tinksmom

I am fortunate to live in an area where there are several doctors that do banding...and other WL procedures. I went to 2 seminars before i made the decision, then talked to others for their referrals, then made a preliminary visit before committing to my doctor. Let me say, there was nothing inherently "wrong" with the other doctor, but I thought he was wrong for me. A friend has him and listening to her talk about his requirements and protocol makes me glad I looked further afield. My doctor is much more apt to be lenient about types of foods allowed on diets, how much weight to lose, smoking (not that I'm a smoker) etc. Their attitude seems to be...."Well, you're an adult - you control this. We just give advice and support". My friend's doctor is much more controlling...and for some people that is appreciated. But I agree...if you are having issues with your doctor, find another if possible. They are used to this and it's not rude or unforgivable. Unless you are really stuck way out in the boondocks with no others around there will be a doctor for you. And with more and more hospitals getting on board with this surgery, more doctors getting educated, more insurance coverage...well, even in the boonies there will likely be more options in the near future. After the first year even travel is more of an option since fills are less frequent.

There used to be a balloon that was touted as The Best Thing Ever...only it wasn't. This balloon has 2 parts so it will work if one deflates, but why a short-term thing would keep working after it is removed leaves the same problem as the old. I have had several "successful" diets...but keeping it off, or remaining on the regimen until it becomes second nature? Not going to happen in six months or even a year.

I am wondering about insurance and these situations. Since my band was covered by insurance I assume the removal would be as well, but what about replacement? I don't expect problems but even now my BMI is just borderline...down the road it will be less, and normally Iwould be ineligible for banding or any other WLS. So if i got close to my goal and then had a problem, would insurance cover replacement or gastric sleeve in its stead? Or would the merry-go-round restart?

I did the3 month with BCBSTX and was surprised how smoothly it went. I guess it depends on how strict your doctor is...mine didn't insist on a percentage of weight losss, just an update each visit on how I was working to change my eating habits. The nutritionist visit was an eye-opener. I expected a severe, skinny chick who never had a worry about an extra ounce and who disapproved of every food I loved. I got a reasonable, good humored young woman who just explained protein requirements, loves red meat, and told me to try tart cherry juice for arthritis. Everyopne I talked to took time with me and was supportive. I hope you have a similar experience. Good luck!

Change can temporarily destabilize any relationship. I thik it is normal for people to worry about this. If someone thinks they are going to "lose" you when you lose weight...like the activities you enjoyed will be dropped, or even that you'll find other friends that you'll like better...they may show their fear in discouraging remarks or do things to undermine your progress. If they care about you and you can be honest with each other ime should make them realize there is nothing to be afraid of. If not....well, we have all experienced "foul weather friends". They are the ones who want you to be at a disadvantage in some fashion to them. It could be income or education...or looks, like weight. If you get a new job, go back to school, get a new boyfriend, lose weight...whatever levels the playing field...you lose your role in their drama. It's hard to accept that someone who has been sooo supportive during the tough times can be so hurtful during the good butit helps to know that it is their problem...and always has been.

I was surprised that my first fill was just 2.5...into an empty band. But my doctor does the first few two weeks apart. The second was only 1.25. He uses the fluoroscope so he can see the size of the pouch and the restriction. I will be away when the next one should be scheduled but am losing well...the next will be in 3 weeks. I think at a high BMI it takes more calories to maintain our weight than it would at a lower one...so I may need more restriction as I get closer to my goal. Right now the band is helping me deal with the diet...I still get hungry and can still snack. So a lot of it is up to me...to have some tea to help delay my snacking, to plan meals and snacks ahead of time, and to remember to eat at a "normal" mealtime instead of waiting until I have the hungries to grab anything that is fast and easy...and usually low food value.

For those with reflux - did you have a hernia repair with your banding? I had mild-but-worsening reflux before banding and the doctor repaired it...he always checks and reapirs if necessary. Also had recurring hiccups. Since banding reflux and hiccupping are gone. So far so good...only 2 months though.

That's the one I use, too. Works well once you get the hang of it. he hardest is figuring out just how much my recipes actually make...and how large the portion (if I am going from someone's else's recipe) might be asopposed to how large a portion I now eat.

My doctor gave me Lyrica for severe nerve pain in my shoulder/neck area, and carpal tunnel pain in my hand. This was Thursday and I have been high as a kite ever since. I mean really happy, floaty fun....thank heaven I am not working or needing to drive anywhere right now. Supposedly I will adjust to the drug and simmer down and it does seem to work on the pain. But when I weighed myself I found that I gained 3 or 4 lbs and all the time I kept to my 1200 calorie limit, met my protein level, took my vitamins, etc. So I believe it is the drug since weight gain is right at the top of the list of side effects. I think I'm going to ask to switch to Cymbalta which has fewer side effects and one of the main one is loss of appetite. Has anyone else had experience with these two medications for nerve pain? Had the floaty feeling and know if it does go away? Or the weight gain - does it stop at a few pounds? I joined the 4th of July Challenge and feel I need to lose not gain each week.

I figured it was water gain, but decided to try Cymbalta instead...and it came right back off. Several people in my dr's office said Lyrica was one of the "weight-gainers". At this stage I don't een want the temporary gain...need the positive scale feed-back.Thanks.

I pay my specialist copay for all my fills, since they are part of the lapband protocol. My doctor doesn't charge for deflation...not had to do that yet. A friend has the same insurance (BCBS) but her doctor said her first fill was not covered at all, the rest were just copays. On self-pays, the doctors in these parts usually include the first year of fills in the up-front price asan incentive.

I would think that if you can have protein shakes you could have thinned out puddings, tomato or pea soups, or other milk based things.

I guess we have to remember that we have other things going on in our bodies besides the lapband and not all can be traced back to it. Hope you feel better, both of you.

I have a year's prescription for phenergren cream in case of real nausea...and orders to have flu shots each year (haven't had flu in 28years), and to call my lapband doctor imediately if I have real nausea. But the spitting up...PB-ing...that occurs more commonly when I eat too fast, or a too large bite gets stuck - only twice so far, and my carelessness both times...is more like baby spitup. It comes from the pouch NOT from the larger stomach like it would with illness. it seems to be part of a learning curve...makes you think "well, I'll NEVER do that again". Not anything to be terrified of.

I was given phenergren for nausea. It's topical. I get allergic reactions to cephalexin/keflex that involves hives. That is a really common antibiotic given during surgery, but it could be one of your other drugs. The good news is tat tay should be out of your system a couple days after you stop them...so if you can, switch asap and ask if you can take benadryl for the itch. It now comes in the quick dissolve tabs. I also found...because several of my allergies triggered hives..that Claritin worked well on them...take it every 12 hours. It should be small enough not to give you trouble but can be broken in half. It also comes in redi-tabs now.

agree about the clothes...might even be time to try styles that you didn't feel comfortable with before. I think once overweight we tend to stick to the styles that "hid' our weight before WL... in clothes and hair. I also have found that with loss...and even with gain...I always had to reevaluate my bra styles...I'd get used to buying grandma bras with little or no support and definitin...and a good underwire did wonders.

I mentioned having to fly while at my last fill and they were concerned. When I told them that it was 3 weeks in the future they relaxed but said they didn't really want me to fly within a week of my fill...just in case. So you might want to check with your doctor and possibly put it off until you get back.

I'm using lapband.com but liked fitday and sparkspeople. I just dont want to switch and I like being able to log in my fill appointments and keep a graph of my weight. I use calorieking.com to enter in my recipes and get the calorie counts.

I was lucky...only 1 week on clear liquids...and even then I was allowed milk based thin liquids after a few days. Another week of thicker, blended stuff, then a week of mushy or soft foods. All my doctor asked was that I not have anything crisp or hard before my first fill...so no raw veggies, fruit, steak, or pork (unless minced). This let me test some of the foods I thought I'd miss the most and reassure myself that there is life after the band. I had no problems with anything...and my band is working well after my second fill. I need more restriction but haven't craved anything. One thing I took away from WW is that there is no such thing as a "bad" food. All foods have calorie and nutrition content and it is just up to us to figure out if the food will fit into our diet regimen...either as a staple or a treat. We may decide, with education, that it is not worth it...and give up that food as being a waste of calories. Or we may decide that once in a while is OK. So your favorites are out for now, but you are the only one to decide whether they are gone forever.

I think there are different types of hunger. There is hunger from having an empty stomach...mormal hunger. There is hunger from needing certain nutrients...the kind of hunger that gives me food cravings. And the is mouth hunger...the kind that makes us gain weight because it is about the taste and texture food has, and how it mkes us feel emotionally. The band will help deal with the first, watching diet and taking vitamins helps with the second, I think but we are on our own with the third.

I was sick for 3 days but towrd the end of that time had times when I felt OK. Can't take pain meds and couldn't swallow because my throat and neck hurt so. Might have been a tube or the way my head was positioned? I felt better in a chair...like a computer chair sometimes...and I held a pilow to my abdomen. I had shoulder pain already from a torn rotator cuff so didn't notice the pain from gas. The nausea was the worst for me...I slathered my self with the phenergan ointment. Ask your doc for a supply of that. It's cheap and works wonders...but not covered by my ins for some reason. I slept in an armchair for about 5 days. On day 4 I felt much better...then nothing but improvement. It'll pass.

You might need to see a gastroenterologist...or whatever kind of doctor does gall bladder. The bang doesn't do anything to the internal part of your digestive tract but maybe the change in your diet triggered something.

Do you need PCP approval? You might not. If she/he doesn't approve it, I'm sure the band surgeon will be able to refer you to a PCP who will...even if it is a temporary switch. You have to bear in mind that you are the consumer and you are basically hiring these doctors...even if you likethem you don't have to let them direct your course. You have a right to disagree and seek second opinions.