corrykidsmom

It's a hard balance. I was banded April 2 and my weight loss isn't as quick as I would like but I'm finding I'm a much healthier me and my kids are benefiting too! I'm cooking smaller healthier meals for my family. Crockpot cooking is great especially when working. I can come home in the morning throw dinner in the crock pot and when I get up dinner is almost done! The band is a reminder that I didn't gain the weight overnight and it's gonna take time to get it off. It also reminds me I can't go back to my old eating habits or oh boy the pain is not pleasant! Hang in there and good luck!

I have a treadmill and elliptical from sears. Love both of them. I need diversity and this way I can change it up. I too have bad knees. My treadmill has a flexible walking surface so can adjust the firmness. I also use a exercise ball and free weights.

I have united healthcare and they covered my surgery 100% and the first few office visits/ fills. I just had my 4th fill and had to pay my office visit copayment of $30. But to be on the road to a healthier me I'll gladly pay the copayment each visit.

If you research lap bands you will find that when they place the band around the upper most part of the stomach it creates a small upper pouch and a lower stomach. No part of the digestive system is stapled, cut or removed, which allows for nutrients to be fully absorbed into the body. This is by far a healthier weight loss procedure. I think your surgeon used poor word choices and there is a miscommunication somewhere. Because that is what the band does. It causes a restriction around the upper most part of the stomach which in turn make you feel fuller quicker. I was instructed no liquids 30 min before or after meals, but I have a very hard time not following this. I just take a few sips of water. In all my research that I did on the lap band and after speaking with other coworkers who have had this done the not drinking with meals is standard. As you get fills the band restricts what goes thru making you feel fuller even quicker thus it does create a small pouch. Look at the Realize website it's informative and goes thru the anatomy of how it's place. I know there are different brands of lapbands out there. I choose the one w/ the portacath access that was easier to feel. But my doc fills under fleuro which I like. peace of mind being able to see it and make sure things are going thru the way they should. The whole tickling receptors is just a medical explanation for the band creating a pouch thus sending signals to ur noggin making you think you are full on a much less amount of food. It's also in my opinion a bunch of crap and poor explanation from medical to lay person. What is the name of the lap band you had placed? That may help in explaning what exactly it is too. Hang in there.

The two posts before were perfect. It's definetly not a fix all/ cure all. I chose the lap band bc it was the healthier option. But it is a huge lifestyle change. I know people who've had the bypass done and lost a great deal of weight but have since gained it back bc they didnt keep to the commitment of this is a change forever. there is no quick fix or a fix to our problems of overeating/stress eating whatever. only you can control what you put into your mouth. I know after my 3rd fill was the first time I really felt restriction. I did get full quicker before this last fill but I still could eat. now Im just plain ole not hungry after a small meal. Hang in there.

I think everyone is alittle different as far as what foods go down easier than others. up unitl thursday I have had no problem with any foods other than the ones that make me gassy. but since thursday omg. My husband had made breakfast since I had worked nights and he saved me 1 pancake and 1 peice a bacon. well.... needless to say 3 bites of pancake and 2 small bites of the bacon (as I wanted to savor the one peice I was allowing myself) was pure hell. I ended up throwing it all up and dry heaving for a while. This was the first time since surgery (Apr 2,) that I got sick. the previous night at work I was able to tolerate a small salad w/ grilled chicken which went down fine without problems. Wierd. But I was told to avoid all bread, rice and pasta post op forever. as my neice says it's bc it can get stuck in the "zip tie". just remember to take your time eating, chew, chew and chew some more and it's a huge lifestyle change. One that Im sooooo happy I made! Its a slow process. I know I didnt gain all my weight over night and it's not gonna come off that quick either. Good luck,

I was banded April 2. I had my 3 rd fill thurs for a total of 4.6 cc. Before I just felt full quicker but could eat without problems but yesterday for breakfast I tried a pancake omg. I must have eaten too quickly bc that's the first time I have got sick since surgery. 3 bites was all I took but it sure felt like hell. So I stuck to full liquids for rest of day I'm down 30 lbs but took 3 weeks off exercise so I've kicked myself now back to exercising again and hopefully it'll start coming off again. Good luck and hang in there.

I had mine in April. Only felt that type of pain after eating too quickly. Felt like I was gonna die type chest pain. Bad enuf to take my breath away. Learned my lesson. I make sure to chew slowly and chew a lot I currently have 4.6 cc in my band. Good luck!

Gas ex works wonders!

I found I can drink without a problem but learned the hard way and learned no straws. Swallowed air and major gas pain. as long as I take my time to chew, chew, and chew some more I have no issues with food. Ate too fast once and won't do that again!!!!! I just had my 3 rd fill. Was banded April 2nd. Down 31 lbs. have to get back to exercising bc I've slacked off the last couple weeks and can feel it And my weight has stalled. Good luck and hang in there.

It could also be related to all the sugar free items. I noticed having a lot of diarrhea before surgery but was also on clear liquids for a week, all sugar free. I have IBS so this was just a week long massive flair up. But my surgery was 4/2 and since I've cut out all rice , bread and pasta I have no IBS problems. Thinking I just have gluten intolerance instead. Try to watch amount of sugar free items and try to keep hydrated with plan ole water. Good luck

Im 39 yrs old and have always been active. Just liked to eat and drink too much, and when stressed I turned to food. I had my knee surgery right before my 37 th bday. As a critical care nurse, I would've rather had a total knee vs the transplant d/t I had to be in a wheel chair and completely nonweight bearing for 6 weeks. At least with a TKR you can get up and move sooner. But my surgeon said bc of the degeneration in my knee, I needed to do this surgery first. I have the knee of an 80 year old. Some exercises to help with thigh pain are leg lifts. Just lie in bed and start on your back or you can do them standing, just start with 10 each leg, then turn on your side and raise your leg, (Hip abductors), lunges forward and sideways and squats.These all can be done in the pool too! The YMCA is great but our prices just kept raising and raising I stopped going. But I am lucky bc my sister has a pool. I had issues w/ my ITB band after my surgery which was super painful and almost made it impossible to walk. If it wasnt for my little girl who is autisitic I wouldnt be where I am today. It took me almost a year to build up enough strentgh to go up and down stairs again. Hang in there. Start slow and gradually increase reps and time. Ibuprofen is a great friend of mine also! I normally take a couple after exercising to ease some the joint pain.

I find greek yougurt or baked chicken fill me up better than anything. When I drank the shakes I seemed to feel hungry all the time. when I work nights I feel hungry all night long even though Im really not. when I am at home I dont have this problem. I just try to drink more water or tea. hang in there.