pearlgirl

Thanks so much Becky and Melinco for your responses. I felt like I was going crazy because no one was getting what I was saying. They were taking my words and twisting them. Becky you put it perfectly. I just want to know that the darn thing is in there and working. I dont understand getting the band and not wanting some consequences. I mean honestly I dont want them but I obviously need them. Thanks for you responses. Melinco...you eased my worries. You are right I have only had one fill and I can eat anything. I don't. I eat healthy and know that I am kind of doing it on my own until I get my restriction. So it was good to hear you story. thanks so much!!!!!

maybe we are missing eachother....let me explain further. I get that getting stuck is not a good thing. It is not that I am looking forward to it or that I want to. To quote you: "It usually happens because you have taken too big a bite, not chewed properley, eaten too fast or maybe eaten a food that on that particular day does not agree with you." I want to learn to not take too big of a bite, or to eat slower, and to chew my food properly. I have had the band for almost two months and last week I was able to eat solid food. I have eaten chicken and steak and while eating those my old eating habits have kicked in and I have done all the above mentioned things and nothing happened....just like before the band. That scares me!!! I went through alot and I am not feeling anything. What scares me more is when I go into my surgeons office or on here and you have people that are still the same size and are at their max fill and say they have no restriction and have lost nothing. So when I got my first fill and I am not feeling anything I have panicked!!! What if that is me...what if it does not work. I know that the lapband is not a cure all, fix all. However, from what I have read the people that do feel restriction have been able to have the lapband work in their lives. I also want to recognize their hard work too. I know it is prob way easier to get a milkshake or chocolate or cheetos down than anything else. So I recognize that it is their good health choices. I need a consequence more than what I have had in the past. Something more intense. If I did not feel this way I would not have gotten the band. Am I actually looking forward to the stuck feeling? NO!!!!! I have heard horror stories on here and I continue to every day practice chewing and eating slower and less. However, I did not get this band expecting to never get stuck or never vomit. What would be the point then? I would still do my eating habits. When I said that I was glad to hear that you get stuck when you get more fills, I did not mean...Yippeee can not wait to vomit. I just meant that it calmed my fears that I am not going to one of these people that get their band all the way as tight as they can and feel more restriction. It made me feel better that maybe what I am experiencing is normal. That on my first fill I have not felt anything and not to give up hope. To keep going and get more fills, and make good health choices, and work out and everything will be okay. That is what I meant.

acutally I am looking forward to getting stuck! The band is a tool.....tool that if you eat too much or the wrong kind of food has a consequence. That consequence is getting stuck or vomitting. I need a negative consequence like that. Obviously the consequence of weight gain when I eat certain foods is not enough. So although I do not aim for always getting stuck 'I do aim to feel something. You have to see if from my point of view. I had this surgery, put this foreign object in my body, paid this money, and I feel nothing. It was like I never had it. That is alot to go through for nothing. So I am ready to feel the stuck feeling. At least I know it is in there and I will have a consequence for my action if it hurts that much. I am not saying that it will solve or speed up my weight loss but let's call a spade a spade. I am feelling no restriction what so ever right now. Although I am sticking to no bread, no rice, no Pasta, no soda... I know myself...that will get old. If I could keep doing it I would not have needed the band in the first place. So down the road, when I am craving that bread, and I actually eat it, and it gets stuck and feels horrible...guess what I will think twice about eating the bread. It is the same principle for having an alcoholic take antabuse. You take it, you drink, you vomit. Now obviously the person taking it does not think...man I can not wait to take the medication, drink, and vomit. But obsiously they needed more consequences for their drinking than what they were experiencing. And just like anything I know there is a way around the band. I am not looking for it. I hope that clarified everything for you.

I am so grateful for this post. I am in the SAME BOAT. I was banded on May 24. I had my first fill on July 6. I have had nothing get stuck. There are times that I am eating and I can feel my food but it does not get stuck. I called my doctor thinking I need another fill but they were in no rush and just encouraged mbr to monitor my food on my own. hmmmm....if I could do that I would not need the band. but I have beeny trying. I have not cheated in the sense that I am sticking to around one cup of food. I have not had one grain of rice, one morsel of bread, no Pasta, and no soda. I am still stuck at 22 lbs and have made sure my house does not have sweets, juice, kool aid, chips....I have fruit, veggies, lean meat. I do eat alot less but I want to eat even less. Glad to here that you get stuck with a few more fills. I am soooo ready for this weight to come off. However I was just cleared for exercise a week ago so I know that might be a factor too. I have been walking about 4 days a week. And I always realize I could be better about my good choices. I am trying though!!!

