KD8888

I was banded a couple years ago, so I don't really recall how much I lost the first week. I think 14 lbs seems high. I think that would be the exception, not the rule. Try to follow doctors orders for diet and try not to focus on the scale. I understand why you want to, but the weight loss will come. I don't think you are doing anything wrong if you have lost 4 lbs in a week.

I love Zumba. I started before my surgery. After about 4 weeks I was amazed at the difference I saw through the middle. It's a great workout for any fitness level. It's easy to pick up the moves, fun and good music. I notice when I check the www.zumba.com for classes in my area, there are more types of classes now. I'd look for a regular class, not the gold class. I haven't tried a toning class, but that might also be an option if you are interested.

I tried it the Saturday of Labor Day weekend (almost 2 years after surgery.) It's only a 20 minute workout so I thought that would be perfect for my schedule. It was a beginners class so we only worked out for 15 minutes. That was the longest workout of my life. I was sweating like never before. In fact I was still hot and sweating several hours later. I was so excited. I could just tell this was a great workout and I was going to love this. I couldn't wait to join. I felt GREAT! Then the soreness set in. Now I've always liked the sore feeling because I knew I had worked hard, but this was ridiculous. I couldn't move for 2 days. I could hardly sit down or get up. Going to the ladies room definitely wasn't fun! I haven't made it back, but it is definitely a great workout. Look for the beginners class and have a great time. Not long ago I heard the owner, a doctor, on the radio talking about someone who described not being able to go to the bathroom for days after. I'm driving down the road screaming "YES, I know that feeling!"

One other thing to try might be to work on it near the beginning of your workout when you aren't tired. Even an extra 30 second or a minute each workout will make a difference. You'll be surprised how quickly you are able to increase your time. I never worked up to an hour as some of the others, mainly because the gym only had a couple machines and others were waiting. I liked liked it better than the treadmill, so it was always my first choice, then the bike. I found I had more energy for the bike after the eliptical too.

I agree - Enell. Not cheap, but worth it. I've been through 2 sizes. Ladiesonlysports.com and Barenecessities.com both have quick shipping. I found size/measurements to be accurate.

Kate, I haven't been on LBT for months. I've been reading about your surgery. On January 8th, I'm having a some lipo and a small revision of my LBL and BL from last year. Reading all the posts does bring back memories! I went back to work after 2 weeks. I was extremely tired that first week. I also seemed to be in more pain and had more swelling that week. Being emotion at this point in your recovery is not unusual. If you are out of pain meds, you might want to ask for another Rx to have on hand when you go back to work. Hopefully you won't need it. My doc had no problem writing another. I only needed a few more and didn't use the rest. Just a thought since you are about to see your doctor. Also if you do find time to shop after your appointment, I suggest only one or two outfits and as inexpensive as possible. In a week or 2, they will be too big. I loved that, but hated that I had waisted money on things I couldn't wear more than a couple weeks. I would have waited had I known, but I didn't know how much swelling was still there. It's just hard to get a concept when things are already so much improved. I had to have my lapband replaced earlier this year. I've been struggling to get back to good restriction since. I was in bed sick the last 2 days and missed a fill appointment that I really needed. Now I have to wait until February for another appointment. I thought about postponing the lipo and revision longer, but my plastic surgeon thinks I am at a good place for this and I really need to see some change. Thanks for sharing your experience. I promise you won't remember the pain for long. You will be moving about and enjoying life like never before. You'll have a new bounce in each step! Wishing you a speedy recovery, Kelly

Karen, I'm sorry to hear about the back pain. My back goes out from time to time, but nothing as serious as your problem. Unfortunately, I don't have any good advice on that front. As for the band, do go and get a fill. The band is there when we need it. I hope your doctor won't be a problem, but if so, you can always remind him that that is why your band is there and you need its help! Good luck!

Cleo's Mom, I too can relate to much of what you have experienced. I am on my 3rd unfill since my 9/07 surgery. I lost slowly for the first 3-4 months, then I started experiencing reflux. I also had pain when I ate. That is what stopped my from eating. I had chest pain and even probems with TMJ. Eating was often painful. I was unfilled for 1 month. After that, half the fill was put back. It was ok for a while, then the reflux started again, only worse. That time I was unfilled for 2 months. The next time I was only filled to 3cc in a 10 cc band. Again, it was ok for a while, then the reflux started. This time it wasn't as bad though. I tolerated it for a longer period, but finally last week, I had it taken out again. I'll have an upper GI study this week. The doc thinks either I need an even smaller fill or that I have a slip. I think I have a slip. I will find out later in week. I would definitely recommend a partial or complete unfill and then further studies.

Cathy, I'm 3 months out now. I agree with the Karen, Karey and Margorie's responses. I was in bed for most of the first 2 weeks. Even if you are able and feel like being up more than I was, you will be extremely tired and will need to rest in between any activity. If it's possible to send your children to a sitter the first 3-4 weeks while your husband is at work, that might be a good option.

Hey Marjorie, I thought you would be at your parent's home on Saturday. I'm glad to hear your doing well and like the results. Don't rush out and buy too many new clothes after you get the drains removed. I'm just short of 3 months now and pants I bought one month ago are already baggy. Keep us posted on how your are doing.

Thank you for the information. I would never have thought of sunscreen at this stage or in cold weather.

Dr. Schulman, I am about 2 1/2 months out from BL and LBL. Initially my incisions looked really good and I was surprised at how little they showed. Within the last couple weeks as the weather has cooled, my skin has become more dry generally and the incision areas have turned more red/purple, even where the drains were. I don't think the redness is necessarily unusual for me. It seemed like it took forever for my gall bladder scars to fade and my lap band scars from over a year ago are still red although they are starting to fade. Would kelocote or something else help the scars fade at this stage or have I waited too long to start using something? Thanks for any suggestions.

Karen, You look fantastic! I don't think you look sqare at all. You're results will continue to improve. My waist is almost straight up and down, but considering that was my worst area (my waist was larger than my hips), I'm very happy with it. I may eventually have a little more lipo to that area to define it a little more and so pants fit better around the waistband. I've been sick this past weekend and out of town the weekend before, so I'm behind on what is going on with everyone. I hope everything is going well for you and work is managable.

Annie, I've had to have 2 complete unfills. The 1st was for a month and the 2nd for 2 months. I was surprised that I wasn't starved. I expected to be. My appetite did increase a little more after the first few weeks, but I was able to make good food choices and only gained a couple pounds. It was a relief not to have the reflux I had been having. Try not to be afraid of the unfill. Remember good eating habits. Hopefully you will be able to start getting refilled in several weeks and will not have any problems and will have better success. I never knew I was too tight except for the reflux. I could eat anything. Good luck.

You didn't give much information, but if you have had a fill or fills, you may be too tight. This does not sound like a typical reaction to being too full, but I had a TMJ like pain with mine. I didn't have typical PB. I could eat anything and didn't know I had too much fill until reflux became a major problem. Good luck.

Karen, That last drain will be gone soon. Don't forget to wear a compression garmet to work Friday. I guess because I was so tired, I forgot a few days. By the afternoon, I was wishing I hadn't been "braindead" those mornings. I hope you don't have to work the weekend. It would work out really well to go back to work 1 day then have a couple off. I had to work 4 days my first week back. It was rough. Plan to rest Friday evening!

Karen, My drains were out sooner than most, but it was because I got one accidentally caught on a door handle and pulled it out and some other similar incident which I can't remember now. The 2 that I accidentally took out were the 2 that needed to be in. Try not to be in a hurry even though the drains are a pain. It's better to have them in a little longer than to have the swelling from the fluid.

I had an LBL and BL w/o implants, so I'm not sure how my surgery compares to yours, but I got my meds refilled 2 or 3 times. I think I took it longer than what I've read most folks here indicate, but I did take less as time went on. For example, after the first 2 weeks, I would take it after I got home from work and at bedtime so it would be worn off when I had to drive the next morning. I would use ibuprofen in the day. In another week or so I was down to bedtime and shortly thereafter only as needed. Occasionally I still need it, but at 8 weeks out, I rarely take any now. I had more trouble sleeping after a few weeks than pain, so I took a sleeping pill a little longer than the pain pills, but I'm sleeping better now without it.

For me, the band surgery was nothing compared to the LBL surgery. I was in a good bit of pain for close to 2 weeks after the LBL. I had a hard time getting in the car and traveling 15 minutes to see the doctor during the first couple weeks. I'm not sure if my experience is typical, but I can't imagine major travel at that stage.

Karen, Even now, I swell if I don't wear the Spanx. I forgot to wear it last week when I went shopping. I was frustrated by the end of the trip because I could tell I was swollen and I was trying on pants. I couldn't tell if they would fit after a couple days. That was on Saturday, by Tuesday I could see a major difference. Within 2 weeks of my surgery, I bought 2 pair of "real" jeans, a size 10 and a size 8. By the next week, I took the 10 back because they were too big. I didn't wear the 8 for another week I'd say because the weather was still too warm for long pants. When I finally wore them, I had to buy a belt while I was out because they were too big also. I can't hardly keep them up now. Actually, I can pull them over my hips without unbuttoning or unzipping them now. The same belt, on the 2nd hole the day I bought it, is now on the 4th hole to hold the jeans up. I found a 6 last weekend, so I bought them. After my surgery I was down about 4 pounds, but I don't remember exactly when I first weighed. I also never asked how much the skin that was removed weighed. Since surgery, I have gone up and down the same 4 pounds. The weight is staying down more now. I ate more when I was first recovering because I was worried about needing more calories for healing. For whatever reason, I haven't been making the best food choices lately, so I'm trying to get back on track now. I'm recording my food again, so that definitely helps me make better choices. I still have a little more weight to lose. Once your swelling starts going down, I know you'll be below goal. So I wouldn't worry about the weight. Just focus on making the best food choices that you can. The scales will move soon and you will be thrilled.

Karey, I'm so excited for you. I know it is coming up soon, but what is the date again?

Karen, Congratulations! I bet it felt great to be "small." I've been checking up on you. I tried to send you a post the other day, but when I hit the Post Quick Reply, the site or my connection went down and I didn't have time to retype. The Spanx have worked really well for me lately (I'm 7 weeks out now.) I think I'm ready for a smaller size. I kept losing and gaining the same few pounds for a while. Now I'm starting to lose. Are you home now? Hope all is well.

That sounds like a good idea. I recently had a fill and went back a week later and had 1/2 cc removed. It made a big difference. You're probably very close and a very small amount will make all the difference. Have a great time in California.

You didn't mention it, but how well are you chewing? Are you cutting your food into very small pieces? I do not think you should get another fill Wednesday. I think you should pay extra attention to chewing for a few days to determine if that is the problem. If that helps, I would hold off on fills for a while to see how it goes. If that doesn't help, consider a slight unfill. To answer your actual question, yes it possible to be overfilled and be able to eat anything and never PB (in my case). I developed reflux for several months and the meds weren't helping. I eventually had to be completely unfilled for a while. It was instantly better. Good luck.

Congratulations on your upcoming date. I know how exciting that is. I got a toilet seat riser at Wal-Mart for $21. I didn't need it after all so I ended up returning it.