Help! I am gaining weight

[Susan70 0]

I will have had my surgery 4 weeks this Friday. I have noticed that I CAN eat just about anything right now and have been for about a week even though I should be on soft foods for another 4 days. I haven't been over-eating but I have been eating normal foods. I lost a total of 14 lbs from my pre-op and post liquid diet. BUT gained 2 lbs back since I have been eating regular foods. I feel absolutely NO restriction and will have my first fill on 9/14. This is my question:

- I know everyone is different however is it normal not to lose weight until after your first fill?

- Is it normal to not have any restriction at all before your 1st fill?

- And has anyone else gained a few pounds back during this time?

I am worried now that I have started to gain when I feel as if I should be going down hill instead of up!

Thanks for your input?

~Susan

[faithmd 14]

Everything you asked is a yes, and is totally normal.

[faithmd 14]

In fact it is VERY common to GAIN weight at least until the first fill and in some cases until you get proper restriction. That may not come with the first or the second fill. It may take a few.

[nmgirl 0]

Dear Susan... I Had To Have A Fill With In 3 Weeks Of Getting My Band Placed. I Could Eat Anything And I Was Down Right Hungry. Until You Get Your First Fill, Just Hang In There.

As Far As Gaining Weight...i Gain About 5 Lbs The Week Before My Friend Comes To Visit But Then As Soon As I Get It The Weight Is Gone Again. Be Patient And It Will All Work Out For You... Trust Me, I Am 16 Months Post Op And Doing Very Well!!!!

Sherry

[losingjusme 12]

you may want to search for "Bandser Hell" ... LOTS of posts about it here.

it will get better once you hit your sweet spot on fills (not necessarily your first fill)...

[Susan70 0]

Thanks you guys! Now I don't feel as if this was all for nothing. Also I am noticing now how the certain people I have told are starting to make comments about what I eat and asking how much I have lost. Starting to get annoying....

Hey losingjustme- How do I find the bandsterhell site? Thanks!

[faithmd 14]

It's not a site. Go to the Search function on the blue tool bar near the top of every page. Click on it, then type in what you want to search for. In this case we'd suggest you type Bandster Hell

You can go Advanced Search and then search for thread titles only that have Bandster Hell in them, too.

[Tyanna 0]

whoo hooo i have had my second fill and i am now at a proper restriction. I can now just eat a half to a quarter of a cup of food. I am so happy!!!! 2CC of saline did the trick. My surgery was 6/21/07 and i have lost 27 lbs including my pre-op weight lose.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

I will have had my surgery 4 weeks this Friday. I have noticed that I CAN eat just about anything right now and have been for about a week even though I should be on soft foods for another 4 days. I haven't been over-eating but I have been eating normal foods. I lost a total of 14 lbs from my pre-op and post liquid diet. BUT gained 2 lbs back since I have been eating regular foods. I feel absolutely NO restriction and will have my first fill on 9/14. This is my question:

- I know everyone is different however is it normal not to lose weight until after your first fill?

- Is it normal to not have any restriction at all before your 1st fill?

- And has anyone else gained a few pounds back during this time?

I am worried now that I have started to gain when I feel as if I should be going down hill instead of up!

Thanks for your input?

~Susan

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.< /span>

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

[Susan70 0]

Wow, Sounds like someone did there research! Thanks for the information!

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Wow, Sounds like someone did there research! Thanks for the information!

You're very welcome!

[JosieK 120]

hi wendell...i learn more from your posts ....... thanks!!!!

[Wendell Edwards 73]

hi wendell...i learn more from your posts ....... thanks!!!!

You're very welcome!

[Lorsbander 1]

<p>(Thanks Wendell! I agree! Your posts are always helpful!)</p> <p> </p> <p>I am almost 4 weeks post-op, too. My doctor told me that the 6 weeks after surgery were for healing, not necessarily for losing. I lost some, as I was still on a liquid diet for 2 weeks after surgery. But, when I started eating food again I plateaued. I do not eat much, plus I have been exercising quite a bit. Finally, after almost 2 weeks at the same weight, I lost 1 pound yesterday and another today. I am looking forward to my first fill on Sept. 24, but a little scared! I am terrified to get something stuck. I chew food until it's liquified, but I am still paranoid! Any words from the wise?</p>

[Susan Charmain 0]

Does anyone think my not wanting to know how much I'm losing weird? I want just the doctor to know and act accordingly. I don't want to stress over what I've lost or haven't lost. I'm going for my first fill this Monday. Is this unusual for someone to feel this way?