comtemplating

No fill here during surgery- so the hungries set in for me about 1 and 1/2 weeks out. Today I had my fourth fill and am almost to 5 cc's. I am not sure how I reacted to the 4th fill because I am on liquids for 48 hrs. This phase you are in can be difficult but trust the process and you will get there. Some dr's are more aggressive with fills, some not so aggressive (like mine). It is so hard not to compare yourself with other people who are banded- how much have they lost? How many cc's do they have? etc. etc. I would recommend you follow the behaviors of those that have done really well as that is all you can really control :thumbup: Measure your food and practice, practice, practice eating slow, taking small bites, and chewing really well. Eat healthy snacks in between your small meals that likely won't satiate you for the 4-5 hrs that they will one day. Get exercising and you will be on your way to have a really good handle on things once you do reach restriction. Yes- you probably can eat just about anything right now and if you do you won't lose as much as you might have if you had followed the "rules". It isn't easy and you don't really have the band working for you right now but you will get through this!

I just couldn't in good consciense give info. on what I did in regards to solids without clarifying that it really is up to the dr. I feel that this site can be tricky because it appears as though some are seeking info. from fellow bandsters but they should really be asking their dr--and I mean specific medical questions- so I always like to clarify and put that disclaimer out there in good faith that we always need to check with our dr. when we have a medical question or protocal question.

As with many things with the band- "it depends on your dr". Are you just asking in general to see where your dr's rules fall in line with ours? Or do you not have that info. from your dr. yet? If you don't then you are going to want to call your dr. and find out what he wants you to do. I started solids three weeks post op per my dr.'s orders.

wow- way to go. I have followed your weightloss pictures for a while now and am really impressed and can't wait to be so excited. I have read some of your previous posts and can answer some of the previous posters questions because I have been so inspired by you!!! I know that 2FlyGuys measures every single meal in a 1/2 C glad bowl- those plastic disposible ones that you can use over and over. She concentrates on protein and it keeps her full for 4-5 hours- she eats three times a day. Also- she works her butt off and runs 2 miles and power walks 4 miles- I don't know how often but I betcha it is close to 7 days a week. I think she was pretty structured from the minute she had her band and has been working hard for 9 months- not sure about when she felt she reached restriction or how many cc's she has or how big a band BUT I think she accomplished quite a bit on sheer willpower!!! You look great and thanks for sharing and providing some much needed motivation!!!!

Well- I think like most things with the band it really depends on her dr's philosophy. With that being said- I came across an interesting article today- I googled "pregnancy after lapband surgery " and received the following article. This is only the title but you should be able to locate it- sorry, not really computer savy and don't know how to post a link!!!!! Pregnancy after Lap-Band® Surgery: Management of the Band to Achieve Healthy Weight Outcomes John B. Dixon, MBBS, Dip RACOG, FRACGP; Maureen E. Dixon, BSc, Dip Ed; Paul E. O’Brien, MD, FRACS Monash University Department of Surgery, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

wow- you have done really well. I can't wait to be in wonderland. Can you tell me a little bit about what you eat in a typical day and your exercise regime. Do you feel like you have restriction- how many cc's in what size band? I am kinda in a stand still so it is great to hear others are getting the job done.

I had bad shoulder pain as well. I wasn't sure what to attribute it to-gas or the possible nerve pressure. So I did a little of both things- I made sure I took a walk and then I would lay down with a heating pad on my shoulder. That shoulder pain is quite painful- it has subsided for me and will hopefully for you soon.

So I gave birth two years ago (to twins- significant to this question but want to hear from those that had singletons as well). Granted my stomach got huge- no stretch marks or anything and I thought my tummy looked pretty good six weeks post c-section. I weighed 216 at that time and so my stomach still had some padding to it so I didn't have a lot of loose skin that was hanging. But now........that I am losing weight and some of the padding I am getting the loose hanging skin and am really, really worried what I am going to look like at goal. I know this is really hard to predict but have others experienced this as a "stage" on their way to a smaller stomach or is it just going to start hanging lower and lower. I don't want perfection but I feel like I can lift up my stomach as it hangs and pull it foward and picture it getting cut off- sorry that sounds really gross. I would definitely say that I am carrying a lot of weight in my stomach- do you think there is hope that I can lose in this area and things will get better from what you have experienced?

You are not a failure. Please do not be so hard on yourself. It is amazing how hard (and downright mean) we can be to ourselves- you would never call anyone else a failure!!!!! Surely you know that namecalling isn't a motivator:smile:. I completely understand why you would be afraid to get another fill. I wish you only the best and try and focus on yourself rather than what other people might be thinking- or that you think others are thinking but likely are not!!!! Take care. I have heard several stories of people having trouble as you have and being so fear stricken they stop following up with their dr. and time just keeps passing. Please follow up so that you can continue to utilize this tool that you have be given to help you reach your goals. Ya know what- the whole one year milestone is significant but I've never seen it in writing that the one year is the end all/be all- you can continue to work towards your goal and celebrate your 18 month bandiversary or your 2 year bandiversary just the same!!!!

I weigh in at 223.2. I am fluctuating back and forth a couple pounds. My appetite is incredible. I have 2.8 cc's in a 10cc band and am looking forward to another fill on Wednesday. BUT it is going to take a while if I keep only getting .5 to 1 cc at each fill. UGH!!!

Well............I have had three small fills and have a total of 2.8 ccs in a 10cc band so I am not able to provide a perspective based on my personal experience but rather things that I have picked up on this website and from my dr. to be aware of as I work towards restriction. One thing that is important is that if you follow the rules and are not over-filled then you should not experience pain or being uncomfortable when eating. Some people get used to the uncomfortable feeling, vomiting, pbing and it becomes "normal" when it shouldn't be. An overfilled band can be very seducing because with all the vomiting and bringing food back up you might see great weightloss and it is hard to bring yourself to call the dr. with the chance that he/she will take some fluid out of your band and slow the weightloss. In the long run lots of vomiting often can create several problems and you don't want this to happen to you have to fight yourself to let the dr. know what is going on. So that is what I have learned so far- I bet you will get great responses from more experience bandsters. This forum is great but I always conclude with recommending a call to your dr. To answer your question- I don't think a "just right" band would cause you to have to bring up your food and vomit. A "just right" band keeps you feeling satiated and full for several hours after eating a small amount of food. So I am leaning towards either you being "too tight" or really swollen from the recurrent vomiting and pb'ing which I believe might require the same intervention- an unfill.

I also have a huge aversion to puking. I have never puked since banded. I felt extremely naseaus for several days after surgery but luckily my dr. gave me pills for that- I had to choke them down (they actually dissolve under your tongue) but it made me naseaus to think of even taking them. Anyways- initially because you are on a restricted diet if you do vomit I would think it would not be because of your liquid/food intake (unless you don't follow you dr's orders) but rather after effects from the anesthesia and/or from the swelling. When you transition to solids and don't chew well, eat to fast, eat dry food, or push the limits then at that point I think you would attribute the vomiting to your food intake. I am on solids but have little restriction so I am just now starting to experience small episodes of getting stuck and trying to figure this all out- but haven't vomited and don't plan on it. Can it be avoided entirely? Maybe. I imagine there are some that have never vomited. If you follow you dr's orders I would think you would be less likely to vomit. But then again I wonder if some people's anatomy just might make them more prone to vomiting. My dr really stressed the importance of not vomiting out of fear of damaging the newly sewn in band to your stomach so it is an important consideration but if you consider the big picture and what your ultimate goal is- it might just be worth the risk of vomiting. I have lost 28 lbs in 2 months.

Weighed in today at 223. Had my third fill this week and still gained. I found out I have a 10cc band and have a whopping 2.8 cc's in it. Ready to get this ball rolling and get closer to restriction!!!! This slow process is really starting to get old- gotta work today on changing my mindset. We will all get there- maybe not by tonight but it will happen.

I noticed you were recently banded- I was banded about six weeks before you. I am not restricted at this point so I can consume 1 C of food rather quickly- but that doesn't mean I should!!! My dr. is really encouraging me to "practice" many things that I will HAVE to do once I reach restriction- eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, eating 3/4 - 1 C of food, and not drinking with meals.

