andrea0121

I took a a week and a half off. I have a desk job as well, and this was my fourth surgery (so I knew kind of what I was looking at for recovery time), but the gas and the anesthesia kicked my rear. I was sore. Also, if you're a lady with a larger chest, I would look into buying comfortable bras. I found out rather quickly that sitting down having a wire bra push on my fat roll which contained 2 incisions and a new port was no bueno!! Good luck!!

Man, I need to get my libido checked out. I wasn't even thinking of wanting to try.

Oi. This is where I'm at. I've been banded 14 months and have never been this tight. I'm struggling to get liquids down as well. I'm on day 3 so I'm hoping that after the weekend the swelling will go down. I had some chocolate milk this morning and pb'd (I NEVER used to PB, ever) so I went for a hot chocolate and that helped. I'm sipping water right now. We have 3 bday parties at work today and someone brought spinach dip so I have a tiny plate of that waiting for me to try once I get through some of this water. Crazyness!!!

I agree with Xavier! Just push whatever insecurities you have aside about going to see the dr and go. I feel bad you've been in that much pain for so long. Get it checked out!

Hi Jen! JustDoIt has it right. I think the biggest factor is insurance. I didn't have any hoops to jump through to get the surgery. I attended the seminar, had my physical, met with the dietitian, had the upper GI, and literally had surgery with in the month. My insurance co was very fast acting and I was able to schedule a surgery relatively quickly. Don't get discouraged if your insurance company gives you requirements. At least they cover it!! A lot of people start the process and find out that their insurance absolutely will not cover the surgery. Good luck and keep us posted!

I used to get this ALL the time up until my second to last fill. I would get it if I ate too much or too fast. It felt exactly like the gas pain after surgery. ANNOYING!!! My surgeon said it's from the diaphragm being irritated and radiating pain up the vegas (sp?) nerve? For whatever reason, it's gone away. Now if I eat too much I get a slight headache, which for sure beats the annoying pain in the shoulder/neck. I had it for about a year, btw.

I'm out 14 months and up until my last fill (8.2 in a 9 cc band now) I was hungry. Could eat a 6 inch sub, a burger, etc.... Give it time. 4cc's to start out with in your band is a good starting point. Sometimes it's not enough for people, and sometimes it's too much! Such an odd thing these bands.

I'm coming back in to the thread with my tail tucked between my legs. As of today (14 months post op) I'm down 51lbs. I've been at the same weight, back and forthing the same 5 lbs since summer time. I went in for a fill yesterday because I still don't feel like I've reached my sweet spot. I can have a 6" sub no problem, that's not right, right? I still have straight up hunger pains, not head hunger...it's so odd. Anywho, went in for the fill yesterday and I'm now at 8.2 in a 9 standard band!!!!!!!!!!! I was shocked. I'm hoping/praying this does the trick. I have a girlfriend who was banded a month after me and she's kicking ass. She can't do bread or anything either. It's so weird how the band is so fickle with everyone else. So, sorry for the ramble, but I needed to check in and kind of kick start myself.

Lisa, it took me my fifth fill to feel restriction and a reduction in hunger. I was about 7 months out by then too. Even though the weight isn't cranking off of me like I hoped it would when I got to the green zone, hunger is not an issue finally. Good luck!

I get them from chub rub. Like, we just spent the last week walking around the Dells in swimsuits and VOILA I have a boil right at the top of my inner thigh from my legs rubbing together. All this staph and MRSA talk has me freaked out. I usually only get them maybe 2 times a year and it's after I've been hot and chub rubbing.

LOL!! You're cracking me up. You have every right to vent and be frustrated. I had no issues taking my pills up until 3 weeks ago. Now I'm petrified of taking my Synthroid and that pill is TINY. You'll get there, . Know you're not alone though.

OP, I'm 7.5 months out and just now (3 weeks ago) reached my green zone. Patience. Easier said than done, but you have to have patience. Some people have restriction with the band alone, some get it within a couple fills, some (moi) have months of discouragement before they get there.

Congrats on 9 years! I lost my brother to drug addiction and my boyfriend is a recovering addict/alcoholic with 2 years under his belt. I just wanted to give you mad props!!

Tell them you bought a tapeworm online.

Hi all!!! I too am on complete thyroid replacement. I had all but 1/4 (approx) of my thyroid taken out in 2007 for a massive goiter that they couldn't biopsy (because of the size). The remaining portion of my thyroid is non-functioning now. I also have PCOS. I was on Armour until I too was told that the manufacturer pulled it off the market. I work for the company that makes Synthroid so I get it for free, otherwise I would totally inquire about getting back on it. I'm 7 months out of surgery and am down 49 lbs, including the 4 lbs I lost a couple weeks before surgery. Very slow going. Very frustrating. BUT!!! It beats gaining weight.

Nice work, Dave!!! Mucho congrats

I'm 5'9 so I have big honking feet as it is. I started having to wear an 11, now...almost 50lbs down...I can wear a 10W or a 10R. I don't think I'll go down much smaller than that. Even when I weighed 155lbs back in the day I was a size 10. My dad always used to tell me I could just wear the boxes from his new shoes...nice guy.

Hi peaches, everyone in this thread so far has made really really valid points. Just as a reference point for you, I'm almost 7 months out. Just went in last Monday for my FIFTH fill, which puts me at 7.5cc's in a 10cc standard lap band. Since surgery, I have lost 43lbs. The last 15 came off in 5 weeks after my previous fill (I had 7.25cc's at that point). Yes, I was hungry...up until my last 2 fills I was pretty disappointed as well. But I knew I would get there. Some people in my December bandsters group have already lost 90+ lbs....I can't let that get my down though. Same with you, don't compare yourself to other's weight loss. You're losing weight, as slow as it may be, you've still lost. Give it some time to get restriction. We're told there is a bandster hell, but not how long it lasts. I'd say mine lasted for a good 5 months before I felt any type of restriction or help for my hunger.

Good luck tomorrow!! I know my day before surgery was a blow off day at work because I was definitely in la-la land.

OoOoOooOoh, love the Smokies!!!!!! I'll hide in your suitcase. Congrats on such a milestone!

OMG, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has used deodorant under their boobs. I'm so getting them chopped off when I'm closer/at goal.

I was on regular food 2 weeks out too. BUT, that is my surgeon's plan. Double check what your surgeon requires and go from there. Until you have some restriction, you're going to be hungry unfortunately. It took me about 3 months to have any type of restriction....gotta have a little patience (like you though, I have zero, lol). Just brush up with your surgeon's orders and get back on track. Good luck!

I fluctuate BADly on the regular. You'll find that there are a lot of us on this board who will lose and gain the same old 2-4 lbs and then BAM, loose like 6lbs and start fluctuation process all over again. Don't fret, and please please don't compare yourself to other bandsters pre or post op. I'm 6 months out as of yesterday and have 'only' lost 43lbs. It kills me a little bit to see people who post 3 weeks after surgery and are mad because they've 'only' lost 20lbs since surgery, . Can't compare yourself to others though. It'll kill your moral. Lol. Good luck, you'll do fine!

Love this. Thanks for the reality/gut check.

Congratulations, Cindy!!!! I can't even imagine how much better you must feel. PS: I'm 5'9 too I'm hoping that I look half as good as you if I should be so lucky to get down to that weight. Awesome awesome job!!