PrettyThick1

At first, it hurst like h#ll. I'm not going to lie to you. After day 4 or 5 you don't feel anything except the port when you touch the area; after you've lost significant weight, the port will protrude - I am experiencing this now...I can nearly grasp mine - LOL.

I hate to admit this, but this forum is about honesty and helping each other. I am a current smoker - before the surgery and still today, 5 1/2 months later. I tried to quit, but my life is hectic and too many life changes at once didn't seem like a good idea at the time. I know, neither is/was smoking. However, as any smoker knows - this is a horrible habit and once you pick it up it holds on for dear life. That's neither here nor there. But to answer your question, I haven't had any adverse affects from smoking but I have cut down a lot - the desire is just not as strong as it was before the lapband. WE have to stop smoking. It is imperative. Being a smoker, I understand that it is easier said than done...but it can be done. Good luck and best wishes!

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. But please try to remember that you didn't fail - things happen sometimes, it doesn't mean you did anything wrong to make it so. Good luck.

You poor thing! I'm so happy you a doing better now.

I just got great news, BCBS TX will approve my TT after I've had my band for 6 months! Although I was only approved because I had a C-Section, I'm thrilled that the procedure has been approved and will take care of one of my most stubborn areas! Woo hoo!

Miss Pearlie has done an outstanding job in such a short amount of time. I've just had the most romantic weekend and I'm going on pure adrenaline and butterflies today since I only slept for 2 hours last night. Anyway...I can wear the prettiest clothes and it's fun coming up with new combinations to wear them, so for the first time in a very long time I treated myself to a shopping spree on Saturday morning. I came back with clothes that I think I love more than any I've ever had and I can't wait to wear them - something I haven't felt since planning for the first day of school during senior high. And - a guy that I've known for 4 years is looking like he's going to shape up to be a great companion for me. He lives in a neighboring state, but has family (who really like me and have urged him to move back just for me for at least 3 of those years) that he visits often in Houston; he recently accepted a new job and can visit every other weekend now. Call it a hunch, but I can see him moving back to Houston within the next year - I can't see things getting anything but better from here. He is a country gentleman, he's romantic, he loves animals, he's great with kids, has high morals and ethics and he's a good person...a benefit of knowing him for so long before getting to this point. He was attracted and attractive to me before I lost weight, so the doubt about "would he want me if I was the same weight as before" isn't something I have to be concerned about. Another bonus. It's funny...he looks a lot like an actor I had a crush on and his personality matches a character that the actor played in one of my favorite movies (Allen Payne, Jason's Lyric). What's more is that I love the way people look at us, we catch strangers staring and smiling at us and that is so different because before the weight loss, I didn't think we "matched" like he was too attractive to be with me - I know, I know, self esteem, yada yada yada...but now, I don't feel that way and in his own way he "shows me off" when we go out. I never thought I'd be arm candy. LOL Ok...all of this might have been TMI, but I haven't been in love with anyone in more than 14 years - this is an amazing development and I want to share it with the world. :wub:

Leave it as is for a couple of weeks, I went through that and eventually the band loosened up. I kind of miss the days that I couldn't eat early in the morning, I lost weight much faster. I ate cream of wheat and drank Protein shots. You could try drinking something hot 30 minutes before trying to eat something, that use to help mine loosen up. There is a "settling" period for me after each fill. There are periods of trial and error because you don't really know how the fill has affected you, I always lose a food that was okay the month before and I gain back one that I had to take off the list a couple of months prior. It's no exact science, you just have to learn what works for you and your band. I've never gotten Miss Pearlie unfilled, I just toughed it out and it paid off. If all you can tolerate is liquids in the morning, I say drink up. Carnation Instant Breakfast, ready to drink Muscle Milk, Cream of Wheat and liquid Protein shots carried me through those times. I wish I was still like that - my fill settled and now I can eat just about anything I want early in the morning...not always a good thing.

Just make your scheduled appointments and don't miss a month, they want to see how committed you are to follow-up care and to get you accustomed to eating differently. If you don't lose a lot - don't sweat it, that only proves the point that you can't do it on your own and you need the band to assist you in achieving long-term results. If it were simple to achieve weightloss goals by traditional methods, the band and other bariatric procedures would never have been invented.

Start snacking on greens: it's better than a pill and your body needs it anyway. I had that issue for a while, but I started eating broccoli, spinach and salads - a little bit every day will keep you regular and your BM's will be "nice".

Calm down Clementine...I worried about all of those things, too. Nothing happened to me, neither will anything happen to you. The band is going to change your life in so many great ways, just take the focus off of your fears and think about you have to look forward to in the coming months.

You definintely need to go in for a new sleep study. Your prescription has almost certainly changed due to the weight loss, so your machine needs to be reconfigured to your current needs. Good luck!

I was like that, too. Now I love shopping and I've turned into a shoe fanatic, I just love it.

I made the mistake of being cocky and thinking "I've got this!" since I hit the green zone after my third fill. If an appointment was made for me in August, I missed it and they didn't give me a reminder call. So I scheduled an appointment for September 30th, got busy at work and didn't go because I was still going for 4 hours on a small amount of food. Well this week it hit me that I'm eating much more than I should and that I'm making poor food choices. I'm afraid I can't tell if I'm in the green zone anymore and I'm falling back into bad habits (the tops of 3 slices of pizza for dinner last night, a McDonald's filet of fish AND medium fries for lunch today - YIKES!!!!!). I was supposed to start doing better today, but that's shot now. However, I did call to schedule an appointment, unfortunately they can't see me for another week and it's not the center that I'm use to going to, which isn't very comforting. I'm almost on the verge of calling my surgeon and asking him to give me a fill because I just don't want to wait that long. I said all of that to say this: even if you think you're fill level is okay, go to your monthly follow up visits. Your band might not need tweeking, but there is something about going to the visit that keeps you on track and well aware that YOU are accountable for your actions and that YOU are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your procedure. I'm happy to say that I haven't gained any weight YET, but if I don't visit a counselor soon I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I do. The band is a tool and like all tools, you have to give it a certain amount of attention and maintenance. Along with that, your counselors serve a valuable purpose in the psychological aspect of having this procedure done. Because owning up to your bad behaviors and celebrating the good you have done all have it's place in this journey; it all works together and in your first year, you have to do EVERYTHING that is required of you: eating right, drinking right, physical activity, follow up visits and maybe support groups. Otherwise you could end up feeling guilty and disappointed in yourself...much like I do right now.

Good for you in making all of those positive life changes...you're very brave to do it all relatively at the same time and I admire your tinacity. I know it's hard, but you will only make it worse by worrying about how you're going to make it through. You've done great so far! You are now a non-smoker and before you know it, you will be a non-food addict! Don't worry about how you're going to do it...just take it one day, one hour, one minute and at times it might be one second at a time. Replace those urges to smoke or eat by sipping a cool glass of water, or writing a list of things you're looking forward to doing in the next 6 months to a year...anything to keep your hands and mind occupied. Start sewing...you'll need that skill when you start losing weight because shopping isn't going to be practical for a while for you. Meditate, go for walks, practice deep breathing and imagine helping your body to clear your lungs out from all of the old smoker's gunk. Get creative...just don't go back to any of your bad habits. The light is starting to shine at the end of the tunnel...just keep working your way there. We're waiting to hear your victory NSV's and other worthwhile accomplishments. Go you!

I can't eat any ground meat. Period. Maybe that will change with my next fill, but starting with fill #3 ground meat was over for me.

Muscle Milk - 26g a scoop (TONS of flavors) Unjury Unflavored - 20-26g (?) a scoop

Unfortunately, yes. Farts are a big part of banded life...protein makes it worse.

Every doctor is different...I'd never heard of a 3 week slimfast diet before surgery. Slimfast isn't really that good for you (low Protein, high sugar + carbs - bad combination), I'm surprised he would suggest you do that. Most of us have a preop diet though, we rely on Protein shakes and healthy meals - with the goal of at least 60g protein, 64 oz of Water and 1 or 2 healthy meals a day (low fat, no carbs, no sugars). Enjoy the information session! I learned more on this forum than I did anywhere else and there quite a few experienced bandsters that will give you excellent advice. I'm happy I got the band...I only wish I'd done it sooner.

Not so glum chum! I've been there...heck, I'm there right now - LOL. The good news is that all you have to do is draw that line in the sand (sounds like you're doing that now), talk to others (preferably a counselor) and get back on track. The great news is that unlike your pre-band days, whatever weight you gain now comes back off quickly. Shock your system with heavy doses of protein (80 - 100g a day) for about a week and you'll see. Sure, your loved ones won't like the butt music you're making or the aroma you leave behind...but you're worth it!

Hi Bradley: Since I've had the band, I haven't been able to eat that much. If you aren't experiencing any pain, you're okay - you're just very open and your food is going into your lower (or original) stomach at a rapid rate. I would ask them for at least a full cc in your next fill, it should help to slow the food from emptying so rapidly and you should be able to eat a lot less then. Good luck! Gwen

P.S. - my surgeon didn't have a problem "topping off" a fill if I didn't feel like it was enough to keep the hunger away. They would rather do that than for you to gain weight because you were hungry too often.

I was banded with 3cc's and was fine with that for the first 3 weeks. I could tell when it was time for a fill because I seemed to always be hungry. I felt "banded" when I reached abou 4cc's (fill #2) I reached the green zone with fill #3 at 5cc's. That was late August, I think I'm still in the green zone because I stay full for 4-5 hours on a 1/2 - 3/4 cup of food. HOWEVER, I need to go because I need to talk to a counselor. I'm getting laxed in my food choices - even though I haven't gained any weight, I am not losing any weight either - I haven't for the last 3 weeks and thats because I'm eating all the wrong things. So even if you don't need a fill, go to your visits because they keep you accountable, motivated and on track.

You go girl!!!

Girl, do you! Just don't get out of hand - don't let him flip, twist or make you bend too awkwardly and you should be fine. Anything within reason.

I try not to chew gum now - if I do, I make sure it's not anything really fruity or juicy like Hubba Bubba. I had to catch myself last week when I had some Tangerine bubble gum - it was soooooo good that I almost swallowed it. I have to confess, I was a notorious gum swallower before the band so I have to really be careful.