Betsyjane

Hey, this is fun! I feel like I have workout buddies. I'm the same way...tight, then loose. figure I'd better get my act together before asking for a fill.

Pigged out on Mothers Day. Was going to let Tai Chi be my only exercise, but I'm headed to the gym to add a workout. I didn't overeat, but I ate all the wrong things and loved it! Where's everybody else? what happened to Deb, Bikergirl, and everybody??? I think I might IM folks and see how they are....

Pigged out at Mothers Day lunch yesterday. Was going to just go to Tai Chi tonight, but I'm on my way out now to add a workout to compensate for yesterday...Didn't eat quantity but ate all the wrong things and loved it.

Also a good point. I think my goal needs to be about formal exercise for this week.... I too live on a farm and get that exercise, but I need to develop the habit of leaving the place and getting concentrated exercise as well. So I think my specific goals for this week are no snacking between 2 and 5, and one formal concentrated form of exercise a day, regardless of whatever other exercise I get.

What about just living with it unfilled for awhile?

I think youi're headed in the right direction. You are rehearsing your new life...the fitness center, eating at the right times with the new job. I don't know how I could have done the band at all with the work schedule you've had! Keep rehearsing, visualizing, writing down what your new life will be. When you get to the lap guy in Florida, have him check for pouch dilation too. Eating basically one big meal a day might have caused a bit of dilation that the two of you can work through. Start looking forward to a fresh start.

I'm 50% of the way there in 6 months. The next 6 months will be harder. My goal this week is to exercise each day and no snacking between 2 and 5 PM (my downfall). That's as far ahead as I'm going to look.

Good point. Good point. Thanks. Sunday I didn't exercise, so that's my one "pass" for the week. I didn't knack during the afternoon. Today is Tai Chi class. It's gonna be a good week.

Losinjusme-I wish my gym offered Tai Chi too. A lot of karate studios offer it....That's where I go for mine. I'm amazed how that peaceful slow motion can be such a killer work out!

You mean a day like Mothers Day with a buffet lunch???? It's only one day. sigh.

I did weights yesterday...upper and lower body, and abs workout. Not enough to be really sore, but enough that I'll feel it today.

I slept in a recliner for the first few days. Felt a lot better than lying down.

Getting the weight off might also assist with the pain!

Tai Chi class Monday and Wednesday. Water aerobics Tuesday and Thursday. Slacking off on weight lifting and elliptical, and committed to start back with them Monday.

Yep. Been there. I have Lupus and my arthritis from it is bad! I never thought I'd survive on Tylenol. I've heard that some folks work with their doctors to figure out a way to take NSAIDs with something to hlep their digestion. My experience is that after a brief period of having the band, my arthritis paid decreased enough (odd, eh?) that Tylenol is plenty, and sometimes I don't take anything! It's been a real surprise.

Not unusual. Sometimes the first fill absobs into the dry band and when you go for your next fill, they'll find you have almost no fill at all! The other common thing that happens is tha toyu lose weight around your actual stomach so the band becomes loose and needs mor efill. 1.5cc is a hefty first fill. Be sure and check that your pouch looks the same size as before on flouroscope and that you haven't dilated your pouch. I did that once after a big fill. After 3 days of liquids, it was back to normal. But probably after a first fill, you're looking at one of the two r4easons in the first paragraph and not a dilation issue.

Assuming you aren't self pay so pricing isn't #1, I'd prioritize it like this... 1. Whoever has done the most lap band surgeries. 2. Whoever has no black marks anywhere on this website. 3. Proximity for fills. You can find support and nutrition here and in local support groups. To me, the #1 for a surgeon is to get the most competent surgeon at doing this procedure.

I have Lupus and have had to have pain killers. Dr. said Tylenol only. It comes in both liquid (for your first post op days) and chewables (Tylenol Go Tabs), that I take now. Oddly, since about 3 weeks after surgery, I rarely take pain meds! Go figure!

Hi Mach. I was sore too. They put that stupid tube in your throat during the operation. It will be back to normal really quickly now. Did they give you one of those breathing things to use to help you get the Fluid out? If not, you might want to ask them for one. It sure helped me. (I'm sure someone here knows what those are called. If not, I'll go look it up.) Sound slike you're normal. What helped me the most was walking, resting, liquid Tylenol, and a heating pad.

I love your Bushism.... I do know that for me, I have to sit at a plateau for awhile and adjust and then move on losing weight. I don't consciously do it, but it seems to be my pattern. Maybe I'm trying to let my skin catch up. :-) I guess some folks need a longer adjustment. Anyway, my goal is all weight gone within a year at the most. That's an average of 1.8 pounds a week, done in fits and starts. And I can already feel the slow down...so I'm getting more serious about exercise and compliance every day....

Oh, and when I feel particularly tight, I order something mushy for dinner out. I know we're supposed to eat difficult foods and chew chew chew, but I can pretty much tell now when I'm too tight to handle a beef and veges...so it's fish and cooked veges, or turkey chili...something like that.

Ditto on shrimp! And stringy cooked spinach. You know my band is a fickle thing. Now that we've gotten to know each other, I am too restricted to do anything but a shake in the morning, and sometimes I feel tight all day. Other days it feels like I could eat anything and everything for dinner. I know when I start to slime and PB, water usually makes it worse for me. I hate to say it (and I really don't get things stuck often), but I've learned now to pop things back out when they get stuck, so all I need is a discreet paper twoel and an "excuse me". We're all different. I had no idea it would be SUCH a learning curve! And I'm so grateful for my band.....

Hi Gina. Welcome to the gang! You never know with fills. Some poeple are swollen for awhile and a bit too restricted. Some people don't feel a fill for 2 weeks after they get it. some have too much of a fill and need a slight unfill. Time will tell. As long as you can get your water in while you're waiting to see... Congrats on your 20 pounds!

Glad you're going to see the Dr. Could be something simpler like a minor slippage that could be fixed by a brief time of being unfilled. Ya never know. Good luck.

sugarbear: About your second thoughts, please remember that the incidence of complications with the band is very low. It seems like more because this is where we come to get support when we need it. Most bandsters are just out living their lives and not posting.