jen_1381

That makes total sense! I used to work in outpatient surgery and I would see someone who was the same weight as me and I would think - - NO WAY! I'm not like that! I always thought I just carried it very well. Don't get me wrong, I knew I had a weight issue but I really didn't think I look like other people that weighed the same as me. Denial, I'm sure.

My fear with living too tight would be when the time comes and you HAVE to have that unfill, you'd be able to take in more food comfortably and gain weight. Being too tight may not be intentional, and some people may not realize they are for some time, but it puts you into starvation mode (if you can only eat a few bites per meal) and that never turns out well for your body. I did a Very Low Calorie Diet for 3 months last year, dropped 40 lbs fast, but when I went back to eating "normal" I gained it all back plus. I don't think living intentionally with a too-tight band would work out well in the end.

Thank you!! It all feels very surreal - like I can't believe this is actually working! Then I remember, it's not really a "diet" or "program", it was my lifestyle change, and it's permanent!

I asked my surgeon which he would use, and he simply said "well, honestly it's whatever I feel like that day and the OR has on hand". He asked if I had a preference, and after researching them both and realizing it was comparing apples to apples, I let him chose. He explained he didn't notice any difference success wise, but that the Realize band's port is slightly easier to access and slightly less likely to flip. On the day of surgery, he said he was going to use the Realize band. It was aye-okay with me.

Hello Bandsters! Pondering in some deep thought here. Wondering when you all actually FELT like you had lost weight? I was banded 10 weeks ago and am down just under 50 lbs. Inside, I don't feel like I've lost anything. The scale proves me wrong every morning, and I'm down two pants sizes (and a bra cup size - ugh!). I visited my Mom last weekend for the first time since March and she was shocked. Her coworkers (whom I've known for about 10 years) were commenting on how "skinny" I was. I felt VERY uncomfortable with that word. I am skinnier than I was three months ago, but skinny? Not this girl. I thought maybe when I went shopping for new pants I would feel it, but not really. I do notice, for instance, when my husband puts his hands on my hips it feels different since they're getting boney. I've never been good at taking compliments, I've been overweight my whole life and anytime someone would comment about me I just instantly think they're lying or joking. I feel very uncomfortable when someone comments on my weight loss. I feel like I don't deserve the accolades yet because I'm not done and I still have work to do. So when did you feel like - AH, I did it! I'm rocking this body! ??

Being stuck does not sound pleasant! I don't think I've ever truly been "stuck"...I've had about 5 minutes of horrid indigestion but it was self-inflicted (I'll just have this one last bite even though I just got my full signal). It's only happened twice, and the second one was with hummus. Hummus! Nothing chunky or anything, but it was a little thick. I was walking and snacking, not concentrating, and BAM, misery for 5 minutes. Learning how to use our bands is not an easy task!!

I was raised to ALWAYS clean your plate. "If you can't eat it all, you shouldn't have taken so much!". Can't tell you how many times I heard that! I got used to filling my plate then making sure it was empty. My new lifestyle has really re-trained me to 1) use a smaller plate, and 2) it's okay to stop when you're full. Before being banded, I *maybe* felt full 10 times in my life. You know, that 'can't take one more bite or I will explode' feeling. Post-band, I've learned to really tune into my body and recognize my full signal. Using the smaller plate helps me feel like I'm eating a full meal like everyone else.

Welcome, and Happy Birthday!! Having Lap Band was one of the best choices I've ever made. Not only is it an amazing tool, but it really kicked my butt into gear as far as accountability and responsibility for myself. Wishing you a very successful journey!!

Just remember, everyone is quick to spread the word about the bad stuff. When all is good, people are quiet. Everything in life has a horror story that can accompany. To me, it came down to personal accountability and knowing that I can't make the same mistakes other bandsters have. Each success or failure story is very individual. Sure, there are cases where the band was faulty, or a surgical issue, but for the most part the band failures I've heard/read about come down to personal choices.

Thanks I will have to try this! Last time I tried to make meatloaf using turkey I couldn't find my normal pan so I put it in a pie dish...and it turned out like Turkey Pie It tasted alright but the consistency was off. I'll try this recipe out!

It's a struggle the first week or so post-op. I always felt full, never thirsty. Just keep your bottle handy and whenever you think of it or look at it, take a drink.

All I can say is keep calling the doctor. I'm pretty new at this fill/green zone thing, but it sounds like maybe you're too tight? Keep on your doctor. If he isn't available ask for a partner or their nurse/MA.

My surgeon was in love with the Sleeve. I started out weighing 243 lbs and felt that something as durastic as bypass or sleeve (re-routing organs? no thanks!!) would be too much. I didn't feel like I needed to drop 100+ lbs, which he said was the average weight loss for those two procedures. I explained to him that 1) I need the least invasive because I don't want to take too long off of work, and 2) I felt I could use the band responsibly. I did my research and knew what all it entailed before my consult. It fell in line with my goal of wanting to lose about 80 lbs. I also found the fact that it was removable very comforting. Not that I would ever want it out, but if I was having issues it could be most easily taken care of (vs reversing a bypass).

I'm 28 but feel like I'm still 16 most times! Please, do not be embarassed about your weight. It's just a number that we're all working on lowering. By the way - If I would have known how successful I would be, I would have done this when I was in my early 20's. Good for you for recognizing the issue and taking steps to make it better.

It can be so discouraging. I get on really good losing streaks then will plateau for five or six days. The past few times, I let it ride and knew my body would eventually catch up, but this last one I went to liquids for a day. Hit the protein shakes during the day (breakfast and lunch) then had a very low cal/high protein dinner. It worked, busted right off that plateau. I've heard that people find either increasing or decreasing their calorie intake for a few days can help (I've always been to afraid of trying the high calorie method). Good for you though, sticking to it in the face of discouragement. It's not easy living the bandster lifestyle like we do, and when the reward of lower scale numbers isn't there, it's overwhelming.

I had a few recipes that I loved. Low Fat Refried Beans pureed with some Fat Free Sour Cream and Salsa. Sprinkle a pinch of shreded cheese on top and microwave. Canned chicken mixed with Fat Free Vegetable Cream Cheese warmed in the microwave. I stuck to the basics, but those two were nice every now and then to make me feel like my tastebuds were getting something normal.

When I was starting my process, the WLS Coordinator told me about a woman who lost over 145 lbs with Lap Band. When asked how she was so successful, the lady said that she ate her serving of protein first. If she was still hungry, she ate her serving of vegetables. If still hungry, fruit. If that wasn't enough to satisfy her hunger, she would go for a walk. I've been following that advice and have been successful so far. Good luck to you!

My best advice is to come prepared. This is something that I'm still trying to get the hang of - - planning my meals since I have limitations now (can't exactly just grab a cheeseburger and fries on the road anymore). I'm still learning, and have found myself stranded a few times. Convenience stores are REALLY hard to find healthy Snacks in!! I'm going to Vegas in September for 5 days with family - - family that is already planning buffet trips! I let them know that the morning we arrive I need to hit up a grocery store and I plan on getting my "normal" snacks - Greek Yogurt, string cheese, fruit, etc since a buffet will be a waste of my money. It sounds like you're on the right track!

Were you eating appropriately? Where at in the process are you? (Pre-op, post, etc). Need a little more info from you Any time you make a change in your "plan" it can affect your weight. For the first four weeks or so, I was losing 6 oz - 1 lb a day. If you're concerned, I would pass it by your surgeon. I always welcome weight loss, but I'm working very hard for it. If I wasn't trying at all and was dropping lbs, I would look for another reason (thyroid, diabetes, etc).

What a great topic! Congrats to everyone on their success!! I'm 10 weeks out and down 48 lbs since I started my weight-loss journey (a few weeks before surgery). I feel GREAT and can jog 3 miles without wanting to give up. It's so nice to shop in the regular clothing section, not the plus size!

I think it's rare for a surgeon to fill a newly placed band. Most wait 4-6 weeks. At 4 weeks post-op I got 3 cc's put in my 11 cc band. At 8 weeks post-op, he put in another 1.5 cc. All falls down to surgeons preference.

It depends on what your WLS program requires; I had to see the Nutritionist twice in one day - - the first visit was a small class (me and one other person) to go over the Lap Band diet and how surgery works. The second was a 1 on 1 session to go over my current diet and a post-op plan suited for me. The psychologist was only 1 visit to clear me for surgery, but if the psychologist feels you need more visits before surgery they will usually hold up the process until you complete your visits. You'll want to make your nutritionist your best friend in this process. Mine was kind enough to give me her email so I bounce questions off of her now and then (my insurance doesn't cover her visits - $180 a pop).

I haven't heard of such a thing - - the surgeons are the ones who carry malpractice insurance. If something goes wrong and they are at fault, you sue them and their malpractice insurance covers it if they are found to be at fault.

Pain varies for everyone. Sorry, there's no straightforward answer. I have an extremely high pain tolerance, and felt essentially no pain and came back to work on post-op day 3. Discomfort, yes...mostly because of the air they use during surgery to inflate your abdomen, but pain was very slight...for me. Something to keep in mind is that they do cut through the layer of abdominal muscle for both the lap band and the gallbladder. Granted, they typically do it laparoscopically so the inscisions are smaller, but you won't want to sit straight up after surgery. In the "big picture", almost 10 weeks post-op, the pain didn't matter at all because the weight loss feels SO GOOD!

I can only speak from personal experience, but when my surgeon goes to do a fill, he injects a small amount then pulls it back out. He explained that he does that in order to ensure he's in the port; if he pulls back and nothing comes back, he's not in. When it comes back out, he finishes injecting the rest. Do you remember, did your doctor do this? It wouldn't hurt to give them a call just to double-check.