MamaMichelle

Amazing isn't it? It like the woman on the Oprah show said: Some people need glasses to correct their vision and many of us need our band to correct our eating habits!!

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My main questions are: What do you wish you had know BEFORE the procedure? No I felt very well informed! The main thing I have noticed about Lap Band patients is that they did A LOT of research before making their decision. Is there any information missing or not available? I would imagine if someone was just researching the lap band using doctor websites and medical journals then yes I think they would find a lot of information missing, I personally believe that having the first hand accounts, stories, and suggestions from the members of a board such as this one is extremely vital to one's complete understanding of what's in store after being banded. I'll give an example if you promise to give me quotation credit in your paper (lol, totally kidding) Here's an example of what just medical research will tell you about the 6-8 weeks after a fill (This is from a lap band handbook that is given to patients after surgery the rest can be found HERE) When first placing it, your surgeon usually leaves the band empty or only partially inflated. This lets you get acquainted with your band during the first few weeks after surgery. It also lets healing occur around the new band site. These first few weeks are a critical time. You need to avoid vomiting. You also need to avoid putting pressure on your new small stomach above the band. The first time the band is adjusted is usually 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery. The exact time will vary. You and your surgeon will decide when the right time is for your band adjustment. Now when you read about those 6-8weeks on a support group forum like this one, you learn that a portion of those 6-8 weeks are sometimes called "bandster hell" because your swelling has gone down and now you are allowed to eat but since you have not had a fill you can eat like you did before being banded. I think you miss so many of the truths about the band by not reading firsthand accounts from people who have been there and done that! Any regrets? No I can't think of any except that I didn't do it sooner!

Here are my first 6 weeks after being banded: 2/28 - 226lbs My day of surgery weight 3/06 - 220lbs Week 1 lost 6lbs 3/13 - 214lbs Week 2 lost 6lbs 3/20 - 211lbs Week 3 lost 3lbs 3/27 - 209lbs Week 4 lost 2lbs 4/03 - 208lbs Week 5 lost 1lbs 4/10 - 205lbs Week 6 lost 3lbs That's 21lbs in 6 weeks which averages out to being 3.5lbs per week, but obviously once you start back on real foods the weight loss slows!

I have always wondered about studies like that, I mean my goal is 130 but honestly I don't know if I will be able to get under 145... Yet for my height 5'4 the recommended weight is 121 or something crazy. So if I started at 247 and 121 is supposed to be my goal then my excess weight would be 126lbs, now 75% of that is 95 lbs which would put me at 153lbs. So if I ONLY lost 75% it's only 8lbs less than what I assume I will be able to get to and that is fine with me. One thing I also wanted to say was that book was published back in 2003 I believe, so the research from back then has changed a lot from what is out there now... I'm sure you can look up some more current stats if you Google "Lap Band Success Studies" (or something similar)

I have come sooooo close to making a PB and J sandwich like 10 times since being banded, and as much as I LOVE peanut butter I was never much of a fan of a PB&J except when I was a kid so I am thinking it is totally a head hunger craving... I told myself if the food has the words PB (Peanut Butter) in it, then it will probably cause me to PB (productive burp).... lol

Love the Avatar M-C! It's great to put a face with your posts, good luck with the real food let us know how it goes!!

Here's a comparison of the Nutritional Information: Powdered PB Serving size = 2 tablespoons (12 grams) Calories 54.138 Fat Calories 25.44 Total Fat 2.84g Saturated Fat 0.55g Cholesterol 0g Sodium 94.4mg Carbs 3.7g Dietary Fiber 0.3g Sugars 1g Protein 4.3g Standard Jif PB Serving size = 2 tablespoons (12 grams) Calories 190 Fat Calories 144 Total Fat 16g Saturated Fat 3g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 150mg Carbs 7g Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Protein 7g

Never heard of it but sounds good, if anyone wants to go in together and buy some let me know!!

Lol it's sooooooooooooooooooooooooo funny you posted this because I was bored tonight and I totally tried it on... The first pic was from the night before surgery and the next pic was 4 weeks post op, currently I am at 6weeks post op so I will take pics again at 8 weeks post op! I think it zipped up a little more, my boobs are all that are getting in the way and even though they are shrinking (was a 42DD now in a 38D) since it's a juniors dress (and not designed for girls with that big of a chest) I am thinking it will be a little be longer before it fits up top!!

Wanted to bump this up for who have been feeling like they don't have restriction even after a fill!

I would suggest sending him a link, or copy of the article above... Since he is a man I don't know if he will fully understand what you're asking about!! Even I as a female didn't think it would cause any issues but when you mentioned the degree to which you like to be bound I found that article and when it talks about your organs rearranging and it forcing food back up the esophagus I can imagine that would only cause serious issues with the band!

Hey Lora, Hope you are doing well, give us an update when you have a chance! Hope you were able to bond with all your fellow same date bandsters, they will be part of your support system for life!!

