MissBS

I need a miracle. Thank you. I've tried almost every product at Walgreen's and Whole Foods. I will be purchasing those apricots first thing in the morning. Becky

Hi Teri. I thought the same thing. If someone is so anti-band, why would they spend so much time here posting negative comments.... over and over and over. I love my band too, am having great success with it, and come here to get support and encouragement. The band is not the answer for everyone.... we know. There comes a time when you just need to move on. Becky

I was on the same pre-op diet that you are on and I lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks - not sure how much of it was the first, second, or third week. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi javaseas. I had horrible headaches right after my surgery too - nothing seemed to help. So bad sometimes that they woke me up. They finally went away about a week after surgery. I hope yours go away too. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Hi. Do you always feel the restriction of a fill right away?? I got my first fill one week ago today and don't feel any restriction - does this mean that I won't? Thanks in advance for your replies. Becky :smile2:

I also take the Centrum chewable - not bad at all. I've been taking the Viactiv chewable calcium - yummy. When I went to get my fill last week my doctor told me he chews 4 tums every night - doesn't have any heartburn issues - just takes them for his calcium. He also suggested that since I take my vitamins and BP meds. in the morning, that I should take my calcium in the evening. Becky

My doctor said that I should never do housework again.... or.... that might have just been a dream. I agree that it is good for you to be up and moving - just don't overdo it. A nice bubble bath is always good after a very vigorous vacuuming. Take good care of yourself and keep smiling!! Becky

If you are going to be a self pay and don't mind traveling, I can let you know the name of my doctor. He does the surgery in a surgery center - not a hospital. I have been so happy with his staff and just love him. It might be worth a try. I sent you a private message - did you get it? Becky

It is listed as "Local Lap-Band Support Groups" on the Home page. Becky

Hi Terry. Have you talked with any doctors in your area?? Are you trying to go through insurance or are you going to pay for your surgery yourself? If you are going through your insurance, I think they kinda tell you who you can go to. I live in New Mexico and have never even been to NC, but when I went to the NC support page (you can find it on the LBT Home page to the left under "Local Lap-Band Support Groups".... my computer is not cooperating tonight, but when I tried to look for you, the name Dr. Enochs kept coming up with many positive comments. The other name I saw was Dr. Moran. Perhaps you can read through the thread titles and see if they are any help to you. You will probably hear from other NC bandsters who will be able to help you more than I can. I wish you luck. Becky

Of course I would say do what your doctor tells you to do. Popcorn is on my list of foods to avoid. Do you have any foods that you are not supposed to eat or you can eat whatever you want?? Good luck to you. Becky

Hi. Just wanted to say that I am feeling GREAT!!! I had my surgery done on September 19th, first fill Friday October 24th, and I am feeling really good and really happy!! I've lost 37 pounds - 16 on the pre-op diet and 21 since my surgery. I went through the usual post-op recovery aches and pains, but now all of my incisions are healed, the gas pains are long gone, I've had no trouble with any of the foods I've eaten, and I have sooooooo much more energy. Clothes that I have not worn for a long time are fitting me again, and people are telling me they can really see a difference. I have not had one second that I've wondered if I made the right decision - I KNOW I did!! Anyway..... I just wanted to post a positive thread. For those who have been banded - I hope you are feeling as good as I am, for those who are going to be banded - good luck to you!! Thank you to all of you who have helped me out with my questions and concerns, listened to me, and supported me. Becky

Hi. I LOVE Mexican food and spicy things. When I had to drink the chicken and beef broth I put HOT salsa in my wire strainer and just the liquid drained into the broth. It made it spicy good. Much easier for me to handle. If you don't like salsa or spicy things, this might not be something you want to try - but it worked for me. Good luck. Becky

Hi BGirl. Welcome!! You will love this site. Keep reading posts and asking questions. There are lots of very nice people here who will give you answers and support. I have made many friends here and I haven't been here that long. It is nice to talk with people who know exactly where I've been, where I'm at, and where I want to be. Many of us have taken good care of others, but not ourselves. It takes some getting used to ..... but..... it is nice!! You deserve to be taken care of - and after you get used to taking care of yourself, then you can move right on and start spoiling yourself!!! Oh my!! Good luck to you. If I can do anything to help you out, let me know. Becky

Just had my first fill yesterday. My post-fill instructions were to have liquids (don't have to be just clear - soups ok) for 2 days, soft foods/mushies for 1 day and on 4th day... back to solids. Becky

Hi Everybody!! I got my band on September 19th and my first fill yesterday. I flew back to Houston... no hurricane this time. I left at 6:45 am and was back home by 3:30. I found out that my surgeon had put 2 cc in my band when he put it in. The nurse practioner took out 1.8cc and put that back in... then she added some, and had me walk over to the x-ray machine (with the needle still in there... ewwwww... but it didn't hurt). I drank the little cup of whatever it is - not bad - and watched it going down. It was pretty cool. She added a little bit more, I drank again, they watched it go down, and then I was done. I had the 1.8 and she added 1.3.... so now I have a total of 3.1 cc in there. I'm on liquids again for 2 days - not just clear, so that is good. I can have soup. Then one day of soft foods/mushies and on day 4 I'm back to solids. I've lost 37 pounds - 16 on the pre-op diet and 21 since my surgery. My surgeon was very pleased with my weight loss - I am too. I feel GREAT!!!! Hope everyone is doing well and feeling good too. Becky

off the topic.... how do I change my Avatar so that I'm not just another green person??

