muelle

I don't think you are aiming too high. I started out morbidly obese, and lost pretty fast. I hit my goal weight at 10 months post op, and since then have lowered my goal a little and am now working on toning up. I did this with no exercise and only have a little excess skin in my lower abdomen. I have started doing crunches and it is already helping, but if I get a chance to have a tummy tuck, I will. My doctor said that being young is a huge advantage because you have more collagen in your skin, and I'm 13 years older than you

Wow!!! Congratulations!!! What you have done is amazing, keep up the great work!

I was, and can still be sometimes, a bored eater as well. I have seen many suggestions on here for dealing with that, some recommend seeing a psychiatrist, others recommend just keeping busy. I try to keep busy, but having had the surgery helps as well because I know that overeating can be physically harmful to me. As far as appetite goes, I have had no appetite since surgery and have probably only felt actual hunger a dozen times since surgery as well. Going to the seminar will answer a lot of questions, if it is a good one. Mine answered questions I didn't even know I had I don't know anything about IBS, but I do know that constipation can be an issue after surgery, but there are ways to deal with that. Good luck to you!!! If it helps you at all, there is not one day since surgery that I have regretted having surgery, I would do it over in an instant!

I'm cold constantly as well. I think I have kind of just gotten used to it in ways. I dress extra warm all the time, but since it's not efficient to wear gloves 24/7 my hands never warm up. I am usually okay being cold inside, but going outside, especially in the wind, kills me. It physically hurts. I think my husband thinks I'm off my rocker when I tell him that Does anyone else feel that way? Good luck to everyone on your journey!!!

Today is my one rear bandiversary and I couldn't be happier with it!!! I am asked often about my surgery and am very open about it. When I am asked if I would do it again, I say "In a heartbeat!" I met my doctor's goal weight at ten months post op and since then have lost another six pounds or so which puts me about ten pounds out from my personal goal. Truthfully if I didn't lose another pound, I would be completely happy because I am finally at a normal BMI for the first time in at least 15 years. I have had relatively no complications, except for being too tight and getting a slight unfill last month, and I will probably get another slight unfill next week. I still have no hunger pains which is great, but I also don't have a full sensation very often either. I hope this post can be encouraging to someone out there. I know the band is not for everyone, but it worked for me. Good luck to everyone on their lap-band journey

I'm from Nebraska as well, but about as far away from both of you as I can be and still be a Nebraskan It gets better so hang in there, and good luck!!!

When I started the process, I was very adamant that I didn't want anyone except my family to know. I think I was that way because I was embarrassed that I was big enough to need the surgery, and I was afraid if I didn't succeed, people would look down on me if they knew about it. After surgery though, I was very open about it. When someone would ask me what I was doing to lose weight, I just told them I had lapband surgery. Everyone I've talked to about it has been super supportive and about four close friends are now looking into the surgery as well. You are right that when you tell people, they ask all kinds of questions about what you can eat and how it works and I just take the opportunity to educate them I figure if they hear it from someone who knows what it is like to have it, that they may understand it more. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do

Great job!!! Keep up the great work

Everyone is different and your restriction level will change as you lose weight. I have received many small fills, and one small unfill. As you lose weight, the fat pad around your stomach shrinks and you may need fills to adjust for that. That being said, I did extremely low to no carb for the first five to six months post op. By doing that, I didn't even crave carbs and didn't miss them at all. In those first six months I lost an average of 10-15 pounds per month. Now that I am at goal, I allow myself small amounts of carbs. I still don't crave them, but I can tolerate bread sometimes, a couple pieces of sushi, and the other mentioned items in very small amounts. Even though I may only eat a bite of the carb item, that satisfies me completely. Good luck to you on your journey

I have been banded a year now, and have good restriction and I can eat raisins

Thank you to everyone for your great comments It is completely worth it and I am so glad I went through with it!!!

I was having the same issues. I could eat unhealthy food, but no matter how well I chewed, lean meats like chicken would not go down. I knew I was too tight, but was really scared if I had an unfill, I would gain weight. I still go to the doctor for monthly post op visits, and at my November appointment, I had only lost two pounds the previous month. After speaking with my surgeon, I realized I really needed some fluid taken out. They took out .25cc's and it helped. I think I will have them take out another .25 at my December appointment because I realized that I eat healthier if I am not so tight. Good luck to you on your journey

You'll be having surgery on my one year bandiversary. Congratulations!!! It didn't even occur to me to ask my doctor how long I was supposed to wait to resume sexual activity, and it was never brought up in my post op instructions. My husband and I resumed four days post op, I felt well enough to do it, so we did Good luck to you on your journey!!!

Great job to all of you!!! My bandiversary is November 29 and i am down a little over a hundred pounds. I am at my doctor's goal but personally would like to lose about ten more. I have had a few fills and a small unfill, but have lost track of how many cc's I have. I am the worst example of a good band patient. I rarely exercise and don't count calories, fat and protein. I pretty much eat what I feel like having, just in extreme moderation Good luck to everyone!!!

I'm sorry for the trouble you have been having, but your decision to see your doctor is the best thing for you. I just had my eleven month post op appointment and was too tight so I had some fluid taken out of my band. My doctor was concerned if I had pain when eating and checked my port area for inflammation and pain. I asked why, and he said that if you have an erosion, some of the symptoms are pain when eating, poor weight loss due to little or no restriction, and redness, pain and swelling of the port. The port is affected because of infection that will travel through the tubing to the port. Luckily, I had only been too tight for a month since I see him monthly. I hope the best for you, good luck!

I am by no means a medical professional or a lapband expert. I have been banded only 11 months and have taken quite a bit of advice from this site. I don't think anyone that has replied to your thread has been rude or mean about it, they too are just posting their opinion as you have done, and you are completely correct that everyone is entitled to one. I was having a problem with throwing up, and was reminded on here that you need to chew, chew, chew. This simple advice fixed my problem, no need for a $35 phone consult with my surgeon. Also most of us had to go through a deep and detailed psychological consultation to be approved for surgery. During my consultation I was given advice on how to deal with post op issues that may come up, and how to handle them. If a person did not have enough common sense to handle the surgery, I don't think they would be approved in the first place, at least I would hope not. I am in no means trying to attack you or make you feel bad, so I hope you do not take this reply as such. I just want to voice my opinion as well. I completely agree with you that if you are having abnormal issues you should address them with your surgeon or doctor, but sometimes advice given on here is quicker and just as efficient. I personally always address even the smallest of issues I have had, with my surgeon, even if I have already resolved them. I bring them up with him during my monthly post ops so he knows everything I am going through. I wish you nothing but luck with your journey and hope the best for you.

I wasn't told, and didn't ask how long to wait. I didn't think it would be an issue, so I only waited 4 days and surgery didn't affect anything. Actually it did in a way......it is so much better now

My insurance is great. I have Highmark BC/BS and not only did they pay 100% of my surgery, but they pay 100% of my fills as well. I still go to my surgeon once a month and when I get a fill, my insurance considers it a surgical procedure.....of which they pay 100%, no copay. If I don't get a fill, I pay a $35 copay for an office visit with a specialist. Good luck to you on your journey!!!

When I started my six month pre op visits, my surgeon required a $1000 deposit with any amount not covered by insurance being refunded to me. They did away with that policy about a month before I had surgery though. It was just a deposit though, not a fee.

First of all, great job on the weight loss! If you are hungry all the time and gaining weight, you probably need a fill. When I was first banded I drank Crystal Light quite a bit and found myself craving carbs and sugars. I cut out the Crystal Light and rarely crave those things now. I have read that artificial sweeteners will do that to you. I have no idea whether it is true or not, but cutting it out of my diet worked for me. Good luck to you on your journey

I had mine removed about five years before getting the lapband. I personally had a hard time with it. I was out of work for a week, and worked half days for another week. I had previous surgeries before getting my gallbladder removed and had little to no down time, but the gallbladder surgery was miserable for me. I had to have mine removed because I had numerous gallstones and had attacks for six months before getting it removed. Good luck to you!!!

All I can say is.....WOW! You look amazing

I have Highmark BC/BS and the surgeon's office submitted my paperwork in early October last year and it took almost a month to approve. They said this time of year it takes longer because people are trying to get it done while their deductibles have been met. Good luck to you!!!

I started at 244 pounds and I am 5'4" or 5'5". I have been awful about exercising. I have not had a steady exercise routine for more than a couple days at a time through the last eleven months. I am now down just over a hundred pounds and am at my doctor's goal weight. I personally still want to lose another 20 pounds or so. I have virtually no excess skin. What I do have is a little bit in my abdomen area that I could easily tone up if I would just get off my rear and exercise My doctor said that a lot of it depends on how old you are. He said that since I'm young (don't feel so young, lol) that we have more collagen in our skin that improves the elasticity of it. I was banded at age 33 and am now 34. I think if you exercise you will be just fine Good luck to you on your journey!!!

I have seen on here for a lot of people that days 3 and 4 post-op are the worst for them, and they were for me as well. I took the Vicodin until day 4 and pretty much slept through the pain. Days 5 and 6 I only took it at bedtime, then I quit it altogether. The Tylenol suggestion is a great idea. Hang in there, it will get better. Good luck to you on your journey!