MrsCabes

I think 5 days is more than enough time - if I did work, I could have been back in 2 days!

I'll have to say, it's very nice see a POSITIVE post about Lap Band and the results! Congrats!!!

For about 7-10 days after surgery, I could definitely feel my port. I'm now 4 weeks post op and I can't even tell it's there! I got my first fill Friday and I still don't feel my port. So, YES, there is hope! Hang in there and congrats!!!

I tell only those people that I love and trust - everyone else is on a "need to know" basis...when or if I decide that they ever need to know, I'll tell them. This is MY personal decision and MY personal journey - just like with any surgery, I have a right to keep it to myself. Just because they CAN know, doesn't mean that they HAVE to know.

I lost 28 on my pre-op diet and 6 lb before my first fill. So, 34 lbs total. (lost NOTHING in week 3 and 4 post op).

I'm not going to lie - the pre-op diet was the hardest part about this surgery...everything else has been a cakewalk. HOWEVER - this is necessary for the best outcome of your surgery. The surgery will be easier, you'll rebound faster, you'll develop "habits" and discipline (which you will need later) and you'll have a head start on your weight loss! I had a 500 calorie (mostly Soup and oatmeal) pre-op diet for 3 weeks (I lost 25 pounds). I didn't cheat once - I knew that it was what was best for my body. AND - you won't even remember these 2 weeks in a year, when you're happily living in your NEW body. You CAN do it!!!! It's only 2 weeks out of your life and let's face it, eating ALL of the food never got any of us anywhere!!!

My insurance was pending around December, which is why it took so long - everyone was trying to get in before the end of the year! Mine took well over 30 days to approve.

I was banded 2 weeks ago today - and as I'm reading these forums, I'm starting to get a tad worried. I see some posts where people aren't losing weight or have gained weight back. How and why does this happen? Thanks - I'd just hate to think that I had surgery for nothing!

I think your fears (and the other fears listed) are normal! I was banded on Feb. 8th - I wasn't scared of the actual surgery, I was scared about after. That this wouldn't work for me (and sometimes, I have to step away from these boards and the "horror" stories) and I would be doing it for nothing. I get my first fill this Friday and honestly, I'm more worried about that than I was about the surgery - not the pain, I don't care about that. Just - is my fill going to provide enough restriction, am I going to be stuck in non-losing hell for months. I think the bottom line is...none of us signed up for this just to "diet" again. We signed up because we need a built in portion control that signals to our brains that we're full. DO NOT worry about the surgery - everything is going to be fine!!! Let us know how it goes!

I agree...it varies on how you carry your weight and how much weight you have to lose! I have lost 34# and haven't gone down a single size! It's mostly from my top, boobs and face!

It took me 2 weeks post surgery to wear jeans - it would push too much on my new port! I almost passed out in the grocery store because I tried to wear jeans 5 days post surgery. I know it stinks but it's better than passing out!

OMG - so sorry you're going through this!!!! Hopefully, your doc will pull his head out of his arse and give you a FILL (isn't that WHY we get lapband surgery?) Jeesh! I feel for you and my thoughts and prayers are with you!

I'm just a couple weeks post surgery (I've lost 34# between pre-op diet and surgery) BUT...I've already had a couple people comment, "as long as YOU don't change!" I've been thin before - I've been fat. I've been thin. I'm the same person whether I'm thin or fat. If you're a shitty person fat, you're going to be a shitty person thin. It works both ways! LOL

I think it just depends on your surgeon/doctor - my doctor and nutritionalist said that after 6 months, diet was okay (as long as your body is able to tolerate it, of course). In fact, most of the nurses/admin people in his office are banded, and most of them drink diet pop. Of course, not in excess, but it's still allowed. Bottom line - listen to your doctor and your body.

BTW - not to be a total downer, but you all know that the divorce rate, post surgery, is very high, right?

Okay - the OP is 10 days out of surgery! Not 6 months. Venting because of a NEW situation is entirely understandable! If it's been months and months and the mental cravings are still so powerful (we do see a psychologist, before surgery, for a reason!), then, yes, there are issues that need to be resolved. I am 16 days out of surgery - I'm 39 days away from the first day of my pre-op diet (#34 down!), believe me, the hunger I feel now doesn't even compare to pre-op diet hunger! ANY food is better than that crap! LOL Personally - I don't expect anyone else to change their eating habits because of me and my choices. While on my pre-op diet, I still cooked my family dinner every night, went to family gatherings and dinners (I drank iced tea) and still LIVED. My life is not about the FOOD, it's about the people around me. If I can't get a grip on my mental relationship with food, then getting this surgery would be useless. You have to fix the outside AND the inside.

I had surgery Feb. 8th and my first fill is March 5th - that is the "norm" (4 weeks post surgery) for my surgeon. I am on soft foods now, up until my fill - the day of fill I will be all liquids, the day after puree, 1 day soft and then "regular" (whatever that will mean for me!!!). I guess each surgeon is different?

Ditto to what everyone else said! And - don't feel like you "owe" anyone and have to tell them about your surgery. This was/is a personal decision FOR YOU and they don't even need to know. Do we tell everyone when we get tubal ligations or vasectomies? NO - just because they exist, doesn't mean that they have to know!

My doctor doesn't allow diet soda for 6 months post surgery - after that, diet is fine...as long as you can tolerate it, of course.

LOL -and to actually answer your question. 2 weeks later... NO pain.

Honestly, I didn't have a lot of pain. (I have a very high pain threshold, however) My throat hurt a little from the tube but that disappeared quickly. I was groggy from the anesthesia but Day 2, I was up and at 'em! You will have some "gas issues" from them pumping air into your stomach BUT...get up and walk every couple of hours and it shouldn't be too bad. I didn't really have anything too severe there - just a tad bloated. Some incision pain, mostly from the bigger incision where my port is - but, nothing unbearable. My port hurt for a couple days - but it just felt like an internal bruise and I couldn't lay on that area and definitely couldn't wear jeans! Again - no MAJOR pain, just minor annoyances. Listen to the surgeon and nurses and you shouldn't have any problems. I don't work - I'm a stay at home mom. But, I was back to doing laundry and "working" after about Day 3. (no heavy lifting though for 2 weeks) Your surgery is going to be AWESOME!

2 weeks after - don't even worry about. Your stomach will still be a little sore and you shouldn't have much of an appetite. The 2 weeks before is the suckish part! Are you on a specific diet or just liquids? I was allowed unlimited broth, SF jello (which I HATE and didn't eat), SF popcicles. It does seem daunting when you look at the couple weeks before surgery! But, the morning of surgery, it's going to be totally worth it!

I hear that ALL the time too - BUT eating ALL of the pizza hasn't gotten me far in life. I'm fine with just eating ONE piece of pizza.

I'm glad everything worked out for you - I think that she was trying to be supportive in NOT inviting you...but ignoring you wasn't making you feel too good in the process. :sad: I was on the medi-fast diet for 3 weeks too and I went out with family still - I just ordered an unsweetened iced tea and "ate" when I got home. My sister still doesn't support me - but that's okay. I didn't do this for HER, I did it for me. Don't feel like you have to tell everyone about your surgery either - if you don't want to, that is. This is a personal choice and if you don't want anyone to know, then that's how it is and everyone can take a leap!

I had surgery with Dr. Curry on Feb 8th and he was awesome! Very professional and confident and he has an amazing staff! I can't say enough great things about Dr. Curry, his staff and Journeylite!