FangDoc

I had my first fill 5/21, and it was absolutely perfect for the first week -- I got full quickly and stayed full for hours. Since then, although I'm definitely more restricted than I was without it, I know I'm not at my "sweet spot" yet. I go back in another week or so, and I guess we'll see!

For me, it was important to go with the band once I had decided to pursue weight loss surgery because it didn't involve cutting or removing any parts of my digestive system. I knew conventional diets weren't working for me, but I couldn't bring myself to purposely mutilate my digestive tract, which is healthy and fully functional. That was the key FOR ME. Personal opinion only. At the same time, I find sleeve gastrectomy more attractive than RNY gastric bypass because it's not malabsorptive; the intestines aren't bypassed, so it doesn't cause dumping syndrome or dependence on Vitamin supplements. (Although the fact that the large part of the stomach is REMOVED and THROWN AWAY is a little disturbing to me.) However, critics of the sleeve say many of the same things critics say about the band: that because there aren't dire consequences (dumping) for eating fatty or sugary foods, it's easier to "eat around" than RNY. But when it comes right down to it, anyone can "beat" any of the surgeries and either fail to lose or even gain weight post-op if they try hard enough. It's just a tool. You can make any of the surgeries work for you, and you can work against any of them. It's just that some are better fits for different people in different circumstances. I hope you get all the information you need to find the best fit for you. Good luck!

Internet streaming video was a lifesaver for me during my post-op recovery. I watched 2 seasons of "Burn Notice" on iTunes, about 8 movies on Netflix Watch Instantly, and a whole lot of Hulu. That, and watched out for the cat, who wanted to stand on my port. Ow. But yeah, a little wine, or vodka & cranberry, maybe a whiskey sour or a margarita -- something with no carbonation -- isn't going to kill you. Better that than full-on cabin fever. Good luck!

As I posted in another thread yesterday, a smart person in my WLS support group says, "The surgeon does the stomach surgery, but you have to do the brain surgery." My bariatric nurse talked a lot about "addiction switching," the phenomenon mentioned above where someone who used to be addicted to food "switches" to alcohol, compulsive shopping, or even drugs or sex. So in other words, therapy yay! It's just putting one more tool in your weight loss toolbelt.

Congratulations both on your weight loss and your attitude! I completely agree that sometimes we get too close to the situation and too scale-number-obsessed. What I try to remind myself when I'm not losing as much or as quickly as I'd like, is that time passes no matter what. There's nothing we can do to slow it down or stop it. And if three weeks have passed, and I've only lost three pounds -- well, that's three pounds gone. Have I been a good person during those three weeks? A good wife, friend, daughter, sister, doctor, coworker, caregiver? Have I had moments of happiness? Then that's a good three weeks. And even if that rate continued for a year, by this time next year I'd have lost 52 more pounds. I sure haven't done that any year recently. A smart person at my WLS support group said, "The doctors do the stomach surgery, but you have to do the brain surgery." It certainly sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck!

Let's clarify: Black and blue FLAT circle the same diameter as a baseball but flush to your skin? Totally 100% normal. That was the only place I stayed sore after the first 2-3 days. Black and blue BULGE that makes it look like a baseball is trying to come through your skin? OMG NOT NORMAL. That would be a reason to go to the hospital. I sincerely hope you're describing the first one. Good luck!

I had my first fill a little over a week ago. I got a little green and clammy when they were first looking for my port; I was only 6 weeks post-op so I'm still a little swollen (and, let's face it, fat) over my port. However, the needle itself was not particularly painful, no worse than having blood drawn, and it was over quickly. On the good-reasons-to-stress-o-meter, it's maybe a 3.

I was definitely a little tired on my pre-op diet; I think an extremely low calorie diet tends to do that, at least until the body gets used to it. However, the nausea is worrisome. Call your surgeon, bariatric nurse, clinical weight loss coordinator, nutritionist, WHOEVER, and tell them about it. My concern is that you might be reacting to the Protein powder, particularly if it's whey-based. Good luck!

I lost weight before my first fill, too. It was primarily in the first few weeks (pre-op diet & full liquids) and I plateaued in my last 2 weeks before my fill, but I was so paranoid about following the rules that I was keeping portions small and calories low. For me, it was all about creating the right environment for healing, and less about the weight loss. My bariatric nurse had told me not to even worry about losing weight before the first fill, to just concentrate on healing -- but when have I ever in my life *not* thought about my weight? So I was very happy that following the rules for healing also resulted in weight loss. Good luck!

The same thing happened to me... fabulous weight loss on the pre-op diet and the few weeks post-op when everything was still too "shocked" to feel hunger, but with no restriction and the hungry feelings coming back, the weight started to creep back up. It's also frustrating to go to WLS support group where >75% of the members had gastric bypass and are reporting 40 lb. lost in the first month. I know intellectually that I had excellent reasons for choosing the band over bypass, but emotionally that's rough. But on to the good news!!! I had my first fill, and it's a whole new world. I'm back to forgetting about hunger, and I lost 3 lbs. this week, even with attending a convention out of town all weekend and having to eat out every meal. I was very nervous about my fill, almost as nervous as I was about surgery, but it went great -- I did it over my lunch hour and went back to work with no problems afterward. I've gotten good restriction as far as feeling full and staying satisfied, but no blockages or PB's so far. So there is a light... just hang in there! Good luck!

Keep in mind, that until a few years ago they weren't doing a pre-op diet at all! That's a recent development that apparently reduces risk of injury to the liver and gives better post-op results. However, a few people in my monthly WLS support group who had surgery 5-6 years ago were talking about how they went to the Chinese buffet or the donut shop or wherever the day before their surgery as a last hurrah! While I certainly wouldn't recommend that, it does suggest that for most people, a slight variation in the pre-op diet isn't going to be the end of the world. The way the bariatric nurse explained it to me is that it's a crash diet. She said that this is why going on the grapefruit diet a week before Prom doesn't work, because it's mostly Water weight, but it's great for shrinking the liver. Basically, you have glycogen stored in your liver as a quick energy source for the body. The body would rather break down glycogen for energy than fat, and each glycogen molecule is attached to four molecules of water. So if you're carrying 1 lb. of glycogen, it's attached to roughly 4 lb. of water. Go a few days on a low-calorie, low-carb diet, and that 5 lb. comes right off and the liver shrinks because it's not carrying that 5 lb. any more. But because it's not fat loss, the scale is basically lying to you. You've lost 5 lb., but it's 5 lb. of glycogen and water, not fat, and it will come back as soon as you start eating normal calories and carb content. I apologize that went on so long, but it's so nice to get to use those biochem and physiology classes for something! Good luck!

Yes, that does NOT sound normal. I have to wonder if you're experiencing a food allergy to some ingredient in the shakes. I know the bariatric nurse who set me up with the pre- and post-op diets quizzed me extensively to rule out a milk allergy before putting me on the whey isolate powder. If I were you, I wouldn't wait and suffer until your next appointment; call today to talk to your nutritionist, nurse, surgeon, whoever so they can hopefully correct this for you. There is such a thing as trying too hard. I admire your wish to follow everything perfectly so you get the best possible results, but sometimes our bodies have different ideas than our minds. Good luck!

I noticed I was very bloated for the first 1-2 days after my fill (tight pants, rings won't fit) but then it went away. My guess is that it's not so much the liquid diet as the mild abdominal trauma that tightening the band represents. I purposely didn't weigh myself until today, and my fill was Thursday 5/21. Good luck!

Yes, in my (limited) experience, if you were restricted by your latest fill you would feel it. I had my first fill on Thursday 5/21, and I can't get over the difference. Before my fill I could pretty much eat the same quantities of food as I could pre-op. Since then, I get a high, firm feeling of fullness after about 1/2 cup of food. Now, that's solid food with no beverage with the meal. I could probably eat just as much of a non-chunky Soup, or mashed potatoes, or ice cream, or any of those bad-news "slider" foods as ever. But firm-consistency foods, well chewed, fill me up really well and keep me full for hours. I'm thrilled. I hope you can get the same results soon -- talk to your surgeon!

When I did my pre-op diet, starting 3/29/09, I had Protein shakes and green vegetables for 10 days, then clear liquids the day before surgery and nothing by mouth after midnight the day of surgery. HOWEVER: much more important than what I did is what you should do. TALK to your surgeon, or his/her nurse (might be better, frequently has more time to talk.) Be calm and reasonable and lay out what you've told us. If your surgeon has specific reasons why this regimen is being suggested for you in particular, then follow it. Perhaps, upon hearing your concerns, the recommendation may change. If there doesn't seem to be a valid rationale for this plan, though, then perhaps you need to reevaluate your choice of surgeon. Communication and trust are vital to this process. If your surgeon's office (or associated hospital support such as a clinical weight loss program or the nutrition department) isn't providing that, then you may need to seriously reconsider your plans. Good luck, whatever the outcome, and keep us posted.

Hi all, Like most of you, I'm a veteran of the weight loss wars! I joined Weight Watchers for the first time when I was 13. I've got the books (Covert Bailey, Jean Nidetch, Susan Powter, Dr. Phil), I've got the exercise tapes and DVDs (Gilad, Tae-Bo, The Core), I've got the pants in six different sizes. And all because I haven't been able to get the upper hand in my relationship with food. Fortunately, I think I'm now on the right track. I started attending a hospital-based clinical weight loss education program in September 2008. I met with my surgeon for the first time that November. I did my consults in December and January, submitted to insurance in February, and got approval in March. I had my lap-band placed on April 8, 2009, spent one night in the hospital, was off work for one week, and so far, so good! I haven't been perfect, but I also haven't fallen into the all-too-familiar trap of beating myself up when I don't make the best decision. I have been attending a local weight-loss-surgery support group that meets monthly (mostly gastric bypass patients, but a lot of the same issues) but I'm thrilled to find this forum, where I can get answers, support, and camaraderie 24/7. I want to change my life. I am so committed that I let someone cut into my body to help me change. So hello, and thanks for letting me join the party.

I had my first fill yesterday, 5/21! So I can't really add the voice of experience here, but I can at least say that we're in the same boat. I haven't eaten solid food yet; my surgeon told me Clear Liquids until tonight (about 36 hrs) but I know they're all frequently different in their recommendations. However, the good news is I haven't been hungry. In fact, I'm a little bit nauseated. If that continues beyond tonight, I might get somewhat worried, but for now I see it as a good. I do feel a bit bloated and achy, but no more so than mild menstrual cramps. Good luck, and you're not alone!

This article is obviously very biased against WLS. While there are nuggets of truth in some of what the author says, the conclusions are ridiculous. You can't let yourself get all worked up over fake news written by people with an agenda (how do you ever live through an election cycle otherwise?) More importantly, though, the fact that this comes from the Kimkins site is very telling. The Kimkins "diet" has been completely exposed as a scam. See this website: "Kimkins" Diet Fraud Unmasked. for the full lawsuit filing and links to news coverage. Basically, the founder claimed that she and her friends had lost hundreds of pounds, when the "after" photos they posted were actually from a Russian mail-order brides website! She encouraged people to follow a dangerous diet, and reassured them that their serious medical side effects were normal, while knowing the whole time that her story was a lie, a con, and a scam. I apologize for ranting; and no, I wasn't a "Kimkins" victim. But I am a lifelong dieter, who has spent unthinkable amounts of money chasing my weight-loss dream. Reading about someone so heartlessly exploiting the desperation of other women for their own greedy and narcissistic ends, makes me more nauseated than a too-tight band. So don't worry about the distortions in the article. Worry about your mom on Kimkins.