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I had my first fill today... Nothing seems to be any different. The doc did tell me to do 2 days clear liquids, then 2 days full liquids, then slowly proceed to solid foods. I havn't felt any restrictions at all. I can eat what I want and as much as I want, but I have still lost 42 pounds total. Haven't lost but 2 lbs in last 3 weeks, hope the fill helps to continue loss.

So after 3 long weeks of being on 2 meal replacements and 1 lunch the surgeon has now put me on 3 meal replacements and 0 food. Also, had to quit smoking well in my case vaping. How miserable!!! Has anyone else had to do anything similar? Also, I messed up a few times and smoked. Is that going to matter? Literally the hardest thing I have ever done.

Hi, I can't believe its been 18 months for us. I am not at restriction and really trying hard to not overeat, continue to eat slow, chew well and the hardest thing has been having to wait to drink after meals. But its all worth it. I had been going to the gym 5 times a week but have really slowed down exercising because of work and home commitments; however, being ever so careful and thinking about what I put in my mouth has helped me to continue to lose weight ever so slowly but that's o.k. too. Good luck to all of us out there!

I have to complete insurance requirements & 6 months of visits. Get approved by board at insurance before I can even meet a surgeon. At first surgeon visit they give you the date usually 2-3 weeks from then or longer if u desire to push it. allons-y

Do not be nervous! This is just a tool! The diet and exercise is going to be even more challenging than if u chose that route because no one else is going to understand how hard you're going to have to work to eat correctly and take your meds etc. But it is totally going to be worth it! Dobt let anyone tell you you're taking the easy way out because it's not easy, it's just what some of us need. We've been fighting with this disease our whole lives Don't we deserve this?! I am 11 days post op and the first week was rough but today I am so grateful I did this! I have been heavy set My entire life even as a kid and I have always been a VERY active person. Sports gyms etc never really ate Truely horrible, on occasion yes we all do, but I think it was just in my genes. This is going to be worth it! And if you ever have a doubt, get on here and talk to other people! This is the best support forum I've found everyone is so supportive. We want to hear all about it!

Hi, My name is Carrie. I've been lurking for awhile. I was banded two weeks ago today. Going well. Just wanted to say hi. I have found a lot of useful info on this site and its helped a lot these first few weeks. thanks.

This too shall pass. My doc told me it would happen in week three and it would last 1-2 weeks. It lasted 12 Looooonnnnngggg days, but then the stall broke. My doc says it's just the body's way of adjusting. AniO

My RNY was July 1st, and I am doing better than great! Minimal pain and no nausea right from the beginning, never hungry. Resumed most around the house things like laundry and cooking for the family, driving and getting out around the second week. Stab wounds healed nicely. I LOVE my Premier Protein shakes; and step away from my sugar free/ fat free puddings. Down 22 pounds since surgery day. I AM TRULY BLESSED.

Hello everyone. I was sleeved July 9. So I'm 3 weeks post op. So far I'm down 16 pounds.

Am brand new here. Had laparoscopic RNY 4 weeks ago today. I live in Oregon, I am married and work full time. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

I have BCBS of California (aka Anthem BCBS, gets confusing). If you visit the website, which for me is "Empireblue.com", click on the "enter" button and then type "weight loss surgery" in the search box, you will find BCBS's policy for WLS. It will tell you everything expected of you. Once I completed my 6 month supervised diet and the necessary tests, etc. I think it took a week or two ... but I did have to "bug" them to make sure they stayed on the case. Hope this helps. If you can't find the info on the website let me know. I have a pdf copy that I would be happy to send to you. ~Fran

Hi everyone, my name is Lisa and I am a 28 yr old female. This is the first time I have been on a site like this. A little history is that I am a 2X brain cancer survivor and had to take heavy doses of steroids to get the swelling under control. My entire life and body changed completly. Previous to all of the medical problems, I was working full time and was also a full time nursing student in my last semester. I also worked out 6x a week and was in excellant shape. Because of the steroids I gained about 60 pounds, and now have avascular necrosis in my lower extremities (my bones are collapsing) in the last 2 years I have had an unsuccessful hip surgery, a total hip replacement, and decompression of my ankle (holes drilled into the bone to try and get blood to return). Any ways, I went to the doctor this morning and he suggested that I look into having lap band surgery because my weight is causing enormous pressure on my bones. I am a little torn about several things and I thaught that mabye I should try to talk to some people that have had the surgery done that can tell me first hand what the recovery is like, and if they were satisfied with the results. Also I have been reading alot about people lossing their hair and I wanted to see how true or often that is the case. Please let me know! =) Thanks, Lisa

I have been thinking about doing this for quite awhile. I'm going to the seminar sat. and then hopfully surgery the next week. I am fat tired and miserable... I need to be a new me...

