HeatherO

If you are eating slow and chewing well but still suffering, it definitely sounds like you need a little unfill. It may not even need to be 1 full cc, maybe a half would be OK. The point of the lapband is not to be on liquids or be unable to eat. You should be able to ingest solid Proteins without being miserable. I would definitely call your doctor again.

I love sushi . . . but I can't eat the sticky rice at all. I have found the sushi that I like and can ingest without being miserable is a cream cheese roll with smoked salmon, veggies wrapped in seaweed with not a spec of rice attached. Just curious, do you eat the rice with your sushi?

Everyone that has ever said they had a small prefill has had a Lap Band. However, some surgeons decide to put them in empty. This is anecdotal but it is what I have noticed to be uniform across everyone that spoke about it. Realize bands are generally empty (mine was definitely empty), no one has ever contradicted this but please speak up if you have had a prefill with a Realize band.

I know what you mean. I feel like I look great in clothes now. I really dont even look that heavy anymore, just common in size for my age. Off with the clothes and I am really dissapointed in my lower stomach and upper thighs. They are not terrible, but they definitely are not normal. However, as a saving grace I have a pretty good swimsuit that conceals my flaws pretty well so I am lucky . . . except I can't find one that conceals that my skin is as white as new fallen snow and won't tan at all :0). On a side note, I saw a friend on Wednesday that showed me you can find swimsuits that conceal absolutlely everything. They are swimsuits for muslim women and the only items exposed are the front of your face and your feet. I thought they were kind of interesting but I had to laugh at the name. They are called burkinis (a mix of burka which is a middle eastern dress that covers a women completely and even veils the eyes and our traditional bikini). Talk about comparing apples and oranges and then mixing them altogether.

I am afraid to eat that stuff. If it is something new I have not tried as a bandster, I dont like to eat anywhere that does not have a bathroom close at hand for emergencies. I can just see myself eating the "wrong" thing and having to sprint across the football sized store dodging housewives pushing carts the size of small cars while vaulting over a few toddlers for good measure . . . . only to not make it to the bathroom in time and having to hyuck something up between the mouthwash and toothpaste (while in dire need of minty fresh breath). Also, did you notice that the kind of things they have for samples tend to be high carbs, high calorie and high fat. I think that might be one of the reasons they may disagree with my stomach.

Ditto, I am having the same exact problem. It takes about three clicks to get to where I am going and is making me nuts. >>>Calling all Board Administrators & Monitors . . . . please help us to maintain our sanity while browsing posts<<< :0)

There are so many people for and against and even supportive of both surgeries. Everyone has a different opinion. You can easily find surgeons with completely different ideas. Because of this, I think it is best that you do as much research as possible and draw up your own list of pros and cons to make sure you are making the right decision. Definitely look online for clinical trial results for the different options as well. The band was the absolute right decision for me, but i have a friend who chose r&y and said it was absolutley the right decision for her. You have to find the best fit for you.

This is just a prime example of why all statistics must be taken with a grain of salt. It is also important to think critically about what you see and read. You can spin certain facts around to show any result that you are motivated to show. There are probably small kernels of truth in what the article says but it seems to discount appropriate information as a whole to make a point. Myth 1, Genetics and inactivity increase risk factors while exercise is healthy and reduces risk factors - this is true . . . but they blatantly disregard weight loss contributions. Myth 3, dieting can be unhealthy and increase the risk of death - this can also be true if people are using highly unhealthy dieting methods like only eating one kind of food or limiting caloric intake to extreme levels. This is a completely biased view and I would be deeply ashamed if I were the author of such an article. What is worse is that the state of Georgia would post this nonsense. Shame on them for trying to skew peoples opinions in this way. I hope no one that has had the misfortune to read this takes it very seriously.

I am self pay and it was by far the best money I have ever spent. I have absolutely no regrets.

I am happy to hear that you you are doing better and caught the infection in time. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I am going to state my honest opinion about this but I don't intend to hurt anyones feelings. It is true that band does not help everyone, but it does help most people who have it. However, you have to have some basic level of commitment to the new lifestyle. You don't have to be perfect (and none of us are perfect) but you do have to try to eat healthy and make the right decisions more often than not to make it work. It is very possible to eat around the band with the best intentions of "I'll really start tomorrow, but today I have excuse __, __, & ___ why I will not do it today." If you are on month 4 or 6 and you have not even started attempting to eat healthy and follow recommendations, it would be unfair to say of course the lapband will do the work for you and you will automatically have great success. If you really want to make a change in your life, if it really is important for you, you need to take personal responsibility and ownership of where you are . . . and start making decisions that support a healthier you. It doesn't mean follow the diet perfectly, it means taking the steps, even if they are small steps to start with, in the right direction (drinking more Water, getting exercise in whatever form is comfortable as long as you are moving, attempting to eat healthier for most meals according to your docters recommendations). As within anything in life, you have to put something into it to take something away from it.

