zionsongbird

I was banded on June 10th 2010, I have lost 104 lbs!! My best advice to any who feel like their band isn't working or your not losing fast enough...don't give up. I took me almost 2 yrs. The weight comes off slowly, but it's a much healthier way to lose. I would do it again in a second!

YOU PROBABLY NEED MORE Protein. IT GIVES YOU ENERGY. ALSO, DO YOU HAVE sleep APNEA? EVER HAD A SLEEP STUDY? SLEEP APNEA MAKES YOU VERY TIRED, BECAUSE YOU ARE WAKING UP ALL THRU THE NIGHT BECAUSE YOU STOP BREATHING. ALSO, MAKE SURE YOUR GETTING YOUR Vitamins IN.

WOW! CONGRATS!! I SOOOO LOOK FORWARD TO WEIGHING LESS THAN THE WEIGHT ON MY DL.. I HAVE WEIGHED WELLLLLL OVER WHAT IT SAYS FOR MANY YEARS NOW LOL! 27 POUNDS TO GO!!

Everyone is different. i use to read the posts about restriction and get quite discouraged because alot of people were saying that it took 5, 6, 7, 8 or more fills before they achieved restriction. I was banded on June 10, 2010. I have lost 57 lbs. as of today. Like most bandsters I lost a good amount of weight in the first few weeks (about 23lbs.) but then I went through bandster hell when it felt like I had no band at all. I had my first fill in August. (3cc's) I felt slight restriction for about a week then nothing. I was very discouraged at this point. I had not lost a pound in weeks. Then In Oct. I went for my second fill my dr. was quite aggressive he put in 5cc's! I now had 8 cc's in my 10cc band. I remember the nurse and dietician being quite upset with the dr. for putting in so much, they did not agree with the amount, they said I would be miserable and would probably end up coming back for an unfill. But none-the-less, I was excited at finally having some restriction, so I made my 2 hr. drive back home from the dr. and was hoping and praying that this would give me good restriction. BOY did it ever! I couldn't eat anything at first even drinking fluids was difficult. I was very uncomfortsable, but thwas my fault, i tried to eat things I shouldn't and I had never really learned to chew, chew, chew and eat very small bites. Well, I got a crash course quick! I HAD to learn to slow down! I came so close to having an unfill. I even called several times and talked to the dieticain. I even made an appt., for an unfill because I just hated the feeling of not being able to eat. But at the last minute I cancelled my appt. and decided to try to work harder to get used to the restriction. I now love my restriction! I feel like I have found my sweet spot! I do not think about food all the time. I enjoy eating healthy! and I have FINALLY learned how to eat slowly, and properly. My weight loss has been a little slow, but it is steady and I feel great! I am down 57 lbs. I don't really have a "number goal" I just want to lose until I feel my best. I have not had any fills since my second one. So, be encouraged! you can achieve restriction in just a couple of fills..just remember each one of us are different and dr.'s fill at different amounts. I LOVE MY BAND!

Hahaha too funny!

Baby K... I did not read that you said you DO actually have fluid in your band? And if you do it couldn't be much, do you know how much is in there? Alot of dr.'s don't put any fluid in. but the ones that do usually put very little. PLEASE try to hang in there, i agree with the others, you have come so far! The band is awesome if you will just give yourself time to heal and adjust to having it in your body. Take into consideration, the meds that you were given in the hosp., along with the effects of anesthia, swelling, incision pain, gas pain...and the emotional side of it too. All of these things will subside within 2 weeks usually. You may experience a grieving process..life and eating as we knew it is over! We will never again we able to eat the junk we did before without suffering the effects from it. This was hard for me to accept at first, but then when the weight began to come off, it was very exciting. It's a small price to pay, to get back your life and your health. SLOW, SLOW, SLOW... that's the key... drink slow and eat slow..I have found that I am miserable if i take bites or drinks of anything close to each other. I MUST take a small bite lay down my fork, spoon or cup and wait until that bite goes thru the band..if not it will pile up on me and I will get sick everytime. These are good eating habits that we should all practice anyway and it is part of the behavior modification that is SOOO vital to Lapband success. Your doctor has told you that you are o.k. so hang in there, it will get better and you will be so excited when the lbs. start melting away.! YOU CAN DO THIS!

It is standard procedure with my doc to numb the area first before a fill I don't even have to ask for it. I couldn't imagine having that big needle poked into my tummy without it. He also uses fluro.. My fill was quick and painless! Yayyy!

OMG! I couldn't imagine having a fill without numbing meds! The small little needle they use to numb you feels like a very small shot doesn't hurt at all. but that big needle they use to do the fill..OMG I just couldn't imagine..I would not let them touch me unless they numbed me first!! That's just barbaric.

Thank You your post was very helpful and wise.

Hi Leslie, I am staying overnight in the hospital. I'm getting banded on May 5th and it is a 2 hr. drive for me so I tihnk that is partly the reason. But I am glad i'm staying overnight.. makes me feel better knowing I will be watched for at least 24 hrs. If your ins. is paying for the surgery they will prob. pay for an overnight. I would find out if you really feel that strongly about it. Regards, Bry

I haven't heard of anyone having to be on the pre-op diet that long. Mine was 2 weeks

That's what I'm using.. it's not to bad eh? Reminds me of chocolate Yoohoo. I only use one scoop with 12ozs of Water, the pkg. says use 3 scoops but don't because that is 60 g of protein!