Tish5632

I find this very interesting. I've been told that exercise is absolutely ESSENTIAL for weight loss and I've been told that exercise will not affect weight loss at all - that it only matters "what you put into your mouth". I was told each of these items above by medical doctors. Now, I'm not afraid of hard work (hard exercise) but I don't really enjoy it. And because the weight loss specialist MD told me about exercise not affecting weight loss, I tend to put more faith in his opinion. (The other MD was an immunologist) BUT, I've also seen this first-hand in my own experience. My bottom line is this: I don't really enjoy exercise, but it does make me feel better, physically and emotionally - so I do it. It also increases my lung capacity (I have had asthma for 30 years). I watch "what I put in my mouth" to help with weight loss, and I had the LapBand placed to help me to put less in my mouth. I still have to make good food choices - and for me that has to be low-carb to lose weight.

With your age (being young) and the fact that you can sit most of the day I think you'll be fine with 3 days off. I had mine done on a Friday and went back to work on Tuesday - but I had to leave after a 1/2 day of work because I got faint and ill. The exceptions here are that I was 37 (10 years your senior) and I had to travel from central Indiana to TJ Mexico. (I don't fly well, I get extremely motion sick). The travel was the hardest part for me - We (my husband and I) had to fly from Indy to Chicago, then Chicago to San Diego and a driver for the hospital drove us into Mexico. If I hadn't had to travel, I think I would have been fine all day Tuesday going back to work. I did however work the rest of the week without incident.

Yes, this has sort of happened to me too. I was banded 7/4/09 (in MX) and I didn't get decent restriction until I had 7.2 ccs in my 11cc band. (Which didn't happen until late January 2010) It took 6 1/2 months to get decent restriction and now since I've lost a little weight, I need another - which is how it works. For me, I think the slow progression is good because it's allowed me to make permanent changes to my lifestyle. As much as I don't want to admit it, if I had started out in the beginning with great restriction, I would have lost most if not all of my weight I needed to lose by now, but I think I would have found ways around the band too. I usually start off good, but lose my way after awhile. This way seems to be working really well, and I don't feel "cheated", so I will stay with the program. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

No, I haven't and I'm sorry you are! Please contact your MD ASAP.

What I've been told is that if you have a leak, then you may start out with restriction, but that it will quickly go away as the fluid leaks out of the band. (Over the course of several hours to several days) However, this is not a common ocurrence. I know it's scary when they can't find the port (and it can be painful) but I'm guessing that you're probably fine. :thumbup:

Hi All! I've been banded since 7/4/09 but I only got good restriction 6 weeks ago. Since then, I've lost 8 pounds and I'm feeling really good about it! It took so long and so many fills to get restriction that I was getting really down on myself. That being said, I'm very happy now! My question is this: Because I'm new to restriction I've noticed that there are some days when my band seems to be tighter than others. Is this normal? I know about being tighter in the mornings for many people (which I am) but over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that some days I will be much tighter all day and others not so much. It's fine with me, I just wanted to see if anyone else is having this too? :confused:

Hi to Shell1: You are most welcome for the support - we've all needed it and will continue to from time to time. I have 7.2ccs in my 11cc band. I have had 4 fills. I feel very good with the restriction that I have now and I'm hoping to need another fill in about 6-8 weeks. (Because I hope to lose enough weight - fat around the band- to need another fill). I can't believe how getting to the good restriction has changed my life. I too wondered how you would know about "good restriction". Well, once you get it, you know! To me good restriction is feeling like I can't eat anymore after having eaten a small portion of food. Of course, I've pushed the limits on that and have had to bring the food back up - to relieve the pain. You certainly shouldn't do that very often, due to the risk of stretching the pouch or slipping the band. I've finally experienced PBing (productive burping) and sliming (over production of saliva in the mouth and throat when something gets "stuck") and neither of those things is fun. My band is "tighter" in the morning, so that's when I drink my protein shake, and the rest of the day I can eat small portions of foods pretty easily. The things that "don't go down" for me (get stuck in the band area immediately) are breads - any kinds. One day I'd had a bad day and tried to revert to old habits and eat a waffle with peanut butter on it. It was not good. I ate one bite and was stuck and had to PB. I stupidly tried another bite after that and the same thing happened. So, I dumped the waffle and got some cottage cheese and lean turkey - which went down just fine. I was a carbohydrate addict, so not being able to eat bread items has helped me a lot - even though it was hard getting used to it. I'm so happy to be on this journey, I hope you are too!

To bh126: I think Dr. McEwen is a great surgeon - he did my laparascopic cholecystectomy about 9 years ago (gall bladder removal). I was seriously considering having him do my Band placement too, but I had some real trouble with one of his staff members. My insurance will NOT pay for the band, it and all weight loss surgeries are specifically excluded, and I knew that. His coordinator (can't remember her name) was really sweet and she confirmed that my insurance wouldn't pay. BUT, then another staff member (a male) called to tell me it WAS covered. I explained to him that it was not (my husband's company specificall excluded it for all employees and spouses with their coverage) and he really argued with me. I had some inside information that another person had had this done to them with this office (I don't know if it was the same male employee) and that they had to go ahead and pay all of the out of pocket pre-surgical testing (psych, sleep study, etc.) and found out 3 days prior to surgery that their insurance would not pay after all. I don't know if that guy is getting kick backs from the money that is spent on pre-surgical testing or what exactly, but I wasn't going for it. ULTIMATELY, I did extensive research and opted to have Dr. Ariel Ortiz perform my Band surgery in Tijuana Mexico on 7/4/09. I work in the medical field and I was VERY CAREFUL to research the MD and the facility & staff prior to making my decision. I AM EXTREMELY GLAD I DID. I got better care there than I have here in the US. I paid out of pocket and the total was about $7,000. For Dr. McEwen it would have been between $15,000-$22,000, depending upon circumstances, and this did not include pre-op testing that was required. Dr. Ortiz does "free fills for life" but the travel back to MX is cost-prohibitive. SO, I use the Fill Centers USA (Which Dr. Ortiz helped to found) in Cincinnati OH. (It's the closest location). The doc there really listens to me and does adjustments accordingly. Right now I have 7.2cc in my 11cc band. I believe that I'm VERY NEAR my "sweet spot" with restriction. I've had 4 fills in total. I'm extremely happy with my decision. :thumbup:

Oh Shell1, don't lose hope! I think you're still not "tight" enough. I see how much fill you have in your 10cc band, but you may very well still need more liquid in your band. I was banded 7/4/09 in Mexico (with an AWESOME SURGEON) but I couldn't afford to go back to him for th fills - I live about 2,200 miles from him. So, I used Fill Centers USA (which I love) but it still took 4 fills and a total of 6 months before I got ANY restriction. I gained back all of the weight I lost pre-surgically before getting restriction. I felt like such a failure. But, I too was SO HUNGRY - because I didn't have any restriction. Please speak to your nurse and tell her exactly what's happened and how you feel. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!! :confused:

I agree that the I can't believe it's not butter spray is really good. It will give you the taste you're looking for without adding real butter. I too LOVE real butter but am trying to stay away from it. Let us know how it goes! :scared2:

Absolutely! It sounds like you have finally gotten some good restriction. Did you have a fill in January? It sounds like your band is really starting to help you now. This is what it is supposed to do. Best of luck! :scared2:

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time. I was banded 7/3/09 and I didn't get any restriction until my 4th fill and that was 1/25/10. I have an 11cc band and I have 7.2ccs in it. I still need a little more, but I'm close to my sweet spot now. I was really bummed out because right after surgery everyone is all excited and ready to go, but then it took 6 1/2 months for me to get any restriction. I gained back most of my pre-surgery weight loss - 20 pounds, but I've managed to get that much back off now. Keep up the good fight, your band is there just waiting to be able to help you - AND IT WILL as soon as you get some good restriction. :thumbup:

GREAT JOB!! Isn't restriction wonderful????

I too use Crystal Light and love it. Right now I'm on a pink lemonade kick and I like it very much. It's interesting - before the band I had BAD acid reflux disease, but the band cured it once I got some restriction. So, before the band I really stayed away from things with a lot of citric acid in them. Now I don't pay that much attention. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat/drink a lot of things with citric acid, I just don't completely avoid them anymore.

