Alexandra

I have exactly the same response, Scotty. My fullness-ometer has always been three steps (23 steps, more like) behind my brain, and that hasn't really changed post-banding. I have had to learn to stop and take a step back before I feel full, because three minutes later I really DO feel full and one more bite would have done me in. As you say, it's all part of the learning curve of banding. Enjoy your spotted Dick!! (Which is what, exactly?)

Tinkerbell, you are absolutely not offending anyone with your questions!!! The answer to your question is yes. Because our stomachs are not altered in any way by the implantation of the band they still work normally. If you find that you don't have restriction, there's nothing holding you back from consuming as many calories as before. That is, too many for weight loss. Your stomach capacity isn't really diminished if you have no restriction to speak of. Surgery itself often results in swelling and a post-op period of restriction, but that doesn't usually stay beyond a few weeks. After that point, for most people, an adjustment is necessary to tighten the band and create restriction. And it's that restriction making it hard to eat too much, too fast, or too often. Voila! Weight loss.

Hi Karen, Oh, wow, I totally know how you feel. The very worst PB I ever had was on seaweed from a sushi lunch. It was horrible! I hope you're feeling better now. Liquids after a PB isn't the same prescription as liquids after surgery. You just want to be careful to keep your esophagus quiet for the next couple of meals and eat only the softest of mushy foods or stick to Soup. If you go right back to eating solid food you could exacerbate any irritation that the PB caused, which could just make the situation worse. Take care!!

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. It is NORMAL to stop losing or even bounce back a few pounds after the initial drop of weight. IT IS NORMAL!!! Sorry for yelling but it's SO important to hear. The initial drop of weight, if you have one, sends your body into a sort of shock and pretty soon the dropping of weight will just stop even if you have changed absolutely nothing. Especially if you're really only taking in less than 1000 calories a day, your body thinks you're starving it and will rebel. Quite naturally! Please don't worry, and do start taking in more calories. You use up more calories than that just getting out of bed in the morning! Your weight will again start to drop, but you need to think more about nutrition and healing than the numbers. RELAX!! You're absolutely, perfectly, 100% NORMAL.

Hi Alex, from another Alex! Welcome to LBT. You just had your surgery yesterday, so it's not at all surprising you feel bad. Is this your first surgery? Everyone recovers differently but healing does happen and you WILL feel better. You may want to start a new thread if you have specific questions. Be good to yourself and get lots of rest. You'll be feeling better, I promise, in just a couple of days!!

Hi Julie, If you're asking whether you made a mistake cancelling your fill, I'd say no! If you are doing well without an adjustment there's no reason to rush into it. Many doctors won't even consider giving a fill until weight loss has stalled for at least a couple of weeks or a month. You're doing great! You're one of the lucky ones who does well without an adjustment for a while. Enjoy it!

Cindyp, this is a really good way of putting it! Surgery and then each new fill means learning all over again how to eat, essentially. That is a kind of scary thing, and it can be very unnerving to be taken by surprise. That's why everyone keeps saying go slow, take it easy, experiment but be careful. Whatever else is true about life with the band, there's no denying that being overfilled is way worse than being underfilled. And it doesn't lead to additional weight loss. So give yourself all the time you need to really adjust to a new fill, being mindfull that your body needs to adjust too, not just your mind.

I'm really glad you're healing up, Lisa!! I can't wait to see you post a picture of a nice, cleanly healed, CLOSED (former) port site on your belly.

Hi Francesca, pills won't hurt your band, but the wrong kind of pills won't be good for your stomach. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) and some other things can depress the production of protective enzymes, or something like that, leaving you more vulnerable to ulcers. It's more than just a matter of a medication "upsetting" your stomach. Talk to your doctor about what you're taking and whether he can change your prescription to something less likely to increase your chances of ulcers. Good luck!!

CONGRATULATIONS!! This is a red-letter day for sure. Soon you'll be joining us in bandland!! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

I mentioned in another thread that I really don't think it does anyone good to starve ourselves, especially right after surgery. Go ahead and eat what's necessary to keep the growlies away! This is a big step, certainly, but it's not one we have to get used to overnight. Norma, you will indeed be able to eat. 0 calorie salads are fine and a staple for many people. As you explore life with your band, you'll see that you're not deprived at all. But it does take some getting used to. I know that I could never have achieved the permanent loss I want without a serious tool in my arsenal. Oprah has some tools in her arsenal most people don't have--the personal chef, trainer, and the motivation of being on camera every day. With those kinds of helps, maybe I wouldn't have needed a band either.

Donali, what's with the asterisks? I was looking for footnotes! Are those just your 3-star favorites? I thought I loved certain movies until I saw the LOTR trilogy. I've never been so captivated by a cinematic experience before or since. So they are all my #1. Other than that I'm a big fan of period pieces and complicated spy flicks, anything I can get totally lost in. Things like The Usual Suspects and Howard's End, just to name a couple.

Norma, the cost for adjustments depends totally on your doctor's policies. In my case, it's very expensive for fills since they're done in the hospital radiology suite, but this last adjustment was done in the doctor's office. It will probably just be the cost of an office visit (my insurance covers it, so I don't know exactly). You're lucky that your carrier will cover up to six. That's better than most!

Congratulations!! What a rush getting that sooo-important piece of news from the insurance company. You're on your way!! :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny

Norma, I personally think that hunger is a newbie bandster's worst enemy. Go ahead and satisfy your hunger!! Especially if you're nursing you need extra calories. Holy cow, I remember how starving I used to get when I was nursing--it's totally unrealistic to think you can adhere to a very low calorie diet now! If you're still on liquids, explore the world of Soup. Seafood bisques and egg drop soup saved me during this phase. Mushy foods include things like cheeses and meat salads (tuna salad, cottage cheese, chili--being sure to eat slowly and let each bite settle well) and there's no reason at all to deny yourself enough to feel satisfied. If you get too hungry you'll only be more frustrated than ever and might end up bingeing, possibly doing damage to your pouch and/or band. Why suffer?!? EAT, GIRL!!

Man, this is one TERRIFIC show. I highly recommend it, especially for people who are still missing Twin Peaks.

Mariposa (I love your username!) -- Many people find that it takes two or three or more adjustments to get to the right level for them. Be careful what you wish for, too: If you find that you suddenly have greatly increased restriction you may be headed for unpleasantness if you're not very, very careful. I've had fills sort of tighten up on me even three weeks afterwards, so I personally would wait at least a month before deciding that an adjustment wasn't enough. My theory (and that's all it is, a theory) is that the stomach tissue reacts to increased pressure from the band by sort of thinning out a little, counteracting the action of the band for a little while. Then after some time has gone by and it gets used to the pressure, it goes back to its normal thickness and voila! Restriction. I've been surprised by increased restriction several weeks later on at least two occasions. Good luck on Tuesday. Have fun with Doctor Cutie-pie!

Oh, Norma, it sounds like indeed a longer exploratory period might have helped you a great deal. This IS a big step and we have to be really ready to take it before we do. You will heal, and you will feel better physically very soon. It's only been a couple of weeks and a LOT of people go through a period of questioning right after surgery. Please be very good to yourself and most of all don't agonize over watching calories or anything like that now. The scale is NOT going to be your friend at this point. This time, as I'm sure you've heard, is all about healing. When you're ready to take that next step will be time enough for a fill and to get your weight loss started. Take care of yourself, take care of your child and know that your band will be waiting when you're ready to jump in. And please post with your questions and feelings--it's very valuable for all of us to see all sides of the banding story. Hugs,

I drove the morning after my surgery. I wasn't taking any pain meds though I was indeed sore. But the idea of my daughters NOT going to daycare that day was way worse than the pain, so I bit the bullet. :rolleyes

Happy birthday, Teresa!! Hope you have a great day!! (Vinesqueen, I ALWAYS think of hippos and birdies on people's birthdays, too! )

What the heck is Pogo?

Well, some nights were worse than others. On a really bad night, if I wasn't propped WAY up on pillows, I'd get symptoms whenever I'd fall asleep (since my swallow reflex would stop). A couple of nights I had to move to a reclining chair to get any sleep at all. Then there were nights when I'd wake up in the morning feeling just peachy and think everything was gone. But I still wasn't sleeping in my normal position and I knew I couldn't, so that had to be fixed.

I've had no problems with spicy food at all. As long as the food goes down, my Iron stomach can tolerate just about anything. Fried foods are actually very easy for me to eat. Which is why I have to try to avoid them, for the most part. Loads of calories, very little nutrition, and a waste of effort. That was hard getting used to and I can't say I succeed all the time, but I try.

LOL! Hope you didn't have nightmares, Paula! The night was wonderful. I often wake up briefly during the night--I'm a light sleeper and my kids make noise. But last night every time I woke up I realized I had snuggled down a little farther in my pillows and there was no discomfort or bad taste in my mouth. What a joy! This morning I was able to flop over and catch a few more zzzs without thinking twice, which privilege I'd been missing more than anything. So it looks like the adjustment worked, and I'm a happy camper once again. Thanks for asking!

Hi Rachel, Yes, if you look around you will find some negative stories related to banding. But there is no denying that in the worst cases (like the "horror story" that's been bumped for you), the problems are likely related to medical malpractice or medical conditions the patient had beforehand. These are chances everyone takes with all kinds of surgery. Band complications tend to be minor and fairly easily fixed. And when they can't be fixed the band is removed, which does happen occasionally. But even that doesn't have to be a very negative story. I've heard stories of people having the band removed and doing great without one; having it removed and converted to bypass; having it removed and replaced immediately with a new one; or having it removed and waiting a while before having a new one installed. So with the band, even when there are complications there are still options open to us. It's a relatively non-invasive, non-complicated surgery and the implant works in pretty predictable ways. So you really aren't going to find lots of scary stories like those you see on bypass sites. Good luck with your research, and ask lots of questions!