kbliss78

I am exactly in you boat. I had surgery on 5/8/12. I was so happy the first week b/c I didnt think of food, want food, ate very little and was full and dropped a pound a day for that week. Then the second week I was more hungry but I got full easily. THis week is hell. I heard everyone mention how hard it was but I was hoping it wouldnt happen to me. I am eating as little as possible and eating on saucer plates, eating protient, counting calories and working out. I have lost 1 pound this week but I think it is only b/c of dieting. Basically right now, I think I am just on a really hard diet. I cannot gain or it would be too big of a mental set back. I have my first fill Tuesday and I am luck my Dr does it at 3 weeks but I have also heard many people dont feel any difference for several fills. I am trying to brace myself that the next 6 weeks will be very hard and take ALOT of will power and perserverance. I have noticed that when I truely make myself only take a bite once every 1.5 minutes, I do feel slightly satisfied at the end or I just get bored eating that long and give up. Whatever it is, it gets my off the table and I toss some food. I feel like I am just "white knuckling it" till green zone. Hell, I would even pray for yellow zone right now. I wish I both luck.

I am also very sorry for you and your husband and family. However, I do have to tell you that your attitude is amazing. You must be a very optimistic person to seek out the good in a bad situation. So many focus on the bad side of things (and what you endured is bad) but it is amazing despite your greif you can recognize the positive impact of it as well. Your strength and outlook on life seems very wonderful. I wish I could know you in person. I love to surround myself with people like yourself.

I had my surgery at 1:00 pm (2.5 weeks ago). It was the longest morning of my life! Plus I was so hungry until the proceedure b/c I couldnt eat or drink. Afterwards you wont care. I wish the best for you. Good luck and hope it is easy.

Unfortunately the "mushy phase" is usually carbs. I went through carb withdrawal pee opt then had to have some soft foods like cream of wheat and pudding and some mashed potatoes and now I feel like I need to try again bc I am starving and craving. Haven't had a fill yet.

Each insurance is different as we as Dr office. For me, I was self pay. I paid one lump sum to the Dr. It will cover everything at the hospital, pre opt, and one full year of post opt and fills. Aftter that, I pay $125 for fill or unfill. If insurance (BCBS of TX) had approved me, they would have paid $5000 of the proceedure, I would have had to pay $2500 co-pay plus 20% of the remainding surguery balance and for all of my own aftercare. It added up that if insurance paid, it would have cost me $8500 and if I was self pay it would be $1000.00. I ended up going self pay b/c I fought insurance fo 5 years. I was done with it. Not sure if that helped.

I did the same thing. I got rid of winter stuff. I figure I better not fit in that in 6 months! Hell even if I only lose 30 lbs before then it would not fit. I have lost 30 in the pre-opt and 2 weeks post so I made a good decision. It helped me feel like it was real and made me remember my commitment. I refuse to keep fat clothes this time "just in case" I get big. I WONT get big again! It cannot happen. Have fun preparing. I freaked out the weekend before, just saying. But it is all good now.

I am two weeks post opt. I have lost 20.5 pounds including pre-opt diet (10). That has dropped me one size in pants. This is great b/c most of my clothes are at this size, especially summer stuff. I had very little stuff that fit at 20 lbs heavier so I was wearing workout clothes almost all the time when I was not at work. I pulled a pile of clothes off the top shelf in the closet to see if any fit again and every single piece fit! So I immediately got a bag and threw away the very few things I had in the larger size. I have always saved clothes thinking I may gain again but this time I wont do it. I am going down and not up again! Also, someone at work told me "what ever you are doing, keep it up, you are looking good". It is nice to get this recognition only 20 lbs down. I am very excited. I cannot wait for me! I needed this boost to keep me on track now that Iam in bandster hell waiting for first fill. That is all, best wishes to all my banded buddies. Oh, my friend that had surgery the same day as me, she has already been taken off her High Blood Pressure medicine completely! It is amazing what losing weight can do for our bodies.

I thought the same thing when I read that, we are all adults and not on this site to be scolded by our fellow bandsters. We all will do things that work for us and not for others and will do things that others will think it against the rules. It is our own unique journey. You posted for support, not for scolding. If someone had something to share in a constructive way about thier own expirence with wine since being banded, that would be fine (i would think). But it was a weird comment. I was having a glass of wine that evening when I read your post.....if that makes you feel better

Belly for sure! I think about that stuff all the time.....where i wish the weight would come off first. However, it usually comes off the place I dont want it to, my boobs! Curses

First, you should attend a seminar or consultation. Many of these things are answered and they give you reading material as well. However, I can tell you my expiriences. I just had my lapband done 2 weeks ago. Most surgeons as well as mine say it takes on average 3 - 5 fills to get to the green zone. After surgery you will have a post opt appt, then 3 - 5 weeks you will have your first fill. Then you will have appts anywhere from every 2 weeks to every month until you are adjusted well. However, you may have to have fills and unfills until you get to your zone. Also, some people have to get adjustments occassionally after they get to green zone for many different reasons. So the aftercare is much more extensive. You want to pick a place that is close to you and you can continue aftercare. Do not pick a surgeon in a different state. If you cannot go for fills or emergency unfills quickly, you may have problems. I havent had any problems but I read that a common side affect is reflux. If you are in the green zone I hear there are little problems if any but it mainly depends on if you are following the golden rules of the lap band. I fought insurance for 3 years and ended up self pay. However, every state and every plan are very different. FYI - True Results will fight the insurance company for you. Every insurance complay has different criteria for approval. Some require a certain BMI. Others Require a high BMI as well as a co-morbility (sp?). I was self pay, the proceedure was 45 minutes, out - patient. I needed a week off from work and felt pretty bad for 3 days. I have had 2 c-sections and a gall bladder proceedure but I felt this was the hardest. Others say it was very easy. However, most would say they could not return to work the next day. Plus you have to be on pain meds to manage the pain so working and driving would be a problem. A week is a good rule of thumb. There is a pre-opt and post opt diet. However, every surgeon is very different. Pre-opt is anything from 1000 cal diet, adkinds diet (which I had to follow 2 weeks) or two weeks liquid shakes. Post opt is much more similiar across the board with liquids for 1 - 2 weeks, mushy foods for 2 weeks, then regular foods. I thought the pre opt was harder to follow. Post opt you dont have an appetite. or at least I didnt. I would find a surgeon and attend a seminar locally if I were you. I did an individual consult with True Results and decided to go with them. It was a great process. I hope that helped. Like I said, I am only a few weeks post opt, however, I spent alot of time investigating the proceedure. I read two books as well and read many things on the internet and this site. They do say you have to work out 30 minutes a day after the proceedure. It is one of my Dr's rules. I used to work nights like you. It is a rough lifestyle and I gained most of my weight when I was at that job. Best wishes in your decision and journey. (I havent updated my ticker but I have lost a total of 20.5 lbs in the pre-opt and 2 weeks since surgery).

I had the same thoughts and I am not a nervous person either. The weekend before surgery I was shopping and had a total struggle not to buy biscuits, break, cake. I really had to talk myself down. I also had a huge desire to walk out of the pre-opt room at the hospital. I started to ask myself "what are you doing, you can just diet harder, just pull the IV and walk out". But I didnt and I got the surgery. I am only two weeks out and all those feelings are gone. I am happy. I also have realized as well as talking to other banded people, I am not going to give up those things, I am just going to eat way less. Now I get hungry. I make my 1/2 cup meal and my brain says there is no way this is enough. HOwever, before it is all gone, my body says, "thats enough, you are full". It is great! I never thought I would be fine with 3 - 5, 1/2 cup meals (3 meals later when I get to one cup). Just hang in there, let the thoughts happen and go through with it. That is my advise!

That sounds great. I felt bad for three days then better. However, energy was a problem. It is hard to adjust to little calories and I was like you, I didnt want to eat or drink anything. It was a struggle to get 1/2 of what I was expected to do. I did start to have 1 - 2 bottles of crystal light energy. It is a energy/caffine drink but it really helped me get a boost without feeling gittery. I couldnt tolerate my coffee but it worked great. I am right at two weeks now. My hunger returned but it is manageable, I can drink plently of Water and getting the protien in is not a problem now. Enjoy recovery and get some crystal light energy to give you the little boost you need to feel more energetic.

Thanks! My Dr said I could do whatever felt good. If it started to hurt, stop. So zumba went just fine. I got tired at the end but did not hurt at all. I did ask specifically about zumba and he said, do it until it hurts, then stop. It is the only workout I LOVE to do. The rest of exercise I tolerate. I was doing 90X prior to surgery but I easily get burt out on it b/c the tapes are so long and it gets hard/boring fast. It does wonders for the body though. I felt stronger doing it than anything ever! I truely hope I can be just like you. I usually get very determined to do things right. I dont usually cheat and like rules to follow. SO the band is right for me. I am hoping the first fill will reduce some cravings and hunger. My first week after surgery was wonderful b/c I just didnt think of food and when I did, I just eat what I thought my body needed (protien) more for survival than enjoyment. I want that feeling back!

I am so excited for you. I had surgery 2 weeks ago. I lost 18 pounds but 10 was pre opt. I havent lost any the last week. I was told the beginning was for healing but I wanted to keep losing. I have eaten some rice and potatos so listening to you reminded me to keep to the protiens and veggies. That will keep the calories down. What calorie range do you stay in? I got sick right after surgery with shingles so I was not able to start working out. However, yesturday I did and completed one hour of zumba which I plan to do again today. I am hoping the exercise this week will kick it up again.

My surgeon and true results tells patients they did a study and found that banded patients who drank still lost at the same rate as banded people who didn't drink. So they tell us we can have one glass of wine every night! They even put it their patient books. I don't but could. I don't look at the band as a diet that I am or could cheat on. I just and going to eat less and try not to have liquid calories, however if the circumstances call for a glass of wine, I will enjoy it I would not Give it another thought.

I made my husband take my before photos and save on computer but I didn't even look at them. I knew it would take me down a negative worm hole of self loathing. I am already 20 down and in a smaller size of pants after Pre-opt and 2 weeks post. There is success foreseeable!

My hair fot thin started to fall out three months after both kids but it came back. I am hoping it doesnt happen since I have has surgery but it may. My dr said it is also a side effect and delayed reaction to the anesthetic medication at surgery. It will come back, just hang in there. Oh also, my hair stylist told me To use nioxin shampoo and conditioner for 6 Months post opt.

Same happened to me. I called true results and they said to follow true results post opt diet, not the hospital. Fyi

I freaking love this quote!

Three week for me at True Results, they said they are trying to reduce bandster hell.

On day two my husband brought home a 32 ounce malt and drank it in front if me. He is so supportive and felt bad later. The next day he didn't eat anything and got to feel bad. I decided I want him to eat and not think about me. It was my choice plus I have Benifit of satiety and he doesn't. We started to eat meals as a family yeaturday and my son and us laughed about my minute timer for bites. It was fun and started to feel normal again Our journey isn't theirs and we have to stay together. Eating should be a family thing even banded. Good luck on the journey.

I am week and half post opt. I had a rough time and then got shingles! But I am totally recovered fe surgery. I love eating small amounts and not being hungry for a long time. The shingles is still bad but getting better with medicine. I feel like I am turning the corner to my new life and it looks great. Glad to share the journey with you guys. I also was already told by my hubby that my face looks thinner already!

I had shingles as a child (it is a cousin of chicken pox but it follows nerve patterns and feels like you are on fire). Stress or trauma causes possible relapse. Seven days post opt and I get to have a shingles outbreak! I am so tired and frustrated that I get to deal with recovery and now a painful nerve virus. Just had to vent! Thanks for listening......

All of the gas stuff works inside you intestines and the gas pain most of us suffer from after surgery is not in your intestines. It is lose in the body and has to be absorbed. It hurts bad and moves around. It will get better but it isn't pretty while you are getting there. Hang in there .