jujuvee

Something to think about, just because your scheduled for your first fill does not mean that you have to get it. When you get off of mushies and start eating solids like chicken, pork and hard boiled eggs or even pita bread, these foods will satisfy you longer and you might lose weight for a while without a fill. I am 4 month out and have not had a fill, I am losing and still able to eat all my favorite foods just less then I use to. So when you get to solids, don't baby your band with mushies that will go straight through try solids that will stick with you longer. I love the fact that I still eat all my favorite foods! Good luck!

It means productive burp, they say it's not like throwing up but bringing the stuck food back up in a non violent way.... Hopefully Restless will come back and expkaine it better, she has lot's of band knowledge.... In my opinion when she talks.... Listen!!!!

Hi Mandy. Are you eating solid foods or are you still on mushies? I only ask because if you are on still on mushies then the next phase (solids) may help with your hunger. I was so ready for my first fill but my surgeon decided not to give me one because I was losing great and once he let me start eating solid foods such as chicken, pork, hard boiled eggs and even pita bread I realized that I did have restriction I just didn't realize it because I was not challenging my band with the right foods. Now I am 4 months out and still no fill. If you are on solids and still hungry then it sounds like you are ready for a fill.

Little2be, how excited you must be. Rachnesa, I was 374 lbs when I started my pre op and lost 30 lbs, I was banded at 344 lbs in (same as you) Since my surgery day March 24th I have lost 54lbs and I haven't even needed a fill yet!!!

I am sooo with you ALL on this one, constant bad breath and I live on tic tacs and mini altoids! The only thing I do think kinda works is chewing on mint leaves found in the produce section.

Depending on what you are snackng on I don't think a fill will help, if you are snacking on slider foods such as chips, cookies, ice creams this stuff will silde right down no matter what your restriction is, this is the one thing my surgeon stressed, is this what you mean by snacking?

Welcome, this is a great place to find out everything you need to know about lapband. Lapband has been a great choice for me but as with any surgical option you decide to go with it takes a strong commitment,for instance with Lapband you have to be cautious to not self sabotage yourself, meaning you need to be careful of your slider foods, those are foods that no matter how much saline is in your band they will just slide right through causing you to gain, for me these foods are chips, chocolate,, ice cream, crackers, puddings..... I'm sure you get the picture. But if you stay on plan and eat solid foods they will stay in your pouch longer and keep you satisfied for hours. Weight loss varies, I have read threads on here where people have lost 200 lbs so it's safe to say that it does work but it does not work alone, we still need to watch what we eat and exercise. I lost 30 on pre op diet and 54 since surgery an March 24th 2009 and I have not needed a fill yet. Hope this helps, feel free to ask any specific questions. Julie

FINISHED!!!!!! Last night I completed the 50th mile walked!! I don't plan on stopping, this is just the beginning. This challenge has opened up new doors for me and made me focus on the big picture so I want to say Thanks so much for coming up with this idea!!!!!!!! Julie

Ooooo me too, I am 4 months out and about 30 min after I eat I can tear the roof off with mine!!

BillO, Way to go,,,, ummm and I've been to the Anchor bar so I Get it!!!!

Well for whatever reason, I will be canceling my upcoming apointment, I still have great restriction with no fill yet.... And I'm a female. I think it can be just as much mental as physical. It makes me wonder if some banders rely on the fills too much..

Ok so I could just say I'm sure everything is fine and you'll do better tomorrow..... But that's not me and a hug may not make things all better so you need to get a grip and follow your pre op diet, it was not given to you for you to disect and create your own plan, it so you can heal without the churning of your stomach to digest. Why chance it!!! It's not easy but imagine how you would feel if you did cause your band to slip. Call your surgeon or nutritionist and inform them of what your doing and they can suggest foods that may help you through this phase otherwise what starts off as a small piece of chicken will eventually be a whole piece or other foods that your unhealed stomach should not be digesting.

Mike, 9 days post op you're probably still on mushies, it makes sense that you are not staying full very long. I noticed that once I stuck with solids like chicken, turkey and pork, I stayed full until my next meal. If I eat puddings, or too many Protein drinks I am hungry too soon. This may be the same for you as well. Just my thoughts :cursing: Julie

I was banded on March 24 2009 and I have lost 51 lbs since surgery, I have not had a fill and my surgeon says " enjoy the ride" If I am losing and am satisfied then fills can wait. I am able to eat anything with the exception of fluffy breads, toasted is fine. I have great restriction if I stay away from slider foods, and a fill will not stop the slider foods. So my plans are to just hold off until it's a must. My surgeon said that I have a 10cc band and it was put on snug. .

