steph_co

THAT is exactly what I realized when I asked my NP at my surgeon's office this same question. I didn't really like the answer given (which was pretty near word-for-word of what you said, Wasa), but decided that for me - I'll take the risk. I wanted it bad enough. I have a LONG way to go with this band...I can just keep hoping it sticks with me for life. :cry

How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

You really shouldn't pressure yourself to lose weight until you have good restriction. Good restriction can take multiple fills to get (I've read of some on here needing 7 to get there). It's not a magical thing you usually get on the first fill - it's actually quite rare to reach good restriction on the first fill. This post gives some excellent information: How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

My doctor actually set my guideline at 1 cup and increase as necessary. Also, have you had a fill yet? Once the swelling goes down after surgery, before you've had a fill, you don't get that restriction that you read about other people having. If you're not in pain, no problem. Seriously. You should be able to eat until you feel SATIATED...which means no longer hungry. If that's what you did, there's nothing to worry about. Before my fill, I could easily put away 8 oz or more of food. Now I felt full on 4 oz of tuna and a pudding cup today for my first meal. There's no way I could have eaten so little before my fill. It was helpful for me to read Wendell's thread: How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills - Lap Band Talk Forum - The largest forum for Lap Band Surgery Discussion and Lap Band Surgery Support

crazy4catz - I can see where you're coming from (4 1/2 years of TTC and a single miscarriage...no viable pregnancy), but I think having kids is certainly up to the woman involved. Yes - it's a blessing to some to be able to have kids, and to others it's a curse. I don't think it's really necessary to guilt those that have taken care of the one or two that they have (or none at all). The crack whores, on the other hand. Ugh. Don't even get me started. Right after I had my miscarriage at the beginning of September, all kinds of stupid people have fallen pregnant since. I really do my best to not feel angry about it because it doesn't change anything and everything happens for a reason. But there are definitely times when I just want to kick something! I'm right there with you. I'm really hoping, though, that losing the weight will make a healthy pregnancy possible - I hope it turns out that way for you, too. Don't give up hope!

Yes, I did it, too. Thankfully I only had 3 weeks between my initial consult and my clear-liquid pre-op diet. Those 3 weeks, I ate and ate and ate everything I could possibly think of. Yes, I will still be able to eat "those" foods, just smaller portions. But what I liked was being able to eat LARGE portions - that was part of the physical satisfaction. Besides, I'd actually like to NOT eat "those" foods. And when I say "those" foods, I mean stuff like Twinkies and Swiss Rolls and french fries. I might decide to go for french fries once a year, but I don't want to make them part of my diet...whereas before the band, I could easily pound them 3 times a week. That's the difference. I don't think I gained anything between my initial consult and surgery. In fact, after my 3-day clear liquid pre-op diet, I had lost 3 lbs. I say live it up!

LMFAO - I sent them on to DH...he loves that stuff.

Hmm. I'm trying to think of something similar to what you're talking about. I did many volunteer hours for a non-charitable group. This included working late into the night and being up very early. A grueling schedule. It was a training company. The work itself was very rewarding. It never occurred to me to expect a thanks, honestly. It was an honor to serve for them. But that may have been a special circumstance considering the nature of their work. If I were to volunteer for our local group that helps families through the holidays, I guess a simple thank you from the people would be okay with me (but not really expected). If I had more than one day off for the entire month of December, I would be volunteering. The only way I can think to relate it is if my job needed me to volunteer hours... An e-note would be fine. I would think that people wouldn't volunteer their time if they didn't enjoy the work. Hence, the work itself can be a reward. But I guess what I'm saying is that I feel that the email you send out is a nice gesture.

The benefits of working in a tourist town...I am very busy. LOL Tons of people here for Christmas. No - I'm not bored. Kind of wish I was. All these out-of-towners need to go home. BAD drivers and people who think the whole town is a pedestrian mall. I'll trade ya.

I don't drink with meals. I will say, though, that if I did have something available to drink at a meal, I would probably reach for it without thinking about it just because that's how I USED to eat. But because I have to eat standing up in the kitchen lately, no time to sit down at the table at a meal, I just eat. Food container or plate in one hand, fork or spoon in the other. No hand left for a drink. It works for me.

Heehee...YES...I'm really glad I'm not the only one. I don't even get the warning of it "coming up a huge well." I'll be in conversation with somebody and errrrrpppp. Man, it's embarrassing. I've never been one to be burping in front of anybody but my DH. Now I do it in mid-sentence without warning. Thankfully it's only been twice to people other than my DH. I'm usually very polite in talking to people, so this is an adjustment to me! LOL

I just want to say something re:"healing very quickly, I can eat anything!" It's not about your body punishing you for eating something ahead of the stages your doctor set forth. It's about long term damage that you could be doing to your body. The point of the post-op diet is to give your STOMACH time to HEAL. The more your stomach has to digest (ie, bigger pieces), the harder it has to contract to digest it. Do you really want your stomach workin' it on a piece of food and risk slipping? Is the food REALLY worth it that you can't wait through the post-op healing phase before eating whatever it was that just couldn't wait?? Your doctor AND the maker of your band know what they're doing - they didn't give you guidelines to punish you. FTR - I agree with Longhorn on this thread in regards to the original question put forth.

I wouldn't pick at the glue on the incisions. That's supposed to come off naturally. I would be worried to cause an infection. As for the other stuff around on your belly...I used hot Water and basically scratched it off in the shower. LOL Probably not the best, but I was being impatient.

