mattie7632

well it sounds like most doctors will find you a candidate!

I had my first fill last Thursday, 5 days ago. He put in about 2 cc's.....Since then I have had very little appetite and can eat small amounts at a time. I definitely feel like I must chew carefully now. I'm wondering if this is actual restriction I'm feeling, or is this just due to swelling ? Wondering if this is typical and what I can expect for the next month or two until I need a fill again? Thanks !!!! :)

Yeah I heard about flipping your liver over like that! Kinda gives me the shivers now! Glad it's all over with!

It's a big decision, and one I do not regret. The major things I considered were 1) My age and health prognosis plus likelihood of changing lifestyle without the band 2) Chances of success-feedback of others 3) Safety and invasiveness of procedure. All things considered, it was a no brainer for me! Good luck!

I'm betting we've all been through this. After the first few weeks of exactly what you're describing...I realized I was able to eat less ....now I've had fill #1, only 2 cc's and have amazing restriction so far. Everyone is unique but once you get a fill things I bet things will start to change for you

The thought of her snatching some popcorn is quite funny.......

My food got "stuck" for the first time last night. Boy did I learn my lesson. I had a low cal soup for dinner (bad idea-doesnt fill you-hungry later!!) then I snatched a couple bites of my daughters cheeseburger-worse idea. After bite 3 I stopped, didn't feel like it was going down....then I burped about 20 times and finally threw it up!!! Note to self: Do NOT do that again!

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I love your ticker!!!!

the 10th fill?? Wow that's a lot....!!! I do think I might have had some restriction before the fill just from the band....

Oh yes, I can relate. Guess what, it will pass! Hard to believe, I know. There was a point I honestly couldn't imagine not wanting to eat, but it will happen! The desire does decrease....really it does

My friend wasn't billed for a fill for almost a year! While I don't think that's typical, you should at least get a couple visits in the global timeframe....

????? There's this thing called the global period when all follow up care by your surgeon is considered included in the surgeons fee. That global period, you might be interested in knowing, is 90 days. The fact that he is not giving you a fill and coincidentally he can't bill for it....is something I would question if I was you!!! It is not beyond doctors to try crap like this, trust me I know, doctors are my clients

Wow, this got way too confusing for me !! I think I'll stick to the less fancy method of calorie counting and guesstimating

I was dreading stepping on the scale....had a bad week of not the best choices in foods (PMSing!!!!), but decided, I better just see what the damage is....and holy sh*t, down 21 pounds now, and haven't even had my first fill yet!!! I'm really amazed at our bodies ability to shed pounds just from simple changes. Those changes obviously allowed me to have bad days and be okay. Before I got the lapband, I thought I "couldn't" lose weight! Wow how ignorant I was! People keep the faith and don't stop eating to lose! Every time I have expected to GAIN weight because I consumed more calories, I've actually lost MORE. I think our bodies need adequate calories to lose.

that diet sounds optimal for losing weight! A lot of little meals over the day! Don't worry, you will lose weight even if you don't this first few weeks.....

I don't deprive either. Funny you should ask about Sonic though, the other day I flew through the drive thru, I did not know what to get so I ordered a large tator tot and a small diet coke. I finished about half the order of the tots, and a few sips of the diet. I was completely satisfied. I don't recommend fast food obviously, but sometimes we're just in a hurry!!

I order whatever I want (so long as I don't think it will be difficult to swallow, etc). That is my motto, I will be healthy but not deprive myself. I had McDonalds one day for lunch--a Filet of Fish and a small diet coke. I was perfectly satisfied and it was about 400 calories. We went to a restaurant and I got the pot roast sandwich. Only ate about 1/3 and a few bites of soup, but I was not deprived. I am losing weight and I feel like it's a diet I can stick to with no problem.

I also got my first fill 2 days ago, 2 cc's......It feels like perfect restriction for me right now. If it were always like this I would be great. I know it won't last as swelling will go down, etc. but based on this I don't think I want him to put too much in at a time. As far as the fill...I almost fainted. It wasn't particularly painful, but needles make me woozy, no idea why!

I got my first fill Thursday, also. He only put in about 2 cc's but I totally have restriction right now. My next appt is in 7 weeks due to their scheduling, not mine. It was supposed to be 4 weeks. Oh well. I felt like I had some minor restriction with just the band though so maybe it will be no big deal. What I don't know is if my restriction today is due to swelling, and if so, obviously it won't last then

Your situation sounds parallel to mine right now. I have found that if I don't eat small amounts frequently I don't seem to lose that week. I need to keep fueling my body. Just reducing portion sizes is not enough for me, I need to eat small amounts several times a day to actually get enough calories in.

yes I noticed you do have to put in your activity level, etc. or the caloric numbers will change drastically! Perhaps look at the options again and see if you get a number you think is more realistic

Well, I got through the pre-op diet, the starving stage, the "is this doing anything" stage and my first fill. My general opinion of the lapband is this: Yes, it is worth it. If you're afraid it's going to be a waste, stop thinking that, it's not. Is the band giving me restriction? I don't know. I don't know what it's doing, but it's doing something. Maybe it's just the placebo effect, if so, I don't care because it's still working. I don't diet the same now, I watch calories and eat less. It's working for me. I've lost 20 pounds, I look and feel twenty times better. If I never lose another pound, it's still 20 pounds I wouldn't have lost before. If you're having doubts....I say just go for it. Chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised as I was!!! :) :)

Thanks for the tip on livestrong.com!!! I just went there and found out my caloric requirements are 1105 to lose 2# a week! Cool site! Thanks!

38 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS!!! holy cow! I want that!!!