Astrasmom

The first week I was tired. It took me a good 2 weeks to get totally back to normal. I walked as much as I could tolerate. You have to listen to your body. When it's ready to stop it will let you know. Don't push yourself to get back to the way you were right away. You need time to heal. After all you had major surgery. As for your incision - keep an eye on it. If you just stretched it you should be fine. If you have an drainage from the site or develope a fever, call your surgeon immediately. Do not progress onto other stages unless your doctor says that it's ok. You take the chance of stretching your pouch. This you do not want to happen. You are put on the stages for a reason. As I said, slow down and let your body heal. The first month is probably the hardest. Oh and for the gas as someone else said. Gas-X strips are great as well as walking and a heating pad. Takes about 2 weeks to get it totally out of your system. Good luck to you. And congratulations.

Great post... 1> I want to live longer and don't want my kids to have to grow up without a mother. 2> I want to be proud of myself, and I want others to be proud of me also. Not just looked at as the fat, unhappy person that attends functions. And ok, all of the attention is great!!! 3> I want to stay out of the 'fat people' section in the store because as state before there are only styles that a grandmother would wear. I am happy to say that I do shop in the regular sizes but I still want to wear a pair of skinny jeans. 4> I want to feel sexy!!! And I want to have some respect for myself.

Sorry that you are having so much problems with this issue. I know it's so easy for anyone to tell you that your issue is with the food and that you have to let food stop controling you like this. BUT it's not so easy getting rid of those old habits that follow us even after we are banded. The only real thing that I can possibly say to you is this, Step back and re-evaluate things. You had the band for a reason. You can either make this work, or you can give up and let food take over like it has probably done for most of your life (I know that's what it was for me). I am not trying to be harsh here but sometimes the only way to the heart of things is facing the truth. Honey we can sit here and type until we are blue in the face and it's going to go in one ear and out of the other. You have to be the one that makes the decision of wanting this to work. "You can lead a horse to Water but you can not make them drink." Yes the band is only a tool. And if you want it to work for you, you have to put your best efforts into this. Yes this is not a diet but it is a lifestyle change. And it will work if you set your mind to it, and WANT it to work and MAKE it work. Look food is a comfort food that we turn to when we are stressed, when we are upset, and when we want pleasure. It's just like an alcoholic turning to the bottle or a drug addict turning to heroine. It's a addiction that can only be broken by you. And if you want that to happen, only you can do it. No matter HOW much your mind tells you to do otherwise. Most of what you are feeling is head hunger. You really need to learn the difference. I don't eat 5 to 6 meals a day. I eat 3 meals a day which are no more than 5-6oz. I have sugar free ice pops and plenty of Fluid in between. I have a sensible snack once and awhile. If you are THAT hungry then you need to make sure you are eating higher Protein foods. And you need to stop yourself when you have reach the end of the plate. If you are having problems stopping then you need to measure your food and only eat that much. Keep a journal of what you are eating, that sometimes also helps. Get back on the path and don't give up. Don't give into frustration. That's probably how we all got into this mess in the first place. You can beat it. Don't let food beat you. Have faith in yourself. You can do it. If I can do it, SO can you.

There are no set rules when you have to drink and when you don't, just those 15 minutes before a meal and 45 to an hour after the meal. Whatever works for you as long as you are getting your fluids in. I tend to drink alot of fluids in between meals all at once because that helps me to keep full, plus helps to get my fluids in.

You aren't a failure. You may just need another fill. If you are that hungry between or after meals and you haven't lost any weight for awhile, chances are that is what is happening to you. Are you doing Protein drinks still? How much food are you able to eat at meals? If you are able to eat more than 1 cup of food, are hungry inbetween meals and aren't losing the weight, it's probably time for a fill.

Hah glad I could help. Yes I have lost 101lbs. It's called determination. I have been heavy for most of my adult life. I was getting sick of carrying around all of that extra weight and not being able to move around. Not being able to walk without losing my breath. It was horrible. As for exercise I am not a fanatic. I walk as much as I can. I use my Wii Fit at home. I use my hand weights and resistance bands and exercise ball. But I don't do it every night. I do measure everything that I eat. It's all in the mind. It's a lifestyle change and if you decide from the start that you are going to do it no matter what, then it will work. I thing having my cardiologist tell me that if I didn't lose the weight I was going to die was my wake up call. After I started losing the weight I realized that I could do it. Especialy after trying all of those so called Yo-Yo diets. They worked for me BUT I gained it all back and then some. I also reward myself once and awhile. I enjoy the finer things in life once and awhile. Everything in moderation. Your mind has to be convinced that this is not a diet. Diets fail because they are boring. And everyone has to understand that the lapband is a tool to help you lose the weight and keep it off. It's not a miracle cure all. Your band habits continue to haunt you. The band won't cure that. You just have to learn to deal with those issues in a different way. You will also gain weight at times. SO WHAT. You get back on the path and try harder next time. For me, it's the last restort. There is nothing after the lapband (I refuse to get a gastric bypass). I went through all of this to get where I am now, I am definately giving up now. Good luck to you.

Things to ask: 1> How many Lapband procedures have they done? 2> Ask about the complications and the risks. 3> If there is a 1 night hospital stay or if you will come home the same day? 4> How often they do their fills and if they are agressive with the fills or if they like doing them slow? 5> What test will you need in order for your insurance to approve your surgery? 6> If you work, what your recovery time will be? 7> The different stages of foods that your doctor will want you on after surgery? As the tests. I wouldn't think so. They usually schedule the tests for after they talk to you and tell you what your insurance carrier requires for approval.

Congratulations. I wish you much success. Remember everyone has their ups and downs. This is not a cure all but a tool to help you along your journey. Beleive in yourself and anything is possible.

First let me tell you that it's not impossible to lose 100lbs. I've already lost 101lbs. It all depends how much you put into it. Everyone looses at different paces too. The reason that I chose lapband over Gastric Bypass is for several reasons. 1> The band is safer. I knew someone that almost died from the gastric bypass. 2> Dumping Syndrome - Eat too much sugar on the Gastric Bypass and you will be in the bathroom. 3> Lapband is less invasive and quicker recovery time. 4> I have heard that gastric bypass will stop working after 2 years because it can not be adjusted anymore. 5> You will need to take many more Vitamins then you do with bypass. 6> If there is an emergency the Lapband can be removed. 7> Losing weight faster is better for you. It gives your body time to heal. I researched all the options myself before I decided on the lapband. I have no regrets at all except that I wish I had it done sooner. Before surgery I was borderling everything and had sleep apnea (used a CPAP machine for 5 years). Now my blood work is normal and I no longer have sleep apnea. I've went from a size 26 to a 14. I've went from a BMI of 49 to a 32. I am 19lbs away from goal. I haven't been this weight since 1987. I feel awesome. My self esteem is no longer in the crapper. I feel good about myself which hasn't been possible for many years. Needless to say with all of that said, you need to decide what is best for you. This is only my opions. I wish you luck in whatever you decide.

So glad that I could help you. Good luck on your journey and I wish you lost of luck. Keep us posted. Here a new site that might help you also. Please check it out and tell all of your friends. Be sure to use my name Astrasmom when you sign up. bandedliving.com

Hi Danika. I'm Dawn. Sorry to hear you are having so many frustrating things happen. You are going in the right direction though. If you haven't heard from anyone at the Mayo Clinic within a week, I would make another phone call. Sometimes they tend to put you on the back burner. As for your insurance company. That I don't understand. If I were in your shoes I would call and ask to speak to a Manager because they should be able to tell you what the requirements are to have the lapband surgery and even if Lapband surgery is covered under your insurance. It sounds to me like whomever you talked to was either to lazy and didn't want to do their job or they were in a hurry to get out of the office for the day. That's what happens when they hire people that don't know what they are doing. May I ask what type of insurance you have? You will need to attend the seminar first before you can see the surgeon. After that, most of the time it's smooth sailing. Sometimes you have to fight with the insurance companies though. Please feel free to add me as a friend or email me cc-dmtermini@comcast.net I will try and answer whatever questions you might have. Good luck in your progress. I hope everything works out for you. Please keep me posted on what happens.

You made this sound so good that I actually ordered the variety pack. I've been using Elite for so long now that I like to try other things. Elite is good but it's also good to change once and awhile so you don't get bored of the same thing over and over again. Thanks so much. I will let you know what I think.

I use Elite whey Protien Isolate.

Congratulations on the start of your journey. My names Dawn. :thumbup: I was banded in Oct. 2009. You are correct that things go away after you are banded. Luckly I wasn't on any medication before surgery but I was borderline everything and I had sleep apnea (used a CPAP machine for 5 years). My BMI was 49 when I started and I weighed 304lbs. I am no longer borderline anything. All of my bloodwork is normal. I no longer have Sleep Apnea. I am 19lbs from goal (204) and have lost 101lbs so far. My BMI right now is 32. I went from a size 26 to a 14. I can walk long distances now without having to stop and breath. My chest doesn't tighten anymore. I don't have to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes or worry about having an uncontrolable accident from not being able to hold my urine due to being too heavy anymore. I also had open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm in 2001 and a valve replacement. At the time I chose a porcine valve (pigs valve) because I was only 34 at the time and I didn't like the fact of having to take blood thinner for the rest of my life. Downfall is that this type of valve only lasts for about 10 years. Needless to say I am reaching my 10 years and I am hoping that with the weightloss I have prolonged my next surgery. My cardiologist told me that if I didn't lose the weight I could die on the table. So that was my major shove in the right direction to get this surgery done. Next heart surgery I will get a mechanical valve because I honestly don't want to be (sorry to be graphic) cracked open again. I have no regrets about the surgery except that I didn't get it done sooner. I haven't weighed this much since 1987 so it's been many years. As I tell everyone, I have lost a total person on the outside but I have gained a person on the inside. I have found ME again. Myself esteem is no longer in the crapper and I feel very good about myself. I wish you much success and hope that things go very smoothly for you with the approval process. You have come to the right place for support. Everyone here is very wonderful. I would also recommend a local support group in your area if there is one. Please keep us posted.

Perfectly normal. Are you on the mushie stage? Try eating foods that are higher in protien. This link might help a little. Proteins, food nutrients, Indiadiets: Your guide to Health, Nutrition, Diets, fitness, Weight loss, Diet counselling, customized diets Make sure that you are drinking lots of fluids and keep yourself busy. This is bandster hell unfortunately. You may or may not feel any difference with your first fill. Some people do and some don't. If you can't make it until the 21st I would suggest calling and talking it over with your doctor. Usually they like you to wait for at least 6 weeks after your surgery to make sure the swelling is all down.

Daily recommened protein intake is 60 - 80 grams of protein a day. And this chart should help you with the measuring your protein. Good luck. http://www.indiadiets.com/foods/food_nutrients/Proteins.htm

That's awesome. So how long will you have to wait for your surgery? I had to wait 6 months because of my insurance. I thought it would take FOREVER!! But the day finally arrived and it's been the best 8 months of my life so far. I wish you as much success with this as I have had. Any question please feel free to ask. Good luck to you. And do keep posting your progress. :thumbup:

So very sorry that you are facing this. Everyone here has given you some really good advice. Understand this. You are in this for yourself. Like most of us, we have tried the diets. Sometimes they work sometimes they don't. Me personally, they worked...for awhile and then the weight came back twice as hard. There are people out there that just don't understand. Some of it is out of jealousy, some of it is because they don't know much about the process and after all it is major surgery, so it could be fright too. As hard as it might be I would simply tell your family, "I am sorry that you feel the way that you do, but this is my decision and if you can not abide by my wishes then I will have to distance myself until after my surgery is done. Hopefully after you see that it was the right decision for me, you will then understand. I am sorry and I love you." And then if that doesn't work and they keep pushing you, then unfortunately you have no choice but to distance yourself. I know that it doesn't help because it's your husbands family and if he is there to support you, then he will also understand your reasoning. Meanwhile do not weight yourself. The scale is our enemy. It's a tool to discourage weightloss. If you feel that you must weight yourself, use the same scale and only do it once a week. Also understand that your body is going through starvation mode. You could go up a few pounds. But it will come off eventually. Let me tell you from experience this is the best thing that I could have ever done for myself. I have only one regret, and that is that I didn't get it done sooner. I have lost 101 lbs and I went from a size 26 to a 14. I haven't been this weight or this happy since 1987. I no longer have any abmormalities due to weight and I don't have sleep apnea anymore. I used to be one of those people that thought that surgery was the easy way out. BOY was I wrong. There is nothing easy at all about this process. But it's a great tool to help you lose the weight and keep it off. I have lost a complete person on the outside, but I have gained another person on the inside. Meaning myself esteem is no longer in the crapper and I honestly, for the first time in many years, feel good about myself. I wish you lots of luck. I hope that it all works out for you. Remember no matter who is in your life. Don't allow them to make your decisions for you. You do what is best for you. I would suggest finding a support group in your area if is available. They really do help.

Yes this happened to me. I went in for my 5th fill and about 4 weeks later it was so tight that i could hardly keep anything down so I had to go back in for a small unfill. I do have restriction now and I don't have another visit until August. I'm not sure if I will need a fill next visit or not. I'm not hungry in between meals. I am at a plateau for 2 weeks now. But I am told that when you get down to almost your goal weight, things slow way down.

Ouch. The bigger the dogs the more they insist that they are lap dogs. Silly things. You should be ok. Just keep an eye on it. If you are feeling any more pain than normal, or get a fever call your doctor immediately.

I was a major coffee drinker and I gave it up in August 2009 before my surgery. I thought I was going to die. After about a week I was actually glad that I gave it up. I felt alot better. The reason that my doctor doesn't want me to drink coffee is not becaues of the appetite stimulant but because coffee is a natural diuretic and it will dehydrate you. The key to lapband is that you stay hydrated. My nutritionist said that for every cup of coffee that you drink, it takes 2 cups of Water to replace what you lose. I'm also not supposed to have decaff coffee because even that has a small amount of caffine in it. Now I can not lie. Since I gave the coffee up in August I have had 1 cup. It tasted pretty good but like I said I am glad that I gave it up. I found that I am not as nervous as I was before when drinking coffee. Anyway all doctors are different so if your doctor said that you can drink coffee then you should be ok. But I would follow his orders and not drink it before you are supposed to.

You are absolutely correct on this. I have a hard time eating in the morning also. As the day goes on my band loosens and I'm able to eat easier. Great point!! Also ladies (Sorry to be a bit graphic) during that time of the month, you can experience a little more tightness also.

Congratulations on your success. All together with the pre-liquid diet I have lost 101lbs. Since surgery I have lost 91lbs. I feel awesome. I am 4lbs away from ONEDERLAND. I haven't been there since 1987. I no longer have sleep apnea. I to went in thinking I would need a pressure adjustment and was told that I no longer have sleep apnea. After living on that CPAP machine for 5 years. You have NO IDEA how good it is to sleep without it. My weighloss has also slowed down but I am losing inches as well. I went from a size 26 to a 14. Almost ready to move into a size 12. Some of my tops I have to wear a size 8. I do exercise but I'm not a fanatic. I walk alot. I exercise alot at home with my Wii and with exercise video's on the TV. I would LOVE to get my bike out and ride but it's been too hot and the darn green heads are murder this year. As I tell everyone, I have lost a complete person on the outside but I have gained a person on the inside. My self-esteem is much better. I actually feel good about myself which I haven't in many years. And it's wonderful when people tell you, "You look awesome. I almost didn't recognize you." I have to admit the attention is worth the entire process. I hope everyone else is doing well???

There are alot of us that can't do eggs anymore. Try smaller bites and if it happens again I would suggest passing on the eggs for awhile. As you go up in fills you will find that there are more foods that won't agree with you. Just remember do not swallow anything bigger then an M&M. And eat very slow. Take at least 25-30 chews before you swallow.

Things get better after you fills. You'll get there. 26lbs is great. Keep up the great work. Congratulations!!!