Jess55

The first 6 weeks are about healing. It is normal to gain when you switch from liquids to mushies, pureés, whatever. I weigh daily, usually many times. It's a sickness...lol. However, I have a weigh in day on Thursday. This is the only day I write the number down or change my ticker. You have daily fluctuations, you weigh more in the evening. It can drive you crazy if you let it.

If they're colored but the consistency of water that's fine. I don't think they make any truly clear protein drinks.

I'm not really worried about the scanner, since it's not technically an x-ray, it can't see inside your body so it should not be able to detect your lap band. It should only outline your body. I'm hoping I'll pass through security without a hitch. When I was flying a couple years ago, I got pulled out of line for a random pat down. I wanted to say, do I look like a terrorist, but I figured that wouldn't be a good idea, so I sucked it up and moved on.

When you're hungry, drink drink drink. It helps me a lot. I'm almost 7 months out and I've had one small fill. Fills do not make you lose weight. Only you can do that. Am I hungry between meals, yes I am. But I'm still not sure if I want another fill. I'm losing weight fine, because I know what I have to do and I know I have to do it. Am I gonna Lise 100# in a year, no. But Water can keep me satisfied to an extent, so I'm wondering if I really should get a fill. So drink when you feel hungry. I know this may seem hard since you may still be on liquids or mushies, but it helps. Though I wasn't hungry during my liquid stage, so I can't say for sure if it will help on that stage. But remember fills do not equal weight loss. Only you can control that.

I've flown a couple times not buckled. Just put my sweatshirt over my lap with the belt going under it to pretend I was. I too was embarrassed. I hate to say it, but if a plane crashes, a belt is not gonna save you. Last time I flew it fit but I think there was only a tiny bit of room. I'm flying in 3 weeks and I'm hoping for plenty of space since I'm sown like 30# since the last time. I'm hoping I'll fit more comfy in the seat as well. The thing I'm worried about is security. I know it's gotten tighter since I last flew and I'm going through JFK a major airport. I'd heard about now terrorist are implanting things in them. If for some reason I get a pat down or something and they feel my port. It's easily felt, what's gonna happen? Should I ask my surgeon for a note just in case? I have an appointment next week. It kind of concerns me

As njm said above "the band is what you make of it". That is perfectly true. You'll get out of it what you put in. I feel if you work at it, there's no reason to not get into a normal bmi. I got the band because I was against any procedure that altered my insides at all, any cutting involved. The band is helping to an extent, but I believe surgery itself gave me the kick in the ass I needed to say, hey I really need to do this. So do what you want, but it seems your surgeon does not like the band that much, it seems he's pushing you towards the other two since he likes them better

I fly once or twice a year and was always uncomfortable. Last time I didn't need a seatbelt extender, but was still uncomfortable in my seat. I'm going to Florida in 3 weeks and I hope to be a bit more comfy, but for some reason the fat does not want to leave my ass, so it is still kind of big

Sorry licensed veterinary technician. Basically a nurse for animals

It depends on you, I was back on day 7 and I have a physical job. On my feet 10 hours or more, bending, kneeling. I'm an LVT. I had minimal pain though, only lasted like 2 days. So it depends on your pain tolerance. Oh and yes I had a hiatal hernia repair as well.

Dermabnod is tough. Mine started peeling off the incisions at like 14 days or so. I had to literally scrape the glue surrounding my incisions off with my fingernail after like 3 weeks. My imcisions healed pretty well. One got a slight superficial infection, but a couple days of TAB and a band aid cleared it up. Though it's weird when I use my abs doing pushups and stuff that one gives a dull twinge every so often

My stomach made a ton of noises in the beginning. It's gotten a lot less but still makes noises on occasion. Other then actual stomach rumbling hunger.

That's cool! I love Pawn Stars! I'll keep watching to see him shrink. Lol

I assume you're on normal foods? Then no, no harm done. Have you been walking or anything? You never know, if you've been moving a lot the scale may surprise you when you come home. I went away 7 weeks post op, I ate very poorly ( not completely my fault as our meals were prepared for us and I had no say in it) but I woke up and took a walk on the beach 5 out of the 7 mornings and I came home and weighed myself and had lost 1/2#. Not a ton, but considering my last vacation, I was up like 6 when I came back. I was ecstatic! So you may surprise yourself

Am I upset I let myself get to this point, but I was done with life as I knew it. I knew the band wasn't going to lose the weight for me and that I still had to diet. That it was just going to help me. So yeah I'm upset, the band is not doing much for me right now, but it gave me the kick in my ass I needed to say, hey you have to do this!

I can't. It really depends on you. I don't lose as fast as others. My sisters wedding is in November and my goal is to lose 25 lb by then. It depends how much you weigh, and how you lose. I lose an average of 1.5 per week.

My doc told me NSAIDs were fine to take anytime. The rule is for bypass patients.

I'm with nurse, I really think you should start with elliptical or treadmill. I think what you're doing is to much right now, you're still healing. I started back on the elliptical at 2 weeks post op, then added back in stregth training at 3.5 or 4 weeks

If you can't keep anything down your band may have slipped. I'd call your doc ASAP!

If shes saying you have to redo your specialist visits, those should be good for a year

I agree with Cindy, since this is a new lifestyle for me, not a diet, I do count calories, but if there is something I want I'll have it in moderation. Which is why I've chosen to limit carbs, not do low low carb, because that's not realistic for me in the long run

I have to say I did not even tell my sister til 5 days after I had surgery. My sister can be very critical and very opinionated and I thought she'd have negative things to say. And I did not want to here it. Up until like 5 days before the surgery the only one that knew was my mother and a good friend that knew I was miserable as I was. Then my mom was like I need to tell your dad, not exactly sure why I kept it from him, but I told her to tell him. And 5 days after my surgery was Christmas, so I (or rather my mom, since I couldn't seem to say it) told my sister and her fiancé. And she didn't say anything negative. So it was fine, but for others when they ask how I'm losing the weight, I say I'm just watching what I eat and exercising. Which is really not a lie.

I've only had one fill so far, and I did not even feel it. I agree with Cindy c though, what is the point of numbing it? So now you've gotten stuck twice instead of once. Like I said, I didn't even feel the needle going in. But then again I stab (though not in the abdoman) myself with a needle at work accidentally at least once every couple of weeks or more...lol, I always say, good thing I don't work with humans.

I haven't tried it, but I found a pb called Better n' Peanut Butter, it has 100 cal per 2 tbsp, 2 g fat and I forget how much protein. To me it tastes like normal peanut butter. I originally found it at Trader Joes, but recently found they sell it at target too.

When I'm hungry my stomach feels the same it always had when I was hungry. In the beginning my stomach just made a lot of noise and I could definitely tell it was not hunger, because it really didn't feel like anything, just noisy.

From what I've read what your sweet spot is now might not be it when you get refilled. So if you're at let's say 6 cc now and you get 1cc removed putting 1cc back in after could be to much or to little, not neccessarily the right amount so I would be hesitant to mess with it. Also I think the tightening has to do with higher elevations. Is Vegas at a higher elevation than where you live? If not you might be ok. I believe at your sweet spot you should not be uncomfortable after only eating 1-2 bites. So IMO you may actually be to tight