This thread is for peeps banded or being banded in December of 2009.

Hi all,

I'm excited and nervous. I was banded 12/17. My first fill is this Wednesday. I don't look forward to those days of liquid. I'll officially find out how much I've lost. I believe it's 20 to 25 lbs. Good Luck all.

i'm so excited I get my first fill in 2 days - woohooo!!!!

Hi Lady,

I was thinking about you today. We were banded on the same day and I sorta feel connected to you. I don't think that I have been loosing either and I really haven't been posting, although I have been reading. I don't have any restriction and I am just trying to make sensible eating choices. I have decided to make these first 6-8 weeks post op a healing and relearning process. Afterall, I have used over 40yrs of my life to just eat whatever I wanted and now I have to relearn for life. I have been trying to walk at least 30-45min every day. Once I can go to regular exercises, I will start going to the Zumba and Pilates classes at the gym. Just think, by Christmas 2010 we will be ALL NEW!

Yes, I feel the connection too. I had to travel a bit this weekend and I ate a lot. I haven't weighed myself yet but I know I picked up a few pounds. My first fill is this Thur. and I can't wait. It can't come soon enough. I was doing so good with the preop diet and then once they allowed real food again is when it all went wrong for me. They should have just left me starving on those protein shakes. Thanks again Great Expectations for thinking of me. I am certainly feeling down about the whole thing at this point in time. But it's important that I post and interact so that when things are going good I can post then too and see my progress.

Hi Dear D.D's

After weeks of not feeling hungry and forcing myself to get 600 cals down, my appetite finally kicked in! I could eat a horse! Like Ara my sweet tooth has also returned - make that a chocolate covered horse! I talked with my PCP this morning, she would like to see me consume 1000 to 1500 cals a day. I'm sure I am getting 1000 now. I'm sure I will be ready for my 1st fill in 10 days time.

For those who have had a fill with a fluoroscope, how long was that machine on? Is any other part of your body protected i.e. with a lead apron? I'm concerned about the amount of radiation, as I'm also having a lot of dental work done and having many X-rays with that too.

Thanks for any info you may have.

I just had my first fill today . Apparently, I have a 10 cc band and I was given 2.2 cc's. The nurse had more in there, but when I swallowed the very heavy white icky stuff it wouldn't go through. That was interesting to see.

To answer your question about the size of the fluoroscope Viv, it was about the size of a small dinner plate or maybe like the end of a metal detector. I wasn't given anything to shield any parts and I was surprised when I didn't have to strip down to just panties. I had jeans on and they have a metal button and zipper of course. The machine never touched my body. It was kind of an odd contraption.

Hello Everyone,

I had my surgery Dec. 16th and Im down about 25 pounds. I go for my first fill tomorrow Jan. 19th. Im curious to see how that goes. I have some restriction now with breads, however for the most part I can eat what I want. I try to make good choices though but every now and again I just have to have a cookie. Im glad to see the December bandsters doing well.

I had my first fill yesterday and that is such a weird and crazy experiece!

I now know that I have a 11cc band and they put in 4cc's. I still don't feel restriction on it, but I do go in 3 weeks for another fill. They are really happy with my weight loss and so am I.

The scales aren't moving and I am not exercising because I HATE exercising in my house and it's too cold outside to walk or ride my bike so I'm "stuck". I don't have restriction after my first fill and my second fill is in about 2 weeks. Perhaps that will give me some restriction, that will then allow me to eat less, thus sending the scale downward and landing on the motivation I need to get up and walk on the treadmill or use the wii fit. *SIGH*. I know that I have to do my part and the band will work for me eventually, but I am just suprised that I haven't been able to get the band to kick in at all yet. I can eat anything I want. Not all in one sitting but if I keep going bck, eventually I can eat it. Never had one stuck episode or PB'ing or anything to let me know it's in there. Nothing. Not to mention my S/O didn't want me to have the surgery in the first place b/c he thought I looked fine and he loves me the way I am (was), so now that the post-op swelling is gone and the first fill didn't provide restriction past day 2, all I hear is "so what did you get an operation for if you can still eat like you did before?"

I am just rambling and venting because I am a little blah about it all right now. I was so excited to get approved and ready to start my new life, but without the band doing what it's in there to do, the work is all on me and if I could have done it all by myself I wouldn't have needed a band in the first freakin' place!

Whoosah...

I know how you feel because I just had my first fill yesterday and no restriction. I'm praying that my second fill will give me some kind of restriction.

I had my first fill today and I must admit I didnt like it one bit. They had to pull fluid that had developed around my port before they could fill it. When they were finally able to fill it they gave me 5 cc's. I haven't eaten yet because Im not hungry, is that because of the fill?

Happy2009, hang in there it will get better. I'm feeling you on the excercising but I do it cause I have to, not because I like it. Try doing 20 minutes a day thats how Im starting cause I really dont like the treadmill.

cin_a_mon, I suspect that you're not hungry because of the fill... which is GREAT. I hope that lasts awhile. I'm sorry that getting the fill was such a difficult experience for you. How is it that fluid had developed around your port? Hopefully, it will be easier next time.

Happyme, I hate exercising - period. And I haven't been doing much of it, to be honest. I know I should... and I'm hoping that it will get easier and maybe even enjoyable when I'm lighter and it isn't so tedious, difficult (and exhausting) to move around. I walk the dogs or spend time walking up and down the grocery store aisles just to get steps in. I have a friend (not banded) who lost a bunch of weight by going home at lunch and running on her treadmill (running, I know...ha!), but the point is, she lost a lot weight because she burned more calories than she consumed, so I always keep that in the back of my mind. It's a mathematical equation and the band is SUPPOSED to help create the difference. But I totally understand your frustation because so far, I have no idea if and when my band is ever gonna kick-in for me. The weight I've lost has come from not eating (I'm on liquids again), which will do the trick with or without it. The point at which I got the band, I was on an upward swing - I couldn't stop gaining. So right now I'm just grateful as heck that THAT'S stopped... Two weeks will pass in no time and hopefully, it'll do the trick, you'll feel restriction for awhile and see the scale move.

I soooooo know how you feel HappyMe! I am right there with ya! I even gained a few pounds this past weekend. My first fill is Thursday and I will finally have some fluid in my band. I have no fluid in my band right now and it sucks. I have been eating healthy but to much food each time. I have not been exercising either. It's like I've given up right now. I'm sorry you are suffering but feel good that I'm not alone. I worry that my first fill will bring no restriction also. Take care and keep us posted!

ps One good thing is that I only have to wait 2 weeks between fills!

For the ladies I have a question... Has anyone had any menstrual problems since surgery? I am over a week late and didn't know if that was normal??

For the ladies I have a question... Has anyone had any menstrual problems since surgery? I am over a week late and didn't know if that was normal??

Mine has been all over the place, but then it was never exactly regular before because I have PCOS. I just had it two weeks ago and low and behold it started again. I don't know if it is from the weight loss or all the exercising I have been doing lately.

Hi December Delights,

I am almost officially 6 weeks post op now and eating just fine. My doc won't even consider a fill until a complete 6 weeks post op so I am glad that I am there now. I can certainly use a fill. I had determined to wait until the end of this month to even call the office. My surgery was on 12/17 and I want to be completely healed up inside and out. I hope everything is where is should be with my band because I don't want to go through any un-necessary procedures. Hope everyone is doing fine.

Happy Journey!