LaDawnS

Hey MSan! Thanks for the nice words! I'm glad you're finally feeling some restriction, That'll definately help with your weightloss. I have a 10cc band and have had about 5 fills and will be going in for my 6th one Feb. 2nd. I have 6 cc's in my band now. I guess because of the more rapid than normal weightloss, my band is loosing fatty tissue at that same rapid pace so I've had more fills than most at almost 9 months. Whenever I can eat 5-6 ounces in a setting and be hungry before my 3 hours is up and slow down with the weightloss, they tell me to come in and have another fill. Then the loss speeds up again! It's nice that you've lost at a slower pace though, you probably won't have the extra skin issue! Especially with you working out so much! That's very impressive! Take care and good luck with the new restriction! :wink:

I have lost 102 pounds since May 1, 2009! I have been on a very frustrating plateau since a little after Christmas. I also just had to have an unfill due to acid reflux issues but Feb. 2nd I'll be getting filled again and be back on the loosers bench once again! I'm really looking forward to it! 36 more pounds to go!

Hi Dawn! Thanks! There was a "Post New Thread" box at the bottom of the discussion page. I've had that happen too though, sometimes they just aren't there!

I agree! Definately do not drink in bed! I was also told no drink for 1 hour before and no food for 3 hours before bed. It has definately helped me with the reflux in bed! It's not a fun experience, I know!!! Good luck!

Here are my before (283.5 pounds, size 26) and now (183.5 pounds, size 12!!!) pics. I so wish that I would have done this years ago!!!

Karianne! Great Job! I see a big difference in the pics! You're doing awesome! Keep it up!

Just wanted to say hi! New to this group...I had my surgery May 1, 2009 and as of Christmas morning lost 100 pounds! It has stopped because I had to have an unfill for a short time due to reflux...gained a few pounds but get my fill again Feb. 2nd so not much longer to go...then I'll start loosing again! I love this band!

Hi, I just wanted to let you know what my surgeon has really stressed with me about portion size...Take it as you want, like you said...everyone has a different story... I was told that 3-5 ounces total per meal is a good amount but you should never eat more than 6 ounces total because it can cause your pouch to stretch, which isn't good. When I am able to eat 6 ounces easily, my surgeon says it's time for a new fill, he says that you should eat every 3 hours to keep your metabolism working at full capacity, so 5-6 times a day. He's been recognized as one of the nations top Bariatric surgeons, he's amazing! I've lost 100 pounds in 8 months following his guidelines. And just wanted to let ya know what I was warned against. Good luck with the rest of your journey! Nice job with the exercising! You should be really proud of yourself keeping up with that! Wish I had that determination and willpower!

Congrats Calli! I'm glad you are feeling better! Hope it continues to get better and better! It sure has for me! Good Luck!

Hi Ash! My mother had a stroke at age 53 from sleep apnea. She had no idea what it even was before that, neither did I. Right afterwards I went in for a sleep study myself. I actually had to redo my sleep study because of my severe closterphobia...I had a panic attack. The second attempt to do the sleep study, I realized that it wasn't really that bad and felt kinda silly that I had had such a problem the first time around. I snored like a chain saw, woke up with headaches all the time, sore throat every morning, and fell asleep all the time, no matter where I was! I have it worse than my mother does so I'm glad I went in! I've been sleeping with my C-pap machine for two years now and feel so much better. You get used to the machine very quickly, and you get so much better sleep that it's all very worth it! I use a nasal pillow mask, it sets just under your nose rather that the face mask or nose mask. I am very closterphobic and did not like those big things in my face...but the nasal pillow doesn't bother me at all. Well good luck with your tests, hope all goes well for you!

That's irritating, what do they have to hate? For most of us the band has saved our lives! I'm glad that you're not letting that get you down! You've done an amazing job! And your work with the foundation is very admirable!:cursing:

I'm only coming up to my 9 month post op. Haven't kept it off for years, but have talked to many banders that have maintained for years. Hopefully I'll be one of those too! Thanks for the sweet words! :biggrin:

My bands name is "squishy" (Little Nemo is one of my favorite Disney Movies and Dory is my favorite character in it, if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about)...He can be a baaaaaad squishy at times but, I still love him!

I think that it is fairly normal to not loose much until you get your first fill. It does go quickly though, no worries...those pounds will be flying off very soon! Good luck with everything!

My surgery was breeze! They said I'd have the "gas" pain in my shoulder...had a little uncomfortable feeling for a few hours one night but that was it! C-section was definately worse by far!!!!!! Lapband was nothing! And my journey since that surgery day has been an amazing one! Have lost 102 pounds in 8 1/2 months and feel great! Off heart meds, high cholesteral meds, high blood pressure meds, diabetes meds, asthma meds and PCOS meds! Joint pain is gone! Sleep Apnea has been reduced quite a bit! It has just been an amazing journey so far! Would do it all again in a second!!!!! Wish I would've done it years ago!

I've had issues with acid reflux at night since about 7 months post op. It wakes me up as I'm projecting acid onto my pillow several times a night! Horrible stuff! My dr gave me a fill and it seemed to subside for about a month, then returned with a vengeance! I went to my dr again and they took out .5 cc's from my band to let it rest for a couple of weeks and I'm taking prilosec during this time. It has definately gotten better in the last couple of days. Hopefully this will be a permanent fix! I just hope I don't gain weight since they had to unfill my band for 2 weeks! I definately get more hungry.

AHHH yes...the sliming. I gross out my husband and daughter quite frequently with my "slime cup". Not the most attractive thing is it? I do wish it would stop...it's so gross!

How cool is that!!!Wow! good for you! 138 pounds is exactly what I needed to loose, I've got 36 more to go. You look great! Keep up the great work with both your weightloss and your livestrong efforts!

Hi Angie! I have to tell you...this has been an amazing almost 9 months now! I haven't had a single scarey or negative moment at all since my surgery May first. This has been nothing but a positive journey! It sounds like you have a very good attitude going into this about the band and have made some very important lifestyle changes that are neccessary to be successful with the band! I went to my surgeons seminar wanting to do the bypass...but...after his seminar fully decided to go with the band. There were so many people there that had been really sucessful with the band and some had maintained their weight loss for many years. I like the fact that the band is adjustable and once you make your goal it can be used to help maintain that weight. I also liked the fact that it was reversable should I need it. Now I didn't have the emotional eating problems...I have PCOS which caused me to gain like crazy despite the fact that I really didn't eat that badly. Very frustrating. This definately has not been the easiest thing I've ever done to loose weight , and I haven't been the perfect weightloss patient by any means (exerscise was a big one for me, I've been pretty good the last couple of months...hopefully it's routine now! And I have absolutely NO willpower when chocolate is in the house! Christmas was horrible for that this year! I did gain a little because of that, but it came back off quickly) but it has still come off at a rather rapid pace and I feel amazing! AND I love being able to shop in the regular clothing stores again! It's been 20 years since I've been able to do that! Good luck with your descision, and please let me know if I can help you at all! Take care!

Glad I could help! I can ramble a bit :wink2:...sorry about that, I'm just very excited about my tool! It's amazing! I try to do a cardio exercise video 3 times a week and a weight/sculpting video 2-3 times a week...don't always get it in, but that's what I aim for. I usually start my day by eating 1/2 of an Atkins Protein bar with a little bit of fruit within the first hour of waking up. Then I eat every 3 hours...about 3 ounces solid protein like chicken, fish (I love Talapia and shrimp!), beef, turkey plus 1 ounce of fruits or veggies to get those good carbs in too. I love green chili so I do tend to put it on a lot of stuff to kind of spice it up a bit with a little cheese here and there. There are some great bariatric recipie sites if ya just google "bariatric recipies". You'll do great, just follow your dr's instructions and your tool will work wonderfully! You'll be skinny minnie in no time! :mad:

Hi adennis & jacelynn! Welcome to LBT! Congrats on getting this far with your WLS adventure! It's one I'd start again in a second! It's been the best thing that I've ever done for myself! I was banded on May 1, 2009 so I'm almost 9 months out and about 35 pounds from my goal (lost 102 pounds so far). I haven't felt my port or band as far as physically feeling it inside(unless you really push on it, then you can feel the port with your fingers), but when you don't chew well enough or take to big of bites...tthe band does remind you that it's there! :thumbup: I eat anywhere from 2-5 ounces depending on the time of day,(in the morning you can't eat as much normally)with an average of 3-4 ounces of food every 3 hours. I believe that you will have to continue to eat the small portions several times a day from now on, but...even without the band that is the best way to keep your metabolism going strong. It's a good thing. I was on many meds pre op but within 2-3 months I was off meds for my heart, high blood pressure, high cholesteral, diabetes, PCOS, asthma, joint pain and I was able to substantially lower the pressure on my C-Pap machine for sleep apnea! It's an amazing thing! Not to mention, I have an amazing amount of energy and just feel so much better overall! I wish I had done this when my daughter was younger, she's 16 now. But at least I'll be there for her a lot longer than I would've been, had I not done this life changing surgery at all. Good luck with everything! Hope all goes well! Keep us posted!

I did have that problem. It turned out that I needed an unfill and also needed to take smaller bites and chew a lot more. I was told 25 chews before swallowing and take bites the size of an almond. Good luck, hope ya figure it out soon, you don't want to throw up like that for long because you can make your band slip, not good.:thumbup:

Don't worry about the fill, most people don't hardly feel it. It's a little pinch then you feel a little pressure and the fill itself which is odd but not painful. I don't like needles or pain and I've hardly ever felt anything and never had them numb it. :thumbup:

My surgeon said not to chance it. If you get bumped or trip or something like that and you accidently swallow your gum...it's another surgery for you! I don't think it's worth it! And I used always have gum in my mouth pre-op!

Hair loss after lapband surgery is completely normal. It really helps to get in at least 65-75 grams of solid protein a day, biotin did seem to slow mine down. Your body goes through so many drastic changes and hairloss is just a consequence of all those changes. It will pass and the hair does start to grow back usually after about 5-7 months post op if you are getting your protein in, thats a big one! All the benefits of banding definately outweigh the negatives that come along here and there. Hope this helps, I know it IS VERY FRUSTRATING! I had thin hair to begin with! It will grow back though...try not to worry too much, it's not permanent.