downsdc

The pre-op diet has been a lot easier that I expected. I was getting tired of just staying at home eating cold food, so I went out last night with my wife to the Imperial Garden chinese restaurant and got a large bowl of WonTon soup (without the wonton - broth only). So much better than chicken broth from a can. We normally share chinese food, so she had plenty left over for lunch today. I lost another pound yesterday (4 so far since Monday afternoon).

The port on the Realize Band is flatter, so it shouldn't be visible when you lose weight (the port is also stapled instead of sutured). There is an optional low-profile port for the Lap-Band also, but Dr. Ponce doesn't use it (they said if you have plastic surgery later the low-profile port could be installed then).

Apparently Rockbandster just can't help himself. He has posted essentially the same reply to my thread looking for people who have the Realize Band-C. It would almost be funny if he wasn't spreading disinformation to people actually looking for answers, not BS.

Rockbandster, as you have told many posters before when they questioned your claims, you don't have a clue. My surgeon is Dr. Jaime Ponce, who was on the original trials for the Realize Band (he places both types of bands based on the patient's choice) and he was the first surgeon to place the Realize Band in the U.S. No offense, but I think I would trust his judgement over some anonymous poster. And I doubt that you have even seen the new band, much less tested it with your doctor (doesn't he have better things to do?) since it has only been out for a few weeks. Yes, there are no "pouches" in the inflation band (it is completely smooth), but there is no way that the band I saw yesterday could crease. I specifically asked about it not holding as much volume as the Lap-Band, and they told me that they have never had a problem with not getting restriction with the Realize Band (and the Gastric Band Institute has placed literally thousands of bands). There is also no "weird port angle" on the tubing. Until you can back up your claims about the crease-fold failure with objective (not anectdotal "I tested it with my doctor") documentation from medical sources, we can safely assume that you just have a serious grudge against Johnson & Johnson and ignore everything you say.

Looks like you are doing great on your weighloss. Is it coming off consistently per week?

I thought I was going to be starving drinking six glucernas a day. Turns out I can only drink about four - just not hungry (very weird). And I've had to stop my short-acting insulin for now because my blood sugar was too low (still on the long-acting insulin). I'm eating the right amount of yogurt and fruit juice. I hope to lose a few more pounds prior to surgery.

As far as I can detemine both bands work about the same. I just liked the lower-profile port on the Realize Band. And I just figured out that I'm getting the second generation Realize Band-C (which was just FDA approved in October 2008).

Apparently what I saw today was the new Realize Band-C. It was FDA approved in October 2008 and first placed in mid-December 2008. Since Dr. Ponce was on the U.S. clinical trials for the original Realize Band, he probably got early access to the new version. I suspect it will be available nationally very soon. Rockbandster is going to have to find something else to rave about. :-)

I went to my pre-op class today (surgery on 1/26) and chose the Realize Band. We saw both the old band and the new second generation band (which I'm getting) as well as the Lap-Band. The new Realize band is round and completely smooth (no creases) and looks very similar to the second generation Lap-Band (except is has a lower profile port). My surgeon, Dr. Jaime Ponce, placed the first Realize Band in the US (in Dalton Ga, where he is doing my surgery). If it filled into a triangle shape before, it is a moot point now for people considering the Realize Band for future surgeries.

I went to my Gastric Band Institute pre-op class this morning. We got to handle both bands and I chose the Realize Band, primarily due to the lower profile port (they said that they didn't use the optional low-profile port for the LapBand). The new second generation Realize Band just came out in late 2008, and visually the quality appears to be the same as the normal LapBand. Dr. Ponce was the first surgeon to place the Realize Band in the U.S (in Dalton, GA where I'm having my surgery), so I feel comfortable with my decision. I'm now on day three of my pre-op liver diet, and I'm doing pretty well. I don't really have any hunger (except for "head" hunger). I've lost three pounds so far since Monday. Eleven days to go until my Surgery on Jan 26th!

Did anyone lose weight during the two-week pre-surgery diet? It is only about 1800 calories per day.

