RebeccaJ

Since my surgery on August 31st, I have lost about 48 pounds. I started losing way before (last January) I had surgery, and am now down a hundred pounds from my top weight. I went in for my first fill a few weeks ago and the doctor put in three cc's. I had LOTS of restriction and went over a week with nothing but liquids staying down. I did not enjoy spitting up everything solid, and finally went back to my doctor. I was so embarrassed to throw up or spit up in front of my husband because the sliming and spitting up would not stop. After contacting him about nine days later, he took out 1 cc and I feel much better now. I have not yet found that special "sweet spot" so many talk about, but I am doing good. I am very happy losing a pound or two a week. I want to have restriction, but not being able to eat anything solid was awful. I hope we can all find the right amount so that we can get the help we need! :w00t:

Hi Everyone, It is so hard to believe, but I have finally lost 100 pounds! I started trying to lose last January at 419 pounds, and I currently weigh 319! I am very excited about that! I know that my goal is 185, but I will be happy if I am anywhere on the downside of 250! Wish me luck!:thumbup:

Hi There, I also agree that a second opinion is key. I weighed 419 at my highest, but was 376 when I had the surgery done. I know that you can do it, but you need a doctor who is on board as well. Remember, you want to make the decision that is right for you. I have nothing against RNY surgery, but did not feel it was right for me. My sister had the lap band surgery done 3 and a half years ago, and she has done awesome. Keep trying, you can do it! Rebecca :thumbup:

Congratulations on your new band. I live near Greensboro, and had my surgery done there. Take it easy, you will do great! Rebecca:thumbup:

Hi there, Congratulations on getting your band! I had mine put in August 31st, and spent four days out of work. I had a lot of burping and gas that first few days, and it didn't feel very good. It went away, though, and is no problem now. Hang in there, you can do this! :thumbup: Rebecca

That is so wonderful! I know you are so proud! It is an awesome feeling when you start seeing changes, but I sometimes see more changes in my clothes and sizes than I do on the scales. I am still hoping to make it to "two-terville" myself, but I still have 22 pounds to go. Keep up the great work, and congratulations!:thumbup:

This is such a hard thing to do that it really makes me laugh when I hear someone say, "You did it the easy way....you paid someone to make you lose weight." That is just not true. Even though I paid for the surgery and went through all the hoops and things to get the band, I still have to do a lot of work on my own. When I started trying to lose weight on my own last January, I weighed 419 pounds. I couldn't get around and was having lots of trouble with everything. I started consciously trying to lose, and did pretty well. In March, I decided to see about weight loss surgery. I went to the seminar in April, and spent the spring and summer getting ready. I also lost more weight, although I was so large no one could really tell. When I had my surgery done, I weighed about 370 and I had my surgery on August 31st. I had my first fill on October 29th (3 cc's) and could not eat anything solid for two weeks. The doctor took out 1 cc and I can finally eat again. I am hungry sometimes, but I think my stomach has shrunk a lot. I don't even try to eat the bad foods because I know that is what got me into this mess in the first place. I have not had any gains yet, but I know they happen to everyone. I try to really watch everything I eat and make the best choices possible. I don't want you to feel bad about yourself, because you took a positive step in having the surgery. Now just continue trying and you will see success! Each person is different, so it is hard to replicate someone else's actions and results. Just take each day one at a time, and I will keep all of us in my prayers so that we can be more healthy, happy, and live life to the fullest! Take care, and good luck!:thumbup:

On October 29th, I went to the doctor for my first fill. I was a little scared, but not overly so. He wound up putting in 3 cc's, and I had a lot of trouble the first few days. Many of your comments helped me greatly. I called the doctor, and just went in this afternoon. Even though I had to wait a while because I was being worked in, I feel better now. He had to stick me several times to get the right spot, he withdrew one cc and I can finally eat something without having it come back up. That is such a relief! In the last week or ten days, I have slimed and spit back up almost every solid thing I have eaten. It seemed like I was never going to be able to eat again. Thanks for all the comments and help, guys! Wish me luck as I continue this journey! Remember, we can do this!:tongue2:

Hi all, I have been doing really well since my surgery two months ago. I have lost about 46 pounds, and I feel good about that. I went for my first fill last Thursday (10-29) and the surgeon asked me if I got hungry. I told him yes, and he decided to do a fill. I know nothing about fills, because I have never had one before. He put in 3 cc's, and told me to stay away from carbs and eat lots of Protein. I left that afternoon and wound up posting on here because I got so sick. I could not eat at all. I guess I should have known not to eat solids for a few days, but I didn't. Anyway, since then, I have had at least one or two bouts of PBing every day. I can't eat anything solid without it coming back up. I have tried everything. I can drink liquids fine, but solids are not doing well. I talked to the nurse this afternoon, and she said my doctor was in surgery and his scheduling nurse had left for the day, but she said maybe I needed to have some taken out. Is it normal to be sick every day? I have lost seven more pounds in a week, but I feel really bad. I have little energy, and it is getting harder to keep up with my class of six year olds when I feel this way. I wish now I had told him I never get hungry at all, because I was losing and still able to eat before the fill. What do you guys think?

