thebandedgirl

There's not a whole lot of difference between the two types of bands. They work in the same way, there are just some physical differences between the two :blushing: This site is a great resource for asking questions and reading about others' experiences. There are also some great blogs out there--I encourage you to click on blog links in peoples' signatures on here. (I promise I'm not trying to promote my blog :w00t:)

What you're going through is completely normal. You had a major surgical procedure done, of course you're going to hurt! Some people don't seem to have much pain at all, but I really wondered what I'd done for several days after I had surgery. You'll feel better soon, though. I promise! Give it another week. As for the weight gain--you were pumped full of Fluid when you had surgery. Also remember that your body has gone through a major trauma. This is a time when you need to focus on healing, not on the scale. Your weight will go down, but your body needs to heal. And port pain? Again, normal. I still get port pain, unfortunately. *hugs* All normal normal normal. And it's also normal to be worried and wonder what's going on :blushing: Hang in there!

I'm so glad you're dad's helping you out :party:

Counseling :party:

Why don't you give your surgeon's office a call and and ask for clarification? There are so many versions of pre-op diets, nobody's really going to be able to help you out on here :party:

At four days out I was wondering what I'd done to myself :smile2: Glad you feel good about your choice and welcome to the forum :party:

I'm pretty far from you, but welcome to LBT :party:

The reasons that people don't lose a lot of weight in their first year are complex. Some people have complications that make fills difficult, if not impossible, to preform so they don't hit their "sweet spot" as quickly as others do. Some people are unprepared for the changes that come with banded life. Research all you want (and you should research until you're ready to poke your eyes out at your next sighting of the word lap-band), but realize that it's not the same once you actually have that band. The band goes around your stomach and helps you feel full faster, but there is no band to go around your brain and block the thoughts of ice cream, deep-fried chicken, or whatever not-so-great food you love. Cravings are real and difficult to overcome and some people just aren't equipped to get past them, even though they think they are. Some people have hormonal problems that make weight loss difficult. A lot of women who are overweight suffer from PCOS and metabolic syndrome or thyroid disorders. Unfortunately, weight loss can be slow for these people even with the band! Some people are TOO TIGHT and don't lose weight because all they can consume are calorie-dense liquids that provide no sense of satiety. They complain because they can't eat but won't get a slight unfill because they're afraid to eat. There are more reasons, but I think these are the four I've seen most frequently.

Isn't it amazing how fuller liquids can feel like the most decadent treat? Welcome to banded life and to LBT, Christie!

Welcome to LBT! Having a support base of some sort is really helpful; I'm glad you have friends who will support you when you're ready to tell them.

All the time :redface: Don't worry, you're normal!

Keep it up! :redface:

Reaching your proper fill level is a frustrating thing. The best thing I can tell you to do is be patient :redface: Be glad that you can get more than 1cc at a time!

Most people say that they were ready to go back to work after a week. I really wished that I could have taken two, and I have a pretty high pain tolerance! Some people are fine after a day or two. It's a fairly individual thing, I think. But, as I said, a week is what you'll probably hear most often. I have a desk job. I made sure I had plenty of liquid Tylenol, a heating pad, and a small pillow to cushion my stomach against the desk since my abdomen rubbed against the tabletop. I had chicken broth and Jello for my clear liquid stage (which lasted 2 or 3 days after surgery) in addition to Protein shakes and Soups for the "full" liquid stage. I also made sure to have plenty of Gas-X strips and liquid Tylenol in addition to the narcotic pain meds my doctor prescribed. I went to the surgical center wearing my PJs and left wearing my PJs. I didn't want to have to deal with keeping track of jeans and a shirt in addition to whatever I wore out of the center. I bought some slippers with hard soles so that walking over rocks wouldn't be painful and wore those, too. Laces seemed like a bad idea to me. Simple is best, in my opinion :redface:

I haven't had a hernia, but I have heard of people who have--they generally had to have another surgery to repair it, as far as I know. I'm assuming that you have a 10 or 14cc band, correct? My surgeon's office told me that most people don't really get to their ideal fill level until their band is 1/2 to 3/4 full. For a 10cc band, that's 5-7.5ccs; 7-10.5ccs for a 14cc band. I'm at around 6.75ccs in my 10cc band and could probably use another .25 or so. Fills aren't a science, they're an art, and each person's best fill level is different. You'd be amazed at how much difference you can feel with even a .25cc or smaller top-off! Hang in there and keep getting your band fine-tuned until it's just right for you! ETA: Also, I know of some people who are approaching the 10cc fill level on their band. Some people just require more saline!