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Yippy! I go for my first fill the second week in Sept! Got to get the scale moving again!

Hi friends, seems like im at a stall as of now. I had my surgery on Feb 28 and im down 40 lbs, but now im stuck. I also have no fill. Is this a sign of now i need a fill? I have the VG band. I want to get back to loosing how I did in the begining. I admit I can eat anything and Im scared I could of streatched my pouch. my portions are way larger than what I usted to eat but when i get that pain i do stop eaing. Any advice or concerns for me?

I had my P during my surgery, I made them aware of this and they said no problem at all. I made sure I did bring pads for my 1 day hosp stay. I even had a cathether and all was ok.

I seem to be loosing pretty good since my surgery in Feb. 244/208/150. Its a slow loss but im still loosing. I need to work on my below the belly button pouch. this is the worst for me. Any advice on what I should do or should not do? thanks

Thanks all of you for your thoughts and advice. Sometimes its good to share these stories. My mom is going to see what the vet says on Friday. She really had a great life and its sad to see her not eating and enjoying life. I will keep you all posted on what we plan to do. Lots of love to all of your pets!!!!

Thanks ladies! Heres a photo of her in December, she really is a sweet oldtimer! My mom is taking her to the vet on Friday. I told her it ok if she has to go to sleep, its the last gift of love a pet owner can give their pet.

mine is on my right side. I can feel it. when Im doing dishes at the sink I keep hitting it. I also have a larger 4 inch scar where my port is. I dont mind the scar but doc said its called the hand port incision and thats where my port is sewn into the muscle.

Inamed band make the VG band, its the larger more cushion band

Greetings from Philadelphia! I was banded 2/28/06 (VG band). Im down 35 lbs and saw my doc this week. Hes very happy with my progress. I also have no fill as of yet, and still seem to loose. He wants me get a fill when my weight loss stops. I reall have no problems at all. I can eat all foods (even bread, basta, rice) and nothing seems to get stuck. Am I just lucky that I have no complications with food? I seem to get a bit of heart burn at times and some burning in the top of my stomach. Tums usually nips that. Do I need to have my band examined or x-rayed to make sure its ok? Do I need a upper GI to make sure all is ok? Also i did over eat a few times and was very stuffed? Would that enlarge my pouch and how would I know if it was?

hi Photonut! I agree with your post. I really have to go with how I feel. I know someday I will need a fill but the time is not now. I manage to loose every week. Even if the scale goes up a few lbs its off in a day or 2. I guess everyone is different.

Hi bajhealthy!, Just about 2 weeks ago I really have no knee pain at all. Some lower back pain but not much. Every day my band is different. Today I have no appetite at all. Its amazing. Next week I go to Las Vegas for the weekend and have to deal with going to the buffets. This should be interesting.

Hi Stitchy. I sound exactly like you!! I was banded on 2/28/2006. My highest weight was 244 and im 5 ' 2. Currently I am 209 and feel great. I have a lot of energy, blood pressure is below normal, my joints stop hurting, and I have no shortness of breadth. I also have no fill. My support group cant believe im loosing with out a fill. Yes, I eat more that I used to but I still manage to loose slowly. I have the Vanguard band. Also in the beginning, say 6 to 8 weeks I would get heartburn, and the pain if I ate too much. Now I just feel normal, get full quickly but don't have that restriction as before. I am able to eat everything, meat, rice, pasta, bread, salads. Is this normal? I mean I don't want to have pain, or PBs but I want to make sure this is normal. I hear a lot of people have problems with certain foods. Am I just lucky? Sometimes I do get hiccups. I do not drink soda at all and will never. I feel great and am so happy I got this. My meds the Dr has me on are Nexium and Actagall for 6 months and I take daily vitamins. Also I get nervous that I stretched my pouch since Im eating more (but not like I did before surgery). Im averaging 1 to 2 lbs loss a week. Any thought on this? Banded 2/28/2006 Dr. Noel Williams HUP Phila, PA 244/209/150

I just sent you an e-mail. Thanks

great photos!!!! Gosh I cant wait to go!!!

Hi all! Im going away to Jamaica the end of July and im A bit concerned about my band. I had surgery in Feb and Im doing very well. (no fill at all and still loosing) My concern is do I need to take any Cipro with me or any pills for stomach distress? I know sometimes we can pick up bacteria, drink bad water or get food poisioning while away. I just dont want to vomit or get sick at all. Im able to eat all food with no problems and will make good choices on vacation. Im just thinking of my band first. Should I take anything before? Ask for a prescription from my doc? Stayaway from water, juice, etc. ( I do not drink soda) and will need to stay hydrated. Im staying at Sunset Beach Resort and Spa (all inclusive). thanks

thank you for the lovely photos! I really cant wait to go. Its my first time there. We usually go to mexico or the bahamas. as far as my band goes I will be careefull what I eat and drink, dont want to be sorry on vacation. I think today I have a bit of heartburn, too many salads for me this week, I guess I will give the lettuce and cukes a rest for a while

I have Personal Choice Blue Cross PPO and was approved in 5 days. My doctors office did all the paper work.

...how about a baked apple in the oven with a bit of splenda and cinnamon. or sugar free fudge pops, or better a slice of apple with some suagr free peter pan peanut butter! yum!!!

Hi all! I just wanted to update you on my progress so far. Doing well and 34lbs down. I feel great and have such energy. I have no fill as of yet and my doctor feels I dont need one yet. I loose slow some weeks (1 1/2 lbs) or fast (4 lbs) I have no trouble eating any type of foods. Yes I chew well but I dont get PBs at all. I dont even get the golfball feeling. (If I eat too much I get that PAIN to stop and I do stop) I managed to eat a whole burger with trimmings over the weekend, but it took me a while. I ate 1/2 and then 1 hour later the rest of it. Am I just lucky or is this not normal? Its not that I want problems but Im just so new to the band I dont know whats right and whats not....It seems the more I eat the more I loose. I tend to eat high protein meats, eggs, shakes, pasta, bread, you name it I have eaten it. I did cut out all sweets, and added sugar free treats freash fruit and good carbs to my diet. I really cant believe thats its 3 months and Im doing so well. I have all of you to thank for your help with all of my pre surgery questions

stunning! congrads on a fine job!

Here are my scars, very different from all of yours. I have 4 small 1/2 inch ones and 1 large 4 inch one (my doc calls this the hand port) It is where his hand went in to put on the band and its where my port is. Im very happy with my success so far. Im 9 weeks post op and I am down 30 lbs and I have no fill.

Hello Pam, I had my bnd surgery 2/28/06 and I still have no fill. Yes I eat more food that 4 weeks ago but I still have restriction. Im down 26 lbs. 6 lbs in the last month. my doc is pleased with my loss. I may consider a fill in June when I see him for my next appt. Listen to your body, some days Im starving and could eat anything, other days I feel the smallest amount of food keeps me happy.

I love ricitta cheese over some hot pasta with a bit of butter and parm cheese. Its so good.

Hi friends, just had my 8 week update yesterday. Im loosing 1.5 lbs a week and they are pleased. I have the medium VANGUARD Band and I have no fill yet. Total lost 26 lbs. I have no trouble eating anything. now for the silly question.... Im going on 2 trips and will be flying. Will my band/port set off any alarms in the airport/security? Some people I an traveling with dont know about my surgery. Also will the flight/cabin pressure effect my band? thanks

i m just 8 weeks post op and I really have no problem with any type of food. I can eat eggs, bread, pasta, chicken, steak etc. Is this normal? I sometimes get the golfball feeling but other than that I never had a bad experience. Sometimes I say hey band are you in there? I eat small meals a day, stopping when I feel satisfied, not in pain. Im still learning about being a bandster and just wanted to know if this is normal. I have no fill as of yet and what I can eat changes daily. Some days Im just not hungry, other days im starving. I mostly eat protein, veg and minimal starch. Even had 2 slices of pizza on Friday. I just wanted to find out if this is the norm or is this a sign that I need a fill. I seem to be loosing 1 to 2 a week.