B-52

Agree! I actually gained weight after my first fill, before my 2nd. Because at the time of my first fill, 4 weeks after surgery, I was allowed to eat regular food again. It was a slow process, took me 3 fills also before I could say the band was making a difference. I am now comfortably in the "Green Zone", no more hard work or determination on my part. But I will say that period after surgery was a time to learn some hard lessons that will have to be followed as long as you are banded.

For me it was all about the Drugs!!!! What I mean is, I was happy as a bug in a rug, snuggling into my Lazy-Boy recliner with a heavy comforter, plenty of water, some broth and then ice tea, and my TV remote control. I took all my pain killers right on time. Didn't miss a dose! I was happy (and zonked) to stay right there for 24 - 36 hrs following surgery, and heal! THEN I started climbing the walls and just had to get out of the house. But that's another story.

"Let your body tell you when your done". I like that. To reach the BMI the charts tell me I should, not only would I have to enter a genuine starvation mode, I would have to stay away from Protein and go into a Holocaust Survivor Mode!

Most everyone uses "BMI" as a tool for weight loss. But if you read up on it a little, you will see it is only a tool and not very accurate or realistic. Two people, same height and weight, + same BMI's, one can be overweight and the other can be "Lean and Fit" because of their "Body Fat %" versus muscle. It really is not important to me, unlike being on a diet where I can control how I eat, I have a new lifestyle where I will just continue on until the weight loss stops and the muscle maintains. As I get closer to my personal goal, the wight loss had slowed down tremendously. This bothered me until I gained access to a computerized scale that will measure "Body Fat %"

Amen! Why else would I have gone through all this? The band is adjustable. It was designed to get you to the "Green Zone" with the right amount of Fluid. Plus, there has been a misconception on these boards over the last year that it is somehow better to have less fills than the next person, and someone who needs more in their band must somehow be in worst shape than someone with less? THAT'S DANGEROUS!!! People need to get the treatment that is best for them. The band is adjustable and by it's very basic operating design it is intended to be filled with saline to get the individual to the proper place where it will work efficiently. If 2 people had terminal cancer, is the one who takes less chemo better (or worse) off than the one who needs higher doses?

I used to LOVE food. Talking with my friends about what 4 star restaurants we have been to. I travel a lot for business and I can tell you the differences between the Morton's in New York, vs the Morton's in Atlanta, vs. the Morton's in Florida, etc, etc. Last night we had about 12 people over for Christmas. I cooked a BEAUTIFUL Rib Roast, along with mashed potatoes, and so on. I can't eat meat anymore. One bite of the Prime Rib and I was finished with it no matter how much I chewed and how small the swallow was. But you know what? Because of the band, I am not that interested in food anymore. I can't explain it, but I do know it is a characteristic of being in the green zone. I really don't miss it all that much. Plus, you will loose enough weight, you will feel so good and confident about yourself that you will start thinking like a thin person does. (thin people don't have anxiety attacks over food)

All I will say is "It Will Change Your Life" So what if you can no longer eat certain foods.

There has been much discussion as to what you should expect from the band. I took this picture in my Dr.'s exam room with my I-Phone. It is not in good focus, but you can still read it. \ Green Zone: 1) Not Hungry 2) Good weight Loss 3) Portion Control 4) Patient Satisfaction \ \ For Myself, I have been in the Green Zone for a few months now, and it has done everything I had expected it to do prior to surgery!

Being "Morbidly Obese" is a Health Problem

Throw my vote in also! The band HAS taken that away from me! I also am not starving, nor do I need "hard Work" or "Will Power" to make this thing work. All I have to do is listen to it!

For me and my insurance, it was a little different. First, my Surgeon didn't care less about the 6 month supervised diet. It was between me and my insurance co. Just one more hoop to jump through. Before they approved the surgery, they wanted to be sure I have exhausted other alternatives. My word, or the word of non-medical people such as weight watchers, jenny craig, etc, is not sufficient. It had to be a Dr. who signed off on the paperwork. Wether I gained or lost was not the issue. It was to show that standard diet methods was not enough, and surgery was the only/last/best alternative. Once I got finished jumping through all the hoops for the insurance co., THEN my surgeon wanted me to loose 20lbs just for the surgical procedure only, to shrink the liver.

There appears to be 2 schools of thought on this, and each of us can only go on their own personal experiences. For me, it definitely controls my hunger! It also controls "How Much" I eat. Anything more would result in pain - vomiting. My only decision is to decide What and When. And a lot of the "Whats" have been eliminated, and I am not that hurried for the "Whens"

I guess everyone is different. The band has curbed my appetite immensely! Sure, everyone gets cravings, but it does not take long to realize you don't really need it. People say the band makes you feel "Full". It is not that way for me. When you are full, there is a signal sent to the brain that you really don't need to eat anymore. It is that signal I get. It as though I don't have any interest in eating, or food. There are times I blow it off for an entire day! It's 3 o'clock here as I type this, and all I have had so far today is my shake for Breakfast. I'm just not interested in eating. THAT is the message my brain is getting.

Very True! Between my first and 2nd fill, of which I got 4 cc's, I GAINED weight because also, at that point, I was allowed to eat just about anything I wanted, or whatever I chose would be a more correct phrase. Things really did not start to happen until after my 2nd fill, then after my 3rd (and last) WOW!

That was probably because of inflammation mimicking restriction, giving you a taste of what is to come. Now that the swelling has gone down, you are returning to normal. Trust me....it gets even better!

I smoked at least 1 to 1-1/2 packs a day since I was in High School. I graduated in 1970 so that gives you a idea how long. I quit for good about 6 years ago. Smoking is a Obsessive–compulsive disorder (google it) and should be treated as such. You need to speak with your Dr. and treat it from this angle for successful results, that may include Rx medication. You have to really want to quit. To say you want to do it to get by for surgery, IMO, is superficial and you have set yourself up to fail before you have even begun.

You were banded less than a month ago, which means you are still within the healing phase to get you back to "NORMAL" NORMAL as in though they way you were before you had the surgery. With all the same appetites, etc. People get hung up about "Loosing weight" within this first segment. It is not. It is about getting the surgery, and healing 100%, and getting you back to that place of being healthy, and "Normal" in order to be ready for what lies ahead. Everyone I know who has ever had any type of major surgery with a pre-op and post-op eating program of liquids, etc, has lost weight. Has nothing to do with the lap band! If you are eating, and feeling all these emotions, then your post-op time is about over and you are ready to start getting on with the weight loss program. But believe me, you have not started it yet! You have only gotten prepared for it! You say things were great in the beginning? You're not even at the beginning yet! But judging by your frustration, I can tell you are ready to get it on. You'll be fine.

You want to heal, and have the surrounding tissue heal strong and healthy, and have the band set properly, thus avoiding complications later on down the road. The soft tissue around the band is expected to be inflamed and tender. Thus the Liquid, then soft foods. Introducing hard, rough and possibly large pieces can damage the tissue, and/or move the band out of expected position prior to becoming properly seated. It's true with just about any surgery. The site has to heal before it can be used in a normal capacity. As far as dilating (stretching) the pouch/esophagus, that is another problem that would be more of a concern later on when you start to experience some restriction of food passing through the band. Yes, the pouch can expand, and shrink. People with dilated pouches will have to go back to full liquids, and possibly a full unfill so as not to have food settle in the pouch for a while. The real danger again, is to the band placement for proper function.

You can "Cheat" by staying with the mushies, but eating too much outside the recommended portion sizes/frequency. OR you can be cheating by eating beyond the mushies and sneaking in solid foods. The latter is not a good idea. There is a reason, other than loosing weight, that Dr.s have you on a post-op regime of slowly bringing you back to "Normal"

Depends upon the layer of fat on your stomach. My port is right below the skin, sitting upon the muscle. No fat. It sticks out like 1/2 of a golf ball! You can see it from across the room. I will not wear tight fitting t-shirts, etc., because it sticks out so much. Some people here talk about their port being deep and the Dr. has trouble finding it for fills. A blind man can find mine.

Sorry, but I still cannot do it. I can go and edit my profile, save changes, but when I check my profile it states I have not entered any information yet. But if I go back to my settings, it does show as being there.

Same here, except I do have a Protein shake along with a protein supplement for Breakfast. I'm not a believer in the "starvation" mode. Sometimes I think it is a excuse to eat! I have enough stored away as extra weight (or did) to last me on a deserted island for a while. Just need the protein and Water to keep the engine running.

Want to know how hard headed (stupid) I am??? Shortly after I posted this, I went in the fridge to find something for lunch. A LEFTOVER PORK CHOP! W.T.H was I thinking! Guess what? I GOT STUCK!!! Started to hiccup, (knew I was in trouble then), slime began building up, stood over the bathroom sink and with one good hiccup......up it came! (I feel much better now)

There's nothing wrong with admitting it. This is a website for fat people who may not want to admit it, but eat like pigs! That's the very thing the band is going to change! And it may take a few painful episodes to get it through our heads!

Speaking only for myself, I was THRILLED when it started to happen. BRING IT ON! I welcomed it. After all, I had surgery to STOP me from eating. So instead of dreading the restriction and getting stuck, I learned how to eat differently, and learned what foods to avoid. I have been stuck more times that I can count, or remember. It was my school of hard knocks! I could have ran to the Dr. to get unfilled, but where would that have put me? Instead I was careful like walking on eggshells until things began to change. It has made all the difference in the world! But then, That's just Me! Seems like everyone here does things differently.