Cocoabean

Thank you both for your replies. I am thinking it will all become clear when I get there, which I am very much looking foward to!

My pattern seems to be drop 3, stay still for a few weeks, drop 3 more, gain one, stay still for a few weeks. I keep a journal of my weight and measurements. It really helps to see inches go down when my weight has stalled. I don't like it, but I am trying to accept it and see the overall trend. It is going DOWN! YAY! Denise

Just remember, if we could diet successfully, we'd not need this powerful tool we have. I struggled with my eating before my first and second fills. After my second, I have restriction. Without any fill, it is like you don't have the band. They don't call that time between surgery and restriction "Bandster Hell" for nothing!! I have noticed that for me, weight-loss comes in bits and pieces. I lose a few pounds, then stall for a few weeks, maybe gain one back, then lose a few more...and on and on, but the overall trend is down, that is what counts! Denise

OK, this just hit me, 8 months to the day after banding! I am clueless how maintenance with the band works. I am familiar with the Weight Watchers maintenance plan of eating more when you lose and less when you gain. But so far with the band, I am eating at my appetite and losing slowly, but losing. I am now 2/3rds of the way there. So, those of you at or near goal, how does it happen? I know my doctor doesn't like to do fills often, "chasing the dream" as it were. But do you get a bit unfilled if your weight goes too low or is too low unlikely with proper restriction? I have 2cc in a 4cc band. I am seeing my surgeon next week for a possible fill and will ask him then, but I am curious and, I realize, uninformed. Thanks! Denise

Hi Ashley, I have BC/BS in California, I had to appeal just to see my surgeon for a consult. I won the appeal as have many others here, don't give up! It often seems to be standard procedure to deny, deny, deny!! I took advice from "Weight Loss for Dummies" they have a good appeals letter format. I followed it and added some of my own information. It worked. Best wishes, Denise

I opted not to tell my mother-in-law. She worries like there is no tomorrow, and if I have a cold she asks about it for months. So, I knew it would not be a fun discussion with her. Not to mention she cannot hear much Now, 35 lbs. lighter, she hasn't even noticed (or said anything, any way), all she has said is that I look so rested and good. Most of the other family members know, and someone might have told her. But I think I'd have gotten a lecture if she knew. I think it was much better all the way around, she wasn't worried and I didn't have to argue with her. It is a personal decision who to tell or who not to tell. I have been pretty open about it. She's about the only person who doesn't know! With those who have been less than supportive, I just don't discuss it with them again. Denise

I went to Dr. Callery in Poway, near San Diego. I like him very much! He operates out of Pomerado Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital (where I had my surgery). Denise

Hi Everyone, I just calculated my BMI, I am NOT obese any more!!! 29.9!! I am "just" overweight. Woohoo!! Denise

Dr. Callery did my surgery 2-15-08. He did it lap, I went home that evening, and did not have a catheter :party: I went to Dr. Mueller's seminar as well as Dr. Callery's. My PCP recommended Dr. Callery, so I went with him. I liked them both. Dr. Mueller's seminar was more formal than Dr. Callery's. It seems to me the biggest difference is that Dr. Mueller is much more structured in his program. Dr. Callery does not have stringent diet rules except for the pre-op fasting. Mostly I based my post-op diet on how I was feeling with general guidelines. I had my first fill yesterday, all went well. Denise

Did you ask why you have to do it in two surgeries? My guess would be that if your gallbladder is diseased the surgeon wants you to be as healthy as possible going into lapband surgery. If I had had gallstones, my surgeon would have removed my GB at the same time as my surgery. But my GB was nice and pink and healthy, so it has stayed put. But now, I am on actigall, a medicine to reduce the risk of gallstones. Denise

Hi Alli! Welcome to LBT. I am fairly recently banded (Feb. 15) and have not had a fill yet. I have postponed my fill to May 1 due to travel. So, I don't have much advice, but wanted to welcome you and wish you well on your journey! Denise

MollyMolly, thanks for posting that quote. 88% going back into surgery would not be worth it to me. smr001--adverse events don't mean surgery every time...I have vomited once since my surgery Feb 15, I believe it was due to a medication change, not my band. If I were in a study about the band, I would have reported it and it would have been recorded as an adverse event. All events go into the stats. I was involved in a drug study once, and I had to keep a journal of everything odd/bad that I felt. This includes headaches from which I suffer on a regular basis. Only you can decide if this is right for you. Go speak to a surgeon and talk over the complication rates so that you truly understand the risks. There are also support groups where you can talk with patients who have been through this surgery. Weigh out the pros and cons. You'll make the decision that is best for you. Denise

Just know that each person is different. Alot depends on your starting weight and the rules your surgeon has for pre- and post-op nutrition. My surgeon is less conservative than many I have seen written about here. I had to do a 2-week fasting program pre-op (which is fairly standard) but was on mushy foods a week post-op. I lost 8 lbs during the fasting program and have lost 11 since being banded Feb 15 for a total of 20 since Feb 1. Denise

Because of my pre-op BMI (38) I was not required to lose any weight before surgery. But if I had gained, I would have been canceled until I lost it. My surgeon does require some to lose weight, but it is patient specific, not a flat 5% for everyone. I did have to do a 2-week pre-op fasting program, I did Medifast. I lost 8 pounds during this 2-week phase. Denise

What kept me going was knowing it was for a short time only and that the surgery was near. My surgeon said it showed I did really well because my liver was nice and small and that made his job much easier. It is very worth it to stick with it!! It was horrible and I was a grump, I said I'm sorry to my DH every day, in advance, just in case. I don't recommend cheating, but I do admit to having pretzels from time to time, and the plan I was on allowed for a high protein and green veggie meal, that helped. Focus on the prize, having a surgery easier on your body from having a smaller liver! Take care, Denise

Hi Destynee, I was banded Feb 15, I am not limited to certain quantities. Maybe after my first fill, which I postponed until May 1, but the doc hasn't said anything about that so far. But, I am eating less and those little portable bowls would be useful. I got some similar ones for Christmas knowing my surgery was approaching. I carry Snacks to work in them, just because I don't need the room of bigger bowls. Denise Denise

I had my surgery on a Friday, was Clear Liquids thru Sunday and could go full liquids Monday. After one week I was allowed to eat mushies and added more solid foods depending on how I felt. Denise

Hi Linda, I am experiencing the same thing. I got banded Feb. 15 so am almost 6 weeks post-op. I should have had my first fill today but am going on a 2-week trip out of the country in two weeks, so I decided to postpone my fill until after I return, and add insult to injury, it is a cruise! :tongue_smilie: My hubby wanted me to postpone for fear that something would happen and I'd have to be flown home from Central America. And knowing my hubby, even if I broke my leg through no fault of my own, it would be my fault because I got the fill! So, to keep the peace, I decided to wait an additional 4 weeks is this horrible banded place. I can eat all types of foods, but some "feel" better than others. I can eat quite a bit, but not as much as before banding. I am losing, but very slowly. Not nearly as quick as I'd like, but then again, 50 lbs a week would be too slow! On my home scale, I am down 2 lbs since about 1 week after surgery. I did not feel up to getting on the scale right away, so unfortunately I am not sure what I weighed right around my surgery date on my home scale. But, my clothes are fitting looser and my measurements are showing steady loss. These are other ways to measure losses. Kat who posts here once compared an unfilled band to a new car that has no gas...it is great to have, but doesn't do anything for you--I love that comparison. I keep telling myself that I need my gas, I need my gas! That helps me to keep it in perspective. I see alot of people here posting that they have lost boodles of weight shortly after surgery. Try not to compare yourself to them, it only adds to the frustration. I am looking forward to starting on fills--mine is now scheduled for May 1. Know that you are not alone in what you are going through. Your fill is coming, but from what I understand it often takes more than one fill to reach the "sweet spot." Don't beat yourself up because you are not losing much now. It is willpower taking you along at this point, and if "willpower"--whatever that is--worked, we would not have needed the band in the first place. Thanks for posting, it is nice to know I am not alone in this pergatory! Denise

