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Thanks for asking! I would love to hear from you as well. I am loving this band. I love my doctor but I wish he wanted to go a little faster. I started with about 3 ccs and he added .5 ccs with my fill on 11/4/08 and told me that with the weight I had already lost he didn't want to do another fill until January. I am feeling very little restriction and losing very little weight; maybe I am just discouraged because this week is PMS and I always have lots of water weight gain. On a brighter note, I have lost about 30 pounds and when I exercise, I am still losing. I am so glad I did this! I am never going back only down! I have not really had any problems. I have had a couple of experiences with "nothing" going down but when it happens, I can tell you exactly what I did wrong. My hair and nails are not in good shape but I think it is just because I need to work harder at getting protiens and eat less carbs. I am eating prunes or taking fiber every day. I started a challenge for New Year's. I really want to weigh 225 by New Year's. If you look under "August 08 Bandsters", you can see that. Lots of people of joined me in this challenge with their own goals of course. I have got to be serious about what I eat from now until December if I am going to do this but I really would like to. Rachelle

Hey there, I just joined the forum yesterday, although I had my surgery almost 5 weeks ago. I really wish I'd discovered this sooner, because the journey so far hasn't been that easy and it was more difficult doing it on my own. I have only told one person I had this surgery, because I felt people wouldn't understand or would question my spending the money. I've been having some difficulty with pain, and a lot of difficulty with sticking to the pre- and post-op diets (a couple of blips on each...hence the pain? I don't know...). All in all I feel pretty good. I've had my first fill (4 cc's), and I feel only slight restriction--in fact, I've felt like I can pretty much eat anything since about 2 weeks after the surgery. Hopefully that'll change as I get more fills. It's great to be part of this community, and I'm really looking forward to sharing our journeys together! :thumbup:

Hello Everyone, I was banded in October of 2009, I have never really had restriction, got stuck alot but never that sweet spot I read about. I teach zumba 3 times a week and the only time I had great weight loss was the two week post op of liquids only. I do realize that no matter how much you excercise a bad diet or eating will not make it a difference, and this is where I fell. I was burning 5K calories a week and felt like I could eat what I wanted, I didnt gain but I didnt lose , I kep losing the same 10 lbs over the last 3 years. Last year I started getting really bad acid reflux but at first I didnt go back to the doctor because I felt like a failure in the weight loss department. Part of my issue is menopause as well, weight is the only symptom I have nothing else. Well I got sick in January and when throwing up the band was acting funny, went to the doctor and I had esophogus dialition and they had to unfill my entire band. WOW the hunger pains I felt were like are you kidding me? My first thought was take it out and I'll do it on my own with weight watchers. Then as I was talking to the physicians assistant who I trust and has been incredible during this journey told me that although my band didnt work as it was suppose to that it was still doing something, and that if I didn't revise I would probably gain 10 lbs a month until my body normalized, around 6 months, and when she said it I didn't believe her but since getting unfilled and the hunger I feel I do now. I also started weight watchers as I think its a good foundation to eating after the revision, so if I'm ahead of the ball this time the more the better. Its also helping me to lose my ten pounds before surgery. and its great espeically with the apps on my phone, and its true when you logging what you eat, you do realize when you really are hunger or just thirsty or doing something out of habit. My surgery tentatively is for May 2, I have BCBS federal and they require 3 months weight classes, well it seems that weight watchers classifies so my billing admin is going to try to submit next week since April will make 3 months going and weight watchers is weekly. \ My question is to the board, how do you feel when you awake from a revision? How are you at getting around? Whats the best Protein poweder? I have a realize band so I dont know if that makes a difference. When I had my lapband day 4 I walking 4 miles at the park, so I"m just trying to get my head around it and try and be as prepared as possible. ANy hints, info you can provide would be helpful and appreciated.

After not being allowed to have fruit for WEEKS.... I bought some fruit yesterday. Strawberries! drizzled in balsamic vinegar. I'm more happy about eating the strawberries than what's on it then again I'd never had strawberries in balsamic before. The vinegar is slightly sweet and seems to bring the natural sweetness of the strawberry out. Yum! I'm just happy to have fruit right now. Means I can have natural sugars to cure my sweet tooth. Any other ideas on great fruits and recipes for them? I'm open to suggestions.

Raven, I am heading down there in a couple of weeks and wasn't scared until I purchased the plane tickets, now it just seems so real. Omar was telling how they just had a patient that felt so good that she went site-seeing in SD I am assuming it must have been you. I can't believe you have lost so much so fast, I hope I have the same results. Good luck and keep up the good work, I'm sure it can't be easy. CDC

^^ What she said. P.S. I was cleared for everything at 4 weeks.

