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That is nearly 8 lbs per week! When have you ever lost 27 lbs in 3.5 weeks before? I'd say you're doing pretty darn good!

Hi Dan, I went on a liquid diet straight after the operation and it last for four weeks. I got to like Soup a lot! I went on a liver size reduction diet for two weeks before the operation. Your hospital will give you details of that. As for the first week after surgery, just rest. Your body has had a shock and needs time to recover. You may feel tired quickly. I was sore for several days after the operation. Take short walks around the garden and house. Don't just sit in the chair. I couldn't have done anything differently to that, but some walking is important. They will get you walking asap in the hospital. Take care.

After my first consult on October 19th, I just got word that my insurance has approvedy surgery! I just need to take the class next week and I will be schedule for my surgery. His is super exciting!! Any tips from anyone about how to prepare?

After my surgery, I was in recovery, when they went to draw some blood and nothing came out. They stuck me a few different places and the same thing happened. My pulse was VERY low. They did a hemoglobin count and realized that I was bleeding internally. It reached a point where they couldn't get my veins at all so the anesthesiologist came in and they inserted a central line into my neck. They had to give me 4 pints of blood before my hemoglobin leveled out. The bleed slowed down but 2 days later, they gave me another pint of blood. I had severe swelling in my abdomen and had serious Water retention. I was released on the 5th day and when I got home and weighed, I had gained 26 lbs.! Between my ballooned out belly, the internal swelling and 5 pints of blood that was still pooled in my abdomen, I had trouble trying to move my diaphram enough to breath. I tried to use the spirometer(sp) to keep my lungs working but it was so difficult that, 4 days later, I was readmitted for phneumonia. I spent another 4 days in the hospital for that. A few weeks after that I started having gallbladder attacks and ended up in the ER. While there they did a CT scan of my belly to check for a leak. What they found what that instead of absorbing back into my body tissue, that all those 5 pints of blood had "organized" and created 3 large clots. By now, 1 of them had liquified, so they inserted a drainage tube. They also did another endoscopy to look inside my new tummy. This was to look for a leak or infection from a different direction. The surgeon showed me a picture along the staple line that was a different color from the rest of it and had a slight protrusion. So, he added some clamps to the area. Three days later I had a gallbladder removed. Normally the gallbladder requires 1 small incision. But, when the surgeon took a look, he could see 1 of the other blood clots (the largest one) and decided to cut it up and take it out. This meant I ended up with 4 more incisions instead of 1. In all, I was under anesthesia 5 times in 7 weeks. My stomach looks like a tic-tac-toe board. I'll be honest, I was really scared there for a while and my poor hubby was put through the ringer with worry. There was honestly a point where I didn't care if I ever lost weight. I just wanted to stay out of the hospital. I am 2 months 3 weeks out, even though it feels like it been longer. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been getting stronger and feeling better. I have now lost a total of 61 pounds. I am off all blood pressure meds. I no longer require my CPAP machine. The weight loss has eased the pain in my back due to 4 herniated discs. I don't get out of breath when I walk around. My knees don't hurt as much. I spent a good while with buyers remorse. But, as I get stronger and my health starts to get better and better, I know I made the right choice. Any surgery comes with risks. I was just unlucky. There are peeps who sail through and sadly some that have it so much worse than I did. All you can do, is get as much info as you can so that you are mentally prepared for whatever happens. Listen to your dr and your nut and take good care of yourself. I wish you the very best.

I had surgery on 8/16. I read and read and read entries on this site. It made a world of difference for me. I was on a 2 week pre-op, almost harder than the surgery itself. On that morning, I was scared and apprehensive. Praying did calm and center me. When I came in, they asked a lot of questions I answered 13 times already...lol. What meds am I on? What's my name and date, checking the wrist band. Met with various nurses and Drs that "prepped" me. Got my IV. Surgery was done about 2 1/2 hrs after I arrived. It took about 1 hr 15 min. Woke up in recovery room, felt kinda like hit by a Mack truck, just confused, out of sorts, thirsty!!! Once in my room, got the pain pump. Used more in the first 3-4 hours and tappered off to maybe 6-8 "hits" per day. Pain went from a 9 to a 6 in a matter of a few hours, then down to a 4. I asked for no bladder catheter, I get bad UTIs. So schlepping all the stuff (IV and pain meds stand) in and out of the bathroom was a nuisance. I walked around the unit twice that day. I stayed 2 nights because I had issues with my heart rate dropping. The 2nd day walked 4 times around the unit. Ate minimally while I was there. Rested on and off. Was very bloated. I had to keep mindful that the first week wasn't about weight loss, but recovering. Detoxing from the anesthesia and meds took a few days too. Now feeling really good. The "worst" is behind me and I can't wait to getting better and better and more "normal". It's just a couple weeks of inconvenience, sacrafice and being uncomforatble for hopfeully a lifetime of better living. Good luck, we're all here for you. Keep us posted. Melinda Sleeved 8/16/10 by Dr Lynch HW 333, pre-op diet start 323, surgery weight, 309, weight today 300! Yippee!!!

Maybe try to drink more water, exercise more. Make sure you're keeping accurate track of all that you're consuming. It could just be your body adjusting, maybe you're still losing inches even if you're not losing pounds, which I know firsthand how frustrating that is. If all else fails, what I have done and has worked for me is to eat more calories for a few days, for me It was anywhere from 1200-1500 calories, and then go back to 600-800 calories daily, and the scale would start moving again. Of course I would gain a pound or two initially with the upped calories, but when I would go back to the 600-800 range, I'd lose those few pounds easily and them some, and then continue to drop steadily...until the next stall hits lol. Good luck!

I had my surgery 2/18/2014. I have been stalling for the last 4 weeks. I'm down 42 pounds since surgery. Has anyone else stalled this long before? What should I do?

This seems like a stupid complaint but what is going on is that I just don't want food. I have 6cc in the band and feel no restriction however I just don't think about food. I think about exercise all the time and spend most of my free time at the Y. Every day I have about 900 calories left on my fitness pal. I am concerned that this is pathological. I am losing wait at about 2-3 lbs a week which I understand is normal. Just looking for anyone who feels or felt this way.

Kalexis!! I also have BCBS Alabama and am waiting to see the nutritionist this week to complete everything the insurance is requiring. Your post gave me hope that they may just answer me quickly. Hopefully its an approval!!!

At one week I tried but was severely constipated. Stuck for 3 hours. Don't wait any longer you need to call your doc or nut. Mine recommended Milk of Magnesia for fastest relief or Miralax for 2-3 days. Don't wait. It was the most painful experience of my life. No joke. Call today.

Hang in there, that 6 months flies by. I finished mine the end of January and received approval the middle of February and tomorrow I start my 2 week liquid diet with surgery on 3/21. This is a great place to spend that 6 months to learn all you can from these people who have gone through the process.

Hi, I got my first fill yesterday. I was banded on April 25th. I really havent eaten much real food yet, just some cottage cheese, Soup, applesauce ect.......... I just drank liquids until tonight and when I tried to eat some cottage cheese, I felt like I needed to cough. Is this what "restriction" means? It sort of hurt and now it feels like something is kind of sitting there...not real pain, but not too comfortable either. Will this feeling go away or is this what it will always feel like? I dont know how much saline the Dr. put in... I hear he isnt agressive and takes it real slow. I really dont like this feeling. It feels like it is in my chest more than my tummy. Is this normal? thanks in advance for your replies, Janette P.S. I have lost 33 pounds in 6 weeks, which I assume is good.... but my doctor didnt say anything to me yesterday about my weight...is that weird or what? :paranoid

Sorry, it cut off! I have had not issues getting in my proteins and most of my water. I am back to work (desk job) and have been getting in a few miles most days. Now the not so good, I made a delicious 17 bean soup with turkey sausage yesterday, I cooked it forever so everything was super soft. It had all the normal spices so it was delicious (I have been cooking a lot of homemade soups and stews and mashing them up and they are great. They are also great because my young kids, mom and most friends don't know I had the surgery so it is easy for them to miss that I am eating anything differently than then. So what is not good? As I was cleaning up from dinner and putting the soup away I took three good sized bites of the soup (old habit). I am now experiencing my first "overfill" and it STINKS. I feel like food is stuck in my chest and I can't get it down. I had also team a drink%2

Keep in mind that just because you are scheduled for a adjustment, does not mean you will get one. You will be weighed, # lost dived by # weeks will determine how much you are averaging per week. They'll ask a few questions, maybe show you the Yellow-Green-Red chart and ask you where do you think you are, then either give you an adjustment or send you home saying you're doing fine. See you in another 4 weeks. At least that is how it has happened to me.

I tried to buy ahead and ended up wasting money, because after the surgery things I liked pre surgery (sugar free popsicles, sugar free PowerAde) I hated. Now my taste has returned to normal and I can tolerate. My advice is to buy small amounts of a variety of things and hope that a few work out for you. Good luck- the first week post op is not fun (but not horrible) but it gets much better!

Congrats. I also was not hungry the first week or so

Okwell i didnt find anything in my notes about supplements or Vitamins that that firm skin BUT i did have in my notes that Biotin is excellentfor hair and nail growth as well as healthier skin. So you might try that. I have been taking the biotin since about a week prior to surgery; it sure grows nails! I think whoever suggested doing curls was probably right as well as my husband telling me to do squats for my thighs. Good luck everyone.

