The B

I was banded 8 days ago as well. right now I wouldn't even worry about this, especially if your doing everything your dr. is telling you, it could be water, swelling, who knows but it's most likely not fat. two days after getting banded I got my monthly unwanted friend TOM. not fun and yes weight come on. we're just getting started, everything will be fine Good luck and smile, we're banded!

aawwww it's nice when their willing to be so supportive and concerned! how sweet. :wub: I agree with lifting, and also the first day or two sitting up so just a hand with that. Good Luck you'll both do great!

I got my iband April 5 so a week ago today! the first 4 days for me were the hardest and i was having a hard time drinking anything I was getting in between 40-50 ounces but doc said really try to get atleast 64, every time I swallowed I would have a pain in my back right between the shoulder blades, I asked my dr. and he said it was was swelling and to continue to take the liquid ibuprophen for that, gas x strips for bloating. I had to sleep propped up for 5 nights but every morning I wake feeling a little better. I had to take small sips, and broth or anything warm, idk why was easier for me. it's day 7 I can sit up with no pain, I slept flat lastnight and slept well (band was a little tight til I got up and going, again idk why) I can drink clear fluids well now (protein shakes are a little harder, but i'm sure it's still from being a little swollen) but the point is it will get easier, after day 4 I think you'll feel a noticable difference everyday good luck! if your concerned call your dr. they have great suggestions!

I'm so happy for you!!!! I just got banded and am healing but I'm looking forward to having days like this. I enjoy reading posts/blogs like these that inspire me. Congratulations

Hi, I think we all get nervous before any surgery, I am 6 days post op and when it was over I had a cough it was really sore I would hold a small blanket or a towel around my belly I've heard some say to hug a pillow when you cough and that helped. good luck! Everything will be okay

17 lbs. and just beginning!

your dr. says he takes more out than he puts in, Hmmmm. How many people would have the sleeve or the the bypass undone if they could? We don't hear about reversals on these other surgerys because it's not that simple, IDK and this is an individual decision, but I like to have the option. good luck!

I also live 4 hours away from my dr. and I'm sorry that you're going through a difficult time. so they can't get you in for 6 weeks, frustrating I know but you just have to schedule your appointment, eat right until then (remember this is a lifestyle change anyway) when your there hopefully they will give you just what you need but if the dr. chooses to be tough and start with a small fill then be tough too, go home eat right and return for another fill. You know you don't have a useless piece of plastic inside you because it has worked for you, and I'm sure it won't have been the first time you've had to jump through some hoops for a dr. we all have too. this is just a bad day and when you think about it you'll see what you need to do and you'll feel better! take care and love yourself

I was also banded on the 5th so I am 5 days post op i got LB with plication and had to repair a hernia that I didn't know I had, they were surprised because they said it was pretty bad, I had a little gas pain nothing that the meds and heating pad didn't help. I too got nausea pills and I still need them at night. you can feel my port under the skin and that insision is more tender than the others. when I swallow I feel like I have a lump in the middle of my back, the nurse said that it's from being swollen around the band. I am not hungry at all and have zero desire to put anything in my mouth except water. tomorrow I can start on pureed food and I hope it's okay if I don't, water and clear fluids have been more than enough. do any of you feel this way?