Just changing what you eat and how much you eat will help you lose weight even if you can't start exercising. But you have to want it! I'm the first to say that if it's a hug you need that's not me but if it's get off your couch motivation you want that I can give you. They need you to lose weight for a couple reasons, one reason is to see how serious you are and two because if you don't start changing the way you eat now you are in for a rude awakening because the band alone will not get you to goal you have to do your part by exercising and eating healthy and being carefull about slider foods. Foods like cookies, chips, ice cream will just slide through no matter how tight your band is and that will sabotage your weight loss. I went on my pre op diet at 374 lbs and lost 30 lbs in 3 weeks, went into surgery at 344 lbs, almost 4 months out and I am at 293. My husband is doing it without surgery and started the same time as me and has lost at least 50 lbs ,not exactly sure because our scale only goes to 500 and he didn't register the first month. He started out walking half a mile a day and now he can do a mile, mile and a half. So to get to my point you just have to get fed up with watching life pass you by and truly force yourself to make out an exercise schedule and stick with it. Good luck and feel free to send me a messege anytime.

Can't speak for the yeast infection but I too am seeing that my periods are off track. I'm glad to see this post because I never had this problem before banding and in fact I was like clockwork every 28 days. This month I was not expecting to see o'l aunt flo for another 6 days...... So glad to know that this is common.

Renek my 3 weeks away from my scale broke my addiction, now I'm on a 2 week schedule and I like this idea because we all know how our hormones can sneak in and sabotage us so I figure things would even out more after 2 weeks!

Sugar free popsicles, broth and crystal light... Protein drinks were on my plan starting day 2 post op. Good luck and remember to walk, walk, walk this will give you relief from any gas pressure.

Hmmm, well the pre op diet is not just about losing weight it's about shrinking the liver so by not following the diet as prescribed may mean that your liver is still enlarged. You should call your surgeon and tell him and he might want to reschedule you in a couple weeks after you have followed the pre op diet as it was written. There is a bandster on this board that went on her own pre op plan lost alot of weight only to wake up from surgery without a band, her liver was still too enlarged. This needs to be taken seriously and so does the post op diet. Good luck!

I am almost 4 months out and have not had a fill. My surgeon says relax and enjoy the ride, at first I was upset that I was not getting a fill because everyone talks about their fills and I felt ripped off, then after I started eating foods that challenged my band I realized that I do have restriction and I will relax and enjoy the ride. Sometimes I wonder how many bandsters get a fill before they really need one. I have lost 51 since my March 24th surgery date and 30 on my pre op!

Liquids in, liquids out...... Very common! I would say that the pre op diet is a shock to everyones system considering how we were eating before pre op. I really don't know if there's any way around it but it doesen't hurt to call. Good luck

I agree with HolliJ, I would start going to a support group. I love LBT but I also never miss my monthly support group where I was banded. Maybe journaling and logging your foods and exercise would keep you more focused, I make my menu's out in advance and that helps me. I think it's probably pretty common to get bored and variety is important. If you get a chance take a quiet walk today and think about why you got lapband and refocus by making just one goal this week and see if you accomplish it by weeks end. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

I had mine done old school 20 years ago and I have 16 staple holes or railroad tracks as I like to call it. yes if you do the math I was 16. Anyway the surgeon that did my gallbladder surgery put my band in and he had no problem and I have no incisions on the same side as my big gallbladder scar.

I have united health and they set me up with a nurse advocate, she was awesome. She told me all the requirements and called me monthly to check in on my progress on getting all my required appointments, and correct documentation. Everything went through her and not the insurance coordinators from the bariatric center. So after I went to my last appointment on a Friday at 4pm my doctor faxed her all the info and she had called me at 5pm to tell me that I was short 2 of my 6 required doctors visits and when I reminded her that she told me that the 6 visits did not have to be consecutive as long as they were all in a 2 yr period she put me on hold for one minute came back on the line and said "you're right and I just approved it" Also she has called me once a month to ask follow up questions.

If I snack it's something like turkey jerky or a serving of bbq pork rinds if I want crunchy.