Pam P

I absolutely CANNOT believe anyone would come on here and make this statement! Dr. Ortiz will tell you himself, this is a TOOL to "help" you lose weight, but you MUST be willing to do your part! That means chewing your food 20-30 times, eating slowly, and following your Dr.s orders. If you are not WILLING to do this, it will NOT work.

If you were throwing up (PB'ing) everytime you went to a restaurant, then you obviously were NOT chewing enough. AND, I have never heard of ANYONE not being able to eat healthy foods. That is just an excuse. ANYTHING will go down if it is chewed enough. Yes, it IS easier to eat mac and cheese, ice cream, and all the other bad stuff. THAT is WHY Dr. Ortiz says to avoid them. THey go down fast, and do not stay in the pouch long enough to give you a "full" feeling. I'm THRILLED that I got banded, and I KNOW it works. Dr. Ortiz wouldn't have over 4500 HAPPY patients if it didn't work.

Oh and another thing...You always hear MORE BAD news than GOOD news, so if it were happening, I\'m SURE we would hear it, from MANY other disgruntled bandsters. The only one I've seen is you.

By the way, DID Dr. Ortiz even do your surgery?

Donna

You know, even though TRT's blanket statement "Don't Do It!", is silly in light of so many success stories, she or he does make a point.

Anyone considering this surgery should investigate the procedure and read as much pro and con as possible before deciding. There are reasons that the surgery is more successful for some people than others. It sounds like TRT has an adequate restriction level, and if anything is overfilled. I don't think there is any reason to think that the surgery was done improperly.

I have read, and I think this is an example of it, that the lapband is least effective for people who tend to graze rather than gorge - which a properly adjusted band prevents you from doing with most foods. The greatest enemy of the band is a sweet tooth, and I think TRT is telling us he/she is eating around the band because he/she finds it too unpleasant to do otherwise.

We have all read over and over that the band is only a tool, but what does that tell us? Is it a sledge hammer or one of those little screwdrivers you use to fix your glasses. Therein lies the rub. For some people it's one and for others it's the other. The band is not for everyone. I think there are probably lots of lapband failures out there who are too ashamed to admit it. They feel it's all their fault. I don't think this is all together true.

Myself? Even though I did a lot of research, I discounted some of it and focused on how great it is for some people. I did think the band would do more of the work, and I do think it does for some people. If portion control is a person's primary cause of weight gain, the properly adjusted band will help immensely. I was certainly guilty of "pigging out" sometimes. Since I finally got the right level of restriction with my last fill a month ago, I don't do that. Unfortunately I gained a lot of my weight by nibbling from dinner time to bedtime, and by eating the wrong things- many of which ironically pass the band more easily... gummie candy, ice cream.

Since I have finally realized the limits of what the band can do for me, I've had to adjust my thinking. I have lost almost 25 pounds since I started on this venture but it's been very slow and has taken a good deal of effort. I have just started back on Weight Watchers and am finding it easier because portion control is so much easier. I'm hoping that if I can get down to an acceptible weight the band will help me keep the weight off. That would be great, that's always been the hardest part anyway.

I remember reading a post on this forum where one bandster was reassuring another that once she got the right fill, the weight would melt away like chocolate in the sun. I still thrill thinking of it, but it just doesn't work quite that way for all of us. Some of us are melting the chocolate in our mouths before it gets a chance to melt in the sun. After making the investment, I am determined to do all possible to get make this work, and it is definately a help. For me it seems to be just a regular hammer, not the sledgehammer I wish it was, but thank God, not that little tiny screwdriver.

So far as having the surgery in Mexico, I don't think you can beat the level of professionalism or concern that you find at OCC.

In conclusion, my heart goes out to someone who gets their hopes up thinking that lapband surgery will effortlessly change their life. There is effort involved ... not too much for some lucky people but apparently way too much for others, and people thinking about the surgery should consider this.

Hello. I was just wondering. Has anyone tried Nutrisystem, Medifast or any other type of prepared diet programs after surgery.

My sister is getting married in August 08 and I want to lose at least another 50 lbs by then. My weight has slowed a little and I just had a fill and only lost 4 lbs. I love the fact that I'm losing but I want to be able to take pictures and actually look at them later.

Any suggestions?

Hi,

I had my second fill almost a month ago and have come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to go on a diet. I was hoping I wouldn't have to, but I think I must. This fill has given me enough restriction .... portion control is not a problem. I can only eat 3 or 4 bites of most foods, but unfortunately I was never a binger, much more a grazer .... and a grazer with a sweet tooth no less. I think I need the structure of a diet. I think the band will make dieting easier and help me keep the weight off. How I hate to have to start counting points again, but if I must.

Hi,

For what it's worth ... when I had the surgery, the shoulder pain was really bothering me so I called OCC to ask if it was okay to use GasX. I was told that the GasX wouldn't help because the pain from having gas, but rather pain from the muscle irritation caused by the gas used in the surgery and that some people were more sensitive to the gas than others and it could take up to two weeks to resolve. In the meanwhile, he suggested Tyenol or Advil.

Sorry... meant to say: pain WASN'T from having gas, but rather....

I got home yesterday, having travelled all day. I'm tired, and my left shoulder really still hurts from gas pain. I had broth on the plane ( I bought some dried Knorr broth in TJ) and some diluted juice, but that gave me the runs - not fun on a 5 hour flight...

I did lots of walking, am sipping broth slowly and have eaten some low cal jello.... still lots of gas. ANy suggestions for getting rid of the gas. Also I have a general ache at the top of my belly- presumably above the band - after I've sipped or eaten - is that the fill feeling? or is that temporary post surgery ache?Its uncomfortable. I feel like my digestive system is all screwy - the runs, but constipated feeling and gas..... I assume that this too shall pass....

any suggestions?

Hi,

For what it's worth ... when I had the surgery, the shoulder pain was really bothering me so I called OCC to ask if it was okay to use GasX. I was told that the GasX wouldn't help because the pain from having gas, but rather pain from the muscle irritation caused by the gas used in the surgery and that some people were more sensitive to the gas than others and it could take up to two weeks to resolve. In the meanwhile, he suggested Tyenol or Advil.

Thanks, Nita. I really appreciate your comments. While you struggled with your decisions (too tight, right level) did you consult with anyone at OCC at all, or did you have to make all your decisions on your own?

Dear No,

What an interesting journey this band experience is. There's lots I still haven't decided about. There are a few conclusions at which I have arrived.

1. The lap band procedure, admitedly in it's infancy, is really primitive. It works so much better for some people than others. Gastric bypass is much more predictable, but for those of us who don't meet the insurance requirements or don't want our insides surgically rearranged, banding appears to be the only other choice.

2. I am not going to be one of the ones it's going to be so easy for. Lapband literature should be a little more forthcoming.about the difficulties some people experience.

I, however, am still hopeful that I will ultimately find my way through the maze and find the band to be worthwhile. I hope you too a planning to give it more time.

I have now had two fills and still have no restriction at all. I think at some point I have to come to the conclusion that the VG band is highly inefficient.

What? You said you had good restriction when you came back from the last fill!!!! It sure didn't last long. Wow! Bummer. You can't give up ... the article's not finished. Seems like the VG band takes a lot to get there.

"Maybe we should develop a FAQ and make sure we have the real answers."

(How do you do that quoting thing?)

I've been mostly lurking and reading with enormous interest. I'm very grateful to all of you who post with detail and facts as well as the emotional ups and downs. All is grist for the mill.

I want to applaud the idea of an FAQ that could, perhaps, be posted permanantly on the board where everyone would see it. I realize that everyone is different, but still there must be some generalities. This FAQ would also have a dictionary which explains to us newbies the differences between bands (and why they're chosen) and what slimeing and PB are, and very definitely explain why overfills are so bad and dangerous. And what happens to loose skin, and on and on.

I think the discussions here are very important, and I will certainly continue to read (and perhaps, post) but an FAQ to "read me first" would be valuable to everyone, I'm sure.

Perhaps it could be sort of like Wikipedia, where various people could post answers, and the clinic and others could correct and/or validate.

As of now, I'm signed up for surgery on 9/25. I live near Vancouver, BC Canada and plan to drive down to TJ so I can stop in both directions and visit my kids and grandkids who all live in California. I think one of my great concerns as I read this is the topic of exercise. I am 67, 5'9 and weigh 235. I have diabetes, fibromyalgia, GERD, and severe osteoarthritis in my hips and right knee. I used to use my treadmill all the time, but now that would be very difficult until I get new hips. One of my reasons for the surgery is that I feel weight loss would help my current hips, and certainly my new ones as well.

You all say that lots of walking helps a lot dealing with the gas created by the surgery. I'm not sure I can walk enough to help, and I'm dealing with enough pain now to be unhappy about adding a lot more. Any thoughts about this?

Again thanks to NoWorry and PamP and BSN and Teri and all the others for your help.

Justina

Dear Justina,

Sounds like this surgery could give you a whole new lease on life. Don't worry too much abount not being able to "walk the gas pains away", I was told by one of the doctors, as I've mentioned in one of my posts, that the gas pains are not actual gas (the gas from the surgery disapates within a day), but rather irritation of the muscles from the gas used in the surgery. Walking is good no doubt, but from what I was told, the pain - usually felt in the shoulder - goes away when the irritation subsides.

Yes, there is so much we have to discover on our own or from pieceing things together from these posts. We could all benefit from more available information. I'm thinking about a way we could put our heads together and do that.

Good luck on your procedure. Keep us informed.

Pam

Serioulsy.. I feel i am out of control.. I had surgery the 25th of July.. and in the soft/mushie stage.

*** I AM pre-pmsing.. excuse I know lol***

I have been outta control on freaking puddings and string cheese.. the real soft foods i can tolerate.

Serioulsly guys I feeel like im losing it.. I am uncontrollable... one pudding after another.

HELP ME STOP THIS INSANITy.. Im waiting for RICHARD SIMMONS to come out of a closet.. ( hehe) and bum-rush me. PLEASE RESPOND.. im dilariouos.

Hi,

Go out for a walk immediately. Break the cycle. You are entering "Bandster Hell" ( the period of time between surgery and hitting the "sweet spot") Patience ... it's a process. It's going to take some time.

As a newbie to this forum, first let me say that this forum is wonderful. I am seriously considering getting banded here in Toronto Canada and have already had my initial consultation. Having read most of the forums here especially the post op food forum, I was wondering why even bother with lap banding when most people are having to eat properly now after their surgery. I read about how some people are having protein shakes for breakfast, and small portions for lunch and dinner and very little snacking, no drinking with their food, chewing properly.....if I ate this way before getting banding, I would be losing tons of weight. I'm not trying to be condescending about this but I'm just thinking why spend $15,000 on a lap band when if I just ate properly the way I should be after lap banding, I probably wouldn't need the surgery.

My problem is portion control and I'm looking to this surgery as a way to control the portions but not limit the foods I eat. Thoughts?

Thanks

Dear Proy,

For one more response to your question, read my post in response to "Considering the Lap Band".

Hello everyone,

I am considering having Lap Band surgery. I wanted to find out from some of you who have already had the Lap Band surgery what your experiences were. I am not a spring chicken anymore (age 55) and I am very tired of being obese. Its really affecting my life. I have pretty severe arthritis and the extra weight really makes things worse. I would love to be able to get off my BP meds and Cholesterol meds. My BMI is 40. I see in other post that you have to lose some weight before the surgery. Is this the same with all M.D.s? I would love to hear from any of you.

Hi Brenda,

In answer to your direct question, yes, I think you will find all doctors ask you to lose some weight before the surgery. I'm not sure I have my all my medical facts straight & I can't locate my book (the one by Dr. Ortiz advertised on the site ... a must have for your research), but I believe it's that is shrinks your liver some, gets rid of some of the fat in it. Whatever exactly it is, it facilates the surgery. You will be told how long you have to be on the preop diet according to you health questionaire.

Regarding my own experience with the band, it changes every day. I've been banded for almost 7 months. The surgery is the easiest part. OCC care is excellent and so much cheaper than the U.S. For most people the real "weight loss" function of the band doesn't start until after the 1st fill which is usually 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery. For many (I was one of those) it's the second fill before you reach a really useful level of restriction. For some it takes 3, and if you read these post long enough, there are some who don't find the "right" fill and eventually give up.

Between my 1st fill and my 2nd, I made a trip to Europe. I knew shortly after the 1st fill it wasn't enough, but didn't think it was wise to have a fill and run off to Paris (just in case) so I just got my 2nd one 2 weeks ago. I think this 2nd fill is enough, at least for now. Volumn eating is severly curtailed. That's good. I went to a wedding reception last night. There was lots of fabulous food. I did not overeat. I couldn't. That's nice.

There are a couple of things I read when I was researching this procedure that I didn't REALLY listen to. 1. The band is only a tool... a good tool, but only a tool all the same. 2. The band (properly filled) will control how much you eat, not what you eat. The band is probably of more help to those who tend to eat too much as opposed to those who don't eat so much, but tend to eat the wrong things. I still fight my sweet tooth at night. I try to stick to something like a little Weight Watcher cake because I have restriction on bready things. Ice cream & chocolate glide right though the band. I don't think my cravings are as strong though and that helps. Hunger seems somewhat lessened, but not gone.

For some people the band is a dream come true, or so it seems from their posts. They eat whatever they want, but just not much, and the weight falls off. For some it's a miserable failure. I think most of us are somewhere in the middle; after struggling to hit the right fill finding that eating one too many bites feels like a golfball in your chest, trying to avoid "eating around the band", and not losing weight as quickly as we would like (I've lost around 25 pounds). Finally we HEAR ... the band is just a tool. Most of us aren't sorry we did it because it can really help, and it seems to be the best thing we have for now.

Good luck on your journey.

Hi,

I have read many posts on this board as well as replied and posted alot myself through my journey. One of the things I have read some of includes the phrase "eating around the band". I thought I knew what that meant, but not really sure anymore.

Does it maybe mean that even though you know you have restriction, you eat sweets and stuff more than you should because it chews down and goes down better? I know I have been doing that and am ashamed, BUT I am still losing. strange huh?

I have only had one fill, but do and don't have restriction. What I mean is, I have more restriction than before my fill, but later in the day I can sometimes feel that I am starving and can eat alot if I let myself. I have never PB's or thrown up and don't plan to EVER! LOL

How much time in between fills should there be? I know I will need another fill soon.

Thanks for any input and advice in advance.

Peace,

Judy

Dear Judy,

It's the devil's work that ice cream, chocolate, and gummie candy all desolve in your mouth and slip so easily through the stoma without feeling like a golf ball stuck in your chest. That's "Eating Around the Band" ... as I understand it! You have never PB'd? You haven't lived. I can currently eat only a few bites of many things without without feeling I will experience what you haven't. That's called the "Sweet Spot?" But I working on learning how to manage it all and, quess what, I'm pretty darn happy because ... I'm losing weight. It's the best thing we have at the moment.

I swear, what drives me crazy is that I'm COMPLETELY restricted during my TOM - I even PB'd ice cream - but once that's over, there's little restriction at all.

I need to trade this confusing body in for a fine tuned machine

Hi FurEllie,

Excuse my ignorance, is TOM "time of the month"? If so, what in the heck do you suppose that would have to do with it? Band tightness does vary, doesn't it? Trying to work with this band thing is always an adventure.

Dear No Worry,

I have been thinking about you. This was just your first fill, right? You're allowing yourself to get discouraged too easily. I too am in shock that the whole fill business is so unscientific. I didn't realize that it was so totally trial and error... altough if I had really been paying attention and read between the lines a little, I might have surmised as much from these posts. Fact is, the money for the surgery has been spent so it only makes sense to try everything to make it work. I don't think it's a scam, because it's successful for too many people. I think it's all about the right fill, and unfortunately finding that can mean a number of trips. It seems to me that the VG bands in particular (I have the 4cc one, but from what I've read on these boards) usually requires more fills.

It's been a week since my second fill and I still have the same restriction, and am starting to get used to what it means to have it on almost all foods. I'm having to be very clever to work it so I can get enough food ... without it being melt in the mouth stuff. Frankly, it's great and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it lasts this way. I'm a very cautious person & don't like being disappointed, so I'm taking a wait and see attitude.

As I mentioned in my post, I stayed over night at the Lucerna so I could see how the fill was. It helped to take my time seeing the tightness before I decided it was just a speck too much. If you're not used to what "restriction" feels like (I had months of restriction on just a few foods to get used to it), it's easy to misjudge how much it is. I think as long as you can drink water and eat 1/4 to 1/3 cup of food it's not too tight, but I'm not sure about the how much food part. That's about all I can eat at a time.

Anyway, you go in a couple of days. Good luck! Be sure to post as soon as you get back. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Dear Lisa,

The hard thing is there seems to be no real "Fill Science". What's true for one of us is different for the other in so many cases. From my experience, a little more fill might be just what you need. I had restriction on chicken ... couldn't eat much of it no matter how much I chewed ... and on a few other foods. Sometimes, especially in restraunts where my eating pace was influenced by my table mates, I would have a little pb-ing problem. I wasn't losing weight though, because there were way too many foods I had no restriction on. Since my recent fill, I have restriction on almost all foods. I can't eat much. I think that's the idea. If it stays like this (it's been a week) I think I will lose weight. I say think" because there are still a few foods that do slip through, and that I must stay away from. The only fill tight enough to give restriction on ice cream would kill you.

My current fill ended up to be just .3 1/2 cc, but what a difference it makes. If you can stay overnight when you do go, it's a very good idea .... I think, because it's really all trial and error. I waited almost 24 hours, but I was having trouble keeping water down so I went back and he took out .2 cc. It seems about right now. I hope so. We'll see.

The trip to Paris was great! It was 3 weeks long. I went with some girlfriends and food was a big part of the trip. It was hard enough to eat in restraunts with restriction on the few foods I did have. It was hard to take the time I needed to get chicken down eating in a restraunt with people who could eat it in the normal manner. I got to know the water closets of several Paris restraunts more intimately than I would have liked. The fries, pasteries, etc went down just fine though. Fortunately, with all the walking we did the weight gain was slight.

Back in L.A., I called OCC to arrange for my long delayed fill. I bribed my 20 year old daughter to accompany me with promises of a night at the Lucerna and lots of shopping. Last Friday we hopped in my PT Cruiser convertible and headed South on our adventure. I decided this time to park at the border and tackle TJ on foot. We parked at the big lot right off the freeway and took the bus that left from their lot. This turned out to be a mistake. The bus took us to the middle of town and then we had to take a taxi back to the clinic. We should have walked across the border and then taken a taxi, or just walked. After my fill we walked to the hotel, which was fine with me. I love to walk, although crossing those crazy streets is pretty dicey too. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

THE FILL: I saw Dr. Romero again. I like him. He was very patient as I explained all my concerns and answered some of my questions. A lot of the info we get going into this surgery can become confusing as time goes by. For instance: "Don't drink water from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after a meal." First of all you hear varying times from 20 minutes before & after to one hour before and after. I'm like, "Is it 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour... which is it?" Worse still..."Why is it you shouldn't drink the water?" I asked. My secretary, who had gastric bypass, said, "They don't want you to fill up on water and not eat." That was lame, it didn't make sense. My neice, the nurse, who has the band said, "The water will wash the food down, and defeat the purpose of the band." That made more sense. I had read this on the boards too. Then finally, by accident, I discovered the best reason not to have water with food when banded. If it's food you have restriction on, it doesn't wash it down. As a matter of fact, it sits right on top of the food and usually will send you slimming to the nearest bathroom. The amount of time before or after varies. You get so you can tell when the passage has cleared. Before that forget liquids. Dr. Romeo confirmed this was the big reason not to drink while eating. It makes you sick to drink water while something is trying to get through the band. Couldn't someone have told us that to start with? Maybe they did and I just didn't hear. There are lots of things like that, but that's another post. Maybe we should develop a FAQ and make sure we have the real answers.

BACK TO THE FILL: Dr. Romeo drew out 1.8ccs of saline and replaced it with 2.3 (this later turned out to be 2.3 1/2.) I told him I was staying over that night. He said, "Great, eat and see how it feels. Come back today or tomorrow, if you need more or less." What a nice guy, so willing to help even if it makes more work for him. As I mentioned earlier, we walked to the hotel and, since we could not check-in until 3, we ate to kill time. Plus we were hungry. Now before, after the first fill to now, I could drink water before I ate anything .... just not after I ate chicken, salad, bread or stickey rice.... now I found drinking a little water just before I tried to eat, made eating impossible. Off to the bathroom. Thirty or forty minutes later, I was okay. I certainly lost my appetite. Later in the afternoon I was able to eat some pastachio nuts. Yeah! Dinner that night was a waste. One bite of coconut shrimp, and I was done. In the night I woke up and realized I had had very little to drink. Fluids are essential, especially in this hot climate for an overweight, middle aged woman. I had some of that nice bottled water in the rooms at the Lucerna ... which was seductively tropical during late July, I might add. I could barely keep the water down. That kind of frightened me. While I laid, proped up in bed, waiting for the water to go down, I devised a plan. I didn't want to go back to the clinic. Why, I'm not sure. I guess I didn't want to bother them or myself unless I was sure. I decided I would try to have coffee, wait, and then have something simple to eat. The coffee went down okay, though I felt each swallow. I had a small granola bar. and a little yogurt. They went down okay, but on the last bite I felt, "Oh, oh." I walked to the clinic, slimming all the way. By the time I got there, I was okay. I went in and explained to the sweet girl at the desk - what is her name? - who said, "No problem." We chatted, and I had one of those comiserating "crossing the border" conversations with some fellow "fills". After they went in a really nice, and very good- looking, hospital guy stopped and started a conversation. He wanted to know how I was doing with my band, what my concerns were, what questions I might have. I wish I had taken notes, lots of good info. I was concerned about taking out saline because for the first time I could see how powerful the band could be. There was the potential that it could give restriction on a lot more ... almost all foods ... and THAT is what I had imagined it to do. He said that Dr. Romero would look at the floroscope with the barium and would be able to tell if I need an unfill. The barium went down, but I could feel the water I drank next sitting there, puddled in my stomach ... the little stomach. He said, "We need to take out a little." He drew everything out and asked, "Do you want to drink some water now?" I chugged a few shalloww. What freedom! Then he put back 2.1 1/2cc. He suggested I ..."go eat something".... I said, "I have to go back. What if it's not enugh?" He replied,"Give it a couple of weeks."

Had I not listened? How did I not realized how "trial and error" this is? How unscientific this is? Was it like falling in love? Did I only hear what I wanted to hear? Whatever. I was starting to realize what this was about. Hey I've spent $8,500+, I'm going to make this work if possible.

We walked back across the border, from the hotel to our car across the border! It was a real adventure, weaving through moving cars at one point, and crossing a bridge with half it's wall gone, peering into the sheer drop to a road below. I felt, to some degree, the thrill of "making it across." Remember, my last border crossing was to Paris. TJ is no Paris.

So I'm back almost a week, and boy what a difference 3 & 1/2 cc can make. Could this be the "sweet spot"? A nice spot in the most major of ways, but "sweet"? Another of my pet peeves is "You should be eating about 1/3 of what you were eating before." This seems to make sense to a lot of people on the boards, so maybe it's me. On the other hand, I bet I'm not the only one. How do I measure that? Come on. I'm an accountant. Now, after this fill, I can say before it I was eating more than 1/3 of what I was eating before surgery. I can say that I am DEFINATELY eating less than a third of what I was eating after this fill. I can't eat much. I have "restriction" on almost everything now. I definately should start losing weight. I'm trying to consider nutriction first and formost since I'm eating pretty little. It's a real adjustment. Restriction is effective, but not pleasant. Is it possible to learn to stop eating at the exactly right time to avoid the feeling you have a golf ball in you chest all the time? That is the challenge. On the other hand, there are those who experience this only to have it slip away. Why is this? I didn't get it completely, but the nice man in the lobby, who turned out to be Dr. Martinez - the doctor who does a large part of the actual surgery at OCC - said sometimes the stomach can kind of pucker when the band is filled and then it adjusts and thins out, leaving the band less tight.

Well that's it so far. We'll just have to see. I'll be back.

This is quite an adventure! I have discovered all kinds of things about "banding" from my experience, and have lots to say. I have read with great interest the posts of "NO Worry". She was met with some pretty sharp criticism for her comments. Some seemed to find them almost sacreligious. I thought they were just as imformative, or more so because of the volumn of detail she included, as the totally positive posts. Most of her initial critisim, as you may know from also reading her posts, was about pick-up, hotel, general treatment, etc. When it came to the surgery she gave credit where it was due. I personally wasn't bothered by the pre-op portion of the experience, although I too arrived at the airport to find nobody there at the appointed time. I think it helps to have a companion with whom to comiserate - also prevents you from having to check out of the hotel the night you're in the clinic. I was too preoccupaied with the surgery to care much about any of that. I was so nervous that I wouldn't have been able to enjoy a Ritz-Carlton (By the way I stayed a night at the Lucerna when I went for this fill, and it was especially nice in the summer with the waterfall and lush gardens). My concern pre-op was not the danger of the surgery or having it done outside the U.S. My neice, who is a nurse, had the surgery at OCC the previous year. She did all the research and had a very good report of her experience. So I was fine with that part. I also have a high pain threshold so I wasn't worried about that. I was just so ambivilent about whether I really wanted to have somebody go into my body and pop a band around my stomach. The whole idea totally creeped me out....it still does if I think too much about it. BUT like most of you, I am weary of the struggle to lose weight and keep it off.

The title of this post is "Back from Second Fill". I'm getting to it...first a little more back story. Okay, the surgery was fine. I don't believe I've heard anything but positive comments about the way anyone's surgery was handled. I was especially sensitive to the muscle irritation caused by the gas. It ally affected my left shoulder and bothered me off and on for a couple of weeks, but still no big deal. After the surgery was where the adverture really begins. I had heard "it's all about getting the right fill", "the band is a good tool, but still it's only a tool", "everbbody's experience is different", but I guess I wasn't really listening. What I really expected was to have the surgery, start losing weight, and keep losing weight. I, like many others, had NO restriction before my first fill. Okay I had heard that might be the case so I patiently waited for my first fill. I had surgery January 15th, 2007, and on March 1st I went for my first fill. Since I live in L.A. I drove down. For the surgery I parked near the airpost and took the OCC van, but since that cost for the fills I thought I'd just drive. Now I'm a tax preparer so I was preoccupied with other things and was driving around TJ before I remembered I hadn't gotten insurance. Man, they do some crazy driving around there, especially around those circle monument things. Wow! I felt lucky to get out of there without wrecking my car. I had a 1.8 cc fill. Dr. Romero is very nice and seems quite skilled at the art of fills. I was told to have only liquids for 2 days. I got my fill and went right home. A few days later I found I couldn't eat much chicken, salad, bread or sticky rice. I could eat everything else pretty much like before.

I was disappointed at the first fill and started to become very confused about what it was suppose to be like. One really huge shock to me was what "restriction" is like. I thought that with the right fill you would be able to eat anything, but after a few bites it would be like "Thanksgiving" full. "Oh, I'm stuffed. I can't eat another bite." NO! Not for me. With "restriction" it was more like, "Well, this is sure uncomfortable. It almost hurts." With just one small bite too much, this discomfort is followed by repeated burping, sliming, and with two bites too much by PBing (productive burping or spitting up - not quite like vomiting but with the same results). You learn to avoid this. I was surpised to find that inspite of this "restriction" on certain foods, the ability to down pre-banding amounts of other foods was easy enough. And I don't mean just ice cream ... I mean french fries, chips, cookies,etc. The only thing I knew to do was try another fill, but I was going to Paris in June for three weeks and felt it would be wise to wait until my return. This certainly turned out to be true. I'll explain more about why later. Meanwhile I wanted to lose some weight before Paris so I geared myself up to any old-fashiopned deprivation diet and with a little help from the fill I had I lost about 15 pounds.

Wow! I didn't realize I'd write so much. I have to stop and finish a tax return. I'm about ready to lanch into "My Second Fill" so come back to this site later. I'll continue.

Hey, Kansas - yes, it feels funny, but you're feeling the gas they used in the surgery and it

wont come up by burping == walking walking walking will help it tremendously !!! It goes

away - - -

Congrats on your band ! Take care --

Lisa

Hey Kanas & Lisa,

It's probably too late to be of interest to you, Kansas, since you're a month up the road now, but maybe it'd be of help to someone else. I had real bad gas pain & called OCC to find out if I sould use GasX or the like. I spoke to ... it's been a while so I'm not positive who, but I think Dr. Romero... who said no to GasX. He said the gas used in the surgery was out of the body within 24 hours,but that it irrated the muscle tissue. He said some people were more sensitive to it than others and it could take as long as 2 to 3 weeks to go away in some people.

Well tomorrow I'm going for my second fill. As I said in another post, if eating massive amounts of chicken, salad, bread, and sticky rice was the source of my weight problems, I'd have lost a lot more than the 18-20 pounds I've lost in the last 6 months. Hopefully a bit more than the 1.8cc fill I have now will give me restriction on more foods while still making it possible to eat... looking for that "sweet spot."

> hello fellow banders... i have alot of stuff to say today.... first of all i have to admit that i had never thought about the benefit of NOT having the yoyo weight loss thing when i posted...this is a huge benefit. i started at 215 and was growing larger after being clean off meth for about a year.... i had my lapband in jan. and now its been alittle over 7 months and i weigh 170... i never went up and down... just have been losing slowly... this is a good thing... i went from a size 18 to now a size 11 purple... which means i can get them on but i cant breathe... #-o my biggest complaint is... well that i expected too much.... a miracle or some kind of rapid response to a life time of bad habits.... it was my own "head" thing... now that i have assessed the "WHOLE" situation.... i have to say "its been a benefit".... a good thing.... i feel better,,,, i can exersize.. my arms lay down beside my body. my boobs are bigger than my stomach.... i am the first one done at meals... i dont think about food all the time..... i save alot of money on the fast food i dont buy..... =D> and i am finially feeling like i look like i am losing weight.... it takes awhile.... it isnt over night...... it still requires more than the surgery... but its workable.... i feel like i might be in my sweet spot now.... i hope someone gets something out of this.... i just wanted to be fair and tell ya all its a good thing...........TODAY.....

DEBI

Great Debi, glad to hear you are feeling better about the band now. I understand your frustration. I think when we're considering the band we tend to only absorb what we want. I vaguely remember reading that the band is "only a tool" and how you can "eat around the band", but I was much more focused on the big weight losses and "sweet spot" testimonies.

I was banded about a week after you and have only lost about 20 pounds and wish it was more, but have only had one fill so far and am also grateful to have at least kept the weight off.

It's a real learning experience. People do need to know that you don't just get the band and your problems are over. Especially if you are a relatively low weight. I was 218. Even with the fill I have, it's impossible for me to overeat on certain foods ... chicken, salad, bread, sticky rice. I'm hoping with a bit more of a fill there will be more foods on that list, but I'm sure I'll still have to fight to stay away from that frozen devil in a bowl .... ice cream.

I've heard that after the procedure there are foods that give you problems and get stuck no matter what you do. Could some of you post a few that are disagreeable with you. Also, what about "friendly" foods you've found?

I've also read on this forum and it seems that six months post surgery is some sort of milestone for certain foods and drinks. Any thoughts about that?

The foods that "give you problems" are the one you are suppose to eat because !) you can't eat too much of them & 2) they tend to be the good foods for you in many cases: ie: chicken, beef, salad. As someone else said the friendly foods are the one to stay away from. Soft foods, ice cream, chocolate. It's kind of a hard concept to wrap your mind around in the beginning. The new full is stopping just short of that stuck feeling. For me the foods mentioned above must be taken in very small bites and chewed and chewed. Then you have to rest between bites because that stuck feeling can sneak up on you if you eat too fast. It's a matter of achieving the right fill and learning to let the band show you a new way of eating. The hard part is staying away from the evil friendly foods.

I was banded 3/5 and current have .8cc fill. I've lost 31 total, 25 since surgery. Not a HUGE lost (especially when a friend's lost 72 pounds since April with GBP, lol) but 1. I know it's more than I would have lost w/o the band, in fact, I'd probably still be gaining and 2. When I stress, I "cheat" the band so I haven't been faithful.

I try to eat high protein foods but I don't cook so it's not easy.

I would love to have lost everything by now, hehe, but I'm quite happy with the way things are going. I'm not depriving myself but I'm still managing to lose a little every month. That's how I want to live my life, not "diet" the next 6 months or so.

That sounds good. Congradulations. Keep up the good work.

JMO: I THINK ONCE YOU HIT A BMI AROUND 26 OR SO, IT'S HARDER FOR ANYONE

You have done very well and started out lower than I was. Did you feel you had to really work hard at dieting or did you have enough restriction that you felt it was fairly easy?

did you have your fill in tj?

Yes, I had my fill in TJ with Dr. Romero. I have been keeping a food diary of how the food goes down since my post and I think a little more of a fill will help. I notice a lot of foods that I can kind of feel, but aren't really restricted. Hopefully a bit more and the number of foods I can't eat much of will be increased. Then I guess it's just a matter of trying to eat only those foods, staying away from soft or crunchy foods which seem to pass the easiest.

I was banded 1/15/07by Dr. Ortiz. Surgery was a breeze. Recovery, fine except for gas pain in left shoulder for about 10 days. It passed. After liquid phase, no restriction. I understand this is not unusual. I guess if all depends on the size of your stomach and how much fat you have in the area where the band is attached. Got a 1.8cc fill March 1st. My highest weight was 218 and now I'm 199. Most of the weight I have lost has been hard earned from triditional dieting rather than something I can really attribute to the band.

I'm assuming I need another fill, but I just got back from 3 weeks in Paris, (It was great!) and didn't think it was a good idea to get a fill before leaving the country. Instead I did a short program at Lindora that I had already paid for, complete with appetite surpressants, so I can't contribute that 12 pounds to the band. Now I'm back and ready to continue the pursuit of weight lose via my band. I am going for a fill, probably next week ... live in LA so it's easy to go to TJ. This I hope will be a boost, but I have already learned that losing via this surgery is easier for some than others.

Why is this? Perhaps those of us who don't weigh as much to begin with lose more slowly because of that. But I'm wondering if it might also be the kind of eaters we are. If I had gained weight because I eat massive amounts of chicken, bread, salad, and sticky rice I would have lost twice what I have and wouldn't need another fill. I choke up on these thing after a few bites, but what about tortilla chips, popcorn, pie, fruit, potatoes, etc. I understand about eating around the band. No matter what the fill I will always be able to eat ice cream and melt chocolate in my mouth. I understand that it's my resposibility to avoid this, and that much I think I can mange... at least most of the time, but are you guys that are doing so well with you weight lose sticking only to chicken, bread, etc. or can I hope with the additional fill most of these other foods will be self-limiting as well?

I was banded 1/15/07by Dr. Ortiz. Surgery was a breeze. Recovery, fine except for gas pain in left shoulder for about 10 days. It passed. After liquid phase, no restriction. I understand this is not unusual. I guess if all depends on the size of your stomach and how much fat you have in the area where the band is attached. Got a 1.8cc fill March 1st. My highest weight was 218 and now I'm 199. Most of the weight I have lost has been hard earned from triditional dieting rather than something I can really attribute to the band.

I'm assuming I need another fill, but I just got back from 3 weeks in Paris, (It was great!) and didn't think it was a good idea to get a fill before leaving the country. Instead I did a short program at Lindora that I had already paid for, complete with appetite surpressants, so I can't contribute that 12 pounds to the band. Now I'm back and ready to continue the pursuit of weight lose via my band. I am going for a fill, probably next week ... live in LA so it's easy to go to TJ. This I hope will be a boost, but I have already learned that losing via this surgery is easier for some than others.

Why is this? Perhaps those of us who don't weigh as much to begin with lose more slowly because of that. But I'm wondering if it might also be the kind of eaters we are. If I had gained weight because I eat massive amounts of chicken, bread, salad, and sticky rice I would have lost twice what I have and wouldn't need another fill. I choke up on these thing after a few bites, but what about tortilla chips, popcorn, pie, fruit, potatoes, etc. I understand about eating around the band. No matter what the fill I will always be able to eat ice cream and melt chocolate in my mouth. I understand that it's my resposibility to avoid this, and that much I think I can mange... at least most of the time, but are you guys that are doing so well with you weight lose sticking only to chicken, bread, etc. or can I hope with the additional fill most of these other foods will be self-limiting as well?