BrendaLH

Hello, I am looking for people with the band who reside in the Los Angeles, Carson, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, etc.... I was banded at Kaiser in Harbor City and they have a support group that meets once a month, but mainly for Gastric Bypass patients. I would like to establish a support maybe either online or in person for the other girl I know how has the band from Kaiser. If anyone is interested please let me know by responding. Thanks

I am so freaked out right now in regards to this thread. In January of 2007 I was at a funeral of a really close friend and suddenly came down with the most painful headache I ever felt in my life. The headache went on non stop for another week until I finally went to the doctor and they attributed it to sinuses. The day after I went to the doctor I started having double vision and the right side of my face started to slope and my eye pretty much parked in the corner and shut half way. I went to the ER and they thought it was Bell's Palsey (which I had twice in the past) and were going to start treatment for it, but the he called Nurology and they wouldnt let me leave til he saw me. When he saw me he decided to admit me into the hospital. I was in the hospital for over a week until they came up with a disease called Tolosa Hunt Syndrome. They started me on 100 mg of steroids which immediatly opened my eye and brought it back to the normal position. Each time the Nurologist tried to wean me off the steroids my eye would start messing up again. He had me see an Opto/Nerologist and he was the one that said I had a Pseudo tumor where the orbits span out. He started me on a pill form of Chemo which is called Methotrexate and eased me off the steroids which caused me to get all the way up to 316lbs. I have been on the Methotrexate for over two years now and have no further problems with my eye. I notice what causes it to start acting up a little is when my stress volume increases or when I cry. I just thought I was alone and did not know anyone else or a support group of anyone who had it. I would love to talk more with those who have it just to get a better understanding of it.

Pineapple Juice!!!!!! It helps anything that is stuck to go down. It takes about 90 seconds and then it will go on down. I carry the little cans in my car and have some at work just in case. Drinking regular water does not do anything but come right back up. The acid in the pineapple juice usually breaks down whats stuck, and Quick!!!!!

I also had my gallbladder removed on April 3rd. I think maybe they should just take it out when they do the band because 9 out of 10 times you are going to have gallstones. My doctor that did my band was the one that did the same surgery. They were orginally going to have another surgeon do it, but he had never even seen the lapband before. I emailed my surgeon and told him if this doctor does my surgery and my band gets messed up I will sue. They rescheduled me with my lapband surgeon. Everything was fine after surgery except I had a small hernia from the constipation with the band. He repaired the hernia and everything is good. :frown:

I apologize for the delay in response. I have not been online much lately. I would love to talk with anyone who has questions regarding the band. I have kind of fallen off the band wagon since Christmas and I am trying to get motivated again to start where I left off. Thats the thing with the band, its so forgiving unlike any other surgery. I currently have 2.3 in my 4cc band and I have some restriction but not much. I feel into the trap of eating slider foods. If you have been there you know exactly what I am talking about. I would like to schedule a meeting at maybe Denny's in Culver City in the next two weeks or so if anyone is interested. If you interested send me a private message. I am available Saturdays from around 11:00 - 2:00 until I start school. Has anyone had problems with their Iron levels? I was borderline anemic before the band and now am full anemic. Brenda

Okay either I am totally nuts or this is real. I had my 3rd fill October 7th and went from 1.7 cc to 2.3 cc in a 4cc band. I experienced pretty good restriction and was pretty happy with it. Well here is the situation, over the past two weeks since it has been colder my band is pretty tight. I know during that time of the month it gets tighter, but since its been colder I am extremely tight. I could not even eat turkey on Thanksgiving. I don't want to get an unfil since my doctor is very very hesitant on giving fills anyways and my co-pay is $110. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this tightness when the weather gets colder. Start/Day Before Surgery/Goal #1/Current /Goal #2 316lbs./293 lbs./250 Reached 07/08/08:thumbup:/238lbs./200lbs.

My doctor says at least a week of liquids then a week of mushies. I think he does this to kick start the weight loss after each fill. I try and stay on liquids for about 5 days max then I go into mushies for another 5 days. It is hard because at times I really want to chew, but other then that I deal with it. From what I see on the poll he appears to be the most strick out of everyone's clinics/docs.

