FarmGirl7

I'm sure if you move to the area he would do your fill!

On Tuesday I had my 3rd fill (I was 3mos post-op). Until Tuesday, I was all but cursing the LapBand, wondering why I spent so much money when I was just using willpower anyway. I had only lost 4 lbs since surgery, and was VERY discouraged. But since my fill on Tuesday, I FINALLY feel relieved! THIS IS WHAT I WANTED! I now have a stopping point, no willpower needed! I'm not hungry! This is great! So those of you that are still on your first or second fills, hang in there, sooner or later, you'll get here! This all IS worth it!

I have the Lapband AP band, and I'm not sure what size it is. I know I had 2cc's in my first fill, but I didn't even ask on the last two. Until my 3rd fill, I could also eat anything. Dry chicken got stuck a couple times, but other than that, breads and everything went down fine. But now, I can only eat a VERY small amount of bread. Yesterday I made homemade burgers, and I couldn't eat half of one (maybe 2/3's of half). I felt very satisfied until our next meal, no hunger at all. I didn't think this feeling really existed, but it does!! Just took a while to get here!

I could have written this post myself (except I'm 31!). I was also banded on May 4th. I lost 22lbs on my pre-op diet, but I've only lost a whopping 7lbs since surgery. I have an appt this Tuesday, but I think the scale may have actualyl gone up a pound since last month. I also have to eat slow, breads are a no-no, but I NEVER feel full, I'm almost always hungry. I don't eat except when I'm supposed to, and I watch what I eat, but I also feel as if I'm doing something wrong.

When I had my surgery, I was expected to pay 50% of my hospital bill because my insurance company only covered 50%. Well, today I got my statement from them that said they covered ALL of it! All but $952 for my doc :blushing: I called the hospital to see if there was a glitch, and they said no, and they are refunding me my $7000! I am STOKED!!!

I have not used my card to eat off the child's menu yet, as I am fearful of getting rejected. I'd rather go somewhere that I can just order, or flash my card quietly if need to, rather than a waitress say loudly "WE DON'T ACCEPT LAPBAND REASONS FOR USING THE CHILD'S MENU!". So... I was wondering who has been accepting of the card or having an adult order the kid's menu, and who has not been accepting of it? I want to know who to give my business to (even if I don't use the card!)

I only had one fill, but so far I don't have anything on my "do not eat" list. Dry chicken is hard to get down, but besides that, sadly, I can eat anything (or at least, I haven't eaten anything to make me sick).

We don't live near town, and usually eat out when we are on vacation... so taking it "to-go" or in a doggy bag would be a waste (especially in this heat). What I've been doing lately is just ordering my sides as something that I can give the kids and just eat the meat myself. We live in the south where portions are HUGE, and sometimes the child's menu has exactly what I want, but I don't want to make it a big deal that I had surgery!

My TSH hasn't been that high, but it's definitely above normal. The main reason I got Lapband was to regulate my thyroid (moreso than losing the weight). Mine hasn't been below 9 in months, and I had no problem having surgery. If anything, since surgery, my thyroid has shrunk a little, although my TSH is still way up there. I'm on 300 now of Synthroid.

My doc had a month-long pre-op diet of 20 carbs a day. It would ROUGH! However, 6 days after surgery I was on mushies, and 11 days after I was on regular food. I asked my doc the same question... why did some people have virtually no pre-op, and I had to kill myself with 20 carbs a day? Why do some docs keep their patients on mushy food for a month post-op? He told me that it's mainly what they have seen work best for their patients. Right now, no one has put all the data together as to what works for everyone, so every doctor is doing their own trial and error. My doc said that he used to do just a 2 week pre-op diet of liquids only, but it just made patients miserable, and the 20 carbs a day thing gave the same results (shrunk the liver and shed pounds).

I had my first fill today! The doc wasn't sure if he could do it without an x-ray, but luckily he was able to just stick the needle in and hit my port! I asked him how much he put in, and he said 2cc's. Is this a normal fill level for your first fill? I'm on liquids today, but can eat regular food tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get some restriction tomorrow! Just curious to see what the average first fill was for everyone!

Thanks everyone! I am feeling a little restriction now, so that's a good thing! It's not much, but it's something! I go in again at the beginning of July for another fill. I know they are supposed to gradually fill the band, but I guess I'm just so impatient! I hate having my stomach growl at me!

My insurance (Cigna) required the 6 month diet, but I only lost ONE pound the entire time, hence why I needed to be banded! the only thing my insurance company really cared about was the reference from my PCP for the surgery.

I seem to have only two phases. I can chew my food really well, and have zero restriction and seem to be hungrier than a horse all day, or I don't chew a piece of something well and it gets stuck. Then I practically have to do a backflip in order for it to pass, and I'm pretty horrified by the experience that I don't want to put anything in my mouth for a while. I get my first fill next week, but I'm wondering if there is a phase 3 perhaps? I don't want to chew my food until it's liquidy... it'll pass too easily. But a chunk of something almost always get stuck. Is this normal for one month post-op? I just want to feel full :biggrin: The good thing is that I haven't gained any weight though!

I have a suit that the shorts have a built-in suit bottoms. If I went to a pool and they told me to take them off, they'd be in for a real treat! :biggrin:

I have a little business card thing that my doc gave me for restaurants. I guess I've just been too chicken to use it though... I'm scared someone will tell me no!

I was sent home with steri-strips on my main incision, and just band-aids on the 4 little ones. Two days after surgery, they told me to remove the bandaids in order to take a shower. I kept putting a bandaid on the one near my belly button since it was rubbing my pants, but the others were fine. At my 1wk appt, my doc told me to take the steristrips off my main insicion if they didn't come off on their own within a week (so before 2wks post-surgery). I had to pull them off on my own, and once I did, my incision felt 100x better!

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I lost 16 pounds on my pre-op diet, but only 2 pounds since I was banded on 5/4. I originally lost 4lbs the first week, but I've seemed to gain/lose those other two depending on the day. I get full very fast, but it doesn't last long. I was thinking that maybe I'm chewing my food TOO well, since I can be extremely hungry after only 20 minutes of eating. I don't get my first fill until maybe 6/9 (depends on my doc). I'm really nervous, because if he doesn't do it on 6/9, I have to wait until the end of July to do it. He only schedules the hospital one day a month for fills, and I'm going to be on vacation at the end of June. The nurse said he MAY be able to do it on the 9th, but we'll see. I am already discouraged as it is, I can't imagine waiting 2 months for a fill.

I have hypothyroidism. I've been on Synthroid for 5 years now, and I'm on a pretty high dose. I've only gained weight. The only reason I was banded was because of the weight I gained because of my thyroid. You need to make sure you take your meds first thing in the morning, and don't eat for at least 30 minutes after you take it. Also, stay away from soy, it doesn't help your thyroid, it works against it.

I was banded May 4th, and I've only lost 4 pounds since then. My first fill will be on June 9th. I was very active before surgery, but I sprained my ankle really bad and I haven't been able to exersize or play sports since then.

I had a hiatal hernia also repaired during my surgery. Every doctor is different with their post-op diet. My doctor only had 6 days of liquids post-op, followed by 4 days of mushies, and then on to regular foods (chewed well). My insicions were very sore, but in the last couple days, I don't feel any pain unless I press where my port is (mine is sort of sticking out). I can lay on my stomach and everything now.

I noticed in a few other thread that there are quite a few twin moms on here. I have b/g twins and they are 3yr old. I was just wondering how you are all doing with your bands? My tummy never tightened back up after having my twins, so I'm a little nervous as to losing weight, will I just "deflate" more? Do you have any other kids? I have a 7,6,5,and twin 3's.

Awesome! I read about it on your blog today. I'm glad you are doing so well! I get my first fill in about 2 weeks and I can't wait! Be sure to pass on any tips :thumbup:

I was also banded by Dr. Huerta and highly recommend him. He had a tough pre-op diet, but I am so thankful that his post-op diet is what it is. I'm not even 2 weeks out yet, and I'm on regular food, and doing great!

I can't imagine having a fill during surgery! I'm still recovering... my doc doesn't fill it until at least one month post-op.