It will come back. I was not hungry for about 2 weeks. It was wonderful. I had lost 12 lbs in two weeks. Since then my appetite has come back. i have to watch myself and tell myself I am not hungry ...I am just eating. Sometimes I will be eating and I know I am full. That is when I have to get up and walk away. I also have to watch to make sure I do not just eat potatoes because they can go down. The body converts them into sugar. I have been good about not eating rice, Pasta, soda, and bread. I do not eat sweets too often more often that what I want. At my two week post op visit when I told my doctor that I loved this because I was not hungry...he said....now remember I did not take your appetite away. There is no surgery for that. I simple gave you a tool. He also said that everyone has a loss of appetite after any surgery due to the medications they give you. I weighed 278 the day before surger and I weight 261 today at five weeks post op. Not too bad but not as good as I want. I go for my first fill on Tuesday July 6 so hopefully I will start to eat less with more restriction.

That song by Mariah Carey keeps replaying in my mind. I have had my lapband for four weeks now. I am so glad that I did it and would do it all over again. These past couple of weeks I have really reflected on what I am feeling. I have moments where I feel triumph!!! I Celebrate that I walked past the bakery in the grocery store and did not even stop. I want to do a little dance. I celebrate that I do not have any junk food in my home. I celebrate the fact that I have lost 15 lbs in a few short weeks without anything in my band. I celebrate that I am able to only eat 1/2 cup to a cup of food and feel full and satisfied and stop there. I celebrated that so far I have not PB/vomitted. I know I need to focus on those and keep moving forward. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one footstep!" Then there is this little seed of doubt. The doubt that tells me "what do you think you are doing? You have never been able to stick to anything." I try to wipe those thoughts away. There are moments that I self loath because I ate a spoonful of mac and cheese instead of filling my stomach with steamed veggies which I know are more nutritional. Or the moments I slip in the "rules" then I self reflect, pick my self up and dust myself off. I realize that this is a learning experience. I have been eating bad for 27 years and I can not expect 4 weeks to change that. I understand the meaning of a tool. I have to do the work. I have to make the proper choices. I have to keep going forward and be better than I was the day before. So in this I celebrate me and a whole new way of life!!!

Hi Lucy, I was banded by Dr. Hamm. And I will give it to you straight. I have heard rave reviews about Dr. Cribbins. I have met him once as I was having some issues and he wanted me to come in during after hours. He was very nice. I have heard he is shy. Dr. Hamm....I have no problems with him. alot of people talk about his bed side manner but I can tell you this. He has never been rude or talked down to me..never mean....never interrupted me and actually thanked me for smiling at him during his seminar. He told me that I was the only one and he appreciated it. I think people say that because he is quick and to the point. I dont mind that. He tells me exactly what I need to know. I went for my two week post op visit. (I have only had my surgery 3 weeks ago) I was sitting in the waiting room and I heard a couple of women talking saying they think he is rude but that he is the BEST at what he does. I loved loved loved the over night stay. I stayed at plano presby. I was given great care. I was checked on all night but not too much where I could not get sleep. . Given medication quickly. I felt I could not have done it without that stay overnight. Also the day I discharged...they got me out quickly. And that was after I spoke to Dr. Hamm, a dietician, and the bariatric nurse. All of whom were really nice. I think I saw in another post that you are having issues with them getting your surgery scheduled. I did not have any issues so I can not advised you. When I first talked to Cheryl I found her dry but eventually she warmed up to me because I always asked her how she was feeling because she was sick around the time I was waiting for my surgery approval letter. I wish you the best of luck. I know everyone has different standards when it comes to doctors but I have no problem with Dr. Hamm and so far am pleased.

Hello....I had the same exact thing happen to me. I was feeling pretty good after surgery and then about day 4 o5 five started feelign dizzy and nausea. My stomach was so tight. I was having a hard time getting much down not because I was vomitting but because my fluid would just sit there. So I called my doctor and they had me come in. come to find out... I already ahd 3 cc in my band. He let it all out and I was fine after that. I have never felt better. I have lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks, which I know some people lose way more way faster but I am happy. Wish you the best of luck.

I was banded May 24th, It took about a week for all the sweling to go down. At first I was never hungry. I was only eating about 1/4 of yogurt and 2 Protein shakes a day. I was loving it. Then I got really sick and weak and the doctor wanted to see me immediately. It was not actually my surgeon but the one on call. So I went in and they said I was not eating enough and I was dehydrated. So he went to see if there was anything in my band. Just so happens there was already 3 cc in my band. So he took it all out and I have been much better. I have lost about 15 lbs totally in two weeks. Now I am at a standstill but I am okay with that. I know this is a slow process. I see my doctor for my first post op appointment on Tuesday. Excited!!! I am on full liquids right now but have been having mushies here and there. I still only eat about 1/4 cup to a 1/2 cup of food with each meal and then two Protein Shakes. I have been walking every night for the past week. It is feeling so good.

Someone please help because I don't know what to do. I had my band done on may 24. Everything went great. Better than expected. Then on Friday I started getting a pain in my stomach. Nothing alarming at first just kind of annoying. The only way I can describe it is it feels like I am really realy hungry and my stomach needs to growl but it won't. It was not bad at first because I knew I was not. Long story short I got really sick on Saturday and Sunday. Called my doctor. We had me come in one today. He let 3 cc out of my band. Had one clue that I had anything in my band. So now he says it completely empty. So now the pain is worse. I have tried everything..... I have tried not eating.... Eating.... Mints. Eating or drinking seems to relieve it for about 30 minutes and then it comes back full force. Anybody else felt this? Does it ever stop? What do I do?

