Bandista

Yippee! I can hear your excitement -- all that positive energy is where it's at for healing up and starting your new banded life. You're going to do great!

My surgeon describes a goal of being full on a serving of food the size of a tennis ball and not being hungry again for 4-5 hours. I've had four fills -- small, I believe, but the surgeon does not share the amount with me. This time I feel different -- after the fourth. Tighter but not in a bad way -- eating and drinking fine but getting full quickly and disinterest in food at times. Having to look at habits such as grazing in evenings, etc. but feeling much more at peace with food. Satiety is the feeling of having had enough food for now -- I tell myself that. I can have food later, when I'm hungry again but if I'm not really hungry, I'm experiencing satiety. That was the goal of the surgery!

I hope you feel better today! Those first few days can be hard getting used to everything -- hope you can really rest with good intermittent walking. I would call the doctor to ask about any medication you take. They may have suggestions for liquid or powder versions, etc. Best wishes!

Hi there and congratulations on your surgery. I was banded 11/5 so we are a month apart. I'm sure it's different for different doctors, but this is what my first fill was like. The doctor asked a few questions about my appetite. He describes the goal as a tennis ball size portion of food being enough and then not hungry again for four to five hours. I had no Fluid in my band at surgery. He had me lay back on the table with my arms over my head. He located the port, marked it, cleaned the area and announced a "pinch" which was an anesthetic. Before I knew it he was offering me an arm to sit up, I couldn't believe how quick and easy it was. Now I have had four fills. Easy-peasy. A d now a free the last one I'm feeling it -- the lack of appetite, a slight tightness, disinterest in food (what!?). I experienced some of this post op when I was swollen and recovering. It's a great feeling to have the appetite monster off my back. For some people a fill isn't needed (though I'm told that is very unusual but some have primed bands or Plication); other people need several fills. The surgeon does not share the amount with me as it's different for every one and I guess he doesn't want me obsessing over that. Like every one says, it's different for every one. You will get there!

Great post! What a relief to have food not be front and center anymore. And getting off meds, too -- so happy for both of you.

This post-op pre-fill time is very hard, but the good news is your surgery has taken place and your band is installed. Now to get it working properly, which is the adjustable part of the LapBand. Be frank with your doctor and get a handle on the appointments you'll be having over the coming weeks. For me there are 11 appointment with my surgeon in the first year. Not all for fills, obviously, first one was surgical post-op and others will be just to touch base. It is a partnership and the after-care is very important. You will get there, don't worry!

Hi there, so glad you are back in sync -- sorry for all the stress and life complications but good for you for getting right back on track again with a fresh fill and support here. This is totally the right place for support and input. Best wishes!

I was borderline -- my insurance required a 40 with no exceptions even for high BP or apnea. I let people know along the way that this was a big concern for me and I had to get a little creative at weigh-ins, ahem, but then when I finally met with the surgeon he said, oh we would have let you weigh in with a purse on your shoulder or whatever it took. By then I had gained weight and stressed quite a bit over the whole thing. It did all work out but nice if they can work with you from the get-go.

A good first step to whatever you do is to get a copy of those medical records. You will have to fill out forms, etc., but what you want is a copy of what was sent to the insurance company, documentation of all your visits, etc. Everything, just in case. There are four parties -- you, the first surgeon, the new surgeon and the insurance company. The new surgeon's staff should be able to acquire the necessary paperwork and then deal with the insurance company but having your own set of records is a good backup should there be delays, etc. I wouldn't think a change of surgeon would make any difference to the insurance company. I am familiar with the BMI issue. My insurance company required a 40 or above with no exceptions for high BP, apnea, etc. I was so stressed about that. Good luck to you as you figure out your next steps. Take some deep breaths.....

Yippee! So happy for you, Marissa. You are on your way......

I am so happy that I made this decision for my health -- that I've invested in myself and my future. I'm happy that this option was available to me. I feel very lucky. I've lost a quarter of my weight and I'm fitting into smaller clothes, but what really makes me happy is the peace of a reduced appetite. For me overeating is connected to quelling anxiety; the less anxious and stressed I feel, the happier I am. The band has done that for me. I am not anxious about whether it will work. Yes, I have tough days and my mood goes up and down, but I know the band is going to work for me. So there is this lifeline -- it's not just me trying to do it (and failing over and over again); I have assistance. This makes me very happy.

Hi there, congratulations on your upcoming date -- very exciting! Post-op differs depending on a surgeon's protocol. I'm sure they will clarify everything for you. My surgeon described full liquids as those which would slide off a plate if it was turned sideways and no chunks. I enjoyed potato leek and other boxed soups at this stage as well as thinned applesauce, yogurt, etc. For mushies I craved eggs by then, tried avocado which I usually love but I didn't want it. After the band I did not want certain things -- I didn't go for the protein shakes I had liked before, etc. Listen to your doctor's instructions and to your body. You may not be very hungry at all. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Here's to a healthy new year.

Hi Donna, happy new year and congratulations on your great success so far. Definitely harder to lose closer to goal but hopefully your band will help get you there. Best wishes! We are in the same range weight-wise as well as geographic region. So bloody cold out there!

Best wishes -- what a great way to begin the new year and this new chapter in your life. Here's to your health!

Checking in! I am down a little after a rocky few weeks in December. My goal weight for January 31 is 219 and I think I can meet or exceed that since January is such a long month. And this cold must be burning fat, right? That's four pounds to go to be out of the twenties. I am not eating too much, just got a fill and I feel at peace right now with my appetite. Now to kick up the exercise again and do this thing! Good luck every one, and happy Wednesday. January 1 - 225.5 January 8 - 223

Hi there and welcome! Happy you found this site. It helped me so much to read lots of posts, ask questions, etc., so by the time I had my surgery I felt really ready. I was glad to finally meet the surgeon as that ongoing relationship is so important, the aftercare element. They had a long handout to read and I circled anything I wanted to learn more about and made a list of questions. Good luck -- let us know how it goes!

Your protocol is identical to what mine was, Leepers. I have protein shakes sometimes that are more like sorbet. Protein drink and frozen peaches in the blender, oh my. I don't do artificial sweeteners but do use Steevia, a plant-based sweetener also marketed by Truvia as well as lots of other brands. I make sure to get 100% Steevia. If I'm using a protein powder to make a smoothie with frozen strawberries or just ice chips and almond extract, I will put in a pack of Steevia and make it quite thick. Artificial sweeteners set some people off by telling the brain food is on the way.

Wow! So happy for you. Thanks for the inspiration.......you are doing beautifully!

Congratulations on your surgery date! Very exciting way to begin the new year and this new chapter of healthy living. I am just two months out and still figuring it all out, but I am so happy! Good luck to you -- keep us posted on how you are doing and don't forget to walk like crazy afterward. It really helps!

I am new to this -- just two months out -- but so far I am able to enjoy the foods I love to cook. chicken thighs done French style (sauteed then covered in broth, add lots of veggies and slowly simmer until the liquid thickens) make a nice meal that can be varied a lot by using different veggies, beef stew, chili of all kind but especially turkey and black bean chili. Salmon and other fish, baked. We eat a lot of veggies -- I don't go wild with the potatoes because I will run out of room too fast. oatmeal with maple syrup and a little butter, homemade applesauce, Greek yogurt for comfort foods. Nuts, like four almonds chewed very, very well. I don't eat bread or regular Pasta but have had a little gluten-free once in a while with no problems. I have a big pot of black bean Soup on the stove right now. No chips or ice cream for me. I have had cheese but think that may be a slider food for me so I think it's best I don't have that temptation right now. I was able to enjoy the holidays having a little of everything -- we had leg of lamb, potatoes and peas for our Christmas dinner with gluten-free apple pie and whipped cream for dessert. Had to work at having just a wee bit of everything so I could have that wee slice of pie. My goal is to be able to eat all the foods I enjoy, just in very small amounts. I was never a junk food eater -- I love real food, it's just that I ate way too much of it -- so I don't feel deprived at all. Trying not to exclude anything except that I found alcohol too readily available -- wine, etc. Thanksgiving through New Years got in my way and I am going to exclude that now to see how I do without all those empty calories. Spitting up is not okay. I would be back at the doctors office pronto to have a small adjustment to be comfortable. Good luck as you sort out what works best for you. I love reading every one's posts to get new ideas, etc. Prior to being banded I worried that I wouldn't be able to get what I needed, etc., but I can see that this is not true. The good foods are very available, even if I have to run into a grocery store to pick up a yogurt or stop at a deli for a scoop of tuna. Oh, I forgot to add smoked salmon. I am loving smoked salmon and figure that is a good food for me for whatever reason. I don't have much but sure enjoy my little bites.

I know what you mean -- those numbers can be ridiculous. I forget the exact calories burned for an hour of gardening but it was absurd. Some people put in a 1 for each regular exercise activity so there are no calorie additions to the day. I have tried that from time to time as I don't like to see the huge amount of calories MFP thinks I should be eating.

Yippee! Just the call you've been waiting for! So happy for you. You have been preparing yourself so well for this event and I know what a success you are going to be. Best wishes to you!

Hi there, I'm wondering what people do post-fill. My surgeon has no particular protocol for either pre- or post-fill. I had my fourth one yesterday. He is also not inclined to share the amount of the fills. I think he is easing me into it and I do feel tighter this morning, an absence of hunger. Last night I was hungry, though, and I had a regular dinner of fish and veggies. Do you think a post-fill protocol is designed to protect the pouch or is it more to do with behavior modification, encouraging the listening we all need to be doing?

Hi there, I was banded 11/5 so we are about a month apart. Good luck with your fill tomorrow! I hope it puts you into a good place. I am definitely feeling tighter and listening hard to my body's signals right now. Today I had a little broccoli Soup and then a little cottage cheese for one meal (noontime), and for a second "meal" four hours later I had some homemade applesauce and a small piece of salmon which I could not finish. My band was telling me I had had enough. I love that!

Thanks so much! I think I'm worried that I'm doing something wrong, that I will stretch my pouch or blah, blah, blah -- our surgeons are right about bandsters obsessing, that's for sure. I am noticeably not hungry today. I feel tighter. Of course I worried about that fish and veggie dinner when others are on liquids or mushies but I was hungry for it then ate just a small portion so it's working. I'm such a dieter that of course the protocol is attractive to me -- I am labeled as a restricter. I see 5-day Pouch Test and think, "oh, I should be doing that!" It makes it so complicated that there is no standard pre-op or post-op or fill protocol -- that surgeons are all different and of course are bodies are all different. The nuancing is what it's all about -- the listening.