BetsyB

4 cc is a pretty aggressive fill--it's important not to advance too quickly, because swelling can set you WAY back in the process. Trust your doctor--he's not taking it particularly slowly. he's just making sure he doesn't overdo it for you early in the game and cause you problems. On the fill before last, I got lots of restriction WELL after my fill date; no idea why that happened---I felt little change, then over time, it settled in and I had far more. I know it's hard to be patient--but you will get there!

I started feeling it significantly with my fourth fill--at about 8.5 ccs. I now have ...I forgot to ask last time!...I'm guessing 9 ccs or so, and am right where I think I need to be. At least for now!

I'm not a year out, but do cardio daily---and always will. Weight work is alternate days, unless I work on different muscle groups. What are you eating? Is the tightness of your band making it easier for higher-calorie sliders to sneak in?

It's pretty common, too, to just have generalized abdominal pain, even a bit remote from the incisions. Pain can be referred from one area to another--nerve tracts are tricky. If you're concerned, give your doctor a call---acute pain is often a signal that something is going on. (Ovary is a good bet.) But don't leap to the conclusion you have a band issue. I hope you feel better fast!

That's awesome--congratulations!

I have BC/BS of IL, and was given provisional approval within a day or so of my surgeon's information seminar. Once all the prerequisites were met, it took about 4 weeks--but it was holiday time, and that did slow things down a bit.

Your trainer doesn't know what s/he's talking about :confused:

Are you aware that most doctors are quite adamant that pregnancy be postponed for at least a year post-banding?

I lost very little on the preop diet ---and my doctor started me on pureed Proteins a few days after surgery, so I didn't have a postop liquid diet. Still, I've lost about 65 pounds in less than 6 months--only having had restriction for the last couple. The trick is eating as though you have restriction even when you don't, yet.

My doc wants us to wait 90 minutes after eating! I've gotten used to it. On very rare occasions, I'll have a sip or 2 after 30 minutes--but like everything else, it's possible to change habits. (Are you allowed to chew gum? My doctor doesn't have a no-gum "rule," and it has helped a time or two.)

If you can't keep fluids down, it's really important to get to your doctor ASAP. For me, liquid Benadryl and warm liquids can help with swelling---and if I can keep fluids down, my doctor is okay with me holding off on unfill for up to a week or so. But he doesn't want me to go even 8 hours without adequate Fluid intake. (Perversely, dehydration can make the swelling worse.) It's been a good while for you--I think it's probably a good idea to give the doc a call.

My doctor recommends a low-carb approach during most of the weight loss phase--and it's been working great for me. I eat lean Protein, nonstarchy veggies, legumes (which are relatively carby, but low on the glycemic index), some fruit, and heart-healthy fats. I will add whole grains back in when I've lost 75 percent of my excess weight. Some bodies really do better with lower carbs. For others, it doesn't make much of a difference. But if you've found it works for you--and it's something you can live with, there's no real reason not to give it a shot.

I'm not sure that I'd advise finding lower-calorie, lower-fat, lower-sugar alternatives. If you've got an addictive issue, it might be time to seriously consider excising ice cream from your life. Will it be hard? Sure, at first. But as a former sugarholic who hasn't touched the stuff since December, I can tell you that it is doable, and it gets easier with each passing day. Don't give something as insignificant as ice cream power over your success. It's not rational. You are an adult. You do have the power to say NO to foods that sabotage your success. Exercise that power.

It's really confusing, isn't it? My max out-of-pocket was $4500, I think (for the family). I had my surgery in January, and fully expected that would be my portion. Only I learned that because I'd chosen the insurance company's preferred Center of Excellence, this was waived. What a great surprise! I was responsible for a $300 program fee (not covered by insurance; it covers a great deal of patient education, gym facilities, and other valuable things), and ---after my first 3 postop visits---a $30 copay for each visit/fill. There were a handful of other incidentals--copays to the specialists needed for preop clearance,for example. No big shocks, though. (Well, other than the very pleasant surprise of having the whole deal paid for without the anticipated out-of-pocket payment!) Totally doable--totally worth every penny. I think the whole deal cost me well less than $400. Now I am paying $30 a visit, plus whatever my Vitamins cost (I get them through my doctor so that I can get reimbursed by our flexible spending account.) Do you have an HR benefits rep you can speak to? S/he can easily answer your questions and put your mind at ease. I hope you get great news, like I did!

I am so fortunate; my doctor does both surgeries, but told me he would NOT recommend bypass for me, given my history and my goals. I was pretty adamant in my desire to avoid bypass. If it had been my only option, then perhaps I would have felt differently. But I wanted to avoid the malabsorption issues associated with RNY. I wanted to re-learn a relationship with food, place it in its proper perspective, and then ....well, live my life. While banding requires many of the same behaviors as bypass (taking Vitamins, making the right food choices, and so on), it is a less drastic surgery. It is more compatible with the way I want to live. Doctors are humans; like all other humans, they have preferences. Some prefer do to bypass because they see their patients, by and large, doing well with it. Some prefer it because it's more fun for them to perform. There's no way of knowing why your doctor prefers it. All you can do is learn as much as you can about your various options, and let him know what YOUR decision is. If he pushes for something that does not make you comfortable, then it might be a good idea to talk with another doctor. It's a big decision--and not one you should feel pressured to make.

I was back at work within about 48 hours of my surgery. I wasn't really feeling "normal" for about 10 days, but I was functional--both work-wise and in terms of doing household things. There is pain, and there is sort of general discombobulation as you get used to new routines. But the latter can be helped tremendously by starting to act 'as if' now. Start practicing banded behaviors---it makes it SO much easier after the fact Good luck!

I'm seriously researching both procedures and surgeons now. I think I've concluded that, for me, lift is necessary. I do think I will want some augmentation when all is said and done; I am used to having large breasts, and while I don't want to be disproportionate, I do want to feel like "myself." It's really too soon to tell for sure--but I think there are some areas of my body that are rebounding a lot better than I expected. Others? Well, they will need to be rearranged big-time. The one thing I'm focusing on now---because documentation is very important---is making sure that issues related to redundant skin (pain due to the pull of gravity, skin breakdown, and so on) are documented by each doctor I see. When it comes to breasts, the pull of gravity post-bariatric surgery can cause neck and shoulder pain. (I already have serious neck issues)---which can influence insurance payment. Skin rash below pendulous tissue is also taken into consideration. So be sure to let your doctor know of any issues you experience. In terms of scarring--I've seen some really excellent results for both lifting and augmentation; I think I will have to find a surgeon I trust implicitly, and leave the decision of what is required in his hands. I would love to talk more about this as you go through the process--I think it's something many of us will be facing, and input from others is so helpful.

You're in a really frustrating stage--but I promise, it will pass. I do wish that more doctors made their patients aware that restriction takes time (and worked with their patients to achieve it ASAP). I lucked out--not only did I know from reading here that restriction would take a while, but my doctor was very forthright. He also was very aggressive with early fills---and willing to bump up the frequency for me when I needed it. Not all doctors are the same---but it wouldn't hurt to try to negotiate with yours. I was forthright, but very pleasant. I approached mine through his nurse coordinator, explained what I was eating and how long it provided satiety, and asked if she could please check with the doctor to see if I could be filled sooner. Good communication goes a long way. (So give lots of details--for example, "I eat 2 oz. of Protein at each meal, and find that I am hungry within an hour and a half. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most hunger possible, I achieve a level 10 within 2 hours of eating. I am remaining compliant with your recommended regimen, but am weak, headachey, unable to exercise, <fill in the blanks>. Would it be possible to schedule another fill sooner than your usual 6 weeks?" My doctor does all fills under fluoroscopy, so it really isn't a scheduling issue--it's more of a breaking out of routine issue. But if you pleasantly communicate your needs, chances are they will be met. You're a team, you and your doctor--and will be forever. So work hard on the relationship. It really will pay off. Hang in there--I know it's tremendously frustrating. For now, do the very best you can to eat as though you DO have restriction. That way, you can lose even during this time of bandster hell. It's hard--but it will be the very LAST time you are hungry in the name of weight loss--truly. It won't be long before you are glad you have the band. It really does get better.

Your loss is awesome! I bet you feel like a whole new person.

Yes--if you're having difficulty with liquids, it sounds like an unfill is a good idea.

I have an 11 cc band. My first fill was 4.5 cc, and I got perceived no real restriction. It took another handful of fills (I think I've had 5) before I felt much. My last 2 fills have taken me to somewhere in the vicinity of 9-9.5 cc (I forgot to ask this last time), and I now have restriction that is right on target. I lost 15 pounds last month, and seem to be on the same trajectory with the level of restriction I now have. Love the band!

I agree that bumping up your Fluid is crucial. It is very,very important to drink enough fluid. Don't wait until you are thirsty--drink up, throughout the day. As for your question regarding whether 5 ccs is a "good amount," it sounds like, for you, it is great. It's quite an aggressive fill for a first one, but early in the game, it's pretty common for doctors to give larger fills. (As you get closer to restriction--if you require more restriction, you'll probably find that the doctor gives tinier and tinier amounts each time.) Now...go drink up!

There is no hurry; if you are not ready for surgery, it will be available to you if you should decide to go that route in the future. It took me a very long time to decide that banding was the route for me. Once I did, there was a sense of immediate peace and comfort with the decision. If you are not feeling that sense of peace--of knowing that it is right for you--then take your time.

Cast another vote for the Inspire Proteins. IMO, they are the best tasting--and really, 30 g of Protein in 4 ounces is a pretty big bolus. I like to make them with almond milk--it bumps up the Calcium, and the flavor is very good.

We're not talking about adults for whom dieting has been a long-term part of their life landscape, though. We're discussing teens who have not really had that emphasized yet---who are still in a stage of their development for which there IS a good chance that lifestyle change can make a big impact. Really, for many, diet and exercise do work. And you don't know until you've given it a good try. (And that doesn't mean they have to beat their heads against the proverbial wall until they're 30-just that it may not be the right time now.) If nothing else, it can help prepare them for the rigors of living with a band. I don't think banding of a young adult is a bad idea. I don't even think that banding a teen is, necessarily. But I think it has to come from the teen---and there has to be greater-than-average motivation. Developmentally, adolescent males are known for medical noncompliance. Does this mean they all are noncompliant? Not at all. But surgeons may be reluctant to take them on---based on their own experiences.