AlienBandit

When I got banded my bmi was 33. I lost my band when my bmi was 26 and got rebanded when my bmi was 25. Right now in my lap band ap small ( 10ccc) I have a 5.3 fill. It is an ok fill but I am not losing weight with it. Though I don't drink cola, I do drink diet cola sometimes but I let it sit a while to get the carbonation out. I also didnt tell anyone about my surgery. Though some people noticed and asked questions I just said I don't eat a lot and they have grown used to it. Everyone says I eat like a bird but since I am only 160lbs now at 5'6 they don't think I had a gastric bypass or anything. As for eating out, pick something that you can eat "more" of. Obviously a big steak or Pasta would be a bad idea, but a stew or salad would be a better idea. Also pick at the plate and move things around so it looks like you ate more and offer people some of your food so the portion goes down. You can also make excuses to why your not hungry etc ( on my blog I have a list of excuses I use)

After all of my surgeries I was never in the best mood. That is one of the reasons why I didn't want anyone around after my surgeries. I find my temper is short and I get annoyed really easily. This only lasts for a few days and I think had something to do with the meds I take after the surgery. I hope you can find the support you need on here. This is really a great website. Good luck!

My doc waits a month before the first fill and then usually small fills every 2-3 weeks depending on your restriction, weight loss etc. Large and rapid fills are not good as it can cause problems with your stomach ( like erosion). Every doc is different

I love oatmeal and eat it all the time. Even with no fill, I found oatmeal filled me up for nearly 4 hours ( unlike everything else I ate). It is a great healthy thing to eat :thumbup:

I never let anything stop me so the band was no different. I had plans for dates around the time I was banded and had to wait until I could est solids to go out. Before the solids period coffee dates, movies etc were fine. As for me I never told the guy about my band. It is something I am not comfortable doing. Just go where the wind takes you. If someone comes along go for it! The band is supposed to help you get healthy, have a good life etc not stop you from doing things :thumbup:

I have taken a taxi home after my surgery and it was never a problem. See no one knows about my surgeries so after all of my surgeries when I was released I would walk to the bus station or take a taxi to the bus station, take a bus to my city and then take another taxi home. I also live alone and that was never a problem either.

Every doctor has different follow up times. I saw my doc 2 times the same day after my surgery, the day after my surgery and then every week for the first month after my surgery. Now I see him once every 2 weeks, for check up, fills etc.

What a great weight loss! I am sure you will be able to do it again. It has only been a few months since you fell off the horse so I think it's great that you are ready to get right back up and start again. I wish you good luck on your journey. Stay strong and just remember you can reach your goal :thumbup:

If I got a tummy tuck and went back to work 3 days post op? See I want a tummy tuck ( thought I could get away without getting one) and my doc agrees I should have one. Only problem is, I must basically be dying to get time off work. I have always had all my surgeries on a Saturday and go back to work on the Monday ( band in, out, in, and many lipo sessions). I have seem to grow almost immune to the pain from lipo ( only need pain killers once right after waking up from surgery). I know everyone is different and every surgery is different but for those who have had a tummy tuck could you handle sitting at a desk for 6 hours ( standing on and off for the other 2 hours) out of the day just a few days after surgery? Also could you handle doing everything by your self or would you need someone to help you? No one ever knows about my surgeries and I have never gotten help from anyone. I am hoping/planning on a tummy tuck in Oct so I am just trying to prepare before then. I am assuming though I must double check that my muscles won't be touched ( so its called a panni something ruther) which will make recovery more easy right?

I never had a hernia repair. I did get a day off work once for surgery but said it was for an ulcer ( i believe that was the translation in Korean) so I am not sure if I can use an excuse like that again or say it is a repair of that etc. I will see what I can get away with. My doc will of course help with any note that I may need. Thanks for the feed back guys :biggrin: I think I might try to get 2 days off (making it 4-5 days post op I would have to go back) and if I am still shit after my boss can come see for herself how bad of condition I am in. Oh and I am not sure how intense the surgery would be. I am still in the works of talking with my doc. I am pretty sure it is just to remove a small amount of skin. The incision wouldn't be that large or long. I also dont think my muscles will be touched. I will doubt check and post again.

I have sick days which I should be able to use except my boss would tell me i am not allowed to get the surgery and wouldn't let me use the sick days if I asked....

I am trying this starting tomorrow. I have an app on my iphone for it. Wish me luck

I think at one point or another everyone has this problem. I use flax seed in my yogurt, bran cereal or senkot ( last resort) if I have problems. My doc told me Metamucil is very bad and I shouldnt use it ever!

I am on my second band as well. I had a very small erosion of my stomach, had my band removed and then waited 5 months to get a new band. Things are so far so good with my second band

Not all stomachs are the same size. Therefore different people get different bands. My doc usually determines what band someone should have based on what brand they want ie lap band, swedish band etc and then the size of their stomach. Fills are the same. If you get a big band and then your stomach and area gets smaller you need a bigger fill. For an idea of what different bands look like, click on my blog. I have posted 4 different bands that are at my docs office.

I live by myself as well and didn't tell anyone about my surgery. This was an interesting challenge because I went back to work not even 2 days after my surgery and I also had to care for my two dogs as well as myself alone. You are really strong. At some points it can be hard, but I almost prefer doing things like this alone. Since my first surgery I have had many others ( more than 6 surgeries) and I have done it all by myself now it is just routine to me lol Stay strong and keep well :smile2:

I'm not at goal yet and my port sticks out. You can see it well on the photos in my blog. Some of the problem is scar tissue present from my last port apparently. My doc wants to wait a while and then see if he can fix the area and make it not so noticeable. My friends have seen my stomach and never asked about it so I guess I am safe for now...

I am always freezing and i have maintained my weight that I lost for the last 5 months. I don't know if I will ever be warm again. Even in the summer with +31 degrees c weather I am wrapped up in many layers and sweaters at work. Being cold a lot is common after weight loss I have found ( past experience)

I know it is far but Korea is a great place to get plastics done for cheap. Lots of people come here to get a job just for something to do while they have surgeries here. If you have good insurance you might also be able to be covered here with your american insurance while you are in Korea. My doc is also a plastic surgeon and I have seen tons of his work and he is good. I have gotten lipo with great results. When I am closer to goal I will probably have more done. I like that he does both band and plastics because he knows the band well and so I wouldn't be worried about any procedures I get done. A lot of people go to Mexico for cheap plastic surgery too. If you don't want to travel far Mexico is good.

Omg this makes me so angry.... I hate when people judge others and dont know their background etc. I recently went on a date with a guy who ranted about how weightloss surgeries and lipo etc are for lazy people and they're cheaters etc. I dont tell people about my surgeries but I was so proud to show off my scars to that idiot and ask him what he thought of me now :cursing: needless to say I wont see him again ( though because I am skinny now he doesn't think I am lazy and wants to see me again.... honestly wtf)

I finally got rebanded a little while ago and hope to start losing weight soon. Since I dont have anything in my band right now I can eat anything and everything and never feel full after the portions I should be eating.... at least I am not gaining. Gotta stay positive :cursing: Hope everyone else is doing good.

I didnt have this pain with my first band but I find I have it sometimes now with my second band. It mostly comes when I take really deep breathes, or yawn. I told my doc about it but he thinks it should pass. I go to see him soon and will probably have some tests done to see if there is something to be done about it.