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I Just had my 6 month post op with my doctor today. Everything is going good. Down 70 pounds since surgery and add another 15 for the pre diet! She asked me if anything was going on and I told her that my periods seem to arrive about 3 weeks even though I was very regular pre surgery. SHe gave me the same answer regarding estrogen being stored in fat and hormones being out of wack, I agree that it is a small price to pay!! This surgery has been one of the best things I ever did. Just sorry I waited so long!

I was banded September 21, 2009. I live in a suburb outside of Lowell. Had my surgery at Lowell Generall Hospital with the LGH Baratric weightloss Center in North Chelmsford. The band is the best thing that ever happend to me (okay my family is the best but this is right up there!!) i have lost over 70 pounds and feel like a million bucks!!! Glad to share my experiences!!!

I am reading a book about Muhammad Ali's daughter. She writes about her struggle with weight and how she decided to go ahead and have the Lab band surgery back in 2004. She cowrote it with her doctors who performed the surgery. Khalia writes of her experiences and then the doctors write blurbs about different things that Khalia says. One of the things the doctor comments on is how we need to still interact with people and how hard it is over meals. He said that it is okay to "skip" the rule of not drinking with meals occasionally if it helps you "feel" more comfortable. You just have to know that you are defeating the purpose. I don't think it has anything to do with not feeling well while drinking with food, it is just that you will fill up on the liquid and any food in your pouch will push thru faster and therefore you will be hungry again faster. He still thinks this is a good policy to follow but sometimes a bandster wants to feel more comfortable in a social situation that includes a meal.

I am 4 months post op and having very few issues! I have managed to lose almost 60 pounds with little drama. I really do have to watch what I eat but I am retraining myself and this band is the best thing I ever did! Good Luck!

That is one of the strangest things that I find..>The growling. It is so loud sometimes it is very embarrasing!!! Unfortunately it doesn't stop (for me anyway) after being on solids. I am 4 months post op. and it still happens! One of only a few "bad" things since surgery so I can live with it! Congratulations!

If we are going to look at this surgery in "perfect world" terms, of course we would not drink. Unfortunately most of us don't live in the perfect world. I was a beer drinker before surgery and was told that was a definite "no no" SO I have given it up. On the occasion that I do go out I do have a vodka and cranberry or two. I have not felt any real difference in the way the alcohol affects me. My biggest concern about drinking is the potential loss of my good judgement and that is why I don't drink often or a lot. I socialize with several close friends and I would feel so "left out" if I didn't allow myself a drink or two every once in awhile. One of my big conversations with my nutrtionist before surgery is what I would drink for alcohol after the surgery! She was helping me figure out what to substitute for the beer. Now, she was not encouraging me to drink but she understood that we can't change everything. I do understand that some people substitute the alcohol for the food addiction and that should be a big concern for everyone. We need to make sure we don't substitute one addiction (food) for another, alcohol, shopping, gambling,etc, WIth that said have a drink in moderation and enjoy!

WOW isn't it incredible how a lot of us think being able to cross our legs is awesome!! My sister, the nurse ,reminds me that it isn't good to keep your legs crossed, bad for circulation purposes. I am like who cares...I am so excited to be able to do it!!!

Melinco, I so feel your pain! Banded on September 21, 2009 and have not had my favorite beverage of choice, TAB, since September 20, 2009!! It was dificult at first but now I just think of the fond memories we had together!! LOL!!! I just don't even have any in the house anymore. I am having trouble drinking crystal light as I don't like a lot of the fake sweetners after taste. I find myself drinking a lot of hot tea and my new found favorite is the SoBe agave lemonade drink. It is NOT "no calorie" but only has about 50 calories in a 12 oz bottle. I just monitor how much I drink and go for it. Sometimes I wonder how bad those artificial sweetners are for us anyway!

Wow I am so sorry to hear that. I asked my surgeon about the vice swapping thing and she says it tends to be true and most of the time it is alcohol one switches too. She had (what I thought) a lame explanation..that it takes less to make someone "buzzed" and they don't adjust for it! I think it is all about addictive behavior. I have heard about the sex thing too. I think you will be okay because you are aware from the get go. Have you ever talked to your mom about why she thinks it has happend to her?

Minimeme, I think you are on to something. I have read lots of articles that state people who have weightloss surgery do infact pick up another vice. I have a close relatve that seems to drink more now that she has had WLS. It scares me enough that I am being very mindful of my drinking. I once heard Rosie O'Donnell say that she had empathy for those famous celebrities that kept getting arrested for drug and alcohol issues because she beleived that if overeating were illegal she would be arrested. I think we really do need to be mindful that we have "addictive" tendencies and if we drop the food addiction we need to make sure we don't pick up another bad habit. I do think you and I are in a good place because we are going to be mindful of what could happen. Goodluck!

DON'T GIVE UP!!! I was banded on September 21st and didn't get my first fill until November 3rd and had my second fill on December 23rd. After being banded if I hadn't seen the band during my upper GI I would not have beleived it was there! I, like you, have been losing weight but I think it was purely because I was making a serious effort to watch my eating. I have experineced a little restriction after my second fill but still have not had the feeling of real restriction. I am sure it is there but I think I was expecting some huge difference. All I can say is that I am making better choices so I am happy with the weight loss. 43 pounds since being banded (not counting the 16 before surgery!) I am hoping the third fill will be the charm but if i think logically about it..if I am losing weight without having the "sliming" issues, and "stuck" issues and I can still eat whatever I want that is a good thing, right? I sort of feel as though the band is a "mind" thing. It doesn't feel like it is doing much but the idea that it is there is definitely doing something to my eating habits so that is a good thing!! Good Luck and this band is the best thing I ever did for myself!!!

At the center I go to calories are never mentioned. It is all about the right food choices. If you are losing the weight and getting your nitrition how could your nut say anything??? Once your weight loss slows down then you may have to make some changes but little changes at a time are a lot easier to make then a bunch of changes all at once! Good for you. I am nervous though. Many people say you can't deny yourself or cut out a food group all together because one day you will go crazy and overdue it. My issue is with sweets...I LOVE them and feel like if I start eating them again I will not stop. I had a very small piece of cake on Turkey Day but other than that I have not had any kind of cookies, candy, chocolate since my surgery on Sept. 21. Don't you stop craving things after a period of time? Right now I have no trouble resisting them and don't feel bad when other people are around me eating them so I really think I am okay. I fel like I am safer cutting them out completely. My cheat everyday is a tablespoon of WHITE SUGAR in my tea. I was warned against it but what is a tablespoon cost me and if it makes me happy I am doing it. I just don't like artificial sweetners all that much and i enjoy my cup of tea everyday!!!

I am glad my boobs are shrinking. I never liked having big boobs. I think it is one of those "grass is always greener " things! If you have big boobs you want smaller and if you have small boobs you want bigger! I do have to say that my boobs are getting smaller but not my cup size. Now I have a ton of saggy skin where the boobs used to be. I feel like I have a third boob over my bra cup sometimes!!!I will still take small boobs and weightloss anyday!!!

I was banded back on Sept. 21, 09 and I have to say I still have that "head" hunger as someone mentioned. I have lost 35 since surgery and 51 since July 1. I think if I could stop eating when I was "full" I would lose even more weight. I have only had 1 fill so I am wondering if I will be able to acknowledge that "full/satisfied" feeling once I get another fill? Maybe I need more restriction? I have to say I was initially not going to get a second fill in December because I was doing so well without it but now I am thinking I am going to need more help. SOmetimes I feel like I can eat as much as I want, luckily I still have the "fear" and don't do it but it seems to be harder and harder to keep my appetite in check. I was a perfect candidate for lap band surgery because I wasn't much of a snacker just a big meal eater. I love this website!! Everyone is so helpful (most of the time!) and it is great to have people to ask questions that a doctor might not understand!!!

Good Luck!! ( Just for a point of reference I gave birth to a 9.1 pound baby and I found that pretty painful!!) My lap band surgery was almost painless. I had some pain meds administered through an IV but never touched the morphine pump that I was hooked up to. I felt some basic discomfort in my abdomen area. ALmost like I did too many sit ups (which if I had done more some sit ups I might not have needed Weight loss surgery!! LOl) I actually stayed over Monday night (that is the way the center I went too does it) and left at 2 pm Tuesday and went to my class at 10:30 on Wednesday. My only regret is that I didn't do this earlier!!! Good Luck!!!

Hi Radio Girl, I don't think I have heard one constant thing for everyone yet, that has had the surgery!! I was banded on September 21. I want to lose about a 110 pounds. I lost 16 pounds in the 2 1/2 months prior to surgery and have lost another 36 pounds since surgery. I am VERY happy with the results and fortunately I have had a great experience so far. I still have that mental hunger. I think if I stopped eathing and thought about whether I was hungry or not I would stop eating sooner! I had my first fill on Nov 3 and feel a little restriction but I am still losing weight so I might skip my next scheduled fill which is right before Christmas. I haven't experienced any "getting stuck" or getting sick issues yet and figure if I am still losing why mess with the amount of fill. There are some foods I haven't tried (like bread) but I might just stay clear of that forever. I have not gone back to eating sweets yet, either. I think I have tried to change my feelings about food. I am trying to eat to live rather than live to eat (which was my attitude before surgery). So many social functions revolve around food and I have been able to still participate so I am overall happy with my decision to have surgery.

I had surgery on Monday, released from hospital on Tuesday and made it back to my 10:30am class on Wednesday. Started bartending again that Saturday. Everything went really well just be sure to have your water handy and do nothing overly strenuous. Good luck!

I had my first fill today, too! I had surgery on Sept. 21 and was getting nervous because I seemed to have noticed a lot of people getting their fills much quicker than I. No worries I have lost 26 pounds since the surgery so hopefully now that I have my "adjustment" it will be even more. My doc gave me 3.5 cc's. My next fill is at the end of December and it will be a much smaller amount. I really like how open my doc is. Good Luck!!!

I am with you! Early on I am being very diligent. I figure I have plenty of time "later" on to cheat!

Pookiemp, I was banded on 9/21 and am having my FIRST fill tomorrow. I wonder why I had to wait so long??? I have lost 27 pounds post surgery and I agree with whomever said they are using sheer willpower to lose weight. I feel like that is the only thing that is restricting me. If I had this willpower maybe I didn't need the band but I know the hard part is going to be to keep the weight off. Good LUck. I am a little nervous about tomorrow regarding pain and I hope I feel some restriction.

Sorry but I am with Scmoopy on this one. I think it is real important to folow the nutrition guidelines in the beginning. My sister had her surgery a few years ago and she is struggling to stay on track after 2 years. As time goes by you start to be less dilligent and can put the weight on. If you don't say "no" now while trying to retrain your eating habits it will really be a struggle later on. One of the things my sister said is to stay away from the things that you used to over indulge in. If you try it now and think nothing will happen what is going to stop you later on. Scmoopy might have come off being a little harsh but I think her message is a good one to live by.

I had my lapband surgery on September 21, 2009. My sister came to the hospital with me. She had the surgery back in February of 2007. I figured my husband would go crazy waiting for the surgery to be done. We got to the hospital at 7:30am and I was scheduled to go to the operating room at 10:30. I remember going to the waiting area and meeting with the surgeon and the anesthiologist and everyone was so nice and friendly. I barely remember moving on to the surgery table and the next thing I know I was waking up and then back in my room. I was given pain medication in my IV but never used the morphine pain pump! I got a little freaked out when the doctor told me that while doing the lapband surgery they found a tumour on my stomach! They did a quick biopsy and the surgeon took the tumour out and sent it to an outside lab. She said I would have had to have it removed eventually so I "killed" two birds with one stone! I left the hospital the next day feeling pretty well. I even got up and went to my 10:30 Anthropology class on Wednesday! I never even filled the percocet (sp) prescription. On my 1 week post op visit I had lost 14 pounds and found out the tumour was benign. I could be a walking advertisement for the band. I have only lost 8 more pounds in the following 3 weeks but hope to increase that once I get my first "adjustment". I have had a great experience so far. The only thing I am having trouble with is that I don't feel much restriction. I have been very good as far as the eating goes. I think I am not eating more out of fear than being full. Waiting to see how the first adjustment goes. So far so good.