JennK2008

Last Friday night I had some of the most extreme pain I have ever had while I was out of town. I woke my husband and had him take me to the nearest hospital which was 45 min away. After several tests it was diagnosed as gall stones. The doctor told me that my gallbladder needed to be removed. He was nice enough to give me prescriptions for pain meds unitl I could get home and see my doctor. I went to see my doctor and he referred me to a surgeon. I took my reports from the hospital and after a few more test they set me up to have surgery next week. My question is do I need to have an "unfill" before I have surgery? Does anyone know the answer to this? I tried and called my lapband dr's office today and didn't hear back. Just curious if anyone knows for sure either way while I wait for the call back. Surgery is next week, so if I need to get an unfill I need to do this tomorrow!!

I had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday. I didn't require an unfill, I was told that since there was a bariatric team in the hospital if there was a complication and they needed it to be unfilled it could be done. I am completely recovered and it wasn't a bad surgery at all. In fact when I was banded my surgery wasn't bad either. If I had to compare the two I would say the band was probably worse. I made the decision to stay the night at the hospital even though my surgeon said that I could go home. I wanted to stay in case I needed anything and my hubby leaves for work at such an early hour. I do apologize for not responding to your posts earlier but I haven't gotten online in a few days. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Dulci, I completely understand! I went in for a follow up/ adjustment last Friday. I weighed 163 then after 2 bags of IV fluid in the er on Sunday I weighed 172 and I had barely eaten too. Finally the weight is back off as of today but come Wednesday it will be a different story. Hope you are recovering well from your gallbladder surgery.

Thank you all for your replies. I just talked to the nurse at my Dr's office. I do not need to get an unfill before surgery on Wednesday. That made me happy!! She also told me that my Dr could have done my gallbladder surgery as well, but the hospital I had my band done at is quite a ways from home she more than understood why I was using a hospital closer to me. I am so glad it is safe for me not to be unfilled and still have surgery. As long as it's safe I did not want a set back by putting on a couple of pounds!! Thanks again for your imput!!

I am on 2 1/2 years out as I was banded in Sept 2009. I have recommitted myself after I have put on an extra 20 lbs over the last 6 months since having a unfill because my band was too tight. I have gotten back on track the last couple of weeks. I have started exercising and eating better. Well I should say making better food choices. I went to the park this morning and walked 1 1/2 miles and ran 1/2 mile. We are going to Vegas in 3 weeks and my clothes are pretty tight right now. I don't have a certain pound limit I want to lose beforehand, I just want them to feel comfortable when we go. Together we can get back on track and start being losers again!!!

yes, do tell!!

I saw the mini's at the store the other day. I think I'm going to try them next time I go to the store. I have beenn getting the Orowheat sandwich thins and they are very good. I haven't been able to eat bread since I was banded, but after discovering the thins (I toast mine) I am able to eat a sandwich from time to time.

Congrats on your 4 year bandiversary!!!! That's awesome, I'm so happy for you!!!

I had 1cc removed out of my band on Thursday because I was too tight. My stomach around my port is sore and swollen a little bit. Has anyone else ever had this problem? I also think maybe I am retaining water too. My belly and my feet/legs are swollen. Seems like I have been getting really bloated in the evenings. Just curious if this is normal? Has this happened to anyone else? I have been banded for over 2 years and never was sore or swollen around my port.

there's so many things to do in Vegas. Go to a show, on a tour, rent a car there are so many neat things to do other than gamble. We go 2-3 times a year and there is so much to do and somethings always changing. The only downfall for us bandsters is so many good restaurants and daquiri bars on every corner. My husband and I are going for March madness along with 10 other people Have fun and good luck!!!

I was told to eat in moderation and do not deprive myself. Dr said this is not a diet it's a lifestyle change. I'm learning now not to always worry about the calories but then again to not go overboard either. I found that Starbucks has a caramel frapp light with sugar free caramel and no whip cream (venti) around 130 calories vs the regular caramel frapp with 570 cal

I was retaining water too. I'm not on a diurectic but I went to dr on Thurs and they took 1 cc out of my band because I was tight (and not losing either). I put on a couple pounds since Thursday but I think it will come right off as I'm peeing like crazy today. I have only had a protein shake for breakfast and I'm on my 2nd bottle of water. I guess the dr knew what he was talking about. I'm hoping the weight starts coming off again for you and me both!!

just sip, sip,sip. It will get a easier and easier each day. Like readytogoforit said walk and get up and around as much as possible. It will keep you from being as sore and get the gas to absorb. My doctor wanted me not to drink more than 1oz every 20-30 min. They just don't want you to get dehydrated. So even if you don't get in the whole 6.5 cups in as long as you are still using the bathroom you should be ok. I ate sf popsicles the first few days since I wasn't allowed a lot of liquid at one time. Don't drink to fast as it would make you uncomfortable but you shouldn't throw up. You are just swollen right now not restricted. I honestly thought the day after my surgery was the worst. I was really sore from the incision but also had a sore throat because of the tube they had down my throat during the procedure.

When I got banded I knew this was a lifestyle change not a quick fix. I set goals for my self. I mean attainable goals. My first goal was to lose 25lbs, then another 25lbs. etc. I have lost 89 lbs since being banded in Sept 2009. Yes, I have had a few setbacks and gained a little bit and I'm back on track now. (I got really sick a few months ago and on top of being sick I also became severly dehydrated) I would like to lose another 35lbs, but if that doesn't happen I am happy for losing the 89lbs that I have lost. I am healthy now and I haven't felt better!!! As far as food goes, I know that I can have anything in moderation. I do try to stay away from certain things because I don't trust myself. By overeating and making bad choices is what got me overweight in the first place. If you restrict yourself from everything one day you will lose control and food will take control of your life again. I also thing having a great support team is very important in this journey. I have had great support from my husband, family and many many friends.

I wasn't on a long pre op diet either. My surgery was on a Friday and I got a phone call on Wed at lunch and was told to finish the day on liquids and continue until surgery. I was like oh no I was just getting ready to go to lunch. I was told to go an enjoy myself but don't over do it. I said can I have a coke this afternoon as my liquids? I was told to enjoy my lunch and get a big coke but when it was gone no more coke. I went out and drove around. Nothing sounded good for lunch so I came back to work and ate the sandwich I brought with me. I did stop and get the biggest coke out there and followed my liquid diet until surgery. I think it was a mental thing that even though I was cleared to have my last supper I really didn't want to have it!!! I agree that you should ask about a small meal and then even if you don't like the answer stick with it. It will be worth it in the long run.

Well I'm headed to the doctor tomorrow and I'm hoping for a fill. When I went for my last appointment my doctor refused to fill me since I had put on a few pounds since my last visit in August. I almost feel like he was punishing me since I gained some weight. I think I will scream if he doesn't give me a fill tomorrow. I have absolutely very little restriction and think that I would start losing again if I had the restriction that I need. I am prepared with my food journal and exercise log. I am writing down everything I put in my mouth including the butter rum lifesaver that I had 3 days ago even though I only had it my mouth for 30 seconds before getting rid of it. Has anyone else ever been denied a fill since they had gained instead of losing weight?

Ok, I'm back from the doctor. I didn't get a fill. In fact they let out 1cc from my band. Now that I'm home and the doctor, his nurse, and I had a talk I am completely fine with that. When I went in last time he told me that he thought that I was tight enough I didn't think so anyway I was told to see how I did and come back in 4 weeks. Today when I did my barium swallow I saw firsthand why he thought I was too tight. I WAS!!! After 25 min the 1 drink of barium was still in my pouch and hadn't really started going through my band. I agreed on 1/2 a cc to come out and it was still tight so together we agreed to 1cc. Appearantly the reason I was hungry all the time is that my food was sitting in my pouch and not getting past the band.In fact I even saw how my esophagus was starting to dialate. I haven't done any harm yet but thank God we figured this out together!! I am also not to worry about calories (keep them in moderation) but just keep watching portion sizes.I was starving myself watching the calories and trying to hard to diet and exercise. I hope I have more energy now and I will keep up my daily workouts on the elliptical. I am to call the nurse next Friday to report my progress with her and then go back in 2 weeks. I really appreciate all of you for letting me rant the last couple of days. Like I said yesterday we will continue on our weight loss journey together!!

If i don't get filled today i plan on asking him why am I coming to see you if I'm not losing weight and you won't give me a fill? I'm also going to ask him how much exactly I have in my band. I hope I'm just getting all worked up for nothing and he fills me tight. Hopefully I will have good news for you tonight after I get back home!

I'm 2 1/2 years out so I normally do not go as after as someone who is newly banded. However until I hit my sweet spot again I'm gonna go every chance I can and hope for a fill until I reach that sweet spot again!

I'm not sure how much I have in my band currently, but I plan on finding out today. I have a 10cc band and I can tell you I have very little restriction. I had a complete unfill last March because i got sick and was severely dehydrated. I was going every 4 weeks until August then was told to come in late Dec but couldn't get in until early Jan because of my schedule. I went in August and didn't get a fill but I was losing at that time. Since then i have put on 7 lbs and needed a tighter fill. Like I said 4 weeks ago he denied me a fill and I have maintained my weight and kept a food journal and exercise log. I go this afternoon and will let you all know the outcome. I have my fingers crossed!

I was banded Sept 2009 and I started off at 254 and am currently 171. I need to jumpstart my weight loss. I only have 2.5 cc's in my 10cc band. I am going to hopefully get a fill on Thursday. Fill or no fill I'm starting liquids again to get back on track. Together we can do this!!

I was too tight last March and became severly dehydrated. I had to have all of the fluid in my band taken out. I gained weight back but then again I had literally been starving myself. My doctor told me not to be surprised if I gained 10 or 15lbs since I was now going to be able to eat. I put on more than that in 2 days and my feet and legs were swollen. After going to the ER and having every test imanginable they came to the conclustion that it was severe dehydration. Anyway even now with very little in my band 2.5cc's in a 10cc band I feel like I have room for more restriction. I can eat just about anything other than bread. I will tell you though I think it's definately mind over matter. I have trained myself not to eat what I know I can and to ration out small portions and try and leave some on my plate even if I'm not feeling full. I exercise, I get my water in, but I just can't lose weight. I go back to the doctor on Thursday and I'm praying that he gives me a fill. I know that is what I need to get me losing again. Just remember to keep track of everything you put into your mouth, and I mean everything. That way you stay accountable to yourself!!

Don't be disapointed if the scale goes up a little bit after a fun night of partying. When I go to Vegas I'm hooked on those daquari bars however I drink plenty of water and watch what I eat. All the walking will offset it some but just be careful. Alcohol is just empty calories so I really try and be careful. I had 2 beers Sunday night and I'm up 2lbs today even though I was super good on what I ate Sunday and have been so far since. I'm hoping it's a little water weight and I will have gotten rid of it by Thursday when I go for a fill.

I lost a so called "friend" not long after I was banded. She decided to end our friendship, bottom line she was jealous of me. I had gotten married 9 months prior to my surgery and then when I started losing weight and was getting compliments that's when the problems began. She was no longer the center of attention as I was getting compliments everytime we had "girls night". People who hadn't seen me in a while would be in shock how much weight I had lost and some said they didn't even recognize me. It breaks my heart that someone who used to be so closed to me ended our frienship over something so petty. I'm still friends with everyone else besides "her". The other girls still compliment me on my success and even one is going through the approval process. I say if someone is jealous of you for being a healthier you then to hell with them. I'm just glad I have a support team which consists of my husband, family and a great group of friends.

It was great before and even better after. I think now that I have lost so much weight I am more comfortable and confident for the most part The only thing is I like it better now totally dark with the lights out. Even though I feel more sexy than I did before I just prefer not to see the extra skin so I feel better if my hubby doesn't see it either. He tells me he loves me no matter what and is so proud of how well I've done losing weight.