Jodi_620

Worldwide there are about 6 different companies that make Gastric Bands. There are only two brands approved in the US, Realize & Lap Band. The Realize band holds 9cc's the Lap Band comes in two sizes 10CC & 14CC

No, I would keep going with solids. You've got to get back to eating solids sooner or later. Gas is unfortunately part of the whole process but it will pass (excuse the pun). Are you taking fiber? Just asking because I was told to take it and it gave me extremely painful gas. I was told to stop taking it. Even without the fiber I still had the gas pains for a couple weeks. Be sure take GasX, I doubled up on the dosage twice a day and give it time. And try to move as much as possible both cardio and stretching and bending.

The makers of the Lap Band have this whole "Green Zone" guideline to help you decide if you need a fill and how much. You could probably Google "Lap Band Green Zone" to see the chart. But basically, if you are: 1.) Hungry between meals 2.) Eating larger portions 3.) Not losing weight Then you need a fill. If you are experienceing just one of these problems, a tiny fill may help if you have all three and larger fill is needed. I eat closer to 8 oz of food so if I were only eating 3 oz. and was satisfied on that and losing weight I definitely would not be looking to get a fill. Being too tight or not eating enough is definitely not going to benefit you.

I think it has more to do with restriction. I like good restriction so a pill like that would block my stoma. I have taken smaller pills than that and they went down fine at first...then the sliming began, it wasn't pretty. I can pretty much handle all round, tablet size/shape pills (around the size of a typical asperine or smaller). Caplets and capsuls are much harder.

Right now all that is holding your band in place are a few stitches. You need to give yourself 4-6 weeks to form scar tissue so that it is more firmly in place. Stick to the post-op diet and wait until you are healed to get a fill. Not following these two rules could cause slippage which will get you nowhere but back to sqare 1 of this whole process.

What is your calorie budget?

Don't let those kind of fears hold you back. Once healed in place, you can do pretty much any activity you enjoy

Thanks...and here's to your journey there!:sneaky:

I agree with the others. After all you've been through to get the band, you should be allowed to use it to its full potential. This doctor is simply not allowing it.

Sure you can. The carbonated stuff is usually off limits for most of us but there are other choices out there. Be mindful of the calorie content of your choice, I go for Vodka and sugar free cranberry juice myself. Alcohol has no different effect on me because of the band either. Some say that they get drunk faster but I really don't see why that would be except that as we lose body mass, alcohol might affect us differently. I guess because with the band I can't drink as fast as I used to so maybe that balanced it out because I don't get drunk any faster.

I would definitely go smaller and get the extenders...bras are so expensive! I am in the search of the right bra for my new frame and it is costing me a small fortune. My old favorite was a full figure mimimizer. That style is not available in my current size. I am trying to find something that lifts and mimimizes if there is such a thing. The lifting bras I've tried make them look like pointy torpedos and the minimizers tend to push them down too low... I will say there are plenty of underwire styles out there and they are much more comfortable than they used to be.

I have no doubt she is all of that and more. I noticed how great you look in the picture :sneaky:

100%? I would say 2 months. But the pain you are experiencing now won't last that long though. Give it another two weeks and you should be feeling pretty good. There will still be a little tenderness and sensitivity after that but it will get better every day. Just keep moving.

Now location of the port would probably be a big factor on how we could sleep. I couldn't lie flat because getting back up was too painful. I had to use my arms to pull myself up because the port was stitched into the ab muscles that I would normally use to sit up or roll over, those muscles were useless for a while. So I would get down and be like a turtle on its back. Having the port off to the side might have been easier...

Probably not the big pills. I take Chewable calcium and Vitamins. Larger prescription pills would need to be split if possible (some pills can't be split). Or sometimes certain meds are available in smaller sizes or liquid.

I am just curious, for those of you saying your port is on the left or the right, how far to either side? Mine is pretty much in the middle above my belly button; a little more to the right but not far enough that it made one side hurt more than the other.

That is normal, the port site pain will be the worst of it and will last the longest. I suggest you try to straighten up and walk normally, this shouldn't cause any damage and will allow you to move freely. Try to put pressure on it as you straighten up, maybe use a pillow pressed into your belly. It hurts going from sitting to standing but once you are there, the pain should subside and you should be able to get around normally. It will get better every day and the sooner you are up and about, the better.

Yeah, I agree with Heather. Most bandsters have to wait six weeks to get the first fill only to allow for healing related to band placement. I have not heard of any delay due to hernia repair I don't see how a fill would have any affect on the hernia repair. OT: Heather, I just now noticed that your new bundle has arrived...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I'm Losing: Prescription meds/health problems Ugly fat lady clothes Feeling self-conscious everywhere I go Sweating even on comfortable days Mood Swings I'm Gaining: Energy Confidence Money (cut out prescriptions, fast food, junk food, cigarettes, soda) Positive attention and compliments

Is there no chance of convincing them to give you at least a tiny fill? The main guidelines my doctor uses are whether I am eating too much or not staying satisfied. He would definitely give me a fill if I were in your shoes. He only uses fluoro to rule out complications which it appears you do not have. I'd try a little more persistence. In my experience with thyroid disease, the thyroid does not make us eat more or cause hunger it just slows our metabolism process down so that it is difficult or impossible to lose weight. So I doubt that is the problem.

I also had that with two of my incisions, at the port site and the tiny incision in the center below my breasts. The bump and scar tissue healed very well after a few months. The smaller scar is almost impossible to find now and the port site scar is just a faint red line, no bumps or raised scar tissue remains.

What you eat will not affect your port. The port site incision takes a long time to heal and you might have moved a certain way or lifted something that caused irritation to the incision or even that sneeze yesterday could be the culprit. It takes a minimum of six weeks to heal, maybe a little longer so the pain is not so unusual. If you have bleeding or any other discharge or the swelling does not go down go see your doctor to rule out infection. Otherwise, take it easy and keep the area clean and you should be fine.

:ohmy: 'aint it great?!

No kids, I just got it under control at 39, at 40 I am not sure I want to go there.

Good breakfast choices for me are eggbeater omlets with different veggies, meats or cheeses to have variety or oatmeal cooked in milk for extra Protein. I agree with crzytchr, cold cereal does not keep me full for long either. For lunch chili has lots of protein or grill up some chicken breasts in a marinade (not overcooked or dry), or salmon patties or tuna. I cook extra and freeze it so that it is handy for lunch. Put it on a plate with some mayo, shredded lettuce and diced tomato. dinner is whatever I would normally have, a good lean protein, veggie, fruit. How much you eat depends and is determined by restriction. I was told and always followed the rule of eating until I am satisfied. If I was eating too much then I needed a fill. Basically for weight loss, restriction that kept me at 3/4 - 1 cup of food was what worked for me. I never measured or journaled my food...that was too much like the old ways of dieting and does not work for me. But I can eye up around 1 cup and put it on a small bread plate. At restriciton, 3/4-1 cup fills me up and keeps me satisfied until my next meal and the weight came off steady. When I find my self eating more or hungry between meals not losing or gaining then I know I need a fill. My advice, find what works for you, get fills until you find your sweet spot and if journaling and calorie counting sounds like something you need go for it!