giblert

Hi all. Just checking in to see how everybody is doing. I'm 6 weeks post-op today and haven't lost anything in several weeks. I have lost a total of 16 pounds. I was really hoping my first fill (one week ago) would kick in and the restriction would start but so far I can't tell the difference between now and the day before surgery (i.e. wide open, always hungry). I'll be scheduling my second fill for the end of the month and it can't come soon enough. My scars are nicely healed but rather vivid in colour due to my very pale skin colour :-( I'm off on an Alaskan cruise in 1 week so that ought to be a dining challenge! Marie

I'm sorry you're not having a good experience with your doctor! He sounds just like mine in many ways. I was told to strip off my shirt and bra, sit on a bed and sit up straight (which apparently really meant stick out my chest). He didn't explain as he went but I knew what to expect so wasn't surprised. It took him 2 tries to find my port. I was told in advance to bring a couple bottles of water. Once the needle was in, he inserted some fluid and then told me to take 3 big swigs of water (really big). I swallowed that no problem so he inserted some more fluid. He chugged again and we repeated until I felt what I thought was restriction (still not sure - it's so hard to tell). He then took the needle out, swabbed me and that was it. I had to ask if it was OK to put my shirt on again. It seems abrupt but I keep telling myself that he knows what he's doing, has good results and well, I have no choice to go elsewhere :-) So please remember that you're not alone and you can do it!!! Marie

You're doing great! Your experience thus far sounds totally normal. I felt terrible for the first few days but it gradually got better. I went back to work 10 days after surgery but could have gone back at approx. 5 or so. Please have faith that you'll feel better every day - even your uncomfortable port. Mine is in my sternum area and my bra strap goes right over it. I avoided my bra for a week or so but it slowly felt better. Good luck! Marie

I was hoping that at the very least Blue Cross would pay for my hospital stay. But they denied it all ($13,000). Fills are included in my provincial medical plan (or something like that) so they don't cost anything. Marie

I'm glad to read this thread too. I'm 7 days out from my 1st fill and have absolutely no restriction. Nothing feels different. I'll wait a couple more weeks and then schedule fill #2. Marie

Pacific Blue Cross just denied my claim :-( Marie

My doctor has no specific requirements before a fill. I chose not to eat breakfast because I was 5 weeks post-op and knew it would include a weight-in. After the fill he told me to go on mushies for the remainder of the day and back to normal the following day. :-) Marie

My surgeon decided on my band size during a pre-op appointment. He made me lift my shirt, he put his hands on my rib cage area and said "it'll be the smaller one" which turns out is 10cm/4cc. I can feel where my port is but I have to poke around for it. It does not protrude up and out so it's not visually noticable. Mine is located just below my sternum area (centre of my chest where my bra strap sits). My doctor allows you to come back at virtually any time I believe. I had my first fill yesterday and he encouraged me to wait a while so I'm familiar with how the fill feels/functions. From what I've read, it could take a little while to "settle" so I won't judge for atleast a month or so. Good luck! Marie

Hi fellow bandsters. I'm at 5 weeks post-op tomorrow and had my first fill today. I was given 1.6 cc in my 4 cc band. Haven't eaten yet so don't know how it's gonna feel. Doctor says I should stay on mushies for the rest of today and back to regular food tomorrow. Marie

That's a good question and I'm not entirely sure. I think the fills may be covered under MSP (provincial medical) as he can charge them as a patient consult when he does his coding/billing. But that's just a guess. Marie

First fill done! No problem at all. Tiny pin prick, and then I looked away while he did the fluid thing. Anxiety required? Zero. Marie

As I understand it, I have a 10 cm (pressumably 10 centimetres - the length of the band?) band with the capacity for 4 cc (a measure of liquid that is inserted). Of course, I'm just guessing! My card does say 10 cm/4 cc though, for what it's worth. Did you get a card Paula? Marie

All is well. Still holding at 266 - same for last few weeks. First fill on Thursday - really looking forward to it! How is your restriction? When you coming down for fill #2? Marie

I too am 4-1/2 weeks post-op from Dr Leung. And my experience is pretty much like Paula's. Cost-wise, I paid $13,000 less approx. $1,000 (for being a day surgery and not spending the night). I was just denied insurance refunds by Pacific Blue Cross. I'm estimating I'll get an additional $3,000 back when I file my income tax next year. As Paula noted, fills and all follow-up appointments are covered under our provincial medical coverage (MSP) so there should be absolutely no costs after surgery. Marie

Yes, I ordered it and have had a few of them. I like trying them out although I'm coming to the conclusion that I generally HATE all protein powders/drinks. I have some Stackers water that I am going to return - BLEH! Marie

You may want to take this up with your doctor again. My card was supplied by my doctor but judging by the stylish layout, it looks like it comes directly from Inamed. It matches their other documents. It has a spot for my name to be written in, and my doctor's name to be written in. So I'm presuming that Inamed supplies them in the kit they give to the doctor that contains the actual band. Maybe your doctor threw it out? Good luck! Marie

I am almost 4 weeks post-op and I take pills all the time. When in doubt, I cut them up with a pill cutter to make them smaller. I am not allowed to take NSAIDs (Advil, asparin, etc) because of the band so my only choice is Tylenol. I actually called my pharmacy about this yesterday to confirm what is NSAID and what isn't. Marie

Yup - sounds like my experience. Everything settled down in a few days although the left shoulder pain came back a few times in the first 2 weeks. Good luck Amanda! Marie

Hi there. I'm exactly 3 weeks post-op today. Once the first 24 hours or so had passed, I was pretty much hungry 24/7 while on the clear liquid phase. So yes, I think your hunger is entirely normal. Good luck! Marie

You've done awesome Paula. And I'm guessing the 1st fill on Monday will help you in the next stages in this journey. It seems to me that you've spent the last 4 weeks concentrating on your own incredible will power and getting no help yet from the band. I'm still eating soft food and my weight is remaining the same - kicking around the same few pounds. I'm going to transition to real food this weekend I think. I want to be able to start eating solid proteins like chicken and fish. And I'm really looking forward to my 1st fill so I can find out what this mysterious "restriction" is all about! And it's also probably time for me to get back to the gym. Drive safely and good luck on Monday - you know I'm waiting for details :-) If you have any time for coffee this weekend, feel free to email me and I'll send you my phone number. I live in Burnaby. Marie

I've been too scared to try salad and it's one of my favourite foods. Since I stopped the clear liquid fast I've had my weight loss slow down to virtually nothing. I may start on firmer foods simply so it's easier to make better choices (i.e. chicken breast and salad). I'm not so much worried about the slow losses at this stage but rather the doctor's reaction when he finds out I've only lost a few pounds in what should have been a big time for losing. Please Paula, post a detailed description of your first fill and everything about it. I'm scheduled for early September but I could probably move it up to to late August (4 weeks from surgery). Good luck! Marie

I was on Depo for many years and came off of it this year prior to surgery. My doctor recommended it would be easier to lose weight plus concerns about bone density in my golden years. My last shot was April 1 so in theory it was out of my system on July 1. No period yet but I figure it could take up to a year to get going again. Thanks! Marie

You're doing awesome Paula. I'm so proud of you. I am basically following the more generic post-op diet. Two weeks clears, two weeks thicker liquids with a few things like runny oatmeal, applce sauce, etc. And then at four weeks I'm going to try transitioning to soft foods and the odd "regular" food. I feel it's a reasonable balance. My only concern is how much weight I'll have lost by my next appointment which may include my first fill. It's currently scheduled for the 1st week of September. I'm hoping for a total 20 pounds loss or so (since I saw the good doctor last) so I can kinda "blur" the lines of reality which he asks me what my diet has been like. It'll probably include something like "I've recently started transitioning to fuller liquids/soft solids". OK, so 3 weeks isn't exactly "recently" but heh - as long as I'm not doing harm, am slowly losing, and am feeling good about myself, it's all OK to me. Marie (who forgot to update the numbers below).

I said gallbladder. And then if my gallbladder does come out in the future, I'll plead "complications from my previous surgery".

I'm 2 weeks post-op today and I've often wondered about this as I'm a former water chugger. I'm too scared to push the envelope now so I've slowly worked up from little sips to normal swigs. I almost do want to try chugging just to see what it feels like. After 2 weeks on a liquid diet I've yet to feel any restriction or indication that I have the band. I'm sure that will change once I move on to real food or have my 1st fill.