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Hi everyone! I started my journey back in September. November 12th will mark my three month mark with three more to go until my paper work can be submitted to my insurance company. I still have the psych eval to do which I'm hoping to get done the begining of December. Then to have all of my labs completed the same day as my January doctor's appointment, I hope that by reading everyone's posts it will serve as my guide towards being healthy. Giving me the strength and encouragement to overcome the obsticles that will present themselves to me.

While reading some of the posts in the last few weeks I have read that some people are under the perception that doctors do not put any fluid in the band at surgery. . I did ask this question at the hospital after surgery and was told by a nurse that they do not usually do that at the time of surgery. When I went for my first fill I found out that I already had 3cc in my band. They put in 2 more and I could not even sip water so they took out I cc and now I have 4cc’s. I have had appointments twice for two more fills but I have canceled them due to the fact that I am still losing and have some difficulty in eating some foods. I did not know to ask the question of my doctor before surgery so I am hoping that all the new banders to be will remember this and ask the doctor doing the surgery and not the nurse after surgery

I am about 4 and a half weeks out, and in stage 3 of the eating plan. I had homemade chicken Soup for dinner, and I have to say, that about the 3rd or 4th bite into the meal, this uncomfortable, almost pain starts to happen, and removes the desire for one more bite! I know I have to take small bites, and chew my food well, and I comply with that instruction. The noises of gas bubbles churning in my little stomach can be heard across a crowded room and are embarrasing. Once I push my bowl away and give up, that uncomfortable feeling will last up to an hour before I find relief, like burping a hundred or so times! Is this all a part of the healing process and should I just apply more patience to myself, or is this going to be the case for the rest of my life? That is a dismal thought, to say the least, but I feel a bubble of panic setting in and I want to nip it in the bud, of that is possible! Any reassuring thoughts will be most appreciated! Connie

I stopped taking pain meds after week 1. I still had pain week 2 but it was bearable. I had gastric bypass and hernia repair so YMMV. The pain didn't go away completely for weeks but was more like twinges depending on what I was doing and how I moved. Nothing that needed continued pain meds . GL

2 weeks and you're eating bread? Wow.

Hi eveyone, I was banded in August 2008 and I've been very happy with my results. I've lost 40 pounds and have another 40 to go!!! I had SmartLipo on my abdomen and love handles last week and I'm so HAPPY!!! I thought I had to lose all my weight before I could have cosmetic surgery, but I was wrong. I had the procedure done in the office without having to go to sleep. The best part was the skin will get tighter because they used a laser thingy. Anyway, Let me know if you've had smartlipo so we can compare results! :thumbup:Thanks, KoolKat:thumbup: FYI: Dr. William Neal in Olympia Washington placed my Lapband system and their office did my SmartLipo too!!!

I'm about 6 weeks and suddenly craving pizza. I keep hoping my daughter will get one so I can try a single bite. Today I took fresh mozz, a slice of tomato and some basil and stuck it in the toaster oven broiler. Yum. Not pizza but yum.

Barb, I too had doubts as my surgery got closer. I think some doubts are normal. It is a major life style change, and one that you can't change your mind when you get tired of doing it. A week before my surgery, I started wondering if I was doing the right thing. I have always been fat, and have tried EVERYTHING under the sun to loose weight. I would always loose 40-50 pounds when I joined Weight Watchers (would you believe I joined 17 times!?!) But always gain it back when I got bored with the diet and quit. Usually gained another 5-10 lbs along with the 40-50 I had lost. Also tired Diet Center, Curves, Redux (the miracle diet pill. One of the side effects was supposed to be erotic dreams. I was really bummed when that didn't happen to me, and I didn't even loose that much weight on it!) Also tired Weigh Down Workshop, NutriSystem, Medifast, Optifast, Jenny Craig, Overeaters Annon., Overeaters Victorious, Slim Fast, etc., etc., etc. But now my health is at stake. As I enter my 60's (OMG that sounds old!) I find that I am (was) pre-diabetic, my blood pressure was creeping up, my cholesterol was up (I was on statin meds for that), I had really bad gastric reflux (on meds for that too), sleep apnea (breathing machine at night), bad arthritis (more meds) and the only thing I could see was more medical problems heading my way. I am (I think) a YOUNG 62, and want to live and enjoy my life for years to come yet. So I decided to commit to this and do it! I am bound and determined to get down to a normal weight and stay there. I wrote to a good friend who had a Roux N Y surgery 6-8 years ago, and asked her if she would do it again if she had it to do over. She said "in a heartbeat!" She has really struggled, and gained some of her weight loss back (lost over 120 lbs and gained 40-50 back). But says she is so much more comfortable and healthy now that she wouldn't go back for anything.I think you need to concentrate on one of the last things you said in your post "You ARE worth the effort!" Best of luck. Keep us all posted on how you are doing!

