Thats All Folks

Welcome! You clearly know what's necessary to be successful with your band. I think you'll do great Best wishes.

I hope you read this once you're sober... but I believe you need some serious counseling before getting the Lap Band. You're posting on a forum drunk (again, by your own admission) and talking about "take an overdose"? This is seriously dangerous behavior. There is already a risk of transfer addiction for people with any WLS, the fact you're already drunk and discussing overdosing is a major red warning flag. I'm sorry, I'm truly not trying to be harsh, but I honestly believe going forward with your band surgery right now would be a huge mistake. Seek a good counselor first.

Find a nice sized pillow and hug it tight when you sneeze. Same trick works for coughing, too. Hang in there, you'll be feeling a lot better very soon!

That's awesome! Congratulations!

You should talk to your pharmacist asap. If the instructions say not to cut or crush the pill and you are anyway, you could very easily end up in the ER from an overdose. That is why they say not to not crush or cut certain pills. Please talk to your pharmacist before cutting or crushing anymore, for your own safety.

I'm glad you didn't get the fill because I fear you'd be too tight. Just because you can eat a lot (like a cheeseburger) doesn't mean you need a fill. That band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating anything and this is why it's so important we stick to band sized portions. The band is supposed to keep you satisfied on less food for longer periods of time, not stop you from over eating. Here's a great link I think will help considerably: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

You're likely too tight. Call your doctor.

Congratulations on regaining control and finding a doctor locally to help you. It's a huge step in the right direction.

Congratulations!!!!

How far apart fills are depend entirely on your doctor. I'd trust his judgement. Keep in mind though, you say "I can still eat a lot tho". The band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating anything so don't gauge whether or not you fill based on how much you can eat. Whether or not you need a fill should be based on whether or not you're satisfied on a cup or less of food for 4 or more hours, not how much you can eat. Best wishes.

Just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't waste my time with any diet drugs or gimmicks. As you stated yourself "until I quit and went back to my old way". You can't stay on stuff like Hcg forever and when you do go off it any weight you lost just rebounds right back. The same is true for all the other prescription and OTC diet drugs and supplements out there. I got the band to be healthy and to lose my weight in a healthy way. No more fads or gimmicks for me. Again, just my opinion.

I know it's hard, but remind yourself your post op diet has nothing to do with weight loss and everything to do with healing. Your stomach has been stitched and needs time to heal. Cheating on your post op diet puts you at very real risk for band slips and ripping those stitches. So, stick to your post op diet and remind yourself your health is at risk when you feel tempted to cheat.

I know it's hard, but remind yourself your post op diet has nothing to do with weight loss and everything to do with healing. Your stomach has been stitched and needs time to heal. Cheating on your post op diet puts you at very real risk for band slips and ripping those stitches. So, stick to your post op diet and remind yourself your health is at risk when you feel tempted to cheat. Best wishes.

Hello I can only speak for myself and what my own surgeon taught me, but you're actually not supposed to feel your band. I know I can't feel mine ever, even during fills. The only time I become physically aware of the band is when I get stuck (which is entirely my own fault). What the band is supposed to do is allow you to go longer on less food without hunger. To be more specific, to be able to go at least 4 hours on a cup or less of food without being hungry. But here's the cool thing- when you're not hungry and feel satisfied food is no longer a preoccupation. Too often people think the band is supposed to physically stop them from eating and as a result keep getting fill after fill trying to achieve this. Inevitably they end up too tight and put themselves at risk for slips. When you tell them the band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating, I hear a lot of "well then what good is it?!" When you're satisfied and not hungry, you're freed from the obsession with food so many of us have lived with forever. I was a big time volume and binge eater. Because I have adequate Fluid in my band that desire is gone. I actually skip meals entirely because I'm not hungry. That is something I NEVER thought would be possible for me- yet it is and happens often. And for the record, I can eat anything as well. Some people do have problem foods they just can't handle anymore but not everyone. If I take small bites and chew like crazy there isn't anything I can't eat. (and I wouldn't want it any other way, being honest) The other big misconception is that you should feel full. With the band, it's simply not the case, in fact if you're trying to achieve that full feeling you had before your band you're likely eating too much. The band is about satisfaction not fullness. Here's a really excellent article that I think explains all this very well, have a look because it explains all this a lot better than I ever could: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html As far as weight loss, I know a lot don't want to deal with tracking calories but it really is the easiest way to make sure you're not eating too much or too little. Yes, eating too little can slow your weight loss big time. When you track calories, you can easily see where changes need to be made. I can only speak for myself, but I know without a doubt I'd have never lost all the weight I have without religiously tracking every single calorie I've consumed since the day I got home from the hospital. It does get better, by the way. The fact you're asking questions is good- it's how you learn and when you have realistic expectations of the band it's a heck of a lot easier to adjust to. You're going to do great. Best wishes

Yes, I have had to deal with it and it's infuriating and insulting. And yes, being as I've lost almost 200 pounds in 14 months, I do have a ton of excess skin that I will have to get removed. What I tell people is this: I can easily hide excess skin under my clothes. There is no way I could hide almost 200 pounds of fat . I'll take the excesses skin over the fat any day. Best wishes.

Well that depends on how much you weigh and whether you're male or female. That is just the number of calories your body needs to exist. For weight loss, especially with the band, it's going to be different. I would definitely talk to your nutritionist to establish a healthy calorie range for yourself.

I think the answer is- you can if you don't have problems swallowing them. You'll have to give it a cautious try and see how you do.

Hello and welcome! I'm sorry, what is a restrictor plate? I've not heard of this before.

Care Credit offers a line of credit specifically for medical stuff, including bariatric surgery. Maybe you could apply with them? http://www.carecredit.com/

It may be shocking, but Chick-A-Filet has a GREAT bandster sized healthy meal. Their kids' chicken nugget meal. It's 4 unbreaded baked chicken nuggets. You can get applesauce for a side as part of the meal, too. When I was traveling down south last summer, this meal was my savior in a sea of horrible fast food. The chicken is seasoned and tastes really good, too.

Do your homework. Learn the facts and risks of both. Also learn what you'd be required to do for both as well as what you can't do. I personally love my band. I couldn't justify hacking out 3/4 of my stomach for the Sleeve or re-routing my intestines for Gastric Bypass. Plus, I didn't want to deal with dumping or malabsorbtion. For me, the Lap Band was the logical choice because it's reversible, far less drastic, and far less risk of serious complications. Good luck with whatever you decide is best for you.

I definitely wouldn't remove saline for a vacation. In fact, my surgeon refuses to unfill band just so people can over eat on vacations. He said it defeats the whole purpose of the band. I had to have a total unfill in August for emergency surgery (not band related). I can tell you when you do get a total unfill, it's not easy to get back where you were. Just my opinion and experience.

Congratulations on taking a major step towards good health!

I have favorite websites lol. These are both great for healthy but tasty meals: http://www.skinnytaste.com/ http://www.emilybites.com/