BandDiva

Who sets the target weight? And how is the number determined?

Not sure how it is determined by the OCC. Dr. Miranda told me my target weight was 180. I want to get down to atleast 160. (I think) I have never been that weight so, who knows. lol It depends on your height and body frame. Check out this site.

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm

Not only would I totally do it again, but I tell everyone about Dr. Ortiz!! I am proud to say I am his patient. I always felt safe in TJ because his clinic is so close to the San Diego border. I would go there tomorrow if I needed to. Feel free to read my blog, here is the Dr. Ortiz section. http://danasbandnewlife.wordpress.com/cate...dr-ariel-ortiz/

I LOVE OUR WII....

AS A KID, MY MOM ALWAYS HAD US GIRLS IN DANCE LESSONS. I'VE BECOME A HUGE FAN OF OLD BURLESQUE AFTER SEEING A FEW SHOWS LAST SUMMER SO I ORDERED A DVD. IT'S ALOT OF FUN, A GOOD WORKOUT AND COMES IN HANDY

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&...a=N&tab=wv#

LOL LOVE IT!

Welcome to the world of restriction. What you are feeling in regards to being full sooner and having the food go thru the band slower is what everyone with a band hopes to experience. I am like you in that I can eat anything I so chose, including pizza. I had my first piece of pizza that was not thin crust a couple of weeks ago and did just fine with it, I just had to remember to chew it super duper well. Before I ate it I sought out a friend at the same event who also has a band and he said as long as he chews well he doesn't have a problem either. I am not suggesting that we eat pizza on a regular basis, but rare occasions are okay. My fill doctor says it is okay to challenge yourself with foods on occasion.

In regards to the pills, it is time to make a change. If they can be cut up, invest in a pill splitter and start cutting. If they cannot be cut up, you need to seek other options. I too have problems with pills. Mine started with the most bitter antibiotic ever. Luckily I could cut it up and hide it in pudding so as to avoid the bitter taste. I am supposed to be taking a multi-vitamin but am scared to based on my level of restriction. So, I am going to purchase chewable gummie vitamins tomorrow. I have already tried Flinstones and they just aren't as good as they were when I was a kid.

Something else to be aware of, some of us have experienced our bands getting tighter a few days after a fill. Just be aware this could happen. After I have a fill I am supposed to have clear liquids only for 24 hours, full liquids for 24 hours, mushy foods for 24 hours, and then I can go back to regular foods. You might want to give this a shot to allow your stomach time to adjust to the new band size.

Let us know how your weight loss goes based on this fill.

Smiley....

I highly recommend Bariatric Advantage, Vitaband in mixed berry flavor. These vitamins are chewable & made especially for people who have had WLS. Ofcourse it is up to you, but I attended a 2 hour meeting about this company and I really believe they have what we need. They are loaded with good stuff for us! I also take their calcium tablet, it dissolves in your mouth.

I actually have the WII Fit and LOVE it! It works awesome and it makes it fun. I actually look forward to working out. And I've lost 10 pounds on that since I got it last month!

We would love to have a WII, but we just can't make that investment right now. Maybe one day.....(if they don't come out with something else before then! lol)

Hey everyone! So, my weight is starting to drop again, but not as quick as I want. I work out with my trainer 2 times a week so I can't afford a gym membership. So, just wondering what all of you are doing. NO, I don't have Wii, so Wii fit is out. Are any of you using a DVD series? What are all of you doing at home? I feel I am getting enough weight training but I need some cardio ideas. I also have an elliptical here at the house (maybe I need to increase doing that too). Anyway, I used to have some exercise VHS tapes and I enjoyed it. I want to buy something to pop in and do before my hubby gets home from work. Thanks to all of you, yall are great!

Denise,

You are an inspiration to many! You are dedicated to this new lifestyle & it shows! You look incredible!!! Love ya, Lady!

Thank you for explaining more to me!!

Is that a common size band or are there many different sizes? :-?

I think 10CM is probably the most common, there is a larger one, it depends on the size of the stomach. I believe there are just the 2 different sizes and they dont know until they get in there to see what is needed.

I was just re-reading your post, And wanted to say Thank YOU, I guess I will have those butterflies until I get out of surgery May 20th........

the nearest fill center is like 48 miles away in Hartford CT... ... Not good but it's do-able. I bet on the North Shore there's doctors! North Shore University Hospital Has tp have doctors, it's just if they will take me. So this Doc Ren, is who you go to? he's the one that doesn't take any new patients from Mexico?

Do you find that when doctors hear you went to TJ to get banded they freak? what is their reaction?

I told my Dr. here in Dallas I was Dr. Ortiz patient, and his exact words (with a smile on his face). "Dr. Ortiz? He is a Hollywood Dr. I am just a nerd. Dr. Ortiz is a great Dr." I was so relieved! Dr. Ortiz also new of my Fill Dr. here in Dallas, he is one of the best surgeons around here. I feel that I am in great hands with both of them!!!!

Can anybody explain to me what size band I have exactly?? On the card it says it is a 10CM band. They were explaining it a few hours after surgery but I am not sure I fully understand what size it is. Is it a 10 band that only hold 4cc's? Please help explain some of you smart banders!!

Yes, 10CM band holds 4cc's.

Good Morning Dana

These PB's that I read about, Does the food come back up? or is it just a burp to make room?

Thank YOU!

shiney42

PB means productive burp. Sometimes you can get lucky and it will come up with just one. Other times, it might last an hour. It is nasty.

Dana - What size band do you have?

I have the 10CM band, 4cc's.

I am currently at 2.5cc

Hi guys I need help, I need so much help. I have not lost much weight at all I have only lost 30lb I had the lap band on 5/13/08. I have been reading about everybodies fill I got like a 10 in band(?) and the last fill I got was a half cc and I think I have a total in there now of 1 1/2 cc. I dont feel much when I eat other than a slight tingle in on the side where the band is. I am about to pull my hair out. I need help big help.

Everyone's fills and what they require is different. My guess is, you have not really experienced restriction yet. I finally got it on my third fill. I would recommend you go back for another fill right away.

Shiney,

You will do great! Congrats on your decision! Ask your patient care coordinator for a list of Dr.'s in your area. In my city, there were Dr's who were not at Fill Centers but still took other patients. I would definitely look into after care, I called about 3 Dr.'s until I chose the one I am going to.

The feelings you are having are very normal and you will get past them. I will tell ya, I did not lear about real restriction until this last fill (#3). I have learned that the small bites I was taking with my 2 previous fills are just not small enough. It is a live and learn situation, but you will get past all of those and love your band. It has saved me on more than 1 occassion of eating what I didn't need to.

So, good luck to you and stay in touch with us!

XOXO

Dying? NO WAY girlfriend! You are about to start LIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Become obsessed with that!

I was banded 6 months ago yesterday and I feel better than I have in years! Just imagine the newer and improved version of YOU! That is what I did (I had my fears too) and here I am 6 months down the road, older, yet feeling younger!

You will do great! GOOD LUCK!!!

The last few nights.. only betweek 1am to 9am after i wake up and stand up and everything i have the most paiful lower left abdominal pain. It is so severe that it hits at 3am and i cant even use my abs to sit up as between my lower lung cage and pelvic bone on the left i have this searing pain.

I dont know what it could be, naturally i know i have to go to a dr but i am on holliday dfor 1 more week.

I am banded and this pain is entirely new to me.

When im constipated this is not the pain i have ever had so i cant think it would be that.

I did have a fill about 1.5 weeks ago of 1.5 cc and i can still eat anything pretty much like before the surgery so im pissed its not working as well as its meant to.

I can describe the pain it as similar to day one after the syrgery as in the inability to sit up etc.

In the mornings i get up and shower and eat and stuff it does start to go away but why does it come back at night? Its 3am im sitting here besides myself! Even in case its appendicitis i have drawn in perminant pen on my left area where the pain is little crosses on my tummy~

Do any nurses know what this may be?

