Toddy

My seventh day post-surgery was the worst day I had, and unfortunately my first day back to work. After that seventh day, though, I turned a corner and got better much faster.

For me it was a good solid seven days. I probably wasn't back to 100%, but I could at least get done what I needed to do.

My port is just below my sternum, too. I like it there because it's not anywhere near the waistband of my pants. Also, it just feels like it's secured in there really well, no moving around or anything.

I second the Biotin.

I read a lot about people being worried about having to "throw up" in restaurants. I'm not sure if my experience is unique or not, but I've had several times I've had to go into the bathroom during a meal, but not to "throw up". It is something I have complete control over, and when I get into the bathroom stall, I quietly "urp" up whatever I have eaten that has gotten stuck. I make sure I know where the bathroom is "just in case". But it's never been a mad dash to get there because it is not a violent vomiting from my stomach. Oh, and my full signal: About six or seven hard sneezes! Now that's embarrassing!

Wow, $92 is the cheapest I've heard. I thought my doctor was pretty reasonable at only $150. If within 10 days you need to come back in for an unfill they will do that at no charge.

A couple of weeks ago I was considering a slight unfill because of so many PB's. The last fews days I'm thinking I could use a tiny bit more fill. I have decided my band is a fickle band, tight one day, loose the next.

No one but you can decide if the band is right for you. You must do the research and determine if you're willing to sacrifice what you have to sacrifice to be successful with lapband.

The esophagus and the trachea are two separate parts, therefore unless you aspirate your food, you will be able to breathe regardless of what food is "stuck" in your esophagus or pouch.

No, getting stuck is not like choking, you can definitely breathe when you're stuck, it just hurts a little. Overall, it's more like chest pain than anything else. I had the same problem pre-banding, I was always a fast eater. Eventually, when you reach some restriction with your band, you will be forced to slow down. Like the others have said, if I let myself get too hungry, that's when I'll usually run into problems. My doctor advises taking a full 30 minutes to eat a meal, and that's a long time considering a meal is one cup at most.

I thought I was overfilled after my last fill. It took me about two weeks to learn how to eat with PB'ing. I even have to take smaller sips of water now, but I don't have any problems keeping things down now. If you can take smaller sips and smaller bites chewing really, really well, and keep that down, you're probably okay. I wouldn't go right straight back to the doctor unless I couldn't keep liquids down even with small sips.

Seems like everybody knows somebody that (fill in the blank) from the band. I didn't know anybody that had been banded, so I chose to research it myself. Yes, you can have complications, and yes, you can eat around the band and not lose weight. But if you follow the band eating rules and take care of yourself, you can reduce the possible complications and you can lose the weight. If you do have a complication, you can have the band removed. Stop listening to people that know somebody that _____________________. Research this for yourself and have a doctor that you trust to answer any questions you have.

My number one issue was to get off blood pressure meds! I had trouble tolerating the meds and had different side effects with everything they tried me on. Also, I was having a lot of back and hip pain. I'm happy now to state that even though I'm only halfway to my goal weight, I'm off the BP meds and have no hip pain and very little back pain! Just wish I'd been banded sooner!!

I forgot to post yesterday. I was at 174 on the scale yesterday a.m.

The band is meant to be a tool for life. You do have to learn how to eat healthy with the band. The purpose of the band is to limit the amount that you can eat and to keep you feeling fuller longer. From the reading I have done, when a person loses their band for whatever reason, the weight comes back on really quickly because your body has gotten used to eating such a small amount.

That's one thing I love about the band, you can ditch your bad habits and start over. Try a really low carb diet to cut the sweet tooth. I'm not a fan of low carb, but when I was doing Atkins it was the only time in my life I really didn't crave sweets at all!! And MyFitnessPal has a great tracker!!

I'm with Cindy, I would have done this years ago!! I wish it was more uniform instead of fickle! Some days I can eat okay and other days I have trouble with everything.

Yeah, that "But you've got such a lovely face," with a sad shake of the head and cluck of the tongue equates to "You're gross and ugly" in my mind. I'd rather hear nothing at all!

When I see morbidly obese people out in public now, my first thought is "There's a surgery for that." I would never, ever in a million years approach somebody and say that though!! I don't think that's being nasty, as we were all there at one time, or else we wouldn't be here (on this forum). We just know that life can get better and it's natural to want other people to feel better, too.

For the band to work, you have to be in the right place mentally. If you are already mourning the loss of certain foods, that's not going to get better just because you have a band. Be very careful. I'd love for my daughter to have lapband surgery, but I wouldn't recommend it for her because of where her head is in relation to food -- it just wouldn't work for her. You have to be in a place mentally where you are able to make good choices and able to walk away from things you not only can't eat, but shouldn't eat. Some banded people can still eat anything they want. Since I've hit the "green zone" I have lots of things I have to avoid. Filet mignon is the only steak I've had and I wouldn't cook it any more than medium and only take tiny bites and chew extremely well.

I lost "hundreds" of pounds with Weight Watchers, joining, quitting, and rejoining, between 2000 and 2011. I never quite made it to goal, and ALWAYS put the weight back on, plus some. I was banded in January of 2012 because I knew even if I did make it to goal, I'd never be able to keep it off. I chose to be banded because I not only wanted to reach goal, I want to be able to keep it off. I consider the band my insurance policy and don't ever want to have to live without it!!

With just one fill, you will probably have very little to no restriction so you shouldn't have any problem with getting "stuck". The most important thing to remember is DO NOT OVER EAT! There is always food available on a cruise ship, so you don't need to eat everything at once. I have cruised frequently, and even before the band I rarely gained weight on a cruise because I keep in mind that if I don't have room for it now, I can just have it later, therefore, I rarely get that stuffed feeling. Also, like B-52 said, take the stairs everywhere!

chicken Stroganoff Four FROZEN chicken breasts 16 Ounce Fat Free Sour Cream 1 Can Light Cream of Mushroom Soup or Cream of Chicken soup 1 Package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix Cook on low for seven hours Boil some whole wheat noodles and top with the chicken stroganoff. One of my family's favorites even if they're not dieting.

I, too, am a wine drinker. I know it has slowed down my weight loss, but I'm still losing. I do count my wine on MyFitnessPal. I make sure I get all my protein in. I didn't have any wine for almost two months post surgery, but since then it has crept its way back into my diet. I have noticed that with greater restriction in my band, I do drink less than I did pre-surgery because there's just not enough food in my system to absorb the alcohol and I can't stand to feel "fuzzy headed". And lately there are some days I just don't have a taste for it at all.

If I read your post correctly, you went to lunch and ate a pizza right after a fill?? I thought most doctors advised liquids for at least a day after a fill. Also, it sounds like "testing" your band is going to cause you a lot of problems in the future. The feeling of "full" pre-band is very different from the feeling of "full" after being banded. I never get that full, stuffed feeling anymore. I get various physical signals that tell me I better stop eating now if I don't want problems or complications!