okiekatt

Sorry to hear about that, I had a hole right from the get go, took 5 months and 7 fills before they figured it out, never lost a ounce, I had my port replacement surgery and after my second fill with that one ( 2 month after the second surgery ) i finally started loosing weight, so stick in there, sounds like you have been doing GREAT so far and the replacement band will give you a brand new jump start. right now things seem crappy but it will get better I promise! and the second surgery is nothing compared to the first.

I have an Allergan Lap band my surgery was April 13th, 2011, I had 8 fills first and last was done under flouro, I have not at anytime felt any restriction for more then 72 hours, last month I had port replacment surgery, before the surgery I had talked to allergan about compensating me and they gave me a claim/case number and said they would send me a box to return the port, before going in to surgery I told my doctor of this request and she confirmed that they would NOT throw it away "trust me" and they would be the ones to send it back, so after surgery I called Allergan and they said they would send the doctors office the box. but at my post op appt I was told the hospitial threw it away..................hummmmmmmm
I wrote up a request and and listed my out of pocket and all my bill with supporting documents and faxed them to the number as instructed per Allergan but when I called to get the fax number Allergan was very specific about having the band returned to them. its a hard road and my heart goes out to anyone having to go through it.

I got banded on Thursday. I felt pretty ill but feel a little better today, 2 says later. I get waves of cramps each time I move in bed or drink, but it is lessening I think. I'm planning on going out for a little while for a walk. I have a lot of gurgling in my bowels and the watery gas has lessened.

OOO hun dont swell her head....~hugs~
Please dont compare your self with others....it wll only make you crazy...
NO 2 people here are going through the same things mentally...phyisacally as the other.....your doing it and thats all that matters....~hugs~

Yes, I would have to agree, and the most Precious Princess at that!

Hello family, how has your journey been so far? I have been in this 1 ½ years and it’s been a struggle with a few complication, I am trying to hang in there but the weight just doesn’t want to let go…. but I also know there is no way in hell that I would have been able to keep the weight off that I have lost without this band. Everyone else seems to have it so easy and have lost so much more than me by now or maybe those are the just post that sticks out lol

Hello family, how has your journey been so far? I have been in this 1 ½ years and it’s been a struggle with a few complication, I am trying to hang in there but the weight just doesn’t want to let go…. but I also know there is no way in hell that I would have been able to keep the weight off that I have lost without this band. Everyone else seems to have it so easy and have lost so much more than me by now or maybe those are the just post that sticks out lol

Surgury date June 18th 2012, as of 1/11/13 I was officially at 80 pounds lost. Yesterday I took pictures because I was having trouble seeing any difference in myself lately, and taking those pictures completely made my week. I went into them thinking there wouldn't be much of a difference between my 50 pound pictures and these, but I was shocked at how wrong I was. It really put the confidence back in me and it makes me want to work even harder!
     

Good morning B-
I was as concerned as you are when I got to my 3rd fill and felt no restriction and litteraly spent hours a day carying my eyes out because of the amount of money and time i spent to have this surgery for it not to work for me ( I too am self pay). However let me provide you with hope. It took me 5 fills to get to my sweet spot and i have been there for almost 6 months and will have my 1 year bandaversiry in March. Perhaps the nurse mis spoke as I can only imagine she meant to montior your calories and portions untill you start to feel restriciton. Eventually you will get there I promise so stay positive. If you still have concerns I recommend you schedule an appointment with your doctor to clear up any concerns you have.
Take care and I am praying for you.

Okiekatt.. I have also been counting calories.. I use myfitnesspal.com, thou can scan foods directly in and out keeps a food diary.. I hope u like.

Sunshine, thank you for posting this question, I too was wondering what our lapband family has had the best success with….Low carb? Low Cal? smaller portions? Exercise a lot ? OCC? Little or never? I was too tight and had a small unfill and now I have little restriction, so until I can afford to get another fill, I started a very strict exercise regime and low carb diet, crappy thing is I have actually gained I am only 16 days into it and after reading this I am thinking that maybe calorie count might be the way to go…….

Who has had great weight loss with the band? What does your diet look like every day? I need some sample meal/snack plans...

