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Juliansmom, take a breath and relax. While it is true that since you are so close to goal you may need an adjustment, you may also need to adjust your thinking. Your "irregular eating" while on the business trip is NOT punishable by law. LOL You HAVE been and STILL ARE a success story! You give good advice and now you have a new and different experience to share with others. We both know that you will get back on the wagon and continue to lose more weight. I would bet my paycheck that you have not stretched your pouch. Yeah, I know, my paycheck wouldn't pay for a European vacation, but still ... LOL I think it takes more that one weekend and 3 glasses of bubbly to stretch your pouch. If you want to put your mind at ease, why not try the "5-day pouch test" and see if you don't feel restriction again. Just a suggestion. No one is perfect and no one is expected to be perfect. You are doing great. Keep up the good work. Trust me, the things I have put my band through ... and still my pouch bounces back and tells me STOP, I'M FULL!!! Take care! ~Fran

Yep, my feet got smaller. I am 5'8" and was wearing a size 10 before, I now wear a size 9 1/2.

In 2004 I had back surgery for herniated and ruptured disk, as well as a spinal bone spur. The surgery helped but I struggled to lose the weight needed to really get the benefits of the surgery. One of the things I noticed after surgery was that when I would lay in bed on my right side, often I would feel pain. It felt as if my lower spine was in a "V" shape. I would have to change positions quickly or the pain would become really bad. It was the weight of my stomach pulling on my back. Since lapband surgery and weight loss I hadn't even given it a thought, but this morning I noticed that the pain was gone and that my back felt ... normal. For me, this is a really big NSV. Anyone else with back problems notice a difference? ~Fran

Isn't it great not to have that nagging back pain anymore?! Congrats!

Following your doctors instructions is important, unfortunately doctors don't always tell you everything you need to know to succeed AND, because we are individuals, one size does NOT fit all. It is so important to EDUCATE YOURSELF. This forum is full of information -- try not to let it intimidate you. Use the information that best fits your situation. Learn how the band works and how to work the band. Once you get your band, there will be nothing like the "on the job training" you will get once you start the ride. LOL Go into this with your eyes open, knowing that this is a "tool" not a "magic wand". In the time before you are approved, learn more about yourself and your relationship with food. So much of this journey is about the head, and not the stomach. It's about what you are willing to do for yourself to reach your goal, about habits you are willing to give up to reach your goal, about being honest with yourself. You will learn that you have not taken the "easy way out", not by a long shot! Some people lose fast, some people lose slower. You might do well to read about each type here on this forum. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people on this forum that are willing to answer your questions no matter what you ask -- or how many times they have answered the question. Do your homework, keep an open mind and be prepared to do what it takes to reach your goal. I hope some of this information is helpful. Good luck to you! ~Fran

I agree with everyone ... call your doc. We all heal at a different pace. Forabetterlife, two days after surgery they could not have gotten me to go back to work if they had rolled me in on a gurney. LOL But, I'm older and take a little longer to heal. But, I did go back on the 5th day after surgery for half day -- I'll just say that I was glad it was only a half day. By Monday I was good though. Autumfirefly, take it easy and BE SURE to call your doc if you continue to not be able to drink liquids. I say this because if you become severely dehydrated, you will see your doc -- in the emergency room. Staying hydrated is a MUST! Many bandsters have found themselves in emergency a week out of surgery due to dehydration. And honk is soooo right, take your pain meds! Don't try to be brave, don't torture yourself - take them! Hope you feel better soon! Hang in there. ~Fran

WOW! I am just ... WOW! Can't believe that "grandparents" would be so insensitive ... just threw me for a loop. But, hey ... we can't pick our family, can we? LOL I am sorry that they think it is okay to say these things to you. What on earth will they have to talk about when you are a size 8? All I can say is: Living well and being thin is the BEST revenge! Congratulations and continued success! You are well on your well! ~Fran

Is there a reason you and your husband don't want to drink it post surgery? If it were me, I would probably use it on the days when I am too busy to prepare a meal or when I am on the run; you know, something to keep in your purse should you get hungry and not able to find an appropriate meal. Just a thought. ~Fran

