lyndseygal

Well, the food either goes down or doesn't!! And if it does and gets stuck it just hurts bad and you know better for next time, it hurts in the upper chest area...the best way I can describe it is the feeling you get when you eat too fast, you know what I mean? It's not all that bad, doesn't feel like you're choking or anything, just a bit uncomfortable. One of those 'Doh!' moments at least for me!

With every person ofcourse the experience will be different! I need to update my ticker as I've dropped weight but anyway, for me, this was definitely worth it. Before my first fill, I actually had a bit harder time digesting, oddly enough. Now as long as I chew chew chew I am able to eat anything I want. For some people this would be too tempting but for me, I feel so free now with the band. I can eat the small portions of what I want and feel completely content on them whereas before I'd keep going back until I cleaned my plate. Just the other day I left half an entire sandwich on my plate, I usually now leave half of everything but don't feel deprived!! :eek: It's amazing and I love the band sooo much. I never wanted to go on a diet---they have never worked for me. I do try to eat healthy but by no means am I giving up the food I love to eat. I enjoy my food now MORE than I did before. Now I know I might be a little biased because I've only had my band for 2 months and only lost about 15 lbs but for me baby steps are what count!! I never would have thought that way before the band, now I'm just grateful I can continue to lose weight at a slow and steady pace and continue to enjoy my food. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

They will know if they use a fluoroscopy, which is kinda like an x-ray where they can see the band!

I actually feel that I have already come to my sweet spot with the band after the first fill. I haven't weighed in a while, but since my fill I have been able to eat smallish but reasonable portions of food with good chewing, and I feel pleasantly full. I am very happy with the outcome, and though I know the loss will be gradual I am still stoked about it. I never wanted to 'diet' and at this rate, I'll never have to. --->:whoo:very, very happy here

Sorry if I didn't clarify completely but there is nothing in the band, it's just sitting around your stomach, hasn't been tightened!! You should NOT feel restriction now. You're perfectly normal, don't worry. Just wait until fill #1! I just got mine, already much better!

Ok, let me clarify something if it helps, my doctor told me this. Yes you have the band but it's just 'there', there is no saline solution in it. You felt restriction for a little while because the stomach was sore, tender, and healing. But now it's pretty much healed up and can tolerate food just like before. So until your first fill, just be careful about one thing: chewing!! I just went in for my first fill and he said because of the size of my upper pouch I wasn't chewing enough. So if nothing else, do that!! But don't fret, it's normal not to feel restriction. They say before the first fill isnt for weight loss anyway! :car:

Oh, I slept like a baby. Probably shouldve slept on the band but I did, even the night after the surgery (didn't realize this til I woke up) It was a little tender but not too bad!

Okay I HAD to answer you, I did the exact same thing, I ate at about week 2 abd I was seriously a nervous wreck thinking the band slipped, etc. I went in to get my fill this past weekend and he said the band looked perfect, I felt like I was given a second chance. It hadn't slipped at all, but he said he noticed I was taking too big of bites by the size of the upper pouch and is glad we caught it now. But everything was seriously fine for me...I was worried, like you. I feel this is my chance to get my act together. I feel much better already, definitely have very pleasant restriction. The fill didn't hurt worse than someone quickly poking you in the stomach, seriously it was pretty much painless. I laughed when he got the needle in cuz it DIDN'T hurt and I had been so worried! :car: If you need any other info, let me know, I'm new just like you!!!

Wow, I am surprised to hear so many people who had pain. It was literally no pain for me. If there was pain I honestly don't even remember (and I had my first fill today!!) The needle is intimidating but doesn't hurt, seriously. You'll probably laugh after they put it in and you realize that you had truly nothing to be afraid of. I did!!

I think everyone's experience with the lapband is different. For me, any pains I had went away in a week, including shoulder and gas pain. For the first week, expect a little pain, a lot from the anesthesia wearing off!! But it's really not so bad as you might think from reading all the different opinions. For me, I've pbed once and I deserved it since I ate very fast and was trying to eat a sandwich. It's not so bad because you remember that the next time you want to scarf it down!! I've been banded a month now, but healed very quickly and have been doing good, waiting anxiously for the first fill!

No fills yet, still about a month post op. But I can't seem to digest bread too well still! Everything else is fine. Actually bread alone is sometimes okay, but sandwiches don't feel too good going down. Pizza hasn't worked for me. Everything is good otherwise though!

After about week 2 of the surgery, my restrction was gone so that hasn't been fun! I am liquid dieting again though so i can continue to drop weight because I gained all the weight lost right back Still, it's very hard without restriction, like before, except I get the golf ball on any types of bread or tortillas. Regular crust pizza is a nightmare, I still can't eat very much of that. And this is pre-first fill. I know I might have to give these up, BUT after having about 2 or 3 weeks where I was able to 'eat' again, I've realized I preferred it when I couldn't. I don't care if I have to say goodbye to bread anymore, or pizza or whatever. I want to be healthy again and thin, I can't get there eating to my heart's content anymore, and I'm sick of shoving food in my face for every time I feel hurt or upset or stressed. Yes, with the lap band we do give some things up. But what we get is our health back, the ability not to have to use food as a crutch, the compliments, increased self-esteem, feeling of lightness, etc. Among other things!! Trust me if you aren't sure, weigh the odds (no pun intended). For me, being able to eat relatively normal I've realized it's not all that great!! I'm ready to give it up for something better...I get my first fill in 2 weeks and I. am. so. HAPPY :whoo:

So far I can eat anything but I eat it differently. I chew a ton, I take my time more, I eat a ton less. It's not as enjoyable as it used to be though but I'm becoming more and more accepting of that.

I've been trying to feel it through the skin but can't really. Hmm. I wonder if when I lose weight it will become more err.. (visible isnt the right word) touchable?

So far I haven't had problems with anything but do you find it to be as nice to eat when you have to chew 5 billion times? :confused:

So far straws have been no problem. I am about 2 weeks out now. I eat mushy (or semi mushy) solids and have had no problems. No pbs, no vomits, no slime, nothing. It's been a dream, I just eat less, mostly the same foods. But thats what I always planned. No diets for me :confused: (I always ate pretty healthy just a TON of food)

Hi puddin, just wanna say that I've seen your pics and read some of your posts and you're AMAZING! :clap2::clap2: You're totally an inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing your story with everything!:confused: You give me hope!

ok so when I last wrote I was less than a week out and still had it...now it's been a few days and nothing! even when I have too much or am hungry or whatever. hmm. Maybe it was just the anesthesia afterall :whoo:

Hi everyone! I got banded on the 6th, I've lost 10 since then! Wow! I'm on thicker liquids right now but have had a few very well chewed saltines too (I know, I know) Good luck to everyone!

I've had the band for just over a week, DO NOT think that the band will take away the desire to compulsively eat!! Where there's a will there's a way. Although I do have considerably less on the band and I still seem to be dropping weight like crazy, like Jack said now one cookie feels like a binge. Ofcourse, having to chew everything so much (or PB, your choice) makes it harder to consume more food. I've done the scarf and spit thing before a few times (take a big mouth of food you want then spit it up in to a napkin, :speechles ewww).

I'm 5'2" and at about 160 lbs I am able to wear a size 14, able to fit the largest or second largest size in most clothing stores. Currently 210 so 50 lbs more! Eek!

So far I've had my band a week and I do get it daily when my stomach is irritated. Like if I eat too much, I know immediately. (I eat mushies). If I drink too much, I know. If I haven't eaten, I know. I believe the transferred pain thing but I hope I can figure out how to avoid it! :cry

First off...umm...15 lbs in 30 days?! That's a LOT. Some people from what I understand actually gain before the first fill...You're not SUPPOSED to feel restriction yet don't worry! The band has nothing in it and it's healed so it's gonna feel similar to normal, don't worry. You're doing great, once you get your first fill youll have restriction

Nah, gotta take it slow here. I sip. If I drink faster it hurts! Hopefully this will go down soon!

I didn't do my pre-op diet. I know, bad. But no problems here. I know it's not a good excuse but I wasnt telling anyone about my surgery and my birthday was the week before so everyone was taking me out to dinner, dessert, etc! But I'm actually glad in hindsight that I didnt follow it perfectly. It made me feel less like I 'missed out' when I had surgery and couldnt eat anything! haha I know its bad. I dont recommend not doing your preop but I was just a bad kid. I'm 5 days post op and everyone is already telling me I look thinner. Havent weighed though.