I had my first fill yesterday, and I did not fell well last night. It seems the nurse and doctor did not tell me to stay on Clear liquids, and I got a little sick. Anyway, I called this morning and got the information straight and fell much better now. I found out today that I passed my National Board renewal certification! I am so happy! Just wanted to let any teachers out there know, because they will understand what it means to me. Stay strong, everyone! We can do this!:Yawn:

Thanks so much for all the wonderful replies. I celebrated getting recertified by going bowling with my husband on Halloween night. We had a great time, even though neither one of us knows how and we had many gutter balls. I got two strikes and two spares in three games, and my husband had 4 strikes, 5 spares, and many splits that he couldn't get down. It was loads of fun, and a little exercise, too! I love Dr. Martin, but he never said a word. The only thing he told me was no carbs, not even if the nutritionist said so. He really doesn't like carbs at all, does he? Anyway, I am losing so I guess I am doing okay. I have been better since I did two days of liquids. I can eat, but have to do it very slowly and with some kind of dipping sauce. I really try to get in my Protein every day. For the person asking about eating, I drink a Protein shake for Breakfast every morning. I like the unjury strawberry or vanilla with Water, because they are not very sweet. I drink water all morning (when I find the time to grab a sip) and have some kind of protein for lunch. Sometimes cheese, sometimes tuna, sometimes salmon. I don't get hungry at all during the day usually, and I don't eat anything else until I get home at about 5:30 or 6:00. Once in a while I will hear my stomach grumbling, but I don't think I am hungry at all. I drink water all afternoon as well. So far, so good! It's great to hear from so many teachers, and it is great to meet another patient of Dr. Martin's. Thanks for the congratulations and the great responses!:scared2:

Hi There.... First, consider yourself hugged. Don't be so down on yourself, there are too many people out there who want to make you feel bad. You are special and important! I started trying to lose weight again in January of this year. I have lost and gained weight my entire life, but have never been normal size. I was a heavy child, fat teenager, and a huge adult. In January of this year, I had ballooned to 419 pounds. I am a teacher of first graders, and it was really hard to keep up with them and have the energy to do anything. I decided to try and regulate my food myself and use a lot of things I had learned at Weight Watchers in previous attempts. I started writing down everything I ate, and began to see where my problem areas were. I began losing weight with no exercise, and had gotten down to about 385 before I attended the seminar. I knew that I was so much larger than all the other people there, and I felt a little self conscious. I didn't think they would even give me a lap band, but I started the process. I weighed 376 at the time of my pre-surgery appointment, and I am now two months post-op and weight 328. You can do this, girl! If you can't exercise right now, just work on portion control and getting your weight down. You are worth it, and you can do it! Take it one day at a time, and reach out to others here if you need a little support. We are with you! :Yawn:

Since you just had your surgery ten days ago, I don't think you have a thing to worry about. Most doctors don't put much of a fill in at the time of the surgery, some not at all. Once you have your first fill, you can probably stretch the pouch easier. Also, your tummy is probably shrinking some, too. Don't worry, all will be well! Next time, maybe just save half of the shake for later! The recipe sounds delcious, by the way, and I can't wait to try it!:Yawn:

I had my first "fill" today. Wow! It went almost as I imagined, but I am worried he put in too much. I tried to eat tonight and only got in two bites before it came back up. I then tried a yogurt and lost that as well. I finally got a little to stay down by eating it very slowly. Does it get better in a few days, or do you think I need to contact my doctor to see if he needs to remove some. He put very little in at the time of the surgery 8 weeks ago, but today he put in 3 cc's and maybe that was too much. He said mine was an 8, but I don't know exactly what that means. Anyone know? I am happy for any comments and advice.... Thanks everyone!:sad:

