Savannah26

It is a very personal decision - I chose not to tell anyone except my daughter and favorite cousin. I didn't tell my family or my best friend or anyone else. It was definitely the right decision for me. It has allowed me the time I need to learn how to live as a banded person without having to deal with the constant barade of questions regarding how much weight have you lost. Most people do not understand that the lapband is not bypass surgery. With the lapband, your weight is 1-2 lbs. per week - IF you are lucky. With bypass, the weight appears to fall off. I began to prepare everyone by letting them know that I was on a diet, trying to lose weight and eat healthy. I have ALWAYS eaten very slow, so they are used to that - lol. None of the above is untrue - you have to diet and eat healthy and exercise, along with the lap band to see any real results. By the way, I checked in the hospital at 7am and was on my way home before 2pm. The surgery was very easy and so was the recovery. I took 4 vacation days, stayed with my daughter during that time, returned to work on Monday - no issues. Take plenty of Gas-X to prevent / help the gas pain from surgery. Good Luck! Stay on this website - it provides awesome support for our journey!

Glad you did good!

Good luck - this is a journey for sure. I understand the weekend mentality. I eat so dang healthy during the week and am very disciplined, however, I usually go out to eat every weekend day with family, friends, etc. and am so busy that I wasn't getting in any exercise. This past weekend, I did sweaty home projects (cleaned the garage, back porch area, built some shoe shelves) and was too busy to think about eating. I did go out to dinner Sunday night with my Daddy, but I kept my calories way under budget, then ended up losing like 3 lbs. just over the weekend - a total a 6 lbs. in the past week. It was my best week ever!! You can do this - you got this. We are all here for you and each other. Keep us posted!

I don't think my last entry actually posted, so this may be duplicated. Anyway, NO it doesn't hurt - at all. My doctor doesn't use any numbing medicine either, which freaked me out because I have a huge needle phobia. He has me lay down on the table and put my hands behind my head, then lift my head up, which tightens the stomach, making it easy to find the port. He locates the port, puts the needle in and extracts a little Fluid to ensure he is in the port, then pushes it all back in. Easy and less than a minute - no biggie. By the way, if they offer numbing medicine, I wouldn't take it - that's two sticks and the numbing medicine burns. It's not bad at all. Good luck - let me know how it goes.

It does not hurt - at all!!! My doctor does not use any numbing medicine either - which freaked me out when I heard that. I have a huge needle phobia. However, it was so easy. My doctor has me put my hands behind my head and pull my head up, which tightens your stomach so he can feel the port. He locates it and puts the needle in, sometimes he has to wiggle it a little to hit the port - none of it hurts, I promise. He will extract a little fluid to ensure he is in the port, then pushes it all back in. It takes less than a minute - no biggie. Good luck - let me know how you do.

Hi Smalltown - so very glad you started this thread. I was banded in January and am in the same boat. I haven't lost much - averaging less than 1 lb. per week. I called my doctor, who is very agressive with fills, and went in to day for another fill (my 4th). I have 10cc in an 11cc band. Yes - that is correct. I am so disappointed that I am on the below average side of losing weight. I know that exercise is required for me to lose apparently. I stay so busy, but that doesn't count as exercise. I asked for my doctors help. He wants me to log every thing I put in my mouth and send him the log every 2 weeks. I am hoping that this final fill along with extra accountability and forcing exercise will finally be what I need to be successful. I could use some prayers too! Good luck to everyone. :wub:

One more thing - I had suregery on a Tuesday and just took vacation the rest of the week. I returned to work on Monday just like normal. The surgery was such a piece of cake (ha ha) that no one needed to know that was what I was doing on my vacation!

I only told my daughter and out of state cousin - that's it. No one else will ever know. Last summer when I started this process, I went on a diet, started exercising, and eating healthy. This is what I told people - which was all true. Losing weight is such a slow process with the band and people who do not understand the whole tool concept. I don't want to be judged for my decision or for the contents on my plate. Just telling people I'm on a diet does that. I had surgery 4 months ago. I am a slow loser and have only lost 17 lbs. since surgery and 13 lbs. before, so a total of 30 lbs. Just this week, I have had someone compliment me every single day regarding my weight loss and slimming down. That is so much nicer than the other invasive questions people tend to ask if they know you had WLS. I don't regret my decision for a second! Love it!

Are you diabetic? Perhaps it was due to low sugar?

I did that once right before surgery and a couple of times afterwards. I am normally a very outgoing, happy person - we all can just have a bad day. This too shall pass. Trust me!

In my opinion - the sooner the better. It typically takes multiple fills to get restriction, so if your doctor thinks you are ready, I would definitely welcome that. My doctor is very aggressive, which I love. I am one of those patients that didn't feel any restriction until I got to 9cc in my 11cc band, and I am going next week for another fill. He gave me 5cc on the first visit, 2cc's on 2nd and 3rd visit. So, at 4 months banded, I have received 9cc's (almost unheard of). Lots of doctors only give 1/2 cc at a time, once every 4-6 weeks. By the way - my doctor doesn't use any numbing agent, which I was freaking out about, however, it didn't hurt at all. I so look forward to my visits. Good luck!

Congrats on your decision to join the band wagon. I have BCBS and I had to also go through six consecutive months of medically supervised "failed" weight loss attempts. I didn't know about that until after I did everything else, then they denied my surgeon's first approval request. I was very upset as that delayed my surgery for 7 months, 6 months of doctors visits and another month of waiting to be approved. They have a policy which they can send you - think it's called something like "G15", which tells you ALL about their true requirements. Please call them and request the documentation now - plus if you miss ONE monthly visit, you have to start the six month process all over again. OK - now that is out of the way.... for me, this was the easiest, most painless surgery that I have EVER had. It was the best decision I have ever made for myself. Just remember to stay active in this forum - it has been instrumental going through the same process at the same time others are. Word of advice - act like you are banded now, during, and after the surgery. It is a tool and you will still have to make good, healthy food choices. If not, you will not lose weight as expected. At first, I was frowning upon only losing 1-2 lbs. per week - I wanted faster results. Now, I am thrilled if I lose that much per week. I have to remember all of the reasons I choose the band over the other invasive options even though they typically result in faster weight loss. Those also result in hair loss, lots of recovery time and other potential problems. No one knows that I had the surgery - it's been 4 months and people are noticing, which is AWESOME!!! It's my little secret. I love knowing that once I get to my goal weight, my lap band will help me stay there, providing I do my part. Good luck and congrats to all!!

I struggle with the mental hunger - I think they should have banded my head instead - lol. One thing I have learned is that even though I want to eat something full of calories, I try to opt for a better choice. I get satisfied and forget about the head hunger for a while. Yesterday was one of those days where I wanted to eat everything in the house. When I went to the pantry and the refrigerator - guess what? There was nothing bad for me to snack on. So, I had an orange instead. Another thing that has helped me, although many frown upon it, is the use of OTC appetite suppressants. It actually helps me more mentally than physically. It is nice NOT thinking about wanting to eat all day long when I use them. I don't like taking pills and am not pushing my views, it just works for me, for now. Good Luck and keep us posted!

Great advice! I already do #3, 4, and 5. I have had to wrap my mind around NOT ordering a huge meal and have started ordering appetizers, saying I'm not that hungry or that I had a big/late lunch, etc. I told my family that I am trying to eat healthier and lose weight - ALL TRUE! At a party this past weekend, my neice actually mentioned to other people there, that I was trying to eat healthier when I passed on some sweets. Since the lap band weight loss is so slow - it's easy to keep the secret. I have only told my daughter and my out of state cousin. I didn't want anyone to judge me or what I had on my plate. No one else knows and that is what I wanted - it works for me! By the way, after my last fill a week ago, I experienced my first painful stuck episode with bread at lunch with a friend. I felt bad, but I totally told a white lie, saying that my esophagus was narrow and sometimes I get choked or food gets stuck - this is a real problem that 2 other family members have and had to have surgery to help the problem, so I claimed that one too - lol. Again, it worked for me!

I only told my daughter and my <out of state> cousin, whom I do not keep any secrets from. No one else in my world knows. I am very happy with my decision to keep this private, especially since this is a VERY slow weight loss journey and didn't want to constantly be judged by anyone regarding what is on my plate or if I didn't live up to their rapid weight loss expectations. Two of my friends have confided in me about WLS for themselves, so I am most likely going to share my story with them in confidence, of course. It is a very personal thing - good luck in your decision. To share or not to share - that is the question!

Thanks for the tip - we need to learn from others experiences. I am loosing only about 5 lbs. a month (banded Jan 31, 2012). I lost more the month before surgery - 15 lbs. Trying so hard to stay motivated - I just want to lose 2 lbs. per week!!

I was stuck at 225 for over a month - then finally this week the scale started moving. I'm finally at 222 now - hope the weight loss continues!

That would be great - sign me up! :wub:

Great Question - I was banded almost 3 months ago. The IV fluids from surgery added another 4 lbs. That put me at 235 post surgery. I am now at 222. So, a total of 13 lbs. in 3 months / 4.33 lbs. a month. I'm a SLOW loser and don't have restriction yet. Still in bandster hell - meaning we have the lap band, but it's not quiet doing it's job until you get to the green zone and feel restriction. This can take several fills over the first several months. My recommendation is NOT to waste those first few months - stay on a very controlled diet, eat healthy, get used to a new lifestyle, so you will lose weight during that period also. I have friends on LBT that have lost 30 lbs. already as a result, since their surgery the same month as mine (January 2012). I have lost inches too and my clothes are getting much loser, which is also a great motivator. Pebbles - yes, I do believe starting weight has alot to do with the amount you lose in any timeframe. The more you need to lose, the more you do, in the beginning at least. Good luck to all of us!

Bandster Hell – (from my understanding and living it): Usually represents the period from surgery until you feel actual restriction. It usually takes many fills depending on the person. This also can take many months, depending on how aggressive your doctor is. I am one of those people that will most likely have to have the band nearly closed before I feel restriction. I have 7cc in my 11cc band currently and can still eat the same way I did before the band. The good thing is that I am definitely getting plenty of time to get used to having the band and adjusting to what my new life will be like. So, being pre-banded, don’t worry about never getting to eat or enjoy food again – I do that every day (unfortunately). That would be where the bad part comes in – since I can eat and am not getting the satisfied feeling, I have only lost 10 lbs. since surgery 2 ½ months ago. So, it’s the frustration of having a tool that just isn’t quite working for you yet. Everyone says to have patience – umm, I’ve never had patience so this is difficult. My expectations were that I would lost weight much faster as I see others have done. At times, I even doubted that I actually had a lap band and/or thought it couldn’t possibly be positioned correctly. I even had an x-ray done so I could see for myself that I do have a band – lol. I get my next fill in 3 weeks and I am hoping that #3 will work like a charm. Going to try to get the maximum fill my doctor will allow to push me to the green zone quicker. Keeping my fingers crossed. Take care and continue your research – it helps when going through these things.

That is awesome!! I was banded Jan. 31st - lost a total of 25 lbs. so far, but hit a plateau for the last month and it's due to bandster hell, I know. I can't wait to get to bandster heaven and see the same success. I would be on cloud 9 if I lost 92 lbs. in a year - you go girl!!

Are you properly chewing and eating slow? I was banded on Jan. 31st and have 7cc in my 11cc band. I have always eaten soooooooooooo slow - frustratingly slow - and chewed my food to death - so I have the problem of my food sliding right through the band, thus not getting "satisfied" soon enough. Needless to say, I have never gotten sick and my weight loss is also frustratingly slower than expected. If you feel that you should have Fluid removed, definitely do that. I would probably personally wait it out, maybe do liquids for a couple of days, then back to the basics, mushies, etc. I welcome the day when I feel too tight..... hopefully then I can start really losing the weight. Good luck - keep in touch!

Thanks B-52. Can you tell me what size band you have and the amount in it? I have an 11cc band with 7 cc’s. Just wondering if I am one of those who will need to have their band almost at full capacity to feel true restriction and be in the green zone. P.S. Love the new way of looking at this – satisfaction vs. fullness. Thanks!

I would like to know the same thing. I love my doctor - he is allowing me to be aggressive with my fills. I had surgery January 31st - first fill of 5cc on March 5th - second fill of 2cc on April 2nd. So 9 weeks banded and I have 7cc in my 11cc band. I barely feel restriction - never gotten sick - have felt a little chest pain a few times, but that is it. I'm hoping that I will feel the delayed restriction that some people talk about that occurs several days after the fill (which seems weird that it wasn't immediate?). I am the slowest eater in the world and I chew my food to death before swallowing - which is a really good thing with the band, however, I find that it slides through the band easily, thus never getting stuck. Unfortunately, my weight loss seems too slow and it takes more for me to feel full. I quit eating when the plate is empty - as I don't get the "full" feeling very often. I gained 4 lbs. from the surgery fluids and with absolutely no restriction, that is all the weight I lost until my first fill - so no change on the scale according to my doctor's office. I did lose 6.2 lbs. the next four weeks after the first fill. It is so slow and I'm so impatient!! It seems like I stay stuck on the same weight day after day after day, then finally it will drop a few ounces and the scale moves down to the next pound, where I stay for days - you get the picture. At least I can tell that I have lost inches, had to buy smaller size 14 jeans and people are finally noticing and commenting - yeah me! So, keep in touch and everyone please comment!!