DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

It doesn't matter, fat isn't exclusive to only a part of the stomach. Even my surgeon commented when I saw him on Tuesday how I'd lost 41 pounds since my last fill and he was wasn't surprised I needed another one because of the weight loss. He did draw out all the Fluid before adding more and there was the exact amount I should have in there, 4.9cc. Before I'd been up to 5cc and had to have .1cc removed because I was too tight. Now, because my stomach shrank, I have 5.2cc in my band.

I too am way too tight in the morning to eat. A year after being banded, I still have an Unjury Chocolate Splendor protein shake every morning.

Unfortunately, your nutritionist is flat out wrong and you are right. In fact, I just had a .3cc fill for the first time since September because as I've lost weight my stomach shrank too. There is fat around a lot of your internal organs when you're overweight, including your stomach. As you lose and the fat layer around it shrinks, the band gets loser and you need more fills to get back to the same place you were. Once you're at goal weight you can go years without a fill, but while you're losing, your stomach can and will shrink.

Congratulations on your weight loss and welcome to the site! I think the majority of us are food addicts. I mean, you don't get obese to the point of needing bariatric surgery without some sort of major food issue. I have a lot of respect for you for realizing this and going to OA. I'm definitely a food addict, without a doubt. Granted what works for one definitely doesn't work for all, but I have found getting white carbs out of my diet really has helped my sugar/carb cravings tremendously. I stay away from white rice, white bread, regular Pasta, or anything that says "enriched" or "bleached" on the label. I buy whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice, I also stay away from sugar whenever I can and I have found Stevia to be a great non-chemical substitute. You can totally do this, Christopher. Best wishes to you.

Definitely give your tummy time to settle and once you're back on solids go slowly and cautiously. Hopefully this will be that perfect fill for you.

Well, I guess that depends. What's the appointment for on Monday? If it's just for a fill, why not reschedule it for a non-development day?

You should fill out your profile so we can better help you. As far as pills, that's a bad idea in my opinion. You already know you'll gain the weight right back after stopping the phentermine so why in the world would you want to do that again? Losing 70 pounds in 6 months depends on how much you have to lose total. It also depends on if you're willing to count calories religiously and exercise. But even then, that's a lot of weight in a little time. The average is 1-2 pounds a month which would be approximately 24-48 pounds in 6 months. You need to remember you didn't gain weight overnight and it's going to take time to lose it too. I'd follow whatever program your nutritionist laid out for you, exercise, follow up with your surgeon monthly, and just do your best.

Congratulations!

Rice isn't exactly a soft food so I'd wait until you're back on solids. Plus, 11 days banded isn't very long. I'd give yourself more time to adjust. Just FYI, Chinese fried rice is usually loaded in fat and MSG. If you are going to have it, be sure to track it in your daily calories or you'll way too easily go over your daily allowance. As far as rice itself, I eat brown rice all the time without a problem.

I was the same way before surgery. I didn't have any pre-op diet to follow but I was told it might be a good idea to start eating right anyway. I failed. Miserably. Like you, it was like some horrible food demon just took over me and I swear I ate everything in site. In retrospect, I think I felt like being about to be banded, I was going to have to give up everything I loved, so I felt this need to binge out while I still could. For me, actually getting banded and having to follow the post op diet changed that. In a way, I traded addictions but in a good way. I saw the scale start to slowly go down and I was like "oh ok, this is kinda cool!" Then the more the scale went down, the bigger the high and the more I was driven to keep at it. As clothes got smaller and I got braver trying old favorite foods in smaller portions, I thought "Ok this flat out rocks!!" I finally realized I didn't have to give up anything, just enjoy it moderation, and I'd still lose weight. The whole thing is a huge learning process, not only about the band, but about ourselves. For as much as my body has changed over the last year, my mind has changed tenfold more. Be patient with yourself. At least you're trying, and as long as you're trying, you're not failing. It'll get a lot easier once you're banded and not pre-occupied by food due to hunger and deprivation.

It's very hard when we don't have the support from those close to us. However, the fact your husband is being supportive is a biggie. Perhaps the others will come around once they realize they're not going to change your mind. If nothing else, I'm sure they will after you have the surgery and they see you getting healthier. As long as you've educated yourself on the band and fully understand what you need to do to be successful with it, I say go for it. Do what you know to be best for you. It's not your job to please everyone around you. Best wishes on your journey!

Do you typically follow a high protein/low carb diet? If so, this may well be the culprit. It's a lot more common with low carb diets than people realize. The first thing I'd do is start reading labels. Low carb diets are typically high in fat, which by the way is unavoidable. Trying to stay away from saturated fat will help. Also, chicken and fish have much less saturated fats than beef. Vegetable Protein is even better but harder to get enough of without meat, too. I'd also talk to your nutritionist. Tell her about your blood work and let her help you make adjustments to your diet. Best wishes to you!

You'd have to check with your insurance company to be sure, but usually the only co-morbidities they count are ones that are directly effected by weight. Things like hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc. To give you a good example, I have Multiple Sclerosis. But because it has nothing to do with my weight, it wasn't counted as a co-morbidity or a factor at all in WLS approval.

I would agree, sounds like scar tissue. I'd have your surgeon check it out just to be sure.

Welcome and congratulations on starting your new life!

hahaha well unfortunately I have A LOT of excess skin on my tummy. I wear big shirts to cover it. But, I'm getting a tummy tuck this spring, so I'll definitely be ditching the big shirts and mom jeans after

I have so much respect for you for not only losing so much weight 9 years ago, but for getting right back to it today. It's very inspirational. You're going to do amazing

Thank you I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if I hadn't got the band last year. I'm convinced I wouldn't have lived to be 50 (I'm 39 now). And no, I no longer need a cane! I have Multiple Sclerosis, so the fact I went from needing a cane just to get across my living room to walking 2 miles a day with ease is nothing less than a miracle to me. I'm very, very happy!

Posting that before photo wasn't easy. It makes me absolutely cringe to even look at it. So, believe me, I completely understand. Especially since I still have weight to lose.

Well I think I've just had the most mind blowing NSV yet (and I've had a lot of them!) When I started this journey a year ago, I wore a size 46. I had to special order all my clothes online because I couldn't find clothes big enough to fit me in stores, not even the plus size stores. I gave up wearing blue jeans decades ago. Today, for the first time in 20 years, I am wearing size 18 jeans. I SO love my band!!! (below is my happy dance!)

For me, I just couldn't justify re-routing my internal organs or cutting off 3/4 of my stomach without trying something far less drastic first. With the band, you can always have it removed if something goes wrong. With the Sleeve or Gastric Bypass, you can never get that chunk of your stomach back or intestines routed back the way they were. Plus, I didn't want to deal with malabsorbtion or dumping, either. No matter which WLS you choose, the work will forever be yours to do. None of them are a magic fix for fat and none are a guarantee to lose weight. They're just tools, but when used properly, the results can be amazing. I've lost 181 pounds since I was banded in January 2012. For me, getting the Lap Band was the best decision I've ever made for myself. Best wishes to you on your journey with whatever you choose. Just remember, at the end of the day, you have to do what's best for you.

Yes, I had drainage with a very minor cold but it was enough to make my band tighten right up. I've heard others experience the same thing, too.

I agree with Laurigee, if I were in your shoes, I'd have the band checked for proper placement and function. I've never heard of someone having a band filled to max capacity and still not in the Green Zone, so that makes me nervous either something isn't quite right with the band or the doctor isn't doing something right. As far as Medicare, yes it does cover fills, but you are responsible for paying 20% of the cost. (I am disabled on Medicare) As for band size, usually the surgeons choose the band sized based on your anatomy. I will be honest, being as he no longer does Lap Band and so much has changed with his practice, I wouldn't feel comfortable continuing treatment with him. I really don't think you'll have a problem finding another surgeon to take you as a patient. The only times surgeons have major issue is when the patient was banded in Mexico, then a lot of surgeons won't touch them. But being as that's not the case with you, it shouldn't be a problem. Best wishes to you!

Yes, it's called the Vagus nerve. It's a bit of a catch 22 because a little pressure on it is necessary to dim the hunger trigger, however too much pressure on it can cause the exact symptoms you're describing (and unfortunately, worse).

Aww thanks, I just try to help when and where I can. Let us know how the .1cc fill goes. People think I'm crazy when I tell them I've had fills that small but it was the difference between grazing and the Green Zone for me. I'm really hoping it helps you, too.