BrooklynIrish59

As always Michelle, your pics and your progress are awesome. I too love my lapband. When I went to the OCC, Dr. Miranda asked me what my goal weight with the surgery was and believing that for my height of 5'1", 125-130 was the ideal weight, that's what I told her. Unfortunately she said said 175 would be more probable, since I had been heavy most of my life. And I thought wow, 175 is still fat, that sucks! But your pictures prove that at your current weight, you look beautiful, fantastic and healthy. I can only hope to look that good when I hit 184. Even though I have a long way to go, I am liking what I see in the mirror these days. Just out of curiosity, did Dr. Miranda give you a "probable" weight goal? I wonder if she bumps up the numbers just to challenge us a bit more! Keep up the fantastic work! Good for you! I look forward to seeing your progress pics each month. I 'm sorry I didn't think about doing it myself. Barb

Yeah sure Rob erta....that's ok! (giggle)

It stands for productive burping. When the food gets stuck, you burp and bring the food up with the burp.

Hey Kim...heads up on the wraps from Subway. I thought they would be the answer to my bread craving, I was wrong. They are worse than bread. While the wraps are delicious, they are gummy and have more of a tendency to get stuck. Like an idiot I keep going back for more pain. This weekend I stopped at a Sonic with my neice and got a grilled chicken wrap. Instead of unwrapping it and just eating the chicken I bit into the whole thing and nearly lost my lunch in front of my neice. I panicked at first, but just stopped eating entirely until the feeling passed. I've had only 1 episode of PBing. I was in a rush, stopping home for something and took a piece of BBQ rib out of the crock pot. I totally forgot about the band and shoveled the food in. I thought I was having a heart attack the pain in my chest was so awful. It took about 20 LONG minutes to feel any relief. I have had food get stuck 1 or 2 times since my fill.

Hi Donna, Good for you on your decision and double kudos for your supportive husband. I've been banded for 2 months now and the only regret I've had is in not getting it done sooner. This forum is one of the best for the encouragement you get from your fellow "bandsters". Hey...you gotta learn the lingo if you're gonna get a band! I'm sure there is an answer somewhere within the topics for every question you have. If you don't want to go looking, just write 'em all down. Everyone has either been there or done that. From going to the OCC by yourself or with a family member, what to bring, what to where, how much liquid is too much and what to do if you can't poop. All the answers are here. The OCC is such a phenomenal place and the staff are the best. I sometimes still have to ask myself, did I really do this? The entire experience is surreal. I hope you feel confident enough with all you read here to proceed with your decision to have surgery at the OCC. Trust me you will NOT regret it. Barb

Hi Danielle, I too was always heavy as a kid...I'm way older than you are, but I still remember. Yes, the OCC will do the lapband for you. The most famous teen on the forum is Cassie. She was 13 when she had the procedure done and she has done a wonderful job working with her band. She was on the Oprah show a while back and in fact, the show is suppose to air again on August 11th, I think. If you go to the topics for teens on this same webpage, you will find lots of useful information, or you and your mom can email Lori at the OCC for information. Good luck... Barb

By the way Kim, your pictures are wonderful! What a huge (no pun or insult intended) difference! Barb

Wow, that's not much fill. I had my first fill June 12 and got 1.4 cc. She started out with 2 cc...this is their normal starting point if you can tolerate it. When I had trouble swallowing water, she removed a bit. She expects to be able to give me at LEAST another 1.4 cc when I return. I'm paying as I go. To answer your question, yeah, I would be annoyed for that small amount. I do realize everyone is different and each person's fill varies. Are you doing it under fluoro? Are they testing to see how much restriction you can handle? Can you insist on a bit more? Barb

thanks for the info Iam....I guess I didn't know that. Consider me straw free from now on! Barb

ok, I'm banded 2 months as of Saturday...what is the problem with using a straw? I use a straw because it keeps me from gulping. Barb

Took me awhile to figure that picture out, but they're hedgehogs! Right?

Hey, that article was on the front cover of Star and the National Enquirer this week! Way to go Erin!

Another way to know if your band has slipped is when you can't even get water down!

Good Luck Cathy....it must have been hard these past few weeks to sit and read all about the people who have been banded and started losing weight...you never thought your day would come. Well tomorrow is it. I'm so excited for you. Before I was banded, I envied those who already were and now that I am banded I can't wait for my first fill which is this Thursday. I'm just as excited about my first fill as I was for the banding. Only good things from now on! Barb

Kimra...is that what Dr. Miranda is suggesting for 1 day intake?

I've lost 22 lbs since banding, my first fill is scheduled for 6/12. Very little restriction...one night I managed to put away an 8 ounce steak....hadn't had one in so long. Last night couldn't even finish 1 small hamburger patty, go figure.

It's amazing, my friend and I were banded on the same day. What she eats in one meal would fit in my palm, mean while, I could eat double what she eats and just barely feel full. 3 more weeks until that first fill. Between now and then I will learn to eat with a baby spoon and fork. LOL..I would not wish that pain on my worst enemy! Barb

Oh MY....Since being banded 1 month ago today, I have considered myself one of the lucky ones who haven't had any PBing episodes...either that or they really didn't put the band in because I feel no restriction. Well I guess I was just a little too cocky, because I got an eye opener today. I made a huge crock pot of BBQ spare ribs last night. They were just sitting there, marinating in the sauce when I decided I needed to have a piece. Unfortunately, they weren't the ones I usually buy and boy were they dry PLUS I guess I took too big of a piece. I almost thought I was having a heart attack from the pain in my chest. And the sliming. WOW, that really sucks for any of you who have had multiple episodes of PBing. After a few minutes, I got a repeat performance of what I had put in my mouth and yup, it was a big piece. It's a scary feeling to have that much pain and not know what to do. I thought sipping a little water might help push it through, but that just made it worse. What was I thinking? Well, I guess the bottom line is...yeah, I really do have a band around my stomach. No more second guessing. Experience can be an excellent teacher....and hurt like hell too.

No matter how many times I try to keep myself from stepping on that scale in the morning...I keep hearing it call my name. Psssstttt, Barb, come on, step on me, check the numbers. I can't help it. Yeah, I get frustrated if the scale doesn't move, but I don't give up. I'm in the bandster hell phase. My first fill isn't until June 12th. I've hit a plateau and nothing I do seems to move it. I've tried going with just liquids (yeah, I know, I should be eating 3 meals) and no difference, so then I go to the 3 meals eating my proteins and veggies, no carbs or very, very little. Yeah, I'm drinking lots of protein water throughout the day and I've gone back to the gym, but I have no restriction so I can eat more than the 2-3 oz of protein and I can chug water. It's hard to believe, I am getting just as excited about my first fill as I did about the surgery itself. June 12th can't come soon enough. Barb

Thanks Michelle and Evette. Somehow I just knew you ladies would come through for me with the answer. Barb

I see many people talking about the foods they're eating post op; I am 4 weeks post op. I haven't seen much written about eating salads. My friend, who was banded with me, is under the impression that we shouldn't be eating lettuce at this time, but I've not seen any information for or against it. Soooooo, veteran bandsters, what's the scoop? Barb

My friend and I were both banded by Dr. Martinez on 4/21. We went to OCC based on recommendations of another friend banded 18 months ago with Dr. Ortiz. We were both bummed because the scheduling didn't work out for us to have Dr. Ortiz. But we have no regrets. Dr. Martinez was just as wonderful as I hear Dr. Ortiz is. He was compassionate and patient when explaining things to us. He was thorough. He took the time to come and sit with us after the surgeries were all done to check on us and make sure we were doing well and did we have any questions. If you end up with Dr. Martinez, don't worry. He's not a second choice by any means. I have absolutely no regrets with Dr. Martinez. Good luck! Barb

It's short for Productive Burp. It's what happens when you eat too fast and don't chew, chew, chew your food. After you swallow, or attempt to swallow, you can feel the food get stuck. Your mouth starts salivating and next thing you know the food is making a repeat performance. Some Encores are just not worth it!