Cocoabean

Vent away! My doctor is very conservative on fills. I did not get restriction until around my 3rd fill. He said he has found in his experience that by going slower the patient gets to restriction easier. Rather than filling and unfilling. He feels it actually takes less fills that way. I don't know if it is true or not. I have a 10cc AP Standard band. I've had 4 fills in 2 1/2 years, and one slight unfill, and have just requested my first fill in a year. Hope this helps a little.

Hey there. zeniada! There is a San Diego group here, but it isn't very active! Nice to meet ya!

1-2 lbs per week is expected. I averaged 3/4 lb during my most active losing phase. You are doing a fine job!

I believe clearing your throat can be a sign of reflux. I think it is worth a check in with your surgeon. Is it possible it could be the new med? I started a medication for migraines late last year that caused me to feel tighter. It is a very small pill, but it was the medicine itself that caused it. I eventually adjusted to it, but I thought I was going to need a slight unfill. I hope you feel better soon!

First off, congrats on the 30 pounds lost!! Woohoo!! When I was in the active phase of weight loss I would lose 3 pounds one week then none for 2-3 weeks, then 2 pounds, then none for a couple. Then I'd gain, then I'd lose 4. See a trend? For me it was not a steady weekly loss. My body would hang on and on and on, then all of a sudden let go of a few. I averaged a little less than a pound a week. At first I was so frustrated by the whole thing, but after I saw the pattern I became OK with it. Afterall, the scale was going DOWN in total. Try not to let a long plateau get the better of you. Keep eating properly and creating a caloric deficit. Also, have you taken your measurements? I often found that even when my weight was stable that my size was going down. A tighter a band does not necessarily mean a greater weight loss. This is a marathon of a journey.

I could not have done it. What does your surgeon say? Mine would not have approved, not that he or she can really stop you.

Christie, thanks for the info! When I saw my endocrinologist (I have thyroid issues) for the first time in a few years a while back, he was thrilled that the pre-diabetes hadn't progressed. I suppose I should be happy with that as well. But I'd much prefer to be non-diabetic!

What were your doctor's orders? What did you eat that was not on plan? Were you WAY off, or were you eating low carb things? Have you gained weight? I can't say if you have blown your surgery. I do know that not all surgeons require a pre-op diet. I know the pre-op is no fun, but get yourself back on track! You should probaby tell you surgeon what you have eaten, especially if it was way off your prescribed pre-op. I was told point blank that if I gained weight during the two week pre-op phase that my surgery would be canceled. With the diet I was prescribed, a gain in two weeks would only be possible if I had cheated. My surgeon wanted me to have the safest surgery possible. Best wishes!

It was no fun, but very worth it. I did not cheat on it at all. Including a Superbowl Sunday Party. The first few days were the worst. I don't much care for the Medifast foods. As I said, my surgeon's reason for it was for liver shrinkage. When I was out of surgery he told me he could tell I had done very well on the pre-op diet because my liver was nice and small and very easy to maneuver around. He said I made his job much easier!

Hey Janice! I was banded the same week as you! Welcome to lapbandtalk!

That is terrible, I am sorry you went through that! I think I'd write a letter to the doctor about the experience and ask that it be added to my file, keep a copy for yourself. Just in case there is a problem with your port or tubing. Especially if you were self-pay. Send it certified with return receipt so you can prove it got there. Also, remember, you are the customer and can ask them to stop when you have had enough. I had to do that with a lab tech would could not find a vein on me. Stabbed me too many times, and was willing to keep going until I said no more, go get someone else, please.

Forgot to add, I lost 8 pounds during the two weeks.

Hi Jennifer, I was prescribed a pre-op diet. I had to do two weeks' worth. I did not have to lose a set amount of weight. But had I gained I would have been canceled, due to the fact that it proved I had cheated. My surgeon's reason for the two week pre-op diet is to shrink the liver making the surgery easier. I did the Medifast program which is 5 of their shakes or soups daily plus one "lean and green" meal, which is just as it sounds..a lean meat and green veggies. So very similar to what you are doing.

Hey toribug! Your priorities shifted for a bit, that's OK. 50 pounds gone is fantastic!! Welcome back on track.

Hi Zippy! Welcome. San Diegan here! This is a great place for support.

