Keeper

@@Ldimples, how are you doing? Thinking about you.

That's where I was at my 2nd fill, too. My third fill is scheduled Jan 23rd. I'm looking forward to it. I still don't have a ton of restriction but I do think I'm getting closer. Finally, yay!

Louluch, I was banded Nov 19th and my 3rd fill is scheduled for Jan 23rd. I am really looking forward to it. I felt no restriction after my first fill. I gained 2.5 # in the three weeks between my first and second fill (but this also included Christmas and out of town for a week). I was/have been frustrated with my seemingly slow progress. I've only lost 13 pounds. But I do think this next fill will be a lot closer to that sweet spot. I actually go a decent amount of time between meals but I can still eat more than I should. I've not had and stuck episodes or anything. I currently have 3.5 cc in my band. I know everyone is probably telling you this, so really I am telling myself, but be patient, trust the process, but also advocate for yourself. If you think you need to get in sooner, call them! Good luck! :-)

For the first couple of weeks post-op (Nov bander) my husband told me my breath was "strong" lol. And I'm the kind of person who takes exceptional care of my teeth and can generally taste if my breath is bad, I.e. morning breath. I am pleased to say that seems to have gone away. I used a special mouthwash that was a bit pricey but seemed to help a lot called Therabreath, available in most drugstores. It tastes horrible but no burning or other typical mouthwash experience.

I haven't been on the boards lately since my family and I traveled for Christmas, but I am so happy to see this thread, breifs. I just had my 2nd fill yesterday and I still don't really feel it, so I find that I am almost testing it on purpose. I have only had the teeny tiniest stuck episode that only lasted a few seconds, but I've had no nausea, no PB's, nothing. I do feel full faster than otherwise, but I feel like that is the only way I know that I have the band. Anyway, I know that isn't exactly the same, but I like knowing others are being a bit rebellious as well!! :-)

Happy new year's, everyone! Wishing each of you health, happiness, and blessings this new year. We are all on a journey this next year, even if that journey doesn't quite look the way we planned, or takes a detour or two. Hope everyone is well.

Same. But I'm home already so that isn't my current issue. We're going out of town for a little over a week. Basically I have 3 "Christmas's" to go to and a birthday party. Plus I'll be staying at my sister's. She knows about my WLS but my husband's family does not. I'm just trying to stay focused and remember that boundaries are okay. But I, too, have not lost anything in a week.

Hey everybody! How's it going? Just thought I would check in and see how y'all are and how/what you're planning for Christmas.

Pat, same with me, one month banded and my first fill, but nothing has given me issues. I almost wish I did, to have that feeling that my band is "working". Dues that even make sense?? But I struggle getting veggies in. Doing V8 or something is not a bad idea. Huh..

This is a late reply but did you get an answer to this? I just started using MFP and what I have done is just in the notes section list the time I ate breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. It would be awesome to be able to log it so that you could have a chart that you could evaluate your patterns over time.

Oh, and only slightly connected, I dye my hair purple. It stains my scalp for several days, but I actually don't mind because it makes me look like I have a full head of hair!!

I have ALWAYS been what I call a "shedder". I have thin and fine hair. I had seen a derm before and he suggested rogaine for women. I bought some, used some, didn't notice a huge difference so I basically stopped. It made my scalp itch. Anyway, that was a few years ago. Knowing I am prone to hair loss, my doc recommended taking biotin and multivitamins. I have seen an increase in hair loss but I started using the Rogaine again and whatever I'm doing seems to be helping. But protein is a MUST to help from losing hair.

I am one month out with one fill, and another scheduled for the 30th. To be honest, I don't notice any difference yet.

Congrats! Are you excited?? Gah, I would love to have another baby. I've heard it is very common for some women to get pregnant after surgery, that losing weight actually helps with fertility. But I do not know the answer to your question. I have read on different sites (prior to being banned to see if pregnancy would be an option) that some docs say go for it, no un-fills, others loosen, and some infill completely. Maybe it depends?? Good luck, though!

Hi Meg, how much was pre-op? Just curious. My weight has been slow coming off, it seems, but like you I have just had to remind myself that slow and permanent is so much better than any alternative. I do wish I could hurry and get to the green zone, though!

I wish I had some suggestions for you. I'm impressed you're not doing any carbs. I am def doing low-carb, but not carb free. Do you think you should add anything to help with having food diversity or variation, to keep things interesting and tasty?

Food tastes the same for me so not sure. Is it the taste or just pleasure from eating that has changed?

Out of curiosity, do you guys pay for your fills, whether insurance co-pays or whatever? My co-pay was $20. A little surprised - I was under the impression that my after care/follow up appointments were included.

Yesterday was one month since getting banded. Can't believe it's been a month already! I am literally waiting in the lobby to get my first fill. I weighed in this morning and I am down 13 pounds. Feeling pretty positive!

You guys are great - thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I did weigh this morning, but it's because I am having my first fill done today and wanted to know how my scale compares to theirs. After that, it is going UP! I walk 3 days out of the week to pick my kids up from school but that is only about 20 minutes. But. I just bought an elliptical, something I never would have done for myself before. So I'm feeling pretty good!

I am so intrigued with this thread! I developed quickly, going from a B cup in 8th grade to a DD by the time I graduated. I did get larger when I was pregnant but I never needed to buy another bra, and I did not breastfeed, but I have always "sagged". I told my husband I want a lift at the least. Since I have not lost the weight I need to, I cannot picture what I will look like if my breasts get smaller. I would definitely consider augmentation though. But, one woman I used to work with got an augmentation a while back. She had been overweight, lost weight, and when she consulted her surgeon, he told her because of the amount of loose skin she had that he wouldn't be able to go under a certain amount CC. And she said that she can't go braless - I always thought that was the biggest perk (pardon the pun) of having fake boobs - you wouldn't have to wear a bra!

Monday marks 4 weeks post-op for me. I have only lost 10 pounds. I am struggling to not focus on the number of the scale, but it is really hard. I want progress so badly. I get my first fill on Tuesday so that gives me something to look forward to. I guess I keep feeling like I am having good days and bad days. Since I have been on solid foods I haven't lost anything, even if I do not eat very much. The only NSV I have had is fitting in to a pair of jeans that I couldn't wear a month ago. But that doesn't feel like a victory because that pair is the same size as most of my clothes - it is just that I had to buy one pair a size up since nothing was fitting quite right. The new ones feel huge, my 'old' ones feel normal. Ugh. so frustrating. When does the pace pick up a little?? Even just one pound a week would feel like progress.

Mine is Dec 9th. I would love to know how it goes and how you feel after.

believe me, you aren't alone in the post-op sore and sorry stage! How are you doing now, since it has been a couple of days since you wrote this? My days 3-4 were ironically my worst. Now (starting my 3rd week today) you would never even know that I had surgery! Good luck with recovery. Cheers!

that's hysterical about restaurant staff! One of the things that I am also 'amused' by is that for the most part, most people say to practice mindful eating, not sitting at the TV or whatever, but our dining room table is small. I'll set my boys up at the table, hubby sits on the couch, and I find myself at my desk a lot (we have a linear open floor plan kitchen->dining->living room). I find that if I take my half cup of whatever and sit at my desk, check FB, answer an email, read things here, etc., I actually space out my bites. @@amponder sorry about the blues. I have been *mostly* ok since my surgery, but I have had a couple of really hard moments, so I get it. I guess I would just say, be gentle with yourself, lots and lots of grace (we are not going to change over night. If we could, we would have done it already!). Lots of good vibes sent your way. :-)