Nicole74

I was the same way you were..Im on week 8 after surgery and Iv never gotten sick, anything stuck or not even any bathroom issues..other than being in bandster hell now and not losing weight anymore...I consider myself lucky that I have taken so well to do..I think Id rather feel "normal" like pre band than some other things people are experiencing. I have a friend who has been sick since getting the band and she is over a year out!! never can handle fills, her hair is falling out and she is always feels nauseus. I complain about being hungry and being able to eat alot but than I hear or see her and think Thank God Im not like that.

My family, best friend, boss and a few coworkers know. Im not really keeping it a secret but just now shouting it out every chance I get either. alot of people dont know much about lapband and how it works so I hate to go into the whole story about it but yesterday someone at work asked me how I was losing weight and I saidl Iv been exercising and watching what I eat but I also had lapband 2 months ago...than I end up feeling like I have to go into the fact that I havnt lost any weight in a month and its a slow process blah blah..and that is the annoying part...

Congrats..we were banded one day apart! you have lost about 20lbs more than me though...Iv only had one fill..how many fills have you had and do you have restriction yet?? I dont but been working out and TRYING to watch what Im eating but thats the hard part for me and my portion sizes..im so hungry!

How long after surgery did it take you to get to good restriction and start really losing weight?? how many fills to get to that point? I am in bandster hell and can only get fills every 6 weeks and have had one fill and no restriction...I am scheduled for my 2nd fill Oct. 19th and havnt lost any weight in a month...want to know how it worked for others so I can calm my nerves about it:cursing:

Hang in there..you have done such a great job...when did you really start losing weight? how many weeks months after surgery? Im in bandster hell and only have had 1 fill and barly have any restriction..did it take youa couple fills?

I have never got the flu shot before since I havnt had the flu in many years and am usually pretty healthy BUT since I got the band Im nervous about getting the flu and vomiting and figured with my luck this would be the year I get it so I scheduled a flu shot for next week!!

my doctor's office receptionist screwed up and called today to tell me they won't allow me to move up my fill and they have a policy where I have to wait 6 weeks before my next fill...so they had to push my appointment back again until Oct 19th!! ugh!! Im so frustrated and I thought I was going to get some help next week..now I have to wait another 3 weeks...bummer!!!

Let me know how it goes Isabella!!! Im anxious to see if you have restriction this time.

No, but I sure wish I would of had more saline in for my vacation!! Iv only had one fill and at 4cc's and not much restriction so on my vacation I basically had to diet and I was wishing the whole time I had more restriction to help me..I used to really enjoy eating on vacation to the beach, was one of the best parts for me and Im not going to lie I did eat but its just not even worth it anymore...Im praying for restriction with my next fill! I could care a less anymore about pigging out on vacation.

Thanks Everyone!! It does help when your all so positive..I said I would try to change my attitude about bandster hell but sometimes can't help but get into a rut..I will keep pushing along and hopefully my next fill on the 5th will give me some restriction..PLEASE JESUS!!

Sorry to hear that...Im almost 8 weeks out and about to get my 2nd fill..Iv never had a stuck, sliming or PB episode yet and dont want one!! I want my 2nd fill cause I have no restriction but I dont want to have any issues like you! Glad its over with for you though and you know what not to do!!

Iv been banded for almost 2 months,Iv had one fill so far and lost close to 30lbs but Iv been in bandster hell for almost a month now and have just been flunctuating 3lbs for that month, up and down up and down!! I barley have any restriction and got no more with my first fill..I have a total of 4'ccs in my band right now. I was doing really well with limiting my portions but for the past few weeks its been so hard, iv been eating more because Im so hungry and at times I literally feel famished! more hungry now than before my fill! I did join the gym last week and been taking body pump classes a couple times a week and walking on the off days. I have been feeling like I dont even have the band the right now. I did call the doctor and they moved my 2nd fill up a couple weeks to Oct. 5th (they only do it every 6 weeks usually) so I am really happy about that but I a week in this bandster hell feels like a month! I feel like Im wasting so much time and so frustrated I dont have restriction. I want to know who has gone through this, how you made it through and when you really started losing weight?? I need to know that this is normal and that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel and that I will start losing! I know Iv f so it full force, its just so hard to do it by myself without the band!!

Gee, I don't want to see the negative stories..lol...I can't accept the fact that lapband wouldn't work for me...depressing...I dont get into the biggest loser too much...but I think I didnt cause before the band I always thought it was a reminder of what I should be doing (as I ate my bag a chips watching it) but maybe I would see it in a different light now that I am banded..might tune in!

I tivo'd Mike and Molly too..gonna try to watch it tonight

I think that # is accurate in general from everything I read as well and I agree with Amanda on the fact this it is 80% you and 20% the band...I think that is a big misconception out there. Iv been banded since July 30th and have lost 30lbs, Iv had only 1 fill and still not much restriction and its a struggle everyday to keep on the right path and stay positive. I was selfpay so I feel even more harder to make it work. No matter what I cant imagine I would ever regret my decision. Its really all in what you make it..I never got stuck on "statistics" the big thing I learned in this journey so far is that EVERYONE is different in how the band works from them from surgery to 1 year!! I know several people who had GB and even though they lost it alot faster and more weight they ended up gaining alot of it back after a couple years and I even though banded people can gain back too its a much slower process and it really teaches you good habits or should I say forces you into better habits:)

I voted!! Keep up the great work!

I called my doctor today and moved my 2nd fill up a couple weeks..I didnt think they would allow it but they did...I just want some restriction! thanks Isa Bella for your words of encouragement..I do need to accept the fact that is part of the journey and it wont happen as fast as I want it to. I also need to take responsibility for eating some things I shouldnt and not keeping up with my exercise. I joined the gym this week and plan on starting with my first body pump class tomorrow...finger's crossed...I will keep checking back here buts it good to know other people are going through the same struggle!!

At first I ate refried beans with cheese, mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, but than after a few days I ate alot of chicken salad...I would buy the roasted chickens at the grocery store that are already cooked, pull off the breast meat and mix with a little mayo than puree..not to make it really runny just really small pieces..and I lived off that for days..lol....some people might not be able to handle it on mushie stage but I was fine and had no issues! was a nice change from all that pureed stuff.

Hi Isa Bella and all july bandsters! I came on today cause been struggling the past week ...been so hungry and so frustrated that after my first fill I have no restriction..I really was expecting that 7 weeks out that it would be easier but its even harder than cause I feel so pre band normal!! I wish I had your attitude a little more Isa Bella!! I have lost almost 30 lbs since surgery but in the past week gained 3! Im so frustrated about that but I need to eat so much more than a half of a cup to feel satisfied...Im not eating bad just on a couple occasions by bad I mean fattening non healthy foods but even a salad I can eat the whole serving of a plate of salad plus whatever comes..I can probably eat about 1.5-2 cups of food to feel satisified but than 2 hours later Im hungry again and stomach is growling...its crazy..I will take responsibility for this week..work has been nuts and my son had pneumonia so I found that I didnt walk like i was doing , eat more and didnt drink as much water..but I am so worried that Im sliding back into my old habits..I was really getting used to eating slow and chewing but now I feel so "normal" that Im not doing that as much anymore..never ate anything that caused an issue yet and I should be really happy and motivated now because I have been getting compliments and seeing a difference in the fit of my clothes but I guess that isnt enough. the constant food struggles are just overwelming me!! hopefully things will get better with my next fill on Oct. 19th!!! hope everyone else is doing good!!

I always fibbed a little with my husband..I couldnt bare to tell him Id gotten up to 300lbs before surgery but he came to my first appt with me and I told him to stay in the room until I got weighed but after that I realized that if I was going to expect him to be with me all the way on this journey I had to be honest..plus if he thought I weight 240 and I was 300 I couldnt share in the accomplishments !! that sucked..so I told him...I was still embarrassed though, when I met him I was 220 so to think in 6 years I gained 80lbs while with me I thought he would be like WTF?? but he didnt say anything and is really supportive...

i thought the same thing..no one called me either after my surgery...I thought they really should have. I didnt talk or see anyone until my first wee checkup...I think they should call at least the day after surgery to check in even if its just the office manager or nurse calling....

Dont watch it!! before surgery my husband and I would watch the food network and the DIY network all weekend..and I know how hungry it would make me and it always made me want to eat..Im the same way with looking at cookbooks...so I do not allow foodnetwork on in my home anymore and even though I bought about 4 weight loss surgery cookbooks, I havnt opened them yet!! sounds kinda extreme but these are my triggers to want to eat and make myself hungry:) or think Im hungry...

Oh man, I really feel bad for you and I am so sorry this is happening. I am selfpay too and paid out 15grand. I was banded just a few days after you on 7/30...and something happening was my worse fear...try to stay positive and at least you got it drained and hopefully you will heal and not lose your band..I will say a prayer for you!! Hang in there and try to just keep doing what your doing with your eating and habits and hopefully before you know it your healed and nothing bad...*hugs*

Yes!! all normal..I had it REALLY bad the first week....it will pass just keep taking gas x, walking and sipping slowly..my dr. told me to even take a couple minutes between sips..even though I thought that was crazy it worked. Hang in there.

I am in my 7th week and I feel the same way...when I went for my first fill the dr told me to start only eating a half a cup per sitting but half a cup does NOTHING for me...I feel like I didnt eat anything..I get full usually after about a cup and half of food but I always try to eat lean protein and veggies. Im not losing quickly at all and averaging about a pound a week sometimes less so I am disappointed. I am hoping that my next fill in Oct. gives me more restriction!! Good luck!