peachwood

Just a note for those with Blue Cross Blue Shield. There is a 90 day wait for a first fill. I was banded on 2/10/09 and still waiting. Yes it is hard. I am not losing but not gaining. Trying to work on the band eating habits so it is not too much of a shock when I do feel restriction.

I'm down 7# since the start of the challenge. 1 more pound than the ticker. 17# to go. Doing better than I thought!!

Thanks Babe for the pep talk. I do track on the Realize band site and I do exercise 6 days a week. I did not have to do a preop diet. I do know I eat much more than I should but my food choices are generally good and I am working on the band rules so maybe the scales are not moving down but there are some behaviors that are taking place. Actually I am pleased I am not gaining and I can maintain. That is a major plus. I know I probably eat too many CHO but I am hoping with a fill I will feel full before I get to them

I was banded on 2/10/09 with the reaize C band. I have to wait 3 months before I can get a fill and boy do I need one. I have no restriction and can eat anything. I have maintained my weight loss but have not lost anything in the past 4 weeks. It is very hard. According to my surgeon the band that I have does not have as much restriction unfilled as other bands. It also depends on the thickness of the stomach walls.

I am getting to the point I forgot I had surgery! I am not able to have a fill for 90 days and I have NO restriction. I have not gained but I have not lost either. I am starting to slip to old eating habits because there is nothing reminding me I ate enough. I think the insurance companies that have that rule need to rethink it. I am losing my motivation. I am afaid that when I finally get a fill I will be in shock!!

Hi, Everyone has such good points on sleep apnea. I was dx about 8 years ago with mild sleep apnea. I used a mouth brace for about a year with no noticeable improvement. That brace was torture!! I then opted for surgery - tonsillectomy, throat reconstruction, and deviated septum repair. I still had mild sleep apnea. I did not want to use CPAP but I still had to. Have been using it for 5 years. I just had my 5th sleep study and I can now lower my pressure from 9 to 7. ( That is a low setting.) My pulmonologist thinks I may be able to discontinue its use as more weight comes off. Yeah! I always feel better when I use it but I still have other sleep issues (insomnia) but that is another post. I did not want to use the machine either but I did it and I honestly feel better when I do. It may save your life.

Hi, Everyone has such good points on sleep apnea. I was dx about 8 years ago with mild sleep apnea. I used a mouth brace for about a year with no noticeable improvement. That brace was torture!! I then opted for surgery - tonsillectomy, throat reconstruction, and deviated septum repair. I still had mild sleep apnea. I did not want to use CPAP but I still had to. Have been using it for 5 years. I just had my 5th sleep study and I can now lower my pressure from 9 to 7. ( That is a low setting.) My pulmonologist thinks I may be able to discontinue its use as more weight comes off. Yeah! I always feel better when I use it but I still have other sleep issues (insomnia) but that is another post. I did not want to use the machine either but I did it and I honestly feel better when I do. It may save your life.

Shaggs, I enjoyed reading your blog. I'm hungry too. Have not lost much in the past month. (prefill). Have to wait another month in pergatory before I experience it. Let us know how you do with the fill.

add me too. peachwood start and current 251; goal: 230 to go: 21

Hi, My Realize C band is 11cc's according to my pamphlet. Does anyone know if they consider any fill in the tubing as part of the total?

Helene, So glad to hear you are on the mend. I have been following your ordeal. Let's hope the rest is easy. Jane

Your surgeon actually put in 4cc at surgery time! wow. Everyone is different. I will probably have to wait 8 weeks before I can get a fill. Just so I do not gain. I will see my surgeon on the 26th. Let's ask similar questions and compare the responses I had my surgery at St.Peter's Universtiy Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ by Dr. Abkin.

Eva B, I do not know if the band is placed higher than others. I will ask my surgeon that question when I see him next. My surgeon is one of 30 proctors for the new band (Realize C) I think they are the only ones who can put in the Realize C band right now. Supposedly the Realize band does not have as many problems with drier foods getting stuck like some of the meats. Something about the negative pressure of the band which I do not understand. So we are the guinea pigs with this Realize band (either model). This band has actually been around awhile in Europe. I think it was called the Swedish band but J&J made some improvements and called it the Realize Band here in the US. It will be interesting to watch our journey with this band.

