MissBS

Hi. I've got the APS (small - 10cc's). My surgery was on September 19th, 2008. I have had success with my band, but know lots of others who have had success with other bands. I think that the kind/type/size/brand of band you have is not nearly as important as how committed you are to changing your lifestyle and eating habits. If your doctor uses the AP, it makes sense that he likes it and thinks it is the best. I love my band and wish you lots of luck!!! Becky

PB is productive burp. It is not vomiting. It is when the food you just ate, can't get down so it comes back up. It can be caused by not taking small enough bites, not chewing bites enough, eating too fast, eating too much, or a band that is too tight. It is not fun, but after it happens, you learn that you MUST follow the rules. Becky

My pre-op diet was 2 Atkins Advantage shakes a day - one for breakfast and one for lunch. I got to have lean meat and veggies for dinner. I like the shakes - as a matter of fact, I have to have one for breakfast every day, and will ...... probably forever. They don't taste bad to me and they keep me pretty full until lunchtime. Good luck to you!!! Take care. Becky

You have to do the 6 month supervised diet all over????? Why doesn't he just do the paperwork over?? I am so sorry that you are having to go through all of this. That just doesn't seem right. Make sure you speak up and try and find a way that you don't have to wait ANOTHER 6 months. I wish you lots of luck!!!! Keep me posted. Becky

I have to have 60 grams a day and it isn't that hard to get in. I have to have a protein (Atkins) shake for breakfast every day and then I usually get the rest in my other 2 meals. If I find that I'm short at night, I put a scoop of unflavored whey protein powder (21 grams - GNC) in a yogurt and that puts me over. Like you, I thought it would be hard to do.... but it really isn't. Good luck to you. Becky

I have to have 60 grams of protein every day and I think that will be forever. I usually get that in with my protein shake for breakfast and my other 2 meals. If I don't, I mix a scoop of unflavored whey protein powder (21 g. of protein - GNC) in with a yogurt at night and that puts me over. I too use Smart Ones and Lean Cuisines. I can eat most of them - not the pasta, pizza, or sandwhich kind though. I know what you mean about eating out. PBing at home is one thing - in public.... that's another story. Good luck to you and keep in touch. Becky

Mine has a name too - Ike. I flew down to Houston to have my surgery and my 4 day trip turned into a 14 day trip due to Hurricane Ike hitting Houston. After FINALLY getting my band, it only made sense to name it Ike. I can't feel my band and my port is not easy to find or feel. I don't even try. They never have problems finding it for a fill - that's all I care about. I love my band. Good luck to you. Becky

I was also self pay. I went to my initial consultation on August 13th. I had to have an EKG and blood work done, and my surgery was scheduled for September 12th. I had to go on a 2 week pre-op diet to shrink my liver too. The process was fast, easy, and painless. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi Ddem. I had no restriction after surgery, no restriction after my first and second fills, but LOTS of restriction after my third fill too. That fill put me to 5.9 cc's in my 10cc band. I am much tighter in the morning too - tiny bit better by lunch - and much better most evenings. Had a LOT of PBing right after my fill (December 18th). I had not been practicing the TINY bites, chewing LOTS, and taking breaks between bites. Now I HAVE to do those things - and even that doesn't always help. I am much better now, but not scheduling a fill anytime soon. I am eating less, feeling fuller, and feeling full longer - so happy about that. I think once you get restriction, it takes some time to get used to it - did for me anyway. Lots of trial and error and I have found some foods that I just can't eat....for now anyway. The thing that I find kind of weird is.... I can eat something one day and it goes down fine, and the next day (same band, same fill, same food) it gives me problems. One day at a time has been my motto since getting my band - may be forever. I love my band!!! Good luck to you!! Becky

Hi Cecilia. Welcome to LBT!! I've read about lots of people who have had skin reduction surgery after losing their weight. I think it kinda depends on your age, your genes, where you carry your weight, etc. I was the exact height and weight that you are when I began my weight loss journey in August 2008. I've lost 64 pounds and I feel GREAT!!! I had my blood pressure medication cut in half and I have so much more energy now. But....... I can tell that I will have some excess skin when I get to my goal. Not sure if I will be able to afford plastic surgery, but I've decided that the empty baggy skin is better than the tight fat filled skin was. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. This is a great place to come with your questions. Lots of very nice people here who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and give you support. People who know exactly what you've been through, what you are going through, and can help you know what to expect. I've made some very good friends here. Keep reading and asking. Good luck in your journey and if there is anything I can do to help you, let me know. Take care. Becky

camrayne - Some things I was told not to eat/drink, but most of the time for me it has been trial and error. If I try and eat something that does not go down well (because of the tightness of my band), it comes back up (PBing) - even if I take tiny bites, chew lots, and take breaks between my bites. I have had trouble with white flour products - bread, pasta, crackers, flour tortillas.... plain chicken and turkey. I can eat whole wheat products. My band is kinda moody too. Sometimes I have no problems with a food and the next day the same food can cause problems. I'm still learning... that's for sure. Becky

Hi. I agree with Restless (hi Restless :thumbup:. I flew to Houston for my surgery and I know I would not have been ready to fly home the same day as my surgery. You might want to bring a good book or magazines with you - sometimes the wait is longer than you expect. The little 2 cup food processor that Restless mentioned (I got one after she told me about it) is WONDERFUL!! (JCPenney.com) Propel water saved me after my surgery. I had trouble drinking very cold beverages, so drank a lot of hot tea and broth. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Once I got my third fill and REAL restriction, I was PBing a lot too. I know that I was not taking small enough bites, not chewing enough, and not waiting long enough between bites. All things I should have practiced before I got restriction, but I didn't. Things are better now, although I still have times/days when my band is tight and foods that I just can't eat. If you are eating foods you should be, and eating them like you should be, and still having problems, I think you should call your surgeon. Good luck to you!!!! Becky

