Just for Lapbanders #4
 

Hard to believe, isn't it, that we've pretty much filled up 3 threads with lapband issues!

The other one was getting too long, and old, so, folks, here's a whole new one for you to discuss your special issues and questions.

Enjoy!:hug: :carrot:

Thanks Miss Jiffy :)

Another question...

How out of the closet are you about having had surgery? Is it basically noticable? Is there anyway you could get by without telling your family?

I'm generally a very open person... however, my mother is a complete gossip. It came as a bit of a shock when I heard her talking to a complete stranger about some very private details of my life. There are things I wish she didn't know.... And, I think WLS might be one of them.

That, and she can be a bit unsupportive. I took her to an ultrasound appt when I was PG, thinking that it would be a special moment... her getting to see her first grandchildren. It was okay, but when she started commenting on how heavy I was and how "secure" I must be because she would have been mortified to let anyone see her tummy like that.... (etc..) Anyways, you get the idea... I just don't know if I want to subject myself to the possible comments.

How realistic is it for me to think I can keep it a secret?

Well, thats a tough one. Is your mom with you alot? if so, it might be hard. The first few weeks of liquids, mushies might be hard to hide if she's around. After your fills, you'll be eating very slow and small amounts... how can you hide that?

I don't want you to get in trouble w/your Mom and I'm not saying you should do this but, if it were me, I wouldn't tell her... I'd let her figure it out herself and if she says how come you didn't tell her... thats when I'd say she has a big mouth and would spew my privacy to others... but thats just me.

IMHO, the less people that know, the better. You don't want everyone's eyes on you all the time judging each morsal of food your putting in your mouth.

Just tell the ones you can really trust.

Good luck

Leenie - Thanks for responding. And, for bringing up the issue of people watching the food you eat. Egad, I had enough of that when I was pregnant. Everytime I went to the doctor, I got the "how much weight have you gained" question. I hated feeling watched and judged.

I think it is easier to be "in the closet" about it with the Lap-Band than with any other surgery. If that is what you feel is right for you then I think you can easily pull it off.

I've lost a total of 47 pounds since I started considering the surgery. I'm loosing at a rate of about 1.6 - 2 pounds per week. It is a slow, steady weight loss that can be done without surgery (in theory anyway ... not for me personally obviously). But the loss isn't so drastic that it screams "I had surgery".

If you mom isn't supportive and she is a gossip then by all means don't tell her. It isn't anyone's business but your own. Who you choose to tell is competely up to you and you don't owe anyone any explanations.

Now I'm as open as can be about my surgery. There are very few people I haven't told. But that is because I was so excited to finally be doing something concrete about my weight that I just blurted it out all the time.

But my friends and family are super supportive and I didn't have any fears about them being anything but.

I do get tired at times of having to answer questions from people who don't understand that Lap-Band surgery is not by-pass surgery why I'm not loosing as fast. I do, ocassionally get tired of having a few people who are food police asking me if I "should" be eating something or looking at my plate to see how much I have eaten.

But so far being open about it has worked out okay for me.

I always, though, maintain the right to refuse to discuss it with someone or not to tell someone if I think they are going to be difficult or not supportive.

I agree Carole, and when you go thru those difficult weeks of not losing, you don't need to explain it to anyone why your not losing. IMHO, the less you tell, the better.

I have a question about fills.

How do you know if your band has been filled enough?

With that asked, this is my situation. I got my first fill on May 23rd. I did the swallow test to find out that the water would not go down; so I had a PB of water. Ok, so my doc said that is called obstruction. So I went back on the table to take out 1.2 cc of saline. Did the swallow test once more and all is well. Now, I don’t know if it feels any different than before. My doctor said I should feel something like a small road block but I don't. I can still drink a 12 oz protein shake with no problem which I was doing before the fill. By the way, I am on liquids for a 1 week.

So back to my question, how do you know if your band has been filled enough?

Wow Debo, sounds like you have a really agressive fill doc. Mine is very conservative and puts in maybe .2 cc at a time.

It sounds to me like you need a small fill if you're not feeling any restriction, but you won't be able to tell until you're on solid foods. Hold off making the call to them until you've given yourself at least a week on solids. You'll know you're at proper restriction when you get there. Your body will tell you. You'll feel the food sitting in the pouch and moving through slowly. It's kind of wierd at first. When you feel that, try not to make the mistake of eating too fast or too much. It's a whole learning process thing and you really, really have to pay attention to your body. That was probably (and still is!) the most difficult thing for me.

