Tricia K.

I'm happy to hear that your 1st fill was uneventful and painless. I had my 1st fill 2 weeks ago (1cc) and only felt minor restriction for the first 2 days. After that, it was the same as before I got the fill. So, I called this past Monday and went in the following day to get my 2nd fill (another 1cc). Even though it has only been 2 days, this restriction feels much different than the first time. I have a feeling this one will last for a while. I get my fills done by the nurse practitioner in my surgeon's office. She doesn't use flouro (whatever that is) but rather does the fills by touch. She feels for my port, has me do a semi-crunch, injects the lidocane and then the saline. I don't feel either of the needles. While I'm not the least bit afraid of needles, I'm so glad that this fill process is so painless.

Best of luck to you and I hope you have a speedy recovery!

I completely understand the concept behind your post concerning lifestyle changes, etc. However, I've done that in the past and took Glucophage yet I still hit that plateau and didn't lose another pound regardless of what I was doing. As my doctor explained to me, some women with PCOS just can't lose the weight without the aid of the band or gastric bypass. It just seems that the logic is still flawed because I'm not changing my eating habits that much except for eating significantly less. My husband seems to think that after time, decreasing your caloric intake to 800-1000 per day, your stomach would naturally shrink and you would get used to it. Although it seems reasonable, I'm not sure that I agree with that theory. I do know that prior to having the band placed, had I tried to sustain myself on 800-1000 calories per day, I would have ended up with severe headaches and would still have had the typical cravings of someone with PCOS. With that said, thank goodness for the band!

I'm not questioning whether or not I'll lose weight because I have lost 26 lbs. in 2 months. I'm just curious as to how this logic works.

I was also banded on 9/16/05 and had my 1st fill on 11/3/05. I felt some restriction for about 3 days but then was able to eat as I did pre-fill and didn't lose a single pound. I had my 2nd fill this past Tuesday, 11/15/05 and have lost 3 pounds. I now know what good restriction feels like. See my stats below for current weight loss.

Other than the 2 hours of bowling on Tuesday night, I haven't really completed a full hour of aerobic exercise any other day this week. Tonight I have 1 hour of Krav Maga, which will total 3. I still have a few days left in the week and need some encouragement. I have a feeling that my lack of motivation stems from the fact that even after having my 1st fill on 11-3, I hadn't lost any weight. Instead, I went up a pound. Well, I went in for a 2nd fill on Tuesday, the 15th, and now I feel restriction. I have even lost 2 lbs. since Tuesday, so now I'm at 248.

As I mentioned in another thread, my surgeon, Dr. Thomas Lavin, has a self-pay program for $12,900. As long as you fit the health criteria for outpatient surgery, the $12,900 covers the following: Surgeon Hospital (up to a 23 hour stay) Anesthesiologist 1 year of follow-up care/fills The initial out-of-pocket visit is $175, which includes the psych evaluation. Any tests (sleep apnea, blood work, etc.) are also out-of-pocket. From Dr. Lavin's website www.whyweight.com... "As one of the first 4 U.S. proctors for Inamed Health, he teaches and credentials other surgeons in the placement of the Lap-band device for the treatment of morbid obesity." Here's the link for his Surgeon Profile on obesityhelp.com. Please note that the number of surgeries he's performed needs to be updated. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Thomas+Lavin+fnp.html

I had some baked chicken with ranch dressing and at first thought I was just going to have to deal with a PB....but NO....I ended up vomiting for the 1st time since being banded. Ugh!! I never want to experience that again. I think I'll make some chicken salad and try that next time.

That's so sad. I feel so sorry for her and her family.

The weird thing was that I have eaten the same type of chicken several times before, including a few days prior, and had no problems. I am on liquids today but only because I had my 2nd fill today.

Oh, I'm not discouraged....just making an observation. I was expecting that I might gain a few muscle pounds with this new workout. I'm happy to hear that both of your boys are ok but I'm sorry that you're going through such a rough time right now. Remember, it always gets worse before it gets better. Keep your chin up!!! Crystal - I agree with Kare. How dare they not warn people in advance. Poor thing...what a let down.

After 1 week, I'm actually up a pound, but I think it's muscle from the Krav Maga classes. We'll see what happens after this week.

You could always go to www.obesityhelp.com and check out what others have said about their experiences with the surgeon you're considering. If you haven't registered yet, make sure you do, then go to Local Resources, click on your state and check out the comments from other people.

Best of luck to you too, queenbee

Best of luck to you

You get a GREAT workout from it. Everybody is winded and sweaty by the end of the hour....no matter what shape they're in.

My Husband and I joined last week and, let me tell you, this is one intense workout. If you haven't heard of it, here's a link for more information. http://www.krav-maga.com/definition.html And, if you're seriously looking to get a great workout, consider finding a location near you and join!!

Here's my tally for the week: Tuesday 11/8 2 mile walk - 40 minutes Bowling - 2 1/2 hours Thursday 11/10 Krav Maga - 1 hour I have a little less than 1 hour to complete for the week. I'm also trying to stay under 1000 calories per day. I just joined fitday.com today. Here's the link for my stats. http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Tricia+K%2E

Without clothes and without shoes

Hmmm....27 views but no replies.... *Looks in mirror to see if she has a booger hanging out of her nose*

deja vu

Walking on the treadmill is fine for now but I would wait 4-6 weeks before doing any jogging/running. You'll need that time to heal properly.

Congratulations!! The first few days I was only sipping water but gradually took in more and more. Now, I can guzzle it like I did pre-surgery.

Congrats on getting an easy approval!! You're one of the lucky ones. May I suggest sharing some research on the surgery with your significant other? This may help lessen his fears and educate him in the process. Good luck to you!

A half a bowl of vegetable soup doesn't seem to me like too much food. Remember, it's still considered a liquid even with the chunks of veggies in it. When were you banded?