Personal experiences with post-surgery LapBand? Wanna know what it's like

man, this board is slower than molasses!!   Is anyone alive on here???  LOL I really wanna find out what people's experiences are after having the LapBand surgery.   What was it like eating for the first 8 wks?  How was your energy level?  How much weight did you lose in the first 3 months?  I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask, and this is the only place I can think of to look.  Is there another site that I can actually get answers to my questions, without having to wait forever to get responses?  Thanks.

Christie

I came on this page because I was going to Utah for vacation and wanted to know what was happening with regard to WLS:-)  You may want to post your quesiton on the lap band board which is very active.  I have been banded since september and it has been pretty uneventful until recently.  Being on liquids was the toughest for me but mushies was good since I really like soup and things like softly scramble which became a stable for me.  In the first 3 months I lost only about 10 pounds put those are 10 pounds that I know I would not have lost without WLS and to date have not gained them back which I am sure I would have before WLS. All the best on your journey.

I ate soft foods after about a week. Then for about 3 weeks soft foods while I was healing.I was really tired for about one month, You will lose the most weight while you are on the liquids so I would suggest you stay on liquids for an long as you can. At that point when you start food you will gain some. I am a slow loser, so I guess I lost about 20 pounds the first 3 months.   

Hey Utah!!! My sis, her ex husband, my dad and mom, aun t, and uncle, have been banded at the south valley surgical center w/ Dr. Hansen. I attended orientation seminar tonight and hopefully will be # 7 in my family to get this done. My sis lost 100 lbs so far a yr and a half later, and my dad has lost 120 lbs one yr out. My mom was banded yesterday. My sis's ex husband lost nothing, but refused to  get fills, so that doesn't count. It works. I've seen it, and no complications.

Well hello Christine from Utah! That is awesome to hear about your family having the band with Dr. Hansen and very exciting to hear that you'll be joining the "band" wagon.  I am scheduled to have surgery with Dr. Hansen on July 16th. I was orginally scheduled with Dr. alldredge but needed to reschedule and opted for Dr. Hansen.  I normally just come here and read posts- It's nice to see someone else here from Utah!  I'd love to chat with you more- Do you have a date scheduled yet?

I just turned in my info packet today and my insurance goes into effect on 7/16. So hopefully, they will get my insurance approval fast. My sis got hers in a few days. I'm hoping early Aug for a date. Are you insured or self pay? Congrats on your date. It's about a week away....tick tock! Are you so excited?

That's great that you will have insurance that will cover- I'm not so lucky! I'm refinancing my house to pay. My re-fi has been difficult  so I've had to reschedule due to lack of funds! I was supposed to close today but it's 3:30 and I haven't heard from my mortgage lender. So I hope I won't have to reschedule again because yes it's like a week away!!!   I am a little nervous but very anxious to get it over with and to start my "new life". If I can't get it done on the 16th, I may have to post-pone until late August and I will be really bummed. I think I'm most nervous about eating right after, like all the right things to drink on the liquid phase and getting enough protein (I've never had a protein shake in my life) chewable vitaminss vs. liquid and stupid stuff like that.  I read on the main board about a new band called the advanced platform (AP Band) have you heard of it and do you know if Dr. Hansen is using it?

I haven't heard about the AP band. What's the difference? I'll have to Google it. About insurance paying ,  I specifically got a job at a place I knew who had insurance that would cover it.

I had to change my surgery date with Dr. Hansen- I'm now scheduled for August 27th! Good luck with you insurance stuff. Let me know when you have date!

I found this info on the main lap band board- I've emailed Dr. Hansen's nurse to see if he is using it or plans to use it. I'll let ya know what she says... I put some pics on my profile but haven't been able to get the main picture to upload. Allergan/Inamed has a new band in the US called the AP band. It has not yet been released to the general public but I have put a number of these excellent bands in. There are a couple of differences in this band and the previous ones: 1. Cuff - the cuff on the AP band is 360 degrees around, as opposed to about 300 degrees on the prior bands (there was no cuff around the buckle on the old ones) 2. Cuff length - the cuff on the AP band is 18mm longer/taller than on the previous bands, so the surface area in contact with the stomach is much greater, hopefully increasing the speed of weight loss and maybe reducing the risk of slips 3. Cuff volume - the AP small holds 10cc, the AP large holds 14cc Note that we do not believe that AP patients will lose MORE weight, just possibly faster. So those of you with the older models, it would definitely not be to your benefit to think about having your band swapped out!

• They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc).
• They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs".
• They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types.
• They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types.
• They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types.
• Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved.
• The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove.
• The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types.
• They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types.
• The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better.
• The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism.
• The balloon is wider. A sideview of the band shows the balloon protruding top & bottom rather than sitting flush.
• They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be.
• They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach.
• AP type bands have been FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest.
• We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band.
• new : AP ( Advanced Platform ):
• APS ( small)
• APL ( large )