DebLPN

Dedee~ I'm 52 years young, 5'2" preop weight was 331 and my BMI was 61. I too am a self pay. I chose the band: 1)wanted restriction not malabsorbtion, 2)cost-band was $16,500 vs $24.500 for the more readical surgery and 3) in case something goes wrong,,its possible to have the band removed. Good luck in whatever you choose is right for YOU! Banded-1/29/07 Dr. Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/298/150 no fill todate

Jack,,lol,,,if you're not a published author,,,you SHOULD BE!!!!! I read your posts and say,,,,YEAHHHHHHHHH,,,that's exactly how it feels! It's through reading everyone's posts that I discover I"m "normal". DOes that make any sense? LOL Thanks again everyone~ Banded 1/29/07 Dr. Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/297/150 no fill todate

lrw26~ Here's a sample meal plan for regular diet menu my physician's dietician gives his banded patients: 7am-1 poached egg=(7 grams protein) 1-2 oz fresh fruit 1 slice crisp toast with sugar-free jelly 9am-Protein drink 190 calories & 20 grams protein(20 grams protein) 12 noon-2 oz broiled fish(14 grams protein) 2 oz mashed potatoes with 1 slice low fat cheese melted on top (7 grams protein) 1 small soft cooked broccoli floweret 3pm- 1/2 cup sugar free pudding(3 grams protein) 4:30pm-1 cup skim milk(8 grams protein) 6:30pm-2 oz sirloin steak(14 grams protein) 1 oz carrots iwth zero calorie butter stray on top 1 pear half 8:30pm-2 oz tuna w/ 1 tsp of low fat mayo(14 grams protein) 4 saltine crackers TOTAL DAILY PROTEIN=87 GRAMS Protein ~Of course, this is just MY guidelines,,hope this gives you an idea or two. Good luck! Banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/297/150 no fill to date

Gaffer~ Glad to hear you had a good experience with your first fill. I go back on March 14th, my second visit since my banding. At my 6 week checkup, he told me my weight loss was good,,I was not feeling hungry so he didnt do a fill. WELL,,,,,,this week I've had 2 days of ravenous hunger,,and ate more than I know I should have and had no physical repercussions, so I'm figuring I'm certainly due a fill this next visit. Thanks for your post~ Banded 1/29/07 Dr. Ken Cleveland_CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/297/150 no fill to date

Hi sweeTHEArt~ WHen I was on full liquids, I was drinking Atkins Advantage premixed shakes and they ran through me like grease thru a goose! I'm almost 2 months post op now and if I even start to become constipated, all I have to do is drink an Atkins shake and WHAM it is solved..lol. Works better than Dulcolax for me. I also add Benefiber to almost everything I eat or drink,,it really does disolve and you cant taste it and it doesn't change the texture. I had IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) before banding and have not had it since I've been on Mechanical Softs. Good luck and keep posting,,there's a wealth of knowlege in those who have gone before us! Banded 1/29/07 Dr. Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/297/150 no fill to date

Thanks to everyone who posted! I've lost 32 pounds since being banded Jan 29th, 2007 and for the last few weeks,,I've only lost 2 pounds, I KNOW it's a lack of exercise and getting time for my first fill. I joined a nice gym and have only been a few times. I cant seem to work up teh enthusiasm to go. I'm divorced,,not working at the moment, wayy out in the country,,no friends to go to the gym with,,all TERRIBLE excuses. Time to get my behind in gear and make it happen. Thanks for sharing,,I dont feel so alone. Banded Jan 29th, 2007 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/298/150

OOPS,,forgot to put my stats in my previous post: ( i still dont know how to do the "ticker thing") Banded Jan 29, 2007 Dr. Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/298/150 no fills to date

Big Trouble and jubjub,,,,,,,GOOD LUCK! I was banded laproscopically on Jan 29th 07. I went in at 5:30am,,got prepped,,once the IV got started,,I dont remember anything until the next day! I had a PCA pump to administer pain meds, and I kept mashing the button as often(and lots inbetween)as it would allow. Of course,,I have a very low threshold to pain. I was discharged that afternoon and the rest of that day was fairly comfortable. I took the liquid pain meds he prescirbed and it helped me with moving around and sleeping. Everyone is different Ohyeah,,my physician looked at my tummy at my initial visit and said I was shaped just right for the laproscopic route,,,first time I've ever been told I was shaped just right,,hahahaha Can't wait to hear how things went for ya'll!

OOPS,,,,my weights are incorrect,,typo! 331/298/150

I bought some of those "Toilet Tongs" off of ebay for about 12 bucks. IT was flimsey and I never could get the toilet paper clamped in there good enough, so I tossed them. After one month of being banded and losing 30 pounds,,I am now able to properly clense my bottom with no help. WOOHOOOOOOOO! Thank GOD for this site,,lol,,nowhere else could I EVER imagine admitting I had past problems dealing with such intimate personal hygeine problems!! Thanks for everyone's honesty! Banded 1-29-07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/209/150 no fills to date

My physician will evaluate you at your 6 week post-op check-up and ask questions adn determine if you need a fill. I was banded 1-29-07 and todate have lost 32 pounds. Since I was not experiencing any problmes eating mushies, he determined I did not need a fill at this time. I dont have anything in my band. The last few days, I've begun to get "head hunger" and a bad case of posion ivy,,and i mean BAD, has made me not want to leave the house or do anything active. SO,,I spend alot more time sitting around and that leads me to be bored,,which leads me to think about eating more. ARGH! As soon as the lesions dry up I WILL go back to the gym and stick to my water exercises. I havent been exercising like I was instructed and I know that helps greatly in shedding these pounds. Honestly,,I cant tell if I dont eat much becuase of any restriction or if I'm just plain scared to push the limits and try to eat more. I stop before I feel full,,I've never had a slime or PB. I'm eating hard proteins and anything else that is on the approved food list, altho I don't eat pasta, rice or bread. Well,,a couple fo saltine crackers now and then. Thanks for listening,,, Banded 1-29-07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS 331/298/150 no fills to date

Congrats Susie! I was banded Jan 29th, 2007 by Dr Ken Cleveland in Jackson, MS at CMMC. Be sure to read up on the pre and post op things to have on hand,,that really helped me alot. Take this time to start getting educated yourself fully about your surgery and subsequent lifestyle changes. I've found this site to be invaluable both before and after my surgery. Keep in touch! Banded 01/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-Jackson MS-CMMC 331/298/150 no fills to date

All soft breads are offlimits per my physican's directins. I can eat 1/2 slice of TOASTED bread a day or 3-4 crackers. Carbs were a big problem for me before banding, so it's all for the best and I havent missed eating breads, to tell teh truth. I have to keep reminding myself,,Proteins first,,I want to fill up on good things and bread just has no nutritional value. I cant eat lettuce either,,its a calorically empty waste of space in my tummy and my physician says lettice and soft breads can stretch my tummy,,and I dont want that to happen. Banded 01/29/07 Jackson, MS-Dr Ken Cleveland 331/298/150

I lost exactly 30 pounds from teh date of my banding until my first post op check up 5 weeks later. MaranneTN,,I too am pretty ridgid in my following of my physican's guidelines. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I was a self pay,,lol. I was given a nice big booklet outlining exactly what, when and how much of what foods to eat and to avoid, along with tons of how to measure things, what foods are high in what,,,lots of invaluable information. Banded 01/29/07 331/298/150

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing those pics! Altho I was only banded Jan 29 07,,I'm looking forward to having reconstructive surgery in a few years. A plastics guy is coming on board at my surgeon's office just to deal with weight loss problems,,and we can prepay, working up to the actual reconstructive surgery. I cant wait!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!

You might want to go to the "US Local Lapband Suppert" area of this site,,alot of folks from north MS are posting adn I've seen Dr King's name pop up there,,might give you some better local experiences. Good Luck! I'm in Jackson MS

mnkbrly~ Congrats on your BIG DAY! You are NOT alone in lot of your feelings of nervousness and we are all here to help you along your journey. I was banded on Jan 29th 2007 and have not felt this good in years! Do exactly what YOUR physican prescirbesno two people are the same, so be mndful that this is not a competition, but a life changing experience for YOU! Enjoy the fellowship you'll find here! Banded 01/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland/CMMC/Jackson MS Starting BMI-60 331/298/150 52 yrs young 5'2" no refill todate

My Nutritionist told me that it should take me an hour to sip a 16 oz drink. I sometimes get teh urge to guzzle Water or Crystal light and I really have to try to refrain. Usually happens if I've had something too salty before hand or after swimming/exercising. FOr ME, teh key is to stay hydrated,,constantly SIP all day long. Banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS presurg WT- 331 as of 3/8/07-300 presurg BMI- 61 52 yrs young 5'2" no fill to date

Gemini here,,,June 7th.

I'm soon to be 52 and was banded Jan 29, 2007. I;'ve lost 31 pounds as of March 8th,,my first post-op visit. My doctor didnt think I needed a fill at this time. I'm trying to go to the gym,,ugh,,and Water exercises is what they said was best for me. Luckily, in the therapy pool,,they have a bike and a treadmill. My left knee is about shot,,so it helps alot to use the underwater treadmill. My orthopaedist told me that for every 10 pounds i lose,,it taes 30 pounds off of my knees. My meals consist of 3-4 ounces and Snacks between. He gave me a very specific booklet outlining exactly what I could and shouldnt eat in order to acheive the greatest success,,and I try to follow it to a "T". Soft breads, Pasta, sticky rice, carbonated drinks and especially salad are on my NO-NO list. I havent had any,,what are they called? PBs? I was a self pay,,so anytime I get head hunger and my thoughts drift towards NO-NO foods,,i remember what this surgery cost me,,lol. Thanks for all the posts, ya'll,,,I dont know what I would have done if I hadnt found this site! Keep up the good work!! Banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson MS no fills to date Presurg Wt-331 WT as of 3/8/07-300 Presurg BMI-60 Height-5'2"

Hi Dave! It took me a good week before I was really able to resume normal functioning. But then,,I'm sure it's an individual thing.I was banded Jan 29th, 2007 via laproscope. It depends on the type work you do and what when your doctor says you can return to work. ALso,,I was a self pay, so I'm very conscience to do just what my doctor instructs! THis site has been invaluable to me,,,I too looked the web over and this is BY FAR the best site to get honest information not to mention the commradship! Kep coming back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Banded 1/29/07 Dr Ken Cleveland CMMC-Jackson MS BMI presurg-61 presurg wt 330 today wt--300

I was banded on Jan 29th, 2007 by Dr Ken Cleveland at CMMC in Jackson. They offer a support group meeting, but it doesn't meet very often. Are there any other bandsters in the Jackson metro area that would be interested in forming a support group? I'm not currently working as an LPN, altho I graduated this time last year. My weight, altho it didnt keep me from going to school, DID make me so uncomfrotable that I didnt feel I could preform my best, so basically, I just didnt try to find a job until after a good weight loss. My presurgical weight, at 5'2", was 330 and today I'm at 305. Hopefully, by my 6 week checkup, I'll be confident enough to begin to look for a job. The support and information I've gained from this iste has been invaluable. Thanks to everyone who posts! My email is bonsai1954@hotmail.com if anyone would like to contact me there.

Sorry,,I dont see a 'buble' to check,,,,but then,,I'm not very smart when it comes to these things,, I was a self pay and shelled out $16,500 for the surgeon/anesth/hosp PLUS another $500 when my regular GP wouldnt do the presurgical release exam,,,PLUE $239 for a chest xray PLUS $2,000 for a CAT Scan of my lungs when they thought they saw somethihng on the CXR,,which turned out to be nothing,,,grrrr. Needless to say,,being a self pay is extra encouragment when I even THINK about deviating from my new lifestyle. Deb Banded 012907 Dr Ken Cleveland CMMC Medical Ctr-Jackson, MS 330/305/150

Hi from Mississippi! My presurgical weight was 330 with a BMI of 60. I'm 5'2" PLUS I'm 52 years young,,lol. Just wanted to jump on the bandwagon! Deb Banded 012907 Dr Ken Cleveland CMMC Medical Ctr-Jackson, MS wt today- 305 (when i figure out how to put the ticker thingie and all the fancy stuff,,,i will!)

Dee, I was banded on Jan 29, 2007 and and almost ready to start the pureed diet, per my physician's guidelines. Honestly,,I simply gave up the need to question why and what for and just do as he says. It eliminates alot of worry and stress for me to follow what the outline states what I'm supposed to consume daily. The insane cravings and crazy thinking seems to have evaporated and I'm left with a sense of determination to "do as I'm told". Maybe part of it is because I am a self pay, partly because I'm 52 years young and just got tired of trying to do things my way. Obviously, my way was not working and the band was my salvation. Hang in there,,you've got so much support here,,we can all learn from those gone before us, those gracious enough to share their journey so we newbies may have it a bit easier. Banded 012907 Dr Ken Cleveland CMMC Medical Center-Jackson, MS Presurg Wt: 330 lbs BMI 60 Wt today: 305 lbs