Sweet Caroline

Who was the lawyer, I'd love to give the referral to my girlfriend who's insurance company is really messing around with her. THANKS!!

I was banded on Aug 4, 2007. I've lost 35 lbs. My weight loss was slow at the beginning because it took me until Christmas to figure out that I needed to be aggressive and get fills until I'm restricted enough to lose weight at a respectable pace. I've lost 25lbs. since Christmas. I'm looking great, everyone is noticing. This band has changed my life. I'm so much healthier, have so much energy and feel very optimistic about my life. Weight was always the one thing holding me back. I'm a compulsive overeater. The band has "cured" that, and it's frightening sometimes because my buddy (food) is gone. I've put my chin up and moved on from food now. And I'm happier than I've ever been. I strict with myself and keep my band pretty tight, and I'm losing. The LAP BAND is the best gift I've ever given myself or my family. LIFE IS GREAT !!

I was just searching for any posts involving jaw pain - which I get right about the same time I have that "golf ball" swallowing feeling. Usually when I'm not eating slow enough, or taking small enough bites. The jaw pain is extreme! I was wondering if anyone else gets it. So I did a search on "jaw Pain" and it turned up some results. BUT how do I locate the specific individual posts about "jaw Pain" when my search results lead me to a thread that has hundreds of posts???? Is there a way to find the particular area of interest quickly without reading through EVERYTHING??? Thanks! PS - anyone else have this jaw pain???

Hi guys, I'm going to call Monday, and ask for my 3rd fill!! Yes 3, and I've only had the band for 7 weeks!!! I just have absolutely NO restriction!! It is very frustrating, and I'm very grateful to read that others are going through this same phenomenon. I thought I was "doing it wrong". So far I have 1.5 CC's in my Inamed 10 band. I really hope my doctor can squeeze me in before my upcoming vacation to the Outer Banks - which is the last week of Sept. I'm so afraid that the trip would turn into an eat-fest!! Old habits die hard. Sign me: Feeling Unbanded in New England

Hi guys, I had my first fill last Wednesday (6th) and I'm having my second one this Wednesday - only a week apart. I called the office and begged. I have no restriction whatsoever. I feel like I'm back at Diet Center and trying like hell to stick to a "diet", despite my body cravings and head cravings and all the fun sinful food looking at me and calling my name at society's gatherings.... It's awful. I can't help but mentioning that I'm pretty proud of myself for not going off the wagon. I'm going to succeed, dammit! Regardless of what life throws my way on this journey. (how's that for a self pep talk???) So I am having my second fill just a week after the first, just six weeks after surgery. Hopefully it will help. I almost look forward to PB's and the like, isn't that crazy !! I will update my numbers once I get on the scale tomorrow. I don't expect much in the way of weight loss, but I'm also not expecting a gain either, which for me right now, is a MAJOR victory. Thanks for listening.....

Kristen, just out of curiosity, how did you end up at Mercy?? I didn't know that they did these surgeries there. I'm about the same age as you and I've been married 1 1/2 years! My hubby has been a wonderful supporter of my journey with this surgery. GOOD LUCK to you! I'm sure you'll do very, very well.

Hi there, I had my surgery Aug. 4th with Dr. Haag at Baystate Medical. I had my first fill today. 1CC. I'm very grateful for this band....counting my blessings, which are many. Caroline

Hi to all, I am getting ready for my 1st fill on Wednesday. I am not feeling any restriction right now, regardless of what I eat. I can't wait for my fill so that I can begin losing again. Lately I've been just white knuckling it and dieting. I'm very pleased that my scars are really light and seem to be healing so well. I don't feel any pain around my port now either. Hope everyone is feeling good as well. THANKS!

socalgal3 - Hooray! You are doing so well! I have my first fill on Wednesday. You are near my height/weight and age so I'm going to try and watch your progress. I'm so exicted for my first fill. Lately I feel like I haven't even had this surgery. In the last week or two, I've felt no restriction and have been eating plenty. Cross your fingers for me!!

No - 3loves - I think SHE earned hers the "old fashioned" way !!

I have a gorgeous, white, Mercedes E430... I've driven Mercedes since I was in my early 20's. I worked in Florida with this girl at a restaurant. She drove a BMW. We were both just out of college. I said, "How the heck do you afford a BMW?" She looked me square in the eye, and said, "If you set your mind to it, you can accomplish anything". That statement by her made me so determined. I bought my first mercedes, a pre-owned black beauty, for $15K a year later. Then, I was telling the story to a mututal friend. Telling my friend how this girl's determination and perserverence had lit a fire under me and motivated me. And my friend said, "She sleeps with the manager. He bought it for her" !!!!! Stupid me. I was thinking she was giving me advice on how to save money....

Hi Lisa, I will be wishing you well, and curious to hear what advice you are given on here. I was banded on 8/4/06, and would like to have more children. So I'm very curious about this topic. Much love to you!!

Jessica, I was banded on 8/4 and I am experiencing the same thing as you are. I don't feel any restriction now, it's almost like I don't have a band and I'm just on a diet. I'm assured that that will change with the first fill. I've also had some painful PB's and once I thought I was going to heave, but painfully, the food worked down. Stay in touch Jessica and let's do well !!

I do not see the state by state link that Atty. Viscio is referencing when I click his link. I would be very interested in seeing that. Does anyone have FIRST HEALTH???

I lived on ionamin for over 10 years, and was committed to an ambitious excercise regimen and was able to take off 100lbs at age 25 and keep it off. I had gotten obese in high school/college days. When I got pregnant with my first child at 37, I gained 80lbs. and could not take the drug. After that baby, I turned to the lap band and excercise to get back to a normal range. Pick your poison. They are both good remedies. The ionamin does not work to the extent that the lap band does. It only takes the "edge" off of your hunger. Your own willpower does the rest - if you have willpower and committment. What drugs were prescribed to you folks? Personally, Ive been on them all, including fen phen, and am so happy that there are now surgical alternatives. I DO feel much more comfortable without those drugs in my system, BUT people who are diabetic or whatever take drugs every day to control their conditions and to live a better quality of life. I see our drugs/surgeries as the same thing. We undertake these tools to help us live a healthier, better quality of life. If someone needs a prescription to get through a rough patch during their lap band days, have at it!! God helps those who help themselves.

What a coincidence that you were operated just before me. My surgery time was 1:30, and he was running ahead of schedule. By any chance, do you know what brand and size of band he uses? I've read on this forum much talk about the different brands/sizes of bands, and I'm wondering what ours are. I, too, am very happy thus far with my surgery results. Did Dr. Haag require you to go on a pre-op diet? It seems like everyone on here was required to go on one, and I never even heard a word about that concept! I'm eating all regular food now. Had fish last night. I'm eating less for sure, but not because of feeling any restriction. I fit into some size 16 capris yesterday that haven't fit me in over a year!! Yay! Keep in touch for sure. I will enjoy hearing about your progress!

AUGUST 2006 I would love to hear from everyone banded this month! I am on Day 14. Had some semi solid food today (ground up hamburger and some salad). To be honest, I could eat without any feeling of restriction. Is this normal? I was expecting it to feel so different. I heard so much about how I'd have to chew and chew and chew. But I didn't find that to be the case. I heard that I wouldn't be able to eat salad - it went down fine and tasted good. SO much better than those gross, gross, gross God-forsaken SHAKES !! I'm soooo OD'd on those that just the smell makes me nauseous. I'm thinking of trying some diet coke, because Lord knows I'm really jonesing for that. I used to have 6 or 7 a day between diet coke and diet sprite. I have not tried any because I heard in all the support group meetings about what havoc it causes. But I feel like I'm cruising along. Then I get this feeling: hey, I'm trying to turn a new leaf here and create a new way of eating and drinking. I shouldn't have soda. But it is calorie free, and I certainly read much, much worse food items openly discussed on these boards as regular menu items for bandsters which shock me. They are so high calorie (like spare ribs). So what's a little diet sprite??? Am I in the right mindset here? I'd appreciate hearing from some of you who are very successful in losing weight with your band - what should I be eating at day 14 (for the next few days and weeks) if I want to be successful like you??? Please give it to me straight - I can take it!! What the "skinny" on doing great, yet maintaining your sanity and not feeling like a freak? At my OB-GYN appt on day 11, I was down 10 pounds from my surgery day weight. That's great, but as I transition to solid food, I want to keep losing the FLAB!! Some other questions are: When will I start to feel restriction? And am I doing myself a disservice by having hamburger so early on here? The protein shakes were grossing me out so bad, I haven't had a single one in 48 hours, so I went to the burger to get protein. Also, will I always be consious of my port? It kinda jumps out at me when I smooth over my stomach area. My husband calls it my "doorbell"!! I'm so grateful for this band, and for this forum to learn, share, and blow off some steam! THANKS EACH AND EVERY ONE!

LOKILUVR - Dr. Haag does a top notch job. He's also not as strict as some of the surgeons that you read about on here, making it less pressure for you as the patient. BLUEHILL - How do you know the brand/size of your band? I have wondered what mine is, and I don't recall Dr. Haag mentioning it???

VLP: Just the fact that you thought out those seven reasons tells me that you have a bit of each !! Be easier on yourself. And good luck my dear!

Robin ~ many thanks for taking the time to give me your view. You are only 2 days ahead of me, but you still offer valuable rationale. I appreciate it !!

Could someone please enlighten me...what is the controversy about eating salad? I'm two weeks into this. Is there advice against eating lettuce -y salad? If so, what is the reason. THANKS !!!

The results of this poll are very comforting to me!!

Signature check!

I took the baby for a walk today. Good excercise, and it got her to sleep!

Just curious, where is the obesity walk?