zionsongbird

I was banded on June 10th 2010, I have lost 104 lbs!! My best advice to any who feel like their band isn't working or your not losing fast enough...don't give up. I took me almost 2 yrs. The weight comes off slowly, but it's a much healthier way to lose. I would do it again in a second!

YOU PROBABLY NEED MORE Protein. IT GIVES YOU ENERGY. ALSO, DO YOU HAVE sleep APNEA? EVER HAD A SLEEP STUDY? SLEEP APNEA MAKES YOU VERY TIRED, BECAUSE YOU ARE WAKING UP ALL THRU THE NIGHT BECAUSE YOU STOP BREATHING. ALSO, MAKE SURE YOUR GETTING YOUR Vitamins IN.

WOW! CONGRATS!! I SOOOO LOOK FORWARD TO WEIGHING LESS THAN THE WEIGHT ON MY DL.. I HAVE WEIGHED WELLLLLL OVER WHAT IT SAYS FOR MANY YEARS NOW LOL! 27 POUNDS TO GO!!

Everyone is different. i use to read the posts about restriction and get quite discouraged because alot of people were saying that it took 5, 6, 7, 8 or more fills before they achieved restriction. I was banded on June 10, 2010. I have lost 57 lbs. as of today. Like most bandsters I lost a good amount of weight in the first few weeks (about 23lbs.) but then I went through bandster hell when it felt like I had no band at all. I had my first fill in August. (3cc's) I felt slight restriction for about a week then nothing. I was very discouraged at this point. I had not lost a pound in weeks. Then In Oct. I went for my second fill my dr. was quite aggressive he put in 5cc's! I now had 8 cc's in my 10cc band. I remember the nurse and dietician being quite upset with the dr. for putting in so much, they did not agree with the amount, they said I would be miserable and would probably end up coming back for an unfill. But none-the-less, I was excited at finally having some restriction, so I made my 2 hr. drive back home from the dr. and was hoping and praying that this would give me good restriction. BOY did it ever! I couldn't eat anything at first even drinking fluids was difficult. I was very uncomfortsable, but thwas my fault, i tried to eat things I shouldn't and I had never really learned to chew, chew, chew and eat very small bites. Well, I got a crash course quick! I HAD to learn to slow down! I came so close to having an unfill. I even called several times and talked to the dieticain. I even made an appt., for an unfill because I just hated the feeling of not being able to eat. But at the last minute I cancelled my appt. and decided to try to work harder to get used to the restriction. I now love my restriction! I feel like I have found my sweet spot! I do not think about food all the time. I enjoy eating healthy! and I have FINALLY learned how to eat slowly, and properly. My weight loss has been a little slow, but it is steady and I feel great! I am down 57 lbs. I don't really have a "number goal" I just want to lose until I feel my best. I have not had any fills since my second one. So, be encouraged! you can achieve restriction in just a couple of fills..just remember each one of us are different and dr.'s fill at different amounts. I LOVE MY BAND!

Hahaha too funny!

Baby K... I did not read that you said you DO actually have fluid in your band? And if you do it couldn't be much, do you know how much is in there? Alot of dr.'s don't put any fluid in. but the ones that do usually put very little. PLEASE try to hang in there, i agree with the others, you have come so far! The band is awesome if you will just give yourself time to heal and adjust to having it in your body. Take into consideration, the meds that you were given in the hosp., along with the effects of anesthia, swelling, incision pain, gas pain...and the emotional side of it too. All of these things will subside within 2 weeks usually. You may experience a grieving process..life and eating as we knew it is over! We will never again we able to eat the junk we did before without suffering the effects from it. This was hard for me to accept at first, but then when the weight began to come off, it was very exciting. It's a small price to pay, to get back your life and your health. SLOW, SLOW, SLOW... that's the key... drink slow and eat slow..I have found that I am miserable if i take bites or drinks of anything close to each other. I MUST take a small bite lay down my fork, spoon or cup and wait until that bite goes thru the band..if not it will pile up on me and I will get sick everytime. These are good eating habits that we should all practice anyway and it is part of the behavior modification that is SOOO vital to Lapband success. Your doctor has told you that you are o.k. so hang in there, it will get better and you will be so excited when the lbs. start melting away.! YOU CAN DO THIS!

It is standard procedure with my doc to numb the area first before a fill I don't even have to ask for it. I couldn't imagine having that big needle poked into my tummy without it. He also uses fluro.. My fill was quick and painless! Yayyy!

OMG! I couldn't imagine having a fill without numbing meds! The small little needle they use to numb you feels like a very small shot doesn't hurt at all. but that big needle they use to do the fill..OMG I just couldn't imagine..I would not let them touch me unless they numbed me first!! That's just barbaric.

Thank You your post was very helpful and wise.

