Search the Community

Well good luck to the both of you! I'm one week post op as well. Friday was an awkward day, but the weekend rest helped me out a lot.

I was scheduled to have surgery with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico, this week! All surgeries for the week are now canceled due to the fires raging in Southern, California. Apparently some of the staff had to evacuate their homes, and the San Diego Airport may shut down preventing patients for flying in (and out!) My surgery is postponed 1 week, and I was bummed about that, however the real tragedy is what the Souther California residents are dealing with!

Hi Helen, Just 3 lb off 4 stone in less than 7 months is brilliant. Well done :rose: I too struggled over xmas with all the chocs around but at least we are not putting weight on and must be excused for the odd hiccup or two. I didnt lose weight for 6 weeks and was getting realy dispondent but as it took me 25 years to put this weight on I guess its not going to dissapear overnight. I went back to the beginning and dug out all my old food records from November to see what I was eating then and gave myself a good talking too.This last fill has definately made a difference. Perhaps you need to review your food choices to get back on track. Good luck to you. Julie

I agree that BMI is a nice tool to have to track progress, similar to the scale---meaning it is helpful, but it does not tell the whole story. My beautiful DD is just like Ceredad, she is tall 5'9", and ACTIVE!!!! According to the charts she would still be overweight, and by more than a simple pound! But this girl is a 36D, on top and wears a size 7 in Juniors!!!! But she has muscle tone that is incredible. She runs marathons! She lifts weights 3 X weekly, and does cardio 2X weekly one week then swaps the next. She only gets this time, as she does it in the company gym---but her weekends she is running with the dogs, she is GO GO GO!!! There is actually not that many pounds separating my DD and I---------but the shape we are in is totally different!! Her body fat is very, very low.....mine is slowly going down! We love having ways to track our progress, and scales, and BMI charts, are great, but a measuring tape, and a good physical cannot be replaced by either! In all honesty it saddens me to think something like a chart can say she is overweight, when ANYONE looking at her, would just shake their heads. You do not see her bones poking through----and you don't see body builder level of muscles, but she looks like I dream of looking! Kat

This same thing happened to me. After the fill I was o.k., then on the 3rd day I couldn't hold down anything, even Water. I was pbing, throwing up, it was terrible! After 4 days I had enough, I finally paged my doctor, and they told me to come in right away. Within 5 days I lost 3.8 lbs, so they knew I was not lying, they took out .25cc's and then a few days I was so much better. Then I was saying I will NEVER have a fill again! Now 3 weeks later I need a fill, I can eat more and I am at a stand still in my weight lost. Corgi

I could eat egg at 3 weeks.

My surgeon gives me a little numbing shot first, so I don't feel the fill at all. The numbing shot stings for a second. Also, he has me lying down on my back while he does the fill, so there's no risk of fainting. Did your doc specifically tell you not to eat solids BEFORE a fill? Every doctor is different, but mine doesn't have any requirements for beforehand. He says to "take it easy" for the rest of the day afterwards. One thing that happened to me after my second fill, I was fine for a day and a half right after the fill. Then all of a sudden the band felt really tight the next day. So take it easy for a few days after a fill. Chew very well, wait a minute or two between bites to see how you feel. As it gets fuller and fuller, you'll start to see what it really feels like to have a band. It's an adjustment, but well worth the small hassle. P.S. I've even suddenly felt very tight TWO WEEKS after a fill! Why? I have no idea! The band can be fickle, but I love it anyway....

flipflop wonderful news you must be so psyched, getting an official date for WLS, to start your long journey towards a healthier, happier life feeling excited, nervous, scared - these are all emotions/reaction to WLS surgery is about 2 1/2 weeks away and counting - you will have many reactions take a bunch of deep breaths - don't forget to exhale good luck on your pending surgery kathy

Rarely if ever do first fills give you any kind of restriction. Usually it's three or four or more before you hit that "sweet spot." I think you did very well with your amount of food consumed and sometimes for some people it's no longer a stuffed feeling, it's a loss of interest with eating, or it's a hiccup or their nose runs or they get a golf ball feeling, it's it sooo different for each of us what satisfied feels like. Read Wendell's post about fills and unfills in the FAQ forum, it's very informative.