I'm almost 3 weeks out, and I felt a little left out of things over the weekend at the shore with a bunch of friends. There was some really amazing-smelling bacon for Breakfast one morning that I wished I could eat. I would have liked to have a chocolate-chip cookie another day. And there was a really delicious-looking Greek salad at dinner one night that I was sad I couldn't eat yet. I'm on soft foods, so I brought my own food, and my tiny portions and limited menu were depressing to look at. But, while I was taking my tiny bites of scrambled egg or refried Beans, I looked around at what everyone else was eating and picking out what I would choose to eat next year on this trip. I'd have a piece of that bacon with my egg; I could plan my calories out to eat a cookie one day; I'd have a piece of grilled chicken with a side of that Greek salad. And honestly, it was a good opportunity for my friends to see how I'm eating right now and that I'm still recovering. Most everyone seemed positive and supportive about my surgery, but if they had any lingering unspoken thoughts of "she took the easy way out," those would be quashed by seeing me sit there with my 1/4 cup portions!

I thought I was safe to eat salmon and mashed potatoes, ended up with the slimes, and ended up going to the bathroom and puking. I was 2 weeks out on Thursday, and I think I'll be fine by Thanksgivings.

I am too experiencing gas pains and live on gax x chewables too. I actually stopped taking the gas x a couple of weeks ago because I felt it was making it worse. I actually feel better since stopping and have not had as much gas. Plus I was eating beans a lot to get protein but stopped that too. I know your frustration because after my last fill I have been dealing with a lot of issues too but have only dropped 12 pounds since Sept. There are those days were you just ask yourself WHY DID I DO THIS to myself but overall I am happy I can't binge eat anymore. That is how I gained my weight and now I don't want to do that because of the pain I experience. I would go to liquids for a couple of days really mild type like chix broth no dairy. See if that helps settle your stomach. I think that with myself my stomach is very sensative so after a fill it is hard to get anything down but if I let it heal and settle by just taking it easy and not forcing my stomach to digest for a couple of days I feel better and can gradually start on foods again. I try to drink hot tea a couple of times a day because that helps push the air bubbles out more. I am sorry your having frustration but we are all in this together and your not alone. We have to sometimes refect on why we got the band and I love my band but there are days when I wish I could just take it out for a week. But we can't so it is patients and detective work to figure out how to feel better. Keep you chin up my bandster buddie!!!!!!!!

I also have been dealing with this lately. I was banded April 13th and haven't had a fill yet. Up until the last week or so I have been able to overcome those temptations. Now I find myself eating when I am not hungry. If I keep myself busy and away from food it's easy to avoid the temptation but that has not been easy to do the past couple of weeks. When I get back to my regular school schedule in a couple of weeks (I'm a special ed aid) I expect that to help a lot. Until then I have a feeling I will be fighting myself quite a bit. I go back to see my surgical PA on September 16th and think I will be getting a fill.

Oh no, Carol! I haven't thought yet about how that might be, the first time my family cooks an awesome dinner and I'm on liquids... If all goes well this week, I will start my pre-op diet on Nov. 8th, and be banded on the 23rd. I'm excited but really nervous. Turkey broth for me for Thanksgiving! Did you get a surgery date yet?

Hi! I have been in a vegetative state for the last three days... But I am here, and I am alive... Not banded - but alive. My request for Independent Medical Review has been acknowledged by the State of California and I can expect to here something within 45 days... Something like the first week of February - by my loose reckoning. I have been busy at work, so I haven't spent as much time on-line as I was there for a while... But I do keep tabs. Thanks for asking. Everybody keep your fingers crossed that someone in the State of CA is rational and will overturn the ridiculous denial by Blue Cross. :]

Hi bandsters and bandsters-to-be! I'd like to meet up with those from our area in a couple of weeks at a restaurant that will suit our needs. Consider this an open invitation to sit with people and share a non-judgemental meal. (ie: no-"Is that all you're having?!") We can compare stories and provide information to those considering a band. It'll be fun to meet folks in our area and perhaps be our own local support team. If you are interested, just drop me a line here or send me a PM. We'll see what the response is like and book a place from there. Jeri :hungry:

Wow--thanks! I think if I had a fill every 3-4 weeks I'd be doing MUCH better. I only have 3cc's! No wonder I'm starving all the time on 1200 calories. You have done awsome and I see that you have 7.5 cc's. I wonder why my doc only does fills every 3 months? I guess its too late to change docs. My nutritionist works with my doc so I will ask her about it.

I'm coming up on my first year anniversary and until now, have not really found anything that has given me problems. I got what will probably be my last fill last week, and for the first time, I can feel the difference. I'm not finding foods I have to be careful with, but nothing has really given me trouble as long as I chewed thoroughly and slowly. Yesterday, I ran into my first problem food. I was eating a plum, not too soft, not too hard, and nibbling at it, but halfway through, I started to feel nauseous! I ran to the men''s room and fortunately did not throw up, but it was a weird and surprised feeling. My wife thought it could be the acid in the fruit. I can eat a hard peach (which I love) with no problem, but for a plum to give me trouble wasn't what I was expecting.

