Northwest_Nance

I had to lose 10 pounds in one week on my pre-op diet. My doctor insisted I could do it by having 4 MediFast drinks a day plus one Lean Cuisine or equivalent for dinner. It just wasn't working for me. So I switched from the Lean Cuisines to a low carb dinner, and I cut back to three of the MediFast drinks a day. A comparable drink you can buy in the store is EAS protein drinks. So I had the 3 drinks a day and for dinner every night I had one broiled chicken breast and half a cup of green beans. And that's it. And I lost the weight I needed to lose. Good luck!

Some doctors and/or insurance companies require an overnight stay, some do not. Sometimes it depends on the general health of the patient him/herself. I've read posts here by some people who were absolutely miserable after surgery and they're very thankful they were able to stay in the hospital overnight. For me, I had surgery at 1:00 p.m. and I was home by 5:00 p.m. doing just fine. My stomach felt.... sort of like I was wearing a tight binding around it but other than that, no pain at first. I stayed up until 11:00 p.m. that night, watching TV, walking, playing on the computer. But I woke up in the middle of the night feeling a fair amount of pain. If I had taken my pain medication before I went to bed, that probably would have helped. I stayed by myself and didn't have any problems or need any help. I was able to prepare my meals (such as they were), get on and off the potty, take a shower, and sleep in my bed. I did have my cell phone nearby at all times and a friend on standby for me to call if I had problems. And, the friend was scheduled to call me the next morning if he hadn't heard from me, just to check on me. So for me, I would have been bored out of my mind if I'd had to stay in the hospital overnight. But for some people, it was a blessing.

I had port pain for the first month; I went for my first fill 4 weeks after surgery and I was so worried about it hurting, because my port site was still so tender. Funny thing is, not only did the fill not hurt at all, but within a day or so, my port pain went away for good. Ten days post-op though, it really hurt if I was sitting at a desk or driving. The only thing I can suggest (and you're probably already doing this) is to try to avoid tight waist bands. It should start getting more bearable soon!

By one month after my surgery I felt great, except for a little nagging pain around the port area that went away right around that time. I could pretty much eat what I wanted, too (still can). Go and have a wonderful time!

If you're still eating like you did before the band, that could be causing your stomach problems (and slow weight loss) -- you do have the band and what you eat is going to affect your stomach, even though you aren't feeling restriction. I know it's hard to "diet" until you start feeling the proper restriction but that's what it takes. But you have to want to lose weight, you have to want it badly enough to work at it. I know you've heard a thousand times that the band is a tool.... and if you don't have any restriction yet, you don't really quite have a tool yet and I understand that. I don't want this to sound harsh because believe me, I don't have all the answers and I've had my days of eating way more than I should.... but I kind of think it's an excuse to say "I couldn't diet before I had the band so why should I be able to diet now." You can do it if you want to! I've been able to "diet" without restriction because I don't have the patience to wait until I do have restriction. I think just having the band has given me a psychological boost that has helped me do that. Plus, I don't feel that I'm on yet another diet that I'm going to end up failing at. I know that sooner or later I'll hit that sweet spot and then it will get easier. Not easy, but easier. I was self-pay too and it's been a bit more of a struggle and a journey than I expected (despite all my intense research beforehand) but I don't think I made a mistake, and I don't think you did either. Maybe you can talk to your doctor about getting another fill soon? I was banded May 15th and I've had four fills, with another one scheduled next week. I hope you have a good supportive doctor that you can talk to about your frustration and he can help you out. I wish you all the best and I hope it gets better for you soon!

Thank you so much for sharing this. It is a good reminder to those of us who haven't yet had any problems, that we DO need to remember we have the band and we need to go slow, and listen to what our bodies are telling us, because things like that can happen to any of us if we don't follow the rules. I'm sorry you had to go through that and I hope you're feeling better soon.

His behavior seems bizarre and unprofessional. I've never heard anything like it. Let us know how your visit goes. I guess you just have to get through this one last visit with him and then you don't ever have to deal with him again but if that's not the case, I'd seriously look into my options for getting a different psychiatrist and reporting his behavior. Good luck!

Well I was very tiny when I got married so I have no problem looking at my wedding pictures, except for the fact that after 30 years, we got divorced! LOL. But, two years ago my only daughter got married and I walked her down the aisle. I have a huge regret about not having surgery before then.... on her day, I was ashamed of how I looked. Buying my one and only "mother of the bride" dress wasn't fun, it was a nightmare. At the reception when it was my turn to speak, my wonderful son-in-law introduced me as "My absolutely fabulous, funny, witty (blah blah blah) new mother-in-law --- and guys, she's single!" and I thought.... yeah they're looking at me and thinking "well no wonder she's single". Why did I wait so long? I truly never even considered weight loss surgery. I've never known how to ask for help with anything and I thought this was something I had to do by myself. Also, as ridiculous as it sounds, I didn't think I was big enough for weight loss surgery. The only reason I ended up having surgery was because I needed hip surgery and this past March, the surgeon told me he didn't want to operate on me until I lost weight, and he recommended weight loss surgery. That was the day I hit bottom. I was never so humiliated in my life. But now I realize that day changed my life.

I'm not a nurse but I do find the remark "nurses are for bedpans" to be quite offensive. I know you're pissed off right now and with every right to be but that's no reason to be so insulting and condescending to all nurses. Many of them are near-saints who don't get paid nearly enough for the work they do. My doctor and his 2 partners have nurse-nutritionists do our fills. I've had four fills, no numbing agent, and never felt a thing for any of them. I hope you have better luck next time around!

It might depend on your size, and how you feel in general after surgery. I had no problems getting on or off the toilet, or wiping, and I slept in my bed the first night with no problems.

I made the same decision you did, Heather. Except I don't really have restriction yet and it's hard not to call what I'm doing "dieting"... but I'm hoping that once I feel some restriction I will just make healthy choices, eat my meals and not obsess on it. I tried Alli but never used it consistently enough to get any results. I had some left over after being banded and I offered it to my sister, but she'd tried it and found she was really sensitive to it, it had her running to the bathroom (and not always making it in time) even if she ate just a small amount of fat. So she said, anyway. So we tossed it. It probably can't hurt if you want to give it a try.

I love my WiiFit too, and I've been wondering if they would come out with an advanced set of games/workouts.... it seems like that's a built-in sales opportunity, because eventually the workout on the current version won't be challenging. Nice to know they're working on that!

I'm so glad I pre-ordered mine! Funny thing is, I was off work recovering from my lap band surgery the day they came out, and I happened to be shopping in Target and costco that day, and both stores had stacks of them. I wish I'd thought to buy a few to sell to friends later! I do have one friend who got one a few weeks ago, she got up very early and waited in line for Toys R Us to open one Sunday and she managed to get her hands on one. I would just order one online and wait for them to come in stock and ship to you. I love mine and use it almost every day.

I had my surgery on a Thursday. If I had to, I could have returned to work on Monday, but I'm glad I didn't have to. I took that whole week off. On Thursday, a week after surgery, I was so restless that I decided to go shopping. I felt fine, but just running into Target and Costco for a couple of things, and then the grocery store, wore me out.

I was banded May 15th and have had four fills, and I still can eat anything I want, except a big resturant-serving size meal. I have a 9 cc Realize band. My first fill was 3 cc's, 2nd fill was 2 cc's, 3rd fill was 1 cc, fourth fill was .6 cc's, so I have 6.6 cc's in the band. I don't have to chew well, and I can swallow big Vitamins. My doctor has me sit with him for awhile after a fill, swallowing Water. As long as I can swallow nice sips of water with no problem, I'm ok.

I think whatever is comfortable for you, is fine. I had no problems laying on my couch or sleeping in my bed the first night after surgery, but the only way I could lay on my side for the first week or two, was if I had a big pillow to lean on, to cushion the pressure pain I felt at the port site. I really think your own body is your guide on this one. I'm two months past surgery now and I don't feel a thing when I lay flat on my stomach.

You got attacked? Who would do that? These first few months are such a struggle, we all need to support one another. I was banded on May 15th and have had 4 fills, and I still don't have restriction. I realize I'm lucky to have had that many fills already. I really feel bad for those who have to wait months and months for 4 fills and then still have no restriction. But that being said, it's frustrating for me. I've lost an average of 2 pounds a week but it's from sheer dieting, just like before I had the band. I've been a big lapband cheerleader but I'm getting frustrated too. I'm scheduled for my next fill in 9 days and at this point I'm not sure whether to keep hacking away at this familiar old diet, or will I sabatage myself by doing so, so that I lose weight and they don't want to give me a fill because I'm losing well already? I was at a support group meeting where everyone around me was saying "Oh I can't eat that much, I have a band" but... I knew that I could eat "that much". I feel like I've been invited to join this club but now that I'm going to the meetings, they won't fully accept me!