I totally understand where your coming from, and I promise it will get better. The pain in your chest is probably the gas that will torment you for the next couple of days. The gas was worse then the incisions for me. Drink Camomille tea (Trader Joe's Caffiene Free) and lots of liquids to make sure you don't get dehydrated. Just relax and take it kind of slow and trust me things will work out. I have no regrets and I am almost a year out. :tt1:

Hello Everyone, I am new to the site and just wanted to say hi to everyone. I was banded on January 24th. at Kaiser in Harbor City and my doctor is Dr. Zane. Prior to starting the classes with Kaiser I was 316lbs. and currently as of today the 11th of June I am at 251.5lbs. :cool2: I originally was going to get the Gastric Bypass but upon researching online the various options, I found the LapBand was better for me. I hired me a personal trainer at the gym and meet with her twice a week and twice a week I workout by myself. I attend the support group Kaiser offers but almost everyone except for 2 of us had the Gastric Bypass. I would like to see if anyone knows of a support group in the closest to Los Angeles. I did have a question for those who are more familiar with the band. I already had my first fill of 1cc in my 4cc band in March. I am going for my second fill on the 16th of this month. I am planning on flying to Las Vegas on July 3rd and fly back on July 7th and heard someone say that when the altitude changes that your ban gets really tight and stays that way for a few days. Is this true? :confused2: I look forward to talking with people who have the band and learning from their experiences.

Sporty at Fourty send me a personal message and I will give you my cell phone number to give you the 411 about fills.

Wow! you were banded on 10/31/08? I guess every doctor is different, but my doctor had me do liquids for two weeks after surgery then one week of mushies. I am shocked that your even on mushies this early. Take it slow and focus on the reasons you got banded in the first place. Best of luck to you!

I get majorly tight when I am on my period for some odd reason. Try doing liquids or mushies til you feel better. I usually do liquids until im done with that time of the month. I also notice that my port tends to push out some while its that time.

It sounds like it got stuck. Why are you eating solids so soon after surgery? I did liquids 2 weeks and then mushies for 2 weeks before I even tried solids. Take it slow and don't rush the hard foods til you have time to heal. Its kinda odd you got stuck on a wing, that was the first thing solid I tried eating a month out and it got majorly stuck. One thing I found that works great when something is stuck is "Pinapple Juice". The minute you drink it within seconds it goes on down. Just take it slow and best of luck to you.

I totally understand where you are decision wise. I was 316lbs. when I started the classes at Kaiser to have the Gastric Bypass. During the classes I learned lots about the Bypass that I was not to happy with. I was the only in my group of patients who chose the lapband. I did ton's of research online prior to weigh out the pros and cons of both surgeries. I made my decision based on several factors and here they are: 1) The LapBand is less risky then the Gastric Bypass 2) The LapBand is reversible in the event I have slippage or erosion where the Gastric is not. 3) The LapBand is a day in the hospital versus 3-5 with the Gastric Bypass. (I was outpatient per my request) 4) The LapBand allows you to lose the weight gradually so that your body can adapt to the changes versus the Gastric Bypass which is such a dramatic change to your body that people often have other problems due to the rapid weight loss. 5) The LapBand can always be removed and your stomach can return to normal. 6) Ultimately I can exercise, eat healthier and I dont feel deprived like some of my Gastric Bypass friends do because they dump when they eat sugary foods. 7) The recovery period with the Lapband is extremely quicker then with the Gastric Bypass. I had my surgery on Thursday and was back at work on Tuesday. Do your research online and read the testimonials on both procedures then determine what you think will work for you. My BMI was I think like 48% when I started taking the class. Start Classes/Day of Surgery/Current/Goal#1/Goal#2 316lbs. / 292lbs. / 243lbs. / 250lbs. (made it) / 200lbs.

