christinabryan89

I just thought I would share some of my story for those of you who are struggling with getting to the green zone as I am. I was banded in July. I lost 15 lbs in 14 days on the pre op diet. My first fill was 2 CC and I was primed with 1CC during my procedure. I had 5 fills in between then and now. I only lost another 15 and gained 5 back even though I felt like I was eating way less. I realized i had been misleading my Dr., unintentionally. I had been telling them what I was eating. Not what I was capable of eating. When I was discouraged, my portions became larger as I started to give up and not watch what I was putting in my mouth. Had I been more forthcoming with what I was able to eat, he most likely would have been giving me larger fills. I was also discouraged right after a fill. The first week I would be tight and feeling like I was in the green zone and by week 2 I could eat almost anything again. I was embarrassed that I had gained those 5 lbs back and finally worked up the courage to make another fill appointment and get back on track. I went to my fill appointment and waited until my dr came in, fully expecting to be scolded or frowned upon for my weight gain. I explained to him everything that I was experiencing and he gave me a larger fill of .75 CC. I believe my band has just over 5CC now. He also wrote me a prescription for a new drug called Contrave. At first I was resistant to try it. I just had weight loss surgery and now it's back to the pills that have never worked for me in the past? He told me it was only temporary and it was a way to jump start my weight loss as the scale was moving in the wrong direction. I agreed. Filled the prescription and waited two days before I started taking it. I read some reviews online and found very few positive ones. I decided to give it a shot anyway despite the negative side effects I read about online. Turns out, it is working for me. I have lost 9 lbs in a very short period of time and the scale is moving in the right direction again. I have my motivation back, however I am experiencing some side effects but very mild and they have lessoned as time went on.
So the moral of this story is.. Communicate with your surgeon and be extremely honest. And DON'T give up

I just thought I would share some of my story for those of you who are struggling with getting to the green zone as I am. I was banded in July. I lost 15 lbs in 14 days on the pre op diet. My first fill was 2 CC and I was primed with 1CC during my procedure. I had 5 fills in between then and now. I only lost another 15 and gained 5 back even though I felt like I was eating way less. I realized i had been misleading my Dr., unintentionally. I had been telling them what I was eating. Not what I was capable of eating. When I was discouraged, my portions became larger as I started to give up and not watch what I was putting in my mouth. Had I been more forthcoming with what I was able to eat, he most likely would have been giving me larger fills. I was also discouraged right after a fill. The first week I would be tight and feeling like I was in the green zone and by week 2 I could eat almost anything again. I was embarrassed that I had gained those 5 lbs back and finally worked up the courage to make another fill appointment and get back on track. I went to my fill appointment and waited until my dr came in, fully expecting to be scolded or frowned upon for my weight gain. I explained to him everything that I was experiencing and he gave me a larger fill of .75 CC. I believe my band has just over 5CC now. He also wrote me a prescription for a new drug called Contrave. At first I was resistant to try it. I just had weight loss surgery and now it's back to the pills that have never worked for me in the past? He told me it was only temporary and it was a way to jump start my weight loss as the scale was moving in the wrong direction. I agreed. Filled the prescription and waited two days before I started taking it. I read some reviews online and found very few positive ones. I decided to give it a shot anyway despite the negative side effects I read about online. Turns out, it is working for me. I have lost 9 lbs in a very short period of time and the scale is moving in the right direction again. I have my motivation back, however I am experiencing some side effects but very mild and they have lessoned as time went on.
So the moral of this story is.. Communicate with your surgeon and be extremely honest. And DON'T give up

We are all so different and then our surgeons have different methods -- for me (only me) it takes about a week post-fill to know where I am. Good luck to you -- way to go with the really listening into the body. That's what it's all about.

It is a myth that medication causes weight gain and I know I will get flack from this but I do know what I am talking about. pills have no calories. Your eating habits make you gain weight not birth control. You have to stay in check. It's always easier to blame it on medication. But that one pill can not make you gain weight.

I've been on mushies. I don't eat a lot of variety. Just things on my list such as crab and cottage cheese. I start solids Monday. That will be my 30 days.

Could I have messed up my band if I've been sliming? I definitely chew well but I can't seem to get away from the habit of drinking while I eat. My mouth feels gross if that makes sense

I've searched the forum and read a lot of posts about sliming. Most descriptions sound like an extreme amount of mucus. I just get thick saliva I guess after I eat solid food. Is this sliming? I haven't had my first fill yet and I have no idea if my doctor primed my band.

I've been on mushies. I don't eat a lot of variety. Just things on my list such as crab and cottage cheese. I start solids Monday. That will be my 30 days.

I'm in the same situation. I was supposed to have 1 and actually ended up with 5 because of the hiatal hernia repair. The PA took off two of my sterile strips on my check up date and the incisions were opened before I even made it to my car. They told me not to put neosporin or peroxide on it because it kills the good bacteria that will help it heal. I just gently wash it in the shower with soap and Water and they seem to be doing better and have scabbed up again.

I'm in the same situation. I was supposed to have 1 and actually ended up with 5 because of the hiatal hernia repair. The PA took off two of my sterile strips on my check up date and the incisions were opened before I even made it to my car. They told me not to put neosporin or peroxide on it because it kills the good bacteria that will help it heal. I just gently wash it in the shower with soap and Water and they seem to be doing better and have scabbed up again.

I think a lot of it depends on your situation. Some people go back to work after 3 or 4 days. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time and a lot of gas pain in my sternum. I went back to work after a week and a half and by two weeks I felt normal again with no problems. But by the 4th day most of the pain had subsided. Ice packs and heating pads were wonderful

I've been eating tuna and canned chicken. Also some imitation crab. I just make sure i take small bites and chew it super good. Those were all on my approved list of foods I could eat, along with hot Cereal and cottage cheese

I too was taking daily injections of lantus, and oral meds also....as I lost weight, my Diabetic meds, as well as the rest of the meds I was taking decreased....
I have been off all Diabetic medications for years now...
I still get routine lab work done every 4 months, and everything has been spot on...completely normal.
I was a real mess, with one foot in the grave...my PCP kept telling me if I could loose weight, it would all go away....of course I could not loose the weight by any of the standard diets, tried and failed....it was then he brought up Bariatric Surgery and suggested I go for a consult....
I have been 100% successful for a few years, my weight as well as my health!!!!
Never had an issue with my band, other than getting it adjusted......
Best decision I could have ever made... Changed...and saved...my life.

I felt terrible the first week on my diet. I was on the medifast Soups. The reason you feel bad is the sudden drop in carbs and calories. It's sort of like your going through withdraw. I actually substituted one of my soups for a Premier Protein shake. It has 30 grams Protein. 5grams of carbs, and 1 gram of sugar. And they taste pretty good. Those kept me from feeling so nauseous. Maybe email your nutritionist and ask if that is ok or if there's some other substitution you can make. I lost 15 pounds in 14 days on my diet. It does get easier. Just take Tylenol and stay away from food commercials lol

I wear a compression garment around my stomach and it helps holding everything together. Feels better!

Christina I did use a belly band that I normally wear to the gym..it did help getting up.

I'm not sure I wanted to know if Bandster Hell was a thing or not. But I guess it's good to get all the info up front.
I will definitely ask for the specific model of lap band, so thanks for that advice ChristinaBryan89.

I just had my surgery today. With an unexpected hiatal hernia repair. I was hoping I would only have one incision since my dr said I had such a short torso it was possible. Until he found the hernia. So I was a little upset when I woke up. They managed my pain well and didnt let me leave until my pain was below a 4 on a 1-10 scale. I stayed about an hour after I woke up and I was walking around and ready to go home. I do have quite a bit of chest pain( guessing gas pain). Idk how bad the scarring will be but I think it's a small price to pay to be healthy and add years to my life.
If there was one thing I would have done before surgery it would have been to ask more questions. I didnt even know I had some questions until reading posts on here. I didnt ask my surgeon which type of band he was going to use or even what the difference was. Now I'm concerned about the profile of the port and how noticeable it will be once I hit my goal weight. I told 2 close friends and my parents. I didnt tell anyone at work, just started my diet early and went on vacation this week. So I'm trying to keep it private for now

Hernia repair?

Today I weighed myself and I could not believe my eyes - the scale said 199.5!!
This is the first time in years (9?) that I have seen this number.
Stats:
Female, 5'4 1/2 , 30 years old
Surgery 2/4/14 weight 244lbs
Today 6/28/14 199.5.
And this is without any fills since surgery (my surgeon puts in 3 cc at time of surgery though).

Hello everyone!
I am scheduled to have my lap band surgery in July. I believe I am insulin resistant because of the dark pigments under my arms and behind me neck (Acanthosis nigricans). I'm hoping the lap band diet will be beneficial in getting rid of this or at least lessening it. Has anyone else experienced this? And are there any tips you can offer in regards to meal plans?