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I was banded on 10-13. I thought that the heating pad really helped, as did taking gas-X under the tongue strips. I feel much better today than I did yesterday.

Hi Tamika, That's exciting ! I just had my done last Friday 10/10. I didn't have any heavy nausea but very uncomfortable for the first few days. A few things I wish I knew ahead of time were that the scale went up 9lbs ( just from the fluids we're given during/after surgery). It came right off within a few days but I didn't know what is was from. The best advice I can give you is to follow you doc's instructions as closely as you can. What hospital are you going to? I live in RI now but originally from the Boston area and wish I lived up that way so I could have gone to a MA hospital and used the docs up there. My doc is good but I just always preferred Boston/ MA hospitals since I grew up there. Everything will be fine just know that you'll have a few slow moving / uncomfortable days. Make sure to walk and ask the doc what to take for constipation as you can expect that. Good Luck ... I'll watch for more of you're postings next week ....

You can make chili at home faster than eating out. This is just a crutch excuse that people use for bad eating. I don't buy it. Every walmart, and almost every gas station and grocery store has Protein shakes. There is no reason to eat at a fast food resturant, especially less than a month from surgery, except it is an active choice. 170 calories for 15 grams of protein is a crappy choice, more than 10 calories per gram of protein.

I love the Isopure as well. I mix half a bottle (10 oz) with matching flavored Water (10 oz). I've also just drank them as they are. I've tried most of the flavors and I haven't found one that I didn't like. The grape frost is the best!

During my physician supervised diet months I weighed myself daily, it helped me keep on track, but there were a lot of days where it'd be up, up, then back down. There were even a few days in there where I'd weigh 9-10 lbs more than I did the day before, usually it was just Water weight, and it'd be back down the next day. It's normal. =)

My stats are not at all similar - I'm 5'10" and started at a little over 400 - but in my pre-surgery research I found some charts that had good estimates. My weight loss has been the mid to high range for my category so far; 20 pounds in 10 days and 35 pounds at just shy of 6 weeks.

I think it would be good if we did one with a limited number of people on there- maybe 10-12? I'm afraid if we got too many it would just be chaos.

I Have only lost 23 lbs since March 7th surgery. My unoperated knee already is thankful for that and my back is too. When I had the knee replacement I weighed 10 lbs less than I do now. I gained weight each year after. Felt like my legs were balloons about to pop when I went for my lap band. Now they are soft and not full of Fluid or fat. Legs seem so light. If you tried everything and can't "not eat" the band should be wonderful for you. It's like you still decide what you want to eat but your stomach has more input in the decision. It is a wonderful tool I am still waiting for another fill to get more restriction but even without that I eat 1/3 of what I always did before.

Legallyblonde2, I totally agree with you on the overall sizing thing. I have a pair of 18W pants from 1995 that are the same size as a 16 (regular not plus) I bought recently. I have a formal Laura Ashley dress I bought in 1984, I think it's a size 8 or 10, my size 2 dd can hardly zip it, now I slightly recall washing it, so it may have shrunk, but not to a size 2, hee, hee. I tease my dd that soon she'll be wearing a negative size. Sue

I'm pretty sure now that I'm going to do the band. I'm already eating right so it shouldn't be too hard for me to eat very small amounts after the band is installed. I've always struggled with my weight and excercise was the only way for me to stay in shape. After retiring from the Navy in '98 I stopped excercising and the weight started coming at a rate of about 10 -15 lbs a year. Due to my health, I "can't" get out and start excercising again, legs hurt, I have a herniated disc in my back, and I have early stages of C.O.P.D. Once I get the weight off I'm hoping to get back on an excersize program. Not sure why anyone would get mad about people saying it's reversable. :redface: Advertising ploy or not, it's nice to know that if there are complications, it can be removed! :crying:

This might sound like a dumb question but does anyone know when the stomach after having the sleeve starts to only produce enough acid for our little tummies, or perhaps it just keeps producing at normal rate??? I still have a little reflux at 10 mths, never had it prior just in my throat...

