orcidgrl

Your doctor sounds like mine...he does both surgerie but definately prefers the bypass, especially for people who have over 100lbs to loose. I asked him why, and he said that he thinks that the Bypass is almost foolproof...for loosing weight, however with the Lapband, you have to rely on the patient to follow the rules, and work hard at it. That was his personal opinion, and when he saw that I was decided to go the Lapband route, he was okay with it. But when I'm in the waiting room waiting for a fill, I see all these patients go in not sure about which procedure they should get, and they always come out decided on the bypass! I knew what I wanted before I even contacted him. In north america, doctors still belive in the myth that the patients loose more on the bypass than with a Lapband...which we all know is false...recent statistics have proven that the Lapband patients catch up with the bypass patients...we just get there slower. even though my surgeon had this attitude, I decided to go with him anyways, because he is the best Lapband surgeon in my area...which is what mattered most to me. But here in Quebec, we don't have alot or surgeons that do the Lapband anyways. good luck!

I've been doing OK...yet lately I have started eating alot more, and being more hungry. I have a 2nd fill appointment scheduled for this monday, and am looking forward to seeing if I have the same amount in as they put in (no leak?) I keep getting scared that I will either spring a leak or stretch my pouch! Or maybe I just lost some excess fat around my stomach. I have noticed that even though I don't loose on the scale, my body keeps shrinking...which is a good thing. Ive also been seeing a therapist to help with work out my "head hunger" issues. Which is difficult but helping. I still have a long road ahead of me, but I'm chugging (sp?) along. 1st fill: 9 march 09 - 5ml (out of a 11 ml band) 2nd fill: 6 april 09 - ??

Some pills I can swallow easily, like the Tylenol, but only 1 at a time. some pills i can't...these are very very bitter, so I mix them with Jam or Peanut Butter...for me that worked the best. Especially if it's sour jam, like sour cherries or blackberries. I buy the "no sugar added" kind. Sometimes you still can taste the pill, but it's a small price to pay. the most annoying thing though was to crush the pills, so I went to the pharmacy and bought a pill crusher, which does it easier that with 2 spoons and is alot less messier. I mix the jam right in there once it's crushed.

it sounds alot like Post-operative gas pain to me. I had the same thing. The shoulder pain lasted 1-2 weeks, the back pain lasted 1.5 months and was horrible...when it hit me, I had to sit down no matter where I was. It disseappeared after that. There is nothing you can do about it except drink Water and walk. I took alot of children's chewalbe tylenol which helped with the pain. It doesn't feel like normal gas pain, because the gas isn't in your stomach and intestines, it's in your general abdomen cavity, and has no way to escape except though your skin and blood. I found it got worse as the day went by and not long after eating, probably because the eating caused normal gas, which caused pressure in my abdomen. It was horrible, but it did go away! Hang in there!

is it like a long winded burp? what happens when you drink Water or eat? sometimes I get weird sounds coming from my "bottom" stomac when i'm hungry...the sounds are alot different that when my "upper" pouch growls. please let us know what the doctor says when/if you find out.

Hi! I got banded on January 6th, 2009. I still haven't had a fill and will only get getting on on March 9th. However, I have just returned from a 1 week trip to Walt Disney World, and although I have not lost any weight, I have not gained any either....we walked sooo much...at least 3-5 miles every day, which is alot for me. And we were on the Deluxe dining plan (I had already paid for it 1 year ago!). We ate alot...but since we walked so much, there was no damage done. There were plenty of choices to eat for bandsters. They also have alot of low calory food options, and can even make special meals if you have specific requirement. I have also read that if you show them your Lapband card, they will allow you to eat from the kid's menu if you want.

I've been banded on the 6th...did 2 weeks of liquids and am finishing my 2 weeks of mushies...this last week, I have been progressing slowly to more hardcore mushies...brushetta salad, finely chopped chicken salad, meatloaf, chicken à la king (without the pasta), bolognese spaghetti sauce, and tonight I had shrimp cocktail (very little shrimp chewed to hell!) I'm presently eating 1 cup of feel per meal, and not very hungry between meals. No food has gotten stuck, but if I dont concentrate and forget to chew enough, it hurts a little. For these who are bored of the same things, there are a few of the things I ate on my 1st week of mushies: egg salad, salmon salad, spaghetti meat sauce (no pasta), soft scrambled eggs with melted cheese, cottage cheese mixed with either berry jam or pesto, ricotta cheese mixed with jam or apple sauce, homemade fat free cheesecake without any crust, and many many Gerber's baby food jars, for 8 to 12 month babies.

AngelWhisper, I was banded the same day as you, and I totally agree...I was not ready for that amount of pain...until I discovered that a heating pad on my belly would really ease it enough to be able to sleep. thanks gawd for this forum, it really helped calm me down, from all these weird things that were happening to me. I'm feeling much better today, and yesterday was the first day I didn't take any tylenor whatsoever. I still can't wear a bra though!

can you tell us what is on your list? Im getting banded on January 6th, and my doctor did not have a list for me...just told me to bring my personal effects! I bought liquid tylenor, Gas X, Protein powder and liquid Meal Replacements...is there anything else I will need besides the basics, pj's, toothbrush, slippers?

Im getting banded on January 6th, 2009, and have already started my liquid Pre-op diet on December 23rd....boy has it been hard to go though Xmas without real food, however I have already lost 7.2 pounds on my Optifast...so it's keeping me motivated! Orcidgrl from Ottawa, Canada

Hi! my name is Pascale, and I am getting ready for my banding surgery that will happen on January 6th 2009. Im having my surgery done in Montreal by Doctor Christou. Im very happy to have found this site for support.:cursing: