annabella

Don't think of it as a bad thing about losing weight on pure will power, THATS GREAT!!!!!! I have a 10cc band and my dr put 4cc's in at time of surgery. I did have quite a bit of restriction at first but as I healed the restriction wasn't as much. I just had a fill (Iam now 4 wks post op, 16 lbs lost) of 1.5cc's and I have good restriction but I will prob go back in 2 wks for another one. My dr said anytime I can eat more than 6-8oz at a time its time for a fill. He wants at least 2 wks in between fills though. See if you can go in for another fill?? Keep up the will power!

Congrats on the weight loss and the best part is no more meds and high blood pressure. Its amazing what 22lbs can do right?? Iam 4 wks post op today and have lost 16 lbs and I wore a shirt the other day that I haven't worn is a while b/c I couldn't button it around my roll. LOL Not only did I button it but I actually had some room. I had a 4cc fill in a 10cc band at time of surgery and had a fill last wk of 1.5cc's. I have a total of 5.5 in my band. She said I could come every 2 wks if I felt I needed it but I ate 2 scrambled eggs this morning and got pretty full so I think Iam good for now. Let us know how your doing after your fill!!!! Its nice to have restriction!!!!!!!!!

Iam 22 days post op with 4cc's in a 10cc band and my weight loss since day of surgery is 13 1/2 lbs. I go saturday for 2 more cc's.

Iam so excited for you. Keep us posted. I have to tell you a story about my son since you mentioned how honest kids are. This was yrs ago and my son was prob 4-5 yrs old. He loves his hair spiked and he was standing on the toilet and I was putting gel in his hair at the tips making it stand up. I noticed that his lil eyes went to the side of his face and they were starring at my flabby arm moving all over and he rolls his eyes back in front and looks me in the eyes with this big smile and says I will hold it for you mom and he put 3 lil fingers on my fat arm to stop it from being jiggly. LOLOL I still crack up. I went on a diet that day and lost 42 lbs over the next 2 yrs. I gained 30 of it back and was banded 3 wks ago. I have 72 lbs to go. I have lost 13 lbs so far. He was just doing mom a favor. Keep us posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too love the blend. I bake with it a lot. I will def give your recipe a shot. Its awesome stuff. Since you like splenda in your coffee, did you know it comes in vanilla flavor??? Iam SO happy to see your positive attitude. You go girl. I will not name anyone but I read a post here today and it got under my skin. If you expect all bad things then thats just what you get in life period, not just with the band. Keep your positive attitude. Its not the end of world and your making up for it!!!!

I can feel my port. You can even see the outline of it through my abdomen. Its between my chest about 3-4 inches below. Its easily felt as well. Iam not a stomach sleeper but I can say if I was I could prob sleep on it. Its a bit sore but I think its b/c Iam only 3 wks post op. Iam sure the sensitivity will go away. Right after surgery it bothered me to wear my bra b/c it put pressure on my port. That has subsided. I wasn't able to sleep on my sides for about 2 nights after surgery. It was a bit painful to get on my sides but it was bearable and comfortable once I was still. Like I said Iam now 3 wks out and everything is fine now!! Don't freak out. Think of it as a great tool that WILL help you lose weight. I do wish my port was further down where there's more padding but its not, so Iam ok with it. GOOD LUCK!!

Iam 3 wks post op and had 4cc's put in my 10cc band at time of surgery. I do have restriction. It was more so in the beginning then now. I was put on soft foods last wk and I have noticed my restriction isn't so tight. 07-26 I go for a fill of 2 more cc's. banded 07-02-08 13 1/2 lbs lost! 71 1/2 to go!!

WELL said HEATHERO! I too agree that I don't really get hungry. My tummy growls more than ever but I think thats great. I love it when it growls. I can go about 3 hrs and then my tummy will start making noise so I either do a protein drink, snack or meal depending on what time of day it is. My cravings have gone way down, not gone but so far I haven't had anything simply b/c I craved it. My sons bday was yesterday and I ate 2 bites of cake and was done. Preband, I would of eaten 2 pieces easy and not so little pieces either. Its a tool and I have to make it work but it def makes it easier. I had a fill of 4cc's at time of surgery and have a lot of restriction. I couldn't do it without restriction though! Getting the band was exactly what I needed to get this weight off.

