Kygie

first few months is about looking after you band, letting the swelling go down and letting scar tissue grow over.....You will feel hunger if there is no fill in the band...liquids go straight through!!! and some surgeons like mine don't put fill in during surgery. Everything you are doing right now will change so much once you are on solid food and you def will feel a restriction!!!!

You need to get your head around that this is a life change...it is the start of something so positive and so rewarding....The surgery is daunting and so is the recovery and life with the band is different but It is so overwhelmingly worth every second....I am different to alot of people I still eat little bits of what I enjoy (that the band is ok with) but my portions are so so so much smaller than they ever were, I try to get low fat versions of my fave foods.....I lived on potato and leek Soup the first three weeks.....It was so filling. Remember that the first few months is more about caring for the band rather than losing weight!!! good luck I wish you both so much happiness for the future!!

im 3 years post op and can still have trouble burping depending on what I have eaten!!! it becomes normal, but it is certainly different to the post op pain of gas!!

Join in the ride!!! I had my revision after being assaulted in feb 2009 and my band slipped horribly due to trauma....Since then mentally I have gone down hill so far and I ended up putting 34kg of what I had lost back on. I am not back to my original weight, so I am proud of that BUT in saying that I felt like I failed myself....but that guilt could just eat you away and it is not worth it!!! I see my last 3 years as I could of put on so much more and I would of been dead.....so I am glad I have lola that has helped me with that........I have had my band readjusted and fingers crossed I am now on my way!! good luck with your journey!!

I have friends that when I say I can't eat cakes, donuts, pastries, steak, etc...they feel sorry for me...At the end of the day, being alive is so much more important. I struggle with the emotional eating and you can easily cheat the band...so then you are cheating yourself. Instead of cheating myself out of something I really feel like, I have it, in moderation if It looks after my band and doesn't cause me to PB as donuts n steak would do...I eat a casserole with beef in it and I feel satisfied. I do love the yummyness of food, but I am learning that food is more about sustenance, than living or enjoying it. In saying that I have taken the approach not to "diet" I have changed my choices, we buy low fat, low sugar things, but I don't beat myself up if I have something fattening. It is about balance!!!! I craved to eat food....after 2 weeks on the liquids I couldn't wait for something mushy....but I have not one regret. I have had a very bumpy road but I love my Lola!!!

that happened with me too hun....Sometimes it is hard to find esp with your first fill...We must of tried a dozen times to find it...then I had fill put in by xray.....I got my doctor to draw a diagram where mine is, as it is under my scar and I have to tell them everytime I need a fill!!!

You are so far from a failure its not funny!!!! I didn't have my first fill until I was 12 weeks post op and I was a freaking mess. I had lost weight but it was so hard....These early times it is all about looking after your band, letting your tummy settle from the swelling and trauma, and allowing scar tissue to grow over the band to keep her in place.....I am as I am sure most people who have the band suffer from head hunger......The really great thing is the band slows what you can eat and that full feeling really does stop you from eating things that you shouldnt BUT unlike alot of people I eat what I want too...its just cut down into smaller portions and I find low fat/sugar versions of the yummy things I love!!! It took about 6 months to find me sweet spot and then we were off like a rocket....this time I have struggled emotionally, which has made it more difficult!! good luck hun, keep us updated on your fill!!

I have so much fat that it is hard to find!!! it is hard to feel and knowing that the site is only as large as your thumb nail it is so easy to lose them.....especially early on...I guess it also depends where you are your biggest....My doctors say it is unusual to be under the scar...above the scar I don't have as much fat so it is hard to find mine!! I cant feel it myself...well I probably could but ive never tried!!

there is Mylanta and gaviscon....there is also alka seltzer, but it is fizzy so you might want to stay away from that one unless u let it go flat first!!! Mylanta helped me lots too!!!

I made them draw a diagram on my notes so they know from now on!!! but I have a pretty high pain threshold lol!!! and well 4 years In I am so used to them.....But I do remember back to my first and it was all still tender!!!!! so it would of been uncomfy!! xox

Good luck to all of you on your banding journey!!!!

mine was empty and had first fill 3 weeks after to let the swelling ease, but each surgeon is different!!

huge hugs hunny!!! I have PTSD and agoraphobia from an assault 3 years ago. I also had to have a revision as my band had slipped after the assault. first time round I lost over 100 pounds in the first 12 months. Unfortunately that has not been the case. My revision was on the 25th of March 2009 and since then I have gone from 149kg to 187kg, down to 176kg and now back to 183kg. It has been a roller coaster of emotional stress, of me not feeling good enough to care for myself. I have had a fill and I am pretty sure I am at my sweet spot now....But it took me 2 years to even go back to see my surgeon to have one fill and I falter alot....You are not a failure hunny. My doctor said to me the other day without the band and with the head hunger I would be dead now. HE is so right I would of ended up being over 250kgs!!! he said that with all I have gone through he is proud of me!! I am seeing a counsellor weekly and the one thing that has always stuck in my mind that a very wise lady said to me

"if your best friend was struggling like you are now, would you put her down, call her names, scream at her or be cruel to her" NO I snapped back......I would be gentle and soft, offer support and care and love........she looked at me and then it hit me!! instead of being my own best friend!! I have been my own worst enemy. Be gentle with yourself hunny and feel free to message me if you need a chat!!!

I will leave you with a little saying that this beautiful lady taught me....When I am feeling sad, down, suicidal, anxious or frustrated, stop take three deep breaths, close your eyes and think of something beautiful and say this as many times as you need to

May I be filled with loving kindness

May I be happy

May I be peaceful and at ease

May I be well

<3 <3 <3 <3

chicken is ok for me if it is smothered in a sauce or gravy...I can't do steak of any description but I think I am at my sweet spot...We have alot of stews here that help...could also be the cous cous...I can't eat rice, not one little bit of it!! so we have rice noodles...it is funny what sticks and what doesn't and its so different for each of us!!!

Oh gees to find mine can take 7 or 8 times lol!!! even when I tell them where it is....its under my scar which is unusual so they start poking where they think it it....I watch as this huge needle is sticking out of my gut as I have a drink to make sure there isnt too much in there!!!! we dont have the numbing cream or anything here either...I did have my first 2 fills by xray at my largest but now I am confident of where my port is it usually takes about 3 goes and I have lil band aids everywhere...It does feel a lil tender that first night, especially if they have poked n proded alot!!!!! good luck

part n parcel I am afraid!!! I lived on degas (here in Australia) and there is a soluble medication for gas as well, but the more you walk around and keep up your Fluid intake it will settle!! xox good luck

first thing remember you are human hunny......I always had a little something here or there for my cravings, would buy fat free ice cream or yoghurt...etc. I call it head hunger. It is not that your body is craving food, your brain is wanting comfort is something that is supposedly naughty...Take the naughtiness out and the guilt hunny by saying I can find something that is low fat, low sugar that will ease my cravings....For me this was a life change and a total change of what I eat, but I have taken the guilt out of my eating as it was sending me insane.....I have a little of things that I enjoy. With my first banding before the revision, I had gone from 209kg (459 pounds) to 149kg(327 pounds) in just over 13 months. I predominantly ate well and looked after Lola, but there were times that I had a little chocolate, a little ice cream or indulged in something I really wanted.....go gently hunny, think of what you would say to your best friend in the same position.....and then think that of yourself!! xoxo

good luck

Different people heal differently...for me, I was still sulking around 7 days after the surgery. I had alot of shoulder tip pain so I made sure I kept up with the degas, soluble panadol and wandered around as I could. Revision surgery was even worse for me though....but I must say I had so much trauma from my assault that I was sore all over anyway!!! the pain was so bad I stayed in hospital an extra day!!! thinking of you hunny!! It does get better and it is so so so worth having done!! xox

I had three weeks off in total after my banding...but I was 197kg and there was alot of fat to get through I guess..... After my gall bladder op it took longer to heal because of my weight...but I was grateful that I didn't have the pain anymore of gall stones!!!

