amberd910

-You will have swelling in your stomach after surgery. Even though you will be down some weight I was not able to fit into jeans for about 1 month after surgery because my stomach was swollen. -You probably will be constipated and very gassy after surgery for a few days. You wont having much intake of water/liquids/etc and your incisions will be sore so it will be hard to push out your gas. Plan on walking to help with this.

I just dont stay full for long off of protein. I love chicken and can eat it all the time, same with fresh turkey meat from the deli, but they dont keep me full for long. I know we are "supposed" to stay away from carbs, but if I throw in a med sized potatoe and have that I am full, and for much much much longer. I tried talking to the dr about this and he was pretty ticked at me for eating carbs and yelled at me to talk to the nutritionist. I dont like talking to her since she is a "quack" and has no clue about anything! Insurance doesnt cover private visits with her either. I just dont like being yelled at by the dr, it's not like it's a Double Cheeseburger!

I had my first fill 4 1/2 weeks post-op. My dr is pretty aggressive with fills......

Sounds like acid reflux to me. I had the same symptoms when I forgot to take my reflux meds and my band was too tight. I got a little (.5 cc) removed and back on my meds and I feel 100% better

Don't forget most chain restaurants you can order food to go and they dont know if you are taking the food home for yourself or a child (ie Chilis, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday, etc). Also, if I were ever denied using the card, I would simply get up and leave and not give them my business at all. I will go someplace else that will allow me to use it. Most likely you are with someone when you eat out who will order normal portions so they are loosing their business as well. Most managers are understanding. If the waiter/waitress gives you a hard time, ask for the manger. HTH

If you go to the LapBand website you can find info on dr's in your area or you can call LapBand directly and they can tell you certified dr's. I see Dr. Benbrahiem out of Midstate. He also does to go Wallingford. He is a good dr but he doesnt take any crap. It's his way or no way. His rules or none. You have to be in his program for a MIN of 6 months, most of the time thats with any of the dr's because that is for insurance reasons. My surgery was scheduled in November and was canceled because insurance denied it and the appeal days before surgery. Talk about being depressed and gaining weight! My insurance changed and it was approved and I had surgery in December, 2 days before Xmas. I was miserable for Xmas but it is a life long changing event. Just remember to KEEP YOUR HEAD UP! I went into Dr. Ben's program last June (June 08) and expected to have surgery right away but that is not the case. There are requrements that must be met to make sure you are ready and serious. As Dr. Ben says, you didnt become obese overnight so dont expect the weight to come off overnight either. If you want, you can PM me. I'd be glad to talk. Remember, try and stay positve. It's easier said then done, thats for sure, but trust me, it pays off in the long run.

I sure did because it allows you to order smaller sized portions at restaurants. There is a clause on it that states this person cannot eat large quanitites of food and please allow them to order smaller portions. It works great at restaurants! I can now order off the kid's menu at restaurants. At Chilis they have a great grilled chicken on the kid's menu and it's 1/2 the price of regular portion and it's still a really big piece! But it's a really good card to have anyways becuase if you are ever in an emergency situation it tells the emergency folks that you have this device. It has your name, the size of the band, surgery date, dr's name & # Just thought I would share in case everyone didnt know about the patient ID card from Lap Band

I called the dr's office today after lunch time since I knew on Friday's he only works 1/2 days and I didnt want to be SOL. So his assistant was like he wants you to come in immediaetly. So I took my lunch break at work and went in and I was his first patient (yay) so I was in and out in 5 mins. He put the syringe in my stomach and let it do the work and 1 cc came out, which is what he put in yesterday. He said bascially that tells him it was over filled. He said it is very dangerous to have it over filled. It can endanger me and my health and also cause harm to the band. So he took out .5 cc since he put in 1 cc yesterday. So I sat up and immediately I felt the difference. I didnt even realize it but I was having trouble swallowing my own spit! So I drank my 2 "shots" of water and they actully went down and no burning or burping feeling unlike all day today. So I feel a zillion times better. So I never want to be overfilled again. That was awful pain. So now I know and hopefully now I am in the "Green Zone" since before I was too loose and then too tight so where else can I be but just right?

There are natural sweetners in it

Not sure if anyone tried these yet, I think there are 4 flavors. I really enjoy the Acai-Blueberry-Pomegranate - and for the whole bottle there are 20 calaroies. And it has 250% of my vitamin C and 20% of the daily Vitamin B that my dr wants me to take :redface: So thats even better It's a nice change to plain ol' water or crystal light, etc.......

Thanks! I used to do a Protein Shake in the morning and have a banana for a mid-morning snack but I got bored of those after 5 months, lol. So maybe that is what I will try again tomorrow and see how it goes. My dr says normal foods after a fill are fine. He says just listen to your body. He was only going to do 1/2 cc in my last fill but did a full cc and told me yesterday that if I started "choking" to call him and get back down there before 4 :redface: Thank god I didnt choke, LOL

I think it is, but it's so hard to tell if I am just not chewing well enough. I had my 4th fill yesterday. He added 1 cc, so I am up to 9cc in a 14 cc band. I was ready for a fill becuase I was hungry after 2 hours and not eating like I should which was my sign I was ready. So, now, when I eat, I am in pain! Maybe I am not chewing well enough? I had turkey and cheese for dinner last night and did ok with that. But for breakfast I tried Special K cereal and couldnt get but a few bites down because I was uncomfortable (maybe the milk going down with the cereal)? Also, right now, I have been trying for a 1/2 hr to eat an apple for a morning snack and thats bothering me and I never had problems with apples before. But I was still able eat my popcorn for a snack last night with no problems. Anyone have any insight?

I just knew it was going to happen with this fill. I got my third fill yesterday and I finally feel restriction. So today I am chewing my "chunky" mashed potatoes. I just knew that one piece was too big but it was too late, it was swallowed. I felt it sit there, like a rock. I though OMG just take me now, dont make it end like this! I tried to cough, nothing. Tried swallowing a few more times, nothing. Raised my arms over my head, nothing. I got up and walked around the house for what felt like an eternity. It only took about 1 to 1 1/2 mins for it to unstick itself and I felt it pass thru and that was a feeling in itself. And let me tell you. I think from now on I am just going to mash all of my food up and forget ever trying to chew again, lol. Agh, the joys of the band. And to think a month ago I questioned what getting stuck felt like. Someone said "oh you will know" and trust me, you will know. Thats for sure! :smile:

After a fill my dr sees you back in 1 week. If you are not doing well, he fills you again. If you are doing well, then he leaves you alone. I am the same way with my band, it loosens over time. My first fill was fine for 2-3 weeks then one day it was just "loose" feeling. 2nd fill did nothing. This 3rd fill has made a world of difference for me. I feel like a new person! :smile: