marketingdude

My theory is ...when you lose weight...your whole body shrinks (even your organs like the gallbladder). When you gallbladder shrinks...my theory is that the gallstones don't shrink causing there to be a greater likelihood of your gallstones wanting to pass through the tiny tube. Not sure of the specific name of the tube but you know when your having a gallstone attack because it will bring you to your knees. Big stone going through a small tube is not fun at all...TRUST ME !!!

What "pill" was it that he gave you? Never heard of such a pill....

Very interesting day today. Traveled 4 hours (one way) with my wife and I because it was the closest person who can do my aftercare. Was banded in Mexico. Here were the details: 1) Very surprised that .4 of a cc was actually in the band. The Nurse Practitioner said that is not surprising because they do test and put saline in the band to make sure its working and sometimes they don't get it all out. Dr. Kuri told us he was going to put no fill in the band at the time of surgery so needless to say this was a surprise for me personally. 2) She put a total of 1.4 cc's in the band total (including putting back the original .4 cc that was there at the time of surgery). My band has 4cc capacity as a whole. So as of now, my band is 35% full (yaaaah) 3) Very strange as she was putting the saline in, she told me to sit up and drink some Water as she was putting the saline in. She was testing if I can handle the increased pressure of the band once she started putting the saline in. Some people can handle it and some can't. I asked her why she asked me if I can handle it and she said: some people start sweating and get dizzy because of the increased pressure the band puts on the Vagus Nerve. I told her no...and I was fine. A strange question she asked me was: Do you feel less hungry as I'm pushing the saline in your band? I'm thinking....I wasn't hungry when I came in...so how can I feel less hungry as the she is putting in the saline. Just a strange question but maybe the band has this effect on some. 4) There were 5 total girls in the room with my belly and scars exposed to them all (while the she was injecting the saline in the port). Apparently, she was doing some training with the local girls at the Junior College who were in the Nursing Program. Although uncomfortable intially, I had fun with it and said: I didn't think today that I would drive 4 hours one way to eventually be in a room with 5 pretty girls looking at my belly (lol....they all laughed hard ) 5) Lastly, on the 4 hour drive home, I started to get dizzy and lightheaded. My wife being a nurse said the following: "I think your brain is finally feeling the effects of the band being tightened which has put a little more pressure on the Vagus Nerve. Without going through the Nursing Lingo...apparently, your blood pressure changes as well as your breathing which causes you to get a little dizzy or light headed when the Vagus Nerve has pressure on it. In closing, I'm so happy I got my first fill. Looking forward to working with this tool and making some adjustments to my lifestyle. One thing I have to do is discipline myself with Protein in the morning and not to exorcize late at night (8pm-10pm) because then I get hungry late and stay up late. Cheers to everyone on this Journey !! Thank you for everyone on this board (including my help mate, best friend and the love of my life) for helping me make this journey all possible

So far I had 2 12 oz protein shakes and some raman noodle soup. So far I'm not hungry at all (which is good). Going to work out now but I shouldn't be working out late (7pm-9pm) like I am. But..I will get this in order

Very interesting day today. Traveled 4 hours (one way) with my wife and I. It was a good trip. Here were the details: 1) Very surprised that .4 of a cc was actually in the band. The Nurse Practitioner said that is not surprising because they do test and put saline in the band to make sure its working and sometimes they don't get it all out. Dr. Kuri told us he was going to put no fill in the band at the time of surgery so needless to say this was a surprise for me personally. 2) She put a total of 1.4 cc's in the band total (including putting back the original .04 that was there at the time of surgery). My band has 4cc capacity as a whole. So as of now, my band is 35% full (yaaaah) 3) Very strange as she was putting the saline in, she told me to sit up and drink some Water as she was putting the saline in. She was testing if I can handle the increased pressure of the band once she started putting the saline in. Some people can handle it and some can't. I asked her why she asked me if I can handle it and she said: some people start sweating and get dizzy because of the increased pressure the band puts on the Vagus Nerve. I told her no...and I was fine. A strange question she asked me was: Do you feel less hungry as I'm pushing the saline in your band? I'm thinking....I wasn't hungry when I came in...so how can I feel less hungry as the she is putting in the saline. Just a strange question but maybe the band has this effect on some. 4) There were 5 total girls in the room with my belly and scars exposed to them all (while the she was injecting the saline in the port). Apparently, she was doing some training with the local girls at the Junior College who were in the Nursing Program. Although uncomfortable intially, I had fun with it and said: I didn't think I would drive 4 hours one way to have 5 pretty girls in one room....looking at my belly (lol....they all laughed hard) 5) Lastly, on the 4 hour drive home, I started to get dizzy and lightheaded. My wife being a nurse said the following: "I think your brain is finally feeling the effects of the band being tightened which has put a little more pressure on the Vagus Nerve. Without going through the Nursing Lingo...apparently, your blood pressure changes as well as your breathing which causes you to get a little dizzy or light headed when the Vagus Nerve has pressure on it. In closing, I'm so happy I got my first fill. Looking forward to working with this tool and making some adjustments to my lifestyle. One thing I have to do is discipline myself with Protein in the morning and not to exorcize late at night (8pm-10pm) because then I get hungry late and stay up late. Cheers to everyone on this Journey !! Thank you Dr. Kuri for helping us make this journey possible

I second Dr. Kuri in Tijuana. I did much research on him and he is the only one I truly feel safe with. He actually cares for his patients (you can see it through personally talking to him) and his videos on Youtube. After having surgery there about 7 weeks ago (and having my first fill today actually), I can honestly say my suspicious were correct about him. P.S. He even called me at my hotel at the Marriot just to make sure I'm doing ok and that he is here for me. It was funny....when the van driver stopped by the hospital in the morning to pick up some other people to go to the airport....SURPRISE AGAIN....he shook everyones hands. Purely, a class act. That said...do your own research as I'm sure there other great LB Doctors in Mexico. To replace a band...it cost me $5500 but he might have a special at the beginning of the year (e.g. $5000). He did this last year and he was strict on only in the month of January.

I have a 4 CC band and although I can pretty much eat anything....if I eat too much...my band definately lets me know. I'm thinking if I get a .5 cc fill (in a 4cc band which equals a 20% fill) I'm sensing I would feel something different but who knows. It is my hope that you do feel a little less hungry than I do know. But I do still need to get in a habit to take my Protein drinks every morning when I wake up. This must be done Any other thougths out there?

Thought I would give everyone an update and also check in to see how you all are doing. Going for my first fill tomorrow. Have to drive 4 hours (one way) to get this done. The lady seems nice and it looks like it will be $195 for the first intial visit and $95 for follow-up fills. In terms of weightloss...I'm still stuck at around 10-13 lbs of weight loss (which is discouraging) so I'm hoping a fill will help with some of the weightloss. I just need to get better at my responsibility rather than relying on the band help with the weightloss. Admitedly...I have failed at my responsibility. The good news is...this leg of the lapband journey is a new season (living and going for fills). 2 Questions For You All: 1) Have you gotten your fills yet? If so..what was your experience afterwords in terms of your body adjusting to new food portions? 2) Any good news on the weightloss part of your journey so far? I

Eating wise....I'm wondering how things are going to change. As of right now, I can pretty much eat anything outside of thick bread type of substances. Thoughts/Opinions?

What kind of change can one expect being in the greenzone? I would love to hear from experienced bandsters such as yourself. Especially ones that have traveled this road before. Thanks Sis, MD

This hits home to me....I've been cheating a little bit in terms of eating past 7pm. Many thanks for the reminder.....as it is important to develop good habits post op as it will have long term benefits. Cheers brother ! P.S. How is everyone else doing?

I love that part you mentioned above in blue. Very good disciplined habit and a good way of preparing for your journey. Thanks for the reminder and tip as it is much appreciated. Moving forward, I have a choice for fill doctors and there are pro's and cons to both. One is 1.5 hours (the good) a way and the other is 4 hours away (the bad). However, the one that is closer is very conservative with fills (I mean very conservative according to my brother). The other is much more aggressive. I'm trying to decide which doctor to go to and I'm leaning towards the closer doctor just in case of an emergency....even though the fill costs will be higher do to his conservative fill philosophy. But I think that is balanced out with savings in gas and the comfort to know that you have a doctor that is close just in case of that emergency.

How are all of us that got Dr. Kuri's surgery doing? I'm on a holding pattern with 13-15lbs weight loss. I wish it would be more...but have literally hit a road block the last 2 weeks with weight loss. On my part, I think my weight loss will improve if I stick to the 1200 calorie diet (which sometimes I do and sometimes I don't) and my first couple of fills should improve weight loss as well. This is really just a tool...we have to work hard and discipline ourselves. Hoping everyone's band journey is successful and that everyone is transitioning nicely. P.S. My port area is a lot better now. A couple of antibiotics did the trick... Thoughts/Opinions?

