Jodi_620

You may just have swelling and that could resolve itself in a few days. Then again, some people get tighter. I have had a fill where I was pretty tight and I just waited it out and after a week and a half it became more tolerable and I have had a fill where I was way too tight and had to get a slight unfill. Watch for signs, if you are not able to get enough to drink and stay hydrated or enough nutrition or you develop reflux or start to throw up then please for you own health and the safety of your band go and get it loosened a bit.

None of what I was given made me sleepy.

They watch for that and should be prepared. After I woke up in post-op and they started to wheel me into recovery, the motion made the whole hospital spin. I must have turned green because the nurse could read it on my face immediately and got me anti nausea meds...they didn't work. It took about three hours and four shots but they did finally find a cocktail that did the trick. I didn't throw up but I was horribly nauseous.

I you haven't had a fill yet, you are doing great. My surgeon told me that many of his patients gain weight during the period of going back on solids and getting the first fill. In the beginning I went throught a period of getting compliments and my clothes getting looser with no change on the scale and I wasn't exercising...it seems to be a common phenomenon here. Keep going...you are doing great!!!

I would be a little wary about signing anything. Be sure not to make any commitments until you have approval in writing from your insurance company.

I chew gum A LOT. Mind you, I am not saying it is okay to do it, I am just saying I do. I quit smoking, quit sweets, caffeine, soda and general overeating all at once and I needed that vice to not backslide, especially with smoking. Anyhow, I swallowed gum once too, it was about six months ago and nothing happened. The concern is having it get stuck at the band and you would probably know by now whether that was the case.

Temporary hair loss can happen but my understanding is that it is not as bad as with bypass. Any surgery can cause temporary hairloss for some, add to that the sudden change in diet and rapid weight loss and your body goes into a sort of shock. As long as you make sure you are getting the proper amount of Protein (and taking Biotin helps too), your body will recover and hair will grow back. I have very fine hair and did have hairloss three months after surgery. It slowed down and started growing back within three months. Because I have kept my protein levels where they should be and take biotin and all of my other supplements, my hair is now thicker and healthier than it has been in years.

I just wanted to reply not only to congratulate your for your excellent weight loss but also to commend you for not giving in when things got tough, for going out and finding answers to why you were sabotaging your loss. You are going to do great and in the end you will be physically and mentally healthier. :smile:

Your post doesn't say when you were banded...but I had general port pain for about a month. I was unable to do any heavy lifting or abdominal exercises for six weeks. Even after that, I still had some discomfort when exercising or overusing my abdominals for about another month. So lets say that for me, while I was feeling pretty good by six weeks, certain activities caused some discomfort for up to 2 1/2 month out. We all heal differently though. If you are concerned you should call your surgeon.

I was hungry too. My doctor is a little different though, he did not expect weight loss until after I got a couple fills, he said some of his patients actually gain weight during that time. I was able to have something to eat whenever I felt hungry. I ate my three small meals per day and if my stomach growled between meals I would have a little Protein and even with the extra eating I still lost a little during that time. Your first fill should help a little but it may take more than one to really start getting results. Hang in there, itt will get better soon!

1.) Whether you need to stay overnight will likely be the same as if you needed to when you got the Lap Band. The surgery is about the same (some say easier) as getting the band put in. 2.) If they covered putting it in then they will probably cover removal...if not, I doubt it. You will need to check your particular policy though. 4.) Have you gained any weight since getting the band in? The first place you gain or lose fat is around your liver. If you have not gained weight then there probably would be no need to diet to get the fat off the liver.

Not sure why you replied directly to me to make your comment-Like I said, for some, it is an either/or thing. Of course different doctors have different guidelines...

No, the stoma is the small stomach/pouch that your surgeon created above your band.

I had the barium swallow but not the endoscopy...I think that for some, it is an "either/or" thing.

I was thinking the same as Restless Monkey, my guess is that you are misinterpreting what is happening. Sometimes when I have not eaten properly or ate too much the food doesn't quite make it into my stoma...taking a deep breath and stretching helps to get it to pass into the stoma. I can't imagine how any amount of movement or breathing could affect the opening at the band, it just doesn't have that kind of "give".

I am not a huge chocoholic but I do have my bad days. When I really need it, I give in with a small taste of sugar free version of chocolate so that it doesn't affect my blood sugar and throw me into a ravenous all-out chocolate frenzy. Or I have 1/2 a chocolate flavored South Beach cereal bar, or a fudgesicle. I have my nightly chocolate flavored Viactive chew so I am getting in my calcium and vitamin D while getting a little chocolate treat.

I know that women go through severe hormone fluctuations with weight loss and I venture to guess that the same can happen to men. For me (a woman) it leveled out and went back to normal after a few months. He should discuss it with his doctor though.

You have to find out what is causing them first. Common causes are--certain medications (and certain herbal supplements), excess weight, high triglycerides, drinking alcohol, diabetes, infection, liver disease, gallstones.

Having lost 82 pounds and being in a size 8 pants for the first time in my entire adult life, I can assure you that though the Lap Band is not for everyone, it can and does work. It did not take six months for it to start working for me either, I am only 8 months out and very close to goal. It takes six weeks to get your first fill and yes it is entirely willpower during that time. The first fill rarely gets you where you need to be but each fill after makes things a little better. My surgeon makes me come in once a month for the first year but I do not have to wait that long to get a fill. If after one week I feel like I am ready for another fill, he will give me one. So far it has taken six fills total but from 8 weeks out until now I have consistently lost weight and had restriction--anytime restriction was lost, whether it had been one week or one month since my last fill, I was able to go in and get another adjustment. Maybe you can talk your surgeon into being more aggressive?

At 2 1/2 weeks post-op I was on mushies but I did eat healthy Snacks like applesauce or SF popsicles. In general I follow the rules and eat three meals a day and no snacking in between. I watch my processed and starchy carbs so I don't crave snacks very often but I am human and want a goodie every once in a while. Snacks for me are sugar free popsicles or fudgesicles, South Beach Protein bars, Sugar free oatmeal Cookies, trail mix with dried fruit and nuts. I watch my serving sizes and generally do not even need a full serving to satisfy me-1/2 Protein Bar or two small cookies or a tiny handful of trail mix usually does the trick for me.

The full effects of a fill can be delayed for a week or so but understand that many people do not get good results from the first fill. You feel a little more restriction with each fill but on average it takes around four fills to get to your sweet spot. Personally I didn't get anythign from my first fill, a little better with second, felt great with third and fourth but lost weight rapidly which caused the band to get loose. Fill five was when I hit my sweet spot.

For me it is two days liquid, two days mushies then cautiously proceed back to solids.

In AU twisties are: " primarily made of corn and rice, fried in vegetable oil and then coloured and flavoured. The corn and rice batter is extruded into the hot oil, resulting in a relatively denser product compared to most similar snack foods, such as Cheetos" As others have said, accept your mistake and get right back on track.

Getting stuck is not a gauge on proper restriction, it is a gauge on proper eating. You get stuck if you are doing one or more of the following: taking too big a bite, not chewing well enough, eating too fast, eating too much or eating non-band-friendly foods. You may have been able to eat more freely before your fill but after a fill you always have to re-evaluate how, how much and what you can eat. If you are eating too much or not staying satisfied then you are not at proper restriction yet.

You look fantastic!!!