Bandista

I also loved my Popsicles during this time -- MinuteMaid frozen lemonade if I recall (okay, I recall perfectly!). GERD is definitely a symptom of being too tight but unless you have a primed band (?) this should not be an issue. (Note some surgeons put some fluid -- amount varies -- into the band at the time of surgery as some kind of a head-start). I would call it in and maybe they will bump up your appointment. I believe in a very close connection with the doctor post-op -- a key to success. They want you to succeed. Put those medical professionals to work. Above all, keep all those first year appointments. There is no co-pay not worth the success of this endeavor. I liked the accountability and reassurance. Good luck to you! You're going to do beautifully and feel better each day!

Hi there, I don't have gas now but I sure did -- championship farting in my case. There's a lot of settling down that needs to happen post-op. I had to address constipation around day four or five -- was not prepared for that. And I didn't even do pain meds, but still. As far as full liquids, I still have trouble with shakes. Might be a temperature thing in my case. And I'm not tight -- I glug liquids in general, etc. You will find what works well for your body -- there's a lot of listening you're doing and you're doing great. Best wishes! Keep all those appointments : )

I love my band and feel successful although I would still like to lose another twenty or so pounds. Exercise, for me, is imparative because of arthritis, etc. I eat two to three healthy meals a day, avoid sliders, chew very well and experience the food rather than wolfing it down as I did before. My surgeon was of the small frequent fills to get me to the correct restriction (wrong word to use but you know what I mean). I have twice gone in for tiny unfills when I felt the first signs of being too tight. For now it's just right. I drink a lot of liquids and can do that without any discomfort (glugging my water). I don't count calories and I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not hungry. It's the first one that can be the most difficult as I was a very restrictive professional dieter going into this process. Now I feel hunger and eat until I feel full. My signal is a sigh. I notice, take inventory and I'm done. Sometimes I count off on my fingers 4-5 hours and note the time at which I might feel hungry again. Alcohol certainly hinders weight loss but I indulge for pain relief and enjoyment. Reading through this thread it seems like things got off on the wrong foot. Best wishes with your research. My surgeon is great but he does not discuss the banded life and I suspect has no real idea of how to guide patients in the post-op realm. I got that here when it was Lapband Talk. I found the successful banders and followed them. Now the site is mostly other surgeries and that's a bit discouraging sometimes as the revision folks post so much about their negative band experiences. I love my band.

You'll know what to do and when. Trust your gut, lol! And go for the humor, remembering to have fun and enjoy yourself. It will be a lucky guy who lands you, Liz, and you'll need a smart and insightful guy who can appreciate you and life in general. Online dating can be so hard as there's none of that non-verbal communication we rely on to "read" some one. You're both brave enough to do that so there's a start. Maybe save the physical inventory for later? Dental records won't be a topic, right?

You will get a lot of responses here about one surgery being better than another, especially from people who have had negative experiences and need to vent. Be careful not to take advice from strangers on the Internet as information can be biased even if it well-meant. The important thing is that you are choosing yourself and your healthy future. Only you and your doctor can decide on the best path for you as an individual patient. I chose the band because it is reversible. If there is ever an issue I can have it removed and go another route. I was not prepared to do something more drastic -- I totally respect those who are. For me it was the band or nothing and I'm very glad I got weight loss surgery. It changed my life. When I was starting my research I decided to get some therapy. It helped to have a third party to discuss things with and go through the process with me. We worked on breaking down my triggers and assessing eating patterns, etc. and all that "stuff" around emotional eating, etc. best wishes to you!

My husband was pretty good about my decision to get the band but he had his moments -- I think he was worried he would be losing his restaurant date or that I'd get healthy and leave him. Unwarranted fears and unprocessed emotions. He's male, need I say more?

So sorry you're going through all of this. Clearly you are too tight and I know you're afraid to lose "restriction" -- I so get that! Always hate to use that word -- (see the Dr. Simpson piece below on "The LapBand is Not About Restriction" and also maybe a review of the Golden Rules would help you). I would get right in to have a slight unfill -- even a 1/2 cc can make a big difference. Some people benefit from the 5-day pouch test to reboot -- a way of getting back in touch with the band. I just did a four-day juice fast which helped me as I was reverting to some old habits like grazing. Take good care of yourself and be in contact with your medical professionals to resolve this now. Best wishes -- let us know how you're doing.

Can you request a different PA or to see a surgeon, etc.? I think it is common practice to remove all the saline but my surgeon doesn't happen to do that. I hope you get a fill you're happy with. Be sure to drink water while there to make sure you are not too tight. Some people don't feel the effects of a fill for some time after -- seems to take me four days or so. No idea why.

I just want to say congratulations -- all good things are coming your way. It's the same company but a different department, right? If something comes up and you need more time then you will do that. Try not to worry too much. Pre-op can bring up so many thoughts. Pat yourself on the back for choosing yourself and your healthy future -- and for this advance in your career. You go!

I filled my prescription just in case but did not take pain medication as I don't like the side effects. Even still I had to deal with constipation at about day four or five; wished I had gotten ahead of that. Walking really helped me, windmill arms, the Happy Baby yoga pose when in bed. I used a heating pad at times as well as icepacks for incisional pain. Be sure not to pick up your child until your are healed up! Congratulations on choosing to get healthy and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Good luck to you -- it will go, just takes a little time. Also you will be amazed when the pant sizes start going down. Sometimes our heads can't keep up with it -- I have to keep checking, are these size 12, what? Really?

I think that most if not all of us here can completely identify with your worries. It's hard for me to believe that I don't miss anything. I really can have whatever I want, just in small quantities at appropriate intervals. The weight loss is great but as others have mentioned it is the change in attitude that is so amazing. For me choosing weight loss surgery was choosing myself. And getting that appetite monster off of my back was the best decision ever. The constant gnawing thoughts of what can I have, what will I have next, etc. are gone. I am some one who benefitted from seeing a therapist for a while. I wanted a third party to go through the process with me. We worked on identifying my triggers and really breaking them down into very specific incidences. Prepping myself with food before a meeting or conference call, cruising for a little something as a form of procrastination, getting a bowl of ice cream to self-comfort then getting more because I knew I would be back to a strict diet soon......no more dieting. That didn't work for me. WLS has given me my life back.

I have twice gone for tiny unfills and see this as part of nuancing the band to get it just right. The adjustable part of the adjustable LapBand system! Best wishes to you. Keeping in close touch with our medical professionals is where it's at.

I've had this -- I bruise easily and my pants were hitting in the wrong place. Also I always ask for paper tape. Good luck with all -- you are on your way now. Exciting times!

I was Mrs. Winnie-the-Pooh and can now see straight down. Belly is still flubby and I know I need to work the core more but meanwhile so happy to have lost my paunch. You will, too!

@@busyandblessed my surgeon does not share the amount of fill so I can't tell you that, but I have asked, "is there still room" and all those other crazy questions and he always says, "Oh yes, no worries there." So I think he is of the small, frequent fills school of thought. Just as every patient is different, so is every surgeon. Really I am glad for the time I had to get some basic habits changed. I even practiced eating by the clock, a bite a minute, chewing, etc. Not that that's how I eat now, but I needed to really slow down and focus in so that I could get the feeling of my band. Now we work together and I hardly think about it at all. Best wishes to you -- you are doing beautifully. Pat yourself on the back!

So happy for you -- on your way to a whole new chapter in your life! Choosing YOU. Here's to a very healthy future! I was so excited that I swear those hormones and feelings carried me right through the surgery and recovery. You are giving yourself a beautiful gift.

What is easy: Finally having the appetite monster off of my back so I can make good choices. Surgery itself -- I'm mid-fifties and had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before. I was so excited that the whole experience (even with the discomfort, etc.) was delightful. Meaning I was delighted to be giving myself the gift of Weight Loss Surgery. Here's to positive energy..... Easy is walking into a store and buying pants off the rack. Pants! It's a frickin' miracle. Works for shirts, too. M, as in Medium. I am a Medium? What! Yes. OMG. It's SO much easier now to do everything -- bend, walk, get up, etc. I have arthritis and that is there but having 75 less pounds to haul around everywhere I go? Repeat: OMG. So grateful. Oh, it's very, very easy to be grateful. One of the things I did not anticipate about this process is how empowered I would feel. It's a return to self and, for me, a life-saver. BEST WISHES TO YOU! IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT!

I know nothing about Mexico, etc., but just wanted to chime in that I'm a teensy bit envious of the whole Plication thing -- did not know about that when I had my surgery. Had never even heard the word. Best wishes to you and congratulations on choosing yourself and your healthy future. Way to go! PS Have fun in Mexico.....

These are all so wonderful! I honestly feel like I've gotten my life back.

Weight Loss Surgery has changed me and how I approach my life. Here are a couple of significant things I notice I'm no longer available for -- how about you? 1) I am no longer a supporting actress, always putting some one else's needs above my own. Choosing myself first means every one else benefits but that's not the point. The point is I am showing up in my own life with my own needs at the top of the list. I wish I had done this twenty years ago! 2) I am not a human garbage can, lol. It's okay to throw out broken crackers instead of eating them. There are no more clean-plate awards for me. Now I love leaving food on my plate. 3) I am not down-playing my talents, features, personality, etc. and hiding out anymore. I wear makeup and have fun clothes now. I'm out there, out in my life.

Hi there, the links below in my signature have been helpful to me. It sounds like you are right on track and have a good doctor you're working with. My surgeon described a tennis-ball sized serving of food and not being hungry again for 4-5 hours. I'd have one but not the other and we kept going until I got to the green zone. For me it was several small fills. Even though it took some time, that turned out to be a good thing for me as I had to address behaviors like eating too fast, not chewing well, etc.

Congratulations! WLS is so empowering, too -- choosing ourselves and our healthy futures is so liberating. Yippee!

Where's the massage therapist?

Wish I had this prior to surgery but it's not too late, right? Thanks, Dave, I'd love a link for a complimentary copy or however you are working that. And I would love to write an Audible review. Right up my alley. eMailing you now.....