Astrasmom

It seems like yesterday I had my surgery. Wow how time flies. For most of the time I am doing well and of course feeling MUCH better then I did 6 months ago. I think 6 months ago I was also still a little critical of whether the band would actually work for me. Now as I finally hit the 81lbs mark, I CAN'T BELEIVE IT! In my entire life of dieting I have never been able to take off this much weight, plus keep it off. I have had 4 fills so far, and I have hit the sweet spot. I am NEVER hungry. It hasn't been an easy journey. I've had to tackle my bad habits a few times. I've also had to endure a few episodes of being stuck and a few episodes of bringing that stuck back up again. All of which I have learned that the reason that I am getting stuck is because I need to take more time to chew and more time to cut my food into smaller peices. The band really is a tool. It's not a miracle cure that's going to change your life so drasitcally that you will never fall back into your old ways. You can't just sit back and let the band do all of the work for you. I think there are alot of people that fall into the mind set that because the band is not a 'diet' you can rely on the band to tell you when to stop eating. NOT SO. Yes the band is not a diet. Meaning that you can pretty much eat anything you want, in moderation. You have to still weigh and measure your food. You do have to watch your calories and carbs and you do have to control your protein intake. But you don't have to minus points because you had a peice of cheesecake or a peice of chocolate, double layer cake. You don't have to save your points up so that you can 'cheat' at the end of the week (Weight Watcher). You don't have to pay $1000's a month to have special foods shipped to you in the mail (Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig). You don't have to really have to follow the Glycemic Index chart (South Beach). But you do have to work. If the LAP-BAND® was a miracle cure all, I would have gotten it done YEARS ago just to watch the weight fall off of me overnight without having to work at it. The LAP-BAND® is a tool because it helps you to lose the weight and keep it off. So you ask if it's not a diet then couldn't I have lost the weight without going through the surgery? I think the only way to answer that is..you probably could diet and take the weight off, but the real question is, would you be able to KEEP the weight off? My answer to that would be no. Not without the help of the Lapband. And just because you have the tool, doesn't mean that you won't fall off the path once and awhile. Anyway I am feeling so much better about myself. I'm hoping to be taken off my CPAP in the next few weeks. I'm going for another sleep study soon. And then in June I go for another Echo Cardiogram to see how my heart is doing (I had open heart surgery for an Aortic Aneurysm and Valve replacement in 2001. I had a pigs valve put in which only lasts for 10 years.) and hopefully I have prolonged my next surgery by losing the weight. I have 39lbs to go until I reach my doctors goal weight. I would like to keep losing more. What I would say to anyone that is just starting out or for those that are struggling. DO NOT GIVE UP! Things do get easier as you go along. If you make up your mind that you are going to do something, no one or no thing can stop you. You just have to beleive in yourself. Have faith that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And if you fall off the path, don't beat yourself up, just get back up and keep walking. Everyone makes mistakes you are only human. Old habits die hard. And remember the only Great tasting food is the taste of being thin and healthy again!! And do not judge the weightloss of others to you. Some people lose weight faster then others. That doesn't mean you won't get there someday. Keep going. Your awesome!! God bless everyone and keep up the great work. Here's to alot of healthier people!! :thumbup:

This article may help you to understand the symptoms of slippage. I hope you feel better. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/symptoms-slipped-band-3248/ My suggestion would be to stay away from steak. I can't even eat that. And if you were stuck for 6 hours, not so good either. After you get stuck you should do liquids for the rest of the day because you could be a little swollen and sore.

Congratulations!! The pre op diet isn't easy but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The wait is well worth it. This surgery has changed my life. The only regret that I have is that I didn't get it done sooner. Don't cheat on the pre op diet. No matter how hard it gets. The point is to shrink your liver and I have heard where people have cheated and the doctor has called off the surgery. I PROMISE you that the wait is worth it. I also had to wait the 6 months for the surgery. I thought the day would never get here.

You will find as you get more and more fills that you will have to take even more time to eat your food. You will have to be more aware of how many times you chew your food before you swallow. And certain foods that you could eat before you won't be able to eat again. It's all a learning process. Yes it's scary and yes it does happen. But it's a learning process. Now that you have experienced it you will be more aware of what you are doing and hopefully it won't happen again. But if it does, you know how to deal with it. Wait awhile before you try Tilapia again. You might have to cook it a different way next time. Maybe it was too dry or drier then you had it before? You also need to cut very small pieces and chew at least 25-30 times before you swallow. Try eating with a baby spoon. It forces you to take smaller portions.

