Lapband Chatter

[Jamie]

Hey all of you lapband losers,

The amount of lapband patients are adding up more and more each day, so I know that there must be a ton of questions going through newbie's minds (remember how it was when we were going through it?). Why don't all of you veterans post a little something about your progress and how you are doing with your new lifestyle? Have you found out any foods that you can or cannot tolerate? Have you reached your sweet spot yet? What size is your band? How much saline have you received, and have the fills gone smoothly? Do you come to the Support Group Meetings, and do you feel that they are important part of the whole procedure?

Please if you are new to the message board, don't be afraid to post or private message any one of us. We would be more that glad to help put your mind at ease and answer any questions you may have, and possibly point you in the right direction and give you a little guidance.

For many of us this is the best thing that has happened to us and if we can help in any way, just ask!!!!! We will tell you if we have had any setbacks, pitfalls, or any other info that we can share.

I also don't mean to ignore the bypass patients, because even though the operations are different procedures, we do share an awful lot of common ground and I would love you to add your thoughts and input, because any information that we speak about on this message board can potentially help someone out there with a few answers and hopefully get a few newbies to post, or come to the meetings. So by all means, please post your progress too.

Hope to hear from you, and let's get some chatter going!!!!

Jamie

[connie]

Hi Jamie and fellow lap banders !! Went for my first fill on Tuesday, Doc added 4cc, bringing me up to 5cc. I ate only full liquids Tuesday, and yesterday, today I am going to probably stick with it because it is so rainy outside feels like a soup day. Tomorrow I will work my way to the soft food stage !! I am taking it slow because there is no rush for me, Amazingly I never feel hungry !!!!!!!!!!! To all you new banders out there this was the best decision I ever made in my life, and to all you veteran banders please post because us newcomers always have questions !!!!!!!!!! Talk to you all soon. Connie:):)

[Jamie]

Hi Connie,

Thank you so much for posting your progress. It helps everyone out there that may have a question and are a little to shy to post. You are doing everything right especially by taking it a little easy for a day or so after a fill. Your stomach may be a little irratated after the fill so you don't want to push it. You will know when it is time, and what you can tolerate. I know for me, I would feel full for a couple of days, and then at times it would almost feel like the device wasn't working. Everyone is different, I know Aleeya was feeling full almost immediatly and others need to be filled a number of times, or have some fluid removed. Don't get discouraged it does take time, but YOU WILL GET THERE, AND IT IS SWEET!!!!!

They seem to be doing the fills differently now. When I had mine you didn't get and fills for quite a while after the operation and then you only got 1cc at a time. Then you might get 2cc's and have to try it for a couple of weeks before you tried it again. They are much more aggressive now which is a good thing as long as they keep an eye on things, and DR. Allam is on top of his game!!!

Another thing is the size of your band. Some have a 4cc band, some 10cc, I have a 15cc. Although everyone tolerates the fills differently, two people may have a 10cc band and it takes one person 4cc's to find their sweet spot and it may take the other person 8cc's to get to theirs.I have 12cc's in my 15cc band, and I am finally feeling that I am there at my sweet spot. It is amazing how different these things are for every indivual.

Another thing is to make sure you chew well and slowly to give your brain a chance to register the feeling of fullness. If you eat too fast, you may have to much food in your stomach before you even feel you are full, and then you can get sick, or stretch your pouch.

I hope this helped a little, so please post any other questions or comments you may have, because everyone benefits from these talks.

Thanks Connie, and all,

Jamie

[candiekisses68]

I didnt have the band i did the bypass which waas the best thing i did for myself,im almost 2yrs out in oct and still pretty much only eat 1 cup a meal. I have had no problems at all(THANK GOD!!) I dont get throw up , or dump i do sometimes get heart burn but no big deal ,ive lost 141lbs i think up till now and still loose a lb or so here snd there,i eat very normal shall we say compared to others ive been told i love to hear from people that have had it around the same time i did oct 06 to see how there doing as well,im going to start the meetings again im may and casnt wait its sooooo important to go and keep in touch with everyone take care hope to hear from people and ther progress!!!!!!

[Jamie]

Hi candikisses68,

Thank you for posting, I know you have been trying and thanks to Regina you can now post, so we would love to hear from you and everyone else that is out there and are capable of posting.

Thanks again,

Jamie

[CARE4SMALLSIZES]

Hey,


I had my surgury done in November and It was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have a 10cc band and have 4cc and that has been fine until now but I can feel I need a fill.

Let's see if we can get some new banders to post and come to the support group meetings. I'm pushing this in the office and seem to be getting people into the site and meetings.

Talk to you all soon!

Carrie

[akhan16]

Hey Fellow Lapbanders,

This has definitely been the best decision i have ever made. I feel great. I have a 10 cc band and I have 3.75 cc in right now. Some days I can get to a quarter of a cup of food and others I can't make it to a quarter of a cup. I have tons of energy and i'm loving it. I stay full for a long period of time. The only problem i'm having is getting enough water in me. I have not trained myself to keep sipping water every so often but i'm working on it.

[Jamie]

Hi Carrie,

Thank you for your post and for helping with everything that you do in the office and online to help get people to join up and talk, ask questions, and come to the meetings. I only hope they see that it is for their benefit and will help them stay on track with their weight loss and to help them maintain the weight when it does come off. It also is there for the benefit of others, because it helps us realize that we too can slip, and if we do, get the support from the group to help us snap out of it and get back on track.

Thanks Carrie,

Jamie

[Darby]

Hey all, I am a bypass guy, but as you all know we share a lot of the same experiences as the lapbanders. I met with Dr. Allam yesterday and am down 80 lbs since Jan. 28th! Just like you I have no regrets and look forward to every new day. One questions I have is if any one had experienced post-op depression? The only reason I ask is that I have read about it, but have not experienced it. Is this just a random side affect, or am I just one of the lucky ones? How can you be depressed about losing weight... I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you all on the 20th!


Darby :D

[Regina]

Hi Darby 010111610. on your weight loss.


It is almost 5 years for me and I can tell you I never ever once was depressed about it. I myself can't understand how some people would be for the same reason you stated. How can you be depressed after losing weight? My only guess is that they were not mentally ready for the changes that were going to take place. Maybe they started to realize more things around them that made them start to get depressed. It might not have been that they were depressed cause of the weight loss but have finally awakened to a world around them that wasn't as good as they thought it was.

On the other hand, they could have maybe gotten depress also as I said cause they weren't ready for the change that comes after surgery. Many people I think go into this procedure thinking this is it (I did) final straw to lose the weight. The difference with me is that I researched this I knew two people that had it done by two different doctors. I knew the chances of possibly getting sick at times if you ate too much or if something just didn't agree with me. What I am saying is I went into this with my eyes wide open and I feel that I was educated about the surgery before I had it done. I also attended support meetings before the surgery. Some people mentally I don't feel are ready in my opinion. Even though you need to go to a psychologist appointment, maybe some should continue after the procedure. Only for the reason because, they are not truly ready for all the changes that are going to happen or the other doors that can open for them after the surgery. They think they can handle it but in the end, they can't. The food part is maybe a big part of them being depressed because they were not ready to give up all that food. Some of our minds might still have been telling us to eat this eat that and since we all know after the surgery you have to follow the plan that is given each and everyone of us. If you are not ready for the changed yeah, I think that can make people depressed. Therefore, my advice to anyone that is thinking of either surgery is this.......

Make sure you research the two procedures and see which one is best for you.

Ask questions to your doctor.

Ask the Nutritionist questions about the food plan after surgery.

Go to your psychologist appointment and if you think you need more then go.

And the biggest part of all this is going to Support Group Meetings. It is a proven fact that people that have continued to go to meetings are the more successful groups.

[QUEEBELL]

I 100% agree with Regina. As some of you may know from going to meetings, I was in therapy for at least a year before surgery and I attend online OA meetings as well as monthly support group meetings with Dr. Allam. I have experienced depression most of my life. I've gone in and out of therapy since I was 15, never actually "graduating" from any behavioral modification or therapy program. I'd just get tired of it and stop going. I'm proud to say that about 3 months after surgery I "graduated" from weekly to monthly individual sessions. My depression has gotten better and continues to improve as I feel better about my acomplishments both weight loss and physically at the gym. I used to sit home in the dark and now I come out into the light. Congratulations Darby on your accomplishment! You have every right to feel great about it. Can't wait to see your progress at the next meeting. By then you'll probobly have lost even more.

[candiekisses68]

HI Darby im almost 2 years out and NEVER did i get depressed,i looked for i dont understand people that get depressed except some people use food for comfort maby they feel the comfort will be missing?not sure but congrats on your GREAT weight loss and keep up the good work and attenend all those MEETINGS!!!!!

[Jamie]

Hi Darby,

That is a very good question. Some people think that it is the weight that is making them depressed, but they may have been depressed in the first place and are using food as a way to comfort them for this depression. Therefore it is a hard hitting problem when they loose the weight and they find that they are still depressed and even to a deeper degree.

I know in my case, I didn't really use food as a crutch for my emotions, I just liked food!!! I think like Regina and everyone is saying, that you need to research these procedures and deciede which one is correct for you. I don't think that this just pops up after surgery, I believe that is some extra baggage that you bring in with you from before. Whether you realize it or not. That is why they make you jump through all of the hoops in the beginning.

I hope this helped in some way.

Jamie

[connie]

Hi Darby its Connie. I am just 5weeks out of lap band. I have not felt depressed at all. But the first week I was home it was hard for me to make an adjustment.......since I have so many children I had a rough time doing my weekly shopping.......infact I did not even want to go to the grocery store, but then when I got stronger and I began to lose the weight I found a new place in the "store", I began shopping for my foods seperate and I adjusted fine. I must admit it was hard for me to prepare meals and watch my family eat, but now its fine. Infact low fat,healthy foods are becoming routine for my entire family now. So not only did MOM benefit from this surgery, MY ENTIRE FAMILY did too. So glad I did it !! See you at the meeting. Connie

[Jamie]

Hi Darby,

This is a question that has been talked about more and more recently. I believe that a lot of people that are depressed and have bariatric surgery feel good as the weight comes off, but may find themselves still in a state of depression after because they were depressed for other reasons and used food for comfort and this could be a reason for gaining the weight in the first place. After the weight comes off, and they are still not feeling right, they should probably try out the support group, or seek some sort of therapy. I, myself really never used food as a crutch, I just liked to eat and cook!!!

This is one reason that you have to jump through so many hoops in order to have the surgery. Having bariatric surgery is something that has to be researched for each indivual in order to see which procedure is right for them, and if they are willing to commit to a lifelong change in habits. The good news is that, Darby, you have heard for yourself at the support group meetings that almost everyone would do it again in a second without even thinking twice. Those are pretty good odds, if you ask me.

You are doing well with your weight loss and your attitude, so just keep up the good work, and keep posting any concerns that you may have.

Thanks so much,

Jamie