Judy_AL

Hey MellyB - I did the same thing! I did not even have anything for pain during my stay in the hospital. I was really blessed that everything went so well - I was banded on 9/24/08 - and still feel great! So good luck and time will pass very quickly!!!!!!

Just make sure to drink extra water and flush it all out of your system. Good luck!!!

Call your doctor and see what they suggest. My doctor has said that if this should happen we are to come to the office to be unfilled or to the er asap. So i think if he said that - it's important to do just that. Hope everyone is well soon for you!

Oh I almost forgot - a suggestion only - start a food journal - online you will find several - I tried several before I found the one I liked best. I used www.dailyplate.com and then switched to www.myfitnesspal.com - it was easier to use and chart my intake of food and liquids.

Hey Alabama folks! I'm from Tuscaloosa and was banded on 9/24/08 - and can honestly say it is the best thing I have done for me in my life time! Cam if you are using Dr. Bilton - he is just great - no problems at all. The key to it is remember this is a "tool" you still have to do your part as with anything worth having. Remember that this process with the band is a slow weight loss process not fast like the gastric. Congrats on your date! It was like Christmas for me when I was banded! Good luck!

Hey Jaceesmom - I have not but I am this Friday and I was banded on 9/24/08 - but can tell you after that. I have read things on here about it - that some people have felt very tight after flying due to the pressure change - I had asked my doctor this question but they have not gotten back with me on it - but like I said I can let you know on 11/10/08 about it all. Have a great trip!

shafe! Congrats! I was banded on 9/24/08 - just remember your body is healing and sip - it might take you hours to get something down - but it will get better and you will continue to take more in a little at a time - then before you know it you will be trying the soft stuff! lol Just keep it up and take it SLOW!

Hey C! Sounds like they have fixed you up and you are almost ready to kick up your heels! Just remember give your body time to heal - before you take steps eating things you should not be right now - you dont want to damage anything on the inside. But sounds like you are doing great! Good luck on your journey!

Hey I live in Alabama too - but I used Dr. Bilton in Tuscaloosa - he is wonderful and staff is too. Good luck on your journey!

Hey Cleo's Mom - I was instructed in our support group and classes that a person with a lapband should go to the er or doctors office to have the band unfilled so that it will not cause any damage when throwing up.

Hey SnowBaby! Yes I use mine all the time - still hard for me to judge items - it is very helpful. Because what is actually a cup is different than the 1 cup I have in my mind! lol I also might add do a food journal. I used a couple free online until I found one I really like and the one I use all the time now is www.myfitnesspal.com - it is really easy to use - I'm sure more people on the site will share other online journals to use. Good luck with it!

Gracie - that is great you are getting ready for your surgery. I did the same thing - but did you doctor not tell you what you can and cann't have? As you read on this site every doctor has his/her own diet plan - so I would really check with your doctor. Good luck!

Hey moreen - keep up the good work - it will pay off - I went on full liquids 9 days before my surgery because the doctor wanted me to lose about 10 lbs - well ended up by the 6 day I had lost 17 lbs. The rewards will be great believe me - I was banded on 9/24/08 - and have done great with it all. Yes my body is still adjusting with the lapband - my mind is getting in line with my stomach - and it has come a long ways. Remember this will be a life change for you - but you will be ahead of the game when you have to be on the liquid diet part while you are healing - I know that is why it was easy for me - had I come off a regular diet right before surgery and then had to make all the adjustments - I think my body would have gone into complete melt down! lol But keep up the good work and before you know it you will be band and working on the new you! Good luck and peace!

Hey acasner! Yep you have started the lapband journey. Time will fly believe me. Then before you know you will be banded! I know that is how it was for me. I was banded on 9/24/08. So far so good. I would suggest to get in the habit of keeping a food journal - that will help out so much and attend support group meetings in your area. You will find several free online journals online to keep what you eat - that way you can show your doctor during the waiting period and it will be old hat to you after you are banded. I use www.myfitnesspal.com - I wish I had started it before getting banded - but did not. Love it! I tried a couple before that one but find myfitnesspal.com to be very complete and user friendly. Good luck on this new journey!

Hey guy's but you have to remember everyone is different - I was banded on 9/24/08 and I did not have any pain. Remember you have had major surgery and you body does have to heal. Lovebug are you keeping a food journal? If so call your dietician and review everything with him/her. It could be you are not taking in enough calories/protein - but they would be able to show you the way if it is that. I have not had a fill yet - but I can barely take in 850 calories a day and that bothers me - but then I have to remember I'm only 30 days post-op and that will change. I use www.myfitnesspal.com to journal all my intake and excerise - and then print it out daily to review - that has really helped me out alot. One thing I have done is added a snack in the afternoon -- I'll eat a rice cake low fat with 1 or 2 TBS of PB Natural Skippy and that has really helped me out too with the feeling of hunger in the afternoons. Just keep up the good work!

SDMama - I was banded on 9/24/08 and have lost about 40 lbs - and no I do not regret that at all. That is 160 lbs of pressurer off my knees and now I am able to walk about 1.5 miles a day without hurting. I have even had friends that have had the gastric and they wish they had done the band. Granted with the band you must remember that your weight lose will be slow. And to be honest I like that - and yes you do have rules you must follow - but for me that is so much better. You are doing it right - research - that is the only way to have peace with a life change. Good luck!

Luckyfive - that is a great job too! 1/2 to 1 lb week - I think we forget with the band it will be slow. Keep it up!

Sherri! Hey welcome back - like you said and know you have to get back to the basic's - that is life! lol But you know what to do its not like you are starting over or that you gained 80 lbs and now having to get that off again. You realized within yourself that you needed to do this and that is great! I'm a newbie at this myself - but as you know this site is very helpful and remember to log your daily food/water/exercise intake. I use www.myfitnesspal.com - i have used several of the other journal online's but have found that one to be the most friendly. Again welcome back and great to nip-it-in-the-bud now!

Hey Jen - not sure about that because I am new at the band thing too - but you know so many bugs are going around right now. Plus my doctor told me/us in the meetings that if we started throwing up to call the office/or go to the er to get the fills taken out - so that it would not cause the stomach to over lap the band - so you might need to call your doctor. Hope you get to feeling better.

Jodi - I'm like you - I have gone fish crazy! And I hate fish! lol But for some reason fish is now high on my list of things to eat.

Good luck! I was banded on the 9/24/08 and do not regret it at all! Just wish I could have done it sooner after I had done my research and then made my choice.

Hey! I was banded on the 9/24 - I have not gained - but have read on here where people have. As for being hungry is it that or is your mind and stomach still trying to regroup from all the changes you have made lately. That is something that I faced - my stomach would be making all kinds of sounds (that made me think I was hungry) - but when it came down to it I really was not. The nurse told me to drink some Water when I have that filling and if does not go away then I am hungry and should eat something. But if it does then it's just my body adjusting to all the changes I have made to it. Good Luck!

Do exactly what you are doing now - the practice is great. Plus your nutr/doc will have a plan for you to go by. Just remember to ask questions - and always remember there is never a dumb question in the world! Especially if it is related to your health and wellbeing! Good luck!

Well so far alicez the band is working for me and beleive I have tried pills - Weight Watchers - Atkins - pills again - Weight Watchers 2 more times! lol But I have been researching the gastric and band for about 3 years now and had peace about doing the band. But you need to do a lot of research and come to peace with what you decide. That is most important. Attend a couple support groups in your area. They will supply you with lots of information and put you intouch with people that have done it both ways. Then of course this web site is just full of information. Good luck on your journey! I cannot stress enough do your research!