Trav

banded Oct 21st, 2008 Occasionally I'll still feel it. Especially after a meal. Sometimes it'll be 'yup it's there'...sometimes I'll feel food go thru, other times it'll be "whoa, what was that?"

Regardless of whatever condition or life decisions lead you to the point where you needed to get a lapband, know this You made a positive step in the right direction, and you have to accept that those actions and decisions are in the past. They're part of what made you who you are today. Rather than let that be a shame, let it be a positive motivator. We don't live in a world where we're all doing lots of physical labor in the 21st century, yet we still eat diets that lend themselves to those who work in a sweatshop. That's just a fact of life. Some people can cope, others can't...and there's no shame in making a positive decision to give yourself an extra tool to combat that need to eat.

I'm 9 months out, and still occasionally feel pain around the incissions, but it does get better.

HCG is a glycoprotein composed of 244 amino acids, and has not to date been banned by the FDA. They extract it from a pregnant woman's urine, actually. It's used as a tumor marker, for fertility treatment, and in the UK is being looked at for weight loss. That being said, the only thing it HAS been banned from SPORTS on all levels as those who abuse steroids, use it to re-attune their body to producing its own testosterone after they're coming off a steroid cycle. I don't know where you come up with your information, but it's wrong.

depends on the size of the VG band, I believe they range from 10cc's to 14cc's and there's an even bigger one if memory serves... I have the 10cc, and only one fill at 3cc's. Approaching the 100lb mark as we speak. I could probably stand for another fill, but I'm right at the point where I can have a meal if I watch what I eat and how I eat, and it's enough of a reminder that I don't overdo it....so I'm in no hurry.

You can't beat yourself up about it, if you were not at fault, it could have just been that they tried to put on too small of a band. That being said, there are some strategies that you can do to help while you're waiting to decide on a 2nd lapband procedure. 1. Change your diet. This is one of the hardest things to do, because there are so many comfort foods that we enjoy and love. But you can find new foods that you love and enjoy just as much. 2. Shy away from carbs. That doesn't mean eliminate them completely, but limit them severely. Take that top bun off your burger...(not that you should be having burgers, but that's an example) Instead of spaghetti, have spaghetti squash. (it's not the same I know, but it's enough to make you feel like you're eating spaghetti) 3. Drink more water...water will help your body catabolize the fat in your body, remove toxins, and help cellular respiration. 4. Remember, we didn't all get fat over night...(though it may seem like it.)....it's going to take as long or longer to get it off. 5. Give yourself a "reward" day.....if you've been good all week, have that cupcake on saturday. You may find that you don't want it....but some people can't quit cold turkey and it gives them something to look forward to while they're "working" at their weight loss. 6. Protein, protein, protein....You need this. With a reduced carbohydrate intake, your body is going to want to burn protein and fat for energy, but you have to keep the protein supply up so that as your body is using protein and fat for energy, you'll have enough so that your muscles aren't catabolized with the fat. Which brings us back to #3...you need the extra water to help flush out the ketones from protein metabolization, or it will be very hard on your liver and kidneys. hope this all helps.

The thing you have to remember is that you have a foreign object in your body. I get port pain almsot 6mos later, if I happen to lean in a chair in one direction too long. This is common, and you shouldn't concern yourself too terribly much. However, with that being said, be sure to examing the site for any redness, unusually warmth or heat in the area...(could indicate infection or trauma to the site).....or if they put your port accidentally close to a nerve, you're going to be extra sensitive to that. So to recap, could be infection, could be trauma, could be nothing at all. Keep an eye on it, but don't stress about it too much.

4 cookies are not enough to make you gain 1lb of body weight, just so you know. I wouldn't beat yourself up about it.

You also have to remember that your digestive system is 70% of your immune system. Get on some Activia, some other form of pro-biotic for about 3 weeks, you'll notice a vast improvement. Usually I'll be sick 3-4 times by this time of year, but since I started on active culture yogurts, I've not been sick for more than a few days, and it was just sniffles, and general crappy feeling.

I have a suggestion for everyone: In or signatures, put what kind of band you have, reason being: We don't all have the same band. 3cc in a 4cc band is a lot, compared to 3cc's in a 10cc band, and the statement "I have 3cc's in my band" is very relative. For example, my first fill was 3cc's, but I also have a 10cc band, so that's not really a lot.

