JennaR

It isn't that standing is hard, but you are a bit sore and get tired quickly. Your port area is what is sore. And it is normal, but standing all the time will definitely drain you. I would say plan for a minimum of 7 days from your surgery date. I also messaged you with your questions you sent me. Jenna

I think your idea is a good one. However, we already have one. ha ha. go to www.lapbandtalk.com it is called the annual bandster bash in las vegas.

I was teaching also during the surgery date. I had the surgery on Wed and was back to work on Monday. Although a lot slower and taught a lot from the desk. Did a major writing assignment using a longgg video. Was teaching 8th grade science. I suggest bringing in a tall back chair to sit down in if you have younger grades. Or... take more time off. By the end of that next week, I was good to go. Another friend of mine who is a teacher was also banded by Ortiz. She did it over the summer break.

Is it really difficult to change? For me, it was difficult the first two months. I am not going to lie or romance it that it wasn't a culture shock. But... it is kind of like child labor in that once it is done, you really forget how hard it was and then it becomes a way of life. What is most difficult about your new life? Learning the new way to eat. Not having dinners out as a big social occasion. Learning portion sizes and ordering or taking the correct amount of food and not throwing 1/2 of it away. What is most challenging? The most challenging was being fat. Once I started losing the weight I started feeling better. When I began to see the results after the first fill, it motivated me. Otherwise, the most challenging is getting in all the water that is required. You have to sip sip sip it A LOT to get it all in daily. What has changed the most? Going out to dinner is no longer my form of entertainment. I find other ways now and learning those new things to do was hard. My life revolved around food it seems. I drink a lot of water now too. Plus, I have to take a chewable multivitamin to make sure I get the required nutrients as well as protein powder drinks to get the right protein. Is it the worst month of your life to recover from the surgery? If you are referring to pain, I had minimal pain. Not more than a bit of cramping here and there, nothing to shout about and I am a big ole baby too. If you are referring to the post op diet, yes it is hard and it sucks going through it. Do you want to eat all the time? During the first 3 weeks you will battle the mental hunger a lot. You think you are hungry and should eat because you ate that much before. During weeks 4-6 you battle more of the hunger because you are not filled but are still on the post op diet plan. It is tough because you can eat as much as before, and you are hungry a lot, and you can't. Once you get your fill... life changes in that it actually becomes easier to battle the mental demon. Sure you have to still struggle with what works and what doesn't but the hunger itself is gone. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I need to eat something because I am simply not hungry. Do you feel sick from not eating? I had some hunger pains and cramping during week 4-6. After that, nothing. Headaches? I attributed my mild headaches the first few weeks to the lack of nicotine and caffeine I wasn't getting anymore. That went away once I started smoking again (bad girl) and the caffeine headaches subsided on their own. How hard is it to give up diet soda? I was a HUGE soda drinker. I gave it up and have never had anything carbonated pass my lips again. At first you miss it a little but I don't even ever think of it anymore. Substitute with Tea, Crystal Light, water, juice, etc. It really is terrible for you to drink sodas and you won't miss it much after a few months. Do you have to give up diet soda forever? No carbonation ever again. This includes anything bubbly (champagne, soda, beer, etc) Also, are there any long-term success stories? The longest term banded person I know is 5 years. Banding in the states has only been happening for the past 2 years. Mexico about 10 I think. Where can I find them. Try the medical journals on a site like ebsco host. A fantastic site for a lot of information is www.lapbandtalk.com you can search different questions and read the responses. There is a ton of different questions that have a lot of us bandsters on it. They have a mix of everything including other countries and the US.

Well, here is my take on the band as a low bmi patient of Dr. Ortiz..... The band is a tool. It is NOT bypass and the lbs will NOT melt off if you do not work with the band. You CAN eat around the band and it does NOT tell you not to eat the Twinkie. However, if you do have some discipline and you can make healthy choices and make a lifestyle change it WILL work. Mine works fine. Sure we all slip up and fall off the wagon but just have to dust yourself off and get on the next wagon that comes by. You DO have to diet and watch what passes your lips. You DO have to exercise regularly. You DO have to schedule aftercare and take care of your band and follow the rules (ie no carbonation, etc). The band is NOT magic. I repeat, the band is NOT magic, it is only a tool for you to lose weight healthily and slowly (1-2 lbs a week averaging) and MAINTAIN it. That is the biggie, maintaining. If you do choose to eat a small piece of baked skinless chicken, 2 flowers of broccoli, and 2 small apple slices for dinner then you WILL be a success and you WILL feel full and satisfied. If you choose to eat two twinkies and two cookies and a handful of doritos for dinner then you will NOT be a success and you will NOT lose the weight and you will still feel full and satisfied. The first 6 weeks are the hardest. It sucks, I won't lie. The diet is restrictive and you must follow it so that you heal correctly. And that first 6 weeks you really want to see a lot of loss, we all have that expectation. But don't freak if you don't lose weight the first six weeks. Some do, some don't. And usually everyone is biting at the bit starving during weeks 4-6. Its rough, won't even try and sugar coat it. But the first 6 weeks you are not filled, therefore it is merely a stomach bracelet. Once you heal, the swelling goes down, and you can have a 6 week fill, then your ready to ROCK! The fill will create the pouch. That is where life really changes. That is when it really becomes real. That is when you start your exercise programs and start rocking the band. Some people never have a problem. Any surgery is a risk, the band is not 100%. The band does come with risks like any surgery. Erosion, slippage, etc. Some have had their bands erode and had to have them removed at their own cost. That sucks. But... you CAN make the most of your band. If you are US, low bmi's have to self pay and go out of the country. Most go to Mexico. And most to Dr. Ortiz I believe. It is somewhere around $10k. There is a doctor in Houston that does it for $15k but I am not impressed with his patient relations and aftercare that I have heard about. Mexico comes with their own way. It is not like the US. Not bad really, but just "different" type of experience. If you have an open mind, you will be fine. If you go there expecting the US you will be reminded you are in Mexico. Remember, it is another country. What is normal here is not always normal there. I don't mean that it is bad or dirty normal but just "different". If you are low bmi (especially) it is veryyyyyyy hard to have aftercare in the US. No doc will touch you. Its like your a leper it seems. But Ortiz/Martinez have the best fill program and contact that I know of. I have never called and gotten a machine. I have never had a question go unanswered for long. They are terrific about return calls and emails. The fill program is top notch. So plan on returning to Mexico for fills. Any more questions... just ask. Remember, these are my opinions and/or experiences. Beware, I will be blunt when you ask so be sure you want to know the answer. Good luck on your journey and research!!!! And you can see from my stats below my progress thus far.....

Yep, that should be fine, however a passport is ALWAYS the best option. Plus, your going to need it anyway come 12/06!!

Are you eating your straight proteins and meats first? Follow the guidelines of eating meat first, then veggies, then fruits, then breads. I have never gotten past fruits before I am stuffed.

Yes, Dr. Ortiz states there is no proven facts/documentation/statistics that support this idea and that it is over analyzed and stated as precautionary only. Got it right from the horsey's mouth!

i waited 6 weeks.

Ummm, did you speak English to the night staff? Because they don't very well at all. They just nod and say "yes, yes" and "okay" but really have no idea what you are saying. Everyone else does speak English VERY well. But the late night staffing do not, at least they didn't when i was there. But they had me tricked that they understood LMAO. Welcome to bandland! i am glad your experience thus far has been great. I wish you much success in the future!

You can try skin tightening creams, vit E pure oil, or pure cocoa butter. However, unfortunately the skin elasticity further along with age doesn't always agree. Surgery is definitely an option if it bothers you.

Protein. Then.... some more protein. Drink the protein shakes every day to get more in. Also try some protein leave in spray for your hair. They also have liquid vitamin protein. It is SUPER important that you get your vitamins in. I know most of us are lazy.... until we see what the lack of vitamins have effects.

Ummmmmm, that is like 3 lbs a week! That is fantastic considering what is "normal" is 1-2 lbs per week.

With as much (in portions) as we are able to eat, counting fat grams and calories is useless to me really. As long as you are eating generally known "good" food you should be fine. My suggestion is to kick up your exercise level a bit. That should give your metabolism a kick in the pants!

This is such a general question that I think you will have more luck doing some research on www.lapbandtalk.com or www.lapbandfriends.com for more info.

Not really, sorry. I just drink warm liquids (the hotter the better) in the morning and it is good. I just really try to concentrate on eating GOOD foods later in the evenings to fill up. And it seems to work. Takes a bit of self control on my part, but it does work. Just sucks because I do love a good breakfast once in awhile. Regarding the gas, yes I do get it. I usually get on my knees, and rock back and forth in a fetal position. This usually "escapes" some gas. Also, my regular doctor told me to do some stretches for the stomach (the downward dog of Yoga) and that should "release" the gas. Also, the mylanta chewables. Sometimes it gets bad and bloated. I just have to take the time to have it "released".

The doctor does not do a fill until 6 weeks. 5 1/2 if you are lucky but I begged hard. It is totally normal to stall before AND after a fill. Sometimes I don't lose any all week. Sometimes the next week I lose 2-3 lbs. It varies and really depends on me. I have been on a plateau for the last 2 weeks but I think it is because of all the holiday goodies lying around!!!!

Okay okay... lets all not panic. First things first. We have to look at the non-scale victory aspect. 1. Do your clothes fit better? 2. Do you have more energy? 3. Do you have more confidence? 4. Are you going down in clothing size? (lbs v. inches) 5. Are you taking measurements and keeping track, not just stepping on a scale? 6. Are you exercising? 7. Do you notice a skin toning at all? 8. Do you have an overall general sense of feeling better inside? etc. etc... the list goes on and on... Make sure you are all not measuring your success by poundage and looking at the ENTIRE picture. The actual number means NOTHING on the scale. How do you "feel"? How do you "look"? What is your energy levels like? Are you following the band rules? There are many things to look at... and if you are doing the needed exercise please remember that muscle weighs more than fat. I haven't lost a pound in 3 weeks, but I notice it in inches because I keep track. To heck with the scale!!! Its all about how you feeeeeeeeeeeeel inside. Take care and good luck everyone!

I had a fill in September. I felt restriction but not overwhelming. It is now beg of December and it does seem to have "tightened" somewhat recently. I can't eat any type of breakfast whatsoever until I have been up and active for at least 4-5 hours. (i.e. if I wake up at 6am, can't eat nothing until 10-11am, nothing but hot liquids) Plus, at lunch I am a bit restricted than dinner. But my problem recently is being STARVING come dinner time and snacking too badly. Need to fix that habit. Good luck!!

Wow, I can't say that happened to me at all. That is definitely wierd. I would think you would have noticed SOMETHING. Are you following all the rules?

Welcome to bandland. Sorry I didn't see this sooner!

The key is the wiggle!! Wiggle in a chair when seated during the day. Move your hips back and forth. Gets a little windy, but at least it passes. The other key is a heating pad at night. Works it down so first thing in the morning is a bit noisy! Hope my suggestions help. They did for me.

I am 8 months banded. Still a bit of a Baby bandster.

Glad you are feeling better. Hope this fill works well for you.

That is FANTASTIC! Congratulations! I loveddddddd it when I weighed less than my hubby. And loved it even more when I couldn't wear his clothes anymore! And he couldn't wear MINE and spill ketchup on them!! Keep up the good work!