Hang in there, we are all rooting for you. We have all been in that same place as well, after liquids with no restriction. It will pass quickly enough.

It is really hard to say. If you are very uncomfortable or if it doesnt loosen up in a week or so, get a very slight unfill. You dont have to have much taken out to make a big different. Just so you know, if you have pb'd much since your fill and did not go on liquids, you may have some swelling that will not go down until you go through the liquid stage. You may also want to revisit eating slooowwww and the chew to goo principles of bandster life. If this does not help a slight unfill may definitely be in order. Good luck.

Hairloss is common for WLS patients between 4-6 months out although it does not affect everyone. I have not seen it yet but I know it might be coming for me as well. Keep Protein levels high, caloric intake in your doctors recommended range, use Biotin and make sure you are getting Vitamins in and it should help. I expect I should start experiencing some hairloss because when I was pregnant I lost a lot of hair. I have been really careful on my intake so I am hoping it will not happen. I gues only time will tell.

Just because there is low income housing near would not cause me to discount the doctor or hospital. As long is there is safe parking with appropriate security it would be fine for me. My choice would be related more to the skills of the doctor and hospital. If the doctor had a solid reputation, lots of experience, good bedside manner and the hospital environment was safe, why not go there? I have more of an appreciation for people who choose to work in economically depressed areas. Everyone is entitled to good healthcare. As far as scandalous looking folk are concerned, what was it about them that looked so scandalous? Was it their clothing, vehicles, skin color, etc? I dont like making generalizations about people I see on the street with no knowledge about who they are or what their lives are like. Have any of us not felt the sting of being judged in some way based on our weight?

How aggravating. Good luck on Tuesday, hopefully you will have a more successful non-appointment ;0)

I was out of control with my eating too. Now, I am finally in control. Hunger is not an issue anymore, unless it is head hunger. It is sooo much easier now than before. I was a consistent overeater before. Now I cant overeat. I never grazed much but when I did eat, I wanted to eat alot. I love my band and only regret I didnt do it sooner.

I really think two weeks of liquids will help. I am really happy that it was just dilation, which is very treatable, and not a slip. Good luck.

I did my first abdominals 4.5-5 weeks out and I had soreness for several days. I was uncomfortable and worried. It is definitely too early for abdominals. I am definitely interested in hearing what the doctor says. Hopefully you feel much better tomorrow.

Just hang in there a little longer. This diet wont last forever. You just need to get back on the wagon. Once you are banded, it will be a easier in that you will not be hungry much at all during the liquid phase.

Not drinking is hard for me as well. I don't eat sweet things anymore and things are a little more salty/spicy. This always makes me want to drink and I have to really force myself not to do so. Drinking when I work out is hard as well. I want to drink a lot but I am uncomfortable unless I am taking sips. I have a tendency to want to gulp when exercising. It is such a catch 22, I have to drink tons of Water every day to get my quota in, but I can only drinking when I least want it :0).

All I can say is, stick with it for a week and it won't be that big of a deal. It is amazing how quickly your body adapts. The first workout just about scared me away as well . . . my heart rate was up way high and I started questioning my sanity in choosing to run. It is so worth it and you get in shape quickly this way. It gets sooo much easier.

I lost almost everything above my waist. From the waist up I do not look overweight at all. From the waist down, I am still carrying a lot in my but and thighs. I also have a bit of a stomach as well but it is more skin than anything. My lower stomach is looking a little flap like now - a little melted looking. My thighs look bad. Sometimes I think I will never wear shorts again without ps. Maybe not even after ps, because I am white as a ghost with freckles and I really stand out :0). I never realized that I would lose differently in different spots. I don't remember gaining it this way. I have been working out like crazy and my arms look pretty good. I have a little excess skin there, but nothing that looks abnormal. I also was always so paranoid by my stomach in the past, but it looks relatively flat in clothing. My bubble but is still exactly that only smaller . . . even a lot smaller it is still out of proportion. Really, I don't care so much :0). I'll take my bubble butt and flabby thighs anyday over the 50 + pounds I have lost. Thank you, thank you, thank you my wonderful band.

What are the things you have read that are making you nervous? Most of us have gone through a phase doubting if we made the right decision. I can tell you now that I am 5 months out and have lost more than half of my weight that I have not regrets. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself, only a shame that I didn't do it sooner.

I have a desk job. I had surgery on Friday and went to work the next Tuesday. It was ok but I was really tired. There were times were I felt like I could have taken a nap on my desk. I also couldn't concentrate well enough to focus on anything much more than mundane, repetitive tasks not requiring a lot of thought. I think it is entirely possible to do it. However, you should leave yourself open to the possibility of taking a little extra time and/or leave early if necessary.