I know he knows what he is doing as he is the expert...but I heard some negative information regarding 4cc Alergang Lapband. Am I missing something here? Surgery went great by the way...very impressed being that is is Iijuana, Mexico. Blessings, MD

Let me clarify....the incision spot (where the port is suppose to be) is not sore.....it is about 2-3 inches away from where the port incision is. I know this because the doctor said this is the area where the port is placed when pointing to the incision site. I'm trying to discern why the area (2-3 inches away from the port incision) is sore and not the incision site itself. Is it possible the port was stiched 2-3 inches aware from the incision area and this is why this area is sore and not the incision site?

Thanks for sharing this informative article Sally. Loved it very much !!! Continued success, MD

In researching this further....it seems the port area is more sore because of the stitching and you have to watch out for infection and redness to occur in that area. If it increases...some may have to get some antibiotics. Many say that this soreness goes away around 4th-5th week post op. Interesting as we are learning everyday what living with the band is like. Again...some of these experiences can differ depending on surgeon that did the surgery. P.S. The port area feels like a "pinching or a slight "tearing" feeling and it looks like a very small bump has formed which is probably the port area.

For what it is worth...I've started having a lot of headaches before surgery. Through investingating...I finally traced it to my fan actually. Since my wife and I have the fan going on in our room when we sleep, I noticed some buildup (which looked like a combination of dust and mold or fungus or something). I traced this from my wife having the humidifyer going on (to moisten the air) while the fan was going 24-7 and sometimes having the air conditioner on at the same time. Needless to say...I cleaned the fan and the headaches were gone. Not saying this is your issue but thought I would share this as I've never had this happen to me before. Good luck !

Interesting....everything you are saying seems to fit me my situation exactly. Sounds like everything is normal. The rest of my stomach is seems like its healed perfectly ....except for that one area. Being that I'm not a guru bandster...wasn't sure if this was normal and an expected situation post surgery. Any other thoughts out there?

A couple of us are about 2 weeks post op from Dr. Kuri's surgery. I'm curious if any of you have a sore/tender spot still right where the port incision site is. What is strange for me is my incision area is not sore but about 2-3 inches away from where the port incision is still very tender. I'm curious if any of you are experiencing the same thing. I know this is the area Dr. Kuri put the port in as he pointed to the incision site where he said he placed the port. What is strange is the incision site is not sore at all...but 2-3 inches away from the incision site it still is. Hope you all are doing well !!!! Thoughts/Opinions?

No but thank you for your input. Although I don't make a practice of it...it seems like you can almost eat anything right now....

I'm having a hard time sticking to liguids too but I'm trying. I feel like I could eat anything with my band now...but trying hard not take advantage of my freedoms that I could enjoy. Still a little tender on my left side of my stomach area where the port is...but its getting better. Just noticed that we all got banded by Dr. Kuri within 2 days of each other. Perhaps we can encourage each other through this thread and post active status updates. What do you think? P.S. I'm down 10lbs so far and admittedly not sticking full to my diet so far. Also...I'm shooting baskets and riding the bike every other day....but not trying to force it to promote healing. God bless you all !

This is actually good to know in terms of the adjustment that we will have to make after the first fill. This is why it is so important to really practice good habits to chew your food slow and take small bites now. Thanks for sharing this little nugget and insight as we will all benefit ! You are always very poignant in your posts I've noticed. Thanks Again ! Blessings, MD

I love your transparency and detailed insights into what has driven you to be as successful as you are. How old are you now by the way. Congrats Again !!!

Just one question because I used to run 15 miles a week and be as disciplined as you back in college: Where did that level of drive come from to aid you in the disciplined habits that you have now? It had to come from somewhere? I'm jealous (in a good way) of the focus and drive you have now as I used to have it. It is a mindset that comes from within. Unfortunately, back in college, that extreme level of drive came from Illegal substances (i.e. steroids) that I took 10 weeks at a time (once a year over a 3 year period). As un-proud as I am to admit this...it is the truth. Now at the age of 38 (married and older) there is not even a chance I would even consider that again. The only thing I can think of (i.e. where you drive is coming from) is you must have been overweight your entire life.......and once you got the lapband.....A SWITCH OUT OF NOWHERE was the trigger that explains your level of drive, discipline and focus. P.S. 9 days post-op, I've lost 9lbs so far and have noticed an energy decrease in the morning. And many others have experienced an energy decrease since banding. So Please do tell us how your focus, disciplined has evolved since you have been banded. Did you notice the drive and focus had increased when the weight came off or did you always have it from Day 1? Any little subtle insights would greatly be appreciated. Continued Success Joel, MD