hayllyn

Hello! New to this forum, and this is the first post I've read, but I couldn't help but chime in. Before my band procedure, I had the exact same reaction from nearly everyone. I am 5'7 and before starting I was 255, and people would always say things like 'But you're not fat!' or 'You don't need surgery, you just need to exercise!' ...as if I'd never thought of that. Luckily, my family and immediate circle of friends was incredibly supportive.
I looked into Lap Band surgery for two years before deciding to go through with it. The entire time leading up to it, I had been a member at a gym which I went to occasionally, I did pilates, I had a nutritionist... nothing worked for me. I just couldn't seem to lose more than 2-3 lbs before leveling out. I was tested for a thyroid problem, there was none.
So I went with Lap Band. I was banded on June 5 of 2013, and I could not be happier with my progress. Since surgery, I've dropped from 255 to 179, I am wearing clothing that I would never have been confident enough to wear before (I went out in a shirt that showed off my stomach the other day- talk about a new experience), and I've been running. I've completed a handful of 5K races and each one makes me feel a bit better than the last. I can keep up with my family (all of whom are very athletic) when we go places, and for the first time in YEARS, I am comfortable and confident in lingerie and swimwear. I've even started doing some alternative modeling.
When I tell people now that I used to weigh 255, they ask where I kept it all. Even when I see people and tell them about the surgery and they say 'you looked great before!' I can say, 'I know I did- but now I feel great.'
Do what's right for you, but know that you're absolutely not wrong.
It's funny, though, because when I started this, I thought that I would absolutely never tell anyone what I'd had done. But now that I've had it done, I talk to anyone who asks about it and I'm completely honest, because it is literally the best thing that I feel I have ever done for myself personally.

That's so awesome!! Congratulations!

It's Appt went well!!! I'm down 17 lbs!!! WOOT WOOT!! I actually teared up!!!!

Glad you're feeling well!! I wish you a healthy and quick recovery!!
xx Quinn

Yeah! It can be scary to still be experiencing pain! I can tell you that a bit of pain is normal, and even up until 2 months ago, I was consistently feeling pressure when I stretched my abdomen. The port is firmly attached to the inside of your abdominal muscles, and you will feel it! Now I only notice if I am really overextending. Something that I didn't really think about before surgery is that this band is part of my body now, and that I can feel it. When I lay flat on my back there is a bump where the port is, if I palpate my abdomen I can feel a lot of the "hardware," it's just a part of me now... But it's something that I hadn't explicitly counted on, necessarily I'm rambling, sorry.
Either way- no pain for me now, just occasional pressure. "This too shall pass!"

This is so amazing and incredibly inspiring! Congratulations on your progress so far!!

It took me about 11-12 weeks to lose the first 20 lbs (but then i lost 15 lbs in the 6 weeks following that). Have you been tightened yet?
What happens is that when they first put the band on, it's not tightened at ALL, so any pressure comes from swelling of the stomach after the surgery. I found that about 4-5 weeks post op, before I'd been tightened (i was first tightened at about 7 weeks), my appetite was very similar to what it was pre-op. I couldn't eat quite as much, but I was still hungry going into every meal. My doctor saw me at 2 weeks, told me that she couldn't tighten until the next time I came in, and told me not to be surprised if I actually gain weight during this period, because that happens to people occasionally since they haven't been tightened and their stomach is back to 'normal.' Luckily, I didn't gain weight (when she told me that, it became my goal to make sure that I didn't gain), but I didn't start aggressively losing until after my first tightening.
Everyone loses weight at a different rate, so don't get discouraged! Just stick to what you're doing, eat right, and try to get as much exercise as you can (I know that's really hard when you're hurting though), and your body will kick in and start burning those calories before you know it!
xx Quinn

Yeah! It can be scary to still be experiencing pain! I can tell you that a bit of pain is normal, and even up until 2 months ago, I was consistently feeling pressure when I stretched my abdomen. The port is firmly attached to the inside of your abdominal muscles, and you will feel it! Now I only notice if I am really overextending. Something that I didn't really think about before surgery is that this band is part of my body now, and that I can feel it. When I lay flat on my back there is a bump where the port is, if I palpate my abdomen I can feel a lot of the "hardware," it's just a part of me now... But it's something that I hadn't explicitly counted on, necessarily I'm rambling, sorry.
Either way- no pain for me now, just occasional pressure. "This too shall pass!"

Hi! About 7 months post-op here.
I'm so sorry you're in pain! I can tell you that the first few weeks were pretty difficult for me. Any time I moved my midsection, it felt like I was being stabbed. Keep in mind- they have to get through your abdominal muscles to get to your stomach, so those muscles are still healing, and that is a painful process! I felt pain in my abdomen for nearly 3 months after, but I also generally heal very slowly.
Everyone heals differently. If you're super concerned ask your doctor, but pain is certainly part of the healing process, in my experience!
xx Quinn

Jumping into this a little late, but here we go!
Name, real or screen~ Quinn (username: hayllyn)
Goal weight for January 31st~ 175
Weight on January 1st~ 182
Age~ 24
City/State~ Tampa, FL
Dietary goal for January~ Eat more vegetables!
Exercise goal for January~ run for 5 minutes without walk-breaks
Personal goal for January~ begin practice for Roller Derby
Date banded~ 06/05/13
Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 76
New Year's Resolution~ Prepare for the Tough Mudder and reach my 150 lb goal!

Jumping into this a little late, but here we go!
Name, real or screen~ Quinn (username: hayllyn)
Goal weight for January 31st~ 175
Weight on January 1st~ 182
Age~ 24
City/State~ Tampa, FL
Dietary goal for January~ Eat more vegetables!
Exercise goal for January~ run for 5 minutes without walk-breaks
Personal goal for January~ begin practice for Roller Derby
Date banded~ 06/05/13
Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 76
New Year's Resolution~ Prepare for the Tough Mudder and reach my 150 lb goal!

That's true, I'm sure. I've had a similar question before so I'm just sharing what my doctor explained to me plus what I've learned from having a band so far. Sorry that it wasn't helpful to you!

That's true, I'm sure. I've had a similar question before so I'm just sharing what my doctor explained to me plus what I've learned from having a band so far. Sorry that it wasn't helpful to you!

Typically I've found that as an adjustment 'settles,' it becomes easier to eat and drink rather than becoming more difficult. Also, if your stomach was swollen or upset the first time that you got that fill, that could have a lot to do with it.
Also weather is a huge factor: I had a fill done in the middle of december (just .5 cc to bring me to 8) and left Florida about 2 weeks later to go to Minnesota, and though I was fine in Florida, I had a lot of trouble in Minnesota and stuck mostly to Soups. As soon as I was back in Florida, I was fine once more.
Bands are tricky beasts. Hoping this one works better for you!!
xx Quinn

That's true, I'm sure. I've had a similar question before so I'm just sharing what my doctor explained to me plus what I've learned from having a band so far. Sorry that it wasn't helpful to you!

I re-read the original post again she did say it had been a month since the original fill/removal. It is definitely possible with the month difference her stomach was able to finally take that 1cc.
Again, I wasn't being critical of you or your Doctor. I was just conveying that would've been a red flag for me to question the Doctor on his thought process.
Hope this fill puts you in the green zone

Typically I've found that as an adjustment 'settles,' it becomes easier to eat and drink rather than becoming more difficult. Also, if your stomach was swollen or upset the first time that you got that fill, that could have a lot to do with it.
Also weather is a huge factor: I had a fill done in the middle of december (just .5 cc to bring me to 8) and left Florida about 2 weeks later to go to Minnesota, and though I was fine in Florida, I had a lot of trouble in Minnesota and stuck mostly to Soups. As soon as I was back in Florida, I was fine once more.
Bands are tricky beasts. Hoping this one works better for you!!
xx Quinn

That's true, I'm sure. I've had a similar question before so I'm just sharing what my doctor explained to me plus what I've learned from having a band so far. Sorry that it wasn't helpful to you!

Best of luck to all January bandsters!! Remember: the first few weeks are the hardest and diet is important! Stick to your Clear Liquids and only move on when it's time and most importantly: LISTEN to your body! No one knows your body like you do- if you feel like you need to stay on liquids for longer, do it! In the grand scheme of things, you might miss food for a few days longer, but it's better than progressing too quickly and hurting yourself!
And remember: you have a huge community of people here willing to talk anytime and answer your questions, so don't be afraid to ask! I am glad that I found this forum, but man am I bummed I didn't find it this time last year!
Good luck to all! Congratulations on a new beginning

Typically I've found that as an adjustment 'settles,' it becomes easier to eat and drink rather than becoming more difficult. Also, if your stomach was swollen or upset the first time that you got that fill, that could have a lot to do with it.
Also weather is a huge factor: I had a fill done in the middle of december (just .5 cc to bring me to 8) and left Florida about 2 weeks later to go to Minnesota, and though I was fine in Florida, I had a lot of trouble in Minnesota and stuck mostly to Soups. As soon as I was back in Florida, I was fine once more.
Bands are tricky beasts. Hoping this one works better for you!!
xx Quinn

Hello! New to this forum, and this is the first post I've read, but I couldn't help but chime in. Before my band procedure, I had the exact same reaction from nearly everyone. I am 5'7 and before starting I was 255, and people would always say things like 'But you're not fat!' or 'You don't need surgery, you just need to exercise!' ...as if I'd never thought of that. Luckily, my family and immediate circle of friends was incredibly supportive.
I looked into Lap Band surgery for two years before deciding to go through with it. The entire time leading up to it, I had been a member at a gym which I went to occasionally, I did pilates, I had a nutritionist... nothing worked for me. I just couldn't seem to lose more than 2-3 lbs before leveling out. I was tested for a thyroid problem, there was none.
So I went with Lap Band. I was banded on June 5 of 2013, and I could not be happier with my progress. Since surgery, I've dropped from 255 to 179, I am wearing clothing that I would never have been confident enough to wear before (I went out in a shirt that showed off my stomach the other day- talk about a new experience), and I've been running. I've completed a handful of 5K races and each one makes me feel a bit better than the last. I can keep up with my family (all of whom are very athletic) when we go places, and for the first time in YEARS, I am comfortable and confident in lingerie and swimwear. I've even started doing some alternative modeling.
When I tell people now that I used to weigh 255, they ask where I kept it all. Even when I see people and tell them about the surgery and they say 'you looked great before!' I can say, 'I know I did- but now I feel great.'
Do what's right for you, but know that you're absolutely not wrong.
It's funny, though, because when I started this, I thought that I would absolutely never tell anyone what I'd had done. But now that I've had it done, I talk to anyone who asks about it and I'm completely honest, because it is literally the best thing that I feel I have ever done for myself personally.

Best of luck to all January bandsters!! Remember: the first few weeks are the hardest and diet is important! Stick to your Clear Liquids and only move on when it's time and most importantly: LISTEN to your body! No one knows your body like you do- if you feel like you need to stay on liquids for longer, do it! In the grand scheme of things, you might miss food for a few days longer, but it's better than progressing too quickly and hurting yourself!
And remember: you have a huge community of people here willing to talk anytime and answer your questions, so don't be afraid to ask! I am glad that I found this forum, but man am I bummed I didn't find it this time last year!
Good luck to all! Congratulations on a new beginning

Hello! New to this forum, and this is the first post I've read, but I couldn't help but chime in. Before my band procedure, I had the exact same reaction from nearly everyone. I am 5'7 and before starting I was 255, and people would always say things like 'But you're not fat!' or 'You don't need surgery, you just need to exercise!' ...as if I'd never thought of that. Luckily, my family and immediate circle of friends was incredibly supportive.
I looked into Lap Band surgery for two years before deciding to go through with it. The entire time leading up to it, I had been a member at a gym which I went to occasionally, I did pilates, I had a nutritionist... nothing worked for me. I just couldn't seem to lose more than 2-3 lbs before leveling out. I was tested for a thyroid problem, there was none.
So I went with Lap Band. I was banded on June 5 of 2013, and I could not be happier with my progress. Since surgery, I've dropped from 255 to 179, I am wearing clothing that I would never have been confident enough to wear before (I went out in a shirt that showed off my stomach the other day- talk about a new experience), and I've been running. I've completed a handful of 5K races and each one makes me feel a bit better than the last. I can keep up with my family (all of whom are very athletic) when we go places, and for the first time in YEARS, I am comfortable and confident in lingerie and swimwear. I've even started doing some alternative modeling.
When I tell people now that I used to weigh 255, they ask where I kept it all. Even when I see people and tell them about the surgery and they say 'you looked great before!' I can say, 'I know I did- but now I feel great.'
Do what's right for you, but know that you're absolutely not wrong.
It's funny, though, because when I started this, I thought that I would absolutely never tell anyone what I'd had done. But now that I've had it done, I talk to anyone who asks about it and I'm completely honest, because it is literally the best thing that I feel I have ever done for myself personally.

Hi! About 7 months post-op here.
I'm so sorry you're in pain! I can tell you that the first few weeks were pretty difficult for me. Any time I moved my midsection, it felt like I was being stabbed. Keep in mind- they have to get through your abdominal muscles to get to your stomach, so those muscles are still healing, and that is a painful process! I felt pain in my abdomen for nearly 3 months after, but I also generally heal very slowly.
Everyone heals differently. If you're super concerned ask your doctor, but pain is certainly part of the healing process, in my experience!
xx Quinn