JRFAN88

Glad you are feeling better! Hope you still have some restriction though. I'm still trying to get back there after my last bout of too tightness.

About a month ago I made it about 3 days without anything staying down. I was trying to tough it out because my regular appointment was only a week away but by the morning of the 4th day I couldn't take anymore. I was hurting all over my body. You will get extremely achy after a couple of days. I was so weak. No sleep, eat, or drink for 3 full days. On the 4th morning I didn't even have the strength to call the doctor, my husband had to do it. They told him to get me right in. Strange thing is that I went 7 weeks with that fill before it became that tight. They took an entire cc out of my band & I felt immediately better. But I felt like I could eat anything. They made me wait 4 weeks before they would give me another fill & then only gave me .4 & I can still eat anything. That part really sucks but not as bad as feeling like I did for those 3 days. I thought I was gonna die. You will continually feel worse until you get an unfil. I'd go to the doctor as soon as you can get in.

I just found this thread on the biggest loser. This is the first season that I've been completely devoted to the show. The biggest thing that bugged me about this week's show was when the yellow team girl (don't remember either of their names...) asked those 2 guys to let her win the competition in order to see her husband. And then they actually let her win. If I was one of their wives at home, I would have been mega pissed off. They gave into that girl while I'm sitting at home wishing to see my husband. Oh, no. My dear husband had to hear me rant about that all night. I was hoping one of the yellow team had to go this week.

My doctors said no to coffee or any caffeine in the first 2 weeks only. After that they actually recommended coffee or a hot drink for when you start getting restriction & have trouble getting things down in the morning. I turned 40 in October & just drank my first cup of coffee about 2 months prior. Now I am addicted, but I only have about 2 cups each morning & sweeten it with artificial sweetener.

I have the APS also which holds 10cc. I didn't know until I went in for my first fill that there was actually already 2 cc in from the surgery. The first fill in the office was 2 cc putting me at 4 cc. The 2nd fill in the office she gave me 1 cc putting me to 5 cc. That was the first time I felt any restriction.

NeverB4 you are doing great. I noticed that we had our surgery on the same day & are the same age. Can you provide any secrets to your success? Are you exercising regulary? I haven't lost any weight in months. On my fill before last I went from 6cc in a 10cc band to 6.5. I was fine in the office then 24 hours later I couldn't even keep my own saliva down & was experiencing bad night-time reflux for the first time. I went back for an unfill of .25. I could then keep liquids down but still had trouble with solids & still had night-time reflux bad. So I went back a few days later & they removed .2 leaving me with 6.05. After that I had no restriction to speak of. So last Monday was time for my next fill (they are scheduled 6 weeks apart). She put in .2 getting me back to 6.25. I still have minimal restriction. It is weird because I don't even have as much restriction as I did before the last fill but I'm supposed to have more in me. I'm trying to get my head on straight & get back to the rules so I'll survive Christmas. Next fill is scheduled for the 4th of January. Thanks for any advice.

I'd like to know too. I had my surgery in May & my port has always stuck out. The doctor has told me that I'll probably need a low profile port put in after I lose my excess weight. Right now my port is very easy for them to hit so we don't want to mess with until I'm through with fills for awhile.

I felt the same way. I have a 10cc band & couldn't tell I had a band until the 2nd fill. THEN that was very minimal restriction. THEN finally after the 3rd fill which brought me to 6cc I had good restriction. I'm about to need a fill again. It's been 7 weeks since my last fill. I have a fill scheduled for next Monday & don't think I need much, just a tweak. Good luck to you! You'll be feeling like you have a band soon.

From someone who has been there - DO IT! GO AHEAD WITH THE SURGERY. I went through with a terrible divorce that started with my husband of 17 years leaving on Thanksgiving day of 2006. I was at my all time high weight when he left. I know exactly what it was because I was in the ER the night after he left because my blood pressure was through the roof & I was having extreme headaches from the stress. It wasn't until 2 weeks later that I found out he had a girlfriend. I lost 20 pounds that 1st month he was gone & that was with Christmas in that month. Over the next 4 or 5 months I had lost 56 pounds. I couldn't eat anything without feeling like I was going to throw up. Last August I started dating someone. I gained almost all of my weight back by the spring of this year when I started looking into the lapband. Now I'm 5 pounds from where I was last year after losing that 56 pounds from the divorce. Anyway the point is if I could have had the lapband at the same time I was going through the divorce I wouldn't have gained this weight back. The "divorce" diet was the best weight loss program I had ever done. Going through that "diet" along with the lapband is just double strength weight loss! Good luck! Oh, & trust me when I say you will get through this. I didn't think I would at times. It was the worst period of my life. But I am stronger for it & I'm getting married next Thursday to the man I started dating last August.

I have a 10 cc band. Had a tiny bit of restriction after my 2nd fill but not much. My 3rd fill put me at 6 cc & gave me good restriction. That was 6 weeks ago & I still have good restriction. I've lost 10 pounds in that 6 weeks but I haven't lost anything in the last couple. I think the reason is that I haven't been able to walk lately & I was walking every morning. I don't have enough daylight to walk before I have to be at work. Your 3rd fill should help a lot.

