Shanna H

Lovely pictures! Congratulations!

That is great! We had surgery I believe on the same day and I did have a .5cc fill last week. I am hoping for some restriction soon. Keep up the good work!

Congrats! I can't wait to find the "green zone"! Keep up the good work!

6 weeks for me too.

I totally feel you Desert! I am watching the football game and wondering where my beer and chips are. But, we can do this. I am glad we hooked up on here and I am here for you if you need anything. Keep up the good work.

Very inspirational!! Thank you for posting!

Hi I was banded 12-14-12. I would love to have a band buddy or mentor. I am constantly on this site between chores and exercise. I currently live in Nevada but am from Oregon. We will be transferring again with my husbands job here shortly. So, it is hard to make new friends. Keep up the good work and feel free to add me.

I had the gastric bypass (not sleeve) in 2003. I didn't lose all the weight I wanted and decided to do the band. So far, I am all for the band and wished I had done that to begin with. It is truly a "tool" and encourages you to change your lifestyle of eating. It is important to follow the doctors orders and get the exercise in (which I am having difficulty doing because I have two bad knees) but I still try. Good luck with your decision!

I would definitely call your doctor. I did about being hungry and they moved my fill up. Just saying And good job with the 18 lbs loss!! That is wonderful.

I am a month and 5 days out and seem to go through periods of pure hunger. I had my first fill yesterday and it went smoothly but feel i could of had a little more inserted. I am on liquids today besides having a scoop of yogurt to get my pills down without them getting stuck. I will be glad for soft foods because I am hungry. I hope everyone is doing good and feel free to friend me as I can always use a mentor and other support.

I had my first fill today and it went smooth. She numbed me and I felt her try 4 times and then hit the port on the 4th try. It didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. The lidocaine hurt the worst of course but it is manageable. I feel no restriction but we started small at .5cc. I guess I had some in my band from surgery but forgot to ask when she withdrew it. She went small on my first fill because I had a "sticking" episode with one of my pills.

I was down about 6 weeks but was able to move around within 3 weeks without severe pain but that was about 7 years ago. I am sure things have changed since then. Good luck and remember to be patient with the healing process.

Stephanie, you will do absolutely fantastic. Congrats on getting approval! If you ever need anything, feel free to ask. I am a newbie but I am always willing to help find answers to questions.

Before having the lap band, I had the gastric bypass in 2003. I have had nothing but trouble with chinese food. It would stick, ball up, and it didn't matter how small of bites I took. It is extremely frustrating.

So sorry for your loss. Maddysgram said it nicely. You can do this.

I was extremely grumpy but as the few pounds came off, the grumpiness seemed to just disappear (and the fact I got used to not having the food I was used to). Hang in there.

A few days ago, I took my pills as usual one at a time. They all seemed to go down successfully. About 20 mins later it felt as though I had taken a real hard swallow and you know how it stings a bit? It caused me to vomit a little bit but nothing came up except "slime". Well, I now feel I have a lump in my esophagus somewhere under my sternum. Is this the "stuck" feeling and should I go on liquids for the day? What could possibly be stuck since it was a pill and it should of dissolved by now? I see my doctor tomorrow but want to be prepared. Is there a better way to explain it to my surgeon or did I do a good enough job? Thanks

Please feel free to vent. I had the gastric bypass 10 years ago and let me tell you, I wish I had done the lap band to begin with. I had more complications with the gastric bypass than I am having with the lap band now. I may be losing slower with the lap band but it is more of a positive tool than losing fast and not really having to work hard at losing the weight. Follow your heart and keep up the good work. You will be fine c:

I love the taste of the Dannon light an fit greek yogurt. And it is 80 calories with the fruit vs Chobani 140 calories. So glad this came out. Just wish it wasn't so expensive.

You definitely want to call your doctor's office. Feeling run down and dehydrated means your are starving your body of important nutrients. I haven't had a fill yet so I can't relate that way but I know about not getting enough nutrients. Just saying c:

I have researched the different exercise games and I prefer Zumba or Just Dance 4. There is also "Walk it out" that I am going to invest in. I played tennis today and felt like I got a good workout in for starters. I have severe bad knees and until I can lose the weight, I need to take it slow.

Hi, I can totally relate to you and am looking for a mentor as well. Not sure if you have already received a mentor but I am willing. I was banded the 14th of December and am down 24lbs. I am scheduled for my first fill on the 24th of January and to say the least, a bit nervous. I currently live in Fernley, NV (outside Reno) but am from and hoping to return to Bend, Oregon. Good luck and you got this! Shanna H.

Every surgeon is different but mine is 6 weeks from lap band surgery.

Hi, I was banded the 14th of December and started off super good. I then added soft foods and the weight came back on. I don't think my choices were that appropriate and that caused me to gain the weight I had lost. Is there still hope for me or have I royally screwed up?

Thank you for all the responses.