Hello, I'm one month post op. I go in for my first fill in 2 weeks. I'm suprised I have lost 15 pounds and have not had a fill yet. Question. Now i don't fill any restriction. Will I feel that much more restriction after my first fill... or will it feel the same as i do now.

Hi everyone! My husband is loving & supportive of me, but is definately playing the devil's advocate on my decision to do the lapband. I'm 56, in good health except for mobility, joint pain, feet & knee pain from my 300 lb+ weight. My BMI has been 50+ for ten years or more. I've talked about lapbanding off & on for about 5 years and he has always said no way. In August I discussed with him again & he said if our family doc gave his blessing, he would give his. Long story short, doc said he would rather I try something else first (like I haven't tried everything presented in my adult life!!!!), presented all the risks, etc. IF later I decided on the lapband, he would agree. After I got over my bubble being burst, I joined Weight Watchers and have lost 10.5 lbs in 8 weeks. A couple weeks ago I made my decision and discussed w/husband. His response "if you know you are strong enough to make this decision and do all the work to make this successful, ie the liquid prep and post op, exercise, discipline, etc., why can't you use that same strength you know you have, and do it without the surgery?" ouch It's not that I have not thought of that myself......but I do not know HOW to answer that question to make him understand. And maybe I'm looking for an answer for him that isn't there. I want this and I would really like to have his understanding full support. Not sure that is possible. Any suggestions would be SO appreciated! Sorry for the long message. Carol:help:

Saturday I walked down the aisle at my son's wedding in a dress that made me feel FABULOUS--one I never dreamed I'd be able to wear. I never even made it to the buffet--couldn't tell you what was on it because I was too busy dancing.....for four and a half hours to be exact. Six years ago I would have made a beeline to the food and pretty much camped out near that table. The caterer allowed me to take my meal from the rehearsal dinner home with me in spite of it being a buffet, since I knew the stress of hostessing the party would probably keep me from being able to get much through the band. I assured her that I would fill my plate only once with a reasonable amount of food.....I got THREE meals off of it! Six years ago I would have eaten every bite and gone back for more. I am constantly amazed at how much food I was able to consume in one meal before the band compared to the actually nutritional needs of my body. Yesterday I celebrated my 55th birthday and because of the gift that Dr. Michael King gave to me in the Lap Band, I felt like it could have been my 21rst! I was banded in April of 2007. I remember feeling so fearful that, like so many things I had already tried, it was not going to work, I was simply destined to be obese for the rest of what would be a very shortened life due to the extra weight and the effect it was having on my body. My weight loss has been VERY slow and steady, but because of that, I have not had the issues of sagging skin and sunken eyes and it has truly become a change in my attitude towards food instead of simply a "diet" to lose the weight. I have gone from almost a size 26 to an 18. It is a really awesome problem to have to buy new clothes because you can't find yourself in the old ones anymore! This last shopping trip actually found me in the "regular" sized clothes for the first time in...well, since I can remember. I have exercised since before the lapband and because of the weight loss I am now able to walk 4 miles 2-3 times a week. I do a circuit workout with weights at a local wellness center 1-2 times a week. Before the weight loss, I struggled to walk a mile. Now, I look forward to the walking and the workouts because they make me feel so good. When I began walking 4 miles instead of doing the stairmaster for an hour, the inches began to fall off. Not sure what the difference is, but for me the walking has been much more effective. I had to ask myself....how badly do you REALLY want this? Bad enough to make the exercise a new habit? Bad enough to get off the couch; put down the potato chips and Cookies and get moving, even if it means waking up a bit earlier or getting out and walking after a long day? My answer, a resounding "YES". I have found that keeping my hands busy is one of the ways I have learned to overcome the temptation to graze in the kitchen. Reading a book, which is an activity I enjoy, is not effective since I can still hold the book and manage to hold whatever food is the binge-of-the-day. I do needlework, sew, knit, crochet, work a jigsaw puzzle, do a scrapbook page or a number of other activities when I am tempted to mindlessly eat. Some days I have to just put on my tennis shoes and take a walk to put as much distance between me and the kitchen as possible. I hope this encourages you. The lapband has not been a magic fix, rather a tool that has helped me in re-learning how to nourish my body the way it was meant to be. I still have days when I find myself falling into the behavior that caused me to become obese in the first place. It is very easy to sabotage my own efforts and "outeat" the band, but now that I have come this far and have experienced the "high" of feeling normal again, I am able to use that as my motivation to stop the mindless eating. I pray that you will find that "high" as well.

Hi all! I am scheduled to be banded on August 31st and began my two week pre-op liquid phase last Friday. My doc requires one week two liquid meals and one small, normal meal, and then the second week is all liquids. My question is - what is a "small, normal" meal? Everytime I put something in my mouth that isn't liquid I feel like I am doing something wrong. I'm eating regular foods, but I'm eating much less than I normally would. I still feel like I'm cheating. I'm concerned that things won't be as doc wants/needs them when I go in for surgery. Any insight would be appreciated.:help:

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty <!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

Headed to the doc's this weekend to get one more "Fill". This will be my 4th, maybe a 1.5 cc which added to my already 6 cc's will give me a 7.5 cc in a 10 cc band. This will help me maintain as I head to the states, for some training and a short vacation. Down to 105.8 kg from 121.1kg since Jan 10. Pant's size now is 48, down from 54. Shirt size down from 3x to 1x, all at the 7 month point after my surgery. Feeling great, always happy, lots of energy, enjoy work, fishing, gardening, and my dogs all six. Once heard in a movie, "Stuff is Getting Better" and that it is, I'm Loosing these unwanted #s. It's gradual like 1.68#s per week, but that is ok. Sometimes the weight lingers and holds on for a long while, but then out of the blue, it begins to drop. I have not routinely exercised, but will do so beginning tonight. Going to ride my stationary bike for 40 min to 1 hr. Time to get moving as my anniversary is approacing, 4 Jan 2011. I want to be at 100 kg. This is my GOAL for one year. My next goal will be to shed the #s to be at 170 #s. Ultimately I will try to reach 165 or even 160, then it's well, NEW CLOTHES for the NEW ME. One more goal will be to go to the pool and swim-my ultimate dream. Goals are reachable. To all bandsters, stay positive, be patient, and relax and enjoy the ride, it's fantastic, and unbelievable. God Bless.

I'm a big time side and tummy sleeper!!! I had no problem sleeping on y side after about a week and my tummy after two weeks....for the first week, I just tried to train myself to sleep on my back. If I rolled over, the discomfort would wake me up to remind me to go on my back! The only problem I had with bed sleeping was getting out of it in the mornings!!! At least for the first 5 days....hubby had to help me up.

Hello, flutterby66, I too have been overweight for 3 decades (I'm only 38!) and I go in for my surgery the first week of August in Mexico with one of the top doctors in the Americas. The US is still WAY behind in lap band experience and they charge SOOOOOO much. I'm very happy and have the utmost confidence in my medical team. Good luck with you adventure, maybe we'll run into along each other in these boards. gelyfish

I too was nervous. But I am so amazed at how much better I feel already. My blood pressure has gone down tremendously, I'm sure my BP meds will have to be lessened if not gone soon! With the weight 3 lbs I lost before I started the liquid diet, plus the weight lost on liquid diet, and the weight this first week and am down a total of 30 lbs from my all time high! To me that already seems like a miracle!!! The liquid diet isn't that bad. I did feel hungry at times, but would drink some Crystal light or have a mug of low sodium chicken or beef broth. That helped me alot! It kinda helped my stomach get used to not being stuffed all the time. I actually got to feel what it feels like to feel hunger. And I think with our new lifestyle that is an important thing we need to be able to feel. I wish you all the best. You'll be glad you did it. And one of the great things is our anatomy is not being altered. So down the road if you decide you don't want it, it can be removed! (That part kinda eased my mind a bit! Hairdoerbren

I'm 1 week out of surgery and I noticed today that I can't really tell if I'm full or not when I eat. I had almost 1/2c of puréed soup and I didn't feel I was full but I stopped anyway. Am I eating too much at this stage? Or is this normal?

So today I had my last nutrition visit (my ins requires 3 month diet) and also my last shrink visit. They said everything looked great and I should be ready to submit to ins which could take about 2 weeks. So right now I'm tentatively set for May 13 and I'm so excited. Anyone else scheduled for May 13th?

aww....that is a question i was going to ask my surgeon next week. I had my RNY the 1st. And Thanksgiving is my jam. Oh well, we have to follow orders, we did alot of work to get here. Sent from my SM-G973U using BariatricPal mobile app