JaimeSTL

I had my second fill today. I have to say, everytime I see Dr. Minkin, I'm reminded of why I like him so much. He's so caring and encouraging. He gave me another 2.5cc, so I now have a total of 5.7cc in my band. If any of Dr. Minkin's patients are interested, I started a yahoo support group just for Des Peres/Minkin patients. It is stllouislapbandsupport : St. Louis Lap Band Support. I went to the support group meeting last month and plan to attend regularly, but I thought this might be a good way for people to give and get support that is specific to Dr. Minkin's protocol (since all doctors are different).

Wow, you look terrific!!

Thanks Annie! I track my intake everyday and account for everything I eat, even if it is just a bite. I use Calorie Counter - Free Online Diet Journal to track.

Chris, I haven't been doing anything special really. I keep my calories under 1200 everyday, get in 60-70 grams of protein and 64 ozs of water per day. I haven't been able to settle into a good exercise routine, between being super busy with school and work, plus the weather. I finished my finals last week so now I just have work so I plan to start exercising more now.

Yay! That's awesome! Congratulations!! I can't wait to be there too.

I'm glad to hear you and your wife are doing well, Ray. I'm 10 weeks out from surgery. I saw Dr. Minkin for a check on Wednesday and I was down 48 lbs on his scale. I'm fluctuating about 2 lbs up and down right now. I was down 50 then up then down. Today, I'm down again, about 50.4 lbs down total. I'm getting my second fill on Monday. He was very aggressive on my first fill (3.2 cc) but I'm definitely losing restriction. I'm eating more per meal and hungry between meals. He didn't want to do the fill at first because I'd lost so much, but the last 2 weeks or so it has been pure willpower, so he agreed. I hope that lasts for a while because I don't go back until August.

I talked to my doctor about the hair loss yesterday. He said that he would guess it is unrelated because a) there are no malabsorption issues like with gastric bypass, :smile: I get plenty of protein, c) I take my vitamins everyday, and d) I drink plenty of water. He suggested a supplement (Hair and Nails at GNC) but said it might just be a normal cycle. I have very thick curly hair so it isn't noticeable yet. After I had my daughter in 2003, I lost tons of hair and had noticeable thinness...I don't want that to happen again.

Today I stepped on the scale and it read 300.4 lbs. I'm now down 50 lbs from my highest weight, which was recorded at my doctor's office on 2/20, 8 days before surgery and 2 days before I started my liquid diet. I see the doctor again on Wednesday and hope to lose 1 more pound by then to be under the 300 mark forever!! Have I mentioned that I LOVE my band?

I've been losing a lot of hair lately too. I have really thick hair so I'm okay, but I hope it doesn't get too bad. I get plenty of protein everyday, so I hope maybe it isn't band related.

I have 3.2cc in a 14 cc APL band. I've only had one fill and hope to have another on 5/12.

I was banded 2/28, and I've lost 49 lbs as of today. I've never been able to diet either. The most weight I've ever lost in my life was 20-25 lbs and as soon as I stopped the strict diet I was on, it came right back. I plan to lose another 140 or so too. Anyway, the band isn't a magic wand. I do find that I have to work at this, but I don't mind because it is actually working for me. I refuse to screw this up because this isn't just about vanity or something. My life depends on me losing weight. However, for the tool to work, you have to have proper restriction so I'd keep bugging your doctor for fills until you have it. My doctor, fortunately, doesn't do the 1 or 2 cc's at a time for fills, he fills under fluro until he sees restriction happen. I got 3.2 cc the first time and had great restriction. You have to be willing to work with the band. You can't just eat anything you want because you have a band and expect to lose. There are times when I'm hungry and I've already eaten enough or it isn't time for a meal so I try to drink some Water and ignore the hunger. That doesn't happen a lot because I let myself eat enough to be satisfied and account for the calories. I wasn't conned, I doubt any of us were. My surgeon made it clear up front that this isn't easy and you have to follow the band rules and make a lifestyle change.

I would call. I had my first (and only) fill on March 24th. I had pretty good restriction for a couple of weeks and then it began to go away bit by bit. The amount I could eat has slowly gone up since then. However, I'm still losing steadily. If I wasn't losing or I was gaining, I would definitely call to have them check things out. Were you filled under fluoro? Was that your first fill? I'd want to make sure there wasn't a leak or something. Otherwise, it might just be normal to feel that way before you have good restriction. I'd still call just to check in with the doctor.

I've been busy finishing up some assignments and studying for finals. I can't wait until this week is over. Then I'll have the whole summer off, well school at least (I work full time and go to school full time).

Right now I get around 900-1100 calories a day. I was staying around 700-900 a day and barely losing. I get 60-70 (sometimes up to 80) grams of protein and that's the only thing I watch other than calorie count.

I've lost an average 2 year old, a housecat, an average human brain and an ostrich egg.

I had the same thing happen last month. A full week before I got my period, I gained 8 lbs in Water weight. Once it was gone, I went back down. I thought I might start this week, and gained a little over the weekend. I didn't start yet, but dropped 3 lbs yesterday. I have PCOS so I never know if/when I'll start. My scale makes me nuts on a daily basis. Like yesterday, I dropped 3 lbs in one day so I wondered if it was right and weighed again. I got a totally different number that time. I ended up weighing five times, scale in the same spot, and it came up different each time. I think I need a new scale.

I had the same thing. Actually, it is still there. I asked my doctor about it and he said it is the port, even though it is under the skin a bit. I also had a seroma under the port incision. I would ask your doctor about it, just to be sure.

I have been on an emotional roller coaster since surgery. At first I thought it was the liquid diet and lack of real food, but no it isn't. I'm sure that I'm making everybody around me nuts. Sometimes I feel so good, so optimistic and happy. Other times (maybe just minutes later), I feel depressed and pessimisstic and teary. I'm also under a lot of pressure right now at school. I work full time and take college classes full time and finals are coming up. Maybe I'll feel better after that.

LOL Thanks. I'm getting ready to chop it all off. It is really hard to tame.

I was banded at Des Peres.

My pattern has been like this too.

Can you send me a request too? I love making new myspace friends.

I agree with Gibson. I track my daily intake at Calorie Counter - Free Online Diet Journal. This week I have made a conscious effort to get at least 1000 calories a day. When I go under that, I don't lose. When I'm around 1000, I seem to lose the best. Have you had a fill yet? Before my first fill, I plateau'ed and then even gained 8 lbs back. That was super frustrating. Once I got my fill, I started losing again. I can't wait for my next one because I know I'm losing restriction again.

I just responded on the General discussion. In case you miss it, though, I had fluid too. It's a seroma. My doctor said it happens sometimes and it is no big deal. When I had my first fill, the doctor didn't realize it was there so he stuck the needle in and fluid went everywhere. It was so gross. It is still there but he said it can take some time to go away.