gainesvillegirl

Hi! I'm an addict named Tina. I go by "gainesvillegirl" on this site. I have 18 yrs clean in NA. Got my band placed Feb. 5, 2008. I'm loving it! I've lost 30 lbs so far; slow and steady. My weight loss goal for Sept. is to lose 10 lbs. I'm adding in some daily exercise (which I had not been doing) and hoping that will help.

Be gentle with your tummy; liquids only for at least 24 hours (small sips). If not better by then, call your doc.

After a fill, there will be swelling (come on, some hard plastic thing is squeezing your innards! Your innards don't like that!) My doc puts me on liquids only for the first 24 hrs, soft stuff (pudding, Jello, strained soups) for another 24 hrs., then I can eat as tolerated. Be gentle with your tummy after a fill, and take it slow. I had my 4th fill today, so right now I'm just taking small sips out of a bottle of Water. Later tonight I plan on having some tomato soup.

So I'm going for my 4th fill today. I maintain good restriction for about 4-6 weeks, but then it seems to dwindle. Is there a point where the restriction is maintained and you don't need to get fills anymore?

It's a bit odd, in my book. I am a psychotherapist in my "real" life. I also had to have a psych eval prior to surgery. Mine was very simple: a questionnaire with about 50 items and then a 50 minute clinical interview. You might want to try to follow the plan, though; if you don't your insurance might find that a reason to "reject" payment for your band. Just a thought.

Don't drink/eat dairy on an upset stomach! Makes you even more nauseaous. Try to drink mostly broths; the salt will keep your electrolytes in balance; try to drink Gatorade for the same reason. You may want to get some chewable pepto bismal tablets or even try tums. If you are not better in 24 hrs, call your doctor.

Sure. You will be sore after the surgery for several days. It will be good if you have a family member or friend spend a few nights with you at first. I needed help getting in/out of the bed, on/off the toilet, etc. Try not to lie down flat; a very supportive wedge or "husband" pillow to prop you up is a good idea. Go ahead and stock your fridge or freezer with the foods you are supposed to eat for the first few weeks: popsicles, Soups, puddings, Protein shakes, broth, etc. Buy some liquid tylenol, cause pills are not going to go down! If you have pets, make sure you have someone to take care of them, because for at least a few days you will more than likely feel like crap and will need someone to take care of you. But you only will feel bad for a very short time; just prepare for it and you will be able to deal with it much better.

Hi! I'm in Gainesville! Welcome! I don't really know how to get the "ticker" either; but I know someone here can help you. I've seen instructions before.

For about two weeks after my surgery I felt, not a lump in my throat, but tightness and "heaviness" in my chest; right at my sternum. Obviously I knew it was right where the lap band was sitting. People think that the band is placed low in the abdomen. It's not; it's placed really high, like only a couple of inches lower than that "notch" under your adam's apple on your throat. That's one reason why a lot of newbies say they feel something in their throat; it's the band!

I am a giant baby! Thank God my doctor only does fills under fluro, and uses lidocaine to numb the area first! If a doctor is having problems finding your port, ask if can have your fill done under under fluro. More expensive, but worth it! There is absolutely no question where the port is - - it shows up like a bullseye!

My doctor's protocol for post-fill diet: liquids only the first 24 hrs; soft, mushy stuff the next 24 hrs. So really, 48 hrs. of watching the texture of what you eat. Then it's back to whatever you can tolerate OK.

Congratulations! Welcome to the club!

for most people, you really don't notice a whole lot of restriction and weight loss until you've had between 3-5 fills. Although it is different for everyone. I just went for my 3rd fill today. There's a poll somewhere on here that asks "at what point did you actually start to lose weight and have restriction": most folks responded it was between the 3rd - 5th fills. Hang in there!

just a gal trying to be helpful - - hope you guys don't mind. my doc says you can drink before meals, just not during or for one hour after. i think the watermelon idea is great. don't have to worry about the seeds getting stuck; there are seedless watermelons. plenty of them here in florida, anyway. take care!

I don't have kids but I have cats who (pre-surgery) were quite used to jumping in the middle of my tummy! And they weigh 20 lbs. each! But since I had the surgery, I don't let them jump on my tummy anymore; I am afraid they will mess up my $15,000 investment! Honestly, the port site is only tender right after surgery. And weeks later you won't feel a thing.