lapbandtalker

What reason? Many people have issues with food so I guess it's just a blanket requirement for many docs. My doc allowed me to be on 'as tolerated' so I was eating normally by weeks end. Don't think I could have made it two weeks. You are not to diet during post-op...you should be healing. Your dieting will come soon enough when you go for adjustments. So enjoy!

I'm with you! Just got home from visiting family for Christmas week and had a vegetable plate for dinner w/ cranberry juice. So tired of candy, pie, soda, ice cream, cookies- uuggghhhh! This was my first holiday season since reaching goal and I gained 3 pounds. But it's nice to have the band, I could have gained alot more and hopefully it will be a breeze to lose it.

Just stay close to your doctor during this time and do the recommended 14 day liquids. Remember, this is liquids-not diet liquids. So try a milkshake. Crazy as it sounds sometimes I find if I have a day or two where I feel really restricted out of the blue, something cold opens me right up. My doc says bands are fickle. And with that sometimes comes more restriction w/o an adjustment. And sometimes just as quickly as it comes, it goes away. Stress can play a factor. And this is my biggest cause of acute restriction. Hate to say it but it happens frequently. So not only did I have to lose weight, learn a healthier lifestyle...but I've got to work on my emotional health, too. Good luck and keep us posted on what happens after 2 weeks.

Many swear by it...and I did it, too for the first few days. It got old-fast so I relied on nutrition. Some days were better than others. My doc checks my labs every so often and there are tests for nutritional deficiencies...my protien is just fine. And no added Protein to my diet.

Yes, that's true for me. When I cut back on my calories and junk food (remember I'm an addict) I went thru withdrawal symptoms really bad including fatigue. Some days weren't so bad but others were killer. And I've read many others also feel tired, weak, or a lack of energy when they dramatically cut down on their food consumption-calories/sugar/carbs...whatever. It doesn't happen to everyone, but does happen to many. Whew! Glad those days are over. My 39th birthday is next month...and like Valerie B. for Jenny C- she went thru a New Year's w/o thinking about her weight and now she's doing it for a second time. I hit goal in 2008 so this New Year's of 2009 finds me not thinking about my weight, either. Oh, I still step on the scales from time to time but it's great not having to diet anymore!

Don't let lack of insurance stop you. It would be nice to have someone else to pay for it since you've been paying your premiums all this time...but don't let it stop you. This procedure is worth taking money out of savings, or going into debt -in my opinion.

Wow, I am no happier, more fun, in no less pain, no more social, etc. Boy, I got the short end of the stick. Nah, my weight never defined who I was - or any part of who I was/am. I suffer from a back injury in Desert Storm and I was really hoping and PRAYING weightloss would help ease that pain -wrong. For me, I take up less space and I am seen less at drive thrus. That's about it. Hopefully I'm no less fun than I used to be or less social. Happieness is the same.

You are starving because you are on a liquid diet. Please don't expect restriction until you go in for adjustments. Take this time to heal and eat. My doc allowed mushies at day 2 and then a few days later was 'as tolerated'. Like you I was starving and I was a basket case - crying, depressed, basically a pity party for one. A person like me who ate massive amounts of food daily to get cut off to only liquids- yeah, right. But talk to your doctor. Allow them to guide you thru this process. Don't worry about losing weight-it will come.

Do you think this surgery is reasonable for me? Yes, it is reasonable. Get a good lapband surgeon! How much vomiting and nausea is involved post op? It's probably different for everyone. I didn't have any. Is it unreasonable to feel relieved that there is an option that may actually be successful? No, not at all. When I learned about the lapband, I thought - It's about time!!!!! Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

Me too! My doctor said eating 3 meals a day is not good for me. 5 meals or eating 5 different times during the day is what I do. If I don't, I find myself starving! Breakfast snack lunch snack dinner I don't eat alot, just a few bites. And my Snacks are a tiny salad, fruit, nuts, something like that.

Remember, medicine is practiced and you get 'opinions'. Your doc gave his opinion - but that doesn't make it true.

Start w/ your primary care as they are a great resource. Fill Centers USAwere the ones who did my aftercare and they are nationwide. You never know, a local doc may participate with thier group. Good luck

Anyone use these? Or have you? I'm thinking about getting this as landline is going to cost too much and every call is longdistance since I'm in the middle of two areas- everything costs! And with my cable...digital phone is like 20 bucks per jack for installation plus the 29 for installation and 40 bucks a month. A little pricy for me. Thanks everyone!

Thanks for the ideas. I went with magicjack. I figured for the 40 bucks for a years worth of calling - was worth the 'risk' if it didn't work. I've been using it for 2 weeks now and love it. I will not ever have another phone bill-for life. (as long as the company keeps providing the service)

I so wish I had your problem. Lisa, I can't quit the habit. Today I was in bed w/ a borderline migraine and after my 3rd dose of meds realized I haven't had my soda in 2 days. Got up went to the gas station...yep-20 minutes later I was fine. I went on Atkins years ago and was able to kick it...well, sort of. Did get to where I was able to drink diet sodas and then more to the Crystal light or splenda koolaid. We all have our demons...mine is definitely soda pop.

Don't be mad. I'm on the flip side. What was hard for me dieting and exercising til the cows came home was that it didn't work for me. Lapband was the easiest thing I've ever done and the easiest weightloss. I did have that mentality of getting the band and then sitting back - well, not really. It was a grueling process but I relied on the band to do what the makers promised. And it worked. So don't be too mad at people. Some find exercise/dieting easy and not hard. And some find surgery easy and not hard.

You hang in there. Allow yourself time to greive. Don't make any decisions right now - not even which Cereal to buy. I wasn't hurt at all by my father's passing in 2001 but my mother's just 2 months ago has debilitated me in so many ways. Just allow yourself time to do nothing and cry all you want.

I avoid the General Tso's chicken like the plague. Any of the chunck chicken doesn't go down so well. Rice and noodles are my pick. But many bandsters have problems with rice and noodles. So get a sampler of things and just enjoy conversation and the company of others.

So next time you see your doc- ask for the test. Yesterday while getting a sonogram of my thyroid the tech was talking to me about what she was seeing on the screen...not diagnosing anything like that but just saying what she is seeing. She suffers from some type of thyroid problem herself and she asked me if I was loosing my hair (she doesn't know about me having the lapband or losing weight). YES! I told her that I had been losing my hair for over a year now. She said that's one of the symptoms of a thyroid problem. I'm wondering if the hair loss I'm having now (being on maintenance for almost a year) isn't due to weight loss but my thyroid. Anyone know what thyroid problem she was talking about or is it 'any' thyroid problem? And a simple lab test would show you if your levels were off, which mine did this past summer....but never before. Did weightloss have anything at all to do with my thyroid finally going off the deep end?

Thanks so much for all this information. I get labs done every year it seems and all my results have been within normal ranges-including my thyroid. One year after being banded (plus a month) when I had my yearly labs- that's when the results were abnormal. So this is sort of new- and I haven't been diagnosed with anything, yet. I have socialized health care which means I won't be treated for quite some time...tick tock....tick tock....

Join the club! Now you are among friends and a group of women who do what is required but really don't feel like we have friends in a new ward. I've lived in more than 12 wards since being baptized AND have not ever had friends. So now when I move, I just go....go some more...and go. I don't have the expectation of friends. And now, I prefer it that way. Too much drama in alot of people's lives-fake[self created] drama. Boy am I cynical about this. But - my testimony has grown and I love the Lord with all my heart! I say yes to every calling and request from a member from church. I go to church for the Lord - no one else. {but I do hope you meet friends. Seems those with them are happier and life is about relationships with others- so I will be dying alone as it comes as no surprise that I've never married}

I've been past goal for almost a year now and my craving for food has hit the roof. I constantly think about food. Yesterday at church- food was on my mind. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about food. I eat 7-10 times a day, so I am eating constantly! [few bites here and there] My weight is not suffering because I have the band, whew! But, I think I'm going off the deep end. I have been thru many life changes this year, especially the past few months: mother's death 2 daughter's moving away-1 military move quit nursing school [moved] -I'm sure there are other things- thyroid problems just now diagnosed(although suffer for years-family history) So it's no wonder I'm suffering....but food is the way this is manifesting itself.

Do you have or know anyone who has a food addiction? I mean a real, bona fide diagnosed food addiction. If so, what is/was the treatment? Is it just psych or meds or a combo of the two?

Hamburgers are a thing of the past for me...sadly because I love McDonalds hamburgers. But when I crave one, I split it in half and start from the inside out. After a few bites, I'm satisfied. But as far as big burgers like whoppers/big macs/homemade - I tried it once and will not EVER do it again. But tacos are okay, so I don't have to give up beef altogether. Steaks- gave them up as well.

I have a 4cc band as well, think the size is 9.75 but holds 4cc. Not sure why-but ask your doc. You are not getting the recommended adjustments as outlined by Inamed-makers of the lapband. First fill should be 2cc and then .5 every 4 weeks thereafter. But these are just the guidelines, docs can vary. Like you, I received 2 adjustments - but that allowed me to get to goal and then some. My first fill was 2cc. Then 4 weeks later .5cc. That was it! Got restriction while in the office....had to drink Water. I never went back for another fill. After I hit goal and then kept loosing, I went in for a slight unfill. So, don't be discouraged. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't have lost an ounce and would still not have any restriction. Just go back for adjustments.