I was banded one day after you and I'm learning that patience is the name of the game, and that is hard! I've actually had four fills and I'm still not restricted. I can tell that I have the band (hurray!) because I do feel it if I try to eat a restaurant size meal, but basically I can eat everything, including big Vitamin pills. I'm losing about 2 pounds a week but it is from plain old fashioned dieting just like I did before I had the band. I have another fill scheduled for next week and just like the last few times, I'm hoping it will be the one that pushes me into my sweet spot. It could take awhile before you reach your sweet spot. All I can suggest is to do the same thing I'm doing.... track what you're eating, make healthy choices, limit your calories, and exercise! Good luck and hang in there!

My doctor has no restrictions after a fill. He said if I feel more comfortable sticking with mushies the first day, that's fine, but he specifically wants me to try solid foods by the 2nd day and to let him know if I can't tolerate them.

Thanks Kat, that was informative and reassuring..... I feel a little better!

Wow that's amazing, congratulations! You are such an inspiration - I hope next summer I'll be making a post like that! Can I ask you what your diet "plan" was? Right now I'm going through the dilemma of whether to keep obsessing about calories and carbs and whatnot, or to just make healthy choices, not eliminate any food groups but try to stick to the healthy carbs, etc..... so I'm curious how the successful banders got to their goal.

You look great! Thanks for sharing this..... it's all these "little" things that keep us going on this journey. Glad your surgery went well too and that you're home.

Hi Fit, I'm not an alcoholic but my drink of choice is White Russians and I drank too many of them too often.... now that I count the calories and carbs in those drinks, it's no damn wonder I gained so much weight (that and the evening binges never helped). My mom was an alcoholic and she died of the disease at age 56. My heart goes out to you. I know what a horrible addiction it is and how very hard it is to get, and stay, sober. I miss my White Russians since I got banded, and they are still my indulgence of choice when I decide to splurge. For me the only thing that really keeps me from drinking them more than once every 2-3 weeks is confronting how many calories and carbs they have. Leave it to me to choose one of the worst drinks for a dieter! I like wine too but it doesn't tempt me as much. I've had 2 unopened bottles in my refrigerator for a couple of months. I wish I knew how to tell you to quit. I know that you can, but I think it has to come from within. Just like with losing weight enough to get the lap band, and then wanting it bad enough to work with the band, you have to want sobriety as much. I think you will find a lot of support here. Most of us have a food addiction, and people who are addicted to one thing can easily be addicted to one or more additional substances or habits. I applaud your strength and courage in coming here.

That would really piss me off too. It's too bad we don't know before choosing a doctor that we should ask about their policy on fills. (I should speak for myself on that one, I guess). Fortunately, I haven't encountered that problem. In my first consult with him, my surgeon told me that if I go a week without losing any weight, I need to sit down and carefully evaluate what I'm eating and whether I'm following the bandster rules. And if I go a second week in a row without losing, he wants me to come in and talk to him or the nutritionist so they can help me figure out what the problem is. I was banded May 15th and I've had four fills, with another one scheduled for next week if I need it (and I probably will). I know it's hard to change doctors at this point but if you have that option, I'd consider it. I expect my doctor to be on my side and work for me, not treat me like a misbehaving child!

You guys are all playing my (sad) song. I've had four fills and am at 6.6 cc's in my 9 cc Realize band. I have very mild restriction... I do feel it if I eat a lot, but only if it's a big restaurant size meal. I'm losing weight but I am controlling my intake through will power and determination. It feels just like when I was on diets before, and my concern with that, is that I always gained my weight back after I lost it on diets. I understand that we do have to make healthy choices and watch what we eat, but I'm a little disappointed so far. I went to a support group meeting last night and they had a lot of real food there and showed portion sizes, etc. and everyone was saying "I have a band, I can't eat all that", but I knew that I could. I talked to people who said they choose to make healthy choices but not follow any particular diet (like low fat or low carb). They just want to get away from that obsession with food and it's working for them, one girl was at goal and looked wonderful. They said "I just make healthy choices most of the time, and eat until I'm full and that's how I lost my weight". If I made healthy choices and ate until I'm full, I wouldn't lose any weight. (And I do understand the difference between "full" on the band, and the old "full" before the band.... I've had 1-2 days of restriction in the last 6 weeks right after a fill, which at least taught me how it should feel). I know I just have to be patient.... but like the rest of you, I start worrying that I'm never going to get there! 6.6 cc's in a 9 cc band seems like a lot, considering that I have a long road ahead of me and will need more fills as I lose weight. Sometimes I think that I just ~think~ too much about all of this and I'd like to clear my brain!