NYgirl01

I was banded in November of 07 and I feel my port (which is the most painful part of healing - not too unbearable though). You get so used to it that you forget it's there. Sometimes if your pants or jeans dig in you will feel that it's there and it reminds you, but not a painful feeling at all. I developed scar tissue around it so it's a little hard, but after the weight I've lost so far, it doesn't stick out. Also, my scars are healing pretty quickly. My bigger scar, where the port is, is starting to fade now, but the other smalls ones you can barely see anymore.

I am 5' 3" and also have a goal weight of 135-130 but my dr has a goal of 142 for me. It's goes by BMI I think. They want to keep you in a safe zone. That's what my dr's office says.

I was told by a fellow bander that she flew to Vegas and her band got really tight. She said she called the dr and he said that it does in fact make the band tighter. Anyone else experience this? I am leaving for FLA on Tuesday and need to know if I should talk to dr on Monday. Thanks for the support.

Congrats to all of you. This is just the beginning of a great journey. Be sure to rest and take one day at a time. Every day is one step closer to a happier and healthier life. :confused:

Sorry for the 3 x's post. It said the first 2 did not go through. Sorry about that. :confused:

I have a 14cc band and my restriction is at 6.5 cc's right now. It's perfect for me. I was at 7cc's but after a few months it got too tight and I had to get a slight unfill. My doctor said my band is small because my stomach was small (which was surprising). I don't think the size of the cc's has anything to do with the size of the person. My aunt had it done and was a lot bigger than me and her band cc's are smaller. I'm losing steadily and am very happy.

I have a 14cc band and I am at 6.5 cc's. I was at 7 for a while but after about 3 months it got too tight. My restriction is great and I have lost a total of 42 pounds so far. My doctor said my stomach was small so I don't think the band has anything to do with the size of the person. I think 14 cc's sounds big but it really isn't that big.

I have a 14 cc band and I am at a great restriction. I was at 7 cc's and after a couple of months it got too tight so I went down to 6.5 cc's. It's perfect. I have lost 42 pounds so far. My doctor said I had a small stomach so I don't think it has anything to do with the size of anyone's body. I am not sure what they decide but I know my band is not very big.

I HATED my band when I got it. To tell you the truth it took a good 2 weeks to start to get used to it. I was like "What the hell did I do". I went through food withdrawal and was quite frustrated. The gas pain was horrible, I pulled the muscle around my port (as if the surgery pain was bad enough) and I had the runs because all I could do was drink. Where am I going with this???? I am now down 42 pounds. I am so thankful to everyone that has helped me and I thank God everyday that I have this band. It is the best decision I have ever made to save my life and change my way of eating, and thinking. I got my surgery in November. I am down 6 sizes, off the sleep apnea machine, off the metformin (pre-diabetes meds), and I am off all inhalers. Take it day-by-day. You will feel better every day you wake up, and every day you are getting healthier, and as a plus, thinner.

It was the wierdest thing. I have been at 7 cc's, with a 14 cc band, for almost 3 months and out of no where I felt like the band was tight. During the night I was regurgitating, getting badly stuck even when I drank, and it got to the point that I couldn't even swallow. It was literally one meal to the next. I had to go down to 6.5 cc's and now it's perfect again. I've been tight before but over 7 cc's, and usually a week or two after the fill. They said it's normal and it does happen. Anyone else have this?

I think you may be right about the food. I am not very hungry anymore and I don't seem to eat as much to keep burning off. I need to really sit down and re-evaluate my food situation. I do take a water pill every other day to every couple of days. I have a horrible hormone that retains fluid. Thanks for the insight.

:Dancing_wub: I am not sure what to make of this. I was losing pretty steadily then about 4-5 weeks ago I started the gym. I know I am losing inches, but the weight has stopped. My best friend is a fitness guru and gave me a lot of pointers on the treadmill and the resistance machines. I have been at a plateau - anyone else?

I definitly would not carry two insurances. Why can't you just cancel your parents insurance (you will then get a termination of coverage letter) and enroll with your employer. They will find out if you have two coverages and then you will be responsible for the remainder, I was in a similar situation - by accident. I am not sure if it is only a NY law, but I do know that if you don't have a lapse in coverage for 3 months total the "Pre-Existing Clause" will be void. You have to be careful of that also.

I'm in!!!! I joined the gym yesterday and just found this thread today - I'm stoked.

Lizzie I am so glad to hear you were able to get a defill. It sounds like you have a 14 cc band like me. I was at 7 cc's and when they filled me to 7.5 I felt like it was too tight. My doctor told me to wait it out. After 2 weeks it got so bad I couldn't even swallow and had to call my doctor to get defilled. Fortunately my doctor only does lapband and has a 24 hour access and a special place in the hospital that you just go to and get it done. I am in New York. I wound up getting dehydrated. I hope you do well and good luck.

I was in the same situation a few days ago. I was like that for about 2 weeks but it got worse. I got to the point that I could not even swallow my own saliva. I had to go to the doctor as an emergency on Sunday and because it was tight for so long (I have a 14 cc band and was on 7.5 cc's) they had to lower me to 6.5. Be careful. I got dehydrated.

About 2 weeks after my surgery I bent over while blow drying my hair and I got this horribly sharp pain in my port. It felt like I was getting burnt with this pinch. I called the doctor and they said I pulled the muscle around the port and it is very common. Along with that it can take a couple of weeks to heal.

I am so excited!!! I was thinking about crab meat yesterday and went to the store and bought it. I eat it with cocktail sauce. It is so gooooood.

I have a 14 cc band and when I had my surgery he filled it to 6 cc's before he closed me up. A month later I was at 7 cc's.

I had to stop my birth control pills 1 month before surgery because of clotting. You should ask your doctor. I restarted 2 weeks after surgery.

I am so glad I found this. I was not sure if I was too tight or just right. I can feel everything going down, and I even have this little gurgle that comes up when the food and/or drink goes through. I thought maybe I was too tight, but nothing is coming back up. I do feel like it gets stuck a little but maybe I have to try and eat a little slower. I have a 14cc band and I am at 7.5 cc's. Does anyone else get that gurgle?

I keep getting this obnoxious hiccup. I don't know what it is really. I don't know if it's a spasm or a hiccup. I was banded on November 14 and after the gas part subsided I started getting this. I figured it would go away but here I am a little over a month later and still here it is. I happens a lot throughout the day. It's not a gurgle. It feels like a hiccup but it will only happen the one time and then again maybe a half hour or so later. Am I the only one? I'm sure I am. I get the weirderst things. :help:

This seems to happen to me also, but while I am eating.

Good to know. I had my first fill yesterday, but I will keep it on hand.

Thanks so much