Nanny2Trey

I have flown several very long flights since being banded and never had a problem. Did not have any amount of unfill prior and was never told not to eat for any period of time before flying. HTH Linda

I have flown to Europe twice since I was banded and had absolutely no problems and did not do liquids. I have also flown domestic twice with no issues. Linda Banded 6/5/06

What is a Protein bullet? Is it a pill form of protein I hope because I have yet to make anything and add protein to it and be able to eat or drink it. I can't stand any form of Protein powder in my food or drink. Linda

I have something like that, too. It's always the first food of the day but it's not every day. I don't really get bumps but a very uncomfortable feeling in the roof of my mouth. Very hard to describe. Doesn't happen any other time just with first food of the day. Linda

I would be interested to note if the banded patients in the study were with adjustable lap bands. If not then eventually you might lose restriction. I know that a friend of mine had lap band six years ago and she did not have access to the adjustable band at that time. Being able to adjust would make a difference I would think. Linda

Since surgery 6/5/06 I have lost 105 pounds. In some ways it was sooo hard and yet in some ways so easy. I can't believe it's been over a year now. I have worked very hard to lose the weight (a lot of exercising) and I am feeling great. Sorry, but I haven't figured out how to do the fancy things at the bottom of my message. Whatever they are called. Linda Surgery 6/5/06 294 then 188.6 today Goal 155 whenever I get there

I am able to eat any types of food. Any meats, bread, Pasta, pizza. I just don't eat a million calories of it a day like I used to. I know I exaggerated a little. I have lost 100 lbs in my first year. What I have found is that everyone is different. I just take small bites and chew well. I have had some pbs but not routinely. HTH. Linda

HI, I'm from Springfield. I know there are a lot of people around here having lap band surgery but this board for Springfield doesn't see much action. I had surgery 6/5/06. Dr. Edwards is my doctor. I'm right around the corner from my bandiversary. I'm sure glad it's not last year at this time as I was a basket case of nerves. I'm 57 and have lived in Springfield for over 40 years. I am a Registered Nurse at St. John's. I attended one of the support sessions several months ago. I'm not good about going back to the hospital after I get home in the afternoon. I have had 4 fills and have lost 100 pounds. I'm planning to get another fill 6/14. That will be my final one that was included in the original price. Feel free to email me if you would like. LHobbs@mchsi.com. Linda

Sorry to not get back to you. I lost the thread. Yes, I have the 4cc band. Have you had another fill yet? I am getting another one next week. My fill costs were included in the cost of surgery for one year and my year is up in June so I wanted to get one last fill before I have to start paying again. Linda

Go ahead and get a fill. That's what they are for. Check with your doctor but it sounds like you think you are too close to being totally full. I had that fear also. My doctor says, as do many other doctors , that you can put more than 4cc in the band. I am in the Medical profession and I believe that to be true. Probably up to 6cc or more. HTH Linda Banded 6/5/06 -95 to date 4 fills Currently at 4.6cc

You really aren't expected to make much weight loss progress before you get a fill. I know some people do, but I didn't. I have been banded since June 5 and have lost 90 pounds. I didn't really start losing until after my first fill so, see it can be done. I'm not going to lie to you, though. I have been exercising faithfully since two weeks after my surgery. Started off doing 10 minutes on the treadmill and I am now up to 60 minutes 6 days a week and 15 minutes of upper body weights. It does take work, for me anyway, but the work has paid off and I have had the energy and willingness to do the work when I do see results. Hang in there and don't compare yourself to others. Find what works for you. Linda

I have good restriction (4fills). Have been banded 9 months , lost 90 pounds. I haven't found any food that I can't eat if I choose to. I don't drink pop anymore and amazingly I don't miss it very much. I have an occasional PB. I love steak and have had no trouble with any types of steak, chicken, bread, vegetables raw or cooked, any kind of fruit. I have tried it all. I just don't eat anywhere near as much as I used to. HTH Linda Banded 06/05/06 B294C204G150

I don't consider my doctor to be overly aggressive. I have had good weight loss avg 2.4 pounds a week. I don't PB or slime, and I don't throw up. There really isn't any type of food that I can't eat. Each patient has to be individualized. He fills according to each patient's needs. I know several of his patients and we are all different and have different amounts of fill and different numbers of fills. The bottom line is we are using the band in the way that works best for us. If I had gotten .5 fills I would have never made the progress I have. Someone else would probably not be able to eat a bite with the fills I have had. Linda

I just had a fill on 1/11/07 and it was my 4th fill. I now have 4.6cc in my 4cc band. I don't know why they call it 4ccs. I asked how much more I could have before I coudn't have anymore and I was told that they could put in twice as much as as I have now which would be over 9ccs. I am a nurse and I do know that in catheters they say the inflatable bulb is 5ccs but you can put way more than that in. HTH. Linda OR 6/5/06 294 lbs 4 fills -77 lbs

Absolutely. The first two weeks were awful for me. If I could have undone it without having surgery I would have. I had major problems with my BP dropping and I do mean dropping 60/40 (probably related to anesthesia meds) and I normally have high BP. I had massive bruising on my entire huge abdomen. My doctor said he hadn't ever seen anything like it. I was so depressed and so weak. All I did was cry. Could not stand Protein drinks. I did move on to small amounts of other things. It has been 7 months now and I have felt much better after the first two weeks. Have lost 75 pounds and exercise an hour a day 6 days a week. Strange thing though, my BP has never gone back to what it was. Have decreased my BP meds by half and am staying in the 120/70 range. I would say it's due to weight loss, but not totally because it was this way after surgery before I even lost. Hang in there. Things do get much better. Sorry to ramble on. Linda Surgery 6/5/06 294 Now 219

Sorry to hear about your problems. I am an emotional eater, also. Actually, I'm just a big eater. Always have been. We always ate a lot and both my mom and I were good cooks when I was growing up. That sounds a little strange as we are still good cooks. I haven't lost any since the week before Christmas, but I'm trying not to be too concerned about it yet. I don't really think I need another fill at this time. Aren't grandchildren just grand? I have 5. Two of them are step grandchildren. It seemed like we weren't ever going to have any and then both our children got pregnant at the same time (really I guess I should say our daughter and our son's wife. ) Our son married a woman who had two children so we went from none to 4 all in one year. Then our son and his wife had another baby 8 months ago. I have learned to be careful what I hope for. Boy did I get a lot of blessings fast. Happy New Year and Happy losing. Linda

Earlene, Hi, I haven't been on in quite some time. I had the band 6/5/06 and have lost 74 pounds. I have had 3 fills and still don't feel extremely restricted. i can still eat any type of food without any problems I just don't eat as much of it as I used to. I started off losing 3-4 pounds a week and am now averaging 2 lbs a week. I also walk on the treadmill for an hour a day so I have put in quite a bit of work along with the band. Don't get discouraged about not feeling a lot of restriction. It still works. I read on here about people who are so tight that they can't eat anything. It doesn't seem like they lose weight any faster. I would prefer to be a little more normal whatever normal is. I did gain 2 pounds over Christmas, but I have alread lost those two pounds. However, I didn't lose any more than that. I'm not complaining because normally I would gain 15-20 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. Dr. Edwards did my surgery, too. He is great. I am older also so I think that may make things a little slower. (57) Happy New Year to all. Linda

HI! Welcome to the board. There doesn't ever seem to be much activity on any Springfield posts. I know there have been quite a few banders in Springfield. Just don't come here often. I was banded 6/5/06. Dr. Edwards did my surgery. I have lost 58 pounds. About 70 to go. I have had 3 fills so far. Just got back from a two week cruise and didn't gain any weight. That is a victory. I usually gain about 10-15 pounds. Losing would have been amazing, but I am happy with just not gaining. Are you scheduled yet? Who is doing your surgery? Good to talk to you. Linda

I'm a nurse. Some area of OB for the last 33 years. I was banded on 6/5/06. Started at 294 and am now down to 240. I have had 3 fills. Linda

Sounds like a silly question but it is a serious one. I just had my 3rd fill and they filled my 4cc band to 4cc. I asked if that meant I wouldn't be able to get any more the Dr (and I trust him very much) said that a 4cc can take more than 4cc. Anyone ever hear this or have any experience or info on this? Thanks Linda Banded 6/5/06 -45 pounds ps I don't know how to do one of those fancy scrollers at the bottom.

Thanks for letting me know your experience. Do you feel restriction now? I still don't think I'm particularly restricted. I can eat anything including bread without a problem and I never feel completely full. I just stop. Maybe I don't know what I'm trying to feel. I am losing well but it just doesn't seem like what was described to me. I don't have to eat small bites. Maybe I just need to be thankful and stop wondering about all the things I was told prior to surgery. It seems like most of the preop teaching and classes were not right in my case. Linda -49 lbs 95 to go Banded 6/5/06

Foodstampchamp, I so agree. Makes no sense to have a 4cc band yet it holds 5cc. I'm just worried that 5cc won't be enough as I now have 4 and still can't say I have major restriction. I usually stop eating because I think I should not because my band says I have to. I guess I didn't understand the works of the band as well as I thought I did. I thought I would eat a few bites of each of my meal items and I would feel full and stop. I stop but I know I could eat a lot more. Guess I have a few kinks to work out. I guess what I am doing is working because I have lost 47 pounds now but it just isn't working the way I had anticipated. Thanks for everyone's input. PS, I would love to know how to make those banners at the bottom of everyone's messages. Linda

Donna B, I'm still 100 pounds from my goal. So, I wonder what will happen to my restriction as I lose more weight. I understand that it gets looser as you lose and I don't have much wiggle room for more fills. Of course, I must always find something to worry about. Ha! Linda

Thanks for responding. Yes, they are getting the fill in. I watch it on fluoro while it's being done and my last fill was all still there so no leaks. I probably have an extra large stomach and I know I have an extra large appetite. Ha! Linda

I was banded on 6/5/06 in Springfield, MO. I have been lurking but only posted a couple of times. Sorry to be so slow getting on the band wagon. It's been interesting reading about everyone. I have had two fills and I am seriously considering another this week. I have had one done by the Nurse Practicioner and one by the Dr. They were both excellent so that was a great relief. I'm not sure how much fill I have. The nurse told me but the Dr. did the last fill and he didn't say and I forgot to ask. Anyway, hello to all. Linda (No fancy work yeat) 294 preband 5'5" 250 now