annieM

I think it would depend on what kind of surgery you will be having and whether or not you get nauseated from the surgery and the drugs you will be getting. You need to have a frank discussion with your surgeon and see if it is necessary. I would not think it is a "given" that you would have to be unfilled. If it is surgery on your knee, for example, and you don't throw up from the anesthesia I don't see why you would need an unfill. If it is surgery on your intestines and eating would be difficult, maybe that would be a different situation. I haven't personally had surgery since being banded but I know that losing the sweet spot would be a big concern. It takes so long to get there! Good luck to you and I hope your surgery turns out well.

Whoa buddy, watch out for those starbucks drinks! They hit your calorie count as hard as your wallet. I'd say cancel the liquid calories all together, especially if you know you need a fill but can't get one as yet. Save up that four bucks a day and in a month or so you can get the fill you need. Your other food choices look fine, but you're a bit low on the fruits and veggies. Try to sneak a few in and chew them well, they go a long way in satisfying hunger with the band. Apples are a great treat. I can never eat a whole one though. Great job on losing 6.5 lbs! you are on your way! Good luck on "dieting" on your own. I hope you can get a fill soon! Try the South Beach Diet, it does well with controlling hunger and it is very band-friendly. It's a long road ahead, just keep plugging away!

Welcome! I'm not sure how much you know already, so I'll keep it basic. You might also check out the "frequently asked questions" section elsewhere on this forum. The band is placed around the top of the stomach through surgery. This surgery usually involves 4 to 6 small incisions. The way it works is that a smaller stomach pouch is created that drains slowly into the rest of the stomach. The rate at which it drains depends on how much "fill" or saline is put into the tubing of the band through an accessible port in the belly. When the fill is at an optimal amount, the pouch fills with about a half to a cup worth of food and the person feels full and satisfied with that amount. Here's the magic part. Because the top of the stomach is extended the hormones that tell the body "I've eaten enough, I'm not hungry" are activated and even with that small amount of food, you don't feel hungry for several hours. That's the jist of how it works. It worked for me. I'm four years out and maintaining five lbs from my "goal". It was hard to give up certain foods, breads usually don't work, rice, pasta, french fries, pizza. & Stuff that's not all that good for you anyway. I followed the South Beach Diet, which is very band-friendly. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. Good luck on your journey!

What is it that you are calling "slow" weight loss? Normal weight loss with the band is 1 to 2 lbs per week. If you are not achieving that with all that great exercise, go in for a fill. Keep going in for fills to keep your weight loss in that 1 to 2 lb per week range. (As you lose, your stomach loses also, so you need to get more of a fill to keep the same restriction) Your doctors office will help you (hopefully) narrow in on when you need to schedule a fill. This is very important. The band won't work for you if it is not filled to the proper amount. Keep up the great work with the running! Good luck on your journey,

You can't feel the band, but once you lose some weight, you can feel the port by touching it. You don't feel it without touching it from the outside, does that make sense? It's not like having an alien inside of you; it doesn't move or attract attention in any way. I've never bumped my port and tight pants don't seem to bother it. I don't know why your MD was so pessimistic. They usually say the band can help you get rid of 70% of your excess weight. The rest is up to you. Meaning , you can lose 100% of what you set out to lose, it just depends on you own determination. Once you start to lose some excess weight you'll find it much easier to add in walking, then add in tougher and tougher exercises until you build the muscle mass to burn off even more weight. I am four years out from surgery and am maintaining only 5 lbs from my "goal". It can be done. Feel free to contact me with more questions. Good luck on your journey,

I'm 51 and have been maintaining around 5 pounds from my goal for quite some time now. I don't think I look like I'm in my 50's and now I sure don't feel it! i've had the band for four years now and it's the best thing I've ever done. I love my band!

Welcome! I'm so glad you have chosen to get back on the "band-wagon". Now that you know what is ahead, it takes courage to do it and I applaud you for taking this first step! I'm four years out and maintaining five pounds from my goal. The best advise I can give you is to give yourself lots of distraction. Pick up a hobby, if you don't have one already, clean closets, read books, spend time with friends, (not over food), get a pet, etc,etc. Keep yourself very busy so you won't get bored and start eating too much. It will also start to prepare you for your more energetic life as a thin person. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! We're neighbors! I had my surgery done at the Cincy wt loss center. I live in the Dayton area. You have about the same amount of weight to lose as I did. It can be done! I'm four years out and maintaining around five pounds from my "goal". I won't say that it's been easy, but I will say that I never could have done it without my band. Just be prepared to go in a lot for fills on schedule so your weight loss doesn't stall. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! My dad was born in Winnipeg! I promise I won't complain of the cold here in Ohio to you...I didn't tell many about my surgery either. I told my husband, kids, sisters and a couple close friends. That was four years ago and I haven't felt the need to tell anyone since. I suppose if someone heavy asked me how I lost all that weight I'd tell them just to pay it forward, but that hasn't happened yet. lol I've been banded for four years and am maintaining around five pounds from my "goal". If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! Wow what a challenge to work at a nursing home! I'm glad you got such a nice chunk of time off to recover it must feel really good. How great that you have even lost weight during your healing phase! By next year you will be a whole new person. Just keep at it and keep going in for fills and "check ins" . You need plenty of support from your surgeons team too. I wish you all the best! Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! How exciting for you to be finally having your surgery! It won't be long now and you will be starting to lose that pesky weight. You will feel so much better. Remember though that it takes a while to achieve restriction, so be prepared to still "feel normal" during your post op period, (that is, after the healing and the swelling go down) and that takes patience to get through. They call it "bandster hell" . Just try not to gain and you'll be fine. The South Beach Diet works great during this period. It controls hunger while also being band-friendly. I'm so glad for you and hope that you have every success! Good luck on your journey,

I too had to have my band replaced with another and they gave me a 14cc band. (after having a 4 cc band) The explanation they gave me was that on revisions they always used the largest bands because of the possibility of scar tissue. It look a lot of time and a lot of fluid to fill that band! I gained back 30 pounds while I waited for restriction... It sounds like you are not to the sweet spot yet. Is there any way you could find a more agreeable doc? Would he even be willing to do a fluroscope to check to see if you have any problems? (although problems are usually caused by being too tight, and if doesn't sound like you are) If he won't check you, I'd find a new doc, even if it meant traveling. Your health is important. The guy sounds like more of an ass then most surgeons. (mine is a sweetheart, I'm lucky. If you are around Ohio let me know) Don't be so down on yourself. It sounds as if you had a complication, yes, but it was out of your control. Now you can step up and find out what is going on. If you have another slip, it's not your fault because you haven't been throwing everything up (that's what causes slips). Just find out the facts and go on from there. Please keep me posted. I wish you the best and I hope there is nothing wrong and all you need is a little fill to go on your merry way to weight loss. If there is something wrong, there will be a way around it. Good luck,

I had a dilation and believe me, you would know something was wrong! You sound like you need a tiny fill. Maybe they could give you 0.5cc's and see how it goes. By all means, get a fluroscope test if you really are anxious about it. My symptoms of dilation were: not keeping anything down, constant heartburn, coughing and chocking at night, and stomach pain. I needed to be re-operated and have a new band put in. Not fun. All from being too tight. When they took out 2.5 cc's they probably took out too much... Keep going back until you are losing 1-2 pounds a week. It's not fast, but if you are patient it stays off that way. Good luck on your journey!

Well Kiddo, no way around it, you need to go in for regular fills until you get your restriction back. Hopefully it's not a leak that has caused you to lose restriction (really that's the most unlikely reason), but they can draw your current fill out to measure it to make sure the correct amount is still in there. Most likely you just lost a little bulk around the area and that is why you have no restriction. Not the band's fault. Fill it and it will work. If you are feeling restriction and having some success with your weight loss it will make you less likely to reach for slider foods because you will be feeling better about yourself. Right? The band can be fickle, some people need to be "topped off" at regular intervals even after reaching goal. I haven't needed a fill in over 8 months and am maintaining just fine. Feel free to contact me with questions. Good luck on renewing your journey!

No, it's quite common. It's from all the fluid retention we experience. Just go to mushies or liquids for a day or so and it should subside. You can also try products that ease the fluid retention, like midol. I just look at it as a diet boost period. Good luck on your journey,

Great! I see you've lost 28 pounds so far. That's awesome! Keep up the great work. It would be expecting too much to hit the sweet spot with one fill, but the fact that you have to sip says you're getting there. Keep going back... Good luck on your journey!

I'd say go for it. Usually they try to stretch it out to 3 and 4 weeks and that is just more time in "bandster- hell" (the time without restriction). I don't see any reason not to have a fill that frequently other than the pain of getting off work so often. The sooner you hit the sweet spot, the sooner you will be on your way to weight loss and your new life. Good luck on your journey!

Why only one fill? It seems like you should have had a few more by now. Don't worry about not having restriction with your current fill level, you obviously need more fill. In fact, be proud that you haven't gained because the band isn't working at all for you yet! My surgeon had me going in every few (3to 4) weeks for fills until I achieved restriction, so don't delay, give them a call and schedule a fill. You are in "bandster hell"- The period of time without restriction. So cut yourself a break. I always recommend the South Beach Diet to people in your situation because it does a great job of controlling hunger and it is very band friendly. (you can even lose weight on it, gasp) Also work on distracting yourself with nonfood activities that you enjoy, like reading, crafts, time with friends, etc. It will help to make this time go faster. Good luck and feel free to contact me with any questions. I'm four years out and have "seen it all..."

Yes, that's normal. It requires a lot of patience to lose weight with the band and this period of "bandster hell" as it's called, the period before you have any restriction, is part of that. What I always recommend is following the South Beach Diet. It does a great job of controlling hunger pangs and is very band - friendly. You can even lose some weight before you have restriction which is something most people can't do. (Do try to avoid gaining, that's a real downer) Also it's a good time to add in other non-food related activities like crafts, cleaning out closets, writing letters, etc. to occupy yourself so you don't think about food so much. Distraction makes the time go a lot faster. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! I love music too! What is your instrument? You're new to the band; how are you doing so far? It can be tough starting out because you have all the hopes for weight loss, yet the band isn't really working until you have several fills in you. Good luck in keeping your patience though this tough period. (but musicians are patient people, right?) Are you in Chicago? Great city. My sister used to live there. A bit too much snow and cold in the winter though...Try to get some indoor exercise! I have twin daughters about your age; the world is at your doorstep! I'm four years out and maintaining five pounds from my goal. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Best of luck on your journey!

Welcome! I think you are perfect for the lapband! You will feel so much better once you get the weight off. I too had high BP and high cholesterol and that is down to normal. I've heard of folks who don't need their diabetes meds anymore as well. I don't think your insurance should give you any grief given your comorbidities. Best of luck on your journey!

Why don't you look into getting it done in Mexico? Dr Ortega has a great rep. and even does after care and fills to get you going. At a BMI of 30 you aren't that big but the lap band should still help get you on the right track to being thin. Tell your DH not to worry, the lap band surgery is quite safe and an easy one for surgeons to do. Recovery is usually uneventful and most people just complain about gas pains (they pump gas into your abdomen to be able to see and that hurts a bit afterwards). I had a c-section and the lap band was a walk in the park in comparison. The important thing in the process is patience. Losing 1-2 pounds per week is great, but a week seems like a long time...Patience help those 1and 2 pound amounts build to 20 and 30 pound amounts etc. Distraction helps a lot too! Good luck on your journey!

I also drink a protein shake for b'fast (myoplex french vanilla 42 gm of protein) and for lunch I have something very light like a salad or cottage cheese and a tiny bit of fruit. I have whatever the family is having for dinner, but a tiny portion of it. (about as much as a three year old would eat). If I snack, I choose mixed nuts, or (gasp) popcorn, or fruit. My energy level is fine since I found the high protein shake. On the lower protein one that I had been drinking I felt whimpy and even needed to nap. Now I find it easy to maintain near my goal weight. I also take a multivitamin every day plus a vitamin called "hair, skin and nails" from GFS. I don't know if the vitamins help, but a little can't hurt. I am hardly ever hungry on this eating plan and my blood pressure and blood fats and normal. I hope this helps. It's not easy to change your eating habits, but it can be done! The band is such a help. Have you had a fill lately?? If you are stalled in your weight loss, go in to your doc and discuss it with him and see if you may need a bit of a fill to help you along. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! I hope you are doing well and settling into life as a bandster. These first few months can be difficult until you get restriction, so be patient and keep going in for your fills and advice from your doc or nurse until you hit your stride. You can and will lose the weight! Life as a thin person feels great! Good luck on you journey!

Welcome! in just a few days you can start your new life! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you get prompt approval from your insurance co. They are the ones that call the shots these days, NOT as it should be! The surgery itself is no big deal. Most people recover within a few days and if you follow the eating plan from your doc, you should start losing right away. The band makes sticking to a diet easier because you don't get so terribly hungry with the reduced calories. Take it from me, I'm four years out from my surgery and maintaining about five pounds from my "goal". Life as a thin person feels great! Good luck on your journey!