LISAMARIE1158

KDM where will you get your band? Hartford? l was one of those who had to wait for Dr Haag and let me tell you it was extremely frustration to sit an wait, knowing we were approved for over 6 weeks and not getting a return date for Dr Haag...and his staff leaves a whole lot to be desired...He only does 14 cc bands..l have great restiction with 5cc, yet my sister in law done at the same time as me has over 9cc in her band with NO restriction...she see's Haag today and is going to ask him to remove all the fluid, as l would think she has a hole in her tubing or something...she can eat like normal and eat and drink..you name it she can do it...

They want you to live on 800 calories and then do liquids for 6 weeks after surgery..Thats a bit extreme l would guess...For me the band was the perfect soluation to over eating..As long as you get your fills to the proper fill you won't be over eating...l grew up in a large Italian family where food was always available and encouraged. l never knew what it was like to feel hunger..l can honestly say, even with my band, l'm eating 1/10 what l would have and l am NOT hungry, ever...The doctor has such controll over you as long as you go to the doctor...l have seen many people fail with gastric bypass, bec the burden is on the patient...lf you use your band correctly it can be your best buddy....lts my 2 year old all over again..l never know quite when he'll act up...Smile an look forward to your future..we have so much hope for sunnier days and brighter tomorrows.

lm happy with 40 lbs..l have a 14 cc band with 5 cc of fill with great restriction...my band is very tempermental..

l had my surgery 9/12 and l'm down 40 lbs...wishing it was a bit warmer here so l could get outside...hazards of being in the Northeast...

Yes, they use a 14 cc band on everyone...Do you know when your friend was done? l was done 9/12 and l never saw anyone else there that day, although l believe they do several a day..My sister in law was done on 9/4 and has had 6 fills and still doesn't have any restriction..its so strange how it all works...l truly love my band..its almost a friend...actually l call it my two year old...you just never know when it will act up...When are you looking to have yours done? l started the process in April and was done in Sept, but Dr Haag was out on leave almost the 2whole month of Aug, so that put a stall on a lot of us...lt was frustrating..Now that its over, l can look back and say it really moved quickly..lts just so hard when you are holding your breath and waiting and waiting...l did have trouble with my insuance, but appartently they were missing some of the paperwork...be prepared for little bumps in your road...But, it is exciting and we have so much to look forward to...a whole new life.... Lisa

With Dr Haag and Dr Fiallo, there is NO preop diet as they believe that people don't follow them any way..l have lost 40 lbs so far..l have been stuck at 40 lbs for 3 weeks or so...l also have trouble with the link where you change your weight which is why l haven't updated it...sometimes l hate PC's...Dr Haag was awesome...l have had some issues with my band, as l have had restriction from the begining...l have also had 3 fills and 1 slight unfill...1.5 cc...they use 14 cc bands there...l have 5 cc in my band with good restriction...Dr Haag is awesome..the other people in the office, they leave a bit to be desired....Stay in touch Lisa

no reason why you can't shower...enjoy...it will feel great....

l too can not eat broccolli...makes me PB no matter how its cooked...its can be ground into mush and l can't tolerate it....l would call the Dr ...

Hi Kim..l will assume you are with PVSA in spfld? l had my surgery 9/12 with Dr Haag...awesome... Lisa...Easthampton

Maybell....Beware of the federal B/C and B/S..l had my surgery in Sept...In Oct l received a bill from the hospital for $4,000..l called B/C and l also called the hospital...As my luck would have it, the hospital billed B/C twice for me...B/C didn't think anything of paying $21,000 for my lap band..They just paid the bill and then billed me the extra $4,000 saying that the lap band is a durable equipment Thus l had to pay 70/30..NO ONE told me this before...l did fight them..l work for a very large VA hospital and many of us have had the surgery...NO ONE got thios sort of bill but me..they all paid the hospital $100 and the Dr $100 which is what l was expecting..Now, after fighting with B/C, they cut the bill in half bec of the double billing, saying l now only owe the hospital $2,000...and l'm supposed to be happy about that...Wrong....l will not pay any more than the expected $100 and $100 dollars...Once a quarter B/c Federal sends a rep to our hospital to fight claims...l will see him when here's here next....Good luck to you and fight them if you have to....

l have also had bacon, reg type, with no problem..l will say the bacon was very well done and l took the littles pieces l could possible take...No problem...l could eat a lb of bacon beforte surgery, now, l 1/2 of piece is plenty...its definately tastes great...

l didn't have to crush any pills either and l still don't, even with restriction..lf you're not comfortable crushing them, can you break them up in to 1/3's...they certainly will be tiny enough to swallow...Tylenol never would have touched my pain either...As far as sleep goes, have you ever tried Benadryl?

l know for myself, food tastes totally different when you have to chew it as much as we do..lt almost makes me sick to chew chew chew...l never have trouble walking away..l went for my 3rd fill last week wednesday and then vomited for the nect 5 days until l realized it wasn't going to get any better..l went today the Dr took out 1.5 cc and l now feel great...maybe a bit to open but he wanted me to calm my stomach down for 4 weeks and then get a little bit more...l have a 14 cc band with 5.5 cc of fluid in it..l have had restriction from the first day to some degree...my band can be very tempermental...almost like a 2 year old....

ln't drink anything with carbonation...the gas makes me feel like a helium balloon....its very uncomfortable

l was banded 9/12 and got my first fill very early Nov..l have a 14cc band, they gave me 4cc in my band..l had immediate restriction...l went back two weeks later and got 1 more CC for the total of 5cc...l have great restriction..l've lost 36 lbs since then...Feeling great..l CAN NOT eat more than 4oz and most days l struggle with 4oz....restriction will come..My sister was banded the week before with a 14cc band and has a total of 8cc in her band, no restriction..DON'T give up hope it will get better...just keep getting fills until you are happy...l love my band..lts more than a best friend.... Good Luck...

Hi Winthropgrad08, l think its bec it FEDERAL b/c b/s....they are buggers...after all the time l waited then they denied me, to approve me the next day....l was told by my Dr that the Federal B/c was the worst to get an approval from...

My seminar was very informative...l felt like my Dr's laided it all out on the line for us..Naturally they couldn't tell us everything, bec they haven't had the surgery themselves...its a very interesting night...you will know if its something you want or something you don;t want, before you leave....My experience has been positive and rewarding...Good luck to you

You're not expected to lose weight durning your recovery period...its a time for healing. Weight is not just going to drop off now that you have a band..its a lot of work and commitment.

Hi Jasmin..l too have Federal B/C and B/s.. my paperwork sat on someones desk for over a month, until l called daily to see when it was going to move..after calling so many times l actually ran into someone on the other end of the phone who had bypass surgery several years ago..she understood how important this was to me...l would recommend calling daily...lf not you may end up like me, waiting and waiting for someone to do their job....Good luck to you and hope it all goes well...l couldn't be happier..

l would think your Dr would be understanding to some degree knowing you have no restriction...What would be the sense of yelling at you...

Positive thinking....

l have a 14 cc band...l got 4 cc the first fill and then 1 cc the second fill..l had restriction from the begining..l almost thought l was too full, but in reality l needed to limit my food to 4oz..l would get sick trying to get a second or third bite in...been eating 4 oz and l feel so much better...l need to chew very well and only eat 4oz...