finluv

Hello! Thank you everyone for this! I have been so depressed about being hungry and eating too much and all of that. I was banded on March 19, 2007- I lost 30 pounds in that first 6 weeks. I went in for a fill and he wouldn't give me one. About 2 weeks later I started getting hungry all of a sudden. I went back to him and I had gained 2 pounds so he did a fill. He put in 2cc's. Had I read this first I may have questioned that, but I didn't know. Well, that of course didn't seem to do anything so 2 weeks later I went back to him and he put in 2 more cc's. So I now have a total of 4cc's. I can still eat pretty much what ever I want and I don't feel much restriction. I guess there are tijmes I feel it but not really. I know DEEP in my brain that 30 pounds is fairly good for less then 3 months, BUT I am gaining and losing the same 5 pounds now and have been for a couple weeks. I know I need to really buckle down and eat all the right things, because I got depressed and stopped eating totally right. But I still feel like this should be working better then it is. I could use some encouragement. I am glad that I'm not the only one that is getting frustrated. I'm sorry that others are, but it is encouraging knowing that I'm not the only one. Jenny

About scars: My scars itch like mad. Tonight I am going to have my hubby help me cover them with gauze and tape because I am afraid I will scratch them in my sleep. They are also pretty red. All this is normal, I assume? Hey! My surgery was 3/19 ans for about a month mine itched like crazy. I think it is a mixture of dehydration and irritation from the adhesive (or tape) I started using pure vit. E oil on them and they started feeling a lot better. I chatted with you before your surgery. How did everything go? Have you lost anything yet? Hope all is well! Oh yeah, also, if it starts itching really bad sometimes I would put a bag of ice in a towel and wet it a little and put the cold pack on the pklace where it itches and that helped too. Hope that helps! Jenny

Thank you everyone for the input! I am trying not to get discouraged and everybody says to put the scale away and I am trying. I am down to weighing only 5-6 times a day and I am weaning off of it, but it has been a life long habit and it is hard to not weigh. But I keep telling myself that it didn't get me anywhere for years. I just know that a lot of people have lost a good amount of weight before there first fill and I wanted to be one of those people too, as we all do I'm sure! Your encouraging words are helping and I appreciate it very much! I guess that is why we are all on here! Help and Support! Thanks!!

I am the same way. I don't know if it is right or wrong, but Idon't take little tiny sips either.

Thank you everyone for you comments. I definately helps to know that "it happens" and it is probably just water retention. I know I should get rid of my scale, but it is so hard to do that. My friend gave me a big lecture last night about getting rig of it because right now it is the enemy and blahblahblah. But, I have this OCD thing about the scale and I weigh about 2-10 times a day, so that is a very hard thing for me not to do. I have done this most of my life, so I'm not sure how I ended up as heavy as I did, but I did. But, Thank you!

Hello! I am so gald to hear that! I lost 17lbs and then went to full liquids and started occasionally eating farina (like cream of wheat), not even all the time and occasionally thinned grits and I have gained 5lbs in the last week. I have been so depressed about. I feel like there is no way I couldn't possibly be gaining weight with what little I'm eating. I am getting no less then 40 grams of protein and I try for and usually get 60 grams. The only thing is that I'm having a hard time getting in all of my water. I work in the ER doing 12 hr shifts and I don't always have time to take a sip and come back and take a sip....you know. If I could chug it I'd be ok, but we know I can't. So, I know I'm probably dehydrated, expecially since my skin and hands have been SO dry since surgery, but to gain weight....that is what I can't figure out. I'm not even eating 1000 cal most days? How does that make you gain??? I'm kinda disappointed!:think But, if it is "normal" then I guess I will get over it. I just don't want to have had this surgery and doing and good and it doesn't work. (like every other diet I've been on)

Congrats! I'm glad you did good.

Syrah- I just want you to know that I FREAKED OUT before surgery! All I could think about was dieing and how much I still wanted to do in life, and then my friend reminded me that I was doing this for my health and LIFE! And that if we are meant to die on a certain day we would whether it was from surgery or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Life is life and we live it. Just remember if you are like me you are doing this to live longer! I have a 4 year old and I think that is why I was so freaked out...but just know most people "freak out" in one way or another! I am 1.5 weeks post-op btw...

I'm doing ok so far with the shakes I just have to switch flavors every once in a while. I noticed oday for the first time I was kind of nauseated and I have gotten like that before whe I did Atkins or something where I was eating the something all the time, but it could have been something esle I don't know. Did you ever get nauseus(sp)? If your dr is the some as most of ours it seems you won't get a fill for 5-7 weeks post-op. Thank for the info though! I would try to stay on the soups and maybe try to change the drink to slim fast or something (high protein) I like the slim fast HP. They are pretty good. Hope that helped. Keep your head up! We did this for health and happiness and that will come soon!!!:clap2:

I am glad to know it resolves! Mine has been really aggrivating me! My shoulder really bothers to point of not sleeping and not really lifting much either. It isn't a pain though, it is just annoying. You know.... Does yours still hurt when you are full? I was told that my left shoulder would hurt when I had enough to eat even if my stomach says I'm still hungry. It is like "the sign" or something...do you have that?

I'm pretty sure that everyone has to have some sort of blood thinners before and after surgery. I had one shot before and every so many hours after surgery. It is just to prevent the formation of a blood clot. As far as smoking...Smoking can help the formation of a blood clot. (to not go into a long explanation). I don 't know if your surgeon is saying to never smoke again or just not right after surgery. I mean if you can go for a couple weeks without, naturally I would say try and not, but you are giving up food I don't know if giving up two things at once would be a good idea in your head...lol...and by giving up I mean making your life better by eliminating massive amounts of food. You can do it if you put your mind to it! We will all be here to get you through!

My Dr. doesn't do his first fill for 7 weeks. But I do not feel hungry for the most part. I feel like I can't get enough to drink, almost dehydrated. But if I drink my Protein shake ( and it has 23 grams of protein plus the protein from the skim milk (8)- so I guess 31 grams all together.) and I drink my Water or SF Koolaide all day long I'm usually not hungry until about 7pm and I drink another protein shake to give me my 60+ grams of protein/day. Have you tried a higher protein shake? or have you tried eating some creamed Soup or even some SF fudgcicles? Anyway, some suggestions...hope they help. It sounds as if your Dr. and staff do not have good "bedside manner". I might try to located a different Dr. that can do fills in your area. Try and stick to the diet and hang in there. I don't understand why you haven't lost any weight????:phanvan

HEY!!! I am on Pensacola, FL! I was just banded on 3/19 by Dr. Burleson at Baptist hospital. He was great. For those that have tried to submit to insurance and have been denied...can I ask what the reason is? If you are over a 40 BMI you are basically an automatic shue-in...If you insurance is covering lapband. BCBS does. As of JAn. 1 I thought all insurances where covering it just like Roux en y. But I'm not sure about that that was just my understanding...I could be wrong about the insurance part, I don't ever really understand that. But the girls in the office of Nye/Burleson are awesone and will try to help you get it covered and fast! This process for me has been like over a period of a couple months if that. Very fast. Anyway, hope that helps and good luck. There is a lap band support group at Baptist hospital the first tues of every month starting in April. Hope to see you there!!!

How are you guys getting your tickers from the ticker factory on here?

O.K. I have a question about what everybody is eating...First I was banded on March 19th. My Dr. has me on a bariatric liquids only diet for 3 weeks (which is just protein shakes and water (flavored or anything that is no calorie). I have read your posts and you guys are eating pudding and soup and stuff like that...Can I eat that just one week out. I was under the understanding that I do Bariatric liquids for 3 weeks and the I go to puree for 2 weeks and the I get to go to soft foods....Is this right or wrong???

Hi! I'm new on here and I'm 2 days post-op. I feel good except for a bad pain in the left side of my neck. Does anyone else have or did you have this pain? I know that the chest and shoulder pain is normal form th egas they put into you, but I'm concerned about my neck hurting. It hurts from the front base of the left side up to my ear sometimes. Is this normal? I too am hungry...