KelinTx

A drastic change in diet can also throw your electrolytes out of wack. I also had bouts of dizziness after being newly banded. I drank watered down gatorade (half water half gatorade) and it always made me feel better and made the light headed feeling go away. Low blood pressure can also cause dizziness so if you take blood pressure meds you may want to have that checked out.

When i started the banding process weighing 359 lbs exercise was something that was excruciatingly painfull for me, i had horrible back pain merely walking a few steps. I started off really slow, the doctor i had for my pre-banding psych evaluation suggested just start off slow.. like walking to your mail box. I said to myself well i can surely do that. ( i used to wait till it was dark before going out for the mail so no one would see me) How sad is that? Anyhows i started off just with daily jaunts to the mail box and and 2 minute intervals on the tread mill. Anything is better then nothing in my eyes. Gradually as the weight fell off i was able to do more and more and im now able to be comfy enuff to go to a gym and work out 3-4 times a week. Start off slow doing what you are comfy with and gradually you will see it gets easier.

Welcome and good luck on your upcoming surgery, be sure to keep us posted on your progress.

I also was told i could start treating them once the steri-strips came off. I highly recomend Mederma for scars, it really did live up to everything it claims.

I have flown frequently since being banded. I've never had one issue, nothing changed, no odd tightness ... no port setting off the metal detector, no change whatsoever.

This one really stung bad, was at my pre-banding cardiologist apt and when it was time to be weighed the scale was not capable of weighing me :tt2:, i was to large. I was so mortified.

Have them check your fluid level against what was put in you to see if you are missing any. If a significant amount is not lost you can safely rule out a leak. When i was checked for a leak what they did was ......totally empty out my band then under fluoroscopy injected dye into it to pin point the leak.

My goal of losing 200 lbs is now looking within reach! I have 16lbs to go as of 1/10/2009. Thought i would share my pictures at this point.

For me restriction feels like an intense pressure in my upper chest, almost as though somone is pressing down real hard on it. In most cases i stop eating before that pain hits as it is not a pleasant thing. If im eating and i get that painfull sensation i know not to take one more bite.

I love eating out and still enjoy all the same restaurants that i did pre-band with the exception of buffets, its just not worth dishing out the money for a buffet when you cant eat that much. I will say that i have never ordered off the kids menu because most of it is fried stuff or unappealing its easier just to get an appetizer or a salad or often times my teenage daughter and i just share a meal.

For that exact reason the only people that knew i was going to have weight loss surgery were my husband and daughter. Saved alot of greif and expectations.

Everyday how proud you should feel. I wish that every lapband nay sayer would stumble in here and view your pictures.

I was fat because i am a FOOD ADDICT, and i now can admit that i am addicted to food the same way as others are addicted to drugs or cigarettes or alchol. I obsess about food, i dream about food, food monopolizes my thoughts..not just sometimes but everyday. My band enables me to control the outcome of the obsession.

Im going to opt to keep my band because all my millions of shrunken fat cells are just sitting there waiting to reinflate themsevles should i have the capability eat like i formerly could. GASP!

This also happens sometimes when your electrolytes are out of wack, try drinking some watered down gatorade.

Give it a full week to see if it kicks in, then if you have a gut feeling your just not as restricted as you should be, make an apt to have your fluid level checked to make sure the last fill actually made it into your band.

I went down 5 bra sizes and one cup size. I think alot depends on the overall amount you need to lose. I always said ill just be happy when my boobs stick out further then my stomach! Thank god they now do.

Take out your 1/2 measuring cup........cram your food in it......empty the food out on your plate. WAA LAAAAAAAAAA

What a great job you have done! Would love to see some pics.

1. Work out in just a sports bra with out a top over it! 2. Wear a bikini 3. Buy a ridiculously expensive pair of jeans (only when i can fit in a 10 or 12) Currently a size 14

The only thing ive given up is carbonated beverages. Everything else i can eat in moderation.

I had to have a stress test in order for my insurance to pay for my procedure. I weighed 359 lbs and was unable to do the test on a treadmill. They gave me a nuclear stress test and all went well.

Clap Clap....WTG! keep up the good work!

This has most definitely been a life changing experience what has changed most for me is...... I no longer circle a parking lot until i can get the closest spot. No more breaking out in a sweat just from unloading a grocery cart. My back dosn't kill me after walking a mere few steps I can fit in a restaurant booth! And look forward to dining out so that i can wear all my new cloths that ive purchased in a REGULAR store. Most of all i now enjoy exotic family vacations again. For so many years i would not fly because of the humiliation of needing a seatbelt extender and no way was i ever going to put on a bathing suit in public.

All i know is that when i drink a ton of water (and i do everyday) i lose weight on a consistant basis. When i slack off on the water the weight comes off slower. So ill stick to being a water drinker.