You all are too funny..... and too right. Maybe we should just put our hands on our ears and scream, "LA LA LA LA LA LA". I am also learning how to give directions without saying... go down 2 blocks and take a right at the Burger King.... go about 4 blocks and take a left at the Pizza Hut... it is just past the Wendy's. And I am thankful for Tivo. Good luck to you all. Keep smiling and don't hit anyone. Becky

Hi anniegirl. I am close to your age... I'm 53. I've met people on here who are younger than I am, older than I am, and some about the same age as I am. Our ages are different, but we have two very important things in common.... our struggles with our weight, and the lapband. If you look on the Lapband Talk Home page, over to the left, there are groups listed, and one is "Age Specific Lap-Band Support Groups". I haven't visited any of those yet, but thought this might help you. Others who are more familiar with a group might be able to help you too. You will love this site - so many of my questions were answered here and so many of my concerns addressed. By the time I had my surgery, I was very well informed, knew what was going to happen before and after, and KNEW that I had made the right decision. Feel free to ask ANY question you have - there are lots of nice people who will help you out. Also a great place to come and vent if that's what you need to do. It is very nice to chat with people who know exactly what I've been through, what I'm going through, and how I'm feeling. I've made many good friends here. Good luck to you. Let me know if I can help you out in any way. Becky

Hi. Welcome!! I live in Albuquerque New Mexico and no one here does the lapband surgery. I flew to Houston to have mine done (750 miles). I first flew there for my initial consultation on August 13, 08. While I was there, they did my EKG, and lab work. My surgery was scheduled for September 12th (I was self-pay... did not go through insurance). I flew down with my mother for the surgery. I think most, if not all, doctors in the United States do require you to have someone with you to drive you home... or back to the hotel in my case. Hurricane Ike hit while we were there, so our 4 day trip turned into a 14 day trip. I did get my band on September 19th. I was in pain for about a week (on pain meds for 2 days). I was back to work after 10 days - ready a week later, but then had a weekend. I had a 3 week pre-op diet. I fly back to Houston this Friday for my first fill. I know some people who have their surgeries done a long distance from home, find closer doctors to give them their fills. This is MY story - every doctor is different and every patient is different. No 2 stories are the same. If you are seriously considering getting banded, I would reccommend reading LOTS of posts on this site. I had many of my questions answered here and many of my concerns addressed. Feel free to ask ANY question you have. The people on LBT are soooo nice. I've made quite a few good friends here. Good luck to you. Becky

Seems like there are as many post-op diet instructions as there are doctors. My doctor told me to eat ONLY 3 meals a day and NO snacking between meals. To keep from being too hungry and/or eating, I do drink plenty (water, tea, Propel water). Sometimes I get headaches if I am not getting enough liquids. It is hard. Try to find things to do to keep your mind off of food. Good luck to you. Becky

Deana. Congratulations!!! It sounds like you are doing very well. I had a hernia repaired also - didn't even know I had it. I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly. Take good care of yourself!!! Becky

We all have our vices - things we should give up. Seems like the guy next door's vice is always worse than your own. You will do it when you are ready - good luck to you!!!! Becky

I have never heard of that either. Something doesn't seem right about that. Not everyone is the same - as we know from the posts we read here. Some take one or two and some take many more. How can they say that 3 will work for every patient?? I too have 10 fills that are included in the cost of my band. I'm hoping I don't have to have that many... but who knows?? I would check with your surgeon if I was you - maybe the nurse specialist meant something else - could she have meant that 3 fills were included, or covered, in the cost of your surgery and any over that you might have to pay for??? Don't get stressed out about it - check with your doctor. Good luck to you. Take care. Becky

Hi. I've been there too. I did find some relief with the extra strength Gas-X strips. A heating pad on my shoulder helped (just be careful not to put it right on your incisions), peppermint tea, and walking. I also noticed that it hurt worse when I sipped on something very cold. It was better for me to drink liquids that were room temperature or warm beverages. I could not have sf popsicles for about a week - it hurt when I ate them. Not sure if any of these will help. It does go away - mine was pretty bad for the first week, and by about 10 days post-op, it was almost all gone. Good luck to you and congratulations on your new band!! Take care!! Becky