Karen--what Leigha said, but I'd like to add that if you can't live with it, get a tiny unfill. Even if solids are going down, but not very easily, be cautious. When I got an unfill the last straw was when I could not get yogurt down without pain. I stuck it out for a week, but the pain was too much for me. The band isn't about pain. It's a fine line! My surgeon said pre-op that he prefers his band patients keep them loose and exercise more self-control. That's when my DH popped off with, "if she had any self-control, she wouldn't need a band!" Thank-you-for-your-support. :smile: NSV for me...I made my confession of non-exercise last week. Also, my blood sugar has been over 100 in the mornings on random checks :ohmy: Well, I walked with Butters on Thursday and Friday for about 20 minutes each day. Today...98!!! YIPPEE!!!! :smile2: Hoping that this will keep up and help me with motivation to keep my feet moving.

I think people expect the weight will melt off after banding. We know better. :smile2: I'd say things like, I am losing about a pound or two a week. Or that I haven't weighed in recently, because I only use my surgeon's scale. I'm not obsessing with the number of pounds, it's about healthy habits. Or, WHAT DO YOU WEIGH? Have you lost some hair? Have you put on a few pounds? Ha! Also, take your measurements, they often change when pounds don't. So, if you prefer to have a positive answer at the ready you can say, "not much change in pounds recently, but I've lost 'x' inches, things are changing in a good way!" I'd also say my blood pressure is down, or my cholesterol is normal, or I've dropped another size. There are so many other things we "gain" from this surgery besides pounds lost. Unfortunately, when it comes to weight loss, people can be very invasive with their questions. They'd not ask how much we had gained, but don't hesitate with the other direction.

Hi There! Can I join in, too? I was banded 2-15-08. As much time as I spend here, I hadn't noticed this thread... :smile2: I had my last fill nearly a year ago. I've put on about 4 pounds over the last month or two. I had a very nasty intestinal infection back in April, I lost about 5 pounds from that, so I am not sure if the gain is a true gain or just recovery from the illness. Anyway, I've put in a request for a fill, but my surgeon wants to do an upper GI to be sure all is right with the band. I am waiting on insurance approval for that and the fill before proceeding. Otherwise banded life is good for me, I am hoping a top-off fill is what I need to bet rid of these few pounds and perhaps a few more. Exercise is my least favorite part of it, and I avoid it if I can. I have started back walking my pooch. I was doing pretty well with that for about a month or so before I got sick. It's nice to see you all!

For me, there was no way I could have returned to work 2 days post-op. Pain was under good control with narcotic pain meds. But you DO feel like you got hit by a truck, very tired and sore. My pain level never went beyond a 4 out of 10 and only in the first couple of days. Is your surgeon OK with you returning to work that quickly? I'd also say have a back-up plan in mind, just in case you cannot make your return as planned.

You know, I tried to practice eating slowly before being banded. Without the feedback from the band, I had no idea what 'slow' was!! It takes time and some trial and error to learn the new techniques of banded living, but it is soooooo worth it!

They want you to go away, and keep paying premiums! It's a pisser, ain't it?

I bought bunches of Protein shakes and powder, only to find out my surgeon does not want me drinking calories. You will most likely need some for the post-op diet, but check with your surgeon and/or nutritionist to see if you will be using them long-term. I ended up throwing a bunch of stuff out because I didn't use it. Now I keep a few shakes around for after fills or bad stuck episodes. Otherwise, everything I eat is solid.

Yes, there are companies out there who will deny you unless you prove you were overweight in each of the years they specify you must be overweight. If you dropped one pound below for one doctor's visit they will deny the surgery.

Anne!!! yay! Glad you are back!!!!!!! Sorry it was a rough road, but happy you are now on the losers' bench. Yippee!!

If you still have the booklet that Weight Watchers gives you, you can make copies and submit that. I used that to get the 6 month diet requirement waived. If you don't have the booklet, you could perhaps write to the weight watchers office to get proof of enrollment. They might even have your starting weight. Then make the argument that they won't let you enroll if you don't have some weight to lose. That could be tough as you don't have to be a BMI of 35 or more to join, but it could add strength to your case. You might have friends/family/co-workers write letters stating you have been obese for the last 'x' number of years that they have known you. Hardly scientific, but again helping to make the case.