I did experience reflux while on liquids and I did not receive anything in my band during surgery. I was just really really swollen after surgery for several days. I took an antacid and that really helped. Did your dr. recommend one for you? It just took time for me to heal and the reflux has gone away and not returned- the antacid was helpful and provided me with relief.

There is little that is "normal" amongst all of us bandsters. BUT there are a lot of similarities!!!! I was not hungry at all 6 days after surgery so we have that in common. It isn't anything to be concerned about- relish it. Make sure you are getting your protein and staying hydrated. You should never have any trouble drinking. Try and put this feeling deep into your memory bank as this is the feeling you are going to want to have again once you have your fills and are restricted. As stated in previous posts you will likely lose this hungerless feeling as you heal and the swelling goes down and you lose weight- but your goal will be to get it back through fills in your band.

As you move farther from your surgery date you continue to heal and the swelling goes down which makes things go down easier. Also- as you lose weight your stomach shrinks and the band losens up (for lack of better description). For future consideration- When people are in the green zone and have great restriction they can lose weight and lose that restriction because of the stomach becoming smaller- they then can require another fill to regain the restriction. These are some things that I have learned at my support group. As always- consult with your dr. to review and get feedback. Good luck- looks like you have already had some great success!!!

Call your dr and don't feel bad one little minute for calling him/her during non-office hours. Your dr. needs to hear how you are doing and have the opportunity to give you some suggestions that should make you much more comfortable. I had it very rough in the beginning and understand where you are coming from. I doubted my choice for quite a while- it will improve- just call your dr. and get some help so that you can feel better.

Being lonely is so much more than not having a social life. You could be around people all day, be married, have children, or an amazing group of friends. And still be very lonely. I think loneliness is a symptom of bigger things- things like poor self-esteem, feeling extra shy, or possibly depression. Do I think this surgery will help me feel less lonely- sure do- but I think it will be because I feel better about myself and will be more willing to initiate contact with others and put myself out there. Feeling lonely is very tough.

Your right- it depends on the dr. Some get filled during surgery- others wait. Fills are equally as dependent upon the dr's philosophy. Some get aggressive fills others get very small fills.

Good job. Walking really helped me with gas pains. I started slowly and just worked myself up to four miles!!!! It really helps with weightloss. I am not saying that I love it- but I just make myself do it. I do feel good after I do it but have to fight myself from talking myself out of it prior to exercising. Keep it up.

I felt a lot like you describe for several days after surgery. The last thing I wanted to do was walk when I felt so terrible. I took frequent but very short walks. I took extremely small sips of liquid- apple juice was most refreshing and tolerable. My mouth would fill with liquid- almost foamy- my dr. told me to take an antacid. A heating pad did wonders for the shoulder pain- I would make myself walk for a while and then rest with the heating pad on my shoulder. If you feel naseus then I would recommend the pill that you were prescribed- I had to FORCE myself to take it as it also made me gag to think of having to take it and experience the poor taste but it was so helpful. Finally- I believe that the narcotic can make you feel a bit quesy if you have an empty stomach- which you probably do. I stopped taking the narcotic - never wanted to try and choke down an otc pain reliever- just dealt with the pain (the naseausness was worse). Please call your dr. and just run down your symptoms with him/her just to be safe and perhaps get some more suggestions. It took me a couple days to call but I am glad I did. This will pass and it does get better- took me a good 7-8 days. Try and walk and rest, walk and rest, walk and rest.

At my second fill appointment my dr asked, "can you still eat bread"? Sounds like it is a common experience as you get more restricted.

My twins were 1 year and 11 months old when I had surgery. I would recommend you be over prepared than under. It is extremely hard to predict how you will react to the surgery- you may be just fine but you may be out of commission for a bit. The lifting of your child is only a small variable-but an important one in your case as your child will still be pretty dependent- maybe walking but maybe noth by then. I was really exhausted and felt pretty ill for almost a week. I hired a babysitter that I did not explain anything more than that I had surgery. I paid her less than I normally would as I was always home and did help out a little. I would have someone lined up to help. I would mentally walk through a day and visualize how often you pick up your child and how you change diapers and feed and get him/her into her crib and try and figure out how you are going to accomplish each task if you can't lift and if you don't feel well. Good luck.