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I have been drinking Water all day. As long as I keep plenty of ice in it, I have no problems drinking it. I also just had a piece of grilled chicken with some spinach for dinner and I did not drink my water with dinner. Waiting 30 minutes is hard though when you want to drink so bad, but I'm gonna do it.

Yes, I would have to agree, and the most Precious Princess at that!

Yes, I would have to agree, and the most Precious Princess at that!

Personally, I am a Princess!

I almost find it harder to maintain than the actual losing. It is hard to get out of the losing mind frame. I keep thinking I need to see the scale going down. Its a constant battle to be ok with my weight and its ok to let myself enjoy food. I have not had any Fluid taken out, but I do continue to exercise and weight lift on a regular basis. If I want a bowl of ice cream, I'm going to have it. I eat like a regular person, I enjoy any type of food I want but in moderation. I go out and have drinks with friends. I'm not a calorie counter, but I use to be constantly worried about how many calories I was eating. Now I'm trying not to fret when I do eat too much of the high calorie items.
I still consume a lot of Protein and try to eat as clean as I can (nothing processed). I have actually put on 5 pounds from my lowest, but have maintained this weight for a while and I'm happy with it. I started out at 330lbs and I now weigh 165lbs, which is a 165 pound loss.

I totally agree with with u Tracy on everything you said. I consider myself at goal because I made it to the size I wanted to be. But It is hard to get out of the losing phase of mind. I still want to lose that last 6 lbs, but I have been maintaining at this weight so well that I think this is the weight my body likes.
I pretty much eat what I like in moderation. I still don't eat bread, rice or carbonation, but I'm good with that.
Plus, if I lost to much more, I would have to start all over on buying clothes and that would totally suck. Medium top/ 8/10 jeans are good for my body type.
Great job everyone...

I lost a WEE bit more than 50% lol. I actually lost more than 50% of my starting weight. My Dr actually had told me before we started he was afraid this wouldnt work for me just becuase of my size that I might need to do the gastric but I didnt want all the plumbing rerouted lol. So I worked hard, followed all the rules, got my fills, and today I weight LESS than how much I have lost (weight around 194 lost over 225 lbs).
When I started my Dr sat down with me for our "goal" session. He said where would you like to be in 2 years. At that time I was hovering around 400lbs. I said "I would like to see 250 when this is all said and done" he said "son I just dont see that happening, how about lets say 275".
Now I go to seminars with him lol

I'm 3 yrs out and have lost 120 of my 140 lbs that I set for myself. My dr considers me at my goal. Diabetes gone for now and off meds. Blood pressure normal without Meds as well. Like everyone is saying it works depending on how much u put into it. If I excercised more I could lose my last 20. But I have to think positive. I've gone from a size 30 to a 12 which is amazing AND I feel great. I can taste just about anything I want without feeling deprived. I've had friends that have been banded, sleeved and gone thru the whole gastric process. All have same issues with different pros and cons. Find what works for u and good luck.

I have lost 100% of my excess fat. I am at goal and have been for about a year. I believe its all about how much you put into it.

Sorry already got rid of it. Optifast, have to purchase it thru my surgeon.

I love EAS it taste good. I never liked any other Protein Drink but I drank them because I had too. Your taste changes after surgery. I think we should open a Bari bar and serve good drinks lol

Well, I thought I'd post some before/after pics (although I'm not really an "after" yet)! I had lapband with plication on May 29 and I'm down 40 lbs. I don't feel like I look different, but the pics help show the change. I encourage everyone to take a "before" pic...I almost didn't do it, but I'm gladi did! Lol.

no weight posting on my DL...thanks goodness. LOL
But my latest NSV was yesterday. It was a birthday celebration in the conference room at work. They had one of those HUGE Cookies. I took a piece about as big as the size of 1/2 a teabag. One of my newer employes said.. are you dieting? I said actually I am just maintaing my weight. One of the long term employees piped in and said she'd lost over 200 lbs... the new girl said...wow... I wouldnt think you'd ever been anything but small.
I was stunned. SMALL? And you are talking about me? What's in that cookie? Of course I didnt say anything but thank you... but then my long term employee whipped out her phone which had a pic of me at the CHristmas party several years ago and proceeded to show it to the new girl. LOL
It was a pretty nice feeling!