Tyme2GetRite

WannaBSkinnyB - yeah it kind of makes you question if you have the band, besides the scars to prove it that feeling is gone. after your 1st fill most Doctors put you back on liquids for 48hr and then back to solids. that's when i felt restriction better than i ever have before. i think i'm turning until a "Fill Junkie"..lol

MollyJo - i do have a Dr.Apt. 12-29-08 and i'm trying to decide if i want to wait until that date comes or call for one sooner ?? i tell you these bands are funny and very hard to try and read or understand. just when you think you are learning your band it changes. before i did'nt think i had good restriction and then all of a sudden something weird happen. i had a protein shake for my morning break @ 8am(like i have before) and to my surprise it kept me full( as a tick) all through out that day pass lunch (11:30) until that afternoon around 5pm. i have had protein shakes before, just about every two days and it has never kept me that full that long. even when i tried to drink after that i remained full off of liquid. i've also noticed that i'm not hungry in the morning time like i use to be and don't get hungry until around noon.. so right now i'm confused and thinking about waiting until 12-29 (my next scheduled apt.)to ask for another fill. it'll give me time to let this band go through it's motions and changes and give me time to understand them before i cry "Fill" again. Keep up the good work everybody, we'll get it together soon.

Yeah BgB9 you're right smack in the middle of bandster hell, i went throught that around Thanksgiving and decided that i was going to enjoy it and worry about if i gained when i got my 1st fill. and come to find out i lost 2lbs, so don't worry about it or beat yourself up about it. It just feel a little scary not having that restriction, especially if you don't have a good hold on the mental part. for me the 1st fill was just a warm up and i think i'm ready for my 2nd fill. so i would'nt say starve yourself, but eat(healthy choices) and not worry about gaining right now. hang in there it will get better! Sooverit- if i'm not mistaken you're probably going in for a check-up on your incisions and to see how you are healing. like gentlywind stated they usually wait 4-6 weeks before they do a fill, it really would be unsafe at this point to have one.

GottaBThin - What's this i'm getting into? Exercising:crying: i have the exercise part down pack, i started going to the gym the 2nd week out of the hospital:blush:. i also have that fear that my skin will not bounce back:blink:, and have been very aggressive about it since the start. i go about every other day no matter what the day falls on and spend 30min:drool: on the treadmill and 40mins with strengths. working on my arms, legs, stomach with all of their machines and then i finish up on the bike for about 5min.:sleep: i had my brother come with me to show me what machine works what, and have came up with a routine and plug in my earphones:cool2: and really feel like a contestant from The Biggest Loser on a "Last Minute Workout" with myself.:wink2: the problem i'm having right now is restriction, i'm starting to feel like that 1st fill was just a warm up and i feel close to what i did before i got it. there has been times where i knew i ate too fast but still have not had anything get stuck yet. makes me wondering what did the 1st fill do ? my next Dr. Apt is 12-29- is that too soon to have another fill? i'm certainly going to ask for one!

I also have Bc/Bs (NewJersey) and they also requested 5yr history of just my height and weight from my Primary Care. When it came to what Diets i have tried me and my Pc sat down and went over that before they wrote the letter. I really did'nt try that many diets, my PC just worded it well:closedeyes:. and being that i am Type 2 Diabetic and had been over weight most of my life ,they supported and actually came up with the decision first:blush:. i think that helped getting me approved:thumbup:, i just regret i didn't act upon it 3yrs ago when they first suggested to me:bored:

Thank You GottaBThin, for that positive comment you made. that's exactly what i need to hear and keep in mind right now. i've been going back and worth between 28lb - 30lbs(lost) and trying not to become overly concerned or discouraged. Thank You Much, You are absoultely right. Congrads on your success also!

Wow it seems like i can relate to MoolyJo, Morph521, Kellypup and a few others with this. at first i was just happy to have made it through Tganksgiving with out gaining anything. but since i've had my 1st fill i really have'nt lost much weight either. I feel more restriction than i did before but also feel like as the days past that i'm able to eat more also.:biggrin::biggrin:

First off let me say that it depends on the insurance company as far as what their requirements and guidelines are as far as approval. I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF! i have BC/BS of NewJersey and once i had my consultation with the surgeon they gave me a print out of the requirements. when i got everything together it went to the surgeons office first and they submitted it to the insurance company. i had to have : 5yr history w/ Dr. (just height & weight) 6months w/ Nutrionist Approval letter from PCP Psych eval it can be a mess, make sure you get the names and dates of who you talk to because it seem like someone is not on the same page. you also want to make sure that you do what ever the insurance company wants or they may not approve you :cursing:, UGHHH ! i hated that part. hang in there and don't give up it's worth it !

The Good thing is that it will get better as the days go along, i guess i'm fortunate to not have gone through much pain and did not require medicine. although i did have a little gas pains and walking is the only thing that helps that. as far as sleeping, i to sleep on my sides or stomaches. i did'nt get much sleep at all either and it was ruff the first 3days, i layed on my side with a pillow under my stomach. one side for an hour then hold and roll to the other side for another hour or so, i think that was the most annoying:cursing: not being able to sleep. and yes getting up and sitting down i had to hold my stomach , coughing and sneezing darn near killed me it hurt so bad :scared2::cursing:! you will find different ways that will help you with sleeping, pillows are my best friend. keep in mind it does get better by the day :smile2:! Congrad to you all on your journey, and i wish you all a speedy recovery hang in there!:thumbup:

I was allowed up to 5 Opti-fast drinks a day plus water, crystal light,tea,etc., sugar-free popsickles, sugar-free jello, and broth. although i did like the flavors of the opti-fast it was still a challenge everyday, my mind was ready for it but my body was not.

I was Banded on 10/24 and once i was moved back up to solids the weight stop coming off, or at least not as fast as it did before and no thanks to Thanksgiving ! i stop getting on the scale because i was afraid what it would read. the next time i got on the scale was at my 1st fill yesterday and i only lost 2lbs since being on solid foods. i know they say it's going to be slow and steady and i'll accept that. but hopefully now that i have my fill the scale will continue to move in the right direction. i think it's the solid foods that slow it down and i think after your 1st fill you'll see it move again !

Hello Nadz, Congrads on Begining Your Journey. from this forum you will find that everyone is different and it really depends on different factors with the individual. As for myself i did do the Opti-fast for 2 weeks and lost 11lbs before surgery. you may find someone who has lost more than that or less than that. or someone who has started a diet even before the 2 weeks liquid diet, so it really varies . Good Luck

Wow xtightend that's funny...lol well 2boys3cats i completly understand where you are coming from. being that i am on the post side of things looking back, i really wish i would of kept it private from the people at work:thumbdown:. like you said besides HR knowing about it i just think you should tell them you have to have surgery or a medical procedure and do not go into details about it, leave it at that! i wanted to explain my absence but now i get all kinds of questions that sometimes get annoying after a point:mad2:. i can't move without somebody asking me "how it works"? "what's a port"? or something crazy that i really don't feel like explaining:cursing:.I'm still learning myself and i'm not the spokes person for LapBands :cursing:. it really gets bad when we have Pot Luck lunch around the Holidays, all eyes are on what i am eating:thumbdown:. i also have found out that 2 other people on my job has already had it done that i do ask questions or we talk about it, but it's different because they have been down this road before:rolleyes2:. so if i could do that part over i will keep it private. Good Luck i hope it works out for you, and Welcome to The Journey:thumbup: ! Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg,Fl.

Okay i made it through Thanksgiving with out gaining any weight:thumbup:, i actually lost 2lbs. despite everything i ate. had my 1st fill yesterday and it also went very smooth. i really was expecting something worst, i did'nt feel the needle and it took maybe all of 5min. :biggrin:. so now i'm ready to use this band and let it really work for me ! I have 1.9cc in a 14 cc band and 2nd fill is schduled for 12-29.

Hello All, Well my Thanksgiving Day went well being that i'm back on solid foods and right before my fist fill. since i don't really feel the restriction anymore, i just decided to get through that weekend and not worry about the lbs. or if i gained any. i get my 1st fill today and i've decided to just pick back up and take it from there and let the past be the past and start new today. i was able to enjoy all the good foods and did'nt have to worry about getting it down. everything went down well and stayed down(no fill). I'm ready to be filled also because i know that's when it really starts. So Christmas i'll be speaking upon my restriction story and how much i could or could'nt get down. and for some reason i'm excited about not being able to get alot down(or at least i say that now). i'm ready to start letting the band work for me and receiving the rewards from it in return ! Dr. Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg,Fl.

Hello All, Okay i think i'm right smack in the middle of Bandster Hell. I'm going on week 5 post-op , I'm back on solid foods and with Thanksgiving being a few days away i'm very nervous. my 1st fill is'nt until Dec. 1st and i think when i go back i will have gained some of my weight back (so embarrassing):thumbup:. i have not went near a scale in about 2 weeks because i'm afraid of what it's going to read:thumbdown:. Since i've been back to work it's been hard trying to keep up with the work out i use to have. and stressful because i don't have the restriction like i use to and can eat like i use to before the surgery...uuuggghhhh . Plus being on liquids for soo long you build up this desire and urge just to chew something. i don't want to get trapped back into satisfying that urge. i was so determined and focused when i was on my pre-op diet but can't seem to find it again like i use to have it...just uuuugggghhhh:cursing:, uuugggghhh:cursing:, and double uuuggghhh:cursing: !!!!! I Wish everyone a HappyThanksgiving, i'm still Hopeful,Thankful and Blessed because i know i will never put back on all 28lbs. and once i get my fill it's over ! i also Know that i'm not alone and someone out there has been or is going through the same thing i am ! Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

what ever you do DO NOT REMOVE the steri-strips, it's way too early and your incisions will not heal properly. when they come off it means it time for them to. now the bandages that covered the steri-strips we were told to remove those once we made it home. and the tape is very hard to come off and left alot of tape residue stuck to my skin for days:glare:. Once you get the bandages off you can take your finger and rub it back and forth and the adhesive should start to roll up into a ball and then you have to pull it off that way:wink2:...lol yeah it was stuck pretty good, i think it may have took some of my skin with it, :thumbup: but it's all good i have plenty to donate! Dr. Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

Hello MGirl, i know when i came home i had to hold my stomach when i got ready to sneeze and it hurt more than anything. i think your chest feels heavy because your lungs has not went back to thier capacity on breathing like they use to. While in the hospital that's why they had you do those breathing exercises and had you to continue to take deep breaths. it is normal and will go away soon, of course i'm not a Dr. but i did feel what you are feeling. It Gets Better EveryDay Hang in There and I wish You a Speedy Recovery ! Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Plams Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

Hello All, Mollyjo i'm doing well. i'm almost a month post-op and almost able to have soft foods. very frustrated and tired of this liquid stuff, enough is enough already...ugh ! i am really confused on how the post-op diets vary so much between the different people. how some don't even have a pre-op liquid diet and barley a post-op diet and get fills 3 weeks after surgery ? WOW i wish i could of had a fill before Thanksgiving, it's too much of a temptation that i don't feel i can win. so i've already decide that if i do go off the diet to at least pick low calorie,low carb, low everything, high Protein stuff and be done with it. i'll start over the next day ! My first fill is Dec.1st and i'm down about 28lbs. so i guess i'll take that and put it in my motivation tank to continue on..lol Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

hello babycakes68, you will find that everyone is different depending on the Doctor as to which if any type of Pre-Op diet they want. and usually the pre-op diet is two weeks prior to surgery but you will find that it also varies, some do six weeks. so go off of what your Doctor tell you when that time comes. Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

Hello wormhole, in fact i think you're doing pretty darn good. i felt sick on day 2-3 of the liquid diet and felt like i was not going to make it at all:sad:. my body went into shock fast i had headaches,my vision was funny and i was also dizzy. Congrads on the 20lbs :thumbup:that's a great start. for the most part you feel sick because your body is not use to going without all the carbs, and sugar that it use to have. sound like you are more than half way there and yes it is normal. the weight loss is normal also because they want you to get a jump start with losing weight and also when you move up to solid foods after surgery it will not fly off as easy. i'm on my last week of full liquids(4th week Post-Op) and feel like "enough already":cursing: with the liquids. Hang In There You're Doing Just Fine , Congrad and Best Wishes On your New Journey:thumbup:! Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

NO NEGATIVE HERE, please don't beat yourself up. i'm almost a month Post-Op and yes i did cheat on my Pre-Op Liquid Diet, i think you'll find alot of people that do and have. Even after surgery it's hard because at least for me i had to go back on the clear liquid diet for another 2 weeks and then 1 weekof full liquids after that. So yes i completly understand and was right where you were and just here to say this to shall pass and you will get over, around, and pass this also ! this is why we are here and get banded in the first place. i also felt like a failure and was wondering how in the heck am i going to make it later if i can't now? it's a learning process and although it's a struggle everyday it also gets better everyday. Hang In there you'll do fine ! Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

Hello All, hefer7629 you should be fine just go back to how you are suppose to eat. i'm going on week 4 Post-Op and was right there where you are ! i cheated and had a boiled egg(protein) and another day had a piece of cheese toast:glare:, and let me tell you it tasted sooo darn good:drool: ! but anyhow i called my office and for the most part stay away from the sugar and carbs and you will do fine, although i don't advise you to cheat. even after surgery it's had because you (or at least for myself) have to go back to a clear liquid diet for 2 weeks :huh2:and 1 more week after that of full liquids:sad:. So right now i'm kinda like enough already:cursing::smile2:..lol but i do know if you introduce the calories, carbs,and sugar back the weight will slowly come back also. Yeah you will be fine, i've heard worst stories ! Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.

i completly understand where you are at i'm about 3 weeks post-op and it does get better as far as the pain as the days go by. by that next week i really felt kind of good. i wasn't in any pain and when i saw how much i lost i was very excited. i was really wanting the liquid phase of the diet to be over also and it became old very fast, so i understand that part also. it's not a mistake and no turning back at this point, so you can't do anything but continue on your journey. they say "No Pain, No Gain", so consider all this pain a huge gain. Please hang in there it does get better by the week

Hello Ovrplay, seem like you've had them BAD:scared2:. I'm about 2 weeks post-op and although i did not have them that bad i did have the uncomfortable feeling. Mines only lasted maybe 4 or 5 days after surgery and then all of a sudden i started belching out of no where which was a HUGE relief. I did buy the disovle Gas-X strips which did'nt help me :glare:but may help you. other than that anyone will tell you, walk,walk,walk,walk that's about it ! They will go away and you still need to drink to stay hydrated,DO NOT DRINK FROM A STRAW. trust me it may not seem like it right now but everyday you will see that it gets better. better to sleep, better with the pain, better with the gas! Hang in there:thumbup: Dr.Ernest C. Rehnke Palms Of Pasadena St.Petersburg, Fl.