kiz

"Is an occasional glass of wine acceptable once banded?" My doctor allows says it's okay, on occasion. It is empty calories of course, but it won't wreck your weight loss if you have a glass every once in awhile. People have commented and so has my doctor that our tolerance will be affected after banding. I've had a couple of glasses since my surgery, and I can't tell any difference. I've never been able to drink much without feeling it, but one small glass of wine didn't have any more impact on me post-band than it did before surgery.

I had the same thing happen to me too during my last fill at the hospital's fill clinic (less fluid pulled then there should have been). I went in today, and the doctor pulled the fluid out to check it from the last fill. He got almost 100% of the fluid out that I was supposed to have. He said sometimes they get air. I was glad to see that the fluid pulled was very close to the amount I had at the previous appointment.

35 lbs gone! YAY!

My port is about two inches below my ribcage on my left hand side. I have a low profile port, and I can't feel it, unless I try to find it. I had port pain for maybe a month if I sat upright for a long period of time. I'm 3 1/2 months out, and on rare occasions I get a bit of tenderness in the area. mgirl: My port has the little hooks (I have the Realize band) that are embedded into the muscle wall. It's not connected to my stomach. As far as know, no ports are connected to the stomach lining, but I don't know that for an absolute fact.

I was permitted to drive 24 hours after my last narcotic pain med. The first day I drove was either day four or five.

I would not take advice from anyone on an Internet site OVER my personal doctor, who is a very highly regarded bariatric surgeon. I also pay attention to the posting histories of people that might be giving advice. I 100% agree with your assessment, Peginthewoods. I think this post bears repeating every time this person gives his "advice" on LBT. He does a great disservice to anyone looking for information on the different types of lap bands. I've also read earlier that this is the way this person operates on several web sites. The name changes, but the message stays the same. Post by downsdc: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f278/question-those-realize-band-70855/index5.html#post1032440

I scheduled a second fill two weeks after my first fill, and then a third fill two weeks later. The doctor had me do a barium swallow under x-ray prior to my third fill, and I was still pretty wide open, and he said that I definitely could use more fill for good restriction. For almost two weeks, I was never hungry between meals, and I could only hold 1/2 cup of food maximum. Now, almost four weeks later, I might feel a twinge of hunger after about four hours, but not too much. It's all about getting to the optimal restriction for yourself. I'm still able to eat bread, meat, etc without getting stuck. I don't think I'll want to be much more restricted. I see it as sort of a dance between feeling satisfied and getting to the point that I have to be very careful of what I eat. I could still eat more than a half of cup of food, but not much more. Prior to this last fill, I could have eaten a lot more, but I chose not too. I measure almost every meal and stop when the food is gone. I'm almost always satisfied. I think if I had more restriction, the band would give me a definite stop, but for now, this is working well for me.

I was banded a couple of weeks before you, but I'm very lucky that my doctor isn't so conservative with fills. Since you're able to eat pretty normally still, and you don't have very much fluid in your band, it doesn't sound like you have a lot of restriction. It wasn't until my last fill that I felt significant restriction, and I have quite a bit more in my band than you. One thing, I'm self pay, with only one year of free fills, so my doctor is pretty aggressive with fills if we feel like we need them. I got my first two at two-week intervals, but I think my third one (from about a month ago) will take me over the holidays. It may change, but I think I'm very close to the "sweet spot". Also, we were told after the band not to weigh foods, but to measure them. It's about the volume of food in the upper pouch, not so much the weight. Until I had good restriction I was eating up to a cup of food at a meal, but now I'm consistently eating 1/2 cup portions. Good luck, and until you have better restriction, you won't appreciate just how much the band helps. I fought hunger all the time on past diets, but now I'm rarely hungry, and never ravenous.

I hope it's okay to add a different type of loss here...inches. I've lost just over 30 lbs, which is in the above total, but I had my white light scan today, and I've lost 39 inches overall in the last three months. The scan takes measurements from your neck down to your calves, which is much more than I would do with a tape measure. So, it averages out that I lost just over an inch for every pound I lost. I'm pretty happy!

Wow, mj you got your first fill very early. It seems most doctor's recommend from 4-6 weeks to allow time for the surgery to heal and swelling to go down. Do you know how much you got? If it was just a tiny fill, you probably still have very little restriction. Do you know why you have to wait so long for a second fill? That seems incredibly long, especially since you're gaining weight. If I were you, I would call the doctor and see about moving that fill date up a bunch, like next week. That would be almost two months since your surgery and six weeks since your last fill. It seems reasonable that you might need another at this point. Although, if you're getting things stuck, you need to try to determine if you're eating the wrong foods, swallowing things before they're completely chewed, eating too fast, etc. If you're following the rules and getting stuck, it sounds like you have somewhat good restriction. Also, welcome to the LBT.

My first solid was very moist baked chicken, and I didn't have any trouble with it. I can't believe this, but I'd have to look back at my posts to see when I was allowed solids. I think it was at four weeks...my how time flies. lol Since so many people have trouble with it, I would try it very carefully to see how you feel. I was lucky that I was fine with it. So far, even after my fills, I haven't had any trouble with any food I've tried. I hope my luck doesn't run out.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery. 1. I had laproscoptic gall bladder surgery a few years ago, and the scars on only faint white lines now. I had staples and stitches with that surgery, but this time the surgeon used glue. I'm using an aloe vera and Vitamin D lotion. It's been just under three months since my surgery, and the lines are still red. I wish I remembered how long it took those other scars to go pale, but it was so gradual, I guess I really didn't notice. 2. I left the hospital with a bag of pain medication going directly into my stomach area, sort of like an IV, but it wasn't a needle, to my great relief. I carried the bag in little fanny pack that came with it. I've read that some people took theirs out right away, but I left mine in until the meds ran out after a couple of days. It really kept the surgical sites numb. I also had a narcotic med to take orally. I weaned off those after a couple of days and stuck with liquid Tylenol. 3. I'm a SAHM, but I think I would have felt fine going back to work in about a week, if I had a desk job. I think the half days auntlucy mentioned would be helpful, if your company would allow that. I was still achy in the port area, so sitting up for eight hours straight would have been pretty uncomfortable.

My goodness, flowers, you're doing great with your weight loss!! I think, if I'm understanding correctly, you are more concerned that you are mostly doing this on your own will-power, and you're not getting the benefit from the band you anticipated. That's a valid concern, and I hope after your next fill, your band will be working with you a little better. My husband is out of town a lot, and often it's just me and my teenagers to cook for, so I know what you mean about having to cook for one, in a way. My kids are into sports and activities, so they're not home a lot either. When I have a Healthy Choice dinner, I do measure it. When I'm home, I measure everything, even my oatmeal. I either toss out what's over 1/2 cup, or save it for later, depending on what it is (I don't save oatmeal). I eat a lot single egg omelettes with veggies, canned tuna and salmon. I also fix chili all the time. I make it as healthy as possible and loaded with different types of Beans including green beans. (Just to name a few things). I freeze 1/2 cup portions to eat through-out the week. So far, this has been working for me. I absolutely know if I didn't measure, I would eat more than 1/2 cup. I'd be the first one to say that just because it's what I have to do to stay in control, that it's certainly not for everyone.

The one constant that I've come to realize with the band is that there isn't one. Doctors are very different in their food recommendations, band fill rate, expectations, etc and people react differently to the band. I had swelling for the first couple of weeks that kept me at the "sweet spot". Until my first fill, I had some restriction that slowly disappeared. I was under the impression, pre-banding, that I was going to have this major change over night, and that there were all these foods that I'd never be able to eat again. So far, the only thing that I have completely taken out of my diet is carbonated beverages. I haven't had steak yet either, but I would try it. I hope to work at losing weight at my current restriction for awhile. I still feel like I'm able to eat pretty normally (no baby forks or spoons, not taking 1/2 hour to eat 1/2 cup of food, able to eat bread, etc). It's very subjective to how much restriction one needs to lost weight. Exercise helps a lot if you're hoping to lose weight without a more restrictive band, however, I would think that if you aren't going to exercise, you'd need more restriction to limit your food intake. For me, religiously measuring my food, making healthy choices (although, I will have a very small piece of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, for example, because this is a life long commitment so I have to be reasonable), and making exercise a routine are all key components to a healthy lifestyle. ------------------------------------------------- flowers, If I didn't measure my portions, I easily could and would eat more than 1/2 cup. It's only been a week and half since my last fill, but so far it's made a difference in how long I feel full. I've know when I'm finished with my 1/2 cup portion that I would have eaten more if it was available. At the restriction level that I'm at right now, after a few minutes, I feel satisfied, and I'm very glad that I quit when I did because I really didn't need that extra food. If you're still hungry after eating your measured portion, then I think you do need a fill, although, I have heard of stretching your pouch, and I'm very worried about that too. I don't know how much you have to eat to do that, but if your food is sliding through quickly because of little restriction, you might not have stretched it. I hope you haven't, and you find that you just needed more fill. (flowers, I just looked at your weight ticker, and it looks like you're doing great! I don't know when you had your surgery, but you've lost a lot. Good for you, and congratulations for the additional pound you lost this morning!)

debbie, sounds like you have everything under control. I'll be using some of your tips for food on my next trip. I like milk with my oatmeal too, and you reminded me how I've gotten it away from home. My doctor has us add dry skim milk powder to our protein shake mix for the protein boost. Since I had the box of dry milk, I took some along for my oatmeal. It made it creamy, and I got the added protein and calcium in my cereal.

If you are going to be eating in your room you could bring Weight Control oatmeal and make it with hot Water from your in room coffee maker. Also, I eat a scant 1/2 cup of Fiber One Cereal with a little Kashi Go Lean cereal to bring it up to a 1/2 cup every morning for fiber and Protein (from the Kashi). I like it dry, so I make individual sized portions to go, when I'm going to be out in the morning. If you like prunes would be good to take too. When I'm eating out, I love all the different varieties of fish. So far, I don't have any trouble with getting things stuck (KNOCK ON WOOD), and I'm on regular food, so I do have a lot of options. When I'm going out of town, I like to have my good healthy safe foods along to stay on track. Have a GREAT TIME!!

WAY TO GO, STEVE!! CONGRATULATIONS!! That's an amazing achievement!!

I had the same issue before I started getting fills. I could eat up to a cup of food, although I tried to split the difference and keep it at 3/4 cup. If I ate much less I felt hungry before time to eat again. I asked my doctor about it, and he said to make my snack another healthy protein (tuna, Greek yogurt, etc) to help ward off the the huger. That helped a lot. I was also worried that I might stretch my pouch, and he said as long as I was staying below a cup of food I was fine because I was still pretty open, and my food was going through fairly quickly. Now, seven weeks and three fills later, I have very good restriction (at least for now). I'm eating 1/2 cup meals, and after a few minutes, I feel very satisfied. I used to obsess about getting my evening snack, but I hardly think about it now. I'm working at getting enough fiber, so often I consider three prunes and 1/2 slice of double fiber whole wheat bread a good snack. I can really tell that my band is working for me now, and it's great.

I would think that if food is getting stuck, you shouldn't get another fill just yet. I know we're all different, but it's very important for me to measure my meals out. I'm supposed to have 1/2 cup per meal, 3x day, plus a snack. Up until this last fill, I felt the need to eat almost a whole cup to get that full feeling. After the fill I had a week ago, I eat the 1/2 cup portion, and stop. After a few minutes, I realize I'm satisfied, and I'm staying that way for up to four hours. I haven't gotten stuck, and I've had bread, rice and chicken. I hope this level holds on for awhile, because I'm really dreading getting to the point that I have to eat such small little bites that it takes me forever to eat 1/2 cup of food, and I really don't want to get stuck.

LOL-Willowglen .... if only! I like where mine is located. I have a low profile port, so maybe that makes a difference. It's left of center, about an inch below my ribcage but above my waistline.

30 lbs GONE!! Good riddance too!!!

I had my third fill exactly a week ago, and I think I'm at the perfect spot for me. I'm not so tight that I can't eat normal foods (I had a slice of double Fiber whole wheat bread, and another time some whole grain rice, and didn't feel stuck). I'm measuring 1/2 cup meals and I'm feeling satisfied for four hours. If I didn't measure, I think I could easily eat more before I got that strong STOP message. However, after I reached the end of my 1/2 cup meal and stop eating, after a couple of minutes I feel completely satisfied, and had I eaten more, I would have overdone it. Measuring, for me, is really the key right now. I don't know how aggressive my doctor is for fills if you have insurance, but I'm self-pay and he said he is very aggressive with fills at one of our self-pay meetings. We only get free fills the first year, so I'm highly motivated to make the most of this free period. After my first fill at six weeks, I've gone in twice more at two week intervals to get this level. I have my fill calendar in my signature area below.

I was banded in September, and I mostly only felt pain in my port area after sitting for long periods of time. Although my pants were loose, I still felt achy in the area. That lasted for about a month or so, at most. Now, I feel don't feel any pain at all.

I had a choice between the two bands. My doctor doesn't favor one over the other. I chose the Realize Band. I'm happy with my choice so far.

I've had a couple of other surgeries, have had children (natural childbirth), and I lost hair a few months out from all of these events. I always shed hair, but my hair is naturally pretty thick. I'm noticing more hair loss in the shower, but I attribute it to my body's normal reaction to surgery and not so much from what I am or am not eating.