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:unsure:Hello all, I am very new at this. Doctor and I suggested bariatric surgery at my appt on Thursday. I've had friend who have done the lap band surgery and am intrigued. However, I know nothing and don't know where to start. I know basically nothing about this. Where do I start? I am eager and willing. I need to know what lap band is, time lost from work, how much loss will there be etc..... Any other sites would be helpful also. I want to know what I can before I go the bariatric doctor. Any help would be appreciated.

I got banded on April 21st and today was the first day where I actually could tell that I'm getting better. It still hurts when I get out of bed and even when I stand up after sitting for awhile. I too have bruising by one of my incision but I think that is where they gave me the blood thinner, it also happens to be the biggest incision and where I believe my port is. There is quite a bulge as well so my stomach appears alittle lopsided so I guess maybe its normal. I wouldn't worry unless the incision is red and pussy but if you want piece of mind theres no harm in calling the Dr's office and talking to the bariatric nurse there thats what they're there for.

You know, it's been a wonderful day. Last week I found out from one of the "higher ups" that they were dropping all allegations against me at work! Thank God for witnesses!! While I am truly grateful for my job, I am still a bit pissed off that it went this far. One more meeting on Thursday and it should officially be over. Seventeen years, with 13 of it being at the same position and they treated me like dog doo. The best news is I also had my surgeon consultation today and it went great! After having to cancel my appt last month, I was happy to find out that as of yesterday, my surgeon of choice, Dr. Faulkenbery of Southwest Bariatrics, now uses the Realize Band which is what I wanted! He seemed to like their support site very much. Tomorrow I make appts for the blood work/EKG, the psych appt., the exercise appt and then the nutritional counseling. I am hoping to have it all done by the end of the month so I can have the surgery by the middle of June. And if my day couldn't get better...I didn't even get charged in the parking garage ! :thumbup:

Welcome and congratulations on making such a smart decision about taking control of your health and well-being by having bariatric surgery! What's helpful and what's not in terms of prep (and on an ongoing basis) will depend on your personality type and how you prefer to learn, but what I've found to be most useful and beneficial is staying away from social media for the most part, and instead engaging in a great deal of on- and offline research. I read A LOT of scientific papers and studies prior to surgery (and still do), and was careful to seek out evidence-based information and data on types of surgery, outcomes, complications, expectations, etc. from scientists, obesity specialists, bariatric surgeons, bariatric dieticians, and other medical professionals working in the field. What a lot of quality, realistic thoughts and suggestions you're receiving in reply to your question here! I would add that for me, taking maximum advantage of the first 6 months -- and particularly the first 3 -- after surgery has been *crucial* to my overall loss and success. If you're not hungry after surgery, take full advantage by keeping your calories very low, because the honeymoon phase is finite. Begin entrenching good food habits right now (if you haven't already) and work to sustain the changes over the long term by cutting out processed foods, highly palatable foods, and sugar and instead focusing on eating healthy, whole, nutrient-dense foods once you've passed the fluid stage(s). Start an regular exercise program if you haven't already. Look for ways to keep increasing your NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) and act on them daily as your ability increases over time. Contact your bariatric team immediately with any concerns that may arise around potentially significant physical or psychological issues because social media absolutely cannot help with those. Wishing you all the very best with a successful surgery and recovery, and much ease as you pass through all of the bariatric stages and into your new life 😊 Highly-Palatable-Foods-slides.pdf

Ok I think he’s part of Chi Franciscan’s internal bariatric program. Again I have nothing but good things to say about everyone I dealt with from testing to surgery to recovery. [emoji4]

I was never told no caffeine. It’s very frustrating the difference the surgeons have. In regards to your complications , it happens. I had endless complications for 8 months after surgery. Multiple surgeries, infections, peg tube, PE, bowel rupture. Out of 8 months I was in the hospital 6 months of that. I joked with my surgeon once that anything that could go wrong did go wrong. But now I’m a teaching case. I’m 8 years out, and I hadn’t seen him in 6 years till this past August. I had some issues other specialists couldn’t understand all I had been through so I sought him out. He is now running a bariatric program 5 hours from where he performed my surgery. All his staff knew of me. He knew exactly what I needed and no more problems following his suggestions. These complications can hopefully help others that come after us by teaching these surgeons better ways of doing things. I hope that is the extent of your complications and you can move forward and kick butt in this process. I used to think it wasn’t worth it from what I went through. But now I’m healthy inside and out.

Eat enough protein. It is Rule #1 of WLS Surgery 101, and for good reason. Hitting your 65 or more grams of protein each day can help you reduce hunger, improve your immune system, and gain strength. Even if your bariatric surgery is long behind you, check weekly, if not daily, to be sure your protein intake is as high as you think it is. Drink more fluids. Lose more weight, stay fuller, and prevention dehydration fatigue and headaches with enough fluids. The goal is to get at least 64 ounces of water or other fluids each day, but a lot of bariatric patients have trouble getting there. You can help yourself out by putting out for 16-ounce water bottles (or a 64-ounce [half-gallon] pitcher) and making sure you finish them by the end of the day. Or, use a high-tech tool such as a Hydration Reminder that synchs to your smartphone and will not let you forget to drink! Water, ice water, water with lemon or mint, decaf tea and coffee, and low-calorie flavored water are all good choices. Find a friend. A weight loss buddy is worth her weight in gold. Paand weight loss If one friend is good, more friends are better – the more, the merrier when it comes to help eating right, exercising, and reducing stress. The Forums can help you connect with other patients looking for a friend. Go to the doctor. It is easy to see why going to a doctor is necessary if you are thinking about surgery or have it scheduled, but it is not only your surgeon whom you should see. Pre-op or post-op, seeing your primary care and any other of your regular doctors can help you stay healthy or get healthy. You can monitor important measures such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and make action plans for any other conditions, such as knee pain or sleep apnea. Take your vitamins. There is no substitute for a healthy diet, but a healthy diet is not always enough, especially for post-op patients. Talk to your surgeon or doctor about any vitamins you should take, and take them as recommended to prevent deficiencies. If your health is not motivation enough to get you to take your vitamins, consider this: staying nourished can also help you lose weight by keeping up your energy levels and metabolism. You can give yourself a hand by using aids such as a Tespo vitamin dispensers or choosing your favorite forms of vitamins, such as Patches, Pills, or Chewables. Smile. Smile when you greet people. Smile when you say goodbye. Smile when you are talking and listening. Smile for no reason. It really works. The very act of smiling can help convince your mind that you are happier. Plus, smiling at other people will make them more likely to be friendly to you – and make you happier. All that extra happiness can make it easier to do your daily duties, such as eating right and working out. These six strategies are simple enough, and they can help the pounds come off in 2018 with less effort. They are worth working on daily if you are going to hit your goals this year. Happy New Year!

I had blood work done 2 months ago and everything was good. I've upped my water intake as well. Just a scary feeling that i feel like I can faint randomly. My actual 6 month mark is in January but I have new insurance that doesn't cover Bariatric anything so maybe I'll get my primary to order more blood work. Thanks

I have the same issue with plain water... I used to love it but now, I get a heaviness when drinking it. Crystal light helps a lot. I know they push fluids but early on, I had issues taking in that much. I was bloated and uncomfortable from forcing fluids, my surgeon told me not to force liquids... I felt a million times better after that. Im 6 weeks post op and still can get in all my protein. The shakes have the same effect as plain water... its too heavy. My bariatric coordinator said the first 3 months is when u are really going to lose the weight so I should enjoy not having an appetite now.

Healthier is a matter of perspective. Are you looking for higher Protein content? Lower sugar content? I've read lots of great recipes for homemade protein ice cream. Both of my go-to bariatric food websites, theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and bariatricfoodie.com, both have recipes for protein ice cream. For low sugar, you would just have to look around. Your local place might have some sugar free option, not sure about Diary Queen. For store bought stuff, I prefer pre-portioned stuff. It keeps me from having to measure out servings...because my tiny tummy is not going to tell me it's full of ice cream in only 1/2 cup or whatever a "serving" is on the label. I like the Breyer's/Edy's Carbwise ice cream bars line...although, I count total carbs rather than net carbs, so have to really read the label to figure out the total carb count. I think the last time I bought some, the total carbs was around 11 carbs..which I can work into my day. ~Kat

My name is Melissa and I am 39 years old. I have two children ages 17 and 10 and I run a daycare in my home, which I've done for over 10 years. I had surgery on July 5, 2006 and my surgeon was Dr. Oldham with Bluegrass Bariatrics. I've lost about 40 lbs. and know that I need to get serious and follow the band rules because sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I'm going Friday for another fill. I made the mistake of staying too tight and had to have most of it taken out. I'm now starting to get restriction again. Good luck to each of you wherever you may be on your journey!

Hello other bandsters, I am so happy to be able to return to this site after so long away, and know that when I post something on here, I am going to get responses from people who actually KNOW how I feel, and what I am dealing with. I have so many people in my life that THINK they know . . . sad really, that they are totally oblivious to what a banded-person lives with on a day to day, meal to meal really, basis. Here's my story: I was banded in February 2007 by the most wonderful, Dr. Hadar Spivak in Houston, and was very pleased with the aftercare he provided. I had several fills, both up and down, determined to get 'there' . . . I am certain I could have tried much harder to make my initial experience successful - straight talk: I still drink sweet tea, milk and dr. pepper (not diet) . . . I know crazy, and yes . . . I was a cash pay patient, so even the knowledge of how much money I spent, didn't really change anything. I eventually dropped about 50 pounds and should have been THRILLED. But, being the over-achiever I am, it was never good enough. I even had a tummy tuck after about 50 pounds lost, but was never happy with the results of what I felt like was a pretty drastic surgery. Post TT, I maintained my weight for several months, and as I said before - should have been extatic with my results, but deep down, I wasn't. Fast forward a few months, and imagine the worst stomach virus you can . . . YEP! I got it . . . because of the insane amount of vomiting, I had to have an un-fill. That was in April 2008, and I have never had another successful day. Gaining weight at a pretty steady rate, I became ashamed to go back and let Dr. Spivak see me - I was so embarrassed. And when I finally decided, 'Okay!! This is insane . . . I have the tool, but am OBVIOUSLY not using it correctly, I called to make an appt to go in, face him, and deal with the mess I had made. Never have I been more shocked than when the receptionist said, 'Dr. Spivak retired.' I hung up in absolute disbelief, and went immediately to his website, and sure enough, this doctor who I trusted so much, was no longer available to me. Tears and frustration, all directed at myself. A few days later, I was able to get in with a bariatric surgeon, who had apparently worked out an agreement with Dr. Spivak to see his patients. VERY long story: in a nutshell, he told me that there is no such thing as a 'thicker' solution to fill the band with, as Dr. Spivak had always said he was using, is this guy calling Dr. Spivak a 'liar' ?? Pretty sure, that'd be a 'yes.' Ummm, okay . . . so he inserts the needle into my port (I had forgotten how badly I hated THAT), withdrew all of the Fluid, made me drink that stuff, and decided I could have .1 more cc than I already had. So, he said he filled me to 1.9 with the regular saline soution, and said that should do the trick. Now, 4 days later . . . I do not think I have any restriction at ALL. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Going back and forth like I did with Dr. Spivak is not possible for two reasons: 1. No relationship with this doc, and he does not appear to want to be in the room longer than he has to. I have a feeling more than a couple of questions would irritate him. 2. This guy charges $150 every stinkin' time you see him. So, if I call tomorrow and say that: 'I have no restriction' . . . Oh, they'll see me alright, for $150. All of that is just my background. I got back on this site tonight because I want to DO IT this time, but I know I can't do it alone. I would love to hear from any fellow bandsters, and could sure use some encouragement and advice about how to . . . for lack of a better way to say it, 'start over.' Thanks in advance for all of your input and suggestions, I look forward to them. Gosh, I am so sorry this ended up so long!! I just wanted to put it all out there the first time. Thanks if you took the time to read all of that!! :-) Signed, Mommi-Hammi in Houston

i went through the same thing a few months ago when i decided to pursue surgery, i read through all my options and met with 2 different doctors and eventually chose the lapband for the following reasons: 1- i am only 24 and want children in the future so being able to get the band filled and unfilled through out my life will work well for the many adventures i plan to have! 2- even after a sleeve your stomach can stretch back to a larger size and when you are not going to the doctor periodically for check ups then you can quickly loose focus on weight loss. 3- i live about 90 minutes from the doctor i chose due to the limited amount of bariatric surgeons who work with my insurance, i have not really had a problem due to the fact that i absolutly love everyone in their office. 4- the thought of changing my anatomy kinda freaked me out alittle, it was more reassuring knowing that the band could be removed if necessary downt the road. hope this helps and good luck with your journey Lauren

Well after a phone call this morning to my bariatric center I was told there were no suggestions for treatment on my psych eval. No I am trying to get in touch with my surgeons office to confirm they have the correct report. Nothing like sitting on pins and needles. I just hope it gets cleared up. I will not be happy if this sets back my timeline. Crossing my fingers Momof2sn

Not sure if this is allowed, but I have a box of Beef Bone Broth never open all 4 are still in the box, 3 Chicken bone broth. I used one, but they are all individually sealed its the orange package. 3 other broths which is Cream of Tomato, Chicken soup, and chicken with pasta (all broths). I have two protein powders. One is Coffee and the other is Double chocolate fudge. Also a Bariatric Pal plastic mug you heat the broths in. So total of 10 broths, 2 shakes, 1 mug. I bought all of this off Bariatric Pal and they are left over from my 2wk liquid diet. I'm not gonna use them so they are just sitting here. If you live close and willing to meet near me somewhere then they are yours for free! I know how costly it is getting ready for the 2wk liquid faze and the first month after surgery! So let me know. I won't hold for anyone (sorry) unless we are meeting of course. So its whomever can meet first. Thanks! (delete if not allowed) Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Over the years I have had 3 tipped ports. Go in, have em fixed...it hurts, but back to normal! I have been working a lot, and my port has been tipped for a while. But this time rubbing against my clothes. I have lost almost all my weight, and don't have any more padding. My port reallllly sticks out! I called my doc only to learn he had retired. In the meantime ( I am a flight attendant ) in shanghai, I ended up in he hospital after my port started spewing goo all the way down my leg. Long storey short..a week later, I finally get into a bariatric surgeon today. He tells me I need my port taken off, wait 4 to 6 weeks, on antibiotics, and hope to save my band. Then another operation to attach a new port. This is all self pay in Canada Has anyone done this successfully? Has anyone lost thier band? I can't imagine life without it. I also need a doctor to take me.. Sad day

My program coordinator told me about Bariatric Advantage: VitaBand. I bought a bottle of 180 count "mixed berry" flavor... oh man, they are terrible. I'm about 1/3 through the bottle and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! However, the Bariatric Advantage: Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites.. those are pretty darn good. I tried the caramel flavor, and it tastes almost like a starburst. I'm buying the lemon and chocolate flavors tonight. So yeah, any suggestions for somewhat tasty multivitamins?

Are you afraid of an unhappy outcome of your weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Use your fear to conquer obstacles rather than letting it conquer you For most of us starting a WLS journey, bariatric surgery is vast, uncharted territory, full of unknowns. We long for a happy outcome – maximum weight loss with minimum problems. We listen to stories told by other patients with a combination of hope (to be as successful as they’ve been) and fear (that we won’t experience the side effects or complications they talk about). No one wants to be haunted by the specter of anxiety and dread, but I think a little bit of fear is a good thing. I don’t want fear to dominate my life, but without it, I’m likely to become complacent about my weight loss success and/or revert to the old, all-too-comfortable ways that made me obese in the first place. In small doses, fear keeps me on my toes. Like pain tolerance, fear tolerance varies from one person to the next. Perhaps I’m able to tolerate and use fear because my childhood and adolescence were so full of fear-provoking experiences. By the time I was in my late 20’s, I actually got a little thrill out of fear, possibly because it stimulates adrenalin production. There’s nothing quite like a knife coming at you to activate your fight-or-flight system, causing a perverse fear “rush”. At the same time, prolonged exposure to fear has also taught me to respect it. I don’t play with fear the way daredevils like Evel Knievel did, risking life and limb for the brief thrill of jumping 14 buses at a time with his motorcycle. But I do like the way fear can clear my mental field, forcing me to draw a line between important and unimportant. When the choice is survival or surrender, I’d rather choose survival. I’m not a quitter. When challenged, I’m going to fight back, especially if something precious like my health is at stake. If fear tends to paralyze rather than mobilize you, you may have to use your own compass to navigate a problem, or play follow-the-leader (provided you have a trustworthy leader) instead. Whatever you do, don’t give in. Giving in turns you into a victim (click here to read an article about victim mentality: http://www.lapbandta...-of-obesity-r79), which is not a position of strength in any battle worth fighting. And your health is worth fighting for, isn’t it? So, how can you make fear a working partner in your WLS journey? Let’s take a closer look at two of the more common faces of fear. FEAR OF FAILURE Somewhere between my first, mandatory pre-op educational seminar and my pre-op liver shrink diet, I became uncomfortably aware of a shadow that followed me everywhere. It was dark and scary, and even bigger than I was. It was my fear of failure. After decades of struggle – diets, weight loss, weight gain – I felt that WLS was my absolute last chance to be healthy. And after slogging through all those pre-op tests, evaluations, consults and procedures, I danged well was not going to fail this time. Since I had to admit that my weight management skills were sadly lacking back then (as amply proven by the number on the scale and the numbers in my medical files), the only option available to me was to become the most compliant patient my surgeon ever had (click here to read an article about patient compliance: http://www.lapbandta...g-deal-abo-r112). I had to believe that he and his staff knew what they were doing and would guide me well. I’m a very curious and often mouthy person, so I asked a lot of questions and did my best to understand what was going on in me and around me, but I spent very little time trying to second-guess the instructions I was given. That approach freed up a lot of time and energy that I was then able to devote to changing my eating and other behaviors in ways that helped my weight loss. FEAR OF COMPLICATIONS Compliance served me well I this area also. I can’t claim that I was never tempted to cheat on my pre or post-op diets or to test my band’s limits. I can’t claim that I believed I’d be forever exempt from the side effects and complications I heard about from other WLS patients. But when my dietitian told me (for example) that I’d be mighty sorry if I accidentally swallowed a wad of chewing gum and had to have it scraped out of my stoma, I quickly lost my interest in chewing gum. When I observed that many bandsters experienced certain types of side effects and complications after engaging in certain types of risky behaviors, I resolved not to follow them down the road of no return. Eventually I discovered that life after WLS can deliver some unpleasant surprises, just as in every other aspect of life. I had to learn some things the hard way, like: If you swallow a large antibiotic capsule that can’t pass through your stoma and slowly dissolves into a corrosive mess, you will end up in the ER thinking you’re having a heart attack (and end up with a big unfill). And no, liquid antibiotics don’t taste good, but they taste a lot better than the weight I regained after that unfill. Most of the mistakes I made were the result of impatience or carelessness, but I did my best to learn from those mistakes and keep moving on. A handful of mistakes was about all it took for me to decide not to challenge the validity of my surgeon’s and dietitian’s instructions, and that kept me trudging along the bandwagon trail, getting ever closer to my weight goal. And once I reached that wonderful place, I was determined to stay there!

Definitely stay hydrated, that can help. But you can also use miralax and just mix it in with your Water. It's pretty gentle. From time to time - because if you stick to the bariatric diet you don't really get a lot of Fiber - I have to use some milk of magnesia to get things moving. It always does the trick.

I have BCBS of IL and I got my lapband 9/15/11. Congrats to those of you who are looking to get the approval. I had to do 6 months of supervised diet, but have to admit that it went quicker than I expected it would. Some companies exclude bariatric procedures, but when BCBS IL approves your surgery, they deem it as medically necessary, and they do cover all maintence required as well - and that includes fills. I too thought that they would not cover fills - but I've had a fill every month since being banded, and they've covered every fill.

I'm going to see my regular doctor today, to see if I can rule out some non-band-related things, I'm still trying to get in to see a bariatric surgeon, and I would never expect a diagnosis from a forum. However, I think it's human nature to ask of others who may have had similar issues if their situation compares to ours, and that's what I was doing.

Wow, it's been three whole months, since January 7th, since I checked in with any update! So, the thyroid issue I wrote about in post #8 - during the biopsy appointment I learned that it was a growth covering the entire right nodule of my thyroid. Very scary. The lab work came back okay, non-cancerous. Doctors want me to just let it be and they'll check it for any changes down the road. I'm now 3+ months into my Paleo way of eating and still going STRONG! One of the brightest moments these past few months is that my most recent bloodwork showed that I have REVERSED my borderline diabetes! Thrilled beyond words. My chronic head-to-toe pain is greatly diminished. My gastric issues are at least 75% improved. I don't have a scale and only weigh at the doctor, but I've lost probably about 20 lbs now. I've dropped about 2 sizes and I'm getting back into some of my old smaller clothes. It hasn't been rapid weight loss, just steady. I'm very happy. I keep checking in at my monthly required NUT visits, and they are very happy with what I'm doing. I was anxious at first and deliberately tried to lose weight a bit slowly because I was afraid that I might disqualify myself for surgery. They keep reassuring me that the weight and BMI that I started with is what they will submit to insurance. I still have co-morbidities that I'm taking meds for, and apparently that will get me in, for sure. Tomorrow morning is my #6 of 6 nutritional visit, the LAST requirement to get approved for insurance. After 7 months of working this bariatric pre-op process, I'm super excited at the prospect that I might soon have a surgery date and soon be getting ready to change my life!

I have been using Premier Chocolate It has 160 calories, 1 g sugar, is low fat, and doesn't taste bad! I have also added PB2 to give it a little something different. I also have a bariatric vanilla that I add a bit of coconut milk too. That makes it tolerable. I hope this helps!

I have a BMI of 57 and I'm using Dr. Lopez/Dr. Osuna with A Lighter Me. They are a husband/wife bariatric surgical team. The main reason I chose Dr. Lopez is because he specializes in high BMI patients which carry a higher risk. I am, however, doing my preop diet now in the hopes of lowering my weight/BMI/risk. And the high BMI charge. Amanda Rae

Hello, I'm just strting out the process of getting banded. I have my first appointment with Dr Stanley Roger in San Francisco on 7th Jan. Has anyone had their band there or met the doctor?