Leah28

I am three months out and have lost 44 pounds so far, but my loss has slowed a lot in the last month and a half. Like someone said about - don't compare yourself to others, because everyone is different!

I eat very well, and do a lot of exercise, but lose weight very slowly. It is very frustrating sometimes, but any loss is a good loss!

I couldn't do any sit ups or crunches for about 4 weeks post-op because it was too painful. After that I took it slowly and I have no problems at all now (I'm three months post op).

I used to lose weight from my stomach first, but since the band I have found that I am keeping the fat in my stomach - very frustrating!

My doctor encourages the occassional wine or two...!

I haven't found I have a reduced tolerance. I wish I did. Then I'd be happy to stop after a couple :glare: I drink far too much than someone who is trying to lose weight should!!

After looking into this a little more, due to this thread, I wonder why anyone uses the old types of bands any more? Surely the AP is superior!? Reduced risk of slippage and erosion, 360 degree inflation, easy release clasp... Sounds much better all round.

Yes, Suzie, I got the second newsletter about all the seminar things they are going to run. Spewing I don't live in Adelaide so can't go! Never mind, I think it is great they are doing it regardless.

And don't worry - I am stuck with weight loss as well. I have been going up and down between 115 and 117 for the last few weeks and it is very very FRUSTRATING especially cos I have been eating well and slogging it out at the gym, walking the dog and playing on the wii fit! Not fair :glare:

Wow, Trish, 13kgs is massive! Great work.

I'm hearing you on the stop in loss, Emma. I have 6ml and although sometimes I feel like I have great restrictions, at others I feel like I have hardly any. I am going to see the new Dr at AOS on the 5th of June as Dr Patroney is on holidays then. I wasn't due to go back till mid-July, but I don't think I can wait that long. I've been busting my guts with exercise and the weight loss is sooooooooo sloooooowwwwwww... Hopefully a tiny bit more fill will help.

How does your restriction feel now? How long after you have eaten do you feel hungry? And how much do you normally eat in one meal? Sorry for all the questions, Emma. I just know we are pretty much at the same point and have the same sized bands etc!!

I just checked what band I had after seeing this thread and I have an AP small band. It has worked well for me so far - I really didn't think about different choices of bands before surgery - I figured the surgeon would use one they know works best and would be best for me.

I was told to eat until I wasn't hungry anymore. The first 6 weeks are about your body getting better, not losing weight, so don't stress if you aren't losing stacks. The weight loss slows down a lot once you're a few weeks out from surgery.

I told everyone. The only thing that makes me a regret it a little bit is that some people expect me to lose weight really quickly and wonder why I am not losing like 5kgs a week.

I didn't care if anyone had anything negative to say about it. Its my body, my life and my choice. If they want to be negative about someone trying to improve their health and quality of life, then they are a sad person...

Good luck!

Hi Tully,

My answers to your questions are based on my experiences, but nothing beats talking to your doctor...

1) Not sure of the code - do you mean the medicare item number? I have that somewhere and am sure I'll be able to find it if that is what you mean.

2) I started Optifast 3 weeks early. I really struggled with it. I don't know if I would start it 6 weeks before, because it really is quite taxing. I ate the occassional dinner, but didn't go further than having a small piece of grilled chicken and adding pumpkin and corn to my other "allowed" vegies. If I were in your situation, I probably would eat lunches with clients, but would limit myself to a salad, no croutons, no cheese, and balsamic dressing. That should mostly fits in with what is "allowed".

3) I think you'll be fine 6 weeks after to go to London. By then you should be ready to try normal foods and 6 weeks out I was able to eat pretty much anything. I never had anything stuck or trouble with anything till after my first fill.

Good luck!

Suzie, I could feel the difference at 4ml - I think its good to sit at that for a couple of weeks cos once you get some more, boy do you feel it!

Trish, I have almost reach the 20kg lost mark... I have lost over a kg this week after my fill last week, so very happy about that. I don't think I will be able to get much more fill - maybe another .5ml at most - or I won't be able to get anything down.

The only way I managed to get through the Optifast was with the berry crunch bars at first - though after a packet of them, I couldn't stomach them anymore. I still can't eat berry granola which I used to love cos it tastes the same lol. Also adding diet choc topping to the chocolate shakes. That was my real saviour!

I did have passionfruit and strawberries during the day as Snacks, because they were on my allowed list (though definitely had more than the allowance...). I was pretty naughty with the Optifast... More often than not over the 3 weeks I did it, I would have some meat with dinner - usually grilled chicken. And I did have some pumpkin as well and ate more than 2 cups of vegies a day.

That said, though, it wasn't that naughty, cos that was the bounds of it... No chocolate, lollies, take away or anything REALLY naughty. I just could not do the Optifast for 3 meals a day, every day. It made me physically sick and I had the worst cold the whole time I was on the opti! Thank god it cleared up a couple of days before the operation.

Hi Trish, tell your mother in law she can bite my bum too... What a cow! Can't believe how insensitive she is after being overweight herself once...

Anyways, don't feel silly for thinking about dying etc. I did too, and cried when my fiance left before I went into surgery because I was scared I'd never see him again. But all went well, obviously, and I was out of surgery in just over an hour.

I started my pre-op diet a week early too, except I did opti for Breakfast and lunch and something light - light grilled chicken or fish - and veges for dinner for that extra week. I lost 3.5kgs in that first week!

Good luck!

I don't want to alarm any of you, but I am 11 weeks post-op and I still have shoulder pain. It isn't constant any more, it comes and goes, but it is still there and still annoying. Its not as bad as it was at first, more annoying than painful now.

My surgeon wasn't surprsied when I told him, he said it could be a while longer before it goes completely.

I didn't mind the barium lol which is probably a bit wrong, but after no food I was like "Mmm... sweet chalky drink". Terrible haha It didn't make me feel sick, but it did wake up my bowels. Probably not a bad thing though considering I couldn't eat solids.

Yes, Emma, I've had trouble with quite a few foods. Haven't gone a day since my fill without vomiting! Hot chips/wedges aren't good, neither are peas and a McDonalds tandoori chicken wrap came back up too.

Pasta is the easiest thing to keep down, and no problem with chicken either. All trial and error I guess. I'm hoping it settles down in the next few days. The restriction is great though - not feeling hungry as soon and not eating as much. Excellent!

Hi Emma - Emma is much quicker to type than Angelwithhorns haha.

Yes, I think my hot chip eating days are over, which probably isn't such a bad thing. Easier to resist the temptation now! I had Pasta for dinner without a problem. I was worried I was going to have to go back and have some Fluid out, so glad it is fine.

The fluroscopy was good, and I'm glad I got it done now cos I could see the port and the tube and how it is positioned. When I had my barium swallow I was intrigued by the whole thing, despite being in horrible pain!! You'll be sitting pretty when you get out of uni, radiographers are a rare breed these days, aren't they?!

How much have you got now, Angelwithhorns?

I got my second fill today. Turns out I had 4.4ml in the band, not 3.8ml. I got another 1.4ml so now I have 5.8ml. Dr Patroney had to do it under the fluroscope, because my port is twisted, apparently. It was cool to see it on the screen, anyways.

Dr Patroney recommended I stick to soft foods for the next 2 days to get used to it. I tried potato wedges for lunch, well chewed... Won't be trying that again! It got stuck BAD and I vomited 3 times. Thats the first time I have had something stuck so bad I brought it back up.

liquids are fine, and I just tried some diet choc mousse, and that seems to be ok after 15 mins...

i'm 2 weeks out from surgery... i really really want a drink... how long did everyone wait til they started drinking again?

My surgeon didn't give me any guidelines on when I could start drinking again, so I had my first drink about 2 weeks after being banded. After the first glass I really didn't feel like any more because my body still wasn't 100%from surgery.

I was a massive drinker before my band, and I have cut down so so much, but it is a big part of my social life and I would never have gotten the band if it meant I couldn't drink again. Might sound wrong to some people, but its part of my life to be able to enjoy drinks with friends.

I have been completely honest with my doctor, psych and dietician about my drinking habits - including that I occasionally have a fair bit in one go - and they have all been fine with it because I am still losing weight steadily

The difference now is that I can't drink as much as I did before (lower tolerance) and the hang overs are TERRIBLE.

I would check with your surgeon just to be sure, but I haven't suffered any consequences from drinking apart from some shocking hangovers!!

MargenOhio I have 3.8cc in a 10cc band and can eat pretty normally, so don't worry about only having 1cc and being fine to eat anything! I'm getting my second fill tomorrow, long over due because I had lots of issues when I went for my second fill originally, and I'm hoping I'll finally have some restriction!

I was told three months after surgery before I could try carbonated drinks. I have been naughty and tried them before (though I often stir most of the bubbles out). I've had no issues. I just burp a lot!

I agree with Luluc. My surgeon is 6 hours away from me, and I'd be on a plane in a second if I was in your situation, Blue.

I'd be at the local hospital getting a drip put in for hydration in the mean time...

When I have fills, I find it quite painful. Not because of the needle, but because of the pressure the doctor puts on my stomach to hold the port still.

My doctor has trouble finding my port and I have left the surgery fill-less and in tears before. I now have to get my fills under x-ray.

It all depends on the person though.

I would love to be in a group, but with living in Roxby it doesn't work for me unfortunately! We should definitely keep this thread running though, its great to see what others have to say about their experiences.

How much fill does everyone have now? I had 1.4ml in my band from the operation, and have had another 2.4 put in, so I have 3.8ml in there at the moment. Pretty sure I will be getting another 1.4ml on Thursday, cos thats how much Dr Patroney wanted to put in when she couldn't get the needle in the port.

Hey BM09,

I was banded by Dr Bessell on the 4th of Feb this year, so you aren't far behind me. How are you going with everything?

I have had my first fill and was supposed to get another a couple of weeks ago, but Dr Patroney couldn't get the needle in the port. Going back this week for my second fill under x-ray and can't wait - I've gained weight cos I can eat so much before I am satisfied :cool2:

I don't live in Adels, I'm in Roxby, but am in Adels often for band fills and appointments!

You are doing so well with your weight loss! Keep it up

Hi All,

I got my first fill just over two weeks ago and it all went fine, apart from the pain when pressing on the port, but got the saline in there and off I went.

I went back the other day for my second and after five very painful tries, the doctor gave up trying to get the needle in my port. I was really upset, half from the pain and half from the disappointment, and walked out in a flood of tears. Thank god my fiance was there with me this time!

I have to go back on the 16th and get my fill under x-ray. Just wondering how many others have to get their fills under x-ray? And is getting fills really painful for anyone else? I can handle the needle, but the pressing on my stomach really hurts me.

Also, where is everyone's ports located? I thought that generally they were off to one side... Mine is smack bang in the middle of my belly, about an inch above my belly button. I'm worried it is going to stick out once I have lost more weight...

Also wondering