cat lady

Hi: I am in the same situation as you. Banded 7/25/11 and went to doctor 9/10. He asked if I wanted a fill. I told him I am pleased with the way I feel. I'm losing slowly but steadily. That is good enough for me. No fill this time.....but will consider it in a month. Also going on a trip to Vegas with husband and friends in early October and the doctor said the band usually gets tighter with the airplane flight. Keep that in mind. It should adjust once you land. Just want to enjoy my trip and satisfied with how I feel right now so I decided to wait for a fill. Hope I made the right choice. CAT

Hi all: Went to dr yesterday and down 22 lbs. I'm happy with the way my loss is going......slow but steady. He asked if I wanted a fill but I thought I would hold off for now. I am able to eat most everything I try... but do get satisfied with less food. I feel comfortable like this and have had no issues with vomiting, etc. Am I doing the right thing by not getting a fil????. If I do see my hunger getting worse I will definately get one at my next visit which will be in mid October. Going to Vegas with friends at the beginning of October so I want to feel comfortable with the band. Dr. said it will get tighter with the air flight......then it should adjust. Has anyone had an issue with flying with the lapband?? Thanx CAT

Yes I was banded 7/25. Had a real easy time with the surgery. All went well....walking a few hours after surgery. This pain on my left side just started 2 days ago and I thought I should tell my surgeon in case it was band-related. When I did they sent me to the ER for some Xrays and they all this about a possible blood clot started. It really feels like a muscle ache to me.....but I could be wrong. Sooooo, I am listening to them and taking the levonox until I see a Lung specialist on Tuesday. I do not want to be on blood thinners longer than I have to. Good luck with your surgery ......I'm sure everything will be fine. CAT

I agree Sanction. I'm not happy on these shots 2X a day. If they were absolutely sure then I would have to agree with doing so. I still feel the pain (slight) on left side in rib cage area. The only reason I went was to make sure it was not band related. Then they said my blood test called the D-Dimer which shows clots in the body showed up high. That is when they focused on blood clots. It seems to me there should be some other clear cut test to detect this. I will go to a lung specialist on Tuesday and tell him my concerns. Will keep you posted. CAT

Hi All: I'm one month out and experienced pain on my left side on Wed. Called Dr. on Thurs and he said to go to ER to get an X-Ray. They believe it is a blood clot since one of my blood tests came up high. They said everyone's test comes up high after surgery but should have dropped after 1 month. To me it feels more like muscle pain on my side. Hurts when I get up and down from a lying position. Hurts when I sneeze or cough. All scans were inconclusive. Now they put me on levonox (2 shots a day) just to make sure. They saIid the only test that would show for sure is a CAT scan with contrast which I am allergic to. I can take it if pre medicated with predisone & benadryl to prevent allergic sysmtoms from the dye. The DRs were opposed to this with the band. Did anyone else have a similar situation with blood clots after 1 month out. I was doing and feeling fine? A little depressed right now. Seeing a Lung specialist next week. CAT

I am one month out and was just put on blood thinner (levonox shots - 2 a day). I had a pain on my left side and some palpatations at the same time. They were afraid it was a blood clot. One of my blood tests also came up high for clots. So now I am on 2 shots a day. Not happy with this but have to do it as a precaution against clots which can be serious. Seeing a Pulm. specialist next week. Hope to get off them soon. CAT

Hi I am not banded yet and have been researching the band for over a year. Probably too much. I have read some discouraging things about the band as well as some good things. Some bandsters on this site that are not happy with their band say it is all about will power.......and receive no restriction whatsoever from their band. this is quite discouraging as I have never had will power to lose weight and need help. That is why I am chosing to go thru surgery for this. Does the band really help you lose the weight? Also, would you do it again knowing what you know now? Sorry for the negatives but I am nervous about my decision. As you all know it is not an easy one. thank you for your honest replys.

I was banded on 7/25 and dr. told me no heavy exercise not even zumba.....until 6 weeks out. Only walking at this stage until you are fully healed. My weight loss is slow also. Lost about 16 lbs total. But I must say it is going down a little every few days and that is okay with me. They say 2 lbs a week average is what to expect. Dont get discouraged it will come in time. Especially after a fill.

Same here Johnathan......the meetings really seem to help especially when you hear everyones concerns about the band. Gives me confidence in what I am doing.

Sorry you wont be there.....will fill you in on everything. Chris

Hi May: I was put on mushies after 2 weeks post op, which was this past Monday. I'm enjoying the change from liquids but the weight loss does slow up a bit. They told me not to exercise yet....wait for my next appt in 1 month. Walking is okay to do now. Not as fast losing the weight as I would like but starting to feel like a normal person eating somewhat again. I also am frightened to think about what will happen when I get to the next stage after mushies. Hope the losing continues. Good Luck CAT

I only told my husband and married children before the surgery. I could not deal with opinions from everyone bcause I was struggling with my decision to do this. So glad I did it. Now after the surgery told a few close friends. Some seemed put off by the fact that I kept it to myself. But, I did this for ME and I had to do what was comfortable for ME. Now they seem to understand my feelings about this. Is not something I wanted to announce to the world especially bfore it happened. CAT

Very inspiring all of you. I am only 2 weeks post op and If I had my choice I would not rush to get a fill. If I am losing even slowly I would rather continue until I really need one. I think most of the problems occur when people get filled too tight. Am I being foolish thinking I can do this without any fill? The dr. said he put some in at time of surgery but did not say how much. Said he did not know? I am not starving and looking for food the way I did bfore banding. CAT

Hi: Banded two weeks ago and want to know when I can have salad. No problem eating mushies so far. Don't know if salad is considered mushie???

Thanks for the advice on salads......I will definately wait! CAT

Wonderful surgeon. Had mine done on 7/25 and very happy with him. He is very experienced and did a great job with mine. Two weeks out and incisions almost totally healed. No real bad pain from this at all. I would highly recommend him and Syosset Hospital. CAT

Same here.....best decision I've made for myself. Only 2 weeks post op....lost 14 lbs and feel teriffic. Surgery not bad at all....I was expecting much worse. Little pain but very tolerable. Hope things continue to go smoothly. CAT

I had the surgery on 7/25. I had some shoulder and neck pain and the heating pad releaved it alot. Also used Gas X but I don't think that helped as much as the heating pad. Try it. CAT

Thanks for all the helpful advice on eating out at mushie stage. Turned down an invite to go out to eat last weekend. Was still on liquids and could not imagine what I would get. Now on mushies it seems doable. You are right we need to feel like we can socialize like a real person. It makes you feel alot better. CAT

Will try to be there on the 16th. Are you planning on going Mary? CAT

Sharing a NSV: I have worked for the same man for 22 years. He is a 82 year old fittness buff who is in great shape .....but doesn't eat real food at all. Always tells me I have to lose weight and go on a diet. He is very wealthy & crude but not a happy person at all. I did not and would never tell him about the lapband. So Friday he says to me "have you lost some weight....your face looks prettier". When I told him I did he said "if you lose 30 lbs I'll give you a bonus". I just grinned and bit my tongue. Hope I can do this.....CAT