I would suggest you ask your doc to be sure, but I can tell you that I have arthritis, spinal stenosis (arthritis of the spine) and screws in my lower back from surgery in 2004. My orthopedic surgeon told me that the spinal stenosis was not going to get better and that it is so pervasive that surgery is not an option. He told me that I should exercise in order to the strengthen the muscles in my back which would help. To be honest, because the pain had been soooo bad at times I was afraid to exercise. AND, I am allergic to ibuprofen! I believe that if I could take ibuprofen I would be in MUCH better shape ... but I digress. I had lapband surgery on June 15, 2009. Initially I was a slow loser -- not losing at break-neck speed now, but the momentum is picking up. I now walk 2 miles before work M-F. I even did 2 miles this past Saturday. I started this journey a size 26. I am now size 14/16. I did not start out doing 2 miles, I worked my way up. It has helped tremendously! Do I have aches and pains? Yes, even as I sit here typing my right shoulder hurts, but ... I don't care ... I will be up at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning to get to the park and walk 2 miles -- without fail. BTW, I am 55 years old. So, my experience with arthritis and lapband has been very positive. Talk to your doctor and unless he gives you a very good reason not to, I would go for it. I feel better than ever! Good luck to you! ~Fran

Well, I can tell you that with my first fill I felt absolutely NO restriction. I am impatient too so I was anxiously awaiting my next fill which was 2 weeks away. I will say that as soon as I was on solid foods post op I started cutting back. Just little things like only a sandwich for lunch, no chips and Water was my beverage. Then I cut it down to 1/2 sandwich for lunch, etc. Now that I have proper restriction (which came 7 months after surgery) I don't eat sandwhiches at all -- bread gives me too much trouble and makes it hard to get enough Protein per meal. At 18 months out my diet has changed tremendously, but it was a gradual change. I was never a physical hunger person so I cannot speak to your being hungry all the time. My issue is head hunger and, with the band, I cannot binge to any degree ... it will come back up if I do. The good news is that there are people on this forum who have experienced restriction with their first fill. Not many, but I have read about them here on this forum. Perhaps you will be one of the lucky ones too. If not, do not despair ... patience is a virtue (and I used to say "not one of mine"), and developing patience while waiting for your tool to work is an interesting experience. I suggest that you not conentrate on what you want to happen, but that you concentrate on the things within your control (i.e., changing your eating habits, getting more exercise and staying hydrated). You can do this! Just don't stress yourself, and let your body heal. All the best to you on your journey! ~fran

I have read again and again on the post-op forum that newbies are "hungry" and "can eat anything and everything" they could eat BEFORE surgery. YES, THIS IS TRUE. Before you have restriction (via fills that tighten the band and press on the vegus nerve inhibiting the hunger hormone ghrelin) you will be hungry and because you don't have Fluid in your band you do NOT have restriction. So, be forwarned that (once the swelling from surgery goes down) if you want to lose weight AFTER surgery and BEFORE you reach (some) restriction, you are going to have to watch what you eat. And, yes, you will be hungry sometimes. It's called "bandster hell", but don't worry it doesn't last forever and we all get through it. Also, this is a good time to learn when you are "physically hungry" and when you are "head hungry". I am amazed at how many people are surprised that they have to participate in reaching their weight loss goal (i.e., changing their diet, being hungry sometimes). The band is a "tool". It only works as hard as you do. I am more surprised that surgeons are not explaining this to their patients BEFORE surgery. What's THAT about?? Hang in there folks, barring complications, this is a great WLS. It can "help" change your life. As you will learn in the post-op forum, lapband surgery is not for everyone, but many, many people are succeeding with this surgery eveyday. I wish I had done it years sooner. Knowledge is power folks ... read, read, read. And, read the post-op forum for experiences and information from those in the "know". Good luck to all of you!