I think that's a matter of genetics. I had decent skin going into this and so far so good. In fact I'd say my skin looks even better. My routine is simple. I use my clarisonic mia 1x a day with DDF and moisturize with baby oil gel. I then wipe off the excess. In the evenings I wash with YES makeup remover cloths, wash with warm Water and once again moisturize with baby oil gel. I wear full face makeup (CoverFX foundation, powder, etc....) 3 - 4 days a week. On gym days I give my skin a break. For the record, I'm 51 and so far I've lost over 55lbs

I just wanted to introduce myself. I have been reading the boards for a couple of months now and hadn't had the opportunity to post. However, now that I am at home recovering I thought I would say hi! My surgeon was Dr. Jeffery Kolff at Abington Memorial Hospital. I live in the greater Philadelphia, PA area. I had my surgery Tuesday afternoon and was discharged Wednesday afternoon. I have been doing great so far, no complications and no side effects yet, and haven't taken any pain meds since Wednesday. Last night I walked around a store for an hour w/ my husband which felt great! I am definitely pretty tired still but overall feel great. I am not getting a ton of my full liquids down, but I am still doing well sipping & drinking the yogurt and Protein shakes. I will probably have lots of questions in the next few weeks & months! I look forward to getting to know you all and learn from your experiences.

Congrats on being banded. As with any surgery, you will have pain and/or discomfort where the incision is. I was banded three years ago so it's a bit fuzzy for me, but I don't recall anything out of the ordinary. I know I took less than a week off work and then worked from home for a week at most. After that, I was good to go.

I weigh myself daily because I have a Fitbit scale and I like having lots of numbers for the graph the app maintains, but I can see how harmful it would be for some people to do that. Sometimes if I'm discouraged with a number I got on a particular day, I compare it to a number I got a week before and it's always smaller.

Greetings my Good People! I know it’s been a hella long minute since I’ve updated. My life has been nothin short of chaos for the past 3 months. That being said – I haven’t lost my focus – even though I lost my day job.I will say though – that this time has helped me really prioritize my life and what’s important…and my health (physical, mental, AND spiritual) is at the top of the heap. Feeling Accomplished after ZUMBA The time I spent in NYC motivated me to get out & move more, and that’s something I brought home with me. When I was there – some days Id walk 3 or 4 miles a day. I’d run & play in the park w/my daughter…I’d just get up and move as much as possible. I really attribute this last 15-20# I lost (in the past 2 mnths) to that. On top of that – I realized that moving got my juices flowin…so to speak. It made me WANT to move/do more…and when I do get up/out & move…I feel…vixen-ish! *lol* Seriously – I really thought my mojo was gone for good. But it is slowly resurfacing. It kicked into overdrive this week with the start of my Zumba obession – thanks to many friends, and a persistent neighbor (also a WLS gal) who wasn’t allowing me to keep making excuses. Zumba is the $h!t! *lol* As much as I lovessssss me some belly dancing, I think I’ve taken on a new luv-ah! (even though some of the core techniques are the same – which is probably why i love it so much!) I’ll be going once a week, and also taking a step-class on an alternate day. There is nothing sexier than sweating off the pounds by shakin my booty-meat for an hour straight *lol* Nothin says “Sexy” like a sweaty love-cave *lmao*. 60# to go! You know – I really thought that Miss Mojo was gone for good. I just hadn’t been feeling myself. More self conscious than I’ve EVER been in my LIFE. And it kinda saddened me. I was wondering if I would ever feel like that vivacious vixen ever again. But she is slowly-but- surely rearing her beautiful flame-haired self again. Now, I still have some concerns with saggy skin & what-not, but I’m actually very pleased w/how it’s coming off. I’m starting to have quite the svelte lil’ figure, if I might say so myself! Even my arm-flaps are fallin in to line. (Who says the shake weight doesn’t work?!) On another note: I’ve gotta say that this journey has been well-worth everything I’ve gone thru to get here. I’m at a VERY transitional time in my life altogether. This not having a 9-5 job has stressed me to no end.BUT, it has forced me to operate in my God-given gifts & talents. unique, artistic, handmade jewels...by MOI! My jewelry business is taking off to the sky, and my newest venture is off to a great running start. I’m always up for networking – so if you don’t know…NOW you know. Check them out! www.ggxjewels.com (unique, artistic, handmade jewelry) and www.present-this.com (virtual assistant services). Who woulda thunk I’d ever have to be FORCED into living my dream (and looking good doing it!?) Welp – that’s all that’s suitable for print right now… See y’all in ONEderland soon (29# to get there!)!!

