VegasGrace

Spouse/family? How about the military member? Do we count? Ret. USMC Injured back ole Desert Storm days. Loss the use of my legs, gained a ton of weight. A ton! The lapband was for me! The only weightloss device/program/system that doesn't require exercise.

Was on another states thread but just relocated to Las Vegas. Wow! Buffet capital of the world and I'm hitting them all! I was banded a year ago, achieved goal and then some. Doing great. But..... I'm feeling sick. I drink and drink but my stomach won't hold that much Fluid. Any advice for this hot desert sun? And, I'm still losing a tad here and there. If I need an adjustment to loosen up the restriction...anyone have recommendations?

Cranky? hahahah How about hostile! I've dieted before so I knew in advance what I was in for. Yep, it happened. But I was prepared. Had the talk with my children beforehand so that when I would get angry/hostile/ yell and scream..... it was to be ignored. Whew! Glad that's over.

Sounds normal to me. Just getting the band doesn't mean anything....the system works with restriction. and that comes 6 weeks after or 4 more weeks or 4 more weeks etc. I lost my first pound 10 weeks after surgery, yep 2nd adjustment.

Happens to me sometimes. I'm on maintenance and when I eat too much, but not enough to slime...this happens. I don't know why it causes my port area to hurt. But just know it happens and just remember what you ate and how much ....and then don't do it again.

You are fine. I'm an Excedrin user, too. Not good for everyday, prolonged use...but every once in a while isn't going to hurt anything. Ask your doc.

I was (and still am) poorer than poor. So poor I can't afford health insurance. I did the research and surprisingly found a great doctor who only charged me $7000 and that included pre-op, surgi center, the appliance itself, anesthesiologist, etc. I also found Fill Centers USA before I did this and found their fee to be great. So, knowing it was going to cost me $8,000 out of pocket {surgery, fills, transportation to Mexico, etc} I decided I could do that. But what if...what if something went wrong? A leak, slippage, etc.... I decided before I got the band that if that were to happen, I'd just have the band removed. Any local ER can do that...if you are having complications. But luckily and with the skill of my surgeon, it's been a year. Fill Centers used the Inamed guidelines and didn't cheat me out of any fill. So it only took 2 fills to lose, and 2 to stop loosing. But you have to decide for yourself. Get your ducks in a row and get your plan B and C ready.

Don't know. It's been a year for me and my hair is still falling out, and I'm on maintenance.

Don't worry about it. You are getting the band because you've shown you are not able to successfully diet, right? So, it comes as no surprise to doctors to hear a patient didn't follow the pre-op diet. Just KNOW you could show up for surgery and your doctor turn you away....but that's if you eat something like the day of or day before....just don't cheat anymore. But let your doctor know. Good luck and keep us posted.

Eat. I eat 5-7 times a day so between those hours you mentioned I've eaten once or twice. You are doing great!

Got to start out by saying I don't exercise. But I was told activity increases after surgery according to how you feel. I was up and at 'em the day after. A week later I was back to normal. So if I were a runner, I'd be doing that but if it hurt, I'd stop...and gradually work my way back up. Hope this helps. You've lost 18 pounds- congrats!!!!! You are off to a great start.

Yes, when I get sick...I can't hold down much of anything, even fluids sometimes. But don't panic....a few days without food won't kill you. You could get an unfill and then go get the fill back after you are over your illness....but me...just wait it out and enjoy those extra few pounds gone.

You are so right!!!!! I did the kids menu but more times than not they wouldn't let me order from that menu. In the land of buffets, I purchased one of those books w/ coupons. Buy one get one free. So now, I can take one of my children and I can get the free buffet. It's neat...and I am so excited for you. Now when I go thru drive thru...it's just something off the dollar menu. Yep, just one thing. And sometimes it doesn't even matter...something to fill my belly. My relationship with food is so much different today than last year.

Sleep. I've probably slept my way through this past year. I'm just now waking up. Literally. I don't sleep as much anymore now that I'm on maintenance.

How wonderful! Seems you are doing everything right! Me, I slime almost every day. I'm an overeater...have been for 30 years. Been banded 1 year. So, as you can see....it's gonna take more than 1 year for me to NOT be an overeater. But I don't mind if it stays this way for the rest of my life. Sliming doesn't bother me a bit.

Welcome! I live over at Nellis. So howdy neighbor! Congrats and please do keep us posted. Take Care!

Was at a buffet yesterday for lunch and the lady looked at my id and credit card...looke at my id again, looked at me and exclaimed - you must have lost so much weight. Hahah No one has ever said that. Place just opened so there wasn't a crowd. But my id made years back....over 200 pounds. 137 now.

Thought it was going to kill me but this was the easiest weight loss for me.... and I've been on every diet, program, etc.

I must be the oddball. I can't drink without straws. The straw is my best kitchen item. I buy them in bulk, take a few extra at the gas station when getting a drink,etc. See, I'm a lifetime gulper. That was part of my problem. I gulped since a child. And when I gulp, it spews like a shaken baby after a bottle. I try to slow down my drinking...but it surely is going to take more than a year to re-learn that one!

Katie, like you I was 256 pounds. I know you are nervous but hopefully excited...hopefull at the same time. And yes, hard. Very hard. One of the toughest things I've ever gone thru in my life. Liver? As in we should eat it or not eat liver? I don't like liver and haven't had it since I was a child. We used to eat this stuff called Neeses Liver pudding. Came in a parchment wrapper and mom would slice it. Was tastey....but gross!

There are no no-no's with the lapband. Now, your doc may not want you to have something. 1. Soda- I have 2. Beer (no problem...can't stand it anyway)-don't drink. 3. Rice-I have often 4. Straws--although some say okay to this- I have w/ every drink 5. Pasta- I have often The only no-no is what YOU have attempted to eat but it didn't work out well. But only you can answer that one.

I don't know what to tell you. My options were the band and RnY. I chose the band. But the sleeve....just don't know enough about it.

I made a Last Will and Testament...I was that scared. My recommendation is for everyone to realize the risks AND have a plan B, C, D. My plan B was if there was a complication...slip or something...where the band had to come out. My plan B was to have the band removed, not corrected. I was self pay and I couldn't afford long term care for the appliance. This was a one time shot/chance at the band. Luckily, all worked out. 1 year later I'm 100 pounds lighter and from size 22 to a size 6.

Happens to me sometimes, but ALWAYS when I have ice cream.

1. Did you have a nutritionist? Did you receive a written diet or program? Yes, met once. But they were always there IF I needed them. 2. What was your pre-op diet? How long were you on it? liquids for 3 days. 3. What days were you on Clear Liquids? What's that? :wink2: 4. How long were you on Full Liquids? Did you incorporate any whole foods in this stage, for example, by blending? A few days...it was eat what I could tolerate and graduate at my own pace to solids. I had potato Soup on day 2. And by weeks end had pizza. 5. When were you on the Puree Diet? Not 6. When were you on the Soft food Diet? See # 4 7. In the soft food diet, were you told which foods to avoid or be careful of? Yep, got the book about Lapband...it's all in there. 8. Did you deviate from your diet? What was your experience, if so? Of course....duh! We are here because we weren't able to diet. So it's no surprise the 'diet' failed. That duh was for me. I have not ever dieted and will not ever diet....thanks to the Lapband! This is about re-learning how to eat. Eat smaller portions and making better choices. For the first time in my adult life I'm size 6 and don't diet! My kids will not ever hear me complain or avoid food.