SassyOne

I was banded on 10/13/08 and still have not had a fill. Believe me when I say I have restriction. There are foods that I still can not tolerate that I had trouble eating in moderation before .. lol (pasta, rice and bread just to name a few). I have tried them all now and after just a small bite I can feel them in my chest. The pressure can be unbelievable so I just don't eat them. To date I have averaged 12 pounds a month lost. My doctor originally felt I needed a fill until he saw that I still continued to lose at the same rate without one. His feeling is as long as I don't feel hungry (which I don't) and have at least a 5 pound loss a month (which I do) then there is no reason for a fill. I love my band because it keeps me on track. In the past I would always go off my diet by either eating more than I should or things that I should not eat. The band (even without a fill) does not allow me to over eat. If I eat too much believe me I know it. I ate a 7 ounce hamburger about 2 weeks ago (without a bun just some salsa) and couldn't eat another thing for 19 hours (did drink Water though). In the past I could have eaten that burger on the bun with a load of french fries and a diet soda and then had another meal 4 or 5 hours later. We are all different and don't know what our insides look like. Sometimes just the placement of the band around your stomach is enough to give you the restriction you need. Listen to your body, if you are getting hungry (not head hunger but real hunger), eating more than you should, snacking and/or not losing like your doctor feels you should then you need a fill. Don't upset yourself about it because you will know when you need one. Good luck on your journey.

I had my surgery 10/13/08 and have still not had a fill and have lost 107 pounds. On the other hand my friend had the surgery 4 weeks before me, has had 2 fills and lost 125+ pounds. I really think it all depends on each persons individual system and possibly the reasons why they were overweight. Personally I feel that I ate the wrong foods as opposed to the amount of food (though I have cut my intake of food in half at least since being banded and write everything down so I am aware of what I am eating/drinking).

Personally there are certain foods that I can no longer tolerate (for example bread which gets stuck). Every person is different and it is experimentation to find out what you can and can not tolerate. The band definitely helps to cut down on the amount of food you can eat not necessarily what you can eat. You have to be aware of what you put in your mouth. If you choose to still eat high calorie/fattening foods then you may not be successful. Personally I write down everything I eat everyday so that I am aware of what I am having. I have eaten cake just a tiny piece (not a big hunking one that I would have had a year ago ... lol) and have saved it for special occassions. Remember the band is just a tool to help you get to your goal. You have to be proactive too. This is a life changing procedure and I don't regret it one bit. Good luck and much success to both of you!

Yes I do eat regular food just not a lot of it. Visually I always use a small cocktail fork and tiny plate. This visualization really helps me to feel like I have a lot of food on my plate. Believe me I don't strictly follow a low carb low fat diet. I try to limit them but I have my vices still (cream in coffee or cheese and crackers for example just can't give them up just limit how often and how much I have) Also I honestly can not tolerate certain foods - bread, rice, Pasta and have lots of trouble with meats. Because of that I do try to up my Protein (my nutritionists suggestion which has really seemed to help me) by adding Protein powder to my greek yogurt (breakfast) and eggbeaters with cottage cheese & turkey pepperoni for lunch. These are my most common meals during the week cause they are easy to prepare. My dinner is usually a spinach salad with something else. Tonight was salmon, last night tuna and the night before that ham. I have had fried fish & shrimp a number of times just a small portion of it and watched everything else I ate that day. For exercise I ride my recumbent bike for 10.5 miles a day 4 days a week. Unfortunately I have a lot of trouble walking as I suffer from severe arthritis in my knees so the bike is great. I try to keep my calories around 1100 - 1300 a day with the proportions being protein 40%, carbs 30 % and fat 30% (ideally my nutritionist wants protein 50% and carbs & fat being 25% each ... I have trouble sticking to that). This ratio seems to work for me and please remember we are all different. My sister who was banded a month before me has lost just about 100 pounds, has had 2 fills and can eat more than me and much more variety. She seems to be able to tolerate anything. We are just all different. Anyway I agree with many of the other posters. We all lose at different rates. I was stuck for a few weeks with a pound weight loss then had a week of 5 pounds lost. I tried to change it up alittle by reflecting on what I had been eating and eliminated some food and added others. Hard to explain just think the body has to catch up with itself. It is great that you have begun exercising (this really helps with the weight loss). Your loss to date has been great. I am sure that my BMI was higher than yours and have much more to lose than you, hence why we shouldn't compare our weight losses (though I must admit I do all the time ... just don't get down on ourselves if it is not as much as others by keeping it all in perspective). Keep the faith, maybe change up some of what you have been eating and remember you have to find what combination works best for you. Good Luck and if I can help you at all message me.

Hi, I have been banded since Oct 13, 2008 and have not had a fill. I have lost just over 80 pounds in that time. Both my surgeon and nutritionist feel that my weight loss has been great and not to worry/adjust just yet. I have restriction and am careful of what I eat. I tend to eat alot of cottage cheese, greek yogurt, egg beaters, spinach salad and fish. I log everything that goes into my mouth so I am very aware of what I am consuming. I also keep my protein over 80 grams a day and strive for over 100 grams (this is my surgeon's & nutritionist's advice - I add unflavored protein powder to my greek yogurt & egg beaters almost every day to boost the protein). Hope this helps. Good Luck!

The anesthesia was the worst part of my surgical experience. I had warned everyone that I had been very very nauseous and sick with prior anesthesia and experience motion sickness. Even with all precautions I still had dry heaving for 2 days after and did not feel like myself for 5 days (seemed to take that long for the anesthesia to leave my body totally). I also think the pain meds on an empty stomach did not help hence I only took one pain pill. Just not worth the dry heaves (and had limited pain so I could do without). In the hospital my nausea delayed my barium swallow test by a few hours but was eventually able to stomach the barium and get it done. Was released that night and just pretty much "went to ground" for a few days then felt great. Even knowing this I would do this again in a heartbeat. Good Luck to you tomorrow!

Personally I did have some nervousness when I thought about not having a bagel again or an egg, taylor ham & cheese on a bagel. These were some of my favorite foods. Once I came to terms with making the decision to get healthy and what it meant to me & my family it isn't so bad anymore. My hubby and kids still have them every weekend and it doesn't bother me. There are quite a few foods that I can't eat due to getting "stuck" but you learn quickly what you and your band can tolerate and what you can't. Believe me I would do this again in a heart beat. Good Luck!

I also suffer from canker sores or maybe I say did continually. My dentist told me to take L-Lysine (it is an amino acid in the vitamin aisle). I checked with my PCP and he saw no problem with it (and all my other meds). I take one every day (split by a pill splitter now mind you) and very rarely suffer from them anymore. It also helps cold sores to heal quicker (and the canker sore if you take only when you get one) especially if you take twice a day. I take it daily for prevention.

Congratulations! That is fantastic. When I started exercising on my bike 2 months ago I could only do 10 minutes and about 2 miles. I am now up to 30 minutes and 9 miles. I feel so good about that. At our support group the other night a leader brought up about "AHA Moments" and did we notice them. I had one just that day ... I was walking and my shoe became untied. I was actually able to bend over and tie it without being winded or feeling like I was going to topple over at any minute. Let me tell you that was an accomplishment though small and taken for granted when I was thinner. I am so happy with my LAP-BAND. Here's to a successful and thinner New Year for all!

Personally I have a healthy respect for my band and that gives me the will power. I no longer eat foods that I ate almost everyday ... Pasta, rice, potatoes and bread. I also limit my sugar/sugar-free intake. I find that I no longer desire these foods like I did before, as well as not desiring food as sweet as I once did. I have also never eaten so much fish and chicken as I do now, so I am making better food choices. Protein has become my guiding force in what I eat at every meal. My first 3 weeks were very tough. My doctor's post op care is 3 weeks of liquids (nothing thicker than water). Believe me what I would have given for some cream Soup. I was so sick of chicken broth, beef broth and Protein drinks. I dreamed of what I would eat first when I finally could eat. I desired everything but in the end I had some cream of tomato soup and some greek yogurt. It was the best meal in the world that day! There are days now that I would love a fastfood burger, etc but then I think about how good I have done and what does it really add to me nutritionally and the feeling passes. Also I feel that I have spent quite a bit of money out of pocket never mind the pain and discomfort of my surgery and post-op that I don't want it to go to waste. Believe me I am not saying that I don't lose my willpower. I have a constant battle with mental hunger almost everyday but the reality of the pain of food stuck is enough to help me realize that I really don't want it. Also seeing my clothes getting looser and looser and the scale go down each week are other positive reinforcements. Hang in there the mind is a powerful tool too!

Hi Tommy from NJ. What a great way to start the new year! Good Luck with your surgery it will be here before you know it!

Hi, I also have Aetna and was banded on Oct 13,2008. When I originally questioned Aetna 18 months ago, I was told that my plan did not cover any type of gastric surgery. Luckily their rules regarding gastric surgery have changed this year and it is now covered. I had to follow their rules (my surgeon's office staff were great with this) and Aetna has paid out according to my deductible, co-payments and using in-network doctors. My surgeon apparently has some kind of agreement with Aetna for a condensed 3 month supervised period prior to authorization. Once I completed my 3 months of supervised visits, nutritional counseling, the pysch consult and getting all appropriate letters from my assorted doctors I received my approval within 1 week of submission and had my surgery 2 weeks later. I suffer from high blood pressure (though I am down to only 1 med from 2), have severe arthritsis in my knees (also down 1 med from 2) and had a BMI of 53. My only suggestion is to question them specifically as to what your plan covers (if you haven't done so yet). I called them at least 3 times over a few weeks to make sure that I always got the same answer regarding my coverage and financial responsiblities (wanted to make sure that it really was correct). Good luck .... It really was worth all the hassle ...

I also agree with the above posters. My surgeon had me on a "nothing thicker than water" diet for 3 weeks post op. I had a tough time the first 4/5 days and could barely get in the chicken/beef broth, protein slammers and water. My stomach really needed the first two weeks for healing (the 3rd week of liquids not thicker than water was tough I admit cause all I wanted was yogurt or eggs or just something to "chew" on). Now I can have whatever I want but have to remember to chew, chew, chew! It is amazing how each surgeon's instructions are different! Good Luck!

I forgot to add that is for one "shooter".

At GNC they are either 3.59 or 3.99 in my area depending on which you buy. At a local vitamin shop they were 3.59. Seems to be a consistant price. Good Luck!

Hi I was banded Oct 13th and have been using "shooters" as my main protein source. They come in a large test tube and either are 45g or 42g in the 3.1 oz tube. I have ones made by IDS called New Whey Liquid Protein and CNP called Liquid Protein. These were recommended at our support group and I have found them very helpful. They can be found at GNC and other vitamin stores.