GayleTX

Mark gave a very good description of living with a band from my experience. I have very little interest in food (I'm 10 mo out)...in fact, my biggest problem right now is getting in enough calories....and when you get too few calories for too long a time your body metabolism goes into hibernation and you quit losing. I track all my intake on fitday.com so I'll be sure to get enough calories. I shoot for an average of 100 gr protein/day, eat no white carbs and keep the good kinda carbs less than 50 net carbs/day. As for chocolate cravings....not a problem - there are some great chocolate Protein supplements on the market (keep searching...they're there) and you can have all the chocolate you want in a day in the form of good protein ( powders such as Matrix , RTD's, and bars such as Power Crunch).The sugar free syrups such as Torini can help with sweet cravings and give you lots of variety....carmel, peppermnt, peach, butter rum, etc) and you can put them in your coffee, tea, Protein Shakes, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. Sounds like you are putting a lot of thought into your decision-making....if you decide you do this,you will no doubt be successful. Most of the people who struggle seem to be those who didn't bother to research and who didn't realize that getting the band was just the beginning of their lifestyle change. It still takes a great deal of awareness of everything that goes in your mouth and self-discipline for the rest of our lives. Best wishes to you......

To some extent, one purpose of the psych eval is to relieve the surgeon of liability in case you get nutsy afterward and try to blame him for ruining your life....it's a malpractice protection thing. However, it is a good thing IMO that we are required to go thru this....if it is done right. The shrink that did mine said I was depressed (big surprise! she'd be depressed, too, if she weighed 350 lbs and thought she was dying). She asked me to get an appointment with a local counselor before she would write my approval letter. It wasn't a control thing....she was being very responsible and professional - I did need help with my depression, and she was doing what a good shrink who had to be accountable to the surgeon she worked for, the insurance company she reported to, and the patient she was helping should have done. I was impressed with her and the procedure. Just go in and be real....most shrinks are in that business to help people so remember that they are on your side.

And what were you banned from, my friend??? Sorry, just teasing. I know you meant you were banded. Hey, go hit the showers....it's been long enough!! Just no tub or soaking or scrubbing. Have you got actual bandages or just band-aids/strips? I'll bet if you peep under there, you are healing already and can change them to a fresh band-aid. (Protein supplements will help you heal much quicker). I'm jealous....you only have 85 pounds to lose!! It'll be gone in no time!!

Have to talked to a surgeon to see if you even qualify. I see that you are only 65 lbs overweight. I understand that Inamed (the manufacturer) and most ethical surgeon (and all insurance companies) require you be 100 lbs overweight or ,if not quite there, then that you have significant weight -related co-morbidities (illnesses). I would suggest talking to a surgeon before you agonize over a decision any more.....you may not have a decision to make.

I keep a little insulated bag packed and ready to grab and go at all times.....we live 40 miles from civilization so even a quick trip to the store can present a food challenge if I'm not prepared. I keep bottled water/tea,RTD protein cans, protein bars, poptop tuna, SF licorice, 1-oz pkgs of nuts, etc. Even if we decide to eat out while in town, I always have a protein snack before we go in so that I won't be so hungry and be tempted to take risks with food I don't dare eat in public (chicken, for instance). And when we eat out, I always have a warm drink before eating (hot tea usually) so my band will be loose enough for me to eat comfortably.

That was one of my main concerns, too...."if I don't eat I'll pass out." I was on several oral meds. However, it never happened! I never even had shakey or dizzy spells (surgeon did take me off all diabetic meds just before and for a few days after surgery). But when I went back on the meds, I had no symptoms at all. Within just a few weeks I had to reduce my meds (sugar was getting low altho I had no outward symptoms). By 7 mo. out, I was not taking any at all. I've been off them completely for 3 mo. now and my sugar level is holding steady. Feels like a miracle....I'd been on meds for about 20 years. (I'm also off all blood pressure meds!). Best wishes to you.......

At ObestityHelp.com there are forums for each state and much information about the surgeons that practice in that state.....both the official stuff and the 'customer opinions'.

I had a similar experience with my PCP.....only in the office he pretended to think it was a good idea. Then when he wrote the letter my insurance co. required, he stabbed me in the back and said he didn't think I was a good candidate and thought I should try Weight Watchers. Like I'd NOT tried WW and every other damn diet in the world for the past 40 years!! I was FURIOUS!!! He'd only known me a few months, was not interested in me or my history. I went to my Cardiologist with the situation (he's the one who suggestion wls in the first place) and he wrote me a wonderful letter of support. Then I changed PCP's. If you are going to have surgery, you need to have a PCP who understands wls or is at least willing to learn and be suppotive. Aftercare is the key to long-term success with the LapBand.

It's been in the US about 5-6 yrs. And, yes, it's possible to take it out at any time, but why would you want to?!! If it's working and helping you keep your weight down and helping you keep your health, you won't ever want to let it go. Stomachs don't 'choke,' the blood supply is not cut off. In case of serious illness, it is possible to remove the saline from the band and do away with the restriction...it's not necessary to go in and remove the band in most cases. You really need to do some research on the Lapband and how it works (there is a video on the net that shows a doctor putting it in). You might want to go to ObesityHelp.com and click on the LapBand information pages that explain how the various surgeries work. You also need to understand that the band is just a tool....there is a definitie lifestyle change necessary after the band is inserted and you are given restriction...you must eat sensibly. It's just much easier to do since you have a small pouch to keep happy not a big ol stomach. And if you'll eliminate the white carbs from your diet, you'll eliminate a lot of the cravings you may now have. You also must eliminate carbonated drinks for the rest of your life. And you will probably need to supplement your diet with Protein and Vitamins to maintain good health. Please do some serious studying, read 2-3 different boards, attend doctor's seminars and spend a lot of time thinking about how willing you are to commit to the changes required to be a successful loser.

Many people in Europe have had the band longer than that, but not many in the US. There are a few in the Dallas area because they were part of the first LB studies done in the US prior to the approval. The one I know of personally is doing great.....she's a wls support coordinator for a doctor in Dallas.

As a former victim of internal bleeding, I say.....get to the ER ASAP! I almost waited too long....fortunate to be here today.

Our big ol' bodies are what keep these folks in business....they've got to love them (in a financial way, of course). They are interested only in our bellies, not our hoo-hoo's. Unless of course yours is something really special....LOL!! I figured mine looked like everybody else's. I don't want any panties or anything else getting in the doc's way when he's working on my innards! My granny panties would definitely have created at problem for him and the instruments he's wielding.

Glad you clarified that....because I thought I knew what it meant....man, was I waaay off!! LOL!! The only whippet in my vocabulary is a greyhound dog!! Sorry, Wheetsin....didn't mean to put you in the beastiality category!!

Your list is typical of what most insurance companies require. It is to your advantage ....the more co-morbidities you have, the more likely they are to approve your surgery. It also is liability protection for the doctor....he doesn't want to take a chance on operating on someone who, for instance, has a heart problem and can't withstand the surgery (too hard on his malpractice insurance...lol!!).

I had never had reflux until 4-5 mo after surgery....then it got worse and worse. My PCP gave me Protonix and it has helped. When I mentioned it to my fill doctor last week, he said, "yes, that is just the band doing that." So I assume from that that it is a common thing. I am now 10 mo out and with the Protonix and a few adjustments to my diet, I'm doing much better.....I no longer take my arthritis meds on an empty stomach; I cut back on my coffee (and switched to Folger's Smooth, a low-acid coffee); cut out tomato-based products like spaghetti sauce; and cut out the SF dark chocolate candy I was nibbling on (the chocolate was hurting me the most).

I had never had relux before banding, but it started at about 5 months post....about when I began to get brave with more foods, I guess. My PCP put me on Protonix and it helped somewhat, but after about 3-4 months of Pbing and misery, I have learned a few things, too.....I learned not to take my arthritis meds on an empty stomach, I've switched to Foger's Smooth (reduced acid coffee) and cut back on my coffee, I've cut back on citrus, tomato based products, and straight chocolate (I was nibbling on SF dark chocolate...that was the worst!). Pouch is much happier now!! When I saw my fill doctor last week I told him about it and he said, "Yep, that's just the band doing that to you." So I assume from his comment that it's pretty common. I understand many surgeons routinely give wls patients Protonix or something similar for several months after surgery.

My 'nutritonal counseling', such as it was, was included in the costof my psych eval, done in the same office, same day. But it was a clinic that specialized in counseling for health issues (food, smoking, addictions, etc). The week before my surgery when I went in for last consultation with surgeon, the nurse did a group presentation regarding nutrition, etc. and it was included in the surgeon's office call fee. I didn't realize it at the time, but that must be their way of getting some info to patients even tho the ins. does not pay for it as a separate service.

Laureli.......you might go to Obestiyhelp.com and go to the Texas forum or the Sugeon List and check to see if there are any customer reviews there.

Another Dr. Benavides fan here. He has more experience than most on the US and is very skilled.

You might PM Shirley Rene on this board...he did her surgery.

Isn't it just the greatest feeling....I'll bet you were thrilled when you got into the 100's!! (I know I will be....heck, I was excited to see the 200's!!). Keep up the good work!

Almost everyone here has seen someone regarding their emotional issues with food....most insurance companies require you go thru a psychological evaluation before you can be approved for surgery. This is often a good opening to begin a relationship with a counselor.....just be sure that whatever counselor you use understands eating disorders and doesn't fear working with weight loss patients. Counseling can make all the difference in how successful your weight loss journey will be and the extent to which you can be a compliant patient (there are many eating and lifestyle rules to go by afterward - be sure you research that and feel you can live with them.)

As far as number of fills required......it depends on how aggressive your doctor is with fills - some just do them in small increments, some give much more at a time, particularly with the first one. So many things are variable with this surgery and with the aftercare it's hard to say 'usually', isn't it.

There was a thread just recently about this subject.....wish I could find it for you....there were lots of great replies. I was banded at 61 going on 80....terrible health, terrible physical condition, using a walker part of the time, handicapped and pretty well useless. I figured I had nothing to lose but weight. Now.....less than a year later, I am 62 going on 63 - I've lost 110 lbs and I have my life back. I am healthier and happier than I've been in many years. I still have a lot to lose but if I don't lose another pound it has all been worth it. I not only have a life now.....I also have a future and I didn't have much of one before. :clap2: Don't let age stand in your way!!

My doctor told me just yesterday that heartburn is just part of being banded...I started on Prilosec a month or so ago, cut back on coffee and my arthritis meds, and I'm doing much better (he did check for slippage, etc, however). He also said it was helpful to prevent/ease hearburn by drinking warm liquids throughout the day, esp. at night. the keep the phlegm cleared from the esophagus (not coffee, of course). Both the doctors in my signature space are very experienced and respected.