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Hi guys! I was banded in March of this year, and I lost roughly 50 lbs in the first 3 months. I have, since then, lost an additional 10. However, I have had my band unfilled once due to making it to 4 ccs and not being able to hold down Water. My surgeon and I discussed it, and we think that maybe it was because we moved too quickly with the fills. So, I was empty for a month and we started the slow return back to 4 ccs. At 3.5 ccs I am constantly hungry, and feel empty. At 4 ccs I can't even keep water down. This is the second time it has happened once I got to 4 ccs, and I am wondering if the band isn't working out for me. Today I dry heaved for a long time because I took a sip of water. I have thrown up almost every day since I got this last fill maybe 5 weeks ago. I called and talked to my nurse initially, and we discussed my options. I returned to liquids, because I didn't want to take another step backwards. I have thrown up most liquids this week, and it just keeps getting worse. I have given myself headaches from throwing up so much. Last night, my boyfriend sat me down and had an honest "I'm worried about you and your health, please get this thing removed" conversation. So, I discussed the option of going to the sleeve with him, and he is 100% supportive of anything I choose. He even does the liquid diets with me. ; ) So, my question is where do I start? I feel like a failure, and I hate having this conversation with my surgeon, but I am going to. I have to. I'm going to be in Pharmacy school and the added stress on top of not being able to eat without throwing up is just too much. I don't know if it is too early to decide that I am a lapband failure.. Should I try to live with it longer? I'm just sad, scared, and stressed. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you. I hope you are doing well.

How long does it take for you to decide you are at a weight loss plateau/stall...? One week without loss, two...? Also, how do you tell if you need another fill? I know that each day is different with what you can eat, etc. I have definitely experienced this. I'm just curious what various signs are. Thanks in advance!!

Yes! I feel like you and I have very very similar stories. My boyfriend, mother, and one close friend are all that know... When I was in the 8th grade, I had met my aunt for the first time and the FIRST THING SHE EVER SAID TO ME WAS, "Take it from me sweety, just stop eating." My grandpa used to tell me that I would have to not buy 2 seats on the plane, but the entire plane... and when he introduced me to people, he would tell them that they lost me once when I was younger, but later found me hiding in the refrigerator eating all of their food. This never happened, he just thought it was a funny way to introduce me.

Sigh. I was so excited. lol I was like.. just 30 minutes. Awesome.

Hi guys! I am now banded.. And so excited! I am also in a ton of pain. Lol I wasn't one of the lucky ones that experienced minimal to no pain at all.. But, luckily, I have a very understanding nursing staff that provides me with pain meds and encouragement. I walk the halls about every 2 hours and that helps with the gas build up in my chest. I can breath in 3000 ml of air! My respiratory therapist was impressed, me too kind of.. I'm a little concerned because I have been able to drink a lot it seems. : ( since 5:30 I have drank a cup of broth, a small portion of sherbert, I have drank 3 juice cups (about 12 oz all together) and 9 oz of H2O. So.. I drank, roughly, 34 oz in about 3 hours. I feel like that is too much?

Hey guys! I am 6 days out from being banded! I was talking with a friend who had Lap Band a couple of years ago, and has been extremely successful with it, and she was giving me a couple of tips to get through the beginning. One of them sparked my curiosity, and I wanted to get other opinions. Her surgeon told her that once she gets to the dreaded "bandster hell" to start taking charcoal pills to soak up the extra HCl that is secreted in the stomach. That the HCl is what causes the feeling of nausea and empty that people experience when not eating (I, luckily, have not felt it yet..).. She said it took a couple of weeks to feel, but it happens... and when it did, she took her charcoal pills and it went away. She swears by them.. I was just wondering if any of you guys have been instructed, or just decided by yourself, to take the activated charcoal pills? If you did, what were the benefits? What were the downfalls? I have a follow up appointment with my doctor on Monday, so I will definitely be asking him about it then, and I will report back! Thanks so much in advance beautiful people.

I had the surgery last Thursday, and thought I could go back on Monday... Sunday night, I decided to wait until Tuesday. I went in yesterday morning, and had to have a coworker drive me home because I was in so much pain. However, I haven't taken a pain pill since yesterday morning, and I am feeling much better today! I expect to go back tomorrow without any problems. Some people can go back quickly, some can't... I hope that you can though. Good luck with your interview!!

I also read somewhere that somebody (unfortunately, I cannot remember who said it... I hope she sees this and takes credit)... Anyways. Somebody posted that whenever they get a stall on weight loss, they go back to Protein shakes for a couple of days as a sort of reset.. and it puts them back on track. Either way, both sound like a great idea. : ) Thanks for sharing!

Hey Jennifer!! I just wanted to let you know that I am experiencing the same things!! I was supposed to go back to work today, but I just couldn't take the pain of the gas... I have been swallowing gasX strips like they are vicodin.. which I have also been swallowing a bunch of. Sadly, I have no advice for you... But, just know that, you are not alone. : ) We were banded together, we will be in pain together. lol

Yeah. I just put neosporin on mine.. He said to wait 5 days and take my steri strips off... But they have already started to come off, and some of my incisions aren't covered. So, neosporin to the rescue!

