ronnfia

Hi everyone, I had my first fill last friday and I am pleased. I have been reading a lot about some people who get fills and have no restrictions at all. Sometimes taking 3-4 fills to get restriction. I am happy to say I do have some restriction after my first fill. I was really surprised at the ease of getting the fill and how much it didn't hurt. After my Dr. appointment my Dr said, ok come on over. there was a bed right in his office that I didnt even notice was there. In less than 10 minutes we were all done. I have a 10cc band and he filled 4cc in to the 1 that was already in. Breakfast has been 2 eggs, and I have to work hard at getting it to stay down. I am sometimes afraid that I wont be able to eat enough, but I have to be careful not to snack. It is very easy to put down nibbles here and there, and as we all know that is the hard part! Next fill in a month and we will see how my food tolerance is at that point and keep filling as needed I guess. Good luck to everyone out there, keep positive and work hard!!! Ron:biggrin::wink_smile::biggrin::tt2:

did anyone else out there get their banding done on St Patty's day like me?:cry_smile: I have lost a total of about 43 pounds since my journey started with my 1st Dr appointment 12/07. havent had a fill yet, ready for it but have realized after reading posts today that I better not rely on it being restrictive the first time. I have had a renewed drive to eat right. Positive and negative replies have been good. Hope to hear from other "True Shrinking Shamrocks"!!! :crying: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

I am also on the march 17th club. Looking foreward to my May 14th fill. No restrictions but every once in a while if I eat too fast I almost get backed up. Funny it usually happens with yogurt...:redface::biggrin::hurt:

As a part of my process I had to have a phych eval. the councelor told me to start seeing a therapist due to all of the issues I have had with food. At the time I thought to myself "Yea right, I'm not nuts" but after getting banded and seeing that I am not the only one with issues I am going to start! Thank you Kat for your words of wisdom...

What was decieving for me was that anything would go down as long as i chewed it enough. I totally skipped the puree part of the diet (Dr approved) and at week2 was on the soft food diet. I was a good boy and stayed on liq until after week 2 and so far have not had any problems, but as far as what foods to eat no restriction yet. The band is a reminder that I need to eat better so I have been doing great as far as controlling portions.

You ladies are amazing, I couldnt lift anything for a few weeks after my surgery. My worst part was not being able to pick up my grandson. I was fine if someone handed things to me but i was afraid of splitting my incisions if I lifted. I was also a basket case the week after. I had a hard time just getting out of bed on my own! I hate to admit it and don't tell any of my fellow gender members, but, men are whimps!!:biggrin::biggrin::tongue::biggrin::crying:

Kaiser covers the procedure as long as your bmi is 40, or 38 with a health related condition, mine was sleep apnea and a bmi of 38. My nutritionist suggested i pursue it and with a little coaxing my gen practitioner agreed to refer me to the Bariatric Department, and the rest is history.... Thank you for the greetings and warm wishes:biggrin::cry_smile::biggrin:

I am a little late Posting, I appologize. I am the ultimate Shrinking Shamrock. By Banding was done on the 17th! First fill scheduled for May 14 and very excited.

Ha ha, I get the same thing! I get so into it and forget that it can creap people out. I started by keeping it a secret at work but I am very open about it now..

I didnt get creeped out until after my surgery. I know i was having the lap band put inside me but until i actually felt it under my skin (and I swear I could feel it around my stomach!!) that was when I got a little freaked out, actually having a "device" inside me started to feel pretty weird. but after a while like Sunshine sed it like a little friend inside you helping you out...

Talk about inactivity. I am a 911 Dispatcher and work 4/ 10. thats 10 hrs a day or more (with overtime) sitting on my ever widenning a--. I dispatch for the Sheriff's Office and County EMS. Been doing it for 15+ years. have 5 kids and an 8month old grandson. So far it's the best and most rewarding job I have ever had. (and I have had a lot)

I did have my surgery at kaiser in Fremont. I dont remember the # but they do them all day long there. lap band and RNY. My insurance (Kaiser duh) covered it 100% due to my sleep apnea. My BMA was at 38. I had my routine blood work and regular check ups in Santa Clara but only Kaiser Fremont and South San Francisco do the procedures. I will need to get my fills done there too..

