loser4life

My doctor performed upper GI immediately following surgery to ensure proper placement before leaving hospital. Second scheduled upper GI was at one year post surgery. This was a few weeks ago. Unforetunately, the second upper GI identified a slip. My band was unfilled with the hope of tummy correcting itself. No real symptoms of slip. It took a long time for me to have some restriction - then as soon as I do - it's unfill due to slip. I am worried. Next appointment is 12/31/09 to find out next steps.

The fill process is different for everyone.... I was banded in November 2008 with 14cc band. I did not feel any restriction until my last fill (see fill history below). My next fill is scheduled 9/3/09 and I think I will just need a tweak and will be where I need to be. My intake is restricted but not too tight where it would be uncomfortable and sickly. Progress is slow - but progress is progress. So glad I got banded. Good luck all !!!

Everyone is different. I can only speak for myself and now at 10cc in a 14cc band I finally have restriction !! and am re-engergized !!

It sure does take patience!! I think my fill last week has me finally at where I want to be on restriction - and to the point I was thinking I would get to at the time I got started on the whole surgery effort !! I'm at 10cc in a 14cc band and took a long time to get here. Before the fill I could eat most anything. Now I am eating very small portion and stuffed. I had one incident that I think was a "PB". What needed to come up came up in one "burp". I think that must be the difference between PB and actually throwing up ... once and done is PB - repeatively in the same time frame is the other. (sorry to be gross). (need to add 1cc on 7/30/09 for total of 10cc in below tracking).

Glammaw - I have not yet reached my sweet spot. And I have absolutely no food item that gives me any trouble (yet) ! Next fill scheduled 7/30/09.

I also have not had any good restriction. Today's fill brings me up to 9cc in 14cc band. I hope this one does the trick!!

My first fill (3cc) was painless, no numbing agent. Went like a breeze. However, my second fill (2cc), no numbing agent, was a considerable amount of pain. Felt every move of the needle fishing around looking for the port. Took several minutes to find port. And burning sensation all the while as well I now have 5 cc in a 14cc band. Not complaining!! Just sharing that there was so much difference between fills. The doctor said it is due to port settling into place and scar tissue forming and nerve endings placing themselves as body changes occur.

I was so nervous for my first fill!! No numbing agent. The doctor described what he was doing as he was doing it (I closed my eyes as I did not want to watch). I absolutely did not feel ANYTHING - not even a little pinch.

My nutritionist very loudly says "Foe".

I am a Nov 18th Bander! One week of full liquid and two weeks of pureed. Tomorrow I begin the normal diet "that will last me the rest of my life". My first fill is scheduled for 12/31/2008. I eat between 4-6 oz of food per meal and no snacking inbetween. I do not feel hunger. Very happy with the band so far. No issues to speak of. I chew slow and follow the doctor/nutritionist orders. Good luck to all !!! :wink_smile:

Before surgery - Surgeon said to follow primary care directions on meds and crush or no crush. I also asked pharmacy for advice on what could be and could not be safely crushed. I had Lap Band Surgery on 11/18/08. Med's that I was on that could be crushed - I crushed for one week. Med's that are time release (wellbrutin) could NOT be crushed - could cause seizures if crushed. Swallowed them whole immediately after surgery. Two weeks out now and on mushies and I now swallow all med's whole (except take chewable Vitamin - because that is what I have - and chewable Calcium citrate - because that is what I have. Nutritionist said on calcium citrate to buy one month supply of chewable and after that whatever version I wanted). Just sharing the version I was told on med's.

Surgery date 11/18/08 Highest Weight Preop diet starting weight 300 Surgery weight (Your weight the day of surgery) 290 Current weight 279 Goal weight 150

I was banded on 11/18/08 and loving every minute of it. Just a comment. I told my boss what surgery I was going to be having. I chose to tell my co-workers and direct reports only that I was going to be out for surgery but not what surgery just that it was of a personal nature. When I shared the info during a team meeting just before going on temporary disability leave-my boss followed the announcement with a remark like " it's nothing serious - elective surgery - no big deal". That comment just didn't sit right with me. I answered - "well, whether it's elective or not is a matter of opinion". I've been battling the disease of obesity for all my life. It felt almost felt like the boss was saying "for breast cancer removing the tumor would be elective". The boss meant well. But the boss is not and has never had a weight issue and this was obvious. :biggrin:

I was banded on 11/18/08. My surgeon and nutritionists lap-band related diet is: pre-op 12 days of 1200 calories in any form. pre-op 2 days of full liquid (includes yogurt, Protein drinks). surgery day 1 day of clear liquids (water, popcycle). post-op 7 days of full liquid. post-op 14 days of pureed (ie: mushies). then on to regular food (healthy and low cal). I lost 10 lbs pre-op. Weight went up on surgery day and few days after. then have and have lost 5 more lbs post-op. Total of 15 lbs lost in November. 9 days post op and am not at all hungry. I do eat at mealtimes - but very little (ie: 2-4 oz) and am full.

My lap band surgery is tomorrow. Arrive at hospital at 8:00, surgery at 11:00 and home by around 4:00. amazing!

My surgery date is in two days on Tuesday Nov 18th !! My doctor/nutritionist's pre-surgery diet is 1200 calories a day of balanced nutritrion consumed any way for 12 days and then 2 days of 4 protein shakes and a 1/2 cup of other stuff for five servings per day (applesauce SF, pudding SF, yogurt SF, etc). I had 1/2 c malt-o-meal for breakfast - suprisingly it was great and reminded me of being a young girl .... and had me thinking of looking forward to moving toward the weight in lbs of that young girl !! :thumbup: I used "seattle sutton" (Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating) for the 12 days of 1200 calories. It was good, fresh, prepared food with little work or thought to follow and stick with. No hunger at all. I've lost 8 pounds in 12 days on it. I've ordered Unjury for protein shakes (choc, vanilla, strawberry). I've also purchased a "bullet" to prepare for the post-op mushies phase. I am SO excited! and I keep reading all I can on the board to learn from others experiences. Thanks to you all for posting :thumbup:

Thanks for the replies. I know I will sleep better under the anesthesia on surgery day next Tuesday knowing that golfing is still in my future !! love that golf ! :thumbup:cute outfits will be nice - and also not lifting all the extra weight getting in and out of cart after lapband.

Are there any avid golfers out there? My husband and I play two rounds of 18 holes both on Saturday and Sundays during the summer months -- will I still be able to do this after Lap band surgery? ( surgery scheduled 11/18/2008) :eek:

:smile2: My surgery date is Tuesday Nov 18th!!! My path to surgery date was : Went to the initial education class in July, 2008. Attended support group meeting. Had initial consult appointment. Attended two appointments for physch evaluation. Did research on what was needed for insurance. Completed six month diet with PCP where I had a bonus of already having existing notes of diet at some previous visits. Both my primary (Aetna with 6 month diet) and secondary (United HealthCare with five years med history) approved within days of request. Attended pre-surgery consult with doctor and nutritionist. Tested positive for H. Pylori and beginning to take the meds for 14 days (allergic to penicillin so have to take a special route). The pre-surgery diet to begin Nov 4th is 12 days of 1200 calories any way I choose. Then 2 days of primarily liquid and minimal food. Dr. wants to see 1-5 lbs lost during pre-surgery diet. Then will be surgery day!! Also, made the call to get paperwork to request Short Term Disability leave from work. Dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's. I'm so ready !!!