on the right track

Good for you! I am 56 and have lost 80 pounds. I have never felt better. It is a little slower now because I am down to my last 20 pounds. My husband says no more but the dr and I agreed on 20 more. I am not stressing just enjoying life.

Take liquid tylenol every two hours and then your pain meds as they tell you. The first day don't be strong take the meds. Remember to walk every hour for at least 5 minutes it will help more than you realize. Also go to Walmart and by a SweetNothings. It will hold the incisions in place as you sleep and the pain will not bother you as you move around. I still wear them because I live the way my portal feels held in place. Drink as much Water as possible in small swallows. You will be fine. I got where I only used the pain meds for sleeping. The liqued tylenol was a wonder drug. Use it!

I always have papya pills in my purse. Chew those and they make the food go down. liquids only things worse for me. Walking around helps also. I have had the pain and it is usually when I try to go to fast. Slow down and relax and enjoy your food. I NEVER drink and eat because that causes discomfort for me. Drink a lot about 30 minutes before you eat and then wait another 30 after you finish.

For me it was the best thing I ever did for myself. I feel better than ever and getting rid of the weight hasn't been that difficult. You do need to learn to eat all over again. You must chew, chew, and then chew some more. Take little bits and that helps. I don't get hungry but I do watch my calories because I don't want a lot of food anymore. Stay with the fills and that will keep you going. If you don't change how you think about food you will not be happy. I have a friend that still wanted to eat all the junk like before but just in little portions. Some of it is impossible to eat and you will learn quickly what that is. I was told shrimp and grapes might be difficult. I have had no problem but meat isn't easy. You just have to go slow and think about what you are eating. Like I said, it was the best thing I could have done. I am much healther now and look good. Good luck but don't do it unless you are sure and ready to change.

I too have stalled. I am going for a fill in two weeks. I hope that helps. I am nit complaining. I look so much better than before.

I go through stages when I PB. I wonder if is the amount of Water I have had to drink. I chew a lit and still do it. I haven't had a fill in 5 months but am going in 2 weeks.

Hi all. Nice to have this special place for us. Just tried to eat some turkey for lunch and up it came, after just a few well chewed bites. I can eat stuff like yogurt and Soup with never a problem. But so often food like meat and veggies cause me to PB and upchuck. It will start just after a few bites and I chew them up a lot. This is happening once a day, sometimes twice. Any one have this???? PB too much

My first fill was also included in the price of my surgery. I have two options for fills. I can go to the "Service" and a practitioner will fill for $100 or I can go to the Doctor and pay $200. I have done both and I like going to the Doctor much better because he puts me on a machine to see exactly how things are going down before and after I get a fill. There is no guess work. The only problem I have is I live 600 miles from my doctor so I don't go as much as I like. I have had 3 fills now and will be getting another one in a month or so. I think I am getting close but will wait to see when I go to my doctor.

I paid for my first fill and it cost me $150.

I was annoyed as my Dr told me the price I paid for the lapband surgery would cover all my fills for the first year.

Apparently he will give me the next one for free !?!

I live overseas, so not sure how much you will end up paying. My surgery ended up costing over $8,000 and I was given the option to pay in 2 installments.

I get the impression you only need around 3-4 fills to get to your sweet spot, but would love to hear from someone else regarding this who has experience.

Thank goodness the band is working for me and I am losing as it has cost me a lot of $.

Is your kitchen ready?? Protein drinks? ? Something to mix them with?? I bought a "Magic Bullet" and used that a lot the first few months.... and we still use it... especially like it for grinding coffee Beans. When the time draws closer you might want to get some SF popsicles for your freezer.

How about things like Gas-X strips, liquid tylenol??

Soup was my best friend. Many restraunts are willing to put it threw a blender.

On the right track

Hey guys,

I have really slowed in my weigt loss but that doesn't bother me as much as I have had an enormous amount of gas. Today my stomach swelled up with it like crazy. It is very uncomfortable. Has this happened to anyone else? I am going to see my doctor on Monday but thought I would see if anyone else had experienced anything simular.

On the right track

AARRGHHHH! No more age talk. I want to know a medical reason, I don't want to think I am, well, you know, aged! LOL Thanks for the thoughts anyway. :smile:

I agree about the age talk. I feel younger now that I have gotten the surgery. People don't believe I am my real age. I hope they are not lying to me.

Dru

My insurance woud not pay for my surgery but I felt it was important enough to pay for it myself, My husband and I worked out the numbers on the amount of money I would save after I got off the meds I was taking. That will pay for the surgery in 9 years. Now I feel like I will live more than that,.

Wendy, I went thru menopause before getting the band and I had gained about 20 pounds or so from it. The band worked great taking that back off and much more. I was taking 2 different blood pressure meds and got off of both of them within about 6 months into the band. You will love it! Best Wishes, Gaye

I also went through memopause before getting band. I have had good luck with the band. It put me back on track.

Today was my first day back at school and the students could not believe it was me! I can wait for another 50 pounds!

"Not me, but I do find that even placing something I am carrying wher I normally would have on my chest/stomach, I have to move it because the port is uncomfortable. SO I have to carry with my arms, or not at all."

Interesting... come to think of it, I also consciously avoid physical contact with the port site - I rough and tussle less with the kids, and am conscious of potentially painful situations. My port is not uncomfortable in and of itself, but it is definitely more exposed than it used to be, a lot less padding there for sure. Most of the issues I've come up regarding port sensitivity through searching on this site involve post-op complaints. I think I'll run this by the "near or at goal weight" folks and see what they have to say...

