downsdc

I'm being banded on Monday January 26th. Three days into my pre-op "liver" diet and so far I'm doing fine (except for some "head" hunger). My surgery is going to be done by Dr. Jaime Ponce (Gastric Band Institute) in Dalton, Ga (I live in Ooltewah, TN - near Chattanooga). Anybody else scheduled for that date?

I was describing to someone how we have a tiny hole between our pouch and lower stomach, and they asked me what happens when you are sick with a virus and have to throw up. Sounds like y'all have some experience with that. Is there any pain from vomiting? All I have experienced is PB, which is from the pouch only.

I'm going to Daytona Beach Shores (south Daytona Beach) a week from tomorrow!

I'm back. Just got my fifth fill last Tuesday and it seems to be close to where I need to be. I'm losing slowly (about 3 pounds over the last six weeks) but I'm not nearly as hungry now and I can't eat as much, so I hope that will improve. For Vitamins I'm taking OneSource Active Kids Complete chewables and Spring Valley Caramel Calcium Chews (from WalMart). My wife and I have been walking alot. We are going on vacation in a couple of weeks, so hopefully we can walk on the beach while we're gone. Craig

The second-generation Realize Band (Realize Band-C) was FDA approved in October 2008 and first placed in late-November 2008. I'm having this new version of the Realize Band placed January 26th. Does anyone here have the Realize Band-C yet? I saw it today in my pre-op class and was able to compare it to the old Realize Band. Visually it looks to be much improved over the old version. Not sure if it is more effective for weight-loss.

Had my fourth fill today. Also, at the support group meeting tonite Brooke announced that she was expecting and is due a couple of days before Thanksgiving.

What is the pouch test? Never heard of it...

Are any of you attending the monthly support meetings at GBI? I have been to all but one of them (on vacation in March) since I was banded. Craig By the way, the "black headed chick" is Tiffany. :-)

My restriction is better but I still need another fill. I'm losing weight now (4 pounds in the last two weeks) but I still tend to eat larger portions than I should. I'm doing better exercising, so that should help with the weight loss.

I had my third fill about two weeks ago and it has made a difference. I have lost 4 pounds since then. I'm going to have a fourth fill in two more weeks.

My third adjustment was Tuesday 4/21. I have another adjustment scheduled for next month.

My third fill is April 21. Everyone at GBI tells me that this should be the one that I will feel the most restriction on. True?

I back, Just got back from a week of vacation in Daytona Beach. No more weight loss, but when I had my second fill last Tuesday my fat-free mass had gone up three pounds. I have lost three inches off my waist so far. I now have a small amount of restriction so hopefully now that I'm back on a normal schedule I'll start losing weight again. Craig

Hi everyone, Back from vacation. I gained 3 pounds that week but have already lost it since getting back Sunday nite. I had my second fill Tuesday afternoon and I can now feel some restriction, but not a lot. My third fill is scheduled for April 21. No other weight loss, but when I had my fill they did a body fat analysis, and my fat-free mass (FFM)(muscle/bone/water) had gone up 3 pounds. I have lost three inches so far on my waist. I'm back to my normal routine now and should be back to losing some weight. Craig

Very little restriction for me at this point. Leaving for vacation in Florida with my wife Sunday. We will have to walk a lot on the beach to keep me from gaining weight. I get my second fill two days after I get back.

I'm still here. My second fill is on March 24th. I can't tell any difference after my first fill, but they warned me I probably wouldn't until after the third fill. So I'm watching my portions, but I haven't lost any weight this last week. Now that it's warming up, my wife and I can start walking together, so that will help.

My fill was just a slight prick when the needle went in. I'm a diabetic so I'm used to giving myself insulin shots. It wasn't any worse than that. I'm not really feeling much different than before the fill, but my doctor warned me that I wouldn't feel much restriction until after the third fill. Now that I'm back to solid food I'm having to watch my portion control. Craig

I had my first fill today at GBI. Dr. Ponce did the fill with Brooke assisting. Everything went smoothly and I had no problems afterward. Liquids today and soft food tomorrow. Next fill in four weeks. Craig

Had my first fill today, so I'm on liquids the rest of the day and then on soft foods tomorrow. Almost painless and very quick. Mr surgeon added 6ccs to my 11cc band. No problems afterward and my next fill will be in four weeks. He said that since I have the new Realize-C band that he is adding more saline than he would to the old Realize band. Craig

My first fill is Tuesday 2/24. My doctor does all of their fills with a fluroscope and they explained the procedure at the support group last Tuesday nite. They put the needle into the port, have you stand up, and then have you drink some strawberry flavored barium. They watch you drink the barium while they fill the band. The plan is to gradually fill the band over three adjustments (1 month, 2 months, 3 months). They told me I probably wouldn't feel much restriction until the third fill. Sometimes they said people can drink during the procedure but a couple of hours later they have swelling which tightens the band too much, so they have to remove some of the saline. Hopefully that won't happen to me. I haven't PB'd yet and don't plan on it if I can help it. I'm staying steady at 21 pounds lost since starting pre-op. I was told by my doctor that I might gain weight about now, so I guess I'm doing pretty well. I'm still not in the habit of exercising everyday. If I could do that I'm sure I would still be losing weight. My wife and I are splitting meals when we eat out (a lot), so I know I'm not eating nearly as much as I used to. Craig

27 pounds is fantastic! You are doing well on your protein. Try to get your calories up to 1100 or so per day and you won't be as hungry. A good thing I found to eat at mushies stage was Hormel Turkey Chili. Low fat with lots of protein and very filling. Craig

A follow up on my original post. I was banded on January 24th by Dr. Jamie Ponce in Dalton, GA. My surgery was scheduled for 7:30AM and I was on my way home at 11:30AM. The actual surgery took 1.25 hours and my hiatal hernia (which they found during the pre-surgery upper GI) was fixed also. I had no incision pain except at my port incision when I coughed (putting pressure on the incision helped). No problems sleeping on my side. I have lost 20 pounds so far since I started my pre-surgery diet and will have my first fill on 2/24. My surgery is almost healed now and my hunger is starting to come back, but the fill will help with that. Other than some short bouts with hiccups when I eat too fast, I have not had any problems eating at all. Last night (Valentines) my wife and I split a 6 oz steak filet, a baked potato and a salad. I also ate one piece of bread. No problems swallowing at all (I cut my steak into tiny bites). My only issue is with myself, not enought exercise. My Realize Band-C is great so far. Craig

Ideal Body Weight Calculator - MyDietExercise.com This is a decent ideal body weight calculator because it allows for different frame types (and how to determine which type you are). When I go to my Gastric Band followups, they have me stand on a Tanika Body Composition Analyzer and record the results. My FFM (Fat Free Mass - muscle,bone,tissue,water) is 155 pounds (I weighed about 160 pounds in high school). Per their chart, ideal percent fat above the FFM for a male is 14-23% (female is 17-27%). So my ideal weight would be 177-191. I chose 180 pounds but that is probably a bit low. I'll probably have to adjust as I get closer to goal. Tonite my wife and I split a 6oz steak filet, a baked potato and a salad. No problems eating anything, so it looks like I'm pretty much healed. Now I just have to keep from gaining weight before my first band adjustment in 10 days. Craig

I basically don't have any pain at all - just some itching at the incisions from healing. I started putting Mederma Gel on the incisions two weeks after surgery to minimize scarring and they are looking much better. My port is just left of center right below my ribcage. I mainly sleep on my side and back and have not had any problems sleeping - even the night after surgery. I was expecting to have to sleep sitting up for a few days. I start solid foods tomorrow! (Valentine's Day) Craig

Great Julie! Was this your doctor follow-up? I would really like to lose a few more pounds before my follow-up on 2/24, but I've lost 20 pounds so far (8 pounds since surgery), which I'm happy with.