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1, Date of banding. May 9, 2006 2, Weight/BMI on date of banding. I think it was like 48.6, weight was 331 pounds 3, What band do you have. Swedish 9cc Midband 9cc Vanguard Lap Band 4cc or 10cc :biggrin1: 10cc Heliogast 7cc or 9cc A,M,I soft band 7cc or 9cc 4, What was you own person reason for WLS Cosmetic :biggrin1: To look better and not feel like everyone is staring at the fat guy Health To lower my blood sugar and blood pressure. Both were high and doctor wanted to put me on meds for both 5, Why the band and not Bypass or DS. Safer, wife was not supportive of RNY 6, What were you’re expectations about the band. After much research and doctors advise, I knew I would have to work hard. This is a tool and not a magic potion to loose weight 7, What were you’re expectations about the impact weight loss might have on you’re life. Longer and happier life 8, What is you own personal target weight/BMI. 170 pounds 9, What is the realistic target/expected weight loss/BMI. 160 pounds 10, How much was you’re band and how did you fund it. Insurance :biggrin1: - about $500 out of pocket Re-Mortgage Loan NHS (uk patients) Savings 11, Do you consider the cost of your band justified or expensive. Yes, much cheaper than a lifetime of taking medication for health problems, not to mention doctor's visits and possibly hospital stays. Also much less likely to have to have joint replacement because of the reduced weight 12, How many fill’s/unfill’s have you had. 4 fills, 5cc I beleive 13, How did you have you’re fill’s Blind 3 fill's 2 unfill's Under x-ray all 4 done under flouro 14, How much are you’re fill’s $15 co-pay through insurance 15, Does your surgeon do your fill’s or a fill provider. Surgeon or Physicians assistand done at his office 16, If you travelled for your band why did you travel. N/A17, Did you experience any complications/Difficulties. No 18. When did the problems begin. N/A19, what problems did you experience were they resolved and how was they resolved. N/A 20. Would you be banded again or chose another op. In a heartbeat. Best thing I have ever done. I feel like the band has saved my life or at the very least made it worth living.

im going to try week 3. DH is out of town for the next 10 days so not sure how consistent i can be with wee one...

I just finished week 6 workout 2 which was 2 10 min runs. not too bad. Tuesday is going to be the 25min run. Found my mp3 in the cushion in my car (thank goodness). Now whats a good mp3 download site?

Did u lose preop? Since preop...6 weeks later as an average I have lost1/2 lb a day and haven't had my first fill yet which is 10-2. I believe this time postop is to give time to heal to adjust to eating differently and to change mindset. The band is a tool not a magic wand. You do the work and it'll work with you. Good luck on your journey...many vets here alot of info and just great people...welcome.

No problem, glad to help out. Keep in mind I'm a little over 6 months out. Here's a typical day for me: Breakfast Calories Fat Protein 1/2 cup egg beaters with 1oz 2% cheese 140 5 19 AM Snack Protein Bar 170 5 15 lunch Small Wendys Chili (yep fast food) 220 7 19 dinner 4 Oz chicken Breast with 1 oz 2 % Cheese 180 6 29 PM Snack 12oz GNC whey Isolate 28 Protein shake 280 2 40 with 1/2% Milk Total 990 25 122 I am less regimented on my workouts now because I'm back in college and don't set enough time aside to focus on workouts, shame on me. Having said that. I play alot of golf, usually walking at least 9 hole once a week and hitting golf balls at the driving range for 1 1/2-2hours 2 or 3 times a week. Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks for the comments.

@militaryma Let us know how it goes! Fingers crossed for you!!! Starting weight 367 CW 335 Sleeve scheduled for Dec. 19, 2016

1) Live Healthier: 2) Live without BP meds 3) Live without the CPAP machine 4) Live without knee pain 5) To ride my bike again 6) To run (maybe even the participate in the Cotton Row Run) 7) Make love to my wife (it has been a long time) 8) Shop in the regular clothes section of any store! 9) Put a seatbelt on without having to lift a butt-cheek 10) Travel (where I can fit in the seat on buses and planes)

My main one I have achieved. That was to no longer be diabetic. - be able to keep up with my nieces and nephews. - reduce or be off most of my meds (1 of the 2 bp meds has been reduced - be able to go into a store, try on clothes and they fit. - keep in onederland forever SW 350 (11/15) BSW 260 (10/17/17) CW 209.6 (2/25/18) RGW 199 GW 175

Lol, knew what you meant. Hope you find someone to help get you the info you need to make a decision about France/Czech Republic. Not sure I could have gone abroad, was hard enough to get from the Murrayfield to home post-op - and I only live 10 mins away. Appreciate that the cost is a huge factor but I have appreciated being able to attend the regular appointments with the nurse, dietician and psych when I have needed it. If you have any questions about the surgery or anything related, please feel free to give me a PM :-) Good luck!

The first time I heard about lapband surgery was from a dear sweet lady named Theresa passing through my life--leaving behind in her wake--a hope that things could change for me. I did look up the surgery then--but my insurance didn't cover any part of it--and self pay in this area was so high--it was unthinkable for me--even with the changes I now know it brings. So--a few months later--I was on the path to gastric bypass--which my insurance does cover--ever more nervous and getting more frightened as I heard first one then many side affects/risks--which I had to decide if I was willing to take for the drastic change I needed to make in my life if I was to live to see my small children grow. My history with surgeries and complications being as it was--I was VERY sceptical of the numbers I was given--I know that some of it was just to filter the serious from those who were not--but 1/50 was a number that really made me uneasy--as the other times in my life the numbers game showed my in my favor i.e. 1/500 or 1/300--and I still ended up being that 1 percent with complications. I know we all go through a tremedous amount of inner turmoil in making decisions that can affect the length and scope of our lives. Many thoughts and fears, hopes, and dreams. I was no different-- and I had hit that moment in my life where It was do something--or be lost to myself. I am sure that if I had gotten through it--I might have had another of those moments...we all come to our own crossroads--this was mine. I decided to look up the lap band procedure one more time. This time--I really started digging--and comparing for me--which one would give me what I needed most--as well as be affordable for us. Comparing what I could--researching where I could--I looked more deeply into all of it--obsessively (my husband's word). I finally found a dr with terrific credentials at a more affordable rate for me to handle--which I needed if I was going to self pay-(another story there believe me). I had more than a week of sleepless nights (not unusual for me anyway) thinking of the hope--and the chance lap band could give me--and finally told my husband--this is it. He said to give him some time--so we could figure out the finance part of it--lol problem there is once I came to the conclusion that this was it--there was really no stopping me-- I gave him 4 days--then called and booked my appt for 2 weeks out. He had that long to figure out how we could pay for it. When I told him that I booked the appt--he laughed--he thought I was kidding. I had never been more serious. Healthy and young still at 30--even at my weight--I was starting to have more issues with joints, and been warned of pre-diabetes--I could see the road ahead of me with out some action. I had dieted and lost 60, 80 lbs more than once--only to have them return and bring friends--over and over for the past decade or more. I have been heavy since the onset of puberty-- progressively more so at I get older--I just couldn't let it keep happening--this is where it had to stop. I started the liquid liver shrinking diet the day I booked the appt-- and promptly lost all control--like some switch was flicked in my brain or something--eating a bag of doritos-and whatever else I could get my hands on that day and the next. I finally got a hold on myself the third day and managed to stick to the pre-op diet losing 12.5lbs by the day before my surgery. I spent every one of those days researching on the yahoo boards-- asking questions of all of the post banded people who woould answer and reading every post along the way--finding that others often asked questions I hadn't thought of yet--but was glad to know the answers to. When I got to TJ--I was nervous--but exceedingly well informed on what to expect, and everything went very smoothly. I met up with 3 other women having the surgery and their support--I had also arranged to bring with me a very dear person for support. So we all shared info and stories and got to know one another through that first day while we all went to pre-op testing and checked into the hotel for the night before surgery (included 3 nights in the price for the surgery), we all got to enjoy a really super "last supper" as we thought then at a restaurant called 'los arcos' MMMMMMMM yummy! and we met with the surgeon and his team for question time and basically for them to explain more on what to expect. I found it funny almost to learn that I had already gleaned in my research most of what they had to say--and after meeting with them and finding out what order the surgeries for the next day would be in--we were free to do as we pleased--in this case--we all met in the restaurant of the hotel to chat some more--I found myself being able to field a lot of the questions that some of the others still had--ironicly enough. (told you I am obsessive--lol) The next day--we had surgery and everything went very quicly--I woke up after surgery to some nausea--and sipped some water and slept a lot. The next day--I walked to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription and then it was off to the airport to fly home. My friend made sure to get a wheelchair for me--which I didn't think I needed but by the time we got across the airport I was thankful for--and I was pre-boarded on the plane for the 2 hr flight home. I spent the evening at home-- resting as much as possible. The next day--I drove my friend the 7 hours home, and spent the rest of the week with my daughters (2 and 4) up at her house--chasing littles and visitiing with family. Drinking fluids--Not so easy since everytime my family gathers-- there is a barbeque--lol. I progressed well for the first six weeks--my appetite returning with a vengeance after the first week--and struggling to eat like a bandster should and not always winning the battle. By 6 weeks out--I was SOOOO ready for my first fill--1.5cc--I was disappointed in myself because I had only managed to lose 10lbs (actually 20 but with no restriction--gained 10 of it back by the first fill) but determined that this was going to work. I had very little restriction still--but forwarned is forearmed--I knew there was a possibility that it would take 3 or more fills to get there--that was part of my choice in picking the band--and that I REALLY needed to work on my patience--gee wonder why that was so hard--I know that it took years to get to this point--what made me think I could change it all overnight? So, as soon as a second fill was allowed I was there! I managed to lose 3 lbs between my first and 2nd fills. But after that second one--I felt the restriction--not immediately--it actually kicked into high gear about a week later--and by this third fill I got--I had lost another 15 lbs! Now I am losing steadily and happily. I have continued to live on the support boards, and exercising (yes--you guessed it--almost obsessively--mostly walking 4x a week for at least an hour) So that is my story--basically anyhow-I left out the depression I was going through before, and the bandster blues after as I mourned food, (and wanting to throw my hubby from the 2nd floor window because he just didn't understand what I was going through--bandster rage--it passed--lol)--he never knew that part until yesterday--you should have seen the look on his face when I laughingly told him he narrowly missed a few broken bones at the least.(it really was a true ally mcbeal moment) -I am sure there are people making the same decision I had to make here on this board--and others in other places on a daily basis--I can only say--ASK QUESTIONS! Be proactive--don't settle for what you can get if you really want something else. You are worthy, and smart and should be proud of yourselves for making a choice to take your life into your own hands and make it happier and healthier and longer than ever. I, for one, would not go back for an instant! If anyone wants to ask questions--please feel free to email me I am by far not the most experienced person on the board--but I am here:). Whatever your choice--it is YOUR choice--and you make the best of it. I wish everyone well in their journey--and reasearch. Hugs, shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/226/125-150 3 fills Dr. McKeen 2.4cc currently

Thanks for the info. I am waiting on a call from Dr. Provost office for a second opinion. which I no longer know if it is going to matter. I called my insurance yesterday and they said they do not cover gastric bypass or the removal of my band. I don't know what to do and am quiet concerned. I have been reading how esopheal dilation can turn into cancer and I sure don't want that ugly beast. I started on liquids and am doing okay with that. I actually have several things to consider here. I have PKD and my kidneys are functioning at 37% currently (down 10% in 6 months). when I reach 10% or there abouts I will have to have diaylsis. I also know that being overweight while on dialysis is hard on your overall health. And in the event I am fortunate enough to get a transplant that will put additional weight on me (most probably) which will again be harder on my kidneys and over all health. At this time I feel that it is SO important to get the weight off to avert more possible problems. But now I don't know how I can get anything done. Of course it would be better to get it done sooner than later since my kidneys are where they are right now. so I guess support and contact from the band world will help me through. Frustrated but not giving up, browneyes185, AKA, Sherrie

I am not a veggie lover either. For the first time this summer I learned to eat green beans. I buy only fresh ones, drizzle a little olive oil on them and a little salt and nuke them for 2 1/2 minutes on high and now I love them. I read some where it can take up to 10 times to try something before you like the taste of the food. My other favorite is butternut squash. I buy the pre pealed cubes and use Splenda brown sugar and butter or coconut oil and cook it at 400 for about 30-60 minutes until it looks well done and crispy. It tastes really super. My grandson told his mother that my squash is better than hers because it is crispy and not smooth. For potatoes, make mashed potatoes add some cheddar cheese and put in cup cake tins that you spray with cooking spray and make them crispy. They are really good. Yes I love well done things. Other than salad, which I don't use dressing, I am not a veggie person at all. Good luck with your veggies.

I am 21 months post-op from RNY gastric bypass surgery. My weight loss leveled off after the 7th month after surgery. I was very stable in my weight for over 6 months after that. Then a stomach flu hit and I completely lost any appetite for food. I lost a pound a day. With 2 bouts of stomach flu, I lost a total of 10 pounds. I decided to try and maintain this additional weight loss since then. But it does bring up an interesting point. When you get sick, a person can lose weight quickly. And therefore it is important to keep a little fat on your body in reserve as a buffer. I feel that some people are so obsessed with their bottom weight number that they lose sight of the fact that they may become sick which might threaten their health.

I began reducing my volume and caloric intake about 8 weeks ago. I slowly, slowly lost around 10 pounds. Hard to know because I only bought a scale half way through. I began the pre surgical diet 3 days ago and my scale has shown a drop of 4 pounds! That encouraged me! I have no problems until night time. That's when I get hungry! I have been splitting my delicious shakes in half. Taking a 20 minute break between the two halves. I also make a bowl of sugar free jello in the morning and that is my evening snack. So I think the actual fact you can loose weight on the presurgical diet is a huge motivator. I am having problems with some friends who are really all about just staying fat and enjoying their lives. They are very against me doing this. My supportive friends are all really into eating healthy, and they are into smoothies and shakes already so its pretty much easier with them. All kinds of people are drinking protein shakes and smoothies for breakfast and lunch so that should be easy for you at work. Best of luck! I am going in for a tune up of my pouch and RNY, on July 31.

I didn't actually consult with the surgeon until the 6 month diet, 2 face to face support groups, psych consult and dietitian consults were complete. They wanted all the paperwork bits done so they can submit after the first consult. It was about 6 weeks, (could have been 4, but the doc had a trip schedules and didn't want to "cut me and run out of town"). Less than 2 for the approval and about 3 to schedule and complete EGD, pre-anesthesia testing, blood work, and for me, a pulmonologist visit to check up on asthma. I was also required to lose 10+ pounds for liver shrink between consult and surgery.

About 3 more days to go, June 22 is my date. Before surg wt 272. Been on the pre-op diet for about 10 days, haven't weighed myself yet but my pants are already looser. Excited and nervous...any weekend suggestions for me before surgery

not being married and not being a mother i have little to offer in the way of advice. Is there some one from your family that could stay with you for a while to help you out? an older neice or cousin who is off for the summer? a volunteer from your church? heck maybe you could call the mother of the septuplets and ask her for a few numbers for some volunteers to help...and ask your hubby to seek help from his friends and family too. its gotta be very hard for the both of you. I wish you and your family the best of luck. CONGRATS on the 10 pound weight loss. Its not anything to sneeze at.

Thank you. I have been at a plateau for 6-10 months. I am not perfect but I am not giving up. Every day I say today will be perfect again then I eat something bad again. I have to get strong.

It is truly amazing what a difference a simple .01 or .02 cc's can make!!! hope you find a good spot for you. Let me know what the barium swallow shows. Kat

same experience for me. I was generally sore at my sternum, by my port and then had nasty gas pains for about 10 days. Call your doc though and describe what you're feeling to make sure.

The BAND-ONLY support group in Sacramento meets next Saturday, Feb. 19th, 2011! ALL LapBanders are welcome! Even if you are pre-surgery!!! Sacramento Valley Bandsters Support Group third Saturday of every month from 10:30-12:30. Sutter Cancer Center Classroom 1, First Floor 2800 L Street, Sacramento Easy parking is available one short block away in covered lot on 29th Street, between K and L streets. Costs $1 per hour. This group was purposely set up so as NOT to conflict with the other support groups in the area. Any and ALL band patients from ANY doctor or hospital is welcome to attend. Please join us!

Elfie sometimes it takes more than 6 months to get restriction even with aggressive fills. I would say I had slight restriction for the first 6 months but it wasnt until I was about 10 months out that I had real restriction. You can't go from 1cc in a band to 6cc in a band in a month. Your body and habits need time to adjust to the tightening of the band.

Here, here! My thoughts exactly. I have a friend who went on one of the liquid diets for 6 weeks. Was thin but wanted to be thinner. She couldn't understand why I didn't just do what she did. Well 6 weeks would get rid of 10% of my problem. I'd have to be on them for a year and who can really face that!

Jennifer, I have to smile and roll my eyes, I just was thinking the same thing. I have also reached and surpassed my goal. I wanted to be a size 10 and now I am a size 6, I started as a size 24. Now I want to be tone, I hate my legs and I was worried about my arms but they are looking really good. I am sure this will level off after a while, I think my eyes and brain are having a problem adjusting to the new me, I think I have trouble seeing my self as small as I really am. I think I have the body size corrected, I am thinking I need to fix my thought processes now. So you got company girl, still taking this new life one day at a time. By the way you look amazing.

Hi I'm 26 and my surgery is slated for March 2015. My family doctor had suggested looking in to RNY at an appointment last year and to be honest, I was almost offended and taken aback. Afterwards I had thought about it for a few weeks and had a reality check with myself. It also helped that I ran into a coworker who had lost 70 lbs and it was because of surgery. At that point I decided to attend the info session for my program and setting up appointments. I'm just really hoping that this will be the tool I need to lose the weight I need to. I've tried multiple diets in the past, only ever losing 10-25 lbs each time and only ever putting it back on, plus some. I'm so afraid I'm not going to lose and will fail at this.