ancasterphoenix

I've been banded 5 1/2 years and have lost and kept off 180 lbs. I was and still am a chocoholic! I was very careful to rarely if ever have chocolate or any sweets or cookies, cake, etc. for the first year. (I lost 205 lbs, from 407 at banding to 202 lbs, in the first 13 months.) But once at goal, I have not denied myself the odd chocolate bar or truffle. The band is not meant to be a punishment or a straightjacket. Non-banded slim folks sometimes have a little treat, but they then eat less the next day. The trick is to make it an occasional treat (maybe once a week), and to have just a modest amount. Do not stockpile this stuff at home -- buy a little bit of the best quality expensive dark chocolate available, even if the jumbo size average quality box is the "better deal". If you stop losing or even regain, then cut out all sweets until you're back on track. I do suggest that for teh first year when you're in the prime active weight period, that you try to manage without any such goodies at all. But if that's too hard, then just stick to very occasional treats in tiny quantities. Good luck, Peter (in Canada)

Priscilla, I think you may be confusing the words "abdominoplasty" and "panniculectomy". An abdominoplasty IS a tummy tuck: two words for the same procedure. But if only the loose apron of skin is removed, and no abdominal muscles are tightened, then this much simpler and cheaper procedure is referred to as a panniculectomy. Peter Dr. Patrick Yau, Sept. 10/03, Swedish band 407/225/210 Dr. Tim Sproule, Apr. 7/05, Beltline Lipectomy Dr. Yau, Apr. 7/05, Port Relocation Dr. Sproule, Dec. 1/05, Revision to Beltline Lipectomy Dr. Allan Lossing, May 15/06, Varicose Vein Stripping Dr. Sproule, July 13/06, Bilateral Medial Thigh Lifts

Hi Heather, I agree it's odd and confusing to have this old thread restarted now. Not that it matters any more, but do you know that Dr. Joffe was working at CIBO, or is that more of a logical assumption? I know that his new office was located on the 5th floor of the same building where CIBO is housed on the 3rd floor, but his name was never included on CIBO's website. Is it your impression he was placing bands there on his own, or assisting another surgeon to do so? As I say, now that he's lost his licence it makes no difference, but I am curious. -- Peter.

Here are the various verb forms for "lose": - "I am losing weight" (present tense) - "I lost weight" (past tense) - "I will lose weight" (future tense) Note that NONE of these spellings has two o's, just one! The word "loose" means the opposite of "tight". For example, "Even though my band has been loose for the past few months, I still have lost weight". Another word one often sees being misused is "weight". Your "weight" is a number, while the word "weigh" is a verb. So, do not write that "I weight 180 pounds". But you could write, "I weighed myself and was happy to find that my weight is now 180 pounds." Hope that helps, Professor Peter.

I had my tonsils out in June 2004, at age 43 if you can believe that, about nine months after I was banded. I did not want a defill, since I was losing weight well and was concerned about unnecessariily messing with my fill level. My band surgeon saw no need for a defill, and said I can always come in for one the day after surgery if I am unable to eat or take pills. I had NO problems with my band even though it was left alone prior to the tonsillectomy. (My fill level then was 5 cc's in a 9-cc Swedish band, which is now called the Reliance band.) I DID have major bleeding problems from the incision site, and had to go back to the hospital by ambulance and spend a night in the E.R. That had nothing to do with my band, but it does show you that even with post-op problems, it may not be necessary to get a defill. Discuss this with both your ENT and your band surgeon/fill person. -- Peter.

Hi Clempier, Just curious: what is a "LAP-BAND® re-route"? I've been banded 5 years and that's a new term to me. Is this just a new name for repositioning an existing Lap-Band due to a slip? Or is this some variation of the basic Lap-Band? Thanks, Peter.

I've been banded 5 years and at goal for 4, and during this time, I have used the sauna a few dozen times without any problems. I also go after my weight workouts at the gym. Your band is deep inside the body wrapped around the top part of the stomach just below the esophagus, and before you could actually "heat it up" in the sauna, you'd have been in that sauna so long that you'd have already fainted. So, if your heart's in good shape, enjoy the sauna, but be careful to not stay too long! Also, avoid a cold shower right after! I did this once and fainted, so now, I start with a warm shower and then gradually make it colder. Peter in Canada.