Northwest_Nance

Whether you can tell a difference after your first fill is a very individual thing, and it also depends on how many cc's your doctor gives you on the first fill. I've noticed a slight difference ever since I got my band, but it took five fills in my Realize band before I really had restriction. My fills, starting at 4 weeks after surgery, finally gave me a total of 8 cc's in my Realize band, and they went like this: Week 4: 3 cc's Week 6: 2 cc's Week 7: 1 cc Week 8: .6 cc Week 10: 1.4 cc

I did lose weight through the whole process, but it felt very slow. Still, the nutritionist told me this week I have lost on average 3 pounds a week (losing 10 pounds during the pre-op diet kind of skews that average) and I've lost a total of 30 pounds (not counting the 10 pounds I lost on my own in the month before I ever saw the surgeon). The nutritionist said if this last fill didn't do the trick, we'd do the next fill under fleuroscopy (sp.?) to check everything out. She also told me not to be concerned about the fact that I've already got 8 cc's in a 9 cc band -- she said once you hit your sweet spot, the next time you need a fill sometimes just .1 cc will do the trick, and also she said they can fill beyond 9 cc's but they will do it under fleuroscopy to be very careful about it. My fills went as follows, starting 4 weeks after surgery: Week 4: 3 cc's Week 6: 2 cc's Week 7: 1 cc Week 8: .6 cc Week 10: 1.4 cc Jennifer - yes, it's become apparent that my doctor is not as conservative as a lot of doctors. He has a very good record and success rate though.... he only does lap bands and has done them for years -- same as his 2 partners. They have a very big clinic and almost everyone who works there is banded, many of them for quite a long time. Even the psychologist they refer us to has been banded very successfully for 7 years. So I have a lot of faith and trust in him!

I can eat anything I want, though I usually pick and choose the healthier stuff. Breaded pork chops is one of my favorites, but I don't eat it nearly as often as I did before surgery. And although I usually do grilled chicken breasts, I like to bake chicken thighs and drumsticks and I leave the skin on. I haven't tried fried chicken since surgery, mostly because I just haven't wanted to. It's really a matter of individual choice, and what you can handle!

My doctor seems to be one of the less conservative among those who post here. I have no restriction on eating before a fill, or after. However, I always choose to go for my fills on an empty stomach (easy for me, I usually make an 8:00 a.m. appt. for my fills). Find out what your doctor requires and follow that path. Good luck with your fill!

Maybe you don't need to see another post where I'm just agreeing with everyone else, but here it is anyway. Since getting the band I have tried hard to get myself out of that old diet mentality..... "Can't have this, can't have that, oh no I ate a cookie, now I've blown it for the day so I might as well eat what I want and start over tomorrow". LOL. I usually plan my meals the night before on TheDailyPlate, so when I get up in the morning I know exactly what I'm going to eat all day. But. If something comes along to force me off my plan, I'm trying to be relaxed about that. And if it's a social event, I'm there to enjoy it. Those are the things in life that are fun and help us get through the other parts of life that are obligations (like work!) and they are meant to be enjoyed. Like a previous poster said, I try to plan my meals so that I'm ready to eat at the event. Then I try to make healthy choices and keep my portions under control. If I give in and splurge a little bit on a not-so-healthy choice, it's ok. I have found it easy to have one glass of wine and then stop (it used to always be at least 2 glasses). I want to just feel "normal", not like I'm always on some special restricted plan that turns occasions into a time of anxiety.

Heya Julie, are you saying you don't eat more than 1-1/2 cups of food a day? I can't imagine that... how do you get in all your nutrition? My doctor shows us these little plastic plates of food to show us how much we should be able to eat at each meal and it usually amounts to a chicken breast and about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vegetables. Maybe if I dice up the chicken breast and add it to the veggies it comes out to half a cup but I would think it's more. Anyway I'm just curious!

I understand your anxiety but please don't worry, and don't listen to everything you see and hear. My surgeon told us in his seminar that if you follow the rules, your risk of problems is very small. If you are throwing up, it's because you're eating too much too fast, or not chewing well enough, or your band is too tight and you're not going for an unfill. You have control over all of that. I've never thrown up and I know of a lot of bandsters who also never have. Almost everyone who works in the surgical clinic run by my surgeon and his two partners (all they do is lap bands) has the lap band. Several of them have had it for quite a few years and they are doing great. Even the female psychologist I went to, who is in her early 60's, has been banded for 7 years. She actually got a little misty-eyed when she told me what an amazing change the band helped her make in her life. I think once a bandster reaches goal they move on from hanging around forums such as this one, because they're just getting on with their lives and having the band is a natural part of who they are. Whereas us newbies can't stay away. So you don't see too many posts here by people who have had their band for a long time. Doesn't mean they're not out there!

On the question of driving on the day of surgery, I hope you don't live in my town if you're going to drive on the day you were rendered unconscious via anesthesia. And I urge you to consider the other innocent people on the road who could be victims of your decision to drive on a day you've had anesthesia. Also, if you should get in an accident or cause any harm and your insurance company finds out you had general anesthesia that day, they will not cover any losses. It really is a very very bad decision. I gave up on diet pills many years ago and so I would not consider them now. If my band isn't doing the job, I'll talk to my doctor and we'll figure out how to get it to work with me or vice versa. I had surgery on Thursday and could have gone back to work on Sunday (assuming that was a work day). I took that whole week off though and I'm glad I did. I felt fine but I got very tired, very easily.

You are definitely not alone. I had surgery on May 15th and just today had my 5th fill -- I now have 8 cc's in a 9 cc band, and I'm not sure yet but I think I might finally have restriction. I just ate a grilled chicken salad for lunch (yes my doctor allows and encourages us to eat solid food the day of a fill) and I found for the first time that I had to take small bites and chew carefully. I didn't quite finish the salad but I'm not sure if it's because I was satisfied or I ran out of time, lol! Last weekend I went out for a bite to eat and I was getting so frustrated and discouraged with my lack of restriction that I decided to push the limit a little bit just to make sure I didn't have restriction. I had a huge California burger with a big thick bun and I ate the whole thing. I don't think I could do that today ---- I'm very hopeful! So hang in there... it will happen. By the way, I'd make sure you are getting enough calories. If you eat too few calories a day you won't lose weight either. I lose weight faster at 1000 or 1100 calories a day than I do at 800.

I chose the Realize band because it has been used in Sweden for so long and for some reason, I trust Swedish medicine. But it really was kind of a toss up. My doctor said the Realize band and the Lap Band are virtually the same and he showed me a pile of research to back that up. There are quite a few other threads on this forum that can provide you with a lot more comments... just do a search for "Realize" and they'll pop up!

I didn't have to wear them, but if I were you I think I'd check with my doctor. There was a post on here about a month ago from a girl who ended up with a blood clot and it was something I wouldn't wish on anybody.... and she could have died from it. I don't mean to be all dramatic about it, but better safe than sorry, ya know?

Ditto.... same here.

I had to lose 10 pounds in one week for my pre-op diet. My doctor had me drink 4 MediFast a day and one Lean Cuisine or a meal of equal number of calories. I didn't think I could lose 10 pounds in one week so I started a few days early. When I still had 2-3 days to go before surgery, I also still had 3 pounds to lose and I was getting really nervous. So I knocked it back to three MediFast a day (an equivalent drink sold over the counter is EAS drinks) and instead of a Lean Cuisine I went low carb and had a broiled chicken breast and green Beans for dinner each night. I ended up losing 12.5 lbs. instead of just 10. Good luck!

Heya Shand I'm sorry for everything you've had to go through, but I hope you don't mind my saying, I'm not sure this was the right thread to post it in. How does it relate to Suzie's victory and why rain on her parade? Suzie, grats! You are doing great. Ever since I got banded I have become aware of just how much junk food is out there and how much of it people eat. Not just junk food, either. I have started to be amazed at restaurant portions! You are on your way.... good luck with your surgery, too!

Well I'm 55 and I did great! I think recovery can depend on your age sometimes, but I've heard of some in their 20's who had a much harder time than I did in their recovery. It also can depend on your size. I had my surgery at 1:00, was home by 5:00 and alone by 5:30. I did keep my cell phone handy and I had a friend available if I needed to call him for help. I also had him ready to give me a call and check on me the next morning if he hadn't heard from me. I took walks, played on the computer, and stayed up until 11:00 p.m. I woke up in the middle of the night in some pain, which would have been alleviated if I'd taken some pain meds before I went to bed. I felt better when I got up that morning and did fine by myself for the rest of my recovery. It really is an individual thing though. Some people have a harder time after surgery, as far as pain goes. Some people just like having someone take care of them. Good luck to you!

You're in good company here! A lot of us have lost weight before, our challenge has been keeping it off. I have lost 100 pounds three times over the past 20 years (not as much as you've lost, but still they were big victories for me!) and obviously, always gained it back, and then some. And like most of us here, it's obvious I have an eating problem. Eating has always been my way of dealing with everything. Sad? Eat. Depressed? Eat. Worried? Eat. Happy? Eat. Need to Celebrate? Eat. Lonely? Eat. You know the drill. Since I was banded two months ago I'm learning the difference between real hunger and "head" hunger. I'm gaining insights into myself that I've never encountered before. It's definitely a learning experience. I think you're headed on your way to a good journey. It will have its ups and downs (no pun intended) but I really believe anyone who really wants to, will succeed by using their band as the tool it's meant to be. Welcome to the forum.

I think it can vary. My psych visit lasted one hour and cost $250. Even though my insurance doesn't cover weight loss surgery, it did cover the psych visit. The psychiatrist was an older woman who has been banded for 7 years so she knows what the experience is like, what the ups and downs are. We really hit it off and had a great chat so maybe I was fortunate in that regard. In Washington state it's a legal requirement that you have a psych eval prior to weight loss surgery, so it's not even up to the insurance company or the doctor. I think certainly people can get turned down, but the vast majority of us do fine. Even those who get turned down, usually aren't just turned down flat forever.... sometimes the psychiatrist (or psychologist) wants to see you a few more times, for example, to help ensure that you're ready for the commitment. They want to know that you know what you're getting into, that you have a realistic expectation of what the lap band can, and can't do for you, and that you don't have an eating disorder like bulimia, among other things. Don't be worried about it.... just be yourself and be honest, and you'll do fine.

I don't know anything about Fibromyalgia but surely losing weight when we're heavy, can only be a good thing for us, on so many levels. It's wonderful that you have your husband's support, AND your insurance will cover it.... you are halfway there already! Like others have said, do lots of research. Read every online weight loss patient's diary and blog you can find, watch the surgery being performed on You Tube as well as little video clips that patients post there, read this forum, attend the seminar, attend a support group meeting. Learn as much as you can so you can make an informed decision about surgery, and you'll know what your commitment will have to be, and your expectations will be realistic. I'm excited for you and I wish you all the best!

I've had four fills and I'm still not there. I have 6.6 cc's in a 9 cc band. I go for my 5th fill on Thursday and I am sure hoping this one does it, because this is getting old! :eek:

I would think we weigh less after a workout, due to sweating. But I don't really know. I've never weighed more often than first thing in the morning. Anything else seems like a false weight to me, so why do I need to worry about it? The only consistent weight, I think, is first thing in the morning, after going to the bathroom (best scenario is if there is a morning bowel movement.... I know that sounds a little personal but come on, I'm not the only one who thinks that way!), stark naked, before drinking any Water, taking Vitamins, etc. To me, that's the only way to get a consistently accurate weight and nothing else matters. But.... just in the last week or so I've finally broken the habit of weighing myself every day. It was driving me fricken CRAZY and I just couldn't take it anymore. Before I was even half awake every morning I was thinking about the scale, wondering what it would reveal. If my weight didn't go down, I was bummed --- over analyzing what I'd eaten and done the day before. And if it went up by a quarter of a pound, my whole day was ruined. What a way to live..... not! And not very healthy, and for me the whole idea of getting the band was to start living a healthier life. It was a very hard habit to break but now I am feeling a whole lot better, and I've been able to just make healthy choices and move on with my life. Let the pounds fall in the background, sort of. It's only been a week. I hope I can keep it up. But we'll see.

First of all... you will still be able to go out to eat with your husband! Also remember, going out to eat is about more than just the food (although that's part of it too). It's about the atmosphere, the person or people you're with, the ambiance, the service, the getting away from the house and not cooking. A lot of us around here are emotional eaters and it's a big part of the recovery we go through after we get our bands. There's no denying it's a struggle of a journey sometimes, and that's just part of what you buy into when you get banded. But that journey is what will help you discover who you are, why you do the things you do, and get control over it... and become a healthier you. No, it won't necessarily prevent you from ever over-eating again but you will do it a lot less and when you do, you'll get right back on track a whole lot faster than you probably do now. The band is just a physical thing but for many of us it also seems to work on our minds. I find that I just can't eat some of the stuff I used to... not because my stomach won't handle it, but because my head won't. That doesn't stop me from spending time mentally going down the list of foods I could eat, trying to find one that I can indulge in.... but it's the strangest thing, my mind just keeps rejecting one item after another. What you're feeling is a very normal part of this journey. Jump in, you will tread Water for awhile and eventually you will be swimming laps. Ok I know that's a corny analogy but it really is true. It will have you headed towards a much healthier and happier place.

If you do a little research and find out just how much sleep apnea can hurt you physically, you might be a little more open to trying to adjust to the cpap. I had to start using one in April and I had a few really miserable, sleepless nights trying to get used to it.... I was really tired and frustrated, so I understand where you're coming from. But I did get used to it and I'm so thankful I did. You can die from sleep apnea. That's pretty dramatic and most people don't die from it, but still.... most people don't have complications from lap band surgery but we still read about those who do, on this forum. They now suspect that a lot of "sudden infant death syndrome" deaths are from sleep apnea. This website, Sleep Apnea Support Forum Index, was an enormous help to me when I was learning about sleep apnea and trying to get used to my bipap machine. (A bipap machine is just like cpap except it senses when you are breathing out and lowers the pressure so you're not breathing against such a strong wind force.... as I understand it). I did have to bring my machine with me for surgery. The doctor would have cancelled surgery if I didn't bring it. Please give it a chance, it could help you a LOT and you really will get used to it! By the way, losing weight does help eliminate sleep apnea for many people, but it doesn't do so for everyone. Being overweight is not the only cause of sleep apnea. There are plenty of thin people who need the xpap also.

Hi Pat, and welcome to the forum...... Many of us here can relate very well to what you've been through and where you are right now. I lost around 100 pounds three times over the last 20 years (Jenny Craig, low fat, Atkins) and always gained it all back. The last time I lost it all was five years ago, and within three years I had gained 100 pounds and more. The difference this time is that I'm over 50 now and the extra weight started really causing health complications. Just since turning 50 I have had endometrial cancer resulting in a hysterectomy, cataract surgery, a knee so painful I could hardly walk, major dental problems, high blood pressure, and finally a tear to the labrum of the hip complicated by arthritis resulting in my walking with a cane and visiting a hip surgeon. It was the hip surgeon who told me I was too fat for laporoscopic hip surgery and that he didn't want to operate on me in any case until I'd lost weight. He recommended weight loss surgery. I was stunned and humiliated. I was one of those people who never knew how to ask for help, I thought I had to do everything by myself. I even asked the doctor, tearfully.... at 255 pounds... "You don't think I can do it on my own?" which in hindsight was kind of laughable. If I could have done it on my own, would I be sitting there at 255 pounds? I drove myself crazy with research, I read every online post-surgery diary and blog I could find, watched surgery performed on You Tube, went to seminars and support group meetings. My brain was on overload, but it was worth it. I went into my decision being about as well informed as anyone could be (and I think everyone going into this surgery has a responsibility to do that). I wish you the best in your research and preparation. It can be a bumpy road but it's exciting, and a whole lot better than struggling with the scale by yourself behind closed doors!

I can completely relate to what you're doing in terms of sabataging your own diet efforts, and the way you're feeling about it. I'll bet almost everyone on this forum can. I can do so good for so long and then it's like I just snap. My biggest issue in the past year (in my whole life, really, but very consistently during the past year prior to my surgery) was the part about doing really well all day and then coming home at night and almost going into a trance of eating. Of course you know that coming here and documenting it for yourself, confronting it, is the best thing you can do..... and if your past experience is anything like mine, it represents big progress. Because I could always go on like that for months and months and months without confronting it. You can get back on the horse and get headed back in the right direction!

By six weeks out you should hardly even know you had surgery! I had my first fill at four weeks but I could still eat pretty much anything I wanted (and as much of it as I wanted) at six weeks. You should be fine for the wedding! Grats on your surgery and good luck.