AlisaH

I have seen an increase in burping and passing gas! It's crazy, I don't know why the band changes this, but it certainly does. I haven't had my first fill yet, so I have a pretty liberal choice of food options, and yes for the most part I am eating healthier, but in the height of really sticking to a Weight Watchers healthy eating plan, there was never a gas issue! I wonder what the deal is?

Ang, I too have been overweight pretty much my whole life to and the saggy skin is (and has been) my biggest concern about this process. I am keeping my fingers crossed, but also know enough to be realistic that this significant a loss is likely going to result in me having to have some plastic surgery. Not tops on my list, but if I am going to put in the work to lose the weight then it will be worth it to me to finish the process by getting things tightened up! Do let us all know how your first fill goes, mine is 4 days after yours so I will be anxious to hear!

Yeah, making yourself vommit seems like a horrible idea! I am concerned about band slippage too so my goal is to not vommit at all, making yourself do it, seemingly pretty regularly doesn't seem like healthly stewardship of the band either!

I've had a few drinks too, mostly juice and single liquor drinks. I noticed a delay in the effects hitting me, it was like I would have a couple of drinks, not feel any different, and then all of a sudden it would hit me. I wonder if it is the "funnel action" of the new pouch that the alcohol isn't hitting my system as quickly because of the band. So, be careful and give yourself time to feel the effects before drinking too much! I didn't have any problems though.

I've lost 25 and a half pounds, the first month I think about 20 and then things slowed down once I started eating "real" foods.

So far I haven't had any problems with bread products, I am careful about not eating too much of them, but not because I had a hard time. Of course, I haven't had my first fill yet, that will be in a couple of weeks, and I don't have much restriction, so I am sure that after my fill things will be much different and I will take it really easy. I hope I don't have to cut bread out completely, but I certainly don't want anything getting stuck!

Great job everyone! Red, I could totally relate to your post, everything that you mentioned about fitting into seats and seatbelts on the plane! That is SO ME! I went on vacation about a month before my surgery to LA to visit my sister and I couldn't even fasten the seatbelt without an extender and thank goodness my husband was next to me so I didn't intrude on a stranger's space! The thing I kept telling myself the whole time was, "this is it, this is the last time I am going to EVER have this problem!". So far my only realized NSV is that my clothes seem to be growing! Pants and sleeves seem to be getting longer! No new size yet, but my 28s were starting to get tight before surgery so I think it will be a couple more months before I will be ready for new stuff, and, like many others, I have a closet full of work clothes I love, but can't wear so I am looking forward to awakening some "new" outfits! Great job to everyone, I can't wait to read more!

Hi Ang! I TOTALLY feel the same way, we pretty much started at the same place, I was 325 when I had my surgery and have lost about 25 pounds (it's anywhere from 25 to 29 depending on where I am weighing in) and I am feeling very little restriction too. I haven't had my first fill yet, it will be March 14th and I am pretty much able to eat whatever I want. I can't eat quite as much as before, but the difference is really minimal so I am looking forward to the fill. While I am anxious to see some dramatic weight loss, I am also trying to keep myself in check by keeping in mind the fact that I want to cut down on the saggy skin as much as possible and slower loss gives my body more time to respond to the changes! At least that's my hope! You are definately NOT a failure, this is a process and one that is going to take some time! I have faith that the fill will set you (and me) up for great successes!

Hi Ginny, If you are ready to do the work that this should work for you. You're right, there are both extremes here, those that have done very well, and those that have not, but there is also ALOT of middle ground! I must admit I was so skeptical about whether or not I would really feel full, but I SO did (and still do, but I am waiting for my 1st fill which is in a few more weeks so the restriction has lessended a bit). You know in your heart if you are ready to do this and if you are, you will be successful. That's not to mean that you won't hit a plateau or that at some points the weight loss may be slow, but stick with it and you will get there! The head hunger is a real issue and you need to be ready to face it. One thing that has helped me SO much is to do lots of crafts and read lots of books! That keeps me distracted and if I find I am thinking about eating when I am really not hungry I just grab my crochet or a book or a beading project and that does it because I'm really not hungry. Anyway, this is a long post to say that you know if it's right and you know you can do this, it will be a life-changing event, but I believe it is worth the work in the end. I am at the beginning of this journey, but I am pleased so far and seeing that scale click over to under 300 is TOTALLY AWESOME!! I know it's just a half pound, but I have been over 300 for so long! Hang in there, you are on the right track!

Hi! How are all the Virginian bandsters? I was banded at the beginning of January and am doing well, still on mushies, no adjustment until Mid March, which worries me, but so far I have been doing pretty well and feeling good. I am starting an exercise program this evening. Just walking with my Hubby at the gym (well he will be running). I hope this will be the start of a great habit! I have been on the Exercise boards and everyone there is SO hardcore, it's very inspiring!

Thanks to all who posted support of just getting to the gym and doing it, no matter what! I am going to the gym this evening to walk on the track. I figured that this will be a good start for me to get familiar with the facility and progress from there! This thread is really motivating, thanks to everyone! Seeing your successes helps me to stay focused too!

Hello! Dr. Lucktong is also my surgeon! He is really great and the staff there is so wonderful! I would be happy to answer any questions I can as well. As for the process, things for me went really well. I had my surgery scheduled for first thing in the morning, at 8:15. By about noon I was out of surgery, out of recovery and in my room. Of course I stayed overnight, but the staff there on "10 Mountain" (that's the floor you should be on) is really great, they don't typically have overnight patients so there are lots of people around to help. I didn't get much sleep that night as they have to come in and run vitals on you every few hours, but I suppose it went as well as could have been expected. The pain wasn't too bad and they hooked me up to a morphine pump which I didn't have to use too much so that was good. The key is getting up and walking around as soon as you can, that really helped me to feel better, not to mention lessening the risk of blood clots. I went home the next morning about 10a and just chilled on the sofa drinking Water and gradually adding Protein shakes served up in a little medicine cup a few times an hour. I really wasn't hungry when I got home and that made the liquids easier to deal with. Two weeks of liquids only and then I have transitioned to mushies where I still am now. I have my first band adjustment on 3/14 and so far have lost about 22 pounds and I haven't had any complications so all in all things have been great and Dr. Lucktong and his staff have been really supportive too! Are you going to the support group meetings? Kay, the dietitian runs those and I think I am going to start attending the ones there in Roanoke! OK, this is a long post, but please let me know if you have any questions I can answer, feel free to post here or send me a private message or email!

Awesome job! I have noticed some differences in my face, but no one else seems to yet. That's OK, I have just started this journey and I know it will be obvious soon!

I was told almost the same thing, and my doc asked me to consider GB, but I had no intention of getting my plumbing rearranged! What my doc was quoting are averages of various reports on the weight loss of however-many individuals. I think averages are total BS anyway, they don't tell you anything. My doc did admit that anyone can certainly "beat the averages" with a good diet and exercise. Don't let that discourage you from moving forward if this is the procedure you want to pursue, Good luck to you and don't give up!

HI Daniel, welcome to the boards! I totally get what you are saying. I honestly wondered how some little band would keep me from feeling so hundgry, I mean, come on, we aren't cutting anything out of the system here, right? Wrong, so wrong, the difference was amazing, I was truly NOT HUNGRY!! How is that possible I thought to myself, but there it was. Now, I am about a month out from having had surgery and the swelling has definately gone away so my restriction is far less (my dietician described it as being like a bucket with a huge hole in it), I am still feeling less hungry than before. And, I decided to track my food calories as well as the Protein and I am eating so much less than I was before and truly honestly not feeling the same need for food as before! Facing down the need to have this surgery is serious and give yourself time to work through it, but know that you are the only one who can make this decision, you will know if it is right, follow your heart. Don't worry about not being able to imagine yourself skinny, I don't have any idea what that would be like, so I just imagine the clothes I wear now getting baggy! It's already starting and that's motivation too! Good luck and keep us all posted!

Wow! You Guys are SO AWESOME! I was banded almost a month ago (it will be tomorrow) and I am trying to get into an exercise regimen, but am having a hard time with it. Earlier in the week I went to our local rec center to get a membership, but felt totally weird as I walked up to the info desk, I just felt like everyone in the place was staring at me. I know that there were some that were, as I walked past the weight room so many eyes turned my direction, how in the world do I get to the point where that doesn't bother me? My plan was to start walking on their track, but since that experience this week I haven't been able to bring myself to go back. My hubby will go with, he likes to run, but I have been avoiding it. I so want to help spur my loss. So far I have lost about 20 pounds which is great, but my first fill isn't until mid March so I am concerned about not keeping it off/gaining so I know exercise is the way to go, but I am having a hard time getting started. What helped you to get over the anxiety of "the gym"? Thanks!

I feel the same way, I was banded on the 9th and now I feel very little to no restriction. My first fill isn't until March so I am hoping things don't get out of control. My weight loss seems to continue (athough I think I am retaining Water, it's almost that time of the month!). I am just trying to pay close attention to how I feel when I eat and I am logging everything, just to be sure that things aren't getting out of hand. Great job so far! Keep it up!

Some of the gas pain can be from the gas they use (if you had a laproscopic surgery) to inflate your abdomen. I met with a pre-op nurse about a week before my surgery and she told me they pump up your abdomen with CO2 so they can see for the procedure. They try to remove all of it, but sometimes they can't get it and you will feel pain in your shoulder because it presses on nerve. I had some pain in my left shoulder which I attributed to this. A heating pad did help a little. Getting up and walking around helps too as there is more surface area to absorb the gas. Unfortunately this type gas can't be eliminated in the usual ways!

Just be careful, but you should be OK. My surgeon wanted liquids only for two weeks! Then mushies for another 2-3 weeks. I have progressed through to some more "standard" foods, but still try to do more mushies than anything. I totally get being over whatever food you are always eating. Just take is nice and slow and don't over do it. Watch the calories, if you are doing well and focusing on your lean protein you should be OK.

My fill isn't scheduled until mid-March and I was banded on 1/9. The issue with my surgeon is that he is SO busy that scheduling is a nightmare and they have to work with the local hospital for radiology so they can do a floroscopy to locate the port so there are a lot of logistics involved too sometimes! I totally agree that that tiny amount of food won't do it and you are probably risking a binge if your body gets too run down so eat some more, mushies, of course, and eat more protein! Hang in there!

Hi! Welcome to the site, yes there is A LOT of info here! As for returning to work, I would give your self at least 4-5 days before going back. Will you also be staying in the hospital overnight? My surgery was considered outpatient, but I stayed overnight. The first few days are a bit tough as you will likely still be on some pain medication and you will be tired. I took off just over a week from work. My surgery was on a Wed and I took off the rest of that week and the whole next week. I probably could have gone back a week later, but wanted to enjoy my time recouperating and adjusting to the new band. Everyone is different though so it is certainly possible to go back more quickly, but I would suggest making arrangements to allow yourself the opportunity not to go back if you are feeling like you need more time at home.

This is a great post! I totally agree that we are all committing to a life change, nothing that is worth doing is a quick fix! For a bit of a funny story, when I went in for my two-week follow up a week or so ago I heard the funniest thing! There was a woman in the room next to me who was explaining to the dietician what she was eating and she mentioned blending up chicken strips! Of course, the dietician made the comment that chicken strips are fried and she really shouldn't be eating those types of foods! The woman was stunned and I couldn't help but laugh to myself while I was waiting for the Doc to come in! We were all provided with EXTENSIVE written documentation in additon to the meetings with the dietician pre-op so it was astonishing to me that this woman claimed not to know it was probably a bad decision! She also mentioned having cotton candy and whole milk! It was just crazy! But it made me feel better that I knew I was on the right track!

I asked my surgeon the same thing and he told me that it really depends from person to person and the amount of elasticity in your skin when you have surgery. He advised that getting up and walking as soon as possible and keeping it up along with being sure you get your Protein and ALL your Water then that will go along way towards helping this situation. And yes, most insurance companies will only pay if it's medically necessary. Just be sure to go to the doc often if you do find you have excess skin and document everything! Don't let this be the deterent though, I committed to the surgery with the understanding that I would do what I could and if I had to I would finance the plastic surgery to take care of it. After everything we have all been through we owe ourselves this! Good luck and take care! Alisa

I was just banded at the beginning of Jan and so far I haven't had any vomitting or PBing. I do agree with the other posts in that you need to follow the directions given by your surgeon and just pay attention to how you feel when you are eating and take it slow.

Congrats on deciding to begin this journey! I am just over 3 weeks out from my surgery and feeling great, it is so worth it, even if it takes a while to get there! As for the insurance, just keep checking and also work with the surgeon's office is you can, they are experts on what needs to be approved in advance and should be able to help with that too. As for all of the approvals, yes there are several, I had to first have a referral from my primary care physician, then an approval to meet with the surgeon, then another approval to have all of the dietician, etc.. meetings, and then the approval for the surgery itself and then just last week, the approval for the band adjusts. Your insurance should send you something each time the approvals go though and your surgeon's office would initiate those requests. Now, I do have a different insurance, Anthem, also with a gov't agency, so be sure to do your homework, but if you meet the NIH standards for bariatric surgery then you should be approved, even if you have to go through the doc supervised diet. Hang in there! As long as it may take, it is SO worth it!