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I guess I'm still swollen since I have no fill yet and I'm not hungry. I really can only eat about 2 tablespoons of creamed Soup and feel gentle pressure if I eat more. I am trying to get my Water in. I was banded on May 12th. I get my first fill in a month. I hope I don't die of hunger in a week or so when the swelling goes down! Will I be able to Bear it? I've heard of people who still lose significant weight before a fill. I've lost 10 lbs since Mother's Day but that included 1 day of Clear liquids and so far the rest have been "full" liquids---Soups, Protein shakes, etc. i just don't want the Hunger To come back. My hunger is like an Evil Monster that follows me around and haunts me all day long---it's been such a sweet dream to not be Starving the last week. It's so freaking awesome! Thanks to everyone who takes the time to post answers and comments--it's really generous and helpful! I haven't figured out the ticker thing yet. Here's my numbers: highest weight--in the Fall during testing ---205 Before liquid diet for 3 days ---------------------197 today (5 days past surgery) ---------------------187 I'm very short and 187 looks much bigger on me. I am very excited to be on this journey. i can feel this is the right path! yay. hugs to all, BandedKitten

I'm going on my second day post op, I would love some feedback from those that have been here and done that:smile:

Yay for you! Good job on preop weight...be prepared if you get on the scale tomorrow you may have some weight gain, just fluids drops off quickly. I was sleeved on the 19th and i am down 10 since surgery. Had pintos n cheese, frozen yogurt and lemadelines tomato soup today. Plus a protein shake....was a good day. Besides the acid reflux which i know will go away this is the best thing ever...you will see....we are on our way! ~kris

I was banded today. This morning at approximately 10:30 and it's 11 p.m. central time and I feel great! I was in some discomfort when I got home but I kept drinking Water, took liquid Extra Strength Tylenol, napped and then walked around for a bit around the house. I've been moving around quite well all evening. I took the prescribed liquid pain medication around 8 p.m. (my husband had to get it filled today) but it didn't make me groggy. It just took the edge off. I was worried about getting constipated from taking it but I figure I'm only on Clear liquids today. How constipated can I get with so much liquid?! LOL! Just wanted to send out a shout out to those of you who have been so kind to respond to me in the past as I worked toward this goal of getting banded. Thanks!

Hi my name is Sunshine 926. I was banded on 10/2/08. I have lost 20 lbs. I have a lot of questions and it is nice to have a site where other people have questions too. Look forward to to chating with others.:eek:

Congratulations on your new date. Also congratulations on losing 50 lbs. Way to go! You already are a lot healthier with your 50 lb weight loss. You'll be even more healthy once you get the band and lose even more weight. I'm a few days in front of you. My surgery is this Friday, 9/17/10, just 2 days away! I'm nervous and exciting! Your surgery date is right around the corner, too. Best of luck to you!

I had my surgery with Dr. ATkinson on 12/20/08 and am to goal with losing 90 pds. Good luck and you are in good hands with Dr. Atkinson. I was very pleased with the Dr and his staff and never regretted the decision. I go on this website very single morning and have been for the last 2 1/2 yrs and I can't seem to find anybody that has the band for over 10 years. I guess I should not have to worry since I am 58 but if I were young, you might want to ask these questions before and decide on what surgery you want after that. I never had any fills and I have read that the life of the band is somewhat extended from not getting it filled/unfilled. I have read that getting too much of a fill over time sometimes causes slippage and I am not sure what actually causes that. Regardless, I am thrilled to have the band but if I was younger I would certainly weigh the pros and cons on permanent surgery that cannot be removed or eroded down the road. Good luck on your choice and you are starting out with one of the best doctors around.

You should not compare yourself to any others here, everyone loses at a different rate and there are so many factors. You will lose a significant amount of weight over 6 months if you follow the advice of your doctor and nutritionist. If you set a number to it you are only setting yourself up for failure... With that being said it is good to have goals but they should be realistic... One of the things I asked my doctor was how much should I expect to lose... I was told 10-15 lbs a months for the first several months. I was fortunate to lose 100 lbs in the first 6 months and have lost 12 lbs over the past two months. My doctor also told me he could see me being 270 after all was said and done... I've already seen 257 lbs although I gained a bit recently... I do plan on getting to a lighter weight. You should know at one month out how realistic 100 lbs over 6 months is for you on your journey good luck!!!

19 views, in 2 days, and no advice/comment/welcome. im really starting to feel out of place here =

Believe it or not I rushed into this It's taken me almost a year and a half of work but it's over at least. This...meaning insurance approval with Cigna. I was Denied because I was shy a 40 BMI by 10 -12 pounds when I submitted everything they were looking for I jumped thru every hoop and paid out every last cent to docs. etc. but I should have know (and not listen to people on this site that said Cigna does cover with no co mobidities - NOT TRUE) they clearly state that they do not cover those under a 40 BMI unless you have grave illness that don't respond to meds.. Not only that but they will not approve any claim even related to this one in the future. Meaning if I gain 10 pounds in the next year.even if I maintain that for a year and..easy to do at my age...they won't even consider it. My fear is of dying of a heart attack like my twin sister did of obesity last year. My chest is so huge it strangles me at night and causes sleep apnea that doesn't appear on the "test" ...another few hundred bucks there. My warning to those seeking insurance approval with CIGNA....if you're not starting out with a 40 BMI save your money until you are or get a loan unless you can clearly prove a comobidity. __________________

hi mel i had my surgery on 10/30. i wish u luck with your surgery. ive just been a little down and out. be nice talking with others who know what this is like.

My name is Brent and I live in Central California. My surgery was performed in Visalia, CA by Dr, Karen Mac Kenxie. Before surgery I weighted around 332 lbs, but when I went to see the Dr. I was at 322 (tying to diet on my own). At the time of the surgery I was down to 308 lbs thanks to that god awful pre-op diet. Now after the surgery I weight around 288 lbs. My surgery was 8/28/2008. My insurance paid for it because I have everything in the book: Diabetes Hight Blood Pressure BMI over 40 sleep Apnea High Cholesterol My first fill is on 10/1/2008 and I thought it would be a good idea to fine a support site. This site looks like a good place to get information and support from this who have already been thru there.

I am 5'4" and 260 lbs. I have been heavy all my life, too. I grew up poor in Louisiana. Food was typical Cajun food as it is cheap and plentiful ie. meat, rice, gravy, fried foods, etc. On top of this, my mother had absolutely no idea of portion sizes for a child. She gave us adult portions and were made to eat it all. Furthermore, she had this paranoid delusion that somehow we were going to be hungry going to bed so we had a bowl of cereal and milk to go to bed on, nevermind we could roll faster than we could walk. On top of that the household was abusive and neglectful. As a result myself and two siblings suffer with weight issues due to overeating and emotional eating. I was also diagnosed with PCOS 10 years ago. My weight has been a constant struggle.

I am new here and will be having my surgery in June sometime. I met with the program coordinator at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in NH and have made almost all my appointments. I met with the psychologist, physical therapist, nutritionist x2, taken the 5 week class and attended two support groups wit hthe thiurd to occur soon. I have to lose 14 pounds before the surgery and still have 10 to go and as per any weight lose it's hard going. Is anyone else here from NH? I live in the Lakes Region and would love to hear from others near me. It's 1.5 hours from me to the point of surgery so getting together with people isn't always easy. I have to wait until June so that my mother (caregiver after surgery) will be home from FLorida. WIsh me luck! Jen

I lost 22 pounds 2 weeks preop and 17 in 7 weeks post op. It's normal. A "3week stall" is normal. Losing every single day is not normal. Losing 10 pounds/week is not normal. You are doing fine. Just keep getting your fluids and Protein and exercise and you will lose. It took years to put on weight, and you certainly won't lose it all in a few weeks. This is a lifelong process, it won't happen overnight and you shouldn't stress over.

Houston, Texas I guess the first thing is to ask how the doctor does his procedures. Does he to it lapscropy (sp?) or open. Then how big is the band he puts in, and what should you expect from his point of view for the amount of fills you will have. Then I would ask if he expects you to be on liquids 10 days prior to surgery and how long afterwards. What type of food will you be able to eat after the healing period. If you take medications, find out if you can swallow them or have to crush them. Good luck. I had my band on 12/3/08 and my first fill 1/4/08. I'm down 35 lbs. and feeling terrific. I think you will be glad you chose this instead of gastric bypass. I've not heard to many good things about that surgery. Debbie

Well I had been dreading telling my boss that I needed off to go to a consult for the lapband. I am the office manager in a small office and have been for 10 years so, yes, I needed to tell him why I would be off. We are good friens so I don't have a problem with him knowing but...... He kinda shook his head, and I told him that I didn't want his opinion. He said ok but then said well have you tried losing it on your own with diet and exercise. Well yes for about 20 years. He said no I mean really try and stick to it, all you have to do is burn more calories than you eat. So there is the answer, boys and girls, just exercise and diet, lol . I told him I could lose 20 pounds pretty easy but then get comfortable and after awhile I gain 25 back. I need to really get it all off. Oh, well I didn't expect him to understand but it did make me feel like a failure

donaboss, on 23 Dec 2013 - 19:08, said: ribearty said Maybe I did that so I can get as much information as possible. So that was not needed. You are new so maybe did not see it is a violation of forum rules to cross post topics. Thanks.

Congrats. You sound good. I lost 40 Pre-op ( 10 mos) And at least 10# post. - op. ( 10 days) I am away for the long weekend and have not seen a scale in days.

After years of partying and always being the jolly fat lad, I decided after a harsh relationship break down to take stock of my life. I seem to have spent the majority of my adult life on a diet losing a little bit here and there but thing major and I would always end up pilling the weight back on plus a bit more. I am not unhealthy I was in the gym 3-4 times a week an playing rugby but nothing seemed to move the weight. I got injured playing rugby and had to stop playing an weight just spiralled out of control. it all came to a head in the summer of 2014 I was 31 years old and out of breath walking up the stairs at home and work. I grew bored of making excuses as to why I was out of breath and found it hard to admit that it was because of my weight but I knew something had to be done. I went to the my GP but he advised me there was 3-4 year wait for a consultation and offered me half price vouchers for a slimming world class. I advised him id tried that an weight watchers and the Cambridge diet etc. I decided I would go private I booked a consultation and met with the Spires health group in Bromsgrove at this point I had not told anyone about having surgery and contained to play the jolly fat guy. The morning of the consultation was the hardest thing I had done to date. I had a lot of doubt in my mind of I was doing the right thing or if I was a failure as I couldn't get the weight off and stick to a diet by myself but walking through those doors was the best thing I ever did the staff there where professional and treated me with respect. I met with my consultant Mr Nirja, and he conducted all the relevant tests an took my weight BMI etc. he then sat me down and explained both the sleeve an bypass options we decided between us I would go for the sleeve. After my meeting with Mr Nirja I was then taken in to another room and spoke to a lady called Sally who has actually had one of the first bypass in the UK many moons ago. this was just an extra thing they offered encase we felt we couldn't ask the Surgeon. All in all I was in there for around 2 hours. I came out feeling positive for the first time in a while, I decided I would have my surgery on the 20th December for the reason being I would have broken up from work by then and I would have 2 weeks off to recover as I had no holiday left to take. At this point I still had not told anyone I was having the surgery done. I was to start my liquid diet of 3 pints of milk an 2 yogurts on the 6th December 2014. I was excited and very nervous at the same time. on the 4th December after stressing about how my family would react I finally plucked up the courage to tell them. All the thoughts I had about how they would react and the questions id get bombarded with proved to be untrue my family were very supportive even if it did take me a few attempts to explain what exactly I was having done and what would happen. on the 6th I started the liquid diet and passed this off at work as another fad diet I was trying to much ridicule as per usual, It was probley the hardest 2 weeks I had in life up to that point as its a mental battle as there is nothing stopping you from actually saying sod it and eating normal food. The first 3days for me personally was torture I had stomach cramps and flatulent. But on the 4th day my body had accepted it and the rest of the time was a breeze. On Saturday 20th December I checked into the hospital in Solihull at 11am, I asked my parents to leave as I felt I had to brave this on my own. At 1pm I was walked down to theatre which was an experience in it self walking into a room that looked liked an alien space ship. I remember waking up around 6:20pm on that afternoon surrounded by doctors and nurses apparently my heart had stopped twice during the operation and I had to be brought back. I didn't wake up in pain just a dull ache really. After I spoke to a doctor they wheeled me in to ICU where I spent my first night with my new stomach. That night I didn't sleep much and spent the night talking to the nurse who was appointed to look after me. I had the last of my pain killers at 2am on the 21st December less then 12 hours post surgery an I have not had a single one since It wasn't me being a Martyr I just wasn't in any pain. On the Sunday morning my family visited me apart from being tired an sore I felt good I was up walking about. Just after lunch on the Sunday I was taken back to my room and I decided I would walk it instead of using the wheel chair. That Sunday was spent just watching TV and drifting in and out of sleep I was so bored lol. The Sunday night I slept like a log and a woke about 7am on the Monday morning a nurse asked if id like a cup of tea which I accepted and it was the best thing I had tasted in my life lol, My consultant came and visited me at 9am and said I was allowed to go home as soon as the nurses had brought my medicine from the pharmacy. I was discharged around 10:30am that morning with a bag of FastTab anti acids and some dissolvable paracetmol for when I need them (Still unopened) The First week was an eye opening experience first time Id had half a can of Soup for xmas dinner. I am now into week 7 since the op and I am not allowed to do any exercise at the moment until the end of February 2015. But I have lost 85lbs in 7 weeks so I am happy with the way its going. Already I feel so much better and happier in myself and clothes are getting baggy already, well this is my story so far sorry for waffling and ill keep updating it every so often. To anyone thinking of having surgery DO IT you wont regret it its not going to be easy far from it but my god its worth it!!!!! if you ever have any question please get in touch.

