parisshel

I've never tried one, because just the idea of something so fluffy and large tightens my band instinctively.

I had some restriction with an empty band for awhile. But I knew that I needed a fill once that restriction loosened up and I was getting hungry 2 hours after eating. But I've read posts from people here that are very sensitive to their bands and have their appetites dimmed with very little saline in their bands.

I read your blog! I didn't realize that was you! Love your posts; they keep me going.

I will often clean instead of giving in to head hunger. I can't tell you how sparkling clean my bathroom is!

I get this, too, six months post-op. I think it is gas-related as well, as it seems to occur when I need to go to the bathroom.

I remember that feeling as well. You are just sitting there, smack right in front of that huge mirror. Now, six months after being banded, I walk into the salon and all the hairdressers are all "Wow! You look great! How much have you lost now?" Don't worry. You are one day closer to getting your band and one day closer to feeling better about yourself.

No. It would be inappropriate to ask for a cold beer, but xanax is what they gave me prior to surgery.

I picked one up on my trip to the States this summer and I'm obsessed with it also. It really is motivational, isn't it?

Supportive thoughts go up and out to your friend's close ones, including you. It is just a tragedy when you consider how long she must have thought this decision out, and how she went into it for the specific reason to live a long and healthy life.

Did you have the fill under fluorscopy? I always get sick from the barium swallow, so I always do my fills on a day when I can take the afternoon off, as I know I'll be spending the afternoon in the bathroom shortly following the barium drink. Feel better soon!

My experience is that I'll feel restriction right away (the swelling reaction due to the fill) and then that reduces over time. For me, I can get a sense of where I am in terms of fill-effectiveness about two weeks out. Eat as if you've got perfect restriction/fullness during your cruise and you'll be just fine. In other words, act "as if", and don't test you band to see what you can get away with. You are still early out in terms of post-op, and perhaps still in "bandster hell", but don't let your cruise (or anything, really) keep you from using your band as a tool towards your success. Have a great holiday.

I have a bad reaction to barium. It always gives me the runs. This is quite normal since it's radioactive and is made not to enter the system. However, I always take a day off from work when having anything to do with barium, because I know I'll be in the bathroom a lot afterwards. It's unpleasant but not fatal, so it's fine.

Oh gosh no. Just no.

I hear you. This forum is my sole support group (I have individuals who support me, thankfully, but no "group") and I am so very grateful to those on here who educate, motivate, support and inspire me. Any bandsters who come to Paris---and EVERYBODY should come to Paris at least once in their lives--please let me know.

I can so relate to your post. I had a real phobia about getting stuck but still chose the lapband over other WLS tools. I figured this phobia would be helpful in keeping me compliant, and it is to a certain extent. I, like you, had good restriction from the initial banding. But as the trauma of the operation went away with time, that restriction was no longer there and I lost my initial weight on willpower...which, again, was quite high as I was very keen on seeing success with my band. My first fill (4 ccs in a 10cc band) took place 8 weeks after my surgery. Again, good restriction at the beginning. But (and this is normal), as I lost more weight and time went on, by 3 months after that fill my band was wide open and, while I sensed I could eat anything, I didn't. (I won't test my band because if I knew I could eat bread, Pasta, rice, etc...I would eat bread, pasta, rice, etc). So again, I functioned on willpower and not bandpower. I got fill number two last week and right now I'm in the green zone, but I know that may not be lasting as my weight drops and my fill settles in. I am fully prepared to get another fill when I see I cannot go 4 hours between meals without hunger. I know now that willpower alone is unreliable, and I should be using the bandpower as well as willpower There's something my surgeon said to me which I want to share here. He knows I'm scared about getting stuck and I preferred to keep my band loose due to this fear. But he also said that I did not get banded to be "doing all the work myself", which is what I was doing by not being filled to a proper restriction. I needed to stop being so fearful of possible discomfort---and that truly is all a stuck episode is--and start getting "my money's worth" out of my band. Someone on this board has said it before: a band without correct restriction is just dieting. And I never won at dieting in the longterm. To sum it up, here's what I've learned from my band in the five months I've had it: --Don't be afraid of fills --Restriction can vary by hour, day, month. My restriction seems to change as my weight drops (and this makes sense, as I lose visceral fat from around my stomach area where the band sits) and it is normal that I need "topping off" with additional fills --My willpower can only do so much, I need the fill to complement my willingness to comply with my lapband rules --If I eat according to my lapband rules, the risk of getting stuck is reduced to virtually zero, so my fear about getting stuck is manageable. Hope this helps!

You are doing great. Keep listening to what you band is telling you as it is a great guide. That chest pain is talking to you!

So sorry to hear that you are facing one of life's challenges. I, too, was hit with a whopper on Wednesday when my BF experienced some chest pains, went to the hospital, and was in surgery undergoing a quintuple bypass operation within hours. I can't say I didn't want to dive into the sugar. But thank you lapband for not letting me. I don't have any advice, really, as we all have to find a non-food solution to sad times. I'm increasing my physical activity which helps distract me while I wait for my visiting hours to see him.

I totally get this. When my surgeon reviewed my fluorscopy films from my first fill (and I was down 36 pounds) he said "You are doing this all by yourself. You have practically no restriction" and he showed me how my pouch wasn't "pouchy" enough to be physically effective in keeping me full. I felt really proud nonetheless! He did say, however, that a more-appropriate fill would make it easier on me for when my wantpower wasn't enough, so I could another fill last week. I can see what he means.

Varied protocols aside, it makes sense to be prudent after a fill of any size. The banded area is re-traumatized and needs some resting time. Listen to it. After my 2nd fill last week, I knew instinctively to baby my band. Even if the team had said "Hey, new protocol...go out and eat a hamburger!" I would have prioritized what my band was telling me and not what the team was. It was obvious to me that I needed to coddle my band with liquids the first day, mushes the next and in fact it is only today (five days post fill) that my band is telling me that small bites should be fine.

I'm sorry you are feeling this. It's always a better idea to schedule fills early in the week in case you need an unfill so you don't run into the weekend problem.

I've been away on vacation so not as active on this board as usual...but I'm back! Here are a couple of photos--the first one is (I think) my last known photo taken before I reached the decision, one year ago, to start my weight loss surgery research. I would go on to gain 8 kilos (about 17.5 pounds) before I actually had the surgery in March 2013. So very very glad I did. The second photo was taken yesterday morning. I was leaving for work and, when stopping by the mirror to make sure my dress wasn't tucked into my underpants or something equally mortifying, I said to myself "Wow..even I can see a difference now!

I'd put it off for a week; it would not make a difference in the longterm and it will give you peace of mind right now. I made the same decision prior to an overseas trip; I knew I needed a fill shortly before I was to leave on my vacation but did not want to find myself far from home, out of my insurance network, etc should my fill be too tight. So I just really paid attention during my holiday and ate "as if" I had perfect restriction. So glad I did it like this! I get my fill next Wednesday (now that I'm back home) and I actually lost a bit of weight during my month-long vacation, too!

Hi -- I'm 54, 5 months post-op and no, I don't find it harder to lose weight at this age. Feel free to ask me any questions you'd like.

Great ideas you've listed here. I like how you've made things fancy with small additions. No need to eat generic or simple foods! I also really enjoy making a small salad more refined with toasted almonds, a bit of goat cheese and some cubed apple. Before my lapband, I would have left off all the little touches of fun because I'd concentrate on eating a huge salad (to fill me up) and not want to add the additional calories of the little bits on it. Now I don't have to do that.

Oh, I have a LOT to say about this! I was a WW devotee....I kept all my enrollment booklets over the years and I believe I have 12 of them. I was obviously very good about losing weight for each iteration, but horrible (and human) about regaining. I finally surrendered to the obvious when, last September, I was reenrolling in WW for the 13th time (lucky 13) and, standing in line shaking my head, I walked away. I had had it. I started deep and extensive research on WLS, met with my surgeon on Dec 11th, and was banded on March 20th, 2013. Being banded and being a WW are polar opposites in terms of my mindset. With WW, I was on a diet "until I lost my weight". I was always hungry, looking for bulky foods, Water, free fruits, whatever, to fill me up. That never worked. I gamed my points, looking to "save" a few so I could have a "treat" each night. Vacation, wedding, birthday, weekend coming up? I'd veer WAY OFF program, crash and burn, feel like a failure and try to cram in as much off-program foods as I could until my next weigh-in, when I'd start anew. At least for that week. With my lapband, this is the way I live. I am satisfied on a small portion, so I don't need to save my points for more food, or "tastier" food to "reward" myself with. I never feel deprived, or like I'm sacrificing something really tasty because if I eat it, it will bring on a binge. My lapband is automatic portion control for me. I cannot possibly overeat. It also guides me to choose the best option (in terms of healthy eating) because with limited space in my tummy, I won't fill it with fake Skinny Cows or light candy or all the other BS foods I'd work into my WW points. I don't count the hours until I can eat again, I don't save up points so I can splurge, I don't try and exercise away a bad day of eating, and most importantly, I'm not doing this "just until I lose weight." There is no "on my diet"/"off my diet" mentality with my lapband. This is for me one of the greatest benefits of my lapband. The way I eat now is so....calm is the word that comes to mind. Clean, calm, delicious and satisfying.