socaldixiegal

I get to shop my own closet for the next 20 lbs or so. I'm going to get most of my slacks altered down a size or two to help control costs (also they're great slacks!) What kills me is I need suits for business trips - and they need to fit! ebay is a great source if you know how things fit (get a tape measure) and can be good for some basics. I also tend to sell my "big" clothes on ebay while i'm losing. I'm planning my own personal "what not to wear" type shopping trip to NYC when I hit goal (for a while - good advice from WASA which I hadn't realized).

Not dread the horrible middle seat on an airplane Be more confident at work and doing public speaking Feel sexy Have more energy Not have my thighs rub together! Hopefully reduce the constant pain in my ankle from a bad break years ago And, hopefully prevent said ankle from needing to be fused in 10 years

I had lots of excuses when I started looking into it as well. Eeek - no pasta! I love pasta! Give up bread -ugg, I love bread. no more big holiday meals . . . on and on. It had to hit me that it was either make a change and grasp a chance at thin, active & healthy. Or keep doing all the things that I always did. Overeat, beat myself up, etc. It's a dramatic change - you have to be willing to make the change and REALLY want to do what's necessary to change. Congratulations that you're there - she's definitely not. Maybe seeing your success will wake her up.

On day three i had that thought. I permanent reality kicked in. I knew it was the right decision - and still is. But, I think a lot of us go through those phases. I'm two months out - it's not been easy/but it's not been really 'hard' either. Don't yet have good restriction so it's been ups and downs but I just remind myself it's a tool and I'll get there! Good luck to you - it will get better!

The hardest thing for me was admitting that I needed the help of the lap-band. I have always been against WLS. One of those that thought it was an easy way out. Yeah right! It still takes discipline, but it's a tool to help control your eating. And, it's there forever. It's not a "diet" that tends to have a start and an end. What I needed was something that would stay with me. I can't have the option of taking a day off. Or a meal off. You will however have to change your diet. With any WLS if you're only eating small amounts of food you're truly eating to live - not living to eat. Has to be good food or you'll feel icky and possibly get sick. Ultimately, for me I had to decide if I wanted to be thin & healthy enough to truly make a permanent change - with all the ups and downs.

I have the 10 cc band (done this past Oct 07). I just today got my second fill going up from 3 cc to a total of 6.5 cc. According to my doctor, the 10 cc band may be more difficult to get to the optimal "sweet spot" than with the smaller bands. However, the band chosen us based what the doctor tends to use as well as our stomach size. Doesn't have much to do on our outsides - but our stomach. He also said that most 10cc bands typically get good restriction around 7 cc. But again, that's up to the individual. If you go over to the Fills section there's a big thread on the large AP band (starts back in 2006 I believe) and has some really good information.

I had surgery on Friday and was back on Wednesday, but didn't work a whole lot (office work). Moving around was still difficult (i.e. getting in and out of the car as I have a coupe). Some people will take only a few days - others much longer. Just remember that you're still not to lift over 5/10 lbs for several weeks after surgery. I had a business trip the week after I went back to work (10 days post surgery) and it was exhausting. the walk from the gate down to pick the rental car bus nearly did me in. Would have to stop every so often and rest.

One of the biggest reasons for not lifting for WEEKS after surgery is because of internal stiches as well. Outside stiches heal much faster than the internal ones. The port for example is stiched to muscle. The stomach is stiched over the band. These take weeks to heal. And, pulling those stiches not only is VERY painful (I pulled an internal port stich about 3 days after - moved wrong) it can also cause the stich to continue to tear resulting in hernias. Best to wait - while it's minimally invasive surgery - it's still surgery.

The seminar will be very informative and should cover the basics of the lap-band, how the procedure is done, what to expect, etc. As much as people stress that the band is a tool, I have to stress as well. Just keep in mind that you'll still have to "diet" and watch what you eat - the band is a great tool to control hunger, but it doesn't control what you put into your body. (just a little band coaching there things that I asked my doctor: how many lap bands has the surgeon done how many cases with complications - what kind of complications - how were they resolved mortality rate (scary, but it's true) average weight loss of his patients (don't focus on how long - just his success rates) What kind of support does the doctor offer Are fills included in his program What is the surgeons process (i.e. psych, preop diets, etc) What's post-care (i.e. post surgery diets, post-visits, etc) How many patients are currently in his practice these are the kinds of questions I asked. I had mine done back in mid-October. I don't have restriction yet but am 20 lbs down and looking forward to being restricted! It is work - I do have to watch what I eat and right now I'm hungry too often (i.e. not restricted). But glad I made the decision I did.

I've had several friends ask me questions about the band and just thought I'd share it here. I'm about 2 months out with my band. I don't yet have good restriction, but am working on that. I am limited in quantity so far - just not enough. However, things I'm learning: having a band doesn't prevent me from eating junk The band controls hunger - but I need to make sure I don't eat when I'm not hungry I still need to make good food choices - I may only be able to eat a small amount, but I have to choose to make it a healthy small amount I could, if I wanted, eat a greasy meal - just one bite at a time Snacking must still be controlled I still need to eat according to my doctors recommendations (so, yes that means writing things down & tracking calories, carbs, protein & fat) I'm not prevented from eating sweets (never was a big sweet eater but unlike bypass I dont' get dumping) Having a band is a great diet tool! I knew what kind of eater I was going into this - and I knew it was a tool. My doctor explained how with lap-band, much of the success would be contingent upon me! This is one tool I'm going to work to make sure I succeed.

nausea after surgery due to anesthesia but none other than that. Took just a day to get rid of. I'm 2 months out and no nausea.

There are different size bands. I have the large AP band that holds 14cc total. There is also a 10cc band. Often the doctor will use the band that is the best fit for your stomach - i.e. how big the stomach is, thickness of stomach wall, etc. You can find the same size band on people of all different physical sizes, BMIs, weights, etc. One advantage of the 10cc band seems to be (just from what I've read) is that it can take fewer fills to hit the "sweat spot" of restriction. good luck!

I've only had 1 fill and it was SUCH a WEIRD feeling! Numbing shot was used. My port is easy to find - preneedle poking to find the center. It's like you can feel the needle moving/scraping into the port. Makes you really realize how there's a foreign thing in you!

It wasn't clear - is that 1/2 hour later after the first dinner? Have you tried drinking Water instead at that time. It should be enough time after the meal to sip some water. Also, does the stomach hurt during the 2nd dinner or afterwards? One thing I'm having difficultly with is head hunger and wanting to eat versus stomach rumbling hunger. Evening is also my worst time. Before band, I would eat dinner - then continue to graze throughout the evening. Right now I'm fighting a similar pattern of trying to STOP after the meal. I've 'felt' hungry, but I don't think for me I'm really hungry.

I would imagine that all of us are overeaters otherwise we wouldn't be banded! My biggest challenge is only eating when I'm hungry (which the band doesn't address!) Learning to eat 'normally' and limited to meal times for me is the hardest thing with this journey

I fly frequently and have flown numerous times since being banded 6 weeks ago (total of 10 flights). I set off 1 detector but it was excused as my underwire bra. The band & port should not set off anything. If it does go off - I would look for other causes (like my bra). Even the plates, screws & wires in my ankle from a bad break didn't set off the alarms. Not sure on the MRI though.

In case anyone has questions about traveling & eating with the band I wanted to simply share my latest trip. 4 weeks after surgery I went to Thailand. I had already progressed to normal food (my doctor however wants us to avoid starches, rice, Pasta, potatoes, cereals, breads - etc for up to 6 months). However, it's Thailand and while there's lots of grilled meats & fish - there is a LOT of rice! Yes, I ate rice. No, I didn't have any problems with it. I did talk to my doctor about the trip - we decided that it would be OK to eat what I could. I would then focus on a "proper diet" when i got back. I packed some Protein shakes & protein snack chews in case i had any trouble with the food (ended up throwing eveything out 1/2 way through the trip to make room for things I purchased instead!) In the 2nd week of the trip (5 weeks post-op) I was able to eat more and more. It was interesting in that it was very inconsistent. Some meals I'd eat a cup or more of food. Others I'd be stuffed after 1 or 2 chicken or pork satays (about 2 ounces). Overall I know I ate too much as I seemed to be full too frequently. I think it's pretty normal that as our stomachs heal we may be able to 'handle' more food than we should. Afterall, it's the band and we have to work on our diet more than with some other WLS. I don't think I lost any weight on the 2 week trip (hard to tell as travel always bloats me & it's now that time of the month). My clothing is definitely looser though. Overall, my energy level was fine the entire time. I have my first fill on Thursday so looking forward to continuing this journey.

I had surgery on a Friday (mid-day) and took the following Monday & Tuesday off. Could have gone back Tuesday (office work), but was glad for the extra day. Nonsmoker and BMI of 38 (in case size has anything to do w/ recovery)

the gas was the worst part for me. It was all in my shoulder - which was helped with a heating pad. Heating pad is the best advice I can give - wish it were better.

When I started down this journey I went from a possible insurance patient to a definite cash patient (overall pleased to be in good health!) However, cash for me is a $16k program fee. I know that Mexico is about half that price (give or take). What have people's experiences been with Mexico? Pros/Cons, etc.

I'm pretty new, but I hear all these people talk about how hungry they are and how they can eat lots of food after liquid phases, but prior to first fill. That "lap band hell" stage. I'm on regular food now, but get full REALLY quickly.

Just a few days after surgery I started having an appetite, but wasn't hungry. Had cravings, etc. I made sure i got my 3 Protein shakes a day and sipped on liquid nearly constantly. I didn't feel hungry - but that didn't stop the cravings. Thankfully, those only lasted about 2 days. I forced myself through it and they went away. hunger for me kicked in after about 2 weeks. I'm about 4 weeks out and on regular food. Only occassionally get hungry and fill up VERY quickly. Persevere - and good luck to you!

one thing I learned from my doctor at my 2 week meeting is that even after the skin heals, the muscle that they poke through is still healing. If you overdo - you can cause these holes to stretch and possibly cause hernias. I was told the same no more than 10 lbs until at least 2 weeks, then more of 4 - 6 weeks for everything to fully heal and you're really back to full activity.

2 weeks liquids (including 3 shakes a day) 2 weeks soft foods (but was able to progress to regular food at any time during that) Moving to regular was at our discretion. No rice, Pasta, flour, potatoes, etc for 3 - 6 months. My dr wants us to burn our fat stores.

Other than stuff to read Bring an extra Water bottle - or nagalene bottle (I found this helpful) Heating Pad was a must for me - gas pain. Straws too I found helpful. thermometer to check to make sure you don't have a fever