RidiculousCan'tCancel

Well, I am going to say Congratulations! I know the timing isn't exactly "perfect", but when is it ever?? I think you should call your surgeon's office and be quite truthful - you thought those days were over, you're 4 months post-op and need a partial unfill due to a positive pregnancy test. Or you could see how things go for these first 3 months and then see how things are going before having a complete unfill. That 1st trimester can change a lot - your body could adapt to the band AND the baby. Please smile and see what a blessing this could be - and no matter what, you have made a positive impact on your life by getting the band. Congrats and please let us know how its going!

To answer your question, its always safe to go with soup & salad combo. Almost everywhere has one and it LOOKS like a lot of food, but is still band friendly. Good luck on your date and keep us posted on how it goes!

I just got filled to 4 ccs and I can barely do mushies. Even my protein shakes have to be taken sloooowly and anything thicker than yogurt/pudding causes me to "stick". I am thinking we're going to have to take some back out. I have a 10cc band so I'm not even at half right now. I think every person is different depending on their internal organs/how the band is placed/etc. Can you call for another fill ASAP? I was STARVING when I had 2.5 ccs but at 4 I am going the opposite way - too tight! Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

I told everyone, not sure why. I guess I'm just one of those "blunt b*****s" lol And I don't really care if they agree or not with my decisions to use the surgery as a tool to lose weight. Obviously if we could all do it "naturally" then 68% of people in the US would NOT be overweight. My family/husband/kids are all super supportive of my decision so the rest of the world can kiss my not-for-much-longer fat booty! Don't ever regret your decision to use a medical tool to assist you in getting healthy! You still have to work your butt off to lose the weight - this is not an easy journey we are on. Ignore the haters as my kids would say!! And I've had kids naturally, with drugs, without drugs and a c-section on the last one - none of them were MORE my baby because of the way they were born! I agree with all the above posts - its a TOOL, let's use it!

I started pre-op testing Nov. 10, 2011, banded Dec. 7, 2011 and am now about 5 weeks post-op, have had one fill of 1.5cc and have lost 25 lbs as of this morning! I'm sure you can be rockin' it by July

I think at that low of a caloric intake that your body might be in "starvation mode" - meaning it will hold on to ALL calories you take it, and will try to not burn any stored fat for as long as possible. Now this won't last long - or people would never die of starvation - but as long as you are staying hydrated and not becoming malnourished then you WILL lose weight. Give it another week or so and see how its going. Good luck and keep us posted!

I'm sure your band is fine - if you haven't had your 1st fill then you are most likely NOT stuck or stretching the stoma as you have no real restriction. We all fall, get back up and move on. The gurgling is normal. I'm still having it sometimes - drink a big glass of water to see if it helps - it usually makes mine stop. And constipation is most likely causing the distended belly. You need to get that handled immediately as that can make you very sick. Good luck and don't be so hard on yourself. This is a long process, not a short term deal. We all "cheat" occasionally and move on. Keep us posted on how you're doing!

I used Dr. Marsden. I met with him before the surgery, the day of he met with me & my husband as well as talked with my hubs after the surgery, and again at my 2 wk post-op appt. I absolutely loved him and he was great, very personable and funny! My pre-op was never all liquid - we had 2 shakes per day and a regular protein rich meal for 2 weeks. Then I was back on regular food at 2 weeks post-op. He's very reasonable! After I did liquids for a week, mushies for a few days and then slowly added back in regular food. The follow-up was wonderful! I had mine at Baylor Trophy Club hospital and they all call to check on you following surgery and his office is ALWAYS available for questions, concerns, etc and its always handled same day. I just had my 1st fill and it was easy-breezy, too. I loved the whole thing - I am a BCBS patient, started pre-op November 10 and was banded December 7. All pre-op testing, etc. done in less than a month. They made is easy which is what I loved, I cannot stand drama and there was none! Good luck, keep us posted!

I think you might need to call your Dr. I didn't have ANYTHING like that and I didn't take the pain meds - I took 2 pills the 1st day, 1 pill the 2nd day and nothing after that. Just to make sure, please call the Dr. I hope its nothing - maybe you just needs your meds adjusted. Good luck and please let us know you're ok!

You just don't even know how much I needed to hear this right now. I'm kinda "stuck" right now, too - waiting on a fill date next week. You are doing so great - Congrats on the 55 lbs!! You're gonna do it again in 2012!!

I was banded 12/7 and am in the same boat. I just got hungry again and went a little "off the wagon" for a day or so. I'm back to eating better but I am HUNGRY, too!! I get my 1st fill on 1/3 and it cannot come soon enough! I know I am still in the "healing" stage, but I loved loved loved how much restriction I had right after surgery - that swelling was doing me some good lol. I hope to get a good fill and have adequate restriction. I think this is a pretty normal thing we're going through - sometimes referred to as Bandster Hell on some of the boards/forums. Good luck, keep going in the right direction - we will get through this and come out successful on the other side

I quit last Christmas after smoking 2 packs/day for 15+ years. I too used the electronic cigarette to keep my hands busy. I didn't have my surgery until this December - I wanted to be smoke-free for a year before getting banded just to prove to myself I could quit cigs, so I could conquer my food addiction as well. I haven't had my 1st fill yet but have already lost quite a bit and am looking forward to long-term success! You CAN do this, you WILL do this. Everyone smokes for different reasons and continues or quits for their own reasons. I think using the surgery as one of your motivators to quit smoking might just be perfect! Good Luck and keep us posted on your progress!

I think this is really one instance where the phrase "Slow & Steady wins the Race" is accurate!! Good luck to you and Congrats on your progress!

I didn't go to that extreme, but I did alter my diet about a week or so before I had to start the pre-op diet just for a "test drive". I actually think its a very good idea and a great way to show yourself what your life will be like without the actual band - if you find you cannot do it then its better to find that out BEFORE having the surgery! I think everyone should do what you're doing - I'm sure you will do a fabulous job and see how great this will be for you. Keep us posted and Good luck! PS - I bet you can lose a lot of weight before your February surgery by following the diet NOW! Good for you!

That is awesome! Good for you!

My advice would be to not buy those things. If they are not in the house then they cannot eat them. He's too young to drive to the store and buy them himself lol It might take a few weeks of whining but he will eventually snack on the healthier options you have available. I also have one child that is gluten-free and two that are snack-fiends. BUT they snack on healthy food. My DH & I are the only ones with bad food habits - thank God we made the kids eat right and not go down the same path we were on. We are now making healthier choices since I have my little band helping me out. I hope this helps. Please keep us posted on how it goes and what you switch to as an alternative to those cookies/cakes/candy. Good Luck!!

I used Dr. Marsden through True Results in Richardson (he has many offices and also owns Dallas LapBand). The hospital we used was Baylor Trophy Club. Their offices made the entire process SO easy. I went to my first personal consult 11/10 and was banded by 12/7 - pre-op visit, nurtionist, 2 sleep studies, psych eval, labs, cardiac/pulmonary clearance - everything. They do it all in "clumped visits" so you are there for a couple hours but you get a LOT done. Dr. Marsden is very knowledgeable and SO funny, my husband and I both really liked him. I am only 2 weeks post-op but already had my post-op visit yesterday and it was wonderful. I had NONE of the surgical after-effects people talk about (pain, nausea, etc.) Its been a breeze and so far I'm down 19 lbs. Their website is www.trueresults.com - check them out, they might be just what you're looking for. Good Luck on your journey and please keep us posted here on LBT!

Welcome to the group! Good luck and keep us posted

Too funny!!! Merry Christmas!

The entire staff at True Results were great and made the whole process so easy! I went to my VERY FIRST visit on 11/10/11 and was banded 12/7/11 - so less than a month to do it all - nutritionist, cardiac clearance, ekg, pulmonology clearance, psych clearance, lab work, sleep study - all done and banded in about 3 weeks or so. They make is so easy, I'd recommend them to anyone - and my recovery has been a total breeze - I had NONE of the after/side effects people warned me about - it was really easy. Good luck and please keep us posted!

Congrats!! What a wonderful Holiday surprise!! Keep us posted on how it goes

Trust me, the Holidays are messing with those of us post-ops, too! I know I CANNOT eat all that now even if I tried - the pain would NOT be worth it. You only over-do it a couple times post-op before you realize the pain does NOT make eating the food worthwhile. I call it my little gatekeeper! We all have to find other ways to deal with our emotional eating after the band - some use counseling, some use meds, some (like me) just count on family and my inner voice telling me I CAN DO IT!! I wish you all the luck in the world!! I keep telling myself NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN WILL FEEL. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Please stay on the forums/boards and talk to everyone as much as you need to. We are all in this one together!!

Full is painful - you MUST stop eating when you've eaten your portion and no more. I feel miserable if I overeat or eat too fast - sort of like the afternoon of Thanksgiving when you're just stuffed to the gills. I haven't had a fill yet (got 2cc's at surgery) - so I'm sure I'll have to relearn all my current signs again with the new restrictions of a fill. Trust us, you will feel it and you only have to over-do it once or twice and be in that pain before you say NO to cleaning that plate. I try to just put the portion amount I'm going to eat on my plate and I cut it into tiny bites as I'm making the plate so its done for me when I sit to eat. Also - leave your drink in another room so you don't forget and drink as usual with your meals. That is the only way I can NOT drink! You can do it!! Keep us posted

Oh my gracious!! I had no idea that could happen. I'm new to my band - 11 days post op so I haven't really had time to ignore the band yet. I am thankful to you for sharing your story so those of us just beginning our journey can learn. I think its just as important to learn what NOT to do as it is to learn what TO do. I really really hope & pray that you heal up and don't have to have your band removed. Please feel better and stop beating yourself up - we all make mistakes. Feel better!!

At the beginning of my journey my BMI was 47.4 - as of today, 3 weeks later - it is 44.5!! This is a great NSV for me!!!! I want to be healthy and live long enough to aggravate my children's children