ShastaPants

This could be completely unrelated to the band but I have noticed that since I have gotten banded and started to lose weight, my periods have changed. I have an IUD so normally there is very little flow and discomfort. I have lost nearly 40 pounds and now the periods are getting heavier with much more pain. I am going to see my gyno next week but just wanted to see if this sounded familiar to any of you. Thanks!

Hi there. It sounds like your doctor is not providing enough education. I feel like my office was very up front about realist progress and the work that I would be required to do. I was banded in Sept. 2013. Made it up to 4 ccs and then had emergency gallbladder surgery in November and a complete infill. I spent 6 weeks with no fluid and that was a real challenge. I really had to work out and measure my food. Now I am back up to 4 ccs and am very thankful for my small fills. I feel like it has allowed me to practice my new lifestyle and avoid some of the issues I see with people that have big fills. The lap band is not magic. It does tell me when I am reaching my limit or have made a bad food choice. I am thrilled to not be hungry between meals but the band does not fix head hunger. You have to find new ways to cope with stress, anxiety and depression. You might see if any local hospitals have support groups for bariatric surgery. It may help for you to visit with people on the same journey and get a more realistic impression of how the band works. Hang in there!

I have to say that since I committed to exercise, I have so much more energy. I had lots of excuses not to. I work all day, most nights after work I take my daughterscto dance on the other side of town and don't make it home until after 9 pm. Weekends are super busy catching up on things that weren't done during the week. Then I realized I wasn't helping anyone, mainly myself by not exercising. Now, I am at the gym while my daughter dances at least two nights a week and I am at the gym first thing Saturday and Sunday mornings. I feel better, I sleep better and it has done wonders for my stress level. The laundry will be there tomorrow and my husband is capable of handling dinner a couple nights a week. In the end, I can't take care of anyone if I don't take time to care for myself.

Have had the Mirena for 4.5 years. I love it! Did not hurt when they put it in. Was able to lose (and gain) weight with it. The best part is that I had terrible periods before I got it and and after it was placed they were so much better! I used to use several tampons a day and panty liners, now I only ever need a pantyliner. It is great!

Four months ago I was nearly 250 lbs. I was tired, embarrassed about how I looked and no longer wanted to leave the house and do things with the family. I teach at a college and when the Fall semester began I was struggling to get into size 16 jeans. I had my LapBand on September 12, 2013 and I am so thankful. It is not magic and I work hard. I am a food addict, I didn't get to 250 eating broccoli and rice cakes. I am learning so much about myself and gaining a whole new since of control. I am making better choices and learning to look at food as fuel. Do I still like brownie? Hell yes! The difference is that I can have just one brownie and REALLY appreciate it. Went shoppi g to get new jeans last week and bought a size 12! No more plus size clothing stores for me. I am on the move 14 to 16 hours a day and loving it. At the gym 4 times a week and actually ENJOYING it. The best thing this far has been stepping on the scale and seeing a weight that begins with a 1 and not a 2. Have there been struggles, of course. The band does not take away craving but it does allow me to pause and think about what I am doing. As of today, I have about 30 pounds to go. Hoping to be there by May 2014. For now I am taking care of myself after emergency gall bladder surgery and a complete unfill. I am not discouraged, this is a lifestyle change.

Two months after surgery and I am seeing weight loss in the strangest places. I had a great visit with my True Results office yesterday and decided to run some errands. My engagement ring was damaged last week so I took it in for a repair and decided to have it sized down as it has become very loose in the last few weeks. I had them tell me what the current ring size was - 8 3/4, then we tried to find the new size - a size 7!!! I could not believe it, I have never worn a ring that size and I celebrated by buying jewelry! Looking forward to hitting 199 next week and saying goodbay to 200s forever!!!

Hi there! I was banded 5 weeks ago. We all have food issues, that is why we are here. What really concerned me before surgery is that I felt like food was my hobby and if I took that away, who would I be? I didn't want to be deprived of things I liked (childish right?). What I have found after the surgery and now that I am on regular foods is that I have lost the desire to eat like I did before. Do I still have things I like, yes! Here is the difference, I love mexican food. I live in Texas so it is everywhere! Saturday night I went out for dinner and had ONE spinach enchilada and some guacamole and I was full (maybe a little too full). Before surgery I would have had at least one pina colada, basket of chips with queso, combo plate (rice, beans, enchilada, taco, etc...) and of course dessert (tres leches). I could not eat all of that now if I wanted to but here is the thing, I don't have a desire to do that. I am feeling great, working out and eating to live, not living to eat. I LOVE being in control! Just my thoughts.

Oh, I did the same thing. I decided I was well enough to refinish a bed 10 days after surgery, which included removing the client's tempurpedic matress. I was so stupid! I was very paranoid after because I was super sore around the port. I took the next 2 days off and just took it easy. Of course, call you doctor if you are worred. That is what they are there for!

No! I had my first fill last Friday and it was SUPER easy and painless. I was so nervous they had to take my blood pressure twice! Ask them to numb the area and it will be done in about a minute. You will do great! The best part is that in the 7 days since my fill I have lost 4 days without even trying. I just don't feel hungry and am really enjoying working out. No worries, just think about all that weight you are going to lose!!!

What a great Monday! Made it into my favorite jeans that are a size 14! It is hard to believe that I was into a size 18 just 6 weeks ago. The band is a great tool, it is not mahic and I am working hard. One of the greatest benefits is that I am learning to put myself first. I had such a bad habit of only taking care of myself when everyone and everything else had been handled. Here I am, Monday night, there are reports to do and work to finish but I am headed to the gym. I am pretty sure that work will be there when I am done and I feel great knowing that I am in control! Just 10 pounds to Onederland, haven't seen that number on the scale in years!

Hi there! I am 4 weeks out and just had a 1 cc fill that put me up to 3 cc. It was not a drastic change from 2 cc, but there is a subtle change for me. An example, before the fill I could eat almost 1 cup of food at each meal. Now, I am at 1/2 a cup and am full with that. I know each person is different and I am happy to be getting fills on a slower pace so I have time to adjust to my new settings (or my tune-up as I like to refer to it).

No, it was so much better than what I had anticipated. I asked to have the area numbed, she said most people don't after the first fill. I had a little pinch and that was really it. Now I know it is nothing to be scared of!

Hi there! I just had my first fill this morning and there was absolutely NO PAIN! I was sore after surgery but have not felt the port at all for several weeks. When I was in for he fill, the nurse had me lay down with a pillow under my back. She felt for the port and had me lift me head so she could really feel it and that was the first time I really knew where it was. Since it was the first fill, they drew out all the fluid to record it and then put that back in with an additional 1 cc of fluid. It was over in about 2 minutes and was painless. No worries. I was scared about how I would feel after, but I was fine. I had water before I left to make sure all was well. There is definitely more restriction but nothing scary, no ill side effects, eating solids with no problems.

I will be going in for my first fill in the morning. I am a little nervous but I know it will be okay. How much do they usually add at a first fill? I do not want to leave being too tight and end up with complications! Shasta

The first fill went great! I don't know why I was so worried. I started having dreams that all my hair fell out and my port had flipped. Everything was perfect. The nurse pulled out all of the fluid, put it back in and added 1 cc. I will go back in 4 weeks unless I am feeling hungry before. The fill was quick and painless! I had a long talk with nurse on progress so far and we made a goal for the next visit. It is a great Friday!

Thanks for the info!!!

Hi there. I was just banded about 3 weeks ago but I am still learning. What has helped me is to have a small plate. The rest of my family uses a regular dinner plate and I use a saucer. Even at a restaurant, I use the bread plate and move the amount of food I can have off of the big plate onto the small plate. Even though I am eating a small amount, I eat so slow that I am done the same time the rest of my family and friends are done. That way I don't have to worry about over-eating. The only time I have had trouble eating too much was when I went to the restaurant and was too proud to eat off the little plate. I did not get sick but I did feel bad the rest of the night. I also try to focus on my goal and think that the food I want to eat is not as good as reaching my goal will be. Good Luck!!!

Hi there! I had surgery on 9/12. It took about 10 days for me to really feel normal. It is different for everyone and some go back to work a few days later but I had a lot of shoulder pain and thought I was going to pass out when I took a deep breath. Today is day 15 after surgery and I feel FANTASTIC! Hang in there, it will get better!

What a great post! Thanks for the motivation!

Hi there! Yes!!! Had surgery on 9/12 and woke up crying with shoulder pain. Pain meds don't help. When I breathed deeply it was worse. It took about a week to clear. Walking and a heating pad on the shoulder really helped. It will be just a memory soon.

I am jealous! 11 days out and 3 more days until mushies!

Hi there. Today is day 10 after surgery and now I feel great. Since I had surgery, if I felt tired I just took a nap. I think walking helped alot but it is natural to feel tired after surgery. I also agree that just being on the liquids does make you feel a lack of energy. Just a few more days until mushies!!!

Hi there! I had surgery on a Thursday and I tried to go back the following Monday but I was too tired and sore and still bloated so not a lot of clothes fit correctly. I teach at a college so I was able to work half days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. By Thursday I was feeling more like myself. Today marks 10 days since surgery and I just got home from the mall after shopping for Homecoming dresses for my daughter. I am feeling great now but still get a little tired.

Well, I have had 10 wonderful days since surgery with NO hunger. Today I went to the gym, did 40 minutes on the treadmill. I came home, worked around the house and then took my daughter and dog out for a 30 minute walk. Now I am HUNGRY! I am scared because I do not want to hurt the loss I have been able to accomplish. That first fill can't come soon enough....

I was really nervous the morning of surgery. When I signed in, they scheduled my first fill and I thought " I guess I am not gonna die since I just scheduled a follow up." Logically I knew I would be fine but emotionally I was crazy. I sent my girls off to school with a happy smile and told them I would be home by dinner. I did not want them at the hospital worrying. They did give me some type of sedation via IV before surgery. I don't remember a thing after rolling to the OR.