JoJo1

I guess I did not know what I would say if it didn't work for me, so I kept it quiet. I am also in the process of losing my house, so it didn't seem appropriate to borrow money to do WLS, and not borrow to keep the house. People know the house is going bye bye but not about the surgery. It is a long story, but I feel like I did the right thing. For about a third of the price of an SUV, I can change my life forever. Amazing......

I know that feeling well, I had it later after my first fill. I have figured out that full is something completely different than pre band. I also felt like that when I tried full liquids a little too soon. I just waited until the next day and I felt fine, and full liquids went down fine then. I am also learning that hungry is different than it was befoe the band. I am not an expert at all, but it sounds to me like you may have slightly overfilled your pouch. I have learned that full is when the food doesn't taste as good as it did. It is not the stuffed feeling that "full" was when you did not have the band. These feelings are often different for different people so it is hard to have someone else describe them to you. You may have something different going on. Just a couple of ideas for you. Have a good day!!!

I got my first fill yesterday. Of course I won't know for awhile, because I am on liquids. I got 2ccs but that is fairly aggressive since I have a 4cc band. I feel restriction as much as possible with liquids, so I am hoping it works out well. My daughter who is also banded with the same band I have, thinks this is way too aggressive. She has lost most of her weight with less than 1cc. Anyone else have any ideas here? Just curious......

I understand that finding the correct fill is tricky at times. My daughter was banded two years ago and still sometimes needs adjustments. She just recently had an unfill after losing 95 lbs. Maybe women fluctuate more than men, but I don't know about that. I am only 7 weeks out and I already need a fill. My daughter and I have 4cc bands which means we won't need a lot of fill any time. If you think you need more, then it is wise to get more, but be aware that if you are too tight you won't lose any faster. That is the biggest lesson I have learned on this and other forums. Obviously we are creatures who believe that if a little is good, then a whole lot is better, or we would not need bands. Starving is counterproductive. Our metabolism will slow us down to protect us so we need to have a balance. Keep up the good work and hang in there. :w00t:

Hopefully this helps. Two years ago, my daughter called me and said she was going to get banded. I almost fell over. First of all, I did not think she was that much overweight, but she told me she was 100lbs over where she wanted to be. Initially, I thought she was crazy spending that kind of money on that. Later, I had to come to terms with my feelings and I realized I was jealous of her. After she lost 90lbs, I just suddenly decided that I could do it too. It was like a sudden feeling of total peace spilled all over me. Within a week I had my own surgery date, and I am currently 7 weeks post op. I feel I did the right thing, and I have since discussed all of this with my daughter. She is and has always been one of my closest friends so it is really good now. We are taking a trip over Thanksgiving because her Brother is coming back from Afghanistan. We are having so much fun talking about it and planning our little tiny meals together. Life is good!!!

I have noticed reading through these forums that many have to completely rearrange their friendships after WLS. It sort of reminds me of when my DH had to quit drinking. His friends weren't his friends any more. He had to completely rearrange his relationships. It is interesting, but sometimes we don't need friends like the one who lashed out at you. Best of luck with that.

I am a long time type 1. I used to get jittery below 100 also. However for the last 10 years I have been doing low carb because I wanted to live long enough to raise my kids. I was able to get my average BS below 100 all of the time, and as a result, I can tolerate the lower BSs pretty well. When you are used to higher readings, any type of drop is uncomfortable until you body gets used to it. I can be 50 and sometimes lower without even knowing it. The upside is that my A1c is 5.0. The downside is that I have to really watch to make sure I don't get really low. I have rarely been as low as 27 without knowing it, but it makes me work harder to keep it in control. I never take anything for granted any more. I just keep checking, checking, checking. Best of luck to all.....

My doc told me to take half of the usual dose after surgery. He also told me not to take any at all the day of the surgery. I know the body is more efficient when it is healing so that is probably why. I did what he said but I wished I had taken at least half on the day of the surgery. That evening, I was 288 I fixed it though, and after that, the half doses were perfect. I started walking right away. Now that I am 7 weeks post, I need a little more than half both morning and night. Everyone is different so you will just need to test often and hang in there. I have heard of many type 2s getting off of Insulin very quickly after surgery so you might surprise yourself. Best of luck!!!!

I am also much happier in the bedroom. My favorite part is that my DH is much more interested!!!

Sounds like you need to explore a few different types of fit in Jeans. There are only about a million out there. I haven't noticed this but I only walk......

I have spent part of the last two afternoons reading these posts and I have to say I can't remember the last time I was this entertained. I guess you can tell it has been slow at work!!! I don't have much experience with men either but I may have a little to add with the size thing. My first husband surprised me with this many years ago, and I was even more surprised to know I loved it. He was longer and narrower than my current DH. I am unable to enjoy it with my current DH because he is wider and shorter. The length is not the problem, the width is the problem. He once asked me after a few beers to compare his size with my ex, and I did. He was outraged. He said "Don't you know you are supposed to lie about stuff like that"? I still think that is funny!!! (he doesn't)

Whatever works is what we have to do. One time, I wanted a little popcorn and since I was home alone, I popped some, and then poured Water over the part I did not want to eat. It worked and I kept it under control.

And of course this is the reason you can smell that stuff when you go into the store. They do the same thing at Movie theatres with the Popcorn.

Since food is the reason we have to be banded, I am sure everyone misses it at least for awhile. I am very happy to have this aspect of my life under control. Of course when we are hungry, we miss food. That is true of everyone on the planet. I think it is a matter of shifting our focus to other things. If we think about a chocolate bar long enough, it is going to end up in our mouth. If we choose to think about the fact that the pounds are coming off and we feel better and better, we can go for a walk instead of eating. I have always hated water, but now I think it helps with my hunger a lot. I drink it now and no longer hate it. Amazing!!! I am getting my first fill in a couple days and I am really ready. I like the restriction and I am looking forward to it. I think you will feel this way too in time.

Low carb is a good idea for the rest of your life anyway. It is the healthiest way. I read a lot on this forum about people being unsatisfied because they don't feel full. I don't either, but I like that I can eat 1 1/2 cups, walk away and feel amazingly less hungry for the next few hours. I think that for some people, hunger is the absense of feeling stuffed. I read some stuff in forums that made me rethink my definition of satisfied back before I was even banded. Maybe this need to feel stuffed was my problem from the start, but obviously, I wasn't able to figure it out pre-band. Have a great Weekend everyone.!!!!:cursing:

From the stuff I have read on here, it sounds like you will need a lot more fill to get to the point where you have restriction. My band only holds 4cc. so I started with more restriction. I am going to get a little more Monday, so I am excited to keep on losing.

I have had to take my focus off of food. I am not cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year. When I go to someone elses house, I will stay away from the food until it is time to eat, then I will measure very carefully, fully aware that others are going to be watching me and giving their 2 cents on what I should be doing. After dinner I will help clear and then get out of the kitchen and go outside with the kids or take a walk. I won't be in the house when desert is served at all. My focus has to be else where for my own good and others will just have to get used to the new me. You will be fine, just change your focus......

There are different size bands and some need very little in the fill category. My daughter was banded almost 2 years ago. She has a small 4cc band and has had some fill from time to time, but at this point, she feels that no fill is better. She has lost 95lbs. I am going for my first one this Monday, but I don't want very much, I just need a little help in the hunger department. We will see how it goes... Best of luck.....

If you all would beef up your Protein and cut back on the carbs, you will feel less hungry. Here is a suggestion I found here in the forum. GNC Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60 60 grams of protein. that is really cool. We tend to have too many carbs while on liquids because we don't know what else to do. If you can find ways to cut them out as I did, the hunger is much less. You don't have restriction yet though, so of course you will have it after you reach the "sweet spot". The protein helped me a lot!!! Hope you guys feel better soon.

My daughter is almost 2 years post op and still gets shoulder pain when she over eats.... Everyone is different!!!! :thumbup:

I have a friend who has never been over weight who runs religiously. I don't think she is obsessed, but she loves it and she does it 4 to 7 times a week. I always wonder about people who act "worried" about us. Are they actually afraid you won't gain back the weight so they can say "I told you so"? I lost weight a couple years ago on a liquid protein diet, and people in my small town started saying things like "Wow are you just going to disappear"? Or "Are you sure this is healthy"? I am sure it will happen this time too. Oh well!! Time is a tremendous healer, I think you will realize you are actually in control now and you will gradually stop being so fearful. Best of good wishes, and Congrats on your loss.....

I had shoulder pain off and on for about three weeks, but the gas was minimal. Maybe because I walked a mile the day after surgery and one to two miles every day since. I have read so many different experiences, that it is hard to tell someone what to expect. Hope it gets better soon. Have a great weekend~~~

From the reading I have done here and on other forums, it appears that at some point, the powers that be, figured out that the most efficient weight loss in Band patients occurs when we eat solid food. It is also deemed effective in the management of hunger, which is occurs in varying degrees in Band patients. If you are losing, and are not plagued with terrible hunger, you should do what works for you. I do a liquid Protein snack in the late afternoon also that is 0 carb, so it gets me through and also beefs up my protein totals. Best of luck!!!!

"Bandster Hell" is the name given to the time after surgery and before a perfect fill level, (the sweet spot) where you are very hungry and want to eat your house.

Unjury.com is the cheapest too....