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Up to ten per year were included in the cost of my band. (For life). The first fill is done by the surgeon and the others are at the bariatric center with a nurse practitioner.

When I was three months out, I hadn't lost any hair.... I started losing it at four months.. one day, It just came out in fistfuls in the shower. The shedding episode lasted a few days and has been ok since. I'm HOPING this was the only hairloss I'll experience but my understanding is that months 4-6 are worst months for hairloss. I have extremely thin and fine hair so every strand is precious to me I take fish oil daily for health reasons and also my multi has the recommended dose of biotin for bariatric patients... but still the hairloss started.. not EVERYONE will lose hair... but don't breathe easy until you've passed month 6...

My visits to BariatricPal are very rare, as I'm a poor navigator. I just posted, however, a notice of the next Greater New York Bariatric Surgery Clothing Exchange (October 22). I'm so glad I did, or I wouldn't have made my way to this notice for the October 17 Face to Face meeting. It's now engraved on my calendar. Since the Face to Face is for our area, I hope I'm not out of bounds with the following link to the clothing exchange info? Laurie http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351620-greater-new-york-bariatric-surgery-clothing-exchange-free-10222015/

Oh you and your logic..... Sigh, sure I can't fix it myself???:lovechoc: I was going to call the Bariatric nurse, she gave me her cell number. Just waiting for a reasonable time. As I am nightshift and she is days... Thanks for your input.

For a while, I could only have one serving per day, either applesauce or canned peaches. At three months I was more able to eat raw fruit. Now, I am 17 months out. When I make a smoothie I will be liberal with berries, but cautious with bananas. Most days, I will eat one piece of fresh fruit or the berries. Last week I read A Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner. He is a bariatric surgeon and recommends that once we are several months out and hit an arduosly long stall of several weeks, a person's diet could be adjusted by eliminating processed sugars (white sugar, corn syrup, powdered sugar, molasses, etc) and artificial sweeteners including Stevia (which I have mentiond many times is my one vice in this whole process). He also recommended eliminating wheat and grain products, but I am already there a long time ago. He implies that since sugar from fruit is natural, the body processes it differently than processed sugar and should be embraced months out from surgery. Based on his theories in the book, starting on Friday morning I eliminated Peanut Butter, milk, cheese and sweetener (I was up to 30 a day) from my diet. I added more greens and veggies, and made a huge bean salad with cuke, tomato, mushrooms, green pepper, celery and salsa added to mix in with spinach and greens cold salad. I have also had a pear and an apple each day and either apricots or cherries at bedtime. I am also drinking 80-100 ounces of Water in between all that. I was skeptical, since the scale has not moved for months in spite of my best efforts and an aggressive exercise program. I should not be surprised that my bowels are moving properly like crazy without laxatives, stool softeners and prune juice. But from Friday morning to Monday morning, I have lost three pounds. When I get to 135, I will be recommended for a panni. Although I was checking in ok on water, Protein, carbs, and calories, my Fiber was very low. These adjustments certainly add fiber and reduce fat (I lovvvvvvve cheese and could eat it all day). My one year labs were excellent except that my bad cholesterol was off the charts. I have a doctor visit and blood labs coming up on June 23rd I think.....well it's that week anyway. I am hoping that this added fiber add reduced fat will help. I am still not off of my blood pressure meds. Even though I have have good numbers at the doctors office, he will not take me off of my blood pressure med cocktail until I get my cholesterol down. I can see his point since I already had a stroke when I was heavier. If that visit goes well, I will keep eating fruit and Beans and greens.

I'd say drink a ton of Water (at least the 8 cups a day). If you can, drink it plain since some sweetners in crystal light/mio can make it seem even harder to give up carbs for some people. Then, if you can get a good balanced Protein shake mix like Bariatric Advantage, drink those for 2 meals and then about 3 oz of meat and some veggies for dinner. If you need the 2 Snacks between meals stick to high protein/low carb ones like cheese sticks, nuts, or maybe a carefully selected yogurt. You can do this!

<TABLE class=wide cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD> I saw this post on another WL support site and did find it veryinteresting. Some of the things this guy says really DOES make youthink. I know I AM quilty of several of the things he wrote about.Remember, this is NOT me writing the following stuff ... It is justsomething I copied from somewhere else. I hope reading it can helpUS all out.Sherri*****************************************************Enough is enough... the truth about the bandI've been reading a lot of the posts lately, and noticing a fewtrends. </PRE> I thought I might address them. </PRE> Many of you are not going to like it, and I expect to get flamed. Iam not trying to peeve folks off, but I feel it is time for someoneto post a frank discussion on the band. Take my words with a grainof salt. This is not directed at any one person in particular, butat a general trend of threads appearing lately. If you're pissed atme after this… OK, but then again, maybe you'll get something out ofit in between the anger. </PRE> Here it is… </PRE> Quit your whining. </PRE> The band is not a miracle. It does not magically make caloriesdisappear from food. It is a tool you need to work WITH not AGAINST.If you work against it, you'll fail. End of story. </PRE> Let's clear up a few misconceptions about the band. </PRE> The band is not malabsorptive like the gastric bypass. The GB worksby allowing the patient to eat less, and more to the point, toabsorb LESS calories from the food they eat. The band ONLY restrictsthe QUANTITY of food, not the QUALITY. If you continue to eat high-calorie crap, you'll lose nothing… period. What this means is thatyou DO need to change your eating habits. You need to eat healthierfood, and less garbage. Some folks will lose some weight with theband because of the smaller quantities without changing their eatinghabits, but that loss will slow or stall, and WILL NOT BESUSTAINABLEunless they learn new habits. Face it folks, what we eat is what gotus fat in the first place. If you don't wanna change that, then youcan stay fat, and don't complain that you aren't losing. </PRE> Yes, you can have occasional treats. I am not saying that you haveto live a deprived life with no treats ever again, but keep themoccasional, and keep them small. Dessert every day is NOTOCCASIONAL. Once a week, maybe. Start looking at your favorite foodsand look for ways to make them healthier. Maybe use less fat, orhealthier fats, leaner cuts of meat, more veggies etc. Try to treatyourself with healthier foods as well, fruit instead of pie, bakedpretzels instead of fried chips, try those rice cakes you see in thestore. When you do have a treat… have ONE SERVING. Look at thelabel… if it says that 9 rice cakes are 1 serving… count them outand only have 9, not the whole bag! Use the sugar-free versions ofthings, the lower fat versions, and the lower carb versions… eatmore fresh foods, and less from packages. Yes, I know that freshfood is more work… too bad. You wanna get healthy? Then do it right.Kraft in the box might go down fine, but is it the right thing todo? Make the effort to cook healthier. It takes more time, butaren't you worth it? </PRE> RNY and Gastric Bypass patients need to diet too. If you think thatthey lose faster, you are right. In essence from malabsorbtion, theytechnically starve to lose initial weight, and lose a lot… morequickly than we do. SO WHAT?!?!? The human body is an amazing thing.It is smart, and learns to compensate. If the GB/RNY patient doesnot learn new, healthy eating habits, then they WILL GAIN THE WEIGHTBACK. In the long run, we have the advantage, as we do not lose atALL without new habits. We have to learn from the get-go, and in theend… our system willl adjust with us as we lose… not giving oursmart body a chance to get used to the new "arrangement" andcompensating for it. RNY/GB might look like a miracle, but it isn'teither. You still are the one in control, but the complications forit are much worse. I'm not dissing it, it is the right choice forsome, but for those who which to switch, simply because they havenot been doing the band with TRUE lifestyle changes… well… they arefooling themselves. Wisen up, and realize YOU need to change to makeany bariatric surgery a long-term success. </PRE> Head hunger, and stress eating are real. They are some of the thingsthat got us here. If it happens to you… GET HELP. Don't just standthere and say… duh, I don't know how to stop. Get on a program, seea therapist, join a bandster support group. Don't just cry aboutit…, DO SOMETHING. If you know emotional eating is an issue, thenyou have an EMOTIONAL PROBLEM, best dealt withby a therapist. Guesswhat folks, that is part of a whole weight loss program! Some maynot need it, but if these issues plague you, then get the help! Thatleads me to the next one… </PRE> Yes, you DO NEED TO EXERCISE. If you think you don't, then you arebeing foolish. Exercise does not mean a formal program at a gym witha personal trainer (although that is a GREAT IDEA). It means gettingout there and moving… biking, skating, swimming etc. Move… move…move!!! A sedentary life is another of the things that got us here.If you think sustained weight loss will happen without it, then youare again fooling yourself. Don't forget, that other than ahealthier life, the number 2 reason we got this done was to lookbetter. Folks, diet alone will not give you a better bod, exerciseand diet will. </PRE> This is not a liquid diet. Yes you will have periods of being onliquids, before and after surgery, and right after fills, but thisis not meant to be liquids for life. The band works by allowing asmall amount of food to stay in the pouch for a while, keepinghunger away. If all you have are Protein shakes… well frankly, theypass right thru, and give NO sustained satiety. You'll be hungry.Period. If all you can get down are liquids, then you are TOO TIGHT.It will NOT HELP YOUR WEIGHT LOSS TO BE TOO TIGHT! In fact, theopposite is true. If you cannot eat solid foods you will likelygain, because LIQUID CALORIES ARE MORE DENSE. You have GOT TO eatsolid food. </PRE> Low carb does not mean NO carb. Should you restrict carbs… yep. Weeat too many. This does not mean eat only protein. You cannotsurvive on only protein, you need veggies and carbs too… just lessof the carbs than you have been having. For one, try using healthiercarbs… want a potato? Eat a small baked red-skin new potato, withsome butter spray on it… instead of fries. Try Dreamfields low-carbpasta for Sunday spaghetti dinners, try brown rice instead of MinuteRice. Avoid the carbs in packaged foods… Mac and cheese, rice a ronietc. If you want mac and cheese, make it from scratch with lower fatcheese and Dreamfields or whole wheat Pasta. Use wholegrain bread,not Wonderbread. And… eat carbs last. Eat the protein first, thenveggies, then if you have room finish your carbs. Lastly… eliminatethe sugar… get it out period </PRE> Fast food is bad. End of story. Stay away from it… all of it. </PRE> Is a pre-op liquid diet important? You bet your boots it is. No, Iknow not all doctor's ask for it… but that doesn't change the factthat they should be asking for it. First off, it shrinks the liver,making it easier for the surgeon to perform the procedure. Second,it begins the weight loss process. Third, it speeds up recovery byhaving the body have less solid waste in the digestive tract, itwill work less, and not stress the points where the band is attached. </PRE> Is the post-op diet… liquids… mushies then solids important? Seeabove. This is for healing. Yes you can eat solid food sooner, and Iknow that this varies from doctor to doctor, but that doesn't meanit should. The stomach needs time to heal, and even though you CANeat solids earlier doesn't mean you should. Heal properly first. Asmost docs will say, any weight loss during this phase is a bonus.This is not the time for loss but healing. May folks WILL gain whengoing to mushies. Expect it. If you don't, you are one of the luckyfew… not the norm. Most folsk do not see real weight loss forMONTHS. This is how it is, deal with it. </PRE> You WILL NOT LOSE ALL YOUR WEIGHT IN A COUPLE MONTHS. Especiallythose of you with under 75 lbs to lose. Less to lose, the slower itwill be… that's it folks. If you got the band with 60-75 lbs tolose, do NOT expect to lose as much a month as someone who has200lbs to lose. Won't happen. If the doc told you it did, he lied.Most successful band patients lose 75% of their excess weight in theFIRST 2 YEARS… yep… years, not months. Deal with it… you are notgonna lose it by summer for swimsuit season. This is not intended tobe SPEEDY weight loss… if you don't get that, see #3 above. </PRE> It's OK to go to a foreign country to get my band because it is moreaffordable to me… Hmmm this one is debatable, and I will keep myopinion of foreign docs out of it. First off, when it comes tosurgery for my body, I don't want the lowest bidder, even though Iwas also self pay… but let's put that aside. I see too many folksgoing to places like Mexico for this procedure because they say thedoc is a brilliant surgeon… this is only 10% about the actualsurgery folks! It is the pre and aftercare provided that makes itwork. If you do NOT have an aftercare doc set up locally BEFORE yougo to Mexico for the surgery… then you are making a HUGE MISTAKE. Iam getting tired of seeing folks say…" I just got my band lastweekend, anyone know of any docs I can see for fills around here?"Geez?!@?!? What are you thinking? Didn't you have this all set upbeforehand? How could you have such a procedure done to your body… aprocedure that requires constant attention (and it is not just forfills folks!) and not be prepared before you do it? If this is yourplan, then I am confused on what you are doing. Aftercare with theband is not just fills, and you need access to a band doc locallyfor any problems. Sure you can get the procedure done in Mexico, buthave preparations for aftercare BEFORE they cut you open. </PRE> Look at the whole program. This is NOT just a surgical option. I'vesaid it before and I'll say it again, the surgery is only 1 hourlong… the rest of my life will be losing and maintaining myhealthier body. Nutritionists, exercise physiologists,psychologists, dieticians, support groups, a good fill doc… theseare ALL necessary to lose and maintain our health. If you only dealwith some of them… you'll fail. When you scout out docs to do thisprocedure, see how they deal with ALL of these factors…not just arethey a good cutter. Then, after the surgery, follow through with allof these. </PRE> If you don't know… ASK! The doctor, not the web group. Sure, it'sgreat to get support and ideas here, but I am amazed how many peopleare on here soliciting medical advice… ASK YOUR DOC! If he won'tgive you a straight answer… then he's not a good doc, and you needto seek out a better one. I mean COME ON!?!?! Now that we have thatstraightened out… let's say your doc tells you to do something… likestay on liquids for 2 weeks… DO IT. If he is a good doc, then thereis a reason to do what he says. This is NOT about you making yourOWN… UNEDUCATED judgment calls… he's the pro here… do what he says.If you don't understand why… then we go back to… ASK. </PRE> I'm sure I could say more, but I am also sure that I've pissed offhalf the folks who have read this. </PRE> Just had to get it off my chest. It is HARD WORK. Anythingworthwhile is. If you thought it was gonna be easy, then you wereeither lied to, or deluding yourself. </PRE> Work hard… get healthy… have a good life. We are ALL worth the time,effort and yes money, to be better healthier people. </PRE> __________________ Big Paul Banded Nov. 17, 20051st fill 1/3/2006: 3.2cc 2nd fill 2/7/2006: Removed 3.0cc, replaced 4.0cc 3rd fill 3/6/2006: Removed 3.6cc, replaced 4.0cc Unfill 3/14/2006: Removed 4.0cc, replaced 3.2cc 4th fill 4/3/2006: Removed 3.2cc, replaced 3.8cc 371/236/189135 lbs lost! 47 lbs to go! </PRE> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

Ok here goes, i was banded june of 2010, i weighed 215, i did fine and lost 60 lbs over the last two years, then in october of 2012 i felt i was more hungry and was putting on a little weight so i went to my gastro for a fill, when the asst dr looked at the band under floro i was told it had prolapsed and all the Fluid had to be removed for one month, i was pretty bummed to say the least, after the month i had gained 10lbs and they put a couple ccs in the band, sfter a couple weeks of no restriction i went back to be told it had prolapsed again, fluid was removed again for one month (this of course was during all the eating holidays of course) i went back in dec and had it filled again, again no restriction even though they say looking at the band under fluro that it is tight enough!!, finally in febuary of 2013 i went back to see the surgeon himself instead of his assistances and told him about everything that had been happening, he pulled up the photos of the past fills and unfills and said it had NOT prolapsed!!!! he took me down to radiology and under fluro checked with blue dye and confirmed all was well he put me to 3ccs and said i was tight!!! well guess what?? i have absoulutly no restriction what so ever and have gained 30 lbs through this mess and have during this mess i had new insurance with no bariatric coverage and recieved a bill foe 1700.00 for all the times i was back and forth for fills!!! i have gotten so desperate i purchased 19 gauge 1.5 inch needles and saline and am planning on adding a fill by myself!!!! PLEASE anyone that can add insight to any of this please help i am desperate, frustrated and fat again,!!!!! PS every time i went back in i was questioned about my eating and made to feel this was my fault and i have to do better, WELL hello i am obviuosly an overeater and had the lapband fpr help in this area!!!

So I had a surgery date scheduled on the 1st day I seen the Dr for bariatric surgery (scheduled about 3 months later). I was giving a list of tests and specialists I had to see before a certain date to receive insurance approval. My EGD is in about 2 weeks. My surgery is January 22, 2021. Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

No worries...yes, i had mine in 2007....i was a self pay...insurance didn't even know what it was back then. I also had it done in San Francisco, and my husbands ex-wife is a bariatric nurse so I sorta had an "in" with a surgeon.When I moved to Vegas 2 yrs later...and even until now I have to explain what it was because people here are...well...to be nice...set in their ways.... Fascinating! After almost 3 years on these forums, you are the longest term sleever I've ever seen! I've seen a lot of long term bypass peeps, like my hubby who is 10 years out, but never a sleeve! So tell me, how is your restriction at 10 years out? What would you say your portions are now? Like me at over 2 years out, I would say my max is a cup, depending on what it is.

I actually have 3 gyms to choose from: one at work, one at my kid's school and one at the hospital where I had my surgery done. Work gym I hate because it is all full of steroid pumped guys and 98 pound girls (who stand in the locker room and say to each other "does this thong make me look fat?"). School gym is better because lots of older people use it so it's less stressful, but it is very busy and there are no trainers. Hospital gym is the best because there are lots of patients recovering from various things including bariatric surgery and the trainers are fantastic!!!!!! Everyone there makes me feel like I am welcome and any exercise I do is a triumph. :-) Unfortunately, that one costs additional $$ so for now I am running and walking at home. (I love being able to throw on clothes, workout, and come back to my own shower.) But once I get to onederland, I'm going to start lifting weights and using the machines over there. Ya just can't bet having a cheering squad while you are working out. frog.

07/16/2010 Well, today I went to the bariatric surgeon after fighting with my different insurances for about 2 years. The epitome of "hurry up and wait." I had emailed the surgeon at our University Hospital to express my concern and desire for the LAP-BAND®, and got an immediate response from the scheduler. Wow! Seems as if everything went well. I can prove that I have tried tons of different weight loss efforts over the last 5 years (actually, 30+ years) as well as a BMI over (gulp!) 40. Blogging speaks to my need to write when I have a lot going on in my mind, so will try to use this almost as "journal therapy" as I wade through all this bureacratic (sp?) red tape, waiting to get this much-needed, much-desired bariatric surgery. More later...

The bariatric coordinator told me that I could not leave the hospital unless someone was there to drive me home but there were no other requirements for anyone's attendance while in the recovery room. But I didn't ask about that either.

Go to a free seminar of the bariatric surgeon of your choice then let your PCP know. My PCP was more than supportive. If not, then it's time to get a new PCP. If you went to a seminar today, you may get scheduled for surgery within 8 weeks so that is about the lead time to expect.

That one person might lose weight on junk food but the health implications are not good at all spiking insulin and raising cholesterol levels plus others so this is why most of us chose a bariatric path and obviously our diet should be strict to get the most benefit out of it and the fact that our intake is so little post op we have to go for the most nutritional food possible! I've followed my doctors guidelines and was off multiple meds before I even left hospital and have lost over 100lbs and healthier than I've ever been before by being strict and following the doctors rules of high protein low carbs! Obviously "some" ppl have medical reasons that may interfere with their results but most of it comes down to those who work harder have the best results! But I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I wish them luck just don't complain.

I used what was on the scale at my very first bariatric weigh-in...

charlie and klaker I know there are many cookbooks out there concerning bariatric surgery their is one of those "for dummies" book i do have it "somewhere", don't remember the title go to your bookstore - they can help you hopefully others will chime in good luck kathy Thanks ProudGrammy My NUT told me about the Dummy's cookbook for post bariatric patients as well as "Eating WELL AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY" by Patt Levine and Michelle Bontempo-Saray. I bought the Kindle version for iPad through Amazon for $9.99. It looks great!

Yesterday was my first day of the liquid pre op diet as well! I ended up getting the ready to drink "Oh Yeah" brand from my doctors' office. They're ok. I had tried the Bariatric Advantage and those taste better even if you have to mix those ones up. I did ok on the hunger thing up until the afternoon and then I started getting really hungry despite the shakes. I went to bed with a hunger headache and woke up with a hunger headache. My nutritionist told me that the goal is to get about 70 grams of protein in per day, not much less and not much more. So, whatever protein drink you choose, just make sure that it totals up to 70grams of protein a day. I also get to have 4 oz of cottage cheese twice a day and 4 oz of juice. I've opted to go with the fruit chillers that you freeze so that I feel like I'm actually "eating" something. I guess part of my struggle is in my head. My initial pre op showed an elevation of white blood cells so I had to go on antibiotics and move my surgery date. I had my blood drawn yesterday to see if the white cells have gone done. I'll find out what the results are most likely tomorrow. So, if the white count is still elevated then I'll have to move my surgery AGAIN and see a hematologist. So I'm just hoping that I'm not going to be doing the liquid diet for a few days only to find out that I'm going to have to start all over again. I think once I find out that my white count is ok it will be mentally easier to deal with the hunger.

I think complications with the band is higher. I've even read that some bariatric doctors are no longer doing the band, but have went with going with the sleeve and bypass only. Read the complications in the band forum. In two days my sister converts from band to sleeve. Slippage, scar tissue and erosion are just a few band complications. Also trying to find that "sweet spot" where your fill is perfect can take years. It did for her. You have to research and then research some more. Then at the end of the day, go with what you feel is right for you.

Do I need to have my doctor change the reason for the tests? I had him put for bariatric surgery on the referral. However, I can surely need these tests just in and of themselves for diabetes and being overweight. My insurance does cover bariatric bypass but not the sleeve. However, I don't want the bypass hence Mexico. Also, it is a pain trying to get accepted for the surgery anyway. If he already did the referral for bariatric, can I go and change it? Or will they be like, 'nice try but too late you already said bariatric'?

I don't think it is based on "safeguarding" the public's health. It's based on risk/benefit analysis, which is why it seems so way off for banding. The years of RNY and other bariatric surgeries are the body of experience they use to calculate such things. It will be several MORE years and MANY more banding patients will have to be studied before any changes are made. IMO, there should be a huge divide between RNY qualifications and those for banding. The current guidelines don't take into account the exponential difference in risk level. Someday, we can hope, they will.

Welcome to the forum...from one BakoMom to another!! I know I mentioned this last night but Dr. Irani was/is AWESOME. His PA, Kristen, is fabulous too. He is highly recommended by most bariatric departments in town and my primary care physican recommended him too. I had a pretty good experience at Mercy SW. His equirement for all the pre-op testing he does has to be done within 30 days of surgery (not more or they will make you redo the tests). Best of luck to you and since we are in the same town, know that I am here to answer any questions. We must live fairly close to eachother if our kids go to the same school so we can even become walking buddies.

Ok☺ I'm from Louisiana. I just checked out the deals here on Bariatrics pal website. If they find a hernia they'll repair it for free! That's a plus! I wonder how much they would charge to remove the gallbladder @@belindadcns?

Ive been trying to get myself together for my surgery on 2/28, buying broth and protein powder out of this world. I spent about a week doing all kinds of research on different vitamins and supplements, and which would be cost effecient. I finally talked to my NUT and asked her about a few name brands, she tells me as if I take Bariatric Fusion (sold in their office), I wont need to take additional vitamins and supplements. The multivitamin cost $24.99 for 120 chewable tabs. My confusion is, why arent more people using bariatric multivitamins for all the supplemental needs?

Yes we do, I've looked into it and their memberships are way to expensive for us. I'd rather spend that amount once, not repetitively to renew.