I thought I would start a thread so those of us being banded on the 15th can talk and discuss our progress since we are all at exactly the same point in our journeys. Hopefully we can offer advice and support to one another and it will be nice to have others who are feeling "exactly" what we are because they are in the same boat. I hope to hear from you all! Only two more days til Surgery day! I am so excited and nervous, how about you all?

hello all,

I am a little under the weather. I haven't been to support in 2wks. I did weigh myself and I am down to 217.2. :thumbup: I am still on puree diet. I adv. to soft on fri. I am noticing how big my clothes are now and I went from a 44ddd to a 42ddd. I will not run out and buy any new clothes yet. I hope everyone is doing great.

Hello Mellygirl,

Always good to hear from you!!! I am on phase 4 of the diet I started that on Feb 13th it is going good but I am alittle hungry this week so when I see him On March 2nd maybe he will give me a fill ???? I think I get to work out after 6wks. I am also on facebook Nancy Alves Green from Cape Cod Ma look me Up I would like that

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum, have been wondering lately if I even have a band in me! I seem to be able to eat anything (I haven't attempted bread yet, but chicken, prawns, brocolli, pasta). I haven't had anything stick (mind you, I have been chewing well). I also seem to be able to eat a LOT! Don't get me wrong, I'm not eating nearly as much as I used to pre-op... I do get full after a generous amount of food (maybe 1.5-2 cups worth). I definitely don't get any signals to stop eating when I am, I just stop after I think I've had enough. I'm hoping my first fill will make this all make sense! Can anyone relate? I have my first fill the first week in March... I'm counting the days!

Look forward to sharing with you Jan 15ers! Can you believe it's over a month ago now... wow.

Em.

Hey all...lost my password and didn't have time to mess with it till today. So far, doing great except a little tenderness still around the largest incision. Most everything else has worked itself out. Did get to start regular diet on the 12th. Havig trouble getting the caloric intake my dietician wants me to get (1000-1200 cal a day). I am hovering around 800-900 cal. a day. but my weight loss has dramatically slowed down the past week or so. Due to the Ice Storm Kentucky got a few weeks ago, my follow up appointment got bumped a week and a half. So I don't go for my fill (if needed) till the 26th of Feb. Only thing I have found so far that does not agree with me is white bread untoasted. Can eat "wrap" breading (like for a Mc'Ds Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap but that will not be a habit...my 16 year old brought it to me when he came home from baseball practice yesterday afternoon. Since he got a Big Mac he didn't want me to suffer, he said. He is a sweetie...). hope all are well!!!

Happy one month Bandiversary everyone! I go tomorrow for my first fill and I am a little bit scared! I will be sure to pop on and give everyone a play by play tomorrow. Think pain-free thoughts for me!

I had my first fill today and it went great! The doc had me lay back and push my stomach out as far as I could while he pressed down on my port site. He stuck me twice and couldn't find my port, so he used a machine (I called it the stud finder) to locate the port and then 2 more sticks later he was in and added 4cc into my 14cc band. The sticks were barely noticeable, and almost felt like an allergy shot. It was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. I was expecting something comparable to an IV, but it was not nearly that caliber. I've had flu shots that hurt worse. :thumbup:) After he added the saline, he had me drink a Dixie cup full of water and I didn't have any problems so he sent me on my way. I'm due back on the 17th of March. I had lost another 3 lbs. which was suprising because I have been able to eat pretty normally. I was scared I gained, but the doctor was very happy. Since surgery day I have lost 11 lbs. without even technically "trying". I have also been cleared to go to the gym, so I am excited to see what this band will do with extra effort on my part. I hope you are all recovering well!

That sounds great. Get my first fill on 2/23/09. Only problem is irregularity. Down 33 lbs. since 1/02/09. Some days I have a crazy appettite and others not much at all. Not to get too graphic but I took a laxitive and after finally having a decent BM, I was down 3 lbs. so I will address this with the Dr. on Monday. I can eat everything so far, but much less than I was able too before. Hope I can start the gym next week. Because of a severe back injury I will have to start out in the pool and hopefully move on to walking and weights. Keep posting and good luck.

Edited February 22, 200917 yr by TPB1960

Hello all....Just checking in with you all and seeing how everything is going. For me, I am down 40lbs...25 since surgery...which the dr is happy about. I have my first fill on March 11th...Kinda nervous about that. I have been doing great. I can already tell a huge difference in the way I feel. My husband told me this morning that I havent been snoring as bad as I used to:tongue2:!! I can tell that Im losing weight in my stomach area and also in my face and neck. As far as eating, I am eating basically what I want just in smaller portions and of course HEALTHIER!!!!!! I havent really found anything that I just cannot tolerate. However, I chew extremely well and have been taking it very very slow and easy. I feel absolutely no pains at my port areas or anywhere. I actually been having dreams of my hair falling out...lol..:smile:..but I have been really concentrating on Protein so hopefully that isnt going to happen.

I will keep you all posted and you do the same!!

Ttyl

Melodieus

Had my first fill yesterday 1.2 cc. Done in the X-Ray room, I had to lay on the table, bend my legs and push my stomach out. The Dr. asked if I want 1 stick or 2. The first would be local anesthetic. I figured why get two and went for the one. I didn't really feel much at all. They left the syringe in the port and lifted the table so I was now standing up. Here came the worse part for me. I had to drink that bitter stuff 3 times under X-Ray. He already put in 2 cc, but saw some reflux so took it down to 1.2 cc. It took all of 20 minutes. Good luck and don't be nervous it really wasn't that bad.

Wow, your fill sounds a lot different from mine. Do you have any idea how big your band is? I got 4cc on my first fill and I can notice a difference, but I also know that it will need to be filled more. I don't think I have truly experienced the wonder that is "restriction", but instead I just feel full on smaller amounts of food than I used to eat.

Anyone else fill up quickly at mealtime and then feel hungry a few hours later?

I don't know the size. I feel the same way as you, not a lot of restriction but losing weight and eating a lot less. Never had reflux or vomiting and I can eat everything. Well the X-Ray showed reflux but I never felt I was having it. I think I'm still eating too fast because by the time I realize I'm hungry, I'm way too hungry. Also my Diabetes has gone from high sugars to low sugars so I have to drink O.J. when I'm not hungry to get it higher.

Just had my first fill today. Down another 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Got 2.5cc's put in this afternoon. Was not bad at all!! But I have already have gotten over that part since I have a Mediport in my chest and I get that flushed every 6 weeks. The stick was not any worse than a blood draw to me. Also got the clearance to work out as I feel like (was only allowed to walk on the treadmill or outside till today) so I did a 1 hour 15 minute Cardio-pump class and SURVIVED IT!! Hope everyone is doing well!!!!

Glad to hear your fill went great! I think I psyched myself out for every step of this process. This whole experience has not been all that difficult. I thought surgery would be way more difficult than it was, and the same for the fill. So far I feel like I have definitely made the right choice for me! Hope you are all doing as great.

I just found this thread, but I wanted to say hi and join, if that's ok. I was banded on 1-15-09. Am at a point of utter confusion and wondering if I'm on track? Is this normal, etc.

I have had no problems whatsoever, none at all, sometimes I wonder if that band is really there, anyway, would love to hear from others on how they are doing at this point.

Welcome April! I don't feel like I have a band most of the time either, but it's still early. There are some occasions, if I accidentally take a huge bite or if I get too full that I definitely can tell it is there. I know I am nowhere near where I need to be in terms of restriction, but my appetite seems to be a lot less than it used to be. What has your experience been like so far? Have you had a fill yet?