SoccerMomma73

I was just talking to my surgeon about this today. My port is on my right side, a few inches to the right and above my bellybutton. It's essentially his personal preference. He tries to put everyone's in the same place for consistancy but he's right handed and operates on the patients right side so he finds it easier to keep it on the right side. He said he's even seen them put up on the chest wall above the left breast, go figure.

I'm just outside Little Rock and the weather's been kicking out butts too. It's amazing, we get a couple inches and everything falls apart! I am also a slave to the scale. I'm getting to where I can go every other day...but it's HARD...plus I work in a doctor's office so we have 2 scales within feet of me, plus the scale at home....Hi, my name's Christie, and I'm a scale-a-holic...Please help me!!!! Congrats on the continued movement of the scale, keep up the good work!

My doc says for the second fill he usually goes for 1/2 of what you received on your first. I had 4.4 last time, went for 2.2 but had to back off to 2.1, at 2.2 the water just sort of sat in my throat. So I'm at 6.3 cc in a 14 cc band, still lots of room to adjust, but honestly, if I just get a little more restriction I'll be happy. And no getting nagged at today, yahoo! Weirdly, though not hungry, I suddenly have the craving for a cheeseburger, guess that'll have to wait a while.

My NP used lidocaine to numb, small sting but stubbing a toe hurts worse (but then I am a pro at toe stubbing). She then put the needle in, it has a small port on the end that she can screw and unscrew the syringe to as she adjusted things then had me set up. Looking down with this funky prastic port hanging out of my gut was weird but not painful at all. I did feel some pressure as she adjusted things. While not painful, the absolute weirdest thing was when she started putting the saline in, my port is on the far right and I could feel the saline travel through inside the tubing all the say across to the band. It was FREAKY!!!! I told her it felt like a giant worm wiggling around under there...she said I was weird and people don't usually feel it..SOooOOOOOoo, maybe just me! I'm off for fill #2 in about 30 minutes, woohoo! Good luck!

Fill Number 2 in 4 hours....fingers crossed this gets me a bit more restriction! I've only lost 4 pounds in the last 4 weeks and have this horrible feeling my doc is going to nag (he's a good nagger). I know, I know, the band is designed for 1-2 lbs weight loss a week but I still feel like he's going to give me hell. Wish me luck!

Go with the threats, threats are good! You're their patient, they should be bending over backwards to help you through this rough patch. Good luck!

Here goes: B-1 toasted multi grain thin bun (100 cal) with 2 egg whites, 1 slice cheese, and 3 small low fat deli ham slices (about 250 cal total) L-3 slices deli turkey, 1 string cheese, raw celery and califlower Snack-1/4 cup fresh pineapple 1/4 cup fresh canteloupe D-baked salmon (about 4 oz), fresh spinach sauteed with garlic and balsamic vinegar, a couple pieces of roasted sweet potato (salt, pepper, and a tiny bit of olive oil) Snack/dessert-1/2 baked apple with a little cinnamon, brown sugar, and walnuts on it. Of course it's the weekend, a little extra prep time I don't typically have during the week!

I have decided that previously I just loved eating and now I love good food. I'm 2 months post-op with minimal restriction and probably will encounter foods I can't handle in the future but that's okay. Now that I'm back to eating regular foods I'm back to cooking, but cooking better foods, (tonight we're having broiled salmon, balsamic spinach, and roasted sweet potato) and my son eats what I eat. About 3 or 4 weeks post-op I e-mailed one of my dearest friends saying I felt like I'd lost my best friend and was totally lost. When I was hungry I ate, when I was sad I ate, when I was mad I ate, when I was bored I ate. I am finding ways to fill my time and keep my mind occupied and it is getting easier every day. Now my biggest problem is if I actually allow myself to get truly hungry then I'm starving to death and want to eat EVERYTHING I can get my hands on. I've resorted to eating string cheese ate morning and greek yogurt late afternoon to keep this from happening and it's helping. Good luck with everything, it's a challenge but you can do it. I do highly recommend having at least a few people in your life that know what you're doing and you can talk to. I think I would have lost my mind if I hadn't had anyone to talk/whine to about all this.

I was just reading another board on here and someone had posted that they've had 3 fills and are holding off on the 4th because they know they can't get too many more. I have not heard nor read anything about fill limit previously and I've seen posts with people having 7 or 8. Has anyone been informed of a set limit and what is it? Thanks for your help!

Oh I'm not worried and getting my fills as scheduled (number 2 is Monday WOOHOO!!!) I was just curious as I'd never heard anyone say anything about a limit on the number of fills before. Thanks for the info!

I'm noticing sometimes people get a LITTLE uptight when talking about the band....

OMG that is amazing!!! You go girl!!!!

I know the feeling, 1 was banded 12/16. The first week was okay, weeks 2-5 were iffy...I started filling my time with other things, spending more time playing with my son, spending more time here....I've always loved to cook and felt lost for a while but now I'm back into it. I've decided I used to focus on quantity of food and now I'm focused on quality. I spend more time cooking better, healthier, more complex food meals. I used to thing I loved food, but I actually think I loved eating.... It is okay to feel how you do but you have to find a healthy way to deal with it or you're going to obsess about food 24/7 and that is just not healthy. Good luck, it gets better!

OMG you are killing me! Sadly though, no, he didn't look nearly that good naked...Hoping to improve that trend when the new and improving me hits the dating scene again, someday. Just the thought makes me queasy. And nope, no approval issues, I was essentially self pay (I work for the hospital system the surgery was done at and the surgeon works for so significant discount thank you God). I think it's just that things are going so well I'm terrified of something going really wrong. I dunno, paranoia is one of my strong points! Or I'm just nuts...which is a possibility!

So I have the recurring dream that my BMI gets down to 40 and they (still not sure who "they" is) kidnap me and remove my band because I no longer qualify for the surgery. Weird eh? Also have had several dreams lately about a guy I dated 20 years ago and haven't seen in 20 years, naked. THIS one is MUCH more disturbing than having the band removed! Therapy here I come.

Fluoroscopy is basically where they do the fill while you're being x-ray, shows them specifically where everything is with the added benefit if they have you drink barium they can see how tight you are and how things are passing through your stoma. Is seems like some docs do all fills under fluoro and some don't use it unless there's an issue. I've had 1 fill with no problems, next one is Monday, hooray!!

I'm with all of you, first fill of 4.4 cc about a month ago, mildly good restriction for about a week, then not so much. I do get full on much smaller portions than pre-surgery but still a whole lot more than I'm supposed to eat so I'm trying to stick to relatively healthy stuff but it's a challenge. We've had a week of cold wet stuff on the ground, tried to get out and walk a couple times but didn't enjoy the freezing cold wet feet (on the plus side I did order a pair a bubble gum pink hiking boots that are water proof!) so it's just me and the Wii fit this week. I do have trouble with chicken breast and pork roast, I'm sure it's just because it's so dry. Next fill Monday! Wish me luck! We're all doing great :thumbdown:

So I have the recurring dream that my BMI gets down to 40 and they (still not sure who "they" is) kidnap me and remove my band because I no longer qualify for the surgery. Weird eh? Also have had several dreams lately about a guy I dated 20 years ago and haven't seen in 20 years, naked. THIS one is MUCH more disturbing than having the band removed! Therapy here I come.

Yup, approval is approval as long as the doc and hospital are covered the approval won't change. I would think a surgeon would look at you as a Christmas present, everything already done and nicely packaged, he just has to unwrap ya! (huh, on second thought that sounds either warped, kinky, or both but hopefully you get my point). I don't know who you were using or your insurance but I know there's a bariatric surgical center in Dallas that's supposed to be fairly good (no personal experience with them, sorry, I'm an Arkie). Keep in mind, doctor's offices screw up too. Most people in health care are there to help, but sometimes you fine someone who just looks at it as a paycheck and forgets that a few phone calls will change someone's life (or just flat out doesn't care). I'd start making the calls and pushing the issue. We know you're not shy! Good luck with all this, you're too close not to keep pushing!!!

I was in surgery 45 minutes and recovery for about 5 hours...couldn't stop dry heaving, it was lovely. I also have 5 incisions, 3 tiny, 2 about 1.5-2 inches, just how my surgeon does it. But yes, if you're concerned ask, or wait and request a copy of your operative report, it will have the start and finish times on it.

You really might want to call them and get clarification. Skim milk isn't clear, if they allow that they MIGHT allow shakes, thin smoothies, etc...but I wouldn't do it without talking to them first. Every doc is different and they have specific reasons for what they do... Welcome to bandster hell, it sucks but is temporary and it does get better!!!!

Good answer!!! Assuming insurance coverage isn't an issue I'd go ahead and start the band process...if you have a 3 or 6 month wait you can get the divorce done while you're waiting. I was divorced long before the band came along but I think working on the band process would have given me some hope for the future, feeling better about myself, finding someone, etc. However, that said, how do you think you're going to handle the divorce? Are you so mad it's going to be a relief to get it over with or are you going to be emotionally drawn out throughout the ordeal? You need to emotionally stable enough that you can focus on the band and put your all into it. I think I just contradicted myself with the above answers! Oops, sorry! Good luck with everything and remember you deserve so much better than what he's done.

Like above, over and over, I can lose weight, I can really lose weight, I am a failure at maintaining, hence the lap band. I am hoping will help me continue to lose and then be able to maintain. I only had to go to 1 support group meeting but the bypass patients greatly out numbered the band patients and I felt like the entire show was the BP patients putting down the bandsters....I have not been back. If I feel the need for a support group I will have to find one that is band specific, the whole show was ridiculous. It's all up to you, if you see that you're losing and think you can maintain then by all means go for it. Don't go into this questioning whether you really need it or not. God willing this will be THE time you can keep it off and if not you can pursue banding later....

I believe that this forum is for people to meet and bring ideas, thoughts, experience to the table and help others. Very good quote Ruthie. I have the support of my friends, family, and co-workers through this journey, however, as a single mom with no significant other I'm mostly on my own. I am using this site to help me and support me through my weight loss journey, and, hopefully along the way help out a few others. My thoughts and ideas may not always be the same as others but that doesn't meant that mine (or their's) are right or wrong.

If I eat less than 1000 calories, I don't lose weight. If I eat more than 1250-1300 calories, I don't lose weight. If I don't drink at LEAST 64 ounces of water, I don't lose weight. (AND, apparently eating has always been my signal to drink, now I have to remind myself constantly throughout the day to GO GET MORE WATER...I just don't think of it until it's time to eat, live and learn) If I sit on my butt, I don't lose weight. Damn, I have to eat right, exercise, and drink water to do this?!?! I'm joking, I'm joking, it's still easier than pre-band, and I don't feel like I'm starving to death so it's all good, just interesting how everything has to line up just right to make it all work. Not surprisingly, I've started losing hair. I'm okay with this since I have enough hair for 3 heads. Surprisingly, at least to me, my nails are the best they've been in years, I can only assume it's the increased protein/vitamin/calcium combo but just something I didn't expect!