MY readjustment surgery was horrific...but in saying that only a month earlier I had been assaulted extensively so all of my tummy was inflamed!!

I had lol readjusted on the 25th of March 2009. Its been three years of hell and I am just starting on my journey again!! wishing you all the very very best!! and keep chewing on the meds for Gas...It will come up and hit you when your least expecting it!! xoxox

I can't feel mine....yet!! but I have a lot of weight to lose...I can feel it when the needle hits the side of it though it feels funny!!

Thanks pollyanna!! good luck to you on your journey!!! I do not regret lola one little bit!! xoxo

Thanks iriegirl!! I really appreciate it. I know others have been through alot more than I have...I just needed to get it out and write it down I guess....I know I cant succeed without the support in here I am so happy to be back!!!!

My surgeon said the first weeks is about looking after the band, not so much about losing weight!!! you are waiting for all the swelling to go down, you have so much gas build up and Fluid retention as well....be gentle on yourself. Your band needs time to settle in, get the scar tissue around it and then off you will go....i lost 4kg in the first weeks....mainly coz they forget to give me any fill!! but with your fluid intake its about being gentle on the band atm!!! thinking of you and good luck on your journey!!

thank you both so much!!!

I have a brillaint counsellor who has been in my world for the last 3 years, but I only started seeing her professionally about 6 months ago. She is my safe place in a world that feels so unsafe.....

getting me back in here makes me feel like I am taking accountability for Lola...I know all the tricks to cheat her, I suffer really bad head hunger and I need the support from others who have gone through the Lap band!!! Caribear...I am so sorry you have PTSD....It is something that stays with you forever, which you somehow manage!!

one of my fave sayings is when the world whispers give up, hope whispers try one more time.....so here I am trying!!!

xoxoxo

thank you so much elcee!! xoxox

simsuss!! wishing you so much joy and happiness for the future......Cancer is a true b***h and I am so so so glad you are cancer free!!! good luck on your journey!! xoxox

waiting patiently...Thank you so very much....We have been battered the last 3 years as a family....My compensation claim is coming up for its first conference on the 24th of July....so that is finally on its way and soon We should be financially free and I can start my studies again.

I really needed to come back in, to admit my issues and to get the support...so thank you all so very very much and I look forward to getting to know you all

xoxo

Hi!!

I had my first lap band surgery in Feb '08.....I loved my band instantly and I call her lola. 12 months later I had lost over 50kg and I was feeling amazing, until I was assaulted at work and my world fell apart......I had broken wrist, extensive bruising all over my body and I felt horrible...I was throwing up alot due to the trauma on my stomach and I realised lola had slipped.....On the 24th of March I had my surgery for the slippage....all went well but I was in hospital a day longer due to extreme pain that I hadn't felt with the first band.

2009 was a hell year for my family.....my son who was 7 at the time was hospitalised due to several suicide attempts (he has several complex disabilities) I was in and out of hospital with my band, my beloved grandfather passed away in May. I broke my ankle and spent 5 months in a wheel chair as my wrist never healed. I had 2 surgeries for my wrist and I have been left with permanent damage and alot of daily pain. I also happen to be left handed. In November my nanny left us to be with my poppa and I all of a sudden became the head of the family, looking after my parents, my brother, my 2 children and my husband.....There was just no time for me.

I have PTSD and Agoraphobia from the assault and I am currently 183kg after reaching 149kg in Feb '09. I finally have gone to have several adjustments, but this time round it is so different. I am home all the time, I am down alot, I am caring for my whole family and I am exhausted BUT I decided that now is the time I should do something for me!! sooooooooooo I am not back at my starting weight of 209kg so I am proud of me for that. MY band is really tight in the morning and as the day progresses I can eat more. I am finding around once a month my band tightens up alot....and I have researched and it seems Fluid retention and my cycle could be the reason for that....I am going to persevere with the heart burn n sipping fluid for the next few days. I really don't want to get fill taken out of the band!!!

Looking forward to getting to know you all better and FX I am finally on my way to becoming the butterfly I want to be!!