I have a 10 cc band & didn't find out until my 2nd fill that they had put in 2 cc at the time of surgery. It didn't help my hunger though. I couldn't even tell I had a band until the 3rd fill which brought the cc up to 6.

It sounds like you will have everything they need then. I was worried about my BMI not being 40 for the entire 5 years because like I said I was a yo-yo dieter so one year I was up then the next year was down. I could never keep the weight off. That's what I think the lap-band is going to help me with the most, is keeping it off. The weight still comes off slowly like before but usually by now I would already be back to gaining. But now I can't fall off the wagon like I used to could. Good luck to you! Keep me posted.

To me it feels like what I imagine a heart attack feels like - like a lot of pressure in my chest. It's a lot of pain. Everytime I swear I'll never eat again. But of course I'm looking for something else to eat after a few hours.

I had to have 6 months documented weight loss attempt. It did not have to be doctor supervised. I had several different personal journals, an Oprah one, a Body-for-Life journal, & just a notebook where I had kept up with my dieting. I had to show 5 years of weight history. (I think it was 5). They just got my records from my family doctor & my OB/GYN for that. I have always been a yo-yo dieter so I my BMI probably fluctuated from 33-41 within those 5 years. I went to see them then within 2 weeks had a sleep study & a psyche evaluation. About 2 weeks after that I got the call from them to schedule surgery. I had the surgery less than 2 months from my first visit. They must be busy over there. My son told me they called last Friday to reschedule my next appointment & I called them back this past Monday & left them a message to return my call & I haven't heard back from them yet. I usually have good luck though sending an email to Mrs. Betty. You can find her email on their website www.noscales.com. Anyway, let me know if you have anymore questions. I really love the doctors there & Mrs. Betty & Debbie & Jamie. I try to make most of their support group meetings too.

I haven't given up any foods that I enjoyed before. But you will change what you crave. I love pasta too. The night before last we ate at Olive Garden. I ordered the 5-cheese ziti which comes out in a very large plate. I ate maybe a 3rd of it along with some salad & about a 1/2 breadstick & I was stuffed. I took leftovers home & yesterday I ate on them for lunch & supper. And the best part is that I didn't feel deprived at all & my scales showed a slight loss each of the last 2 mornings. (Digital scale that shows weight down to the decimal point.) I love the band!!!

I had to pay it up front but like you said I'm sure there are some that haven't had to pay it up front. I had to put some on a credit card but luckily I had my surgery right about the time I got my IRS stimulus check so that's where mine went.

I still feel restriction after nearly 3 weeks. Restriction for me is pain in my chest almost like the feeling of a heart attack. My doctor schedules our appointments 6 weeks apart so I'm about halfway between appts. I'm not sure if I'll get a fill when I go back or not. I can barely get a slimfast down in the mornings but then sometimes I can still eat too much. I have had my first PB since this last fill but it has only happened twice. Unless I loosen up in the next 3 weeks I'll probably stay at this fill awhile longer.

The 3rd fill was what did it for me too. It put me at 6cc in a 10cc band. I lost 5 pounds that week after the fill but now I'm stuck again, just at least now at a lower number.

I took my pain meds until the bottle was almost empty. After about 5 days I think it was just at night to help me sleep. I hurt bad on my left side right at my port area just like you described. I'm usually very tough & have a high pain threshold. The lapband hurt me more than 2 natural childbirths. Plus it scared me cause most of the people on here were talking about their minimal pain & I was in bad pain. It was about the 4th day when the pain went from unbearable pain to just bearable pain for me. Probably 2 weeks before I was pain free. Good luck & I hope you feel better very soon.

I have BCBS Federal also. It took less than 1 week to find out. I too did not get an official approval but as far as I know everything has been paid. I was out of pocket about $1500 I think.

Did your doctor specify? My doctor's office specifically says Optima for the pre-surgery diet. I love the taste of the chocolate! I still drink them now for my breakfast when I'm in a hurry.

Down 30 pounds since starting the pre-surgery diet. 4 of those pounds have been this week since my 3rd fill. Not sure if I might be a little too tight or if this is my sweet spot. I have not PB'd or slimed since surgery. I gurgle & burp though more since this fill. No reflux during the night like I've read some people have when they're too tight so I'm gonna stay with this fill for now.

My fiance has recently began having headaches. He said he hardly ever had one pre-band. He mentioned them to the nurse & doctor yesterday at his regular appointment. They both suggested that it's probably dehydration. He usually drinks a couple of bottles of water daily but they said he really needs 8 cups.

It also matters which size band you have. My fiance & I are both banded, he in March & me in May. We were going nuts wondering why he had 2cc & couldn't keep stuff down & I had 5 cc & could eat anything. We went for checkups/fills yesterday. I got another cc added but my fiance didn't want one cause he's tight now. We finally thought to ask the doc if we have the same size band. We don't. He has the band that holds 4 cc & mine will hold 10. That made us feel much better.