Hello! I am trying to figure out this forum and how it all works so bear with me! I was banded Friday, Dec. 3rd and have about 85 lbs. to lose. Diabetes runs in my family and I felt like a time bomb and have never been able to keep the weight off. It just crept up and up. I am very active and want to be able to exercise without the aches and pains. I am 5' 10" and 55 years old. I would like to stay in touch with those of a similar situation.

I had a great experience so far and had my band done as an out pt. procedure. I was out at SAM's the very next morning and haven't had alot of pain. Today I did laundry and walked at the mall. I plan to return towork for awhile on Monday. I was fortunate to also have had it done laproscopically and had a great surgeon, Dr. David Provost. All I can say is so far so good!

So the fill don't hurt at all? What does it feel like, just like a regular shot?

No! Its painless. Just the prick at the beginning is like the normal shot and then no pain. I thought it would be like a normal shot too and was waiting to feel the liquid go in- but nothing! I heard or could feel the pressure of the needle tapping into the port but no pain.

Afterwards is weird though. With my first sip of water I could feel the difference. It felt like I had a lump in my throat and very tight in the chest. It also felt like I was swallowing air bubbles. By the second cup of water it was fine. I'm noticing today the same thing. The first couple of sips are weird and then its fine.

When is your first fill booked?

So the fill don't hurt at all? What does it feel like, just like a regular shot?

Hi Heather,

My first fill was Wednesady and I could not believe how painless it was! It was much less painful than a blood draw or Iv stick. I think had I been asleep it wouldn't have even woken me up!

When is your first fill?

Joan

Thanks, I don't know, it just seemed like something that could be painful. I'm not afraid of shots though, so I'm good.

My fill is on the 20th.

I am worried my Dr will say I am losing too much and he wont give me my first fill on Tuesday..... does that happen?

I am 45 lbs down..23 of those are post op (1 month)

I am worried my Dr will say I am losing too much and he wont give me my first fill on Tuesday..... does that happen?

I am 45 lbs down..23 of those are post op (1 month)

WOW that is awsome to be down 45 lbs already !!!!!!!!! I am down 21 from dec13th2010 and thought that was great.... GO U !!!! I know my dr goes by my eating journal and weight loss for the fill.. but thats my dr..... just like post op eatting every dr is diffrent. I am still not on regular foods yet.... i cant wait to eat a salad !!!!

congrats on the wl and keep it going !!!

Amy

Nice! I guess you don't need a fill if you are losing that much. It wouldn't help anything.

That's great for both of you! I'm down like 8 since the 13th.

HI, I lost a total of 23 pound, 15 of them were pre op. I was banded on the 23rd. I am begining to eat real food and I am afraid I will gain weight or not lose anymore. Is this normal to stop losing once you begin eating "real" food? And how much can you guys eat at one time? I am having a hard time feeling any restriction and that worries me. I am not getting a fill until the end of Jan. Is that when I will feel the restriciton?

Also, just wondering, when did you guys stop feeling any pain? I still feel like I have a cramp or a pulled muscle where the port is. I have a hard time bending and walking I feel the pull of the muscle. Anyone else experience this? It almost feels like aconstant gas bubble

Congrats to you guys who have lost so much! Thats a real accomplishment!

~LORI

23 lbs in 4 weeks is amazing, you probably don't need a fill. Are you hungry at all?

I'm only down 6lbs since the 14th, and I know it is because I haven't been able to worked out, the day after I got the OK to start working out I had a kidney stone attack and had surgery, again, this Tuesday and am not allowed to exercise until this coming Tuesday.

Pamala, sorry to hear about your surgery. I hope you are feeling OK. I think anything you lose is great.and you should be proud of yourself. Hearing all the amounts of other people you start to wonder if you (meaning I) am doing the right thing. I am having NO trouble eating anything. I am feeling that this is not right. Some people have lost SO much weight before their fillm which is great!

How much are you able to eat? Are you on regualar food? Is there anything you cant eat?

as for me i am only eating the soft foods still... 2 scrambled eggs 6:15 1/4 cup to 1/2 of cup of cottage cheese at 10;45 and then anywhere from 1 cup to a cup 1/2 of chili or tomato soup at 12;30 then at 3:30 i have a few strawberries or 1/2 banana then 6 pm dinner...i drink 3 water bottles a day trying to get more and i walk 1-3 miles a night and do the wii with the family ... i am pushing for 60 lb weight loss by Easter so thats why I am pushing myself... i did read smaller meals a few times a day is better i am trying it out. i do need to work on the fiber more

Amy

I had my first fill today. I found out I have a 9cc band and had 3cc's in at surgery. She added 1 more today for a total of 4.

My Dr numbs it first and then puts the LB needle in. That just felt like pressure. I've lost 9.5 lbs since surgery. I kind of stalled since switching to solid foods. Hopefully with the next couple fills I'll have some restriction and get back to losing. Plus our treadmill came today so I have that to work out on too. Woohoo!

I am worried my Dr will say I am losing too much and he wont give me my first fill on Tuesday..... does that happen?

I am 45 lbs down..23 of those are post op (1 month)

Hi FLORIDAYS...

I was banded on 12/3 and went in for my first fill this past Wednesday. On my pre-op visit on 11/20 I weighed 269. By 12/3 on Surgery day I was 258. When I went in for my fill I was 243. 2 days later I weighed in today at 241.

My doctor was very pleased with my progress so far. I was a little disheartened that he didn't want to give me a fill because I am losing at a good pace. But he was very encouraging and really made me feel like I am doing well without the fill. So far I haven't gotten sick at all and am having no problems with any foods. I am not having any heartburn or nausea. The doctor said that if he acts too aggresively and gives me a fill he is afraid that I will start having some of those problems. He said that he felt that I would just be back next week asking him to take it out. But he did say that when I return next month he thought I would be ready for a fill. But even still...only a little.

I had alot of mixed feelings at first. I was kinda excited about getting the fill...I guess just ready to move on to the next phase and possibly loose more. But by the time I left the Doctor's office I felt good about it. The doctor was so very encouraging and really acted enthusiatic about my achievement so far. The recommended weight loss by Allergan - the makers of the band - is 2.0 - 2.5 pounds per week. Since 11/20 I have lost a total of 28 pounds. I had lost 10 pounds in the previous month. For a total of 38 pounds lost since October. I am estatic!

I had a great NSV victory this week. All of my clothes are getting pretty baggy. I went to get just one outfit to reward myself. I had to go down 2 sizes in both my jeans and sweater. After I got home and tried it on for my husband and kids their remarks nearly brought me to happy tears. My daughter said that it was hard to tell just how much I had lost because my clothes were so big. My sons were like "Wow mom - you look so much smaller". And my husband was VERY encouraging!

I hope and pray that I can continue on this well. And I wish the best of luck everyone else too. We are all on this journey together!

Someone at work today notice I'm losing weight.. Yeah!! I told them I'm working with my Dr. and he has me on strict diet. Still haven't told anyone about being banded.

I was banded on the 27th... and have been doing really well. However, I'm starting to "think about food".... I even had a dream I was eating a tuna sandwich.... geeeeeeeeeeee I'd love a tuna sandwich!!!

I think it's all in my mind... cause I'm not really feeling hungry. I'm still on liquids and maybe I feel I just need to bite into something.

Anyone in the same boat?

HI, I lost a total of 23 pound, 15 of them were pre op. I was banded on the 23rd. I am begining to eat real food and I am afraid I will gain weight or not lose anymore. Is this normal to stop losing once you begin eating "real" food? And how much can you guys eat at one time? I am having a hard time feeling any restriction and that worries me. I am not getting a fill until the end of Jan. Is that when I will feel the restriciton?Also, just wondering, when did you guys stop feeling any pain? I still feel like I have a cramp or a pulled muscle where the port is. I have a hard time bending and walking I feel the pull of the muscle. Anyone else experience this? It almost feels like aconstant gas bubbleCongrats to you guys who have lost so much! Thats a real accomplishment!~LORI

My weight loss has been about 1 - 2 pounds a week since I started food. I think i need to be a little more careful with what I'm eating, but I'm still not eating very much. Also my doc said next week i can amp up my exercise.

23 lbs in 4 weeks is amazing, you probably don't need a fill. Are you hungry at all? I'm only down 6lbs since the 14th, and I know it is because I haven't been able to worked out, the day after I got the OK to start working out I had a kidney stone attack and had surgery, again, this Tuesday and am not allowed to exercise until this coming Tuesday.

Nope, I mean I physically want food because it tastes good, but I'm not hungry. I've been eating tons of protein eggs for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, ground turkey for dinner, oatmeal for a snack. I have no idea how big my band is or if there is anything in there. After I eat my small meals when I stand up I'm full in my stomach. It's not bloated full but I can feel the pressure.

Someone at work today notice I'm losing weight.. Yeah!! I told them I'm working with my Dr. and he has me on strict diet. Still haven't told anyone about being banded. I was banded on the 27th... and have been doing really well. However, I'm starting to "think about food".... I even had a dream I was eating a tuna sandwich.... geeeeeeeeeeee I'd love a tuna sandwich!!! I think it's all in my mind... cause I'm not really feeling hungry. I'm still on liquids and maybe I feel I just need to bite into something.Anyone in the same boat?

LoL a dream about tuna. Tuna is good!

You could try gum? I haven't yet, I've seen mixed things about it.

Ohh tip for everyone.. well idea. Lately I've been going to more specialty grocery stores when I'm out and can't make lunch and picking up a little tub of chicken salad or turkey or tuna salad it's SOOO good. I had turkey salad with cranberries and walnuts in it from Bristol Farms tonight and it was delicious. It's usually the right size too. Sometimes you can't always eat something good when you are out alone, stopping at a grocery store is a great idea. Watch the calories though, make sure it's not totally crazy.

Also my old trainer always used to tell me (she just tweeted this):

Fat-burning cardio tip: treadmill incline 15 to 40% (all the way uphill), speed 2.0 to 3.5 (no holding the hand rails), 45min-1hr 3-5days per week.

we would always do this, or go hiking in the hills.