Twinkles

My first fill was at 12 weeks. There is no set schedule for fills. It is when having a fill will be beneficial for you. I'm about 18 months out from surgery, I've had 3 fills and one slight unfill. Some people never have fills and some people have their band completely filled.

I had mine on Sept 1! Congratulations, recovery is one tough cookie, but so so worth it!

It went awesome. I'm putting a link to my surgery thread below. Everything is healed up and WONDERFUL! My scars are not bad and I would absolutely do it all over again! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/136852-full-tummy-tuck-and-breast-lift-done-one-month-ago-progress-and-pics/

Just posting a quick update... A little over 17 months from surgery date and 9 POUNDS TO GOAL! And it seems to be going very slow. However, I didn't gain over the holidays, so that is a plus! It's still falling off, but falling off slowly. Definitely thought I'd be at goal right now, but considering where I started, you will hear no complaints from me! Still love my band and I'm still running. 3-5 miles a day, plan on doing my first half marathon this year!

I am ALWAYS cold. My husband thinks I'm crazy, lol. My hands and feet especially. Nothing helps, I run daily, about 3-5 miles, yep, still cold. Layers, layers, layers, I keep a jacket or sweatshirt everywhere. At work, in each car, all over the place, lol.

I've lost 115. Went from a 46DD to a 34D... However, there is a story behind this. I also had a lift a few months ago. Before my lift, I was a 34C or so I thought. I kept buying that size and they just didn't fit well. After surgery, I was buying 34B/C, thinking my boobs were the same, couldn't have gone up a cup. I finally went into Victoria Secrets and was actually fitted and measured. I'm in a 34D and the bras fit amazingly! I mean, I know they say about 86% of women do not wear the right bra size, but wow. Apparently I had enough mass in my boobs, they just needed tighter "packaging". Long story short, I would definitely wait until after being banded! I kept my boobs until my last 20 pounds of weight, then they just disappeared.

That is absolutely HILARIOUS!!!

LOL - Yep, I'm excited. And I am honestly comfortable now saying that I am a runner. In fact, it is pretty much the only form of exercise I have the patience to do. I've ran a few 5k's but for some reason have been nervous to do anything longer, but I'm biting the bullet and doing a 10k on NYE. My ultimate goal is to do a half marathon next December.

Walk as much as you can! I started running (albeit slowly) about 3 weeks post op. But I was walking day of surgery and progressively longer each day after.

It is so hard because everybody (and our Dr's) are so different and we will all lose weight differently. I lost very very quickly. My first fill wasn't until 12 weeks, but by then, I had lost probably 50 pounds. Like the others have said, if you are consistently losing, there is no need for a fill because being too tight is not something that you want to experience. My second fill, I got because I just felt like I needed one, not for any reason really. Well, I got one and I was MISERABLE and ended up getting it removed after about 6 weeks. But those 6 weeks, I was trying to make the fill work for me, however, not being able to eat, throwing up and just being plain miserable isn't the way to live. I have had a fill since that one was removed in May. I'm currently about 9 pounds from goal but there is not any need to have a fill even though I'm sure it would make me hit my goal sooner, especially since I've been somewhat plateaued for a few months but it just isn't worth it. So, don't get a fill because you are in a hurry to lose. As much as we don't want to believe, our Dr's generally know what is best, lol, or at least we hope, right?

Walk walk walk!!! Nothing helped me better than walking and walking often. It is very uncomfortable but it will pass after a few days. I swear, I came out looking bigger than I did going in for all of that gas. Happy recovery!

Mine stayed on for about 2 weeks. But yes, my stomach was itchy itchy itchy the first week. Let them fall off naturally though.

HAHA!!! That is great!

Congrats!!! I'm still so pleased with mine! Hope you have a speedy recovery. REST REST REST!!!

This happened to me, not just the hair loss but the massive hormonal issues... Hair loss, well, I'm not convinced they know exactly what causes it. I paid particular attention to my Protein, Iron, Vitamins, minerals and still lost so much hair it was ridiculous. It did however stop and now my hair is very healthy and thick. Hormones, I went and saw my OBGYN about 2 months after lapband because I was a freaking wreck. I was told that our bodies are used to being overweight and when we are overweight we produce more hormones ie estrogen, etc. Our bodies are going through a shock with the rapid loss and haven't quite gotten the message that it can slow down on the production of hormones. Excess hormones are generally stored in fat, you have less fat so they are just floating around in your system causing some craziness, lol. It does stabilize, but will take some time. It took me about 6-7 months to feel normal again. I did end up having my Dr give me some liquid Zoloft to take 2 weeks a month between ovulation and my period, that is when it was the worst for me. I did that for 4 months and haven't had to even worry about it since.