Please don't get discouraged. We all lose at different rates, and it seemed like I stayed the same forever the weeks following my surgery. I could tell by my clothes that I was getting smaller, but the darn scale wouldn't move. Every day when I sat down in my rocking chair at work to read to my class, it felt a little bigger. The scale? Didn't move.... Then, it went down three pounds, then back up one, then down two more. It seems my body was really fighting giving up that weight. As large as I was, it didn't want me to lose an ounce. The only thing I am doing differently than before is that I do not eat most of the things I used to eat. I have not had candy or small treats because I thought it would cause me problems with sticking too the eating plan I was given. I have not eaten nuts, bread, or high carb foods even though I love them. Although my doctor wants me to have no carbs, not even lowfat yogurt or veggies, I do allow myself a few carbs each day. I feel so sick if I stay on meat and cheese only. My goal is to lose weight, not be miserable all the time. I can't wait for the day that I can have salads and more veggies. I was supposed to go to my nutritionist Thursday, and had taken the day off from work only to have them call at 7:45 and cancel the appointment. Bummer, huh? I hope when I see her later this week I can add more veggies and maybe nuts back into my diet. Good luck, and hang in there!:Yawn:

I experienced something similar today. I just got my first fill yesterday (3 cc's) and I am on liquids only for the next couple of days. I went out to lunch with a girlfriend at work today to the Japanese restaurant. Usually, a meal there costs me at least $20.00. My husband and I usually can eat for about $20.00, because we don't do appetizers and never get desserts. The main meal usually fills both of us up. Today? I only spent $1.35 for the soup. Cool, huh? It was delicious, and I spent time talking and eating my soup slowly. Big difference, huh?:Yawn:

I need to know more about the kind of band my doctor put in 8 weeks ago, but can't really find it on the internet. Anyone know where to look? He told me when I got my first fill today (3 cc's) that I had a lap band AP 8. What does that mean? Where can I go to find out? Help!:sad:

Since I just got my first fill today, I am a little worried. He put in 3 cc's and I can't really eat anything without sliming or it coming back up. How much did your doctor put in? Have you been okay since?

I think it is so strange how many of us can have the same band and have such different experiences. I am not sure how much I can eat, because I am always so cautious to eat too much. I have had some instances where I had to spit up chicken because it was too dry, and other times I have no trouble. I have not had any real sweets since my surgery two months ago until yesterday. I had a small mini cupcake at our class Halloween party and I thought I was going to die. I ate it at about 1:45, and I didn't start feeling better until about 6:30. Maybe it is all in my head, but I can't even stand sweets right now. I have been eating some carbs ( a no-no for my doctor), but I try to have very little and make my choices carefully. One day my weight will go up a pound or stay the same, and then a few days later it will go down two pounds. Really weird, huh? I go for my first fill today, and I hope he will give me a fill. I have lost about twenty pounds since I saw him five weeks ago, and he may not give me my first fill. I stay hungry all the time, but I have really tried to not eat unless it was meal time. We can do this, guys. Even if we all get discouraged some days, we can do this!:thumbdown:

I had a completely different idea when I got my band. I knew that I would have to really watch what I eat, not just for calories but also for the ease in which I can get them down. I have now had my band for two months, and have not had my first fill yet. My weight before surgery was 374, and I weighed 352 when I went to the doctor for my six four weeks check up. Still no fill, so waiting again. I go back to the doctor on Thursday, and should get my first fill. My weight now is 332, and I don't really have any restriction at all. I have had to really watch what I eat every mouthful because I know I don't have restriction, and I get hungry a lot! I have a protein shake for breakfast, some type of protein and a small sugar free pudding for lunch, and then more protein and a veggie for supper. It is hard, but it can be done. I am very surprised that I have not been meaner to everyone around me, because I do get really hungry! Hang in there, you can do it!

Just wondering how everyone is doing. I got my band on August 31st, and I feel great. No problems so far, except one small "stuck" feeling that I burped right up. How is everyone doing?

Don't worry so much about losing quickly. I did not seem to lose anything in the first two or three weeks after my surgery. It seemed as if I was going to stay about the same forever. Then I lost a few pounds, then a few more. Since two weeks before my surgery almost two months ago, I am down about 40 pounds. I have not had my first fill yet, but will be seeing the doctor on Thursday and expect my first fill. He is a stickler for no fills before eight weeks post-op to prevent problems. I am happy with how much I have lost so far, and feel good about my decision. I wish it would just melt away while I sleep, but that isn't going to happen. Hang in there, we can do this!:thumbup:

I really don't know what to tell you. I had my band put in almost two months ago and I still don't even know what size he put in. When I had my post op appointment, we were so busy discussing what foods I would eat that I forgot to ask. I go for my first fill on Thursday, so maybe I will find out then. Good luck to you, and hang in there!

It has been almost two months for me. I am so happy that I made this decision. Although you will feel sore and a little unsure at first, you can do this! Remember, you are worth it! Good luck on your recovery!