BANDSTERS

HELLO EVERYONE............ I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING SOME BANDSTER'S EXPERIENCES......... ARE THERE IN BANDSTERS OUT THERE IN THE DAYTON AREA ? THANKS DIVA 217

How about Columbus??!! I have a whole bunch of info in my profile...feel free to read it over. I was banded by Dr. Needleman at OSU on 12/2 and had my first fill this past Friday. I feel great! Pam

THANKYOU SO MUCH !!! I HAVE HEARD OF YOUR SURGEON !!! HAPPY TO HEAR ALL IS WELL

Dear Pam, I have approximately 80 pounds to lose. I read your profile. Sounds similiar to me. I don't want the full surgery. Do you have any regrets with your band? Any recommendation? Thanks, Greg

Hi Greg! No regrets - none at all! I was able to go out to dinner and a movie 1 week from my surgery date...so recovery is pretty easy. I can eat all of my favorite foods - chicken, ham, spinach, salad, steak, veggies, etc. - I just eat less of them. I was adding up my weight loss today and realized that by dieting on my own before surgery I was able to loose 18 pounds in 17 weeks. I was very proud of myself! Since being banded on 12/2, I've lost 12 pounds in 5 weeks. You still have to make the right food choices, but it is not the same as strict dieting where you are hungry all of the time! A fill is where the Dr. goes into your port with a needle and adds saline into your band to tighten it up. If you go to the inamed.com website, they have pictures of a filled and unfilled band. I have the 4cc band, so it can hold up to 4cc's of saline. When I got my fill last Friday, the Dr. added 3 cc's and I was closed off, so mine seems to be tight around my tummy without the saline. I noticed that I could eat more than I should be able to and that is why I got a fill. Even without a fill though, I still can't eat as much as I used to. Getting fills adjusts how much you can eat at one time because it makes the food stay in your pouch longer the tighter you are. The good thing about the band is that it is completely adjustable for each individual. Where I am filled to 1.5cc, there are some that never got a fill and others who are filled to 3.5 or more. It is an interesting journey, but I'm really glad that I took this step. I have not been below 200 pounds since having my 2nd child 8 years ago - right now I am at 185! You should also check out the lap band forum message board here on OH. Read over some of the guy's profiles. It seems that the weight just melts off them - not fair , but truly inspiring! Best of luck to you. Pam

Pam, One more thing. What is meant by first fill? Greg

Well, I'm a prebandster. I'm in the process of fighting the insurance company. I live in Springboro. There's another girl in West Carollton at the same stage as me. There's a small group of us meeting at Springboro DLM. It's pretty casual and I'm not sure when we're going to meet again, but we will announce it here. cathy

THANKS FOR REPLYING CATHY......... I HAVE BEEN APPROVED (UHC/SBC) NOW I JUST HAVE TO DECEIDE WHEN I WANT TO HAVE IT DONE. DR DERRICK MARTIN IS MY SURGEON......... KEEP ME UPDATED ON YOUR PROGRESS PLEASE THANKS AGAIN !!! DIVA217

Hey! I had mine done 11/12/04 and down 62 pounds!!!! no problems at all and I had my first fill 1/10/05. A little restriction, but you get past that after a couple days. I am on the river in South Point. Dr. Tim Wheeler did my surgery at Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland KY. I would do it again in a heartbeat! down 4 sizes in pants!!!!!! Jamie

Jamie, I have been reseaching the band. What is meant by first fill? I have an appt. this Thursday with Dr. Tompkins. How much weight did you need to lose? I have about 80 pounds. I don't want the full surgery. Thanks, Greg