BayougirlMrsS

that is sooooo important. Listen to your body. Don't worry about the fill.... it doesn't hurt at all you will fill a stick, but other than that pretty pain free. After he will give you a glass of Water to gulp down to see how you feel. All dr. do them differently. Mine places a roll pillow under the back, this pushing the port up which makes it easier to find and fill. So do it with a crunch ... so do it with fluoroscope. I also find that the people that have used it as it's intended have more success.... don't rely souly on the band... get moving... even if it's just walking.... the pounds will pour off...

@ Trust in the fact that im noooooo expert, i can only tell you what i have had and most of the LB people i know. I want you guys to be amazing successes with this so WE can shove it down everyone throat that LB is a great surgery and can/does have long term success.

@@janedoe92 I know it is annoying.... but they are your family and they worry about you... I'm sure she thinks she is helping. I know it's a pain in the a$$, but just nod and say, Thanks Antie.. but i went through all the classes, did all my research and i'm prepared for this. Are you can go the other rout and start word vomiting all the info you have and show her how prepared you are. Good lucky sweetie

@ @@TiredOfMyself i get them when i over eat or eat a little too fast..... it's a sign to stop.. when you hiccup the first time.... stop eating... You may also get a slight pain in your left shoulder.... hey will go away. Just keep in mind when it happens what you were doing and how much you had eaten. Hope this helps

@@weneebug Right now i only have 2cc... I had a complete unfill last month when my band decided to tighten up due to some stress. Then God the dr. is also a close personal friend. He fills me when i want at no charge... thank god. Right now it's hard because you really don't have any restriction and so you will be hungry.... it's call Band Hell. Just stick to the program... it will all work out. Take the pictures.... @ @@weneebug I'm just going to let you guys know... don't be expecting a lot from your first few fills.... Unless your dr. is agressive. Most put in 1cc.. Maybe 2 at the most at a time. You would think wow that's a lot... but it really is not.... It took till fill 5 i think at about 7.5cc i think for me to really start to fill it but trust in the process.... and remember... exercise... and what you put into your band is what you get out of it.

My sister in law is a great example of this..... She went down to Mex about 9 years ago and had the band placed. She did fine at first... Lost some weight, but then stopped and started gaining it back. So she went to a dr. in NOLA that said she had a hernia (not sure what that had to do with it) but that he could see some issues with her band and that it was too small for her and would replace it when he did the surgery. And so he did... he placed a New band and again... it worked for a while and then stopped. By then i had my band placed Nov. 2009 and was have great success (still have it and still, knock wood, keeping weight off). So now i know how the band works and how to eat... blah blah blah.... and i noticed that she would eat chips, candy, ice cream... Instead of "food". So i ask, she said it was the only thing she could keep down... So when we did get together she would complain about her band not working. I suggested she go see my dr and see if he could help her. So she did and when he told her nothing was wrong with the band and that she need to see a PHY about her eating habits and underlying issues with food... Well that didn't go over and she said he was a quack and never went back..... Fast forward to two-ish years ago... she found a dr. willing to remove her band and do GB... This time was better, she lost and lost fast... had all kinds of PS for the skin... life was good for her..... THEN, it started happening again.... Yes she has stated gaining the weight back again.... So that's Three WLS for her.... I told my brother that it would happen again when i saw her eating... and sure nuff i was right. I read about many of the issues with the lap band while I was intially researching WLS. It seems that some bands were made of substandard materials, prone to corrosion or improperly fitted to begin with. In those cases, i can understand not wanting to have something literally rusting or corroding on my insides. As for the rest of it, I'm inclined to agree. I saw a post from a lap band to sleeve revision patient who has regained the weight and is now trying to qualify for a bypass. Personally, I think it would be malpractice to continue to operate on someone who obviously has an underlying issue that surgery will not address. It might not be the answer that is popular, but all of the procedures work. Not following the diet is the part that doesnt work. Huat eaeloer today there was someone inquiring about revision, and asking about eating mashed potatoes on liquids. I'm deff not saying that the band doesn't have it problems... of course it does. But for me, i think a lot of it is user error. If you don't follow the rules it won't work no matter what. I learned this a couple years ago when i fell off the wagon and started eating the slider foods... but when i couldn't fit into my jeans... I looked with in and saw what I... was doing. Not the band... Me, the band wan't making me by chip and ice cream.. I was. Hopped back on the wagon, lost the 20 and 15 more. My friend Tami had the sleeve a year before my LB and has gained most of her weight back...Friend Jenny had the GB in 1999 and has gain at least 50lbs back. It happens... sometimes i think we all get a little comfortable and lose site of who we are and where we are in life and it just gets away from us... Do i support the revision for "actual" complications... YES.... But, sometimes it's so much easier to blame things and others for our failures instead of looking with in and taking ownership of our actions. In some cases i think the dr's are too willing to just go onto the next surgery and in some cases the next.... All about the dollar in some cases.... which ever the case, i wish everyone continued success and always remember..... What you put into it, is what you get out of it....

