Joy1

I just had my first fill of 3cc's in a REALIZE Band yesterday, and feel no restriction, well, maybe I fill up a LITTLE faster and stay full a little longer.....We almost went for 4cc and chickened out. The only thing I could not ever eat (since banding) is steak that is not rare and TENDER....it pops right up. I am ready for this thing to make me know it is there, even if it is one bad experience!

Hi, ur surgery date is my b-day! YEAH!...for us!....I think we r hungry at first because most Drs. put the band on w/ NO fill, they give u 4-5 weeks to heal from the surgery til 1st "fill" u, so u are basically with little to no physical restriction 'til the fills begin!.....Personally, I cannot wait for my 1st. fill! Best of luck to u! :smile: Joy

I CAN!...It scares me!...I've only lost due to will power, my first fill is Halloween day....WOW, huh?...Anyway....I have lost @ 25 lbs. but NOTHING gives me problems and I am hungry a bit of the time, not much , but sometimes!.... Joy

I smoked right up to the night b4 surgery and had a great surgery experience.....I was a half ass smoker anyway, only with cocktails. my Dr. says it (nicotine) can cause ulceration around band and possible removal.....UGH!...Pain & Misery!........I may give in down the road but so far (Sept. 15) NONE :biggrin: I have a few drinks one night of the wknd. ( I choose) and some Weds. Everything else I am BY THE BOOK. GOOD LUCK! :biggrin: Joy

I went to Palmetto Baptist in downtown Columbia, Dr. Benjamen Tribble, He is awesome. I was a self pay, his fee for me was $1,500.00 (him), Hospital, including 1 night stay was 12,000.00 including anesthesia TOTAL, and their "clinic fee is $500.00. ( for Nut, Psy, and weight consultant), $250.00 at first visit and $250.00 right before surgery. Baptist let us pay $6,000.00 before and $6,000.00 30 days after. Dr. Tribble let me pay $750.00 before and $750.00 30 days. You have 90 days of free fills and if his Nurse Pract., Judy (AWESOME LADY) can do it, she does not charge u! I have to say I had a much better experience than a friend who went to the Dr. Givens group at Lex. Hospital! Phone # is 376-5982. They are a Bariactic Center of Excellance! Hope this helps....I truly had NO problems! :biggrin: Joy

Some of u are WORSE than my high school students, and I TEACH SPECIAL ED!!!!!!..If ur hair is failing out, get a wig and deal w/ it.....u don/t like the band, get it off and stay FAT...Just for God's sake, QUIT WHINING.......It is totally REVOLTING AND ruins the spirit and intent of the board! :wub: Joy

You NEED to lose the attitude....who died and named u queen of the boards! :wub: Joy

AMEN!.......To the WATER, WATER, WATER.....I will think that I am hungry and go drink 16 ozs. of water and I'm OK! Joy

Well, I'm going to be NO help at all, as I was banded Sept. 15, but I WILL repeat what my surgeon said, he was trained on this recently and he said it is ALL he WANTS to use, but will vary if Patient feels strongly...I felt both in my hands & the REALIZE band felt sooo good, very different from the hard little bubbles on the LAPBAND. One drawback, it is one size fits all. I've seen, at some point, the outcomes from other countries, (WE are ALWAYS tha LAST!), and they went out 3-5 years and were very positive. Personally, I've had NO problems, but NO restriction 'til Halloween day. I am satisfied! Joy

I HAVE to jump in this insanity and say....it DOES sound like you made AWFUL ( NOT just poor) decisions.....and who goes that many years without getting a 2nd opinion? I am a Dr's. wife and he used to specialize in Gastro.....& he is VERY pro-band for the right people.....OBVIOUSLY....#1: U were NOT a good candidate, #2: U had an ignorant Doc, #3: U did NOT take responsibility for ur own body (HEY!...It is the only one u get & so r those teeth!) Ur story is sooooo OUT THERE I am not sure u r not just someone who thot making up a bunch of $%^@ and writing it here was a good joke. If u need attention that much, u sure got it! Joy

Thank u for the kind translation!...I have broadened my vocabulary!........I don't know WHAT they switch, but it sure does not have a good outcome.......the name even SOUNDS nasty! Joy

I have a friend who went thru this when she started her 2 wks. pre-op Adkins Diet.....but as Dr. Oz says on Oprah, The VGG is a "self-ceaning oven", if u will....so maybe the post about too much washing is right on.........About the BO, I, for some reason had a terrible problem in college, dancing the night away at frat parties in cute little outfits which had big WET circles under the arms in NO time.........I used Mitchum ANTI-Prepersant Roll On......and IT WORKED!....Anti-presperants at different than deodrants. I still use an anti, not deodrant....Hope this makes some sense! Good luck!....Wear lots of perfume! :cool2: Joy

Well.....Guess I'm good for a rant anytime!...Makes me actually miss teaching High School delinquents!...Besides I'm pissed at husband today! :cool2: Joy

WHY would people vote for McCain?............Because they have some sense, that is THAT! Joy PS: What does this have to do w/ WLS anyway?

I found the heating pad and THE RECLINER were magic in that 1st. wk....hope that helps u! Joy

I was lapped 9/15, and let me tell u, it was like magic! I went to bed still in a bit of pain from incisions, and woke up the next AM (it was exactly the 1 and 1/2 wk. mark), and felt like NEW & BETTER person, and it's been all good since. I know we are all different, but that is how it was for me! Best of Luck to you! :cool2: Joy

Forgive my ignorance....but....what the hell is DS? Whatever it is I DON'T WANT IT!...:cursing: Joy

I TOTALLY agree w/ BariacticEating.com......They are YUMMY! :cursing: Joy

Well, I guess I am the bad seed out here but I had surgery Sept 15, I have given up smoking rich sauces and my love of Pasta.........I went out to dinner for the first time last Fri. evening and had 2 vodkas & Water w/ sweet n low and lemon, ate tender veal very slowly & did not TOUCH the pasta and bread, even tho the pasta was ON MY PLATE and the yummy bread was right in front of me....I, personally, had NO trouble.....I know it is BAD but u can only give up so much, I may or may not tell Doc........he would prob. just laugh and say, don't over do.....I did not eat more than I had planned or get drunk or any of "those things". I have followed EVERY damn rule and I treated myself and that, my friends, is THAT! :biggrin: Joy

Good Lord....WHERE on earth are u reading this stuff...I personally know people who are 3-6 mos. out of surgery and they are GREAT....I am only since Sept. 15...but no probs, exxcept when I let myself get too hungry, and GOBBLE, and the is MY FAULT.......the band is only doing what it is supposed to do! SO far...I love it....am back to doing all I used to do.....WHAT exactly problems r u having........little secret........some posts everywhere U just do NOT want to read...I call tham the whiners and they can get u down and scared.....Some days I stay away from all sites, just to take a break, but ther is mostly positive here................there are some probs. w/ evey medical procedure out there if u look hard enough, I know, My husband is a Doc ..........U go out there, follow the rules and enjoy being slim and happy! :biggrin: Joy

I did not EVEN have to wait for a fill b4 I learned the HARD way. I had my surgery Setp. 15, 08 and LAST night my irish setter ate the supper I had fixed......she can use her hands to pull things, even from the BACK of stove where they are cooling......at any rate, husband went out for Greek chicken....so..... 25 more mins. and I was shakey-hungry....I GOBBLED it ( the leg and part of thiegh) down and a small salad, w/ 2 bites left to go, it started.........the golf ball in chest, etc.......I walk & walked and finally, GROSS, barely put finger in throat, and the last two PERFECT bites came right up....INSTANT relief.......and this was w/ NO restriction in band...........Be afraid, be VERY afraid, this thing means business! TOTALLY MY fault! :biggrin: Joy

Lordy!.....Ya'll are scaring the@#$! out of me.....I was banded on Sept. 15, have had NO probs but occassional hunger and am looking really forward to my first fill on Halloween!....But I sure do not want to feel like that! Is this prevalant?............. Thanks, Joy

Good for YOU!.....I had my first social outing experience tonight........my two best friends took me to see "Nights in Rodanthe" and out to eat.........I took a drink-protien- in my purse for the movie and had veal, my fav, at restaurant and two vodka & waters w/ lemon and sweet n low, very slowly. and feel comfy full. NO bread, Pasta, and just a tiny bite of a friend's creme brule'. I am proud of myself! U ,too, need an outing! :bolt: Joy

I was banded on 9/15 and I have to say I had the same experience!....Even had the HH, but no traveling gas or naseua, etc.......just a lilttle soreness when I stooped over and that is almost gone....you wt. is probably due to a combination of fluid retention and swelling.....it will drop FAST!....Congratulations to u.........WE ARE THE WOMEN!!!!! Joy

YES!....Get your protien from BariacticEating.com. It is so yummy and ranges from 20+ to 40+ g of protien in 6 oz. of a shake. U cannot beat that and have it taste good too. With gas prices as they r, I refuse to run around from store to store looking for stuff and my friends still complain it is yucky.......This is good, comes in powders and RTD. I should be their poster child! HA HA!...Good Luck to you! :crying: Joy