What is the Lap Band?

I didn't take into consideration that most of you haven't researched the Lap Band like I have so, I've decided to post some information about what I have done. It may make some sense of my posts. I have borrowed some information from the LAP-BAND website.

The LAP-BAND ® System is a silicone elastomer ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach and filled with saline on the inner surface. This creates anew small stomach pouch and leaves the larger part of the stomach below the band so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced, and the pouch above the band can hold only a small amount of food. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the two parts of the stomach. The size of the stoma regulates the flow of the food from the upper to the lower part of the stomach. When the stoma is smaller, you feel full sooner and have a feeling of satiety so you are not hungry between meals.

The band is connected by tubing to an access port that is placed beneath the skin during surgery. Later, the surgeon can change the stoma size by adding or subtracting saline inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process helps drive the rate of weight loss. If the band is too loose and weight loss inadequate, adding more saline can reduce the size of the stoma to further restrict the amount of food that can move through it. If the band is too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline to loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction.

I hope that makes more sense to those of you who haven't done tons of research like I have. I'm sorry I assumed that everyone knew what I was talking about.

One Month Out

Well guys and gals, my "good" computer's hard drive "died" and so I have not been able to post for quite a while. This will be quick because I am still without my good laptop. I'm down 13.5 lbs now and back to "regular" foods. I made the mistake of trying to eat bread the other night and paid quite a price. It apparently got "stuck" and I felt like I had eaten something really sharp and it had gotten stuck in my esophagus. Then it felt like my stomach was trying to throw it back up, but my body didn't want to let it come back up so I was there fighting this seemingly unending battle with my stomach. I was trying to throw up thinking this would end my pain, but my body had a different plan. I guess all those years of fighting throwing up caught up with me. I even tried sticking my finger down my throat with no relief. The pain eventually went away, but my stomach is still sore. Yesterday, I started with what I believe to be the stomach flu so my stomach still hurts, but I am really unclear if it is due to the food getting "caught" or the bug. I stayed home from work worried that I might have another bout of as Stewart calls them the Hershey squirts. I truly hope that this is a bug and not some side effect of my surgery. I will weigh again tomorrow, assuming that I am well enough to return to work. I should be, I'm feeling much better now. I had my 4 week post op appointment and my first fill on Thursday the 18th. The doctor said I was eating too many times a day, and that I should shoot for only three meals a day. At that point I wasn't sure what the band was going to do now that she has filled it, so I didn't really ask any questions. I wanted to wait to see what I could eat. Turns out I can still eat about 6oz and I am still getting hungry every 2-3 hours. I'm going to call her this week to see if she wants to do anything.

Two weeks Post op

Two weeks post op. I can now have mushy foods like mashed potatoes, soft fruits and veggies, cottage cheese, string cheese, soft meats like fish, imitation crab, canned chicken, soft pork, beans (with Beano), and so forth. Today was the first day. I had some canned peaches for breakfast. I am starting to get a little worried because I'm getting hungry every couple of hours. I don't feel like I should be getting hungry so often. I just don't know. I've put the question into the Obesity Help.com Message Boards to see if anyone has some insight. I am terrified that I am going to gain weight. I'll wait to eat something until I'm shaky and light headed because I'm afraid I'm "making myself hungry".