Wendell Edwards

Scales are a tool for weight loss, but the problem is that most people who are starting out with a Band are too emotionally fragile to deal with the normal ebb and flow of fluctuating weight. Confidence that the Band actually works for us takes time, and in my opinion, based on the hundreds of posts that I have read over the last 4 years, weighing in the post-op period is not a good idea for most people, because it leads to stress, anger and frustration due to a lack of understanding that even small fluctuations in a person's weight can wipe out what is, in reality, a good month of weight loss for the average Band patient.

I look at every fill as a whole new ballgame. I have to relearn what foods I can eat and how much I have to chew and what foods will give me serious issues. I would not advise anyone to obtain another fill untill they learn how to eat with their current fill level, because if issues like chewing and which foods cause problems are not dealt with on a lesser fill, getting more fill will only exacerbate the problem.

Like WASA said, it's ALL about EFFECTIVE RESTRICTION.

Remember that the difference between fear and excitement is perspective.

Well, I have never yet met a perfect person, and most of my friends are Priests and Ministers.

I think that the issues here are rather complex, and there are valid points on both sides of the arguement. People wish to have security against criminal aggression, whether the aggression comes from an individual, organization or government run amok. The differences of opinion come from the fact that some people wish to have the right to defend themselves, and other people want the government to provide them with defense. My personal viewpoint is that, ultimately, the government cannot provide me with effective defense, unless they confine my movements to a fortified, guarded position, or provide me with an armed and armoured escort. Since this is not practical nor desirable to me, I choose the right to self-defense, knowing that even in a large city, the response time for the authorities who woud presumably defend me against criminal agression is measured in minutes, during which time an aggressor would certainly have sufficient time to do me tremendous physical harm. Moreover, I am a strict constructionist in my view of the Constitution, and as such, I can only interpret the meaning of the Second Amendment as being an absolute right of the people, the same as any other expressed right of the people as expressed in the rest of that document.

I think you need to contact your doctor or nutritionist for advice on this. You may be experiencing post-op swelling, which mimics a too-tight fill. My concern would be whether or not you are getting in sufficient amounts of fluids and Protein.

Thank you for the compliment. Yes, before I obtained effective restriction with fill number 4, which was given 24 weeks after surgery, I thought that my Lap-Band did not work and that the entire thing was a cruel joke at my expense. I don't know anything about the Swedish Band, but I do know that a Band that would not provide restriction when filled to capacity is exceptionally rare. Best wishes on your journey.

You're very welcome! I have been reading and posting on a lot of forums for a long time now, about 4 years, and I have several lengthy "WORD" files with different questions that I have had to find out the answer for, for myself.

You're very welcome Donna! :rose:

You're very welcome!

I agree. The internet has made us aware of some types of people who were quietly there all along, the lunatic fringe. A perfect example would be the followers of a certain person on another message board who was exposed as a fraud this week. Rather than accept the reality that they were duped by this con-artist, they continue to defend and back her. That is definite proof that the lunatic fringe does exist.

I use a goal size, not a goal weight. My goal size is 38-inch slacks and a man's extra-large shirt.

What a FANTASTIC post! I just LOVE this part: "One big lesson for people like us is that we are not looking for a "full" feeling. Fat people eat to be stuffed full to the brim. Thin people eat until they are no longer hungry. See the difference?" May I please use it in future posts?

Residual swelling from the fill may have you too tight. I recommend going onto liquids only for a couple of days. You might want to click on this link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738/

The difference between the band working well and not working at all is sometimes as little as a .05CC fill. You may want to click on this link for more information: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738/

I'm glad you had a slight unfiull. Any time anybody can't get fluids down they are too tight.

Here's a link for you: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f13/how-lap-band-actually-works-fills-refills-41738/

Different people will have different experiences with different foods. Some will tolerate it, some won't. Every time you get a fill you will have to re-learn what YOU can tolerate, and your tolerances will not be the same as anyone else's.

Different people will have different experiences with bread. Some tolerate it, some don't. Every time you get a fill you will have to re-learn what YOU can tolerate, and your tolerances will not be the same as anyone else's.

I would advise you to talk to your doctor and/or nutritionist to get an idea on what you should be eating and drinking right now. I would also advise you to stay off the scale for the first few months after surgery if the scale weight is bothering you.

Success in ANY weight loss surgery is dependant on the patient's willingness to modify their lifestyle. Lap-Band is not the exception to that, and neither is RNY.

Anything that thins the blood, including aspirin, will be a factor in surgery. You really should discuss this with your surgeon.

Pain is an individual thing. I took all the painkillers and it wasn't too bad.

Some people experience restriction with no fills at all. Some people do not get hungry for months after banding. (I was one of those) The way that I see it is that the band re-trains the brain through negative re-inforcement. Over-eating becomes a negative experience for me, because it is painful, and PBing and SLIMING are very unpleasant to me. So I had to learn how to eat with a Lap-Band. Fortunately, I learned rather quickly what NOT to do. Regarding the post-op period, I wrote this long ago: "How Important Is The Post-Op Diet?" It is critical. Most doctors prescribe a post-op diet of weeks of clear fluids, followed by weeks of full fluids followed by weeks of mushy food. My doctor said 2 weeks clear Fluid, 2 weeks full fluids and 2 weeks of mushy food. The time following the operation is for your stomach to heal. The Lap-Band needs to form a groove on your stomach. That groove makes the Lap-Band resistant to slipping. Eating food during the post-op period before you are supposed to be eating food could cause the Lap-Band to slip, or increase the risk of a future slippage. Food causes the stomach muscle to "Work" to digest the food. The "Work" could cause the band to not seat properly on the stomach. Weight loss is NOT to be expected during the recovery time after the operation. If you lose weight, wonderful, but don't expect it. The time between the operation and getting an EFFECTIVE fill that causes restriction is called "Bandster Hell" for a good reason. Without an EFFECTIVE fill, our hunger is just as strong, but the band does not work to help us. Getting an EFFECTIVE fill sometimes takes multiple fills, it is not unusual for it to take 3-5 or even MORE fills to obtain restriction. Because the band has to seat into the groove to hold its position, and every time the band is filled the fill adds extra pressure on the band, most doctors choose to let time pass between fills. Most doctors will not fill a band before 4 weeks after the operation, 6 weeks is common and 8-12 weeks of healing time is not unheard of.