mominoc

I've had 5 fills. I have to drink liquids for 2 days after, then mushies, then solids. First day or two, I have to be kind to my port because it can hurt a bit from the fill. I don't ice it or anything, I just comply to doing liquids. I drink protein shakes, water, and decaf iced tea mostly. Fills do cause swelling, so liquids really are something I must do to lessen any pain. After about 3 days or so, I'm okay. I've never had any problems with my band. I've had good restriction since 7ccs and I'm now @ 8cc where I will stop. My band works great and if I just do what Dr tells me everything goes fine. I've lost almost 70 pds since Feb. 7th. Went hiking today! Didn't get out of breath. Just amazing!

My card I got from my Realize Band surgeon's office saying I had weight loss surgery and to allow me to eat from a childrens menu which I've done many times. I order fish usually. Its the smallest portion. That was @ IHOP. No restaurant has ever given me any problems. A buffet is not anything I can do anymore. I can't eat that much and enjoy it anymore. Buffets don't work for me anymore. Children's menu portions are the right size and if I want something like mac n cheese on occasion, its not a huge deal.

Glad you shared. If I didn't have restriction I wouldn't lose. I have restriction now and I get full. If I eat too much it hurts. If I don't comply with how to eat, foods get stuck. I never could keep weight off with just diiet and exercise. I needed the band to help me shut my food nightmare down. Restriction is what helps me pretend to be a nornal type eater. Without the band for me, I'm a continous eater. I've been in therapy for food issues for years and nothing got me to calm down about food like the band has. Restriction changed it all for me. Otherwise, I would never stop eating. For me, I couldn't calm down by myself. The bamd is my internal 'good mother' who says stop. Getting to the root of overeatinng never made me stop. I could understand everything and not stop. My band finally put a cork in my bottle....food. good luck and you're not alone.

Popcorn goes down fine, but watch out for any kernels not popped. Swallow a hard kernel and it may mean trouble. Same for chewing gum. Don't swallow it. I eat popcorn sometimes, but for some reason now its not a food I get excited about anymore and I can't eat much of it because now I get full. Its a treat I guess, now.

I like Premiere shakes from Costco. 30 grams protein I think. I usually get chocolate, but vanilla I like too. Muscle Milk I didn't like. I also use protein powder from my Dr that mixes with anything. I add it to regular milk sometimes. I have a shake in between meals sometimes for a snack or for a quick meal. With kiids and busy, I don't always have time to sit and chew for a long time. I keep those shakes around all the time to make sure I get adequate protein esp on busy days. Thanks.

I'm at 7cc and the Dr said a lot of banders are happy at 7cc to 8cc in an 11cc band. I asked because I wondered. My restriction is good, but as I lose I think I need a little more fill. I read where it gets loose again with less fat arund it? Something like that.

7cc is where I finally felt restriction. Have enjoyed being at that level. Lost weight and now think I might need a little more fill next time. My band sure helps me. Just can't really overeat and its not anything I have to think about. It just happens. Love my band. Restriction is great when you reach it.

Your fills sound like mine. Quick and to the point. Don't think it should be so much. My insurance paid for first 2 fills, then one fill every six months. If I get one before the six months I pay 150. I paid 1,000 for my surgery out of pocket. Banding hasn't cost me that much yet. My Dr is in network.

I wouldn't want it all taken out. And, my second fill I felt similar for a few days then it got better. I can eat most foods if I eat slow enough, take small bites and don't drink. I think the body has to adjust to these fills slowly. I was on liquids for like 3 days, but then it got better so I could eat. My second fill I finally felt like I understood proper restriction and how I was suppose to comply to the eating rules. It does work.

P. S. I've lost 65 pounds and feel like I might need a fill next Dr. Visit. I've been doing well and want to keep at it. Banded Feb 7, 2011. Dr has me drink a glass of water. So far all is great.

Not sure when you wrote this, but wanted to say that my Dr. Did a 4cc fill the first fill then a 3cc fill second fill. I've not needed more fills. It wasn't an issue because I could tolerate that much. I live in California, but wanted you to know Dr did those amounts for me.

. Wow, Dave, your wt loss is terrific! I'm 57 and have lost 61 since Feb 7th, 2011. I'm happy with mine, but you show me how I can keep going and lose more. Thanks.

Love this post! I thought I had restriction before first fill. Ha! It was about me being too afraid to not make good choices after surgery. After my 3rd and last fill for now, that I truly understood restriction. I have 7 ccs now and last week Dr didn't do another fill saying I was okay & didn't need one. I have lost 61 since Feb 7th, 2011. I'm happy too with my level of restriction. I've gone thru my partner (fat) leaving me which would have meant binging before band. I'm changing and my life is changing. I understand that fills change as we lose. Restriction is awesome and feel so grateful. As I go forward being a single Mom, I'm so glad I can be more active with my kids & hopefully meet someone more suited to who I am becoming. Fat pads change and so do we!

Can't wait to be on this list! Banded Feb 7th, 2011. Lost 61 so far. Have about 88 more to lose. Great motivation on this list! Thank you!

I've been overweight all of my life. Born @ nearly 10 pds. Mom, Brother, Sister all foodies. Genetic and addiction. Sad to me how long I've battled food and all I've tried to do to conquer it. I always thought it was my fault (it is my responsibility) until I really understood I was an addict. I was in OA for years and still lost and gained. Yo yo all my life. My Dad owned grocery stores which I used to pray he owned furniture stores or car dealerships. Food was available and that is the addiction all but my Dad had. I sure wish I had been ready to get banded years ago, but grateful I am now. I'm losing well and happy with my 'internal tool'. I call my band my friend and I often pat it saying thank you. I make better choices now prob because I don't like cravings & they come back if I don't keep my protein up. Before banding, I tried so hard to help myself and I tried all the time. Now, I feel calmer knowing I'm an addict and I did the right thing for an addict. I take care of my addiction every day, but I now kind of feel like I finally put the cork in my own bottle with the band. I needed the band all along, but I just understood this fact not even a year ago. I'm relieved I accept who I am and take care of myself, so I can finally have a quality life. I never thought I was a surgery candidate, I always thought I was suppose to control it all by myself and if I couldn't I was weak. Food for me is love, comfort, escape, joy, Mother, Father, feeding fear. Food is my valium. Thankful for my band.

Wish I lived in Boston........I am just now 5 1/2 months out. Maybe in So Ca sometime............?

Hello! I was banded Feb. 7th, 2011. I've loved having my band! I've lost 55 pounds so far. Another 5 and I will be below 250 for the first time in many years! Can't wait to be below 200! I will really Celebrate that one! Wow! My osteoarthritis is better, my breathing is better, my asthma is much better, and soon hopefully I will be able to get rid of my Cpap. I can do so much more already and actually go swimming in a suit now. I went with some friends for a weekend getaway and put on a swimsuit. It was so fun being able to participate. As I lose the rest of my excess weight everything will just improve or completely go away. I know that now. I forgot how much of a drain all the extra weight makes on a body. Denial, I guess. I love that food is no longer an option really in that I have good restriction and aim to get my Proteins in before anything else. I'm going through a divorce right now and this would have been a time when I would really overeat, but because of the band, I can't. I don't have to eat through my divorce. It's wonderful! Very grateful for my band and have had no problems so far. I wish I could have been ready to get the band years ago, but at least I did get it put in this year. I don't feel hungry very often either, which when I dieted I was always white knuckling. I can take long walks now too.........swim.......bike ride..........it's a good summer this year! Thanks.

I had a third fill which made 7ccs in my band. For a long time I had great restriction, but now it seems like I can eat more different foods. I'm thinking the 20 pounds I lost after the 3rd fill may have caused my band to be less tight. I'm having to watch what I eat now to not gain until I can have a 4th fill in July. It was perfect restriction.....phooey!

Know this post is old, but wanted to add that with every pound lost, aches and pain get so much better. I climb stairs much easier, I walk, ride nicycle, everything is easier. Not all done losing, but notice so many good things already after banding. I am 3 months post surgery with 60 weight loss.

Its interesting how we sometimes have a distorted body image. Thinking 145 was big.........I did that too. I didn't know at the time that it was "enough". Acceptance is so important.

I had Endometrial Cancer and after radiation when told I was in remission my Oncologist put me on Vivelle Dot. Medium Dose.