Susy - It doesn't really matter if you are in th 200+ or 100+ gotta lose section we all have issues with food. The first 2 weeks that you are to be on full liquids is for the stiches around your tummy & the band to heal - You should not have eaten the beans - you should have ordered Soup - and crackers didn't help - but you all ready know this so I won't beat a dead horse. Your band is only a tool - this is a lifetime lifestyle change - and it is going to take work on your part to over come your issues with food. You really need to follow your doctors eating plan if you want to be sucessful at this. You can do this - it will be harder some days than others - but you can do it - just plan plan plan and be prepared for the bumps in the road - and if you fall down - just get right back up and start doing the work again... Good Luck to you..

I have the lap band in which I was able to find a lot of information on and as far as my support group, I have this website, my Doctor's office (they are great) and my immediate family. That's enough for me. As for the realize band I have just started seeing commercials for this a couple of weeks ago so I don't know. The commercial I saw advertised didn't appear to be exactly in line with the band as far as weight loss statistics but if you have been on this site then you know that the weight loss is contingent upon the individuals diet and exercise so in other words the product can only be as successful as you allow it to be (lap band/realize). If you can't make a decision on your own then let your Doctor do the surgery that he is the most familiar with that way you limit the risk of complications. Good Luck!

I had my band done nearly 3 weeks ago by Prof Toouli at FPH. I was very pleased with everything. He was recommended to me several years ago by a girl i worked with.

I haven't taken measurements yet. I will do that this week. I can tell I've lost some. It's hard to notice. I also didn't take proper before pictures, which I regret big time now.

So mondays are my official weigh days. I try to stay off the scale (I don't own any, work at a doctors office and use those) except for one day a week. I had surgery 12/28 and last week I didn't lose any from the week before. I was on my cycle, and I"m hoping that was the issue... but I'm honestly scared to weigh tomorrow and not see the numbers the dropped. I know that is ridiculous, and that this isn't all about the numbers, but I don't want to feel defeated if it stays the same. I am getting my Protein in, all the Water I can (which some days is below what I should be... but 99% of the time I get it and then some). I also started working out this weekend, I'm hoping that will make a difference. I know this forum is full of "stall" posts and I'm sorry to add to that... I just worry about getting down on myself.

I am 3 weeks out going from band to sleeve. Still have pain under left rib cage. Just started pureed and hurts under shoulder. Have no energy. Trying to get everything in(protein, fluids) but makes me uncomfortable. Also, still have nausea issuse. Anyone else have this at 3 weeks?

You will do just fine. We did it one week apart and things have gone well for us. The wife goes in 4 weeks for a check up and then the 1st fill. I am going to try and get it so that we both are filled on the same day. The wife is able to drive and lift, she just needs to watch what she does. He said the same would be for me. Funny thing witht he interns they said I could drive starting on Sat. but felt I should what for his word. Plus I had another surgery on Friday that sidline for a few days also. Glad to see that everybody is doing well so far. I think that this will be a great thread to keep going for couples.

I went to my Dr. about 2 weeks ago and he told me that it look like my band had slipped and also have a hiatal hernia. I have no fill in my band but food still get stucks in my esophagus somtimes and my stomach feels like it is on fire sometimes, I drank lemonade today and it almost killed my stomach so do you guys think i might have a stomach ulcer along with all the other, i am worried that there may be erosion or something worse, am i just paranoid or what? Please i need advice. Thanks wkhodges banded august 2002 :help: :help:

<TABLE class=formtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=margin></TD><TD class=field><INPUT type=hidden value="Things are going as well as can be so far since surgery. I went in on Wednesday about 11:00 A.M. and did all the pre-op paper work and blood work. I was taken to the surgery holding area about 12:15 and had more reviews and I kept a real postivie attitude. One of the questions was why are you doing this and I said that Iam doing this to make my life better for myself and the family. At about 1:30 P.M. I was taken into surgery and slide over on the table and they gave me some drugs and the next thing I know I was in recovery. About 2:30 P.M. About an hour later I was taken up to my room and then I was allowed to get up and take care of business. Then I was able to walk around. I know everybody is differant in how they handle pain etc. but I must admitthe only pain that I had an nothing work was the gas pains. That hurt most of the night but I ddi keep up walking etc. On Thursday went for the barrium swallow and got to see the band work and was able to start on liquids by 10 A.M. and was home by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday. I went to see the doctor on Friday because my incision (I have 6) the one by the belly button/now port was very red. He put me on some liquid antibotics. While there he said that it only took him 41 minutes to get the band on me. He said that there was a little fat but not much. The week before my wife had the band done. Since we were not sure if she had a cold or allergies we both did the lquid diet. The biggest mistake for me was going off of it and then restarting back again since Iam allways feeling hungery even though iam eating enough. Just something I will have to get used to over the next few weeks. Thanks again to everyone for all there help and advice. Chris Banded 9/19/07 St. Louis Pre/Surg/ 250/231/? " name=message> <TABLE class=wide cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom> Things are going as well as can be so far since surgery. I went in on Wednesday about 11:00 A.M. and did all the pre-op paper work and blood work. I was taken to the surgery holding area about 12:15 and had more reviews and I kept a real postivie attitude. One of the questions was why are you doing this and I said that Iam doing this to make my life better for myself and the family. At about 1:30 P.M. I was taken into surgery and slide over on the table and they gave me some drugs and the next thing I know I was in recovery. About 2:30 P.M. About an hour later I was taken up to my room and then I was allowed to get up and take care of business. Then I was able to walk around. I know everybody is differant in how they handle pain etc. but I must admitthe only pain that I had an nothing work was the gas pains. That hurt most of the night but I ddi keep up walking etc. On Thursday went for the barrium swallow and got to see the band work and was able to start on liquids by 10 A.M. and was home by 4:00 P.M. on Thursday. I went to see the doctor on Friday because my incision (I have 6) the one by the belly button/now port was very red. He put me on some liquid antibotics. While there he said that it only took him 41 minutes to get the band on me. He said that there was a little fat but not much. The week before my wife had the band done. Since we were not sure if she had a cold or allergies we both did the lquid diet. The biggest mistake for me was going off of it and then restarting back again since Iam allways feeling hungery even though iam eating enough. Just something I will have to get used to over the next few weeks.Thanks again to everyone for all there help and advice. My wife had here done on 9/12/07 and is doing fine.</PRE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

My surgery was last Friday in Hurst with Dr. Marsden and everything went great except I did get the dreaded shoulder pain. But I am a week out now and my abdomen is feeling much better and my stomach doesnt feel so swollen. I am back to almost normal even my shoulder is just sore not that stabbing pain like a few days ago. I HAVE LOST 13 LBS!!!! Wow, I am so proud!!! But it is so funny how our brains work, this morning when I got up I didnt lose any weight and I was disappointed. Isnt that silly. I have lost 13 lbs in less than a week and I was bummed this morning. I am going to have to change so much about my thinking. Anyway, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I have posted some on this board and have always received great feedback but more than that just being able to come here and read and read and read about everyone elses journey has meant the world to me!!! Love, Teresa 295,282,175 Banded 8/11/06 Dr. Marsden

Hey, hey! I was at 2.2 for the duration of my weightloss. Didn't need anymore fills. At times the scales would move only .3, yeah 1/3rd pound in 2-3 weeks. But I always said to myself..... as long as it's going in the right direction..... Congrats!

Thanks guys, I am 2 weeks out and I have lost 7 lbs...Not bad at all! So I have a good one...thanks for all your support...you all make it easier to go through this change we are all going through.

I didn't tell anyone about my surgery except my mom and I am self-pay as well. I asked my doctor about FMLA (family medical leave act) and he filled out the papers for me to turn into my company. The papers simply stated that I was having surgery (no specific type) and would need to be off from work for 2 weeks and upon returning could not lift anything over 5lbs for 4 weeks. If you have FMLA and your company employs 50 employees or more then legally they can't deny you time off from work regardless of whom is on vacation. It is the law. Even if it is elective, the surgery is to improve your overall health which is why I was able to get FMLA. I was given 2 weeks off from work. Please speak with your doctor about it and I'm sure he or she will fill out the necessary papers for you to have the required time off from work. I hope this helps and good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow..... you are Superwoman. At day 5 I wasn't even able to walk more then 10 minutes at a time. And the movies...no way...The last thing I felt like doing was wearing real clothes and looking desent enough to go in public. As far as rough house with dog.......... nope..... even my little shih tzu was sad she couldn't jump on me. I took off 3 whole weeks and am SOOOO glad I did. I work for USPS and when you come back to work they don't care what you went through or what you can and can't physically do. If you are there then you better be able to do 100%. A woman who had surgery the same day I did thought she could go back at day 7 since she had a desk job and the insicion where her port is opened up a little and she got an infection. YIKES! Everyone is different.

I am a manager at my job , and all you have to do is tell them your having surgery, and want to take a week of medical leave. and if they still wont let you have the time off, ask for FMLA. It's true it is the law and they really can't say No. You are giving them enough notice that there is No reason to deny it..... If there is still a problem, Call your HR Dept, or the next level manger and talk to them......

Bending down is always rough for the first few weeks/months.