So sorry that you have been having so much troubles. The band is a tool. And yes this isn't a diet. You are right about this not being a diet in the sense that you can eat anything in moderation. However you do have to still weigh and measure things. Your band will not always tell you when to stop especially if you have already stretched it. Having the band is very hard work. No one said it would be an easy road. I wish that were the case. You really can't just sit back and wait for the 'red lights' to go off to tell you that you have had enough to eat. For some people there are signs. Like for me I get the hiccups when I have had enough and if I continue to eat more then that I will wind up bringing it all back up again. If you are stretching your pouch then you have to start weighing and measuring your food. Are you still doing protein supplements as well? Are you eating high protein foods such as chicken and fish? And most of all are you getting your fills on a regular basis or at least calling your doctor when you feel that you may need another fill? Our old habits do not go away when we get the band. We all still struggle with those demons that have over powered us for most of our lives. And sometimes those demons cause us to fall off track. Much like falling off of a bike. If you truly want to learn to ride a bike you will have to pick yourself back up and try again. Determination is the key to everything. Determination to overcome these obstacles is what should keep us walking a straight line on the path and not make a huge fall into the thorns. My point. Don't give up on the band. You have to rearrange your thinking a little. The band is there to help you. You have to work hard too. The band isn't going to do it for you. Have faith in yourself. You were able to lose those 50lbs before. You can do it again. Get back on that bike and start peddling. :crying:

It's good that you are reading about the band before you get yours done. Yes there are complications as there is with any type of operation. However they don't happen to everyone. The complications with lapband are far less than the advantages of the band. I have only one regret myself and that is that I didn't get it done sooner. Other than that I have had no problems at all. I was banded 10/23/09 and am down 78lbs so far. I'm loving my new life. What you should expect after surgery. Yes you will be sore for a few days. But they give you pain pills and I suggest using them. I wouldn't necessarily say that you are in excruciating pain. If you have ever had your gallbladder out it is less painful then that. I had my surgery on a Friday and went back to work on Tuesday the following week. If you work, depending on what you do, you may also. If you have a desk job you should be able to return. If you are on your feet or you have to lift, I would suggest taking more time. If you have small children that you have to lift, you will need help with them. You won't be able to lift anything for 6 weeks. You will be on liquids for a couple weeks and then onto mushies. You will probably experience some gas pains after surgery because of the air that they pump into you when they are operating so they can clearly see inside of you. To help with this you will need to walk as much as you can after surgery and taking Gas-X strips help. You will probably not feel very hungry for the first week after your surgery but you have to force yourself to get the fluids down so you don't dehydrate. Once the swelling goes down you will find yourself getting hungry. The procedure itself takes about an hour. It's normal to be nervous and it's normal to be afraid. Keep reading and asking questions. You are in the right place. You can read my blog. It might help you a little. Good luck and if you have anymore questions please feel free to ask.

Most doctors like to wait 6 weeks between fills. If you are having major issues with hunger call your doctor because sometimes they can fit you in before then. Just for reference for the future, you will feel restriction in the beginning and then as you start losing weight that restriction will lessen. Most people won't be satisfied until around your 4th or 5th fill. I'm on my 4th and I feel no hunger at all hardly anymore.

That sounds like you are taking to big of sips or trying to drink to fast. It's all normal. As your swelling goes down you will be able to drink normally without gulping of course. Try some sugar free ice pops. They help with the swelling, help to get your fluids and and taste yummy in the process.

Congratulations and good luck on your surgery. Please keep us posted. Make sure you walk as much as possible. Drink your fluids even if you aren't hungry and use Gas-X strips for the gas pains.

Woo hoo! Congratulations. :cool2:

After my 4th fill I am NOW not feeling hungry at all. I finally hit the sweet spot and I'm loving it.

Thanks so much for all of your responses. I have determined that I am at my 'Sweet spot' because the swelling is down now. And I do still hiccup which DOES tell me that I am full and if I eat anymore after that I am in the bathroom puking. It's kind of weird how your signs of fullness change after each of your fills. Before I would just hiccup once when I was full, now it's about 10 times until it stops. I am loving this sweet spot though.

Yesterday I had my 4th fill. I hit the sweet spot and it's awesome. I just have one question. Everytime I eat now I get the hiccups. Before this fill I got them once and awhile but not as often as I do now. They don't last that long, but I'm just curious, is this normal? Is this my bands way of saying, "I'm tight enough?"

CONGRATULATIONS on the start of your journey. By the way just about everyone goes through a phsyc test. They just want to make sure you are doing this for the right reasons and that you are strong enough for the surgery. It's no big deal really. They just ask the basic questions. It does sound worse then it really is. This is definitely a lifestyle change. Understand that just because you have the surgery doesn't mean that all of your bad habits are going to go away over night. It will take time for you to learn and change these habits. But you will get there.

