AlienBandit

I am Canadian too and I wanted the band so bad for years before I got it (researched for 8 years). When I asked some docs it was 20-25,000!! I have a sweet tooth too, but I could usually control it. I was overweight because of my portion sizes and not so much cuz I ate sweets non-stop. Doctors usually suggest that if you are a sweets kind of person the band is not the best idea because sweets are sliders. That is when they more suggest the sleeve for people because it makes the over all stomach smaller and not just giving you a pouch. Maybe see a doc and see what he suggests but the sleeve might be a good idea too. If you are freaked out by the whole cutting your stomach there is sleeve plication where they just stitch the stomach smaller. Either way, even if you talk to docs in Canada I would look into places like Mexico too because it is way cheaper. I got banded in Korea because I have lived here for some years now and the price was so much more affordable.

Yea my doc said my pouch was a little stretched but still gave me a fill ?? He doesnt seem concerned and since the liquid we watched went thru my band fast clearly I needed a fill..... idk

when I was rebanded, I had sex a week post op and a few days later someone asked this question and I was like ohhh yea I had sex without even worrying like a week after. Sometimes, other things are more on your mind

I used to have to have my ketosis monitored for a weight loss clinic I went to. It was easy to cheat the system because if I did the 2 day hollywood diet on a liquid you must drink for 2 days and nothing else, my numbers were always so good. I did this when I fell off the weight loss wagon and didnt want to get in trouble for not losing weight. It always confused the nurses why I had good numbers meaning I should be losing weight but I wasnt. Seemed like a smart idea at the time because it helped me eat what I wanted and still got to look like I was working hard. Clearly it didnt help me in the end because I got fat again and was banded. But anyways if you do the detox diet for 2 days it could help.

For me my tummy tuck was now or never so I did it at the age of 25. I dont regret it and all I see is if I need another tummy tuck it is a reason to start fresh with a new stomach. I am young and want to enjoy life with a nice bod which I never had in high school. I even got new boobs. I am not sure I can afford that later.

I would tell your doc about this. You might be overfilled or have problems with acid reflux. Sometimes i get night coughs but if I take meds for acid reflux in the am before any food I am ok and dont need an unfill. Sometimes your band just gets a little swollen and we dont really realize at first. It could be from a day of over eating or eating something that is hard for your band to work with. I would do 2 days liquids and def see the doc. Maybe have an endoscope? when is the last time you did that?

I drink and it isnt a problem. Yes there are calories wasted but I am usually so tight the next day I eat basically nothing so I feel it evens out. I dont even think about the band when I drink. Maybe its because ive been banded for a while now.

I dont tell anyone I am banded. I also try to keep it from any new boyfriends for a long as possible just because it is my body and do we need to tell them of all allergies, food preferences etc? No? Well ok then carry on. When I go out for meals, if it is something that is hard to eat I have a tea before or something to help open me up. I try to choose places that have more sliders ( like curry) or Soups so I can fill up on those. Since I am 20 lbs from my goal weight and on the high side of a healthy BMI I can say I eat like a bird and its ok. I also tend to use oh im not that hungry excuse or try to share a meal. If I go out some meal ideas are salads, soups, curry, high in veggie meals, etc. The thing that works the best for me to get outta stares is sharing meals.

I am sorry you are having problems. At first my fills were not painful but I had my port moved under my muscle and even with my doc and me under an xray machine he still couldnt find my port. Somtimes I would wait until Ihad a surgery so he would fill me while I was under because usually it took up to 30 minutes 2-3 needles and me crying in pain. I had my port moved again after 16 months and now I could do fills myself it is in such a good spot. As for restriction all docs are different when it comes to fills. Some are safe and do 1cc at a time etc or some fill you up according to your restriction. I knew someone a low bmi 11cc band got 9cc her first fill! I choose my fill amount and used to go 1-2cc at a time but now so .2-.5cc for fills.

I would maybe try a port relocation before trying to remove the band if you are pg. My port stuck out sooooo bad so I had it moved under my muscle but then fills became too painful and I nearly passed out each time. So I had my port moved again after 16 months and now it is in a good spot, fills are a breeze ( my doc poked me and I didnt even realize it, I was still freaking bout the fill hurting and he said well im halfway done the fill already). Where is your port btw?

Gosh I am not yet 3 years out ( a few months shy!) but man do I need to recommit. I was doing fine for quite some time but then started plastics then hopped back on board only to meet a great guy that satified all my sweet tooth desires ( I live in Korea off base no access to western food). Anyways his moto was clearly "love em and leave em...... FAT" because I am up 8 lbs from when we first met a few months back and now I need to lose that plus the 10 lbs I am already away from my goal weight. I am recovering yet again from another few surgeries, but come 2 weeks post op ( 11 more days to go) I swear I am going to super glue myself to that band wagon. Here's me : Banded Oct 2009 band removed due to erosion Feb 2010 replaced July 2010 (Maintained the whole time!) Starting weight 95kg highest ever 99ish? now 75 (swollen from surgery, went into it at 73) lowest 69kg (after 3 months of overfill hell) target 65kg. So who's the driver of this thing? I swear I won't be a back seat driver!

After I was banded people were asking me all the time how I was llosing weight, but since I was eating smaller portions and skipping out on all night drink fests to go gyming early am the next morning, they could see how I was losing weight. I kind of felt like a fraud when it came to my friends who were heavier that were really struggling so those were the only ones I told. They were totally supportive of what I was doing and even got the band themselves! However everyone else I didnt tell. I mean not even my family knows im banded still!

Your port is located near your biggest incision which is usually in your belly bottom. Since you are so newly banded as another person said I guess it is your port that is hurting. It is stitched to your muscle and can be sore up to a month after the surgery. My port is to the left of my belly buttom and a little down. It hurt for a few weeks post op

First of all you should NOT be drinking to get food to pass. This is a very BAD habit and it can hurt your stomach ( stretching) if you keep this up in the long run. First take smaller bites and WAIT more time between bites. Secondly, if you do get stuck (this sounds weird but) lift you left arm above your head or do the chicken dance ( needed for your left arm) this somehow helps some people to get the food to pass or do jumping jacks ( my band is a secret so I lift my left arm and play with my hair like I am fluffing the top back or something so it isnt obvious) The pain in your back is kind of like the shoulder pain some people talk about. I used to get it but now I dont. When you are stuck it feels like food is stuck in your esophagus. Non bandsters would drink Water but we are not supposed to.

I was banded on a Saturday and went back to work on the Monday. I am a teacher so I found moving around helped. I didnt even tell my work I had the band done!

I have had my tongue pierced for 8 years now. I have swallow the balls for tongue piercings maybe 3 times. Sometimes they get loose and once the plastics ones are old, they more easily some undone. I have been banded 2 years now and I can't remember if I swallow a ball since then. Maybe once? Clearly it was not a traumatizing event. Maybe my band likes me? I am pretty friggen tight with my fill and even though food gets stuck sometimes the dreaded gum didnt get stuck when I accidentally swallowed it once either. Maybe you should see what your doc says about this. My advice would be to replace your barballs often, esp if they wear fast ( if they are plastic)

For my doctors office large is the 14cc band. The 10cc lapband ap is the "small (s)" the (L) is 14cc.

The Lapband AP series is a 10cc band (s) or a 14cc band (L) Some doctors say they are 11cc or 15 cc taking into account that 1cc could sit in the tubing of the band. I have the lapband ap s band and saw my paperwork that says it is 10cc. With the SAG band ( version before realize) I know of some people that have nearly 11cc in it ( its an 11cc band) and the doctor said they could go a little over the 11cc amount because some saline sits in the tubing. I know many people who are banded and have never met someone with a full band. The 4cc band is sometimes still used in Mexico hence why some doctors are cheaper down there because that band is an older version and cheaper to use.

There are tons of posts here where people have stated their blogs. It is go great to read about others experiences. My blog has gotten a little crazy. It WAS about the band but then there were complications, removal, rebanding, and plastics that it is now not only about the band but struggles with the post op life 10 lbs from goal, living in a foreign country, all while keeping all surgeries a secret from the world. Anyways it is in my signature

I love gum and would die if I was told not to chew it. This is a big debate here and though I read of people who know of a person who's friend chewed gum had a stuck episode and had to have emergency surgery, I have yet to read of someone on here who this has happened to personally. I have accidentally swallowed gum 2 times since being banded. The second time I was mega overfilled and could barely take in any Water for weeks ( there was an issue with my doc and couldnt get unfilled) and yet the gum didnt cause a problem. My doc also isnt against chewing gum and sometimes even offers me some if I am chatting with him and he is about to have some.

I have had vertigo for 7 years now. It came suddenly one day. I woke up, sat up and my whole body went limp my vision got dark and I fell back in bed. It got worse and worse when finally I went to the ER a week later and after 4 hours of tests no one could figure out what was wrong. I called my mom to btw her and she said why are you in the hospital its just vertigo! Apparently it can be hereditary? My mom and grandmother had it. I have learned to live with it. You just have to know your triggers (mine are looking up looking left or standing up too fast). If you find it is getting bad, don't sleep lying down at night. If I hit my head ( ie fall down from skking or something not vertigo related) I know I must sleep sitting propped up for a few days or I trigger it. Sometimes I wake up with it so i know I didnt sleep good the night before. Sometimes a drastic change in weather pressure causes it too. Dont worry, you will be able to live a normal life with it once you manage it. There are many different types of vertigo, what kind are you?

Ive been a veg for 10 years. I did a few years vegan, and then slowly started eating seafood, dairy and eventaully chicken on occasion ( I live in a country that is very red meat loving). Mostly I eat a lot of Soups, stews, tofu based meals, chili, salads, etc. There are tons of recipes if you look up vegetarian low carb meals (how i try to eat). Just google it and try a few things out.

It depends on what kind of "Chinese" food you are asking about. Chinese food is different in every country. The Chinese food in Korea is totally different then the Chinese food in China. Even in China there is the foreigners Chinese food and the Chinese peoples Chinese food. Over all speaking most people can eat rice and noodles at some point post op. Day 4 pre op wouldnt be a big deal to cave but this is a long journey you should try to stick to the plan now. Rice over all should be avoided because it can expand in your stomach once you have eaten it which is not good. Other things in the Chinese food like veggies ( easy) meats ( some easy some hard) and sauces (easy) are different for everyone

I go in phases of liking to work out. Tell me I can't and I want to ( ie post op a surgery), tell me I must and I don't feel like it. This feeling reminds me of when I was a kid and my parents would tell me to clean my room. If they did, I would get annoyed and not want to. If they didn't I would keep it clean on my own. Apparently I really hate being told what to do. Anyways I agree with above posters. If you dont enjoy the workout you are doing now try something else. See if you like curves or do classes. It is not going to be fun if it is a chore.

I swear my scale hated me too. I was the same weight forever and then I think 2 weeks post op suddanly I was 5 lbs lighter over night and then within 4 days I believe I dropped like 20 lbs. Your body is reacting to the major surgery you just had. Focus on resting worry about the scale later