StarsZie

Hi Chellz, Maybe you can ask your surgeon if they can send copies of your bloodwork to your PCP? They should accept your results maybe that will help speed things along? Good Luck... I'm sorry about your road block. It's just a bump in the road... you'll get there! Keep the faith! :biggrin:

I chose the band because I and my doctor has control over it. With RNY it's a permanent non-adjusting procedure. I'm a control freak (though you wouldnt know it with me being so overweight) but I knew I didnt want to have my insides re-worked... It's not what God intended. So I chose the band where it could be adjusted as needed. You'll find out that once you get banded that you will not want to eat the way you are eating now because of the success you will achieve! Good luck in your decision making!

I can't feel the band per se but I can feel my port. What I can feel is the restriction from the band especially when I'm not paying attention to eating and I swallow something too big and it gets stuck! You'd think I'd learn! I'll get it soon enough... i'm still "new" at this! Loving the help the band is giving me... its my little miralce tool!:drool:

Dr. E did my surgery as well. I was banded in June and doing really well. He's very compasionate and listens to you... I like that in a doctor! Good Luck to both of you!

Hi Hopeful60... I know about the OT stuff. It's hard to get back into the swing of things. When I started to get down on myself I thought about what can I do to change... something small that I could handle. I decided to park far away from the door at work so that I would at least get a short walk in and then I'd take the stairs. It's not much but it got me going again. Now when I take a break... I go for a 15 minute walk and I try to walk again at lunch. It's not much but at least it's something to keep me going. Maybe you can try the same? Good Luck! :drool:

Voodoo, I'm sorry to hear this! I went through something similar, but in the end my doctors sent letters to the insurance company and I was able to get covered. I have Cigna and they are tough. I wish you all the very best... good luck!

Congratulations on your Onederland! I can hardly wait to get there... seems like forever! I need to lose 2.5 lbs to be there! ~Lynn :thumbup:

Yikes! Thanks for your post. I go back on Wednesday for fill #3. I think i'm close to my sweet spot but want just a bit more. I'm going to take what you said with me and pay very close attention! Thanks Ibndoc!!!

Hi Suz... This is something you really need to think about. Sure, your life will change... but for the better. Is it going to be easy... no but then nothing worth fighting for ever really is, is it? You'll need to search your heart and decide if you are ready to make the change you so desperatly need and want. I was banded on June 16th and was wishy washy for months too. I finally decided that I couldn't or didn't want to be fifty and fat but rather fifty and faboulous. The only way I was going to achieve my dreams was to get the help I so desperatly needed. That help came in the form of a LapBand. I am 3 cc's filled and have lost 31 lbs since my surgery. Prior to surgery I put myself on a 1000 calorie a day diet to prove to myself that this was something I could do. I was able to lose 41 lbs on my own before having the surgery. So now i'm down a total of 72 lbs.! I'm so very happy and greatful I made the decision to have the band put on. If you don't think you can be dedicated to watching what you eat once you have the band placed on you you may not be any better off than you are now. You need to remember that the band is there to help you... a tool if you will. It's not a miracle but if you use it the way its meant to be used it does feel like a miracle! Yes... you can eat. Just more slowly, not as much (because you wont want to or feel you can) and you may not tolerate everything like you do now. I consider myself fortunate because I can eat anything. Steak, hamburger, pizza (small piece) and I digest it without problems. You may be able to as well. Not all is doom and gloom. Talk to your family, friends and those you may know who have had the band. Seek out a support group - your doctors office may be able to recommend one for you. I wish you all the very best in what ever you decide. Try to remember it's all up to you and how you use your new 'tool'!:thumbup: ~Lynn

Is is just me or does getting a fill hurt?!?!? EEeesshh. I never thought I had such a low pain threshold before. Either that or I'm just so nervous when I go I tense up and it hurts. Anyway... 3cc's filled now down 25 lbs since WLS and hoping I feel some restriction now with this fill.

Lucky you... no numbing stuff here. :sad:

I've been taking Centrum chewables and i'm not too crazy about the taste. What do you take? Banded on 6/16/2009 First Fill Scheduled for 7/22/09 (... and nervous):thumbdown:

Hi Teri... I agree it is wierd how everyone's programs are different. Umm... yea, I suppose it hurt a little - just like getting a 'shot'. However the worst of it all was the gas pain in my left shoulder afterwards! UGH! I didn't know what to do because I didnt have any pain after my surgery nearly anything like I felt after the fill. I just started back on 'soft foods' today so i'm anxious to see how the fill works. I'm hoping it will curb the hunger more than without the fill. Catch up with you again soon! - Lynn :biggrin:

Hi Everyone... I had my first fill today 2 cc's. Since I left the doctors office i've had so much gas pain. At first it landed in my left shoulder area and now its just across my back and abs. Anyone else experience this or am I just crazy??? :thumbup:

Yea!!! I'm so glad to know that I haven't completly lost my mind! Thanks for all your replies! I just started back on my "soft foods" today and anxious to see how well the fill works. Just had my Breakfast - cream of wheat. Hoping that will last me through to lunch without feeling hungry. Gas pain is gone thankfully and i'll be sure to let the doctor know about the pain when i go back on 8/18. Keep up the good work ladies... we're all in this together! :i)

LOL... ok, so you got me on the crazy bit! Yes, the pain finally went away... guess the gas moved out. Thank goodness!!! I didn't even have that kind of pain after the surgery! I just hope I dont experience that again.. I wouldnt wish it on anyone. I will be sure to mention it to the doctor next time I go. Thanks! Lynn

Hi Teri... As promised i'm writing to tell that i finally had my first fill today. I have a 10cc band and had 2cc's put in it this afternoon. Back to my full liquid diet for 2 days then "mush" for 2 days. Kinda stinks for the weekend but hey... it will all be worth it. I hope that I stay fuller longer now. I'll have to keep you posted on that too but for now... i've been filled! LOL!!! I have to say it was a bit easier than some of the things i read on the boards. I didnt have any lidocane (sp) just found my port, took out the air and then put in 2cc's of fluid. It was done before I knew it. I go back to see him mid August to check on me to see if i need another one. We'll see! :thumbup: - Lynn

Hi Teri, I go for my first fill tomorrow. Did you feel any restriction after your first fill or not until your 2nd fill? I'm nervous about what to expect too... like does it hurt? How do you feel right afterwards? Stuff like that. I have lost 20lbs since my surgery on June 16th so something is working! LOL!!! And like you... I'm nervous as to how long my will-power will hold out so I'm looking forward to some restriction. I'll let you know how it goes! :bored:

Hi April... I was banded June 16th, 2009 and I'm having my first fill Wednesday. I'm glad you posted this question as I have had the same thoughts running through my head. Right now I feel like I can eat anything for which I'm happy about that I at least for now don't have any problems digesting food. I have lost 20 lbs since the surgery so I must be doing something right. (?) I am a bit nervous however after reading through some of these posts that after the fill I won't feel restricted. I think I can eat between 6 - 8 oz of food at meals. This has me a bit concerned but at least I'm still losing weight. The PA told me not to expect any more weight loss when I saw her 3 weeks ago and yet I lost 7 lbs since then. I'm really nervous and anxious about the fill too. Hope yours goes well. ~ Lynn :wink2:

Hi Allie... Can I pick your brain for a minute? After you had your surgery, did anyone call you to check on you? Noone ever called me. I kind of feel like I am just another number. :biggrin: This was such a big decision in my life and obviously a life changing experience I would have expected a call from someone, anyone from the office. Yes, I like(d) Dr. Erhlich as well and I will be seeing him for a fill on Wednesday. I am going to tell him just how disappointed I am and how disconnected I feel. Just wondering since you've been seeing him for over a year how you feel about the practice. Do you go to Fairfield or Norwalk? BTW - congrats on the weight loss... VERY impressive!!! I hope I can get there too. :wink2:

Hi Jenna, I was banded on June 16, 2009. I haven't had my first fill yet... that's schedule for the 22nd, next Wednesday. I had my surgery done by Dr. Timothy Erhlich from Fairfield - surgery done at St. V's in Bridgeport.

That's awesome! I'm going for my first fill next Wednesday - i'll have to ask them about what some of you are taking. Would love to not have to take Centrum... blech!

Thanks everyone for your replys. I'm actually shocked to read all those who are taking childrens chewables. My nutritionist said not to take them that they didnt have what was needed for an adult. I was just hoping I could find something other than this Orange / Citrus flavor. Thanks again!

Hi Everyone, I have been browsing the internet looking for a place where I can find people who have something in common with me and I've found it! I had my Lap-Band placed on 6/16/2009 and i'm still adjusting to it. Mostly still having occasional pain near the port site. I went for a 4 mile walk yesterday and had to stop a few times because of a sharp pain near the port site. Normal? Anyway, I'm glad to be here and hope to learn new things every day from all of you! :thumbup: