GayleTX

Welcome to the board. Just remember that you will get lots of conflicting opinions and advice on the board as you go along......make your doctor give your guidelines as to what he recommends and then listen to him and to your body. Best wishes!

Texas Cutie.....the liquids don't stay in the pouch, sweetie....they just dribble right on through to next chamber and on to greater things - like building muscles and bones!! If your fill doctor uses a flouroscope after the fill to see how tight you are, you can watch the liquid just run right down the esophagus and into the pouch and outta the pouch into the stomach. It's a neat thing to see...really surprised me to see how fast it traveled.

I started having PB's that escalated into severe heartburn at about 6 months. I got some relief from ZanTac for a while but then my PCP gave me a big sack of Protonix samples..... and now (10 days later) Ive had only one minor PB episode. Do hope this is the magic cure!!

I'm 8 mo. out, down 99 pounds, and am so grateful for the lapband. I've got another 100 to go but, for the first time in my life, I feel that I can do it!! I thought my life was over but now I'm off most of my meds, no longer shopping for a wheelchair (size XWide), and have my life back!!

BooBoo....that sounds delish, but when we get into serious weight losing mode we need to remember that orange juice concentrate and limade both are loaded with sugar (and therefore the evil carbs)! ituptome....there are too many really great Protein drinks and other supplements available these days to put up with one you don't just love!! I would suggest order a sample set from bariatriceating.com (too late for your pre-op but you'll need it in 13 days!!). Their website is also extremely helpful for the afterlife!! Best wishes to you!!

Keepa.....I have lost about the same as you (took me a few weeks longer, tho)....anyhow I felt great until about month 4-6 then I started having a lot of PB's and sliming (throw ups). It then began to feel more like really bad acid reflux (think I had irritated my esophagus) so my PCP put me on Protonix tabs....I take one each evening before meals. It's been about 10 days and I've had only one minor PB since then, so I think I'm healing and doing much better. I am ONE POUND away from a hundred and I'm determined that Thanksgiving is not gonna keep me from reaching that this week!! This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me (well, in a long time anyhow!). I'm having a Garlic chicken Lean Cuisine dinner for my big day Thursday!! Keep up the good work!!

Mine was about $20K in Dallas but I do believe I have above average surgeon and aftercare physicians. Many self-pay lapbanders have had very positive experiences in Mexico for about $8K....you can find lots of info on this board about which ones are good and which ones to avoid. Best wishes!!

Yep, what Betsy said.....GasX, walking, liquids, heating pad....and time. A week from now you won't even remember it (kinda like labor pains).

I started having reflux about 5 months after surgery....first time in my life. My PCP gave me some sample Protonix and it has helped but still have some every now and then.. Can't relate it to any kind of food in particular but it's miserable, isn't it.

Do you have a way to check your blood pressure, your blood sugar? My dropped dramatrically after just a few pounds and I had to cut way back on my meds. Hope you get leveled out soon......

mama3girls.....there is an excellent website for people with RNY - there are many veterans on there (other kinds of wls people, too, but mainly RNY www.bariatriceating.com

It depends on your doctor and on your medical history.

Another Gayle.....my theory on that is that my band tightens with stress and some days (like, all of them) bring stress. What do you think? This Gayle

I always have a hot drink before breakfast to relax the band. I've had terrible experiences (as have others I know) trying to drink something to 'help' with a stuck situation.....it just backs up and comes right out.

Beachee.....you are right - most docs don't know (because the drug reps don't tell them) of the horrible withdrawal side effects. When many people try to come off they have such episodes that they decide "whoops, I'm still depressed, better get back on my pills." when in fact it's often just withdrawal symptoms.

On first reading your post I took it you had been 'banned' (kicked off) from this board....a number of persons were indeed banned a couple of months ago. But in re-reading it, I now think you mean you were 'banded' (had a lapband inserted"). Hope that is correct.

