iwalktheline

oh wow, that is exactly what i am experiencing. my MIA and certain other friends have not asked me "how are you" "wow you look great" since my surgery 6 weeks ago. it just galls me. when ever i see anyone at work or whoever lose weight i make a big fuss about it because i like to see people feel good. sometimes people are just ignorant. oh they notice and they are letting that ugly green face show.

i know im full because my port pops out, after i eat there is a bulge and i can feel it perfectly. WEIRD

hey mrsmaricio i feel the same way. i had my first fill on tuesday. it didn't hurt much and i could feel it when the balloon around my stomach filled. he put in 1.5 cc and said i can come back for a fill everymonth for the next 6-8 months. he was thrilled to death w/my wt loss even though i have only lost like 12 pounds since 2/16. they said that most people lose NOTHING before hitting their sweet spot. WOW. i said i felt mildly disappointed, but they said some people take 2-3 years to hit bottom/goal. the fill helped about 25% w/eating. still hungry and still able to eat but only about half of what i used to. i am so happy i have this band. good luck and keep in touch:smile:

sorry i didn't mean to confuse you, after i read your post i just had this feeling that this wasn't the right time to go to mexico and have a revision sleave. i just thought to myself "this person should take more time to think about it" but i support u in your journey. my surgeon told me before my banding that it is common to band first, then make the sleave later for patients that are 300lbs plus. i would have preferred the sleave but BCBS in chicago does not believe/cover any sleaves he told me. i am 5 weeks out and ive only lost about 11 pounds :thumbup: good luck to u

i have a bad feeling about it, i wouldn't do it

i am going i for my first fill tomorrow and i am going to have to go back to liquids for a few days. i don't eat near as much anymore, but the weight isn't falling off yet. only about 1-2 pounds a week. i will let ya all know the update after the fill. i really notice a difference in the tightness of my band during pms. also a big decrease in appetite. before the band it used to be the opposite. anyone else notice this?

lilmisdiva why aren't you having a fill? sorry if i missed something, but it seems like u are way too hungry and able to eat too much. why don't u call ur surgeon.

i was just banded in feb and have bcbs il and live in chicago. i had absolutely NO problem and my payment was $100. for about 28,000. in charges. i went to my pcp in july, went everymonth for a weigh in till dec. saw a psych, nutritionist, upper gi, excercise phys and pulmonologist and surgeon. so i would say i had about 13 visits total. that was a PIA, but i was determined. i also only had a bmi of 36. i think the reason i had an easy time is because im HMO. i heard PPO is more difficult.

you have done a great job going from 280 to 220's. that is significant. my surgeon told me that some people actually need to be banded and then a year or so later they need gastric bypass. he said it's kind of a two step process for some people to get down to a normal weight. but, keep up the good work.

hi all, i was banded on 2/16. i have only lost about 15 pounds or so. i thought the weight would fall off, but nope. i still have hunger and am eating about 1200 kcals a day. i get stuck once in a while. i am learning the hard way. u guys are doing awesome. 25 pounds is a ton. stay in touch.

i have the exact thing happen to me. i am hungry and want to start digging in and then i feel that aweful thing in my chest. i have to stick my finger down my throat and get it out because i feel very uncomfortable and panicked when it happens. it happens when i forget that i have a band. i eat too big of bites too quick. i was banded on 2/16. i have no fill but i know there is some restrict already. if u are not losing any weight at all then u are eating too many calories. u should be losing 1-2 pounds a week now.

i had no idea how scary being stuck is i went to the mall w/my little guy and bought him a hot dog for lunch in the food court. i wasn't hungry, but unconsciously took a bite while feeding him within a minute i had this horrible sensation in my chest. i started to panic i picked up my baby (left everything at table but purse) ran frantically to the bathroom and stuck my finger down my throat (vomited x 2) good lord. i don't even want to eat anymore for fear of that happening again. i have such a fickle band. one day fine, the next day blocked. and i don't even have a fill yet. my appetite is about 20% of what it used to be. i still love the band:crying:

wow going from 216 to 135 is awsome. that is exactly the weight i started and want to be at. so tell me how the weight came off and what have u been eating besided boost for the last 9 months. r u working out? ur doc will probably look at all ur labs and if all is normal will want to put u on a cholesterol lowering med.

sharp port pain is totally normal and can last for a long time, but if the area is red, swollen and extremely tender to touch than u probably have an infection.

hi, i was banded on 2/16. i only lost a couple pounds this week and i was sooo disappointed in myself. everone expects me to drop dramatic amounts quickly and that puts pressure on me. people think it's the same as bypass and it is not. im going to keep going. i am so glad i did this. i am willing to wait patiently for the pounds to drop. my port is really sore today. how does yours feel?

this is a great post, because i have the exact feeling. i was banded on 2/16 and have gotten that feeling in my chest twice, because i start eating bites like i did before i was banded. i am literally trying to retrain my brain to slowly quiet the hunger in my stomach. our mouths are designed to take big honkin bites, thats why we have big jaws and sharp teeth, but that's now over for me. i don't think i will ever be able to take a normal bite off a sandwich again. i am able to eat about 60% of what i used to. i am going to get a fill 3/31. i want to lose weight a little quicker than i am now. congrats on your weight. you are doing awesome.

i had my surgery on 2/16 i have pretty powerful hunger and it is frustrating breakfast: hard boiled egg lunch: LEAN CUISINE (3/4) snack: 100 cal snack dinner: rice and lowfat gravy with ground lean pork`and mashed carrots WORKED OUT FOR AN HOUR TODAY

thanks for the responses, that really helps ease my mind. this is going to be a journy. im still happy i had the lap band and not gastric bypass.

i would have wls asap if approved by your cardiologist. ur heart will not be able to sustain your weight being 75 years old. i am a nurse, and i don't want to scare u, but being 75 and that high, ur going to get sick w/something sooner than later. good luck. i wish u so much success

I need to hear encouraging stories about how even though you started out w/no restriction, after a fill everything was rosy. i was banded on 2/16. i had no hunger and restriction for a week after surgery and the BOOM. major hunger. my stomach growls so loud u can hear it across the room. i can eat anything but bread. my meals are about 60% the size before banding. i have not had junk food in a month so i am being vigilant about dieting, but i'm starting to wonder if maybe i did make a mistake having this surgery.

i was banded on 2/16 started 2 week pro-op at 223 surgery was 216 today 208

thanks for all the well wishers. i am 9 days out and doing alot better, but my brain and body are still out of sync. it's hard to retrain your brain not to take a big bite and swallow. i absolutely could not go on w/just liquids so i have started puree early. i am eating about 1200 cals now and have more energy. i went back to work last w/e and that was too soon. i would recommend at least 7 days off. the pounds are falling off. 8 pounds in 9 days. PRAISE THE LORD

i had my surgery on 2/16/08. i am so happy i did this i could cry. i actually feel hopeful about myself for the first time in a long time. i started at 223 it caused alot of problems. high bld prssr, severe arthritis and very painful carpal tunnel syndrome. well guess what, in the last 2 days my hands are pain free and no more numbness. i have lost about 13 pounds and it has taken the pressure off my median nerve. if anyone wants to hear my story just pm me. good luck.

it is all about your insurance. as long as you have a significant history of being obese and attempting weight loss that is what they usually look at. I started at 5'6 223 and was one month post partum when i saw my pcp for lap banding. i did EVERYTHING they told me. i wrote a two page letter listing every year for the last 25 years how i was losing and gaining (one year i was 160 the next year i was 210) i never missed an appt. i would lose or gain 2 pounds (on purpose) during my 6 month "diet" if you go to your surgeon and you are 160 pounds (even though you started at 200+) he won't do surgery on you. just stay the way u are and do everything they ask. (i had high blood pressure and high cholesterol to qualify)

i get so many compliments on this that i have to keep making it i actually cook my spaghetti sauce all day in the crock pot 1 jar of traditional ragu 1-2 large can of tomatoe sauce 1 tiny can of paste 6 uncooked italian sausage (whole) couple quick pours of balsamic vinagar bay leaf salt pepper sugar and oregano/basil seasoning(eyeball it) **i brown about a pound of ground beef/one onion/fresh garlic/dash of red wine/salt and pepper on the stove and add it first to the crock pot then i add everything else and simmer all day on low the meats add so much flavor you can make this on the stove too