For the first time in our 12 year relationship (10 years of marriage), I weigh less than my husband! I still have a lot to lose and he could stand to lose a few, too, but I have always been at least 20 pounds heavier. He actually seemed genuinely excited for me, too. I think he's looking forward to being able to pick me up and carry me around. Still got a long way to go before I get there, but a girl can dream. I told him to start hitting the weights now, though.

HI WENDY:clap2: CONGRATS ON JOINING THE BANDWAGON. I ONLY DISCOVERED THIS SITE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND ALREADY IT HAS BEEN SOOO MUCH HELP. I LIVE IN ENGLAND AND THOUGH SOME THINGS ARE DIFFERENT HERE MOST ARE THE SAME SO I CAN RELATE TO YOU ALL. I WAS BANDED ON 11 AUG SO AM JUST OVER 5 WEEKS POST OP AND AM DOING FINE SO FAR, HAVN,T HAD A FILL YET THOUGH:help: AM A BIT SCARED BUT WITH ALL THE EXPERIENCES ON HEAR I,M SURE I WILL GET LOTS OF SUPPORT JUST AS YOU WILL. I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO THE ANKLE PROB YOU HAVE I TOO HAVE IT AND ONLY YESTERDAY MY ANKLE TWISTED LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME AS IT WAS SOOO FUNNY I WAS WALKING FROM THE KITCHEN TO THE LOUNGE AND OVER IT WENT BUT I WAS WALKING QUITE QUICKLY SO THE MOMENTUM KEPT ME GOING FORWARD AND I STUMBLED RIGHT INTO THE WALL ALMOST KNOCKING MYSELF OUT ON THE MIRROR! MY HUSBAND WAS THERE BUT IT HAPPEND SO FAST HE COULDN,T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT I DID HURT MYSELF SLIGHTLY BUT IT LOOKED SO DAMM FUNNY I COULDN,T DO ANYTHING BUT LAUGH HAHA. AS YOU CAN SEE I TOO AM LONG WINDED LOL. SO I GUESS THE BAND WILL BE A BIT LIKE THAT TOO NOT ALL SMOOTH SAILING BUT IF WE KEEP A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE AND KEEP TALKING TO EACH OTHER WE WILL BE OK. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR JOURNEY AND KEEP IN TOUCH.:car:

I was banded in September, and since I have been off the liquids, I have continued to eat pretty much anything I want. A lot less of things, but none the less, anything. Is this because I still am drinking while I eat, or are some people just like this? Also, I just feel like I cant stop drinking while I eat. I have tried a couple of times, but it just is too much of a habit. How did you stop? Also, I don't really feel a lot of restriction when I eat. Is this also because of the drinking water when I'm eating? I went for my first fill 2 weeks ago and the dr put 3cc's in. I thought I would feel more restriction, I didn't. My weight loss has been plateaued now for about 3 weeks. Any advice would be appreciated... Thanks

i'm not sure who the reply is aimed at, but my gym is planet fitness. They have a huge section of weight machines that are targeted at all of the major muscle groups. I do that entire section 3 times a week, alternating with an hour of cardio on the non-weight days. On the weight days, I do half an hour at least of cardio. I was doing twice daily cardio, but that did a number on every muscle in my body, so I've scaled back a little bit. In the beginning, I did 2 pound weights every other day: biceps curls, front arm raises, skull crushers, and triceps kick backs. I started with 10 reps per exercise and built up until I can do 80 reps of each one with a 5 pound weight. It's working.

I would allow yourself a chocolate treat one time week, that is it. It would be a treat not a daily thing. I am having a hard time with my daughters halloween candy in the house. I have control if it is not in the house but if it is in the house I am weak, weak! Good luck to you!

3 weeks post op and 32.9 pounds down. Great App: weight drop. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If your work will let you take a few weeks off, I highly recommend that so that you can adjust to your new eating routine and healing. I went to work 1 week after the surgery and caught myself in somewhat of a trance driving to work. Sometimes I had difficulty concentrating and focusing on discussions we were having. This is the time to take care of you! Best wishes.

Hi Everyone: I am struggling with this lap-band. I am yo-yoing back and forth and can't get past the 35 pound mark. I drop to 194 then back up to 202. My problem, I think, is when I get filled, I am on liquids for 2-4 weeks, that's clear, to full liquids just like after surgery. While on that timeframe, I can lose 15 pounds no problem, cause I'm not eating. As soon as I start taking in solids, I gain. Please help! I am 9 cc filled. Last fill was one week before Thanksgiving 2007. We are nearing our one year anniversary mark, and I am no where close to goal! Thanks, Carol