DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

I was a big time binge eater. The problem is, the type of foods I binged on are also slider foods so I could still very easily binge if I let myself. I have said many times- if I'd had this surgery 2 years before I did, I'd have failed miserably. Why? Because I wasn't in the right place mentally to be successful with it. I'd have continued to binge and eat around the band. Quite honestly, I probably would've blamed the band for my own failure, too. I was in a horrible place emotionally and I doubt I'd have taken any responsibility for my actions. Thankfully, when I did get the Lap Band, I had gone through a lot of inner healing and I was in a good place emotionally. This to me is key. In fact, it breaks my heart because I see over and over on these boards how badly people sabotage themselves with their eating habits. I've been called "harsh" or "mean" a couple times for suggesting people seek counseling before getting the band. I never mean in a harsh or negative way, I simply believe until we get a grip on our mental issues we're never going to be successful with our physical issues. As we always say- the band goes around our stomachs not our brains. The head issues will forever be ours to fix. Best wishes on your continued journey.

Hunger is the body's natural response to needing fuel. WLS isn't supposed to make all hunger go away it's supposed to control and dim it. The band allows you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. The aim is to be able to go at least 4 hours on a cup or less of food without hunger. As far as my own experience, I can definitely go at least 4 hours without hunger, usually a lot longer even. I've actually missed meals because I simply wasn't hungry. I never eat more than a cup of food per meal and often even that's too much. So, I'd say the band is definitely doing it's job and doing it well. Best wishes.

Exactly, in fact I just had my gallbladder removed 6 days ago due to weight loss.

Oh my gosh you look AMAZING!!!!! You give me such huge hope!! I look like your before pics right now, in fact, I'm embarrassed to admit I think my stomach actually looks even worse. Seeing your amazing results makes me so excited to get all this skin removed! Thank you so much for sharing!

I'm a little confused. Gallstones and subsequent gallbladder removal is very common after any weight loss- not just with the Lap Band. Pancreatitis can result from from gallstones lodging in the drainage duct the gallbladder and pancreas share. Neither have anything to do with the band specifically nor are they caused by the band. Why would the doctor remove your band for something 100% curable and not band related? The exact same thing would've happened regardless of how you lost the weight.

Actually, that is exactly what the band is supposed to do. You're not hungry all the time. That means the band is working, and in your case, it's working without a fill. Again, as stated above, the fact you can eat whatever you at whatever quantity you want has nothing to do with needing a fill. The band is not supposed to physically stop you from eating. It will always be your job to monitor your portions, not the band's job. This is why it's so important to stick to band sized portions. Have a look at the link I originally posted for Draven, it will help you too: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

@Josh- Perhaps it's not a matter of "fill intolerance" but rather the band is simply tight enough all on it's own without any Fluid. Some people never need a fill- you may be one. @Draven- you have to remember the band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating. You say "However I can still pretty much eat as much as I wanted". That may always be the case and this exactly why it's so important to stick to band sized portions. The band isn't supposed to force you to eat less and if you're striving for it to do that you could very easily end up too tight by accident. The band is supposed to keep satisfied on less food for longer periods of time, not physically stop you from eating anything. Have a look at this link, it's by Dr. Simpson and I think you'll get a lot out of it: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Yes, there's many reasons you have to wait until Thursday. First and foremost because your doctor said so. Second, you're on the post op diet to give your stomach time to heal. Third, you also had your gallbladder out so your digestive system is even more assaulted. Stick to your post op diet. It's not worth the risks of straying from it. Btw, I had 4 weeks of liquids too. You can handle a few more days. Best wishes

I know I did, but quite honestly I'm fine with that. One day off isn't going to sabotage anyone. Christmas was a freebie day for me, too. Tomorrow I'll be back to my normal diet. A couple "bad" days a year hasn't hurt me and quite honestly it keeps me on track the rest of the time because I don't feel deprived.

Everyone is different. Shrimp might just be a specific troublesome food for you. But, that doesn't mean you will have that problem with all seafood.

The sour taste in your mouth is likely bile. I'm dealing with that in the mornings too because I just had my gallbladder removed on Tuesday. It's a horrible, nasty bitter taste. It makes me insane. The reason this happens is because without a gallbladder you now have a slow trickle of bile always going into your intestines. It's weaker than a person with a gallbladder but it's constant. That is why it makes it's way back up your throat when you sleep. This is extremely common after gallbladder removal and should pass within a number of weeks (maybe months) once your body adjusts to not having the gallbladder anymore. Best wishes.

I use Lose It. I've used it since the day I got out of the hospital and I love it. It has a big database of foods, including restaurant foods, a bar code scanner, and a section where you can even enter in your own recipes so you can see their caloric break down. It's awesome.

Didn't you have your gallbladder removed at the same time you were banded?

I noticed the same. When I was 200 pounds heavier I had no wrinkles whatsoever. As my weight went down the fat on my face also went away- leaving me with some fine lines around my eyes and wrinkles on my neck. I have been using Roc Retinol Deep Wrinkle Cream nightly for a couple months. It doesn't erase them totally but it does help noticeably. I have heard good things about Neutrogena Retinol Rapid Wrinkle Repair, too. (though I haven't tried that one) I don't think anything can remove them except plastic surgery. But, I still think wrinkles are better than fat. Just my opinion.

My doctor said I could drink right up until the time I started eating then 30 minutes after. However, recent research is proving even that is unnecessary They now know that it takes food less than a minute to pass through the band when eaten properly. It doesn't sit up on the band as originally thought so there isn't anything to "wash through". For this reasons, a lot of doctors are changing their recommendations to small sips while while eating is fine and simply drink as normal any other time.

Yes, in fact you're not supposed to feel your band. That's a good thing and means you're healing properly.

Honestly, you won't be bed ridden at all. They get you up and walking within hours of surgery and encourage you to walk as much as possible. I've had a c-section, hernia repair surgeries, and just this week gallbladder removal. Of all the surgeries I've had Lap Band was by far the easiest and fastest recovery. I had it on a Friday and by Wednesday I was back to my normal routine. I didn't even take the pain pills after I got out of the hospital because I didn't need them. You'll do fine.

I agree with Wendy. The reason doctors space out time between fills is to give your body time to adjust before deciding if you need another and how much of one.

Wow what an inspirational post. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Congratulations on all your success!

The hair loss is common from any surgery. It's something in the anesthetic. I'm told if you take Biotin for a couple months before surgery it helps. I know the Biotin definitely helps your hair recover after it. I've been taking Biotin since September and it's definitely helped my hair. I actually just had another surgery on Tuesday (not band related) so we'll see if I have the same hair loss this time in another month or so.

Heck no!!! You are NEVER too old get your health under control! And 50 isn't even "old"! There are many people on these forums 50 and much older. Best wishes

It's very normal to not have adequate Fluid in your band after one fill. Most of us need multiple fills over a number of months before we're finally in the Green Zone. What you're feeling is very normal.