Hello Everyone, I have not heard from anyone regarding the meeting I was planning for this Saturday, soooooooooooo I just wanted to let everyone know that I will plan another one in the future. My mother-in-law is actually getting worse so were all on standby just in case. They have increased her pain medication 4 times in one week so its just a matter of time. I will try and set up something for possibly the end of the month. Also, I do attend a support group that is sponsored by Kaiser on the second Tuesday of each month in Harbor City. If anyone would like to attend its at 6:30 til 8:00. It would be nice if there were more lapband attendees because most of the people have the gastric bypass. Let me know if anyone wants to attend. Take care and best of luck to all of us trying to reach our goals!!!:tt2:

Hello Everyone, I really wanted to express to those who attended the first meeting we had at Denny's how great it was to meet everyone. I apologize for not communicating to everyone sooner, but my mother-in-law is in her final days of battling Breast Cancer. I have been over the house on a daily basis after work being with her and the hospice people. I really need a break and some time to clear my head, so I was wondering who would be willing to attend another meeting at the same location? I was thinking this Saturday, August 9th at 2:00? Please let me know if anyone wants to attend. If you send me a personal message I will email you my phone number so you can confirm. Saturday, August 9, 2008 Denny's 10700 JEFFERSON BLVD. CULVER CITY,CA 90230 US Hope to see ya there. p.s. Esmeralda I hope everything turned out okay with your family emergency. Brenda

I would advise you to do your research on all the options that are covered by your insurance. I had the LapBand surgery on Jan. 24th of this year and have no regrets. I actually took the classes at Kaiser to have the Gastric Bypass but once I learned more about it I looked into other options. The band was ultimately what I felt would work for me. I don't feel deprived of food or favorite things I use to eat because we don't Dump like the Gastric Bypass Patients do. We do have a limited amount we should eat 1/2 C. I would not go back and change anything to date. I am very happy with my band and knew going into this it would require work on my end. I go to the gym 4 times a week and two of those times are with a personal trainer. My advise is still do your research online and see all the options available to you. Best of luck! Start: *316lbs. 06/23/07 *Kaiser Classes Pre Op: *292lbs. 01/23/08 *Day of surgery Current: 245lbs. 4cc band 1st fill 1cc second fill 1.7 total fill 1.7 (good restriction)

I have not heard yet from anyone regarding us meeting at Denny's on July 26, 2008. Please let me know if anyone is going to even come?

My doctor recommends for me to do liquids for at least a week after each fill. This actually helps with the whole wanting to eat thing. I think that you may want to stay on liquids a few more days just to get your stomach use to the new tightness from the fill. I currently have a 4cc band and only have a 1.7 fill but I am doing fine. The key with the band is watch the amount of calories you are eating and make sure your proteins are what you eat first. I have never been bold enough to try rice since I heard so many horror stories about it. Best of luck.

Okay I am going to suggest the Denny's in Culver City for our first meeting. I was looking at Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 2:00. Everyone please let me know if this works for everyone and who all will be attending. I am really excited! We had our Bariatric support group last night and there are only two people with the band and for some reason they try to bash the band. It will be nice to be around other people who can understand what we are doing and why we chose the band. The information is listed below, so let me know if this date and time works for everyone. 10700 JEFFERSON BLVD. CULVER CITY,CA 90230 US p.s. Dont get nervous about the portions of food we can all order maybe a few things and share them with eachother.

Hello Everyone, I would like to set up a date and time we all can meet together. Please email me with your contact information and we can set the time and place up. I was thinking like meeting at a Denny's or something, but I am taking suggestions. I look forward to talking with everyone and know that with the support we can offer eachother things will work out.

I totally understand where you are coming from. I have was watching my scale move, move, move and then Bam nothing! I work out 4 times a week at the gym and was getting really discouraged, but I was dropping pant, top and bra sizes so I was confused too. My trainer told me I was building up muscle and thats why I was losing the inches. I also was eating alot of soft foods (because they were safe) during that time. I started eating more protein based foods and boy did the scale start dropping. Keep up the good work! Classes/Pre-Surg/Current/Goal 316lbs/292lbs./247lbs./180ish