So yesterday April 5th at 5:30 a.m. I got the lap band put in. by 9:30 a.m. I left the surgical center with my husband (the poor guy had to wait in the lobby for 4 hours alone. I told him he could go to the hotel since it was only about 4 min. away, but he refused.) we picked up our kids from the hotel and was headed home by 10. I slept most of the way home and my kids sat still and quiet for 3 of the 4 hours of the ride home when I woke up I told them they didn't have to be quiet and assured them they weren't bothering me, they have all been over the top considerate I think it was just a big deal to them, no one in our family has ever had surgery before. The gas discomfort was the most uncomfortable yesterday and thanks everyone that posted to use a heating a pad it has helped so much. my chair in our vehicle has heated seats so that helped some during the drive, others said to have a hot bottle of water but i used the hand feet warmers they stay hot for 6 hours plus there thin little packets so you can lay back on them comfortably. I slept good last night only waking up when the meds were wearing off. I was very nauseated when I first woke up but they stuffed me full of anti-nausea meds and haven't been sick since. today the gas pain is getting better but my stomach muscles are very sore and my inscisions are a little painful but the meds help and I think by tomorrow I will be feeling much better. I can't believe how thirsty I've been i'm sipping water and constantly, I have no hunger whats so ever, i'm sure that will pass soon and then I will be in the much discussed bandster hell. well its done so funny how you wait so long prepare for this big life change and after it's finally here it almost seems crazy! I am so happy that I took this step, I want to be healthy and I want to be proud of myself, this is the beginning how exciting. Thank goodness for this site it really helped me to prepare and good luck to anyone getting the band and to everyone who already has one!

Okay Everyone I need your advice/wisdom I get operated on day after tomorrow, it's 4 hours away so I'm leaving tomorrow (Thursday) spending the night, operation is at 6 am Friday and from the hospital will drive 4 hours home, assuming no stops. You guys have all said heating pads helps the pain I will have pain medication and nausea pills, but won't have access to things like heating pads until I get home. I have never had surgery before so please help me :wub: what should I have with me on the drive home to make it as smooth as possible? and is there anything I should prepare myself /husband for that I may not know or be thinking of? Thanks in advance!

Making a Lifestyle change... In January my husband and I decided to commit to the lapband journey as soon as possible. first we had to finish saving the money, at the beginning of March we knew the finances would come together I started drinking a protein shake for breakfast and lunch but I also started fixing healthier food for my family, march 21 I met with my Dr. and his staff and scheduled operation for April 5 at this point I had lost 8 lbs. I've always drank alot of water and cross my fingers that it wasn't just a bunch of water weight but I'm sure plenty was though When we got home my DH husband and I threw away all junk food in the house, went to the store bought light mayo, lower calorie cheeses, yogurt, leaner meats, everything. we're making a lifestyle change, not just for he and I but for our kids as well. we have 3 daughters and a son 2 of my girls are teens and the third is right there. all of my kids have normal bmi's but 2 are at the higher end and I can see both of them copying my lifelong bad habits, not stopping when their no longer hungry, eating bc it tastes good or just bc their bored...NO it has to stop now. We completely stopped eating out we started counting calories for each of their age groups and started teaching portion control. we're still eating all the meals we used to eat with just a few healthy adjustments, but still delicious. dinners now are no more than 500 cals. total, everything we put into our bodies are healthy. when snacks for the kids are allowed its healthy. and they have to drink water, water, water. don't get me wrong we've discussed that occasionally we will have some junk food, just not everyday and when we do we need to limit it. also we've discussed if we're craving something it's probably better to have a little than to eat a bunch of other stuff trying to curb the craving. my husband has lost 12 lbs of the 20 he wants to lose and he stopped drinking soda. he says he feels better, he's sleeping better and guess what.. no more heartburn, my daughter's with the higher bmi's have lost between 3-7 lbs. we're going for walks and playing in the yard more. but it's more than that, Easter holiday my kids wanted their favorite holiday meal so I made a nice feast for them, still healthier but a feast none the less, usually they would have polished off most of the food, but not this time, they each had a small plate, they only ate half their chicken. everyone ate 1/3 of what they would have usually eaten eaten. They were full It's working!!! then yesterday my daughter came home from school (and I talk about her weight bc about a month ago at school the class weighed each other, and my daughter's friends are petite and my daughter has been very small as well but lately, as stated above she was getting into some bad habits and she weighed about 10lbs more than her friends and some comments were made I don't think purposely to hurt her feelings but it did, I realized I needed to change my families habits) anyway she came home and said some people in my class today brought in some donuts, I thought about having one but I wasn't hungry and I had eaten dessert at lunch so I passed, I didn't care if she had the donut but she was proud of herself for recognizing she didn't need it, IT'S OKAY TO WALK AWAY. I also no longer make my kids finish whats on their plate. I know their bad habits are my fault What I've realized is we needed a lifestyle change I'm proud of my whole family. and I've got this, I'm sure there will be bumps but I have support and I'm excited about our future

How Exciting!! Congratulations

your lovely, thanks for the inspiration

Hi! I get banded in 3 days I've been a member on this site for a few weeks and thank goodness, I have found so many answers to my questions here. I feel really prepared and the success stories will motivate you! Congratulations, and good luck on your journey!

Hi Lisa Congratulations!

Protein Shakes for Breakfast and lunch and then 200-400 calorie t.v. dinner so basically 800 cals. a day. since I've decided to get the band I am only cooking healthy meals, for me I will only be succesful if its a lifestyle change even my kids have and husband has lost weight. we're all being more active and I've cut almost all carbs and my DH doesn't get heartburn anymore. we've been doing this for a month but it feels really good! I wish you the best of luck on your journey!

I am 8 days on the pre-op diet it has not been nearly as bad as I feared, only a couple of days have i thought "if I could just cheat this little bit" but I have been good. I think it's hard because I have a husband and 4 kids to cook for and we have family dinners so while i have my skimpy dinner their having my home cooked meal, but really it's been head hunger to battle and that even hasn't been to bad. 5 days to surgery! can't wait I'll keep you guys in my thoughts and wishing you the best, everyone, and me too will all do great.

Good job, I'm to be banded in a week and I worry that my own life will have these set backs, it's reading posts like yours. when you can say I'm not giving up thats when I think okay I can do this too, just don't give up! YOU have Encouraged me, Thank you

I'm gonna have to agree, I always look forward to your posts. I'm not banded yet but when it's done I know I can count on you to be frank with me and tell it how it is, trust me I will NEED it. so don't go nowhere! Thanks

Okay so, I called insurance in November 2012 and again for the 5th consecutive year I was told NO we do not cover weight loss surgery or anything to do with weight loss period. so my DH and I decided we would pay out of pocket. I'm excited and am getting surgery in 8 days, guess what.... now my insurance will cover, BUT I have 6-8 months of hoops to jump through to see if I qualify. My Husband says lets just get it done he doesnt want to fight with the insurance, and so sweet he says to me, you have waited so long and worked really hard you've earned just getting it done, we've saved the money and theres no guarantee that the ins. will pay any way. I won't lie, I don't want to wait, but I worry now if I pay for it out of pocket, if in the future there is a problem leak, slip etc... will my ins refuse coverage cause I didn't get it through them? I'm curios if anyone here paid for their band and didn't wait for insurance and still have them help later if there was a medical emergency or complication with the band? Or do I bite the bullet and atleast try to go through my insurance even if it means waiting another 6-8 months? I know it's my decision and in the end only I will know for sure what I should do, but I need opinions from people with experience, PLEASE help me out what do think/know? Thanks for help!

Thanks I think your right and I'm pretty sure no help with fills I get them free for a year and my Dr. has a great rate so I'm not terribly worried. thanks again for help!

Thankyou for responding, I did talk to the insurance their vague or I don't speak their language, but I do they cover the things I was worried about. Thanks again!

I love this and you are so right! I personally need the figurative dad approach for me and tend to be that way myself, but I also know that some people respond better to "moms" and if your one of these people the "dads" always seem like bullies. I have 4 kids and three of them have to get the "dad" or they take advantage but their is 1 little girl that needs the "mom" which is hard to find in this house try as I may (and I do, especially with her) but she has told more than once that she feels like a lamb with a pack of wolves, really? I think we're not so bad yet she and only her always feels bullied. Thanks for posting this I see the same things here at LBT and I will think "what they said wasn't mean" yet someone has hurt feelings, your right we all need to remember we all have different needs.

Fantastic! can't wait for the new pics! hope you feel well soon