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I own them all!!!! Including the original movie and the two sequal movies. I once bid 3000 dollars for a chance for my wife to have lunch on set with Richard Dean Anderson, while making this last movie. I lost. It went for 33000 dollars!!!!! I also own the Wizard of Oz painting that was above the directors desk for 10 years. Ok, and I own a couple of props from the filming of the series, a zatnicatil and a gun from the Wormhole Xtreme episode. I won't say what they cost, too embarrassing.

10 days and it was about same time post op for my c section

"I could be drinking 10 milk shakes a day (I’m not!)" So, what are you eating daily to not feel restriction/suppression?

Hello Bandsters Was wondering if I could get some advice, just to give you some background; I had my first band fitted with ACS in 2007, it was a cheap band but it worked very well until 2011 and I lost 7 stone. However in 2011, it started to go funny and i started to wake up choking and as if that wasn’t bad enough, I ended up putting on 2 stone also. I was absolutely devastated and it looked like all my hard work was for nothing. Desperate as I didn’t want to go back to the way I was, I started looking at other places that provided bands, Belgium, my previous surgeon who now worked in France , places where the band is much cheaper to get. After going to see different band providers I decided in the first quarter of 2013 to go with one in Dublin, it was much more expensive (double the price) but I figured if there were any problems I would was only a car ride away. This place came across as professional and knowledgeable. They said that they used a much better band and that it was unlikely I would have any problems and one year’s after care would be covered in the total price. Delighted because I was really worried, I paid my money, ready to start another journey with my new band. So I got the new band put in, the first two weeks were grand, after two weeks the swelling went down and there was no appetite suppression (the company don’t like the term restriction) and it’s the hungriest I have been in six years, I put on a half stone but I consoled myself, I would get my fill within a month of the operation and everything would be tickety boo... not so.... They filled the band to 6ml, and nothing, I contacted the Liaison Person and was told I would have to wait a month to get another fill. They only do fills - get this now, once a month! (Of course this was never mentioned previously, I was led to believe it was every Saturday and that all I needed to do was book an appointment). If I was struggling it was too bad, because I had to adhere to their ridiculous guidelines even if the band was not doing its job. Talk about fat shaming!! . So I promised myself, I would not discuss anything with the Liaison Person again, just confirm appointments with them and I would do all my talking to the Doctor and the Nurse who administer the fills. I was struggling because I was constantly hungry, add to that I had really bad shoulder pain and my insomnia was acting up because I was so stressed and my anxiety was through the roof, so I had no energy to go out for my marathon 6KM walks. However once a month up until September, I would visit with either the Doctor or the Nurse to get a fill and I would explain again that there was no suppression, they would make sympathetic noises that I needed to be patient. By this stage I had over 9ml in and nothing, I was worried as this is a lot to have in the band and not have any sort of restriction (damn it! It’s our word, I should be allowed to use it ). I was very upset and depressed and stayed away after that, I felt like I had been made a fool of. The only good thing, that’s if you can call it that is that I haven’t put on any more weight but my weight has stayed the same (except for 2lbs I put on over xmas). Just after Christmas, i started choking again, it was slight at first but I had to go back and get some fill taken out of the band. I told the Doctor on call (different from my Surgeon) again that there is nothing happening with this band, it’s not doing anything. He gave me the usual speel about it being a tool and that I could be drinking 10 milk shakes a day (I’m not!) however I pointed out a tool is no good unless it actually does the job it is supposed to do but he just brushed me off. It’s getting closer to the end of my after care and I can’t help but feel they are and have been “eeking” all this out and not bothering to do anything, so that they will look at my band only after my after care has expired and I will then have to pay more fees on top of what I have already paid. Apologies for the misile but I thought it was better to give full story, as this isn’t my first trip with the band and I just I am really frustrated and upset and feel like I have been conned out of a lot of money for something that is a Trojan Horse. I would appreciate any advice, I will be meeting with the Surgeon soon and I am again going to reiterate that the band is not doing anything, I may as well have nothing there for all the good it does. If I am ignored this time, I would look at other avenues i.e. get legal advice or as my friend (a freelance journalist ) suggested she write an article. As far as I can see these are last resorts, I don’t want to do that, I want my band to work, I just want to be like other women. If anyone has gone through this or something similar I would love to hear what you did or what your opinions are because I just feel like a total idiot. Thank you.

I had my post op appt today with my surgeon. I am down 19 lbs from my last pre op visit. He is very pleased with my progress. I am currently in the waiting room waiting to see my dietician and may be able to move on to the next diet stage. :-)

I was banded March 19 (so I'm 6 days out). liquids and blended food go down fine. I had a terrible constipation issue and a call to the doc had me taking magnesium citrate to resolve it. (that was a real joy...ugh) My concern is that people seem to be going back to work less than 2 weeks post-op and I can't even imagine doing that. I still have so much pain and it's all centered in one spot on my left side. At the same site as the pain, I can feel the port (or something) bulging beneath my skin. Is this normal? I educated myself so thoroughly pre-op (over 2 years even) and don't recall seeing anything like this. I saw something on another thread about herniation, so now I'm really worried. I don't want to call back to the Center if I'm just being paranoid. I appreciate any help/advice you can provide! V

The band I have is the AP-Large band from Allergan. Their instructions state: The initial postoperative adjustment should occur at six weeks or more, and usually 3 - 4 cc of normal saline would be added. http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/lapband_dfu.pdf Your doctor is probably just following manufacturer's directions. I'm just a little ahead of you. I had my surgery on March 13th, so I'm 10 days post-op now. The first few days after surgery were pretty easy - I wasn't hungry and the Protein shakes kept me satisfied. After the 3rd or 4th day, my hunger started returning, although I'm sticking to the doctor's orders and only consuming liquids (both clear and full). I've read too many horror stories about band slippage because of patients eating solid foods too early. The reason for the liquid diet is to let your stomach heal with the band in place. The band is held in place by just sutures now, but as your body heals, scar tissue will help hold the band in place. If you eat solid foods too early, your stomach will churn to digest the food, hindering the formation of the scar tissue. Even worse than this is if you vomit - the violent action of the stomach may cause the band to slip. If you think slippage is a rare event, it isn't. In Allergan's clinical studies, 11% of all patient had band slippage. It was the most prevalent serious adverse event (versus erosion, dilation, etc.). Good luck,

I was banded over a year ago. I lost weight during the first 6 - 8 weeks following surgery. Then I played around with the same 5 lbs for the next 10 months even though I was receiving regular fills. With each fill, I kept thinking, "this will be the one that gives me that restriction I felt after surgery." But it didn't happen and I started losing faith in the band and in myself. I started to think, I've failed again. Then my surgeon told me he would give me a fill under fluoroscopy. This is how it worked. He filled the band completely under xray closing off the opening from my pouch to my stomach. I drank barium and it stayed in my pouch. He then began to slowly withdraw some of the fill, until the barium began to drain into my stomach, leaving the opening from the band at what he felt was good restriction. It's been 2 1/2 weeks since the fill under fluoroscopy and what a difference!!! I have restriction! THIS is what I expected from the band. I'm finally getting the help I wanted and needed from the band. I haven't weighed since the fill but I'm feeling the difference already in my body. My husband was holding me and said, "You're losing weight!" BUT .. over the past year, I developed some bad habits. I've had to go back and review and get my head on straight to work with the band again. I've gotten stuck several times, a couple of really bad ones with slimming and coughing. It hurts and works as a great reminder and reinforcer to do what is right. I really have to pay attention now and really slow down. I can't just eat whatever anymore and I can't eat nearly as much. I get full very quickly. I am now eating the recommended amount of food ... and very carefully. I'm a happy bandster .... at last!

I don't really count my carbs. Here's the rule I was taught. One gram of Protein for every ten calories you eat. Divide the rest of the calories you eat into a relatively even number of low glycemic carbs (green veggies) and healthy fats (nuts, avocado). So, for a 600 calorie a day diet, that would mean 60 grams of protein, 28 grams of carbs and 28 grams of fat (approximately, I'm doing the math in my head). For 800 calorie a day diet, it's 80 grams of protein and 38 carbs and 38 fats. With that formula, and eating the right carbs (not starches) you can't go wrong. You will have enough protein but also enough energy to get you through the day. I tend to overshoot the protein by 10% or so. But I have been lifting weights so I need more. Again, this is just the strategy that I follow and it has worked well, there are certainly other ways.

