* update * Going to be getting the band in 2 months... would love any helpful tips

Mell,

Thank you so much for your response!

So do you still use a protein shake/smoothie for at least one of your meals?

I love pumpkin- sounds delicious to use it.

How often did you get fills? Being this far out, are you still getting fills/ regular follow ups?

how long after the surger did you get a tummy tuck?

Sounds good about alcohol- because honestly, I can live without it.

When you move in different positions, can you feel the band at all?

my better half will be getting the gastric ssleeve, so we BOTH will have to change our eating habits for the better.

Do you eat 3 x day or more? About how much can you eat before you feel full 1 cup or so?

Hi!

I have the veggie smoothie every morning. I have not gotten fills in years, it took a whileto get to my green zone. Slight tiny fills helped.

I dont feel my port I used to before it was moved but only if I did serious ab crunching/streching. I waited I think 7 or 8 years before my tummy tuck.

What is funny about some of the responses about issues is there is a learning curve that we all go through no matter the surgery. So you will get things stuck, you will find foods that dont work for you. But you will also find the foods that keep you full. For me, when I notice mindless eating, I eat hard boiled eggs carrots raw.Those make me uncomfortable full so I keep them around. Just pay attention to the food you eat, how ot was cooked, how you chewed it and cir****tances. Was it cold, were you nervous all that you need to learn about the tool.

Thank you for a positive response. I am having lap band on the 22nd.

THIS post is the one that should be telling you NOT to do it. Does it sound in any way functional and yet the poster talks like all these dysfunctions are completely normal.

I wish you the best of luck because I'd you go ahead, you are going to need buckets of it.

The operator error BS is likely part of the band marketing materials that the manufactures give to the surgeons to explain away the terrible stats. Most of the people I know who had bands had issues that seemed to be more anatomically caused. It is the only explanation for being in the green zone with no fills for years and then suddenly overnight having reflux, choking in your sleep, swelling and green zone never to be seen again. I buy the body rejecting them theory. I was chronically ill with the band, pneumonia, lung issues, cold after cold after cold. have not been sick a day since it was removed. I hope yours continues to work. I let mine go on too long and lived with the band 11 years when it should have been removed year 4.

Mine went bad after pregnancy. I'm not alone there, it seems to be a common theme could be the anatomical changes with pregnancy or immune response...who knows. but nothing irks a band victim more than being blamed for a device that permanently maimed them.

Thanks for your reply for the other person you're absolutely right if you don't follow instructions the band will cause you problems that's why they go through the pre-operative dietitian followups to educate on how do you eat and most importantly eating the right thing so you can get the good nutrients that you need in your body. I"m going from RNY to banding. I have one more dietitian appt and then my paper work will be sent in by the office staff.

You'll want to make sure you have a lot of hair scrunchies on hand, and a big case of whatever your favorite mints are. You're going to be spending a lot of time with your head in the toilet, throwing up.

I can tell that you are very young and so is your surgeon. People like you are a great learning opportunity for a surgeon.

He gets paid for your surgery, your fills, and then for your band removal. Then he gets paid for performing a RNY or sleeve. An experienced surgeon who does not need to practice would not do this to you. An older and wiser person would not permit it to be done.

Best advice is to choose a different surgery. Beware of any doctor who still performs band surgery: mine only does band revisions now. I know friends with lap bands who lost the weight. One lost most of her teeth from malnutrition. Now she needs to get the band removed and has gained back 1/2 her weight. And insurance doesn't cover the removal in many cases.

I'm surprised you found a surgeon who still does them. A lot of them don't anymore.