CJQuilter

I've been to the education seminar. My hubby is taking me tomorrow. I'm not sure what happens and what even to ask. Any pearls from any of you would be helpful. My insurance will not pay....so guess it will be my dime.....well many of them actually. Once you have the surgery is it easy to not eat? "What is so different that you can stop yourself from pigging out? Is it a conscious thing that you are really aware of what you eat or are not supposed to eat? I'm such a foodie. Our whole social life revoles around entertaining and wine and cooking. How do you do it? CJ

That is how I was as well. Keep that limit on yourself. Eventually you will get restriction. I know with a fill we think we should have immediate restriction - but that is not how some docs operate. I did not feel restriction until about fill 5 and at 3.6 in a 10cc band. Everyone is different - Again - lab band is a tool - it is not a miracle drug - just be careful what you eat - even though you are eating less than before - we think the pds should melt off - but that's not going to happen. Your body is saying what the Heck is going on and will hang on to that fat for a while. CJ

I was like you....10 CC band and .7 the first time and .3 the second fill. We get discouraged because we want to see the pds come melting off like with GB. Well that is why we chose this type. It IS slower - but it will happen. I was banded in June of 07 and by December had lost all the weight my doc had wanted me to lose for the year. While I was not happy about that - he reminded me that this is the type of weight loss plan I had chosen....and it is slower and is a 3 year process. I'm now in my 10th month and I lose about 5 pds per month - since December. I started out as 251 and at 192. Just be patient and exercise. Also - I eat about 1400 calories and lose more than when i was eating 1000. that is because of the exercise. hang in there. YOU WILL DO IT! CJ

Thanks Shortgal - I was able to get to that link and it looks like what my doc is telling me is the appropriate level for the type I have. How do you guys find all of these different sites anyway. I guess I just need to cruise around on here more often and maybe I can stumble into more good info. CJ

oooohh sorry it was Shortgal my reply was meant for - not Moonrider. CJ

Moonrider............I tried to go to that link and could not get it to open. I have spoken with my Dr. about this on more than one occasion and he is telling me what I stated. I have made it to onederland - so I am satisfied and am going to keep doing what he says to do and not worry about what someone else is doing. And no I don't have a 4 CC band. they give you the information and numbers when you go home....mine clearly states 10!

I have a 10CC Inamed band and my doc is also conservative like Motocross Girl....he has done approximately 800 LB's and many times more that of GB's and never lost anybody. He, too, says that it is the recommended 4 CCs max in a 10CC band. I was banded on 6/18/078 - got first fill of .1 after 6 weeks and am now at 3.6. I am getting close to the max. Perhaps it is the brand of lap band. I don't kow but mine is working great and I am losing weight and look great - so no complaints! CJ

I'm on my 5th fill and am at 3.6 in a 10CC band. My doc said that the recommended fill limit for my band is 4.0. I was banded in June 2007 and first fill in August. I'm never hungry and I do PB a lot IF I don't eat slow and take too big of a bite. I have lost 60 pds - but the last 20 pds has taken me 3+ months. I am exercising a lot. But I do have a tendence to overeat....not because I'm hungry - but because it is a habit. Thanks god for the band....I'm slowly starting to recognize that I don't need to eat so much. Julieh - a good way to get Protein in the Trader Joes' Protein shakes. They come in a can and are 35 grams of Protein and 4 carbs. They taste good too. Take care - love to all CJ:thumbup:

Missy - how much are they giving you per fill? I'm wondering if it is just too much? What size band do you have? CJ

Great job......what was your band date? I've got 13 pds to go to Onderland and it seems like I'm only losing about 1/2 - 1 pd pr wk....I'm just NOT THAT patient! CJ

just had my second fill two weeks ago for a total of 1.8 cc in a 10cc band. I feel no restriction. Carlotta

Jack - why did you hae an unfill? My first fill was 1.1....my second .7 and I have no restriction....that I can tell. I have a 10cc band. What is the difference. Why are some 4's 10's and 11's? Carlotta

I never felt anything after my first fill and just had my second....also nothing. I do know that bread is tricky though. I have just recently started eating a little (crusty) with some butter....and it fills you up so you can eat nothing else. Carlotta

Wow - what a difference in docs. I was banded 6/18/07 and got 1.1 cc's first fill - then yesterday my second they only gave me .7 cc. He said that some people do not feel restriction until the third fill. I know I don't - but I'm still losing. Are you losing with your 6 cc's? I had that type of feeling BEFORE I got a fill - when I ate too big of a bite or too fast. Carlotta

I get the slime thing when I take too big of a bite or am eating too fast. I told my hubby last night he is a bad influence because he wolfs his food down....and sitting at the same table sometimes I start doing the same thing until ....THE SLIMMMMMMMMMMEEEE. So off I go to get rid of it and start over.....slowly and with small bites. There is nothing in particular that does it for me....just the two things above. I can eat anything...and that is scary....but I am really trying to watch it. I've lost 36 pds since surgery on 6/18. I don't know what I was expecting - but I thought I'd be losing about 20 a month! Oh well - it is coming off and so far my skin isnt looking too bad - so maybe thats a plus and I won't have to have a surgery tocorrect that. Carlotta

I love this site....for tracking food and weight and getting the reports and graphs - but can someone tell me how to.....or if there is a way to put vitamins into the food log? I type in vitamins and it only gives me foods with the names of vitamins. Maybe vitamins are not considered food....? CJ

Bellingham Washington - 90 mi north of Seattle

I'm right there with ya....my digitial scale - buck naked is the same as at my docs with clothes no shoes....I do find that I'm inspired if it's going down and very careful to try and make good choices...and if it's up a couple of tenths or a pd - then I try and get more exercise and also make better choices. I do realize that some of it is water weight etc - but I log it everyday on fitday.com and look at the graph every day - so you can see what you've done for the past week - 2 or three. There is personal satisfaction in seeing the results written on the page/graph! Carlotta

I too, was having difficulty figuring out what full was.....but i got all of the above listed signals....and I know that I DO NOT want that pain in my chest - or slime in my throat. As the person above said - aversion therapy! It's a tool. I was banded 6/18/07 and the first month was not hungry - because I was still healing and everything in there is irritated - so it's a help. I have lost 35 pds....although it is a slow go....I'm hoping I don't get too baggy - saggy of skin. I like the New Whey Protein drinks from Nashua Nurtition.com on Bariatric Eating .com. They are 42 gr protein bullets - easy to drink - transport - already mixed...you don't have to refrigerate unless you want. I'm losing about 1 1/2-2 pds a week. Not a fast track...but a TRACK. I'm also using fitday.com to track my intake and weight loss. So for 10 wks out I'm feeling good and like others - still trying to decipher the best way to use this little tool - or as someone above said our little silicone buddy!

Wendell - that was a wonderful explanation. I have heard parts of all that you said - but you put it together so I understand it better. Thanks. I had my first fill 2 wks ago...it was 1.1 and I didn't feel any restriction. I have lost 4 pds though in the two wks....so I'm hopeful that even though i don't feel restriction or have any negative side effects that it keeps me on track. My surgery date was 6/18 and I have lost 34 pds so far. Yipee! Carlotta

I think everyone is different. I had my first fill 2 wks ago and noticed NO difference. I just ate the same thing I have been eating. He had me drink some water while I was still in his office to make sure everything was going down ok. He told me to call if I got heartburn - was nauseaus, etc. I got 1.1. He told me sometimes people notice a difference and some don't. He said that sometimes you don't notice on the second fill either. How much did you get? Carlotta

They can feel it. I asked that question when I went in for my post op check. He showed me where and how to find it.

I had surgery 6/18/07 and had my first fill yesterday. I have a 10cc band and my Dr said that he only gives 1 cc on the first fill and also on the 2nd fill. He said your tummy is still healing and that more than that can cause erosion and slippage. He said I may or may not feel restriction from the first two fills - but to just keep eating the diet thay have prescribed. I can go for my second fill 4-6 wks. I am not losing as fast as I thought I would - BUT I am losing. I have lost 30 pds since May. 15 post op and 15 pre op. Good luck. Carlotta

I got my first fill yesterday. I did the same as you except they had me drink water while I was still in there and told me if I had certain symptoms (heartburn being one of them to call ....so I'd say - call your doc.) Carlotta

I had my first fill yesterday and doc told me to eat as I have been. He only warned me about calling him if I had upset stomach, reflux, heartburn, or trouble swallowing. So far so good. Carlotta