smagi

You can definitely start over! I did after about the same amount of time as you! I was banded 5/07 and initially lost 40 pounds. Then I had 2 surgeries about 1 year apart and totally fell off the wagon. I gained all the weight back (plus some). Finally I made the decision to call and schedule a fill. That was 6 weeks ago and I have recommited to the band and now track every ounce of food in and excercise more. Over the past 6 weeks I have lost 28 pounds. I am so glad that I started over, even though my family members were all convinced that the band was not working. Realize that it is not the band that's not working -- it's YOU! Once you get back on track, you will feel better and your confidence will rise. Call and make an appointment for a fill. My surgeon said that he thinks it is time to talk about bypass but I said that I was ready to work the program now and give me a chance. I went back and he said that he was glad I was working it now. You can do it!!

Bread, raw veggies of almost any sort, eggs, thick casseroles, Pasta, sometimes cooked veggies, anything fried. I don't eat meat so I don't know about that but veggie burgers are generally a no-no unless I want lock-jaw from chewing so much. Only thing that I have found that always goes down is chips especially when they have queso or salsa, imagine that. Ever since my last fill a month ago, I have been CRAVING really really spicy foods. My spice cabinet it almost empty!

Mine was Deadly Desire. I like it!

I have a candy dish in my office for others but always fill it with the stuff I don't like. That way, I'm not tempted but I'm still being thoughtful towards others. Maybe you could ask her to buy stuff that you don't like so that it would be easier on you? Also, I have found that if I have a sweet craving, it is better for me to have a sugar-free hard candy and address the craving rather than have it "eat" away at me. MMMmmmmm......Reese's! That's my favorite -- I would be toast.

I am very tight in the morning and can only drink water or tea for about 5 hours. Around 10am I have a yogurt and then a small but normal lunch about 1-2pm and a snack (cheese and crackers usually) about 4. I have a small and light dinner, usually soup, around 7 because by then I am tight again. Lunch and afternoon snack is really the only time that I can eat normal food that has to be chewed. At breakfast, I can't even get down a protein shake or smoothie so I just stopped trying.

I had nearly-2-yo twins and a 4 yo when I was banded and went back to mommy status the day after surgery. I had them nap on the floor since they were still in cribs, and I changed dipes on the couch since they could climb up on it. My husband would put them into their cribs at night and then take them out in the morning before he left for work. We did not go anywhere in the car for the first 4-5 days but after that, I really didn't have any problem. I remember watching lots of movies the first couple of days but back to normal activities by day 3 or 4.

Coo -- I am vegetarian and have been for about 15 years. I have had the band for 2 years and have found that it can be a learning experience to figure out what you can and cannot tolerate. I love love love green Beans, but can only eat them cooked to near-mush on a Tuesday when there is no clouds in the sky and in February. It can be somewhat frustrating at first when you are not sure and what went down fine one day gives you trouble for the next two weeks. I have found that when I find a period that I can eat green beans, I tend to eat them and only them for two days straight. By then, I am so sick of green beans that I don't want to eat them again for several months. Betsy -- I tried going vegan for about 6 months in the beginning but I am so picky that I got horribly sick. ITA with Wheetsin that the "hidden" animal products are really really surprising. Most of my Protein comes from dairy so I have a hard time when I cut those down.

When I was not restricted, I could drink cola but not when I ate (which is a no-no anyways). With pretty much any restriction, it is pretty uncomfortable and, yes, the burping is an issue. You can wait until it goes totally flat but then what's the point really?

I take my Flintstones with the kids.

Yesterday here's what I had: B: Yoplait vanilla Yogurt L: Vegetarian Vegetable Soup (1 can, no Water added) and 3 crackers D: Boca Burger patty with ketchup, mustard, and relish S: Jello pudding and couple of chips with queso (I couldn't resist!) Also, between 70 and 80 ounces of water/tea and 2 Flintstones daily. Some of what you can eat will determine what/when your restriction is. I am *very* tight in the mornings and pretty loose about 4, getting tighter again by bedtime, so lunch and an early dinner are when I try to pack in my nutrients.

Hi all! I have been banded for 2 years but due to several surgeries and medical complications have not been able to be filled or really lose weight . So now I **finally** got my fill and am feeling pretty good with a good amount of restriction. However, I am a vegetarian and am having problems finding ways to get enough Protein in without heavy loading on the cheese. I love cheese, which is what I always relied on for protein and is a huge reason that I needed the band in the first place! I have been eating yogurt and baked Beans for protein but wanted some other ideas. :help: I hate the Protein shakes and they make me start to gag so please don't tell me that those are my only option! Thanks!

I was not sure about the Morningstar Farms stuff. I really love the Boca brand in all of it's forms but wasn't sure about what to eat it on. Do you just eat the patty with condiments on top? I remember having this problem when I tried low-carb. I do eat eggs and dairy, although they are not my favorites and eggs tend to get stuck for me even before I was filled so I have been too chicken to try them since. I didn't think about the Protein waters or bars -- I'll have to try some. And Peanut Butter, that I haven't had since I was probably in middle school! Thanks!

Mine is several inches directly above my belly button, right at the bottom of my rib cage. My only complaint is that I am, well, let's say "curvy" and my bottom band of my bra sits right on it. Not comfortable initially after surgery or right after a fill.

I went self-pay with Dr. Spivak in Houston. He was wonderful and I love his staff. It came out to about 15K too.

Week 1 - 13 lbs Week 2 - 0 lbs Week 3 - 3 lbs Week 4 - 3 lbs Week 5 - 0 lbs Week 6 - 3 lbs My nurse told me that this was pretty normal and I haven't had a fill yet or feel that I need one now.

I am 6 weeks post-op and I don't think about it much in terms of being aware or physically feeling it. I think about it pretty frequently just in terms of not being hungry all the time or being amazed at how easy it has been to adjust (esp. because I was so so so nervous that I wouldn't be successful!) to life with the band.

My first post-op appt was at 4 weeks. And then monthly after that.

Mine did the same thing. It took forever and I think the last one didn't fall off for 2.5 weeks! I would just leave them alone for now.

I also never felt full and didn't trust at all that the Lap-band would make me feel any different. I am only two weeks post-op but immediately after surgery felt full in a very different way than I ever had before. Now I get hungry, but I notice that my stomach growls when I am truly hungry whereas when I'm just emotionally hungry I forget after a few minutes and there is no growling. It has really made me much more aware of how much emotional eating I was doing and how to read and trust my own body. Good luck on your journey -- I am thankful every day!

I just recently went back to work after taking 2 years to be a SAHM to my 4-year old and almost 2-year-old twins. Now I am a social worker working with families who have had their children removed by Protective Services. The job is ok (actually I like it more than I originally thought I would) but the people that I work with are AWESOME! I love going to work! Before babies, I was the Director of a Sexual Assault Program north of Austin. I liked that job too, but it was too much with a special-needs infant (now my 4-year-old handfull). My husband is a police officer, works 11p-7a.

I wear a bracelet. I know they give you a card but no paramedic or ER dr is going to go through your purse if you stop breathing and they need to do something asap. Mine says (on the back) "Adjustable Gastric Band -- No tube without scope." I wear one just because I would hate to be hurt in an accident and then the injuries made worse by the emergency treatment.

I'm only one week out, but I can give you the early thoughts. 1. How long were you out of work? I had surgery on Wednesday and was back at work on Monday. I don't have a very stressful or physical job, though. It was a little uncomfortable sitting in office chairs all day but I just got up and walked around regularly. 2. Explain to me what getting "stuck" feels like. Don't know yet. 3. How soon after surgery can you begin to excercise? I don't know about working out but walking right away really does help the gas pains. I hardly had any! 4. Were you afraid to eat after the surgery? Yes! You just go slow and just go on liquids and slowly work to mushies. My dr. only has liquids for 2 days and then mushies and I haven't had any problems so far. 5. If you have a spouse/significant other.. How did they handle your weight loss? He has been really supportive but before the surgery he was really freaked out. Once the surgery part was over he was fine.

Hello! I just got banded by Dr. Spivak last Wednesday and he was wonderful! Good luck on your journey!

Hi everybody. I've been reading the posts here for several months but just haven't posted yet. I am set to be banded 5/11/05 by Dr. Spivak in Houston. My question is about gas. Not the shoulder pain gas, but the upper and lower gas that comes out of your body. For my job, I sit in a room with clients for several hours on end (4 hour appts are typical) and am worried about being offensive. My surgery is on a Wednesday and I am returning to work on the next Monday. I know everybody is different, but I was just wondering what the variety of experiences were here. I am so embarrassed about asking this question, but I need to know so I can be prepared to return to work! Thank you so much in advance! Magi

Thanks so much everyone! This is really the only point that I was concerned about with getting the band. I'll be stocking up on GasX and Phazyme just in case!