Froggie D

That is sooooo great for you! I lost 23 on the preop and it was well worth it. I think it helped me get mentally prepared and made the surgery so much easier. I have lost 14 pounds since surgery and feel great. Hang in there - hope you love your band as much as I love mine!

I think part of it depends on how much you have to lose. I have lost 37 pounds and two sizes. It is harder to see in the mirror because my personal self image is caught up in it. I am critical each time I look in the mirror. Other people started noticing at about 25 pounds and now mention it all the time. The best things for me, though, are my blood pressure and blood sugar are already going down. Even mu shoes are looser!!!! My granddaughter told me that my head is getting smaller and you have to trust the honesty of a six year old!

I know it is scarry the first time, but you will be fine. Focus on the prize! I had my surgery April 7. I can't believe how different trying to control what I eat has been since the band. I was lucky enough to get some restriction with the surgery and have had my first fill now. My hunger is SO MUCH LESS. Even if you don't get the real early restriction, you will get it eventually and you won't believe the difference! I also have apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, reflux. I have only been banded five weeks and my fasting blood sugar has dropped from 150 ON meds to 125 OFF meds. My blood pressure has dropped from 128/85 on meds to 110/60! I will have to see my doc about reducing those meds soon. I feel so much better and I can't even imagine what it will feel like to lose down to a normal weight! Don't back out because of fear of surgery. It will be fine! It was minimal pain and discomfort afterwards. I don't remember anything between the nurse taking my BP and putting on my TED hose and getting home with my husband. It is SOOOOOOO worth it! Just hold your nose and JUMP!

djbabe, Got my fill on Tuesday and did liquids for all of that day and breakfast and lunch yesterday. For dinner I had canned chicken mixed into refried beans with salsa. I was really hungry and did not feel much restriction. Today, however, I feel it. I had three ounces of chicken with a tablespoon of mayo and 3/4 of a fresh pear and started the hiccups. I was able to eat the last couple bites of pear but was really full. For dinner I had a 4 ounce fish fillet and some broccoli but could not eat everything I put on my plate. I am really full now. They said you could start to feel the restriction in 1-10 days. I can't figure out why it would take time to feel and not be immediate. But here is day 3 and I am tighter. I have not tried any bread, tortillas, rice, crackers, etc yet as I am still having fasting blood sugars that are a bit above where I want them to be, especially since I stopped my diabetes meds. I figure if I lose more weight I will bring those down and then I can try some whole grain stuff. I have not lost any weight in almost a week, but I figure it will start now that I am feeling some real restriction. I am feeling really good. I need to exercise but that is my weak point. That is my next goal.

I had this kind of swelling restriction until the last 4 days. I am 5 weeks since I was banded. Had my first fill today since I was starting to feel hungry in 2-3 hours rather than 5 hours. It has been wonderful having restriction with no fill yet. I have lost 14 pounds in 5 weeks since surgery and lost 23 before surgery. It is great!:smile2:

I had my first fill today too with Dr. Hoehn. It was really easy and no pain, no bruising. I have lost 14 pounds in 5 weeks since my surgery. I feel great and I am ready to lose more!:smile2:

I am so happy for you! I know just how you feel. For different reasons, I started my journey October 08 and just got banded April 7, 2010. I love my band and have lost a total of 37 pounds - 14 of it since surgery. You will love it! Congrats! :smile::party:

As far as I know, everyone is expected to eat 60+ grams of protein (my nutritionist said 70) and at least 64 ounces of water. I can have other things if they will fit in my pouch after the protein. I was told to try and get that amount of protein even when on liquids, soft foods, etc. I totally avoided the mashed potatoes amd other carbs as I knew they would make me hungrier.

The best thing I found was to only allow myself a Diet Coke after I finished drinking 16 ounces of Water. It did not taste nearly as good when I was not thirsty and I cold not get as many in. I gave up caffeine first, then went to Diet Rite to avoid the Aspartame (makes my joints ache) and finally none. I do not crave it and do not really miss it. I am like the poster above - I was very addicted (six to eight cans per day) and I do not want to know if my band can tolerate it. I don't need it. I need my band to work for me AND IT IS! Hurray! You will be surprised how quickly you forget about it.

Had my first fill today. It was a breeze. It hurt less than a blood draw. He just used iodine. It took about 3 seconds as you can feel my port under the skin easily. I have a drop of blood on the bandaide, but no noticible bruising, yet anyway. Did you bruise? I expressed my concerns about being too restricted like I keep reading about so he did 1.5 cc instead of the 2cc they usually do. I scheduled to go back in 4 weeks. He said I should feel restriction for 2-3 weeks and start feeling hungry again about week four. So how have you done with your fill? Are you feeling restriction? Are you hungry? Are you losing weight? Hope you are doing great and seeing the pounds drop off.:smile2:

I am so sorry this has happened to you. I hope they get you straightened out really quickly. Thinking about you and sending good vibs your way!

I totally agree! I work in the medical field so I know the score. LaTosha's rudeness and gate keeping is not professional or called for. I was never rude to her and I paid for service I never got. In addition, my insurance paid nearly $500 for my wasted visit. I am sorry I never got to know if Dr. Selim is a good surgeon or not. He should demand more from his staff or terminate them. He is the person who makes or breaks his practice there. I have since gone to Dr. Hoehn at Shawnee Mission. I saw him the end of January, had a surgery date set by March 8, was banded April 7, and have now lost 37 pounds. Dr. Hoehn's staff has been wonderful and treated me with respect and kindness. No one should put up with the kind of treatment I received at KUMed. You are the consumer and are buying their services. As long as you tolerate that sort of treatment, you will just get more of it. Sorry if I offended you.

Me too! In fact, I show my scars to everyone. I am pround of them and my 37 pound weight loss in 2 months!!!!!!!!!

Your numbers look great! Tell us about you NSVs. You must have many. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!:confused::party:

djbabe, I am so glad to hear you had a good experience with your fill. I have been dreading mine. :thumbup: I was supposed to go this week, but I went to the doc and was put on antibiotics and steroids for and ear infection so I postponed. I have not really been hungry and am losing. I hope your fill works well for you. I guess we always expect the worst.:thumbup:

I am one month out from surgery and I AM SO INSPIRED BY YOU! Keep up the great work and keep sharing your experiences!:bored:

I vote to move to the post op side. It is like moving from Jr. High to High School! It would be easier than trying to jump back and forth all the time for me! Rebmommj, Wow that is great about your A1C and your weight loss. I am like you, not really hungry yet, so I postponed my fill. Isn't it great! Twinserely, Glad you are doing well and I hopw your first fill gives you some restriction. Hunger is NOT FUN! Mammasugar, Glad to hear from you too. Great that your weight loss is starting. SOOOOOOO REWARDING!

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. At least I know it is not just my computer. I am like you, Rsilversea, I just log on and hope it works.

Didn't know there was a limit. Are there guidelines somewhere? I certainly did not mean to take up too much space. Please advise!:bored:

I have been having problems navigation on this site all day today. Never had this trouble before.

So glad to hear from you. I have been worried about you. I am glad you are feeling better and having less pain. Pain is a drag and hopefully you are over the worst of it. I had to cancel my appt for a fill tomorrow as I have a double ear infections and am on antibiotics and steriods. We agreed it would be better to wait another week. I am still eating really good and lost another 2 pounds last week, so I am fine for now. Had my hungriest day today. I hope your fill goes well. Please post about it and your experience the week after. I will be thinking about you!

I was 250 and almost 58. Had my surgery April 7 and have lost 23 on the preop and 9 pounds since surgery. Doing great and looking forward to shirnking a bit more every day! First time in my life I was not hungry constantly. Due for my first fill next week so I am on my way. I would recommend it for anyone who is serious about wanting to lose weight. I was able to diet and lose, but always gained it back, and more. I am hoping this will turn that around!

Hang in there - everyone is different. I still am feeling some restriction after almost 4 weeks so I feel really lucky. My dietician said they did not want people to do pureed foods. I was on liquids for a week and "soft" for about two weeks. They said to just chew, chew, chew and I have not had any problems. I was supposed to go in for a fill tomorrow, but I have an ear infection and don't feel very well. The ENT put me on antibiotics (big capsules, 2 at a time) and steroids so I called and postponed until next Wednesday. They agreed I should wait. Since I am still losing, I will just try and eat really good the next week. I am starting to feel some hungery at 2 and a half hours when before I went 5 hours easy with no hunger. I will get through it, though. You meantioned getting smaller in the face. My 6 year old grandaughter climbed into bed with me the second week and said, "Grandma, your head is getting littler!" I told her I hoped it was my face and not my whole head! A lot of people report they do not lose weight after the surgery until they have a fill. Sounds like you are losing, so just keep doing what you are doing!:thumbdown:

Glad to hear you are doing well. I am almost 4 weeks out and going in for a fill (maybe) this week. I am feeling really good too, but not much hunger. It is a great. I need to be walking more, but seem to find lots of excuses not to. I have to get myself on the stick again. :thumbup: Good to hear from you!

Yes to all of the above! I was very nervous, emotions on a roller coaster. I had doubts, but reminded myself of all the reasons I was moving forward. I tried to eat every food in the world I might have to go without before my surgery. I was certainly having a pity party! I was banded on April 7. I am doing great and go in for my first fill this week. I am so glad I did it. There was some discomfort but overall it was pretty easy. I lost 23 pounds before surgery and have lost 9 more since. I am still losing and seem to have some restirction. Go for it. Your emotions will be on a roller coaster for some time. As my mentor kept saying, "Keep your eye on the prize!" Good luck!