suepro

I know how you feel. Every other time I have dieted and lost weight I haven't had the courage to throw out my large clothes and each time i grew back into them. This time is different, I have been ruthless and two large sack fulls have gone to the charity shop. I have kept a couple of things so when I get to my goal weight I can have one of those pictures of a skinny me in my huge old pair of trousers (well thats the plan anyway). It is rather unsettling parting with some old friends from my closet though and I don't have that many things in the size I am wearing now. No way I am shopping for any more until I get to the next size down. Sue

Firstly don't worry about the fact that you haven't had many replies to your previous posts- this is such a busy forum and so many new threads each day, I couldn't keep up with all of them and most people just look at a few. I am similar to you, although I have only been banded since November and had one fill so far and pretty good restriction from it so I am one of the lucky ones. I postponed my appointment for my second fill as I am busy and I am still losing. I also don't want to experience being over restricted as the one time I got stuck it was awful and the few times I have had sliming have not been nice either. I discussed it with my bariatric team and they said that if I am still losing to wait a while for my fill. I know I can eat more than some bandsters (some seem to live on fresh air), but I like the fact that I can eat salad and veggies which some that I know can't. I don't eat ice cream and have managed to stay clear of chocolate mostly (just a few at Christmas) so I am going to wait until my weight plateaus before booking my fill. I have lost 52lbs since my pre op diet started in August and gone down 3 clothing sizes so I feel I am not doing too bad. Do let us know how you progress BSwhip, it is tough knowing what to do best and comparing yourself to other people who prefer their bands to be really tight isn't always helpful. Very best of luck, you are doing great! Sue Ps just joined a gym for the first time and going along for my induction this morning -hoping that will help boost the weight loss

Good luck for your consultation- I doubt you will lose much weight between now and Wednesday so its safe to start dieting now. I didn't have to do any kind of exercise at my consultation so I can really understand how nervous you arew about doing that, it sounds daunting but I am sure the pysicians are really nice and as they are used assessing people for weight losss surgery , they are proffessionals and they will soon put you at your ease. I was examined and had bloods done but thankfully that was it. i started my pre op diet the day after the consult even though my op was 3 months later. Just keep in mind your end goal of getting your band operation and that will get you through. good luck and drop by and let us know how it goes. Sue

You have had a long wait for your first fill, given that most poeple don't feel restriction until they have had at least a couple, you have done really well to lose weight without one. no wonder you are losing a bit of motivation but I am sure you will get it right back after your fill on 28th. I was banded on 6 November and had one fill on 12 December and really need to get another soon but getting an appointment that fits in with my work schedule is hard just now so I will have to wait until early February. good luck for your fill and you have come to the right place here for encouragement. Sue

I am so sorry to learn of the problems you have had. I have never heard of anyone having problems like those you describe before so can't offer any advice, just wanted to say I hope things improve for you soon and you make a full recovery.

Hi Stacy Welcome to this very friendly informative forum. you may be a slow loser but you are 33 lbs lighter than you would have bee nwithout your band. Posting and reading here will help you stay focussed and there are always people who are going through or have gotten over what you are. Why not post on one of the more specific threads about anything you are struggling with and someone will be along to help. We all struggle with the band at times. My particular problem is eating too fast, I know I need to work harder at going slower. I was banded in November and am just going to arrange my second fill. I have lost 50 lbs including my pre op diet and am happy with that as I know that I am in it for the long haul and I was warned that weight loss is slow and steady with a band compared to the bypass where people lose lots really quickly. I am sure you have reduced clothing size so although you may not see a huge difference when you look in the mirror yourself, 33lbs must be very noticeable to others and I am sure that it has had a positive effect on your health. Best of luck to you, take care. Sue

You should definately feel the difference. I can only speak from my own experience, however when I am full I start to get that uncomfortable feeling in my chest and I know its time to stop eating. If I haven't eaten slowly enough I get a real pain so I try to avoid that at all costs as it is not a nice feeling. feeling full is not the same as it was pre band but you will recognise it. Best of luck with your fill. Sue