Thanks for the tip. I bet its good on anything!!?? Will def give it a try.

Hey crazycatlady, You haven't wasted your money. How many cc's do you have in your band and what size is your band? Have you told your dr this? Iam surprised 2 1/2 months out they are not being more aggressive with your fills?

Hi Canna, sounds like your doing great! Not sure about the hunger pains? My dr gives fill at time of surgery. Iam 2 post op and have 4cc's in a 10cc band. Iam going next sat for another fill! He's quite aggressive so I feel NO hunger. Try to get all your protein in. Its SO important. Protein drinks will also help you feel full and satisfied. Keep up the good work

I've heard the "your not that big" a million times. And my personal favorite was the hand on the shoulder followed by a serious look into my eyes and then I was asked "why would you do that to yourself"? Then came her horror stories b/c she knows 5 people and not one of them is any better for this horrific surgery, blah blah blah.

Well they say the first step is to say "Iam an alcoholic" and you did that. Brave! My parents are both alcoholics and my dad went to rehab several times and although claims to be sober at 73 I do know he drinks here and there. I do know he doesn't get drunk a lot and is no where as bad as he was but he still drinks. My mom on the other hand decided after the divorce to stop drinking herself. My youngest sister was 1 yr old (yes she was drunk her whole pregnancy) when my mom just gave it up. NO AA, no rehab, NO NOTHING. Not even real support from anyone. She hasn't had ONE drink since and that was 25 yrs ago. I think you know yourself and if you feel you can get sober with help from your drs with withdrawl than you should do just that. I know it might be hard finding the right AA meeting but its worth it to do it. Get help as well. Talk out your issues. Find out what is so deep seeded that it manifests itself into your addiction to alcohol. Good luck, keep us posted ok. Not sure if your religious OR NOT but I said a prayer for you anyways.

I was banded July 2nd. It was a rough first week, I won't lie. I had a fill at time of surgery which I didn't know about!!! Iam NEVER hungry and then started feeling SO full I thought I would die. I called my dr and found out I had 4cc's in my 10cc band. They offered me an unfill which I did make the appt but after hanging up with her the feeling went away b/c I let up on the liquids. My dr allows mushies 4 days post op but I couldn't do it b/c I was SO full from the liquid. I have slowed my drinking way down and feel so MUCH BETTER. So good I cancelled my unfill. I just didn't realize I was working with a 40% restriction already. Iam now glad that he filled my band. Iam getting the hang of it and eating just fine. I can't eat much at one time but Iam eating and getting back to normal. My incisions never really "hurt", they were sore at times and still get a lil sore but nothing I cannot tolerate. I still have gas pains in my left shoulder but they have improved 98%. Overall Iam feeling more and more myself everyday. Iam VERY happy with my decision. Its getting the hang of it all. I have also realized how much I did put emotions into eating. Now that I CANNOT do that I find myself upset sometimes. Wondering where to put certain feelings that come up. I can't put them in my stomach. I have been talking with my WONDERFUL husband and its all working out. Iam SO EXCITED about the whole thing. Its breaking old habits. So far so good. Glad I joined the "band".

I was banded on July 2nd and had a fill of 4cc's put in my 10cc band at time of surgery so I have quite a bit of restriction. I have lost 11 lbs. I almost went in for an unfill b/c for 2 days I got so full feeling that I couldn't stand myself. I made the emergency appt to get the unfill but within hrs of making that appt the feeling went away and I noticed it was b/c I quit drinking so much. The next day, day of my appt I was feeling fine so I cancelled the unfill. Iam now glad I have restriction. Iam feeling fine now that Iam getting the hang of it.

getthin, your right! Its very strange b/c not only did he give me a fill but I have 40% restriction. That's a lot! I talked with his assistant b/c I was told NO fill at surgery by the nutritionist and then one wk later to find out I have 4cc's was shocking. She said he fills everyone so that the band is tight and they have restriction from the start. Iam curious to know if he's the only surgeon with this practice. I do know he strays from the other drs' orders. All the other drs in the practice have you on liquid for 2 wks post op but Dr Nunn only does 4 days liquid. 1 day of that is prior to surgery. Iam getting the feeling he does things his way. Hey Josh, glad to see you made it and didn't get sick!! Keep us posted.

Mrs J.J I live in the Northville/Novi area of Mich. I had my surgery done at the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti, my surgeon was Dr Andre Nunn. Are you from MI?

I put a new post below. Something went awry while writing my last post?

Iam not coughing up blood but Iam coughing up lots of phlem over the last few days. I don't feel sick but have lots of junk in my chest. They said it was to be expected b/c of the tube. I would def get checked out b/c blood is NOT normal in your tummy? Keep us posted. I can hardly wait for my unfill tomorrow. I want at least 1cc gone. Iam hoping for restriction but not as much as I have now. ITS unbearable. 9lbs lost in one week!

Called dr a few minutes ago and told them I simply couldn't wait another wk. Iam going tomorrow at 9am for an unfill. Hopefully I will feel better.

It doesn't sound right to me either. Iam so full and sick of feeling this full. I was shocked to find I had a fill b/c I asked at my pre op testing if I would have a fill and was told NO. Then when I called yesterday to complain about my restriction she advised my fill might need to be undone a bit. I said excuse me? I said I have fill? She said Dr. Nunn always puts fill in his patients at time of surgery. I asked how much I had and she went and got my chart and informed me of my 4cc's. I only have 5 days to go till my appt but I swear this is killing me. I get up each morning and walk around all day with a 2lb brick in my gut. NOT COMFORTABLE. I think this is stopping me from feeling better "after surgery". All I think about is my restriction, how tight it is, how bad I feel, how full I feel, how I can't eat, and I spend all day trying to hold my own spit down.

Iam a July bandster. I was banded on July 2nd and had a fill of 4 cc's in a 10 cc band at time of surgery. Its been 8 days since surgery and I called yesterday to complain that from the moment my feet hit the floor till the moment I go to bed I feel SO full that I actually feel unwell. Although since day 4 post op I have been cleared to go to mushies I cannot! I try but can't more than a few spoons in my mouth and then I feel SO OVER FULL that I get sick and feel bad the rest of the day. They told me to stick out another week to see if more weight loss and decreased swelling in the next wk help out. Today I have excess saliva and all I've had is 4 bites of oatmeal and a 4oz protein drink. I think Iam too full. Iam supposed to go back to work on mon and I don't think Iam well enough especially if I continue to feel this way. Should I get an unfill now or wait it out. Iam so uncomfortable. If I leaned my head over the toilet I would throw up my protein drink! Iam doing all I can to hold it down. I cannot imagine going another wk like this. What do you do???? Am I too tight???? Should I wait and just stick out this awful feeling all day everyday till next wk???? The smarty pants at the dr's office at FIRST tried telling me this was the concept behind the band. I said I understand that but I also understand that Iam not supposed to feel so full that Iam sick and can't even swallow my own spit. Please advise asap.

I cannot tolerate yogurt. Makes me very sick to my stomach!!!!

I love my band too. Iam 5 days post op. My surgeon allows pureed/mushy on day 4. I have found yogurt does NOT sit well with me. It makes me very sick to my stomach. Iam doing my Protein drinks, broths, pureed Soups, baby foods, eggs etc... I got a book from my surgeon packed with recipes for GREAT Protein Drinks. Iam hooked on chocolate banana. 1/2 banana 2 tbs sugar free hershey syrup 4 ice cubes 1 scoop chocolate protein 1/2 cup skim milk (I use 1/2%) hit the smoothie button or puree and man this is good. Iam 8 1/2 lbs down since last tues. Iam amazed at how I eat to live and Iam no longer living to eat. This was the best decision ever. Glad I joined the "band".