readytoroll

Weighed this morning - I am now at 197.4 - almost 10 pounds down in the first 8 days.

Congratulations to you! I am very happy for you

Interesting - I have been in a lot of discomfort and pain - my incisions (5 of them) have been pulling on me when moving around, and I took my pain meds, but that also helped me go back to work on the Wednesday after the Monday of surgery. I drove for the first time on Saturday, and driving with my incisions has been difficult. She should take extra time for everything and not rush herself. I personally think it is a little quick, but it is doable with time and planning.

I just read a comment further down where it talked about having had all one's hydration fluids for the day. My surgeon's dietitian did say, as does my Manual, that coffee does not count toward my daily liquid intake.

Funny you would mention this - I was banded on the 16th and was close to a Diet Coke "addict". I have not had it since, and the same with coffee. However, I had one cup of coffee today with a little sugar free creamer. Where as it used to do a LOT for me; it didn't give me any satisfaction. I am going to stay away from the Diet Sodas going forward as it is, and as for the coffee; I guess I just don't crave it that much now, if at all. (I will still miss my Diet Coke - it was soooooo good).

I would say, even though I am only a week out from my lap band surgery, that ensuring getting the required Protein on a daily basis is a first and foremost. Not to forget the Vitamin supplement and hydration liquids. My surgeon and dietitian made this a big deal so that I do not lose weight from my muscles, but retain my muscle weight and lose fat. PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN

Is it okay if I disagree with you? Because, with your larger "normal" stomach it is indeed close to impossible to only eat three 4 oz. meals a day because the signals of fullness come so much slower, and you will normally keep eating. The point of the band (anyone chime in who thinks I am out in the left field or missing anything), is to create a small pouch above the normal stomach area so that the fullness happens quickly thus making you able to be okay with the 4 oz. 3 times a day. Simply, you should not be hungry after you eat that 4 oz. for a few hours. And, what are those 4 oz. consisting of? They have to consist of Protein, chewed thoroughly so that it passes through slowly, and gets absorbed. This is to protect your muscle mass, hair, etc. I DO believe this is what helps our lack of willpower by default.

That is what I did; well, I didn't go to any seminars but I started at a 207 weight. One of the reasons I did it was because of the 'up and down'. Mentally and physically, I was tired of it and from it. Just because you are at 200 pounds does not mean you should not do it. What is your BMI? That is something I would look closely at if I were you.

Hi Sherry, First, I am sorry you have been feeling this way. I was banded on May 18th, and MAN, can we say pressure right at the bottom of rib cage in the middle? Here is what I think it could be, and please don't consider this a medical advice (this was my own experience): 1. Air trapped in my system, and it also ended up radiating all the way up to my left shoulder - it did create a significant amount of pressure in my chest. 2. When I take deep breaths, I utter little noises because it creates pressure and it causes some discomfort still. My surgeon gave me pain medication to deal with the overall pain from the surgery in general - they are not the regular kinds that you hear about, so they came in very small sizes so I don't have to crush them. I would take my pain medication, stay in bed with my upper area and head raised. Also, my anesthesia knocked me on my butt big time. I have been under before, and I do not recall taking so long to get back on my feet as I have this time. Please also keep in my mind that it could simply be radiating pain from elsewhere that has to do with overall air in your system from the surgery and you are still swollen internally. Let us know how you are doing! ** I went home 6 hours after the surgery - I got up and walked/used the restroom/could keep ice down/was able to swallow pain medication. I just wanted to get home and get away from all the noise in the hospital, and be close to my family.

Yes! Exactly. My cost, and my sentiment as well. By the way, your progress looks amazing. Way to go!

I agree with you! My insurance covers it, according to my plan. Except, it has a 6 months waiting period and here are some interesting pieces of "qualifying" events: 1. MUST be 40+ BMI (no co-morbid conditions) 2. MUST be 35+ BMI (2 co-morbid conditions) All of the following apply to both above: MUST have followed a medically supervised diet program for 6 months (unsuccessfully), MUST have tried x-amount of other programs in the past x-amount of time and then there are a few other qualifying events. Even at that, there is no 100% approval rate. In other words, here I was, with a BMI of 34.4 (yes, .6 below the required 35) but I had no documented conditions that would be considered co-morbid. However, I was short of breath, feeling aches and pains in my body, sleeping poorly at night, and emotionally drained from my weight gain. So, I would have had to gain enough weight to have a BMI of 40+ and live like that for at least 6 months. I ended up paying myself because I hit the highest I had ever been, and I just needed a life style change asap. This losing 40-50 pounds at a time and then not being able to keep it off is not feasible, or even healthy in my opinion. I NEED a tool to help me sustain a life long change. It isn't about "looking my best" first and foremost. I want to live a healthy and energetic life - looking my best will be a wonderful reward from that. Do I believe that my insurance should have covered it without the 2 co-morbid conditions? Yes, because it makes me healthier period. On the other hand, being the devil's advocate - I never had a weight problem when I was younger and I do BLAME myself for being where I am at now (ate unhealthy and did not stick with my "new changes" - and, I believe that because of this, I programmed my brain and stomach that it needed more and more). So, maybe it is right I pay for it. I hope I am making sense. **Please note, that I do not think everyone is to blame for their weight - some people have true medical conditions that have caused them to get where they are and I think insurance should be there for them.

WOO-HOO, it worked. I picked the first code available instead: the bbCode. Thank you

I don't understand why it is not working!!

Testing to see if the ticker shows up.

Agreed! Can you help me with getting a weight loss TICKER? I am completely void of talent in getting this done...LOL.

The queen of infomercials - infomercials selling exercise products and diet fads that fail most and milk the consumers (no pun intended). It is common knowledge that staying away from foods up and down the isles of the grocery store is how to only buy fresh foods (produce/meats, etc.). But, even at that, you can still end up where we are or have been, if the self control lacks. And, I truly believe that self control is at the core - whether we have chemicals in our brains interfering with that, or we are procrastinators with our health, or we are addicted to foods. You can get overweight on eating too much steak, you can take your chicken home and fry it, you can eat too much butter, take the whole cream and make shakes with the fruit, and the list goes on. The band tells me that I am full, and if I keep eating I throw up or I feel this terrible pressure that makes is so I feel like I can't breathe. It is awful, and I am new to this - ready learned the hard way, throwing up tuna (gross). I hope when I get to stage 4 that I will have a greater allowance or ability to re-introduce things that I used to enjoy, but this time in moderation. To what the doctor said in terms of not eating what is advertised on TV - I personally think all surgeons should tell their patients not to watch TV for the first two weeks after the surgery. My gosh, all the Burger King, McDonalds, Tace Bell, and food commercials almost made me grieve and it made me want what I couldn't have. Thank goodness I could not drive a car for days after having it done. I think doing what the surgeon and their team says is so important, and buying in to what they put in front of us. If it doesn't seam right, then get another Surgery Weight Loss Center involved for a second opinion, but I think it is a life long package we "buy" when we get the lap band. I am impressed with all the success I have read about so far on the boards, and I feel bad for those who is in a place where it does not seem to be working. How can we all help them in terms of suggestions? Also, can someone tell me how to get this ticker thing working?

I am a self pay (Approx. $ 15,000), and yes, I went through my process a lot quicker - hence the self pay. While I agree that a lot of it can have to do with being educated and having the right information, it often has to do with who is giving you that the right information. My information was clear, expectations were set, and my manual for post op has been my guide on how to move through the days after post operation. While I am only approx. 1 week out personally, I know exactly what to expect (except my pain shoulder that finally subsided), and what the surgeon's dietitian and the surgeon informed me of is exactly what is happening. And, being a self pay often has to do with the insurance just not wanting to pay because you are not over weight enough - going through insurance, in my opinion, messes with your head as often if not because they have they so many rules, and now the doctor is working on their guidelines which can at times be a disservice to the patient. Being a self pay makes it ALL about what is desired and discussed between the surgeon and the PT. I think what MW1973 is saying should be validated here - what she is saying is (and MW1973, correct me if I am wrong): The lap-band is a tool, and it has been "installed" to create a new smaller pouch above the regular the stomach. That sends a message a lot sooner to the brain that you are full, and you stop eating (you feel pressure, perhaps even throw up if you don't chew your food enough or you eat too much for it to fit the new pouch). But, that restriction only happens if the surgeon tightens the band aggressively enough. In other words, if MW1973's surgeon barely tightens the band, then she is essentially right that she is still feeling hungry and IF she has to fight the hunger and urges as she did before surgery, then it is true - the band would essentially be useless. I did not read anywhere that she is expecting all her weight to be gone already. I think she is saying: "I went through all of this to still feel the way I felt before surgery?" If so, it is entirely possible she chose a surgeon who is not very aggressive with the fills, or is not listening. Having only had my band since Monday, I can say that my surgeon was right on from the get go - I can feel when I have had enough to eat, and yesterday when I was stressed I ate too much tuna. It had nowhere to go and I ended up vomiting. Perfect indicator that my band was tightening appropriately from the beginning. MW1973 - you know what I would do? Perhaps find another surgeon for fills and find out how much fill you truly have in your band. I think it is worth it and then evaluate from there.

I am 5 days out, and I am now allowed to start soft food (scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, chopped tuna, etc.). I am not allowed to drink 30 minutes before or after I have the soft foods. One thing I have had going on the last two days is a pressure that goes in my throat. Almost as if there is a restriction, which I know there is obviously (the band). I also am having pain in my left shoulder and some between my shoulder blades. It comes and goes, but when I yawn or take a deep breath I can feel the left shoulder pain very much. I am sure others have had this experience - (just like right now while I am typing, I feel as if I am swalloing air and that is a 'lump' way down my esophagus. Let me know!!

Thank you!! I am very excited and if anyone can believe it or not - I started my journey when I saw the FDA approving the Lap Band for lower BMIs. I read up on it, did my research, and when I hit my all time high ever I contacted the surgeon. My choice of flavored water is from Target - it is called Archer Farms and is the blackberry and also regular berry flavor. I tried the little "MIO" bottle where you can add the drops to your water and yougurt - that does not taste good in my view. I am also having sugar free popsicles (one a day). Today was my first day eating tuna with a little light mayo mixed in. I am allowed to drink 30 minutes before or after eating and no snacking in between.

I was banded on Monday - started at 207, have followed the manual to a T and I am at 200.2 as of this morning. Keep drinking that flavored Water. The pain in my left shoulder was not something I expected, and I still feel a little weak - no way I can drive around yet in my car. Can someone tell me how to get my ticker to work? I used Lilyslim but it isn't showing up

I feel so awful, I can't even describe it. pain in my shoulders, neck, whole abdominal area and my head hurts too terribly tired and my reading of text up close is not too good [double vision of letters and text up close] Hard to stand up straight following the manual the dietitian gave me, and I am taking the Vitamins [chewables from Centrum] drinking the flavored Water drinking the high Protein, below 5 carb Protein drinks having sugar free popsicles having some chicken broth here and there I did not expect to get knocked out of my socks this hard. Also I think I miss the bad foods already even though I know they got me to where I am at to begin with. As the headline says it was done on Monday [two days ago]. What gives??

Yes, that is quite different. Thank you for sharing though, because being new to this, I can see how I do need support. The surgeon's center is known for great support, but I can barely pick up the phone and make calls still, so I need to just be online and find things that make sense to me as I begin this journey. Here is how my surgeon's office put it out for me: Day 1: liquid Day 2-4: Protein shakes and liquids Day 5-12: Mushed foods (ex.: soft tuna and cottage cheese) Day 13: I can start with solids in tiny portions (excluding all sugar, soft carbs, no raw food, no fat unless it is from protein, etc.) They also call them stages 1-4.

Aha, you know, my vision did get better this morning and I happened to have taken that little patch off late last night. It is still not quite sharp, but I think you are right. Can you share with me what you ate in Stage 2? Even though I have the manual, I would really like to hear from others and what they did.

Thank you for your great response. I see your virtual scale - is that 28 pounds since May 4th of your surgery?

This upcoming Monday is the big day for me!! My insurance will not pay so it is being done as a self pay. So blessed to be able to do this, but I am also anxious about the true results as it is such a big financial and emotional investment. I have read so much information, become educated, gone through all the discussions with my surgeon, dietitian, etc. What should I expect in terms of realistic weight loss in the first 8-12 weeks? And, did any of you exercise to enhance the weight loss potential? I look forward to all the feedback!