Oh yeah, it will probably take a few fills till you're at that sweet spot. And don't be surprised after you've reached the sweet spot if you lose restriction after awhile. As you lose, the fat pad around your stomach will shrink, making the band looser, so you'll have to get another fill to compensate. It's a whole lot of educated guesswork.

Chickadee

Thank you Chickadee, that is exactly what I wanted to know.

My first fill was 1cc.. didn't feel anything, 2nd fill was .5 cc..okay we're getting better, 3rd fill .25....so now I'm at 1.75. I can eat a decent amount but don't really want another fill yet b/c food does get stuck and I think I'm good for now. I'm losing extrememly slow but thats my fault... mentally I'm not ready to eat any less than I am (and picking inbetween meals is messingme up too). I go back june 16th and I'll prob get another .25.

You'll be able to tell, trust me.

Leenie, How close together did you get your fills? Because I really don't feel any different.

Deb, my doc didn't give me my first fill until I was 4 months out. I was so angry because although I was losing weight, I was fighting it and doing it on my own, the band was not restricted what so ever. Doc said as long as I was losing he wasn't gonna fill me.... SOOOOOO!!!! I decided to gain....yep, 2 lbs and then finally he gave me my first fill. That was in febuary and I was banded in october.

I waited exactly one month inbetween each fill because I did want to go slow and I was afraid of jumping the gun. I have read that some times fills take a while to kick in so I wanted to be sure. I'm going back in June (16th) for another, so that will put me at 2.0.

I can eat ALOT!!!!!!!!!!!! at this point its just that I want to do this slowly and if that means not losing so fast than thats okay. I also have to learn to mentally be ready to give up my first love and thats food.

I'm working both sides of phycho street here and its tough.

I've only lost 40 lbs since october 25th but I"m really okay with that, I'll do better once I start exercising too lol. 55 more to go ;)

Hı everyone.. I had Lap Band surgery on 12/06/06. And so far, I have lost about 30 pounds, and I am not happy. I am depressed. Because sometimes I eat just fine, as much as my family does. It's like I haven't gotten it smaller at all! I only had 1 fill, and maybe that's why, but I am really unhappy. Because I look at other people, and all have lost more than me. I know I shouldn't compare, but I hate exercise, and I hate everything... I am pretty depressed...:?:

Neverland,

If you've been filled since December of last year and you've only had one fill ... it is no wonder you're frustrated.

The band doesn't really "work" until you have reached a good level of restriction. Very rarely does on reach a proper level of restriction on one fill. I strongly suggest that you talk to your doctor about another fill.

Keep in mind that on average it takes 3-5 fills to find the level of restriction that works for you.

And I know you hate to exercise. I firmly believe that most of us do dislike it to some extent. But we often have to do things we don't like to get the results we want.

So talk to your doctor about a fill and start exercising!

Thank you for your nice reply : )) However, I meant 12th of June.
So it's normal that I eat fine?
Do you think running too much will hurt the band?

Neverland,

Running will not harm your band. Keep exercising.

So you've been banded almost three months, right? Give it some time. It can take a few fills to reach the right fill level. Even when you reach your "sweet spot" or optimal restriction you shouldn't find eating to be painful or difficult. You should be able to serve yourself reasonable portion sizes and feel full (meaning no longer hungry but not stuffed) on those portions. Ideally we should not be sitting down to huge helpings and then waiting for our band to tell us when to stop eating. So if you've only had one fill and you're about three months out and you're eating larger portions than you think you should be able to ... I'd say that is pretty normal.

Many Lap-Band patients call the time between surgery and reaching proper restriction "Bandster ****" because it is a frustrating and difficult time.

In the mean time keep trying to make good food choices, exercising and hardest of all ... keep tying to be patient. That's the part that's really hard.

A silly question ??
 

What are threads and what and where are the four you have filled up.

Lapbander as of July 27, 2006, -22 pounds:?: :?:

Well, I'm not telling a soul (except my HR lady because I have to but that's confidential).

I already know people will freak out and judge me. Nope - just my secret. :))

Is there a link to a thread that discusses the "fills" in more detail?

I'm not sure 4myself... but is there anything maybe I can answer for you?

:hug:

Leenie--

I went to the link listed on the FAQ thread and found out that there is a seminar in my area on November 20th (monday night)!!!!

I'm so excited!

I actually spoke w/my husband about this option on Wednesday. He's usually so anti-surgery when it comes to me--won't even let me get BC implanted! He did seem worried at first, but when I told him I'd keep all my body parts he cooled it a little.