@weneebug @Rusti Jacobs I was trying to remember when was the first fill after surgery... I want to say some where aroung 4-6 weeks. Things to remember to ask: What kind and size band? Did you put any fill in at time of placement? Ask for your Band card.... Mine says .... My Lap-Band Journey Patient ID Card.. Lap-Band AP System... and the back says all your information... Your band's ID#, your name, date of surgery, dr , his #, band size and the max fill... This will also help at some restaurants. If you show them your card they will sometimes give you a discount or allow you to eat off the kids menu. I normally ask the manager upfront if he will allow me to eat off the kids menu... show my card and 99% of the time they will at no extra charge. The reason you want to know size and how much is in... is so you can keep track of what you have in your band. Also, my dr took front and side pic at each visit... ask for a copy or if they don't mind taking one with your camera/phone for your records. I became obsessed with my scale.... i weigh myself nearly everyday... Still do. Just remember somedays will be good and some wont. What's important is to remember what you ate the day before and either write it down or make a mental note to be mindful of what you ate and try to avoid again. But, on my month... for me it was the 10th i would step on the scale and take a pic of the weight and kept for my records. Take pictures of yourself... you will not see the difference... but everyone else will. I wish i had taken a pic each month in the same outfit... something fitted... like bra and panties or yoga pants and a tight shirt... just to see your progress. I had a friend that kept and stuck to the wall the pants size tape... You know the ones on the pants or jeans that says the size... rip them off and stick to your closet wall... to see your progress. Keep the largest size and use as a tool to compare your new sizes... I did do this. it was amazing to see a size 18 next to a size 6. Now im a size 4-6 http://www.bariatricpal.com/gallery/image/91454-from-an-18-to-an-6-2/ Set attainable goals... 5-10lbs a month. I know this doesn't sound like a lot, but trust that it is... 5lbs for one year is 60lbs, and 120 if you do 10 a month. I lost on average 5 per month the first year... the remaining years were 2ish per month... and this last year i was able to finally lose the remaining 15 that got me to 100lbs lost. The first few months were hard.... you will be hungry, you prob won't see the scale going down like GB or Sleeve patients... but trust in the process. I promise you will be the better for it. You are in charge of your WL... You say when. It took me 5 fills to get to my green... but when i got there... bliss.... Exercise: This is sooooo important. Some people sit back and think that WLS will do all the work... and for some it does. But i have found the people that exercised, and i mean realllyyyy worked at it... had the best results and have kept it off. I worked out 5 days a week. I went right after work and did my 1-2 hours... i started with zumba classes, then worked up to body pump and combat... then i started with weights.... SOOOO important if you want your skin to hopefully go back. if not you'll prob be left with lots of sagging skin. Not to say you won't have any, but "I" believe it truly makes a difference. I lost 100lbs and the only PS i needed was my stomach. I had had two c-sections, gallbladder, hysterectomy and LB surgeries... no matter how hard i worked the stomach went no where... so i had a TT Feb 2012. Eating: if you have not already, go out and buy the kids plate, spoon, fork, cup.... you know the cartoon ones with the three sections.... Protein in the largest, veg and starch in the other two. I cut up all my protein in bites no bigger than the nail on my pinky finger... i ate that first, then the veggies and if i had room the starch. Remember to take a bite put down the fork then... chew chew chew. If you can, never eat in front of the tv, while reading, deep conversations... etc. Try and avoid any distractions.... you will forget and not chew and swallow... and OMG. NOOOOO drinking while eating... very important. I hope im not coming across as pushy... these are thing i did and wish i had did.... I hope it help you girls in some way. I wish you both the best of luck... Bayou.... Chris

@ & @@weneebug Welcome to your new "banded" life.... 7 years has passed for me and life with the band is great.... I started at 230 and i now weight 130... I was fortunate in that i didn't gain a pound back.... till year 4ish i think... it was a ruff year and i put on 20lbs. but i got my a$$ back in gear and lost that 20 plus 15ish more... I want to say in July of 2014 i was at 160ish... after i had gotten to 140ish.... i couldn't fit my fav jeans and i said.... ohhhh hell no. I didn't work as hard as i did to lose it just to gain it back... I was not going to be one of "those people" that gain it back. I'm so happy that there are new band members here.... you know this site use to be for only bandsters.... it was called Lapbantalk... then Alex merged the other WLS .... Good luck and stay strong.... Bayou.... Aka chris

@@Aggiemae that was me.... My husband said those things..... and so much more.

