motivated

Thank you... my portion size is just like yours. Other than breakfast, I eat more than that. I don't drink for 1hr after I eat but I get hungry quickly after I eat my breakfast. Less so if I eat larger meals. I'm happy I came back to this site...I knew I'd get the answers! Thanks again, Lauren

Hi all...haven't been here in a while but, I know I can get an answer from you:smile: I was banded Dec. 2, 08... have had only 1 fill back in February 09 and have lost as much as 71lbs..I say that because I'm up and down about 3-4 lbs. Haven't lost an oz this past month and lost only 1 lb the month before.. My question, can the filled part of the band flatten out?...I can eat a lot and, sadly, have gotten used to the "pain" when the food is not chewed up quite enough and I'm thinking that maybe that has caused the inside of the band to flatten out??? I know if anyone has the answer, it's you folks... let me know, ok! I am thinking of calling for another fill but, back in April, Dr. wouldn't give me one because I'd lost too much weight and they were concerned that if I had another fill, I'd switch to eating soft unhealthy foods. Thanks!

I know what you mean!!! The day I came home I started thinking..."I can't believe I have a band, I don't feel any different" you'll know your band is there the first time you eat solid food and it's not small enough or not chewed enough, then you'll feel that feeling that only we bandsters know! Other than that, no, you cannot feel band that is around your stomach..pretty amazing! Best of luck to you, I'm down 70ish pounds since last December!!

Congratulations to you!... It still amazes me how different all Dr.'s treat this surgery... we weren't allowed a fill for 8 weeks then the 2nd was scheduled for 6 weeks after that. December seems like a lifetime ago. Not even a bad memory about the recovery!!! Can't say it enough, this is the best thing I've done for myself... My family followed... Feb. Hubby had VBG & two weeks ago my 19yr old daughter had VBG... several friends have had either lap band or VBG also! Keep up the good work.

Haven't been hear for a while... hard to believe it's already been 6 months!!! I was banded on Dec. 2 2008. Best decision I've every made. Started at 257, had first fill 2/10/09 and went for 2nd fill 6weeks later and they wouldn't give it to me... said I was loosing too much weight and they didn't want me to eat "soft" foods... I'm down 60 lbs today (well, almost) 197.8 this morning. Great hearing from the "Holiday Hotties"... enjoy the summer (bathing suit looks better):wink:

Hi there! Wow, I was banded on Dec. 2nd and won't get my first fill until next week! (it was supposed to be yesterday but my Dr. went to a conference) Next week can't come soon enough... the past couple of weeks have been difficult for me. It's great to hear how well most are doing.. Keep up the good work!

Hi there and Happy New Year to all. I haven't written in a while. I was doing really well with the weight loss, portion control and all, but now... I get hungry often! I have to work very hard at not eating more than a portion. My surgery was on Dec. 2 and I've lost 27 lbs. My Dr. doesn't give the first fill for 2 MONTHS... I was scheduled for Feb. 2 but just found out they will be away and now I have to wait til Feb. 11..... it's going to be a long week and a half. I'm still very happy with my decision to have the lapband. Up until a couple of days ago, when the hunger started up, I felt very much in control of my eating - can't wait until my fill.

Hi Julie- surprisingly enough, my pre-op diet went well. It was like following weight watchers not a liquid fast like some people have to follow!... I'm thrilled with my decision to have the LapBand...I just need to get my first fill!... best of luck to you, I'm sure you'll do great!

Hi there... it's me again. I mis-read your first post... Our Dr. In New Haven CT highly recommends the VBG or vgb it's one of his signature procedures- he wanted me to have it but I really wanted the LapBand. I know 4 people who had him do their VBG (one lady I met in the hairdressers!) the only thing that I found through research was in the long term, it seems the LapBand has better results (like after 5 years). Any information you have is greatly appreciated! Thanks from snowy CT:smile2:

Hi there all!... When it comes to liquids, I was never a big drinker. so, I prefill 4 16 oz bottles, every night with allowable liquids, including my protein drink. During the day, I make sure I always have one or two of them with me... that's the only way I know I'm drinking enough...and, it really works...sometimes I'm done by the middle of the day!

Hi there... We are in CT. Our Dr. does not do the Sleeve. But, a friend of my mother-in-law is in FL and she is getting the sleeve done there:smile:

Hi there... Thanks, MacMadame for the info!... but, we just got bad news. Our ins. has denied that procedure:mad2: They won't cover the sleeve either. Our Dr. feels my hubby won't be successful with the band (he's 459) so he may have to have a vgb... hope our ins covers that... I'm thrilled with my LapBand..2 weeks and 2 days out from my surgery-funny, now I'm feeling a bit tired!

My best friend and I had our surgeries on the same day, last tues dec. 2. Of course we're on the phone constantly... well, she got me thinking because she said "What a stupid place to put a port" Our port is about 4" to the right of our bellybuttons in line with the bellybutton! Her reason for the "stupid place" is because that's where most jeans and dockers sit! I didn't realize this because I'm still in sweats and have them pulled up over all of my incisions!:biggrin:

Hi all... I was banded on 12/02...what a popular day. I feel great considering all I went through... was hungry coming out of surgery and for the entire next day but, now I'm fine. I've heard of Bandster Hell I guess it's when we get hungry because we haven't had our fills yet. Anyone familiar with this? How about a time frame????? is it a common occurance? Any info would be helpful!

Sounds like you're doing great. I was banded on the 2nd also (very popular date)... yea, the liquids get old fast and if I never eat jello again it will be too soon... but you're lucky to be on "mush" by tommorrow... I have to go a full two weeks! Happy Holidays, and congrats to you!!!

hahaha! very funny! I had a lapband but my hubby is slated for an M&M (very similiar to sleeve but they leave half of your stomach in you) Anyway, can he have it done through his hooha!!!! Closest thing to childbirth he'll ever get!!!!

Anything you can't stop is an addiction! Yes, I believe most of us are food addicts!... The good news about actual "Hunger" as explained to me by my Dr. is that there are two nerves going up either side of the stomach where the lapband is placed and for some reason the nerves transmit fullness to your brain faster. The Lapband is a great tool to help real hunger... the rest is up to us!!!! It's kind of like reinventing ourselves.. I went through it in 99 when I quit smoking...talk about an addiction!

Hi there... I don't know if I'm too late (I just found this age appropriate group) but I live on Celebrex and 2 weeks before my surgery I stopped taking it... was achy (knees & Hips), trouble getting off couch, walking down stairs, you name it... had my surgery last tues Dec. 2 and can't believe this but, the liquid diet I'm on must be helping because I've been able to move sooo much easier and haven't taken my Celebrex (I'm not taking pain meds any longer either) Again, hope I'm not too late best of luck to you, it's worth it!!!!!

Hi there... I was banded on the 2nd! Wow home the same day... i was supposed to be an overnight but had low potassium (which leads to other ills) I became a 2 day stay- so, in answer to your concerns... you'll feel so much better every day. My port is still bothersome and the incisions a bit also but, yesterday I went for a walk (slow but 10 min!) and today I was dancing to my favorite music! I think I'm pretty bored-can't drive till Tuesday and I really don't feel like going to any Malls right now! You'll be better than the old you, sooner than you know it! Keep the good work!

So happy I found this site!.... thanks for the input and some of you had me laughing out loud. OK so, someday I'll even figure out how to put in that Ticker and how to give the information in the little screen by my name until then, and if anyone is interested here's about me: Female, 51, Weight at Surgery 257 Weight today 254 (must be the coffee!) from the first time I heard of the LapBand I knew it would be for me... had a consult 3 years ago but "chickend out" I was afraid of the recovery... Started process again on October 12 of this year and the rest, as they say is History! Best thing I've done for myself since before kids- hahaha!

Hi there! I was banded on the 2nd also... What a great day! Anyway, my nutritioist said that caffeinated liquids do not count toward my daily ozs of liquids, soo, I have about 4oz of coffee with skim milk in the am and I'm good to go. Hope this helps! PS...I can't believe how great I feel. Stilll have some minor discomfort, espically by my port but, I feel great (must be the am coffee!)

Hi there... the anticipation is over... I did it. everything went smoothly except I had to spend 2 nights in the hospital..my potassium was low. Also, had nausea but thanks to a very clever Resident who inquired about my caffein habits, recognized that the nausea and headache could be related to that so she ordered me a migraine medicine that had caffein in it and the difference was night and day. I was up and walking and able to come home yesterday. Every day I'm better and better. Thanks to this site, I feel I was prepared for this surgery!:tongue2:

Thanks... I'm excited can't wait till all of this is Really behind me!

My date is Dec. 2!!! So close but so far away!!! Can't wait until it's all behind me and I can see my Ticker moving down..... How about the name... A December to Remember (too long?)

Hi there Pete!... I'm scheduled for Dec. 2. Last week I had my endoscopy (all clear)... I am really excited and really scared. It's been a long time since I've really had to watch what I eat and, I have to go two weeks, post-op, on clear liquids then, pureed for another 2 weeks. Can't say I like pain either (even though I know it's only for a couple of days). I'm really excited also. I can't go up and down stairs because of my bad knees and I get winded.... everything I do at this point is a struggle-even getting up off of the couch is a chore! Sad, ain't it. Those are the things I'll be glad to get rid of. And, getting rid of this Albatrose (my excess body weight) will make it all worth while. Good luck to you and enjoy Mexico:thumbup: