pickles123

I am glad to hear that you got your band. You must have really wanted it to work all this time trying to get it. Good Luck!!

You are not suppose to eat soft foods with the lap band. You are suppose to eat regular food!!

No offense; but, would you expect your doctor to say anything negative against the band. If you think eating Jello, cottage cheese, yogurt etc would cure what is the problem with her band you have not done near enough research. You need to do a lot more research before you get the band if you think that is the problem. You are not getting how the band works at all.

This is my first time uploading a picture so I hope it works. I just posted earlier about "Am I the only one that thinks this is a diet" Here is the picture of my defective port. The doctor even said that it wasn't a full seal on the port. What you are seeing is the back of the port. This would have been placed toward my muscle not where we get our fills. The red is just a little blood and the blue is the dye. He didn't want to take it out but was unable to find the leak with just saline because it was in the back. It is said that this happens in only two percent of the people????? I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Enjoy. I thought it was an intersting picture.

I have tried to edit my profile and it will not let me. Thanks Have a great evening! Pickles 123

No I would not have the lap-band if I had to do it over. I have lost most all the weight but I am not a fan of the lap-band. For me it is still a diet. I lost more on Weight Watchers. I just hope the lap-band helps me keep if off. I have had the band for about 1 1/2 years. But, I do have to say I would not have any of the other WLS either. I think I would just keep doing Weight Watchers.

There is a new ruling out there that lowers the BMI to qualify for lapband. The only reason I know is that my doctor was part of the process (study) and he e-mailed his patients about it. Good luck!!! I don't think you will have a problem..

Cabbage does sound great. I have put sauce over other roasted vegetables; but, never thought of using cabbage. Thanks for the suggestion!!!

Just wondering how the 5 Day Pouch test is going. Or how you did on it. I am going to start on Monday. Anyone Interested?

Please find a new doctor and don't do any more surgery with this one. You need someone that can help you if you need it, no matter which surgery you decide.

Yes I lost a lot of hair. Thankfully I have a lot of hair to lose. But I had to have a repair at 9 months and lost hair again. I have had other surgeries any never lost hair. I don't know why we do with the band. The dermatologist recommended Biotin. I take it but don't know that it helps. My hair is growing back after the second surgery now so I have three lengths of hair.

I love Pasta. I read, I think on here, to eat the sauce over grilled vegetables. I cut up squash, onions, mushrooms, eggplant, greenpepper (any vegetable you can think of) a small amount (very small) of olive oil, spice of your choice and bake at 425 for about 20-30 min. Then I put my sauce on this. It is amazingly good and I don't miss the pasta that everyone else is eating. It is even good warmed up. I doesn't get stuck or anything.

The thing I miss the most is pretzles. I know they are carbs and never good for you but I still miss them. Then I hear on Dr, Oz. yesterday that they add additional high fructose corn syrup. Boy you just can't win. His program was sure a bummer yesterday. My doctor is not a fan of salads and prefers we not eat them. He says that the dressing, any dresssing, is like eating liquid ice cream. You know who I go to if you have heard this because I know he has said it a million times and at every group.

I think you are going to need more help. It is not the pain as much as the lifting. You are not going to be able to lift those children for probably 4- 6 weeks. At least that was my doctors restriction. Also you are very tired. It is not so much the surgery, it is that you can't eat much for a while and you have no energy. Tell your husband (Oh well, you better not tell him that) But you are going to need help. Good luck. Keep us posted.

I have had issues with the band itself and had to have another surgery and I still love Dr. S. He and his office is the best. You will not be disappointed with fills or their future care.

I just posted on another thread. My doctor told me that I can drink with meals now. I am and no problems. Any one else???????

After my last visit my doctor recommeded to drink with my meals. I did ask if he meant just sip and he said no drink as much as you want. First I have heard of this. My husband was with me so I did hear this correctly.

A lot of doctors have seminars that you can go to. Also I ruled out one doctor by going to her support group. We were invited to attend before surgery and you really find out at lot at these things. I found out that she really only had a part time staff and also that they were training office staff (not even RN's) to do the fills and even then you could not get in for a month or more. I cancelled my surgery and went somewhere else and I have been very happy. Go a little early to the groups, this is when all the people complain.

I think a lot of surgeons have that personality. That is why they do better with people who are asleep. LOL I am glad he has a great support staff. Keep us posted.

Sorry I don't have any suggestions for you. If the doctors think we can lose weight that quick, why would we need the band. Sometimes I just don't get it. There is a magic number for getting the band???? Sorry for the rant; but some of these doctors make me so mad.

I am glad the surgery is over for you. I had port revision surgery also. My port had a leak from the start. My doctor was very nice and said I didn't do anything it was just a defective port. (Although he didn't believe me until 7 months later that there was a problem.) I lost that first 50 myself. He did put a 5cc fill in a surgery and said he would do a fill every two weeks. That is the program we are on. I think your doctor is just being a little ornery. But, just my opinion. I just had the regular port put back in. I didn't have any other options for a low profile port.

There is an Allergan Lap Band web site that tells how fills should be done. It is more a site for the doctors and people who do the fills but it is available to everyone. I did find it: LAP BAND AP System Adjustable Gastric Banding System with Omniform Design is the title. On page 7, Step 8, Steps for Performing Adjustments. Last sentence. "If you cannot advance (the needle) then re-enter the port with another sterile needle". If that guy used the same needle, there you are. I hope this helps. I am sure there are others on here that know more about this and can give you more information.

I had surgery in August 2009. About November I started telling my doctor that I didn't think the band was working. I did lose 50 pounds but I was just dieting as normal. After 7 fills and March 2010 my doctor came to the conclusion that my band had a problem. April 1 I had my port replaced. It was a defect in the port from the get go. I have the surgery pictures and the port has been sent back. Since then I have had fills but not much motivation. I think I am near my sweet spot; but it still feels like a diet to me. You need to watch what you eat just like any other diet; but I sometimes feel that I am not getting enought fruits, veggies etc that I would in a regular diet. Plus you have the getting stuck to worry about. I have done WW in the past and done just as well. I just could not keep it off. Thus the band. I know I have a attitude problem right now. I just don't want the pre-op patients to think this is easy in any way shape or form. Sorry just a little rant because I am having a hard time right now. I know I will get back on the wagon just like we did when we dieted; but, I expected so much more. If you have had any sort of revision, would you please respond and tell me if you had this same type of feeling? Or just respond with some good ideas. Thanks for listening!!! P.S. A great weight watchers recipe with o points. Of course calories but they balance Fiber with calories to get points. It is call Healthy salad and is really good if you like cole slaw or chinese childen salad 4 cups shredded red or green cabbbage 1/2 medium English cucumber thinly sliced 1/2 medium red onion thinly sliced (I used much less) 1 large garlic clove thinly sliced ( I didn't use any) 1 medium green peppper thinly sliced 1 medium carrot thickly shredded Dressing: 1/2 tsp salt (or to your taste) 1/2 tsp black pepper 2 1/2 T. Sugar (I used splenda) 1 1/2 T. Apple Cider Vinegar 1 T olive oil 1 T Water (I thought this a little old but added it) 1 T fresh dill, chopped, optional) I did add this In a large bowl, combine cabbage, cucumber, onion, garlic, green pepper and carrot. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients and pour over vegetables and toss to coat. Chill in refrigerator, tossing once or twice for about an hour. Yields 1/2 cup per serving. I think next time I will add a little chicken for the Protein and it will taste almost like Chinese chicken salad minus the noddles. It was really good. Have a great day!!!