Actually, I agree with the doc - I think it's not enough protein. Hair loss is a big indicator of protein deficiency.

What I was told about the reason you aren't supposed to drink while eating is this: the liquid will "wash down" the food and therefore, it will be like not having a band. I've seen this to be true. I have great restriction now, and if I sip water while eating I can actually feel the food washing past the band. Without drinking, it stops where it's supposed to and keeps me feeling full, like it's supposed to.

You know, I would say you need to find another doc to do your fills and follow up care. I have an 11cc band and it took 7.5ccs to finally feel restriction. I was banded in Mexico (by an amazing surgeon) but I live in Indiana. So, it was really too far for me to travel back for fills and follow up. I now use the Fill Centers USA for my fills / follow up and I've been pleased. The doc I see really listens to me and is just generally great. She's put in more ccs per visit than the "usual protocol" recommends, because I was having no restriction. She also has done her own research into my band size and how much she can put in. The most important thing is that your doctor listens to you and treats you accordingly. You had the band placed because you needed help with weight loss, like everyone here did. You deserve to have the band work the way it's supposed to, and it won't if it doesn't have enough fluid in it to cause restriction. Good Luck!

Hi Sluggo- My question is this: when you've had a fill, they remove the previous fill amount into the syringe to check and see if all of the liquid is still in there. Have you had any missing liquid? If so, you could have a leaking band, but this is very uncommon. If not, then just keep going with it. It can really take time and our bodies are amazing things by adjusting to the things we do to them. So, I would say that your body adjusts well after getting a fill. At some point though, you will get the correct amount of a fill and you'll get the restriction you need. And too, you're still losing!!! That's the most important thing. :thumbup:

Sorry to hear you've had a tough time of it. Nausea is a horrible feeling and I hate having it. That being said, I must confess that I have suffered all of my adult life (and most of my childhood) with extreme motion sickness. And although I have not experienced nausea in the evenings or nights with the Band, I have found in the past that having a cup of hot tea can frequently calm nausea. Another thing that might help is slowly sucking on a slice of fresh lemon. I don't know if you've tried either of these, but I hope something helps you! :thumbup:

I agree - I'm 7 months post-op & I have a good fill (almost to sweet spot) but my stomach growls really loudly most of the time. I also agree that it's not a hunger issue, although my stomach growls more when I'm hungry. It just seems to be a "band thing".

I hope this is the one for you too. How big is your band? (Total CCs of saline it will hold)

Hey girl I hear ya! It's been hard for me too. Do you know how many CCs your band is? I had mine done 7/3/09 and it's an 11cc band. Yesterday I had my 4th fill for a total of 7.2ccs in there now. I could really feel a difference last evening! I'm being good and doing the 48 hours post-fill liquids but I can tell. I hope it doesn't loosen up after several days. I completely understand that when you have no restriction and you're THAT hungry, it's almost impossible. I mean you can keep it up for awhile, but not long-term - WHICH IS WHY WE NEEDED THE BANDS TO BEGIN WITH! :bored: Anyway, keep your chin up and don't beat yourself up for having a set-back. You're human and humans aren't perfect.

Hi All! I'm not a fish eater as a general rule; however, I know that I need to start eating fish to be healthier. The problem is that I have tried to make baked fish at home on several occasions and man has it turned out BAD! I've had baked whitefish in restaraunts that's pretty good, I just don't seem to be able to prepare it at home. If anyone has any good recipes for any type of baked fish that doesn't taste "fishy" I'd be very happy to try them! Thanks!! :mad:

Thank you all so much. I can't wait to get to the store and buy the items needed to try some of these. I'm especially excited about the shrimp recipes - I do really enjoy shrimp. I too use the Super Wal-Mart because the prices are hard to beat. :thumbup: ALMOST MADE IT TO ONEDERLAND!

I would also be interested in finding out other people's opinions on these shoes. I've been thinking of buying some for the fitness reasons but to be honest also because I'm only 5'1" tall and I think I'd look taller! Anyway, let us know how they work out for you! :thumbup: