GayleTX

Well, I have hopes of sitting in the nursing home with mine still with me some day!!

There is a serious learning curve to living with this band........just like any other 'band' - you gotta practice, practice, practice.

The only way to tell is by using a flouroscope and a barium swallow.

When they talk about slippage, they don't mean that the band itself slips......it is the lower stomach that slips up thru the band into the pouch. The older bands had some problems with slippages, but the new ones (like you probably have) are doing much better. Slippage is usually caused by vomiting....not just sliming, but real vomiting - that's why we have to be so careful about eating small bites, chewing well, avoiding stuck episodes as much as we can. However, just because you get stuck doesn't mean you are going to have a slippage, so don't get paranoid about it. And even if you do get a slippage, very often they can empty your band, put you on liquids for a few weeks, then the stomach tissue slips back down where it belongs....you begin to get fills again and start all over. I've had two slippages and am now scheduled to have a 'new and improved' band put in soon. I'm ready!!:thumbup:

So glad you posted......I'd been wondering about you! You are doing great~~men lose so much faster than women...just not fair...but I'm happy for you! Remember that the Protein supps count as part of your liquid intake so every drop you can get is in your favor. Although you probably can't get it all down this early out, you need to get at least 1/2 gal. of liquids every day....that's your goal. And 80-100 grams/protein should be your goal.....you can't do it yet but you will soon. Keep trying different protein supps....it's important you find several you really enjoy. Places like GNC are not the best place to find them.....they are used to providing for the jocks - needs 0f the bariatric patient are much different - they don't always understand that and will give you misinformation. And, unfortunately, many doctors don't know much about nutrition, either. I really enjoy making my own Protein shakes with Protein powder.....lots of ways to get variety and it's much cheaper. The RTD's (canned ready to drink) average over $2 each....the powder is about 50 cents/serving. Whey Gourmet makes great powders, so does Lean Dessert....high protein, low carb, very tasty. If you haven't gotten a little blender yet (like a Hamilton Beach Personal Blender...WalMart...$15) you might want to....you can make great thick shakes that take the place of ice cream treats thru the summer. The next few weeks are going to be hard for you.....no restriction til you get a fill or two or three. You're on your own til then, but you've got something even better.....those precious little kids that want their daddy around-no better motivation in the world. Keep us posted on your progress~~~:thumbup:

I had the same symptoms for 3 months.....had an EGD but they found nothing amiss....so the decision was my band was too tight.....they drained it and the reflux and problems went away immediately.

It varies. I've had two policies at different times and both pay for all fills for the past 2 years.

Greetings from just down the road to the east. Is your doctor the new bariatric surgeon that just came to Denison? Would be nice to have someone so close! I have to go to Dallas for my fills. Best wishes to you....you've got two great incentives going for you!

I don't even miss my ice cream any more BECAUSE I make wonderful thick Protein shakes....get in my protein and feel like I've had a good treat. I use Water, ice cubes, good quality protein made for bariatric patients, and blend them in a Hamilton Beach Personal Blender....$14 WalMart....it crushes ice nicely and makes just the right amount. Get creative with your shakes......there are good recipes on www.davincigourmet.com as a guideline. The SF DaVinci syrups and Torini syrups are great when mixed with protein powders and healthful yummy foods like pumpkin, berries, ReddiWhip, etc. The calorie and fat count are low.....and the protein count is high. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!:wink2:

At the seminar.....don't worry about coming up with a list of questions.....they've heard all of them before and they'll cover them pretty well. The only question that was not answered (and I had to ask) and any of the seminars I attended was regarding age limits (I'm OLD!). Other than that, I found them to be very thorough.

The guidelines , as I understand it, are set by the manufacturers of the band. It's doubtful that an insurance company would pay for a procedure that the manufacturer does not recommend. That's why so many 'lightweights' go to Mexico for their surgery and pay for it out of pocket.

So sorry that happened! I know it'll make you hesitant to get another fill! Did you local ER know how to remove the saline from your band? I'm impressed if they did! Mine would have thrown me out and locked the door behind me! And I'm 2 hrs from my surgeon and aftercard clinic - always a scary thought. Hope things gets better for you!(BTW...bet you know how many days til school is out:wink_smile:)

I'm trying to help a couple of friends locate a bariatric surgeon who accepts Medicare insurance.........how do we find one? We've called and looked at a number of surgeon websites in the Dallas area and haven't found a one yet who will take it, altho I've seen many people on boards mention that Medicare paid for their surgery. Can you call Medicare and ask them? How do they know where to call? Any guidance will be appreciated.

What credentials did the person have? If it was a psychiatrist, maybe the fee is not out of line, but a psychiatrist level is not necessary - a psychologist or a licensed professional counselor are appropriate for the type of evaluation we need (unless, of course, the patient has a history of mental illness, etc).....the fee should not be over $300-400 IMO....depends on where you live.

I had asked to spend the night because we lived so far from the hospital and because I had heart trouble, etc.......... the surgeon said he would arrange it if that's what I still wanted after the surgery. However.....after it was over, I felt so well that I would have felt silly lying in a hospital bed. So we drove 2 hrs back home and I haven't slowed down yet. I know not everyone has as easy a time as I did but most people do go home the same day. You need to do what feels right for you....

My cardiologist was the one who gave me the "do something or else" speech.......I'd hate to think of what my life would be like right now (2 years later) if I hadn't taken him seriously....or if I'd even be around. I'm very thankful that I had surgery..... and the new lifestyle was not nearly as difficult an adjustment as I had imagined it would be.

What size is your band?

Sweetie, that's why the first 6 weeks is called Bandster Hell.....this is the period of time that your surgery is healing, the stitches are setting into your stomach. You must not break any of the rules during this time (sounds like your dr. failed to give you the rules, though!).....no coffee, no carbonated drinks, liquids the first week or two, mushies the next couple of weeks, then eat very lightly. During this healing period you have no restriction (some surgeons put a little saline in at surgery but most don't) so you are depending on your will power. At this point that little band in your tummy is similar to having a new Cadillac in the garage ....it's yours and it's wonderful, but you can't have the keys just yet......it's just sitting there. Frustrating, huh. You can control your cravings by eliminating the white carbs (rice, potatoes, Pasta, white bread, corn) from your food intake...also sweets, of course. After a couple of weeks your body gets detoxed from carbs and the cravings go away to a great degree. I know....I didn't believe it either, but it does!! Be sure you get in all the water/tea that you can.....ultimate goal is 64 oz a day but that's hard to do at first....just add a little every day. You need to find Protein supplements that you like....experiment with them, learn to love them...you need 60-80 grams a day and our little pouches won't hold that much if you eat only dense Proteins. It may take several fills to get good restriction.....be patient and be strong and eat right....YOU CAN DO THIS! The band is a friend but it's not magic...you have to learn a whole new lifestyle.

From the posts on the boards I've been reading the past 2 years.......and from the customer reviews on amazon.com - while MB works, it works great. But many of them don't last long, and when they quit, the customer service is non-existant. You might look over the reviews yourself and see wht you think. I have had great luck, and so have many others I know, with the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender - $15 at WM or Target or Kitchen Connection. It crushes ice nicely and is just the right size for one shake.

Don't know what part of NM you are in, but there are a couple of outstanding bariatric surgeons in Colorado if you are on that end of the state....you might go to the Colorado forum to check them out - one has been there a long time, the other is just moving there but is experienced. If you are on the other side of the state, there is a surgeon in Amarillo.......he's in limbo right now, waiting to transfer from a group to his own practice but the office should be open soon. And if you are going to be self-pay, you should certainly consider going to Mexico...lots of banded persons have had a positive experience with Mexico. Check out that forum......lots of good info. Main consideration is 'where do I get my fills afterward?' It's imperative that you have an aftercare/fill site nearby.

Refried Beans are a good choice during the mushie stage....and good to mix in with cooked meats later on to help them go down a little easier sometimes. They have quite a few carbs but they are good carbs so they work for us. When you say you are not a fan of Protein, are you referring to protein supplements such as the powders and the canned drinks? You really need to do some experimenting and find some you like....most of them, esp. the powders, are just a good base to work from - adding ice, berries and extracts and SF syrups can make a world of difference in them....get a little blender (a small one like a Hamilton Beach Personal Blender...about $15) and get creative. Not only do they give you the Proteins you need, but they can take the place of a sweet treat like ice cream. (go to www.davincigourmet.com and look over their recipe suggestions). My favorite is coffee (decaf) with chocolate protein powders and various SF syrups....both hot and as a shake. No more than our little pouches can hold, it is imperative that we use supplements to get our quota, especially for the first several months.

I had been Type II diabetic and on 2-3 kinds of diabetic meds a day for 25 years...plus other meds. I also had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides..... and had had 4 heart stents as well a number of other weight-related issues. I had surgery at 350 lbs......BMI of 62 - at age 62. Within just a few weeks I had to taper off my diabetic meds because my glucose levels were falling.....and within 6 months I was off all of them. And within a year I was off all my meds for everything. All I take now is a Vitamin and Calcium. Please understand that I have been a very compliant patient. Some doctors will tell you that with lapband you eat the same, just eat less. That's not going to cure anything....it'll help, but it won't cure. I do not eat any white, starchy carbs of any kind.....I have not had potato, rice, Pasta, white bread, corn, etc in 26 months....I do eat good carbs such as geen vegetables,Beans, etc but I keep the carb count less than 40-50 per day. I don't eat anything made with sugar. I also see that I have at least 80-100 grams/protein every day. With a small pouch, about half of that has to come from supplement. I enjoy them, make them many different ways. Yes, they cost money - but they are not nearly as expensive as junk food, cokes, large sized clothes, prescriptions and doctor bills. I realize that not all lapbanders eat the way I do......but not all lapbanders had the serious illnesses that I did - it is apparently necessry for some of us to be more strict with our food intake than it is others. What was the most surprising to me is.....I don't miss those foods! I don't crave them. After about a month of detoxing them from my body, the 'pain' of giving them up was gone. It has been very liberating to be free from the constant obsession with food and eating and the guilt of eating things that were destroying my life. I wish you and your husband the best......whatever it takes, the journey is worth it!!

Nope, no feeling to the band at all. I'm assuming there are no nerve endings in the area where it lives. (kinda like brain surgery doesn't hurt - no nerve endings in the brain from what I hear:rolleyes2:).

Never heard of such a thing! Can you give us a link?