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Had my 6 week appointment with the surgeon thursday and he said that average weight loss is 10-15% of your excess body weight and Ive lost 17%~! even though its only 21lbs in 6 weeks, I'm above average! I feel so much better!

Three weeks out and sleeping back to normal. I slept on my side with a pillow and hated it. Hate sleeping on my back and side. Am so happy to be sleeping on my tummy again. So comfy. Was surprised how quickly pain changed turning over. Am grateful to be at this stage already

I went I think it was every 4 weeks at first in the first year but that's what my Surgeon wanted , after 2 years it is every so often just to make sure everything is fine & in place.

We eat out a lot too and I LOVE OLIVE GARDEN!! salad is not a problem for me so I have about 1/2 bowl of that. And if I really really want some of the breadstick I will take a little pinch off the end where it is crusty, and I've only done that 1 time out of 3 that we've been there. My FAVORITE menu item at Olive Garden is the Mixed Grill and I get it with all chicken. There is NO Pasta with this dish. It is all grilled chicken on a kabob with bell peppers & onions in the most amazing marinade...keeps it all moist. It comes with steamed veggies like squash & zucchini and roasted potatoes. I put 1/2 in a to go box right off the bat. 1/2 of a full order of all chicken mixed grill has 315 calories, 43 g Protein, 10 g fat and 10 net carbs. Or....if I'm in the mood for spaghetti I get spaghetti and meatballs hold the pasta. I don't even miss the pasta. In a mexican restaurant I'll order a burrito or enchiladas and just eat the filling, not the actual tortilla....or a taco salad, or sometimes fajitas (i don't eat the tortillas). I also always order it with ground beef not shredded beef. Chinese...pork & seeds & an egg roll or sometimes cashew chicken, no rice. Rice, chow mein, and lo mein are not my friends. Tonight I had pizza for the first time since banded...Papa Murphy's thin crust combination with some salad. AWESOME!!! So yes, you will be able to eat out again. During my pre-op diet I left 2 restaurants crying and posted that I thought I'd never feel normal in a restaurant again....so you're not alone!!! But it will get better. The first couple weeks after surgery are the worst but it all gets so much better after that!!

Time off ranges from 2 weeks to 2 months. It really depends on the person and their health.

Okay normally my band goes back and forth. I'll be tight for a whole and then loosen up for a while. For the past two months I've been super tight though so I got .25 cc's removed a month ago. For the first 3 weeks after that I was still swollen and pretty tight. Saturday I threw up from drinking something that was too thick. Then suddenly on Sunday... Bam my swelling and most of my restriction was gone. I'm able to drink with my meals and I haven't been able to do that in a year. Is something wrong with my band? I haven't been this loose in such a long time. I'm not in pain though and no reflux or indigestion. I should add, I do have some restriction because I still can't eat bread.

I was sleeved on 12/22. So I'm about 3 1/2 months post op. I'm really struggling with abdominal muscle soreness. It's around my incisions and abs in general. At my 3 month post op appt my surgeon said some people experience soreness until 5-6 months. He recommended that I stop doing lunges and squats for 4-6 weeks as that engages the core and could be causing the soreness. It's so uncomfortable at night that I can hardly sleep. I get maybe 4-5 hours a night. I'm getting super frustrated. Has anyone else experienced this soreness? Any tips or advice? I was seeing great results in my legs/rear from doing the squats and lunges. I've completely stopped for 2 weeks now and I'm not noticing a difference in the soreness.

I am now a week post op. According to my doctors diet plan I am eating very small, 1-2 oz portions, of soft Proteins. I've been doing ground turkey and ground chicken. Soft cheeses. Creamed Soups (homemade with either 1 or 2% milk). eggs. In very small portions. I find that if I eat more than 2-3oz I get a full pain in the middle of my back. I have my first post op appt tomorrow with my surgeon. I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 9lbs. Crazy for just one week. I'm hoping to find out when I'll get my first fill.

Mine started about 3 1/2 months post op. I had short hair to start with, so it hasn't been noticeable to anyone but me so far. I just hit the 5mo mark this week and I noticed the last 2 times I washed my hair that there seemed to be less falling out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's going to be a continuing trend.

I have Kaiser Insurance and I just started last week the Options class I am on week 2 today I already had my labs done and my EKG last week and today I scheduled my appointment for my psych evaluation and my health appraisal I am going to that before my class tonight I feel good about the Psych Evaluation I have no issues really that I know off I am not scared or anything. I think it will go good.

Do you throw it up right away or are you nauseous for a couple of hours? How does it work? I'm having surgery next week and I'm freaking out but Im so excited at the same time! I have never felt such dual emotions!:thumbdown:

Welcome Linda! I commend you on your decision to get healthy. I am 2 weeks post op and all I can say is even during the recovery period (about a week) there was never a time when I wished that I could reverse what I did. Let us share your journey...it really does help to get support from people who have been through this. Good luck to you! YaY Linda!!

Ive read other posts with others feeling tighter than me and not being able to take down food. Although I can to the max, I cheated on noodles on the fourth day and i ate like a whole bowl! And now its a week I had spaghetti bolognes! And i didnt have any discomfort or anything. And i feel bad, coz i had icecream, custard and chocolate! So why am i able to take normal food like this? Also being a week after my surgery i havent excercised because im still in pain. Has everyonje started to excercise a week after their surgery? hmmmm im so alone, i promise tomorrow no more hard food or fatty food. please help!

I've had a couple of days this week where my sleeve didn't like much of anything. I've been nauseous - on the verge of vomiting a couple of days. Today I did throw up for the first time post sleeve. I'm almost 6 weeks out. I'm on a PPI and following dr and nut diet completely. Foods that have been a staple are now making me ill. Did anyone go through periods like this?

To an extent that's how I felt. Try drinking slower, then it won't hurt as much, I was bloated for about a week and a half. Milk of mag saved my life, and a heating pad does wonders.

Me! I'm 4 weeks out and did love it before surgery. Now even when I add crystal light or any flavoring, I still can't drink it. It literally hurts going down. I'm hoping it goes away because I'm scared in the humidity and heat, I'm going to get dehydrated.

I agree, there is no magic formula. There are many successful people on here who have followed wildly different plans. Stalls happen no matter what. They happen no matter what you're eating and what you're doing. Weight loss is non linear, period.

There isn't one. Everyone's process is different. Everyone's stalls are caused by different things. The best answer is, make sure you are tracking EVERYTHING. Make sure you are exercising. Make sure you know your BMR (and pay attention to it since it changes as you age and lose weight) and that you are coming in under your BMR daily. And if you are only tracking your weight, and not body fat %, you are missing out on a pretty important measurement. If you are working out, you can lose fat and gain weight.

I am desperate for my first fill. Still have two weeks because the doctor had to reschedule me. I'm starving. Able to eat too much. I'm still eating better and less than I used to but too much. I'm not losing any weight and really getting bummed out. Two weeks seems like forever.

I want to take a sit down bath! Don't know if I can wait another week . I have never been a shower person. What's the worst that could happen?

I was banded on July 13, 2009. So I am only 5 weeks post op. I was very hungry all the time until I went in for a fill at one month post op. I got 2ccs. I think from what I understand that you are not going to get that full feeling until you have some fills. The first month is for healing and you kinda have to go on just go on willpower to loose anything. Just eat like your Dr. told you and do not snack. I lost only 13lbs from surgery to one month and I was hungry all the time. But when I had the small fill, I am not hungery at all. I eat the 3 small meals but I am never hungry right now. I do not know how long that will last, but it make this whole thing easier. Now my mind is still hungry all the time. food is my friend and when I get depressed I want to eat for comfort and am not getting to do that so my depression gets bad. But today is one week since I had my 1st fill and I still do not feel hungry, hope it last. Just hang in there and stick to your meal plan and drink lots and lots of Water.

I am close to 4 weeks post op and I have been out several times. We did a Chinese buffet and I had a bowl of Egg drop Soup, and took half of it home in a container for lunch the next day. I went with a group to a Mexican restaurant and ordered a single side serving of refried Beans. We went to a Chili's and I ordered a bowl of Tortilla soup and asked for mostly the broth, which is all I ate. I haven't had any problems finding something to order, and I don't mind sitting with others that are eating a full meal. I also know that soon enough I will be ordering appetizers or Entrees along with them... and getting several meals worth from mine! I am very comfortable for now saying " I just want a bowl of Egg drop soup".

I am 8 weeks post RNY. Need guidance on what the best standard daily intake for gram % for breaking stalls and Continued aggressive weight loss. (Carbs—Fats). I can reach the daily protein goal as well as liquids without any problems. New to the grp. So, apologize if this has already been asked previously by-others. 😁

Thank you dear Leatha g. and Karey, I just fired-off my message to Don Mills and copied Duke WLS Center. . . I am going to do just as you both said, diet, and keep praying my very favorite Bible verse....Deut. 31:8 "...do not be discouraged." I'll keep you posted. ------------------------------------ FYI -This is what I said to Mr. Mills: My 30 month old 10cc newer Vanguard system has a TOTAL leak in the location of the band's membrane but there are no other issues like erosion or slipping. It just will no longer hold Fluid. Duke Medical Radiology and the WLS Center in Durham, NC (same group that put on my lap-band) did the contrast radiology work today. Anyway, I was told by their wonderful PA that I should seriously consider leaving it broken in place rather than removing OR replacing it because it's NOT that the Vanguard has caused band slip or erosion issues. It's just nicely sitting there empty. I am currently 29.2 BMI with 30 pounds from my goal 24BMI which is to have and maintain a normal weight = 18.5-24.9 BMI. Repeatedly at Duke WLS I have been told that statistically I am a WLS success and should give myself credit. Credit or not, I am still struggling to be at my normal weight. By example, it took over 3.5 weeks to get an office appointment after I felt the lack of restriction (happened all at once) and another three working days for radiology. . . so in that month, I regained 9.5 lbs back and now weigh 181.lbs. Ok, I now fully realize I have a problem and I am going to try VERY hard to stabilize, but I have always been very grateful for the good folks at Duke and my band and now it's just gone forever... I can't believe it? I am healthier than I have been for most of my life and this is the worst news. I am to come back to Duke WLS on November 17th to talk to my new Surgeon, who was not available today, and go from there. So here is my question. Even if there is risk of removing it because it's "major surgery" and there are now adhesions around the piece parts, why would I want to just leave it hanging around like old broken buried and abandoned underground cable? Why would Duke WLS Center not want to go ahead and replace it ASAP to continue to help me on my weight-loss journey? Is there more to the "risk" story than I currently know? Am I missing something? IS there an issue at Inamed with replacing the band or with the procedures? I know I want another Lap-band but please what do you know or think about this matter! IS IT PROBABLE that a replacement CAN BE DONE AT THE SAME TIME when the broken Vanguard is removed? Does it take a different course to remove and replace than standard lap procedures? Is this a higher-risk surgery than the first one? Please any information would be most helpful and deeply appreciate. PS: What is the Inamed Vanguard MTBF and warranty? ;o) Sincerely,