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Sounds good to me, I am not your Dr., but 11 months out and down 84, I too see others at my stage who have lost 125 lbs and think what am I doing wrong? Nothing, our bodies are different, different in metabolism, age, bone structure etc. I had some hair loss, not going bald or anything, but when I would shampoo in the shower more was coming out than normal about the sixth month, that has since stopped, but I am not losing the weight as fast now either, about 5 lbs per month average instead of 8 to 10. Don't rush it, you will really get bumbed, just enjoy that fact that 30 lbs are gone and they are NOT coming back!!!! Pat yourself on the back and continue the Journey. Congrats!

Hiya, Yes this is sort of my story. It's been a long journey. But I'm sooo happy with my band now. The thing is when I got banded it was soo new. So not alot of info out there. I went through months of not doing much..gaining a bit back...then finally going in for a fill. See I get woosy with fills so they aren't alot of fun for me. Anyways my point is..it doesn't matter how fast u do it. Just that u eventually get there. Actually I think the slower it goes the better off you are. It's been almost 4 years for me and im still trying to get to goal. The thing with the band is you gota think yearsss down the road. Even if you don't loose for awhile it's always there. When I was ready again to hit it I went in and got a fill. Don't worry about your metabolism. Just exercise and that will kick it into gear. It's not like your gonna ever ruin yourself for life. Just remember..to truely be successful with the band you WILL have to exercise at some point. Good luck and take care

I got a fill today I have a 10cc band and now have 5.5cc. I totally notice this one. Good luck and dont go too fast, thats when people seem to have the most problems

My BMI was 36 and I've gone from 246 to 179 in a year. The first 6 month was fast te last 6 have been maintaining

Preop 1/15/09 and banded 1/30/09. I don't think anyone is more surprised by my weight loss than me. I average about 850 calories a day, but usually burn all of that off with exercise. Losing it this fast is a double edged sword. I like that it is coming off fast, but it scares me alittle. I've only had two fills( the last just two weeks ago and only .6cc). I feel alittle like a freak, but have lots of energy and no real side effects.

At 4 days post op, I was still on clear liquids. I didn't start drinking anything other than tea and water until 5 days post op. When drinking the clear liquids, I took small sips and drank 1 ounce over 20 minutes like I was told to do. It sounds like you are drinking too much too fast. You should still be swollen in there, your surgery was very recent.

I called my surgeon today to see if they had heard from the insurance company, not yet but everything has been submitted and she said it normally takes 1 to 4 weeks to hear from them I was busy at work so didn't have time to stew over it. Went to prayer meeting tonight and talked with my friends. I got an encouraging word from Teresa - I said pray that it happens fast and she said maybe its not happening fast for a reason. Maybe theres things you need to deal with or take care of before you schedule it... maybe. Made me think all in God's time. This is going to happen I feel very at peace with having the surgery. Its good to have friends who are behind you during this.

Most of our congregation knows about my band. (I was banded August 2008). Those who were there then know. We are a military community so our flock changes often. Newer people who come in usually don't ask until they see a picture of me or someone notices I don't eat much. I don't hide it but I don't blast it from the mountain top either. I also am willing to share my success with others who struggle. Many times believers feel guilty that we haven't prayed enough, fasted enough or whatever to get the weight off. I always share that God has different methods for different people. He instantly healed some as for another, he made a clay out of spit and put it on the man's eyes and then he was healed. So, as the Lord leads, I share. Yes, I am on the ministry platform as well.

Hi All, My name is Carol and I live in Melbourne Australia and will be having Lab Band surgery late in November. I am 5ft 9" and nearly 120 kilos I have always been a big person and all tried diets have failed and end up putting more back on that I lost in the first place. I will be having my lapband surgery at Knox Private Hospital and would like to know how others have gone after surgery. I am extremely nervous about after the anasetic as I usually have violent vomitting. At the moment I eat very fast and do not chew my food thoroughly, I have been told that I will learn quickly as I will not like the consquences if I don't. Does anyone have any hints before hand. Getting excited to hopefully be a new person. Looking forward to hearing from you:heh:

:confused:I have had trouble from the beginning with my LAP-BAND®, I was filled up to I think almost 4cc's and did lose about 35-40lbs in the first six months or so, my surgery was June 2007. But I started having a lot of problems with acid reflux, pain, vomiting, nausea, so they began unfilling in August of last year. The Dr unfilled a little at a time about .5cc at a time, and I was so disappointed because then I felt hungry, but still had the symptoms. In July/August last year, I started waking up aspirating from acid reflux in the night, which was soooooooo scary. I didn't want to lay down. I called and the Dr wanted to unfill more. He did. We did a Upper GI he didn't think anything was wrong. But then I started developing pains, sharp pains like heart attack pains in upper chest/stomach area seemingly either with empy stomach, like first thing in mornings, or after meals. Very scary, hurt to breath. I also went through a couple bad bronchitis episodes due to the aspiration affecting my lungs and still have wheezing in my lungs. Have gone to respiratory Dr for that, and they haven't given me a good explanation as to why I am having problems with wheezing. They have ruled out asthma. But in Dec the Abd pain got so bad I went to ER and they did a CAT scan. The ER dr called my LAP-BAND® Dr and advised they thought I had a pretty significant band slippage they could see. The stomach has slipped up through the band. The ER dr referred me back to the Lapbad Dr. However I have been more and more discouraged with this Dr for feeling like he just keep blaming me for my lack of results stating I was eating too much sweets, and not exercising enough. I kept telling him I wasn't eating that much, my fiance and now husband even backed me up on that. I am bad at exercise, but I was having so many complications with food it has almost become impossible for me to want to eat. Food wouldn't go down, either too chunky or I think I ate too fast because I waited till I was hungry, and it came back up immediately. So I am sure that added to it all. Anyway, so now in late December my LAP-BAND® Dr decided to totally unfill me to help with pain and reflux. It has helped. He has told me based on the latest CAT that he doesnt' think the slippage is too major, but he gave me the option to have it repaired or removed. I really hated coming to that decision, because the whole two years has been such an ordeal, and full of disappointment. I don't know how much is from the LAP-BAND® slipping, how long ago that happened, and the combination of symptoms not helping me loose the weight. I am basically back to my original weight. Having spent much money and time having the original LAP-BAND® placed, and going to all the Dr appts, having the Upper GI's done, and now CAT scan. Even with insurance, not a cheap endeaver. Now I am trying to decide what to do. My original goal was to loose weight. I am soooooo disappointed to not have any of that happen and to be back to square one, feeling helpless about the situation. I wished it would have worked for me, and I even asked about maybe switching to a full gastric bypass. But he said he wouldn't do that at the same time he removes the band. There is no guarantee that fixing it will work, or I won't run into the same problems in the future again. So I am opting for removal. Any other insight or opinions as to what to do? I almost feel like getting a 2nd oppinion. But here in CO there are not too many Dr's that even know about LAP-BAND® it seems. Plus I don't know if the ins will help pay for removal, or how much that surgery will cost, and time off work. Ugh!!!!!

Whoo Hoo! 2nd fill was performed today and I have some restriction. My first fill was 2.5cc's in June and today they added 3cc's. Nurse said I would fill restriction but it will lessen over the next month. My third fill is scheduled for Aug. 11th. So...what does restriction fill like....well if you eat too much or too fast....a rock in your chest! Ask me how I know... Well, I ate the same 1 cup portion of soup today and I was FULL FULL FULL! Also felt it doing down. I also tried to take my vitamins and they had a bit of trouble going down. Back to chewables for a few days before I try to swallow those again, and they are not big pills. I now have officially lost 35lbs and I am feeling pretty divaish! Giggle! Loving life and ready to rock and roll!

You don't say whether or not you're hungry. That's the sign of needing a fill...or possibly just not eating what your body needs. A few ideas though... Your meal should allow you to be hunger free for about 4 hours. If it doesn't, perhaps a small protein snack mid-meal would help (an ounce of cheese, hardboiled egg, etc.) . Yogurt or Protein Drink is fine for Breakfast if it gets you through the morning. lunch and dinner, according to my surgeon, should be 3 oz of protein, 1/2 cup of vegies and 1/4 cup of starch (maybe and only if I'm still hungry). Record everything you put into your mouth in something like fitday.com. You'd be surprised how fast the calories add up with cheese and Soups. Once you know for sure how many calories you're eating, then you'll be better able to figure out why your weight loss has slowed. Don't expect major losses. One person I know only lost 3/4 of a lb per week. I only lose 1 lb per week and that's only if I stick to a 1200 calorie diet. Have enough days at 1600 calories and I don't lose anything. A lot will depend on your own metabolism. Some people see a faster weight loss when they exercise. That hasn't been my experience, although I do feel better. .

I guess they are all alike! Just as all of us suspected! My husband is also super supportive but makes the same comments. I have to reassure him that I was much slimmer when I married him and this surgery will not change who I am or who I love. Best of luck Mispk83, fast healing to you and to all above - may our husbands relax!

Congrats! Is your surgery outpatient? For me, the time went by fast and I was back home in my bed. Think positively! Have some sf popsicles ready for tomorrow night. My throat was very scratchy and a bit painful for a few days. The popsicles were wonderful! Chicken broth was great, too. Do you have a heating pad? That helped a lot! We'll be looking for your next post with an update! Remember to drink water and get your rest!

Woke up very early on Monday morning, September 25th. Everyone else getting surgery on the 26th would be there around 2, but I'm not very good at fasting, so I wanted to get the tests over with so that I could EAT. Took 3.5 hours to drive down to Mexicali, and of course my radio was busted. Crossing the border was no problem, and we had no problem finding the hospital once we were in Mexicali. We got there around 9am, and my appointment wasn't until 9:30, so the patient coordinator wasn't there yet. Iliana showed up around 9:30 and I went to have my blood taken (the nurse was excellent, because my veins are hard to find), my EKG (I felt like I was being jumpstarted like a car battery with all the stuff they had me hooked up to), and my chest xrays (which had to be taken twice.) After the tests Yolonda took me upstairs to go over the final paperwork, and give me an antibiotic. She offered my husband and me a sleeping pill, but we both declined. We followed her to the hotel to get checked in, then decided to head back across the border to grab a new fuse for my car radio (we never did get it in) and to eat. "Last" lunch was at applebee's, I had the cowboy burger and spinach and artichoke dip. It was wonderful. We headed back to the hotel and relaxed until 7, when we met with Dr. C. I met the other 4 people getting surgeries with me, and we talked with Dr. C about the band, the rules right after surgery, and the rules later down the road. I'd read all of these things on the internet, but it was neat holding the band and hearing it from a doctor. Dave and I went to Mezzasole (the restaurant in the hotel) for the "last" dinner -- I had soup and a 4 cheese pizza, it was wonderful. I slept pretty well that night, the bed was hard, and that was the worst problem. I wasn't really nervous about the surgery. Met everyone outside at 7am to head over to the hospital. We were immediately ushered into our rooms, changed into hospital gowns, and then... we had to wait. A nurse came to IV me (ouch, she had to poke around in both hands until she got it), then I met with every doctor who'd be working on me that day, and the attending nurse in the OR. I got a shot in my belly (blood thinner), and then... I waited. And waited. I was the last one to get my surgery that day so it was after 1pm before I went in. When they finally pulled me in... that's when I got scared. I was injected with anesthesia shortly after, so that didn't end up being an issue. I remember moving over to the operating table, the doctor wrapping my legs, and that's it. I woke up in the recovery room to the woman next to me dry heaving. I was lucky and didn't have any nausea. I was out of recovery in just under an hour. I spent the rest of the day sleeping and waking. I did a little walking, but my stomach was very sore so I didn't do a lot. I got some water a few hours after surgery, and a sleeping pill that helped me sleep through the night. I didn't have any gas pains, so I guess I'm pretty lucky. The next morning I got to see my band by floroscopy, and then I got to eat some jello, broth, tea, and more water. Everyone else stayed at the hospital another night, but I left that evening at around 5pm.

there are no cons. but the pros include, a more precise fill. the doctor can see the fluid going down and how slow or fast it goes down. also you can see your band and how it is positioned. this is nice to have some assurance that it is all ok. you can see the port and tubing. kinda cool. also it is easier for the doctor to get the needle into the port. he can see the port and quickly get the needle in , no poking around. your port is designed to take 1000 punctures. so why waste any if you dont have to. good luck.

I am one day out from surgery, and I feel great for someone that had surgery less than 24 hours ago. I won't say I'm feeling no pain, but I am feeling a lot less pain than I had thought I would, so that's good. Everything went great, the dr. found a small hiatal hernia while he was in there and fixed that as well. I struggled a little at first upon waking up. I think they just had me up so fast to go do the swallow xray. Also I got these shakes/shivers from the anestesia, she put some demerol in my IV and I was good about 15 min. later. I felt like a new person and couldn't wait to come home. I came home about 630 last night, surgery was at 1. I didn't need the recliner, I slept in my bed and even on my side. Today I am doing my drinking every 15 min. trying to figure out if I am getting the right amount of protien. By the time I left for the hospital yesteray, I was real calm, I had felt good about my decision, put the naysayers out of my mind. When they came and got me to change into my 'designer hospital gown' I got a little nervous and cried a little when they made me say good by to my husband and daughter. I remember waking up with 2 thoughts on my mind: 1) am I supposed to be awake? LOL and 2) Yipee it's over!! I'm on the other side now and banded!

I am also on a pre-op diet but my Doctor gives me 3 options.. 2 shakes and a slim fast or other shake, 2 weeks of Atkins (phase 1) or all liquids. My surgery isn't until April 16th but I wanted to start early (I need to lose 15 lbs minimum). I have been watching for about about 7 or 8 days and am down about 6 lbs so far. I've been pretty much watching my carbs, eating lots of fresh salad, grilled chicken, turkey or fish and I ALWAYS have the weight watcher veggie soup readily available. It's basically a free food and always hits the spot when I feel hungry. I have to go on all liquids 3 days before surgery so that alone should make me drop a few lbs. This whole phase is definitely mental for me. You just have to keep your mind "in the zone".... We are all here to support you!!

Alli: I was banded on 7/7/11 and had plication at the same time. I feel GREAT. I am down 46 pounds and dropping- now, I am only loosing 2-3 pounds per week but I am dropping (lost 16 pounds the first week - too much too fast). I had a longer recovery than tradditional lapband - instead of 2-3 days it was more like 7-9 days but now I feel wonderful. I have had 2 fills - one was 2 cc and the second was 1 cc. Both were done in August. I am eating and not getting too hungry (I do get hungry between lunch and dinner - but that is just me). I have not had any slimming or anything getting stuck..in fact I really don't feel anything or any different than I did 6 months ago, just smaller (and happy about that). The doctor I used is in Jacksonville, Florida and he is one of only a few who do lapband with plication - in fact, I was in his "study group" so they are following me a bit closer so he can complete the study. GOod luck with your decision. I am glad I chose both and have never looked back. Here's to a skinner you ! Melinda

I walk around our city park. One time around is 1.25 miles. I started out going half way around. Then I moved up to one time around. Now I am going around 2 times. It took me 3 months to work up to 2 times around. Yesterday I started incorporating jogging (fast walking) into my routine. I would job a while and walk a while. I still made it around 2 times. Unfortunately i am not able to do this everyday. Between my work and school schedule I also have to take my daughter to dance class 3 times a week. She is too young to just drop her off so I have to sit and wait on her. So, I can only walk about 3-4 times a week. I hope to increase my laps to 3 starting next week. Right now I am at a stand still with my weight loss so I'm hoping that if I increase my walking it will jump start my loosing again. I haven't lost any weight in about 2 weeks. I'm getting frustrated!!! I'm making sure I'm getting all my protein in. My water is another story. I get almost all of it in everyday but it's hard!!! I wish I weighed what myfitnesspal says I would weigh 5 weeks ago!!!

Would be nice to hit the fast forward button and be where we want to be, wouldn't it

You could be drinking to fast maybe take sips and wait in between ..

The first couple days of the "fast" for me were difficult. However, I came to the mindset that I had to do it so it made it less of a "choice" in my mind. I do not like protein drinks but my nutritionist recommended the Carnation Instant Breakfast (NO sugar added - comes in a blue pkg), mixed with 2 1/2 T dry non-fat milk powder (extra protein) and 1 c. skim milk. I added ice as I prefer it really cold and it was pretty good. Once I saw the pounds going down it helped motivate me too! Good luck! Be prepared too for doing this post-surgery.

I'm on day one of my fast. I have a headache and whenever I smell food, i get jealous. I'm hoping two weeks will fly by, but I don't think that is going to happen. I'm excited that I got the approval for my surgery. I'm nervous about "what if I fail with the band as a tool for portion control?" Family and a couple of friends are supportive, but nobody else seems to be. I have to keep this a secret which sucks. I start school the same day I have surgery. How did other people do during the initial two week fast? Any tips?

I have lost 4 lbs in 3 days after my last fill on Wednesday, just wondering if that means o am in the green zone or if that is too much too fast meaning I am too tight? Confused : /