Congrats on the weight loss! You have done amazing! I am pre op and just starting to see skin issues due to pre op weight loss, so no in your boat yet. I have used bike shorts or compression shorts for years to help with my tummy during exercises. I have bought through Amazon and woman within. Also going to get some compression sleeves (Amazon has them for about $10) because I have massive arm fat that’s starting to dangle and will probably get in the way soon. There are also some zip front full bras made for exercise that look like it may tame the side breast skin and fat that I have starting to be floppy. Don’t have any specific brands but I try to look through reviews on Amazon before buying.

I have been on byetta for a few months now. At first it diminished my appetite, but I am not feeling it now. I am taking 10mcg's twice a day and I am having trouble taking the meds when I am supposed to. You are supposed to take it 1 hour before b-fast and 1 hour b4 dinner. My schedule is sooooo hectic that I often forget. I am now trying to set my cell phone alarm, but sometimes my son takes my cell. I am also taking 2000mg of metformin before bed (can anyone spell d-i-a-h-r-r-e-a :wink_smile:). I can't wait to get OFF of ALL of these meds!!!!! I am scheduled for band surgery on 5/1. I am not scheduled to see my endocrinologist until 2 weeks after that ... I have seen another injectible medication in a magazine that only needs to be taken once per day. I am going to ask my doc about that one!!! My diabetes is not off the charts, but is still considered within the zone of "diabetes". Hopefully I'll see some positive results after I have lost 10% of my weight!!!

I have been reading through many of the posts about fills and I have noticed many times people mention that the 4cc band is not used much anymore and has been replaced by a 10 cc or 14 cc band. I was just banded February 13 of this year and my Dr. gave me a 4cc band "based on the size of my stomach". Did he give me an outdated band? What would be the reason the 4cc band is not used much anyomore if this is true?

Hey Diane, it won't be as weird as you think it is. I just put on my plate what I think I can eat, which pretty much looks like a 4 year old's plate...with a healthy appetite! I choose the stuff I like the best, and make sure I have room for pumpkin pie. No, it doesn't look like everyone's plates that are piled 5 inches high, and have three rolls on the side. But that IS a good thing, right? However, I still enjoy all the same food, just in the amounts I can handle. You (and everyone else) will get used to it, and if you just don't make a big deal of it and apologize for it and stuff, you'll be amazed at how fast they all just ignore it and you after a while. No one even talks about my band anymore. Really. I just put the cornbread dressing in the oven, so that's done. Tomorrow will be (only) 10 lbs of mashed potatoes (Kat's making me look like a light weight!), and maybe a pumpkin pie. Oh, and the turkey...lol! Hugs to all, Cindy

I too found what I went after for black Friday...all of it for the grandkids. Ended up with a new Ipod for myself, Rick wanted my Zune....so since we didn't happen to get one of them during the sale----we improvised!! I am learning it now! I am so bored, I am not sure why. Not bored, I feel like there is something I need to do, and sitting here is not getting it done. I don't know whether it is because I need only to buy 3 more gifts and I am done--------so I feel anxious to get them done or what....but it is driving Rick nuts, he says I keep sighing---heck who knows! Sherry so scary to hear of your son-----he sounds like Manda-she was in more than her share, and is now fine, and one of the safest drivers I know---VERY particular about her passengers! It takes her 10 minutes to put Kinsey's car seat in to her satisfaction. She insists your seat belt not only be worn of course, but will actually tell me I need to settle the belt lower or something. She will not talk on her phone, eat....nothing! She pulls over before she does anything! Possibly a bit overboard, but it comforts her, and is showing the girls good habits! Well I guess my "boredom" is over. We have to go play chimney sweep. Could we have done it when it was light and warm out? Oh hell no! Could it wait til tomorrow? Oh hell no! Could my inlaws be more irritating to me today? Oh hell no! Talk to you all soon! (((Hugs)))) Kat

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about 10 years ago at the age of 35. As my weight would fluctuate so would my meds for diabetes. I was lucky that mine could be controlled with Glucophage alone. I can tell you now that my weight loss with the lapband has allowed me to get off my diabetic meds. As of August, my PCP decided that I didn't need to take the glucophage anymore. My A1C tests have been the normal range for many years. I go back for one more test in December to make sure, but all my regular blood sugars that I've taken at home have been in the normal ranges. As far as I am.. and my PCP is concerned, I'm no longer considered a diabetic!! Beth