Your episode with the carrots sounds horrid and just like a 'stuck' episode I had on a piece of lettuce a few weeks ago. I Pb'd and slimed first for a couple of hours but the excruciating pain just wouldn't go away and eventually the offending lettuce and more 'ectoplasm' came up at such speed that it came down my nose as well as out of my mouth. I immediately felt better afterwards. I think in my case the lettuce was clogging up the exit hole of the band, I don't think it was real 'stomach acid vomit'. My surgeon told me to go to liquids for 3 days until the swelling went down and I was fine. It was a good few weeks beefore I had lettuce again and this time I made sure to chew chew chew. I hope you are feeling better and that a few days on liquids will sort you out. Sue

Welcome to this very informative forum, there is a lot of info on all things to do with lap bands here and lots of very helpful supportive people too. I had my band back in November and am really delighted with it, I have lost 50lbs since the start of my journey including the pre-op diet. Regarding diet, different surgeons give different advice so you are really bestfollowing the diet your surgeon or dietician gave you. I guess you are at the sloppy/mushy stage right now. Best of luck to you, I wolud suggest you search other threads and you will find the information you are looking for. Sue

I don't regret my band for a second. It is true that it is early days, however from day one I never felt that the RNY was for me so it was band or nothing as far as weight loss surgery was concenred. Which operation to have is a personal thing, in conjunction with your surgeon and the research you have carried out. I liked the fact that the band is adjustable, whereas the RNY has a weight loss window and many people regain after a while as the pouch stretches, even though early weight loss is far better with RNY. Band is a smaller shorted, reversable operation with a much shorter recovery time and in the Uk, it is also far cheap er to have a band than an RNY. My insides are unchanged and I absorb all the nutrients from my food and don't have to take supplements. Good luck with what ever you decide and I hope it works out of you. If my band doesn't work out for me in the long term it won't be becasue I haven't tried my hardest with it. Sue

Same here, and although sometimes I wait a bit longer after I don't think I could wait 2 hours after a meal. Sue

I first noticed I had lost weight off my bottom half when I realised my jogging pants were too long as I no longer fill them out side ways! My wedding ring is also loose and I definately need to get some new bras, plus my shoes are a bit loose.

You will know right away if something gets stuck, when it happened to me, I got an excruciating pain in my chest and was then violently sick. It was awful and I have been chewing like mad and eating really slowly ever since to avoid a repetition as it was just the worst pain Sue

Hi Crystal you are doing really well with your weight loss. I wasbanded on 6 November and have lost 40lbs including the pre op diet. I too am struggling with head hunger right now, especially with all the extra social occasions recently so I am glad that the holidays are over and I can get back in a routine. I have to say though, when I compare to the amount I was eating last Christmas and New Year, I have done pretty well. This year I have felt naughty if I had one or two chocolates, last year I would have demolished whole boxes of them! I think we have to keep in mind that we are in this for the long haul and we can do it if we put our minds to it and if we have a small lapse it isn't the end of the world. I am getting another fill soon and I am looking forward to that as the one I had on 12 December is wearing off and I need a bit more restriction. Good luck with keeping the head hunger at bay. Sue

Welcome Thalia! The pre op diet is hell but your goal of your operation is in sight so stick with it. I was banded on 6 November and have lost lots of weight already- I don't regret being banded for one second. Very best of luck for your operation. Sue

Hi Peach It is perfectly normal not to feel any restriction before your first fill and many people take 3 or 4 fills to feel restricted. I have had one fill and still feel quite restricted so I am quite lucky but have my next one planned in 3 weeks. I can't eat bread without discomfort and am trying to eat meat and veggies and not too many carbs and the weight is coming off nicely. I agree with your surgeon that going forward you shouldn't be on a diet and should be able to eat most foods just smaller portions than before, although most successful bandsters concentrate on getting good Protein and veggies as if you can only eat a little, eating good wholesome nutritious food is healthier. At the stage you are at, it is hard and you want to make sure your insides have healed properly as you don't want to cause slippage. Perhaps your surgeon will fill you sooner than planned? Very best of luck to you, you will notice the difference after your fill and you will lose weight if you work at it. Sue

You have taken the first step by posting on here for help. perhaps you should go back to basics and start keeping a food diary to help you focus on eating the good stuff. I am not diabetic but am sure that you should be able to eat a suitable diet to keep your blood sugar level even if you are quite restricted. When did you last have a fill? Perhaps you need one to get the right level of restriction. Sue

You have been through an awful lot recently, no wonder your motivation to lose weight has been lacking. Wishing you all the best for 2009. Sue

10lbs pre op and 12lbs post op is a great start to your weight loss. I am sorry about your father, I lost my mother on Christmas eve and it is hard not to want to turn to food for comfort when you have been doing it for so many years. I was banded on 6 November and have lost around 20lbs post surgery, plus 28 in the 3 months before, but I did stick to my surgeons instructions and we all lose weight at different rates so please don't compare. My band was ffitted with 2.5mls and I have had a further fill on 12 December taking it to 4.5 in a 10ml band. I am still pretty restricted from that fill and can only eat a fraction of what I could eat before but I have been told that it will wear off and I will be getting another fill booked soon. Don't give up on your band just yet, if you don't have restriction book yourself in for a fill. I am sure your late father would be proud to have you lose your excess weight, I know my mother would. Very best of luck to you, the weight will come off once your restriction is right. Sue

Hope your pain goes soon, the liquid phase is really hard and the last week before you get your fill will be really difficult becasue your insides will have healed but your band is empty so you can expect to feel really hungry. I was lucky and didn't really get much pain and I was happy once I moved off liquids on to mushy foods as I love Soups and smoothies. I am managing to keep off the chocolate and ice cream and it is indeed wonderful feeling the weight drop off. Most of my clothes are far too big now, but I don't want to spend my money on stuff that I don't intend to fit for long. Take care of yourself and it won't be long until you get your fill on 14 January. Make sure you get enough Water to drink and do your very best to stick to your surgeons and dieticians instructions, even though it will be very hard.

Welcome Kareen, nice to have you with us! how are you finding being a bandster so far? I got my band on 6 november and had my first fill on 12 December so have had my first Christmas where I haven't completely over indulged in food. I am loving my band so far, only one little incident where some food got stuck, oh my goodness, what terrible pain- that taught me to chew better and I have been fine since. Good luck with your weight loss. Sue

You have done well on the pre op diet becasue you have the end goal of the operation in sight. In the longer term you would go back to eating the way you did before if you decide not to go ahead with the op. Second thoughts are a natural thing. I was banded on 6 November and don't regret it for a minute, although I lost 28 lbs on my pre op diet I knew that I needed a long term solution. I have lost over 40lbs now and am not hungry. Good luck, and if you are really not sure about going ahead right now, you can defer your op until you are certain its what you want to do. Sue

Most people don't get restriction until after their first or second fill. Try and stick to the dietry advice given to you by your surgeon, although it is hard. I graduated to most solid foods 5 weeks after my op and could eat quite a bit but after my fill at 6 weeks, the restriction finally kicked in and I can now only eat a small amount. I really noticed the difference right away so don't worry, you will get there soon enough. I hope you don't have to wait too long until you get your fill. Sue

Hi Nicole What a shame you couldn't get booked for a fill before Christmas as its going to be very tough for you. Try not to undo all the good work so far as you have done great losing 25lbs already. I had my band fitted on 6 November and got my first fill on 12 December and i have noticed a big difference in the amount I can eat since the fill, although I expect this will wear off a bit at least there is no fear of me eating a large amount of Christmas food. If you do put on a couple of pounds before your fill, don't beat yourself up because you will soon lose it afterwards. Sue

Good luck for your operation on Tuesday Dafina. This is one Christmas where you definately won't be over eating. Very best wishes and hope all goes well for you. I had my band on 6 November and its the best thing I ever did. Sue