proudmary

Hi Junebug,
I just saw your posts after personally messaging you. Very helpful. I did not get a fill at the time of surgery so my first fill came yesterday at 4cc.

Crystal76 - that is 7lbs a week - that is amazing. Very proud of you. Thanks for the fill update. Very interesting - I go on to solid foods on Thursday - looking forward to it. I am shocked that I have so much energy with how little I am eating! I go on vacation on Saturday - hoping to shed some more lbs before then and then either maintain or lose a little during next week. I have already decided I will allow a little wine back into my life as I wait eagerly every year for this week away. Just happy that I was able to get banded 3 weeks prior to vacation so that I am in a good situation when I go. It is so great to talk to all of you who are June banders!!

Crystal76 - sorry to hear that you have had such a rough time. Hopefully you are past the worst of it. I saw your weight loss and that part is incredible. Wow! Funny - I don't even know when they did my lap band if they just put it in or did they do any type of fill. I'm going to guess not, but isn't that sad - i don't even know. It does scare me some that you never know when you are going to hit a rough patch with the band. Between each persons individual experience and just the erratic side effects of the band, you never know what is going to happen next! Hang in there.

I haven't made it to all solid foods yet so unfortunately can't help you there! The thing I don't like about the band is that you don't know when you are going to have a problem so it is a little scary. I guess that is what keeps up on the right path at times though. That's why I'm a little nervous for the first fill. I don't get it till the last week of July so not really thinking about it yet.
Hope you are feeling better soon.

Very funny Junebug36 - I betcha your pants falling down felt great! Keep up the good work.

Very funny Junebug36 - I betcha your pants falling down felt great! Keep up the good work.

Colleen,
Thanks for all the info. I did review the 8 Golden Rule Utube video and it was quite informative. Your feedback has been very helpful as I have just been banded on 6/28 so I am a newbie. Good for you at the bday party. I went to my bridal shower luncheon and got by quite nicely myself. Skipped the salad as Iam sitll in the puree diet portion of my journey. Got the Pasta wrapped for my hubby and enjoyed the shrimp oreganata. They only gave you 4 shrimp on the plate and for the first time in my life I was happy that they did that!! Was trying not to draw attention to myself because no one knows my situation. Thanks for your suggestions.

Colleen,
Thanks for all the info. I did review the 8 Golden Rule Utube video and it was quite informative. Your feedback has been very helpful as I have just been banded on 6/28 so I am a newbie. Good for you at the bday party. I went to my bridal shower luncheon and got by quite nicely myself. Skipped the salad as Iam sitll in the puree diet portion of my journey. Got the Pasta wrapped for my hubby and enjoyed the shrimp oreganata. They only gave you 4 shrimp on the plate and for the first time in my life I was happy that they did that!! Was trying not to draw attention to myself because no one knows my situation. Thanks for your suggestions.

When your doctor determines you need one. There's no standard answer to your question. Some people never need a fill. They're few and far between but they do exist. Most of us got our fill the first 30-60 days and a follow up adjustment every 30 days till we reached the green zone. Every doctor has a different protocol so only your own surgeon makes those decisions.

I was given a minute timer to use when I eat. As soon as I swallow, I flip the timer over. It has really helped!!

Colleen - Never thought of the Soup option. That is excellent advice. Thank you.

23 pounds down, and feeling good so far! Aches every now and then, but nothing horrible. My rings are loose on my fingers..clothes are loose. About to start normal food in a couple days...I am actually bored of mushies, so I can't wait! I can eat about 1 cup- 1 1/2 cups of food at a sitting, and that is it. Averaging 900-1000 calories a day and satisfied (which is what my surgeon wanted). So far its going really well! The toughest part was the pre-diet and the week after surgery.

My surgery date was June 12th. Minimal pain to none, some soreness at the incisions, and getting tired of Protein shakes LOL. I'm walking about 2 miles per day, but usually more. The most I've walked in one day was 4.96 miles. I try to walk 1 mile at a time, just around my neighborhood. No fill yet (not until early August). Don't have to be back to work until July 8th, so I'm just trying to relax and enjoy what I can of this Summer! Hope everyone else is doing well!!!

Congrats!!! This is just the start of an awesome life ahead with your band! Wishing you a speedy recovery and the best of luck with everything
Also, I slept in a recliner for like 2 weeks after surgery haha it's totally normal because the pressure laying down puts on your insides is just way too uncomfortable for a while.

I love my band. I never even looked at anything else because I did'nt want my insides taken out. No way , no how ! Plus, the band is reversible if needed. The others ? Not ! My surgery and recovery were easy . I was back to work 7 days after surgery with NO problems, and I started dropping weight right away. I just followed my Dr.s rules 95 % of the time, " Protein 1st, fruits and veggies 2nd with carbs last. Limits your sweets, no fast food, lots of Water, exercise at least 3 times a week. Thats it ! , and you'll lose the weight !" Well, it worked ! And it was' nt horribly hard ! Im VERY happy with my band ! It gave me my life back ! Good luck !

While you should take your husband's concerns into consideration, you need to do what is best for you. Most folks decide between the two surgeries based on the invasiveness. If it's not a concern for you, the sleeve may be the way to go. If you are uncomfortable with losing most of your stomach, the band might be better.
I did not want my stomach surgically altered so I went with the band. I'm 18 months post op and have lost more than 130 lbs. For me, this WLS has been a great success....no issues whatsoever. Just be aware that I have followed my doctor's protocol and have not 'tested' the band by eating around it or anything else that could be considered detremental. I think that's the key with any WLS. Follow the rules and you will likely be successful.
Good luck and wishing you a successful weight loss journey as well.

Surgery May 15 and today is July 2 and I have lost 11 pounds. I am discouraged. I have had two fills and can still eat bread, steaks, tortillas, potatoes. I have to eat really slow but I get these foods down. I am starting to walk for short brisk walks often. Long walks make my chin splints hurt. I am hungry but have not overeaten nor binged. I am a little afraid of my fill tomorrow because I have heard stories of a tight band being really hard to handle. Any suggestions?
I am happy that I can cross my legs now but my inner thighs still rub together when I walk. Need some support form you bankers out there...please. Jenn

I had my first fill today too! I feel swollen, but was able to drink a Protein shake for dinner. How do you feel?

I am 14 days post op and am having a hard time slowing down when I eat. I am hungry so I naturally am trying to fill up to alliviate that feeling. I am post op but have not had a fill yet. Hopefully when I have a fill, I will be less hungry. Is that true?

Nice! You're such a good friend to help shepherd her through an early dining out experience. I am so happy to be able to eat out anywhere, really. It was one of my concerns pre-surgery, you know, when we're all worried about what we will have to give up.
I was happy to figure out that a Japanese Bento box lunch or dinner is an easy thing to find in most any Asian place. I order mine with salmon without the teriyaki sauce. It's a small portion but pretty much perfect. It's served with veggies that I cut up and eat some of, rice that I skip along with the sushi and shumai. I take a long time fussing with everything and end up taking home the rice and veggies for a meal for some one else in the family another day. The sushi and shumai get gobbled up by the table and every one wins. I think I could eat sushi but I choose not to have any rice. Sometimes I'll have a bite of sashimi but I love grilled salmon so much that's what I'm enjoying most these days.
Tomorrow we have a special occasion, my son's graduation, and we will be going to lunch with a group. I have scoped out the menu in advance and will probably have a salad with chicken or fish on top. May go the Soup route if there's a good thick one. If it was dinner I'd splurge and get the filet mignon. Loving banded life!

Great tips!!!! Going out Tuesday with family who does not know I was banded. Needed to read this!

It's been a year . What an amazing life changing year. Last year at this time I was a nervous wreck of getting banded almost having an anxiety attack in the waiting room before surgery but wouldn't let it show. So sacred of what life would be with this band how would I feel how would I eat how would I live. I thought for sure the band would he like a flashing neon light and everyone would laugh and scoff that I had it done. I kept it a secret and still do. At first it was because I was ashamed I needed surgical Intervention to do what seemed like an easy task just stop eating. Now I keep it a secret because it's my most treasured precious love. I'm sitting in the hospital getting my Esopogram done. Walked in with my head held high wearing a cute size large sundress which needs to be taken in I might be a medium now. Smiling not worried if I will fit in chair or people will stare and judge. I'm sitting cross legged in chair and there is room for my purse beside me in the chair what the hell is this. It's fabulous that's what it is!!!! I'm down 104lbs from a tight 22/24 pants 3x shirt to a size 12/14 pants med/large shirt. I can shop in any store in the regular size clothes although I did try a plus size store last week as it was all to big. Do I see what everyone else sees no but I'm getting there. I thought I always had great self esteem and somehow it's fluctuating have some low days but that's normal I guess because now because I'm learning to live in my new body. I have been obese for 25 years and a consistent normal size for 1. Of course I lost weight hundreds of times before but never this amount never this size in my entire adult life . And I know it's gone forever .I'm shocked when I see pictures of me like wow I did this with my band eating right and exercising. I now know the band is a tool and I'm working it. I'm at the gym 5-7 days a week eating way less and moving more. Learning the signals when I'm satisfied. Still working on the chewing better and slowing down as sometimes I forget to eat for several hours and then I get super hungry the old me kicks in and I might not chew but my band reminds me chew more and u need way less food. The amazing encouraging people I have met here is as priceless as my band. No judgements just caring, understanding and encouragement and a good swift reality check when need be. I'm healthier I have participated in2 5k and one 10k obstacle events and looking to do more. I'm ancy if I don't eat right or work out. I crave healthy food and movement. Things sure have changed but 100000% for the better. Had I known then what I feel now I would of done this years ago.
Love my band !!! And it's awesome seeing all my hard work paying off. Got a list of plastic surgeons to start interviewing so I can save for and research the next phase In my transformation

Just ordered the book by Alex Brecher. Yesterday I picked up a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies". And am currently reading a book on Lap Band surgery from True Results. Does True Results just do the Lap Band? Has anyone had weight loss surgery thru True Results? What was your experience? Guess I'm a little concerned as I understand that you lose 40-50% of extra weight w/surgery. I'm 4'11" and weigh 170-172 lbs. I need to weigh around 100 to 105 lbs. So if I am only able to lose 35 to maybe 40 lbs in 12-24 months, I'm still very over weight. And I'm wondering about the expense and effects of surgery on body for just 35 lbs. I'm probably being concerned about nothing. Any weight loss is healthy for me. Any advice appreciated? Thanks!

I almost forgot. One thing I do, because I would like a lot of support, is go to support group meetings in the Chicagoland area, even if they are not offered by my own hospital. I make sure that I am only going to the ones that are open to the public. The support group meetings are attended by people who are further along the road and have had the surgeries already. They are also intended to answer any questions for people considering the surgeries. Here again is where you will hear real-life stories, good and bad.

Agreed with the great people in the above response who help me continuously through this journey .
Preop diet depends in doctor . I knew it would be liquids for post op so I jumped full force I to liquids for 2 week preop to see if I could mentally handle it. I didn't want to go through surgery and mess it up. I survived and got banded July 1,2013 the best decision I had made in my entire life! First week after surgery discomfort but manageable listen to ur body I pushed myself a bit to much but quickly learned to take it slow. Walk to relieve that awful gas. By day 13 I was fine back to work and life
Fills no problem first one feels funny but the dr never had a problem with my port. I think it takes me more time to park and get up to the office in the elevator then the fill itself lol . Fill is like 1 minute or less and I use the majority of the visit to ask questions about what in going through and make sure in following the rules. I have only had 3 or 4 fills. We (me and the dr) feel I don't need then I'm staying satiated for 3-4 hours and losing consistently . Although I loved dropping 10lbs a month and have slowed down to 2-5 lbs a month but that's ok in learning . I dint become almost 300lvs overnight and I'm not going to lose it over night.
Come on this forum and read mostly everyone here has been wonderful and supportive we understand we have had the sane fears doubts triumphs and failures. I find lots of comfort on this site.