mediummike

Welcome aboard. As stated above, most people can eat most anything, in moderation. Sure, some things may be harder (like bread) but if you chew carefully and eat slowly, it really is not a problem. As for a few drinks - its ok, again moderation being key here. I have no problem with wine or hard stuff, but beer (or anything carbonated) tends to make me bloated. That said, I was at Busch Gardens last week and enjoyed a cold beer on a sunny afternoon and it went down great. I don't think I could have put down another one and quite frankly, I didn't want another one. And thats coming from a former beer drinker.

I did not feel any restriction whatsoever until my second fill. I have a 10 cc band and had my first fill 6 weeks out (2.4 cc's) but did not have any restriction. That said, I managed to lose a lot of weight, but not due to restriction. I really wanted to feel restriction so last week when I went for fill #2 I received an additional 2 cc's. My doctor told me I would feel restriction after this fill and he was right. Definitely a difference and I can actually feel the band working. Doctor also told me that most people with the new 10 cc AP Band will not need more than 5 cc's and that most feel no restriction with the first fill, but do with the second and then fine tune from there. Although I was able to lose wight without restriction, I do appreciate the fact that I do feel it now and it will help me going forward.

My incisions are much smaller - i would say just over one quarter of an inch. the exception is where the port is and that incision is about an inch.

Fielding sounds like a good doctor. No meed for a fill if you don't need it...

I think a lot of the guys in this board have mentioned that they do not think they will ever get to whatever the BMI chart says. And I think that is absolutely fine. I'm 6'4" and a pretty big guy and fortuneately can carry a lot of weight pretty well. For me to get to 180 pounds or even under 200 just seems so unrealistic. I like the idea of finding a goal you are comfortable with (highschool weight or something like that). I just kind of want to take this as it goes and re-assess along the way. Now, I just want to get to around 240 and then go from there. I want to be realistic along the way. I too have made some pretty good choices - although I have 3ccs in my 10cc band (1 fill) i have no restriction at this point and can eat whatever I want. I try to avoid things I know I should and just try to make better choices. I like how you mentioned that you will cut out the beers for crown if you looking to get a load on - my choice is woodford reserve - and it only takes 2 of them these days to get to a "happy place" ! Better than the 12 bud lights I could easily do in the past...

I have 3cc's in a 10cc band (1 fill). No restriction at all - can eat anything. Still managing to slowly lose weight (good thing) but definitely anxious to feel restriction. I have a second fill scheduled for next week (April 22). Hopefully it will restyrict me some. I go monthly to surgeons office for fills/see nutritionist.

I received one ounce of water every 20 minutes. no catheter.

the soreness goes away quickly - keep moving around to avoid the gas. congrats on the pre-op weight loss and a successfull surgery. you will be happy with this choice.

walking a lot helped me

I gave up coffee (caffeine) cold turkey on doctors advice. Not easy at all, but did not want to chance it. Fact is, now I do not miss it and after nearly two months, feel better without it. Enough doctors say to avoid it for various reasons (dilates, increases hunger, damage to stomach, etc..) and now that we all have this little pouch, why chance it ? Don't agree with those who say "I drink it and I'm ok". Tell me in 10 years it was not a problem.

agree with all that say milk of magnesia !

I have Aetna Choice POS II and had no problems getting approved for surgery. My doctors office handled everything and seemed to know exactly what to give them. My question is - does Aetna pay for fills ? What if doctor is out of network (like mine) ?

Just try to relax - procedure is very simple and very little discomfort afterwards. It will de a distant memory quickly. Well, besides the fact that you will have this great tool to help you regain your health.

Hey Fenton - sounds like you are doing great so far. One of the things I consistently read on this board is beware of the scale - it can be misleading. From what I am hearing from you, your efforts are paying off (dropping sizes, being more active, stopping when not hungry) and you are losing weight. It will slow up. It did for me. I dropped a lot quickly, and now the weight loss is very gradual. I had a fill about two weeks ago (3cc's in a 10cc band). Still do not feel much restriction. However, I am making good choices and working out regularly. The result is clothes getting looser (down 2 full notches in the belt), fitting in clothes that I havn't been comfortable in in quite a while, more energy and a lot of very encouraging comments from people (particulalry those who "do not know"). I go for a fill in two weeks and expect they will give me a fill as I do not have restriction at this point, but I'm not waiting for restriction to change my bold habits !

in and out of the hospital in the same day - very quick recovery. yes, everything Jack mentioned. It just seemed to make more sense to me. No "dumping syndrome" whatever the heck that is...

Doctor advised against it. I have forgotten once or twice and taken sips with no impact but have stopped. Why chance it ?

I am a "fetal" sleeper and had a very tough time the first week or so because I could only be comfortable laying down on my back. The good news is that it does pass.

Bandages over steri strips came off 3 days after surgery. The strips started peeling off after 4-5 days and finally just pulled them off after about 10 days - they weren't doing much by then anyway...

I was always hot before surgery (shorts in the winter kind of guy) but since surgery just the opposite. It has normalized a bit lately (not as cold) but I do wear a sweatshirt a lot more often these days (still wearing sorts)

My doctor had me taking prilosec every day since day after surgery as a precaution for this. Wish I read your post sooner so could have helped out...

Absolutely normal. It was an effort to drink the first few days, but important to keep hydrated / protein coming in.

good point molly - not all pills should be crushed

Guys - congrats to all of you getting banded in the near future ! The band is an amazing tool that I have found to be very effective. Just remember, it is a tool - not a miracle pill, and you will be amazed !!

Just got back from my doctors office. Had surgery on Feb 13 and this was my 5 week follow-up with the surgeon (I had my 2 week follow up earlier). He asked me how I was doing, and how I felt. I told him I was continuing to lose weight, but that I did not feel any restriction and was able to pretty much eat anything. I have been very disciplined though and have stopped eating when I know I could have eaten more. I have also been very active in the gym. To answer your question, based on my feedback, surgeon gave me 3cc's in a 10cc band today. This was the first fill (first time "eligible" according to my dr.). Process was a cinch (took less than 5 minutes including drinking the Water afterward) and painless. Doctor suggested mushy/very soft foods next two days and to just be carefull when going back to more solid foods, as I should start feeling restriction.

Banded Feb 13 and down 36lbs! 5 week appointment with surgeon tomorrow - first fill ? Don't have much restriction yet (and thus no real limitiations on food), but definitely eating less due to less hunger and working out a lot...