Mangofish

I didn't feel much restriction until 4th or 5th - I think maybe on my 6th were I found my sweet spot. Way too many people on this board think they will immediately lose weight after surgery. Until you feel restriction the band is a plastic but expensive ornamanet on your stomach. Exercising didn't do much for me - once you see how little you have to eat to lose weight esp when you are close to your goal weight you see why it will take 5 or 6 fills to get there. Plus going slowly on the fills will help you learn how to eat and not choke/get stuck as much.

I use to snack all day too. I still do. The issue is what are you snacking on? I use to snack on hershey kisses and other small candies and it would slow down my weight loss. I am pretty tight now to lose the last 20 pounds, and so I graze all day but now it's in trying to get protein in first b/c you're body can most definitely feel it if you don't have it. I snack on cheese. Even slider foods like ice cream, chocolate, and chips which use to go down easy thru fills #1-5 now I only eat a bit. The point is, don't beat yourself up for it but def. switch to something healthier. Perhaps try the 100 calorie packs? In time, getting fills help so much.

Just curious as what people expect to lose right after surgery? There seems to be so many threads in the post band forum as to the high expectation of weight loss in the 1st month before a fill. So the question is how much do you think you will lose in this time period.

I wonder why so many people post on the Post Lapband Surgery that they are so disappointed by their weight loss in the 1st 4 weeks after their surgery? Seriously, there is a thread every week of people are mad they have lost only a few pounds. Where did this expectation of losing 20, 30 plus pounds so quick come from even before a first fill?

I was too. Going thru the fills - I was able to eat pizza no problem until 3rd fill. Then only a few bites of bread and the toppings thru fill 5. 6th Fill - eating the hot cheese and pepperoni is painful as it sits on your chest and you can feel the heat. Argh!!! But then I remember pizza was the main culprit if how I got fat.

I was looking for a thread about acid reflux but instead I see my "favorite" thread type = the I just had weight loss surgery a week to 3 weeks ago and I haven't lost -25 to 100 pounds yet! Most people don't lose that much weight until at least the first fill or even their 3 or 4th fill. You are suppose to be healing. The diet the doctor gave you isn't to lose weight - the liquid and mushies are for you to build scar tissue around the band. If you would eat now while you're healing you could dislodge the band (correct me if I am wrong). I had a recent fill and both the nurse and doctor were laughing about people who had unrealistic expectations of weight loss following surgery. The nurse said, "At least get your first fill before you start complaining." I am sure you weight loss journey will be successful but this is lap band not gastric - we have to have fills before weight (normally) drops. You may want to discuss your expectations with your doctor.

I don't know why you're not losing weight except to say 1 fill isn't enough. Between fills 1 and 5 I lost maybe 12 pounds. Since fill 5 (my last one) I have lost over 20 pounds. No exercise & eating regular food. I was ticked off that the fills (I self pay so it was $$$$) weren't working but they were just very gradually. Currently I am at 6cc in a 10 cc band. Some people don't really lose weight until 7 or 8 in a 10 cc band whiles others never need to get a fill. If you notice the band hasn't kicked in (as opposed to not working) then you need to push your doctor for fills. My doctor said 6 to 8 weeks b/t but I eventually got in at every 2 weeks. Yes you weighed more than I did at the start but you have lost a good amount of weight for some who just got banded in October. Good luck.

I would recommend using Nioxin. If you go on their website and answer their questions it will direct you to exactly which system you should use. I think there are like 9 different sets. In addition I have been using Nexxus Emergencee. I was told by a hair dresser to also wear a silk cap at night and brush from the ends and not from the scalp. My hair loss is actually from a bad straightener but hair loss is hair loss. I totally feel your pain. Good luck.

God willing you will be here typing up a summary. I had surgery by myself out of state and it was a piece of cake compared to get my wisdom teeth pulled and 10 times easier than liposuction. While everyone is different you will probably be fine. Good luck and keep us posted.

Every bandster is different. I got full pretty quick the after each fill too then it subsided somewhat. Over a year later there are foods I can eat like anyone else (usually the well known slider foods) and other foods I can barely nibble at. I think the point I was attempting to address are people who are wondering why they aren't losing weight even tho they had surgery just a month ago and can eat anything. I have heard of a couple of people on these boards who lost over 100 pounds without a single fill but many if not most - it can take several fills. There seems to be a competition to lose all this weight within 30 days after surgery but this is the time for healing and following your doctor's instructions. Start worrying about the weight loss after you've at least had a fill.

You had surgery 2 weeks ago. Didn't your doctor tell you that your body is healing the first 6 weeks or so? Right now you are on the restricted diet while the swelling goes down and to build scar tissue around the lap band. You probably haven't had a fill so why would you feel full? If you really wanted to you could probably eat a whole pizza b/c there probably isn't anything in your band. Take it easy and heal first and then get a few fills before you wonder if your band is working.

After the swelling goes down you are able to eat everything and anything. You will probably be able to eat everything and anything after your 1st fill. You will probably be able to eat everything and anything after your 2nd fill. Maybe even your 3rd fill. It took between the 3rd and 4th fill before I could see a reduction. It took the 5th or 6th fill before the weight was falling consistently but again my BMI wasn't too high to begin with. I think doctors need to inform more or we need to ask more questions b./c there are so many people who seem so surprised that they can eat anything after the band (this isn't gastric bypass where you stomach is already small) but right now you have a shiny white plastic ornament on your stomach until you get fills.

Congrats!!!! Welcome to Onederville!

Yes!! I thought I was the only one freezing. I am also assuming it is due to weight loss. 18 pounds may not sound like a lot but how many sacks of potatoes does that make? It really it is a bit of weight.

Thanks, def. will try!

Thankfully my fills take 30 seconds and another 30 seconds of sipping Water to make sure I'm good to go. Never had any problems. As for fills - I'm on my 5th or 6th. Oddly enough some days I am tight and can barely choke down a small piece of meat but other days I can eat a big bowl of Pasta (very bad indeed!!). Just hang in there - besides most people would kill to lose 40 pounds - heck even 10 pounds!!!

Great article!! I have noticed hair loss starting - I honestly didn't think it would be a problem since my weight loss has been slow. I do know for a few weeks there I ran out of my vitamins so I def. have started back out. I will also get some iron and def. NOT put my hair back in a tight ponytail.

Great thread.

Good to know. I was debating getting another fill even if I think I'm at my sweet spot. Glad you are doing better.

Tracy - you have a great point! I was watching Nightline. This black girl was on there. She was approx 400 pounds and 15 or so. Her family ate all these amazing fried southern food and the poor girl was trying to stay on her diet but really couldn't b/c her very obese mother wasn't helping her. She would have to run up to her room to get away from the food. In the end she got gastric bypass but I think she commented how afraid she was that she would eventually stretch her pouch b/c she would sneak in the fried food b/c her mom still was cooking that food after the surgery.

The show makes me teary eyed when I watch b/c the kids are so young and so obese. The place seems really good while you're inside but some of the kids who have gone home for the holidays or spring break have gained weight. It just seems like that's a ton of money to be spending on kids who may or may not retain the lessons learned.

My last fill - I was so close to going back b/c even drinking felt uncomfortable and I had slight chest pain around the band area. I toughed it out and it disappeared after 3 days or so. I have lost about 15 pounds since late June which is a lot for me. It took a couple of days and drinking hot liquids seems to help but the tightening did loosen a bit. Prior to surgery I could eat 5 slices of pizza. After surgery before 1st fill - 4 slices. After 3rd fill maybe 2 slices. Now after the 5th fill I can barely eat the toppings. I thought I was too tight but my doctor said that's what its suppose to feel like. Generally it will stay tight when you wake up so I have a Protein shake or a yogurt in the morning b/c that is all I can tolerate. If you are throwing up this is a different matter entirely and terrible for your band.

Just watch out for speedbumps!! Even when I went slowly I was in pain even a couple of months out - the only time I felt pain after surgery.

I flew halfway across the country, had the surgery in the morning by myself, less than 48 hrs later I was stumbling thru the Atlanta airport by myself. I didn't tell anyone except a couple of friends. No nurse or discharge from the traditional 5 incisions. Aftercare was ok - you can do it by yourself if necessary but you def. need to stock up on items before hand and have everything prepared. I wasn't very prepared and ended feeling weak and lethargic for most of the week.

What did your doctor tell you to expect after surgery and before your fill? Have you talked to him since surgery?