(I know i have to see a dr but as its 3 am and im on holliday its not practicle at the moment).

Thanks guys x

Not sure what it could be, but I had sharp stinging pain last week & it went away. I figured I irritated my port, bent the wrong way or something. Anyway, it was so intense that I did nothing. Hope you feel better soon!

Lisa,

I got a lose a little more weight first. I'm afraid if I fell I would break something. lol Not to mention the fact I would look like Henryetta the Hippo on skates. LOL

I failed on the pre-op diet too. Don't beat yourself up, just try to lose what you can. You will be fine girlfriend!

I love to snack at night. I have a hot air popcorn popper. I spray the fat free butter all over the popcorn and scarf it down!!!! I don't feel guilty when I eat it. For some reason, I never have a problem with it getting stuck either.

Crazy huh? I can eat popcorn too! NUTS!

That stinging pain was AWFUL... I've had lots of injuries, but that one was something new.... and like you said, it disappeared shortly...

There is no way I'm going to deprive myself of tastes to lose weight, and then just add it back when I finally start "eating" again. I'm glad it's working for you, too!

Thanks Bill! I don't deprive myself either, I do have treats, I just make sure I eat healthy most of the time. I normally have a treat on the weekend with my hubby. I am not losing as fast as some either. I am close to 50 lbs and I know others who have lost 20-30 lbs more than me that were banded the same week.

This is not a race, we have all the time we need. I spent my whole life on fad diets depriving myself & then, like you said gain it back later when I lost interest.

Thanks for being so positive!

Hey sweetie, you are not alone! We have all been where you are. The band is not going to take these feelings away from you either. It is a daily battle, that you will win in time! But, you have to prepare for the battle the right way.....

If I were you I would get ALL the simple carbs out of the house. Chips (whether they are fat free or not), breads (unless it has the weight of a rock), cookies (sugar free or not), chocolate etc. Anything you know is bad & makes you want to eat.

The mistake I made was thinking a few fat free pringles (70 calories for 7) would be ok, and one tiny piece of chocolate etc. WRONG!!! All those cravings come back & the first time you start feeling sorry for yoursef, YOU STUFF YOUR FACE. I am not judging you, this is what I DID!! Now, when I want to treat myself, I do it away from the house. I don't bring the junk food in!!

Your body recognizes simple carbs as sugar. So, get your carbs from a potato, brown rice, oatmeal and fruits.

I know you aren't banded yet, but when you are you need to be eating Protein, Veggies, (some) Fruits. So, why not start now? I eat a lot of deli meat, I also found a bag of frozen chicken with rib meat at sams. I LOVE IT! Plain ole chicken sometimes is just too dry. But this chicken is great & the deli meats work because they are so thin. I also eat Meatballs alot or ground turkey and occasionally beef.

This morning for bfast I had 1 egg, 1 turkey bacon. Lunch I will have deli meat (ham today) and a cheese. I love the string cheese. I limit myself to 2 a day. But that gives me some dairy too and it is a good snack mid afternoon.

Trust me, if you do this you will start losing. Since I have done this, I am losing again. Get it out of the house and it won't be there to tempt you. If you are hungry at night, grab some protein! If you just have to have something around for your sweet tooth get the sugar free pudding and jello. Top it with cool whip light in the can & you have a great 70 calorie snack.

Hang in there, you can do this!!!

Bill,

Congrats, you are doing great!! I totally agree with your way of doing it. I believe the band is for us to eat small portions & not live like freaks and say no to everything. I am very happy with my loss and some may not like how I do it, but screw em! lol

Anyway, keep up the great work! OH....I experienced that stinging pain you described when I bent over 2 weeks ago (and I am almost 6 months out). It was awful, but the next day it was a little better, the next I felt nothing. WEIRD!!

Take Care!

XOXO

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.

Great Trav-we are all gonna be dipping in the cookie jar! LOL

GOOD to hear.

Mona~

How are you feeling? Did it get better....been wonderin!