Kate rules

Wow! That is awesome! Good job!

It is your business whom you decide to tell. I would encourage you to come clean to the people you care about. Tell them you were embarrassed and weren't ready for them to know until that day. Sounds like you have had some really big experiences (no pun intended). I can only guess that if you had the ability to navigate all these changes by yourself then you have the courage to tell people that you had the courage to take this step. I have only denied getting the band once and called him back two minutes later to come clean and apologize. You would not have posted if it didn't bother you. So take the big personality and let it shine through a smaller you.

I told only family and best friends at first. Some of my co-workers suspect but are smart enough not to ask me. I tell people who have not seen me in forever that I'm stuffing less food in my face and getting off my rear end. Which is entirely true. It is none of their business what you with your body. I was on limited duty for 4 weeks after surgery and said I had surgery on my esophagus (they knew about my severe reflux from tums on desk all the time). Again, entirely true. What exact procedure doesn't matter.

Nothing but the gown. But they were really cool and professional. Ask for an extra blanket so you be a bit more modest for your wheel into the OR. Yeah, I've given birth twice so it's all been seen. I have no sense of modesty left now. LOL. But seriously, ask for a second gown to help keep the ladies under wraps and a blanket for your nether regions for when they lift the gown. I brought a cami with shelf bra for post op so it would be easier for them to lift and keep the girls supported and concealed.

Don't beat yourself up about one mistake. As long as it was only one mistake. You recognize that you slipped up. Why else would you post it? I have thought, as I've been sitting in front of a burger and fries, I want to eat this whole thing. But my band and beginnings of self-control keep me from doing it. Mostly the band. Do what the others say and try to do better today and each day after that. As for the 3500 calorie burger, maybe at heart attack grill. Know they pride themselves on serving up the bad stuff. Mine usually runs around 500-640.

I started at a relatively low BMI but the change I've seen over the past 8 months is huge. I lost 27 pounds during the pre-op phase but the 29 pounds since then have made the biggest difference in my health. So over the past 10 months, I dropped from being 60 pounds to only 7.8 pounds from a "normal" BMI. First time in so many years. It wasn't all Lapband, I had to make changes in my view and use (abuse) of food. You can have any type of WLS and regain the weight if you deviate from the diet. I chose Lapband over sleeve because I didnt want anything done to my body that couldn't be reversed and significantly altered my anatomy. I liked that it is reversible if necessary, adjustable and my doctor recommended it based on my BMI and lifestyle. Good luck and happy losing.

Hmmm. I can't do solid food in morning. My band somehow loosens up as the day goes on. My first meal is always a very small, liquids experience. My failures to abide by this rule has resulted in past stuck episodes and vomiting. Since you can eat some food you are not too right but you will have to make careful food choices to ensure you are getting the right nutrients. Happy losing. I was slow until my 3rd fill and have been good to go since.

I was sore for a few weeks. I am just getting over having irritated my port. I forget sometimes that I need to be careful with that area.

Yeah you can drink. I will admit that I got massively drunk two months ago off of two and a half drinks. Remember that you can't eat as much so you can't really get that full meal that helps with the effects from booze. Then again I was a heavyweight lightweight drinker before the lapband and two would have me buzzed. But I have never been that drunk before. And they weren't very strong either.

I would switch back to mushies and liquids. You may have irritated your pouch and it would make sense to rest it for a few days.

I do powder. Can't get stuck on that. Hope you feel better soon

I slept in recliner with heating pad on stomach and I'm doing a bit better. I did mushies and liquids only today. I am not sure what happened but I still plan to follow up with doctor tomorrow. Pain seems to centered around port. Think I irritated port but still going to err on side of caution. Thanks for the support.

I can swallow fine. My appetite is fine. But my stomach feels gurgly and really only feels better when I'm reclining. Feel like im having some reflux. Maybe a stomach bug got me.

Heating pad, walking and time. I had a tough post op too.

That's awesome.

Ok guys. Last night I had to lug a heavy object a fairly long distance. Since then I've been having abdominal pain and I am freaking out. Is it possible to slip your band by lifting something too heavy or cause a hiatus hernia (or in my case, make it come back after repair) that would mess with the band? I'm calling the doctor first thing Monday morning but need some childish reassurance. Appreciate any feedback.

I didn't have plication but I'm sending good wishes your way. I had bad gas pains as well. The heating pad helped. If you are feeling like you are severely dehydrated don't be afraid to be your own advocate with your doctor. They were paid to provide the best care possible and that includes listening to your concerns and responding to those concerns after the surgery. Hang in there.

I started out simple and slow: take the stairs wherever and whenever they are available. Park at the bottom of the mall parking lot and do an extra lap. I hate the gym. Don't do the gym because I don't like driving somewhere in addition to the time it takes to exercise. Simple exercises like pushups, crunches and walking will make a big difference and if your friend is anything like me, the privacy of your home is Appreciated when you are still self conscious about your body and fitness level. Just a thought

I'm doing 1200 calories a day and logging in my fitness pal. Keeps me honest. I've been losing weight pretty well at this calorie intake but I also have a reasonably active lifestyle and have to wear heavy gear at work, so every day is a workout. I tried fewer calories and I didn't feel well and was sluggish. So I didn't get my exercise because I was tired. I found a sweet spot but yours will probably be different

My insurance will only cover every 4 weeks. If your surgeon will do before and it was part of the self pay fee then I don't see why they wouldn't. Agree with cocoabean that you probably should be in town for a few days after fill just in case. Or do a small fill.

Thanks everyone. It has been a tough year for me. I kind of feel like this is the start of a new chapter. There is still more to do but I have hope. On a funny note: the other day I started walking up the stairs to my front door and forgot that I've lost so much weight. I braced for the fatigue I used to feel whenever I climbed those stairs. I didn't feel the fatigue and bounded up the stairs. What a moment. Has anyone else had a moment like that?

Awesome! Congrats!

I had a fill like that and it left me pretty upset too. Is there another doctor or PA in your office who can do fills? I found mine and we've never had a problem. You can ask for more aggressive fills. My advice is to schedule fill for Mon or Tues just in case you get overfilled and need an emergency unfill over the next few days.

I know how self-congratulating posts can be a bit much but I want to share that I love my lapband because I just weighed myself and the scale said 149.8. I promised myself that I would be 149.9 or lower by April 14, my birthday. This weight is significant to me because it is the lowest weight I've had in over 10 years! I hope that this will give someone else who is struggling hope that their day will come too and it will be sweet because of the hard work it took to get there. My journey isn't over because now I have 19.8 pounds left to help me become a healthier me. Your success stories have inspired me during dark and weak moments. Thank you everyone for being here on this site!

It gets better. I had a lot of post op pain. All I could do one night was pace in circles in my living room. The heating pad helped quite a bit.