Dreikalina

Let's face it, being overweight seems to aggravate all conditions! I had the band on December 01, 2006. My weight was 217. I now weigh 165 or so. I need to get a fill, to get a ittle more on track, but I am still very pleased with my weight loss. I think you will be very happy when you start losing unwanted pounds, and can get some relief just from weight los alone...and maybe more healthy feelings to come. Fat really overtaxes our systems. Best of luck to you!

If you were banded on October 17th of this year, and it is now only November 10th when I am replying, how is it that you decided to eat beans already? My doc had me on clear liquids for a week, then mushy soft foods that are low in fat and not too starchy(such as jello, sugar/fat free puddings, creamy soups, etc., for another two weeks, then bbaby foods for anothe rweek. This all to heal the banding site. ALso, you shouls always wait minutes between bites to make sure you don't get too full, too quickly. Hot liquids sometimes help loosen things up, but really you shouls avoid the liquids.

I was banded on December 1st, 2006. I weighed 217, am 5'4", and had a BMI somewhere around 36.5 or so (best I can remember.) I lost most of my weight (40 lbs or so) by June 1st. I had my first fill after 6 weeks, then then at 3 month intervals. The last 2 fills were fine, but my eating habits have slipped over the summer. My co-worker at my real estate firm is co-owner of a Ben & Jerry's! Ice cream was never my pitfall, but I got in a bad habit over the summer. I am happy to say I am back on track! Hoping to be down to 163 by December 25th....a Christmas present to myself!

Airwayman, Congratulations on making a decision to seek out a solution to your problem of being overweight. Many times, we fat people try approaches to weight loss that are unsuccessful. But like so many great people we must keep at it until we succeed. We are not the sum of our weight; we are much greater than that! I know several people that have been in your boat and are now much healthier for having the surgery. Have you read up on how it is done? Talked to an gastroenterologist about the procedure? It is not enough to talk to your primary care physician. You must become an information vaccuum and suck up all the info you can about the procedure. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half for the operation, on average. You do get knocked out for it. Some people stay overnight at the hospital where the procedure is performed, others go home the same day. (I prefered to stay overnight.) The one thing that everyone seems to wonder is why your doctor did not think it was the procedure for you. Can you explain that part to me? What was his reasoning? What type of Doctor is he? Anyhow, don't give up. Check out the before and after pictures and see the possibilities.

My husband, who is very athletic and thin, also contractred MRSA. It is usually called Community Aquired Mersa (pronounced Mersa, even though it is MRSA>) In the old days, the only people who usually got the illness were people in nursing (home)facilities, and nursing healthcare workers; however, over time, it has been more common for regular folks to get it. Every one has certain bacteria on their skin (such as Strept, and staph) and when it gets into the blood stream (through an open wound) it can cause this MRSA> People (any people) in healthcare settings can be more succeptible to it. My husband had to go on anti-biotics, plus wash with a special soap everyday, and eventually had to have his sore lanced by a surgeon to realease the infection and pressure. Luckily for him, it has healed and not come back to haunt him. It can be deadly, although it is usually not. It can also be contagious, so be careful for elderly, and anyone in contact with his skin. Good luck with your husband.

Did you ever hear the logoic that if you keep doing the same thing over and over again and imagine that you will get different results then you are insane? Well, that might not be exactly how the saying goes, but it is something like that. So, you have not played by good eating rules in the past, and you got fat. Now you are trying to break the good eating rules again and you think you will get thin? Who are you trying to kid? Get with the program, and pay attention! (p.s., I too struggle with the good eatin rules, and so I know how difficult it can be. But do you want to lose weight or not? Make the committment in more ways than surgery! Just think how good it will be for you!)

I was told that it can actually take some people a couple of weeks for a fill to "heal" and for the patient to go onto solid foods. I know this because I am opne of those types. Sucks, though.

Hmmm. I had a fill on Feb 28th (my second fill.) and I was unable to eat solids for 3 weeks. I have trouble eating solids before 2:00 p.m. Sometimes, even later in the day. Finally, one day I was thrilled to eat not gag on my food, and it was like it was a miracle to have a little spaghetti and a small piece of cheese. I have since had several teensy meals of various things, but cannot eat more than a few ounces of food at a go. I suppose I am not suppose to anyhow, because from what I have read, that is all a bandster is supposed to eat at a sitting. ANyhow, I was thinking of getting a bit removed from my band, so I could eat more than one meal a day. I have trouble eating before 2:00 p.m. on most days. I think my metabolism may slow up considerably if I don't get some fuel in earlier than 2:00. I have only lost about 9 pounds since Feb 28th, and considering I had very little going in for the last month, I don't think that is right.

My band was put in and left empty so my stomach could heal from the surgery. This is really a sensitive time for your stomach, so it is really important to follow the rules after your surgery, or you can end up in pain, and even sabotage the whole thing. After about 6 weeks, I got my first fill. Make sure your doctor uses a fouro scope (like an xray machine) when you get your fill. That way they can see how much tighter your band is getting. They will have you drink liquid to make sure it goes through the band. You will feel restricted after the first fill, but don't push your luck trying to eat, eat , eat. The first fill may not be as tight as your second fillwill be, weeks later, but you need to increase your consumption gradually to figure out your limits, and you will lose weight if you follow the rules. You shouold always be able to swallow liquids, no matter what!

My surgeon advises people not even to know what their band cc's are, becuase they get all hung up on the cc's. The truth is, your doctor should be using a flouroscope to see exactly your fill need,for every fill, not just when you have a problem, to make sure it is not too little or too much. These guys are supposed to be professionals and need to have the most updated tools of the trade. You should always be able to swallow water easily. You should be restricted to a liquid diet for a couple of days after a fill, and then should feel restricted. It is my understanding that if you don't the band is not tight enough. It is important to note that as you lose weight, the band will need fills, becuase the stomach area where the belt is can get smaller and then the band is not doing its job anymore. There are many doctors practicing that have done this surgery and do fills using a flouroscope. Perhaps it is time to investigate getting a new fill doctor, or insisting on the flouroscope for each fill. After all, it is your body and your money. No professional should take that insistence as an insult, and if they do, consider it a warning to you.

Has anyone had any experience with the Hamilton Weight Management team in georgia, specifically with Dr. Ponce? If so, what was your experience?

Okay, so I am getting my second fill next week,. I had surgery on Dec 1st and weighed in at 217. Now I weigh 194/195. I am wondering how that ranks to others. It has been 12 weeks or so since my surgery. The doc said my second fill would be a bit more restrictive than the first. I get the slimies if I eat starchy food, like breads, pasta, rice. Sometimes food feels like it is stuck in my upper chest before it has gotten to the stomach area where the band is. Sometimes I must make a Productive Burp in order to continue with my meal. (YUK>) In the morning I am so tight I usually can't eat, but by noon, I am all set. Anyone else suffer these woes? Also, how do I get one of those cute weight charts onthe bottom of my postings?

My doctor said he was not going to tell me becuase too many people obsess ovwer how many cc's they have gotten during a fill, and he said that it is so misleading for people to think that knowing the cc's will change anything. A good doctor uses a machine that allows him/her to see exactly how liquid is passing throught the band while you are getting your fill. It is like an ultra sound machine. That way there is no issue with you knowing the cc's. If they don't use that machine, then it is guess-work at the patient's physical expense.

My operation was Dec. 1st, and today is Decmebr 25th. I have eaten several solid things in the past week, chewing them ...or should I say orally pulverizing them. I just have been hungry at meal times, and don't get satisfied with the liquids for any length of time. Will my fills help with this problem?

Ha! I used to live with someone somewhat famous (won't drop the name, though) and he always told me how he loved plump women. Couldn't get enough of them. He just didn't want them to be sloppy fat. He felt a good 45 lbs. overweight was the cat's meow. It just goes to show, you can never tell what will appeal to someone.

My port is about 3 inches below the mid section of my cleavage base. Ity is lower than where my bra hits, and several inches above my belly button.

Help! I am going for my first fill in January. I feel like I can eat almost anything now...steak (well chewed, bread, pasta, etc.) I do not eat like this normally(except for a couple of cheats) but I am concerned that if I don't feel supressed after eating a bit, I will be fat forever...boo hoo! I am hoping the band will change the way I feel and limit what I can tolerate. Please tell me you felt the same way and it does work. After my fill, I hope that eating or drinking any real quantity will make me uncomfortable so I have to stop.

I was banded on December 1st 2006. I weighed 217. (BMI 36) After the operation, I was faithful for 3 weeks, but with the holidays, I have eaten (and chewed the hell out of) some real food. I did not feel any discomfort,but felt satisfied an awful lot earlier than I normally would have. Currently I weigh 203.5, which is probably due to being on a liquid diet for 3 weeks. I wonder what it will feel like after I am filled on January 10th. I hope I can sense some difference, because right now, it would be nothing to eat garbage food, if I wanted it. I am hoping the band gives me an uncomfortable feeling if I cheated, or just ate too much. Does it do that?

Gosh,, I haven't been talking mine. Yikes. I have never been a med person, so it is easy to forget. I better put them next to my coffee maker.

I was told to take a little Milk of Magnesia after my surgery, to help with irregularity. It works like magic!

I am also a December Bandster! I got banded on Dec 1, 2006. I weighed in at 217 (5'4") and I have been faithful to my diet of mostly liquids. Now I weigh 203. I will be filled on January 10th in Georgia. I live in Massachusetts and have to make th trip down there. I can't wait, because I feel like I could eat things I should not, and look forward to a more full feeling after the fill. I will add a bar with my weight and a picture, but I have not figured out how to do that yet. my goal weight is 135.

GO back in your mind, every morning. Remember how excited you were to finally get the band...something that would really be a tool to help you lose. Remember how it felt to finally be getting the surgery that day. How fortunate you felt! Remember the promises you made to yourself to follow a strict diet of healthy, non-fat, not sugar loaded, un-starchy food. Imagine yourself reaching your goal weight and how it is going to feel, inside and out. VIsualize the way you will feel differently when you stand up, dance, make love, etc. You will be a feather. Picture yourself as the new you, the best you that you are deep down. Then thank your lap band for being the tool you have been given. Now, every day go through this visual ritual. Do it when you are just waking up, before your feet hit the floor. Revisit the idea while you are in the bathroom getting ready for your day. Role play in the mirror, pretending that you are talking to a new friend, explaining the benefits of lap band surgery, and what SHE must do to be successful. Set 1 day challenges for yourself to get back on track. Make sure to rid your environment of crappy foods. Repeat the visualization every night, and at night, thank yourself for being strong throughout the day. Even if you did not conquer all the temptations, you can start being more aware of your food environment and talk yourself into doing what you need to do. Don't hesitate to contact your WLS nutritionist for a follow up. Join a gym. God bless! You can do it!!!!!! I am getting banded Dec. 01 an currently weigh 215 (5'4"). My goal is 135. Andrea

I have spoken to many people who have had WLS and they have told me that their numbers have , indeed, dropped. One reason is probably that the diet is dramatically changed and the reduction in salty/greasy foods lowers the blood pressure, and the reduction in starchy carbohydrates and sugars reduces the blood sugar levels. We are what we eat.:faint:

I don't know if I would call these focused things that a WLS person does as "addictions" just because they are somehow consuming a lot of the person's resources. Let's face it; these were probably things that the heavy set (pre-op) person woud have loved to engage in on a regular basis but couln't because they were too heavy and lacked something (self-esteem, energy, notariaty, employment, etc.) Living life as a very fat person (if that is what it can be called) makes you realize just what the hell matters to you, and what you would like to do differntly if given the chance. Now these people have the chance, and as long as it is not detrimental, I say...go for it!!!!!

If you have ever been to Dr. Ponce, what happens at the initial consultation visit? Do you have to disrobe and get weighted in? Is there a physical? Is it just talking? Andy