Search the Community

I'm so happy that all i have left to do is my endoscopy on oct 12, Hoping to get approved and surgery in November

Nothing new with me just trying to wait patiently! But not that successful. Starting to get impatient, November hurry up!!!

Hey Girl! I just read your post about an excersise buddy. Im looking for one too. I had gastric bypass March 5th. Do you have a gym membership?

so, i got my lap band 7/31/09 and had to get it removed for having compliations. SNIFF SNIFF. now I am going to get it back on in november. i am hoping that it goes better for me this time around.

Hi from Michigan. Will have my 6 months Dr Apt finished in November 3rd, so hopefuly I will get the OK from the insurance CO in November. How long does it take to get your surgery date after the OK?

Hello thanks for writing back

I live in Northern california. I have jumped through all the hoops just waiting for insurance to say yes. I have blue shield they said it is the easiest and fastest to reply. My doctor is here in town. He has a center of execellace which I understand is important.

Did you see my stats are we close. I am crossing my fingers for the next two weeks sugery . I am married since 92 have two childrens a daughter who is going to be 14 in sept and a son who is 11. They are all backing me. My hubby is a bit nerious about as he says going under the knife... But I need help dieting alone just doesnt work for me. My family was complety against the bypass. We had a neighbor do this she looks great weight wise but not healty not to sure eating habits have changed much.

Look forward to getting to know you and hopefully having a buddy

Sorry for the delay in response! I actually got assigned to the Palo Alto location. I was hoping to go to Fremont as traffic is better for me. I haven't seen the surgeon yet. I see the nutritionist this month. So far the facility seems to be most comfortable with the Bypass but still presented the LB as an option. I personally am opting for the LB.

Hey! The support group......to be honest, no, I don't really like it so i'm sure you wouldn't like it either. I go with my coworker who just had the bypass..(we both used Dr. Mailapur). But like i said, I am the only bandster who shows up. So I feel out of place most of the time. I have only been to 3...one before surgery, and 2 since surgery. My first one after surgery, we were all giving our testimonials and almost all the bypass patients were talking about how they don't have any cravings for the bad food and no hunger and i was sitting there wanting to leave...I was in a big "blah" stage with LOTS of HUNGER and cravings and anger from missing food. Even though we are all supposed to follow the same diet plan, bypassers and banders have separate issues and we go through different things. I wish we had a band support group, but until then, i guess you and this site will be mine. Have a good weekend!!!

Sorry to take so long to respond. I have been on vacation until yesterday. The pain has subsided thank you. I have been at the same weight for the last 10 days, but I have gone two pant sizes. I am in a comfortable 16...yeah! I am on my way to the hospital to see a friend of mine that is having gastric bypass today. I hope you are well. It feels good when other people notice your weight loss. We should all throw out the scales until we get where we need to be....but I can't I am addicted. Take care-Donita

I don't have a big day yet...it will be sometime in November. I am doing great though. Next weigh in is on Friday.

Your profile is pretty. I see on the "What did you eat today forum" that you eat beef jerky. Any problems with it and any specific kind? I am to be banded in November...and I am a jerky addict.

Hi: Are you from MA??? Hi: My name is MayAnn and I was denied on 03/24/2008 by UMASS Dr. Gitkind the gatekeeper. My BMI is 37 and have highbloodpressure. I want to better myself and this doctor wants me to get a :sad_smile: I don't understand why he does not see me fit for the lapband? My BMI is 37 and have high blood pressure:confused2:. I know I want the lapband and have been prepairing myself since November 2007, went to the seminars, psychologist, nutritionist and was denied by Dr. Gitkind on Monday. Went to primary care docotor today and still my bmi is 37 and high blood pressure???on a calorie diet<-:huh2:like I havent tried this! calorie diet of 1600-1800 day. I guess I was not eating enough-been two weeks on this diet and gained 3 pounds..... AHHH WHY??? HELP....:scared2:

HAPPY NOVEMBER 1st!

Deb - I travelled from out of state (I'm in Nome, Alaska) last year for the surgery. The experience was great...I also recovered quite well (WAY better than my gallbladder removal and about the same as my 3 c-sections-which I thought were great).

Now...fills. Everyone is different. Some people think it's cheaper to just fly to Denver and see Dr. K for fills...since that's not feasable to me I found a doctor in Anchorage (still have to fly there). I think you should at LEAST find some aftercare in your area...someone you could go to in an emergency at least. There might even be a support group locally that would really be beneficial (although we've all found that most support groups are for the bypass folks). Fills are very individual. Some people find that "sweet spot" very quickly (within a couple of fills). I've had 5 fills (I'm at 3.4cc in a 4cc band) and could actually use more, but it's one of those things where you kind of get used to the fill then need more. Needle size vary...mine uses a teeny tiny needle, most use something bigger. No one really complains of the stick so if you're needle-shy this should be the LEAST of your worries!

Fluro - some fills docs use fluro and some don't. Dr. K doesnt...he just has you drink some water and fills you 'till that gets stuck then takes just a wee bit out...to make a kinda funnel-affect. (This is what I've heard, I haven't been to him for a fill.) My doc fills me at a level I want, he's very cautious and requires me to stay in town for a few days to make sure that everything is good to go. He has some fluro people available if there seems to be a problem. Fluro, I've heard, makes it so you ge to the sweet spot earlier because they can actually observe the liquid funnelling...but then, like I said earlier, you get used to the fill and need more so....I would say don't pay extra for it unless you are pretty darn sure there's a problem.

Unfills - done the same as a fill. Someimes your stomach will swell when you get a fill (from the irritation). This has not happened to me, and I think rarely happens anyway. This can cause you to not even be able to swallow spit...then an unfill is needed. Now, my doc in Anchorage lets me "tweak" my fill for a week without an extra charge so if I feel too tight (which has never been the case) he'd take some out or if I feel like I could use a bit more (which HAS happened) then he adds more. My doc also doesn't require me to drink liquids the day of and day after a fill - some do. I think it's better not to so you can really see how the fill did for you.

I was on the fill thread for a bit, but it didn't give as much information as I'm giving you here.

The hardest part of aftercare is really that it's all up to you and how YOU feel. I, like LapDancer, am a food adict and am working on that - working on even accepting that. The band hasn't cured me of everything, but on bad days it does stop me from being super gluttonous! I'm at a state now that if I lose weight I now I won't gain it back.

Also...a friend of mine had the Band put in a few years ago. She reached goal in about 1 1/2 years and then got a complete unfill...she lost 10 more lbs. and has maintained that without filling up...just letting the band "sit there". Now, there's some hope for us!

I am SO SO SO confused!!!! From day one the doctor told me I was having a revision!! He was going to do a combination of a bypass and DS because of my BMI. So since June I thought I had a DS... (surgery was actually done by another doctor in his office)....today I found out that I had a Malabsorbtion Bypass and no DS???? So all the study and research I did on the DS was in vain!!!!! He told me that the reason I was doing the DS was that the greater percentage of weight loss and the lower percentage of likely hood to gain it back!!!! Right now I am just numb!!! I have a call into his office to find out why??? and why I wasn't told???? This may make sense as to why I still can eat!!!!

Never imagined that band vs bypass recovery would be like night and day. Its been a rough start but I'm stil moving forward. 27lbs down already!

I once weighed 350 lbs and now over the years and with gastric bypass surgery last year I have lost 167 lbs total. I'm pretty proud of myself.

So tired of these pissing contests. Band/Bypass/Sleeve who cares..Whatever works. No wonder so many leave and not come back.

Today marks 6 weeks post op from my bypass. I've lost a total of 54 pounds since the start of my journey. Feeling pretty good about this new life/adventure!