velvetbuckle

I got my first fill at 4 weeks. Every surgeon seems to have their own routine. If you're doubting the timing, ask your doctor. I'm sure he has logic behind it. Maybe he just does a small fill? My first fill was 3 cc's. I go in every four weeks for another fill until I hit the ellusive Green Zone. My surgeon prefers to fill the first few months regardless of progress - I expressed at my first fill that I was scared he may not do it because I was steadily losing weight, but the loss was all diet-controlled; I still felt hungry between meals but didn't indulge.

My first fill once I have the surgery next week will be 4 weeks post op.

wow, that soon? i am surprised. i was thinking maybe mine would be at my 2nd month follow up. I guess all drs are diff. Best of luck to you always.

Really? Hmmm...I was banded on 6/12/12, and scheduled for fill on 7/30, but Dr. says that is tentative based on my performance and weightloss before then. I'm curious about your situation.

So...if a Christian Terrorist did something horrific in the US that killed a lot of people would it be upsetting if there was a christian church close by? I have no problem with it. It's not ON the site it's NEAR it. My husband was a 50 cal gunner and to be excited by what it does to someone is disgusting. When we act like this it makes us no better than those we hate. You can't attack a whole religion because of the acts of some terrorists that happen to follow that religion. Not all of them are nut jobs. Have an open mind.

So i was at a bday party this weekend and my cousin posted some pics....i must say..it is so nice to be caught off guard with the camera and no look like a dying whale! lol...who knew that would make me happy

I hardly ever drink, but I did when I was 2 weeks post-op. I had one glass of Jim Beam on ice. Sipped on it for 2 hours and still got a buzz.

I had one when I had a c-section with my daughter, it was actually very nice wouldn't of minded wearing one with the surgery.

What others have shared is also my experience...loosing weight on your own through Portion Control and exercise is doable. The difficult part is to maintain the weight loss through maintaining a change in lifestyle.

I chose the band because I was running out of time...the diabetes time clock was ticking, and I wanted a long term success with adverting diabetes and reclaiming at least some of the health which my weight was stealing from me. The band is only a tool, you have to comply with the diet to be successful.

That also requires a life long lifestyle change, but having the band does make it easier for me to remain compliant with a healthier lifestyle and portion control.

Good luck as you "weigh" your options!

I've never had any trouble losing weight... but every time I'd lose some, I'd gain it right back, plus more. I decided to get the band to help me maintain my weight loss.

Diets such as opti-fast are temporary. I have done it twice!
Surgery is forever! And not a diet at all.

I am so ready for tomorrow! Not looking forward to Clear Liquids all day, but I will be fine. It's so worth the weight loss. As of yesterday I have lost 12 lbs on the pre op diet! So ready to be banded for life! Geez I think I just made up a saying for one of those rubber bracelets people wear hahahaha

Never Fear anything but God you can do this and will do this and be happy that you did!! Now Go have your surgery and write me when you go shopping for a size 10!! I will be there for you!! And you will be there for yourself!! Lets Do this!!!!!!! Your going to look fabulous after surgery!!!!

FYI Kashi clusters can be very hard. I broke a tooth eating it dry once. $#%$#%^ healthy Cereal. Never had the problem with Capt. Crunch!!!!!!!

I do feel a little better this morning. It no longer feels like an elephant on my chest, more like a large dog.
I am going go attempt to get out and walk around another store today.

I'm day 3 and passing everything now, I used gas x and had my kids burp me by patting my back like a baby! It worked, it will take time to get rid of it all. Onward and Upward!

Mine is on the right and I'm a side sleeper. Ive been using a pillow to support my abdomen on that side when I sleep.
As far as sex goes, they told me when I was comfortable. Apparently that was two days ago. Nothing crazy

I think healing time for everyone is a bit different. I had the twitches and pinches when I tried to move for a bit on my port area.
As far as sex I was told when you felt better... I also talked to my surgeon and was worried if sex woud damage, displace, break the port/disconnect etc... He said that it is fine and not to worry about damage to the band/port with sex.
As he giggled he said KNOCK yourself out..

No, I didn't have an irrational fear of something happening to me, maybe because I'd survived so many other surgeries by the time I was banded. But I can tell you that you are absolutely not the only person that's ever felt that way, and everything seems harder when you're on a liquid diet.
It's hard to deal with irrational fear. You can sit it down and try reasoning with it, but it generally doesn't listen to reason and doesn't follow any rules of logic. Maybe you could just give it slap upside the head. And then take a deep breath.
It's going to be OK!

OK, I will tell you my story....Both my parents had gastric bypass when it was still experimental, about 30 years ago. Things were great with them (although they have both gained part of their weight back). Recently my dad had to have surgery for colon cancer. Due to the way his gastric bypass was done, they needed to reverse the previous bypass and do a gastric sleeve. He had that surgery on May 17th of this year. He was in the hospital for a week, and came home, looking and feeling pretty good. Within 2 days of him being home, he lost energy, became white as a sheet, and was not himself. He only wanted to sleep and take his pain pills. I finally convinced my mom to take him to the ER after he had been home a week. Well, his sleeve had SEVERAL leaks and he had a septic infection. He was in ICU for 9 days, and so far has been in the hospital for over 3 weeks. He has had over 15 surgeries in that time, and still scheduled for at least 3 more, and will be in the hospital another 2-3 weeks. His bill is OVER $1,000,000 right now and the end is not in sight yet.
I DO NOT recommend the sleeve! This has been a horrible experience for my family and my dad almost died several times.
I am SO glad that I have my band. Yes, the weight loss is slower, but the complications are no where near what my poor father has been going through. I have had my band since 12/22/11, and so far lost 50 lbs, I would not trade my slower weight loss for the complications that my dad is going through EVER!
please make an informed decision. I wish my dad would not have gotten the sleeve and they did the band instead for him, he would have avoided all of these complications!!!!

I wanted the sleeve because I have absolutely no intention of having this reversed... I want this to be permanent... But after doing a lot of research and not rushing into surgery, the decision came down to a numbers game...

-- The mortality rate for the sleeve is 1/200... In the band it's 1/2000.

-- 1% of the people who get the sleeve have a leak, and if they do, they're in AGONY in and out of the hospital for possibly 5-6 months at a time

-- 1/3 of the people who get bypass or sleeve gain it back with no other option afterwards than to get the band (i.e. carny wilson)

IMHO, the sleeve is a fabulous option when it works. But the risk that it could turn out to be a total disaster is way way way too high for me AS A FIRST ATTEMPT. Later, if the band doesn't work for some reason, it might be a good alternative as the next option. But why start with something that's more invasive than you may need?