JamieNP

I was right on the line also. As soon as you get the approval, start your diet Remember, a liter of water weighs 2.2 lbs.

It will have the name and size of your lapband. At buffets you will get the kids price

I was in your shoes 4 years ago!. Take pictures, keep a diary. Your life will change so much!. Get excited and motivated and remember this feeling! You never want feel like this again! When you get your band, go ALL OUT! Exercise, take your vitamins and stick with the diet. You will be happy with the results. Then next year at your cook out, everyone will be telling you how great you look!

Things you need to know post op: Make sure you understand your diet. Take it slowly. You want to heal well both inside and out. What exercise can you do? (of course walking will be one). How do you get in touch with him after hours if you have a problem (like get stuck) Make sure you have a "lap band" card. It will get you discounts at eating establishments. Also, if you go out of town it will have your band information on it just in case of an emergency. Can you swallow pills, or does he recommend you crush them? Depending on how far out you are, you may get a small fill now, but don't push it. I know it's exciting, but it takes awhile for your body and mind to get used to the restriction. Your scar will heal. Mine looked HORRIBLE, and now you can hardly see it.

Ok, do the balloon trick. Take a deflated balloon. Put it over the top of a full soda bottle. Wait a little bit...see what happens. This could happen to your "pouch". It is not just empty calories. Oh, and it corrosive also. You can use it to clean the battery acid off of your car battery. Drink water.

It was one of the rules from my surgeon. I don't miss it. I have had one sip and it made me feel "gassy"

I stretch my arms above my head..it kind of stretches my stomach and helps a bit.. If you are at home, you can get down on your hands and knees and put your arms out stretched, with your butt up in the air..It looks weird but it can help, otherwise, you will have to run to the bathroom..if you start getting hiccups..stop eating!

Last year I went in for a fill and two days later I lost all of my restriction. I had a hole in my port. It was a quick outpatient surgery and insurance will pay for it.

As a nurse, I know that most pills can be crushed or the formula can come in a liquid form. It is the extended release formulas you should not crush. Pills that are coated to protect the stomach should not be crushed. When in doubt, ask the pharmacy. My surgeon asks that all pills be crushed, or ask for liquid form. Keeps you out of the ER due to a big vitamin getting stuck. My family doctor is aware of this and checks the medications before prescribing them to make sure I can take them. I take two flintstones chewables. It has been almost 3 years and no medication issues.

Well, after having my port replaced last year due to a leak in yhe port, I am down to 145 lbs. I feel better than ever and people that didn't know me when I was "fat" cannot believe it. They say I look tiny. Mt mind still messes with me. I catch myself looking at plus size clothes or ordering way too much food. But I love my band!

Hi, I am posting this for those of you that have Tricare Insurance. Hopefully this will help ease the nerves of those who are waiting for approval.

Has anyone been approved by Tricare with being less than 100 lbs overweight? I am about 85-90 lbs overweight with Sleep Apnea and High blood pressure (therefore I have my 2 comorbitities). Before I get started, I want to know if there is even a chance of getting approved. Thanks!!

I am getting my port replaced next week. They think my port is leaking. Could have been an issue with the needles.

Well, I went in for a check up, had some restriction. Got a half of a CC in and then NO restriction. Went back and some fluid was missing. Fluid put back in plus another cc. Again, no restriction. There is possibly a hole in my port and they are replacing it in 2 weeks. Anyone else had this happen? I have read medical ariticles that some brand of huber needles are being recalled because they are shearing ports (such as portacaths), but my surgeon did not use that brand.

I was in the hospital for about a week post op due to an infection. Was on strong antibiotics and it resolved. They treated me for MRSA but it never grew anything. Good luck to you.

My surgeon told me to eat the thinly shaved meats at that stage.

Well, I am 1 year, 3 months post op. I have always felt restriction after my fills. Last week during my check up the surgeon put .5 cc in. After that I feel NOTHNG! I feel like i dont even have the band. I tested it by trying things that I have never been able to get down, like french fries. I have no problem with these things. Don't get me wrong, I am not eating everything in sight. I just wanted to test it out. I am going tomorrow to get more put in. I was worried about the band slipping or a hole in it.

I am glad I found this thread. I have had my band for a little over a year and have lost about 80 lbs. I am near my goal wt. I went in for my yearly check up with the surgeon and we decided to put a half a cc in the band. I lost all of my restriction! I feel like I didn't even have the surgery! I am making the 2 hour drive to see my doc tomorrow and am praying there is noyhing wrong.

I am 1 year 3 months post op. had 6 cc's in my band and had some restriction but I could still eat just about anything. My surgeon and I decided to put another 1/2 cc in. That was Wed. I felt "tight" right after the fill. That night I noticed that I could eat just about anything. I had no restriction. I tested this out yesterday and I could eat ANYTHING! I have absolutely NO restriction! I called the office and let them know I was concerned. The nurse told me to give it a week. Has anyone had this issue??

I don't even get stuck at all. Can't wait to find out what is going on.

Thanks again for your replies. I have gone by the book since day one of this journey and watch what I eat. No cokes no straws no pillsn, no drinking with eating . Low fat low carbs etc. I just know that I have never been able to eat a whole chicken breast until now. I go back to the doc on friday.