NY Bandster

Hi all, I have read a lot about how much better the weight loss is once you get a fill but I think I need some reassurance. Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since I was banded and I have absolutely NO restriction. I am on mushies and am STARVING! I have been following the Dietician's instructions and have only been eating 1/2 cup at each meal. Today I broke away from that just to see how much my little belly could hold. I ate probably about 2 cups and I didn't feel full. I stopped eating because I felt bad that I was "cheating". Have any of you gone from absolutely no restriction to the "green zone"? How long did it take? I think part of me is worrying that something is wrong with the band. I don't feel anything! All this hard work to get here and now I feel like I can eat a cow! HELP!!! Thanks all!!

Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences. It really does help!! @ sugar - I have been staying within the 800 - 1000 calories a day range with a couple of days going to 1200 when I am super hungry. I'm still staying on mushies because I am afraid to push it to regular food. I am not losing even at this calorie range! This really worries me! Even when I do get my first fill and have some restriction, I'm not so sure I will be eating much less than 1000 calories. So here's my next question for those of you that have found your green zone.... How many calories do you take in each day? Thanks again!

I'm curious about this pouch test too! Please do tell!!

Thanks so much and congrats to you!!!!

Thanks for responding! Yes, I understand the fills. My doctor won't see me until I'm 6 weeks post surgery. It's so discouraging to feel this way and know that you have to wait another 2 weeks just to get started and then I don't know how long to get it right. I'm not losing any weight for the past 2 weeks even though I am following the plan and staying under 1000 calories. I just hope that it doesn't take long to get into the zone! I don't think I can take another couple of months of hunger!! How often were you able to get the fills to get you to the 5.25cc's? Thanks again.

Congrats! Enjoy the down time and get some rest! Your body needs it! Keep walking every couple of hours, it helps with the GAS! Good luck on your journey! Hello all. My name is Joe and I have just gotten out of surgery five hours ago. You can read "My Introduction" in the introduction section if you care courious of my back story. For the most part, I feel good. Still a tiny bit nauseous from the anesthesia but I am up and walking around. I woke up in a daze with extremely friendly nurses helping me if I needed. I luckily got a room to myself. My wonderful girlfriend has been right by my side every minute. I am seriously thirsty. Only thing I can do is wet my lips with some Water. Tomorrow morning I will take an x-ray to make sure I am good to go then I can go home. I am very excited to start my journey and lose weight! If anyone has any tips for the hospital portion of this adventure, please let me know. Thanks in advance for anyone that can help. Until next time.

@wanna be....my port is at the largest incision site. It's not where I expected it to be either. It is on my right side half way between my right breat and belly button. I'm not really happy that it is there. I thought it would be much lower. I'm worried that as I lose weight, you will be able to see it since there is less fat there than the lower belly area. Now at 3 weeks out, if I push in on the area, I can feel it. Ewww....weird!!

Hi, I was banded on 9/1 and I still get those muscular feeling pains where the port is. I feel it especially when I have been sitting for a long time and then stand up. It takes a few minutes to straighten up. I'm hoping that this is normal at 3 weeks out. Anyone else have this happen? I never really had any severe pain and I never had to take any pain meds, so still having these uncomfortable episodes now is a bit worrysome. Thanks all....

Ok, you think you are cray-cray, I was banded on Sept. 1st and I have lost 8 pounds. You lost 22!!! I'm not going to get super cray-cray yet because I do understand that this is a process and I am still healing, but I do have to say that I am disappointed! 8 pounds in 17days?? really? on liquid and mush??? UGH!!! I have been writing down every calorie that has gone into my body and I have not exceeded 1000 calories on any day. The protein shakes alone have 200 each. What the heck????

Hi all, I am on day 11 post op and I have not lost much weight. I went to see the surgeon for my follow-up on Fri and lost 6 pounds. Since then I have gained .2 pounds. I am still on the liquids and am consuming less than 900 calories a day. Why is this happening? I feel so discouraged!!! Has anyone else experienced this? All input is appreciated!! Stacy

Congrats and thanks for sharing your experience with me. I think once I get the first 20 off, I'll feel a little better!

Yes, when you put it like that, I guess my 6 isn't so bad. My worry now is that if I'm not losing on the liquid diet , what will happen when I start to eat?

Thanks Stephanie! Congrats on your success!!

Thanks! I read about the amazing weight loss of some people on this site and keep hoping for the same! I'm following.....

Hi, I had my band placed on September 1st. I had my postop appt today and explained to the dietician that I am SUPER HUNGRY. She spoke with the doctor and they both agreed to let me add Greek Yogurt to my Protein shakes to thicken them up. They want their patients on the liquid for 2 full weeks. The dietician did mention to me that a previous MD that she worked with allowed puree at 10 days. I don't think you will have any problems if you stay with truly pureed foods and you don't over do it!! Good luck! Stacy

I'm 4 days post op and I have to say I haven't experienced terrible pain. Of course right after surgery in the recovery room I was hurting but they gave me Morphine and put me on a Morphine pump and I was fine. I was out of bed a few hours after surgery walking around. The worst pain is the gas!! Keep walking!! I haven't taken any pain meds since I left the hospital, so I'm happy about that. I felt some nausea in the hospital but they gave me a shot of Zofran and I was fine. They said it was from the anesthesia. No nausea since I have been home! Don't be nervous, you have all of us here for support! It hasn't been bad at all!! I'm so glad that I did it! Now I hope to see the scale move! Good luck to all of you with upcoming surgery dates!!

I hear my tummy rumbling and I feel it!!

I'm 4 days post op and have experienced the same rumbling in my belly. I have been suffering from terrible gas. I keep hoping that the rumbling is NOT hunger! The gas is starting to work it's way out, but now I have the runs. You know what that means.....grrrrr! (I know - TMI) Should we be feeling any hunger with the band?

Hi everyone, I was banded on Sept. 1st too! I'm feeling a litle sore and am having some gas pains, but haven't taken the pains meds so it's not too bad! I haven't been drinking as much as I can because of the gas so I'm hungry! I was surprised to feel hunger. Anyone else feeling this? Stacy

Hi, All of my paperwork was submitted to Aetna last week. I called today to find out if it was reviewed yet and I was told that it is still under review and that within 48 hours a Nurse would be assigned to my case. I'm hoping that this means that it is looking good. Has anyone ever had a denial from Aetna and had a Nurse assigned to them or do you get the nurse when you are approved. This waiting is so stressful!!!! This decision will be so life changing for me. Thanks everyone!!

Hooray all!!!!! Good luck to everyone!!! I'm waiting on my date. Hoping for the end of Aug....

Thanks for the info!!! I'm sure the people that get denied can use a little help!! Congratulations to everyone that was approved. I have Aetna and was denied. the denial was uphelp in the first and second level appeal by Aetna. It was so stressful. The final appeal is an independent external review process. This is where the decision goes out to an independent doctor not associated with the insurance company who will decide based upon the information provided if the patient meets the standards published by NIH and other medical groups. Mine did and the decision by Aetna was overturned. The entire process took almost 10 months and was SO stressful. All of my appeals were done with the help of http://www.obesitylaw.com It cost me nothing and Kelley is the BEST !! She called me 2 days before I was going to Disney to tell me the good news. She even offered to give me passes to Disneyland that they use to take out the employees in the office each year. Unfortunately I was going to Disney World in FL so I couldn't use the passes. She was so nice I decided I would tell everyone who was having issues with approval about them. They provide an awesome service to people who could really use help. I believe her husband Walter had both Gastric bypass and a Lapband revision later on. Good Luck to anyone having to deal with Aetna.

I wish you luck! Keep us posted!! I also have Aetna, but was denied. I am appealing, but wasn't told anything about a nurse handling my case. When I call the reps are not helpful at all. I faxed my appeal to the expedited line and left a message 3 times now with no response. They are supposed to let you know within 72 hrs. This is really stressful and I am praying they approve me. I was scheduled for August 10. Approved!!! I'm so excited. It only took 5 days! I wish the same for everyone else that is WAITING.... So stressful!

Congrats!!!