ErikMesa

I've had three fills now and I'm up to 7.25cc in my 14cc band. I still feel like I'm able to eat to much although I'm not hungry for hours and hours. In fact I don't really seem hungry at all ever. One thing I'm struggling with is learning to NOT eat when I'm NOT hungry. At first I was concerned I'd stretched the pouch a bit although I talked to the doctor and they don't believe I did. Still I'm looking forward to one more fill. I am losing weight it just doesn't seem like it. ErikMesa

That was funny! I saw a bumper sticker on a car the other day that made me laugh... "If Bush is a good CHRISTIAN President Next time elect an ATHEIST!" So true... ErikMesa (Not an Atheist)

I think you probably lose faster with bypass surgery. More customers for him and his plastic surgery business I guess. I bet lapband cuts into his business because it's slower weightloss and the body has time to catch up. Fewer tummy tucks for Dr. BadBedsideManner = fewer rounds of golf! Don't let him bother you some people are just plain idiots. ErikMesa

Wow what a hot topic... The poll is pretty overwhelmingy pro-choice or limited choice which matches public opinion polls I've seen over the years. My personal opinion is abortion should never be used as birth control or to get rid of "a mistake". I do favor it as an option in cases of rape and incest and when the mothers life is in danger. I just can't imagine forcing a rape victim to carry a child to term. I mean they've already been raped (forced to have sex) now they'd be forced to have a baby and carry it for nine months? I can just imagine the suicides you'd see from something like that. But it shouldn't be used as birth control for consensual sex. That said though I am 100% pro-choice strictly because my beliefs are based on my religious views and we have freedom of religion in this country. Because my religious views and definition of "life" shouldn't be forced on others (which would be forcing my religion on others) I have to trust other people to make the decisions that are right for their own morality. Alot of it falls back to "when is it a life?". There are so many different interpretations of "life" and when it becomes a life, all based on many beliefs (many of them religious) that it has to be up to the individual. Is it conception? Fertilization? Birth? When it can live on it's own? A certain time? When is it a "life"? I've never understood why people get abortions for birth control when so many people want to adopt. Then again people are very picky about what they want to adopt. I just have to hope in this free country that people make the right choice for themselves and can live with the consequences of that choice the rest of their life. ErikMesa :biggrin: (Who was adopted 42 years ago)

Great post this gives me some hope! I'm still eating just about anything (just smaller portions by willpower) and would love to have the restriction back I had immediately postop. ErikMesa :blushing:

The lady that has done both my fills so far has had me lay on the table with two small pillows under my lower back (uncomfortable) to get the low profile port enough to find it. She uses lidocaine and does a very good job although sometimes it takes several sticks to find it. I've tried to feel my post myself and can just barely feel it if press in the right spot. She actually drew a picture in my chart where it is compared to the surgery scar to help her find it next time. Whatever works! She does a good job and I'm almost afraid to let anyone else do a fill on me. ErikMesa :blushing:

I might've missed it so I'll ask (sorry if it was answered). Do you have any other health issues like sore joints or sleep apnea? I know for me the sleep apnea seemed to be a "big deal" and helped get approval eventually. Have you had a sleep study? Diabetes and heart disease are the obvious ones but sore joints, back pain and sleep apnea are all common problems in the obese. ErikMesa :blushing:

Congratulations on your approval! ErikMesa :blushing:

I've two fills now and have my third next Wednesday. While I've been losing weight very slowly (3 lbs since my last fill a week ago Wednesday) I was hoping to lose more. I notice I still have really no restriction yet and have had the following fills. Surgery - 4cc First Fill - 1.5cc Second Fill - 1.0cc I have a total of 6.5cc in my XL band (14cc max). I am eating smaller portions but I notice I'm really not feeling full but I'm not hungry either. I still don't feel like I'm there yet though. I'm happy for my 24 lbs postop weight loss but I still don't feel any restriction like I did the first week after surgery when I had swelling. How long has it taken people to get good restriction? Is this normal? I know they say "it can take a couple of months to find the right spot" but how do you deal with the impatience factor? I really feel like I've hit a stall the last week. Added to that real life is a bit rough right now (elderly parents and stress about their health) and you know how it goes, you get depressed about one thing and everything else is a negative, including "only" losing 24 pounds. I've noticed while I'm not depression eating or anything I am a bit down in the dumps and that has led me to make some bad food choices. Not as bad as I used to make but not the best choices either. I know it'll get better with each fill and it's still real early. I'm just looking for some coping strategies to get me thru to the next fill. ErikMesa :blushing:

I think getting a sign up in your office or at your desk saying "THIN FEELS BETTER THAN FOOD TASTES" would be appropriate. She's probably just feeling self-conscious and jealous at your new found weight loss and confidence. ErikMesa :blushing:

The psychologist I saw before my appointment told me this can happen and that the key is moderation versus beating yourself up. I used to be able to sit and eat three bowels of frosted flakes for example or two candy bars. Now when I have a snack of "bad food" I have maybe two squares off a candy bar and thats it. In a way the lapband is teaching me moderation. While I have limited restriction now and can still eat alot I'm almost scared of screwing it up so I'm using that fear to motivate me. ErikMesa

I'm doing well today but I still feel like theres not alot of restriction. I ate about 1/2 a ham and cheese omlet for breakfast and a piece of bacon. To be honest I could've ate more but didn't feel hungry so stopped (but didn't feel full). It's kind of an odd sensation to not be hungry yet not be full. On thing I am having a challenge with is not drinking while eating. I have issues with very dry mouth all the time so I'm constantly drinking. It does feel like liquids run right past the band. I hope the next fill in a couple weeks is the "one" to put me in the good zone. I'm still battling with the feelings of "needing to eat" or "feeling like I'm supposed to eat" when I'm not really hungry. I feel empty yet not hungry and it's strange. ErikMesa

Your post resembles one I made a week ago almost identically in this forum ("One Month Post Op - Need a Fill"). Three weeks post-op and I had no restriction at all. I actually gained a few pounds back but the doctor said that was 'normal' and not to worry about it. Just eat in moderation and keep exercising. You may plateau but you'll be fine after a fill. ErikMesa :frown:

Check with your doctor and ask if you can take Benefiber. I read somewhere this stirred in with Water is totally clear and is OK during the band liquid period. But I'm not sure so ask your doctor. Might help though. ErikMesa :frown:

I was still kind of weak and dehydrated because I wasn't drinking enough at Day 5. Are you taking in enough fluids? Pepermint Tea is a good suggestion (mentioned above). You're probably just swollen a bit around the band. It'll pass eventually. Take your food slow, beef broth is good, Soup without noodles, stuff like that, it's a slow process. ErikMesa :frown: