Toddy

Are you tracking what you're eating? The band is only a tool to help you do the work, but make no mistake, YOU must do the work. I highly recommend myfitnesspal.com for tracking and keeping yourself accountable. Good luck!!

We had insurance with BCBS when my husband was employed and they paid 100% for my wls. When DH got laid off, I applied to BCBS for a HIGH deductible plan and was turned down because of my lapband surgery, even though I had already been taken off my super expensive acid reflux Rx and my high blood pressure Rx. Ironic, huh?????

I'm a wine drinker and make sure I allow for the "empty calories". I have to get all my protein in before I allow myself those empty calories. I know it has slowed my weight loss, but as long as I'm still losing, I'm not going to worry about it.

Being dehydrated can cause a lot of various side effects. While I don't think it will particularly hurt your band, it does hurt your health. You should really try to get in more fluids, particularly water or flavored water. Be proactive about this; don't wait for an emergency situation to arise because then it may be too late.

If you tell them before the surgery they'll probably be all negative and try to talk you out of it. You know, everybody knows somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody that's died from this surgery!! (I'm thinking they all must know the same person because the mortality rate is pretty low!) Anyway, if you don't tell them, it will probably come out after the fact. I have found that after the fact was better for me because people are somewhat less negative since you didn't die in surgery, and they see you walking, talking and acting like a regular person that just happens to be losing weight.

When you find a local doctor to do your band maintenance, see if they can recommend a support group. It sounds like you got banded without a lot of information that is very necessary to be successful with a band. This site is a great source of info, but it doesn't replace doctor's orders. It sounds like pretty much everything you're experiencing is pretty normal, but you really need a medical professional you can call upon.

The swallowing is getting easier because the post-surgery swelling is going down. Before my third fill I had no restriction and could eat anything; the trick is to NOT eat bad stuff or in bulk just because you're able to. Between surgery and having enough fill to have restriction is a good time to practice the new eating skills you have to have when you do finally reach restriction.

Take smaller sips and smaller bites and give it some time. If you ever get to the point that you can't keep liquids down, then you need immediate help. Otherwise, you may just need to work on your band eating skills. I know it takes me a while to learn to eat with each fill. Don't drink carbonated beverages or eat things like soft bread.

It's one thing to not be supportive of your CHOICE, but the tell your child???? WTH is he thinking???? What an unbelievable thing for an adult(?) to threaten to do. I'd have the surgery; I'd lose the weight; I'd be looking at my options! Sorry to be so harsh, but I see a lot of domestic "situations" in my line of work and it absolutely kills me what some parents will do to their children!

I had this happen last week. My doctor took out 4 cc's of my total of 6 cc's. It opened my wide up and I could eat anything without any feeling of restriction. Fortunately when he started the refill this week, he did a pretty good fill, I'm not sure of the total, but it was enough to feel a little restriction again. Hopefully next month I'll get the rest back.

This is a really good blog of a banded couple you might want to follow. She doesn't post very often right now, but she was very active for a while and had some great tips, etc. http://happilyafterlapband.blogspot.com/2011/12/journey-starts-here.html

I've never seen anything that says popcorn will be a problem... however, it just seems to me that it would be a problem so I avoid it like the plague! I think I've had maybe two pieces at the movie just out of reaching into the husband's bucket by habit... and then I think "no, no, no"! It's kind of like soda, I know I can swallow it, but I bet I'll end up paying for it!

I don't realize I'm in trouble until it's too late. After having to have a 4 cc unfill last week, and finally getting some of my precious fill back this week, I'm vowing to be the most compliant bander there ever was. I don't want to play around with "so what if I get stuck, I'll just urp it up" anymore!! Now it's time to baby my band and take care of it so it will last for a long, long time!

I was a heavy smoker and quit it will be 20 years ago this November 9. I can only speak from my experience as someone that loved smoking and was young enough when I quit that I hadn't yet started experiencing any bad side effects. I think the best way (the only way for me) was to quit is cold turkey. You can't have cigarettes around you; you can't be around anyone that smokes. Set a date certain to quit. The night before clean out every ashtray and destroy the butts, because an addict will dig through the garbage to get that fix. My husband quit at the same time using the patch. At first I was resentful because he seemed to have an easier time; however, after I got through the "bad times," he was still struggling along on the patch. It ended up taking him a couple more years to actually kick the habit. I am now physically nauseated by the smell of cigarette smoke. One thing I know for sure: If I ever break down and take that one draw off of a cigarette, I may as well go an buy a carton. It's an all or nothing thing for me.

Wow! This post is... I'm not sure. I can't relate. No one ever told me I was worthless...just the opposite. I had affirmation from both of my parents (although divorced, but amicable) about how proud they were of me, even though I never did anything exceptional or even special. I've always associated my food issues with happiness. It's kind of like the saying, I don't drown my sorrows; I celebrate my happiness. I equate fun, food, family. I guess we all have different issues... but they're all still issues.

I'm with tmf, give it a few days as long as you are able to keep liquids down. I had a lot of problems eating when I hit the green zone, but then I actually learned how to eat. Small bites, chew until it's almost nothing, swallow, wait a bit before taking your next bite. If it works, you should be good as long as your follow the eating rules. If you're doing everything right and still having problems it sounds like you'll definitely need a little unfill. When I'm in the green zone, I even have to sip Water, not guzzle it like I used to.

I didn't feel anything until my third fill and didn't reach the green zone until my fourth fill. It's different for everybody.

Yep, you should ask your surgeon. We have no way of knowing how your incisions were closed and how much healing has taken place.

I'm with Mis73. My doctor thinks carbs are the devil. I simply cannot do low carbs! No. 1, it's just not realistic for a lifetime; No. 2, my body just doesn't function well on a low carb diet. I shoot for roughly 1000 calories; 60 grams protein; no more than 127 carbs and 30 grams fat. I feel like that is plenty of balance and enough fuel for my body to function at its best.

Why is your health insurance ending at 23? If you're a dependent being covered on your parents' policy, I think you can stay on until 26. If that's not the case and it really is ending at 23, keep in mind that after being banded you have to have REGULAR maintenance on your band. It's not just a matter of fill it and go, so you need to be prepared for what maintenance will cost out of pocket. A band without maintenance is pretty useless. As far as the depression, that really is something that needs to be worked out pre-band. A band is not a fix-all; you must be prepared to work with your band and not be an emotional eater or, once again, the band is pretty much useless. I started researching the band for my daughter, but we both realized that mentally she wasn't ready for such a commitment, but that I was, so I had the surgery instead of her. I'm hoping she'll come around one day and be ready for the surgery herself. Good luck in your journey.

Oh, and one last thing. Don't wait too long. My biggest wish is that I had had WLS sooner. I wasted my entire 40's being fat ;-(

First let me say I love my band and I'm so glad I have it. Next I'll tell you research, research, research!! I did a lot of research on the band only because I wanted something that was completely reversible. Knowing what I know now (which there was no way to know pre-band) I would have definitely done lapband with plication and/or at least done more research on the sleeve. I had some problems earlier this week (of my own doing) and thought I might have to have my band removed. I had already decided if my band was removed I wanted to revise to the sleeve. Fortunately, I don't need to have my band removed, but I like knowing that there are things that can be done if it does have to be removed in the future.

I'm with TracieR, I weigh once (or twice) a day, but I write it down on my calendar once a week on the same day every week. That way, when it feels like I've been battling the same 1-2 pounds forever, I can look back and see that six pounds in a month is not bad!

The green zone for me was a loss of interest in food after a few bites. I never get that "Thanksgiving stuffed" feeling, which is wonderful!! I'm just comfortable and don't want to eat anymore. Three days ago I had to have 3 cc's removed because I irritated my band. I'm really mourning the loss of the green zone and my appetite has come back with a vengeance! I didn't realized how much my band really curbed my appetite!!

Had to laugh about the barbaric surgeon, too! Anyway, very similar thing happened to me. I irritated by band while on vacation last week. I knew I needed to go back to liquids only for at least 24 hours,, but didn't. I ended up in horrible pain in the ER. Had 3 cc's removed. No more pain, but the beast has been unleashed and I have no restriction and am hungry all the time. I have learned my lesson: I will not abuse my band again!!