DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Once your doctor allows you back on solid food you can.

I had the same fear when telling people, but I also figured by telling others, it would help keep me accountable because I knew I was being watched. I don't regret telling anyone.

Most doctors wait 4-6 weeks for a first fill to give your stomach adequate healing time.

It does take most people more than a couple fills before they have adequate fluid in their band. However, a couple things you need to realize: -The band is not supposed to make you feel full -The band is not supposed to restrict how much food you can eat The only thing the band is supposed to help you feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Satisfied meaning no longer physically hungry. Do not expect the feeling of stuffed full you had before you were banded and don't expect the band to restrict how much you can eat. This is a mistake many people make and end up with bands too tight, and slips, because of it. There's a common saying with bandsters "just because you can eat something, doesn't mean you should". This is why we need to monitor our portions, keeping them to a cup or less per meal, and make healthy food choices. The band is a great tool when used correctly with realistic expectations. Hang in there, you'll get the hang of it too Best wishes.

I take Biotin 5000, they're really tiny liquid gels

I am guessing the initial restriction you felt was due to swelling from the fill itself. It's not uncommon at all. It takes most people multiple fills before they have adequate fluid in their band.

Well one thing that confuses me is why your nutritionist would approve of 2-2 1/2 cups of food per meal. The reason we're told a cup or less per meal is because that is the maximum our pouches are able to hold if the band is in the correct position. It seems counterproductive to eat large portions that would not only result in more calories but a stretched pouch as well. I measure my portions and I count calories both because I know it's way too easy to over-eat or make the wrong food choice if I don't. I also log everything I eat because it holds me accountable to what I put in my mouth. I know some don't, and that's fine if it works for them, but I want this weight gone quicker rather than slower. Measuring food and counting calories is allowing me to do that. It's definitely a personal choice and a matter of what works best for each individual.

We can't answer that, but have a look at this, it might help you decide:

I was originally scheduled for Gastric Bypass, actually. At the last minute I backed out. I just couldn't rationalize rerouting my intestines permanently without trying something less drastic first. I considered the Sleeve, but again, I couldn't justify hacking off 3/4 of my healthy stomach for the same reason. So, my thought process was I'd try the Lap Band first and if for some reason that didn't work, then I'd move up to the Sleeve. With that said, the Band is by far the best decision I've ever made for myself. I've lost 143 pounds (and still losing) in 8 months and couldn't be happier.

Because I knew if I didn't, I likely wouldn't live to be 50 years old. For me it was an easy decision because I want to live a long, healthy life.

Measure a cup or less of food per meal to be sure you're not overeating. Don't look for expect a full feeling, that's not what the band does. The band is there to help you feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. When you're no longer physically hungry you've had enough. BTW- you're only 4 days post op so I'm assuming you're on liquids. Go very slow when you sip because your stomach is likely still swollen

Congrats on your weight loss!!! I've never had an issue with a fill, but only my surgeon does mine. Perhaps for your next appointment insist the appointment is with your surgeon?

I would give it a little time. I would also be sure to take small bites- and I mean really small bites. Chew it until mush and pause between bites. I had some problems after a fill and almost went for an unfill after a couple days, but I started taking tiny bites and then I was fine.

It's been a couple years since I tried Chantix, but you're supposed to quit after a specific number of days on it. Have a look at the packaging and it will tell you.

I can totally see that happening! I'm embarrassed to admit I take off my bra at night and all kinds of stuff falls out- food crumbs, dirt from gardening, grass clippings. You name it, my cleavage eats it! ROFL!!

Every time I go through anesthetic, I get thinning hair and hair loss. In the past I didn't take or do anything and it took close to 6 months for my hair to finally grow back and go back to normal. I had surgery a month ago (not Lap Band) and am once again having the this issue. This time, I started taking high doses of Biotin and bought a shampoo to use twice a week to essentially leach the chemicals out of my hair. After only 3 weeks, the hair loss has slowed considerably and I'm starting to see a difference.

I used ecigs to quit smoking. I had tried gum, the patch, even Chantix and failed miserably. Finally, 16 months ago, I used Prosmoke ecigs to quit smoking. It's the only thing that's ever worked for me. I used the ecigs for about 2 months before giving them up completely too. Quitting wasn't easy. I smoked almost 2 packs a day for about 20 years (except during 2 pregnancies, I quit during both and started again after) But I have to tell you, I absolutely love being a nonsmoker now. It's mildly humorous but I've become the type of person that I seriously disliked when I was a smoker. I can't stand the stink of cigarette smoke, and even if I'm outside, if a smoker lights up near me I will complain loudly and immediately. If I even pass a smoker in a store, I cringe, because their clothes stink so bad they reek like an ashtray even when not actively smoking. In retrospect, I can't believe I spent two decades of my life smelling so horrible. Then there's the health benefits. Weight loss or not, I know if I hadn't quit smoking there's no way I'd be walking 2 miles a day right now. I'd have been way too winded and out of breath to walk even half that amount. Currently, my grandma is dying of lung cancer. She's had emphysema for years and now she has inoperable spots of cancer on her lungs. I only hope that I quit soon enough that I don't suffer her fate one day. Quitting sucks but it's so worth it. You owe it to yourselves to quit. I mean, you're willing to go through surgery to lose weight, so why not quit smoking and truly get healthy?

I agree with Floridays. There is no one size fits all diet or calorie plan for everyone. What works for one person won't work for another. You're losing 2lbs a week so what you're doing is obviously working very well. Just keep doing what you're doing.

That's amazing, congratulations!

That is an awesome NSV, congratulations!

Been doing research online and everyone who has had it has had reflux, vomiting and nausea afterward. -Not true, not by a long shot. In fact you're not supposed to vomit after the band and they give you meds to assure you don't. As for reflux, that's a sign of the band being too tight or slipped and not at all a normal part of banded life. Saw horror stories about punctured bowels -I'm not sure what you saw, but the band has absolutely nothing to do with your bowels and isn't even touching them. It's on your stomach. I don't know even know how a band puncturing bowels could be physically possible. "my [cousin, mom, neighbor, etc.] had that surgery and they were nausesous all the time, vomiting, losing their hair....." freaks me out -Any surgery can cause hair loss because of the anesthetic and drugs used during it. As for nauseous and vomiting all the time, again, they give you meds to avoid that. Once you're healed it's not an issue. See a therapist to adjust my head's relationship with food with WW or with lap band? -Actually, yes, that's likely a good idea regardless of your decision. The band is a great tool to appease our appetite and hunger but it can't fix our heads. I think most people who are considering or have had WLS could really benefit from therapy. You have a couple weeks, I would research the band (actual facts, not anecdotal evidence or horror stories). It is a very big decision and not one to be taken lightly. And, trust your surgeon. If you trust him enough to consider letting him operate on you, then trust his advice on the matter too. Best wishes on whatever you decide.

That's weighed, a food scale is a good investment.

It very much sounds like you're too tight.

First, it would help if you filled out your profile so we can better help you. I think the best place to start is at the easiest things to control: -do you count calories, if so, how much do you eat a day? -are you sticking to a cup or less of food per meal? -are you getting in all your Protein daily?

If you can't get fluids down, you're still too tight. Are you drinking Water at your surgeon's office after your fill? To see if it goes down?