My moment was like a slap in the face, it shook me up. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. In the educational class they kept saying a main cause was being overweight. After the class I was talking to a nurse and she looks me square in the eye and said. "Just lose some weight" I tell you, I wanted to scream at her that I have been trying to do just that for the last 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also had a roller coaster moment at Knott's Berry Farm. I think it was the Batman Ride. The kind of coaster where your feet dangle under you. I struggled and Struggled to get the restraint buckled and had to have a ride attendant push on it while another tried to buckle it. They buckled it but I was convinced the strap was going to give and I was going to fall out of the ride and die right there!!! Well I didnt fall out but refused to ride another ride like that one until I lost weight. Things I look foreward to: Buying clothes that fit and not having to buy 2x. Not feeling like everyone is staring at me. (being overweight I always feel like I am being stared at) Running in marathons and races. Being able to play sports with my kids.

kidd, you are the 2nd person I have head that is doing a liq pre-op diet. I did a Kaiser pre-op 1200 calorie diet and it was actually pretty easy to follow, but I have always been curious about Optifast or other Liq diets, hope it goes well for you!!

Liq Tylenol with Codeine was my best friend!!! I was feeling fine in 1 week. I also had the itchiness around the sites. If you have ever had Gallbladder surgery...same thing. I had that under my belt so I had an idea of what to expect. At one point in time you are going to think "why did I do this!" But the soreness will pass. get used to sleeping on your back for at least 2 weeks, use the pillow techinique Queenie mentioned, definately helped. Soon enough you will forget you ever had the suegery.

Welcome Renee. you are going to learn a lot from this site, I have really enjoyed becoming a member.

I had a hard time getting to my pre op weight goal. I was put on my pre-op diet in November last year (thanks Doc for doing that just b4 the Holidays!) But after making a mad dash in early March I made it with 1 pound to spare.. Something like Optifast would have been great to get the last few pounds off. I was put on a 1200 cal/day diet and I really learned a lot about portion control. Dont worry about the last few weeks prior to surgery, once you are there and have it done you can relax and get ready for the next step.

Welcome to the neighborhood barbara. I am curious to learn how you do with Optifast. Is that for your Pre-Op diet???

I was very anxious the day of my surgery, and the recovery was made easier by the great staff at Kaiser Hospital in Fremont Ca. My surgery was 4 weeks ago and looking back it's hard to even believe I had major surgery. I am totally healed and in no pain whatsoever from the surgery. The actual procedure was not the first step, the first step was the commitment to better my life. The pre-op diet was a learning experience and then the surgery made me understand what the eating plan was all about. Liike I have said, I havent had a fill yet but just knowing I have the device in me helps to eat better. I know I still need the fill to help me re-learn what being "full" feels like. Yes it is a life long commitment and we will have our bands hopefully for a very long time. We will all be thinner, but more importantly healthier!!!

thank you very much Hastings!!!

4 weeks post surg and physically I dont even feel like I had anything done. The recovery was rough for just about 3 days after surg. It is a very important decision though, it is forever, but you sound like you have researched it a lot and yes, this site is amazing, keep reading and you will lears something new everyday. Keep up the fight and you will do great!!

It sounds like you are talking to a group of people and telling us to "just follow the diet" well that is the reason I had the Banding done in the first place. I can't just follow the diet, I am a lifelong grazer and overeater. I am waiting for the restrictions to help me recognize what being full feels like, I don't think I have recognized what being full really feels like since about the age of 12.... Please don't get me wrong, even tho I only had the banding done 4 weeks ago It has made a definate difference. I feel I have been given a gift that will help me become the person I have always wanted to be and I am determined not to let it go to waste. Let's please have some positive comments , Penelope thank you for your words, I really needed to hear that some people do get results from the fills early on. I really need this site to keep motivated as there arent any support groups in my area to attend in person. Enuff said about past posts, thank everyone!!

I just found this site today and all I can say is thank you !!! My name is Ron and I was banded march 17, 08. I havent had a fill yet and wont until May 14th. I was also feeling very depressed and upset over feeling little restriction. I can pretty much put down what ever I have tried. Of course I still chew every bite 30 times and was thinking that may have been too much and made the food slip right through. I am very anxious to see if there will be any noticable feeling of restriction when I get my first fill, and after reading all of your comments I am positive that I will just have to wait and see. Sounds like everyone has had a very unique experience with the filling process. I have had to constantly remind myself that this device that was inplanted into me is just a tool. A very expensive tool but none the less a tool that I must use wisely. It isnt a miracle that makes me thin but a tool that helps me to learn how to eat better, and slower. I will keep coming back to read all of your very informative postings and I will keep posting myself and hopefully get the results that I was looking for. Thank you again!!! Ron:thumbup: