LindaV

Jim, I also held an inamed band in my initial seminar and it was a complete ring. I have read that a lot of docs outside of the US prefer the sweedish band because it is softer and so some think there is less likehood for erosion. I would definately take into account how much you want to spend on fills. You will not find a doctor here in the US who will fill a Sweedish band because they are not FDA approved here. Are you close enough to make trips to Mexico on a regular basis? That's what I would ask myself.

Hi PBrown, Welcome to LBT. Next time you get to the Boise area, let us know. We are a pretty social group here and if there is nothing scheduled while you are here, I am willing to make something up. Your band date is coming up pretty quickly. Do you have to do a preop diet? Some doctors require it some don't. Are you getting excited? I really couldn't wait. I was surprised at how little my nerves played into the whole experience--even the morning of my surgery. Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi Stitchy, I notice that when I drink Water (and I do gulp), I tend to get hungry within about 15 minutes. It's like the water washes what is left in my pouch out. Because of this, I tend to do most of my drinking about 30 minutes before I eat. I will usually drink 16 oz of water over about a 10-15 minute period because I know that I will usually be really hungry about 15 minutes later. Then I only have to wait another 15 minutes to eat. Of course, I am a new b bandster, like you, so I am sure things will change as we get fills and such. Anyway, I eat about 4-5 times a day, including a snack in the evening if I havn't gotten in enough calories or Protein. I am finding right now that I can eat about 2 cups of food at a time so it's probably good that I am not eating 6 times a day .

I will be 3 weeks post band tomorrow and I am 30 pounds down (16 preop, 14 postop). I went to a movie today and, guess what???????? I fit comfortably in the seat. I even put the armrest between my hubby and I down. I havn't been able to do that in years! I guess this is my first NSV!! WOOHOO!!! Good luck to all of those being banded this week. My thoughts and prayers go out to you!

Hi Kayla, I met you at the St. Al's support group a couple of months ago. I am so glad to hear you are doing well and in good spirits! Good luck with your pre-op diet. I know it sucks, but, I know you can do it!!!! Keep us posted!

Heresdeb, I would definately call my doctor, or of your surgeon isn't local, call your primary care and make an appointment. You might just be experiencing gas, but, that shouldn't make you short of breath. A pulmonary infection can be treated pretty easily, but, you can do serious damage to your lungs if you have one and don't get it treated. GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!!!!!!

Hi Pfunk..., I am also two weeks post band. I have also had pain in my chest. I actually had my gallbladder removed several years ago, and the pain I have been experiencing since being banded is very similar to that I experienced when I had gall stones. The difference is that this pain doesn't last too long and it is not nearly as painful. I do know that weight loss as well as obesity can increase your chances of developing gall stones. I had been on Weight Watches when I started having trouble. The good thing is, gallbladder problems, if I remember correctly (if not, I'm sure someone on this board will correct me), can be detected with a blood test or an ultrasound. I don't see why your insurance would have any problem covering this procedure. I hope this helps!

Thanks, K@t, I was band on May 1st, and, like you, dropped a lot of weight pretty quickly. I was really discouraged this morning when the scale said I had gained 3 pounds this week. I don't even know how that is possible since I have not been drinking more than about 11 calories a day. I know this is supposed to be a time for healing, but it is still discouraging! Thanks for your post. I think I will have my husband hide the scale for now.

Hi, The contracted rate for Lap Band surgery for the surgeon that my insurance company will pay is $3,800. My doctor's fee for self-pay is $8,000. I think contracted insurance rates are usually 40-60% below regular rates. It's too bad hospitals/doctors don't charge a flat rate that is reasonable. Insurance costs would go down and if you were not able to get insurance, medical procedures would be more affordable.

Sorry Susan, Apparently I am suffering from MENTAL DETERIORATION as well. The first post was correct. I am + 3 this week.

Hey Susan, I guess I am only +2 since weighing in last week.

Ok so here are my DISGUSTING stats for the week: C289 (-25 total, + 3 this week :embarassed:) I don't know how I can possibly be gaining weight. :phanvan I am on mostly liquids and am only getting in between 900 and 1200 calories a day. And, this week I have even been doing an hour of deep water aerobics every morning! I know you shouldn't expect weight loss until you have your first fill and have restriction, but, I am working hard to keep my calorie intake under control. Anyway, I am a bit disgusted this week , but, I know the scale will move. My husband did give me a hug this week and told me I was getting smaller.

I don't know where all those smiley faces came from, I just copied and pasted from my email.

3Loves - Sorry, I I forgot to post the PUMPKIN SOUP recipe. I have been to busy enjoying it! Anyway, here it is. EASY PUMPKIN SOUP<o:p></o:p> <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p> 2 T olive oil<o:p></o:p> 2 cloves garlic smashed not chopped<o:p></o:p> 1 shallot roughly chopped ( just enough to release the flavor and sweetness…you can also use ¼ of a sweet onion)<o:p></o:p> 1 small peice of peeled and chopped ginger <o:p></o:p> (about the size of 1/2 your thumb)<o:p></o:p> 2 C chicken broth/stock (you can add more if you like thinner soup)<o:p></o:p> 1/4 tsp nutmeg<o:p></o:p> 1tsp salt<o:p></o:p> 1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree (not the one that is already spiced for pie)<o:p></o:p> 1/4 C cream or half and half ( you could even use milk if you wanted to lessen the calories) <o:p></o:p> 1 T butter<o:p></o:p> dash of pepper<o:p></o:p> <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p> Over med heat in a 2 qt saucepan heat the olive oil. Add the garlic, shallot and ginger. Cook until tender but not brown—about a minute. Add salt, and stock. Let this simmer for 15 minutes. With a slotted spoon remove the garlic and ginger, and shallots from the liquid or strain reserving the liquid. Add the pumpkin puree and stir until smooth. Add the cream and the nutmeg and the butter. Bring this to a slow boil. Let this simmer for 5 minutes. Serve with a dash of black pepper or some parmesan cheese. Makes 4-5 cups. My husband made me some for Mother's Day. We didn't have fresh ginger so we just used dry and we used onion instead of shallot. It was still good. <o:p></o:p>

Stitchy - Its great to have your husband notice, isn't it? Mine gave me a hug yseterday and told me my derriere (dairy-air sp???) was smaller? It's great to hear that from someone else because, I just don't notice it yet myself. I guess this was my first NSV. Good thing, the scale hasn't been too cooperative the last few days!

Lorri, It's really common to feel no restriction until you get a fill so don't worry. Doctors aren't concerned about weight loss for the first several weeks because of theat. If you do lose, think of it as a bonus. If not, it will come when you get a fill and have restriction. In the meantime, I am tracking my daily intake on fitday.com. Once I go on mushies (next week), I will go back to the Weight Watchers point system to help keep myself on track until I get some restriction. Don't push solids too fast. Give your band a chance to heal into place. I know it's hard. I'm pretty hungry these days. Good luck!

Hi PlunderB, I'm so sorry to hear things aren't going well for your son at school - socially at least. It is so hard to have to watch our kids find their way in this world. Especially when the world isn't being too kind to them. Well, the bright side is, school is almost out and, hopefully, over the summer, you can have more control about who he hangs out with. Have you considered getting him involved an a martial arts program. There are some really good programs that teach good technique as well as helping kids to learn self discipline and how to handle volitile situations. I ran an afterschool program for a Karate dojo in California and several of the kids were adhd and their parents said it made a huge difference. Aren't you involved in some kind of program? I think any program that channels excess enerty into something physical and positive is always great! My son just turned 10 and I just had a conversation with my husband last night about how I am not liking him very much right now. Really he's agood kid but, because I homeschool and am with him 24/7, the attitude problems and everything else are really apparent to me. Especially right now on my3rd week of liquids. I'm sure I have not been that fun to live with either. :nervous It's normal to go through periods where we really question our parenting skills and whether or not our kids are going to grow up to be well adjusted adults. Have you decided what to do yet about schooling next year? I havn't checked your thread for a while. Good luck and hang in there.

