lifebegins2012

My personal targets for 2013 include reaching my goal weight and to have paid the surgery off both my 12 month anniversary-29th March. Neither will be easy but I'm determined to keep trying. Exercise in 2013 will also be a big thing for me as I haven't tried too hard in that area and I really need to tone up now I'm nearly 50lb down. Seasons greetings to you all and here's hoping 2013 is a good year for each and every one of us! x

HI. I was aware that my surgeon sometimes 'primed' gastric bands with a bit of fluid at the time of surgery but he was the only one at the hospital who did. My records showed he had put a whopping 4mls in my 10mls band so I was hoping to get to restriction with only a couple of fills. When I went for my first fill the nurse drew the fluid out the check how much was there and it had reduced to 3.5mls. I was told this 'sometimes happens'. I've had 4 fills and am at 6.85mls and am doing well. ( I was told to expect restriction at around 7mls). I doubt I'll need any more fills but I do have to watch the amount of 'easy slider' foods like ice cream as that goes down a treat and far too easy!

My surgery was also at end of March but I got 4mls in my band at time of surgery(by my first fill it has reduced to 3.5mls). I've lost but wasn't good last month and loss was minimal. I put off ringing the dietician as I kept thinking I will do better tomorrow... When I finally spoke to one of the team she just said it showed I was ready for my next fill. All that guilt and she shrugged it off!!!! I had my 4th fill one week ago which has taken me to 6.85mls in a 10mls band and wow!! I have restriction. ( I had been told it happens around 7mls or at 70% capacity if band is bigger). I can only eat 2inches of a banana in one go( I'm sad, I measured) and am experimenting again with what I can eat. As per my norm I have dry cereal in the morning, chicken salad for lunch and vary my evening meal. 6 weeks ago I could still have eaten a Sunday roast!! Hope you weight loss kicks in properly soon. We can't help compare ourselves to others, I think it's human nature. I have a friend who still hasn't achieved 14lbs loss after 12months and another friend who has lost 70lbs since surgery Feb12- both have bands. xxx

Congrats on your weight loss x Some people gain in the first month never mind losing small amounts. Yours is a MASSIVE amount. I think I achieved about 9lb in that time. x I'd be feeling pretty smug if it was my loss. Your doc might have been having a bad day maybe?

xxxx hugs xxxx

Hi. Relatives can't half be hard work at times!! My mom can get irate very quickly out of the blue. She doesn't swear or be offensive directly but does lots of slamming, banging, etc which for someone of 60 seems really silly! If I were you, I'd try and make a stand. It sounds like people have put up with her ways but she has really overstepped the mark. If you don't do this now then you're giving out the signals that it's ok for her to continue doing things like this. We can all say things in anger/temper and I really do hope she regrets her behaviour but she does sound stubborn so it might take some kind of 'meet in the middle' actions, maybe instigated by your dad to help move forward. Do you picninc as a family? Maybe dad could suggest going somewhere away from 'her territory'. I hope you get a happy outcome xx

Hi. My surgeon 'primed' my 1mls band with 4mls at time of surgery. When the nurse checked at 1st post op appt, this had reduced to 3.5mls. She said it happens!. 3 fills later I'm at 6.25mls in my 10mls band and am still fighting the demons of bad food choices on an evening and all the wrong things go in and down(and not small quantities). I'm not winning this week! I do find I have restriction morning and lunch so maybe need to munch some crispy lettuce mid afternoon to keep it going. I wish I'd had the full 1ml offered last week instead of chickening out and only having 0.75ml. Last month it was 5 days after my fill that some restriction seemed to kick in.

Lol! Not sure those particular 'house guests' would work for everyone but heck! Whatever works for you xx

I have no regrets. I'm 12 weeks post op and 30lb down. Last month I lost 8lb but this month I've only lost 4lb so far but have been off track more than on in food choices and keep going back to the cupboards.My target set by the dietician is 4-8lb a month so I'm ok but am still knocking myself as I know just how often I have eaten badly. My dietician wants me to eat everything now, all food types so it's an experiment as to what doesn't suit me. I've found broccoli, apples,crumpets and some bread have been a problem. I have had alcoholic drinks 3 times and for me it was the same as pre-op. I can drink a whole mug of tea at 'normal speed' and my dietician has even said I can drink while eating. A couple of times this has proved problematic though.. I'm really enjoying the feeling of weightloss. I remember being this weight and I feel so much better and happier. My confidence is returning. My journey hasn't been plain sailing. Constipation has been a problem, particulaly in the first couple of weeks. I have to push myself to drink more fluids as these daily volumes havn't been part of my routine for the last 40+years! Some days I suffer the '2nd bite stuck' sensation where I have to wait and wait before eating any more as it's kind of 'stuck'. When I haven't waited long enough , I'm sick. Sometimes I can eat and eat and eat. I am suprised at some of the portions I can still have - but know I shouldn't be. Crunchy foods are my best friends. They fill me up quick and keep me full for longer. I eat chicken at least 4 times a week which is the same as before having my band. A tip is not to compare yourself and journey to others. It's really hard not to but our bodies do work at different rates. This site is one of the best tools you will find. Initially I could be on here for 5 hours a day every day. I've needed it less as I'm finding my way and might only log on for 10 mins every 3-4 days now. xx

Hi. I think every Healthcare provider varies. I have been private pay, had some fluid put in at time of surgery and have now had 2 fills. I'm 9 weeks post op and up to 5.5mls in a 10mls band. Since I have paid for a two year aftercare package, I kind of think they are proactive to get you to restriction asap as less fills mean less appointments required. My handbook advises what to expect from The Hospital Group and at what stage but in reality they have cut corners ie... no 1st bandfill under xray (just the nurse giving a fill), no follow up appointment with surgeon(left to dietician and nurse) and not even the pedometer it says we have to count our daily steps! I don't have a date for my third fill but it is going to be early July as the dietician dropped heavy hints about just how busy they were in June!

Sometimes I think I would have liked to have kept my op quiet and see who comments on my weightloss but I am the type of person who tells all about myself. I started telling people one by one at work but they all knew before my op. The only thing is now( 9weeks post op) people like to ask how I'm doing. They seem to wait until I am alone with them. SInce trhere are about 20 people at work this is getting a little annoying as I can be spending soooo much time talking about the band. There are loads of people on here who have been there and done that with certain issues and can advise you of their experiences so use them. I've found I was spending hours and hours every day on here initially but now feel more confident so I come on for 20mins every day or even every other day xx