2-3 oz of food. 3 meals a day. You should have Protein shakes in the middle. I had 3 shakes a day at that point. I'm not sure what your doctors wants you to be on for calories but mine says 800-1100 calories a day. Make sure you are drinking your 64oz of fluids a day. sugar free Ice pops are my lifesaver. I live on them. If your hungry inbetween your meals and after your protein supplements you can have a tiny bit of cottage cheese or ricotta cheese. I wouldn't have a huge snack. Maybe a tablespoon to hold you over until your next meal. It also helps if you set yourself a schedule and try and eat at the same time everyday.

When you have the lapband put in, many doctors do not fill you because they want the swelling to go down. So you will not have any saline put into your band for at least 6 weeks. Pretty much you are on pure will power. By eating higher Protein foods the food will sit in your pouch for awhile before it starts to breakdown and digest. This is why you aren't supposed to drink while you eat because it will just cause the food that you have put in your pouch to wash out. Not to mention you could become 'stuck' which will sometimes cause you to vomit. As you move along in your progress by getting your band filled every 6 weeks or sooner if need be, you will start to feel restriction. Which means you will be able to eat less because you will feel fuller faster. There is a difference between real hunger and 'head hunger'. Unfortunately once a food addict, always a food addict so it's just because you have the band put in doesn't mean that all of your bad habits will disappear over night. It takes alot of work to understand the difference between real hunger (which is when your stomach is growling really loud, and you can feel emptiness in your stomach) and head hunger (which is when you aren't hungry but your head is saying eat food). You asked a very good question by the way. I hope this has helped you understand.

The reason I know about the soft sign of fullness is because through my insurance company I have a nurse that calls to check up on me. It's a wellness program. She told me about the soft signs. Great thing is the nurse that was calling me had a Gastric Bypass a few months before I had my surgery so it was great comparing notes with her. Your belch could be a soft sign. Mental hunger commonly known as 'Head Hunger' is something that we will all deal with for the rest of our lives. As you go along you will be able to recognize it better and work on ways to change your thinking. Once and awhile it's OK to give into your cravings. Do not deprive yourself of the better things in life. This isn't a diet it's a lifestyle change. I will keep saying it over and over, DIETS FAIL. If you deprive yourself of taking part in the sinful foods you will fail because your body thinks it's on a diet. Once you start getting your fills things get a little easier. I really didn't feel comfort until my 3rd fill. I am now on my 4th which I just got today and I feel pretty satisfied. Of course I will have to see in a couple of days how I am feeling because I am on liquids for the next 24 hours now. All I know is that I have 45lbs to go until goal and I've lost 49% of my body weight in 5 months. I'm doing something right I guess. So I like to share how I got here with others so that it could possibly help them too. You will get there. Hang in there. Your doing great.

I LOVE questions. Please feel free to ask. So you are lucky that your surgery is so fast. I had to wait 6 months for mine because I had to go through 6 months of monitored diet and nutritional visits before my insurance would cover it. All the tests that you are having are normal. I had 6 nutritional visits, psych eval, Gastric eval, cardio eval, pulmonary eval, and medical clearance from my primary doctor. I am glad that it took 6 months because I really learned alot from the nutritionist. I already had my sleep study because I have sleep apnea so I didn't need that one. I'm hoping that soon I will be done with the CPAP because I am getting so tired of it. I've been using it for 4 years now. My husband said that he doesn't hear me snoring anymore so I will need to have another sleep study to see if I can come off of the machine. Today I went for my 4th fill. I think I have hit the 'sweet spot' but we will see in a couple of days. You really can't tell on liquids. Which is what you have to be on for 24 hours after your fills. Anyway they said that I have lost 49% of my body weight. They want you to lose 50% in the first year and I am only a little over 5 months in so they said I was well above the curve. I have 45 lbs to go before I am out of the obese area. The doctor said my goal weight is anywhere between 185 and lower. So I am very excited at the moment. I have been under 200 since I was pregnant with my son 22 years ago. Please let me know how your journey is going. And as I said, ask questions. I love answering them. And what I can't answer I will do my best to find the answer for you.

There is what we call soft sides of fullness. With me when I am full I hiccup. I know that it's time to stop because if I eat much more it will come back up. Not everyone has these but if you pay attention sometime you might find that you have them. Some hiccup, some sneeze..see if you have any of these signs to tell you that you are hungry. Also you might want to chose foods that are higher in protein. Such as chicken, Fish.. here is list of high protein foods that might help you. High Protein Foods The higher the protein the longer it will keep you hungry. Also you won't get stuck if you are conscious about what you are eating and you chew your food at least 20-30 times before you swallow. Make sure you have small bites also. There are some foods that won't agree with you no matter how much you chew them. I can not eat beef because it gets stuck. Even if I moisten it with broth it doesn't agree with me. So I chose to stay away from it. I do eat alot of chicken and fish products. Also make sure you are still taking your protein supplements because they do help. And if you haven't been using them, I would suggest using them. My nutritionist said that I could have 8oz of protein drinks instead of 4oz when I was at that stage. There are also little packets of protein powder mixes that you can put in your drinks. South Beach makes them. There are also things called Protein shots that work wonders too. Just watch your calorie intake. I'm not sure what your doctor wants your calories to stay at (as all doctors are different) but mine wants me and 800-1100 a day. Good luck and I hope that this helps. I'm off to the doctors now for my 4th fill. I'm hoping that I will reach my 'sweet spot' with this one.

CONGRATULATIONS on the start of your journey. 1. I use DYMATIZE Elite whey Protein Isolate in French vanilla and Mocha flavor. I mix it with 8 oz of Skim Plus milk. It tastes great. 25 grams of protein. Calories aren't that bad. unjury is also a good brand. UNJURY is Medical Quality Whey Protein Isolate. Best Tasting Whey Protein powder. Most Trusted Whey Protein Powder Supplement. Taste the difference! 2. I do chewable vitamins and have done them since I was banded. I take 1 Centrum Multivitamin a day. And 3 600 MG Calcium with Vitamin D (mine is the Walgreens brand called Creamies). I can not do crushed pills. They taste nasty. Good luck to you and please feel free to ask more questions.

Remember the lapband is a lifestyle change. It doesn't automatically change our old ways. Food is an addiction and anyone that has already had lapband surgery or is having any type of WLS is a food addict. It takes time to break the habits. There are days that I crave food big time. But I ask myself "What will the fall back be if I were to pig out on this food." Generally I change my mind. But I do want to tell you, do not be afraid to take part in the finer things of life once and awhile. If we deprive ourselves of the good things we will fail. This is NOT a diet. Diets fail. "Everything in Moderation.", is what we learn at my local support group. If you feel that you need to have some cheesecake. HAVE SOME CHEESECAKE but don't eat the entire cake. Your mind will thank you. And don't do it all of the time. Sometimes when I am sitting around I start thinking about food alot. So I try to find something else to replace that. It helps too if you put a paper on your fridge. Everytime you think you want to indulge write to food down that you crave. Then make a column for pros and a column for cons. And remember this quote, "The only good tasting food is the taste of me skinny again!"

Hi Lacey. I'm Dawn. CONGRATULATIONS on your journey and upcoming surgery. EVERYTHING you are feeling is normal and all of the questions that you ask yourself, are also normal. I can not say whether or not you will be successful. I can say that if you follow the plan that your doctor gives to you, you will be successful. Remember this is a lifestyle change. It's not a get thin quick 'Diet'. This does take alot of work. The band makes it possible to achieve those goals and maintain those goals if you follow the guides that the doctor gives you. Don't be upset if you 'cheat' once and awhile. If we deprive ourselves of the good things in life all of the time, we will fail. That's why this is not a 'diet' it's a lifestyle change. Diets don't work. Our motto at my local support group is 'Everything in moderation.' You will be fine. It's good to read but also keep in mind that what happens to others, doesn't mean that it's going to be like that for you. Yes there are complications as with any surgery. That doesn't mean that it will happen to you. Just to let you know this is probably the best thing that I ever did for myself. The only regret that I have is not doing it sooner. I feel awesome and my self esteem is SO much better. I haven't really had any complications except being 'stuck' a couple of times. But that was because I fall back into my old ways and I don't chew well enough. Unfortunately just because you get the surgery, doesn't mean that your old habits will automatically go away. We all slip up. But that's how we learn. Everyday with the lapband is a learning experience. Be sure to listen to your body. I'm excited to hear about your progress. Please keep us posted. Feel free to add me as a friend if you have any questions. :thumbup:

You need to find out the advantages of not only the Lap Band surgery but the other WL surgeries also before you make up your mind that the Lapband is the appropriate surgery for you. The reason that I chose the Lapband was because I felt that it was safer for me. You also want to be aware of the complications with Lapband. They do happen but not as frequent as you might hear. You also want to determine how long you will be out of work if you do work. As for the dietitian, it sometimes helps if you make a log of everything that you eat during the course of the day, then you have something to show the dietitian when you see them. You will want them to explain to you what the different stages of eating are for the Lapband and how much you can eat during each stage. If you are diabetic you might want to mention that to the dietitian so you can better understand your diet needs. As for the psychologist, they will ask you the questions. This is to make sure that you are emotionally strong enough to do this surgery. He/she will ask you WHY you want this surgery, how your current life situation is, and how your life was growing up. It's pretty basic. Good luck. I hope this information helps you.