RestlessMonkey

I came to in recovery HUNGRY. I stayed hungry pretty much until I was on full liquids and had some blended Split Pea Soup. It was WONDERFUL! LOL I've struggled with hunger (with hunger often winning) until my last fill. NOW I know what a wonderful miraculous thing restriction is. It's taken me longer than I thought or hoped, but I'm finally there. The initial few weeks of being hungry are nothing in the vast scheme of things. Afterward you may diet (I chose not too...and so didn't lose) and be hungry. Once you're filled it all goes away. My doc is conservative with fills and between that and my status as a student (read too much stress and not enough time), my fill curve was longer than most. Just realize the first fill may not, and in fact probably won't, do much for you hunger wise. It's a process, this road you're on. Very worth it, but a process.

try this: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f5/ticker-tutorial-pictures-41782/

I agree...congrats and yes you should tell your doc. He's going to be operating on you; he needs to have all the info so he can get you through it safely!

I have 6.5 ccs in my band and take all pills with no problems whatsover, including a HUGE potassium pill. It just depends on you.

Hi and welcome. That's the thing about the band, I think...as long as we follow the pre- and post-op diets and let ourselves (and the bands!) heal...once you're past that there is no right or wrong way to work it. It's your tool and you have to use it your way! Good luck to you!

Thank you! That's sweet of you to say! There's probably a way to move your post but I don't know how! :thumbup: i think you could "edit" and essentially erase it but I don't know if it's really worth the trouble... Depending on how people have their pages set up this may pop up anyway. I go by "new posts", not by the forums...? If you don't get the responses you want with it here you might try again tomorrow or something.

I didn't mean to imply this is "WRONG"! But if you want "sleeve" people to answer, I thought maybe you'd get more of that under the "sleeve" area. I think it's great lap band talk has accommodations for all WLS!

You maybe should have posted this under the "sleeve" forum?

No everyone does not eventually regain. Are you reacting to the article, or to issues with your mother? Personally I'd never expect one article/doc/person/book/website to have all the answers. I did a LOT of research on my own before getting the band. It has a high rate of success in that most people lose about 35-50% of their excess and keep it off for at least 5 years. That's better than WW or the old "diet and exercise" and so it's good enough for me. I'm 54; I know a LOT of people who have dieted and exercised to lose weight. I don't know anyone who's kept it off "long term". That's just anecdotal, not factual. But for me, it's enough.

Hopefully the one you found will take your insurance and be of some help to you! Good luck! :thumbup:

luluc...thank you! I can't really believe it. I still have to pass the boards so I'll be licensed but whatever else happens I have that BSN! Only took me 37 years after I graduated from high school LOL

I kind of expect movie stars to lie. I mean, they lie about their ages....and lots of us lie too..ages, weight...is your driver's license accurate, for example? :thumbup: Furthermore, she's an actress, not a medical doctor, not a nutritionist. Caveat emptor for those who do "believe" her (or any other "spokesperson"!!) without doing their own research. I agree with the "hope she finds what works" contingent; being fat sucks. In an era when actresses have gotten so darned skinny that they make anorexia look chubby, I can see why she'd be reluctant to be honest if she did want to be truthful and does weigh more. Even Carnie Wilson (who had bypass so publicly a while back) said her top weight was something like 300...I doubted that too.

Yes lots of people do. Many of those who don't, manage to pull that off by just willpower and dieting. You're not alone.

All else aside, for me the bottom line was this: the band is usually reversible. The sleeve, bypass, duodenal switch, vertically banded gastroplasty...not. I didn't want them to cut out my stomach, my duodenum... if I have problems with the band in a year or two or ten we'll see what wonderful new thing they have then. For now, I don't care if the sleeve would do back flips and call me "honey"...if it isn't reversible, I don't want it.

Post op I couldn't have any popsicles; you're safest to check with your surgeon. My first week post op I could have broth, water, and well, broth.

It's probably normal but call your doctor to be sure.

My doc had a specific shake for us to use and if we didn't want that he gave us specific guidelines as to how much of each NI item. If your doc didn't specify or give you guidelines then I would assume that it doesn't matter for you. If he did, then does the shake you got fill the bill? If so, you're good. If no, you're not.

You should ask your surgeon to be sure but I think that won't be any problem. Usually we have lifting/weight restrictions but this will mostly be stretching, bending, running etc and I don't think that will give you any trouble, especiall by early Aug. Good luck!

Are you following your doc's post op instructions? If so, you probably aren't "hurting your recovery"...if no, then maybe.

Good grief! You've gotten good advice; I'll just wish you luck. I hope it all falls into place for you and I hope you "get" that first place because I agree they are in breach of contract. I think they may just be trying to price-gouge. Shame on them.

I love it. I finally have restriction (it took a while...my doc is conservative and my senior year of nursing school made it hard to get in for fills etc) and it is a freaking miracle. Seriously. It isn't for everyone...if you graze for example you can "eat around" the band, and you are still supposed to make healthy choices and exercise. If you're willing to do that, I can't imagine why it wouldn't "work" for you. It "works" for lots of people! If I were you I'd go to a seminar (using a different doc from the one your friend and company use) and decide on my own.

Cortney how fast did the surgeon tell you that you'd lose? And when? and if you just got banded mid April you ALREADY have 6cc? That's really aggressive. For most of us, the first 6 weeks are considered a time to HEAL not lose! You've lost 10 pounds...you're ahead of the curve by the 1-2 pounds weekly most of us are told to expect. I think you're being too hard on yourself, or maybe your surgeon didn't do adequate teaching about how and when the band does it's thing! You're really doing well; sorry you're unhappy about it!

Gus-Gus you should ask your surgeon. You may not be getting enough fiber (and you have to drink a lot of water with it or it will have the opposite effect) or you may need a stool softener. A stool softener shouldn't give you diarrhea, but ask your surgeon for advice! :cursing:

OK I had to google it. It's a bowel prep, like mag citrate, to clean you out before surgery. I'm sure it's vile.

If it were me I'd call her.