I have been on clear liquids since my surgery (Friday) and I'm going on "full liquids" tomorrow. I can't tell you how excited I am to eat the Cream of Wheat I can have tomorrow! And even the protein shakes I was so sick of last week are sounding fabulous. Cream soup? Oh, yes, that will be awesome!

When you are ready you will do it...you have proved that you have what it takes. I think this plateau is OK and even good for you. I highly recommend a personal trainer.....my 6 wk committment has turned into 2 and a half journey and I love my trainer. She keeps changing things and making exercise interesting. I train at home and don't have to feel self conscious in a public gym. 2 pounds a week is slower than you want but is healthy....since your wt is stable your intake and output mtch so modest increases in activity and calorie reduction will start your loss all over again. Congratulations and best wishes. Mimi

I hadn't had a bm in a week so I was drinking milk of mag like it was water and citrucel in every glass of water I drank every day to no avail. Finally went and bought an enema today. It worked to well. Explosive every 10 min everyone in the house could hear it I was even running the bath water and sink. Horribly embarrassing. In 17 years of marriage my husband has never heard or smelled me pass gas. I was raised by my Grandma (old school Puerto rican) you weren't even allowed to say fart in her house. Ladies don't burp out loud and they only pass gas in the bathroom.

Just one day after posting my first ever blog seeking "help" I am thrilled with all the great people who responded, Thank you all so much. My progress report is great. Three days of very healthy eating and still highly motivated. If any one has a tried and true idea that helped you keep going strong, please leave for me.... I have one to share that my husband would say to me often, but only now am i observing. It is this : "IF YOU BUY IT, YOU WILL EAT IT". It reminds one of : "IF you build it, they will come.",,,, If you would put the two concepts together it would go something like this : " If you buy it, fat will come". So my point is this. Choose not to bring the bad stuff home from the grocery store.. There are healthy alternatives even for the kids in the home. It's all a matter of CHOICE .... Choose healthy fellow lap banders.

I had my surgery on the 5th. I had to do 2 weeks of liquids only prior to my surgery. My doc said it was to shrink my insides and my liver so that they could work in there with the probes better. I was told any weight loss was a bonus. I dropped 14.5 in those two weeks...it was a great jump start.

I started this June 2011 after gaining over 70 pounds on my already overweight body. The weight was caused by medication I was put on and of course we eneded up with the age old well if you lose weight but yes we understand that being on this medication doesn't allow you to lose weight very well. Really !?! Seriously ya think????? Well I changed physicians and when I found out that you didn't need to be 4-5 humfred pojnds or more llike you see on TV that with certain medical conditions you CAN have weight loss surgery. My new doctor was all for it when I asked him. He immediately told me to call my surgeon Dr. Birkedal and set up an appointment to see what he thought. That five minute appointment me on my journey that hopefully will end the medical problems and allow me to be a healthy weight. I have no illusions of ever being skinny or pretty but being healthy would be nice. We jumped through all the hoops put in our way and finally even with an insurance change along the way in February 2012 I was denied. They would pay for a lap band or a Roux N Y, no sleeve. Well I told my surgeon it was the sleeve or nothing. That is what he recommended and what I agree with after reading all the information on the others this was the safest for me. He sent them a nice letter which almost two months later we were approved. Sara from his office called me and said what day do you want to go? I had to arrange for time off from work with much whining of the boss who told me I didn't need the surgery I just needed to quit eating. So after I ripped him a new one and told him he couldn't really stop me from taking the time off, I set up my date of Wedmesday April 25th 2012. Each day I became more anxious and finally they told me to take my Xanax everyday instead of as needed. It did help a little. My anxiety and fear was due to a fear of being put under and not waking up. We had to be there at 5:30am for 7:30 start time. The Anesthesiologist was awesome and spent a great deal of time with me prior letting me know what was going on and re-assuring me that all would be fine. After one last kiss from my fiance off I went. They had me out before I ever got to the OR. Woke up in a very nice room with a view. Everything seems to be going well until late that night. I was up walking within hours after the surgery which I found out was longer than they thought due to my wonderful anatomy.They went to take my BP and it was terribly high, I am not Hypertensive so this is disturbing. All night of BP readings many meds lots of shots they decided two days later the machine was messed up. Alyway I have normal BP readings everyday when I check them. They had to check for leaks before I could even have ice chips so nothing at all in my mouth until late Thursday afternoon and finally broth on Friday. The pain medication what was ordered ran out in the pharmacy at the hospital so they had to change that the last day I was there. Apparently it is on national backorder (Thank you big Pharmacia for not having what we need available), since they had already written the script thinking I was going to be going home the AM following surgery they didn't change it. They wanted me to stay another day so another script could be written but I was like NO I want to go home, they were great but I want to go home now. The surgeon actually stopped what he was doing and found a pharamcy that had the treasured red liquid for my pain and we left and got it. First post op appointment Tuesday May 1, 2012. Appointment went well. All incisions closed and looking good, all bandages pulled. First weight loss 6 pounds bringing me down to 244. I have to admit I was disappointed I really thought it would be more, but they were very happy with it and added regular liquids and if I feel okay I can try cream soup and pudding or applesauce. My biggest problem other than gas has been keeping my blood sugar from dropping to low. Go back in one week.

I did one week of liquids, one week of soft food, then after that I was moved to solid food.

I was pretty much cleared for anything - in moderation - after the first week or so. Officially, I was cleared for everything at my 1 month check-up. Best of luck!!

Seeking advice from Hosts, VIP'S and Evangelists: I am 5lbs. from my goal weight and have been teetering in an 8-lb range for 3 weeks now. I'm familiar enough with my band to know that I have about a week to go and the scale is going to reflect another 10lb. loss. I can honestly say that I will be as small as I want to be 5lbs. from now. My question is: how do you enter the maintenance mode? Should I get a slight unfill now or after the next 10lb. loss I'll notice next week? My thinking was that I'd go ahead an lose the extra 5lbs. to give myself a cushion until I can find the green zone again in maintenance. What are your thoughts?

Funny you should post this. I actually have gained back 3 pounds and am not bummed at all, I'm back at 144. I was trying to gain (for once in my life). I'm also a size 6 and really would like to maintain between 140-148 lbs. to keep in this size. My blood pressure issues have been much better this week too. I'm back to working out 6 days a week and with that comes drinking a lot more water.

Went to the doctor today. I am 11 days post op. I lost 18 pounds since surgery and 45 since the start. He removed my bandages. And cleared for full liquids. If that goes will next week I can start puréed.

I had my surgery February 18th so that makes me a little over over 6 weeks post op. I have been doing great but I haven't lost a pound in over a week. What am I doing wrong?