mommyrkr

Thanks, did you go on a weekday or a Saturday? Becki

Dr. Ortiz told me I could exercise 10 days after surgery, but no abs for three months. I am four months post op now, and I started ab work on my 3 month anniversary. I have felt fine. No pain, nothing like that. Becki

Marissa, We are in similar positions. My starting weight was 265, my goal is 150. I met with a friend the other night, she was home for Christmas. She had bypass two years and a few months ago. I hadn't seen her in a year. She initially lost 100 pounds. Now, she is up 25. She still is better, but she eats far less than I do, and is gaining weight....her body is adapting. She doesn't exercise, and does particularly eat healthy, but still looks and feels better. She has a huge scar all down her stomach and paid twice what I did for my band. It made me so glad to have done what I did. It was her courage in having surgery in the first place that really pushed me to look into it, but I'm glad I chose the band. I have very small scars, by husband has asked where the small ones were, he didn't see them, and it has only been 4 months. I have lost 40% of my body weight, not far from where my friend is now, but I am still losing, where she is gaining. If I was ever in her position, gaining, I know what to do. I would need another fill, where as she doesn't have any options, she already rerouted and permenantly rearranged her body. Lapband is the future of bariatric surgery. I am sure that 10 years down the road, you would be glad to have the lastest and best, instead of the most common. By the way, I am down 45 pounds, and haven't found my correct level of restricition yet. So more will be coming. But if I never lost another pound, I am happy, I have more energy...I can move and fit in clothes. I am almost out of plus sizes!!! I love my band. Becki

I am trying to schedule a fill for Jan 16th. I have to buy my ticket two weeks in advance to get the best rate(the one I can afford). I will be going down and back in the same day (from Washington), so I am having to schedule my time carefully. The OCC's office is closed until the 3rd, which is less than two week out from my appointment, so I would already have had to pay for my flight. My question...does anyone know if they schedule fill appointments at noon, or 12:30? It is a Tuesday. I would really need to make it then to get back for my plane. Thanks!!! Becki

I will be going for a fill either the 17th or the 22nd. Anyone interested? My aunt and I will come together, flight comes at about 9:30am, then leaving the same day. We are planning on trying the trolley/bus/cab thing. Let me know if someone might want to go with us. Michelle, we will be flying out of Seatac...would be fun to go together. Becki

I am having trouble with my tickers. I have had them working great for months, then a few weeks ago, when I went to update my weight, I can't get it to appear anymore. I am doing the exact same thing. But I can't get it to work. Can someone help me? Thanks, Becki

I never PBed before my first fill, but I know people who had. I know it doesn't seem to be too uncommon. I have since my first fill, and I definitely need to be more careful now, as before my fill, I could eat a horse!! Good luck. Becki

The gas pain in the shoulder bothered me for a month also. In fact, I was starting to think I would just have to live with it, but when I read your post I realized that it had been gone for quite a while. I haven't thought about that in quite a while. Before I had surgery, I spent some time researching the band. Obesityhelp.com, and lapband.com had a lot of recommendation for local surgeons. Dr. Ortiz also has a list of doctors who might be able to help with aftercare. There are several local people I could go to, but I chose to have my first fill with Dr. Ortiz' office. Good luck with the band. It is exciting. Becki

Man, I got ripped off....I got no neck rub or pictures!! Wonder what you did to make yourself so special? That is kind of interesting. Becki

Wow, you sure have a lot to say! I hope you think a little more before you spew like that again. First of all, you said you don't know why anyone would go through all this to look good..yet you felt the need to lose weight. You may be one of the 2% of people who can lose weight and keep it off, but I seriously doubt it, or you won't say such foolish things like thinking you have all the answers. Come talk about your weight lose when you have kept it off for a decade or more. Finally, I was in much more danger not having surgery than I was having it. My chance of a heart attack and such is greatly decreased. Daily, the life of an obese person, is in as much or more danger than the life of a normal weight person who had the lap band. I am also guessing from what you posted regarding your friend's brother that what he had was a vertical banded surgery, which is how his stomach ripped open. That is not the same as a lap band. It is very dangerous, however, the lap band is much less complicated, with far fewer risks. You might want to look into what kind of surgery he actually had. You might want to rethink some things you said, or at least look into it a little more before you say things like that. There are plenty of both good and bad with lap band surgery, and I have read about all of it here. If anything, this board shows more of the downside, in that people who are doing well, don't tend to post much. By the way, been to the personal trainer, weight loss clinic, prescription diet pills, fad diets, everything. And yet I needed to do this. Don't knock it until you've lived it. Becki

Of course no objections. It is nice to have a place to ask questions and so many people who have gone before us to help answer them. Wishing you lots of luck and no more PBing. Becki

Not at goal yet....but tomorrow will be my 3 month anniversary since being banded. Yeah, I can do crunches!! As of this morning, I am down 42.5 pounds since I started my pre-op diet. I still have a lot to lose, and hope to be at my goal in a little over a year. Right now though, I am completely enjoying the journey....every day gets easier to move, and fit into things and live. Becki

Probably the best way to know what to expect when you go to get your band is to read the Newly Banded section of this forum. There a few posts that have described step by step what to expect. It really helped me to both be prepared, and to relax and not be so anxious. Check them out, they are a big help when you are walking this path a few months after someone. Becki

Bobby, My only regret is that I didn't do this years sooner. I feel great. I am losing, for the first time in my life, I feel like a normal person, and I have hope that I will look like one too. My risks of dying have reduced dramatically already from obesity related causes. I feel good, I exercise, my family is proud of me. And I am so much healthier. I really regret not being more open minded to surgery several years ago, and carrying so much weight any longer than necessary. I am so happy I did this. Read my journey if you want...under experiences with band...banded Aug 28. Good luck, and congradulations on being approved for the surgery, you did better than I. I will be paying for a while, but worth every penny. Becki

I had very little restriction post op. I could eat a lot. I tried to watch myself, and I could definitely be satisfied with less, though I could still eat as much. I had my first fill at 8 weeks post op, or one month ago. I think I have great restriction. I eat about 1/3 of what I did. For example, one egg and one piece of toast for breakfast. I eat pizza, chips, everything. I just eat less. I eat healthier most of the time, but there are times that the pizza wins. I haven't found anything that I can't eat. I have pb'ed once, knew immediately that it was coming, from big bites, not chewed well. I have been stuck several times, but it went through eventually. I know that I have been very fortunate, but this has been easy for me, for the most part. There is still the hard part of wanting more food than my body needs, but it is head hunger, and I am rarely hungry. Oh, and I lost 13 pre-op, 15 post-op but before my first fill, and I have lost 12 more since my fill a month ago. OH, and I exercise, as much as I can. I really believe it is what makes the difference in being able to be successful with the band a little looser, so there is less chance of certain foods not working. Good luck to all, I wish it to be as much fun for you as it has been for me. Becki

Michelle...I'm so glad...that you are alive, not that you are pbing. How is it going for you? Are you still with your trainer and how has that been going? Has it helped? Are you losing? Just wondering about you yesterday, so glad you know you are still alive. Becki

Hey Littleroo!! That is so exciting. I would be bummed about no Dr. Ortiz too, but to save all that money.... Anyway, congradulations. Becki

Mandy, I have never felt my port. I have tried too. It really is a lot smaller than I expected, and I just can't find it, even after having a fill, and knowing where it is. I hope things go well for you. I know having a baby at home changes everything. You can't just relax....ever. Good luck. Becki

Might check for kidney stones. Most stones are calcium, which show up on Xrays and CT scans, but some have different compositions which can make it very difficult to find them. Your pain sounds similar to what I have with kidney stones. Just a thought, but good luck finding the problem. Becki

I had the band placed 2 1/2 months ago. I am doing great, down 35 pounds. Everything is going great, nothing I can't eat, no pbing, and losing weight. I made sure that it was possible to be pregnant with the band. I didn't want to give up on the possiblity of another child. From what I found out, for many people, because of being overweight, they have trouble conceiving, so once the get the band, and lose weight...instant baby. Some need to be unfilled at some point during pregnancy, some don't. Realistically, you only need and extra 200-300 calories per day while you are pregnant, so you can easily get that just drinking the milk you are supposed to, which is not affected by the band. But everyone is different. Then after the baby, you just get your fill level back up. While I was waiting in the waiting room for my surgery, I met a woman who had been banded years ago, and had had a baby six weeks before. She had reduced her fill level substantial and was there at the doctors office to get her fill level back up. She looked great. Hope that helps a little. Becki

Peter, Have you had the band, or are you just looking? Becki

Hey girls, I'm glad to hear how your are doing. I am doing really well. I had my fill 2 1/2 weeks ago, and it seems to be pretty good, 2.4cc. I definitely could eat more than 1/3, but I am totally fine with 1/3 also. So I think I am pretty content. The weight is falling off, and I haven't been able to exercise much the last two weeks...kidney stones. (I am going in on Monday to have them broken up...finally!!!) I am very anxious to get back to some good exercise. In the mean time, I am down 35 pounds, and I feel great. I just unpacked a big box or skinny clothes and many of them are starting to fit me, and probably will by Christmas or New Years. So I am very excited about that. I still haven't found anything much that I can't eat, but I have been stuck a few more times. And no PB's yet. I think this it the best thing that could have happened to me. Glad to hear you are doing well. And can't believe.....size 8...I dont' care if they run big or stretchy or what....I would wear them inside out!! Hope we can get together soon. Becki

I only had surgery in August, so I wouldn't call myself a success story, but I am on my way, so far. It has been 2 1/2 months since my surgery, and I am doing great. I have had one fill, and seem to have pretty good restriction from that. Time will tell. I have been stuck a few times, but I have never PB'ed. I have lost 35 pounds and am consistently losing as well as eating a healthy amount of food to maintain a body (not too little). I love my band, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Keep in mind, as it was said, that these boards are a place to find support. When things are going great, you don't need the support, so you tend to not use the boards. But when things are not so great, something is wrong, you are frustrated, then you seek the answers and support the boards might provide. From the quantity of surgeries that Dr. Ortiz does, a very, very small percentage ever post on this site. Most go about life, and we never really get to hear how it goes for them. They are not looking for this support. Best of luck to you, hope all goes well in whatever you decide. Becki

You have a very interesting story. It is kind of rare to find someone who has been banded as long as you on this board. I know nothing about the doctor you are going to, but I am very curious about your situation. If you have not had a port, what keeps the saline from leaking out the end of the band? I had thought it was all one connected piece. It is so interesting all the things that might go wrong. I also think your husbands theory of the saline running back into the band at night while we sleep is very interesting. Why not? I wonder if other doctors have an explanation for the tightness in the morning. Anyway, best of luck with your new port. I am sure that in a few months, this will all be behind you and you will feel great. I'm sure that they will be able to find the correct fill level for you. Good luck, Becki

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