vlp1968

Good for you! You are doing great! Keep up the good work!

My doc. has said that each fill lasts a bit longer. I have found this to be true. I really felt good restriction after my 3rd fill.

Hang in there! It will get much better once you have restriction. Until then, I reccoment focusing on eating the right things, even if portions are larger than they will be once you have restricion. As far as damaging the band, I have read on this site about stretching the pouch. Don't know if that's possible without restrction (food is going right into your "big stomach") I would talk to your doctor about it. Good luck!

My doc. says 24hrs liquid, then mushies for 24. I have had trouble after most of my fills. Think I will go ahead and stay on liquids another day or 2 after my next fill.

I got my first fill after 4 weeks. It didn't do squat. I finally had restriction after 3 fills. At this time I have a fill scheduled a week from Monday and can't wait- I have been very hungry for the last week or so. Tried to get an earlier appt. but couldn't. Just the ups and downs of being a bandster I guess.

Bringing something is a good idea but you may get "That's all your going to eat?". Personally, I am very comfortable talking about my wls. If your not, any simple excuse as to why you can't eat should work. Have fun, enjoy the company.

As long as your keeping down fluids I would give it a few more days. There is probably still some swelling. I usually have a tough time after a fill. Good luck!

Wow- sorry you had such a rough time! However, I wouldn't be telling yourself no more fills, even though the experience was horrible. You will probably need some fills to get the band working properly. Ask the doctor to take it slow. I am sure right now it feels like you'll never need another fill, but that is probably not the case. Best Wishes!

I haven't had to buy anything new yet- although I've lost 63.5 pounds. I had smaller clothes in my closet. It was so great to fit into things I haven't fit into in years. When I do need some clothes I think I'm going to rumage through the goodwill store by me. Hopefully I will find a few things to get me through.

I keep sugar free popsicles and Jello in the house for when I crave something sweet. Workout! It took me 2-3 months post band to get moving. Now I actually look forward to it. I am sure I wouldn't have had the weight loss I have without it. Measure your food. It's tough to eye ball what a serving size is. I also like to buy things already prepackaged like snack packs of cottage cheese and Perdue perfect portion chicken.

My suggestion is to not get on the scale so much- there will be flucuations from day to day. I weigh myself once a week. If I weighed more often I know I would be dissapointed anytime the scale didn't move, or God forbid went up. Best wishes!

I am curious to hear from people banded around the same time as me. I was banded 11/16/09. It took 3 fills for me to reach restriction. I have found restriction is a fickel thing- some days much hungrier than others. I have lost 63.5 pounds as of yesterday morning. I am very pleased with my rate of weight loss. I workout 5-6 times a week for cardio and 3 days a week weight training with a trainer. Love to hear from you! Thanks!

I have avoided buffets since I got banded. I feel like there is no way I can eat enough to justify the cost. Buffets have always been a way to justify bingeing. You will find it easier to make really good choices once you have restriction. In the mean time, focus on the right foods, even if the quantity will be larger than when you have restriction. By the right foods I mean lean protien, 2 servings of calcium, vegitables, beans, whole grains.

I totally sympathsize- I love sweets too. I keep sugar free popsicles and jello in the house. They really help me satisfy that craving for something sweet. Hope that helps!

No- my port site wasn't sore- I healed very quickly as far as the incisions. I am excited for you that you are getting your first fill. It took 3 fills for me to get restriction. Best wishes!

My nutritionist reccomended celebrate vitamins. They are specific for bariatric patients. They come in chewable. You can get them at celebrate.com.

You are doing great! Keep up the good work.

I was banded Nov. 16th 2009. Up until 2 weeks ago I have been writing down everything I eat, tracking the calories and protien grams. I went on vacation and didn't track. I did really well eating wise, even with going out to eat. I lost 4.5 pounds during that 2 weeks. I haven't gone back to journaling. Part of me feels like I can't do that for the rest of my life, after all this is a lifestyle change. I also feel like I know what I should be eating, I have kept it really simple with a somewhat limited repertoir of food. Just wondering if other people continue to journal or not. Let me know what you do and how it is working for you. Thanks!

My doc says liquids for 24 hours and soft foods for 24 hours after a fill. I would concentrate on eating the right foods, even if they are larger portions then they will be once you have restriction. For me it took 3 fills to get restriction. By the right foods I mean lean protien (chicken, fish, egg scramblers), veggies, lowfat cheese and cottage cheese, lowfat yougurt, beans, berries. Best of luck!

I hate to see food go to waste. I have a particularly hard time eating at a restaurant and then not going right home to be able to put the left overs away. After all I paid for the meal and don't want it to go to waste. I have eaten enough to vomit several times. I am working on eating just what I need and leaving the rest (or hopefully somebody else at the table wants it).

I agree with the people who have said to say you are not weighing yourself anymore. That is what I was going to suggest. For me, I am the opposite. I love it when people compliment me and am proud to say how much I've lost (63.5 as of this am lol). Guess everyone is different.

I don't hiccup but usually burp. Sometimes I need to walk around and burp during a meal. Once I burp the pain in my chest goes away. I have learned if I eat beyond a slight pain in my chest I end up vomiting.

Wow- if your not even able to keep down liquids I would see a doctor right away. Do you have other symptoms such as a fever that makes the surgeon think it's a stomach bug. I hope your band didn't slip. My doc says if you suddenly can't keep anything down thats a sign of a slip, escpecially if you haven't had a recent fill.

You will learn when to stop. I start to feel a slight pain in my chest and I know to stop. Burping usually takes the pain away. I then don't neccesarily feel full, just not hungry. You will find that you do not get the same feeling of fullness that you did preband. I have to admit I miss that feeling. The vomiting is not like usual vomiting. It's simply the food (or some of it) coming right back up. Nothing to really worry about. Again, you will learn when to stop.

After your first fill you will probably be put back on liquids. My doc. says 1 day clear liquids 1 day full liquids then one day mushies. I wouldn't expect to feel better after a fill. For me it's rough keeping things down the first day or 2. As far as your discomfort, it sounds like you are eating too much at once. It may be way less then you used to eat but if it's causing discomfort it's probably too much. I find walking around causes me to burp and then I feel better. Best wishes!