Okay so I am 4 days post op. Everything has been going great but today I noticed if I bend down to tie shoe or sit in a weird position it feels like something near my ribs gets stuck for a second and then if I sit up or adjust myself I can feel it unflick or get un stuck. I don't think I am explaining what I am feeling. If anyone knows what I am talking about please help! I have a feeling it is my port getting caught on something. I am not exactly sure where my port is at this point. My follow up appt is june 8. I am just wondering if I should call my doctor. It is not painful or anything. Just annoying. The only other thingis now my peeing is weird since surgery. What I mean is in order to pee I have to concentrate and force it out, where as before I would just start peeing and my bladder would automatically push it out. The hospital determined I was peeing plenty. I know I sounding but that is the only way I know to explain. Advice please!!!!

Tomorrow is the big day. I have been on my liquid diet for four days. Today has been the easiet day so far. I am actually pretty lucky because I can have yogurt/apple sauce/pudding. all of them have to be sugar free or fat free. It has not been so bad. The first day was the worse. I knew it was bad when I was sitting my pantry contemplating sucking on a cracker. Anyways, my surgery is tomorrow at 2:45 p.m. Starting to feel the butterflies.....so everyone say a little prayer or cross your fingers that everything goes okay!!!:thumbup:

I was in the same boat as you. I was going to self pay but then was told that my insurance covered it if I did the 3 months of nutritionist/physicain supervised weight loss program. I was so discourged because my friend had self paid and she had hers 2 weeks after she decided. Then on top of the 3 months you have to await approval and then wait for your surgery to be scheduled. I wanted to just bite the bullet but luckily someone talked me into waiting. I am so glad they did. Because now, my WLS is scheduled May 24th and it is 100% covered. The weighting was worth it. Good luck in your process. I promise it will fly by.

So I got a call today. My lapband has been approved. My surgery is May 24. I can not believe it. I thought it would take forever to get here and now I am here and everything was worth it. I can not wait!!! I am not even nervous, which is a probably a good thing. I would make myself nervous and back out. I am just excited! excited! excited!!!

Okay I have a question for all of the bandsters out there. I have often seen people write on here "It was a lot of hard work." or "This process was not easy." when referring to the LapBand. I know all of them say I would not have trade it for anything or I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I have done the research and I know what some of the hurdles that I will have to face. But I think that research will only get you so far. So my question is this......What was hard about your journey? what was the most difficult part? I want to make sure that I am prepare as much as I can be.

That is the way I feel right now. I decided to do the Lapband when I friend of mine had it done and she looks great. I also had a friend do the gastric bypass. She has lost a lot of weight but I do not like the results of what she looks like. so I decided on the lapband. I have had three friends have the lapband and all of them lost the weight they wanted and look great. I have been fully gun ho about this procedure until I came on here. I have done the research. I know that the lapband is a tool not a cure all. I understand that. I understand that it is up to me to make the right decisions and eat the right food. I can eat the right food. I have lost weight before but I want a "tool" to help me not gain it back. I have completely believed that the Lapband procedure would do that. However, since being on here I am having alot of doubt. It seems like alot of people are posting that they can not lose the weight and in fact gain it back. I have gone through the 3 month multi-displinary team appointments. I have had my sleep study. My BMI is 42. I am just waiting for my approval letter. However, now I am so nervous. What if it doesn't work? I have never been an emotional eater. I am not one to eat a box of twinkies or anything like that. I guess I am just worried and discouraged now.

I just want to thank everyone for the encouraging words. I really helped. I was just kind of freaking out and needed someone to tell me to breath. thanks again. this place is great for support

definitely! I need all of the support I can get.

I feel like you ripped the words right out of my mouth. Everything that you are saying is exactly what I have been feeling for the past month. All the "what if" keep replaying through my mind. I try to calm myself down and say take it one day at a time. That is all I can do. I am hopeful to have my surgery may/june. I would love to be you support buddy. I have my fingers crossed for you!!!!

Barbara, I just wanted to write you a word of encouragement. I have the jitters too, but for completely different reasons....I am ready to eat only 1 cup of food a day. I am soooo tired of food. I am tired of eating but I am hungry like all the time. I have the jitters because I am afraid it will not work. What if I go through all of this and I can still eat what I was. I do not want that. I want to eat to live...not live to eat. I a tired of my focus being food. I am not saying this is you... this is just me. However, i will say this...Over the past three months I find myself saying "wow in a few months I will no longer be able to eat this." The great find about LapBand is that it is reversible. It can completely be undone. That is one of the reasons I am picking it. I wish you the best of luck. I will probably be getting the band around the same time as you....so maybe we can be suport buddies. I am in your cheering section.