lapbandtalker

They are fine. Any potential damage happens after long term use....according to my doc. And many people 'could' use them long term and have no effects...just as a precaution bandsters shouldn't use them long term because they don't know the outcome.

A week later? Hmmm...I'd say yes, too. Inamed, makers of the Lapband system, have guidelines that say the first fill is 6 weeks after and then the next 4 weeks later. But, those are just guidelines. Any doctor can do his/her own thing. If I were you, I'd make the appointment for the 4 week mark. And don't worry about dieting right now. Enjoy your food and get prepared for restriction.

No, it never stopped me; however, that's where I felt the FATTEST. Hawaii, Hilton Head, New Orleans, Disney....you name it! I remember the vacation before my decision to band - Hawaii. I felt like a beached whale. Although it never stopped me from traveling, it did keep me in my hotel room alot. I didn't socialize like many do on vacation.

No problems with milk either.

It's been almost a year and I teeter between 137 and 142 pounds. Next year I hope to say It's been 2 years!

Hate it for you. Just remember there are many who wish all they had to pay was $5000. That's half of what I paid. Remember, this is an investment. And the payoff is never having to purchase another diet pill. Not ever having to purchase another diet plan. You can watch those Weight Watchers or NutriSystem commercials and NOT have the desire to purchase them. Over time, this saves a ton of money. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Applesauce. Anything plasma like - pudding, ice cream, etc.... comes back up. Don't understand that one.

Well, you have options. You can choose a provider who will file an insurance claim on your behalf so your out of pocket expense won't be so much.... or you can simply pay for it yourself. The first step is to contact your insurance company to see if the procedure is covered. There is a person at the doc's office who will go to bat for you when it comes to your insurance.

The band works with restriction. You get your first adjustment 6 weeks after surgery. (the doc has been trained and has all the guidelines so he should give you the recommended amount) Then 4 weeks later you'll see the doc again. Are you losing weight at all? If so, you won't need another adjustment. If not, or if you are having a hard time eating right, you would get another adjustment. [stop here- this was all I needed to get to my goal]. A few weeks later you'll see your doc again. Losing weight? You won't need another adjustment. Not losing - get another one. It keeps going like this until you get to a point where you are losing.

Your doctor is the best one to speak with; however, many of us are directed to drink Protein shakes.... and many of us are not. I wasn't. But I did spend a hundred bucks on this good tasting stuff. But you know, I didn't even drink it. Threw it away after a month. Hang in!

Nah, there's nothing you have to purchase. You will want to plan; however. Get your bills paid. Groceried gotten. Kids science projects completed. Favorite drinks, soups, and foods. These will come in handy when you have them in advance.

No, you are not doomed. The band itself isn't magic (although I think it is sometimes). During a time last year when I was sick - restriction really bad- I had to wait 4 days til an appointment for an unfill. I could have boo hoo'ed, but I just did what I had to do. And I found it...peanut m&ms. Crazy as it sounds but I lived off them for a few days. I guess 3 packs a day as I didn't binge or overeat....just had Breakfast lunch and dinner. So, it's okay. I have found the lapband system the weightloss system that doesn't require dieting, no avoiding certain foods. Just eat less and make better choices. But that doesn't mean you have to give up pie or Cookies....or cake. Just eat less.

You know, any patient CAN figure out a way to cause weight gain. So, he is right in a way. You can figure out how to gain weight if you want to. I'd like to keep an eye on this thread to see if anyone has the answer to '5 years' or so. Great post!

Why does no one understand? They aren't supposed to, really. If you think about it, it's difficult understanding something that's foreign to you. And WLS is foreign to many, especially the older generation. They just WORKED more and kept off the weight. (that's what I was told many, many...many times) Hang in and you do this for you....no one else. Have their support - great! If not, keep on going.

Rest assured you are not the first poster to say this....and you won't be the last. Just don't cheat anymore and tell your doc. Chances are everything will be fine.

Hang in there! I know you wish you were one of those who had the procedure and was up an at 'em the next day. But allow yourself this time to heal. As you know by others, the pain will pass and then it will be time to start losing weight. Mt. Dew is something I haven't been able to give up. I go a few days then BOOM the headaches come. It's a lifelong goal to give up soda. Gosh, losing weight was easier than giving up soda. That's a true addiction, huh? Keep us posted on your progress and write back when the pain subsides!

I've had this happen from time to time. Remember, I've not ever felt a hunger pain before. It's a welcome sensation. But in the middle of the night I wake up because of it sometimes. I can't eat things like chicken salad, Jello, or crackers. I don't know why...just when I lay back down it makes me feel stuck. What I have found to work for me is about a half cup of Cereal. Fruity Pebbles works for me because they are so tiny. The milk makes it so smooth and I don't have any acid reflux or heartburn.

Wow, I went to Tijuana and with everything combined from airfare/taxi/banding/meds - everything including all the fills I needed to get to goal AND unfill to stop loosing... I spent less than $10,000. If you get a good fill doc, one who goes by Inamed's guidelines...you'll get restriction in no time.

Congrats! Remember what you did (ate/speed/chewing/etc.) when you had that episode. Learn from this. I slime from time to time and it helps me modify things. Jim, talk with your doctor and see if you should get another fill. If you are losing weight, you should be just fine with what you have. But talk to your doctor. Keep us posted on your progress!

Let's see.... if I were in your shoes this would be where I would be today. Surgery Sept 6 1st fill October 18 2nd fill November 15 1st pound lost November 20th. Wait!!!! You are ahead of me as you've lost 50 some pounds already. I wanted to put it this way so you can have some perspective. I was banded then 1st fill 6 weeks later, then second fill 4 weeks after that. That's when I got restriction and began to lose weight - slowly. So, take a deep breath and exhale.....know that your first pound of weightloss is supposed to come the week you get restriction. Don't have restriction? Keep going for fills until you do. And fooey on the pills. You eat like you should until you get the lapband system kicking in - restriction. Good luck and hang in! Weightloss will come!

Getting someone else to pay for the band is often a discouraging process. Many have smooth sailing while others feel like they are jumping through flaming hoops over and over. Keep this between your doctor and you. Your hubby and others are there for support ONLY. Let your doctor guide you through the process. If, and that's an if, you hit a brick wall and get a 'no' from your insurance, appeal it. But remember, you can always select a doctor on your own and just find some way to pay for it yourself. Many of us have to do that. We wouldn't let an insurance company (or lack thereof) stop us. Hang in and hang on! Keep us posted on how things are going for you in this process.

By the time I got banded, I was 30. (wish I would have just done it earlier - could have saved myself alot of heartache). My results are I'm a size 6 and holding for 10 months. I am 3 pounds lighter today and will just eat a little more today and tomorrow. On the flip side, sometimes I go up a few pounds and just skip dessert or something. My doc is happy because a fluctuation of +/- 3 pounds is perfect for maintenance....he says my body has gotten used to the weight and this will become my new weight. If, and that's an IF...I can keep my new lifestyle and not backslide....I may not ever need another adjustment. But it's nice knowing the band is always there just in case. Coke? (as I'm sipping on Mt. Dew...) yes. I can. Some are able to give up sodapop altogether. I wish I were one of them. But for now, at this point in my life- dealing with my mother passing last month, my 18 year old moving out last week, and my 17 year old leaving for boot camp 3 weeks ago, with the move..... you know - my doc says have all the soda I want! hahahah. He has advised to watch it and that 'best situation' would be to not make bad choices on foods...but geesh....just maintaining is a big thing right now. Nah, you'll do fine. I hope your relationship with food changes like mine. I used to eat out daily. Now it's just once a week. Turning my desire for food to my my home and family makes me want to just say 'let's have dinner at my home'...and try a new dish. Some days it seems I can eat alot...while others, I just don't want it. This is a process and as you can see by the forums, everyone is different and what works for one, doesn't for another. Good luck!

Mine was $8,000 and included no fills. I got two fills costing a total of $500.00 and that's with fluro. One unfill at $199. So, total cost of the band system for me was less than $10,000.

My doc just put me on liquids for 3 days prior to surgery. After was liquids, softs, solids as I could tolerate - at my own pace. My doc already knew I wasn't successful at dieting (thus why I was there getting the band) so I didn't have any special diets to do. Just reduce the amount of food I eat and learn to make better choices. Well, it worked!

Hi Jen. Don't worry as it's okay to be addicted to the scales. Time will continue on and you will lose the weight. It's perhaps BEST to not be, but in the long run it's not going to hurt you. I weighed myself every day for a year. And now it's 2-3 times a week. And just think, in the future it will be only once a week. Hang in!