Jodi11

Update: I went to doctor yesterday. He referred me to my PCP and actually made the appt for me to ensure that I went. He said it could be a number of things causing the dizziness/lightheaded feeling. Could be blood pressure or an inner ear problem. Who knows, but I also get terrible migraines, so i am wondering if that is related??

I have been having dizzy spells too, but I am eating fine. I actually just had an unfill for bring too tight and having problems, and only had 3cc put back in. I don't know what is going on since I am able to eat anything. Hmmm...I wonder if it is a circulation issue???

It depends on what you can eat. For instance, it is easier for me to eat a turkey burger than it is for me to eat baked beans or cheesy potatoes. I would take it very, very slow since you are so soon out of surgery, but I could eat just about anything after surgery since I didn't have much of a fill. Once you start eating little bites and chewing well, you will be able to gauge what you can eat. good luck.

A long time...I have a hard time getting all of the water that I need to drink in. I just sip all day in between meals. I would say at my sweet spot, it would take me about 40 minutes if I sat and drank constantly. Because i'm so busy it probably takes me all day. I have recently had a complete un-fill because of being too full and having inflammation. My favorite part about it is that I can freely drink water.

My doctor told me no Advil because if it sits on top and doesn't go through the band, it can cause erosion. I think it would have to be excessive use of Advil for that to happen, but better safe than sorry. I have been struggling with this since Advil is the only thing that really works for me.

My doctor never told me any restrictions before a fill. Maybe that is why I have had inflammation at times after a fill.???

You are too tight. Call your doc. This happened to me and I waited too long and they took ALL of my fill out because I was so inflamed. I, however, could not eat and could barely drink anything because of the swelling. I would wake up in a sound sleep coughing and throwing up in my mouth and my throat would burn.

I just had this happen to me. I coughed and threw up in my mouth at night. My doctor unfilled me completely today!!! I had .25 cc added on Thursday. I lost 9.5 pounds since then. Yes, you heard right, ALL 5.25 CC's are completely out for one week and then I can go back in one week to start refilling. Needless to say, I am very upset today but I know it's best and he is just looking out for my best interest. You can do permanent damage to yourself if you are not careful. Call your doc immediately and get in there. You could cause your band to have to be removed and cause cirulation problems.

When you lose weight, your band will loosen as well. So maybe that is why you feel like you need a fill. That happened to me last time and after my fill I was "just right." I thought that I needed another after 6 weeks (I lost about 11 pounds). But be careful to make sure that you really need a fill. I went in for another because I was 3-3.5 hours before I was hungry and I had .25 cc added. I was WAY too tight. I waited it out to see if it would get better for a few days. I ended up couging and vomiting in my sleep and not able to keep down water. Went to see my doc today and he took it ALL out. My entire 5.25 CC's were completely removed. He said that I was inflamed and it could be very dangerous. He needed to let the swelling go down. I cried the entire way there when he told me that I had to have it all removed. I have to now drink liquids for 2 days, then solids, and I go back next week to start refilling. I guess what I'm trying to say, is don't end up like me. Although, I did lose 9.5 pounds in less than 5 days, just not the right way. Good luck with everything.

My loss is slow too. My doctor was very conservative with my fills at first, which was very frustrating. I wasn't full for a long enough time after I ate for the first 4 months after my surgery. I was banded August 10, 2009 and right now I am down 41 pounds (that includes all the weight I gained before my pre-op diet because I went "hog-wild" and ate everything in sight). Of those 41 pounds, I have lost 29 pounds since the end of December (which is when my fill was finally on target).

Is anyone out there doing Nutrisystem? I have been really discouraged with my lack of weight loss, so after my cousin asked me to be in her wedding, I decided that i needed to do something about it NOW, no matter what the cost. I decided to order Nutrisystem. I had my surgery on August 10th and my doctor was so conservative with my fills by only giving me 1/4 of a CC everytime I went into the office. I wasn't losing. Now that I am filled to 4.5 CC, I am finally feeling the way that I should feel. The only problem is that no matter how much I exercise and eat right, the weight doesn't seem to come off at all. I've lost about 20 pounds since my surgery and that is all in the first 3 weeks (including pre-op). I have ordered Nutrisystem to help keep me on track. It is wonderful so far. I started yesterday and have already lost 2 pounds! It is quick and easy and it is pretty good if you order the right foods. I have done nutrisystem in the past and it worked, but I was starving! Now I am NOT hungry when I eat it and it is actually really difficult to eat all of the add-ins that they recommend. It must be the combinations of foods that are helping me lose. I hope that my weight loss continues and I get where I want to be by October 2, 2010. Any thoughts on Nutrisystem's Plan with the lap band? Jodi

Just an update...i am doing really well with NS. Lost 10 pounds and started eating the foods on 1/5/10. I have more energy and I am exercising a lot as well.

Nutrisystem is the type of thing that you either love or hate. If you get the wrong foods, you will definitely hate it. Everyone has different tastes. It took me a lot of trial and error in the past to find what I really like and I am sticking with it. My recommendation is to go on there and order like 3-5 days worth of food Ala Carte and see if you like it before you buy it. One of the things that I love is the breakfast bars (cinnamon bun bar, apple bar, chocolate chip bar). For lunch, I like the Fudge Graham Bar, the Ham and Bean soup, veggie soup, tomato soup, chicken caccatori, cheese tortellini to name a few. For dinner i like the meatloaf, and all of the pasta dishes (lasagne especially). Sometimes they are hard to eat with the band, but i just take my time. For dessert, I like the cookies and the honey mustard pretzels. This is only a few things that I like, but it is worth a try. I already feel so much better. I don't feel like my fingers are swollen anymore and I have lots of energy. I walked on the treadmill for an hour total yesterday. I actually got on twice.

Thanks for your reply. I will let you know how it goes. I love the Nutrisystem website as well. The discussion boards are so user friendly and it keeps me motivated. I asked my doctor about Nutrisystem and he said that it should be fine, but if I find that financially it becomes too difficult, that I should see my dietician. That is the only thing that might be an issue since I still have to buy grocery add-ins for me and other groceries for the kids and my husband.

Thanks for your opinion, but I really didn't want replies like this. I was looking for people who are doing Nutrisystem. I was making healthy choices and knew my calories and portion sizes, but the weight wasn't coming off so I am trying this. No matter what anyone says on this, you DO still have to diet in some way shape or form with the lapband. It is a tool to help you stay fuller longer while dieting and exercising. i plan on seeing my nutritionist after I am finished with nutrisystem to develop a food plan that keeps me where i need to be. The lap band should keep me from gaining what I lose back if I exercise and make the right food choices. Yes...Nutrisystem is all portioned for me and I realize that the first 10 pounds that I will lose will be Water weight. I don't know what makes you think that nutrisystem doesn't have carbs? It has plenty of carbs. The meal that i am eating now has 18 carbs. However, they are good carbs. I am also not off of the plan for 2 days. I am on it 7 days a week. I am currently a full-time teacher and have 2 children. A ten year old that is in every sport imaginable and a 19 month old who is into anything and everything imaginable. I am busy, busy, busy. Yes, preparing my own healthy foods sounds great, but it takes time. Time that i don't have. Sometimes i have to make a decision to clean my house or walk on the treadmill with the limited time that I have while my son naps...if he naps. I lately have been choosing the treadmill. Nutrisystem is just easier for me right now and it works for me.

Yep...happens to me too. It also happens to me when I eat soup (probably the food/liquid combo) or if i drink too soon before or after eating.

I was banded Monday and most of my pain is in my left shoulder due to the gas from surgery. I also have some incision pain. I have been taking care of my 14 month old by myself all day and it has begun to wear on me a bit. Good thing he takes a long nap. i was able to rest some. Just keep using the breathing machine that helps with the tightening that i feel in my lungs. My doc has me on protein shakes 3 times a day and stressed the fact that we are supposed to stay hydrated by drinking 5-8 ounces of liquid per hour. Good luck.

I have a question for those of you that have had the band. Did anyone cheat a little on the pre-op diet and their liver was good? not good? I am currently on the pre-op diet and have slipped a couple of times on the diet. My doctor required 2 shakes, a lean cuisine (300-400 calories), and lots of Water. I have been drinking Special K20 water for the extra Protein. In the beginning I was starving and a small piece of boneless skinless chicken with mustard would satisfy me (about 2 ounces). I also have the occaisional cucumber cut up with salt and pepper. Sometimes a bite of low fat cottage cheese here and there (maybe a quarter cup). I did have 2 days of a big slip since night eating is my problem. I broke into the cheeze-its and Peanut Butter. This was about a week ago :tt1: Diappointed in myself, but moved on. :scared2: I have lost a total of 8 pound so far and my surgery is Monday. Just don't want to go in and wake up with no band. I NEED this for my health, my kids, and for me. i don't want lectured here. Just some info and advice. Thanks, Jodi:tongue:

I have BCBS PPO and live in PA. I went to my PCP in May and he went back 2 visits. That specific visit was #3. I had to have 6 visits total. I went in June and then met with my surgeon and he needed some bloodwork. I had a PCP visit in July and I had my last PCP visit on August 3rd (Monday) and they had already had the approval over the phone by Wednesday. i had my pre-op appt on Friday and surgery is Monday. I met with the required dietician, psychologist, and exercise girl all in one day in July. I am a teacher, so they did all that they could to get me in before school starts. My insurance had a nurse call me and ask me some questions and give me some advice for after the surgery (walking around to prevent clots, etc). She was very nice. I am ready to go. BCBS is a pretty great insurance you just have to make sure that your employer covers the surgery code. You need to call yourself. Ask your doc what the code is. Once you know if it's covered, you shouldn't have any problems if they say yes. Not sure how it varies state-to-state though. Jodi

I don't know about the anorexic part, but I do feel that they would just let some saline out of your band and monitor you if you got too skinny. My doctor is wonderful and keeps very close tabs on his patients.

I have lost 8 pounds. I am surprised because I am not only due for my TOM, but I have had a bite or two of other foods everyday during the pre-op diet. I would have a bite or two of chicken, 1/4 cup cottage cheese (low-fat), or a cut up cucumber with salt and pepper. This would be just to help me feel a little fuller and so I wouldn't make a worse choice. My doctor required 2 shakes and a lean cuisine/smart one or a low calorie meal between 300-400 calories. Some of the meals I ate ranged from 180-230 calories, so I figured 50 calories of cottage cheese or 2 ounces of chicken wouldn't make that big of a difference. Hope I'm right. A little nervous about having a fatty liver. Surgery tomorrow at 11 a.m.!!!

What exactly is a stone in pounds. I am assuming 10, but not sure. I heard it on TV as well. Can you enlighten me?