Bandista

So happy for both of you! Very exciting and of course a little nerve-wracking, especially at this time of year when things are a bit dialed up for every one anyway. Just think what next Christmas is going to be like. Talk about the best gift ever, to yourselves as well as to your families -- a healthy YOU! Here's to 2014 and all of the progress we will be making together.

Thanks so much for this great post! Despite extensive research and following so many posts ahead of my surgery, I did not really know about the whole primed band thing until after my surgery. I had to ask my surgeon in my first follow-up visit whether there was any Fluid in my band at the time of surgery (in my case, no). It's a very important point to clarify! I am three fills in and could so easily wonder why it is that I'm not "getting there yet."

Chili works well for me -- I like ground turkey and black bean chili with a little grated cheddar. Broiled fish, smoked salmon, tuna. Chicken thighs cooked with veggies. Eggs. Greek yogurt, of course, homemade applesauce. Prunes. Lentil soup. Almonds -- I eat four only and chew each of them a long time. Very satisfying. I have protein shakes and vars but haven't quite figured out whether these are part of my daily routine or just a once in a while thing. Have some bars in the glove compartment just in case but really I don't have any food emergencies as I'm not that hungry and can just wait.

Hi Brown Eyes, sounds like you're doing great! I was banded 11/5 and today I'm going for a third fill. I'm doing well but finding this season of holiday festivity a little hard as there's so much going on, food and alcohol everywhere, etc. I'm still looking for a pattern to my daily life as far as when to eat. I'm not hungry in the mornings so I may be a two meal a day person. Have enjoyed shakes sometimes in the AM but not sure whether to incorporate that into my regular routine or if it's better to not "drink" my food. I am liking chicken and fish -- smoked salmon is a good food for me. Veggies can be a little tough but I just need to chew a lot. I had one stuck episode weeks ago and hope to avoid that. Eating beets too fast, went into an epic 20 minute hiccup fest followed by throwing up. I also want to bump my exercise up as I have slacked off a little due to very cold weather and busy holiday season. I am a bit stressed and want to keep my determination turned up high as I know that this time -- six weeks out or so -- can be difficult for some and it is coinciding with Christmas, etc. Need to stay relaxed and continue to choose myself first. Best wishes to all and thanks so much for creating a place for us to check in!

Wow! So happy for you! Here's to continued health and happiness for 2014 -- this is very inspiring.

My surgeon put a hand-written note on my list for the full liquid phase, "egg drop soup." I made that and it was delicious. Also I really liked broth with ginger, garlic and Tamari in it -- something salty and savory. Potato leek soup was very satisfying. There's a brand called Imagine that comes in cartons ----where I live it's in the natural foods section of the regular grocery store. Best wishes. You will get to a place where you are not feeling deprived.

Hi there and congratulations on your decision for a healthy life. It's exciting to see you turn it around like this. There are others here quitting smoking and getting banded in January. You will find each other if you keep poking around on the site. I joined in June and read all I could and people have so much good input -- a lot of compassion and then information that I really did not get thought the hospital program. By November when I was banded I felt so ready for this big new change in my life. And I'm so happy with the band. It takes a few months after being banded to get to the right fill for optimal weight loss. I am doing very well but this is what people are talking about when they say it takes commitment. Some think it all happens right away but because the Lapband is adjustable there is a process to get to the right adjustment for you and of course you have to follow all the rules set forth by your doctor. Make sure your doctor is dedicated to the follow-up -- that is key. So glad you're quitting smoking, too! One of the things I did when I started down this road was to get a therapist to talk through my eating issues and help with the process. I'm glad I had that extra support along with the support from people on this site. Best wishes to you!

Hi there, so glad your port issue is all straightened out! On the hunger, I have the other thing going -- I am satisfied on a very small amount of food but hungry again too soon. Today I go for a third fill. It's freezing rain and I'm hoping I can get there alright as my next appointment is not for a couple of weeks and I feel that appetite is turning right up. I was banded 11/5. This is the process -- the figuring it out time. I have really liked not being hungry so I know what it is to have that feeling. I imagine the green zone is similar or better. Best wishes for a nice holiday week!

You are in the healing phase and should not be expecting weight loss at this time. That will come when you get the right fill for you. Please don't worry about the scale right now! Some people even gain -- your body is adjusting and until there is good band restriction you are basically on a diet. Do the best you can and don't fret. Best wishes and congratulations on this step toward your healthy future!

Good luck -- and hers to 2014, a year of healthy change. Yippee!

Hi Erin, congratulations on taking this big step towars a healthy future. I started my process last June and was banded at the beginning of November. I had to attend a mandatory informational session and since I am in a rural area I had to wait until August for that. Then I met with the Lapband Program Coordinator at the hospital, then a psych eval and nutritionist meeting (those were on the same day) and then a meeting with the surgeon. All the while I had to keep my weight at 250 to meet the sole criteria of my insurance company: a BMI of 40 or above. Every insurance company and program is different, however -- you may have no requirements at all or a supervised diet, etc. Some insurance companies will accept a BMI of 35+ if there are co-morbidities such as high BP, sleep apnea or diabetes. You can call your insurance company and get clear on exactly what they cover. I was very impatient about my five-month weight but it turned out to be good as I was able to learn so much about the band by reading post after post. By the time I got my surgery date I felt very confident. All along I knew this was the right thing for me. I had never considered weight loss surgery before and knew very little about the band when I started down this road. I would never consider something more drastic than a band. I like it that if anything ever goes wrong it can come out and that I have a whole stomach, no organs are cut, etc. Six weeks on and I'm thrilled with my band. Tomorrow I go for my third fill. It's important that you understand that surgery constitutes the installation of the band but it needs to be adjusted before it is fully functioning. Up until that time it can feel like a diet. I was lucky I did not have a return of hunger after surgery for quite some time but some people do and that is okay -- the band needs to be filled properly for an individual in order for it to work and then we have to do our part not to eat slider foods, etc. It's a very manageable lifestyle and very exciting to experience the loss of cravings, addictive behavior, etc. I feel like this is the best thing I've done for myself -- so happy! Good luck to you as you sort through all the info -- feel free to ask questions and try not to worry about people who may be complaining, etc. For some that is part of the deal, but for others it's an easy change. A positive attitude goes a very long way. Best wishes!

Hi Alex, just testing out posting a new thread. Letters are appearing in body of post now so that's progress. Still pretty rudimentary compared to on-line version which works fine with iPad. Main thing is font is tiny and I can't stretch text to see what I'm doing or read posts, etc. Thanks for all your hard work with these fixes! Site has gotten so much better. Best wishes for a find holiday season.

Kindness matters so much, and taking the time -- not hurrying and missing out on what is important. Thanks for these reminders of how fortunate we are each day to have what we have and best wishes to all not only for the holiday season but each day.

So sorry you had all that nausea -- that will be something to note if you ever have another surgery as clearly that anesthesia does not agree with you! Glad you are home and settling in. I hope you can take it easy the next few days. I had a hiatal hernia repair, too. I think that's another reason why I'm now feeling so great -- probably that was causing me troubles for quite a while. For a long time I had a coin-shaped pain spot on my chest and it makes sense that was referred pain from the HH as it is gone now. I had a few ER episodes with chest pain and all the tests, etc. to rule out heart problems so I know how nerve-wracking that can be -- must have been horrific just out of surgery to have to go through that along with throwing up, just what we don't want to do! The good news is not only do you have your band now but you know your cardiac profile, too. Nice to know your hear is fine! Do you like ginger tea? That can be very soothing for nausea. Hope you feel better soon -- thanks for keeping us posted!

Sounds pretty much common to me...my Dr. is also aggressive...he had no qualms stating that first he installs the band, then he gets it working...took me 3 fills, the last one was a doozie...alsmost got it taken out but he talked me into hanging in there for another week or so.... Thanks B-52, great info. Do you have a protocol for post-fill? I was surprised my surgeon just said "take it easy today" but no restrictions like just liquids for a few days, etc. as some others have. I realize I need to figure out what's best for me -- I like my surgeon a lot but it's my body, my band. I know you do band maintenance by going all liquids for a few days here and there. I like that idea a lot. Maybe I should do that today in preparation for the fill then a couple days after? Puzzling this out. Plenty of time to think about this for today as I rarely eat before noon these days. Just not hungry and am following that logic -- if I'm not hungry I don't eat. This of course goes against years of diet talk in my head (unsuccessful diets, obviously) -- starvation mode, metabolism issues, etc. Just at six weeks + so trying to figure out a mode. I do love shakes and smoothies, juicing, etc. so all liquids is no problem for me. Welcome input!

Hi Alex, I am back on web version but did create a post via iPad app called iPad Testt (with a typo!). Cannot see very well as font is so small and text won't stretch. That's an iPad feature we all love -- being able to "grow" whatever is on the screen with swiping the fingers, etc. This goes for icons as well as body of posts, titles, etc. Other than size I like the way the posts appear but could not locate the place to make a comment. There were a lot of options but not that one (perhaps because I was trying to comment on my own post with this info which I am reporting instead here?). Also the running list of various threads is very different from the ones I'm seeing via web version -- maybe that is something that has to sift out over time. Hope this helps!

Hi there, we have benefitted so much from the McKenzie Technique, which is being used now by many PTs. It's the opposite of what used to be recommended for bulging discs, etc. There are two books -- one for back and one for neck -- short and to the point. We've given away lots of them. Guy is from New Zealand: http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0958269238 Husband has had three major back surgeries (car accident 25 years ago) and lots of different treatments over the years -- alternative therapy is great (massage, acupuncture, chiro, etc.) but not affordable as frequently as needed and doesn't seem to do more than temporarily relieve symptoms. Drugs suck -- who wants side effects or to be foggy in the brain when your body already hurts? Exercises are a great way to correct the source of the problem. We like ice for inflammation -- hurts for first thirty seconds then does the magic. I'd also recommend Somatics -- another stretching technique for the core. Everything starts with pelvic rocking then a lot of diagonal lifting, isolating and alternating limbs. Slow intentional stretching. Very Pilates-esque. Yoga and stretching are great for me but my weight has been in the way. I have arthritis and was told by a world class rheumatology clinic that yoga is not recommended for people who were super flexible as children and teens. To me this is idiotic. Who would tell an overweight 52 year old woman not to exercise? We really do have to advocate for ourselves as much as possible and educate continuously. Thanks for a great thread!

I'm glad you have this cast of characters figured out. Sometimes we are cast in a particular role and when we break out of that people don't like it. I was thinking about the two big sacks of potatoes and what a perfect visual for the amount of weight you've lost. She wants you to carry that around one way or the other. No thanks, Gramma!

If I were you I would nip this in the bud. How about telling her first how much you appreciate her support and that you can confide in her, then let her know you feel private about your weight loss so please don't ever bring it up with people, then thank her for being so proud of you that this means a lot but it's too personal to have out in the open. This is the love sandwich approach. And of course you need to stop feeding her information on how much you've lost, etc. If people ask, you can say you keep that private. They will get the idea and leave you alone. You will be making lots of new friends who don't see you a certain way and who are not trying to embarrass or sabotage your success.

Do you think the stuck episode kicked off acid production? I would call and get input from your doctor. Maybe they can prescribe Omeprazale or something along those lines. Prilosec, etc. My husband had years of acid reflux (not banded) and he has to take a pill each day and he eats yogurt for Breakfast. Some people get relief from having the head of the bed a little higher with blocks (inch and a half or two?) so you're not laying flat. What triggered getting stuck -- a particular food or just eating too fast or not chewing well enough? Hope you feel better soon!

Yippee! So exciting! Now I have shed a tear or two in a dressing room but not tears of happiness. Love this post and bring on those size fourteens!

My surgeon seems to have a pretty aggressive post-op fill schedule. My first one was at a month out then scheduled weekly for assessment for four more appointments then every other week. They feel most people do not have restriction for four or five fills but of course every one is different. My band had nothing in it when it was installed -- no primer. I went for the first and second fills but then skipped the following week as I just didn't feel like I needed it. I had some bruising and the bandaid had caused a rash, etc. There was an increase in hunger frequency and amount for me just a few days ago. I'm thinking I may have just been swollen from getting those first fills and when that went away there is less restriction? Hard to assess as this is also a stressful time for me. Anyway, I'm going in tomorrow for fill #3 as I want to be in the green zone.

Wendy, I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending hugs your way. And now these are exciting times in your life, choosing health and happiness. I have found the band to be so empowering. Best wishes to you -- glad you're here on the forum!

December 1 - 227 December 7 - 230 December 14 - 224 December 22 - 223.5 Happy Solstice every one -- the days will be getting longer again now, though you wouldn't know it here in NH on this dark Sunday morning. I am struggling a bit with so many holiday events but glad to see some overall success this month. And one more week to go! Have a fill tomorrow morning, my third one, and I'm looking forward to that assistance. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all!

You are amazing -- and such an inspiration. I'm so happy for you. Wow, you have accomplished so much! You look great and your posts exude happiness and relief. I am in this for many reasons but arthritis is one of them. Looking forward to a lessening of joint pain as the pounds come off. Both biological parents had eight joint replacements between them. Hoping to avoid that!