@@Chi2Htown, I live in the Chicago area as well. This forum was a Godsend while I was going through the process. I binge read for three months before surgery, I even went back and read post from years ago. Educate yourself. The sleeve is permanent so you want to make sure you have no regrets. This was the absolute best decision I made. I honestly never had one second regret, even immediately after surgery when it was hard because I knew it would get better. I'm 52 & wish I had done this 10 years ago. Wishing you the very best possible outcome.

Michelle, I can't offer any suggestions on Mexico but there are plenty of people on here who have gone to Mexico and had wonderful experiences. I defer to them and their experience. As for being fearful, here's my take. horror stories about Lap Band There are thousands upon thousands of people who never, ever go to any internet forum and post their comments and stories. People who have bad experiences are often the FIRST ones to find a place to vent. I've read a lot of stuff but no "horror" stories. Yes, some stories of complications (a few who have had their bands slip; a few ports getting flipped) but nothing horrific. The risk of complications with lap band is statistically 0.1%; with bypass it is .10%. That's a big difference. Mechelle voiced a very common concern: Scared it wont work. Most of us have had that fear. After alll, just how many diets have we been on where we didn't lose and gave up or lost a lot of pounds and then "fell off the wagon" and gained it all back with a few extra for good measure? I will tell you that I personally haven't been able to lose more than 30 pounds without falling off the wagon in quite a few years. But I'm down 52 and really haven't even thought about eating some of the crap I used to. Now, that doesn't mean I haven't eaten a little bit of birthday cake (a very little bit, just enough to get the taste) and I've snitched a few fries when I made them for my granddaughter who lives with me but I most definitely haven't gone crazy. This is a lifestyle that comes with enforcement. Your band, once you reach your sweet spot, will keep you from overeating. Yes, you will still have to make good choices, but you will have help. There are bypass patients who have eaten around their bypass surgery and regained some if not all of their weight AND GOTTEN A LAP BAND AFTER. You can eat around any surgery. "Slider foods" like ice cream and stuff has a lot of calories and can get you in a heap of trouble. But guess what? Same problem with other WLS. There is no magic in this. You have to be willing to make the lifestyle changes ... and if you choose the band, you will have a great tool. I can say that because I have the band. I can't say more than I have about bypass because I didn't have that; I've only done my research comparing the band (my choice) with GB. And I know next to nothing about the sleeve so I can't say anything definite about that.

Hi Abe, Welcome and congrats on making the decision to change your life. If you really read into this site, most people do not have those complications, just a few. You could get those same issues with the lap band I believe. I myself , had no complications other than feeling nauseaus coming out of surgery ( common I guess) I believe if you go into this with a clear, positive mind set, you will be just fine. I would do it all over again 10 times to be where I am today. I will be 5 months out on July 9th and am down 72 lbs, 57 since surgery and cant remember the last time I felt this good. Good luck on your decision, keep us posted!

I am having my surgery 10/18/10 with EGD on 10/5, preop testing on 10/6 and I start my preop diet on 10/4. I have to take their preop diet drinks. Heard they were not good, but I will give it a try. Well, I am officially getting a little nervous, but I am truely excited and ready to make this change not just for me, but my 5 year old son and my husband.

You are going to be fine! Your surgeon I am sure has done many lap bands and nothing is being cut on just added. ( : your emotions are normal, we have all had them. I am a nurse and went back to work in 10 days and have done just fine. As far as the pain goes its not bad, I'm sure your c/s was worse. Just remember to walk as soon as possible to break up the gas. Good luck!!! Very excited for u!!!