Hi guys! I'm back again with another topic. lol Anyways, quick question. Did you put anything on your incisions in order to reduce the long term scarring? I had read on the internet that a lot of people made sure to keep their wounds covered with petroleum jelly/neosporin, and the ones that did keep their wounds covered had minimal scarring. I asked my doctor about it yesterday, and he said that Neosporin wouldn't help until my steri-strips were gone, and he gave me the go ahead to remove them 5 days after surgery... then add neosporin if I wanted to. However, on my way out, my nurse told me to not put anything on my wounds until they are scabbed over and healed. She was very serious about this, and very condescending about it... Or maybe I took it that way, because she just contradicted everything my doctor said. Also, she said not to "worry about minimizing the scars." and that I "wasn't wearing a bikini before the surgery, why would I be wearing one after?" I was irked at that comment, but I bit my tongue... she was removing a needle from my arm. lol I was vulnerable. I just thought that was rude.. Um. Before I gained all of this damn weight, I was in a bikini. Ugh. Also, I am irked that doctors and nurses never seem to effectively communicate orders. Anyways, my question is did anybody put stuff on their incisions? If they did: How soon after surgery? What did you put on there? For how long? Did you have to remove your steri-strips? Thanks in advance beautiful people! : )

My doctor told me to just make sure I am well hydrated, taking my Vitamins, and getting in Protein. He said we will visit calories when I make it to solids. But, he also put me on a 4 week liquid diet, then 2 more mushies.

Well, the nurse wasn't employed by my surgeon... She worked for the hospital I had to stay in. However, I am definitely going to be writing a review on the hospital, and I will be sure to mention that. Overall though, I had about 11 people keeping a watch on me.. And only 2 of them did I have any complaints about. So, it was a great hospital stay. The other nurse asked me how much I had been drinking and I said about 8 oz per hour.. Which seemed to confuse her, and before she left she turned to me and held up a 1 oz cup and said to "be sure you are getting at least one of these for every hour you are awake" ... Did she miss the part where I just said I drink 8/hr? Lol Anyways. Thanks for the responses and encouragement lovelies!! : )

I am soooo glad to hear that people can sleep on their stomachs again! I slept on my back in the hospital, and then last night was my first in my bed. I just wanted to lay on my stomach! It was miserable. lol

I have taken tomato soup and thinned it out with Water. Then I have put taco seasoning in it, and then some fat free sour cream... I love Mexican food, and this has definitely helped me crave it less!! It's really cheap, and super good. I only drank about 1/3 of a cup today, and placed the rest of it in the fridge. I imagine this $0.60 can of tomato soup will last me a couple more days. : D

This is a great question! I was just banded 2 days ago, so... I don't know.. But I am interested in hearing other's answers! Thanks for asking!

Thanks for the encouragement, guys! It helps a lot! : ) & HAPPY BANDING, Jennifer! : )

Thanks guys! I would prefer to not be drinking juices, but it is what the hospital gives me since I am on a liquid diet. I counted my calories up and only got 600 yesterday.. But when I go home it is only Crystal Light for me. Anyways. I just felt weird because I read a lot on how people could just barely drink anything. I didn't gulp, just constantly sipped. I will talk to my nurses. Thanks for making me feel better guys!

Hi! I'm looking for a mentor/buddy.. someone I can give my phone number to and text pretty regularly. I'm really looking to make a long term friend here! Here are a couple of things about me: I'm 23 Female Married, but separated for 2.5 years... still working on that divorce.ugh. I work in Elementary schools Arkansas Surgery is next week. I've lost 17 lbs preop I need to lose about 140 lbs. I'm really outgoing..

Okay. So, I am a new member... My banding will be on March 4th (yay!!)... Anyways, I have been reading the forums and taking notes, however I have a question about the post-op diet. My doctor wants us to do 2 week pre-op diet, which I understand, but afterwards wants us to strive for 4 weeks of liquid dieting if we can handle it.. We were told to make it 2 weeks at least, and then, if we couldn't handle it, to slowly start introducing mushy foods. I fully intend on making it the 4 weeks, because that's what my personal doctor wants, but I hadn't seen any other posts from people saying that they also went 4 weeks... and I was just looking for someone who could tell me what the difference is between going 2 weeks and going 4? Thanks so much fellow band-ers. I hope your evening is going well.

I have no idea what WhatsApp is... I am about to search for it though. How do we find each other on it?

Thank you!! Yes! This was exactly what I was looking for. : ) Thank you!

We will be banded the same day! : ) Don't be nervous... Thinking that this won't work is already setting yourself up for disappointment. You HAVE THIS! : )

Thanks Karen. How much did you lose during the 4 weeks? : )

How much did you end up losing during the 4 weeks?