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Hello im sitting here in the UK reading all your posts about the lap band. with a operation date of 20th February 14. Im getting so confussed about this lap band thing, all the pre op posts on this site are very interesting, informative but for me im getting into a slight pre op tizzy. As the day approaches im self questioning myself, should I be doing this, am I that bad that I need a operation. I like most have been yo yo dieting most of my life so now its time to take hold of this weight issue I think! Whats driving me forward with this is my health. Im fine right now but if i dont change, well what can I look forward to High blood presure, diabetis, joint problems. I think there are more pros than cons with this procedure. Can anyone tell me whats with this "im having bad gas" issue i keep reading about on these blogs. Over here we sometimes call it wind. Is it very common post op does it last long, and can you take medication for it? Pre op diet starts Friday, this is one thing that has stopped me having this op ages ago. Mush food, ect for two weeks not sure i will cope with it.

I will be 2 weeks post op tomorrow and plan on going to the gym to run and elliptical, my doc said next week last Thursday so I guess I am good. When did you get the go ahead?

For Roux en Y, ATLEAST 2 weeks. I'm taking 3 weeks off and I think it'll be perfect, although I wish I could take 4 off

I took a week off and I walk at my job. I actually could've gone back a few days later but you are more tired then sore. My mom also had surgery and went back to a desk job within a few days.

I live in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood & was sleeved three years ago in Boston.

More often than not, it's the INSURANCE that wants you to do the six month diet plan, not the doctors. The doctor will probably have you on a preop diet, but that's only a few weeks before surgery. :cake:

I think it depends on the surgeon. I was amazed how fast things moved once my insurance was set. I had to prove a year history (thankfuly my family Dr. could do that for me) for my insurance. Once the insurance was done, I had my appointment with the surgeon and was in surgery in a couple of weeks. He made me have a ton of pre-op tests: endoscopy, electrocardiogram, stress test, etc. However, they went very fast and were covered by insurance.

Patty, I agree with Alex. I eat Wendy's chili at least 1 x per week. I make my own turkey chili and this is a staple for me as well. McDonalds has some healthy choices. THeir salads with the FF balsamic vinegar are great. The grilled chicken minus bun is a great choice. Even the chicken strips are not too terrible, although this would not be my first choice for spree foods! LOL. Being a bandster doesnt mean deprivation and not being able to eat at the same place other folks do. I do try to stay away from fast food though because what I can make at home taste so much better than the crap I get at FF restaurants. Since I can eat so little, I would rather have a great piece of fish or invest in better quality meats and eat them at home. Babs in TX 334/180 -154

Wow, you're looking great already, and just a few weeks after surgery, you're amazing!!! ROTFLMAO, thanks again for the grins and giggles!! (((HUGS))) Cindy

I had edamame at 7 weeks with no problem, just remember to eat your protein first

I had that problem the first few weeks after banding. It has gotten completely better. It just takes time. I am not sure exactly what it is that causes that feeling, but I slept on my side with a pillow under me for the first few weeks. I hope that you feel better soon.

thanks guys, I appreciate your help and support. I am studying abroad now and dont get home for another 7 weeks- restriction will have to wait until then:(. My mom met a friend who said she got the band and it took a while for her to, so Im hopeful... I definitely think i can eat a lil less then before... not much however.. Glad to see you making progress- it gives me hope...

Im 4 weeks post op- my ultimate goal is about 70 pounds I havent lost a thing yet- from pre op maybe a couple pounds that were gained during and post surgery- in fact I think I gained a couple more because Im on vacation. I got one fill of 3 cc and the nurse said that probably wont restrict me much but its a start. Im as hungry as I ever was... Are you guys doing a lot of behavior modification? Becasue I think Immaybe even eating worse then before bec I know my food days will be shortlived. Any advice? PS Is it possible that eating wrong can reverse the effects of the band?

I was cleared at my 2 week check up but later learned the rule had more to do with not wanting patients driving under the influence of heavy pain killers.

1. Yes you will be able to drink like normal again. I am almost 6 weeks out and I just gulped 4 huge swallows of water with no problem what so ever. Everyone is a little different but It will get easier and better every day. 2. I bought some chewable calcium from Walgreens. They aren't the best but they aren't the worst either. Maybe ask the pharmacist what they recommend? 3. My doctor said only walking until I reach at least 6 weeks out. Then I can start with weight lifting. Start slow and work your way up. If you start too heavy you can be really sore and not want to do it anymore. He was very strict on not doing anything besides walking for the first 6 weeks because of the injuries inside your body. The outside may look healed but the inside takes longer. 4. Aaahhh, crying. I cried for 8 days straight after surgery. I regretted my decision and hated myself for what I did to my body. LOL What my doc told me is that we carry a lot of hormones in our fat and when we lose that weight we go through this HUGE hormone surge. It makes us a total wreck for a while. I sometimes still get a little teary eyed from time to time but I don't feel like I am going crazy anymore and I DON'T REGRET MY DECISION AT ALL!!!! It will get so much better. I was in a dark dark place for the first 2 weeks. It passes, I promise. You will feel better and get better. It got amazing yesterday when I could start eating real food again. In the grand scheme of things it's such a short time of misery but when you are in it if feels like it will never end. The turning point is between one month and 6 weeks out. You will get there, I promise! Let us know if you have any more questions, that is what this place is for.

My doctor took mine off at my 2 week checkup and put one back on to stay on the safe side...