Yep, I'm looking more like a bag lady every day. The feel of loose clothing is a whole new concept to me! I bought a blouse last week that is much shorter and more form fitting than I have ever worn. I asked my DH's opinion on it and he said, "It looks better than those tents hanging to your knees that you've been wearing." I took that as an affirmative....I may buy another one next week!!

Sadly enough, the writer is just expressing what most people really feel about the morbidly obese.......it's just most people are not as articulate as he is. I think a lot of obese people actually feel the same way he does, thus the self-loathing and emotional problems so many live with.

Glad to have you here...... I was banded by Dr. Benavides (Dallas) at the hospital in Decatur.

Good deal!! Hope it works out well for you! Don't know how familiar you are with Highland Park.....when you get to his office you can park on the roof of the little Wachovia Bank on the corner....he's upstairs there....and go in the back door right into the hall...he's on the street end of the hall. Or you can just give your car to the valet at the corner in front of the bank and go in the door next to the bank and up the elevator. Best wishes!!!

UHC is one of the most cooperative insurance companyies when it comes to LapBand. Having all the pre-op tests is routine. Maybe they'll find something that will help offset the low BMI and get you to the accepted level......sleep apnea, depression, etc....any of them will help. At your age, I weight 240 and was pretty healthy, very active. Ten years later I had gone waaaay downhill. Another 10 years.....serious situation. At age 60 I was 350, all the typical co-morbidities, shopping for a wheelchair (size xwide, of course). So, what I'm saying....if you can do something NOW your future will be much brighter....very few people miraculously get thinner and healthier as they age, do they??? And you've got lots of people depending on you. Best wishes!!!

As of right now, you have a tool inserted but not yet turned to the 'on' position. After the swelling goes down, you are on your own til you get a fill or two or three and get good restriction. You just have to act like a grown up and do what you gotta do til you get it operational. Practice following the rules, don't worry about losing weight yet. Sounds like you are very motivated and will do just fine when all is up and going!!

I'm 7 mo out, have lost 97 lbs, feel like a new person.....I was to the point of being handicapped, now I'm walking a mile a day and living a full life for the first time in about 6 years. Six mo. ago I was on 11 meds/day....now I'm down to 5 but the amounts of them is much less. I haven't suffered with hunger/cravings, etc. To be successful you have to go by the rules. It's just that simple. Many people cannot do itfor whatever reason. It's imperative that you use high quality Protein supplements made for bariatric patients, not weight lifters, and not the stuff off the grocery shelves....about 80-100 gr/day. You need to cut out all white carbs, all carbonated drinks, all fried foods, and keep carbs under 50 gr/day. It's important to keep your body moving and to drink lots of Water every day. A support group is very important....don't let yourself feel isolated. With the band it's easy to forget it's there unless you have someone to be accountable to, someone that cares, someone that can help you over the rough Patches. The message boards are great sources of encourgement and iinformation. Best wishes to you!!

I have diabetic neuropahty in my feet and left hand. Don't know if that's similar. Do know it's painful and makes me very clumsy, sometimes worse than others, almost always numb. Could hardly walk from the car to the gym door. But after about 30 lbs I started being able to walk better, by 60 lbs down, I could walk a mile. Haven't been able to go farther than that because it makes my feet hurt, not because of stamina. That is the only exercise I've tried other than stretching, warm-ups, etc because I'm still quite heavy. But things are so much better it's unbelievable...and you worded it very nicely - I do indeed feel like a walking miracle!!!

You are just now about at the stage to need a fill....6 wks is common. Dr. Maese will do fills for the Mexican doctors.....in fact that is his background. I believe Dr. Sanchez that has banded so many of people on this board in Mexico is his uncle. He is master at doing fills....been doing them longer than about anybody. Zips you right through, doesn't hurt, uses a flouro, and knows what he is doing. Preston Cardiology Wellness Center 6170 Sherry Lane 200 Dallas (Highland Park) 214-234-0330, X 215