i had surgery on dec 8 and that was my biggest fear !!!! i have temp custody of my 18 mo old granddaughter and she weighs 23 lbs ! i was told i think 10-15 lbs was my limit , but i didnt have a choice! i was so greatful my fiance took his vacation time the week after surgery to help. he did alot of the lifting stuff.....getting her out of the crib,putting her in the tub....etc...so i really tried not to physically hold her . poor thing ...she didnt understand why her mimi wasnt holding her anymore and after about 4 days she really would not come to me anymore !!at night , i would sit in the recliner and pull her onto my lap and hold her that way ....i would show her my " boo boo's and owies " so she would understand. as far as the second week .i was on my own !!!! and believe me ,it wasnt bad at all !!!i had 5 incisions with the biggest ...an inch...on my rt upper side ....so i would carry her on my left hip to tryto keep pressure off my side. EVERY SINGLE DAY gets easier .........trust me ...as far as the pain goes .......i was seriously able to be back at work after 2 weeks but am takin advantage of my sick time and go back next moday......6 weeks !!! lol!!! of all things ......that was my biggest worry ......the weight restriction thing........then i constantly worried if i would do any damage .....but i came out just fine . i know some ppl have a drain .....i did not , so it was easier on me. good luck and ask away if u have any more questions !! getting the sleeve was the best thingever !

hi i started a seminar in march 08,did the 6 months dietian classes. finish sept 3rd, still had to do more pre-testing.oct, nov, now it,s been 10 whole months, my surgery is january 13th, my pre-admission is on monday jan,5th.it,s a long process for some, for others it,s takes 2-3 months.

I was sleeved on 2/19. I'm still on liquids but having an extremely hard time getting them in due to the "slimes". No matter what I drink it happens. I haven't taken in protein because the sliming mixed with the shakes consistency makes me dry heave like crazy. At this point I don't know what to do.

My goodness, you are just out of surgery so to speak and of course you feel bad. You didn't get the kind of support you should have had from your surgeon or the dietican. I bet the d/c nurse didn't even go over your instructions for home care either or you would know what to do. I didn't have a lot of pain except for gas. I used Gas-X and walked a lot. My doctor recommended liquid Tylenol or liquid Lortab for pain and Phenergan for nausea. I haven't used either yet. The walking helped me the most. As for food. I was on a clear liquid for two days after surgery, full liquids for five days, and soft diet for 10 days. I was able to go on full food on the 15th day after I started the soft diet. I am seven weeks out and have lost 30.4 lbs. I had my first fill of 4cc on the 23rd. I am suppose to get in 40-60 gms of Protein, no more than 5 fat gms or 15gms of carbs. It took a lot of determination on my part to stay on program, especially when the swelling went down, but I am determined to be a winner in this journey. I refuse to be a slave to food any longer! You can do this....just give yourself time to heal. Drink your Protein shakes, Water, and whatever else your doctor said you could have.Don't give up.

It takes about a year. I received my referral June 09. I finished Options the first week of April, and received my surgery date in June 10. It's a long process but I'm thankful for all the information Kaiser gives us. Do you know of another Kaiser patient who received their surgery within months of the referral:confused1:?

For Vitamin with IRon I use the Flintstone Complete It has Iron. NOt wild about the taste but is one a day anyway. For calcium I have been taking VitaFusion Calcium 500 mg Gummy - I take two at a time 3 times a day. For B-12 I found it cheaper to get a vial from the pharmacy. There is a 10 month supply and I inject myself. NO biggie. The cost for the B12 is about $11.00 for a 10 month supply and about 20 cents for each syringe.

I've never figured out how you can make a meal last for 30 minutes and still have it hot. So I wouldn't worry about it. Just eat your cream of wheat while it's hot and enjoyable, but be aware that you aren't just scarfing it down. Savor every spoonful and if it's gone in 10 minutes, it's gone. .

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! It is so difficult not knowing what to expect. Yes, surgery was 10/23/2012. Have lost 34 pounds, but seems to be slowing down. I am strictly following all of the rules, and I hope I do not stall at this point. Some foods I have added during this soft solid stage makes my stomach feel awful...don't know what to eat, so I end up back to soup.

I'm 10 days out today, and I feel good. I'm cranky at the moment because I miss "real" food and chewing, but other than that, all is well. You may need to rest here and there, but should be good to go!

Elfie, I am at goal, was banded 12/20/08 and am down 84 pounds, would like to lose 5-10 more before maintaining. I never was or intend to be in any exercise regime, I do walk whenever possible and do yard work every weekend. I have never had a fill and still have the same restriction that I had since surgery. I love my band and it has saved my life, I am off all meds and love life to the fullest. EVerybody is different and I will not diet, I have changed my whole life around to adjust to the band and the way you should eat, hope you all the luck in the world. You can do it too!

