annieM

Welcome to the forum Mac! So glad to hear that your surgery went well and that you've already lost weight. Awesome! And over the "foodie " holidays too. A fill should help a bit, but don't be discouraged if you need another right after that one. Some doc's are more conservative than others about the amount of fluid they add. They don't want you to experience the awful too-tight feeling. Patience is a virtue... Keep up the great work!

Flying with the band causes it to become tighter but it's temporary. I've flown several times since being banded and each time the additional tightness lasts around a day and then it's gone with no ill effects. Who likes airline food anyway? Just be careful to stay hydrated and you should be just fine. Have a great trip!

Yeah, like when the skinny jeans fit even when the scale is not moving...

My husband has a bypass. He has osteopenia from not enough calcium and vitamin D in spite of taking massive doses of both. He has broken three bones since his surgery. He is also slowly gaining his weight back and is still an "apple" shape. After surgery he had a complication too. His intestines shut down and wouldn't start up again for a few days. This could have killed him and it really freaked me out. He also has a large hernia that still needs to be fixed. I, on the other hand, have not had any malabsorption issues because the band doesn't cause those. I did have to have my band replaced though because I let my band stay too tight for too long and wasn't keeping anything down. My bad. Got a dilation and had it repaired. With my buddy the band I've gone from a size 20 to a size 6 the slow healthy way. I look and feel great. I'm four years out and I find it easy to maintain this weight. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Good luck in your journey,

And so it begins. That six month wait is the most stupid thing the ins. co. could think up. As if we hadn't tried dieting before! duh! I was self pay so I could skip that step, thank god, but they still made me jump through all the other hoops. If anything it will teach you patience which you will need when it comes time to lose weight. A couple pounds a week is great to lose, but it doesn't seem like much in a whole week, you just have to be patient while those numbers stack up. The six month wait is also a good time to get your life in order for how you want your new life to be. Clean out closets, get the junk out of the pantry, start a savings plan, etc. Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!

Wow, that's coming up soon. How exciting for you! It's a great time of year to be banded. Everyone else is on a diet that will probably fail, but you will have a band and will get it off and keep it off forever! Try not to rub it in too hard. Just pay it forward... Best of luck on your journey!

Why not hit the ground running? There is something about a liquid diet that makes you feel very "thin" even when your not. I'd go for it. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! You're on the way to rediscovering your 6-pack! By next Christmas you'll have it back. Just remember to exercise a lot to keep your muscle mass up as you lose weight, and push the protein. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome! After so many surgeries, getting the lap band will be so easy! I didn't have a pre-op diet at all. I guess it depends on your beginning weight and overall health. Sometimes they like to try to shrink the fat around the liver before surgery so they can get around in there easier. Two days is very manageable. You have to lose about the same amount as I did. It can be done! I'm four years out and have been maintaining about 5lbs from my "goal" weight for a long time now. It's such a neat thing to be able to wear everything in my closet. No "fat" clothes, no "clothes-for -when-I'm thin" , just all clothes that I can wear right now. Imagine that? Good luck on your journey!

Wow, great work! When was the last time you went in for a fill? If you have been stalled for three months you should have gone back for one or two during this time. The stomach loses weight too and the band needs to be tightened along the way to remain restrictive enough. You may also need to change up your exercise routine (or start one). If all else fails, try the South Beach diet, it's very "band friendly" and can jump start your weight loss safely. Good luck and keep up the great work!

Welcome! It's a great time of year to be banded. By spring you'll be a little lighter and ready to get out and walk, etc. By next Christmas santa will have to buy you all new clothes! Good luck on your journey!

Well, I can tell you that it's not easy by any means, but it makes what seems impossible, possible again. I'm around five pounds from goal and it has been a hard road to change my lifestyle. BUT, little by little I changed and now taking tiny portions seems normal and eating slowly is second nature. I rarely get sick anymore, thank goodness. Good luck to both of you "newbies" and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all you newbies and old bandsters alike! Aren't we lucky that we can get through the holidays without fear of gaining a ton of weight? Now with the bands help, we can enjoy a bit of food but enjoy our holiday experience more since we won't be engrossed in pigging out. I wish you all the best. Peace,

How many cc's does your band hold? I have a 14cc band and have about 12cc's of fluid in it. I know you must be getting very frustrated, but hang in there. When you get your xray ( I'm assuming you will swallow some barium and they will watch it go through your band) I'm sure that will answer the question of what is going on. My guess is that you just need more fluid. It would be odd to have a slip without having been too tight first. Congrats on your weight loss. Most people would have been gaining in your shoes. Keep up the good work!

I had a dilation. Not a fun experience. I couldn't keep anything down, I had terrible reflux (burning in the day and coughing at night), and on fluoroscope there was a fluid filled sac off to the side that wouldn't allow anything to drain through to the stomach. I had to have the old band removed and replaced with a new larger band. In the process of regaining restriction I regained 25 lbs. Also not fun. Now I'm on track again but I have to be careful not to get too tight so I don't dilate again. Oh, and since I was self pay the first time the insurance co wouldn't pay for the revision.

Welcome! Yes, finding a surgeon is your first step. Most cities have someone doing them now because it's not difficult to do and it really helps people. It is just a tool, however. You will need to get over your fear of doctors and commit to going in regularly for fills and consults. They are there to help you and keep you on track. Aim to get a really thick file at the office...As I grew thinner, my file grew thicker. Don't "tough it out" with your depression either. There are many antidepressants on the market these days that can really get you over the hump and help you work towards a new future. When you are thin, you probably won't need them anymore, if you deal with your issues as you lose. In the meantime think about reading "the south beach diet" if you haven't already. It's very band friendly and it helps with the sugar cravings, etc. Good luck on your journey!

I heard something to that effect but I don't know if it has been accepted by the insurance companies. At just 200, your bmi would probably not get you approved by an insurance co. but being self pay would work. How much are you expecting to lose? I am also 5'7" and was just over 220 and was self -pay and am now running around 147ish. I'd say it was worth it. I feel so much better. I have arthritis in my back and neck and it is much improved with the weight off. I've found too that doctors take complaints more seriously when you don't have excess weight because they can't say "well, if you lost 50, 70 , 80 pounds that would go away..." My BP went from 140/80 to 104/60. My blood fats went down to normal too. I hope this helps. Good luck on your journey

They usually say that the lapband allows you to lose 70% of your excess weight and the rest is "up to you". Meaning you have to exercise and really work to get that last 30% off. For me this was more or less true. I am 5lbs from my goal and stuck, and I know that I have to really exercise to build muscle to get it off. I think you can do it if you are patient and keep going in for your fills (as you lose, your stomach loses too and you need to "top off" your band)so you keep losing. One or two pounds a week is normal and safe, but it takes a long time, and a lot of patience. IT CAN BE DONE. I've never had the stomach flu, so I can't answer that question, although I guess you could go to a closer emergency room for an un-fill if you needed it. I have arthritis in my back and losing the weight has helped a ton. I also have a tempurpedic mattress which I recommend highly for back pain sufferers. The lapband is a much healthier way to live than the bypass anyway. There are ways to cheat through your band (eating sweets and foods like ice cream that slide right through the band) but being thin is better than anything you could eat. So why cheat? Good luck on your journey!

Welcome and Good luck to you both! I think it's a great time of year to get a lapband. All the parties to remind you that it's the friends and relatives that make life worth living (not the food, lol) and a New Year to make a fresh start. Gotta love those fresh starts! Enjoy your journeys!

Sure, it's time for a little fill. You lose in your stomach too and can expect to need a fill even close to your goal. Excellent work, you are the poster child for lap band success! Doesn't it feel WONDERFUL??? Good luck on the rest of your journey!

It sounds like you just breezed through surgery! Even though you don't feel different, stay on your post -surgery diet for internal healing. All liquids for that first week is the norm and then very soft foods. You want to avoid the stomach making any kind of contractions (that it would make if given anything other than a liquid) because there are stitches there that have to heal in. At least that's how it was described to me. So take it slow, follow the diet and be patient. Distract yourself from your discomfort with good activities, time with friends, hobbies, etc. They don't call it "bandster Hell" for nothing! Good luck on your journey!

Bummer. Are you eating your solid protein first? Followed by your veggies and fruit and then starches(if any)? You could try the South Beach diet, it does a great job of minimizing hunger and it's very band friendly. Also, are you waiting an hour or so to drink after a meal? Remember that in order for the hormones that control hunger to be released the pouch has to be full for a while and good solid proteins and not drinking get the job done most of the time. Don't be afraid of Christmas, it's a day to enjoy your family. Just stick to the protein first mantra and you'll be fine. Enjoy the day. I hope this helps, Merry Christmas!

Congratulations! A new year and a new you. How exciting! Don't be nervous, it's not a difficult surgery to go through and the recovery is easy. Most people just complain about gas pain which can be minimized with some gentle walking and gas-x. Don't worry, be happy! Do be ready to be patient though, a lifestyle change doesn't come easily and losing 1-2 pounds a week can seem sooo slow. It's a good rate though and it mounts up! Your band will keep you from backsliding and binging and by next New Years Eve, you'll be in a little black dress! Good luck on your journey!

How about a local YMCA? It does sound extreme to me and perhaps you could get your insurance to provide physical therapy through a hospital setting instead. They would be more in the know about how to save your joints and the work- out would be more gentle. Just a thought. I had a hernia repaired during my second lapband surgery and it was no biggie. I didn't have much pain with it at all. I had had pretty bad reflux prior to that though. I'm better now. I have arthritis too (ankelosing spondelitis) and I can tell you I feel much better with the weight off! Good luck on your journey!

Congratulations! It won't be long now 'till you start your new life! Remember to be patient with the process. You may not feel any restriction right off the bat, but keep getting those fills and it will come. I'm so happy for you. You can DO this! By this time next year you won't even recognize yourself. Good luck on your journey!