Hi Rachel, Welcome to LBT. I was banded two weeks ago and am looking forward to musheis next week. I really can't wait till solid foods. So, where are you from and where were you banded? I'm in Idaho. We have a couple great support group in the area and they are a great place for information too. I have really benefited from getting to know people who are ahead of me in the process. It is nice to be able to pick up the phone and call someone to answer a question immediately instead of waiting for it to get answered on line. Although, questions usually get responded to pretty quickly here at LBT. Anyway, welcome again.

WOW - I think I counted 65 of of may bandsters - WOW!

Melissa - Congratulations on your banding date! I know how exciting that must be for you. Hope - OK, it's a date! To be on the safe side, we should probably wait until after our first fills. My fill date is Jude 16th. Once I start mushies, I can probably put some thought into where we should go.

Hi Hope, Yes, in 6 days I go on mushies. Then I stay on mushies for 3 weeks before I can go on solids. June 12 is marked on my calender but I am still trying to decide what I will try first. This week, I am trying to get prepared for "mushies." I am going to stock up on eggs, cottage cheese, fish, bananas and potatoes. My dietician said I can make chicken or ham salad in the food processor. I can't wait to unfreeze some of my Easter ham. OMG AM I SALIVATING RIGHT NOW! You are already on mushies, right? When do you progress to solids? When we are both on solids, we shoud meet at a restaurant downtown and split a meal. We will probably still be able to take leftovers home. Eating out sure will be a lot cheaper considering we won't be drinking with our meals either.

Hi Laurapar, Goo Gone or Goof Off can be use to get off just about anything. I have used it to get gum out of clothing or off shoes, candle wax off of table cloths, manufacturers stickers that don't come off come right off with this. It has an oily base, so if you use it on clothing, you have to treat for oil before washing. It is great stuff to have around. But, remember, you aren't really supposed to use it on your skin so be careful! It doesn't bother me, but that doesn't mean it won't bother your skin.

Laurapar and Hippo's Hope, I have had luck using baby wipes to get sticky stuff from tape off. With the worst case messes such as sap, I use a little bit of Goo Gone. You have to be careful if you have sensitive skin though, because it says not to use it on your skin. I have never had it bother my skin though and I wash it off right away. It gets pretty much anything off!

Hippo's Hope - It was great talking to you last week. It sure does get hard the second week. I have been having cottage cheese which I'm not supposed to have until next week, but, I feel like I need something of substance and at least it is soft and gives me a lot of protein. I don't blame you for picking up your grandson, it's a natural thing to do. I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself. WE CAN DO THIS! Only 6 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Trip2Beme - Again, thanks fo the understanding! I am actually not on clear liquied (THANK GOD); full liquids are hard enough. My husband made me some pumpkin soup yesterday that was great and had a little substance to it. It's weird, sometimes I seem to fill up on liquids really quickly and stay full a long time, and sometimes, it seems like I am hungry 15 minutes later. Thanks for the offer to go on liquids with me but, I wouldn't ask that of anyone! Well, it's another new week and several more of you will join us in bandland. Good luck to all of you! Keep us posted! Despite my wining the last week or so, this journey has been amazing and it really is doable. :gluck:

Hey Tonya, Welcome to LBT. I was just banded a couple of weeks ago and this site was a great place to get information before surgery. If there is a local support group that meets near you, that is also a good place to go for information. As for what to ask your doctor. If you go to the "General Lap-Band Discussion" forum. There is a thread for questions to ask your doctor before getting banded. I found a lot of helpful information there. Good luck and let us know what you decide.