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I had my band on July 14th. And I've already failed with what my nutritionist told me. She was a brand new nutritionist (to this hospital) and I met the girl who was having the band a couple of days after me and we were told completely different things as she had the old nutritionist. I went onto solid but very soft foods in week two as I just knew in myself I'd be fine! And I have been I've got stuck once but that was my own fault and forgot and shoved in another mouthful when I was already full. Before I met the nutritionist the main bariatric nurse said they like people to move onto solids at the rate that the person feels comfortable with whether that's fast or flow! And the nutritionist said 4-5 weeks, stuff that!!!! I also find it so hard to stop at this 'comfortably satisfied point' and instead I end up so full I'm uncomfortable. It's hard to get my head around being full after eating so little and I guess that comes in time! But I'm definitely able to be probably a cup and a half-2 which annoys me. I haven't had a fill and I've only lost 6.5lbs since surgery as I gained a pound and a half at one point but I lost it again. I'm just so frustrated and feel like I'm failing and my band is failing. I had and still do have such high hopes for it. I know people lose weight at different rates but I can't help thinking I'm just not doing as well as I should be!! Although I do compare myself to the people who had similar surgery dates to me and who followed their nutritionists plan and are still on Mushies. Sorry for the rant but if anyone has any advice I'd be so great full!!! X

I am a second grade teacher. I was sleeved over the summer and school started four weeks after surgery. I was definitely ready to work after four weeks off. I actually felt I needed to work because I was a little anxious sitting at home thinking about what I couldn't eat. I was happy to be back in my routine and that I had something to think about besides the surgery! Being a kindergarten teacher, I think I might take three weeks off. I felt great after three weeks physically. Just no heavy lifting. The only problem was I was forgetful and a little airheaded for a couple of months after surgery. I told my principal I had weight loss surgery after I had it. She was very supportive. I also shared it with everyone on my staff. For me, I didn't tell anyone at work I was thinking of the surgery, but once I scheduled surgery I told people as I saw them. I was a little uncomfortable telling people but I would much rather be honest and open than have people whispering and gossiping later. Also, I was a little ashamed presurgery having to acknowledge that I was so fat I needed weight loss surgery. That was hard for me to admit, so when I told people I felt a little exposed. But, every single person I have told at school from parents to staff have all been very supportive.It is also nice because I don't get any candy or chocolates for presents anymore! I only tell parents if they comment on my weight loss and ask how I have lost, but the word has obviously spread around in the parent group. Some parents even bring me my favorite post surgery passion iced tea from Starbucks! Overwhelming support is all I received. But, I did tell most coworkers after the fact. The funny thing is I don't think any of my students have noticed that their teacher has been shrinking and shrinking all year!! You do have every right not to share why you are on leave. So, do what you are comfortable with. Just wanted you to know that my experience of being open and honest has been great. I also like that I don't have to keep up with vauge reasons for my absence or my weight loss. Good luck to you! I am so happy for you! And don't wait until summer, get the surgery now and feel great this summer! I am so happy with this change, this sleeve has made me such a happier and healthier person! I love life post-sleeve! I hope you do as well. Good luck to you!

I need someone I can go running with I have no one over here I use to live in NJ so all my friends are back there, anyone please I'm trying to lose some weight before summer

Tomorrow will be my 6 months post op. I had my surgery on November 22. My beginning weight was 282 and as of today I am 187. I am down 95 lbs. I went from a size 22 to a 12. I am so loving my sleeve.

I hope to be able to say something similar at my 6 months!! That is AWESOME!!!!! Your starting weight is mine too, so if I can get to where you are, I will be super happy!!

No one wrote you back. I tried a liquid diet just to see if I could do it prior to my surgery to lose weight on my own. It obviously didn't work as I am going for surgery next Monday. I remember faintly hearing about the line between being in Ketosis and not being in Ketosis, but I am not sure. Call your Doc. He will be able to help you.

Hi, my name is Rochelle I'm 28 from northern NY. I've been lurking for a while now. Still trying to decide if the LB is for me. I have 3 boys, the youngest was born in Sept. I'm now at my highest weight ever...around 240:faint: I've never maintained my weight. I started dieting when I was 13, and since then I have been either losing or gaining weight. I'm really good at losing the weight (I've lost 60 or 70 lbs. about 5 times) I just can't keep it off. As soon I reach my goal I immediately begin to gain it back. I'm afraid to put in the effort and hard work just to gain it all back again. Anyway, I really enjoy this forum and everybody's helpful advice and just wanted to say Hi!:wave:

I think they just want you to lose a certain amount of weight...they dont really care how you get there

Drink Water, often! I was admitted initially for dehydration. I was drinking enough, even though I knew I was getting what I was supposed to. Then we figured out it was my blood pressure medication Lisinipril. The water was absorbed differently. It doesn't happen to every one. Anyhow it turns out my kidneys were affected and there was no blood flow getting to my kidneys, my kidneys became to get really sluggish. They Bolis (two IV bags) me twice in a half an hour. After the first my output was only 30cc, and the second 17cc. They then put an emergency consult in for a nephrologist, and were considering putting me on an emergency dialysis. Thank the high heavens, after begging to walk, I was able to get things moving again. I drink more water now then I have to, and do not take the lisinipril any more. So three hospital visits in a month. Sucks! Not to mention all the fluids they gave me, made me gain some weight back. I was ticked off. The fluids are starting to flow away and am starting to lose again, but this has been outrageous. All because of a little pill. I still have to take blood pressure meds because my blood pressure is not under control still. I don't take as much as I did, which is good. I hopefully don't have to take them in the future, they just want to continue them until they think it is controlled. MY PSA for the day! LOL Drink your fluids! If something feels wrong, go to the hospital or call your surgeon. Thank you!

Hi! I got my second fill 4 days ago and can only eat some mushey type foods. Applesauce and soft fish hurts, but oatmeal, mashed potatoes, and pudding are fine. I thought if I stick with these foods (beefed up with protein powder) and loose some weight, the band will loosen. Does this make sense or should I go in for a small unfill. I have not PB'd but I'm sure I would if I try a normal diet. Any suggestions? SS

I have been having many problems with my band lately. I was banded over three years ago and lost over 50 of the 100 lbs that I wanted to lose in the first 15 months. Then I hit a plateau that lasted for several months. I wasn't losing, but I wasn't gaining. I had cut back on the exercise, so I tried to step that up again. I lost about 10 more pounds and began feeling dizzy all the time and extremely tired. I also had very bad acid reflux, but I didn't pay much attention, since I have had acid reflux for years. I cut back on my BP medicine and that seemed to help with the dizziness, so I went to my PCP and told her my BP medicine was too strong. She disagreed and gave me sleep medicine instead to help with tiredness. Of course, this did not help one bit, so I switched PCPs and she switched me to another BP medicine, and now the extreme tiredness and dizziness are gone. Anyway back to the reflux. I went in for another fill to get me back on track and help me begin losing weight again, since now I was not too dizzy to exercise anymore. I mentioned the reflux and the Physician assistant (PA) said my band was probably too tight and wanted me to have a fluroscopy to see the pouch under X-ray. When this was done, we saw the band had moved into a vertical position, instead of the horizontal position it should have been in, and the pouch had enlarged. The liquid would hardly go down and the steak I had eaten the night before was visible in the pouch (It hadn't gone down yet). He loosened the pouch and told me to drink only liquids for several days to two weeks then SMALL meals for two weeks before another fluroscopy, where he saw the band had repositioned itself and the pouch had shrunk, so he filled it up a little more. He said if the band had not moved back into position he would have to do surgery and replace it. He said you must ALWAYS get the band loosened when you begin to have severe reflux or are not able to eat regular food, in order to prevent irreversible damage and require surgery. So I would warn the people earlier in this thread that it is very dangerous to keep your band too tight. Since that time I have had the band filled a few more times to where I felt it had good restriction, only to find out through fluroscopy, that the pouch was too big again and the band had moved out of position again (e.g. - band was too tight). I can no longer sense when the fill is adequate and have gained 25 lbs back over the last year with all these unfill-refills. I no longer know how to make the band work for me and can't seem to turn the wieght gain around. I want another fill, but am worried that the band will become too tight again. I am always hungry. Has anyone else experienced this problem and found a way to get back into weight loss? :wink2::confused::redface:

Okay, I joined this site back in september of last year after doing months of due diligence. I've learned more in the past year about lap bands than I ever thought possible. Well, I finally went to a seminar, met with a surgeon and now have my procedure date set. Friday, March 26th 2010. 4 weeks to go and I'm really excited. I cannot wait to shed this weight. These past five years I have been packing it on and now I'm ready to be start my new life. I have fought with my weight my entire life and realize that for some people diets alone just don't work. I've lost and regained so many times over the years. Now, I just want to lose it, and for good. Can't wait to start posting my progress!!!

I've been very frustrated having to wait the 6 months. I started doing everything in January and I'm gaining weight, not losing. If all goes well, I will be eligable for surgery in October (that's a total of 10 months from when I started). But even then , the surgeon said it takes another 3 weeks to schedule the surgery. And if I get denied, then all this time wasted was for nothing.

Hi All, I'm getting in the home stretch of completing my 6 month program. Only 2 more visits!! I mentioned it to my hubby and he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. I said I've been telling you since June that I'm going through the process. We had a heart to heart and he is starting to come around about me having the surgery. He is worried of course about the surgical part and me losing too much weight. Is there any such thing (wink...wink :-) :wink2:Glad we talked and I'll keep you all posted. P.S. - which of the Protein Shake providers sends out the free samples? I saw it in a post a while ago and can't remember. Thanks for listening..... I am......thatgurl...... continued success to everyone...keep on....keepin' on!:thumbup:

So this is my first time posting. Im 5'10 and my surgery was 8/26/13. My weight at surgery was 376 As of today im down 48lbs! Other ppl say they see it, I really cant. However my face is significantly smaller. Its soooo hard. Not the not eating part, but the way I feel. At times I wonder if this was the right thing to do. The numbers make me snap out of it lol. But my energy is sooo low its terrible. Im having problems with protein. The shakes make me gag... but hey it'll get better n i cant be mad at 48lbs in 26 days!

Well, I did it!!! I finished my first triathlon in 2:15:09. I was super slow on the bike and run but I didn't come in last!!! I loved the ocean swim and I was 20/57 in my wave!!! I'm already signed up for another one in September and hope that I can drop a little more weight by then. My weight loss has slowed to about 4-5 pounds a month so it probably won't be until next year when I'm able to really improve my times considering I won't be carrying the extra weight. I have a question for those of you that have done/are doing triathlons: my back aches on the bike and run after some distance and I'm wondering if that is weight related or just core weakness???

I liked that there isn't malabsorption, that our digestive tract stays "natural", and that it is "easy" to live with (not something that either bypass or band can say). IMO, the incremental improvement of weight loss that bypass affords over sleeve does not compensate for the additional risks and complications.

Yes, I'm more of a grazer by nature. I like a meal at night, but I dont really want Breakfast and I dont really want lunch, I just want bits and pieces all day long. It doesnt work for me, I MUST override this natural urge. If I get my 3 squares in, I'm much much much better, and I lose weight. Snacking is something I try to avoid. My biggest problem though is not eating lunch and wanting to snack - its making myself eat lunch in the first place! I just tend to think "later" and dont do it and end up eating all afternoon. I dont think I'll ever override this but I can control it most of the time and my band has worked well and I'm almost at goal weight. I dont look at my band as a solution, I see my eating habits as something I am going to have to control for the rest of my life, not something that will ever be "fixed". Its tiresome but I've accepted that its just the way it is. I dont demand perfection of myself, good enough most of the time works just fine.

wrennbird, Would you believe that horses had something to do with me making the decision to get banded? My mother, sister and I were on vacation and thought it would be fun to go horseback riding. My sister used to own a horse and I hung out at the stables bumming rides from other horse owners. Anyway, we found a stable and a large sign at the entrance read, "weight limit 250 lbs. No one over this weight allowed to ride." Well, I wasn't 250 yet but I was darn close. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I have gotten so fat that even a horse would not be able to hold me. This was just one more thing that I could no longer do because of my weight. I am being banded 2/15 and when this weight comes off, I'm getting back in the saddle. Good luck on your journey. Sharon

:help:Can someone please help me put a weight ticker on my page oooH!! I have tried an it comes out messed up every time please help me!!!! :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help: :help:

Wow, I'm almost 3 months in and still no fill. Since I am losing and still staying satisfied on small portions my surgeon is not suggesting a fill at this time, my next appointment is in 6 weeks and we'll just go from there. I feel great and I am 5 lbs from getting out of the 3's. I decided to put my scale up for a couple weeks because I want to be in the 2's next time I weigh.... this is a really big deal for me!! I have many non scale victories and they are equally as important, one that really makes me happy is that I am seeing body parts that I haven't seen in years... and you know what I'm talking about :thumbup: Also I am wogging, what is wogging you say, well it's in between a walk and a jog and I am wogging a mile without stopping and it feels great. I'm also very excited that my husband has been on the plan with me, minus the band. He also has a weight issue and even though we are tackling this in different ways we are doing it together and that is all that matters.

We had almost the same conversation almost 3 years ago now, only DH wanted the surgery and I was worried about un-insured complications. It worried me a LOT. But then our doctor told us that if DH didn't lose weight, he wouldn't be here in 10 years. Scary when you are 41. So, in a way it was much less a gamble for him. For me, my health wasn't that bad. My surgeon said my health history was boring! But I couldn't do the things I wanted. And since I'd tried everthing more then once, I knew I wasn't going to do it without surgery. It does sound like you and your DH are able to talk things through, and be honest with each other, that's a very good thing.

Hello! I would like to start this thread by assuring all readers that I love my band. I have been banded for 3 months now. Even if I never lost another pound, I understand things about food and eating that I never did before. For instance, what full feels like. Or, the joys of bringing home leftovers from a restaurant. Or, not feeling like I have to order the largest plate on the menu and eat multiple large helpings in order to feel satisfied. Actually, eating is now more enjoyable because I can savor it, rather than shovel it. With that being said, I have to admit that I'm quite an impatient person. I understand that I have an underlying desire for all things to happen immediately as I want them. In regards to the band, weight loss is feeling slow. So far, I've lost 25 pounds since day of surgery. I suppose in three months, I expected to be losing more. It would be my goal to lose 100 pounds by my first 'bandiversary'. Are there any veterans who can speak to what feels like a slow start? Do the first few months have a tendency to feel like a shit show? I know this sounds ridiculous, but how important is exercise in motivating results? I know people have lost plenty of weight without it, but is that really an effective approach? Can anyone speak to how they felt after their first 3 months or so. This is an interesting time in the life of a bander. It almost feels like being a toddler. I can say that my experience has been fantastic. Never have I experienced sickness, pain, or any other undesirable moments. I'm interested to know when veterans starting "seeing" results. And please, (kindly) feel free to tell me I'm being a little whiny, impatient banded toddler. It's confusing because who really knows what normal is? It is an entirely subjective situation. It's like going to the doctor and being asked if you have a "normal period." How the hell am I supposed to know if it's normal, I've had no other experience but my own! Thanks all!!!

as long as one is losing (fast for us larger folks usually at the beginning) and slower in some cases for others for various reasons, it should be seen as a happy thing..its not a contest or a race, it is a lifetime/healthy way of living and dont compare..... inches lost are actual/true weight loss even if the scales stop moving or slowly move... no such thing as stalls in my eyes...it will catch up eventually sounds like you are doing great no encouragement needed to be giving to you your weight loss so far and your better health is encouragement enough. well done

Hello Everyone, I have been reading through this forum for 2 hours....and I have some questions about the lab band. I am currently 85 pounds overweight, and my BMI is at 37%. I am going to the seminar tonight to start the process to see if I qualify. I have PCOS and that is why I gained this weight. I have never had a weight problem growing up, just in the last 6 years this weight has slowly crept on. I have always been athletic and I know once I lose the weight I will be able to keep it off, but because of my hormone imbalance its almost impossible for me to lose the weight. I am wondering if anyone here has had this done who was in a similar position as me? I am also concerned that I may not be overweight enough for the surgery and I know this is my last option. I need some advise as to what this procedure entails and what happens if you have it removed after you've lost your weight. I would appreciate any feedback, good or bad! Thanks Shauna