The Realize C band is the new generation of the Realize band. Instead of straight, it is precurved. There is only one size of the Realize band and I think they are both 10cc bands. THe Lap band had two sizes and a couple of models. It seems that it depends on what country you had the Lap band placed as to which one it is. As far as the Vagus nerve. I had a long discussion with my surgeon on this one. First the vagus nerve is a meandering nerve that starts in the brain and runs to the stomach, liver, and other places and one of its functions is to signal satiey ( fullness) when we have eaten enough. ( I think mine does NOT function!!!) One of the reasons that the band works is that when we eat, the tightening of the band stimulates the vagus nerve. When we have no restriction the vagus is not stimulated and we are still hungry. How much it is stimulated is different in everyone - the sweetspot. The discussion I had with my surgeon was if just the placement of the band was enough to stimulate the vagus and he said no. The band needs to have some restriction in order to stimute the vagus.

Hi all For me the exercise part is easy. 1 week out I was doing 30 minutes on the elliptical. Now I do Zumba 2x a week, Tennis 2x a week, Weights 2x a week and I will go back to Yoga tomorrow. I do about an hour to an hour and a half 6 days a week. I was a little concerned about the abdomen for yoga but now I think everything will be fine. If it is uncomfortable, I just will not do that postion. I am also going to play a USTA match this week so that will really test me. I just wish I was not HUNGRY. I have no restriction and could and can eat everything now. No problems. I have been gaining about a pound a week since the second week post op. I eat between 800 and 1200 calories a day but I could eat alot more. I will probably not be able to get a fill until April and I could use one NOW.:laugh:

The REalize C band holds 10cc of saline. From what people say it takes about 7 -8 cc before one feels a good restriction. I also understand that the fill schedule for the Realize band is first fill - 4cc., second fill 2 cc., and third is usually 2 cc and the rest is according to weight loss pattern, hunger level, etc. So it could take a while to get the optimum effect of the band. We must be patient but it is hard.

Hi, Hedostar, I am in the same boat as you. I could and can eat everything!!! Have no restriction. I do exercise 6 days a week -Zumba, USTA tennis, elliptical, yoga and weights. THe realize band site says I do 450 - 800 calories of exercise a day. I am eating about 800 to 1200 calories and I am gaining!! About a pound a week! But until that Vagus nerve is stimulated by a restricted band we will probably be hungry. .

Hi, Yes Shaggs I feel the same as you. I could just nibble away. I am on a "soft" diet. Everything I have tried goes down VERY easy - bread, tomato sauce, cheese, chicken and chips! I had some restriction post op but now there is hardly anything. I can eat at least a cup of food before I feel full. I have not had any "PB" or sliming. I can hardly feel the port site now when I bend. I did have my first DR. visit on Thurs. On my next visit in a month we will discuss fills. At this point I think I want one because my will power can last only so long. I did ask him about the vagus nerve and the band's effect on it. He felt that the physical contact of the band on the nerve did not help with satiety because their is no pressure on it, but when the stomach is digesting food and the band is properly adjusted the vagus is activated. So we will feel full - eventually!

Hi, As a newly banded patient, the protein intake is a difficult one. I have examined the many sources of protein and have not found any references to complimentary proteins. Many of our protein sources are incomplete but we eat a combination of foods for a reason - like rice and beans. When combined they make a complete protein. In the beginning we are not eating much and we do need to pay attention to the source of protein. But we do get a variety of protein in the limited intake if we remember to eat protein first. Many of the protein bullets are incomplete proteins but they are not our only protein source (hopefully). So in a pinch they can work or not work, depending on the complete diet.

Hi recovery roomie! Doing well. Back to the gym tomorrow. The weight is sliding off. Actually feel less short of breath.:rose: As far as the Protein goes it is important. It repairs and builds tissues including the skin and hair. It is based on our weight and as we lose weight that number can be adjusted. Right now I need 80 grams and that is hard to do based on the volume I can ingest. But I get close and that is OK.

I was banded with the Realize C on Feb 10th. I did as much research as I could but I must say it was not easy to find much. The one thing that let me go for the new band was that because of the pressure created by the band that foods that would normally get stuck may not. As I see this as a portion control procedure and I want to be able to choose foods that I like, I felt this was the choice. My dr. gave me the choice. During my surgery the Realize band proctor was in the OR with me. I feel good about that. It has been like the hunger switch was turned off. It is way too early to assess but the recovery has been a breeze. Let's keep in touch on our progress with this new tool.

Hi all Feb 10er's, Doing well, Started full liquids today so I had an unjury protein shake. Feel full. Not hungry for more at all. Did I tell you that I had the new Realize C band implanted and the Realize rep was in the OR for my surgery! Cool. Just so they did not take too many pictures!!!! Did any body else get that type of band?

Enjoyed the poem. We both had surgery on the same day. How are you doing? I am fine - just sore at the incision site. :thumbup:Jane

All the best Shaggs! I will be right behind you.