Now I'm trying to find out if my insurance will pay for part of it!

4myself, call your insurance before you go, ask them if they cover bariatric surgery and then ask about the band. Some insurances will say yes but will only cover bypass.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!

I called today--she said that they will begin covering lap-banding with the 2007 season, but as of now they don't.

I'm going to the seminar on Monday, then I have to choose a doctor and take all the other steps necessary--so I'm doubting I'd be ready by January anyway! I'll wait the few extra weeks, though, if I have too to defer some of the cost!!!!

Hello Ladies......I just got started on here at 3fatchicks....I have been banded since Oct. 11th. I have lost 13 lbs so far. I have not yet gotten a fill, but i go in this wednesday for my first..im pretty nervous, but i know i absolutly need it because as of right now i have almost no restriction at all. I think i may be gaining and that scares me. Well i really look forward to getting information from you guys....cause i know i truly need the help...hope everyone has a great day.

Jess

Hello, I was wondering if any of you know if kaiser permanente insurance would cover getting a lap band, partially or otherwise.
I was also wondering about how you can pay for it if your insurance doesn't
cover weight loss surgeries, from experience preferably.

Thanks

That's a great question -- and like yourself I am pretty open, but I find with this, I really don't want anyone to know for many reasons.

It's definitely a personal choice. I've told my closest friends but not any of DH's family. After the first healing period (which we passed off as a stomach bug, etc) no one notices. I eat enough (or push it around on my plate) that no one catches on or questions my food choices. It was hard in the beginning when people who knew I'd had the surgery would ask how much I'd lost, expecting a big number since last week. I'd find myself launching into explanations of fills and slow weight loss and so on. Now it's not a problem.

Good luck either way,

I've made no bones about having the lap band done; as a matter of fact, it is the only thing I can have done since the bypass is not an option for me (digestive system is backwards). As someone else stated, a lot of insurances will not cover lap banding, but I was able to get mine covered, being I fell under a criteria of a "Quality of Wellness" guidelines (BMI, diet history, medical history, etc.). I've got an in-office appointment on March 5, which means more than likely I will be scheduled for surgery sometime between later that month or sometime in April at the latest.

Hi I am getting ready to have the lapband surgery om 4-27-07 and would like someone to tell me if its painful. and if the person was a diabetic before surgery was there any problems with that?:?:

Hi Allinone,

Congrats on your band date. Pain will differ with everyone, I know a person who went shopping the NEXT DAY!!!! can you believe that.... where as I didn't drive until the 5th day out b/c I was to sore. So you see, you'll get all different responses. My other friend was up and walking hours after her surgery!!!! LOL. Just make sure when you leave the hospital they give you some pain pills.... even if you don't take any, its good to have them just incase you do need them. I was only on them about 2 days if that... the slightest discomfort I had I took a pill b/c there is no reason to be in pain and I didn't want the pain level to get really bad.

I'm sorry I can't help you on the diabetic part of your question.

Good luck !!!!

Leenie,

did your srugery work for you? How did you take pills? Others tell me their meds are liquid.

thx,
Evilah

Evilah my surgery went beautiful (so far) I'm over a year out and lost 60 lbs. I would lose faster but I'm taking the fills very very slow, last thing I want to do is rush this and hurt myself.

I have a pill cutter and cut most of my pills. Some meds do come in liquids so that makes it even easier....you just have to remember to tell your doctor (remind him) that you need liquids or pills you can cut. Easy peasy ;)

Ohh... some pills you can crush and mix in apple sauce (just like some elderly people do).

.

.

Silly question - But what is DH? Darling Husband??
Thanks.

Yes :)

I'm going to post here from now on. I am on my journey to lapband surgery. Just started the support groups and haven't had my first psych meeting yet. A ton of paper work to read and schedule appointments.
I have started walking 30 minutes a day and I feel so much better than when I don't exercise. But I noticed I'm eating more food too. Still at the same weight. I need to cut my calorie intake and start walking an hour a day. My knees don't hurt anymore and I can get out of bed w/o any problem.
Sorry so long, so cheer me on! I am so grateful for this board!

Thanks a bunch

I am having difficulty getting anything at all down. I mean anything. I thought that I read somewhere that if your band slipped a little, going on to clear liquids for a bit might allow the body to re-place the band. Has anyone had this occur - is it true? I think I might be in ****... eeek! I'm really afraid.

Considering Lap Band
 

Hey guys I noticed that no one has really posted on here, but i am really considering the surgery. Anyone have any suggestions?