La_madam

Kathy, I hope your sugery went smoothly for you Congrats, Looking forward to hearing about your experience with Dr. Kuri

I had my surgery on a Tuesday and took a 2 weeks off, but not because I did not feel good, I could of gone back to work the Friday after surgery. I chose to take the extra time off because I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks post op and I have a restaraunt and I was not sure how I was going to handle being around food mentally only being on just clear liquids. I chose to go back to work once I was on full liquids . Pain wise I felt great very soon after my surgery, I was up and shopping in TJ the day after my surgery.

Great News Estella!

Hi Tony, Congratulations on your new band! 20 lbs is fantastic. To answer your question I lost 20 lbs before my first fill and did not gain it back, the thing you will notice though is you may gain a pound or two once you get to full blown solids until your body adjusts to the solid foods again, but as along as you follow the basic bandster rules, you should be fine . I would not worry, plus any weight you lose during the 6 week post op pre fill stage is considered a bonus. My doctor told me not to worry if I did not lose wieght before I got a fill, he was more concerned with me healing for those 6 weeks to make sure my band set in place and my incisions healed up properly ,the band works best when it is filled. Try not to worry, the band is a life time & this 6 weeks is just a short time in a long journey. Hang in there and Good Luck to you

Penni, On a more serious note the the previous replys. I agree with you 100%, it is really no ones bussiness where you get your money, how you get your money or how much money you have. For me that is private information. Whoever is telling you people are asking those questions about you, I hope they gave you names , otherwise it is pretty much here say and you can not confront them. Obviously by your post , this is important to you so I hope you find out who it is and get this mess cleared up once and for all, this board has had enough drama and you seem you have a full plate right nowwith yourt mother. Thisi s the last thing you need to be worrying about.

Jorget, you are having the band and only needing to lose 10 lbs? Please tell me this is a typo???

Great News! I could only imagine the relief you are feeling and the peace of mind. I'm very happy for you

So Sorry to hear this Penni. I wish your mom a full and speedy recovery. Atleast you were close by and can be there for her during this difficult time. Sending you lots of posssitive and healing thoughts for your mom

Great Post Katie, I speak only for myself when I say I felt some of the exact feelings pre surgery. It is one day at a time, If you blow it one day, you start back the next day, the good thing about the band is it lets me know when I have eaten too fast, or taken too big of a bite or did not chew enough, I am always more aware of the foods you put in my mouth wiith your band, In the beginning I was the model bandster, 1 year ago today I had my surgery and I'm not the model bandster I have had my bad days, I am far from perfect. Seems since I have lost 85 lbs I have gotten off track, but everytime I have a bad day, I know there is always tomorrow. You will do great! Have faith in yourself, between you and your band working together, you will have success

Happy Birthday Megan, I hope you have a great day!

Hey Zoe, Happy Birthday! I hope you are enjoying your day :cool:

NYkee, call Dr. Martinez on his cell phone, he will answer it and be happy to answer all of your questions. He would not give you his number if he didnt want you to call, it could be something so simple, let him put your mind at ease.

Penni, what a year huh? Didn't it fly by? Congratulations to you. You have done a fabulous job. You have accomlished many things since your band like your 5k and the 57 lbs gone forever! WAY TO GO!! You have been very supportive of others here and that is very much appreciated. You look beautiful. Keep it up, by this time next year imagine where you will be :cool: Pretty exciting just to think about it dont you think?

Thanks Everyone for the Congrats and the kind words. What a year!!! Who would of thought I would be 85 lbs lighter and still enjoying food, not having to measure my food, weigh my food or count points, shop for diet foods, or take those crazy diet pills any longer. I think I have gotten that monkey off my back once and for all. I can not say I have been perfect, I do have bad days, my weakness is chocolate. From a size 22 to a 12 in a year. I am so happy and so proud. I have had a some what uneventful journey so far except for my 2 weeks of esophagitis back in November. I have had 3 fills to date and am trying like heck to get to goal without another one.. I love my band, what a life changing experience this has been for me. Thanks to all of you for all of the support you have given me the last year, all of you have made a difference for me, your support has been a very big part of my success. :cool:

Juli, as long as you are losing 1-3 lbs a week, and if you do not feel deprived from food right now I see no need for a fill. Save the fill for when your wieght loss slows down and you are hungrier.. Our bands only hold so much, why use it all up so soon into your journey. If it were me I would not get a fill. I have been banded a year and have only had 3 fills. I stretch mine out, when I tihnk I need a fill I use my head more then the band. Just my opinion. You are doing great! Congrats! Here is a great site to learn about when you need an adjustment, it will help you http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm Good Luck :cool:

Marleen I would love to hear of your story as well as many others here. Please post about your journey 3 years is fantastic.

Jenna, your scars look good, try using a little rubbing alchol it will take some of the yellow and sticky stuff off around the outside of the incision. I used it on mine at 2 weeks post op and they cleaned up beautifully and Nana You do look great at 215, would of never thunk. Jenna, I know this may sound funny, but where are your boobs? Are you lying down taking that pic?

Jonathan you have come up with some great posts today! I ate my last meal the night before surgery( Carnitas, Beans, Rice, Tortillas), but have enjoyed the same meal many times over since surgery, just in smaller quantities and it tastes a whole lot better. Again thanks for such a great post!

I have to concur 100% with what both Penni and Marie stated. You need more calories..1200-1500 a day is what my target is... Not to mention if you are only eating 600 calories and exercising 4x's a week an hour at a time you could be losing lean muscle mass which is not what us bandsters want to do. Up your caloric intake this week and see what happens Hang in there we all have been where you are at, I'm frustrated attimes and I'm a year post op

Jonathan Very well said! On this Monday morning after no weight loss last week, this is just what I needed to read Thank You!

Great Job Paula! No weight loss for me, stayed the same. PMS this week and I have some Water retention going on :angry

I will second that Roxana, I feel the same way about Dr. Ortiz.

Thanks for the info! I notice when I eat lots of Protein I get the bad breath And Marie they do make the breath strips for dogs, like those listerine strips you buy and put in your moth and the dissovle, I use them on my older dog.

My scars look great! As a matter of fact the 4 small ones I can barely see, I have to look real close to find them. The larger incision just blends in with my stretch marks, it is only about an inch at best, has healed over beautifully. I have a very tan stomach so my scar doesn't look bad at all, I do use sunscreen over it so it does not turn dark brown. People are amazed when I show them my scar on how good it looks and how small it is. Every doctor has the basic 5 incision technique but all Dr.'s scars range in size a bit and how they stitch them closed. My doctor used glue to close my incisions no stitches.THe scars are not bad at all. Nothing to really worry about, in the big picture of things it is worth it in my opinion

Val, Congratulations on your new band... each day gets better, as the swelling goes down, the liquids will go down easier. Hope you feel better soon. Hang in there