Big Momma is Shrinking

Most likely your port will be near you largest incision. For me personally it is about 2 or 3 inches to the left of my belly button, but I know it can also be under your ribs or some doctors will place it near your breast bone. This was the incision that seemed to take the longest to heal for me personally, and was tender for probably a good 6-8 weeks.

I had my 3rd fill today and am down 44lbs since the day of surgery (on the 26th). I had really hoped to be further along, but I also know that I haven't been the "perfect band model" either. I'm up to 6.5 in my 9cc band now and hoping that maybe this will be the fill that is going to slow down the intake and speed up the scale!! My biggest problem right now is that I can still eat anything I put in my mouth!!! (or I could b4 today's fill). Other then having a band what have you done to change your lifestyle? If you need a cheerleader or a drill sergent just let me know, I can be either, but I'm happy to lend support however I can!!

OH Megsy....You are just a "band baby" WAAAAY too soon to start worrying about not losing. You are healing right now. You body is going through a radical adjustment right nowand most likely it thinks you are starving it so it's gonna hold onto everything it can. Make sure you are taking in fluids and following your doctors protocals. Give your body some time to adjust and you will start seeing changes, this is a game of patience. Best of luck to you!

Becky, First let me start with congrats on your surg date!!! I'm gonna tell you the same thing I tell my family, why do you want to worry until you actually have something to worry about...... For me having a band was me making a statement that I am taking control of my life, from what I put in my mouth to how much I sit on the couch. I completely understand the time/money issue where the gym is concerned. My answer to you, walk walk walk!!! Put the little one in the stroller and walk, if the wearther is bad go to the mall and walk. I've tried to make it harder for myself to make excuses and instead find a way to make it happen. I started out walking during my lunch hour. I started by myself b/c I didn't want to have the excuse of my workout partner couldn't becase (fill in the blank). I walked almost every day and my boss would make crappy remarks about it all the time. I figured does it really matter that I walk at lunch and get hot....I change clothes and I don't see ANYONE all day long....so what difference does it make!! Since then I've joined the gym downstairs in my building with a girl in my office that way I can't use the weather as an excuse anymore...my boss is still snotty about it, but I just know that she's "that kind of person" and try to let what she says go in one ear and out the other (not always so easy to do). If this is something you want you have to go into it know it's something you are GOING TO HAVE TO WORK FOR....if you can't afford the gym find a way to work out at home, you don't have to have expensive equipment or memberships to get what you need, and if i'm not mistaken you can even check out work out video's from the library. What I'm saying here is don't worry about failing until you are failing...and if this is something you want then there is a way for you to make it happen. Good luck I can't wait to hear about your SUCESS!!!

YES!!!....in the blink of an eye I know I (w/o a band) can lose weight but I will never keep if off w/o something more then willpower alone!!

Surfergirl....you originally stated that you are working out and training....have you taken into account that if you are excersising muscle has more mass then fat?? Someone else has already said this but...how are your clothes fitting you? We can't be chained to our scales and use them to determine our sucess or failure. This is a process and you should consider yourself still in the toodler stage, you are learning how to adjust to your new lifestyle. You are going to make mistakes and have regrets, but it is how YOU chose to face your plate after your mistakes that will make all the difference. I too believe that you do not have to become a "food nazi" to be sucsessful, but everyone has their own style of taking control of their lives, and I think if we are all honset with ourselves we chose the band as a way to help us take back control. Good luck to you, if you are following your doctors guidelines and moving your butt (off the couch) then your sucess is coming, just be patient (I know NOT what you want to hear) and keep doing what you are doing!!

I can COMPLETELY relate to how you feel about your doctors fill protocol mine is very similar...my first fill was @ 4 wks the 2nd fill 10wks later (originally scheduled for 12 wks but I called and got it bumped up 2 wks)....I will not get my 3rd fill for 3 more months. I had a long talk with my PA about the fill schedule and why they are spanned out so far (when everone else is getting a fill everytime you turn around). She explained to me that it is to allow your mind time to catch up to what the band is physically doing for you. She also told me that people who are having fills so closely togeather are FAR MORE LIKELY to have band problems in the future (slippage, errosion) and that they are also VERY LIKELY to regain all of their weight because their mind and band never learned to work togeather. I have NO DOUBT there are going to be folks that do not agree with this line of thinking, but I must say after we discussed it I came to see the reasoning behind it. I've lost 34lbs since being banded (3/26/09) and I know my band is working (perhaps not with the lightning speed I'd hoped for, but working all the same). If I have to choose between losing my weight quickly with the posibility of complications down the road, or losing at a slower pace allowing my body the time it needs to adjust to a new way of life I'm gonna have to go with slower PERMENANT RESULTS.....after all THAT is the reason I had surgery in the first place. I've always been able to LOSE WEIGHT...but sadly unitl now, it has ALWAYS managed to find me again!!

I don't know how the estrogen comes into play, but I do remember my surgeon telling me that women tend to carry their fat closer to the skin while men's fat is more internal and around their organs. He said that makes placing the band an easier procedure on a woman then a man....so I guess that as far as feeling restriciton goes this could go toward explaining why some men my feel more restriciton with little or no fill (possibly more pressure on the band from surrounding fat tissue). Just my personal insight....lol

It never ceases to amaze me how ill mannered some people can be, and then there are the people that just say what's on their mind without giving any thought to how it might sound. I had a similar incident with a female securty guard in my office building. I started walking everyday at lunch, after a few weeks the 20something size 6 in our office asked if she could join me. Sure why not the company is great. After a few weeks of walking the guard is talking to us one day as we are waiting for the elevator on our way back from our tortureous walk (noon in houston heat) she asks so "who asked who to walk" we told her that skinny 20something asked if she could join me....the guard says "Oh, I would have thought it was the other way around." I just shook me head and got on the elevator....some people are just clueless as to how they sound, honestly this guy is probably one of those. You keep doing what you are doing and don't let idiots sidetrack you!! ~Monica

Everyone is going to react differently, my personal experience with depo was as follows... I had 6 months worth of injections (2 shots) and in under 1 years time I gained 80 lbs. I'm not saying it was entirely the shot and I wouldn't have gained the weight anyway, but I believe for ME it was a contributing factor. Good luck...not dealing with periods is sooo incredibly awesome!!

So here's my 2 cents..... Placing a band around your stomach and creating a pouch for your food IS GOING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD YOU CAN EAT!!!! Having a fill is going to reduce the rate at which that food filters down outta your stoma and into the rest of the digest track, but I really don't understand how a person could continue to eat as if never banded. I believe you need to listen to your body, it will let you know when it's time for a fill. If you are able to maintain protion control (band working), control snacking between meals (band working), and make wiser food choices (mind working) then there is no need to run out a get a fill because of a date on the calender. When you are hunger after eating small portions, snacking all the time, and no longer lossing any weight THEN it is time for a fill. I am a firm believer that the band works from the time it is put in place, not just once enough saline is added to give you a tiny opening for food to pass through. Now I'm sure there are posters here that will disagree with me, and that's fine because everyone is entilited to their own opinion, but now you have mine. Good luck and congrats on your sucess so far!! ~Moncia

I'm feeling your pain here Pappa....I rode my new bike for the 1st time last nite and man was my butt killin me!! and yes my hands were hurting too.....I totally agree with Donna, it's gonna take a little time to "break our butts in"....now as not being able to ride as far.....there is no wind resistance when you ride that stationary bike in the living room (or where ever u have it) so yes riding outdoors is going to be more challenging, but probably a better work out as well. Peddle on my shrinking friend!! ~Monica

This is WONDERFUL advice!!! You don't have any idea right now how important it is going to be to have supportive aftercare!!! Sadly there are lots of surgeons jumping on the "lapband wagon" for strictly financial reasons. I think your best bet is to find a doctor (and staff) that is going to be there for you when you start asking yourself what the hell have i done (and you will ask that at some point). The band is different than other WLS because it requires on going maintenance. It takes time to get to a place where your band is functioning for you at full capacity the way it is "sold" to us all. The hardest part of this journey is PATIENCE....and you will hear it said over and over, you didn't get fat over a 1 month period, your not going to lose it that way either. Good luck on your research, I hope you can find the doctor that is the right fit for you!! ~Monica

UPDATE: down 34lbs Had a long talk with the PA & Dr about the fill schedules and I feel much more comfortable with the way they have things set up, and as long as I'm seeing results I'm not gonna complain!!

My suggestion.....go buy yourself an ISPIRATION outfit....hang it on the wall where you will see it everyday...now you have a goal to work toward, everytime you look at that sexy dress (or whatever it is u like) haning on the wall you will be reminded of why you are doing this..... Secondly, you need to keep telling yourself...this is just a few days outta the rest of my life...and after all you CAN do anything for a few days when it comes with a lifetime payoff!!! Good luck to you, I'll be looking forward to checking your progress! ~Monica

I have to say I think that how quickly you are back to work/normal life will depend a great deal on how YOUR body recovers from surgery. My band was the 3rd lap surg I had had in 2 1/2yrs, each time I was up and around within a couple of days. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not telling you I was 100% in a couple of days, but I could get around and was off pain meds, took a shower and looked human again. But I also know people who had the same surgeries I did and they took much longer to recover, so really it's going to be a matter of how well your body responds. Good luck I hope you have a text book procedure and a FAST recovery!! ~Monica

awwww now wouldn't that be nice....maybe you should suggest that to your surgeon and report back to us on how it goes....lol

As you read peoples after surgery stroires you will find MOST everyone has gas pain following surgery. It is because your abdominal cavity is filled with gas during surgery to allow the surgeon room to move around. After you are closed up all of that gas has to work it's way outta your system. Your doctor will tell you to walk walk walk to help move it...and the gas-x will help with the pain as well.....many people complain of shoulder pain as the gas tends to move up into the shoulders....it takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get it all worked....I think most people will tell you that the gas pain was the most unpleasent part of recovery. Bring on the questions....it is sooo much better to have a good idea of what you can expect then to be blindsided after you wake up...LOL ~Monica

I had my surgery on Thurs...back to work on Monday no porblems. I'm at a desk all day so nothing strenuous going on there....take your heating pad with you keep gas-x on hand and I would think you should be ok Good luck!! ~Monica

Poor you!!! I can feel your frustration!! Why SOOO long between fills??? My 1st fill was 5 wks post op (could have done 4wks but 5 fit my work schedule better). My 2nd fill is scheduled July 10 (10 wks later, originally scheduled for 12 wks but i called and got it pushed up). I was really concerned at the time frame the office had set up between fills especially after hearing how quickly many otheres are getting filled, but I seem to be losing so I guess I shouldn't complain. 1st fill was 3cc....she told me they do up to 4 cc, but I thought I was already having some restriction and didn't wanna go overboard so I requested a little more conservative route. Did they leave it up to you to schedule your fills as you saw fit, or it there protocal spaced that far apart?? Also does your doctor deal with lots of band patients or do he specialize in another procedure? I'm just wondering if your getting the same kind of aftercare/support as many others are receiving. I'm sorry to hear this has been such a sloooow process for you so far, I hope you are able to get things back on track and get your band working for you as it was intended. If you ever need to bend someone's ear feel free to look me up!! ~Monica

Here are a cpl of sites you can take a look at....also I HIGHLY recommed South Beach!! Lapband.com - Healthy Recipes to Support Your LAP-BAND® Journey Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home If you've already made it thru your liquid diet you should be good to go, the worst part of low carb is the detox at the begining.....after that it's not bad at all. Good Luck on the journey!!

I was wondering where all my band-twins were!!!! I was also banded 3/26/09 here in Houston. seems like we are pretty much on the same track weightloss wise. I was hoping I'd be one of those people that the weight just fell off of....but it's going slower then I had hoped (but pretty much as i EXPECTED). Sorry to hear of your port issues. I am glad to know that they were able to resolve them for your quickly...that's one of the advantages of an experienced surgeons!!! Please keep in touch!! ~Monica