Ravyn

I didn't know they had smaller ports. I only know of the Realize port and the lapband port. I have the realize band and the port is pretty flat. I can't see any protusions, but I can definitely feel it. I worry about other people hugging me and feeling it. I'm still at the beginning stages of this process. Haven't had my second fill yet, but I'd love to know more about smaller ports that don't protrude. Thanks for asking the questions. D

Wow, my numbers have stalled :frown: I am fighting the discouragment and the depression. I don't want to give up, but I am so hungry and soooo craving all those comfort foods that do me NO good. My first fill in May was a joke and I even followed the liquids only rule and the next day mushies only. I was starving!! Please let this next fill be more productive. I just need a little more restriction. I'm going to Hawaii in August and am dreading the trip at this point.

I had great restriction for the first 2-3 weeks after surgery. I thought, "GREAT! I'm on my way." Then the hunger and the cravings returned and I was dying to get my first fill. Well, I got the first fill and a big fat NOTHING! I'm still hungry...even as I type this, I want to snack on something. The good thing is that I experienced the hungerless moments and the fullness after sipping on Soups and I want that back...I just need the right amount of fill and I know I can get it back. I'm scheduled for my second fill at the end of June. Everyone of us is different. Hope you don't need a fill. Best of Luck

Wow, this was a very heated topic. I thoroughly enjoyed all the replies. I have only had one fill since my initial surgery and I have no restriction. However some people report uncomfortable degrees of restriction from their first fill. This whole process is subjective and I have had to come to terms with that. I may not be the wonderful success story like that of the people on the commercials. I may have to exercise harder or use more sheer will power. Unfortunately, if I had the will power, I wouldn't be banded. *sigh* It's so frustrating because I feel like the quick losers expect everyone to have the same experience they are....it reminds me of the many food and exercise conversations I've had with my thin friends. Magically, they just don't crave sugar. However, my body WANTS it, morning, noon and night. It would be so much easier if I didn't crave because then I'd be like my skinny friends. They don't have stronger will power. They simply don't have the same cravings and desires. Our bodies are all different. Our hormone levels are all different. Let's support each other, rather than judge and berate each other. We do better when we can. And for those hours,days, weeks or months that we mess up, we need acceptance to move forward. With that said, I'm scheduled for my second fill at the end of June and I am praying that my doctor puts enough to really give me some restriction, cause I ate 3 quarters of half a bagel before I felt anything....that's a lot of bread!! Oh and my nutritionist said the whole reason they say not to drink carbonated beverages is not because the band may slip, but because it creates so much gas that you will be very uncomfortable, to the point of throwing up...now throwing up is NOT good for the band. At this point, I can drink beer very slowly, but I have a feeling that once I get my second fill, I wont be able to do this anymore. I wish everyone all the best with their weightloss, especially me :frown:

Wow! Diet drinks-huh? Well, I don't drink that often, so I suppose that when I do, I'll just take it straight. One night out would only be two drinks max for me. Let's face it, alcoholic beverages is not my problem. But I know the carbonation in drinks can be very very uncomfortable, so I'd have wine. I love a good, cold Pinot Grigio or a Sangiovese! Red is good for ya, and there's no carbonation ; ) Stay away from artificial sweetners. Bad news.

Thanks dsquared and Monkeymama! I really appreciate the encouragement. Even though I have no restriction, I try to eat on small plates and chew my food extra long. But honestly, even if I gulped it, I don't feel anything at all. I guess I'll get some restriction in July when I get my second fill. I wish everyone a great Memorial Day weekend. Try not to eat too much! Dawn

I've used Phospho Soda. You can get it at a local drug store. But since you've had this surgery, I'd recommend you consult with your physician ASAP! Something could be wrong. Wish you all the best for a pain free BM!

Darn it! I forgot to ask my doctor how much Fluid he put in my band. I have no idea. But he did say that he put a very small amount in at the time of surgery. I need to remember to speak up more the next time I see him, which will be in 2 months :smile2: I'm so hungry! I have another day of soft, mushy foods to eat before I can go back to regular food.

As my doc said, its time to put the band to work! I hope he is right and we scheduled fill #2 in 4 weeks. I started with 3 cc as a prime at surgery and he added 1.5 cc today. OMG! Teachkdz, our doctors are definitely working on different schedules. I didn't get my first fill until 6 weeks after my surgery and then he said NOT to come back for 2 months. Why is he torturing me like this. He barely put anything in, because I drank the Water with NOOOOO problem whatsoever. Sheesh! I don't know what to think. Oh and I just got a 6500.00 bill for the hernia repair that he said they would bill my insurance. That was a little distressing to open up. Now I have to call them and tell them to contact my ppo provider. I can't afford that now!! What a week. I'm starving!! LOL!!

Wow! It sounds like we all have some very different experiences with weightloss, restriction and hunger. Since my first, very small fill, on the 23rd, I lost two pounds. But my doctor recommended that I go back to liquids for two days and mushies for two days. So I feel as though I was starving myself today. I'm constantly thinking about food and my belly is always growling. At work today, I took an Atkins Protein shake and a Yakult probiotic drink. I was stuck in a meetings for 5 hours and by the time I got out I felt like I could devour anything insight. Yet I held out til I could get some veggie soup. So far this is NOT easy. I feel like I don't even have a band in. My doctor told me to come back in 2 months. I'm so scared that I'll gain all my lost weight back. I'm starting to get discouraged, even though I know I shouldn't! I need encouragement.

By the way I do find this very helpful. I just need to have more will power I suppose. Thanks for all your responses!

Well, my first fill fear is over. I had it this morning, and I have no restriction - again! My journey is going to be a slow one. Im always hungry and have gained back 3 of the 12 pounds that I initially lost. I drink Atkins or Ensure in the morning, then I'm starving by the time lunch comes around. I try to find something decent to eat, but mostly I get Soup. Then I'm starving by the time I get home, so I have another Protein shake (atkins) when I get in and then I eat something like tuna salad, or yogurt, or cottage cheese. I think my body is in stavation mode and is fighting to store the fat! Anyway, my doctor is very conservative with the Fluid. He's going to make me fight my way to 130 pounds. Sigh! Maybe in two months when I get my 2nd fill, I'll have some restriction. *I'm tired of being hungry all the time*

Deb_Ladyrose, I'm so happy to hear that I am not alone. I had my first fill today and he made me drink Water to see how much restriction I had. I kept telling him that I felt fine. But he said, ok and took the needle out and said "see ya in two months." Im supposed to be on liquids only, but I feel fine! I have no restriction. I'm wondering if my band moved. I was so hungry today that I drank a Protein shake, so fast and with NOOOOO problem at all. Then about 30 minutes later, I felt ravenous so I drank tea. Again, no problem. Finally I couldn't take it anymore, so I ate tortilla Soup. I drank most of the broth, and ate a few bits of the chicken in it. I have a feeling that my doctor is very modest with the restriction. This will probably be a very very slow weightloss for me. But at this rate, I've gained 3 pounds. LOL!

Wow, I'm sorry I have no advice for you. I just had my first fill today and wow, I feel like I have absolutely no restriction at all! I'm starting to think my doctor is toying with me. He said to drink only liquids for two days, mushies for the next two days and then back to foods. However, by the time I got home from the his office I was STARVING. I drank a Protein shake and had absolutely no problems drinking the whole thing within a matter of minutes. I don't know how much he put in my band, but I feel fine. I can eat normal and I think I'm going to be in this for a very very long time. I initially lost 12 pounds but have since gained back 3 of them. He told me to come back in 2 months. LOL!~ I think I'll probably gain it all back by then. Did anyone else have NO restriction with the first fill. Maybe Dr. Nazarian is really conservative when he starts out. Well, there is no more fear of never being able to eat. I do have fear that I wont be able to stop eating though. LOL! This is definitely going to require much more will power than I initially thought. Wish you all the best with your success. :tongue2:

Im 5'4 and I'm shooting for 128.

OMG! My doctor wanted me to do two weeks of liquids, and then two weeks of mushies. By the end of the 3rd week I was eating very small pits of steak. I couldn't take it. I was so hungry. My band is probably ruined now - haha! I had a filet-o-fish the other day. I was STUFFED! It took me forever to eat it. I get my first fill tomorrow so I guess fish sandwiches will be out again...GOOD NEWS!!

Wow, I must be weird. I had restriction for bout 3 weeks after surgery due to swelling, and as it started to subside, I was so happy to be able to actually eat again. It's now 6 weeks, and I am totally able to eat whatever I want, and am having second thoughts about getting my fill tomorrow - hahaha! I'm hoping that I am able to be satisfied with the smaller portions that the fill will cause my stomach to take in. I fill so fickled about this whole thing sometimes. In the beginning I actually felt okay sitting at a table watching everyone else eat because I was so full. I'm hoping to experience that again, because I don't think I really missed food, until the swelling really started to subside.

It's still pretty early in your healing process. The typical healing period is 6 weeks. While I normally felt great, occasionally when something brushed against the area just above the port it was an uncomfortable feeling. I think it was pain, but not unbearable. Always air on the side of caution and leave a msg for your doctor, but I bet you're still healing. Remember to take it easy!:thumbup:

Hey April Bandster Buddies. It's been a few weeks. I too am very happy to see that we are not on the Post-Op side of things. I'm actually due to have my first fill tomorrow. This is a good thing too, because I have NO restriction. Okay, well I have the tiniest bit of restriction, but it hasn't been enough to keep me full or from maintaining my weight. I can't wait til my clothes start to loosen up again. Right after surgery I lost 15 pounds, because I couldn't eat. Now that I've healed, I see that I totally need a fill. Will keep you all posted. Hey, I'm using Mederma on my scars. Does anyone know if this is effective or am I wasting my time? Best wishes to you all! :thumbup:

OMG! The first week I totally regreted it. But it was mostly cause of the pain, the 5 scars and the fact that I could barely swollow Water (had a hernia repaired too). Im not 3 weeks post op and my scars are so small and faint that I can definitely live with them. I'm also able to swollow any and almost everything I eat and the pain is totally gone now. I lost 12 pounds, but gained back two since I am now able to eat again. I figured that things wouldn't really start moving until I got a fill. So I am not depressed about the weight issue, nor am I concerned. But I still have this fear that after I eat my Soup and brocoli, that even with the restriction I will feel hunger pangs. I just can't imagine feeling fool and satisfied. This remains to be seen until my next doctors visit on the 23rd. Thanks for a GREAT post. Keep me up lifted in positivity!

Yah!! It's week two for me and I'm feeling GREAT! I can eat more again, and I'm hungry all the time, but I feel normal. I go for my first fill in 3 weeks. Oh and next weekend I'm planning to do the Revlon Run/Walk for Breast Cancer. It's a 3 mile walk. So excited. Things are finally looking up! Hope you all are doing well too!! :thumbup:

It really is important to talk to others who have had the surgery. Prior to my surgery my Cousin, who has been banded for 4 years told me that the first year was very very slow in deed. She didn't really start to lose until the 2nd year and then the 3rd year she really dropped. I was banded on April 18th and also had a hernia repaired, so I feel as though I have some restriction now, but I've been told that it should loosen up some and I'll be able to eat again. I've even had a hard time getting Water down. So I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I felt like I had too much restriction. But yesterday was the first day that I was able to sip on Soup and actually finish half of it, without feeling as though it were coming back up.

You're taking antibiotics for a UTI. Happens all the time. Or have a glass of wine and sip it slowly. ; )

I can't believe I survived today sipping on V-8 juice, Isopure, Kangen Water, and eating Jello and one very slowly eaten tablespoon of cottage cheese. Oh I forgot the two Protein shakes I managed to get down. Man it really takes a long time to eat now. Only a few swallows and then I have to get up and walk the beverage/food down. I did get a little sad today, when I walked to the kitchen and realized I couldn't fix myself a BLT sandwich, with thick applewood smoked bacon But hey I have lost 8 pounds :biggrin: Can't wait for my post-op on Saturday so I can have mushies. Best of Luck to you all

I was banded on Sunday, and returned to a miserable day of work on Thursday. I think everyone is different. I test kids, so I had to bring things with me, and even though I used a wheeled cart, pulling and pushing uses your abdominal muscles, so by the time 5 rolled around my back was throbbing, my portside was aching and I just wanted to crawl in a bed. Take it easy, take your pain meds and listen to your body. Good luck!