VegasGrace

do a search on yahoo or google w/ the name.... then do a search w/ "name problems complaints"

Follow your doc's diet...but I had pasta shortly after surgery...probably a few days out.

I took my bandages off at day 2...itching. Thought it was infection; however, it was a sensitivity to the adhesive on the bandages....go figure. I did have to get a butterfly to hold 1 incison together as it opened up...but all was well. Infection is usually accompanied by fever, and if it's a wound...redness and puss...or green ness. Hot is inflamation...which can be irritating. Just watch for symptoms of infection. Keep us posted on how things are going.

You are right on track. Anyone going from tons of food (calories and carbs) then diets.... they can get light headed, feel weird, etc. When I diet my family knows not to bother me the first 3 days. Same with the band...your body is going to go through withdrawal symptoms. Hang in there!

hair loss is common for dieters in general. And no, I didn't do anything special...just laughed, cried, prayed. This is a good opportunity to do things with your hair that you never did before...like different hair styles. My hair was so thick a pony tail didn't look good...looked more like a broom. But with thinning hair, it looks cute in a ponytail. Good luck...and wait it out.

This has happened to me, twice. 2002 it looked like a murder scene of hair in the tub-Atkins Diet 2007 it looks the same...Grudge or Ring movie...hair everywhere- Banding Diet I can tell you that it will grow back, and you won't go bald. And it will cease.

Oh, realistically I think holidays work best. Most have them off..it's a matter of choice to come to vegas or go elsewhere And too...we should post an itenerary- there are great meal specials and shows so we should post them in case anyone wants to join us or at least know where we are at when they get there.

I say let's post a date and keep the thread open for : hotel rates-who's staying where airline rates-who's flying what and when and RIDES- if you need a ride or can give a ride- give your beginning point and route to vegas

AudricIan, I weighed the same as you when I was banded in June. Didn't lose a single ounce until after 2 fills where I got restriction. The loss is very slow...rediculious almost. But it will happen!

When this happens I PRIME THE PUMP....meaning I drink Fluid quickly...and alot. It will spew up -no harm- and may loosen the stuck food. Has worked for me everytime.

I was banded in June and am reaching my goal soon. I've already scheduled my appt for an unfill....a slight unfill just to stop the weightloss. Time for maintenance.

Crazy as it sounds, I eat more and the weight loss has halted...this for about a week now. Maybe it's the holidays, maybe because my 2 oldest of 3 children are moving out in a few weeks, maybe it's because my mother is in and out of ICU...maybe it's scary to overcome something...cause there are other things I have to do now...the responsibility.... Just don't know. It's nice not being so heavy...can feel the difference when I sleep and walk. Nice to have seat left after I sit down...an inch or so on each side of my thigh. Nice to wear almost anything and not worry.

Happening to me now...just as I'm about ready to cross the finish line. I just realized how much I spent how nothing else worked that if I fail at this NOTHING will work that I CAN do this that kind of pep talk to myself

Was able to answer your question/poll by the end of the 5th sentence. When in doubt...don't do it.

Here! Here! Wheetsin: My belief is that - if you want something, have it. No one thing is going to make you fat. You can cut any one thing out of your diet, and lose weight. They key for me is moderation. So as where I used to eat a heaping bowl of ice cream, I now have a few spoons of it. I still eat the full fat kind loaded with whatever acessories sound divine. If I want a cookie, I have a cookie. But thanks to my band, I can stop at once cookie, and not continnue my way through the entire package.

I'm different from most..if not all people in here. So please don't put much weight into what I say. IF I could eat chicken and low calorie foods...I wouldn't have had the band. IF I could slow my eating down...I wouldn't have had the band. IF I could stop eating fast foods...I wouldn't have had the band. That said, I eat fast foods, still. The band wasn't to ALTER who I am. What it did do was give me time to relearn how to eat...to start taking control of my life...not eat out ALL the time or junk in the house. I had a BoJangles chicken bowl the other night...ate about 1/4 of it and was satisfied. Had 1 bite of a hotdog and was satisfied...skipped the fries altogether. On the airplane, I was satisfied with juice instead of the soda. This is how I use the band. Oh, I eat more chicken and lower calorie foods...have learned about butter/splenda/whole grain bread...etc. But I will eat out 1x a week with the family and then lunch out 1x a week. Good luck and don't get too discouraged.

I wanted to take up less cubic inches. Go off the High Blood Pressure meds Lessen the backpain And be able to breathe going upstairs I wanted to be 140 But now I am modifying that to 150 as I can already get into a size 8 and another 10 pounds...19 from now I'd be too scrony.

Wow, based on that I would have been denied. Closeness with family? Impulsive? That's many Americans now days. And that's bias...to think those opting for the band are not serious about weightloss. Sounds like that psychologist shouldn't be a psychologist...in the weightloss area.

Thanks, Chickie. I've got the next available appt. Went 'home' this past week, just got back lastnight...and my family noticed...I didn't tell them about surgery. We ate...everyone was getting cheeseburgers/fries... I ordered a chicken sandwich and veggies. They just looked at me... me...the one who used to eat burgers/fries/soda and then order more. Thanks Lapband!!!

Thanks guys for the input. I'm knocking out 2 birds with one stone. My life is so much different now than even a year ago: I can actually prepare food...not just open a box or nuke a pizza. I can sit with my family at the table and actually carry on conversation whereas I used to sit, inhale, and get up. I am now one of the last one's to finish. I enjoy all colors/flavors/textures of food. Before ..taste? What's that? I inhaled everything so I couldn't taste, feel, smell...anything. I enjoy my size 8 jacket from Nordstroms. I enjoy menu planning. Long gone are the days of Pepsi and chips...I've lost my taste and desire for them. Now, I eat for nutrition...taste is a plus. Sorry to give you guys the wrong impression but I feel terrific and so blessed. And yes, I should have lost close to these last 9 pounds in 5-6 weeks. Timing is everything and I've scheduled the first appt I could...this isn't an emergency. Thanks for your concern and it's wonderful to have so many that are going thru the same kinds of things or where I can learn from others.

Oh, before I'm asked how I lost a hundred pounds in 6 months... I was 256lbs when I started my weight loss. I was just under 190 when I had the band. So I've only had to lose 40-50 pounds. But the band for me is a lifetime tool so I won't revert back to my old eating habits of binging. I got down below 200 about 10 years ago but started gaining weight. Then another time I was in the 170s and started gaining weight again. Then I was 136 just 2 years ago, after losing all that weight...didn't last. I got down to 200 once and started gaining weight back. The band is my hope for maintenance!

It was 10 weeks after surgery til I lost my first pound. 1 fill 6 weeks after of 2cc another fill 4 weeks later of .2cc I have a 4cc band. Don't expect to lose anything until you get restricted.

I experience the same thing you do...on a daily basis. But I don't think it's because of being too restricted. -restricted...sure. But eat tiny...even almost microscopic bites. Take one...walk away. Come back and take another..and walk away. This is what I've done and well, I'm very please with the results. I've changed my habits as I don't inhale my food nor do I finish first now. If you don't want to slime anymore, as you didn't mention vomiting/convulsion like vomiting, go for an unfill..so you only need a tad..as slight unfill.

Sure...but don't lift pianos or washing machines! I moved 1 month after..but I have children that moved all the heavy stuff.

Glad all worked out.