September75

Don't put too much energy into ignorant comments that should never have been uttered. I would hope that the person who asked felt stupid afterwards.

While I understand how big of an issue money can be, I would be very cautious. Just speaking from the gut - are you sure you want to have someone you do not have 100% confidence in to cut you open and permanently install a device in your body? What if something goes wrong, even later down the road? Will your insurance cover that? I would check out financing options and actually consult some doctors to see what they can do. I had the surgery, insurance covered it. Afterwards I lost my job and insurance and didn't go back to get my fills because of the cost. I went back yesterday and explained my situation - not only was self-pay half the price of what they charge the insurance company (they do that because the insurance company never pays the full amount and they have to write it off anyway), but he will do my next fills for free. That's my opinion - really check out all of your options. Maybe the Mexico option is a good one, just be sure.

I've heard different things - best to ask your surgeon. I had a post-op diet plan before I went into surgery. I had to be on liquids only (Jello, broth, Protein shakes) for 1 -2 weeks, then mushy foods (scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, flaked fish, thicker Soups, apple sauce - think baby food) for another week, then slowly adding more solid foods, being careful to take my time and note how I felt as I was eating. Pre-op AND post-op were hard! I didn't realize how hungry I would be post-op! There is generally little to no restriction, yet you have to be careful to try and let your stomach heal. It sucks, it's hard, and you have to endure it if you want the surgery! But, like I said - your surgeon should give you solid, definitive guidelines. Ask for them if you have to, and best of luck!

I haven't been on this site in months - I lost my job and health insurance this past August after being banded in May. Fills are $200 each, and we just haven't been able to swing it. I have not lost a single pound in months. I exercise, but I know I need to(and am working very hard on) eat better, just hard to stay on track at home all day. But I didn't come on here to bi***! I came on here to research what is wrong with me because I have had 3 fills and feel very little restriction. Thank God I am not the only one! It is very heartening to hear that it may take 5 or more fills - I thought maybe it was not going to work, that I had gone through all that for nothing!

I was in your shoes not too long ago - banded on 5/14, first fill on 7/1. The only part that is uncomfortable is the surgeon digging around to find the port before he injects the saline (but that part, of course, depends on your physiology - I'm heavy in the middle and that probably makes it more difficult to find). Really, I promise you - it doesn't even hurt as much as having your blood drawn from your arm - there is no nerves in fat tissue, so the only thing you feel is a quick pinch when the needle is first put in. And it is over in seconds. I have had four fills since and have not had any pain with any of them - you will be fine!:blushing:

I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow for my first fill (yeah!) and have started a list of questions: 1. What size is my band? 2. Will the port always get sore, or does that go away? 3. How much is a typical fill/how much will this fill be? 4. What can I expect immediately after a fill? What other questions would you recommend I ask?

I was banded on May 14 and was starving afterwards on the liquid diet. Unfortunately, you just have to stick with it to let your stomach heal. Once I started on the mushy diet I felt more sated, but still get really hungry (why does italian food have to smell sooooo good!). It's a battle, especially since I wasn't prepared for all the hunger after the surgery. I thought once my band was in that part was over. It's a shock, I know. Welcome to LapBand hell.

I had the same exact thing - it was in my left shoulder, close to my neck. It felt like I had a knot in my shoulder, but it really was air. It was the reason I took the pain medication after the surgery - everything else felt fine! I think it was about a week (sorry!) before the pain subsided - what really helped was a heating pad and walking. It will go away - I promise!

I was banded on 5/14/09 and have not had any digestive problems with anything, whatsoever. Other than the hunger, I feel the same as before. I was sooo hungry that I started eating soft foods (eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt) last week. While I have not had any pain or nausea from this, could I still be doing harm to myself and just not know it by eating more solid foods earlier than my surgeon advised? I need advice from all of you more experienced bandsters!

Fat has some benefits that we often don't want to admit we're ok with: fat lets us be in the background; fat says I don't have to compete fashion-wise, sex-wise, friends-wise, work-wise; fat says I'm off the market sexually and will be a faithful wife; fat says I can get by with just being the funny one; fat says I'm motherly and nurturing; fat says I'll be the one that survives a famine; fat can make me feel larger that life; fat can make me feel protected and shielded...! Willowcat - You hit the nail on the head. If I lose the weight, I will no longer have that easy out of "it's not me, it's their bias against the weight. If I wasn't fat, they wouldn't reject me/treat me that way/ whatever." I am definitely going back to therapy! I was in therapy before, but after a point, just kept running into the obstacle of my weight and felt I needed to start dealing with that before I could really progress. I would recommend therapy for anyone who is interested in it - it does work if you are really committed to overcoming and changing!

First, thanks for all of your replies - I promise to be good and follow dr.'s orders. I agree with the previous post, though. It seems like the prescribed diets are all over the board. I guess I am just one of those people that needs to know why, as opposed to blindly following orders.

I've been hungry for almost two weeks now. Strike that, four weeks - I want to make sure to count the pre-op diet. I have lost 17 lbs. I am just sad. Worried that this is not going to work. This is my last chance - if the lapband doesn't work I am doomed to wear this fat suit the rest of my life. I don't have any real reason to think this will not work. Like most of life's problems, it is all in my mind.

I've been hungry for almost two weeks now. Strike that, four weeks - I want to make sure to count the pre-op diet. I have lost 17 lbs. I am just sad. Worried that this is not going to work. This is my last chance - if the lapband doesn't work I am doomed to wear this fat suit the rest of my life. I don't have any real reason to think this will not work. Like most of life's problems, it is all in my mind.

Raf, I'm right there with you. Started getting hungry 3 days post-op, like really hungry! Just had my two week follow-up and starting the pureed diet. Hang in there - I am pretty sure it is all downhill from surgery!