emptyNest

I got my band in 2011. Initially lost about 35 lbs, then got busy with life and let it go. I'm now back to my starting weight. I can feel my band when I eat too fast, or 'dry' Protein, so I'm wondering if I should go in for a checkup and fill, or just try to eat right for awhile first. I haven't seen my bariatric dr for 6 years.

I have only lost 16 pounds since surgery, but I don't have much restriction at all. I like losing the weight slowly. I think it will help with the loose skin thing, which could be an issue since I'm over 50..

I had my first fill yesterday. 10 weeks post-surgery. I was losing about 1 pound / week, and that was enough for me, so I put off the fills, but about 2 weeks ago I started to be able to eat Bagels, so I knew it was the beginning of the end.

I guess I have a small band because the Doc said the surgeon would have put in 1.5 cc during surgery and he said another 4 cc would 'over fill it'. Anyway, he just put in 1.5 cc, so I guess I have about 3 cc in a 5cc band. Anyway, I'm on liquids for 2 days, then mushies for the rest of the week. Good news is I lost 2.5 pounds yesterday.

That sounds really interesting. I find that switching things up tends to help me lose faster, but I haven't tried anything like this. I will be really interested to see how it works for you.

Good luck!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forum/2480-april-2011-bandsters/

or -- go to the main page, scroll down (a lot) and you will see monthly support with years listed. Go to 2011, and its listed within that forum.

well new friends, i'm new to these forums but i was banded in 07 in Tijuana by Dr. Ortiz (fabulous program and surgeon)

i am notoriously non-compliant (an a RN to boot) BUT i've not only reached my goal but surpassed it....the secret is a good fill believe me

however, now i can't seem to stop losing and i need my restriction lessened. since i have a foreign band the docs in st louis are less than helpful.

anyone know of a fill place in missouri/chicago? i had dr. vitello in chicago who was phenomenal, great technique and results but he isn't doing fills anymore or at least right now

this has been going on for about 6 months so want to get in somewhere soon

any suggestions ---completely appreciated

keep your chin up everyone, its a process to get the restriction just right

i met a gal who took different foods with her to the fill, after the fill she'd take a bite or two of each and see how it felt, i think that was smart

good luck all!

roxanne

If you don't mind going to Carle in Champaign my Dr is Uretz Oliphant and he is a dear. He also has an associate helping him now. I think they will do fills for folks they didn't band. Wouldn't hurt to call, anyway. (217) 383-3240

I've not lost much weight since the surgery.. healing is my excuse... but I'm back to counting calories, so I updated the spreadsheet hoping it will keep me on track! Good luck all!

My husband had cardiac surgery last summer and there were several foods (including coffee) which after the surgery no longer tasted good to him. He is getting his taste for them back gradually, but it did take time. I think it was just his body reacting to the surgery.

Personally, I don't notice a change in what I like since my surgery, but I'm not eating much yet, either.

"The one person I should be able to trust is you, and you've blabbed my secret - an embarrassing secret about me to several people now. To top it all off, you had the audacity play stupid about what you have done"

Then think of something super humiliating you know about him and make some analogies out of it.

I'm sorry he has done that. I hope he can see the error of his ways and apologize. It's not like he can fix the damage he has done, but at least acknowledging it would be a start, right?

Thanks guys. Its nice having people I can vent to who understand.

I think its just thoughtlessness, and he has been very supportive in other ways. I'm probably just super-sensitive about his family knowing because they are all thin, so they have no idea what I have been through. Anyway, I'm skipping Easter with the in-laws, so at least I get 24 hours to myself out of the deal.

Great Idea! I just love this post and I've gotten some super ideas, too! Here's my list:

The biggies:

1. Ride my horse more, and be able to get on without a mounting block.

2. Zip lining with my sister in Costa Rica.

3. Scuba diving - or at least snorkeling

4. Tropical vacation or cruise with DH.

Every day pleasures:

5. Shopping at the mall - and finding clothes that fit.

6. Fitting in a theater/plane seat

7. Being able to squat - and get back up

I told my husband I was having the surgery about a couple of months before the surgery date. I had kept it to myself for over 8 months, while I got the insurance approval, etc., but decided to tell him so he could get used to the idea before it happened. When I told him I was getting the surgery I told him that I didn't want other people to know. I did tell my parents and our kids, but I didn't think it was anyone else's business.

First he told his secretary, the biggest gossip in the county. His excuse there was that he had to explain why he would be out for the day. I let it go, even though I think he could have just said surgery and left it at that. Last night I heard him on the phone telling his mother that I wouldn't be over for Easter because I had a 'procedure' that put a band around my stomach to keep me from eating too much. WTF!!! When I confronted him he had the nerve to deny it! He said he told her 'procedure' not 'surgery'... like that made it all right...

I'm really furious... Now, if I'm successful with the band it will be because I had this 'band around my stomach that stopped me from eating too much' and if not, they'll think I'm such a pig I ate too much even with a band around my stomach...

He asked me what I wanted him to say when people asked him why I'm not eating much... Huh??? I just asked him: Who would do that? The truth is that it was easier, for him, to tell people I had the surgery than to have them think I just didn't want to go. What does that say about him, and especially about our relationship? I'm starting to understand the high divorce rates among WLS patients.

I did have problems with Jello and anything cold early on, but I had my follow-up today with the dr. All is fine. My port site is a bit pink, and the nurse was concerned, so they put me on keflex. The dr said it was for the nurse's sake, so she wouldn't worry. Honestly, I'm feeling really 'normal'. Not like I had surgery at all, except for a little pull in my belly when I turn a certain way.

I'm supposed to gradually switch from full liquids to mushies over the next 2 weeks then very slowly to real food by first fill time (June 7). I'm a very bad patient... I'm already eating soft foods (refried beans) and even had some fish yesterday. I am eating VERY small portions of that sort of thing, though. Just testing the waters a bit.

Hope all my friends on here are doing wonderfully as well!

Hi Rachel! I'm 2 days behind you. Banded on the 14th. I'm feeling great. My port site is a bit sore still, but the other incisions are mostly healed, I guess, because I don't even feel them. I'm on liquids until next week, so its Protein shakes, Soup (no chunks) and jello/pudding for me, but I'm not hungry. I've been drinking a slim-fast or carnation instant Breakfast for Breakfast, some Soup around mid-day and have needed to remind myself to eat something for dinner. Now that's different!

Welcome!!

I'm on post op day 2, but really thinking it should be 3 since i had my surgery early friday morning lol, and today with pain i noticed a significant difference. Yesterday it hurt to get up out of bed, and today everything seems alot easier to me too. I too also feel as if I am not taking in enough deep breahths, even though i did not have a hernia repair. I am using my ics( the toy they sometimes give you at the hospital where you have to inhale to watch the ball go up) to try to inflate my lungs as much as possible. When I do it on my own, they dont feel like they are opening as much., like i am cutting off taking a deep breath....I know sometimes it takes a few days , especially after the tube/general anesthesia for those aveoli in the lower parts of our lungs to open back up and too start doing there thing, so I am just going to keep deep breathing. Glad to hear your surgery went well! I did have my incision open uo, but I have been taking it easy and guess what? It is healing on it's own! I will still go into the doc n monday to verify. But I guess you and I will be on the same page most days... I will be looking for your posts to see if that is how I feel too

Maybe my issue is the aveoli thing--Anyway its getting better day by day. My husband had one of those toys from a surgery he had last winter, but after he came home and stopped using it I threw it away... oops

Today I achieved several firsts. 1. First shower -- really needed it 2. First time I dressed in real clothes -- jeans. 3. First shopping trip - just to the grocery store to get some more carnation instant breakfasts, but I drove myself, so that's a biggie for me, and a definate advantage of being off the pain meds.

So, since you are 24 hours behind me (my surgery was 7:30 am on Thurs) you have a good day to look forward to tomorrow!

I was the 12th

Welcome. I hope everything went well. What sort of diet are you on? I'm full liquids for the next 2 weeks.. Yummy

I'm on day 3 and feeling much better each day, but did any of you have trouble taking a deep breath after? Dr fixed a hiatal hernia while placing the band, so I assume its from the stitches in my diaphram. Its getting better each day, but that was something I didn't expect. All in all though, a very easy surgery. Much easier than my hysterectomy.

Spot,

Thanks for checking in. Sorry about your trouble. We'll be here when you feel up to chatting. In the meantime take care of yourself.

The time is really short now!! Pre op with the doc on Monday, and surgery Thursday. Anyone else this week?

It is very strange that Spot hasn't checked in. She was on here with us pretty regularly before. Sure hope to hear from her soon.

I don't know what pain meds you are on, but Vicodin constipates me something horrible. I'm going to ask the Doc for Darvocet instead. That's what I did for my hysterectomy and it worked great.

Just wondering, I was told salad vegetables and leafy greens. Are carrots okay? The office is closed that I use...until Monday!

I was told steamed green vegetables and one piece of fruit a day and the nurse said raw carrots was OK. Every doc is different tho.

I'm glad to see you all back after your surgeries. Now the journey begins for you. Take care!

I used a mirror and took them myself. I'm sure DH would have done it, but it just makes my fatness too real for me.

I could just use one I have of me and my horse, but then I would have to explain which was which.

I am on the same pre-op diet. My tummy is rumbling and my brain is so foggy but I know I am going to make it! Today is day four and if I made it through yesterday, I can make it through today! My surgery is set for 04/15/11. We are on the same track. How much weight do you want to lose? My goal is 100 lbs off. I am sooooo stinkin ready for this!

@ Musarion - my information said that 2 days before surgery to do a Full liquid diet—Creamy Soups, milkshakes, liquid Protein shakes, ice cream, and pudding. The day before is clear liquid - coffee, tea, broth, clear sodas.

I'm voluntarily starting a liquid diet just to get used to it. My surgery is scheduled for the 13th, but I thought I'd better get a jump start.

So far so good. I haven't cheated yet....yet!

Well, I'm between you two. The 14th. I get the shakes and 2 steamed veggies a day. I cheated a bit today and ate a slice of turkey breast. At least it was lean protein... I do this until the day before, then Clear liquids until 5 hours before then nothing. Pre-op exam is tomorrow. Woo Hoo.

I don't think it's nerves I'm feeling but rather an anxious excitement. I think tomorrow will be worse until I land in Denver. Once there, I'll be preoccupied with new surroundings. Plus, I hear there's a Joe's Crab Shack near my hotel and I've always wanted to eat there and Seafood is a-okay with my pre-op diet.

Now how I'm going to get to sleep that night, I don't know.

Spot -- Good luck with the surgery! I'm dying that you get Joe's! My Fave! Somehow my Protein shake doesn't sound too good right now. Let us know when you get home.

EastEndMTBr,

This is awsome! Another horse person getting banded the same month as me! I have a Quarter horse Paint (Double registered) gelding and a Quarter Horse mare. She's my fave. My DH has a Tenessee Walker that he rides when I go on the trails. I mostly trail ride now, and I hope to hit them hard this summer when I can get on Katie without the saddle slipping. She's always been a trooper, but she's small, and I'm sure she'd be grateful if I'd lose 100 pounds!

I've always ridden western. I used to barrel race back in the day, and I've done some team penning. I'd be happy if all I can do is get on by myself, but in the back of my mind I'm thinking that I'd like to get thin enough to do some of the speed stuff again.

Lets keep in touch!