Nice start. Good name too. Good luck! ~Fran

Dave, I have read on this forum that the band presses on the vagus nerve which inhibits the hunger hormone "ghrelin". As a result we do not feel hunger the way we did pre-surgery. Some people feel the effects of the pressure on the vagus nerve immediately and for others it takes longer (apparently). But, that's my understanding of how it works. I was on diabetes meds before surgery. Stopped taking meds about 3 months out. No more shaky, lightheaded, nervous feeling when too hungry, good BG numbers (i.e., 86-100). So, I think there may be something to the vagus nerve/ghrelin hormone info. ~F

I live in L.A., CA and I have BCBS. I did not pay a dime pre or post AND I don't even pay a co-pay when I get fills. I think you are right about funding the docs wallet. I also think you are right about "the price of getting thin and healthy for my family." Good luck to you! ~Fran

Before this thread gets out of hand, let me just say: @djb: you lost 8 lbs in 2 WEEKS! That is fantastic AND way ahead of the curve. What are you talking about when you say "I am worried that I am not losing as much as I see others on this board. I am so afraid that I am going to be one of the people who does not lose even after being banded." YOU ARE LOSING WEIGHT. Also, if you pin your hopes and dreams on the success of others instead of yourself, you will spend the rest of your life hoping and dreaming instead of enjoying your personal success. Don't go there ... it's not good for you. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. Read more on the forum for the things to come (good and not so good). I repeat, knowledge is power when it comes to the band. Hurray for DJB!! @morethanaprettyface: "I know I should be grateful for any loss BUT I was hoping for so much more. I know it's not a good thing to "compare" because everybody is dofferent but I just can't help it." Sure you can "help it" and you will if you want to succeed on this weight loss journey. This journey is soooo personal. Don't set yourself up, acknowledge that you are losing and keep moving foward. 11 lbs, great job! You are both still healing from surgery. You will have PLENTY OF TIME to "work" your band. Give your body and your mind a break. This is a marathon, not a foot race. Keep up the good work ladies! All the best to you on your jouneys. ~Fran

"So, my personal journey is accepting there is NO cure for this disease I have. I am a food addict, I eat when I am upset, I eat when I stressed. The band makes that more difficult but does NOT prevent me from doing that. Only I can do that, which sometimes I have the wherewithall to ignore, but sometimes I don't. I avoid beating myself up for slips because that was my entire existance before banding-eat, beat myself up, feel bad, stress, then eat again. So, if I chose to eat something I take responsibility and acknowledge it for what it was and move on and eat healthy again. I can't live in a bubble and I can force perfection on myself. That won't happen." I have never heard it so well put or succinct. Thank you. I totally agree. ~fran

Okay ... noooo ... I have never heard of "chubby bubbys" being accident prone and noooo I am not accident prone. The last time I broke a bone I was 5 years old ... that was 50 YEARS AGO. I suppose if you count falling while snow skiing, I have taken a tumble or two, but that was 20 years ago and about 100 lbs lighter than when I got my band. LOL Seems crazy to lump overweight people into such a group. Hmmmmm. Doesn't seem productive for a doctor to mention it .. but ... hey ... I may be totally missing your doctor's point. I have a number of friends that are overweight (birds of a feather ... etc.) and none of them are particularly clumsy or accident prone. Interesting post/poll though. ~fran

I am so sorry that your NUT was so unsupportive. I really don't get why people that don't understand obesity and/or the band, are allowed to work with lapband patients. Good for you that you will not see her again. No one is receptive to abuse, least of all people that are trying to lose weight. KUDOS to you for taking a stand! All the best to you on your journey! ~Fran

Fluffy, I think you missed a key word here: "want" ... the OP said "Wondering if any others are having this issue, I'm eating and start getting pains in my chest and back, but want to keep eating." We are not necessarily giving in to the urge, we are just acknowledging that even after all this time and all the weight we have lost ... our heads still want to eat MORE! Just our heads ... not necessarily our bodies ... I know for me, even when I try to take another bite .. it's a BADDDD idea and I PAY dearly for doing it ... But I don't stop "wanting" it. The 3 oz bowl is a good idea ... think I will take your suggestion and buy one ... it won't stop me from "wanting" to eat more, but maybe, it will help me stop ... remember this thread ... and not take another bite. Thanks, Fluffy!

Been there, done that ... still do it ... HATE IT!! LOL Ditto what everyone else has said. Therapy helps me a lot. I don't know if the urge will ever completely go away because it is connected to my emotions, but I will keep hope alive! LOL Good luck to us all! ~Fran

Love you NSV! I have one ... lately I keep checking to see if I have my seatbelt on. The seatbelt indicator light is not on, but I can't feel the seatbelt so I start to panic thinking I don't have it on. Low and behold, it's on ... it just fits differently now that I have lost weight. YAY for us!! LOL Have you tried cauliflower? I don't particularly care for it but it is similar in texture to broccoli, so if you can stand the taste ... Good luck. ~Fran

Once you are banded you will learn that it is a very personal journey. Eating healthy and exercising is the "ideal" way to work your "tool". But, some people don't get on board immediately. Unless you are one of the lucky ones that feels restriction/cessation of hunger from the beginning, you will probably feel as you did before banding -- until you reach proper restriction. Depending on your doc, this could take months. The thing about the band is that you can work "with" it or you can work "around" it. If you work "with" it you will follow your doctors eating instructions (or whatever food plan works well for your weight loss) and watch the weight fall off. If you work "around" it, you will eat unhealthy foods even after your have proper restriction (i.e., slider foods like ice cream, buttery mashed potatoes, some cakes and Cookies ... anything that goes down easy). The band is truly about choices. The saying "To thine own self be true" comes into play when you find yourself going back to old eating habits. You have to choose what you really want for your life. Once you have decided, you will never again feel like you are dieting. Example: Never in a million years would I believe that my CHOICE, when eating chicken, would be to eat ONLY boneless skinless chicken. But, that is exactly what I eat. When I buy chicken to cook for myself (and family too), it is ALWAYS boneless and skinless. I remember, before banding, when it was suggested that I should eat boneless, skinless chicken by a friend I told her "what's the point of eating chicken if you can't eat the fatty skin?" I laugh at that statement now ... I am soooo not interested in eating the skin. You change ... if you really want to have a different life than you are having as an obese person. I absolutely, 100% DO NOT think of myself as dieting. I eat what I want, just in MUCH smaller portions. I bake for family and friends and yes, I may have a cookie or two. Do I binge? Not by the traditional definition, and certainly not like I did pre-banding. Why? 1) I have learned through therapy about emotional eating, and I use the tools given me to stop; and 2) The band does not allow me to eat and eat and eat ... just can't do it anymore. As I initially said, this is a very personal journey. Some people follow a strict diet, but that is their choice and it is what works for them. I have gone from a size 26 to a size 14/16 in 18 months and still losing -- many others have lost 100+ lbs in 7 or 8 months. It's your choice, it's your journey, it's your life. Learn everything you can about how the band works so that you can use it to your best advantage. All the best to you on your journey! ~Fran

My story may fly in the face of what some have experienced, but it's my story and it's true. In January 2008 I was sent to the emergency room (from my docs office) with a BG of 917, I weighed 307 lbs at that time. I was released from the hospital 4 days later -- BG in the normal range. I lost 23 lbs in a month or so. Inside of 3 weeks I was off insulin but taking 1000 mg of Metformin 2x a day. Eventually I could "feel" when my BG was up. I didn't have to watch my food closely because my BG was more often too low than too high. Sixteen months later I had lapband surgery, and three months after that I was off all diabetes meds. While it is true that you never stop being a diabetic, my personal journey with diabetes is that I live my life, for the most part, the same as a person without diabetes. I don't watch my carbs (don't have to, with the band I can't eat most of them -- bread, Pasta, etc.). The difference between me and a person without diabetes is that I check my BG every now and then just to be sure I am not dreaming. And, every time I check it, my numbers are great -- usually between 86 and 100. Okay, to be PERFECTLY HONEST, I have had a problem once or twice ... when I haven't eaten all day (due to a busy schedule), I start to feel listless; I checked my BG and found that I was dropping below 70. So, for me, I have to worry about my BG being too low more than too high. Yes, I know, low BG is not good either, but in 18 months I have had a low BG reading only twice. I realize my story is atypical ... the doctor described me as having "atypical" type 2 diabetes. But for the most part my lapband eating plan keeps my blood sugar normal without any extra thought or planning for diabetes. But that's just me. I, like many others here, have had great success getting off diabetes meds after lapband. There are a ton of articles touting how lapband can send diabetes into remission. Gastric bypass is not the only WLS that accomplishes this. Good luck to you. ~Fran