Fill prices are going to be just as varied as the number of fills you may need. There is a small percentage of bandsters that never need a fill others may need 3-5 in the first year. Like anything else you should shop around to find a local fill center/doctor taking into account not only the best price but also choosing a doctor that you like and are comfortable with! Once you find a doctor and know the price of the fills I would make sure you have enough to cover at least 2 fills set aside before getting banded. Without a good fill your band can't do its job and many people will regain some of their weight because they can eat as they did before when not properly filled! I know it seems expensive but if you take into account how much money you will be saving on food and apply that to your fill fund you should be fine. I was eating fast food 6 times a week and going out to dinner 2-3 nights a week, just that food bill alone was about $100-$125 a week... You multiply that by 4 weeks in a month and that's $400 a month I could apply towards getting a fill!!

You either need to put the words: AFTER the .gif Or use the button and paste the text as is into that box!

Lots of bandsters have gone by themselves and have had no issues at all!! You will feel very safe once you arrive and then you will meet so many great friends there that will be able to offer you support so worrying about your safety will be put out of your mind!!

bumping this up for MOMOF12... This should answer your post op questions!

Yes you have the 4cc BeBe so no worries (and even if you had the 10cc it's not like all hope is lost, you just come up with a different treatment plan and go from there).

I was banded 2/28th so I am exactly 6 weeks post op!! before surgery I lost 21lbs in the 2 months pre-op phase Results so far 6weeks SINCE SURGERY: I have lost another 21 lbs (42lbs lost total) I am down from a size 18 to now wearing a comfortable 14 (started the year in a size 22) I have no pain and am feeling great!! The post op diet is going fine, I am exercising self control until I get my first fill next week!

Way to go!! I knew you could do it... just like I knew you were a sassy mama just from your avatar but my goodness you are a Silver Fox in that picture!!!

BeBe- You are so right about the clothing making the difference, I too hit a weight loss plateau when I starting working out yet I kept dropping sizes! I am down from a 18 to a 14 in my 6 weeks post op but when I started my pre op diet in Jan I was a size 22!!

I read of someone that was addicted to their scale so badly they made their husband keep it in his trunk and only take it out once a week... Someone else only weighs on the 1st and 15th of the month to break the bad habit.

Alli has no effect on the heart like typical diet pills, it acts as a fat blocker that works in the stomach... I'm not saying it is safe but even if it was it only blocks 1/2 of the fat from your meals and since there is so little fat in the shakes and frozen dinners I doubt it would help much!!

I am a fit day junkie!! I have been pushing that site every since I was banded, so glad that others love it as much as me!

Some of these questions come from a friend of mine that had LB here in Canada 1 yr ago, and because I want to go to Mexico she said it would be best for me to get some answers first. So here goes: 1 - She has had 2 issues with food getting stuck and had to get in immediately to her dr. to be flushed with water. She is very concerned that if I have this surgery in Mexico, who is going to take care of me in Canada, should I need this kind of attention? Personally I have never heard of someone having something so stuck they needed to see someone to have it flushed out, especially with water because that usually creates a worse problem. We are all told to walk around if something gets stuck and it should clear itself out in a few min (usually by coming back up in a productive burp). Now if after your first fill you are continually getting food stuck you might need an unfill at which point you would see your doctor. Many people can't or won't travel back to Mexico for a fill so they find a local dr to be their fill doctor and that doc takes over your primary band care. 2 - She had to do a whole bunch of blood work, tests, and sleep apnea testing, and she's wondering why I don't have to do it? Should I be concerned? They run the full range of tests at OCC on either the day of your surgery or the day before, everything except for the sleep test. If anything comes up as a red flag they will not do the surgery so you shouldn't worry about their competency. I read somewhere that these exorbitant tests are all done to make the patient (or the insurance company if they are paying) feel better about spending $20,000 on the surgery... When we all spent around $8,000. 3 - I have a hiatus hernia, is this going to cause a problem? Many people have this issue and Dr. Ortiz repairs it at the same time he installs the lap band (at no charge), there are a few bandsters here that can give more specific details on their experiences with that type of hernia.. 4 - I understood that I should only need approx. 2 - 3 fills after my surgery. (I am 250 lbs, 5'6, BMI 41). She was approx. the same as me, and has had 6 fills so far. Fills are a totally personal experience, some people get banded and never need a fill in their lifetime, others may need 3-4 a year... It depends on the size of your band and how aggressive the doctor is (another way some doctors try to get money from bandsters is to give them tiny fills each time (say .5cc's at a time) when another doctor may put in more ( say 2.0cc's). Only you will know when you get to that point, again this is why it is important to find a local fill doctor (be sure he accepts patients banded in Mexico as some won't) so you don't have to travel back to Mexico each time you need a fill, or if you need an un-fill Dr. Ortiz has done over 5,000 surgeries and you will find so many totally satisfied customers on this board that any doubts will be out of your head by the time your surgery date rolls around! Welcome to our family!