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I am also currently pregnant. Due Sept 19th. I did have a complete unfill at 10 weeks due to horrible all-day sickness. I was very anxious and worried about weight gain, but after getting ahold of myself, really I'm doing all of this for my baby. I can always get filled again and jump back on the weightloss track. To be completely honest I don't really have the ability at this point to even eat as much as I did at my most filled state. The baby is taking up so much room, so I am back to eating small meals/snacks throughout the day. My surgeon wasn't worried about the calorie intake while pregnant he was more worried about calories during breastfeeding. It is your decision maybe just a slight unfill as the months go on will work for you. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!!!

Apart from the initial cost of surgery, fills are less than $10!

Hey Congrat!!!!!! I probably was to nervous to feel anything.....I go back for a 2nd fill on August 17. I can not wait tio start droping more lbs myself...... I really wish I could lose about 10 to 15 more by my birthday October 6, I will be 30. I would love to be looking sexy around that time...lol..... Keep up the good work, and continue to encourage yourself...Its hard not to play into what you hear other people do or what they are not gettiing, but we don't know there full story....So keep the faith!!!!

Today I look at my life and I am thankful. I am thankful for my loving family. I am thankful for a good job and a steady income. I am thankful for my Lapband and for getting my life back. I look at who I was 18 months ago, 250 pounds of misery. I didn’t care about myself or how I looked. I would wear potato sack clothes, I never wore make-up or jewelry, I looked like a tired old lady and I didn’t care. I couldn’t exercise, just walking up the 4 steps into my house would put me out of breath. I really hated myself! Thankfully I did something about it. I got the Lapband and lost 80 pounds. I went from size 22 to size 10 and have never felt better. I take pride in the clothes I wear (no more potato sacks for me ~ I hate baggy clothes now, lol), I love to wear jewelry and make-up. I want to look good, my smile is from ear to ear. Life is so enjoyable now. So many things have opened up to me since my band. My husband and I have doubled the amount of land we use for gardening because I can physically help manage it. We increased our flock of chickens to 30 birds because I can physically help manage them. I find myself always on the go, moving doing this & that because I can physically do it. I even got my concealed handgun license (Never shot a gun before 6 months ago). All this because I decided to change. Yes, I changed everything….. No more fast food, soda, junk food, midnight bowls of cereal, or gallons of ice cream and no more sitting on my ass watching TV all day. Do I miss these things? Sometimes. But if I have cravings I have a small portion of whatever I’m craving. Day to day I don’t miss a thing. Life is too precious to waste it away on pizza and greasy burgers or cake and candy. I am thankful for my rebirth on February 6, 2012 and I promise to live a health happy life. I deserve nothing less.

You have to change your mindset that you are doing this for the number on the scale to go down. Eventually we will be on maintenance where we don't want the scale number to move. We need to concentrate on fueling our bodies with the best things we can and being strong and healthy. Eventually, if we do this, we will be at that all "powerful" number. I've never been a huge loser. (I lost 10 pounds the first 2 weeks after surgery and stayed at that weight for another 6 weeks.) What I am is consistent. This has really helped me to concentrate on what is important. We are not in this for the short term- we are in this forever. Will it really matter if it takes 16 months to get to goal rather than 12? After we have maintained for a few years- I doubt it will matter. What will matter is that we learn how to change our lifestyle and our relationship with food. I thoroughly love eating! But I now know it is not my comforter or companion. If I don't deal with issues I'll eventually go back to my old "companion" and then I will have BIGGER issues (bigger me.) We can all do this! Each person's journey is unique. Be proud that you didn't give in. Eventually you will reap the reward. Good Luck!

Not many pounds to some but this feels great to me....from a size 18-10 so far. On vacation now and trying to keep up the physical activities (bike riding) but love the progress so far Sent from my iPad using VST

mine too. that's how i know most of the time. i have 3cc in a 10 cc band and still not great restriction. had sx on july 30 09 and still only down 22 pounds. im a little discourage. but keeping my hopes up.

I have had PCOS all my adult life, I am 37 years old and was banded on 4/28/08.....Monday 3/1 I am to deliver my baby by c section......so this is possible.....don't give up !!! I weighed 313 when I was banded I was 251 when I found out I was pregnant I currently weigh 275...so I gained 24 pounds but the doc told me today that the baby is almost 10 pounds...so yay I did good !!! Good Luck to you !!! __________________

Exactly! Just relax and answer the questions truthfully and you'll be fine. Side Note: I cannot believe some of you had to answer so many questions and that it took so long for some of you. I was out of my car at 10:45 and back in my car by 11:05!:frown:

no, you won't - not with that large calorie deficit. As others have said, you'll hit stalls along the way and your weight may fluctuate occasionally by a pound or two, but if you stick to your clinic's plan, your trend will be down. I didn't start regaining until I hit my lowest weight (in the 130s), but it's VERY common to gain 10-20 lbs after hitting your lowest weight (the rebound gain is usually in year 2 or 3). But while you're in the losing phase, as long as you're sticking to your plan, no. You'll continue to lose.

OK July bandsters...I was banded on 7/7/11, I had the band with plication. I am down 46 pounds and counting. Yes, it is now much slower than the first few weeks but at least it is still going down. I am loosing 1.5 - 2 pounds a week and that is enough for me. I eat Protein at every meal and vegies. I also treat myself with some fruit of even 1/2 of a cookie. I know, they are no no's but I have to make myself happy too. I also joined Weight Watchers (for the 100th time I think). Yes, I know I cannot eat like they want you to eat, but the weekly weigh ins, the support and receipes are great. My leader knows I had the lapband and she is even tailoring my plan for me. I have tried Protein shakes and I find them to be nasty, even with milk. So I avoid them unless I have no other option. I have had 2 fills - 2cc and 1 cc. I still find myself getting hungry between lunch and dinner but trying to get better. My exercise is limited to walking for now (and in the Florida heat that is a good one). I walk around 10 + miles per week. My clothes are hanging on me so I know I am loosing inches. I also swim at least once or twice a week in addition to the walking. I drink a lot of Water and avoid carbonated beverages and fruit juices. OK, that is my tips for today. I love reading other tips on this site and have found them to be so useful especially when you feel too embarrased to ask the doctor or feel the question is stupid. Thanks to all of you..Well, that is it from sunny (and HOT) Florida today. Good luck and please keep posting and stay in touch - no one understands like fellow bandsters.... Melinda

Caroyln- I bet I got 10 years not documented... or hidden behind the camera or behind a body! Kinda sad.... I have about 30 rolls of film i found and am getting about 3-4 developed a week........ my boys and I kinda like it.... "mystery Pics" found some good ones and ones that I didn't think I was that big... I WAS......... so time is deceiving... As soon as I get this computer situation fixed.. gonna have them all filed... and fill in some voids...

I think tracking is important, I do that too. I am just always getting mad about those foods. Yesterday, my husband brought a bag of "baked" chips. They had 10 calories less for a serving but a lot more ingredients than regular chips. Add to that they don't even remotely taste as nice as normal chips - no good crunch, not as satisfying - and the calorie savings are really not worth mentioning. That said, I think it is perfectly fine to use less butter, use a cut of meat with less fat or use ground turkey instead of ground pork, but I think the problem starts when fat (sugar/carbs) are replaced with artificial stuff. I noticed from tracking, that I seem to not even get the recommended amount of fat even though I am eating 2% yogurt, drinking 2% milk and am cooking with olive oil...but I also don't want to eat a spoon full of Peanut Butter just to up the fat...but maybe I should? Or almond butter?

Hi.... I was sleeved 5/19 and I haven't taken any of the pain meds since I left the hospital... I've been having trouble getting my fluids in... Any suggestions?? Sent from my SM-N910P using BariatricPal mobile app

Has anybody started having incision pain 10 days post-op? Incisions look great, not red or warm/hot. Its mainly my big incision, and it doesn't hurt at all if I sit quietly. Could this be nerves healing? What do you think??

I did my surgery on 11/16, still on the liquid diet. I was losing 1-2 pound a day and so far lost 19 pounds. Couple days I am not losing anything. Did anyone experienced the same? Is that normal? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey guys. This is my first check in since surgery and today is 5days out and I feel alright today. A little tired and sore but good. The night before my surgery i could barely sleep. I cried the entire way to the hotel and that night. What if i died? I have a wonderful husband and a precious six year old daughter that i cant leave..... just because i dont want to be fat anymore. The morning of surgery i sent a text messege to my husband and told him he couldnt read it until i was in surgery. They weighed me and i was exactly 130 kilograms... (286 pounds) (i started this jouney at 304 pounds) they put me in a pre op rooom and took my vitals, inserted an iv, and pushed medicine into my iv that would stop stomach acid and a mustle relaxer that would numb the mustles in my stomach. My mouth was so dry! I have a dry mouth anyway and i guess nerves were making it worse because it was terrible! My lips were sticking to my gums it was so dry. They let me suck on a wet wash cloth just to wet my mouth. My dr came in and said they would give me something for my nerves before they took me back. My surgery ran about an hour and a half so my daughter got to sit in my lap and watch tv w me. She didnt really understand but the whole time i was playing w her hair.... rubbing her back.. because i wanted her to remember that if i died during surgery. Crazy i know... but that was my actual thought. The anestesiologist came jn and pushed some milky looking stuff in my iv and said it was time. My family left as they were wheeling me out. I watched my husband walk away... i just knew i wouldnt see him again. Once i got into the surgery room i saw my surgeon and some nurses... the room smelt weird and they were listening to sweet home alabama lol... my surgeon said hey beautiful! And i smiled...they moved a bed next to mine to move me over onto and thats the last thing i remember. I woke up in recovery pacu with a morphine pca (pain pump where u push a button to give yourself pain medicine) and the nurse said i had been there in pacu for 3 hours. They were waiting for a rokm to be cleaned for me upstairs. I know my husband and family saw me in pacu but i dont remember seeing them. They were worried that i was there for so long. Once i got into my room i heard my dad talking and instantly felt at ease. I still had my pain pump and i noticed i had a jp drain (little drain bag yhat sucks blood out of your incision) and a little internal pain pump called an on-q (this lityle ball delivered numbing medicine strait into my tummy likr every 10 minutes automaticly... it was awesome) i really didnt have much pain at all! Of course i used the crap out of my morphine lol. Its there for your pain guys! USE IT! I dont remember much of that day but i do remember being npo...until the next morning for my swallow study. That night i also remember having a reaction to the morphine and started itching like crazy. So i got benedryl thru my iv every 6 hours and that helped alot! They brought me mouth swabs that u can dip in like diluted mouth wash? They made me feel much better. That night my pca was changed every 6 hours so i was really pushing my button! Lol... but i wasnt feeling any pain! My nurses let my iv beep for an hour and that was annoying but oh well. I was walking the hall and going to the bathroom to pee i did NOT have a cathater. The next morning i had my swallow study and it was a lityle uncomfortable... the stuff u have to drink did fill my pouch and i was scared to drink it but it was cool to see my stomach and the staple line on the big screen. My test passed i had no leaks and was cleared to have Clear liquids. There was a misshap in the kitchen and it was 8 hours later before i got anything so i made my own damn broth from packets i had brought. It was going on 56 hours since i had had ANYTHING in my stomach except barriam and i was very weak. My beef broth was fantastic lol. I was instructed to take in 2 oz of clear Fluid every hour plus Water. I couldnt do this... The second night in the hospital my husband kept our daughter in the hotel and i stayed in the hospital by myself. My blood pressure got down to 90/40 and my oxygen was staying around 84% without the nasal cannula on. So if i wasnt walking and was in bed i had to wear the 02. I had to ask the nurse to retake my bp because it was low and that took hours for someone to take it. I work in a hospital... i wasnt vety pleased w my service at this one. Anyway it was retaken 3 hours later and was better. The next morning i had a big wave of nausea come over me and i went to the bathroom. It was actually gas and my first bowel movement. It was very runny and dark and omg i was sooooo glad no one was in my room because dude... that was some impressive gas lol. i was cleared to go home by my dr... we were walking the hall together and i got on the scale again and this time it said 133 kg (293 pounds... i had gained 7pounds being in the hospital) he said that was normal... i was like wtf? I havent ate in 3 days! He said it was all surgical fluid and iv fluid that floods your tissues after surgery. It would come off. I told him my urine was dark and i wasnt peeing as much as i was taking in thru the iv.. he gave me a bolus of fluid and my urine was clearer before i left. My jp was taken out as well as the internal pain pump and honestly guys it didnt hurt at all. The 3 hour ride home was ok with my pillow between my tummy and the seat belt and i took a nap. I went home with liquid tylenol 3 and chewable zofran. Ive only used the tylenol 3 times. Since being home i have to shower everyday not scrubbing my incisions but letting water run over them. There is one incision that had the jp that i have to dress and cover before my shower so it doesnt get wet. I have also noticed that i dont really get the FULL feeling in my tummy that i would like with just 4oz. And im pretty starving! But i was able to start Protein shakes today and that has helped a little. 4oz every hour. So inportant things to remember after surgery... use your pakn pump!! Walk walk walk... and if u hear something in your room that sounds like a growling bear fixing to attack... its prob your stomach. (Seriously.... me and my husband were on the couch watching tv and he said wtf was that? Lol i said its my stomach.. maybe i need to go the the bathroom and pass some gas... his exact response to me..... "babe... your gonna tear that bathroom up" lol ass Starting weight 304 Surgery date 286 Leaving hospital 2 days later 293 Home 4days after surgery 288

Hello everyone! Been watching this forum for a while but this is my first post. Had my VSG on June 28,2018 and had a terrible ordeal (enlarged liver, surgeon found a hernia and had to repair it, extreme vomiting for 2.5 days straight in the hospital, and severe dehydration because I was too afraid to swallow anything but my own saliva). But I made it through! 7days post-op today and I've been on nothing but broth, Jello, ice chips and popsicles and I'm sick of it! I also have a lot of the air/gas they put in me for the procedure and it's like a every 10-20mins painful surge that goes thru your stomach and chest, like contractions or something, and I just have to brace myself until it passes. Can't wait till all the gas is out. Other than that I don't have much major pain, but if I do, codine is right there next to me to lend its druggy hand.. But! As you know it was July 4th yesterday and they were BQQing on my block, so my friends and BF came over. And the way my mouth drooled over those ribs, hot dogs, burgers, and MAC AND cheese, you would've thought I was a rabid animal lmao. But nonetheless, I just rolled my eyes at each scrumptious plate passing my face and drank my dinner and followed up with my strawberry and lemon jello to make me feel better. And I all kept saying in my head was "You're gonna look better than all of them one day, so don't worry and keep going." Lmao! That leads me to the bright side of all these pain and struggles-- 17lbs downs as of today!!! Whoop whoop!!! ((HAPPY DANCE)) Now I'm sure it's mostly due to the clear liquid diet I've been on, but still what a difference a week makes! My current struggle is getting all this water (64oz) down in one day, i barely finish a 16 oz bottle in one day, but I'm trying because dehydration is SCARY!!.. Keep going guys we can do this!!! [emoji4]

I am on Medicare but I had the option to go with other insurance to cover my hopitalization and part B & D, rather than going with straight CMS which is medicare. It was I either pay to Uncle Sam or sign up with a Medicare approved company, still costing the same. In my case I went with Hummana Gold Plus. I went from having my lapband out in May, started everything they required under Medicare and had bypass 10 weeks later. I didn't have to wait six months. I did though with the lapband have to wait six months with my employer's insurance Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Sorry you are having to go through all that.

10 days

I got my surgery 3 weeks ago yesterday, so 22 days ago. I gained almost 10 lbs in the hospital - I assume from the air they pump into your stomach plus the swelling.. I lost that within maybe 2 days, then went from 192 lbs to 177ish in a week to 10 days (sorry can't be more accurate - I didn't log this stuff so I am estimating)... now 22 days after the surgery -- I've only lost another 2 lbs. I've pretty much stayed 175lbs for the past 10 days (estimate).. I've been upset about it, but I googled around... Here is what I found - when your on the clear liquid diet your liver shrinks...and when you start drinking/eating things with substance...your liver expands back to its normal size. This can cause a "stall" around week 3. The blogger said to be patient while your body sorts itself out. I am not sure how correct that info is, but if you google around -- it is not uncommon to have "stalls" in the first few weeks. Let's keep this thread going with our progress...

Yeah, they told me 15 minutes in the beginning and then just the other day during my 6 week post op appointment they said 10 minutes between each. It’s so exhausting.

were you told to take them all ten minutes apart? I always took a handful at breakfast time, another handful late afternoon - and then my two extra calcium chews spaced out. Then iron before going to bed. I never was told to wait 10 minutes after each one...

I can't say I've had more than usual irritability. However, I did when I started dieting in February and went low-carb. My doctor made me lose 40 pounds before I could even schedule surgery. However, I've been on the pre-op diet for four weeks (my surgery is in 10 hours) and have had no energy whatsoever. I commented in other thread that I had gotten very dizzy and light headed while working out two weeks ago. When I came home I got the chills and threw up. I called the NUT and the DR and they said to stop working out. I wish they would have said "go have a piece of chicken!" lol Going to the gym was a way to stay busy and not think about food! I'm a teacher so I was on the pre-op diet for 2 weeks in school and 2 weeks out of school. I didn't feel too bad while I was still working because I had a schedule and routine (and was working out 3x week). The last two weeks I've just want to sleep all day. It's normal for me to develop a wacky sleeping schedule during the summer, like staying up super late and sleeping in. However, it's not normal for me to sleep 12 hours every night and spend the day on the couch. It's been very tough to get anything done lately. I'm glad I'm not the only one because it was starting to make me worry that I wouldn't have the energy later to keep up with everything my DR wants me to do.

I'm in Knoxville. Was sleeved on 3/19.