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Hi everyone, just thought I would check in with my anniversary coming up. I am sorry to say that I don't post much, but read when I can, and you are all very inspiring and helpful! It's been a tough year for me, I am thrilled to be down 47, but it's been so hard. It took until April to find lasting restriction. And even with that I am finding that if I don't work out, I don't lose. That is a hard lesson to learn, but I am learning. I am looking forward to my second year. I will keep exercising. I will keep trying to eat better. I wish I could stick with a food journal! It helps me so much, but after a week or so I slack off. So that's my check in. I am happy to be where I am but disappointed in myself for not doing better. If anyone else is struggling, I would love to hear from you. Now is when I remind myself that it's a 3 year goal. Isn't that what the bands say? A 3 year weigh loss journey? Here is to a great 2nd year for all of us!

My nose got bigger. And I seem to be taller in the kitchen and shorter in the car?? In high school I used to think my nose was big. Then forever it looked just right for my face. Now my face is shrinking and my big nose is back! I have never been able to reach stuff on or above a certain shelf, now (with my big stomach shrinking) I can reach it! But I had to move the seat up in the car, who moved the peddles? Oh wait, my butt is smaller! Anyone else?

Too funny!! Jachut, I never thought about the butt/wall effect, but it makes perfect sense! Thanks for sharing everyone! Glad I'm not the only one shrinking and growing.

I think I have found my twin. I was banded the day after you, I have had a terrible time waiting for restriction! Two weeks ago I lost it when the scale went up again. Miserable crying, self pity, this is never going to work. Dreading going back in and asking for another fill. Every fill was the same, I would feel a little for a week, eat super, lose a few pounds. Then I would feel nothing and those few pounds would return. In 9 months my weight loss has just moved from 10 to 15 pounds, back and forth, over and over again. Well I forced myself to go in on Tuesday. Amazingly enough no one lectured me. They added 1cc and wow! I never thought it would happen, but I am tight! On Wed morning it took me an hour to drink an 8oz protein shake. I almost gave up! I was so close to never going back into that office again because I could not stand feeling like such a failure. So I agree, don't give up! Nine months ago today I had my surgery. I never dreamed it would take so long to get the band working. And even if it does loosen up some, I have now at least had a taste of what true restriction is. Good luck everyone! Thanks Zillyanne!

I can commiserate with you. The moment I leave the kitchen someone wants a snack, it brutal. Lately I have been making hubby's lunch the night before. I should make it at dinnertime, but I forget. So 9 or 10 pm I have to brace myself to just go in, make his lunch and leave. It is SO hard. I ended up eating a little snack tonight, not planned, I wish I didn't. From now on I will try harder to get that lunch made much earlier.

Hi everyone! I have never done a challenge before but I would love to give it a try. Thanks!

At my last fill I was expressing my anxiety over being at 8cc (with a Realize band) with no real restriction. My doctor said they have patients at 10cc and even 11cc. They prefer not to go that high, but they will. But I would think every doctor will have different limits. He filled me to 9cc that day, that was almost 3 weeks ago and I have great restriction now. Things are going great, but the 5+ months it took to get to restriction were hard.

Thank you all for sharing, I am crying I'm laughing so hard! You made my day! My band was the first time I've been put under, I did not expect the crazy feeling. The first thing I remember was hearing someone say "She had a band and a liver biopsy". Now a liver biopsy was NOT planned and my mind is now racing. I asked the nurse "did someone say liver biopsy?" she said "oh, you heard that did you?" I start crying and saying how my grandmother died from liver cancer. I kept saying over and over "My kids are so young" and crying. The nurse said, lets get the doctor down here. Then the surgeons intern came down and was trying to be all consoling. He said it was nothing, just a bile duct tumor, nothing to worry about. Then he says "you are a healthy 35yo woman, your going to live to....36." The nurse next to me tries to stop a laugh, and I'm thinking, that's it! 36? This is how you comfort me? I said "Thanks a lot..." In a slightly sarcastic tone and got a few chuckles from the nurses.

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with lapband in any of the Worcester area hospitals? I have read a lot about Boston hospitals but I rarely drive into Boston and the traffic makes so nervous. I did a search and found some old threads, any one recent? What hospital, who was your doctor, good experience? I also love the idea of fills and after care being so close to home, I live about 10 min, from UMASS/Memorial. But the best care is my top priority so I will drive to Boston if I have to. Thanks!!

Good luck with your new start. I did end up going through Umass and had band surgery July 30 with Dr Kelly. They switched to doing all Realize bands, so I'm trying to just say band surgery, instead of Lapband. I will say that I had some frustration with the process of going through the Weight Center. I considered switching programs for a while. But once I got through that part and my file was sent to the surgery center, things went quicker and smother, and I love Dr. Kelly. I would highly recommend him! He was great, every person I saw on surgery day was great and nice. I was in at 7am and home by 3pm. Umass also called me the next day to check up on me. Getting in for fills has been easy so far. I had to wait 7 weeks after surgery for the first fill (scheduling issues). But after that it's been easy. I called Monday and they gave me an appointment for Thursday for my 3rd fill. :grouphug:

Hi, we are going to Disney in December and we did get the meal plan. We where there in April 2007 with the regular meal plan and loved it. It includes one sit down meal a day, one quick service (fast food) and one snack (ice cream, pop corn, drink) per person per day. We did a lot of the character dining, that counts as a sit down, and did save quite a bit of money using the meal plan (we did the math). This year they are charging the same price for the plan but tip for the sit down meal is no longer included. Even with that change it will still save us money. They also have a deluxe meal plan with 3 sit down meals a day. Crazy expensive, and you spend all day sitting in restaurants. Not to mention being crazy full all day. I went in high school and we had this 3 full meal plan. It was way too much! I will have my third fill about 3 weeks before we go and I'm not sure how much I will be able to eat. I'm going to try not to worry about it. lunch and snack we can keep the leftovers, for the character dining (usually buffet) I would have to pay for a meal just to sit with my family anyway, so it's worth it. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Hi, I am 7 days post-op and I was just wondering the same thing this morning. The port sit is the only incision that is bothering me, and that usually only happens when I move. But this morning I was lying still and felt a couple cramp/ache feelings at my port site. I thought this was weird. I was more active the last two days and I am thinking I just irritated it a little. It's so hard not to worry! But when in doubt, call your doctor.

It sounds like you have had a rough time! I don't have any advice as I am just one week out myself, but I wanted to wish you good luck on your healing! I have not had the problems you have had, but I do feel very tight, especially in the mornings. I am assuming (maybe incorrectly) that it's from stomach swelling and that when that heals I will be able to get more down.

Hi, I was banded last Wednesday, 7-30-08. I read and posted a little on this site before, but now life is so different I seem to be here several times a day looking for info. I can't believe I am finally banded! I am a 35 yo sahm, to two boys ages 6 and 8. We are also homeschooling and love it. DH and I went to a movie yesterday and I think all the laughing I did made me very sore, so I am going to take it very easy today. The last few mornings I have woken up with a tightness in my chest. I wonder if this is the morning restriction I have read about? Bandsters who need to start with warm liquids to help loosen up in the morning. My fear is it's some kind of reflux causing it. Everything is still so new! My port site is still pretty sore. Anyone know how long that takes to heal? Wishing all of us luck on our new journey!

Congratulation! I was trying to keep my expectations low, but I have also lost 7 pounds since my surgery on the 30th and I was so surprised! I was also excited to start walking the dog again yesterday. That's great you get a fill so quickly. I think I have to wait until 6 weeks.

Sorry you had such a rough time! I hope you will feel much better from now on. My surgery was last Wednesday and outpatient as well, 9 am surgery- 2pm check out. Saturday was the day I felt up to a short walk. It took me forever to go around our little block in shuffling little steps. But from there on every day was greatly improved! I hope you have the same thing to look forward to. Wishing you a great nights sleep, to wake up feeling added energy, and better than the day before.

The same thing happened to me and it surprised me. I felt much worse in recovery than I thought I would. The pre-op waiting at the hospital was anxious torture (sorry, maybe a little dramatic) and then the horrible groggy in and out of reality feeling in recovery. All I could think of was, this sucks so bad, what if I have to do it again for a complication! No, this sucks! I'm just trying to let that go and trust that this will be a great journey. I am home today and feeling very well, compared to yesterday. Remember the saying don't borrow trouble. So for now I am practicing gratitude for where I am and trying not to over think things. One day at a time. Good luck!!

Thanks, that was great to watch. I haven't seen that "green zone" restriction chart before. Do you have a link for that? I would love to see it close up. Congratulations on your weight loss!

Hi Orea and everyone getting banded tomorrow! Good luck to all of us!

My kids are 6 and 8 now, so I cant help you with sharing a similar experience. But I just wanted to offer some support. I nursed my kids for years and believe breastfeeding is a wonderful and amazing thing! I would suggest contacting a local La Leche League LLLI | Home , they often help moms who have to have surgerys or fast for medical tests. From my own experience, I think if your daughter is eating other foods she shouldn't have any problem with lack of nutrition for the few days you can not nurse her. She will probably want extra food and liquids. As far as your milk supply, pumping when you can't nurse, and then nursing as much as she wants to when it is safe to resume, should keep your milk supply just fine. There is another organization, The World Health Organization, that recommends breastfeeding for 24 months or longer. Personally I think nursing for any length of time is a benefit, 2 weeks or 2 years. I only mention this because I hear from a lot of moms that stop at 12 mos because of the American Academy of Peds recomendation. I think this is a very conservative reccomendation because the USA is not as breastfeeding friendly as other countries. Any way, good luck with your upcomming lapband! My operation is next week and I am getting so nervious!

I also love this stuff! I'm always looking to learn more. I plan to take arnica before and after surgery to help with healing. I don't use a lot of homeopathy, but for this I will.

Sorry, I typed August by mistake. I hope to attend the July 24 meeting. I was thinking at the meeting I did attend, why it is they don't have seperate meetings for lapband and bypass. Or at least have a leader/speaker for each. The man running the meeting had bypass. Do they sometime have a band patient run the meeting? I did find it supportive for the life changes and food program aspect. But much of the discussion involved dumping and other things I am not interested in. It sounds like they do a lot of bands at Umass. I wonder how hard it would be to start up a band support meeting?

Hi all! I just wanted to post a quick update. I decided to stay with the Umass program and things have been progressing well. I met with Dr Kelly and Robin, both are super nice. I also received my insurance approval :wink_smile: and a surgery date of July 30. I didn't make it to the June meeting but I was at the May meeting. It was my first support meeting and I liked it very much. The only thing that bugged me was one man who said you would be better off going to weight watchers than getting lapband. I don't know his story, maybe he was a conversion patient, he has bypass now. I can accept that it's now for everyone, but can't he just say "It wasn't for me" instead of being so negative? Is the next meeting August 24? I hope to be there.

Hi all! Congratulations to everyone getting banded in July. After a very long process that started in September 2007, I have my surgery date!! July 30!! I'm amazed that the hospital program took over 10 months. but my insurance approved me in 1 day. I have seen many threads over that time for monthly bandster groups. Now I get to join in! Good luck to all of us!:wink_smile:

Wow! Is this true? Thanks for the post, this is the best thing I have read all day. Not that I glad to hear about people dying from a tub slip, but you know what I mean, perspective.