I have my first fill under my belt! Posted by AngieB, Jun 2 2009, 10:14 AM Admin/Owner Options Make This Entry A Draft

Okay, I am not a baby with pain. Seriously. I fell asleep while getting a tattoo on my ankle bone. The worst thing after banding was breathing right after I woke up. Man, those breaths hurt. But by the end of the first night, it wasn't so bad. The catheter annoyed me. My butt hurt from laying on my back in the hospital bed. The band? Barely a bit of pain. The ride home from the hospital wasn't all that fun, but I hadn't had any pain medication in hours and Manhattan streets are hella bumpy. Just bring a pillow with you to hold against your stomach. Like Sue said, I felt *tender*, but not really in pain. I moved slowly for a couple of days, but things were more sore than anything else. It wasn't debilitating pain. Just take your pain meds, that's what they're for. They'll keep you nice and comfortable. 10 months later, I can barely remember how I felt the first few days.

Ok so the rest of the Christmas lights are up outside. We added to the decorations this year with LED lighted snowflakes on the pine tree, lighted garland around the front door and two spiral trees in front of the house. Geesh I think we're lighting up the neighborhood. DH wanted to get one of those electronic boxes that plays music and makes all the trees flash with the music. I had to put my foot down with that one and toned it down to just the spiral lights and snowflakes lol. I tried to tell him the music is cute but, not sure the neighbors would appreciate hearing it all night until we went to bed. I didn't get the tree up like I wanted to because DH was too busy playing with the outside stuff. Hopefully he'll take the stuff down from the attic so I can start in on it tomorrow. I took Monday and Tuesday off of work so I could try to finish up the Christmas Shopping so I could relax and enjoy the season. Gotta take DS to school and back though because he can't drive with his neckbrace on. I'm pooped today and didn't even get all my 10K steps in. We did alot of walking around the stores to pick up the stuff and some new walking sneakers. Good deals this time a year with the coupons plus I get the Bob's points so had a $10 voucher to use too. Working on the laundry too so I have to get going so I can move the laundry around. Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and burned all the turkey and trimmings off Hugs

Heather it is so strange to hear about someone form Ringgold when I was thinking the other day about college and a girl from my class was from there. Can't remember her name right now, but she was really nice. Anyway, how has your losing been going? I have slowed down considerably. In the beginning I could go one day without eating much and lose 5 lbs. and now I could do that for a week and not lose anything. I have begun to get frustrated. I have a 10 band and my first fill was 5 cc! talk about a killer I thought I would die. Since I had 4 fills of 1 cc each taking me close to the max. I began to have problems with reflux so bad that I had nothing but acid to come out when I got sick. They removed 2 cc. Although I still have problems some days, I am gaining so I must be eating something right? Anyway let me know what you think about your band.

Hi! I am from Donalsonville-southwestern GA. I was banded in Feb. 2005 and I had lost 81 lbs. until my recent gain of 10-11 lbs. I had an easy time of it in the first 4-5 months becuase I was going to school full time and not working so I was able to go to Curves 3-4 times per week. I went back to work in June of 05 and have not been to the gym since. My weightloss slowed down considerably so I am now a believer in exercise making to biggest difference. I came to this sight because I need some support to get back to losing weight. If you would like to help me out and I could do the same for you email me @ tdl6@alltel.net so we can set up a buddy system.:help:

Below is an encounter I had with a exceptionally thoughtful gentleman whom help me decide on weight loss surgery in a strange sort of way. I recalled attending a TCOYD (Taking Care of Your Diabetes) Conference approx 3 years ago in Kenner Louisiana. In the lobby of the conference center I met an extremely nice middle age man who happened to be morbidly obese, body weight around 375 to 400 lbs. We discuss things such as diets, glucose meters, and other things pertaining to the seminar. We walked slowly around the building, the gentleman began to tired quite rapidly. As a result, I suggested we take seat on a couch until the exhausted gentleman regained his energy. After 10 minutes or so we decided to attend a few breakout sessions together. One of the things I most remembered about that encounter was that pleasant and polite gentleman could not get up on his own from the sofa, he struggled from side to side as each attempted to push himself up from the setting position. It was quite strenuous and very demanding, he was helpless and powerless to regained his standing posture. I asked him did he needed help, and his reply was yes. At that moment I convinced myself to look into weight reduction surgery. After the conference I never met the man again. Strangely, I would like to see him, maybe to thank him or offer suggestions about WLS. My accomplishment from the sleeve (85 lbs in seven months and off all meds including diabetes) and everyday struggles occur by many experiences. So as to that one day is very difficult to forget.