* * *

So it seems that there is a solution out there (not ready for this one yet, but good to know it's out there); a "low profile" port, located slightly lower on the belly. According to previous posts, it "can be done under local anesthesia. Apparently, the reason most surgeons don't start with a low profile port is because they would need an ultrasound to find the port for fills through the fat." For more info, check out this thread:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/low-profile-port-39874/

That is why wearing the Nearly Nothing helps to keep it comfortable. It doesn't hurt as much but when something bumps me I know it. My husband putting his hand on me during the night sometimes causes pressure. I was hoping it was something that I would just get used to. I would not ever go back. I am 5 months out and 49 pounds less.

On the right track

I wear the shapers that go up to your bra line - and I have these corresett type ones too that help the girls look more perky (went from a 42 D to a 34 But did find a new bra at Pennys this weekend - love it...

I can't stand to go w/o a shaper - I am too vain - I hate seeing rolls and if I didn't wear them - the saggy skin causes one - I like looking finish - beauty before comfort as my Mom use to say ;0)

That was a great NSV - I don't look anything like my passport picture ;0)

I forget how far out are you - your port shouldn't be bothering you that much - have you talked to your doc about it

I am almost 5 months out. I made a stupid mistake about 3 weeks ago and lifted and moved furniture that was too heavy. (I am a teacher and the janitor hadn't moved my filing cabnets back.) I pulled muscles. The doctor told me I was ok but that the muscles would be sore.

On the right track

I don't wear any underwear that covers my port. Too uncomfortable. And too hot. And everytime I try on even the "lightest" control type products, they press on the port and push my fat up into rolls at the top of them so I have boobs and an underboob. I haven't even worn control top nylons for so long that I can't stand to pull them on. Unbearably hot and uncomfortable. Don't know how you do it Janet in a desert climate. I sweat like a horse. And those products don't breathe.

I wear non-binding below the bellybutton panties and just let things jiggle. LOL

I wear the Nearly Nothings. They hold things in place so that the portal doesn't move and couse discomfort. I have even started sleeping in them. It helps me a lot and it is VERY hot in W Texas. You just get used to it.

ON the Right Track

I will say that the Lap-Band has given me my life back. I have lot 48 pounds and have 52 more to go but I feel much better. I did feel the pull around my port until I started wearing Nearly Nothings under my clothes. It keeps my stomach held in place so I don't feel that pull any more. Sometimes I hit a stalling spot but I have never looked back. This was the best thing I have ever done.

How much can you eat per meal - 1/2 c - 1 cup - 2 cups?? For me the quainty of food indicates my sweet spot - the sweet spot really doesn't have anything to do with losing the weight - it's the foods that we consume and the amount of exercise we get that determine that.

Alot of pple hit plateaues - do you vary your calories on a daily basis - I found that do that helped me - but I was one of the lucky ones never hit a plateau..

It depends on the amount of food on the kind it is. Cottage cheese and soft foods I can eat more than beef. Heavy foods I can not eat a lot of. I feel like I am close but I just don't know.

Hang in there, committedchick. Keep exercising and following your doctor's orders. It took me MANY fills and over a year to get to my sweet spot--I know I'm unusual and I don't want to discourage you but sometimes it takes time to get everything right. You are in "bandster hell"--no restriction, hungry, and losing motivation. It really will happen for you. Keep on trying and you'll be great. It's really a process! (but a wonderful one and well worth it in the end). Good luck!

How do you knwo when you have hit your sweet spot? Sometimes I think I am there and then other times I am hitting a wall and can't lose.

On The Right Track

You are describing my experience with my weight. I am not an "Orphan" but the invisibility it right there. Even my husband has ignored me. I am 3 months out and have lost 40 pounds. I feel better but there is another 65 pounds to go. I am walking early in the morning because it is SO hot here in Texas during the summer. Right now I am in a slump and the scales are not moving. After reading your post, I feel much better. I want to be that flirty, exciting woman that turns heads again when I walk into the room. Thank you for your story. I am inspired again.

On The Right Track

I was banded on March 25 and have not had much success since then. I did lose about 6 lb in the first couple of weeks, but it has returned. Right now I am down just 7 lb TOTAL from my initial weight! I am so frustrated. I am walking every day and following my Dr recommendations about eating (altho his instructions were vague). He says 1/2 cup total per meal. I do that and don't drink with my meal, but I am starving in an hour. I can eat anything I want too. I am making an effort to eat less, but am not sure it is enough. I had one fill 2 weeks ago but cannot tell any difference at all. I have a second scheduled in mid-May. ANy suggestions? It seems nuts to me that I have made this huge commitment and still feel (and look) like I did 6 months ago!

I use a calorie counter, Lose It, on my phone to keep track of my 1200 calories a day. Do you keep a good record of what you eat? That really helps me because I did realize how much I could eat.

On The Right Track

I hiccup when I eat too fast... then I realize that I am too full too, BECAUSE I ate too fast...

So I have to make sure that too many hours hasn't passed between meals... then I wont be starving, leading to eating too fast...

I do the exact same thing. It has taken the fun out of eating. That helps with all the weight loss.

I found the first food that I could not eat. I took a bite of smoked sausage. The casing stuck! I could not get a drink of Water to try to push it threw. I almost panicked. Thank goodness I finally was able to push it threw. It was very embarassing and frustrating.

Congrats Cheri, a one year anniversary is VERY special indeed:tt1:

Great Job! I can hardly wait for my one year anniversary.

On the right track.

Coming up on my one year bandiversary. June 18. Lost 75 lbs. 240-165. People tell me I look thinner than that. At 5'9" and 58 years I look great in my loose size 12 clothes, I'm off bp, cholesterol meds. Blood sugar down from 125 to 102. Much more mobile and active.

You can do it. One day at a time with the help of God and the band.

Cheri

Great for you! I want to be like you in a year. Keep it up.

On the right track