macpa90

Hey I agree.. what is the pouch test? Does anyone know what it takes to stretch that pouch? I have only been banded since January but fear that perhaps I have stretched some since I don't feel much of any restriction.. Only time I do is if I eat too fast and too much by not chewing so good. Then it talks to me very quickly!!! Don't like that at all.. :w00t:

Hey I would love to join in as well.. this will be my first challenge but have watched everyone in Valentine's day challenge.. I am ready for it!! Name...........Start lbs..........Current..........Goal.......To Go Macpa90..........234.................217...............205.........12

Hi everyone.. I was banded on January 12th and feel bad as I am eating pretty much anything that I feel I can handle with no problems. I did the liquid for 1 week and then mushie for a few more days and then went to eating soft foods. NOw I don't eat anything that I cannot chew to death, but am not feeling deprived for the most part. I had my first fill of 3cc's in a 9 cc band on the 5th. I don't think that there is still much restriction. However, I learned very quickly that I MUST eat slow and chew well. If I go too long and eat too fast I am finding that it is very painful to have spasms and wait until things go down or come up. I have not had any come up but spend a few minutes trying to get it calmed down. :eek: Does that mean there is no restriction? I would say no but that it is not great.. when I got the fill, I did liquid for a day but then back to what I was doing for the most part. I am hoping for another fill before being gone for 2 weeks the end of the month.. :thumbup: So far I am so excited about the band. I am certain that it is the answer for me. I knew that the 12th was the first day of the rest of my life. so far, I still think so.. It is a wonderful thing!!!

I share your frustration but I keep going. I was banded 1/12/09 and lost the first week 10 pounds.. I am now approaching my 4th week and have just dropped another 3 from one day to the next. inbetween, NOTHING, NADA... As I read more on line, that has happened to allot of others. So I am hoping that this means I am on my way to start.. but not holding my breath yet. I can tell you before the last drop, I was taking in 700-800 calories. I have increased it to 1000 - 1100 and that is when I dropped the 3 pounds. Concidence.. maybe but I take it for what it looks like. Going for my first fill and the nutritionist Thursday.. we will see what they say.. Good Luck.. keep your chin up.. :tongue:

I was banded January 12th and have not yet had my first fill. I have found that even though I don't feel much of any restriction I have come to learn that there is. If I eat too much in a sitting or once I reverted to an old habit of just taking a chunk of bread that throwing it in my mouth. along with that I did not do the chewing that I normally do and swallowed the bread. I would say about 1 minute later I was feeling some pretty sharp chest pains. It scared me to death.. I did take a small amount of liquid to try to wash the bread down. Once it did, the pain subsided. However it is a bit of a constant little pain when I think that i have over eaten. I am chalking it up to a learning of what will be on my first fill. Of which I am sooo ready for. On the other hand, I have to tell you that I am such a believer of the Heart Check America. My husband and I went through the very simple process of a full body scan. I being the over weight one was just fine. My husband on the other hand, was an emergency case. we went right to a cardiologist and then right into the hopital for triple by pass. He is not over weight, he is very active and physically fit and was not displaying any symptoms of heart problems. He does on the other hand have family history of heart problems.. We have come to learn that this is not an area to wait and see what happens. If you feel that your pain is not like anything else, I agree get yourself somewhere to check it out!!! Better to be embarassed by the answer than what the other results might be.. Good luck to you..

Kimmyv.. thanks for all you insights.. I am wondering what the Daily Plate is? I have a realize band and have been using the realizemysuccess.. to track my calories and to my surprise for the first time in two weeks I have finally dropped another 3 pounds. However, I just took my calorie count up to 1000 - 1100. I do track all my intake and am always looking for advice to help. Perhaps the Daily Plate is something I could use as well to further my ability to put together proper meals and snacks.. thanks..

You know as I was reading I questioned why someone would be banded for several years and then have the gastric bypass surgery done. The person indicated that the band got them where they were headed the surgery keeps them there. I wonder are there others that do it as well? Has anyone had their band say more than 10 years? Does it wear out and have to be replaced? I hear of erosion but there are also other circumstances that cause it.. Does it just wear out and is there any one out there that has had it happen? :confused: Just wondering what the future holds beyond all the efforts and the glory...

Thanks crzytcher... I can't believe I did not get that. I was trying to paste it into the URL space and then upload it!! I try to pride myself in my technical abilities but oh well.. As you can see I have it now..Thanks for removing much frustrations!!! Hope your day is going good for you!!

Oh I feel the pain.. One good thing that my doctor offered as a self pay was using a surgical center if I qualified and I did. cut $10K right off the top.. looking back would I have chosen a hospital. NOPE! For that kind of money I slept just fine at home.. It was the unknown that I was the most scared of. By the second and then third day, I was most happy about my decision for the cut rate. Funny my docotr also does the tummy tuck etc if wanted at the end or when needed. Of course I have already began that plan!!! If it get this far and then that far, nothing will stop me from what I want to be. Right now I am just focusing on getting to the first fill. good Luck and keep talking.. Keeps me focused!! :confused:

WElcome aboard!! I was banded 1/12/09 and thought about it for about 2 months.. Long enough to do some reading both in books and online. Felt it was the right thing for me. Since my insurance did not cover it, I had to self-pay, it went very fast.. I was rather glad as the time it took for me to get to surgery date, I was already wishing it was already done.. Good luck and look forward to talking to you as you prepare for your journey.. :w00t:

I am alot like you. I made my mind up that this was what I wanted to do alot in part due to conditions that continued to be diagnosed each time I went to the doctor. The last was rhumetoid arthritis. My insurance did not cover it so, I was considered a self pay. From the time I went to the doctor until surgery it was about 4 weeks. It was longer due to the holidays. It has now been 2 weeks since surgery and all is going well. I continue to have my positive attitude and determination that 1/12/2009 was the first day for the rest of my life. hang in there..

I was banded 1/12/09 and lost the first 11 lbs. pretty quick the first week. Now the second week I have only lost 1 pound. I track my food and I have just began taking in 800-900 calories. Last week I was in the the 700 - 750 calorie area. Most of them were protien. I did not take in much of any carbs.. I am hoping to see the scale move again with the change. I see the nutritionist again Feb 5th.. Perhaps then I will get more instructions..

I was banded 1/12/2009 and the port is only tender when I bend in half at the waist.. Other wise it is pretty much normal. However, every now and then I move a certain way and I think that I can feel it. Not sure if it is the port or just some scar tissue from the incision on the right side.. but I have to say that the past few days have been great compared to the previous 10.. So hang in there it will all of a sudden be better..

I too was banded on 1/12/2009. Initially I thought that my left side was being ripped right out of me with any muscle movement. I also had the gall bladder taken out when banded. so I too have discomfort in the back and right side as well. I have to say that today for the first time, I am feeling pretty good and not much pain unless bending over or tight clothes around the waist.. I also called the doctor to inquire about it and was told that the port is attached to the abdominal wall and that it will take each person a different time as to the healing processes.. I was told to give it 2 - 3 weeks for it to be pretty much pain free.. On another note.. I want a ticker factory on my signature. I have created it but can't seem to get it on the url with a copy and paste. I also typed it in and tried to upload it. I continue to get file error.. any suggestions?:w00t:

Hi.. I am new to the threads.. I have posted several. I keep seeing all the wonderful Ticker Factory signature.. I would love to also have one. Went and created it but can't seem to get it posted to the signature.. how did each of you no only get one but two on many? Can you lend some technical help? I hope to be around for a while. I was banded 1/12/2009.. Just starting long ways to go..:w00t:

Thanks and I know that self doctoring can be a problem.. I did call the doctor and was informed by office staff that it was normal to have this much discomfort when initially banded (since Monday).. Do you agree with that statement?

Hi Kiz.. In reading some of the posts I see that you have have the realize band for some time. I was just banded on Monday and am having plenty of pain and discomfort in the port site. In fact that is really the only place that I have any. However, I have been told that this will be that way for some time possibly up to two weeks or so.. Just wondering if you have any insights as to getting past this difficulty? I have used the heating pad, pain meds.. and as long as I am sitting in a chair I am good. any kind of movement feels like my entire insides are being ripped out.. Just hoping someone says that this is normal and will pass soon.. thoughts?:yikes:

Thanks.. I will certainly update you. I may be blind about it all but I am so ready that my girls ask me if I am scared. I say no! I keep feeling that Monday will be the 1st day of the rest of my life. I know that it will be a long road ahead and failure can happen but I don't let those thoughts even enter into my process.. We will see if that is the same come one, two or three weeks, months etc from now.. Keep it up.. I am relying on all those out there that say they would do it all over again in a heart beat.. Remember the glass is always half full :thumbup: instead of half empty !!

Hi Tammy.. My surgery witht he Realize band is Monday, January 12th.. I have the realize band due to the fact that I have rhumetoid arthritis. If you have this, the lap band will require a waiver for responsibility for the silicone. some big law suit with breast implants resulting in this. The realize band does not have any such restriction. One of the major reasons that I have decided to get banded - and self paying- was for the health reason and the ability to move and walk and be able to do everyday life without the discomfort of arthritis along with the other over weight issues. I have been told that I should see a significant difference as the weight comes off. While the date is very close now, I am very excited for that time and very apprehensive as I hope that I can do all that I need to do to be successful. I will keep you posted on my success and affects on each of the ailments I have due to weight gain.. Before thinking wheel chair I would be thinking what you need to do band or no band to get you to a point of healthy living :tongue2:.. Good luck..

I am just starting the process and still looking for doctor to begin. I have made the decision to go for the band. Done alot of research and reading.. Hoping someone out there is from the SE WI area and can tell me which doctor you went with and if you had a good experience.. I have a good feel for Dr. Chua in Milwaukee. Hope to be in this group a long time.. I am soooo ready for this!!! thanks for any advice I can get.. :wink_smile:

Congrats to you.. I am just starting the whole process and I see by your bios that you did this very quickly. do you mind if I ask how you got through so quickly? Love to hear some of your story..

I am looking for bandsters in the SE Wisconsin area.. Any out there?:wink_smile:

Hello Simon.. Thanks for the response.. I have just gotten my research done and happy to make the decision to move forward with the banding procedure. I have just made an appointment with Dr. Chua in Milwaukee.. Not sure what to expect next. So.. I was hoping to find someone that could help me. I have books done more on line information sites, and yet I don't know what to expect at this appointment. I am one that likes to be prepared and kind of know what will happen.. So any insite you can offer I am all ears. Not sure where you are having the procedure, but I assume it is not Milwaukee. So you will be official in two weeks.. how long has it been since your initial visit? Hope to hear from you more as you continue and I begin.. I am sooo excited.. I feel good about the decision and the hope for the future..:tt1: