LuLu802

Shey, it took me about 2 months after surgery to get fill amount just right. Give it a little time. I was never told to go back on a liquid diet after a fill, though. I have had my band since 2015 and I have no regrets.

It took me a good 2.5 months and two fills before I started to feel a major restriction. There was some before, yes, but not what I was expecting. Try your best to be patient. It is a journey, not a race, and that is one of the reasons the procedure has worked for me. Yesterday was my 4-year bandiversary and I am on a slow on downward weight trajectory. Good luck!

I will never understand people come on to boards like this and preach. Nobody cares, really. The band worked for me, too, and anybody who has been indoctrinated into to the cult of band naysayers can go suck an egg!

I cut mine in half with a pill cutter. I was off of Metformin for a while because of successful weight loss, but I started taking it again because I believe that it helps control my cravings. Sometimes when I am in a hurry I try to take the whole thing but I always end up PBing back up! Yum!

I was one of the lucky ones that did not experience much gas pain or any other significant pain. No port pain at all, either. My gallbladder removal surgery a few years earlier was far more painful. Good luck and happy banding!

I just had a fill last Thursday and I wish I would have gone in sooner! I had a lot of fluid removed in mid-December because of problems with heartburn and that weird jaw pain that comes with it for some of us. I gained 15 lbs. Sigh. I think most of it was from beer and ice cream, lol. Anyway, I have already dumped about 4 or 5 lbs and I am definitely feeling a huge difference in restriction and satiation. No heartburn, either! Onward and downward!

P.S.: I did not add that hyperlinked text to my last post! It just showed up there on its own and I am NOT trying to advertise anything. *angryface*

Just a quick comment I would like to make to back up what a lot of people are saying about the success of ANY bariatric surgery depends on the person, not the type of surgery you may or may not have undergone. None of us here (I don't think) are researchers in this area, and all of our comments are, of course, anecdotal. What happens to 1, 10, 100 of us does not mean a whole lot in the broader spectrum of statistical data. That being said, I would like to add my little anecdote. I was banded in Feb. of 2015 and I have lost 80-ish lbs. I could be doing a lot better, but I get lazy and eat a lot of slider foods. I drink liquids with my meals pretty often. I also partake in alcoholic beverages occasionally, and my beverage of choice is beer. Overall, I am very happy with my success. Then there is my sister. She had the gastric sleeve surgery last August or September and has not lost any weight (as far as I know) other than what she lost during the pre-op diet. She has a very stressful job, drinks alcohol almost every night, and gets up in the middle of the night and raids the fridge. Two different people, two different lifestyles, and two different surgeries.

Hi, Kel! I was banded on 2/5/2015 and I did not start to feel any significant restriction 'til my second fill in mid-April. I still lost weight, but it really took off after that second fill. It will happen, I swear! I have lost ~80 lbs total over a little less than three years, and I still have a ways to go. Slow, yes, but that is what has worked for me.

Hi, I have not been on forever and was never really much of a poster, but I have been coming back after having some problems and more importantly, getting them fixed (I think). I am going to try and check in more often!

Hello all- I JUST realized that I was supposed to stop taking my vitamins a week before my surgery and I have not. The surgery is Thursday morning and it is now Monday evening. Did anybody else have to do this pre-op? I can't believe I missed this, it is written in my instructions and I just COMPLETELY missed it. Derp. Otherwise I am on low carb, mostly liquid diet. Protein shakes for breakfast and lunch, and a frozen meal for dinner. A couple of light snacks through out the day (V8 once a day, then an oz of cheese or cup of yogurt and a piece of fruit later). I can't imagine that having kept taking my vitamins will do that much harm. I am not even sure why I need to stop them. Anybody know? Thanks!

My doctors office called to schedule the same day I was approved, on Jan 13th. My pre-op appt was on Jan 22, I was put on a two week pre-op diet and surgery is Feb 5th. Good luck and I wish you a fast process!

Fuzzy navel with skim milk is really, REALLY good. I know it is a strong word, but I HATE Protein shakes, LOL. nectar is by far my favorite, but I have only had the fuzzy navel flavor. I have samples of the lemonade and Carribean cooler that I will probably try over the next few days. There is almost NO whey taste. I can smell it, but nearly as much as with other brands.

Hi! I am on day two of the pre op diet and things are so-so. The big day is Feb 5th! The first day was fine but today has been a bit of a killer. I am currently on a really strong NSAID medication (nabumetone) for joint pain and it, combined with the lack of food is really not good on my stomach, but I will survive! Just wanted to say hello and that I am excited to be here.