ABandCalledWanda

I had my first fill of 4cc's 4 weeks after surgery.....was scheduled to come back 4 weeks after that....in between those appointments, after my first fill, I GAINED weight....
I showed up at the next appointment, discouraged and frustrated....my Dr. LAUGHED at me....said I didn't "Get It", but I will eventually...he then explained the whole process to me, Green Zone, etc, and what his treatment plan was to get me there....so he gave me a 2nd fill....and all that happened then was I maintained my weight...did not gain, nor loose.....
The 3rd fill is the one that did the trick...sent me for a loop...it took me a while to adjust to it. I wanted to go back and get the fill removed but my Dr. talked me out of it....he knew it was me that was the problem, not a tight band....and he was right!

It would be wonderful if you never had to feel it. It's horrible. Eat slow, chew well and give yourself time between bites. You'll know it when it happens.

I loved cottage cheese and clear Japanese Soup. (I strained out the mushroom slivers.). I also had Lipton cream of chicken probably once a day. I guess I was lucky because I love SF jello!
As for now I eat a lot of shredded chicken and tuna with light mayo. String cheese (light) is another go to food, along with zucchini and ranch. Ooh, can't forget laughing cow cheese!
After a fill I rely on French onion Soup and Protein shakes. I'm getting closer to the green zone and look forward to figuring out what works and what doesn't.

I propose we add a further descriptive nuance to Wheetsin's post: IMHO a "yak" is considerably more effort in hurling out the offending mess; it is more that a 'mere PB/sliming' type event, but may contain some of the PB elements. And those little dogs/franks/polish sausages.....somehow they manage to slip past my carefully honed cat like reflexes and turn a delightful lunch into a horrid 20-40 minutes of "full scale PB/yak attack" Careful recent field research on this very matter has clearly demonstrated a Class One Eating Error: failure to chew thoroughly and swallowing too soon. Caught again!....but I have repented and managed to recover quickly. I just don't need those things in my meal plan I guess. *sigh*

Thanks again everyone! I just went in for my follow-up visit yesterday and was down another 7lbs, soooooo, I've exceed my goal weight by exactly 10lbs.:-) I'm one thrilled lady!!! I haven't weighed this since I was like 14:-) HAPPY DANCE!!!!:-)

I started my journey at 33 years old, weighing 289lbs on a 5'1" frame, and looked like I had no neck or eyes:-) My blood pressure was 180/98. This surgery was my ONLY hope because without it I knew I was only going to get bigger and the healthy issues more severe. So, One year ago today I remember checking into the surgerical center and waiting to be called back for my surgery; I was nervous as hell and wondering if I was making the right decision. Well today, 1 year later, I'm confident I made the right decision and would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!!
This has truly been a life changing experience for me on so many different levels. I'm definitely not the same person I was a year ago, I'm healthy, happy and just thankful to have my life back! I didn't realize how much of life I was missing out on until I was given the opportunity to live again! I feel like I can do anthing now with no restrictions!
Has this been a cake walk?? Well, honestly, for ME I never really thought about it, i just did what I knew I had to do and with every passing month I was less of a person than I was the month before:-) Several people have asked, how did you do it, how did you lose all that weight in a years time, even the nurse at my doctor's office asked me this and the honest answer is, I'm nothing special, I chose to follow my doctors instructions to the T, I chose to believe in myself, I chose to have a positive attitude. Going into this I told myself failure wasn't an option, I knew there were certain things I was going to chose to give up forever, I accepted that, moved on and never looked back. The best piece of advice I can give to anyone starting out on this journey or is needing a restart is believe in yourself, if you put in 100% you'll get 100% back, don't set and dwell on the things you can't have, think of all the things you can have because you made the choice to kick some unhealthy habits out of your life. The reward will be so much sweeter than anything you can imagine!!
We all started this journey out with similar worries and fears, always keep that in your mind and remember that one person(s) that encouraged you through the tough times, pay it forward!!! One of the greatest joys for me is being able to help someone else who is where I was. That's why this site is so great! So if you find yourself stuck in a rut one of the greatest ways out is by helping someone else.
May 14, 2013- Before Pre-op Diet- 289
May 30, 2013- Day of Surgery- 273
May 30, 2014- 147ish (I haven't weighed, go for my check up next week)
Total weight lose- 142lbs
I started out wearing a size 20-22W in pants
A size 3X Shirt (24-26)
TODAY, I'm in a size 5 pants, and med/small shirts!
My blood pressure is 128/78, my cholestorol is NORMAL, my liver is NORMAL
I've almost lost more than I actually weigh now:-) I'm just thrilled!
I HAVE A NECK NOW AND 2 EYES THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE!! I MAKE IT A POINT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH EVERYONE I MEET NOW INSTEAD OF WALKING WITH MY HEAD DOWN.
Just know if you stay the course you will achieve your goal!!

Sure sounds like it. Some of us prefer our bands a little on the loose side, I do. Some like it tight. But, be careful if you go for tight? Now's the time to look for all those soft satiety signals and it sounds like you're feeling them now. Your most recent adjustment could settle in just as it is or, get a little tighter or looser. 2 weeks will tell.
Also, your esophagus and stomach become more efficient machines in massaging food through the stoma which can give off the appearance of your band loosening up when in fact the muscles that control peristalsis are gaining strength.

I went to the gas station this morning and ran into my neighbor. I started talking to him and he was being very cautious and kinda stand offish. So I kept it short, thought maybe he was in a hurry. So as he was going out the door I invites to a Fourth of July party at our house. He looks at me all weird and goes "jess" and I said yes. He's like omg I didn't know it was you. I guess his wife mentioned to him that she thought Ryan (my husband) had a new girlfriend or had gotten remarried. They had no clue it was still me. I guess it's a great compliment but I wonder how many other people think my husband is remarried lol

I downloaded an app on my phone called Eat Slower -- it's a little timer that will vibrate your phone at intervals you set. So, I can set it to vibrate every 2 minutes. I'll take a bite when it vibrates then chew, chew, chew and swallow and wait until it vibrates before taking another bite. I'm going to up the time to 3 minutes between bites.
Just an idea that might help.

The machine at the sleep lab didn't have the ramp feature at least I didn't think that it did because that force was STRONG!! On my machine I have the ramp feature and I start at 8 and end at 12. I wonder if the pillows would feel different on my machine than at the sleep lab. Worth a try.

I have my morning coffe every morning with creamer... My doc didn't restrict me and I haven't restricted myself

I'm nearly 2.5 years out and I still slime maybe once a week. I've accepted this as a condition to being banded. I still work on eating slower and smaller but it's still a struggle.
Over the last year I've made some progress though. I once used to get stuck/slime 4-6 times a week, and now it's just 0-2 times a week. I've developed this sixth sense of recognizing that slight pressure in my pouch/esophagus when it's time to slow down/stop and allow food to pass through. No slime, no stuck episode.
Just keep working on it. You spent a lifetime developing bad eating habits, it may take a few years to mitigate/eliminate those bad habits.
tmf

This should be a must read upon signing up. Not allowed to post until acknowledging having read this.
Thanks, Alex.
It is funny some of us feel we have to fight the "normies" regarding WLS all the while fighting each other.

You were intubated with a breathing tube. Your throat is just irritated from the tube.

Hi Hoosiers!
I was banded on Dec 30, 2013 in Noblesville. We have a support group that meets on the first Thursday of every month. Glad to see so many places around the state have bariatric practices. I've read so many stories of people traveling hours to have their surgery.

I'm right there with you. I was banded on Dec 30 and the first two weeks were great! I was struggling to get in my calories and such. Then..... not so much. My scale moved down 0.2 lbs over the past two weeks.
I've had a few, "oh wow, did I really just eat that much?", moments.
I had my first fill on the 28th of Jan and it was good for about two days, but now I'm back to the same 'diet'. My next appt/possible fill is in exactly one month. It's crazy because I know I'm not eating or drinking nearly as much as I was before the pre-op phase, but I'm not making the scale move much either. (Insert attitude adjustment.) Slow and steady wins the race, of course! I'll take those 0.2 lb losses where I can get 'em!
What helps?
Lipton cream of chicken cup of Soup 32 oz of Crystal Light by my side at all times 100 calorie Premier Protein snack shakes Atkins double chocolate caramel crunch bars for sweet cravings Aldi's apple/banana fruit puree packs Guacamole Eggland's Best hard boiled eggs (easy to make into deviled eggs for a quick 'treat') Aldi's light string cheese Sunflower kernals (well chewed, of course) Best wishes!

Here's my take on hair falling out. I don't believe it is a result of WLS or diet related (if you are getting in all your dailys). My sense is hair falling out is a consequence from having had anesthesia, which stops everything in your body (including the Hair growth cycle) temporarily. I say this because I experienced Hair loss following ankle surgery as well as following WLS. When I brought it up with the orthopedic surgeon, he told me all patients who have had anesthesia will notice their hair falling out for a couple of months following the surgery--whatever the surgery.
I'm interested to read if anyone else who has had a general anesthesia for a non-WLS operation had hair loss as well.
In any case, the loss will not be forever. I lost hair from month 2 through about month 7 post op, (no big deal for me because I have masses of hair). It stopped after that. I did have to buy a lot of Drano, however

Thanks Love. Will continue the walking, and pray for relief.

Hey there, you are banded! Congratulations. Sorry about the gas pain -- some people get relief from a heating pad. Great that you're walking all you can. Tomorrow will be a new day!

Hello and welcome!
I don't have all of the answers, but I can share with you what happened during and after my psych consult.
My PCP said I'd do great! And... I 'failed', as I in I was referred for more therapy before I could move forward. I was mad, sad, etc. Turns out, there was something to it - even though I've always thought I was a bit of a picky eater, I had no idea that they were really food addictions. This all came out during that initial visit and I was sent away with a list of therapists. I had to first contact my ins co to see what type of mental health professional they would cover. Turns out, pretty much any, but the girl on the phone thought I wanted a psychiatrist. I ended up flipping through therapists on my phone and found one for eating disorders. I booked an appt for the following Monday (this was a Wed.) and she just had to sign off that I was actively being seen by her.
So yes, it added a few days to my plan, but I was still able to have my surgery about three weeks after my initial psych eval.
Here's the link for Medicare and lap band coverage -- http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/bariatric-surgery.html
Best wishes!

My surgeon said Milk of Mag. I wanted Miralax, but no dice with him. That's too bad -- Miralax was my best friend for the past few months before surgery. I'm sure I'll be able to use it again if necessary. So far, not necessary. But wow -- those first five days post-op I felt totally backed up.
Best of luck!

I'm right there with you -- not a lot of restriction despite one fill. I've been avoiding rice as well. I only ate it once in a blue moon, but when I wanted fried rice, I wanted it. Now I stick to chicken and broccoli at Chinese restaurants and no rice.
I too had a last hurrah -- Steak 'n shake patty melt w/ cheese fries!
Before I was on the pre-op diet I thought I'd do a 'Foodie Favorites World Tour' - my nut didn't like that idea. She said I was reinforcing the deprivation feelings. I just wanted to eat my favorites one last time w/o much guilt! I had a few favorites and those that I 'missed out on' during my pseudo farewell tour, I've been able to have in small portions after surgery.
I'm actually glad it happened this way because I'm now allowing myself to have a little of what I thought I CRAVED back then and I'm figuring out it wasn't all that great after all.
To the chicken salad lunch person -- I hear ya, I'm a Monday-Friday tuna w/ light mayo girl. Easy and yummy!

Here in Italy they do not ask people who are going to have lap band surgery to go on a pre-op diet.
But I knew it would be too hard passing from the huge amount of foot I was used to swallowing to the tiny quantities allowed by the band.
So, a month before surgery I was for three weeks in a hospital where I followed a program of rehabilitation from obesity, which consisted in healthy food, exercise, group meetings with a nutritionist and a psychologist.
It was very helpful.
I'm grateful for that experience because it contributed to change my attitude to food.< /p>
Anyway, I don't mean my old self never comes back..
Change is very slow and might take years.

Now I need some sushi! Ggggrrrr
My last meal was a messy Five Guys burger (with eeeerthang!)

The hubby and I went through about 3 months of "last meal" thinking. We bickered often about not being able to eat certain foods. There is nothing we can't eat, we just eat much smaller amounts of it now.
There are some foods I "can't" eat and more because I just don't want to. I used to love McDonalds Breakfast in the morning. Sausage Egg McMuffin, then they came out with that on biscuits oh boy loved it. Today...when asked if I want to go there or have that...my answer is simply No. I might be hungry want/need to eat but I just don't want or need to have that. I am happy with my Protein bar and coffee in the morning. Or simple scrambled egg. If I want to splurge I have bacon.
Even when it comes to rice, it's not my first choice but if I want the taste of that spanish rice with my meal a fork full is usually enough for me.
If you want to have something pre-op go for it. I would not gorge myself, but enjoy the food. Eat what you like enjoy the texture, aroma and flavor of it. You will be doing that lots after banding and the liquid diet is not forever.
In a few weeks/months you will be able to eat those "favorites" again but you may find that you just don't want to.