La_madam

Hello and welcome! You're going to love this place and it looks like you have a neighboor in Alex that's a plus This place is great.. Lots of love and support

She is beautiful..love all that hair! Congratulations

Thanks Alex, I would rather you bring this subject up over here then there. It seems to have started a debate over there and besides this board is much easier to follow and I will participate on this topic here vs. over there. That place is intimidating ! I fell so much more comfortable here

Ok I must be a dummy... What are the signs of being full? I eat to the point of when I'm satisfied. I have not ever eaten to the full point (atleast I dont think I have) I have never felt full or umcomfortable after a meal. As far as portion size doesnt that depend on how tight you are filled? I had my first fill and now eat less per meal then pre fill. I assume that each time I get a fill I will eat less and less right? I do not measure my food. I'm at 1.1cc's and a days food intake consists of : Breakfast (6 am )- 2 scrambled eggs and 2 link sausages Lunch- either a ice cream scoop size of Tuna OR 2 pieces of Sliced Cheddar cheeses w/ Peanut Butter Dinner- 1 boneless chicken breast with green Beans or small salad If I have a snack during the day I usually have a Protein bar Since my fill 3 weeks ago I have lost 2 pounds a week (6 pounds since June 7th).

4 birds should defiantely lower your stress, it's just 4 more mouths to feed and one more thing to clean. You can handle that can't you Lisa? With your 2nd job don't forget

Hi Julie and Welcome! You're going to love this place! Congrats on your band and your wieght loss

I agree with Penni, you should have been mailed that questionaire and filled it out instead of making a trip there and then having to pay your co-pay.

The reason for being asked to quit smoking before any major surgery is for healing purposes. You heal much faster when you are not smoking. My nutritionalist told me not to try and quit if you can believe that! She said one thing at a time, if your trying to lose weight the last thing you want to do is quit smoking. Too much at once. So I still smoke 5- 6 cigarettes a day., but to be honest after my surgery the last thing I wanted was a cigarette. I did not smoke for 3 weeks post op, but once all the gas and swelling were gone I started again.

My doctor has told me if I get heartburn or reflux to call him it could mean I'm filled too tight. I'm at 1.1cc's and have restriction but no reflux or heartburn..3.0 I would be closed up LOL !!!

Find a new fill doctor! That is B.S. Only you know your restriction and eating habits

I hear you Lisa My mother was thin as a rail and all her life people used to say " you are so skinny" after years of this she started to get angry about those comments. She used to say to me. "why is it that a person will say you are so skinny but will never walk up to a person who is overweight and say you are so fat" It used to drive her batty. Have you ever heard of anyone walking up to a fat person telling them you are so fat? Like we do to our skinny friends by telling them constantly how thin they are. Thin people take offense to it just as us fat people do. Some thin people cant help it, my mother was one of them.

Since my fill I get this feeling often..the past two days have been more noticeable then ever and my fill was 2 weeks ago. My lump usually goes away after 3-4 minutes. I have no idea if it is normal. I'm new to this

I wish I lost restriction. I gain restriction during TOM. I can only do liquids during that time for the first 3 days , but I lose weight instead of how I used to gain during that time since I used to eat like a horse pre band during TOM

I concur with Lisa, I do go to the yahoo groups..Smartbandsters, Bandsters, Dr Ortiz and OSCB but by far this board is where I feel most comfortable. I feel as though I get attacked when I post over there. I don't like that feeling

LiL Miss.. There is not much pain involved in the actual surgery. My Dr. did not even give me pain meds once I was done, just liquid tylenol. For me the pain was my bad knee and my aching legs and my lower back pain prior to my surgery. I had pain everyday of my life for the last year from my weight. since surgery and 29 pounds lighter I have had none of the above. I know it is a tough and scary decision, only one that you can make, we can't make it for you all we can do is support your decision. Once you are banded the word "Diet" doesnt even come into play. Good luck with your decision

Donali, you have such a great attutude aboutthis whole thing. I realy believe that you will be successful once your band is removed. We are all here for you with lots of support just as you have been here for us. I think you covered all the bases with your post on how you are going to hanfdle this. You're awesome!

Hi Suzy and Welcome! You are going to love it here. Everyone is so nice and so supportive. Congratulations on your 60+ pounds you have lost. That is fantastic! Well I look forward to meeting you on Sunday at the picnic .

Hello.. I am no expert either but I can tell you the same thing. The band is the best decision I have ever made for myself. I have tried ever diet ever invented and been overwieght most of my life. This is the first time I feel like I have control. It has been 11 weeks since surgery and I have lost 29 pounds and I could'nt be happier. I researched the band for months before making my decision and I did not care what anyone had to say good or bad, this was what I wanted to do and I was going to do it. I even was a self pay, I sold my most prized possession to have this surgery that is how bad I wanted it and I have not one single regret. The diet we bandsters follow is very similiar to the Atkins, the doctor tells you to eat Protein first then veggies, fruit and then carbs if you have room. This is your body and your life..Can't worry about what other people say and think, if I did that I would of never had this done. I love my band!

Sure thing Lisa ..I will get right on it!

Thanks for the info ladies I was curious about pouch stretching as well but let me get this straight...if I don't PB the chances of my pouch stretching are less? I just wantto make sure I understand this whole pouch stretching thing. Or can I eat too much without PBing and stretch my pouch? My brain is reeling from pouch stretching to port infection to band erosion. All this new info I have learned in a week is amazing. I have orderd Jessi Ahroni's new book on amazon.com "Laproscopic adjustable gastric banding, Achieving permanent weight loss with minimal invasive surgery" hopefully this will help me also to understand everything.

Fransesca when you PB do you continue to eat? I know from Dr Orti'z instructions once you PB you need to go on liquids for atleast 24 hours to let the stomach settle and rest. Are you trying to eat after you PB? If so this could be why you cant get anything down becasue the stomach and band are irritated. If you are PBing after letting your sotmach rest, I would not fool around and call Dr Ortiz. Not being able to eat after 7 weeks doesnt seem normal. Just my thoughts

Donali, I read that post on Smartbandsters. As usual you handled it beautifully !

I'm 11 weeks post op today and hoave only lost 2 pounds since my first fill which was 1.1cc's on June 7th. I have heard the .2cc's can make a difference. It would rather be filled slowly the filled too tight and have problems with PBing and reflux then have to be unfilled. remember the weight did not come on overnight, it wil ltake time . I feel good knowing I'm not gaining weight. I may be losing it slow but I'm not gaining and to me that is an accomplishment. Are you following all of the bandster rules? Do you drink with meal? Do you track your calories? Do you drink your daily ammount of water? Are you eating your protein first and getting in your 60grams a day? These are all things that help me in my weight loss and if I falter from any of them I do not lose that week. Just some food for thought. Don't get discouraged, no one ever said it wouldbe easy becasue if it was none of us would be here now

Audrey.. You look fantastic. Way to go! Pictures are worth a thousand words.. I hope to be as successful as you have been. Kep it up!

Have a great time Denise