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Wow--this perfectly describes me between fill number 2 and 3. And I even GAINED during that period. Since fill number 3 I noticed this doesn't happen nearly as much (only when I'm starving and scarf something down...). I never related the "stuckness" to not haveing enough fill ... but this description makes perfect sense! And--I went to the dr. today and I was down 10 pounds from fill number 3 (after NOT getting stuck so much)!!! Thanks for getting this info to those of us experiencing this. I would never have thought of this fact. Crystal

Hi everyone, my name is Alicia. I am 37 years old and have about 230lbs to lose to meet my goal weight. I have 2 boys, 6 yr old and a 10 month old. I have been wanting a Bariatric surgery for a long time but insurance always denies it. The company I work for has decided to help me out with the financial part of it. I was told the best surgery form me would be the gastric bypass but that is COMPLETELY out of the question because of the cost. I am so afraid I will get the lapband and won't lose very much. I have diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, you name it. I hope I will hear back from people that will make me feel like this is still a good decision and not a waste of 14k.

I did a lot of research on what I should be drinking for my 2 weeks pre op liquid diet. Last week I finally found something I really like. It's 20 grams of Protein per serving and also has no sugar as well as chromium to regulate my blood sugar (which regulates mood). Also (a little TMI) I am not getting "backed up" using this because it has digestive enzymes (which is a great thing :tongue2:) Same company also does a super greens drink so that I am getting my fruits and veggies servings so I am not missing out on any Vitamins or minerals while I'm doing the pre op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for 10/6/09. I know I can do it! If any one is interested in what I am using send me a message and I'll send you some info on it.

I assume you did read the previous posts and you now have your cooked veggie collection in front of you. I happen to have 2 cups of cooked broccoli. I had two cups leftover from a previous meal, plus a bag in the freezer. I chose to use the leftovers. No matter what, you need two cups of the cooked veggie. I also thawed out my chicken broth I made the other day. I had measured out 10 oz in each container, so I have a little store-bought chicken broth leftover from a previous recipe to augment the homemade to make the necessary amount called for in the recipe. Next time, I'll know to freeze about 12 ounces, not 10. Okay, so I'm not perfect. LOL! Now I can just follow the recipe below: Before serving, I ladled 10 oz into a storage container and labeled it carefully. I stowed it in the freezer. The rest, I'll serve tonight with a sandwich on the side for Dante. I'll have a spinach salad. You might want to make up a Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe. It's the most used recipe in casseroles. It'll keep up to six months in the freezer, and it's a darn sight better than all those calories, carbs, sodium and preservatives in the cans of condensed cream of whatever soups you buy in the store. Tastier, too. Note: I highly recommend using cream or half-and-half for this recipe. Milk is just too weak. A pinch of salt also helps. Go ahead and put it in a mug. If you love it like I did, you'll slug it down. If you need a hand knowing what veggie and what seasoning, here's a link to my chart: http://s516.photobucket.com/albums/u323/voiceomt2002/Recipes/?action=view&current=CreamofVegetableSoup2.jpg The chart is also where I put the calories and carbs for each veggie soup. I'll post some more soups over the next few days for those who still need mushies.

I have also done P90X and it is in intense. The thing that discouraged me most of the time was not the exercise, but the amount of time that you had to devote. Some of the workouts are like 40 minutes, but then he wants you to pop in the ab video for another 30 minutes and the yoga video is a full 90 minutes. If you have the time, I say go for it, but it was a little too much of a time committment for me. I have seen him recently on an infomercial where he has a new program and the videos are 10 minutes in length. I'm sure you stack multiple workouts on in a day to get what he calls "muscle confusion" If you google Tony Horton or Beach Body, I'm sure you will find it. Good luck and in the words of Tony Horton, "do your best and forget about the rest"

I love to blog.. So anyway.. this is the begining of my journey, I began sometime in December, I began by seeing my Dr, they said that I would require a 6month nutritional counseling, I would have to join a fitness club, have a physical and psych eval before my insurance would even consider banding me. The waiting game... :frown: I joined something called First Line Therapy, it was an out of pocket expense of $2000, as far as I was concerned it was well worth it. Come to find out 3 weeks later, that it's no longer a requirement of my insurance and I'm out the money!! Oh well, the way I see it... If I was told that I could have my surgery done ASAP as opposed to waiting 6 months and the cost would be 2grand.. I'd pay the 2 grand.. so I quit pouting.:redface: In the meantime.. I'm tracking down any and all medical records for the past 5 years for the purpose of needing documentation of my weight and any weight related problems for example; knee pain, back pain, sleep apnea, GERD etc... Next, I had a sleep study done, I had my suspicions that I had sleep apnea so I thought.. oh well, atleast the documentation would be there for insurance purposes so it was bitter sweet when I got my results.. I have sleep apnea YAY! I just got one more diagnosis for my insurance to consider my band... Oh hey wait.. I have sleep apnea.. that sucks.. that's a disease for fat people.. oh wait.. I'm fat.. that sucks more. Phooey. :eek: So my next step was the Psych eval, Loved my psychiatrist, she was awesome, I thought for sure I'd be in some dark room and she'd be interrogating me, but she was extremely supportive and gave me the thumbs up Yay! :tt1: Next my letter of Medical Necessity.. I researched and researched this, and found one website that had an excellent letter of medical necessity and added my twist (I've worked in the medical field since 1990) So here's what I did, my Dr's office was pretty clueless, God Bless them, but they just didn't know, all they wanted to do was send me with my medical records, so I typed up my own letter of medical necessity and took it to them, so My Dr put it on her letterhead and signed it, it was GREAT! :biggrin: The same day I took my letter to my Dr's office and all my medical records so that they could start my Prior Authorization from my insurance.. and then.. the waiting game.. :rolleyes2: Were my records going to be enough? I sent out an email to everyone on my address list and asked them to pray for me.. 10 days passed and I was getting antsy.. one of the girls I work with kept bugging me to call my Dr's office but I didn't wanna be a pest... I had already mentally told myself I wouldn't call until it had been 2 week.. UGH it was killing me!! So.. I nonchalantly called the insurance company instead.. and asked if they had EVEN received a request and they told me that I had been approved YAY YAY!! I was approved!! WOO HOO! I wanted to dance.. but couldn't dang it.. but I emailed my friend in the office and she came running to the back and gave me a big hug I wanted to cry and dance all at the same time! So now.. the preop appt is scheduled on 2/4/08 approximately 2 months after my journey began... I'm on my way to the begining of my new life.. and the end of my old one.. I can hardly wait! :tongue: PS.. if anyone is interested in a copy of my letter of medical necessity.. you can email me here or at lrome314@yahoo.com! Take Care.. God Bless.. and GOOD LUCK fellow BandPeeps!

I am so happy I got approved on friday 10/10 and Tuesday I was given my surgery date. The best of all I dont have to pay out of pocket my insurance is covering most of it and writing off the rest . I am happy but very nervous , I start my liquid diet 2 days before the surgery/ Also the day before I have to drink some soda that I am supposed to get at the pharmacy ,does anyone know how it tastes? !!!

Well, tomorrow morning is the big day. I can't believe that it is finally here. I haven't been very nervous today. My Grandma being here probably helped with that. She is very supportive. I have packed my bag for the hospital. I have to get up at 5:15 in the morning. We have to leave here by 6a.m. just in case of traffic or any other delays to be to the hospital by 7:30. I don't know much of what to say... I'm kinda speechless. I think I am in denial about what is really happening. It must be some sort of defense mechanism so I don't freak out. Either that or I've just accepted what is happening and that's that. Either way the next time I post I will have joined the band wagon! Take care everyone!:car: Here are my measurements: 9-18-2007 10-18-2007 weight: 295 BMI: 46 w: 270 BMI: 43 bust: 53 1/2 in bust: 51 1/2in waist: 55 in waist: 50 in hips: 57 in hips: 56 in thigh: 35 in thigh: 33 in calves: 21 in calves: 20 in arms: 17 in arms: 16 1/2in I'll have to figure out next time how to post this so it shows up in columns. Oh well:phanvan

I gained 10 lbs. from the day I was admitted to the next day when I left the hospital. Took awhile for all those fluids they pumped into me to exit my body. As long as your calories are low, and you're following your surgeon's plan, it'll come off soon.

So excited today! Had surgery on 10/23 at 240. I was 207 at Thanksgiving and stayed there until Christmas. I was so frustrated and couldn't believe I had my stomach removed and STILL wasn't losing. In the meantime, I dropped about 1.5 sizes during that month and as I read about what it really means to lose and regain Water weight, I felt a bit better. And now for the amazing part-- after the month long stall, I am now at 195 today! I am down 12 lbs in less than 2 weeks following that long stall! So hang in there and follow your program and you will break through it!

I'm 10 weeks post op tomorrow and I wouldn't have been able to eat all that......2.5oz of turkey and maybe a bite of Brussel sprouts.... My guess would be you ate a little too much....about a 1/2 cup total is all I can manage.

WOOP WOOP..EXCITED :-):-):-)

I had the same problem. I was on clear liquids for 10 days after surgery. I was banded on a Monday and that Thursday in the middle of the night I started getting hungry. The hunger woke me up and I had to have a glass of skim milk to get back to sleep. Yeah, mine wasn't head hunger either. I had a growling, gnawing stomach. It will definately get better once you are on mushies. I remember that the first thing I had when I could go on mushies was refried beans. The best refried beans I've ever had. Just hang in there. It will get much better.

Hey, Alexandra. After having my second fill only 3 days ago, I am now finally experiencing what good restriction is. And you have some good tips to think about/follow. IAMOMX6, I am right with you on the shrimp dinner experience....can't eat it all! But as far as physically - what is life with the band like? Fine, no problems... it's the emotional/mental part that's got me. For example: A week ago, I would have told you I was a failure; I've only lost 19 pounds since July 24 and that's with one fill in October. I beat my self up miserably. I finally talked it over with a friend who actually got me out of the depression. Then I got my second fill 3 days ago. Right now I am a little upset with the fact that I can't eat as much as I used to. For some reason this really bothers me, I guess because I am finally accepting/realizing that I am mentally/emotionally dependent on food more than I should be. I mean, for 30 years I used food as a drug, so it's a little hard to break. I do feel good about the fact that weight loss is the end result so it lifts my spirits. I must have hope that I will get to 200 pounds one day. Maybe not in 6 months, maybe not in a year, but one day I will. Don't know if that's what you were looking for, Alexandra, but that is how I feel. Thanks for caring!

My heart breaks for you. I went through a similiar situation - married 12 years when I left. Only you know what you should do. Nobody knows your situation like you do. I can only say that I met and married the love of my life. Married to him for 19 yeas. :seeya:

Bless your heart! I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I've been with my hubbie 31 years and have been with him since I've been 17. Not only are we 19 years apart, we are of a different culture too. . .it is very hard to keep a marriage together (heavens dont I know that!) but we literally "raised" each other, we've had our ups and downs big time, and there was a period we did "take a break" from each other, but we kept "seeing" each other, no one had another partner. . this went on for about 1 year. . . we worked it out and again got together. . . we have 2 grown kids together, we've put each other through college, put 1 kid to college (the other refused) and in our now times we have come to realize that we are each other's best friend. . .we're not incredibly romantic mind you, but after 31 years who wants to hop into the sack every two seconds anyhow. . . we are best friends, we sit outside on the weekend morning with nothing to say, we are just together eating Breakfast and drinking coffee for about 2 - 3 hours. . .then we do whatever, he goes does his thing, I do mine, but we are always there for each other. Decisions are never made alone, we do it together. . we always know each others plans, just so we know whats happening with the other person. . . I support him, he supports me (except with this band thing, he is scared I'll die, but we're getting there) he has been a great dad to the kids, and a good providing husband, he is my best friend and should something ever happen to him (God forbid) I would be lonely and miss him terribly, but I would never marry again. . . after thinking about it, there isn't a man on this earth that could fill his shoes and it would be very unfair to that person cause I would always be comparing them to my best friend. . .and not only that, but would I really want someone coming into my life and telling me what to do, how to do it, when to do it? NO NEVER AGAIN. . . hope this helps a bit. . . always remember what made you fall in love with him in the first place and then ask would it really be worth it? Good luck and may all that motivate you be with you during this difficult time. . .

I, too, had no restriction after the first fill which was on 12/7/09. The only reason I think I went down another 1-2 pounds is because after the fill it was liquids for 2 days and then mushies for 2 days. My next fill is scheduled for 1/5/10. Fingers are crossed that this will do the trick.

Congrats! I'm 3 weeks our. The first 4 days I couldn't stand trying to get protein drinks in and just took it very, very slowly. By day 5 something clicked and things became easier. My biggest piece of advice it to walk often - the most painful part of the surgery is just getting all of the gas out that they fill you with. On a scale of 1 to 10 my pain never hit more than a 3, which was a pleasant surprise

I have completed 5 days, and it is a butt kicker. I am taking Sat/Sun off and will continue with it on Monday. I may have to do the first level for more than 10 days, however, because I am not sure I will be able to move on after 10 days.

Personally I was a GREAT dieter! I've been on a million diets all of them lasting 2 weeks to a few months. Hundreds of pounds lost and regained over and over again. I'm so thrilled not to have to diet anymore. Being sleeved is absolutely nothing like dieting. On a diet, I'm starving all the time, now I have to force myself to eat. I'm 5'5" tall, HW 250lbs CW 178.4, sleeved 10/21- 5 months. Getting sleeved is what got me away from dieting.

Ok long story short. Had my surgery 10/16- went in for first fill dec 2nd. Flipped surgery to correct 12/9. My doc put in 2 ccs on 12/9. I don't notice much of a difference. I go back first week of January for my port follow up. Is that too soon to ask for another fill? I want to start slow I was thinking maybe asking for 1 cc, just wanted some input

I was on the pain medicine for about 2 days. They kept me overnight in the hospital and administered it through my IV. The next day, I went home and continued a liquid form for the day. Within 5-10 minutes of taking it, I was out. The next day, I felt less pain and more just soreness. I didn't take anything that 3rd day and was fine by day 4. I still have a huge bottle of it at home. Being such a strong narcotic, I was surprised they dispensed so much for this surgery. I've always been very leary of relying to heavily on pain medicine. The kind they had me on is very addictive. I didn't take it anymore than I had to (it was Hydrocodone).

A "stall" a few weeks after surgery is not uncommon, and here's why. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs. of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when a patient is not getting in enough food, the body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. Then when 2 lbs. of glycogen is used a patient will also lose 8 lbs. of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs. that most people lose in the first week of a diet. However, when the body stays in a caloric deficit state the body starts to realize that this is not a short-term problem. Then the body starts mobilizing fat from adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But the body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. As it puts back the 2 lbs. of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs. of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though the patient might still be losing energy content to their body, the weight will not go down or it might even gain for a while as the retention of water dissolves the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. What You Can Do About a Stall or Plateau If a patient is experiencing a post-op weight loss stall or plateau further out there are a few possible causes. First, check that are you really in a stall. If the scale has stopped moving you may be losing inches, so check your measurements.