steph1967

A lot depends on age and how long you have been overweight, also how quick you lose. I have lost 230 lbs I lost 120 the first year and the rest over 3 years I did exercise but not a lot and I was overweight for 25 yrs had surgery at 41..I do have lose skin mine is not bad enough for insurance to grant plastic surgery unfortunately.although I would feel better if I had it..I look good in most clothes but bathing suits and naked not so much..lol .so it has a lot of factors as to how much loose skin you will have..

I lost 25 lbs on my pre op but it was 2 weeks liquids only and lAst 2 days was clear liquids only

I did not have to wear them and know several people in my area who have had lap band surgery and didn't either. But like someone said blood clots can come with any surgery so it may not be a bad idea..

I travel by car to another state to see my son every couple months and I have problems the whole time I am there I think it is the stress of the travel for me as when I get home after a couple days I am fine.

I also have that problem from time to time.you do need to see your dr. Mine seems to happen when I have a lot of stress..my dr told me to drink in sips and make sure I drink protien shakes. But your dr may have another suggestion or may want to send you to make sure you didn't slip.

Walking around will help with the gas a nausea and sip your liquids slowly. Everyone is different and some take longer to heal than others. My mom was down about 2 weeks before she felt good and I was up and painting the porch railing the day after surgery. So hang in there it will get better, just drink your liquids, move as much as you can tolerate and keep up with pain meds if needed.

Eating to fast can also cause hiccups if you are not chewing your food slowly you are filling your pouch with air and large pieces of food which the air wants to escape so you get the hiccups and sometimes that will cause you to slime or throw up which is not good for the band. So chew your food well eat smaller portions and find a dietician in your area familiar with the lap band this will all help.

I agree with the other posters,they tell you not to have those things because they are heavier as far as pasta and bread and will fill you up and you need protien first. Eventually you can try those foods in moderation but may find that they get stuck or make you gassy. I myself do not eat pasta, bread or pizza, because they get stuck and if they don't they make me feel sluggish probably because of the starch. I treat myself to something I like here and there but in moderation and you will find in trying things some things you just can't tolerate. I am 4 years out and I still can't eat a lot of things I used to love even in small amouts, but losing the weight and keeping it off is far better for me than missing foods I loved to eat.as for your friend if she can eat all that in the amount she could pr op I would say she is not tight enough and in long run she will will not see the results she was after.the band was the best thing I ever did and I hope as the weight comes off for you you will see being healthy and losing the weight is far better than eating something you like.after awhile you get used to not having it and you don't miss it as much.

Everyone loses at different pace some lose quick some lose slow. A lot depends on how much you have to lose.if your following the plan and exercising you will see the weight come off and it will be worth it.So hang in there be proud of your 18 lbs loss that is a good loss for 5 weeks and just keep moving ahead.

My surgeon also said no alcohol, I did not have any for quite some time but it will not hurt the band by my understanding it is because of all the calories and carbs associated with alcohol. You will be fine. Just get back on track with your plan today and if you like to have a drink or go out just limit yourself to once a month or everyother month.I go out one time every other month, I do drink mixed drinks when I do and I have not had any problems. Just watch your intake for calories and it does seem the alcohol hits you faster with the band. It is just like anything else with the band it is the choices you make that help you lose the weight or not.

I agree it would take a lot to break the band. I rolled my car 4 times and although I did have to have my fluid removed for a little while the band and port did fine even with the seatbelt pressing hard around it. Are you having some kind of symtoms making you think something is wrong

Is this the 2 week prior pre op diet? Or is your insurance requiring you diet for so many months before approval? With my 2 week pre op was liquid only and clear liquid only the last 3 days prior to surgery. I too would call your surgeon or dietician and find out

I to find always found good sales so I never bought ahead either but did look at smaller things for a motivation and I always got rid of the clothes that were to big as soon as they were to big this way I had nothing to fit back into. I did however keep the jeans and shirt I wore to the appt when I decided to have the sugery I look at them from time to time just as reminder of how far I have come. It is a great feeling.

I think you answered your own question if your head is not in the game it will not matter how tight you make the band. It is a tool and you have to have the mindset to use it.

Awesome keep up the good work. It isn't easy but it is soooo worth it.

You are doing great. I am 4 years out down 230 pounds.

I was a self pay also.my granfather gave me the money as a gift because he was so concerned with my health.On my self pay my entire pre op testing, entire surgery and 1 year of fills and checks and lifetime with dietician and weight loss nurses was included in the cost. I do not regret spending the money and in my mind I think it kept me on track better because I felt like not only did I need to do this for my health but because I used money my grandpa worked hard to get and so far I have done well for 4 yrs lost 230 pounds and I feel great and my grandpa has passed away but I know he is proud and knows his money was well spent.

If you can gulp water with no problems then do so if you have no effect from it then its not hurting you. My surgeon never said anything about gulping water he only said no carbonated drinks, no straws, and no drinking 1 hour before or after meals and no drinking with meals.

The band is a tool not a cure all. To lose weight like others said is lifestyle change. Eating protien and drinking water and exercise helps. Everyone loses at a different pace with me I lost 25 on pre op diet 110 the first year and the last 95 was over the last 3 years but still til this day I think about what I eat, try to exercise and see my weight loss dr and dietician on a very regular basis. The lap band is a tool the rest is all about how you use the tool. So unfortunately no easy button

Sounds to me like you may need to have a little removed. With the band just because it will hold so many CC does not mean it only works if that many are in there it is where you feel resctriction and can go 4-6 hours without hunger pain. I have a 7 cc band and I have 2 CC in and if I have more put in I will get stuck also sometimes I have to have it taken down to 1 CC or I have problems it is not how many CC are in the band it is how and what you eat.You should go to your appt and talk with your dr about the stuck problem because I am sure he will not put more my guess is he will ask you if you want to wait or take some out. I have been banded for 4 years and I see my dr every 2-3 months still just to keep on track and to adjust to what feels comfortable to me.

Your dr may have gave you that time frame. But by making you have the waiting period my guess is he is trying to make sure you have time to think about the decisions you are making.everyone is different some people lose quickly and some don't and you have no way of knowing. If you have the sugery and only lose 10-20 lbs in the 6 months then you really defeated the purpose of getting the band cause with pregnancy you will gain that plus some and then will you still have the mind set of going back to the lap band lifestyle after the baby? The band is a tool it is still a mindset of habits having a band doesn't mean instant weight loss. It just assists in the process of weightloss. You have to make the right choice for you maybe having a baby first then doing the lap band might be a better option then you may decide that having a healthier lifestyle for you and your child is the better way to go

Like most others I did not tell anyone I took off 3 days for personal reasons and had 2 days for the weekend and so when I returned on monday I was feeling pretty good. It wasn't until a month or 2 later everyone noticed I was losing that I finally told them everyone was shocked that they didn't know or I didn't say anything but like you said it is nobodys business unless you want it to be.

I am 4 yrs post op and about at the 3 year mark I have that problem also. I get a fill and about 2 months later it seems to tight like you can't eat or drink much or it comes up at that point I go in he removes the fill and I go a month and have it put back in. My dr has checked for slip and nothing so I just go with it.everyone reacts different with the band so I just have mine adjusted accordingly and it works for me. I have been able to lose and maintain well for 4 years by visiting my dr regularly.

Yes that is what it is to get stuck. Eating to fast as you said will do that. I myself never drink if I feel stuck it will come back up on its own but everyone has different methods. My dr has strict rules on drinking before of after meals stuck or not and also my dr says no carbonated beverages ever but each dr is different so check with yours to see what he reccomends if that ever happens again.

That's awesome congrats to you. I to was 385 when I started I am now 150.I have maintained it for 4 years and agree protien, regular visits to dr and weight loss center, and vitamins is key to success. Its a wonderful feeling to see the weight gone. Your doing wonderful..and it only gets better...