Tina Ramirez

Hey everyone, So today I went in nervous as hell not knowing what to expect from getting a fill and it was NOTHING! No pain it was done in 10 minutes... My doctor did numb the area so that helped and he put in 5cc in my band. He had me do a crunch to find my port then he put the liquid in and had me sit up and drink water, at first I thought I was going to throw it back up so he took some out and slowly kept putting the liquid in and finally with 5cc in I could keep the water down. I'm on liquids only for 2 days then muchies for a day then I can eat normally. So for everyone who is scared of getting there first fill trust me it was a piece of cake =] In my last post I think I had said that I gained a little bit at my last drs appointment and I'm glad to say I lost that and some so now I think I'm down a total of 40 lbs. I can't wait to really see how much I can lose in these next few months!

Thanks everyone. Yes 5cc did seem like a lot for me but I'm pretty sure I won't be needing another fill for a while. I haven't has that tight feeling in the morning like others say they do so thats good, My tummy has been rumbling like crazy and it feels so weird! I get to start eating mushies today and I'm excited to see how much will fill me up! Since I started my journey I've been very open with all my friends and family and now I've had so many friends asking me about the process because they want to do it too, I'm glad I can help them figure out if its something they're really ready for. Because we all know it's not just some miracle and we won't lose 100lbs in a day, our band is a tool and I can't stress that enough with everyone who has asked me about it. I'm surprised as to how many of my friends have no idea how it works, they just want to lose weight. Any of you have the same thing happen, where friends want to jump right into a lapband because they see how great your doing but they don't understand all the hard work we have been putting in to get to our goals??

Hey everyone, this post is for all the ladies out there. Just wondering how you guys handle everything that comes with your time of the month, Like how do you handle cravings and the bloating, and are cramps much worse with the band? I have not had a period in over a year due to my IUD and after I lost my first 20lbs I got a period and I was shocked lol But the cramps were horrible and of course all I wanted to do was lay in bed and eat chocolate and watch lifetime haha so anyway I was just wondering how you ladies go about staying on track even when aunt flo is in town

Stock up on sugar free Popsicles, lots of water, and soup. mostly just broth, no eating any soup with noodles and veggies or any creamy soups those have a lot of fat. stock up on protein shakes because you'll need to have 2 or 3 shakes a day for the first 2 or 3 weeks then your dr will give you the ok to eat mushie foods. Its going to be hard at first not being able to eat anything but as long as you stick to the diet you'll be fine, remember water, water, water!!! I even got some gatorades but always did half water half gatorade. jello is really good too make sure its sugar free tho and sugar free pudding, the first few weeks are for healing thats why you cant really jump into eating normal foods. Good luck!!

Yes sweetie it has happened to me as well, I didn't have sex til about a week after my surgery and with him laying on top I felt my port and it was kinda painful. My post is to the right of my belly button and obviously thats a spot where everything hits it and then it's sore the rest of the day. Maybe try another position, thats what we had to do but now that I'm 6 weeks post op I don't have that problem anymore. I hope it gets better for you!!

Don't worry sweetie you'll be fine!! I was up and walking around the next day after surgery. Of course everyone is different and has different pain tolerance. Don't think negative thoughts before your surgery because it'll make it harder. I to had those same questions right before my surgery and wondering if it really was going to work for me, But you have to remember that the band is a tool and not some miracle. As long as you stick to you diet and follow what your doctor says you'll be just fine. I was banded on 2/19/12 and I've lost about 30 pounds post op so please don't worry and go in with a positive attitude and remember that on Tuesday your life will change forever for the best!! Good luck!!

thanks everyone for the feedback, my doctor is great so I'm sure itll be nothing. Cant help but still feel a little nervous. I can't eat at least 2 hours before my fill, then liquids for 48 hours then back to mushies for a few days then I can eat regular food. I just hate how I'm starting to feel hungry again, This past week has been kinda hard for me and staying on track due to my time of the month which I know you ladies can understand lol thanks again everyone!!

Thank you everyone, I know I shouldn't beat myself up about it and for us girls it's harder especially around our time of the month. I do track everything I eat on calorie counter app on my phone since it's the easiest way for me to do so. I need to up my water intake because I think I may not be drinking enough. I have a great dr and I know he will be understanding as he's seen it all, even the nurse told me once that a patient went back after 4 weeks and had gained 15lbs, as for myself I just gotta stay on track!! I can't wait for my fill in a few days. Thanks again everyone you guys sure did make me feel so much better!!!

So I'm 5 weeks post op and I went to my pcp on the 22nd and found out I had gained back about 5 lbs and That totally bummed me out big time! I was doing so well as I've lost 35lbs so far but now gained 5 back. I really don't want to go see my band dr for fear he might say something. Has anyone else gained back after surgery before your first fill? I go in for my first fill on the 30th and I'm hoping that will help me to lose weight again, because I'm starting to feel more hungry and I don't like that! Thanks everyone

thank you ladies so much!!! All your kind words really are helping me =] I go in for my first fill on the 30th and I'm kinda nervous yet excited. For some reason I've gained back a few pounds which is totally making me feel bad and I don't want to go in to see my dr and him say something about that. I think it could be due to not taking my thyroid meds for like 2 weeks and it's thrown my body off. I've just learned now to brush off those comments and most of them have stopped but I know once I really start losing they will come back, Most of the negative comments have been from my own mother. All my life shes begged me to lose weight and even once told me that she loved me, but she would live me more if i lost weight... my reply was well that makes no sense cuz you have more to love now lol either way it still hurt and I know the only way to ever make my mom happy is being skinny which I don't understand that. But once again thank you all and I hope all of you have a great day!!!

So it's been 3 weeks and I've lost 21lbs post op, 35 total with diet before surgery. I didn't think my surgery would be so quick, I didn't really have too much time to prepare. I started this process in july of 2012 and in october I lost my job (which I was using my insurance to pay for surgery) But my wonderful surgery center paid my Insurance for me so I was able to get my lapband yay!!! Still getting used to things post op, My doctor has now allowed me to start eating mushies and I'm kinda scared to start eating food again and get back into old habits, I've come so far just to go back. Also I'm wondering if anyone takes meds for diabetes and for thyroid? Because I've talked with my doctor he says its fine to start taking them again but I just wanted to know if anyone has any weird side affects to the meds? I know support is key, again I'm only 3 weeks out and I know I have a long way to go and I'm so excited for this new year and a new me!! One last thing, I've told all my friends about my lapband and everyone just always says comments like "oh your gonna be so hot/sexy" or "you're going to be so beautiful" and it kinda bothers me, because I honestly didn't do this for looks... I did this for my health and all anyone can talk about is how hot I'm going to get, does anyone else feel this way? I'm not worried about my looks because I know I'm beautiful just like everyone else and I'm happily married, I guess it just bothers me because I would think I would get more support from my friends to be healthy and not "hot" thanks everyone for reading my rant lol

I got my band dec. 19 2012 and my dr didn't put anything in.. idk if I would have been able to handle 7cc right after surgery lol. But I'm glad everything is great with you!!