HeatherO

It is hard in the beginning, that is true. We all go through this stage, and pass through it and move on to much easier times. About 4-6 weeks out on really bad days I thought that I might have wasted my money because I was just doing traditionally dieting, feeling deprived and constantly hungry. I really expected the band to work immediately after surgery and I did not fully realize that surgery is just preparation for what is to come. I kept myself losing (or sometimes just not gaining) in the beginning by essentially eating a low carb diet. Proteins first and then vegetables. I never limited myself how many vegetables I ate . . . and I ate until I was full/satisfied. I had to remove most carbs because I wouldn't lose anything and kept craving them afterwards. Fast forward to today . . . I got my second fill at the end of April and miraculously hit my sweet spot. I have just started to have some increased capacity and will go in for a small "tweak" to my fill level. I don't need much more restriction, just an adjustment to make up for the restriction change caused by weight loss. Since that second fill, it has really become so much more easy. I still have to follow the rules, but when you are not hungry it is easy to do. I am pickier now as a eater than I used to be. If I only have a few bites before I am full, I want those bites to be something tasty and healthy. After eating healthy foods for six months now, my tastes have changed and I crave healthy foods. What does being picky mean in your case? Is it the types of food that you eat? What do you really want to eat?

I hope they can do it for you. It is best to avoid two recoveries if at all possible.

I have had it too if I wait too long to eat. I don't think it is related to tightness as I am my sweet spot and I can eat normal bandster friendly food easily, but I am not an expert. If tightness is a reason for the noise, I will take an occasional loud gurgle noise if I wait too long to eat over being hungry too fast, eating too much and not losing much weight.

This is the first time I have heard of this situation. I would be interested to find out if this is common. What did your doctor say?

I agree with everyone else, it is no big deal. You close your eyes and it seems like you open them again immediately not noticing the passage of time and it is all done. My throat was sore and I was cold and shivery but other than that, perfectly fine. I didn't feel any pain in my abdominal region.

I agree with the others, definitely call your doctor. I have heard many people say they called their doctors and their doctors allowed them to move up a level in the diet. However, you want professional advice instead of just winging it. The goal is for the band to heal in place properly for now.

Before you even meet with the surgeon for the consult, you can check with your insurance today to see what their guidelines are and what they define as a comorbidity. You can basically answer the question for yourself about whether insurance will pay without waiting.

It sounds like you are doing wonderful :0). It is always good to hear how people are finding success on their journeys. 15 pounds is not much further to go and you should be at goal in no time. Congratulations :0)

I was not extremely picky before but I am certainly more selective now. I only have so much space to fill up now and I want to fill it with something tasty and nutritious that fits in with my eating plan.

Really this is such a personal choice. Doctors are there to guide us but we ultimately must live in these bodies. Do your research on both and make the best decision for you. You can always write down pros and cons of each and do a little soul searching as well. There are a lot of people that do really wonderful with band or bypass. There are others who have trouble losing, regain or have serious complications. I think that is why it is so important that you make the best decision for yourself. No one knows you and your needs better than you. It sounds like ultimately he will perform either option. If he is top of the line and very experienced, I would still consider doing the surgery with him. I would take an experienced proven surgeon any day without regards to personality before I would take a newbie with great bedside manner. I am sorry that your doctor has you so confused. I would be feeling the same as you. Good luck with whichever option you decide.

Unfortunately, there is no coverage.

Mine lasted for 5 or 6 weeks until it lessoned. Now I get an occasional twinge if I eat too much. It was really bad the first four weeks or so. The only thing that really helped was a little massage and taking a bath where I soak my neck and shoulders in very hot Water but keep my incisions above the water. I have a hiatal hernia repair done during surgery so it might have contributed to extra pain. It was not the gas but it was mentioned that there is a nerve in the diaphram which was the most likely culprit. It definitely passed and I am good now.

My weight came off fast in the past and it is coming off faster now. The biggest difference is that I don't feel deprived at all, am not hungry and am not in my "diet" mentality. This is better by far. Plus, if I am not watching my eating closely, I have never gained again. I think it will be easy to maintain since getting it off has been really workable.

I agree with everyone else. It is perfectly normal and expected for this to happen. I bet if you did a poll on how many people experienced this, the vast majority would say yes, this happened to them.

I think a slight unfill is probably in order. It sounds like you are a little too tight and you don't want to stay that way very long. You don't have to get a large unfill, a little goes a long way.

Really the surgery was a breeze. I realized afterwards that all that panic and sleepless nights were unnecessary :0). I was a little uncomfortable when I first woke up from surgery because I felt cold and shivery and my throat hurt more than anything else. I couldn't even feel my stomach. I was walking around ok fine the next day. The only slightly difficult thing was getting up or down which required the use of more abdominal muscles. I also love different dishes, textures, tastes and love to experiment with cooking. To be honest with you, I think I really enjoy foods now much more than I ever did before. Before, after the first bite or two I was just eating to eat and things lost their taste, not to mention the uncomfortable guilt I always felt afterwards. Now I eat and savor each bite which is a whole new frame of reference. Best of all, a bite or two really, truly satisfies me in a way it never did before. The only thing I had to learn is that taste testing as I cook means I can't eat dinner with my family. A couple of bites and I am finished :0).

The reason I was told not to have carbonated beverages is because the gas is not only uncomfortable but can also stretch your pouch. Have you started noticing symptoms of a stretched pouch already?

This is a great thread. I noticed that some of my friends enthusiasm for my weight loss is declining as I get closer to goal which makes me a little sad. It almost feels like it is ok to lose some, but becoming normal is too much of a change to find acceptable. I haven't got a lot of skinny comments yet, but I am sure they will come if I keep working away at it. I would take that any day over "you have such a pretty face." :0)

I am ok as long as they are cut up small to begin with. I dice them before cooking them. I can eat fruits without a problem.

If you are having trouble getting protein drinks down this far out, it sounds like you are too tight. You have already given it almost a week and if you can only ingest liquids/pureed foods during the majority of the day then I would give your doctor a call.

If you have a mass the size of a lemon, why wait for your appointment to speak to your doctor? You should at least give your doctor a call.

Wowww, what a tremendous difference. You look absolutely fabulous. Congratulations!!!!

If you were kicked in the port and, worst case scenario, it actually dislodged the port, I wouldn't think that can cause you to throw up. I don't think it would really affect the band around your stomach. How does the area feel now? Is there any bruising? Does it feel like the band is moving around more than usual?

While you are researching and deciding there are a few things you should do for yourself regardless or whether or not you have a band placed. Weight loss for most is primarily looking at calories in being less than calories burned . . . unless there are complicating health factors that you are also dealing with. Many people who are morbidly obese say that they don't eat much . . . but to really know for sure, you should monitor your calorie intake using something like fitday.com or the dailyplate, etc. You should track everything, even the occasional nibble on a piece of candy between meals. You might find you are ingesting more calories in the course of a day than you expect. Also, like was already mentioned, make sure you are tested thoroughly to ensure that there are no other complicating factors. Everyone has a different opinion on methods for weight loss. I don't like the thought of taking medications to control weight because I have heard of too many health complications over the years from these drugs. Lapband was the right choice for me because instead of using drugs that might have negative consequences down the road, I am using my own body to help in this struggle for health.

I am on BC pills and have been forever. TOM of month was maybe 2 days with minimal period and not much cramping althought I was a little moody. Since getting my band, my TOM is 10 times worse lasting 4 or 5 days and if I forget to take my pill at night and take it in the morning, it is too late and it triggers a mid-cycle period with all of the associated unpleasantries . . . just to have the normal one at the end of the pill pack as well. I have never been so sensitive to the pill and it feels like my teenage days again when I had cramping so bad all I wanted to do was lay in my bed and moan (which was one of the reasons I started taking the pill in the first place). I really don't think it is the band at all, I think it is the rapid weight loss in a short period of time. I have lost quite a bit and they say hormones are stored in your fat. I must be getting a hefty dose with the hormones that are being released. I just hope that slowing weight loss and getting to goal will put me back to normal.