I hate needles because my veins like to hide in my fat ever since I gained weight. It's horrid getting blood drawn. I almost always get poked 3-4 times before they hit a vein right. I have only had 2 times since I got heavy that I only got stuck once and they hit it right on. So that's what I think of when it comes to needles, even though I knew the fill would be different. So I had my husband holding my hand on the one side and the NP on the other side to poke the needle in the port. It didn't feel great, but I did okay. She had me lie with a pillow under my back. I just chose to not look. I don't like people touching my stomach, anyway, so that made it even harder. Not looking actually helped. I can usually look when they draw blood, but I couldn't look while I got a needle to the tummy. Go figure.

Dang. I agree.

Yes, it was hard for me to wait for my first fill, too. But filling too soon *can* lead to slippage. So even though I wanted that instant gratification, I realized that this isn't a race...this is the rest of my life (this band), so I'd rather be patient and let my body adjust. I want this band to be there for me for life, so I do my best to take care of it. Just hang in there - you'll be there soon enough.

Yay for "new to you" pants!! I can't wait to wear some of mine that are stashed away! I'll be shopping at our local thrift shop as I go down sizes, too...that stuff can get expensive! Plus, they'll get it back soon enough, anyway, as I blow through sizes. LOL Haha! I don't think I'd be ashamed, either - what a great accomplishment!! Congrats on the shirt! How exciting. I'm having a hard time caring too much about clothes and "style" until I get close to goal-size, anyway. All that matters is how much you're shrinking!!! WTG! I agree, Kristin - I enjoy coming to our group, it's fun to read about everybody. It's uplifting in here. What great compliments. How fun to be able to show that off. Your pic in your sig looks great. Keep up the good work! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I don't have anything new to report, really. I'm still a size 18 even though I've probably dropped at least 25 lbs (I weigh again tomorrow). But I will say this - my doc's office seemed excited when I went in there and had dropped 9 more lbs from my last visit. LOL They don't realize that even without restriction, I am bound and determined to drop this weight. Honestly, I can drop weight...it's the maintenance and the occasional bad day that I could use a little boost with.

Kandice - Yeah, I read that the average is 3-4 fills. My surgeon at my post-op was hoping that I'd be restricted with my first or second fill since I was feeling a teensy bit of restriction 2 weeks post-op. I went in for my 1st fill yesterday. She started with 5cc (took out my initial 3, then put back 5 total). I was having issues swallowing water! It was the weirdest feeling to not be able to get anything to go down. So she took out .5cc so I'm currently at 4.5. My 2nd fill is scheduled for mid-January. They wanted it to be another month before I get more added. I'm on liquids for 2 days, then mushies for 2 more, then regular food. So I have no idea how my restriction is except that it kind of feels like I can feel the liquids gurgle through my stoma. Not sure. I hope to have a little bit of restriction because I was starting to feel like I was starving between meals before my first fill!

I've also read that calcium carbonate can cause gas.

Oh, I am so offended. You are just as bad as Santa that says "ho ho ho." I'm suing.

I had to sit here and chuckle. Did you steal my family? I haven't told anybody in my family - that's how I dealt with it. LOL I just couldn't handle it. I know my mom would have supported me, but I didn't feel like answering all the questions. My brother for sure, I can hear him making the running comment. He is overweight. My sister has this dripping way of asking questions that make me feel SO stupid and small sometimes. I don't want her questions about my band. It's like my secret lover - I don't like anybody talking bad about it. LOL Anywho...suggestions to deal with it. Maybe sit the whole family down and have a little education session where you can explain how the band works, how you get to eat, what you can eat, your own preparation and reasons for choosing the band, and how they can best support you. I'm sorry you're having to deal with them. I would SO be feeling homicidal. Gees, I swear you must be talking about my family. LOL

Very interesting, Kacee! Thank you for that. This will be helpful for any future cravings. LOL I have bookmarked it, as well. Thanks for the comments, everyone. Maybe it's a band thing. I dunno. I've always loved Mexican food and I have really missed not being able to eat it. But I only really ate HOT stuff every once in awhile. I am so looking forward to a chicken enchilada, but I want to wait until I have some restriction or I KNOW I'll be eating more of it than I should.

I'm scared to eat too much "normal" food because one time I did have 3 regular meals and I wanted to keep eating!! For the time being, I've been replacing 2 of my meals per day...protein shake or bar. Yes, I'm starving!! When I do have my one regular meal, I can eat a cup or more depending on what it is. I do have a teensy bit of restriction because when I do fill up on at least a cup of food, I'm generally full for 2 hours or a bit more. I'm hoping my first fill can help cut down on my ability to eat more than a cup of food! And that it can help me feel full longer. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones. Who knows? I go in for my first fill today.

My doc's office recommended Citracal Creamy Bites. The lemon is nasty, the caramel and chocolate aren't half bad. Just make sure when you take your calcium that you don't take it at the same time as your multi-vitamin because the iron can interfere with absorbtion. And don't take more than 500 mg of calcium...your body can only handle that much at once.

I can't figure this one out. NO...I'm not pregnant. Physically impossible for several reasons right now. But for the past SEVERAL days I have craved hot sauce so bad. In fact, the past two mornings I got home from work, I have eaten a tablespoon of hot sauce. I ate it on chicken yesterday, but I still crave it so bad and I'll probably eat it again when I get home this morning. What's the deal? I realize when you crave something that your body needs something that is IN that particular item (usually), but WTH with hot sauce? I just want that HOT flavor. If it's not hot sauce, I'm craving fresh horseradish. Any medical types know anything about this? I'm not worried, just really curious because I can't say I've ever had a 1-week craving even after I have eaten said item. I think if I brought the bottle up to work, I'd be grazing on it all night long. LOL...maybe that's what I have to do to get this to go away.