NWgirl

I think to an extent most of the answers could be me, but overall I think the biggest change has been my ability to stop using food as a crutch.

Yoyr body just under went major surgery. Fluid retention, etc comes along with that. I recommend staying off the scale and focusing on healing

Is the goal weight realistic for your body type and age?

I went with a new pcp when I was going through the process because the one I was with was unwilling to look at wls as a viable option. I also got a letter from my pediatric doctor (I was 23 at time of surgery) because he had been my Dr throughout childhood and had watched me struggle as a teen to lose weight with no avail. If your Dr who you're paying is unwilling to ve supportive in the way you wish, hire a new one.

I had the same symptoms occur. After the second unfill and before the third, I demanded a barium swallow to make sure nothing major had happened (slip, etc). My band had gotten a lot tighter due to allergies, but the surgeon did say that it's possible I have scar tissue under the band as well. Just watch everything closely and contact your dr with any unusual changes. I hope all goes well for you.

I get that feeling if I eat incorrectly. I also will voice my concern that you should still be on post op diet.

I was just told to wait 6 weeks post op. Obviously the empty calories are something you dont want to over indulge in, but as far as actually consuming alcohol, I was told it was fine.

Satisfied, for me, is where I am no longer physically hungry and I do not feel like I just had thanksgiving dinner. I really pay attention when I eat and when I no longer feel physical hunger, I am done.

I was an emotional eater before surgery. My dietician really helped me the most, giving me the mindset that this is not a diet and that I can eat the things I want but in moderation. I think as my band got to the right restriction, I finally understood what satisfied really meant in terms of food. I also faced a lot of other problems in my life that I used to eat away and it was truly like a weight being lifted. I dont know what combination of things changed, but my emotional eating is gone. For me, it was a gradual change to get to where I am now vs the person I was before. I took the first step to happiness by getting this surgery, which in turn let me love who I am. I've also gained a lot of confidence and am no longer a wall flower watching other people live their lives. Just remember this is a journey and take it day by day. There will be good days, bad days, and ok days but as long as you're in the mindset of your long term goals, you'll make it

I was going to buy one but my surgeon said no. I cant remember her exact reasoning, just that she did not like them. I used a miniature pillow pet the first few days post op and it worked wonders.

I wore a cami with built in bra after surgery and then regular bras after a couple days. I would just try something that elevates your breasts.

Really have only gotten hiccups or a heavy feeling in my throat

I have the fitbit ultra and love it. It's the older model of the fitbit line. Customer service has always been amazing and the app/website is easy to use. I also have the fitbit scale, which does weight, bmi, body fat percent and lean vs fat. I am planning on getting the flex soon, although it is on backorder for 6-8 weeks at this point. Unlike the other fitbit products I've owned, this one is also water resistant which is a huge plus to me. I also like that it's a wristband and not something that clips on because I have misplaced and washed mine before...

I only had to go to the pre-op class prior to surgery. Because my surgeon also does sleeve and bypass and has specific days she operates on all surgeries, it took about a month from approval to have the actual surgery.

This happens as you lose weight. There is fat around your internal organs as well, so as that goes away you will need to continue receiving fills. As you progress in your journey, fills will be less frequent but until then you just need to stick with the rules given by your surgeon and continue to go in for fill appointments.

I would assume your surgeon's office will call when they get the official approval paperwork. You can always try calling to see if they've received it and see if you can schedule all required pre-op appointments

I can burp like a champ still haha. It will come.

My surgeon wanted me to do the vertical sleeve, but with my research I decided the band was right for me. She told me that I could expect to lose 40-60% of my excess weight whatever surgery I chose, and I decided the band had less risk of initial complications and food issues. I didn't like the sound of dumping or never actually feeling satiated, along with the longer recoveries involved with bypass or sleeve. Really it is a personal decision and you need to weigh the pros and cons of each type to make an informed decision. You know your body and your own weight issues better than anyone else.

you also have to remember the department that receives the faxes isn't the normal customer service department you call with questions, so it may not be incompetency in so much as the computer system for one department doesn't update with another department's info. Anyways, CONGRATS!

I had that happen for awhile post-op, but it did subside. I still do get burping when I've had too much to eat or certain types of foods.

When losing, I tried to stick between 1300-1500.

Especially as you can tolerate. Fills can vary wildly patient to patient in the amount of initial swelling and the amount of time they can take to "kick" in. Just listen to your body when youre eating and watch for any sign that the food is processing harder than normal. If this happens, stop eating til the sign goes away and then resume with smaller bites/more focus. If you end up getting stuck/PBing, then return to liquids for the day as this can irritate the band.

I actually just had my third unfill today in the last couple months. I have always gotten bad allergies during summer time, and so I will go for an unfill and then a few weeks later I will feel my band tightening up. When I start to consciously make the decisions to only eat "safe" foods (soft foods that wont get stuck), I know something is wrong. Always be proactive when it comes to your band. This is only a tool, but it is one that you have to treat properly. Being too tight will most likely not lead to weight loss and could lead to a host of other problems. If you get Fluid out, you can always get it put back in. If you feel as if something could be w-r-o-n-g with your band, tell your surgeon so you can have the proper tests scheduled. I requested a barium swallow between my second and third unfills because I wanted to make sure that nothing had gone wrong internally with the band. Luckily my allergies had just caused another round of marathon tightening and nothing was wrong with my actual band, but it's always something we need to be proactive about. If we don't tell our Dr's what's going on within our bodies, they won't have any idea something is wrong and won't be able to help us.

For the first few months after surgery, I took a daily stool softener to help regulate as well as a generic milk of magnesia when I needed to. About 6-8 months in, I was able to stop taking those because my diet was varied enough that I got all the fiber needed from diet alone. Make sure to take a fiber supplement if needed and drink plenty of water. I would also work on eating fruits/veggies as they really help with proper regulation.