pjd3253

I chose Realize Band because of the smaller port, the web-site where you get your own Patient ID number which entitles you to log-in - lap banders can't access it - it is really a helpful tool and because it has less port slippage problems due to the way it is attached - it isn't sutured in it has its own system. The doctor I went to switched totally to the Realize Band once it was approved. Hope it helps. However, I think they are both really good and not sure one band is better than the other as far as the weight loss and actual band is concerned -

I know everyone is supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day but I am bad about drinking water - does anyone know really how important it is to losing weight to drink that much or more water - I only get in 1 or 2 glasses a day but drink ice tea the rest of the day - is that the same thing? I hear it is and I hear it isn't - does anyone really know and does anyone think that is why I am losing so slow - Thanks!

Can't say I really regret it - yet but am disappointed with how my port area looks and if I had known it would stick up like this would not have done the surgery - I am 2 months out have only lost 8 lbs - that is good I know better than nothing but I guess I thought it would fall off. Why do you regret it.

After you see the doctor for your 2 week follow-up after surgery do you ever see your doctor again or do you just see the PA who does the fills? I just went in for my first fill after 6 weeks post-op and it occurred to me that since he isn't really needed for the fills, then do you ever consult with him again? The reason I am wondering if I should make a separate appointment with him is that my port after 7 weeks post-op is still sticking up like a goose egg and I want to have it fixed before the scar heals so that I don't have to go through a whole new scar healing process - has anyone had their port moved lower in the body so it doesn't stick up or have had it moved to another location and if so, how long is the process, expensive, is anesthesia necessary and is it out-patient, etc. Thanks!

My tape came off within a couple of weeks - surprised yours is still on - I swim every day for exercise and maybe that is why it came off so fast but it didn't cause me any problems - the incisions were already healing properly when it came off.

I love steak - chicken and fish not so much so I do eat steak but I had to learn to order the smallest steak on the menu instead of the largest like I used to - cut very small pieces and chew a lot. I have had no problem with eating steak as long as I follow those rules - in fact, I have had more problem with chicken than steak - also, it probably helps if it isn't cooked too well done so it is still juicy instead of drier. Hope this helps.

Any time I drink something really cold and maybe it is too fast I start sliming really really bad to wear I almost have to carry around some paper towels in my car - does anyone know exactly what causes sliming?

Same here - had fill on Monday couldn't eat or drink for 2-3 days - supposed to stick with liquids but could barely do that - now 4 days after fill I feel normal again - can eat my normal food, drink shakes, nothing is getting stuck, feeling tight, etc. I do drink a hot cup of tea every morning because of someone said it loosened up the band and it works great. I think you will feel better in a day or two - I am glad I didn't call doctor and fill taken out. I would be calling now to get it put back in.

Why could I not eat yesterday but could eat a pretty big breakfast today - could not eat at all last weekend without throwing up but today feel like I can eat anything - I need an explanation - Thanks!

hot tea worked great this morning

Yes big-time - I have had a severe sinus infection and have not been able to eat anything for about a week - better today after I started taking antibiotics to get rid of it - the stuff that drains down from your nasal passages fills up your stomach - gross but there is no room for food when this happens.

I was so hungry last night from not being able to keep anything down and I felt like I would not be able to sleep being that hungry so I finally made some cream of wheat and made it real thin and it went down so at least that stayed down and I was able to feel like I had something on my stomach - I can't take my vitamins on an empty stomach - they make me feel too nauseous - this morning I have a protein shake and sipping it very slow. Hopefully today will be better - my sinus congestion is better so maybe that has something to do with it and hopefully will get better every day. I guess you are right - the fills will be tolerated as your weight goes down giving more room - it is very confusing.

THis may be a stupid question but does any of the fill just come out on its own? I don't mean leak out but just dissipate by evaporation or absorption or something like that? Thanks again.

Thanks so much - I am leaving town for a 4 day vacation and if I can't eat during my trip at all and keep throwing up I will call them to get in first of next week to remove another .25 then my fill would be just 1 cc. I don't see how people stand the 3 or 4 cc fills? How does that work where you are able to keep getting fills - what makes you ever need a new fill if you can't eat with just 1.25 cc - Thanks!!

I had my first fill two days ago and can't eat or drink anything that doesn't come back up - I have a severe sinus infection and the doctor's PA says that (and this is gross) but that my upper stomach is probably full of nasal congestion and that is why it is so tight - I was wondering how I could ever get a second fill if this one is this tight - I can't imagine having more than one the way I feel now. I think the oatmeal is probably a little thick right after the fill - maybe make it thinner than normal - when I make cream of wheat I have to add some low fat milk in it to make it almost like a liquid. Thanks!

I am like you had 1.5 had .25 taken out but I have not been able to eat anything at all or drink anything for 2 days. I literally sip on something and have to throw it up - I had no restriction at all before my fill so it seems weird that some people don't have any restriction after several fills - I can't imagine feeling more restriction than this and I have only had 1.25. I probably should have just left it alone and not gotten a fill but I felt I was able to eat too much - I called the doctor's office and talked to his PA and she told me to eat soft liquids for 48 hours and it should get better - need advice will this get better? I am worried not only am I not getting any nutrients but not any fluids either. Thanks!

Thanks so much for the reply. I was unable to eat anything today - I am really only supposed to have cream of wheat or something similar for 48 hours after the fill anyway but it is such a weird feeling literally not being able to eat - I don't have much desire to eat because I know it won't go down and it wil hurt so takes the food desire away pretty much but I dont want to not get my vitamins and nutrients in. I called and talked to the PA at my doctor's office today to make sure I didn't need some more taken out - she said it would loosen up so not to come in - if I swallow anything liquid I hear gurgling as it goes down. She said after a fill your stomach swells because the band is tighter and takes a few days to get back to normal - I know I always wanted to not be hungry but I am not sure I was ready for literally being unable to eat without feeling pain. After my fill yesterday I felt a slight pain in the left side of my neck - I got that after surgery too so hope that is okay. Thanks again

I went in for my first fill at 6 weeks post-op appt - they put in 1.5 but had to take out .25 because when I was drinking my water I heard gurgling. Okay, so this morning I made a protein shake and it went down but very slow and I did feel tightening in my chest as it was going down. Is that how it is supposed to be with first fill? Does it loosen up after a few days? I read on someone's post that just because it feels too tight at first don't have too much taken out or it will be too loose after several days and will be sorry didn't keep it in - I can't find that post to read it again but does anyone else have any advice? I was down 8 lbs - took 6 weeks but 8 down is better than 8 up. Thanks!

I don't think it would be nice and only a man doctor would say something like that - you don't want the world to look at a bulge and know what you did - it should be something private - anyway, I went for my first fill today and the Physician's Assistant said she thought there was still some swelling going on and to give it another month so I will but if it isn't down by then she said they could "move it" whatever that means.

Just got back from my appt- didn't see my doctor just his PA to do the fill - said my band was perfect, port was perfect. Put in 1.5 cc's but took back out .25 because after drinking my water I was gurgling - she said the reason I was having this tightness problem is because I have a severe chest and head cold and that tightens it up - isn't that strange - after a fill you have to go back to soft liquidy foods again for 2 days like cream of wheat, etc. I feel so much better after seeing my band and port on the fluoroscope - didn't hurt either. She said if I need more to just call and come on back in but probably would want another fill in 2 months or less. Thanks!

I have my 6 week appointment today and first fill. I have been doing great- no problems until last Thursday night I made some cream of wheat thicker than usual and it got stuck and I had to throw up. Since that time I have had trouble eating, throwing up almost every time I try to eat and I think I can feel my stomach or esophagus being irritated from it = I do not feel well this morning at all - tried to drink a protein shake but it felt bad going down as well. My question is: I was so excited about getting my first fill but worried now that with the fill I literally won't be able to eat a thing -will this irritation from being sick the other night heal in a few days? Should I get the fill? And mainly why after 5 1/2 weeks would suddenly cream of wheat not want to go down even if it was a little thicker than usual. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Is it a powder that you mix up or already in liquid form?

This is probably very stupid question but I have had a horrible head/chest cold for a week - can hardly breathe, wheezing during the night in my chest, etc. Would this have anything at all to do with the tightness I am feeling in my band or are the two things totally unrelated. Thanks.

UNJURY Medical Quality Protein Supplement: High Protein Supplement Uses Whey Protein Isolate. Great tasting whey protein supplements!

A lot of people who have been banded including me use "Unjury" Protein Powder. You order it on-line and it tastes good and is very high in protein - it is medical grade.