PrettyThick1

I think you are probably too tight and I would definitely advise against getting another fill. Maybe try a small unfill. I went through that, but after a few weeks the band loosened up and I was able to eat again. You've been tight for too long and I think if you get a little taken out you'll feel better.

Yes, Missy has done an amazing job and we are fortunate that she shares so much of her experience and advice with us. Doesn't she look great?!?!

I've come to the conclusion that my band does not like solid foods before 2pm or after 8pm. I realize I may be a bit tight, but I'm not going to get an unfill because I'm losing very well. I have a 6-hour window for solid foods and I'm okay with that. We are a team and we have to know how to work together, so if my band says no solids early or late, then that's what it will have to be. I can still get adequate nutrition from Protein shakes, protein shots and other full liquids. I'm not hungry and that's the point, right? Sigh.

What a jerk! Why won't he just repair it during your surgery like every other surgeon does? Find another doctor, he doesn't sound like a good one.

Wow...that's a hard one! There is actual hunger and there is head hunger, here are my definitions: Presurgery actual hunger: stomach growling and a bit of an ache, feeling empty, bad mood, non-stop hunger pangs until I ate something. Presurgery head hunger: stomach isn't growling, no hunger pangs nor aching but you just want to eat something because you know it's there. Particularly bad when watching TV or bored. Seeing someone else eat will trigger you to eat, even though you aren't hungry. Post-sugery actual hunger: stomach might not growl, but there are minor hunger pangs sometimes, you feel a bit weak and know you SHOULD eat something...even though you might not really want to. More often than not and particularly when you are in the green zone, your "internal clock" will tell you it's time to eat and it feels like a chore at times. Post-surgery head hunger: almost non-existant when you are near or in the green zone. You can see food, smell food, watch others eating and still not want it - maybe a nibble, just to see how it tastes, but that's it. Even when you're bored or watching TV, you opt for Water, tea or some other liquid rather than food.

Every band and every bandster is different, so here is my input: Congrats on the decision to put an end to the yo-yo dieting, I think we have all been there before: great weight loss followed by substantial gain within a short period of time. Have no fear, the band was designed for people like us. I also worried that, the band wouldn't work for me...that I would be one of the unlucky few who couldn't change their eating habits and thought processess. Well, I'm here to tell you that you have to do some pretty serious screwing up for the band not to help you. Some people lose faster than others, but eventually the weight will start to come off - again, every band and bandster is different. Try not to judge your progress based upon someone else's experience. To do so could be counter productive and lead to discouragement which leads to set backs. Water: you can't gulp water anymore, but you can take in more than a sip after you have healed from surgery and after you've had a fill for a few days. You'll learn your own individual patterns of this though. It didn't take me long to adjust the way I drank, now it requires no effort, it comes naturally. You will be the same way, it's about forming new habits - like everything else this adventure entails. Ahhh, boiled eggs - how I miss being able to eat them alone. I've tried a couple of times (you can't chew them long enough - I did until they felt like liquid) and it was so unpleasant that I've given up trying. I have to smash them up in grits and add a tiny bit of butter - YIKES...yes, I said butter. So, if you can manage to get them down on their own - I am jealous of you...from the bottom of my heart. But if you find that you can't, try them with grits I find that one boiled egg and a 1/4c of grits is probably more than you can eat in one sitting. You can also mash them with canned tuna for even more Protein. You just have to see what will work for you, it might be totally different from what works for me. I actually have a challenge with getting enough calories in, so I have regular butter (not margarine), I drink 2% milk and I don't always opt for fat-free dressings an other things. I nibble on burgers - a single white castle filled me up last weekend, I even ate the bread without a problem. I don't get to eat them often because I'm in Texas and we don't have the restaurant here - so I really wanted to eat 2, but I am disceplined enough already to be able to stop when I'm satisfied. You will learn quickly to stop before you get full - it only takes you once or twice to overeat and the effects will stay with you forever...trust me. Enjoy the time before your preop diet, make sure you have a list of everything you think you will miss and pig out on them. Although there isn't very many things you won't be able to eat after the band, you won't be able to eat the quantities or at the same rate you are now. I watch others eat now and see how they have huge spoonfuls or fork fulls of food and I'm like...WHOA...YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!! And I actually have to keep myself from saying something, because I have to remember - not everyone in the world is a barriatric patient. LOL Good luck, enjoy your journey and get ready to welcome the new and improved you!

Starting out, I had so many questions, concerns, fears, anxiety...you name it, felt it. Worried I would be one of those unfortunate few who didn't let the band do what it was designed to do because I wasn't sure that I was disceplined enough. Let's face it, I've tried EVERYTHING in the past to lose the weight, only to gain it back so my track record wasn't so great heading into this. Sitting on pins and needles to get appointments and my surgery date, only to experience minor set backs and feel discouraged that it might never happen - I was impatient, the whole process was just over 2 months, but it felt like an eternity. Here I am today, six weeks out of surgery and I already feel brand new - even though I haven't reached my goal weight yet...which by the way I have increased because I'm losing inches as fast as the pounds. I'm sleeping better, I'm off of my diabetes medications, I look much younger, my waistline is shaping up VERY nicely and I'm starting to turn some heads again. To say I'm happy with my decision is an understatement! Yes, there are challenges and I have new concerns: am I getting enough nutrition, can I eat this without it causing a problem, sometimes I just don't want to eat and it is often a challenge to get enough Water and Protein, but so far I am not experiencing any adverse effects. I am going to post pics soon, I am just not the most photogenic person in the world and I always hate the way they turn out - because even with the weight loss, I still look 10lbs. heavier on photos - argh! So good luck to all of you new bandsters! You had other options, but you chose the band and I am confident that made the right decision. I have friends with the sleeve and the REY and things were much rougher on them than they are on me and I'm losing my weight just as fast as they lost theirs - without the complications and near-death experiences. Cheers everyone...I am already 1/2 way to goal, far ahead of schedule. I look forward to reading your success stories, believe me when I say I am so inspired by many of you and appreciate all of the input I get from experienced bandsters. I attribute most of my success to what I have learned from others. If you're just starting out, this is the place you need to be. Listen to the "Guru's" and the "Evangelists" they truly are your friends and are happy to help you work through your tough times and they are your biggest cheerleaders when things are going well. Gwen

Protein shakes, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, cottage cheese and yogurt will be sufficient.

Oh, please...don't let that scare you! You won't be hungry that often and what you will consume will be enough to keep your sugar levels in check. It's only been six weeks for me, but my levels were back to normal before I was done with the preop diet. What's more exciting is that I don't even need my medication anymore and it's only been 6 weeks! You might take a bit longer to get to that point, but trust me you will get there, too! No worries...diabetes is about to be a thing of history for you!

Congratulations! It's nothing better than getting the date and knowing that your life is about to change for the wonderful!!!

Classic case of gas. No worries...

I chewed on ice chips. If you don't have a store like Sonic or a place that sells tiny ice, chop yours up in a blender and eat that. It's soothing and it helps with the urge to chew. I have to confess, I didn't want anything the first few days, but I forced myself to sip on protein shots - I couldn't handle shakes at first, but the shots are great.

I have 4.5 in a 10cc and I'm a bit tight. Not going for an unfill, just being very careful until it loosens up. Not getting any additional fills for a while - I've had 2 since being banded and that was more than enough for me but everybody and every band is different. Just drink Water and eat SF Jello to get full until you can get in the green zone with your fills. After my first fill, I was still hungry and my surgeon gave me an additional fill a week after the first one. They will do that if you let them know you need it. If you're hungry, you run the risk of putting your weight back on and no one wants that to happen. You don't have to wait a whole month for another fill, just give your doctor a call and request a bit more.

WOW!!! You look great honey!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!

True Results Downtown Houston. They are awesome and I'm happy I made that phone call in April...this band is the best thing I could have done for myself! They are very caring and supportive, I don't know of anyone that has gone through them that isn't satisfied with their care.

Sounds like you have a nasty gas bubble to me, try walking and drinking more Water to get it to move. If it's still like that in a couple of days you should call your doctor.

I think I've read somewhere that nutritionists are about $200 - $250. I'm not sure, it was all billed with my consultation through True Results, I used insurance so my copay was $35.00 and I was done with them.

NSV = Non-scale Victory: When your body changes, even though your weight stays the same. Your clothing fits looser, you've lost inches, you sleep better, get off of any meds you required before you started the process. Sugery lasts only about 45 minutes, feeling almost normal starts to happen around day 3 or 4. Bloating and your incisions are healed around week 3. Day 1 will be the worst, be prepared by having one point of contact for people who want to check on you. You won't feel much like talking or being bothered by anybody or anything, so be prepared before you go for your procedure. Good luck!

Hi Ladies: Aunt Flow is visiting me for the second time since I've been banded and it seems she's come with a vengeneance this go-round. If you are prone to cramping, did you notice that yours was worse? It feels like a crane is operating in my uterous this time. Also, it's very little being produced. Does that indicate anemia? Thanks for your advice, Gwen

Thrift stores and the clothing exchange on this website are perfect. Don't invest a lot of money in clothing right now! If you go to the mall, check the clearance racks first, your size will be changing at least monthly and you don't want to throw away money on things you'll only get to wear a couple of times. I've only spent about $50 on clothes but that was enough for 15 pieces. Shop wisely and buy interchangeable pieces, you'll look fine - no one knows that it didn't come out of your own closet.

Congratulations on your weight loss so far! Yes, this community is so valuable to me, I don't know how I would cope without it. Welcome and keep sharing your stories and asking questions, we are all happy to help!!! The bloating will go away by week 3, it's normal and if that's your only concern right now you are doing great!!!

I have BCBSTX and my out of pocket was: $525 for the surgeon ($300 was my deductible, which I had not met for the year) and $1,200 for the hospital. The total cost for the surgery was $7,000 at West Houston Medical Center, Dr. Christopher Reilly.