Quick update - After my third fill (October 2012) I got stuck with everything I ate (7.2 cc in 14 cc band). I toughed it out for a while but then had 0.3 cc removed in December and 0.5 cc removed in March. I gained about 8 pounds back during this time. I was eating a lot of potato chips since they did not get stuck. Last week I got filled back up to 7.2, stopped buying and eating the chips and the scale shows 3 pounds lower this morning! I'm hoping my time in the wilderness is over. At the first information session the doctor talked about the addictive nature of food and how some bandsters end up substituting one addiction for another, mentioning alcohol. I never thought I'd have a potato chip addiction! Cold turkey got me off it and now I don't go near them at the store for fear they will jump into my basket. Thanks for all your posts - they're very encouraging.

@Davina's @LipstickLady @Mariod811 @Gladys62 @jane13 @Sonnie456 I'm truely thankful for your support. I don't know if you all had these concerns, I believe they are just fases. I will have my surgery done in a couple of weeks, I have yet to decide the date, But I will keep you posted on my process. I'm 24 years old and I have been overweight since I was 11 and I want to put a stop to it before I have a family. Thankfully I have the best surgeon's in my country (because it's two of them and they operate together) they have been very supportive and patient with me.

Awesome job!!! I'm four weeks and 1 day down a total of 31.6 (that's w the 1 week liquid diet for one week before surgery) We are on our way!!!!!!

I was banded 8/6/12, and it is a month now. I struggled at first with snacking, but healthy snacks, no carbs just greek yogurt, or cottage cheese, etc only protein. I got the carbs from the yogurt and cottage cheese. I was not losing weight for about 10 day, and when I did a follow up with my doctor i realize they meant no snacking between meal but I was so busy trying to get in carbs and protein, that i was eating too many calories. I have nothing in my band until hopefully the 19th of September. I am now eating 1 cup of food each meal, and i am losing weight. I am not eating between meals which allows me to get in my 64oz of fluid, ex: water, tea, etc and i am not hungry. My dr. said to only focus on the protein and fiber, not the carbs and fat but be mindful to make low calories, low fat choices, not pizza or canned processed foods. She explained to me that i will not feel full after my 6-8 ounces of food, but wait the 20 minutes and let your brain process the food and i should not be hungry for at least 4 hours. I could eat more, but i don't, i wait and i find that i am not hungry. I would not beleive if it didn't happen to me. She explained that it is very important to have the 4 hours window of not eating, because what i don't take in with carbs and fat by not eating between meals your body will use your body fat to get the carbs, fat etc and burn the fat and you lose weight. If you do eat between meals, your body does not need to burn the fat because you are feeding it more food between meals. It was so profound when she said that, it all clicked and i tried it and it worked. Remember I have nothing in my band yet, and i can eat more, but i stop at 1 cup and wait the 20 mins. I was talking on the phone today and went 6 hours and still did not feel hungry, and all i had this morning for breakfast was a 6oz greek yogurt with fruit, a cup of coffee before breakfast. Unbelievable. I may not get a fill if I keep up this way. I do want a fill, because my doctor said once i get a fill, it will be hard to eat more than 1/2 cup of food and then i really need to focus on protein and fiber. Try not eating between meals and if that does not work, don't eat the white carbs because it is not a healthy choice, and i may be filling you up but not keeping you full (carbs make you hungry and that may be what is happening to you) and you need to have high protein with each meal. I have been on a ground turkey homemade chili for 1 week and loss 4 pounds. I have only followed this meal plan for 1 week and it works, where I did not lose any weight for 10 days before my dr. set me straight. Hope this helps.

I’m , Confused and frustrated because I had my surgery 10/3/17 and according to my scale I only lost 8lbs supposedly I move my scale like 5 times and it changed 5 times I believe I should have lost more then that by more I barely intake much. Can my body be retaining water ? Or can I be at a stall already? I don’t know what to do and my my two week appointment is 10/17/18 . Has this happen to anybody else ?

Hello All! I had an appointment scheduled last Friday for a third fill. I always go into these appointments with a little fear--Big Needle Phobia hear...(see previous posts!) Anyhow, I have lost 8 more pounds in the 4 weeks since my last appoinment. The nutritionist and I had a great discussion: I'm still losing weight at my current fill level, I am not getting hungry and I have little or no problems with food getting stuck-aside from a few non-chewing/triscuit/McD's fries incident-- So, no additional fill for now. We'll see how the next four weeks go. I am an everyday weigher, On the Advice of LaMadam and others, I had my husband hide the scale. I am only allowing myself to hoist myself onto it on Saturday Mornings!

Gracie...have you thrown up hard, not followed your docs post-op diet..anything to make you think it would of slipped? If not...then I can bet it's still a bubble of gas. Took me almost 8 weeks to feel totally up to par again. I was able to work and all but, for me there was dicomfort in the upper left (my left) incision. I asked my surgeon and he said that is the spot they do more of the work for the band, the moving, tunnelling, etc so it's more bruised and is through the muscle. Anyway....ask your surgeon maybe he uses the right side on his patients for the heavy duty surgery work I would think if you slipped, from all I've read, you'd have heartburn, throwing up and food wouldn't go down as easily.

I lost 22 pounds 2 weeks preop and 17 in 7 weeks post op. It's normal. A "3week stall" is normal. Losing every single day is not normal. Losing 10 pounds/week is not normal. You are doing fine. Just keep getting your fluids and Protein and exercise and you will lose. It took years to put on weight, and you certainly won't lose it all in a few weeks. This is a lifelong process, it won't happen overnight and you shouldn't stress over.

OMG! I thought I was the only one!! This is ridiculous!! I had my period for like a week and half prior...then it just kept on coming!! And it's still here. I'm so over it!! It's made me a little tired and cold....and just a little crampy. I hope it ends soon! I'm sure that I'm going to get anemic for a while!!!