Glucerna is specially formulated for diabetics so it won't spike your blood sugar (200 calories per shake). I bought the Vanilla and Butter Pecan today. Both are OK, but I like the Butter Pecan the best (even better than the Chocolate). Haven't tried the Strawberry yet, but I'll probaby try it just to keep from getting tired of drinking the same thing for two weeks. Here is the official Gastric Band Institute pre-op diet that I was sent via email (since I'm starting my diet prior to the pre-op class). BEGIN THIS PLAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY * 6 CANS OF GLUCERNA SHAKES EACH DAY * 1-2 (8-OUNCE) SERVINGS LOW-FAT YOGURT A DAY - PLAIN OR ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED * 2 (8 OUNCE) GLASSES OF FRUIT JUICE (100% JUICE) EACH DAY * WATER, DIET SOFT DRINKS, SUGAR-FREE KOOL-AID, CRYSTAL LITE, UNSWEETENED TEA, COFFEE (SUGAR SUBSTITUTE) AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DRINK. * YOU MAY DRINK ANY LOW CALORIE, NO SUGAR LIQUIDS SUCH AS BROTH, TEAS, ETC.

Yep - I'm been spending this week getting my "last meals", my favorite restaurants. I have a last business lunch meeting at Sticky Fingers this Monday and then I start guzzling the Glucerna. My pre-op class is Wednesday AM and I get my pre-op lab work done that morning also. Did you have any flavors of Glucerna that you didn't like? I bought a pack of chocolate but I haven't tried it yet.

Maybe they have been looking at this thread?

I called Johnna this morning to get a script for my pre-surgery lab work and was told she no longer works at the Gastric Band Institute.

Thanks Slim - how long did the gas pains last? Did you have any trouble sleeping?

Dr Ponce at the Gastric Band Institute is doing my surgery on Jan 26th (I start my pre-op "liver" diet on Jan 12). For those of you who used Dr. Ponce, how did you feel for the first few days post-op and what are your recommendations for pain relief/gas relief/sleeping?

The Gastric Band Institute has finally given me a surgery date - Jan 26th with Dr. Ponce in Dalton, GA. I go to my pre-surgery class on Jan 7th and start my pre-surgery "liver" diet Jan 12th.

I wonder why my signature didn't show up in my last post?

Hi everyone, The Memorial Diabetes Center has certified that my blood sugar is now well controlled (avg. about 120 right now) so it looks like my surgery will be around the second week of January (in Dalton GA). I don't know the exact date because they don't have the January surgery schedule for Dalton yet (I'll find out in mid-December). I guess I'll be stsrting my pre-surgery liver diet shortly after Christmas and Dr. Ponce (from the Gastric Band Institute) will be doing my surgery (self-pay). When do I choose my type of band, and which one did you choose (and are you happy with your decision)?

From what they described, I would have to work with the diabetes center for several weeks. They are going to analyze my medications and diet (and possible make changes to my meds) and have to verify that my blood sugar is below 180 for two weeks before they will even schedule the surgery. Also, they will check my blood sugar the morning of surgery, and if it is above 180, they will cancel surgery (and I will lose my 1000 dollar deposit). Dr. Ponce explained that the reason for this is that with high blood sugar, the risk of infection is high, and I could lose the band due to infection.

I called Dr. Ponce's office again today and they said that they had faxed my referral info to the Memorial Diabetes Center, so I called Memorial right away, but the earliest appt they could give me was 11/19! I took the appt but called Dr. Ponce's office back. They said they would try to get me an earlier appt with the Diabetes Center. At this rate it will be 2009 before I get to have my surgery. With my luck I'll be on the pre-surgery diet over the Christmas holidays. :-o

Update - my consult was on 10/14 and I'm still waiting on the referral to the Diabetes center at Memorial Hospital. I called last Wednesday and they referred me to Johnna's voicemail - she never called me back. I called again today and they said that someone was going to Memorial to set the referral up today and I would be called for an appt. No call. Hopefully they will call me tomorrow. If not, I'm going to pay them a visit in person. The good news is that I'm being better at watching what I eat and have lost a couple of pounds (even after going on a cruise). My blood sugar is better but not where it needs to be. I pretty much know what I need to do - eat better and exercise. I just haven't gotten back into that groove yet. Tomorrow will be a better day.

I've read here a couple of times (at least) that you shouldn't have more than 25g Protein at one sitting. What is the general consensus on this (or what has your doctor told you)? With the New-whey 42g protein "shots" I could get a lot of protein at once, but I don't want to damage my kidneys in the process.. I go to my first consult this coming Tuesday (10/14). Thanks!

Rockbandster, I've been reading you negstive posts about the Realize band for several days. The surgeon you are quoting for the Lap-Band clinical trials, Dr. Jaime Ponce, will be MY surgeon when my band is placed. He was also a surgeon on the clinical trials for the Realize band and he places both kinds (2000+). My consult with him was yesterday, and I asked him specifically if there was a difference in effectveness between the two bands. He said the only difference is the website and I could choose either one. You have to be careful with statistics. As they say, figures don't lie, but liers figure.