I am scheduled for Wednesday at 8 am. I have finished 6 days of liquids and feel drained. I have no cravings and am concered about tomorrow's clear liquid day and the next two weeks. I chewed some ice chips tonight and that helped. Any other suggestions as I am getting nervous about my surgery. Help

Sorry you are feeling so crummy. I think the first week is the worst. It gets better from there! I luckily didn't have any problems with nausea once I got home. But I can tell you I did indeed have the "what in the world have I done" thoughts. That is perfectly normal and will get better too. Now that all my clothes are getting baggy and the scale is starting to move, I am totally happy with my decision! I would never have made it to where I am without my band. Hang in there!

Try chewing sugarfree gum or mints. Or just have one or two bites every couple of weeks of something you love, unless it will become a trigger for you to continue. I have heard of someone buying Semi-sweet chocolate chips and keeping them in the freezer and only eating two or three a day. Frozen grapes or watermelon might help with the sweetness factor.

Finally under 200 !!! Weighed in at 199 this morning...I had been stuck at 202 for over 3 weeks. It was so frustrating. I saw my nutritious on Tuesday. She looked over my daily intake (I log everything in on my fitness pal). The told me to get 80 protein, 800 calories, and under 50 carbs a day. I was only getting my protein up to the 50's and my carbs were up in the 70-80 range. I made the adjustments, and immediately I started loosing again. My surgery date was 8/7/12. I feel like I'm back on track now.

Congratulations Sunette. I met my surgeon yesterday also and I'm all good for next Friday 8th March. Also I've lost 2.2 kg's in one week. So feeling pretty good at present. Good luck with all your pre op preparation.

I have had a major sweet tooth as well as urges for carbs. I'm perimenopausal so I suffer with Water retention. I'm losing my mind. I'm 5 months post-op, 4 fills and just can't seem to get a handle on this thing. I have felt restriction for the first week after the 4th fill. I've tried going back to the liquids but again the weight is up down then up again. Monday, I couldn't take it anymore, I re-joined WW. Walking on the treadmill when I get home is the only exercise that my crazy life allows me to do right now. I have read the post where people have had to have unfills. At this point I would welcome the over fill (except throwing up). I have to keep praying and believing that the restriction will remain. Is there anyone out there who has had the LAP-BAND® surgery while going thru menopause? If so, what are you doing to handle the cravings.:bored: DOS: 285 Current: 260 1st Goal: 250

Goodluck ladies!! Im one week from 6 mo and dwn 55 pounds and dwn 2 dress sizes!! I am band to sleeve, banded 2005 and revision 2014. Yesssss i noticed i am a slower wls patient than virgin sleevers and i was told i would be by the dr! I am still happy and proud of my results! I always have restriction and the first 3 mo i was not hungry ever i just ate because i had to and was on a schedule. I love my sleeve and its 110 PERCENT better than the band No COMPLICATIONS and no ISSUES with stuck food, throwing up, no problems with RESTRICTIONS and No Gerd

Hey Susannah, That was definitely the norm for me (eating more than one cup), but from what I hear, everyone is different. I did ask the doctor about it at the time and both Mr. Crosthwaite and Dr. Korin seemed to think that was fine. I stressed heaps too. I'm a Water chugger - always have been. Even now, I drink pretty fast for a bandster. The only time I feel it is if its a *really* cold drink or if its first thing in the morning. Dunno- maybe I'm a bad bandster lol. Don't let it all get to you too much though. At the end of the day, if you're eating healthy and trying to follow the bandster rules as much as possible, you're doing great! Any major concerns, make sure to phone the doc. Another month and it'll all be second nature to you Oh - and good luck w/ that first fill next week! Don't forget, you probably won't get restriction from that first one, so don't get frustrated - it will come!

Vines, ya know something, I thought it was gonna be a lot harder than it has been....but your right, I am strong enough for this. And to be honest with you all....I haven't been on my prozac in weeks~!! I dont feel I need it any more. I know I know I should have talked to a doctor about going off.....but I am no longer living in the stressful environment that caused me to be on it in the first place!! I actually went to the doctor and got a higher dosage of it...and I never got the script filled. I am honestly feeling so much better its not funny. And Bubbame I saw your earlier posting about your situation, and I truely hope that you find some peace within your self too~ Its not an easy thing to go thru and your situation is a lot different than mine, but your doing things for the right reasons, and that is across the board. I was looking out for my son too! You will be fine.....especially when you see your kids looking happier than they have in quite some time. My son still asks to go home, and he asks for his daddy once in a while....but it is getting easier........My relationship with my son is getting sooo much stronger, and I never realized that could possibly happen~Best wishes to you and much white light energy your way my friend. You will survive. TTYL