dcowens

I was 20 when I had my surgery and I am 21 now. I have had the band 8 months and have lost 71 lbs. I get married this sunday and I have a two year old little boy. I can NOT even begin to explain to you what the lap band has done for me, or how it has made my life so much more amazing. I feel as though I am the luckiest woman alive. It is NORMAL to be scared. I was scared but I looked at it as though it were a life or death situation. I needed this surgery. I wanted this surgery. My son benefitted from this. I am so proud of the decision that I made and you will be too.

I would like to give some advice before I leave though. PLEASE do everything in your power to stick to your diet. I have seen so many friends with the lap band eat wrong and work around their band and become miserable or have to have their band removed so they gain their weight back....I have worked REALLY hard at my diet and I still have days where I slip up. For the first 3 months of my band i didn't cheat once. NOT ONE TIME. I had faith in myself and I knew that I had a goal to acheieve. Please do your best to keep your head in the game and do this the right way. =) it WILL be worth it in the end.

I just have to say that for the past week I've been doing some research on implants because I want them really bad. I have the problem that Jachut says she has. I guess we'll call it the puddle syndrome. I'm empty and flat and saggin with a little boobie on the bottom. I still fit into a small D or large C, but I would like for that top portion to be filled up because being 21 and not able to show any cleavage is a little embarrassing and ridiculous in my opinion. Saline implants only ripple when the implants are very large and the skin is really taught on them. In other words it seems to be that the smaller you are, the larger implant the more likelihood of rippling. I am going to get silicone implants because They feel and more more like natural breasts would. =)

I think you'll be fine just stick to your diet now as you said you would. My pre-op was only shakes, Water, Jello and broth! I snuck a biscuit one day and felt like smacking myself. I understand your pain there. You'll be alright, doll! DEEP BREATH and push forward!

hiya! my name's dani and i am 21 yrs old. I was banded on January 11th and in 6 months i've lost 60 lbs. =) (68 today). I exercise at the very least twice a week and I stick to my diet 90 percent of the time =) (nobody's perfect) I was petrified minutes before I was taken back for surgery. I had a hernia that was repaired at the same time.

Everything went well, and I'm so happy now. I went from 240 to 172 today and from a size 18-20 to now a 10-12! I wish you well and hope you stay strong! YOU CAN DO THIS!

I do count calories and I have 900-1000 calories a day. 300 per meal and MAYBE a cup of skim milk as a snack =). It sounds to me like you're eating enough and taking in the right amount of calories for weight loss....maybe it's the foods you're eating. I do not eat bread, rice, Pasta or potatoes. I also do not eat ANY sugar. Not even artificial. I don't eat fruit either. My nutritionist made a good point when she said 'you don't realize your addiction to something until you have to take it away.'

I'm really interested in doing the 5 day pouch test and I've looked it up but all I seem to be able to find is a book I have to purchase. Do I just do liquid for 2 days, mushy for 2 and then solid or is it different? I'm lost!!!

how encouraging, I have recently not been doing so well. I haven't gained weight but haven't lost any either....in over a month. So maybe the 5 day pouch test is what I need. I have a fill coming up on tuesday, so that wouldn't hurt either.

Beans are great Protein as well as fish. maybe try steaming or broiling some fish?

Hey! I'm 21 and had surgery jan 25th of this year. that was about 4 months ago and i've lost a whopping 56 lbs! the ONLY thing you need to remember is FOLLOW THE RULES. If you don't follow your set rules you will not be successful. You need to remember your goal and everything will be fine. Stay on your diet. =) if you have questions or just want someone to talk to that's around your age i'm all ears. you can always message me on my profile as well!!!

It shouldn't matter that you CAN eat anything. I think I probably could too, but I choose not to and work WITH the band and have lost 55 lbs as of today. It sounds as though you may not have had the band explained properly to you. It IS/WAS ridiculously easy to lose weight on the liquid diet and so on, but from solids on out it's a LOT of hard work. You can do it and you'll get to your goal, you just need to work with your band.

No I haven't had a fill recently. My last fill was March 25th or somewhere around there. I don't believe I even need a fill right now but I had never gotten hiccups before yesterday and they lasted sooo long. Another thing is that I was hardly eating yesterday because I was so sick. I had to force myself to eat and could only eat a little less than 1/2 a cup. So I don't THINK it was me eating too much too fast. =(

I don't believe you need a fill as of yet. I felt that way as well when the swelling went down after my surgery. I ALSO eat 1- 1/2 cups of food and am full and have seen steady loss.

amazing, girl! you look YOUNGER!

I think I have the flu or something. All day I've been nauseous and running to the bathroom to use the toilet. (sorry!) On top of that I have this terrible pain in my stomach and I've gotten the hiccups 3 times. Each time lasting 30 minutes or more. Anyone know what we get hiccups from? Or whether it's related to illness or anything of the sort? Thanks for any information. =)

-Dani

Lapband sched May 19. And, I have a few questions:

1) In general, how difficult is it to take pills? I have a few things I have to take that do not come in liquid/chewable form. How do you handle swallowing meds during recovery and after? I take a Biotin pill 2x a day and it's the size of a pencil eraser. My Dr. told me not to take anything bigger so if yours are you may want to speak with your PCP.

2) After the healing process, how does the band feel? Or can you feel it? I can feel it when I get full. I can feel exactly where my stomach is in my abdomen...it's weird but it's okay. =)

3) How long before you got your first fill? Thanks in advance!!! I got my first fill about 6 weeks after surgery. It was my Dr.s policy or whatever. haha. No earlier than 6 weeks.

4) After surgery, how long before you felt well enough to start exercising moderately? I started exercising about two weeks after. but light. Soon after I was able to use my elliptical machine.

5) Has anyone had mild-to moderate acid reflux that is controlled with meds before the band? And, how is the acid reflux after the band? Is it better or worse? I didn't have BAD acid reflux before but I had a hiatal hernia they repaired at the time of surgery. I have had AR once since surgery and I had surgery in January.

6)I have seen on a lot of posts that after the band, there is less hunger. I actually am never hungry because I typically eat before I get hungry. So, after the band, are you not thinking about food or does the lasting feeling of fullness really diminish the hunger? Are you chomping at the bit for the next meal, or do you kind of forget about eating until all of a sudden you realize you need to eat? Before I got my first fill and when I was still at a good range with my band I wouldn't even think about food untill my stomach literally started growling like it was swallowing air. Then I would eat. =)

7Because eating is so tied to my emotions, and once I am no longer living to eat, I just wonder if I will pic up other compulsive behavior? Have any of you started doing other destructive things to replace the emotional salve of eating.) I haven't noticed anything. When I do need a fill I revert back to eating when I'm not very hungry just because I don't have that full feeling...but i don't condone it obviously...it's just my weakness and I'm being honest with you. =)

Hope this helps. =) Good luck!

Thanks a bunch!!!

I hope everything will be fine. I was worried I'd be the only bald girl doing hair hahaha. I guess I could invest in a nice wig!!!! A friend of mine said lack of Protein and another told me fast loss. I guess both can be factors but I am going to call my nutritionist tomorrow and get that straightened out. See what she has to say. I LOVE my hair though. It's so sad. =(

I'm going to make an appointment with a new primary care physician that I have, but until then I need some advice. My hair is falling out. In the shower it's handfulls and other times it's just a random handfull. For instance I just french braided my bangs into a pony tail and after I put my hair up into a hair band I was leaving the bathroom and on the counter I noticed a handfull of my hair laying where I had just leaned over the counter braiding. I am a cosmetologist and hair is my life. My job....I'm scared. I don't know what to do. I've been taking Biotin pills since I had surgery in January. They promote hair skin and nail growth and health. I eat what I'm supposed to and the ONLY area I'm lacking is Water. I could stand to drink a little more. What can I do? Has anyone else experienced this? By the way. My hair is my natural color...medium length and i would say healthy. It's not breaking off it's full strands of my hair falling out. Help...please?

Well I haven't been banded for even a year yet. I was banded in january and since the beginning of all of this I have lost 51 lbs. Knowing that the band is here to help me and that I have to do the rest is key. =) GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

I've had the lap band since january and lately I haven't been exercising much. I need to get on that, but i will share with you what i've been doing when I exercise. I have an elliptical at home and have gotten up to 35 minutes and about 4.5-6.0 mph when I do that. I have a bicycle exerciser too and I rarely use that because I feel like it doesn't do enough for me but I have used it occasionally. I have dance work out videos and I enjoy those because I love dancing. I have an exercise ball that I love to use to do crunches, push ups and wall squats. =) I have lost 51 lbs since the beginning of all of this. =)

I have had lapband since january and have lost 46lbs including the pre-op diet. It is and WILL BE possible for you to lose more than her if you follow the rules and do what you're supposed to. Maybe she shouldn't be the one you go to for nutritional advice. It is always helpful though to ask a fellow bandster about feelings...discomforts, pains etc that we are curious about. remember to do what's best for you and your band and you'll be fine.

My name is Danika and I'm 21. I had lap band surgery in january of this year and along with the pre-op diet have lost 46lbs as of today. I have an 18 month old son and I'm currently in cosmetology school... =) it's my passion. I am engaged to my sons father and we've been together for four years. I spend my free time with my son and doing homework or housework, haha. every tuesday I go to karaoke in my town with a few friends as well. I'm so excited about my weight loss and my wedding. In September I will be getting married and I hope to be around 135 lbs by then!

hello,

I was banded jan 25th and although after my surgery i didn't have any restriction i still only ate 1 cup of food, healthily and have not strayed. I haven't let myself eat whatever I want just because my band may allow me to. I have since lost 43 lbs! I had my first fill last week on march 22nd and I couldn't be happier. My port is located around 3 inches above my belly button or more and to the left. I can feel my port. =)

I'm 21 and i was banded at 20. i started off at 240 like you i'm happy with my decision to get the band young. i'm embracing the life-style change although it's a challenge every day. YOU'LL DO FABULOUS. congratulations on being banded. =)

i started out at 42 DD and 240 lbs. i'm at 199 lbs and around 40 D-DD now. it varies depending on the bra. =)

even when i before weighed 137 i had C's...so hopefully I wont lose all my boobies. =)