onthego317

Thats how mine was but after the swelling went down it wasnt as bad on the incision.

My nutritionist said I could eat almost anything that I wanted just in small portions. No white flour, sugar or fried foods. Lowfat Refried beans, mashed potatoes with cheese and taco seasoned ground beef were my main foods in the beginning.

I used Dr Avara too!!

I had a choice of the two and I asked which one my Dr recommended.....he said personally, he's seen less problems with the Realize Band so thats what I got. I didnt question it any farther. Lots of people on here have the Realize band and I have 2 close friends who also have it. No problems at all.

Had my 2nd fill today. I asked him to pull out what he put in the 1st time just to make sure it went in. I was skeptical because I have had no restriction. He pulled out 2.5cc and added 1.2 which gives me 3.7 total. I wish he wasnt so conservative with the fills! I asked him to be aggressive and was told they are cautious for a reason. He told me that he normally only gives 1cc at a time but would up mine to 1.2! He will not give a fill less than 6 weeks apart so I cannot go back until Dec 27. I was really hoping to have a lil restriction through the holidays. I'm saying a prayer and crossing my fingers that I notice a lil restriction because my will power has dwindled. I know this sounds crazy but I'm considering taking diet pills through the holidays. My only fear is that if I lose then my Dr will think the fill did the trick. Any thoughts???? I know I have to give this fill time to see how it affects me. Drinking my broth now!!

The first thing that came to my mind is that maybe the excess skin that was removed with the TT served as insulation and muffled these noise before. My tummy makes loud noises every day! One more thing......I'd take a noisy flat belly any day over a saggy quiet one!!

my port is much higher than yours

You have my mouth watering thinking about crawfish! That and boiled crabs are my FAVORITE! I just got back from my 2nd fill and I told the Dr that I can eat anything and he laughed and told me to be patien!! He's very conservative with fills and wont do it any sooner than 6 weeks apart. I'm back on liquids for a couple days so maybe I'll drop a pound or two. Other than being depressed and completely miserable, I didn't have any health problems. Maybe thats why he was hesitant. Its great that you know someone who has had the surgery. I have 2 close friends who also had it done. I was always the smallest of the group but I gained as they lost and I did not like being the fat girl! They have been great support. I know what you mean about it being unacceptable!! We are shaped just the opposite. I'm small thru the middle but have a butt and legs that belong on someone much heavier. Baby got back!! I always have to get stuff taken up at the waist if its going to accommodate this behind! Keep me posted on your journey!!

Thanks for sharing! I'm happy it doesn't calculate "hips to height" ratio! :rolleyes2:

Boy do I know gumbo! :eek: Another thing thats really easy is red beans! Cant have too much rice though. One week after surgery we went to a Saints game and I was eating a tiny bit of red Beans at the Dome! Had to chew till it was liquid but my taste buds were HAPPY! I looked at your profile and it says that your BMI is 32. Is that correct? Thats where I started and had to beg the Dr to do my Surgery. Are you having trouble finding a surgeon who will do it? I have only lost 23 lbs since surgery but those 23 lbs have made a huge difference. I go for my second fill tomorrow and am hoping I will get good restriction because I can eat almost anything right now. Bread is the only thing I'm scared of....3" of a pressed roast beef poboy was too much. (I thought all the gravy would help it slide down!) :rolleyes2: I do not regret this at all!! I feel so much better already. I was self pay and am worth every penny it cost me!

Hey There! I am from the MS gulf coast area and I also love good food, the more spices, the better. I have only been banded a few months and do not have good restriction yet but I can eat almost anything. Everyone is different. Spices bothered me initially but doesnt anymore. I find that shrimp goes down easier than anything! You will find that everything is more enjoyable because you actually slow down and savor every bite you take. Strained gumbo was one of my favorites during the liquid stage after surgery. Good Luck!

Hey Gang! It's been a while since I've been on here. Lots going on in the past month. I spent a week on vacation in Orlando, ate junk in the parks...........my grand mother passed away, surrounded by food for a few days.......just got back from a visiting a friend in Dallas, once again ate things I shouldn't have. This is really hard to follow with no restriction. I am hopeful that my fill on Friday will get me on the losing road again. I weighed this morning and have only lost 4 lbs in the past 6 weeks! I know its up to me to make it work!! With all that being said I'm still thankful to be down 22.5 lbs since surgery!

I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Disney and something just popped in my head. I'm sure it will be ok but just want comfirmation......is it ok to be riding rollercoasters and thrill rides with the band? I'm more concerned about hurting my port than my band since my port is so close to the surface and can get tender from anything physical.

Thats awesome Amanda!!! Keep up the good work!

Thanks for all the feedback! I never thought about the band being an issue until yesterday and I'm so glad everything will be fine! I am an Orlando addict!! Disney, Universal & Seaworld, here I come!!!!!!! :cursing: (for anyone else who loves the rides, Cedar Point in OH is awesome too!!) Have a great week everyone!!

CONGRATULATIONS! That's good to hear because I'm a rollercoaster lover!!!

I started with a BMI of 32 and my port is definitely noticable! It has gone down some since I'm not swollen anymore. At first I made a joke about getting a nipple tatooed on it and having a small 3rd boob! ONLY A JOKE!! I carry most of my weight below the waist so I'm little through my middle. Its not as bad as you think. I wore a bikini last weekend and wasnt really concerned about it. I was more proud that I COULD wear a bikini!!! I've gone from a sz 14 or16 to an 8 or 10!! I wasnt given the option of a low profile port...in fact, I didnt even know there was such a thing prior to surgery. My port is very close to the skin and to my ribs! My ribs actually make the port area sore if I sit a certain way. I asked my Dr about it sticking out and he said that its because theres not a lot of fat covering it.

Only 2 more days till your journey begins! Good luck!!! Gonna keep you in my prayers! Let us know how it goes.

You might be able to do it without surgery but from what you've told us, you've been fighting this for almost 10 years! I could lose BUT it always came back. I also had no health problems other than a torn up knee from all the exercise I've done over the years. My BMI was 32 and my Dr's office flat out told me that there was no way my insurance would even think about paying for it. I think I would have gained 15 lbs if that meant I wouldnt have had to pay $15,000! It's totally your decision. Since you have family that has been banded, you know the struggles you will have to go through. It is not a miracle nor a walk in the park. I do not have restriction yet and still feel like I'm dieting. I have my good days along with my bad days. I do not regret having surgery for one second! I'm down 22lbs and 3 sizes! :huh2: I do look forward to the day that i have restriction. In time, I'll get there. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

I have to admit that after helping my hubby celebrate his b'day all weekend that I was only down a pound this week. I was down 2.5 on Friday but gaind 1.5 back! :smile: I WILL DO BETTER THIS WEEK! I started P90X this morning and I'm already really sore! No pain, no gain....or loss I should say. Good luck everyone!

I got banded with a BMI of 32 but my insurance wouldn't cover it. I'm down 22 lbs this morning and I think it was worth every penny!

I had the same sharp pain but it varied from side to side. Are you sure you're not dehydrated?? I was dehydrated and also had a UTI. It took 2 rounds of antibiotics to cure the UTI but the pain lasted a lil longer than the infection.

I have been on Miralax for a couple years now due to "irritable bowel syndrome". Its awesome stuff and will not give you the cramping and bloating that other products do. I take it everyday in my protein shake. You can mix it in any drink and its totally tasteless! It mixes well with coffee too!

Just curious if any of you have the Realize band???? They just sent out notifications to hospitals and Doctors saying that there is a recall. It doesnt require that the band or port be removed. It has to do with the port tubing. I found out about this from someone on here. There is a post about it and the member who posted it sent me a pdf file of the recall that the company sent out. This recall is as of 10/8/10. I'm sure if you search for it in this past weeks new posts, you will find it. I emailed it to my Drs office asking if my band is included in the recall and they kinda freaked out. I dont think they knew about it. They never did let me know if mine is involved but I know it is. I went to a support group meeting at their office last night and she mentioned it to everyone. They explained that there is a lil piece inside the tube where it connects to the port. This lil piece keeps the tube from kinking, it it kinks, Fluid cant be inserted. They said that sometines this lil piece comes loose and slides down the tube and thats what the recall is about. My question is, who pays for this if it by some chance we develop this problem and it has to be fixed??!! I was self pay and cannot afford another operation if it happens to me. No surgery is needed as long as it is working properly!! This might be something some of you need to investigate if you are facing another surgery due to port problems.

Here's a few of my favorites: refried Beans -( pintos & cheese from taco bell) chili - wendys ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning cheese grits Zone Perfect- chocolate almond raisin Protein bar vanilla yogurt with 2 strawberries cut up and a lil granola on top mashed cauliflower w/cheese edemame red beans and rice (VERY LIL RICE!) tuna salad baked potato -not good source of protein though I have even bought frozen diet dinners and have eaten only the protein out of it. (salsbury steak, sweedish meatballs) Hope that helps!!