dert

Hi, I could use some advice. I was banded on Feb. 27th. I lost 26 pounds prior to getting banded, and ZERO pounds since getting banded. I had my first fill last week. I am scheduled for my 2nd fill next week (2-week increments). (I have a 10cc band. 2 ccs were put in during surgery. Last week they gave me 2.5 ccs.) I have not lost any weight. I don't feel any restriction. I have had a problem 3 times now where I didn't chew properly and the food kind of got "bottled up" and I had to burp a lot until it got moving again. I have been making moderately-healthy food choices....fish, steamed veggies, low calorie foods and drinks. I cut out diet pepsi entirely, which was a HUGE feat for me. I don't seem to have ANY problems with food choices; what I mean is, I have no problems getting some foods down that others seem to, like carby items. I have not gotten into my full exercise routine yet (prior to surgery I worked out 5-6 days a week) but I'm starting to bicycle a little after work and will start getting back to the gym this week. I wish I was losing weight, but I'm not wholly surprised that I'm not, since prior to surgery I ate well, exercised regularly, and only GAINED weight. I'm starting to get worried that maybe my band slipped? When should I start seeing weight loss? What should I do differently? I know I need to start exercising more, but that'll happen gradually, starting this week. Does anyone have any advice? What's going on with me? Why isn't this working?

I thought I would stop by and say hello. I've been enjoying reading through this forum and reading up on some of your experiences. For example, I had no idea that I'd pretty much never get to drink diet soda again! Fascinating! Anyway, I got banded on Feb. 27, 2009 so I'm about 9 days into this. I started my Medifast pre-op diet on January 2nd at 224 (I am 5'2) pounds and I have lost 24 pounds so far. I'm only a pound from my "triple digit rollover!" I've a had a little history with yo-yo-ing weight. I was pretty much large all my life, but when I was 21 I decided to go to a doctor and get some help. He put me on a medication diet (Phentermine, Adipex) and I lost 50 pounds! I felt the best I have my whole life. I then moved to New York to go to graduate school and moved away from my doctor and started to gain weight gradually again. I tried SO HARD to keep the weight from coming on. I went to the gym 6 days a week (combination weight training and cardio). I had a personal trainer. I watched what I eat. I counted calories, carbs, fat, Protein, etc, like a maniac (kept everything written down in my food journal). I saw, oh, six doctors to try to find someone that would help me, to no avail. I tried everything I could to lose weight the "normal" way, the healthy way. No matter what, the weight just piled up. Finally, I asked my regular doc if she would recommend Lap-Band surgery, and she said yes since I have tried everything else to try to lose weight. I just barely scraped by on the minimum BMI requirement (40) so the bariatric center accepted me, and my insurance agreed to pay for it too! Like I said, so far I'm 24 pounds down, and I'm feeling VERY HOPEFUL that this will help me finally lose weight and embrace a life and lifestyle that I desperately miss. I am extremely active and love all kinds of sporty things like volleyball, rollerblading, mountain climbing, hiking, canoeing, etc....my weight gain has kept me from enjoying some of these things that I want to do. Hopefully this will be a year of change for me! I look forward to getting to know everyone here!! Here's a pic of me just for general reference:

Thank you all very VERY much for your feedback. Your comments are really helpful to me! I'm relieved to know that what I'm feeling is somewhat normal -- that's a relief!!!! The ab binder idea is a great one. I find that the pain in my side is better if I hold my stomach with my hand, tight. (I look like I'm holding a pregnant belly half the time!) I think I will give the ab binder a try....I think it would help. (Smiles -- I am SO SORRY to hear about your husband. How terrible!)

Hi, can someone give me some feedback? I had my lap band surgery 8 days ago now and I am wondering if the pain I am feeling is normal or not. The pain is where the port site is. I'm extremely bloated there. It hurts nearly all the time, even when I'm laying down flat. When I bend over (like to sit down, pick something up, etc.) it hurts like a mo-fo. Is this common after 8 days? I'm almost wondering if the port has flipped or something?? I'm not sure because I don't know what it's supposed to feel like normally! (All my stitches are healing well. They don't hurt almost at all. I don't see any signs of infection at all....knock on wood. It's just an internal painful feeling.) Any feedback would be appreciated. I don't know if I should call my doctor to complain or not. My pre-surgery follow-up appointment isn't for another 5 days and my painkillers have already run out (I asked for a refill and they said I shouldn't need it refilled so they refused).