I have been banded 2 yrs 3 months - lost 112 lbs (105 of that in the 1st yr) Here's my 2 cents The band is only a tool - that's it... It doesn't make your food choices for you and it doesn't exercise for you. only purpose is to restrict your portions. I don't care how tight you are - You are still going to be able consume unlimited quanaties of ice cream candy gravey milk shakes etc - anything that's considered a slider food.. You will always be able to eat around your band. Yes getting to your sweet spot can be difficult for some - but for others it's not - it's a crap shoot really - I don't remember if there was a poll at one time - on how many fills it takes to get to your sweet spot - I got to mine in 2. Dieting vs your normal eating - Well ya you are going to have to "diet" as our normal eating is what got us fat in the 1st place.. Most of us didn't get fat eating 1/2 cup of veggies & 4 oz hard Protein. Yes by restriction alone you may lose some weight but not enought to go thru major freaking surgery.. This really is about a lifetime lifestyle change and with the help of our tool (band) I was able to get to goal and maintain that weight for the last year. I have not dieted - I eat healthy - I still allow for treats - but they are budgeted into my daily caloric intake - and yes you gotta learn how many calories you are consuming a day, you need to learn what 4 oz of steak looks like. (these are normal serving sized) you gotta read label and you gotta exercise.. Why are you getting banded?? To get healthy ?? Well to get healthy you have to eat healthy and exercise that's what healthy people do... WLS is not the easy way out - I did 75% of the work and my band did the other 25% - Losing weight is simple math - calories consumed and calories burned Hungry isn't going to kill you - and it's normal to be hungry I don't find that my band takes away my hunger - it keeps me full on a smaller amount of food. But I still get hungry and then we have the whole head hunger issue and for me my head hunger manifest it's self into real physical hunger Last night I was physically full from didn't - but I was not full emontionally or mentally - my body kept telling me to eat more and more - I was eating veggies - but still I was eating when I was not physically hungry.. The majority of our issues are in our head - not our stomachs - and until we learn to deal with those head issues we are going to have a fool proof weight loss system Well, that's my 2 cents - I love my band - I love me for the work involved and the continued work I do daily - I love that I feel 10 yrs younger - have improved the quality of my life and have tons more energy.. Good Luck on your journey....

I just got word that my insurance approved my surgery!!! This has been such a long road beginning 6 years ago when I initially wanted gastric bypass. My insurance through my job won't cover WLS, so I finally got creative and added my hubby's insurance as secondary insurance effective 1/1/10. After completing my 6 month supervised diet last week, I am scheduled for my surgery on Monday, May 17. I am so excited, scared, shocked, and giddy all at the same time. I am so ready for this next stage of my life. This board has been an inspiration to me over the past few months. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to post, respond, and encourage others.

I'm 10 months post band.6.2ccs according to the npn.i had some restriction until 2 weeks ago when supposedly increased .2ccs.still trying to reach my sweetspot.i do exercise 2 hrs/day 5 days a week.

88 pounds in 10 months is not slow!! :arf:

I can take dull pains pretty well but sharp pains.... forget it. I could not take the pain of the surgery. The dull part came from the incisions like I got beat up or did 5000 sit ups. The sharp part came from all of the gas and I had to get up and walk around to get rid of it. I was on a pain med IV pump that I could hit the button every 10 minutes. Around the 5 day mark I felt really good and had very minor discomfort.

Oh man, what a topic! Well, when my husband and I met, I was 19 and a college cheerleader. I was heavy in Hs, and lost 60lbs in college getting to an all time low which was a size 8. My relationship with him started off completely just sexual (sorry TMI). I ended up pregnant 6 months later while on birth control. I wasn't in love with him, but we decided to parent anyway. It was rough, going from being "hook up partners" to a couple and parents. I gained over 80lhs that pregnancy because of depression. After I had my son, I gained about 20 more from severe post partum depression. We split up for a while, and I think I went back to him because it was easy. I knew he wanted me, even if he wasn't the best for me. Now, 4 years later, were married with another baby and we still have a rocky relationship. He's not unsupportive, but he's not terribly supportive either. He never tells me I'm pretty, or tells me that he notices my weight loss. But if I say "hey I lost 5lbs this week" all he will say is "good job" and leave it at that. He's a great provider financially, but a crappy husband and so-so father. We'll see what happens. As my self confidence has gone up, I've been more "ballsy" during fights and standing up for myself. Not sure if I even answered the post lol. Sorry I hijacked it!