Hi, I'm getting banded on may 5th in Indianapolis Indiana. I'm really excited.. this has been such a long process for me, about three years i have been trying to get this done. But finally the big day is almost here. and YES i'm scared too! Any advice will be appreciated. Bry

Hi Leslie, I am staying overnight in the hospital. I'm getting banded on May 5th and it is a 2 hr. drive for me so I tihnk that is partly the reason. But I am glad i'm staying overnight.. makes me feel better knowing I will be watched for at least 24 hrs. If your ins. is paying for the surgery they will prob. pay for an overnight. I would find out if you really feel that strongly about it. Regards, Bry

I haven't heard of anyone having to be on the pre-op diet that long. Mine was 2 weeks

That's what I'm using.. it's not to bad eh? Reminds me of chocolate Yoohoo. I only use one scoop with 12ozs of Water, the pkg. says use 3 scoops but don't because that is 60 g of protein!

Wow u lost 9 lbs. in 3 days?? That's amazing! I am on day 2of my pre-op diet. On the 26th I go see doctor, and my case manage and dieticain.. it has been almost 5 months since i weighed in.. they said if i have gained more than 10 lbs. my surgery will be cancelled! I freaking out because I have gained about 13 lbs! I am really hoping this pre-op diet will get me down to where i need to be BEFORE MONDAY!! You post gives me encouragement thanks!! Band date May 5th

I was really concerned about being able to drink the Protein Shakes.. I can't stand any of them.. I have always gagged trying to drink them. I went to GNC looked at all the different brands, got some feedback from a body builder dude that was shopping in there.. I asked him which one he thought taste the best.. he told me he has tried just about EVERY Protein shake on the market and the best tasting one he found is GNC's Pro Performance AMP (Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60) he said chocolate taste best. Now, I have to admit I had my sights set on the pre-made drinks my dietician told me muscle milk light is good, nut it is so much more expensive! so I took "buff" guy's advice and bought the powder. The directions on the bag say to use 3 scoops per 12oz.'s of Water.. BUT that is for body builders.. he told me to use one scoop which would be less than 1g of fat and about 2g of carbs and 20 grams of protein, This is within the range that my dietician told me to stay (5-10-15) I splurged on the cool mixer cup with the metal ball inside although he told me the powder mixes so well I could use a spoon. I started my pre-op diet yesterday (4/22) and I have to say the shakes are not bad.. I use bottled water and made sure it was real cold, drank it thru a coffee stirrer from the mixer cup and had no problem with it at all. It reminded me of drinking a chocolate YooHoo and the consistency is about the same. It was NOT powdery at all, when i got to the bottom there wasn't even any residue in the cup! (no I didn't lick it out) lol I have to drink one shake for bkfast. one for lunch and I get to eat a a low fat low carb dinner.. 4-6oz. of lean meat, non starchy veggies. no breads or sugar. and no sodas not even diet, which doesn't bother me because I don't drink soda anyway. I have to do this for 2 weeks.. Getting banded on may 5th!!!! Excited and nervous

O.K. so, I called the weight loss center and asked them when i'm supposed to start my pre-op diet.. it's a good thing I called because when my appt. was pushed back they forgot to tell me about the pre-op diet! So I talked with the dietician she wanted to start the very next day. Today was day one on the pre-op diet. It went o.k. I found a protein shake that taste pretty good almost like a chocolate Yahoo I got it from GNC it's called... Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60, it mixes really well I only use one scoop per 12 oz. of water. It's tolerable. I had a shake for bkfast and one for lunch. An apple and a few grapes in between. For dinner I had a seasoned baked boneless chicken breast, steamed veggies. But about an hour after dinner I felt horrible. I got the worse heartburn/indigestion and headache ever! I tried Tums that didnt help, tried a little milk that didn't help either. Finally had to drink 2 Alka Seltzer and that did the trick whew! I was gettin a bit scared. Oh and did I mention I also had stomach cramps and some bowel problems (sorry)... anyway I'm hoping tomorrow goes better.. one down 13 more to go till i'm banded!

Hahaha ya'll are too funny! My surgery is May 5th I'm telling my friends that I'm having a hysterectomy! (I had one yrs ago) lol

Very Well Said! I totally agree. I refuse to sit here and read the negative stories. This is MY life and MY choice! If you go into this thinking you can still eat the way you did before but just smaller protions then you will not lkikely be successful. Just because a twinkie is small doesn't mean it's o.k. to eat it!! My surgery is scheduled for May 5th. I am very excited and very nervous. I hate hospitals and surgery and all of that. but this is my last chance! I have to give it 100% LAP-BAND WILL NOT WORK YOU.. YOU HAVE TO WORK IT.

Hoooray for you!!

My surgery date is May 5th .. three days after my birthday so this is my gift to ME!! Yaaaaay ME! LOL. I have finished all my pre-op tests. On 4/26 I will meet with my nurse caseworker, dietician, and will also talk with the surgeon and the anesthesiologist. HOWEVER, after reading all the other post on here.. I'm wondering why i don't have a date to start my pre-op diet? My original date for the meetings with the surgeon and dietician were on April 12th but they called and changed it to the 26th. Did they forget to tell me when to start my pre-op diet? I have no idea what to eat or not to eat prior to surgery?? Super Excited.. getting nervous Bry

Hi Angie, my surgery is scheduled for May 5th. in Southern Indiana. I am from kentucky, was married for 19 yrs. but now divorced for 3. I am raising 3 kids. I'm really excited and yes a little scared about the surgery. I need a buddy too so I thought since our surgeries are close together we could help each other? you may message me on here or my email is zionssongbird@yahoo.com