Hi, Please pay attention when they are warning you that he is not a safe Doctor. There is a reason the price is so low. The surgery is done in a Clinic--NOT a fully equipped hospital. You are sent to a recovery house and they are not staffed with medically trained staff. Here is something I want you to consider when it comes to your life and good health. I have been thinking about some of the things that many of us have talked about on this board. We have talked about price shopping and I have said “this is not the time to price shop” This is about your health and what is best for you. I had a lovely lady write and tell me that $5,000 was about all she could scrap together to have the surgery and she was going to take her “chances” and go to one of the doctors who charges less. She was single, had children, and was sick and tired of her back hurting and just didn’t want to spend another day being fat. Believe me I heard everything she said and honestly knew right where she was. I had a time in my life where I was a single parent and was trying to make it on my own, I do know how hard money was to come by. I have been there working 3 jobs at one time and had very little time for me and had to do what I could only afford. This is what I can say about my choice to go to Dr. Aceves. When I made my choice, I was 63 years old; I didn’t have any serious medical problems –only high blood pressure. I wanted to become healthy so that I could enjoy the rest of my life. My back hurt most of the time, and I had an awful pain in my leg. I had already experienced one bad experience in the USA hospital and that was when I went in for one procedure and came home and a 3 days later had to return to the hospital because I had a serve infection that I got at the hospital—they told me that when you go to the hospital you run the risk of an infection. Well, I was one who got the infection from the hospital. So when I was doing my research I learned that many people do get infections while having surgery in a US hospital. Infections were one of the things I was looking at when I was making my choice. Almater Hospital utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. They have less of an infection rate than any US hospital. Well, that caught my attention. I can tell you while I was there they were cleaning everything in this hospital including the sidewalk out in front of the hospital 24-7. They cleaned my bathroom 3 times a day. My rooms 3 times a day, the halls and anything people were touching in the hospital. Almater Hospital has state of the art equipment and technology -Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Complete X ray Unit capable of performing CAT Scans, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, and other X-ray tests. Almater Hospital strives to keep updated with equipment of latest generation available. They have Hemodynamic surgical room -where they perform open heart surgery and catheterizations surgical suites (with recovery room). So many of the doctors who charge less just do not have all these things. They are using a clinic to do the surgery, they are not fully staffed and I am worried about where they send you to recover. This is how they can afford to charge less for their surgery. I also wanted a HIGHLY qualified doctor who had an enormous amount of knowledge when it came to “sleeve surgery.” I checked on the number of surgeries that Dr. Aceves had done, and he was rated as a highly qualified doctor who had only one patient who had developed a leak. I also understand that the “one” patient who did develop the leak was because she did NOT follow the directions given to her about what she should be eating the first month. There are many qualified doctors who do “sleeve surgery.” And I can’t speak about any experience other than what I had. I wanted more than just a qualified doctor. I wanted a HIGHLY qualified doctor who had a team of highly qualified doctors and nurses on his staff who would be taking care of me. That is just what I found in Dr. Aceves and Almater Hospital. I also know that I had the highest quality of staples and surgical materials used in my surgery along with have a staff of nurses 24-7 there during my recovery. I know that many doctors are charging less for “sleeve surgery” and if you only have a certain amount of money to work with that is why you are looking at these other doctors. Give this some thought; you can get loans for the balance of the money. You know we never stop and think twice about making a car payment when we need a new car. Well, how about making a new “body payment?” You are worth it. This is ALL about you and no one else. I have sat here on these boards for 3 ½ years watching and listening to all of this. I can only say what was best for me. I know that there are other doctors who do this surgery and they are OK. I wanted more than just OK. I want you to be very successful at your WLS and your journey to a new and better life along with great health. I wish you all the success in the world. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask away. Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds