MountainMan

I felt like a train wreck for four full days following my surgery. The Gas-X strips I'd heard so much about did absolutely nothing for me, but a heating pad made me feel so much better. I could barely sip anything, and was pretty dehydrated by the end of the first week, so try to take in some water and protein drink if possible. I also was pretty immobile for about a week; after that I could move about freely, lay in any position, and felt nearly 100% overall. Good luck to you!

I was unprepared for the post-op experience and feared I had made a big mistake. I hugged a heating pad for a week after the surgery, and cursed everyone who told me it would be a breeze. Thankfully it passed soon enough. And seeing the weight come off makes it SO worth it!

I would definitely not change the date. Better to be safe than sorry; I needed a lot more time off work than I expected. I agree compeltely with Gigi_Girl - at the Super Bowl parties you can beg off the bad food and impress everyone with your discipline at your "New Year's Resolution!" No need to elaborate.

I agree with 2muchfun...I lost only a pound or two the month following surgery, even following all the rules. My nutritionist questioned whether I was eating right and exercising (I was). But one day my body seemed to just decide to stop fighting it and the weight started coming off steadily. You have to be patient the first few months, but you'll see results, I promise.

It’s been six months since my surgery. I’ve had three fills totaling 6 cc’s and I’m still learning how to live with my band. This is my experience so far: I’ve lost 58 pounds without real difficulty, just making good food choices and putting the fork down when I’m satisfied. This once seemed laughably impossible, but it’s really pretty simple with the band. I’m off all medications and my sleep apnea is gone, as is the searing heartburn I used to get. I have no body aches and pains, no shortness of breath. I have the energy of a teenager. I’ve had to buy a new wardrobe because I’ve shrunk out of most of my clothing. (And I’ll have to do it again before it’s all over.) I’m learning to be content with smaller meals, but I don’t feel restriction. I keep my portions sensible but if I wanted to I could (and have) easily consumed huge meals. Maybe I’m not technically in the “green zone” but I’m losing weight fairly consistently. I might do better with another fill but I’d rather be too loose than too tight, and my doctor agrees. It’s not all roses. I still screw up and eat too much sometimes, but I no longer beat myself up for it. My head still gets in the way and I have to check my automatic thoughts every day. My weight loss has slowed some and I’ve faced some frightening plateaus. In these times I think, “This is it, it was too good to be true, the ride is over and the weight will come back.” But it doesn’t. I get up every day and do what I’m supposed to and eventually - in a few days or a few weeks - the scale shows a loss again. I have absolutely no regrets. If I didn’t lose another pound I’d be happy with where I’m at today. I still need to lose another 40 pounds. I’ve decided to relax and not worry how long it takes. I’m confident that if I keep my head in the game and a positive attitude, I’ll get there in time. If I had one piece of advice to leave the newly banded, it would be this: Relax, don’t be too anxious, and don’t view this as a sprint. Success will come. It takes time, but it’s worth every minute. Enjoy the ride!

Amen! I've been struggling to get up early in the morning...but if I exercise, I don't have time for devotion. If I read/pray, I don't have time to work out. I finally decided to prioritize and put Him first and trust that I'll lose weight despite little exercise.

My experience was that I didn't use most of what I bought...I had no appetite and it was all I could do to sip a little protein shake and water throughout the day. The one indispensable thing for me was a heating pad!

I drink a lot of black coffee. My doctor said it isn't a problem as long as I drink enough water to offset any potential dehydration. It hasn't affected my weight loss at all as far as I can tell.

I was specifically told not to worry about calories, just eat 3/4-1 cup of food or until I am satisfied. I probably take in roughly 1200-1400 calories/day and jog for 30 minutes. Anything less than that and my weight loss slows way down.

My doctor is pushing me to attend support groups. I attended a couple meetings pre-op and two more after surgery, but they were terrible. Each one I went to was all angry women complaining about their husbands and men in general. Plus, 90% of them were gastric bypass patients. I felt totally out of place. It seemed they looked at me with disdain because #1) I am male, #2) have a Lap Band, and #3) don't have as much to lose as many of them. There is definitely no support, and I will not be going back. Is this typical, or have you found groups that are more accepting of men?

I also had "severe sweet tooth." Once I was banded it left completely, and I have no desire for sweets. I don't know how common it is, but so very thankful it worked that way for me. The band has given me control...I can eat sensible, healthy meals and be satisfied, period. Here's my two cents: If you go into this adventure with your mind made up that you will succeed and failure is not an option, you'll do fine. Regular follow-up is crucial!

I couldn't lay flat for the first four nights after surgery (I slept in a recliner - fitfully). After that, I returned to my bed and couldn't lay on my left side for a couple nights. But seven days after surgery I was sleeping like always, no discomfort at all.

My nutritionist advised me not to count calories, just eat small, nutritious meals. I think I'm getting roughly 1200 to 1500 calories/day, but she said I should be losing more. It's definitely a fine balancing act. I'm going to continue eating the same way and increase my exercise and see what happens.

I had a second fill two weeks ago, and up til just recently I felt no restriction. My appetitie was huge and I could put away quite a bit of food...certainly more than a cup. But the last two days I've experienced stuck food, sliming, regurgitation - all that stuff I've heard about. Is it really possible to not get restriction until two weeks later? Or can restriction come and go without any notice? I finally figured out how important it is to eat slowly, take small bites, and chew like crazy. On the one hand I'm glad that I finally have a limit to my appetite, but I really don't know what to expect any more. If nothing else, it's making me a very careful lapband patient.

The trick for me is to not let myself get too hungry. If I'm ravenous I tend to eat way too fast, despite the dangers.