Elisabethsew

For some people it is instant but for others, it can take 1-2 weeks. Many people here also shared that they did not feel restriction until after a 2nd fill or more. So, it seems to be quite variable as to when patients finally find their "optimal level" of restriction. You'll learn a lot more as you read through the posts.

I'm on Long Island and have been banded since 3/30. My surgeon waits a full 8 weeks before giving a first fill so I got that a week ago. For some reason, it can take 1-2 weeks before a restriction "kicks-in" and you become aware of the band. I only had 1 cc put in and have a follow-up appointment on July 6. It appears I will need a second fill at that time. It's natural to be nervous about the surgery but I'm sure you'll do fine. It can be frustrating waiting for the surgery and then waiting for a fill and then waiting for the feeling of restriction to occur but eventually, it all works out. Unlike other forms of weight loss surgery, banding requires a lot more patience. :-)

I was brought up in the Catholic religion and have come to believe that "God helps those who help themselves and others." Yup, I added the last two words. Richness is dependent on where one is in life, what one wants out of life, and changes over time. When I was younger I wanted to make lots of money so that I could do X,Y and Z. Now, my focus is on getting to a healthy weight so that I can make X, Y, and Z happen even if those things don't happen to be what they were 20 years ago. I also believe in the richness of giving to others who are less fortunate. Giving does not have to mean money. It can be spending time with an elderly person in a Nursing home, tutoring a child for free, babysitting for free so a stressed couple can get away for a few hours, etc. As for the discussions on religious communities and politics, churches are like all other organizations. Politics is simply a fact of life when people come together in an organized community.

Can you swollow water? Can you tolerate a meal? Do you have regurgitation in the middle of the night? Do you have esophageal burning? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, your band might be too tight. The dangers of the band being too tight include risk of erosion, slippage due to vomiting, malnutrition due to poor caloric intake, dehydration, etc.

Congratulations on your good news!

It is my understanding from reading all the posts that, while weight loss might be a little slower, MANY people with lower BMI's do lose with the band. Of course, you need to make the band work for you and follow the dietary and exercise guidelines.

Denise, Congratulations of the weight loss. I'm definitely a volume eater and portion control is my biggest problem. Cookies, ice-cream, candy, fast food, etc., don't tempt me at all and that's why lapband was offered as the best choice for me. Despite your being a sweets lover, it appears you have been successful is making the band work for you.

You make an excellent point about dysmotility, Sue. Evaluating for this condition is especially important for those who are diabetic. I have a friend who has not had WLS but suffers terribly from dysmotility secondary to diabetes. She's tried acid blockers, antibiotics, and reglan and is now being considered for a gastric pacemaker.

It's great to hear you're on the mend and feeling better. Try and not push yourself too hard and continue to heal.

Thanks for the reply, Dody. I think you misread what I wrote. Plavix is the drug given to prevent platelet aggregation. PAXIL is the drug given for anxiety/panic attacks. The names are quite similar so it's easy to make a mistake.

If you're hungry and feeling weak, call your MD. Most of the time they allow you increase your dietary intake by moving to a soft diet.

Some of the things I have found to satisfy the sweet callings include: Sugar Free (SF), Fat Free (FF) jello pudding (60 cal) Edys SF frozen yogurt (100 cals in 4 oz) 100 calories snack packs Fresh Fruit cut up into bite size pieces 6-8 Frozen grapes Crystal lite fruit punch I'm sure others will have suggestions on how they handle sweet cravings as well.

Althought the surgical approach was via laparoscopy, the fact is you had major surgery that resulted in a lot of manipulation of internal organs. The body requires 6 weeks to heal and, during that time, you can expect to feel and look distended. As the sutures heal around the band and port, you'll look and feel better but it's gradual.

My surgeon told me that you should feel restriction when you eat a normal meal. Of course, we must remember that "normal" is what is recommended by the dietician and NOT by an obese person's standards. From what you're describing, it sounds like you have perfect restriction and another fill might actually be painful. Have you tried increasing your exercise to kick start the weight loss? Have you considered the fact that you might not be eating enough calories in a day to promote weight loss?

My surgeon does not require a caffeine state but he's dead set against carbonated drinks. Because I have end stage arthritis in my knee and require an eventual joint replacement, I was allowed to stay on Aleve twice a day as long as a take Nexium. I do this and have NO problems.

Welcome!!!

When was the last time your mother had a general check-up? She should have her bloodwork done and evaluated as well as hormone levels, etc. Panic attacks usually require a prescribed medication such as Paxil under the direction of a therapist, psychologist, etc. Does your Mom have ties to her church? If so, she might benefit from talking with her spiritual advisor. Perhaps you and your brothers and father could come up with a plan to ease her stress by doing simple things like the laundry one day, grocery shopping, working in the garden with her, etc.

Yes, Sunta, you are absolutely correct.

Thank you all for the nice comments. The majority of our bariatric patients do quite well with the surgery but, as Sarah pointed out, general anesthesia and obesity are not something to be taken lightly. It's impossible to predict who will have complications or why a seemingly healthy patient does worse than one with co-morbidities.

The maximum fill in a 10 cc band is 4 cc's. The surgeon can "over-full" the band but is supposed to notify the band company if this action is taken. If you feel enough restriction at present, it would make sense to hold off on another fill until really needed.

I was banded the day before you and had my first fill last Thursday. How many calories are you eating? I am taking in the suggested 1200 calories a day and eat 4-6 ounces at a time. Check with your MD or dietician about calorie requirements and food volume.

The statistics are averages that the band companies compile. Some surgeries promote weight loss through something called malabsorption syndrome. This is not the case with the band so weight loss is typically 1-2 pounds a week once you get past the first few post-op weeks. Make sure you explore all the surgeries available to you and ask your MD lots of questions.

Hi Alex, The surgeon who did the procedure has done approximately 1500 procedures and no etiology (reason) could be found as to why this patient developed sepsis. It was speculated that he might have been ill before the surgery but the patient does not remember feeling sick. With any patient who develops sepsis and has to go back to the OR (regardless of type of surgery), the surgeons elect to do an open procedure and leave the incision open with a clear dressing called biofilm. Anytime the patient spikes a white blood cell count with a shift or becomes febrile, they take the patient back to the OR for a sterile "wash-out" of the abdomen. The complication rate of RNY patients is greater than banded patients where I work and it was quite surprising to me that this otherwise healthy man nearly lost his life several times.

Thank you for sharing your story and I'm very glad that all went well the second time around. Make sure you get in the required protein and drink lots of water.

I did not get a fill for a full 8 weeks. During that time I managed to maintain my loss but did not lose any additional weight. So far, the fill I got last Thursday has not resulted in any restriction.