Mari H

Hi I'm a July 7th Bandster too. My surgery weight was 215 and to date I have lost 18 lbs. My first fill was Aug 4 and the feeling of restriction only lasted one day. Yesterday 09/09/09, I had my second fill and the Dr. put in 5cc. Yesterday afternoon I did feel the restriction but by evening I felt like I could any any amount of food. Presently, I'm disappointed in the band. Let's face it the reason I got the band was to make dieting easier. So far it hasn't. I still get hungry an hour or two after eating. Today, after I had lunch, I feel really full to the point of feeling uncomfortable. Let's see how long the fullness lasts. Hopefully until dinner time!!

I was banded July 7, 09. My first and only fill so far was Aug 4. That day I felt restriction and by the next day had lost 2 pounds. But that same day I also lost the feeling of restriction. I was hungry in between meals and felt like I could eat more than I should. A couple of times I did eat more than I should have. Now I'm experiencing an awful sensation when I eat. At times it seems that what I am eating is getting suck in my esophagus. This doen't happen all the time, but it is happening frequestly enough. How can it be that 1. I feel hungry in between meals, 2. can eat large portions 3. Yet have food struck in the esophagus I thought and checked about the lapband for 5 years before I decided to get it done. Now I feel like I didn't explore the subject well enough. Your advise and wisdom is required. Thanks, Mari

Hi I'm so glad I read your post!. I have been so disappointed with the lapband. I was banded July 7, 09, and had my first fill Aug 4. The restriction feeling lasted one day! Since then I get hungry in between meals. I don't ever feel full so I snack, especially when I get home from work. But if I read your blog correctly, you have had the feeling of food stuck in your throat. I get that too, but couldn't understand why. Why would I get food stuck in my throat when I didn't feel any restriction? I'm going to my surgeon next week so hopefully, I'll get another fill and most importantly remember to chew and chew and then chew some more. Thanks for posting. Mari

Thanks Lana. I truly appreciate the feedback. I know I always have the surgeon to turn to, but within these blogs there is a wealth of knowledge that bandsters share. At this point I'm really dissappointed with the band. I keep thinking I should have had the bypass instead. Congratulations on your weight loss. I too started with a BMI of 41. Thanks again Mari

Hi, My Dr told me the first fill doesn't last long. For me, it lasted one day. So frustrating:frown:! As for the feeling you have in your throat, does it feel like something is stuck? Sometimes I feel that and feel that drinking Water will help. BUt it feels like the water gets stuck too. What 's this feeling? Mari H

Hi I was banded July 7. I lost 15 lbs. Then had my first fill Aug 4 and I only had the restirction feeeling for one day. Since then for most of August I have been losing two pounds, gaining to pounds. I'm very frustrated with the band. 32 pounds is great. I wish I could say the same. I'm going to see the surgeon next week. Let's hope I get another fill.

Hi I was banded July 7 and the first fill was Aug 4. THe day of my fill, I felt restriction and was happy to feel it and feel full. The next day I felt no restriction, got hungry between meals and ate more than should have, portion-wize. I feel as though I have more food capacity than I should feel. Could this be a stretched pouch and how can it be checked? Worried, Mari

Hi All my incisions were glued even the port one. It was a little unsettling when I realized it, but the glue held no matter what I did. Take care, Mari H

Hi My name is Mari and I live in Miami. I went to my surgeon in Nov 2008 and we agreed that we would start the testing and letter gathering for my lapband insurance approval in January. Between January and February, I scheduled my sleep apnea test ( I have sleep apnea it turns out), I got my mental health evalution, I went to my GP and did the required blood work and obtained a letter of necessity. I went to my old diet doctor and got copies of past doctor supervised diets. All this I submitted to the surgeon's office on Feb 27. At that time I was told that insurance approval would be 4 to 6 weeks. At six weeks I called for status and my doctor's staff told me that any day now. I stayed in touch with the staff and in anticipation of having my approval readily, I was scheduled for a surgeon's visit on May 7. That day the doctor asked his staff about why they had scheduled me for an appt and it was explained to the doctor that they had done so under the impression that I would get my approval by the appt date. On May 14 I called the office and was told that the insurers medical director had my file and that the approval was to happen quickly. On May 21 I called again and was told a different story. I got suspicious and called the insurers only to be called that no doctor had sent any type of request for surgery approval for me. I called the dr's office and they swore up and down that the insurers were wrong. When I called the Dr's office again on May 28, I was told that the office was moving and world not open until Tuesday, June 2. Before called June 2nd, I called the care coordinator of the insurance company and still nothing had been received or requested for me. June 2, the staff would not take my calls, June 3, I managed to speak to them and I told them what the insurance had said. Of course the insurance was wrong, so they said. I asked the date the request had been submitted and I was told that since they moved, all patient files were in boxes and I had to wait until they opened the box in which my file was located. June 5, I called the insurance and I was told that earlier that day a request for surgery had been received and I was given a case number. Today when I called the insurance company to follow up, (the dr's staff was just too rude after my last call) and I was told that on June 17, a letter was sent to my dr. with the approval and that copy of sent to me. I don't have that letter yet, but I'm certain I'll get it soon enough. My insurance took 8 working days to get a letter of approval out to my surgeon! 8 days. I've been waiting and postponing things for months! I choose this dr because he did my gallbladder surgery 15 years ago, he is well known in the area, pioneered laprascopic surgery, has written two books on the subject and is well known to my GP. Question - I'm questioning how I will be treated by his staff before and after surgery. Should I change surgeon's at this late date? Should I tell the surgeon about his staff? Depressed in Miami. Mari

Yes, he is well known for bariatric surgery in the area. I found his name in lapband blogs everywhere when I was thinking of getting a lapband. He also performed the bariatric by-pass surgery on my GP's wife. All the bloggers praised him for his skill and his personality. He is really is a sweet man. But his staff........... Mari

Yes, he is well known for bariatric surgery in the area. I found his name in lapband blogs everywhere when I was thinking of getting a lapband. He also performed the by-pass surgery on my GP's wife. All the bloggers praised him for his skill and his personality. He is really is a sweet man. But his staff........... Mari