Search the Community

I had surgery on Friday (7/19) and the first day I had really bad gas pain. But the second day it was gone and the only pain I was dealing with is the pulling at the belly button. I am currently not taking any pain meds. I had no drain tubes and no catheter. Best of luck!! The hardest part for me was drinking the first day. Now I'm going better.

I hope you went through with it. I just got banded on 12/31 and have had NO issues at all with exception to gas right after surgery. I have already lost 19 pounds since, please do this....you are worth it!

I think the weight can start to climb back from bad eating habits and lack of exercise. It's just a tool to lose the excess weight and it will come back if people resort to their old eating habits. I'm about 10 pounds from goal and I have to diet to get where I am now the surgery helps but I could graze and snack on carbs all day and the weight would come back. I'm 19 months post op and don't dump anymore and rarely vomit unless I eat too much. I'm happy I did the surgery I couldn't have lost the 130 pounds I have so far without it...but it's not a cure for Obesity if people go back to their old ways of eating.

I suspect you are right. HW 420 SW 347 CW 327 Sleeved April 10, 2017

hang in there. I was sleeved on Oct. 20 2011 and have lost 100lbs. I was wearing size 20 and stretching those and weighed 260. Now I wear size 8-10 and weigh 160. First time in our marriage that I have weighed less than my husband. I love the way I look in the mirror now but still feel like I am the same size until someone stops me at work and comments on how great I look. Physically I feel GREAT. Nothing hurts anymore. Little things like being able to cross my legs now when I sit down feels good. I feel sick when I look back at pictures of me in the past and see how fat I looked. I just didn't realize how I looked and how it affected how I lived and worked. I feel so much younger now. I'm 53 but was feeling much older when I was heavy. What I found easiest to use is Total Lean Meal Replacement shakes from GNC. They come in bottles ready to drink so no mixing. Tastes like chocolate milk to me. I also like their unflavored Protein powder that I add to yogurt for a snack and to my luxury item (mocha frappe's from McDonalds). I also eat the weight watcher (Smart Ones) frozen meals for lunch and then some kind of meat for dinner. I take my multi Vitamin, vit. D, B complex, vit. B12 daily. I try to drink 1-2 of the shakes per day and I also fill in when hungry with South Beach Meal Bars or Snacks. You will eventually get to the point where you can have a bite or two of what you used to love along with the above and be satisfied. Be strong and have patience. It will get better and before long you will be where you want to be.

I was in the same boat, I had my surgery 2 days before you, and for the first two weeks, nothing changed! I was very disapointed with myself, and felt as if I was doing something wrong even though I was on a liquid diet, and starving!! As soon as I moved on to the mushie stage (a little over a week ago), the weight just started coming off. I finally had a few BM's, which definitely helped, but now I'm at another plateau where I feel I can eat a lot, and I'm not losing. First fill is scheduled for 1/10 and I can't wait. Yippee!!

Thanks Sarah.... I feel like I am finally on my way to a healthy life...even 10 pounds (now actually 11.4 pounds!!) feels wonderful. I can't wait to say "good-bye" to the remaining pounds.

Same thing happened to me 10 days prior. My nurse at the hospital told me to call my Dr. and get a script for that real strong antibiotic that you take only two or three pills and you are sure to knock it out. I think it is call Z-pack (Zythromax) or something. Maybe someone else will know what I am talking about. The anestesia guy told me he would not do it if I was not well and did not get this script to clear me up before surgery. You should call your family doc and ask them about it. It does matter with anestesia.

I am scheduled for surgery on the 24 and I am worried too. I've been coughing my head off for 2 weeks now, I mean coughing like every 10 seconds non stop. My chest burns from it. I went to the doctor friday and got some antibiotics and nasal spray. I'm worried b/c I feel like my lungs are taking a beating right now.

My Kaiser experience is a little different. I was banded in Mexico in Dec. 2006 while I was living in the Pacific Northwest. My initial fill management was done by a nurse practitioner in the area who was affiliated with the surgeon. In June 2007 I moved to the SF Bay Area and sought out a surgeon to do fill management for me. I found a GREAT surgeon -- Dr. Husted -- who went into private practice about the time I got Kaiser insurance at my job, so I sought fill management from Kaiser and to my surprise they were willing to see me (not many US docs are keen on Mexico patients). By the time I saw the doc I was 14 months post-op and had lost about 40 lbs, but was beginning to regain, and I had never had a satisfactory fill (that lasted more than 10-12 days). I questioned whether my band was leaking. The doc's treatment plan was to have me keep a food diary and talk to the dietician. It's all in my head, he said. What I probably needed was education and portion control Really. If that worked, Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers would have been the answer 20 years ago. At a followup appointment, I had my obligatory counselling session with a young woman who clearly has never had a weight problem in her life, and who told me it's all in my head. I just need to practice portion control. The doc told me that 20% of all band surgeries fail and clearly viewed me as a "failure" on a number of levels. He did seem appropriately concerned however when he checked my fill level after adding a small amount and didn't get the same amount back. Gee, maybe there is a leak. I should also mention that this surgeon -- Dr. Im -- has the WORST technique for accessing my band which left me so physically exhausted after that appointment that I literally fell into bed and couldn't get up for 14 hours (and it takes a LOT to take the wind out of my sails). I remember thinking this must be what I felt like post-op except that they give you pain meds to mask the discomfort. So I have been reluctant to pursue another followup with this surgeon. Has anyone else had a better experience with another surgeon at Richmond? At this point I'd almost rather pay the $350/visit for my non-Kaiser doc.

I had restriction with just the band. Just got my first fill 10 weeks postop. I don't know how much he put in but definitely feeling more restriction. Go back in 10 weeks for another fill. I'm glad I can't eat as much as before. Hit a plateau for weight loss.

I dont think there is necessarily a window. However, it is easier to lose weight in the beginning because at a higher weight, your body uses more calories to maintain your body and the weight drops faster. It is also easier to lose weight in the beginning because motivation is higher and you start with a liquid diet. I can see that if a person does not follow the program and bandster rules in the beginning after banding and has minimal or no success at banding once they reach restriction . . . then chances of future success are diminished. You have to be committed to the lifestyle. If you are committed, then I think you can find success at banding during any point in the journey whether it is in the first 6 months or 10 years down the road.

I've only been banded since 10 Dec and am due at the doctor's on Monday 15th for my first fill. I'm not sure what is going on, but I've been feeling less and less hungry over the last week. My post-op regime was supposed to 4 days on Clear liquids, 7-10 days on thick liquids, 1-2 weeks on mushies, and then back to normal eating, with the transition times being up to me and dependent upon how well I tolerated food. I was very good for the first 10 days, sticking exactly to the routine, but found by Day 10 I was absolutely ravenous. I made a big error in judgement on Day 10, and broke down and ate 4 breaded/fried half chicken wings Yes, yes, I know I was only supposed to be going into the mushy stage at the time and chicken wings aren't mushy!! Mind you, I did chew them to mush and beyond. Anyway, I've already been spanked severely for that on these boards when I confessed at the time, so please don't do that again. I need your advice on a different matter now... Over the mushy stage, I was pretty good although a couple of things were probably more "soft food" rather than truly mushy. Stuck to the calorie requirement well (in fact way below). About the only thing I did wrong was that I tended to push the 1 cup limit a little on the evening meal. I would get towards the end of the bowl and know that I was full and should stop but couldn't resist the taste and couldn't bear to throw the food out, so would just take it really really slowly and finish it all. At the end, I would feel uncomfortably full for quite a while, but never PB'd or anything. I can tolerate just about any type of food and am satisfied for hours on 1 cup. Anyway, now I am finding that I am feeling less and less hungry as the days go by and am starting to feel slightly nauseous all the time. I'm starting to get worried that the early chicken wings and the eating beyond the point of hunger have caused problems, possibly slippage or stretching the pouch. My port is in an awkward place (right on my waist line) and my work pants press against it uncomfortably when I sit. It also presses against my desk and over the last week, I have noticed it is starting to look a little bruised behind the scar, when it had been well-healed before I returned to work last week. I've been finding it harder to finish my evening meal Could the bruising be causing swelling, which is why I am not so hungry? Should I tell the doctor not to worry about the fill? I don't know how much I have lost in the last week, as I am not able to get near a scale till I get home from the mine site tomorrow night, but I don't think it has been a great deal. Typical day's eating: Breakfast - 1 poached egg, 1 muffin (no butter or fat) lunch - Optifast dinner - 2oz meat, 1/4 potato, 1 tbsp Beans, 1tbsp peas (or carrots, corn, broccholi, etc), 1tpbs gravy. 2-3 cups coffee with skim milk (not drunk with meals) Total: @ 700 cal I don't think I should be trying to eat much less than this, so don't think I need a fill, but am worried about why that is...

Such GREAT comments. Thanks folks! I have my next appointment 10 June, so that is 2 and a half weeks away. I hope I have better luck then. I have lost 20 lbs even before the fill, but I have lost nothing in almost 2 weeks. Thanks Again!

"Only" 40 pounds? 40 lbs is fantastic! When was the last time you lost 40 pounds this easily? Be proud of your accomplishment. Realize that some people lose faster or slower but that's them and you are you. There is always someone out there faster or taller or smarter or more talented than you. Who cares? This is NOT a competition. You have the right attitude. This is a tool, just a chunk of silicon. It doesn't choose to lose weight, YOU do. You are losing weight slow and steady, best possible way. This is not a diet. There is no "goal" where everything ends. You permanently changed the way you live, for the better. Things like food habits and activity are not things to do for a while, but as much a part of you as breathing. A few small tips that seem to work for me: I almost never watch TV in real time. We have a DVR and I always record so I can fast forward past commercials, especially food ones. If I find myself staring in the cupboard for a snack, I brush my teeth. The taste curbs my hunger for some reason. (ever drink orange juice tight after brushing? blech.) Otherwise, I'll go for a quick walk around the neighborhood. A lot of times that 10 minute delay gets my mind off of food, plus it's exercise that gets your metabolism speeded up. Buy an article of clothing that's you really like and is just a tiny bit too small. Try it on every couple of days. Avoid the scale for a few days too. (I never weigh myself, I just use my clothing fit and belt notches to track size loss.) Pick one thing you can't do today because of size that you really want to do and daydream a bit about it. Look at that nasty "before" photo you took. That scares me straight every time. Thomas Jefferson said: I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.

I AS WELL WAS AFRAID OF TRYING BREAD. THE GROCERY STORE IN MY TOWN MAKES MINI LOAVES OF WHEAT AND RYE. I DO OKAY WITH A SLICE OF THAT BUT I USUALLY TRY TOASTING IT. IF IT IS TO SOFT I FEEL LIKE I STRUGGLE GETTING IT DOWN, I ONLY HAVE 2CC IN A 10 CC BAND SO MY RESTRICTION STILL ISN'T REAL TIGHT. :redface:

Hello everyone! I've decided to have the lap band surgery probably in October or November of this year -- Statesville, NC. I have found out that my health insurance will pay 90% of the cost. I've been "dieting" my way up to 267 lbs and I'm finally fed up. This is it. I've already been to an information session and everything....this is the right thing for me to do. I just wanted to say "hello" and sort of introduce myself. I'm 40 years old. I have 2 kids -- 19 and 9 and I've been dating a wonderful (supportive) guy for 1 1/2 years now. I want to lose the weight for me. I'm tired of being tired....if that makes any sense? :-) I look forward to hearing any feedback you may can share with me to sort of ease my nervousness about all this.

I've never been 70kg as an adult, I always hovered around 78-79kg before I got really fat. My healthy weight range is 63-79kgs, you can find healthy weight charts in a million places, in every calorie counter you buy for example. I knew that at 79kg I never felt thin. I was chunky, definitely not able to wear what I wanted and at that weight (which is about 180lb or so) and 5ft 10, I was definitely sized out of regular clothing at an Australian 16 (American 14 or so), I had to buy fat old nanna clothes and I loathed it. And I just knew, going by the covering of fat I had, that it was still overweight for me. So I set 70kg as a goal. My surgeon never asked but the nutritionist I saw for one visit did. She told me it was overambitious and not likely to happen. I ignored her, her nutrition advice was pretty generic and crap too. Having gotten to this weight, i can see I am not "a big girl" or "big boned" like people always used to say about me as a child and teen. I was never obese but always hefty. I am actually quite fine boned and lightly muscled and I am not meant to be at the heavy end of my weight range. My weight at the moment is just fine, but I could easily be 10lb lighter and not be too thin. Yet 5ft 10 and 145lb or so on here seems to cause screams of "you'll be scrawny, it'll look horrible". Its a moot point anyway since I dont seem to be able to move from 154.

my last straw was getting above 200lbs. It might not seem alot to other people but I am on 4 feet 11 inches. I floundered around 192 to 195 for about 3 years. That really didn't bother me, but when I stepped on the scale at my mother in laws house and I was over 200, I got scared. How much more can I gain. That was last Christmas. In January I went to my first meeting for Lap Band. I did not want to do RNY because I have a friend who did it about 10 years ago and she has now gained all her weight back plus some. I am also turning 40 in july and I want to do something to change myself and be healthy for the first time in about 30 years.

Greetings again from sunny Florida! I'm a lot older than most here 56. I was banded 10/15/12 so even though I'm old, I'm still a newbie. I've been hanging with these wonderful ppl for almost 8mths now and they've taught me most of what I need to know to succeed with LBS. I love them all! Glad to have you with us also!

Give yourself time:) "normal" is a learned behavior I think. My normal for last 10 years is wearing stretch pants and hoodies, avoiding bathing suit and pictures, and having a evening snack in front of the tv after the kids go to bed. Is that normal, or my normal? My date is dec 3 and I often worry about what life will be like after... What will my normal be? Will I mourn the loss if my Old normal? I think I am sick of my normal. It won't be easy but I can't wait for my new normal to be my normal lol. Good luck, we all need it:)

I had the band done about 5 years ago and i lost about 50lbs and gained it all back. I had the revision done 6/15/10. I have only lost 40 lbs since, but the quality of my life is so much better. I choose not to have the full 80% of my stomach removed and I am suffering the consequences of that choice now. I can eat far more than most. My biggest problem is head hunger, because of it I tend to snack all day. I desperately want to reach my goal weight of 145lbs, but I don't know how to get there. Because I am not seeing much progress I have also slacked off with exercising. Can anyone offer advice or suggestions? I am open to anything.

Hello. As the title says I am beginning my lap band journey. I made and went to my consultation appointment last week. I am 41yo, married for 19yrs. Mother of 3, (15yo girl and a 10 & 5yo boys). And today I got a call today to start my pre-O P orders.. I have to get the typical blood work, Need an E K G , then have have a cardiologist clear me. Psychological evaluation, and a Upper G I ....(oh yay!!) Current pap and mamo ..(not sure why they need this). So I decided to post a hello instead of being a creeper. I am nervous and excited. January 1st I was at my heaviest weight of 350lbs.and decided to do something about it. Currently I am 333, and trying. I have scheduled most of my tests for Thursday and Friday, next week need to do some others. I was told, my insurance Co.covers cost up to 90% but since I met my out of pocket deductible,it's 100%… I'm hoping for no surprise $$. Hmmmm...think that's it... If I forgot something ask me.. -Deb

I'm having this done April 10. I have a giant hiatal hernia which means my whole stomach is through the hernia. They're going to move it back where it should be and do the bypass in the same operation. Best of luck to you!

I too, started between March and May on my journey. Friday 10/5/18 is my sleeve surgery date. I was required to do a 2 week liquid diet.. Hard but dedication. Am I nervous?, as two virgins on their wedding night. But looking back at pictures and remembering feeling mortified looking at myself in a full body mirror and not able to enjoy life.. feeling my lowest point when weight started to nag at who I was and where I wanted to be... all the procrastination went out the window. Don’t give up. I was robbed of who I’m supposed to be and Friday I will collect justice.