cnewstine

I know how you feel. I have been banded for 5 months, and have only lost 18 pounds. Most of that I lost in the first 3 weeks. I was first really frustrated and down on myself, but now I think that I am glad I lost 18 instead of gaining 18. And without the band, I would probably still be gaining weight. Also, it's never too late to start again. Make better food choices. Go back to eating slowly, follow the rules with eating and drinking separately, and get it in your head that you want to succeed. You can do it. I'm telling myself that too, even as I write it to you. It's not a magic pill. It's just a tool we have to use correctly, right? We can do it.

I think I would have liked to have known at the beginning that my food intake wasn't going to change overnight. I didn't know that it takes several fills to get to the special fill point that allows us to eat only 1/2 cup. I'm 3 months post op and can still eat more than 1/2 cup. It's a slower process than I expected, but you learn to appreciate the losses and know that it will happen - eventually.

my insurance has just advised me that they will cover only one fill every 6 months. I can't wait 6 months. I am very tempted to do my own. I have met people that do their own. It scares me to think of it, yes, but my band will not work for me if I only get a fill every six months.

I only use the Realize my success site to chart my progress in weight and inches and in the food diary. Other than that, I'm disappointed too. i don't think surgeons really care about it either. They are so busy doing surgery I don't think they have time to follow up on all the other stuff.

I also have the Realize C band, although I didn't know until 6 weeks post op when I asked.

I'm with you I'm actually "59 days post-op" according to Realizemysuccess.com and have lost 14 pounds total. I try to console myself that when you break it down it's almost 2 pounds a week. But, the 14 pounds I lost were in the first 3 weeks and I haven't lost since. Despite, exercise and staying under 1000 calories a day. I have even had a fill (6cc's in an 11 cc band) and that hasn't really done much. I actually am not getting hungry as often so I guess it's working in that respect, but I think I could eat whatever I want and not have it get stuck. It's really frustrating, I know. I keep wondering how people lose 80 to 100 pounds in a year if it is like this. Maybe I'm an anomaly. I've gotten to the point where I'm trying to forget the band is there and just eat the right things and exercise and hopefully, I will eventually see the results. It's a journey, so I'm trying to just experience it and try to enjoy the ride.

Usually, they wouldn't give you a fill that soon. The first appointment is pretty much just a check up to make sure you're OK. Band rules are that the first fill is usually after 6 weeks and you don't have to get one if you're still doing well. After 2 weeks, I really wanted a fill but didn't get one.

I had my surgery on 9-29-10 and have only lost 14 pounds, depending on the day. sometimes it's only 12 or 13. I've had one fill and am wondering, like you, how I'm ever going to get to a small size in a year when it seems so-o-o-0 slow. I guess that's the way of the band, though, as opposed to the bypass. At least we're not gaining and maybe we'll have less loose skin?????

Mine took almost 6 weeks and I still have twinges of pain. But, there's nothing wrong. Everyone has checked. And, it's more common than you think. It will get better. Some of us have a harder time with the port than others. Hang in there.

I remember the day after surgery, not being able to get up without feeling like my insides were ripping open, worried I would mess up the surgery somehow. I could only sleep on my back. I had to slowly scoot up to get up. That lasted 2-3 days. Then, it slowly got better. The port continued to hurt, though, even at my two week appointment. I kept thinking they put it in wrong, or my port was flipped or something, but my doctor checked it and he said it was OK> Now, 8 weeks out, the port has finally stopped hurting. I am always conscious of it, though. I can feel it and when I bend over a table, I feel like I'm going to knock it out of the place it's attached. But, at least there is no more pain. Hang in there. I didn't believe them when they said it would take time, but they were right.

I also have a realize band and I got 6 cc's in my first fill. I was surprised when she told me she usually did 5 cc's in the first one, but disappointed when she told me I would have to wait for 8 weeks!!!! before the second one. She could tell I was upset so she offered to be more aggressive on the first one and put in 6 cc's. I, too, thought I was going to feel so much restriction and fullness and everything, but........ nothing. Granted, it's been just a week since I had it, and they said it could take up to two weeks to feel anything, but I haven't yet. Everyone's different. Good luck

I like the "dot" thing. I'm looking at the weight loss of our september bandsters and it really looks comparable. I'm down 14 pounds now and others are pretty close to me. I guess we will have lots lost by next year at this time. I only get fills every 8 weeks, so that's kind of scary. I had my first one last week (6cc's in an 11 cc band) and am hoping that I'm going to get a delayed reaction of restriction, but PA says doubtful. Hopefully the next one will do the job. ... Keep me posted Theresa.