Stargurrl*

First let me say congrats u look fantastic! Ur post caught my eye because I am the exact opposite...I'm down 30 with 110 to go for my ultimate goal of 165-170. I'm almost 8 months out and I get frustrated that I haven't lost more. But I'll just keep at it. Keep up the good work, again u look great : )

I had to write and sign a letter to my surgeon stating that I quit, the date I quit and that I would not start again. I did quit 12/14/10. I snuk a few during a hard time and he told me I shouldn't be smoking at all b/c it can cause band erosion. I don't necessarily know how or the facts but that's all he had to say. Everything I went thru to get it. I'm taking no chances w/ my band. It sounds funny about the letter and all but he was named Top Doc in south jersey a few times in the past few years so I just do what he says. Good luck and congrats on being banded : )

Thanks for the replies. I feel so much better now that I can drink normal amounts of water. I could tell I wasn't getting enough with those tiny sips here and there. Congrats Bardy 80 lbs!!! That's amazing : )

Anybody?/?

I'm becoming a post-a-holic on this site...lol. So I got a fill the beginning of the month and for the first time felt restriction. I couldn't drink more than tiny sips at a time or I felt like a elephant was sitting my my chest. Which was a problem for me b/c I just couldn't get enough water in and I'm prone to kidney stones...need I say more. So anyway I woke up this morning and was able to drink normal : ) now I still get full really fast off small amounts and I don't drink while eating. My question is how long does that level of restriction last usually?? I mean we know it goes away or else we wouldn't need fills but I'm just trying to get an idea as this was only my second fill. Could I have been a tad bit too tight?? Thanks

I agree w/ Cindy C. I liked knowing there was always docs/nurses there should I need them.

To be honest i could not have gone anywhere 3 days later. I had herrendous gas pains in my shoulder and was super sore. I was out of work a little more than a week but I needed every day. Goodluck.

My first time was Tuesday and I learned the hard way to do liquids for 24 hours after that. I got stuck at dinner and tried to eat breakfast the next morning and it happened all over again. I think you're swollen after a stuck episode. Good luck

It gets so much easier! It only took me two fills to get serious restriction. Congrats on being banded

My doc said no Carbonation. I did have soda once or twice before my second fill. Now its a different story I don't dare. When I drink I have crystal light lemonade and svedka vodka...very yummy : )

Good for u Shirley!!

I don't think the fills are bad at all. My doc does fills under fluro (xray) so when I get there I stand i/f/o the machine and he looks at the band placement. Then they tip the table all the way down so I'm laying flat. They sterilize the area then a little pinch when he numbs the area. After that I feel a little pressure when he accesses the port. Then they put the table back in the upright position, he injects the fluid, then I take a sip of the chalky stuff and they watch on the monitor how it goes thru. If it travels right thru too fast, he might put a tiny more then I drink again and he makes sure it passes thru okay.and I'm done. The entire process only takes like 5 minutes. And I'm terriffied of needles..so if I can do it anyone can : ) I didnt really have any restriction with the first fill. But the second which I got like 3 weeks ago is another story. Its like night and day. I don't ask how much he puts in but I feel really lucky to feel this restriction so early. Good luck you'll do great!

Thanks Steffie....that's sounds so good! : ) I am definitely going to try that.

I got my card mailed to me a few weeks after surgery from Lapband.

I'm sure they wouldn't have sent you home if it wasn't okay. Everybodys insides are swollen after surgery. Just follow all ur docs instructions and you'll be fine : )