kbinaz

I am with you, Weightisover! I have the same problem with plantar fasciitis (I have no idea how to spell that). I have a lot of heel pain at the bottoms of my heels, too. It makes exercising really hard. I am hoping that as I lose weight that will go away, thanks for asking the question!

I had the same experience. I just had my fourth fill today and so far have had very little restriction. Be patient, your swelling just went down quickly. Now until your first fill will be tough. I didn't lose any during that period of bandster hell. But it is okay and is totally normal. You have a band but no restriction and you won't for a while. Waiting is tough, but it is going to be worth it in the long run!

I lost twelve pounds in the first five days. They stayed off, but I stopped losing after that. I am three months out from surgery and my weight loss total is at only 15, which my doctor tells me is pretty average. (The band doesn't start working until it is filled sufficiently-yada yada you know that) I was actually hoping my weight loss would continue at that rate! (you probably are too!) but it didn't. You are still swollen from surgery so have a lot of restriction. Your hunger will come back and don't panic...it is essential and means it is time for a fill. They wouldn't even give me my first fill until I felt hungry.

Hi, I want you to know you are not alone, I am struggling, too. I was banded on 10/26/07 and have had three fills and feel very little restriction. I have lost 15 pounds, but not from the band- all lost on the clear liquid diet post-surgery. I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, but know I am struggling too. Hang in there and keep doing what they are telling you to do. I have my fourth fill on Monday and am so worried I will have the same trouble this time with little restriction. I want to get there so bad! I know you do too. It is easy to get discouraged when you read on here that people who had surgery at the same time have lost 35-50 pounds! I talked with the nutritionist at my dr's office yesterday and she assured me I am doing fine. This is normal. It will be a struggle until we get to the right restriction. I'm with you!!!

Welcome, hope you continue to do well!!

Hi, I am in Arizona, too! I had surgery on 10/26. Where are you having surgery? Good luck!

Hi, Wanted to join the pity party. I was banded October 26th, have had three fills and have only lost 15 pounds, and the doctor doesn't even count 3 of those because I am counting from my pre-op appt.(my highest) and he is counting from day of surgery. I feel very little restriction and am just feeling really down and like I am going to be a failure at this. My fourth fill is Monday and I sooooo hope I get some restriction or I will be really discouraged.

Hey! 48 pounds since October is really good weight loss, I am sitting here feeling jealous because I have lost 15 measly pounds since October! You will be able to eat a lot until you reach your sweet spot (I haven't reached mine either) but like the others said it makes a HUGE difference what you eat. I don't even bother with cereal or toast anymore because they don't stay with you long enough and don't have protein - stick with proteins. The things that keep me full longest are chicken and turkey. I have really gotten into turkey burgers. You can fill them with all kinds of spices to make them taste great. Rachel Ray has zillions of turkey burger recipes that are really good and I make them all the time. I eat them without the bun and have a salad and that keeps me really full for a really long time. At breakfast try having turkey sausage with your eggs then have fruit (fiber filled like an apple or orange) I have found that is the best way to stay full. Don't worry too much about the quantity. That will work itself out with more fills (at least that is what they tell me! I'm in the same place as you and really hoping for that restriction I keep hearing about!!!)

It's funny- I have had the exact opposite problem! For the first two months after surgery I was ALWAYS thirsty. I never felt like I could get hydrated. This has lessened a little now that I am almost three months out from surgery. It may be because I am from Arizona and it is very dry here so it is easy to get thirsty! I don't know where you are from. From what I hear it is really important to stay hydrated, so try to drink even if you don't feel like it. I am sorry you are having trouble wanting to drink - that would be hard.

Lap dancer- I am jealous!!! I want to get there so bad! I have my fourth fill Monday 1/21/08 and am really,really,hoping this might be it!!!

I looks like you are only eating two meals a day - your post said you eat at 11:00 and at 5:00.(unless I misread it) We are always told to eat three times a day, it doesn't matter what time any of the meals are. Maybe if you ate three meals you wouldn't feel so ravenous at your second one. I usually try to hold off on breakfast as long as possible (like maybe 9:00) then eat lunch at 1:00 and dinner at 6:00. That way I don't get so ravenous and want to eat everything in sight. Your breakfast looks reasonable, so why don't you try to stick a lunch in there and see if that helps with dinner?

No worse than any of the pre-op testing we had to endure! Probably most similar to the stick for blood work, although it bothers me less to get poked in the stomach than in my arm - fills don't bother me at all- and they are how I'm gonna get thin so that makes it easier to take!

It will be over before you know it and you will be on your way! Everyone gets a little jittery right before surgery, that's normal! Just remember it is a very safe procedure with very few complications. come back and let us all know how things went!

sounds to me like you are too full. You should be able to stay well hydrated and eat normal food with your band. Call your doctor.

I feel like a big fat failure, but I have lost 15 pounds since my surgery on October 26th. Going for fourth fill on Jan. 21st. Hoping to find some restriction and really hoping for my sweet spot. Boo hoo hoo...Waaaaaahhhh

Oh! I'm happy for you! My 4th fill is Jan. 21st and I am hoping for the same reults! I want to know I'm not the one person this isn't going to work for!

Justin, I could eat two eggs no problem two weeks after surgery. The only restriction you are getting right now is from swelling after surgery. Your band hasn't been filled. Some people stay swollen longer, thus they have restriction for longer. I was hungry after five days and had very little restriction after two weeks. Don't go by what other people are doing. It is going to work out, but you are going to have to be patient and wait for fills. It could be five fills before you reach your sweet spot so until then eat slowly, carefully and listen to your body giving it's signals. You will know when you have overdone it. If you don't feel that it's because the restriction isn't there.

Hi, this is my first post here, so glad to have found other Christian bandsters! I was banded on October 26th, 2007 and have lost 15 pounds. (most of that lost on clear liquids after surgery) I am anxious to lose more and am hoping that fill #4 will get me to my 'sweet spot' - God bless all of you and I am excited to get to 'know' you through our posts as we support each other. Kathy

The band doesn't start working until you have restriction, which comes from having the band filled. Many people don't lose weight the first month - it isn't even stressed because you are supposed to be healing and getting back to normal. So don't stress out (easy for me to say, harder to do!!!) They won't even do your first fill unless you feel hungry - if you don't feel hungry you are probably still swollen from surgery and they won't fill you. So you are normal. You are supposed to start feeling hungry at this point. Your band hasn't been filled so you are basically the same person as before surgery so go easy on yourself. You will find your sweet spot and then it will be easier to start losing weight. Hope that helps.

That's why I had surgery close to home - if I ever have a problem with being too full I can get to my doctor in 15 minutes-24/7. I don't know what doctor would touch you if you ever goofed up and damaged something (warranty wise)...I'd think long and hard before doing something like that on myself. If you are going out of the country on vacation that would probably not be the day to have a fill!

Hi, I have my fourth fill scheduled for Jan 21st ...I feel the same way you do! I am hoping to find the elusive sweet spot! Hope you do too!

I was never told what to eat or not eat before a fill. I don't think it matters one way or another. My doctor makes us go on clear liquids for three days after a fill, so when I go in I make sure I have an adequate meal because I'm not going to eat again for a long time! If you want to make sure, call the office and clarify.

Hi! I'm right there with you! I had surgery October 26th and have only lost 17 pounds. I have had three fills and still don't feel much restriction so, my word for you is BE PATIENT!!! you just had surgery! The band doesn't start doing it's thing until you reach your sweet spot, which can take 3-5 fills.(or more) I don't know how you can stand being on liquids for so long, I feel your pain! I don't understand why you are being told so many different conflicting things, but I am sorry, that's all I can say but maybe that helps!

It's hard to give advice because all doctors give different instructions for after a fill. My doctor has us go on clear liquids for three days after a fill because you can swell and it puts you at higher risk for band slippage if you eat regular food when swollen. I notice when I start to eat solids again after a fill I have more restriction than I have three or four days later - I guess due to the swelling. You need to be careful for a few days, you don't want to damage anything. You will probably be able to eat much more in a few days, after your first fill you don't usually have too much restriction. Just eat what you can handle and start with liquids, then move on to soft foods. (the oatmeal is probably a good choice but try to eat protein.) Have some cottage cheese or refried beans. Then move on to chicken.

cottage cheese, refried beans (you can sprinkle some cheese over them, too), ground turkey, turkey lunch meat, edamame,tuna,-I don't know what your post-op diet is, every doctor gives a different one, but I was on 'soft proteins' after day 4 post-op. This assures you of getting enough protein. We were also allowed low fat, low sugar yogurt, just during the post-op month. Some brands are quite high in protein. We were not supposed to drink any protein drinks and I managed to get enough protein in every day just on the soft proteins. Hope that helps...