I'm curious to know. Why are you girls taking protein shots? Is it that you're not getting enough in your normal diet? Or is it that you're not able to eat properly? I'm just curious to know, because if you're eating your 3 meals a day there shouldn't be a need to consume extra protein.

is it a matter of it's not working for you? or is it more of a thing where it's not what you expected?

Sure thing...sounds like your doctor was err'ing on the side of caution, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's okay to be overly cautious. This is, after all, a lifetime prosthetic appliance in our bodies, so we do have to take care of it. Where'd you have yours done? India? Israel? Other?

well I'll give you my personal recommendation: I don't respect many doctors, in fact, a lot of them are douchebags who showed up to the class long enough to get their diploma. Others are good at ONE thing and they need to stick to it, but instead try to branch off into other things like Lap Band. There aren't many laypeople who are as well verse in the medical field as I am, I'm not bragging, that's just a fact of life. I read the high school health books in the 1st grade, I picked up my first zoology book at the age of 7 (college level), I've read countless medical journals, and even went to medical school and nursing school briefly (long story, but had to drop out due to a family illness that I'd rather not go into)....to put it bluntly, I can old my own with most doctors. That being said, Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez...(and all the Doctors at the OCC), were not only knowledgeable, but very empathetic. They did not let their title affect how they dealt with patients, which is something you don't see often in the States. Dr. Ortiz has done thousands of procedures, and taught many surgeons how to perform this procedure. When he learned of my background, he didn't dumb it down for me, we talked about anatomy and physiology in medical terms and then again for my mother in lesser terms, and it was great to have a physician who is not only knowledgeable, but will answer any question you have. And he is in my opinion, an authority on the subject of Lap Band. regardless of where you were banded, Dr. Ortiz's "post-op bible" is a great thing to follow. Even if it's contrary to your own doctor's post-op plan. An ounce of prevention today is worth more than a pound of revision surgery a few years down the road. While "some" people may be able to eat right away (and it happens), and suffer no ill affects, the plan Dr. Ortiz and his staff have devised, is drawn out to give the maximum amount of safety to all patients concerned. Fast healers or slow healers, the margin of complications is reduced by giving yourself that 21 days of no food. Everyone's body heals at different rates. Smokers slower than non-smokers. Men faster than women. I highly recommend anyone who's had Lap Band surgery to follow the simply 21 day plan. Enjoy your new life.

and there's always room for Jello. ;-)

I beg to differ, anytime you change the surface area of the stomach, you're reducing the sites of action for the normal goings on of the digestive processes. While you do get some transmission as per normal, because of the reduced stomach surface area you don't get the full nutritional effect. It's a simply math problem....the surface area of the stomach is directly proportionate the amount of nutrients absorbed. The gastrin and somatostatine hormones you're referring to aren't completely eliminated, but are significantly reduced. Sorry, but biology says otherwise.

I would also like to add, that you should tell your family and why it's important. If you need someone to talk to them, feel free to message me in private and I'll call them and have a sit down so they'll understand.

Much better, thank you.

I drank the bottled water, it was fine. The water in the hotel was fine The ice at the hotel was fine If you get a chance pre-op. Go across the street to the convenience store and get a 2L bottle of apple juice. It's carbonated and is the best thing EVER...if I knew about it before I knew about pop, I'd have been drinking it all the time haha. Just try it once.

Enough of this. 1. True nobody needs hand holding, but people do need some sympathy and understanding. Think back to what it was like when you were heavy. It's one thing to present the facts, it's another thing to be insensitively blunt. Have a little compassion. And if you want to be factual, you're incorrect. While she may be eating sooner than she's supposed to, no, that does not necessarily mean that she's stretching out her pouch, what it does mean that later on she may very well have some band slippage issues. No THAT is a fact. 2. This person came for help and support, not to see a bunch of people puff out their chest, and play the "I'm better than you game". You should ALL be ashamed of yourself. 3. We're adults....>ACT LIKE IT<

Gastric Banding: Reversible 100% No changes to the body's anatomy (Your digestion processes function the same way) Adjustable Minimally invasive Short recovery time. Gastric sleeve (or any other gastric procedure involving reducing the physical area of the stomach) Usually NOT reversible Not adjustable can be very invasive. susceptible to emergency revision (i.e. very shortly after you have the proceedure, if something is wrong, you would have to go through an open procedure to correct it.) Changes the way you digest food, because there's less stomach surface area. You generally are required to take supplements THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Proof positive that girls *DO* fart. lol (sorry I couldn't resist)

Oh no....when you have surgery it just begins. :-)