ShelleyB

Hi Sommer! You are doing so good girl! 23 lbs.!!! WHOO HOO!! I am down 17 lbs. as of last week (I weight on Wednesdays only), otherwise I get scale obsession! LOL! So, you got your first fill already! Your doctor must fill every 4-6 weeks. Mine is strictly every 6 weeks. I was told I probably had about 2 cc at the time of surgery. I definitely have some restriction now without my fill, but I am still able to eat about 1/2 as much as used to. I can't wait until my fill and more restriction, as I am excited to start losing more weight! Summer is coming and I am excited about that! I found a whole pile of shorts ranging from size 16 to 12! So, I should be covered this summer with clothes! So, you are only eating 2 meals a day? Is that because you are not hungry or is that all you can get down? I have heard that some people get more restriction around their time of the month...

Hi!!

How exciting, 14 lbs. down!! Congradulations to you! The hard part seems to be now! The weight is slowly moving now, but I hear this is normal. I too have some restriction already, even without my first fill. However, I find that I can eat most things that I used, just way less of them. I go easy on the breads just in case. Thin crust pizza works for me. I am trying real hard to eat protein first, which is new for me, but I think it's totally do-able! Let me know how your first fill goes! I am excited to get mine (4/6/09), it seems so far away! I am ready to get more of this weight off with summer coming! I am already moving down into the next size clothes! Yeah! Luckily, I have a closet full of clothes with varying sizes that should last me for a while, however, after about size 12 - I will have to shop! Oh glorious day that will be!! : )))

Take care and good luck to you!!

Shelley

Hey Guy,

How are you doing? When do you get your first fill? How is the eating going? This week it's like my old appetite has reappeared and I want to eat everything! I am still eating probably half of my old portion sizes, but getting worried. I have really just maintained my weight loss from about 1 week after surgery. My doctor tells me this is normal and not to worry. My fill is 4/6/09 and I am ready!!

Hey Somer! How you doing girl? Haven't heard from you in a while! All is good here! : )~

I worked in outside doing some gardening yesterday and I got so tired, so quickly! I guess I am still not 100%, but it was such a beautiful day and I had plants to go in the ground! Spring is so fun! Can't wait for that fill on 4/6/09! My hunger grows everyday...luckily the scales are holding steady, which is all I can ask for now!

How's it going for you? Do you have a date for your first fill? I haven't lost much (if any) in the last 2 weeks since eating again (not liquids). But they say this is normal, so I am not freaking out yet. I haven't been exercising either, because of the torn stitch, but all in good time! Hope you are doing well!

Hi Gretchen!

Sounds like you are doing great, 21 lbs. is awesome!! I am holding around 17 lbs. right now and wearing pants I couldn't wear last spring, so that is exciting! How are doing with your foods? Can you feel any restriction? Mine is minimal, but I can feel it and am only eating about half of what I used to. So far I can eat most anything right now, but I hear that is normal too. I am doing way better and the port is not sore anymore. You get to get your fill before me....lucky! Let me know how it goes!!

Hi, I am doing much better with some rest (not really rest, but just moving carefully and slowly). It feels normal now, except when I do sweeping/vacuuming...that motion seems to aggravate it. But I am back to life as normal. I am eating normal too, granted smaller portions, but so far the appetite is back and I am counting down the days until my first fill. My restriction is very minimal, but yet I can still feel something is there and once I am full...I get a heavy sensation in my chest and get the hiccups. I use that as my sign to stop eating now! So far it is working well.

Trust me, you will get hungry, but enjoy it for now and the mushies...I liked that stage better than the liquids any day!!! Weight loss does come to a halt for a while and I am told this is normal, so don't sweat it! Keep up the good work!!! : ))

Hi Amber!

I am doing pretty good. I go for my first fill on 4/6/09, so I am excited about that. I dont really have much restriciton right now and my appetite is pretty much back to normal....so that fill will be nice! I haven't seen Dr. V since my surgery! I see George, his PA instead. But that's okay with me, George is very nice. I am holding steady at losing 17 lbs. right now. I have been told if I can just keep my weight loss during this "bandster hell", then I will be doing okay! How did you do during this time?

Hi Silver, I think I was just talking to you in the chat room. That was my first time in there, it was crazy! Too much going on for me. It was good talking to you and if you want to talk anymore, must message me! Good luck and I hope you feel like yourself soon (I know you will!)

Hi!! Congratulations on your surgery date! You are right, a new road lies ahead and it's going to an awesome experience! I had my surgery 2 weeks ago, so this is pretty new to me as well. I wish you lots of luck...You can do this!! : ))

I wish these things were so limited in space....maybe we need to use the private message option, there is no limit! Try not to worry about the fill. I know every doctor does it somewhat differently, but I am sure he will use a local to anesthetize the skin area. Just don't watch while it is happening and you should be okay! So you are watching videos on youtube on fills?! Who knew! ha ha! Since taking it easy and resting, my port is much better. I can feel mine too, but not as much as I thought. They used a low profile port on me, so maybe that's why. I hope you have a great week and can't wait to hear more about how you are doing!!

Take care,

Shelley

Hi Laura,

You have lost 26 lbs. already! That is awesome!!! : ))))

Are you finding that you are getting really hungry now and having a hard time feeling satieted? I have read that the time before your first few fills is the worst because the restriction is so little and you can still eat quite a bit of food. I am trying real hard to continue with small meals and stay with the protein first rule, even though I can eat bread, rice and pasta right now without much trouble. Not drinking while eating will probably prove to be the hardest thing for me. I think I may just start keeping my drink in the kitchen while I eat, taking away the temptation. As far as drinking my water, I never have problems with that. I am always drinking water.

Hi! Hope things are going good for you. I am doing really well and have been eating some regular food. I was having some weird pains around the port area, actually very painful. I got alarmed and went to the doctor and found out that I had indeed tore an internal stitch! The doctor said my port is slightly tilted now, but he thinks it will be fine with some rest to let it heal. That was scary and painful. : (

So be careful and try not to jump around too much! lol!

Hi! Hope things are going good for you. I am doing really well and have been eating some regular food. I was having some weird pains around the port area, actually very painful. I got alarmed and went to the doctor and found out that I had indeed tore an internal stitch! The doctor said my port is slightly tilted now, but he thinks it will be fine with some rest to let it heal. That was scary and painful. : (

So be careful and try not to jump around too much! lol!

I went to the doctor and found out that I had indeed tore an internal stitch! The doctor said my port is slightly tilted now, but he thinks it will be fine with some rest to let it heal. That was scary and painful. : (

So be careful and try not to jump around too much! lol!

I went to the doctor and found out that I had indeed tore an internal stitch! The doctor said my port is slightly tilted now, but he thinks it will be fine with some rest to let it heal. That was scary and painful. : (

Hi Gretchen...how are you doing? Are you starting to eat real foods yets? I am doing good, but had a scare. I had really bad pain around the area and went to see the doctor. Apparently I tore an internal stitch and the port is slightly tilted now. The doc thinks it will be okay and wants me to baby it for 3 weeks to heal. That was scary, but otherwise I am doing good.

Hi! I bet you are excited about getting your 1st fill! 3/19 is just around the corner!! Mine is scheduled for 4/6. I think the hunger is referred to as "banster hell" until you get to your sweet spot. I am starting with the hungry thing too. Every 2-3 hours I am hungry! I do feel some restriction though and it keeps me from eating very much at all. I feel better, except for the last few days the area around my port is very sore and when I get up or down, I get a sharp/shooting pain in the port. I am going to make an appt today to see the Dr. How has the weight loss been since you began eating regular food? I hear most people say they stall out for a while, I think it's normal. I haven't lost much since surgery myself. But I still have hope!! : )))

Hi - How's it going?? Are you feeling better? I know I sure am. It's amazing after almost 2 weeks, I feel human again. Still sore around the port site, but overall great. I am eating some solid food now, mostly mushy though. I get my first fill on 4/6/09. So exciting! I saw your pictures! : )~

Hi Sommer,

Dr's appt went well. One of my incisions needed draining,but otherwise good. He said I could start mushies! I told him about the potatoes and he said, good that as long as I can tolerate it, try new stuff out and find what works. I have done well on real food and feel 100% better! I only drink about protein shake a day now. Yuk! I did get some good vitamins and that has helped too. The swelling has down alot, but sometimes I still prefer to keep my pants off of my belly area! I hope that gets better, the low rider is getting crazy! ha ha! How did your appointment go? Can't wait to hear. : )~

How are you doing Gretchen? Are you feeling almost back to normal yet? I feel about 90%! I get tired easily. I have been eating foods really well and feel SO much better since eating. The liquid diet was making me feel awful. I have mostly been on mushy food, but have a few things like pizza. I ate it slowly and cut it into tiny pieces and it went well. The funny thing is that by the time I finished 1 small piece, I realized it didn't taste that good! When you eat pizza slowly, it just takes like bread! I figure I probably won't be able to eat that later on after a few fills. Anyway, hope all is going good for you. My port site is still sore, but otherwise good. The weight loss has also slowed down, but we knew that couldn't last forever! 5-6 lbs. a week was cool, but I will be happy with 1-2 lbs. a week! : )~

Hi, I just read your blogs and they are very inspirational. Thanks for posting them. I only a week postop lapband surgery, so this is all new to me. I did alot of research before getting the band and I feel like I have a good grasp on the concept and know the band is only a tool. You still have to deal with the games that your mind will play on you! I do believe exercise is key and who couldn't benefit from exercise?? Congratulations on your success!! : )

Cindy,

Thank you so much for the get well gift and all your support! You and Sheri are awesome!!!

Shelley/Tracey : )

Glad to hear you are doing better! I am with you, I am ready to be off liquids. I am going to talk to my doctor about it today when I go in for my check up. I did have some mashed pototes yesterday (oops!) Just a little, but they were good and I tolerated them well, actually better than the protein drinks!

I see you got your ticker working! Yeah! I am looking forward to the bloating going down, I have been wearing my pants underneath by belly, b/c it is so tender. Good thing I don't leave the house much! ha ha!

Take care and talk to you later! : )))