recipes. Cheers!

I am scheduled for surgery on June 2nd and I would be on liquid diet two weeks before and after surgery (1 full month - scary hmmm... but most of the people who were banded went through, so might too) A Protein shake/soup has (14-20 g of Proteins ) plus (110-200 calories). My doc told me to have atleast 60-80 g of proteins and 1000-1200 calories. That comes to 5-7 Protein shake or Soup cans/ servings. Would like to know other people's experiences during the liquid diet?

Lucky you both ! My doc has put me on Optifast (5-7 cans in day that has 14g Protein and 160 cal each) So my options are - shakes - vanilla and chocolate (They have strawberry also - but that tastes bad) - Soup - chicken and Tomato My husband pampered me with one small tiny piece of chicken yesterday but I felt so guilty after that luxury :-)

Hello to all the fabulous people out there. This is my first post here on this forum. I have been thinking of getting lap band for past 3 months and was even preparing for all the documentations that insurance companies might need to approve me, but today I came to know that my insurance company does not cover this (I should have find out about this first). :thumbup: Anyways, my husband and I have decided to self pay. I have read posts at various places in the forum and trying to compile following 1. List all the doctors in Dallas Area 2. Find out the prices 3. Find out the various packages (hmm I notice comparing by price is not enough as there might be different facilities in these packages) 4. financing Options. 5. Misc. - Reputation, experience, service, etc. If you could share any of the above information or know a resource that would be useful in compiling above information that would really help. It will help me make a more informed decision. Best, Realme

Hi there, I decided to go with TCL Edge. Their rates are reasonable. I was talking to Dr. Cribbins too. I liked the staff and Dr. I believe Dr. who would be doing my surgery is also a reputed doctor. So it doesnot matter. TCL was offering me 2K less. As far as service Pre and Post - they seem good but it is too early to comment.

Hello there, I am getting banded on 2nd June. I am updating the list. I am getting banded in Dallas Texas. I am so happy I found this thread and all the Junes. Best Wishes :frown: 2 Deb, Realme :tt2: 3 Huggie Bear :Banane44: 4 Sellie :Banane44: 5 JoannaG, Irish Ladybug, Cadets 71, LMarie_MD2b :thumbup: 6 Kristybandy, cathychatts, eagerbandi :thumbup: 10 Jules, Shaxmom, rearea1222, To Be Free :thumbup: 12 cris3, Angelyco :thumbup: 13 BATassbandita :thumbup: 17 TX diva, :thumbup: 24 Snuffy65 :thumbup: 25 Tennessee Mom, dj bryan :thumbup: 30 maguirre67

Debi My date is June 2nd ( 7.30 AM @ Dallas ) as well... It feels so strange - sacred and excited at the same time.

Thanks Lori for the resource. After spending two days of extensive research we finally made the decision. I am going to be banded on 2nd June (feeling strange and scared) I hope everything turns out well.

Thanks for responding, This sound wonderful. My concern is other costs such as travel, stay and every month visits for fills, that might increase the cost. Also more importantly I am scared - if god forbid any complication happens post surgery, then I should be able to reach out to my doctor immediately.