My doc allowed me to go full liquid 3 days after surgery. I see this is not what your doctor ordered, but I did fine with mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs during that time--I even added some peas and steamed spinach which went down fine. I think if you are not hurting, you are OK, if things don't feel right, by all means, call your doc. Or if you'll feel better, call your doc and talk with his/her nurse about it. Denise

I did left over medifast for my 2 weeks pre-op. Doc said my liver was great. I did the 5 packages and the "lean and green." Denise

I was not required to lose weight, but if I gained I'd be canceled. I was required to do a fasting program for two weeks pre-op to shrink my liver. My doc sells one of the liquid programs, the name is escaping me right now. I chose Medifast. I already had the food from a previous "diet attempt." My doc said it would be fine. I cannot say that I like the food, in fact, the shakes taste horrible to me. Some of their soups are decent, and their bars are pretty good. I like that they have food you can chew, plus you add a "lean and green" meal daily, so I did not feel as deprived. It was not a fun two weeks, but I managed it without too much cheating. I did Medifast at work all day and hubby and I would have a lean and green for dinner. Some people actually loose quite a bit of weight using this program long-term, more power to them! I could not. The worst part was going to a friend's surprise b-day parting and not being able to partake. There I was with my vanilla shake while others enjoyed the bounty. But, as my surgery was so close, I was able to keep my eye on the prize. It is not easy mixing a special diet with family and friends. This is another reason I chose the band over bypass, being able to eat regular foods in smaller portions. Anyway, after my surgery my doc told my hubby that my liver looked great and he could tell that I had done very well on the program. Of course, instead of telling the doc I was a stellar patient, he said, "oh, whew, she was so worried about how much she cheated!" :biggrin: What a guy!!! Of course, DH was the one who made me fess up to eating peas with my mashed potatoes after I went on full liquids. To this my doc said that I could add other soft foods since I tolerated that fine. Yay! Denise

My BMI was 38 when I started with my surgeon. He was willing to do either surgery on me, it was my choice. If I had been diabetic vs. pre-diabetic, this would not have been the case. But with my BMI and health history, he said either procedure would be fine for me. My reasons for choosing the lapband are listed below. There is a list of reasons to pick bypass and also lists of reasons to not choose either. You have to decide which list is more powerful. 1. Hubby did not support gastric bypass, was much more comfy with the idea of the band. 2. That rubbed off on me as well. The bypass re-routes your innards and totally scrambles things up. Lapband doesn't. 3. If food gets stuck, band can be unfilled and food passes. With bypass, they must go down the throat and remove it. 4. Should I become ill and need more nutrition, band can be unfilled. 5. Weight loss is slower at first than bypass. I think this lessens the questions from people about your weight loss. Slow and steady is the way I want it. 6. I am in control of my restriction, if there is too much, I ask for an unfill, too litte, I ask for a fill. With bypass, what you have is what you have. I did not do any research into the Sleeve procedure, thus cannot speak to that. Denise

(((Tater)))) I can soooo totally relate to what you are saying! My weight yesterday was the same as my weight 4 days post-op. I keep reminding myself of the great wisdom I have read here, that this is a marathon, not a sprint. That having a non-filled band is like having a new car, but you have no gas in it---thus it just sits there doing nothing for you. I am eating mostly normal foods, but smaller portions. I have also "felt the joy" of eating too fast or eating huge bites without thinking about it. Eventhough I have no fill, these things already affect me. They are uncomfortable enough to make me think twice at the next meal. So, these are the things I am trying to focus on. The fact that the scale is not going down will change with fills and if I keep learning about this tool inside of me and how to best use it to my advantage. Thank you for posting, I have been feeling down about the scale myself. Glad to know we are not alone in our results so far or our feelings. Keep up the faith that our upcoming fills will have the desired effect! Denise

Hi Shannon, It's a couple of months after your post, but Dr. Callery placed my band on 2-15-2008. My PCP really trusts and respects him. I have nothing but positives to say so far, but I am only a month post-op Hope this helps. Denise

My doc schedules 1st fill at 6 weeks post-op. Your doc did not discuss this with you? Denise