Guest guest Posted April 30, 2001 Report Share Posted April 30, 2001 Hello Everyone, Let me introduce myself , My name is Janislee I had the Lap-Band surgery 6 weeks ago. I have lost 31 pounds so far. I live in Chicago, were the lap band is not yet FDA approved so as it stands i am the only lap band patient in the state of Illinois. Its kinda a drag, since I wish I had someone to relate things to on a week to week basis. I am glad however that I have discovered the Oz Band group. You dont know what having a group of people to talk to this about means to me! I have had a weird road till now as I just got back on solid foods, I stayed on liquids for six long weeks UGH! That was hard, to say the very least , if I never see a bowl of soup again I will be a happy camper. I am on solid foods somewhat but am still trying by trail and error to find what doesnt make me throw up. I have had somewhat of a nightmare with certain foods, And must admit I am still quite apprehensive about trying certain foods in general with fear that I will throw up. Has anyone else experienced this with this surgery? Or am I alone with this one? I hope that i can get some postive feed back concerning this surgery , because Everyone who has emailed about lap band has been telling me about slippage and replacing the band, Has anyone out there had postive results? Because I have had a postive mental energy regarding this surgery but I want to remain this way , but it seems hard with out positive feed back , Can anyone help ? PLease feel free to email me , Thanks from Chicago , Janislee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2001 Report Share Posted April 30, 2001 Hi Janislee, As a "pioneer" in your state, you must feel very lonely! It is surprising to me that the FDA has not given approval. Is there any reason given for the delay? I have heard mainly posititve results with the proceedure and read one email today from (UK) who is experiencing some problems. So to me the ratio of successes far outweigh the not so successful. One interesting thing I heard was that the complication rate was less than that of tonsiliectomies or apendectimies (not sure of spelling!!) which are both very common proceedures. So, I can honestly say that I think the FDA are dragging their heals on this one!! Judith Re: Re: My surgery Hello Everyone, Let me introduce myself , My name is Janislee I had the Lap-Band surgery 6 weeks ago. I have lost 31 pounds so far. I live in Chicago, were the lap band is not yet FDA approved so as it stands i am the only lap band patient in the state of Illinois. Its kinda a drag, since I wish I had someone to relate things to on a week to week basis. I am glad however that I have discovered the Oz Band group. You dont know what having a group of people to talk to this about means to me! I have had a weird road till now as I just got back on solid foods, I stayed on liquids for six long weeks UGH! That was hard, to say the very least , if I never see a bowl of soup again I will be a happy camper. I am on solid foods somewhat but am still trying by trail and error to find what doesnt make me throw up. I have had somewhat of a nightmare with certain foods, And must admit I am still quite apprehensive about trying certain foods in general with fear that I will throw up. Has anyone else experienced this with this surgery? Or am I alone with this one? I hope that i can get some postive feed back concerning this surgery , because Everyone who has emailed about lap band has been telling me about slippage and replacing the band, Has anyone out there had postive results? Because I have had a postive mental energy regarding this surgery but I want to remain this way , but it seems hard with out positive feed back , Can anyone help ? PLease feel free to email me , Thanks from Chicago , Janislee ozband website: http://www.ozband.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2001 Report Share Posted April 30, 2001 I hope that i can get some postive feed back concerning this surgery , because Everyone who has emailed about lap band has been telling me about slippage and replacing the band, Has anyone out there had postive results? Hi Janislee, I think it's important to clarify that positive results and problems with the band are not mutually exclusive. You'll find that many of us who have had difficulties still have had great success and continue to be enthusiastic proponents of the band. In fact, it's precisely because of our success that we opt to have a second band and attempt to continue losing weight, or at least to maintain the loss already achieved. In my case, I lost around 45 kg in about 18 months, then began to have problems with severe reflux. My band had slipped and I stopped losing weight. I was finally re-banded in December, and though my weight loss hasn't re-started (it's been difficult finding the right fill level), at least I've maintained all my loss (except for 5 kg) and am optimistic that I'll be able to start moving downwards again soon. I'd like to lose another 20 kg, but if I don't I'll still be happy with the band..... no way I'd ever have lost what I have without it. Good luck, and continue to think positive.... that's a big part of the battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2001 Report Share Posted April 30, 2001 Gee, I feel like I'm living in my office lately! I have another question. I have read about second and third bandings. Is this repeated treatment covered by the health insurance companies at the same rate as the original? Has anyone got some figures on what the cost is and what is re-imbursed by insurance? Judith Re: Re: My surgery I hope that i can get some postive feed back concerning this surgery , because Everyone who has emailed about lap band has been telling me about slippage and replacing the band, Has anyone out there had postive results? Hi Janislee, I think it's important to clarify that positive results and problems with the band are not mutually exclusive. You'll find that many of us who have had difficulties still have had great success and continue to be enthusiastic proponents of the band. In fact, it's precisely because of our success that we opt to have a second band and attempt to continue losing weight, or at least to maintain the loss already achieved. In my case, I lost around 45 kg in about 18 months, then began to have problems with severe reflux. My band had slipped and I stopped losing weight. I was finally re-banded in December, and though my weight loss hasn't re-started (it's been difficult finding the right fill level), at least I've maintained all my loss (except for 5 kg) and am optimistic that I'll be able to start moving downwards again soon. I'd like to lose another 20 kg, but if I don't I'll still be happy with the band..... no way I'd ever have lost what I have without it. Good luck, and continue to think positive.... that's a big part of the battle. ozband website: http://www.ozband.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2001 Report Share Posted May 1, 2001 Hi Judith, I can't speak for everyone, but in my case the second band cost me nothing at all. The surgeon charged only what I'd get back from Medicare and my private health insurance, and the hospital stay was fully covered by the insurance as well. Of course, that would depend on what level of cover you have. All the best, Re: Re: My surgery Gee, I feel like I'm living in my office lately! I have another question. I have read about second and third bandings. Is this repeated treatment covered by the health insurance companies at the same rate as the original? Has anyone got some figures on what the cost is and what is re-imbursed by insurance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2001 Report Share Posted May 1, 2001 Hi Janislee Have you joined the Bandsters yet? I have found them a great group and I would be most surprised if there wasn't someone else from Chicago on the list. They have mostly had their surgery in Mexico or Europe, but are nevertheless residents of America. I have noticed that each surgeon has a different regime re fills, fluids etc. My surgeon, for instance, had me on a fluid only diet for only 2.5 weeks. Also, I notice some doctors, especially ones in the FDA trials, put a bit of fill in right away, whereas my surgeon puts in no fluid at all until about 8 weeks post-operative. As I have no fill, I am not having much restriction as yet, comparatively at least. I too was most concerned about the possibility of failure, but having joined a couple of these groups, and observing that I really am eating less, (its just not as tedious as my previous lifetime of dieting) I now think it will work. And I've got to say.....with a weight loss of 6 kg for the first time in years, it has aleady worked. I wore a suit yesterday that I haven't been able to wear for 2 years and I felt fantastic.... Like I haven't felt in years. Its amazing how great 92 kg is on the way down, compared to how horrifying it was on the way up!!! This morning I put on a pair of pants and was already for the big squeeze, huff and puff and instead, the button just slipped neatly into the hole with no strain. Small things I know, but I'm sure a lot of you will know what I'm talking about. Query for everyone out there. I am having a lot of trouble being disciplined about not drinking with my meals. It is such a lifelong habit.! I work where one can't consume anything other than water, and then when I get out for lunch, I just have to have a coffee with my lunch, or a diet coke, but I know this is a No,No. Any tips anyone? Regards Liz. -----Original Message-----From: clickingmyheels@... Sent: Tuesday, 1 May 2001 1:56 PMTo: ozband Subject: Re: Re: My surgeryHello Everyone, Let me introduce myself , My name is Janislee I had the Lap-Band surgery 6 weeks ago. I have lost 31 pounds so far. I live in Chicago, were the lap band is not yet FDA approved so as it stands i am the only lap band patient in the state of Illinois. Its kinda a drag, since I wish I had someone to relate things to on a week to week basis. I am glad however that I have discovered the Oz Band group. You dont know what having a group of people to talk to this about means to me! I have had a weird road till now as I just got back on solid foods, I stayed on liquids for six long weeks UGH! That was hard, to say the very least , if I never see a bowl of soup again I will be a happy camper. I am on solid foods somewhat but am still trying by trail and error to find what doesnt make me throw up. I have had somewhat of a nightmare with certain foods, And must admit I am still quite apprehensive about trying certain foods in general with fear that I will throw up. Has anyone else experienced this with this surgery? Or am I alone with this one? I hope that i can get some postive feed back concerning this surgery , because Everyone who has emailed about lap band has been telling me about slippage and replacing the band, Has anyone out there had postive results? Because I have had a postive mental energy regarding this surgery but I want to remain this way , but it seems hard with out positive feed back , Can anyone help ? PLease feel free to email me , Thanks from Chicago , Janislee ozband website: http://www.ozband.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2001 Report Share Posted May 13, 2001 Hi Janislee, I've been keeping contact with Dee from Chicago who had the band around the same time as you at the University of Chicago hospital. I've given her your contact email address as she would also like to relate to someone on a more regular basis. How are you going now with the solid food? I had the lapband surgery in Brisbane Australia almost four years ago and struggled for three of those years with solid food - spent most of it on slurps but lost 74kgs (x2.2 = lbs) in the process so didn't complain. Have put 5 of that back on after experiencing several hiccups with band and port slipping and repositioning, reflux coming on but am back now to very slow minute amounts of fluid top-ups (you've probably had your first of these by now) and am hoping that soon I'll reach that optuimum fill that gives me adequate restriction and yet enables me to keep on this lovely solid food diet I've been on these past six months or so. Never a dull moment! Got another 25kg to go and I know this will be the most difficult and take the most time, for sure. This is a positive result and I know that everyone on this site, even if they have had to have their band removed and go for the more invasive bypass/duodenal switch surgery, would tell you that they would have the band back in a flash if they could get it to work for them. These slippages are all part and parcel of the band process - remember your body is also losing internal fat and conditions inside change. Besides as you lose such enormous amounts of poundage, it frees you up to become more active. I haven't been told so, but I believe that my incursion into yoga and other rather strenuous pursuits for this old body might also have had something to with it. Many bandsters sail through the whole thing with absolutely no problems at all, just like some bandsters never seem to need fills but we're all different and so far everything that has happened to be has not been world-shattering and the loss of such weight far exceeds any problems that have arisen. Interested to know haw you are going on the solids - Dianne Re: Re: My surgeryHello Everyone, Let me introduce myself , My name is Janislee I had the Lap-Band surgery 6 weeks ago. I have lost 31 pounds so far. I live in Chicago, were the lap band is not yet FDA approved so as it stands i am the only lap band patient in the state of Illinois. Its kinda a drag, since I wish I had someone to relate things to on a week to week basis. I am glad however that I have discovered the Oz Band group. You dont know what having a group of people to talk to this about means to me! I have had a weird road till now as I just got back on solid foods, I stayed on liquids for six long weeks UGH! That was hard, to say the very least , if I never see a bowl of soup again I will be a happy camper. I am on solid foods somewhat but am still trying by trail and error to find what doesnt make me throw up. I have had somewhat of a nightmare with certain foods, And must admit I am still quite apprehensive about trying certain foods in general with fear that I will throw up. Has anyone else experienced this with this surgery? Or am I alone with this one? I hope that i can get some postive feed back concerning this surgery , because Everyone who has emailed about lap band has been telling me about slippage and replacing the band, Has anyone out there had postive results? Because I have had a postive mental energy regarding this surgery but I want to remain this way , but it seems hard with out positive feed back , Can anyone help ? PLease feel free to email me , Thanks from Chicago , Janislee ozband website: http://www.ozband.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2001 Report Share Posted May 14, 2001 Sorry everybody, This was meant to go straight to Janislee in Chicago. I'll never learn to get this straight. " Another useless female " , I hear Randall mutter. My apologies Dianne Re: Re: My surgery Hi Janislee, I've been keeping contact with Dee from Chicago who had the band around the same time as you at the University of Chicago hospital. I've given her your contact email address as she would also like to relate to someone on a more regular basis. The rest has been deleted to keep Randall from boiling over ............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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