That feeling you have is the most important thing of all... To hell with what other say or think. Your the only person living in your body.... You are living for you and your family... No one else. So when people started to say.... OMG your so thin... I'd look at them and smile the biggest cheesiest smile and say.... OMG.. You really think im thin, Yeah me (while clapping hands)..... thanks... and walk away. You keep up the great work.... you look fabulous

@@LisaMergs when I fir Started my weight loss journey. About 6 months in I started to get the same comments.... Your so thin, your too thin, how much more are you planning to lose.... Blah blah blah. So I went on to lose 40 more to give them something else to talk about. lisa, how do you feel about yourself? Are you happy with you? With you progress? How do you feel when you look in the mirror? When you get Dressed up do you feel good? I'm sure it's all great. You do you girl and be happy and proud of where you are

@@Sarah A I don't think your being overly optimistic at all.... I lost 100lbs and have kept it off. Nov 10 was my 7 year anniversary with the band. You are doing great.... I was a slow loser.... i lost a lot like you. I think it was to my benefit. I worked out 5 days a week... i started with zumba and then worked my way to body pump, combat, weights... I also did some thread mill and the elliptical. But if you really want to drop some weight.... start doing spin class... it is brutal... but omg it works. This, i think, was a huge part of my skin going back into it place... I needed no work on anything except my stomach. But i had also had 2 c-sections, gallbladder, hysterectomy, Lapband surgeries... so my stomach was shot. So Feb 2012 i had a Tummy Tuck. I'm blessed that i have had zero complication and thank the Lord everyday that i still have my band. @@kbarnett61 Holy smokes.... you look amazing...

@@trekker954 I stop when im full and i eat when im hungry. I try everyday to get in as much Protein as possible. Some days were/are better than others. I was never one to log in anything either... i followed the rules as much as i could and when i didn't i lived with the consequences. Also when i was first starting out i drank liquid shots of protein.. i bought the ones from GNC... Most will have around 40-50gms each shot... Kept them in fridge and chugged one each am.... the rest was easy to get it... for the most part. @@B-52 What B said..... We both have the band.

@@LipstickLady Done with you..... You have to know what kind of person you are when your tag line says.... If you think I suck as a person, click on my profile and then click BLOCK. You won't see my posts. No hard feelings. @@ShelterDog64 Again Sorry for all this... I've tried to have her let it go, but i guess for some ... it's not possible.

@@LipstickLady I think you misunderstood. I wan't apologizing... i was simply saying lets move on...Im sure you have better things to do with your time then going back and forth with a person on the internet.... I know i do.... Just let it go...

@@LipstickLady I don't have time to look at all this.... Geez... Lets put it all aside... and go on... You do you and and ill do me... ill avoid your post and you do the same... how bout that? Lets turn the page and move on... https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=poot%20mouth Saw this just now on FB and thought she is so correct and cute... We should all learn from her.. myself included @@ShelterDog64 So do i...but sometimes i let things and people get to me .... i need to learn to let things go and move on... And i apologize for using your post for nastiness... so i'm dropping this now... Sorry

@@LipstickLady You did it to me last week

WoW..... You of all people have a problem with Name calling... Pot meet Kettle.... I'm not going to say you do it all the time... but, you do it a lot. Coming here for the past 7 years there's always a few that get on their soap box. And everything is fine in their world till some one kick the soap box from under them. then, it... omg did she/he just say that horrible word... what a horrible person they are...They have no character. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with me. I do have issue with name calling and telling people to "f" off. Actually, I have no problem with that either. It's very telling about one's character when they have to resort to such behavior. It's a shame some people can't discuss, debate, diasagree without stooping to such levels. It is a shame that people can't discuss, debate and disagree without stooping to such levels.... You should remember that... next time someone has an opinion other than your own......... Like i said .... sometimes we need to agree to disagree.... Remember this is a public forum and not let it take over our lives. But the most important thing to remember is that everyday some new person comes to this site looking for help and guidance... asking question and hoping that someone has had a similar issues that can shine some light for them.... I think we should all remember where we were when we all started this journey... all the questions we asked... We, as the Vets of this forum need to give help when we can... and if our voice isn't going to help, then move on to the next post and try and help them....

@@summerset don't you know by now it only ok to Rant and Rave when you agree with them..... you see. First time you have an opinion other than theirs.... you are a bad stupid person that knows nothing.... Lord forbid if you throw any dirt back at them.... then they climb on their soap box and point out to everyone what a horrible person you are... there's a time for cuddling and a time not too.... but some since of couth needs to be used. I do understand your anger and wanting to lash out at them and saying what you said... Trust.. Notice they all got to say what they wanted, but you said the F word.... and all hell has broken lose...