FailureIsntAnOption

My favorite Protein shake is Muscle Milk. It doesn't have the Vitamin taste to it. The Special K shakes and protein waters are really good too. Banded 4/17/09 w/.08 cc First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc

There is a much cheaper way to go.....I went to Mexicali, Mexico and had mine. It cost me $7,000 and included lifetime fills. The surgery staff is awesome and the hospital is new and state of the art. I was worried about traveling to Mexico to have surgery buy once I got there I felt very much at ease. The care I received was excellent. If you would like more info. please feel free to email me at donna2153@aol.com. Banded 4/17/09 w/.08 cc First fill 5/30/09 w/1.6 cc

Will your insurance cover gastric bypass? Some will even though they don't cover lap band. If you are certain that the lap band is what you want to do then email me and I will tell you what I did when my insurance wouldn't cover lap band. donna2153@aol.com

My liver shrinking diet consisted of a Muscle Milk for Breakfast, low fat cheese between lunch and bfast. For lunch I had two In-n-out Protein style burgers (wrapped in lettuce instead of bun or another Muscle Milk. Lowfat yogurt or another low fat cheese stick for snack and for dinner a grilled chicken breast and some broccoli. I lost 11 pounds in 10 days doing this. Also, be sure to get out for at least a 30 minute walk each day. Good luck to you! Banded 4/17/09 w/.08 cc First fill 5/30/09 1.6 cc

You can have it done in Mexico for relatively cheap. I paid $7,000 for mine in Mexicali and would do it again in a heartbeat. The care was excellent and they provide transportation from the airport to the hospital to your hotel (included in price) then back to hospital and back to the airport. Price also includes all fills. Something to think about anyway. Banded 4/17/09 w/ .08cc First fill 5/30/09 1.6cc

Folks, I'm telling ya, you need to focus on eating Protein first then fruits and veggies. This is true even on the pre-op diet. Banded 4/17/09 37 pounds lost 11 pounds lost on 10-day pre-op diet

In the past week I have had a few vomiting episodes. I have decided not to eat meat period. Tried a couple wheat thins and couldn't handle those either. It's okay though, I'm content with salads and cottage cheese, Protein drinks and protein smoothies. Banded 4/17/09

I plateaued at week 2 post-op then by week 3 I began loosing again. Now I'm at week 6 and haven't lost any weight since week 4. I work out regularly so I know I am doing everything right. I have been told it is time to get my first fill. Keep doing what you are doing until it is time for your first fill. Banded 4/17/09

make sure you are eating enough protein. Not enough protein will make you dizzy.

I too attended orientation at Kaiser Van Buren offices in Riverside (So. Cal). They are NOT currently doing lap band. They refer to Harbor City and since there is such a huge waiting list they are not doing lap band at this time. I opted to go to Mexicali and self pay $7000 to have my band. I'm glad I did. Kaiser is handling my follow-up care though and has scanned all the Mexicali records and films into my computer file. And now after surgery I get to see a nutritionist and have all the benefits that Kaiser Patients receive. I get lifetime fills for free in Mexicali which is only 30 minutes farther then Harbor City. I highly recommend Dr. Alberto Aceves in Mexicali. Brand new state of the art facility and the care is awesome. Price includes hotel stay night before surgery and 2 nights inpatient care and my husband stayed both nights in my private hosp. room with me. Very American friendly place. Banded 4/17/09 in Mexicali Mexico

For the first couple weeks after banding I felt like everything from my stomach was now in my chest. I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and it made it hard to breath. That feeling just disappeared one morning somewhere around 2 weeks. I think it's the gas that makes you feel that way and it does take time to get rid of the gas and remember, the surgeon moved things around in there while doing your band and this will leave you sore also. I was really regreting the band at first but please know it does get better. Soon you wont even know it's there and you will be so glad you did it. Banded 4/17/09

I was banded on 4/17/09 and as of week 4 lost 37lbs. I have not lost anymore weight since and am almost done with week 6. I get my first fill on 5/30/09. I eat 800-1000 calories/day and focus mainly on protein and drinking a lot of water.

Don't forget you are suppose to focus on protein first. Try drinking a protein shake for breakfast and perhaps soup or something soft for lunch.

I had a huge problem with the isopure too. I was in a great deal of pain for the first week and then one day it just disappeared. Hang in there it will get better. I have no suggestions regarding the isopure. The floaties in it totally grossed me out. You just have to get it down. The next phase is much easier to deal with. Hang in there!

For some reason Kaiser was pushing the gastric bypass. I had already made up my mind to have the band. Gastric Bypass comes with the possibility of lots of complications. Many people who have gastric gain the weight back too. My thoughts are try the band the weight may come off slower but you are also learning how to eat and manage your weight at the same time which is equally as important as loosing. Gastric is much more invasive and is not reversible. At a BMI of 40 it seems to me it just isn't necessary to do something so drastic. Just my opinion.

Brian, I totally agree with you! I have probably lost and gained 1000 lbs in my life. I'm hoping the band is going to fix that. I hope the fill works, I am scheduled for next Saturday for a fill. I was really hoping it would keep me from over-eating. Banded 4/17/09

I had the same desire during the first couple weeks post-op. I actually chewed a few bites of Pasta, chicken and bread and them spit them out. This temptation passed once I was able to eat soft foods. Good luck to you! Banded 4/17/09

I didn't do any preparedness classes or see a dieticien. I just decided I was tired of being fat and wanted to feel better and look better so I scheduled my surgery in Mexico and for being impatient it cost me. My insurance would have covered this but I wanted it now. I quit drinking coffee 3 weeks before surgery and did the liver shirking diet and now am on my 5th week post-op. No regrets and I am very motivated. You will be too!

Everybody who knows me knows I have a band. I was so excited about it I told everyone. However, I have been working my butt off to loose weight. I walk 4-5 times/week, I go to the gym 3-4 times/week and I swim laps. Also, It is my choice to eat healthier. This weight is not falling off of me because of the band. The band is aiding me in eating less. So yes, I do take credit for the weight loss. I haven't had a fill yet and my stomach doesn't seem much smaller. I am disappointed in the quantity I am able to eat. I had hoped it would be significantly less but it isn't. I'm hoping that getting a fill will take care of this then maybe I will give more credit to the band. Banded 4/17/09

I too have Kaiser and attended orientation late March for Bariatric Surgery and was soooo discouraged by the RN that said they weren't doing lap bands at this time and are not keeping a waiting list. They seemed to be pushing gastric bypass which I am totally against doing myself. Do you remember Dr. Ismail that spoke at the orientation? I had a follow-up appt. with him last week and was very impressed with how he handled my situation since I have already been banded. They scanned all my Mexico records into my Kaiser record even my barium swallow films from Mexico are now in my hard file on computer. I'm not sure yet if Kaiser will cover my fills but I don't really care either way since Mexicali isn't much further away then Harbor City and my fills are free in Mexicali, I may as well just go there. Wow! since your so close in proximity we should keep in contact. I wish you luck! Banded in Mexicali 4/17/09

I hate "Red Tape"! I know I couldn't play this game. Glad I've got mine already. I wish you all much success! Banded 4-17-09

What is an easyband?

Hi all April Bandsters my name is Donna and I was banded on 4/17/09

I understand being sick of being fat. I paid $7,000 for my surgery because I didn't want the wait for insurance to make me jump through hoops. I too couldn't afford the price but I figured I couldn't afford not to! Charge it! That's what I did. Good luck to you!

Gaining 25 pounds to have weight loss surgery is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Why would you want to put your body through this? Banded 4/17/09