amonroy

I didn't even realize there was a chat room, i'll have to check it out...thanks for mentioning it

Hello from Michigan here as well. Congratulations on your band and your new life I think you will find this site really helpful with lots of information.

I don't think EVERYONE has complications. I have had none actually. I have been banded for 7 months and never PB'd, gotten stuck, vomitted...nothing. I follow the diet pretty well and always eat slowly and chew alot, but I do allow myself a treat such as a cookie or ice cream once a week so I don't feel deprived of anything. I"m pretty much one that is able to eat anything, just not as much as I used to pre-band. Everyone is different so it's hard to gage, but if you do what you are supposed to and take it slow you should be fine. Good Luck!

I also try to stick with the low carb diet that is normally recommended for PCOS, and just make healthier choices now.

Hi Trish! I have PCOS as well and that was one of my main drives for wanting to lose weight to get my hormones under control and all of the other things that come along with PCOS. I have been successful so far in my weight loss. I have lost 65 lbs in 7 months. And my menstrual cycles are like clock work now, and NORMAL at that! I didn't find it difficult as I have read others have had problems losing weight with PCOS, just follow the plan and you will be fine...do you have a surgery date yet?

Hi there, I am a military wife and my husband was actually deployed to Iraq when I had my surgery so I had to go it alone along with taking care of my 7 year old daughter alone. It was difficult, especially not having him there in the hospital with me or to take care of me when I came home, but I did it. He came home 3 months after my surgery. Somehow I think your situation is a little more difficult because I could not imagine my daughter leaving to be deployed, I also was an emotional eater and still to this day I struggle with it. You really just have to focus on other things other than food when you are worried and stressed, go for a quick walk, read a book, go to a store and just look around, anything to take your mind off food. As you know it will comfort you for the moment and then you will feel awful and guilty afterwards. I know it's all easier said than done, but believe me you can do it. We have to find other ways to cope with celebrations, dissapointments, and stress without food now. I wish you all the best (and your daughter) I know it's hard but believe in your self.

I have occasionally went back on liquids for a few days, there is a 5 day pouch test that if you search for will give you a link. I found it helpful before I had any restriction to get some back.

Where in Michigan are you from?

Sounds to me also that you could use another fill. Try to eat your solid protein first, if you drink liquid and then stuff that is mushy it will just slide through and you'll be able to eat more. Also I heard if you drink too soon after eating the liquid sits on top of the food and couple possibly stretch your pouch, causing you to eventually eat more. I was at 6cc and I could eat about a cup of food sometimes slightly more and the weight loss starting slowing down and was frustrating, but I went in last Thursday and got another 1cc to bring me to 7cc and WOW! what a difference, I have already lost 4lbs in 4 days (been working out too). But now I know what restriction is and I finally am able to get full off off 1/2 cup of food, which is something I wasn't able to do before. Today I made my husbands favorite bday meal...lasagne...I love it too, but when I sat down to eat I at about 4-5 bits and was very full. It was hard for me mentally to look at my plate practically untouched, but I was happy that I was full so quick. You will get there, it takes time to get to that right spot..and a very small amount can make that difference to you. Good Luck to you!

Well I was ok'd for walking immiedately right out of recovery and as time went on the more I could walk after healing from surgery progressed. My doctor told me no lifting weights or doing the weight machines until 4 weeks post op. Just take it easy and dont over do it all at once, you will get there. It's amazing how fast your body will adapt to exercise and the intensity as long as your doing it regularly. Good luck on your journey :cool:

I was asked to speak as well and I did. I guess I am proud of the hard work i've done and my accomplishment so far. I wasn't asked any specific nutritional information, mostly people asked me how I felt after the surgery and what the fills feel like. I spoke after the doctor's had already given their presentation. I know when I went to their initial seminar they had people speak and it was nice to hear a view from someone who had been there and hear their experiences. That was basically what I was there for when I spoke, was to share my experience. I think you should do it, it seems every doctor prefers a different diet plan, mine is a strict doctor and always says she prefers me to not have white..potatoes..rice..bread and carbs that are not good for me, but basically always says to make sure what I am putting in my mouth counts and is of good nutritional value. Regardless, you have done a great job, you should feel proud of yourself and share your success.

Yikes...that scares me, im due for a fill in a couple of weeks and i also have 6cc right now in a 10cc band. I dont know how much I need, somedays I can eat way more than a cup of food, other days I can only eat a few bites before i'm full so it's really really hard for me to gage how much of a fill if any that I need because it just depends on the day. I have been losing weight slowly. I'm just scared to get too tight as well and get more restriction than i wished for.

I'm glad to hear i'm not the only one who overindulged during the holidays a little too much. I didn't gain any weight and kept up my exercise but ate too much by way of "grazing" all day which is something I normally dont do. I ate when I wasn't hungry just because something was always there. This was my first Christmas with my band and I love to bake and I baked ALOT...I gave most away but I swear those cookies and fudge were calling my name and ate way too many...although not as much as in years past...but still too much and I just keep beating myself up, but told myself I messed up and now I need to get back on track. I have seen the 5 day pouch diet and i'm doing that and also going for a much needed fill the 22nd of Jan.

Congratulations on your Lap Band journey and your weight loss! I've had 4 fills since my surgery in July, it's great that you are able to have optimal weight loss but don't be afraid to get fills if you need them so your tool works better for you. Best of Luck!

I got one also. I have never had anybody tell me no. I use it at outback and instead of paying $15.00 for a meal I get to pay $5.00! I joke with my husband that i'm now a cheap date :biggrin:. I've also used it at Cracker Barell and a couple of other places that have the healthier choice kids meals like grilled chicken. Everyone has been really nice about it.

Wow Jaime! Congrats on the pregnancy and weight loss! My daughter was conceived by fertility medications and intrauterine insemination, we were luck that it worked the first time around, but like you it was never ending bleeding that would happen a few times a year. I'm hoping to have one more baby and with my cycles being so regular now I sure hope it will mean I dont have to go through those treatments again!

I also have PCOS and am down 54 lbs since July. I have had no problem, but I do make sure I get my exercise in. I was on Metmorphin but when I go back to the doctor since all my labs have now been normal they make take me off or reduce the dose. I used to have maybe 3 periods a year, now i'm am so regular like clockwork! Good Luck!

Mine is to the lower right side of my abdomen, above my waist and low enough where my bra wont irritate it or my pants dont rub on it, no problems at all with the location. Seems as every physician puts it in a different spot from what i've read.

I use a Vitaman B Complex with has 500 mcg of Bioten in it. I have very thin hair to begin with due to hypothyroidism and PCOS and can't afford to lose anymore. I have noticed it has helped and for awhile my hair was getting thicker and then about 4 months after surgery (which I have read is the time it starts to fall out) I started to get thinner. I am still taking the vitaman daily and I hear it grows back after a few months and it's normal after any surgery to go through it. I would advise to start taking them now, I also does wonder for the nails. I used to have very thin and brittle nails and they are strong and grow fast that I actually have to cut them now...before they would be so weak and break I never even had to bother cutting them! I got the Vitaman B Complex at vitacost.com they are very reasonable, I think I paid $10.00 for 160 capsules and I just break them apart and put the powder in one of my protein shakes in the morning.

I'm sure the fees vary but that sounds kinda high, my program fee was $750 but since I could not use the milk based protein shakes that were part of the pre-op diet I only ended up having to pay $500. Make sure you know exactly what is included in your program fee so you dont have unexpected out of pocket on top of that. It might seem like a big chunk of money up front, but it is worth it. Good Luck.

I was having the same problem for a while and my doctor advised me to add another protein drink and it really did seem to help.

Im almost 4 months post op, I also have severe PCOS with very very very thin hair, and the lovely facial hair. I take a B complex with Bioten (I mix it in my protein shake) and I have noticed my hair has has started growing in a little bit, I'm hoping it continues. I've also noticed that the facial hair is coming in slower too...YEAH! One other thing....my periods are actual regular for the first time in my whole life. I now have between 28-30 day cycles, and before I could go months without having a period then bleed forever lol. So this weight loss is really helping :biggrin:

OMG! Im so glad I found this post, I have been craving Franks Red Hot Sauce and I swear I have been putting it on anything I eat and litterally just sometimes squirt some in my mouth because the craving is so strong! My husband swore I was pregnant but I wasn't. I have found I like different things now too that I didn't like before like black olives...I used to have them, now I love them...strange

Im also 3 months post op and have had 4 fills and i'm up to 6.0 in a 10cc band, I can still eat about a cup a food at a time and I do get full with that but my doctors says approx 1/2 cup of food. I havn't had any problems with anything getting stuck or havn't gotten sick on anything so I'm happy with that but I think i'd like a little more restriction. I've lost 40 lbs so im happy with that so far but often wonder if I only at just the 1/2 cup if I would lose more weight faster??

I had my surgery by Dr. Lane and she is a wonderful and caring surgeon. I would highly recommend this office to anybody in the area thinking of having the surgery. The whole office is amazing and they care about your sucess and wellbeing.