Hi GordoNoMore. I didn't have to give up coffee but was told never to drink carbonated beverages again. Every doctor is different and so are their instructions. You just have to follow what your doctor tells you. As for foods - some can tolerate things that others can't. It's kind of experimental until you figure out what you and your band can eat. And even then, I can have no problems with a food one day and can't eat it the next. My band is a bit moody. Good luck to you!!!!! Becky

Kat, You asked the exact question that I have been wondering about. Oh I know what PBing is... but for me, the food either goes down or it comes back up. I have felt that sharp pain in my chest... but then... the food goes down or I'm PBing. Guess I haven't really had anything stuck. Thanks for asking and good luck to you!!! Becky

I too have been losing hair. I get my protein in and take Biotin. When I asked about it, I was told to make sure I was getting ALL my water in every day. Good luck to you. Becky

Hi. I will be praying for you too. I had my surgery done in Houston by Dr. Ken Hollis (True Results). I have been so happy with the care I have received. Dr. Hollis and his staff are wonderful. I had 135 pounds to lose when I started in August, and I have lost 62 of them. I'm sure I will get to my goal and I'm sure you can too. Good luck with your insurance. Becky

My mom drives me nuts, I drive my daughter nuts, and she drives her daughter nuts.... but we all love each other very much. I, like Restless, tell everyone. After I had made the decesion to have my surgery, I explained it to everyone (yes - had to make sure they knew it wasn't gastric bypass). I have had nothing but support from all of my family and friends. They are proud of me and happy that I am happier, healthier, and going to be around for a longer time now. I think our families worry and have seen us excited about weight loss programs that failed so many times that we just have to show them that this time it is for reals :confused: Good luck to you!! Becky

I quit drinking 30 minutes before my meals, don't drink during, and wait 30 minutes after eating. I too have to have at least 64 ounces a day. Propel, iced tea, Crystal Light all count towards that 64 ounces. Also, when I was asking about hair loss, I told them I was getting all of my protein in and taking Biotin, and still losing hair. They asked if I was getting ALL of my water in. Oops. I am now. Cheers! Becky

No restriction after surgery (2 cc's). No restriction after first fill (up to 3.1 cc's). No restriction after second fill (up to 4.6 cc's). Third fill got me up to 5.9 cc's and I have PLENTY of restriction!!! Everyone is different - our bodies are different, our bands are different, our doctors are different, and our weight loss pace is different. It is hard until you feel restriction. Just take it one day at a time, keep yourself busy, and focus on why you had this done and your goal. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi JodyLynne and welcome. Looks like you are having your surgery on my birthday. Congratulations on getting a date!! You are so right about this being a great site!! I love it. Before my surgery I was on here a lot and boy did I learn a lot!! There are lots of nice people here who can help answer your questions, address your concerns, and offer great support. I have made some really good friends here. Good luck to you during all of your testing. Time will fly by and you will be banded before you know it. Take good care of yourself and let me know if there is anything I can do to help you. Becky

Hi. My first few days were kinda rough, but not weeks. I felt good after 7 days and great after 10. Even the first few days were not horrible for me. Some pain, but I couldn't take pain meds and I was ok. It has taken some getting used to and LOTS of learning, but I have not been starving. I feel great and would do it all again in a heartbeat. How wonderful that you and your wife will be able to go through this together. A good support system and finding someone who REALLY knows what you are going through are key components in this procedure. You've got both of those right there next to you. Good luck to you both!!!! Becky

Just wanted to clairfy. I don't ever take the "advice" of others on here over my surgeon's instructions. But I have gotten a lot of information about the actual surgery, healing, fills, and how to add some variety to what I eat. Many times it is nice to know that you are not alone in this journey. And to me, support is a HUGE component in getting where we want to be. If I had to call my doctor every time I had a question, they would have to have one line just for me. I guess I just assume that people know to follow THEIR doctor's instructions. You have to use some common sense with the receipes too. Some people think that ANYTHING they can sip through a straw is ok - even blended Snickers. I love this site and the people who post here. No head spinning here. Again.... good luck to you!!!! Becky

Hi. Congratulations on getting your surgery date. I was self pay so my process went very quickly too. I liked that. My one bit of advice would be to keep coming here and reading and asking questions. I spent quite a bit of time here before my surgery and MANY of my questions were answered. I learned a lot. I also made some very good friends. It is a great place to talk with people who know exactly what you are going through. If I can do anything for you, let me know. Good luck to you. Becky

Hi Jamie. I've had 3 fills and no problems with any of them. They make me lay down with and do a kind of crunch. They put the needle in my port, put some fluid in, and then have me walk over to the machine - needle still in me - sounds gross, but it doesn't hurt. I drink the liquid while we watch it go down on the x-ray type machine. If it goes down too quickly, they add more fluid. On my last fill, it wasn't going down, so they took a tiny bit out. I had no restriction after surgery - none after my first fill - none after my second fill..... but the third fill has given me PLENTY of restriction. I now have 5.9 cc's in my 10 cc band. I love my band and my fills have been easy. Good luck to you. Keep coming here with your questions and concerns. It is a great place with lots of nice people who are here to help you out and give you plenty of support!! Becky