suesue1969

Hi all, I posted this in the Hampton Roads board also: Hi everyone! I'm glad I found this board. I am also a patient of Dr. Terracina, I was banded December 11, 2007 and have lost 71 lbs. so far. I still have a long journey ahead of me, my goal is to lose 150 lbs and this is the goal Dr. T set for me. I started at 315 lbs and can't believe how great I feel already. I have a couple questions if you don't mind. I went to see Dr. T back in April for my third fill which was the first time I ever really felt true restriction. I was so tight, I almost went back to get unfilled but hung in there and since I wasn't having any trouble, figured it was fine. Dr. T told me in April that I should be good to go for a while and that I should decide when and if I needed my next fill. So, fast forward to August. I waited a little too long for a fill but life got in the way (work, vacation, etc.) so I was ready. When I saw him in August, he was a little upset with me and said for the first year, I should be coming ever 6 weeks regardless of needing a fill or not. I'm so confused....:huh2:Trust me, I'd go see him every week if I could. He's great and the support is much needed. My question is, if I don't need a fill, do I make an appointment to see him at his office every 6 weeks or do I schedule the fill and let him decide once I get there if I need it or not? Did you all get the same instructions? He indicated that I had only lost 14 lbs from April to August and I should be a little farther ahead than that. I agree, I have made some mistakes and I can't believe how hard its been to get back on track after a summer of not so great choices. I'm just glad that I didn't gain at this point. Thanks for any insight you can offer. I hope to offer some support to anyone new to Dr. T's group. He's great, and the Lap Band was the smartest decision I've ever made!! Sue

I would definitely suggest some sort of pre-op diet. They never mentioned it to me and I went to Atlantic City the weekend before my surgery and ate WHATEVER I wanted. During surgery, Dr. T had such a hard time getting around my liver because it was so enlarged that he almost had to stop and not complete the band. Thankfully, he was able to get it done but I ended up with an extra incision that is about 3 inches long so he could get a special tool in to move my liver. He told me I was a tough case but he didn't want to send me home without my band and tell me to lose weight and come back. I don't think you have to go to the extreme of all liquids but I would watch my fat intake until your surgery day. Good luck, its been the BEST decision of my life! Sue

Hi everyone! I'm glad I found this board. I am also a patient of Dr. Terracina, I was banded December 11, 2007 and have lost 71 lbs. so far. I still have a long journey ahead of me, my goal is to lose 150 lbs and this is the goal Dr. T set for me. I started at 315 lbs and can't believe how great I feel already. I have a couple questions if you don't mind. I went to see Dr. T back in April for my third fill which was the first time I ever really felt true restriction. I was so tight, I almost went back to get unfilled but hung in there and since I wasn't having any trouble, figured it was fine. Dr. T told me in April that I should be good to go for a while and that I should decide when and if I needed my next fill. So, fast forward to August. I waited a little too long for a fill but life got in the way (work, vacation, etc.) so I was ready. When I saw him in August, he was a little upset with me and said for the first year, I should be coming ever 6 weeks regardless of needing a fill or not. I'm so confused....:huh2:Trust me, I'd go see him every week if I could. He's great and the support is much needed. My question is, if I don't need a fill, do I make an appointment to see him at his office every 6 weeks or do I schedule the fill and let him decide once I get there if I need it or not? Did you all get the same instructions? He indicated that I had only lost 14 lbs from April to August and I should be a little farther ahead than that. I agree, I have made some mistakes and I can't believe how hard its been to get back on track after a summer of not so great choices. I'm just glad that I didn't gain at this point. Thanks for any insight you can offer. I hope to offer some support to anyone new to Dr. T's group. He's great, and the lapband was the smartest decision I've ever made!! Sue