thebandedgirl

The last supper thing is pretty common. Keep in mind that you're going to be able to eat most of what you eat now after you're banded. I can still have bread, Pasta, tortillas, etc...just not so much. Eating less isn't so bad. Get a smaller plate, chew a lot, push the plate away when you're full, don't pick at what's left, pay attention to your body's signals. It sounds like a lot, but it's not so bad. You can do it :thumbup:

Wow, you're doing great! Welcome to LBT and good luck on your journey :thumbup:

I've only lost about 30 since I started my pre-op diet. No advice without further information, but I wanted to let you know that you're not alone when it comes to slow loss. Hang in there.

I'm super tight in the morning and really really open at night. I've been wondering about a fill--should I get one when mornings are so difficult for me? Last night I ate *way* too much. Well over 2 cups of food, I'm sure, and I didn't overly full after. But in the morning? Forget it. Anyone have an opinion? (Sorry gatorgirl, hope you don't think I'm trying to hijack your thread!)

Without going to a BMI calculator, it sounds like you might. Remember that there are a lot of insurance requirements (if you're going through insurance) and the company has the final say. I had a BMI of 51 (eek), high blood pressure, and PCOS. My surgeon's office had no problem with approving me and I was a financed patient.

I'd really done a lot of research before I went to my first seminar and didn't have a lot of band questions to ask--they were mostly practice-specific things, like what their pre-op diet consisted of. I also asked about the number of bands the surgeon had placed, the post-op diet, what kind of pain relievers they allowed, and what their fill policy was. There were more, but I can't think of them off of the top of my head :thumbup:

I keep a water bottle in sight at all times. If I don't see it, I forget about it entirely. I've discovered that I do a much better job of drinking it if it's cold, so I stick my bottle in the freezer for 45 minutes or so every once in a while.

As anti-intuitive as it sounds, I think you need to eat MORE calories to enable your body to let go of its fat stores.

I live in the Phoenix area--going to Mexico would only have involved a 6 hour drive and would have been a lot less expensive. I decided to go locally anyway, just because it felt safer to me (I have no real reason for that feeling; it is what it is). Thanks for the kudos :biggrin:

1. After Lap Band is it hard to sleep at night? Can you comfortably sleep on your stomach or your side? I was in pain and had trouble sleeping the first few nights, but I haven't had problems since. I would be able to sleep on my stomach or port side if I wanted to, but I've never been a stomach sleeper and prefer to sleep on the side without my port (since before surgery). 2. Gummi Vitamins yes or no? I take gummy adult vitamins and omega-3s in addition to Calcium chews. I've had no problems. 3. What is everyone's exercise routine? Is everyone hardcore for daily exercise? Trying to get hardcore. I'm planning on starting my routine on Monday, now that I have the appropriate gear for it (a sports bra that works). 4. My main problem is that I NEVER feel full, even after I eat. Will the band help me FEEL full on just a cup of food sufficiently? Well, it depends. If your hunger is "head hunger" you may struggle with it forever. If it's honest physical hunger, the band should help considerably. 5:A lot of my extra weight is in my hips and thighs. Does this weight come off last after stomach weight? I think it really depends upon genetics. No two people are the same, unfortunately. 6: Anyone have the band for over 5 years here? Any long term problems? A few people have been here for a long time. I've been banded for a few months. 7: Do you find that you are satisfied on eating less by feeling full after wards? I'm not exactly sure what you're asking here. Does less food make me feel full? Yes. Is it a cup of food? Not yet. But I'm getting there with fills and think I'm pretty close!

Yeah, I had that yesterday, too. I wanted to die.

My insurance wouldn't cover my surgery, so I financed. Making the monthly payments is hard. It's discouraging to think that I'm going to have payments for the next few years, but it was even more discouraging to think of being 300 pounds (or more, at the rate I was going) for the next few years. I'm sorry you're feeling upset about the situation--I understand. I hope that you're able to reach the decision that is best for you quickly.

"Itch" sounds like an allergic thing to me. Is there any way you could be having an allergic reaction?

You got dates to the dances?? :blushing: I wouldn't worry too much about the Lortab refill. I was using Tylenol on the second or third day and needed one or two doses of the stronger stuff after that. I still have most of my bottle! However, we all handle pain differently--it is better to be safe than sorry if you have a lower pain threshold. Mine's medium to high.

I had surgery on Thursday and went back to work on Wednesday. I was supposed to go back on Tuesday but couldn't make it! Honestly, I wish that I could have afforded two weeks off. I was exhausted when I got home every night for a while.

A lot of people think that this is an easy solution. They have the surgery and expect the weight to magically disappear. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that! You have to commit to working hard by eating well and exercising if this is going to work for you. It's easy to fall off track and it's easy to eat foods that slide on through the band (anything with a mushy or chip-like consistency, to start).

Mine's in my signature. More readers would help me write more

I'm curious. Some people say they have more gas and feel bloated for a few days after they get a fill. Some people feel exactly the same no matter what. Others have different experiences entirely. So what's your experience? Do you physically feel any different in the week or so after you have Fluid added to your band? What differences do you notice? How long does it last? How soon do you notice the difference? Thanks for sating my curiosity

I've lost about 25 pounds since I started my pre-op diet at the end of May. I lost a lot of that in June and July and am finally starting to see the number on the scale moved downward. But it's been slow!

I was an outpatient and kind of wish that I'd been able to stay overnight. I think a lot of that is because my bed is kind of low to the ground and getting in and out of it hurt a lot, though

You might want to check with your surgeon for any restrictions (s)he might have. Mine wants his patients to use whey protein only pre-op. I used the EAS from Sam's Club; it wasn't bad. I'm not a fan of protein shakes to begin with, though!

Welcome

Hi Margie! I was banded on 6/18 and will have my fourth fill tomorrow, which will bring me to 4ccs in my band. My surgeon will only put 1cc in at a time, so getting to good restriction is taking a while! Hang in there

Hey Steve, It's really common for people to gain weight when they advance to mushie foods. Remember that this is a time for your body to heal more than it is a time for weight loss. It'll start to come off again

That's awesome! I didn't learn much at the seminars I attended, either. I really did my research before I even decided to walk through the door of a surgeon's office! Good for you for putting all of the time and work into educating yourself :thumbup: