CheckYes

I don't know if you have PF Changs near you but they make a delicious Steamed Ginger Salmon dish. It's about 360 calories for the whole dish - I couldn't even eat half. It was wonderful.

Common. You're losing a combination of Water weight, fat, muscle, etc. The scale can drop big time when your glycogen is depleted.

My doc said that the first line of defense is to increase your Water intake. How much water are you drinking? I'd bet it's not enough. Consume 80 ounces of water tomorrow and see what happens. Those fiber and stool products DO NOT work properly unless you increase your water intake.

I see no one has responded yet. I'm in Northern California and paid $13,600. Maybe send a direct message to HeatherinCA I think she had her band at UC Irvine.

I was banded last August. I have only had one minor set back and that was from having my band too full. I started at 227 and I now weigh 163. I'm almost at my goal and I highly recommend the band.
I know 3 others who have it. They have each lost over 150 pounds and kept it off. They have been banded for almost 5 years now.
Just do what your doctor says and you will have great results!!

My 3 year bandiversary is tomorrow and I have no serious complications (knock on wood), I've had great success and couldn't be happier about my decision. It's alot of work and you have to stay dedicated to it. Don't dwell on the "what ifs". Just follow your doctor's instructions and you'll do fine!

I don't see it that way at all!

Just the usual post-op aches and pains, but nothing I would call major. No different from any other kind of major surgery.

Many people expect that once they hve the surgery the pounds will begin to fall off the next day. Th first month is not about loosing weight. It is about healing and getting to the point where you can begin to function normally again.
If you drop some pounds from the post-op diet, so be it. If you don't, or if you still feel hungry, so what?

Think of it this way. You had surgery, they put something in your body, but it isn't turned on yet. You have to wait and heal, then the Dr. will activate it by starting the fill process.

I was very discouraged the first few months. Showing up for my appointment with my Surgeon, getting on the scale and showing little or no weight loss, my mentality was that of being on one of those diet programs where I felt I would be chastised for non performance.
The Surgeon laughed at me and said if you had lost weight, you wouldn't need to be here for a fill.

hello
I feel I had good results. 5 months now and down 50 pounds. yeah I get the the stuck episodes but it is my fault for not chewing slowly n eatting way to fast. I started out 22/24 n now im in a 16. All blood pressure problems are gone n I am happy as a clam
Sure I wish I coulld do better n read other ppl n see they are doing alot more but this is our own journey n each one of us is diffrent.
Good luck

Have had my band a year and have had no problems. As long as I work with my band and not against it everything works fine. If I overeat I gain, if I eat right and exercise I lose. No, it's not rocket science- bur it works for me. I have maintained an 80+ lb weight loss since Feb and have gone from a size 22 to a loose 12, and I am going in for my TT next month.
Have I read about problems people have had? Of course I have- bur aside from slips many of the problems are subjective. People tend not to post when things are going well, but rather they post when something is going wrong. I had 1 overfi- my fault not my dr. Did it suck? You bet it did, but all is good now.
The experience is what you make it - I choose to have my experience be a positive one

I consider myself a very successful bandster...I had surgery 6 months ago and have lost 84 lbs. As others have said, most of the posts on here are from people who need help or have questions so don't base your opinion on that...it's the nature if the forum. For some good success stories, check out some blogs...I would suggest Lapband Gal, Chronicles from Band Land and Once Upon A Time in the Land of cheese and Sunkist. All three of these ladies have had wonderful success with their bands and are very inspirational.

There are plenty of success stories out there. Keep in mind that when we have been banded for awhile and nothing is going wrong, there isn't much reason to post. This forum is a great place for people who are having an issue to post a problem and get help from fellow bandsters. There are plenty of success threads here. Look for them. There are also several threads just like this one where people are put off by all the complications they read here and want to hear some success.
In my own case, I was banded almost 2 years ago. I have not had complications. I dropped 100 pounds in the first year and have not "worked" at it one bit. I don't think it's hard work at all. This is the easiest weightloss of my life.
I do believe the band is sort of "magic" because I have put in very little effort. People who are working hard don't like to hear this. There could be band complications in my future, but for now I'm not going to dwell on that. I am glad this forum is here so I can talk to other bandsters when and if those complications happen.
Your lapband journey can be a good one, so try to focus on that and not other's complications
Reading the complications can keep us aware, but please don't let it get you down.

I think the fact that you are concerned about it is a good sign. Doesn't sound like you are going into it blind.
Read as much as you can on these forums. I did that - even though I was scared - knowledge is key.

You should be following your surgeon's directions. Im glad you are feeling pretty good but the rule breaking needs to stop. You might be setting yourself up for a rough road.
You don't really want to be using Fluid to get more food down. You want food to stick around in your pouch area.
Do what you will but please consider following your doctors rules.
Best wishes.

I hear it does help to create a record of it being a problem.
Someone else posted about this recently and the suggestions were Desitin or another type of diaper ointment.
It could also be something that needs a prescription... Have your PCP have a look next time you go in.

My surgeon had said that she would not do the surgery if I gained more than five pounds between the orientation meeting and my surgery date. Be sure yours doesnt have the same guideline!

You don't need this drama! Just write the guy off. You don't owe him any explanation.

You don't need this drama! Just write the guy off. You don't owe him any explanation.

It's awful to feel alone. Have you considered going to a food Addicts Anonymous meeting? There are even online meetings. Www.foodaddictsanonymous.org

Watch out guys. My surgeon said no surgery if I wasn't wihmthin five pounds of the weight I was at my initial consult. A weight gain before surgery is not a good indicator to a doctor that you are ready. That being said, I wouldnt go nuts with food but if you feel like you need to have a "last meal" kind of thing.... Do it once for pizza, once for whatever. Just don't continually say goodbye from now until your surgery! Best wishes!

Watch out guys. My surgeon said no surgery if I wasn't wihmthin five pounds of the weight I was at my initial consult. A weight gain before surgery is not a good indicator to a doctor that you are ready. That being said, I wouldnt go nuts with food but if you feel like you need to have a "last meal" kind of thing.... Do it once for pizza, once for whatever. Just don't continually say goodbye from now until your surgery! Best wishes!

If you say so, Elfiepoo. *sigh*

Fad: a temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct, etc., especially one followed enthusiastically by a group.
Diet: such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight
In my personal experience, everyone I know did Atkins temporarily enthusiastically. All of them lost weight then gained it back plus some after they stopped Atkins which gives further credit to it being a temporary manner of conduct for all the people I know who did Atkins.
Oh, and before anyone suggests otherwise - they were doing Atkins. Sure, they stopped doing Atkins but has anyone ever done Atkins forever?

If you say so, Elfiepoo. *sigh*

It honestly will be better every day. I know it is hard the first few days. Sip slowly all day and do the best you can. Some people start freaking out if they didn't get their full Water intake each day but just do your best effort and you will be ok. The more you walk the better you will feel - honestly. Getting up and down is hard and you may be weak but hold on to the walls as you go. I was up and down the first two days and walking circles in my house and I had very minimal pain by Day 2.
Bottom line - be gentle with yourself and your feelings. Keep in mind that it is totally normal to think "What the hell have I done to myself??". That will pass. I promise.
Best wishes and keep us posted.

I can't blame you for being frustrated! I agree with the other posters that you should food journal and see if you can get an accurate picture of how many calories you are taking in. Start there and see if there is anything that can be changed there.
Also, have you ever considered using a bodybugg? I have one and am loving it. It tracks how many calories I burn and I journal everything so I can always make sure I have a calorie deficit.
Best wishes to you.... I hope the scale starts moving for you soon.