If this has been included in another thread, please post the link, but if not...for us Newbies, what are some things you wish you'd known before surgery, or just during the process in general.

Thanks so much everyone, the information and support in this forum is AMAZING!

Good topic! I'd love to know too!

Good question Sissy!

I just celebrated my 1yr bandiversary last week. More than anything, I wish I had known how long it would take to feel restriction after you heal from the surgery. At about week 6, I became very hungry and for 4 months it was like I was not banded at all. Come to find out, this is normal and you will be this way until you get enough fills to start feeling restriction. I started eating more, but the right things, so I didn't gain any weight.

I always share this with new people because I think we are so inundated with information, that we don't hear all the little details. This was a BIG one for me!

The second thing would be to keep your head in the game. This is not Gastric Bypass where you lose a lot of weight all at once. The Lapband is a tool. Hopefully, one of many that you have in your toolbox. You still have to do the work of eating right and exercising. Don't get fills too fast. Most problems start after being too tight.

Remember..... this is Life, not a Race!!

Thank you MdGardengirl. I will try to remember " this is Life, not a Race!!" when I get in a rush, or start comparing myself to others and their progress.

I also wish I had known how long it would take to feel some restriction. My (unbanded) nutritionist had told me I wouldn't be hungry after surgery, but I was very hungry, and it took several fills for me to start feeling like my band was really working.

Thanks Jean

I wish I had known that the big dose of antibiotics given during surgery can give some people a yeast infection on the skin...I had one on my tummy....thought I was allergic to the meds..turned out to be a yeast infection. I was told this was common...after the fact. Go figure!

I wish I hadn't gone out and bought a lot of liquid phase foods before surgery...I wasted a lot of money and didn't really use most of it...so buy enough to get you through the first week...keeping in mind that you are not going to be eating/drinking much your first few days.

Whoa! that's good to know...I usually eat yogurt when I'm on Antibiotics to reduce the yeast infection risks, hopefully I can do that this time also.

Good idea about waiting to buy foods...thanks so much!!!

Time to restriction absolutely!!!! I felt my doctor's program was excellent and I was well prepared for surgery. It took me 6 months to get restriction and after reading posts on here of people getting restriction after the first fill I was really disappointed.

Some of us are slow loosers. I am very conservative in my food choices and do 1 + hour of cardio 7 days week. I loose less than 1 lb a week.

There is another post with same subject, sorry don't remember which one it is

research research research! I found out so much after the fact (and I lived on this site) . Make sure all your questions are answered.

start taking Calcium , so the hair loss isn't as bad. ( I was taking a daily vitamin) but it is recommended to take calcium tablets. (this is for some, not all suffer hair loss) and it will grow back.

Good luck~

Very good information! Thanks to all. I asked my Dr in my pre-op appt the other day about hair loss. He said to make sure I eat my protein first to make sure I don't get filled up on other things. If I skimp on protein it will cause hair loss. Good Luck Sissy in your journey!

Thanks everyone! I will be sure to stay active on the board, so I can get all the LUV I can

There is another post with same subject, sorry don't remember which one it is

research research research! I found out so much after the fact (and I lived on this site) . Make sure all your questions are answered.

start taking Calcium , so the hair loss isn't as bad. ( I was taking a daily vitamin) but it is recommended to take calcium tablets. (this is for some, not all suffer hair loss) and it will grow back.

Good luck~

I haven't heard of taking calcium to prevent hair loss. Calcium supplements are important for bone health (especially for women), but it's Biotin that's most commonly recommended for hair loss.

_{Thank you all for this information. I was thinking that I would have restriction right after the band placement, I am glad I know now not to expect that.}

_{Thank you all for this information. I was thinking that I would have restriction right after the band placement, I am glad I know now not to expect that.}

Some people do and they are a lucky few. I thought I was one of those until the internal swelling went down. It's like a false positive on restriction so be aware of that one. I just got my first fill today. I have 5cc in a 11cc band. I am on liquids for 24 hours and then back to solids slowly to discover if this fill had any bearing. Like some of the others I had some expectations of restriction after surgery.

Like MDGardenGirl said this is not a quick weight loss remedy. If you want to drop weight fast you need to look else where....

Will power is still huge even with the band and the band will not prevent you from downing a 600 calorie shake from McDonalds.

Jim, a friend who was banded a year ago said the same thing, the band won't keep you from eating 1000 calorie milkshakes, it's all up to us to use the band.