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I just had a fill about 10 days ago. It was my second fill, and I am up to 5 cc. Water went down fine as did liquids for day 1 and 2. Mushies were a bit harder day 3 and 4 as I ate a bit too fast or they were not mushie enough. But solids have been difficult. (They were the last time as well and it took me like two to three weeks to get to a comfort zone.) But this time I have had some real vomiting experiences. I have had this really full feeling for about 24 hours. Feels like the food is at the top of my stomach and end of my esophogus. I really don't want to unfill if this will pass. But I cannot seem to eat much at all. Had 1/2 an egg and 1/2 slice of cheee for breakfast and then a few almonds a few minutes ago. That is all along with some coffee and juice and I feel like I have eaten Thanksgiving dinner. I did have some PB late morning and then an actual wretch....UGHHH I am so scared I slipped the band. What does that actually feel like? Anyone know? CIndi

wow 18 pounds the first week is wayyy better then me! since i had my band on the 7th i have lost about 10 pounds. Its going a little slow for me but the docter told me a lot of people do not lose a whole lot of weight in the first 4 to 6 weeks. When you get your first fill you should start losing weight a little quicker and you will be more used to having the band and learning how to use it. Im still learning a WHOLE lot my self but im not going to be to worried yet about not losing weight super fast.

You'll feel better soon. My surgery was 1/10...was weak and tired the first two weeks but started getting stronger after that. i returned to work 2/8 and am actually tolerating it well....good stamina. I was worried about returning to work and getting tired...I am a hospital nurse and am on my feet most of the day. One week in....all is good. Good luck!

Just got home today and feel so overwhelmed. My doctor doesn't want me to take gas x strips and I feel completely swollen and full of air. I've been walking a lot but when I try to sleep I get pain in my stomach area. I felt like I was so prepared before surgery and now I feel lost and scared to make the wrong choices. Any advice?

Hi tried to drink your shakes and chicken broth often at least every 2 hours 2 oz also drink water it help a lot , keep drinking you pain medication as prescribed by you doctor, it must be gas if is a shoulder pain, the sugar free popsicles help also hope you feel better, keep walking at least 10 minutes three times at day it help a lot with the pain!!

Do I get to play, or is the revision surgery "cheating?" Remember, I went up to my pre-banding weight PLUS three pounds when I went for the revision...so I was starting at the top...again. My BMI was 49-ish...it's now 35-ish. My weight loss has been stalled for a couple of weeks (couldn't move, on pain killers and/or steriod inections), and I'm probably going to experience a slight gain...as I'm starting (f'ing) Prednisone tomorrow for a back injury. When stressing about my mother and my back, I did the only normal thing...for me. I ate all of the chocolate in my zipcode. I knew it made no sense when I bought it and made LESS sense when I ate it, but--at those moments--I apparently trusted the chocolate more than I trusted reason or logic, to solve my problems. I have learned NOTHING from being banded. I think I made the right decision in going with malabsorption. And I got my 6-month labs back today. Penni--and other medical types--if there's anything I'm supposed to worry here about will you let me know? I've been really anxious about these! * = near either end of the "Reference Values" ** = outside the "Reference Values" ~~HEMATOPATHOLOGY WBC--7.6--(REFERENCE 4.3-10.0) HGB--12.0--(REFERENCE 11.5-15.0) HCT--35.6--(REFERENCE 35.0-47.0) *MCV--80--(REFERENCE 80-99) RBC--4.45--(REFERENCE 3.90-5.20) *MCH--27--(REFERENCE 27-34) MCHC--33.8--(REFERENCE 32.-36.0) **RDW--15.6--(REFERENCE 0.0--15.5) PLATELET--416--(REFERENCE150-450) **TRANSFERRIN--397--(REFERENCE 200-360) IRON--49--(REFERENCE 37-145) Vitamin B-12--804--(REFERENCE 211-911) FOLATE-- >20.0 ~~COAGULATION APTT--34.9--(REFERENCE 24.0-36.0) PROTIME PT--14.3--(10.0-15.7) INR--1.06--(REFERENCE 0.70-1.19) ~~URINALYSIS WAS FINE ~~CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY GLUCOSE--93--(REFERENCE 65-99) NA--138--(REFERENCE136-147) K--4.1--(REFERENCE 3.5-5.5) CL--104--(REFERENCE 96-108) CO2--25--(REFERENCE 22-29) ANION GAP--9--(REFERENCE 5-14) BUN--10--(REFERENCE 6-20) CREA--0.5--(REFERENCE 0.4-1.1) UREA/CREA--20--(REFERENCE 10-22) OSMO CALC--274--(REFERENCE 268-292) TOT PROTEIN--6.7--(REFERENCE 6.3-8.3) ALBUMIN--4.3--(REFERENCE 3.6-5.0) *GLOBULIN--2.4--(REFERENCE 2.4-4.4) A/G RATIO--1.8--(REFERENCE 0.7-2.5) FERRITIN--19--(REFERENCE 15-417) ~~PROTEIN ANALYSIS *PREALBUMIN--20.4--(REFERENCE 20.0-40.0) ~~CARDIAC RISK INDICATORS TRIG--117--(REFERENCE 0-149) CHOL--119--(REFERENCE 0-199) HDL CHOL--64 CHOL/HDL-- 1.9 LDL CALC--32--(REFERENCE 0-99) VLDL CALC--23 (REFERENCE 0-30) ~~THYROID FUNCTION T3U--36--(REFERENCE 24-37) HS/TSH--1.04--(REFERENCE 0.35-5.50) FREE T4--1.2--(REFERENCE 0.8-1.Cool PTH INTACT--48--(REFERENCE 14-72) ~~MISCELLANEOUS TESTS Vitamin A @--0.37--(REFERENCE 0.30-1.20) RET PALM @--0.02--(REFERENCE 0.00-0.10) VIT A INTERP @--NORMAL **VIT D, 25 OH @--15--(REFERENCE 20-57) VITAMIN B6, PLASMA--PENDING My PCP says I need a little sunshine and an occasional Protein drink as my prealbumin is at the low end of normal. Is there anything else I should be concerned about? Thanks, Sue

Hi there everyone, I'm not banded yet (scheduled for 9/28), but I've read so many posts about bad tasting Protein drinks I thought I'd pass on what I discovered a couple of weeks ago. Buy unflavored whey protein (I use "Any Whey"). Make up a batch of any flavor of sugar free koolaid. Put 8 - 10 ounces of the koolaid in a blender, add one scoop of the unflavored Protein powder and a couple of ice cubes. Blend it till the ice is crushed. It tastes just like a fruit smoothie, is very high protein, and tastes good!! I also do the same thing with vanilla whey protein and sugar free koolaid and it makes it tastes even more like a Smoothie King Smoothie. Good luck! Lisa

twy_marie, looks like the original poster hasnt been here since 10/17/06...

$1.99 a pair........ No wonder you bought 10 pair. :-)

I agree with all previous posters as far as the benefits of lap band over gastric bypass - less invasive, no cutting of bodily organs, completely reversible, fewer serious complications, no malabsorption issues, etc. But, one other reason I'm certain I'm making the right choice in getting my band (in TWO days!!!!!) is the stretching of the pouch issue. I just KNOW if I had the bypass, I'd be one of those people who stretch out their pouch and re-gain all the weight. Every time I see pictures of Carnie Wilson these days my heart breaks for her, and I can totally imagine myself in her exact position. I'm excited about the band because there's no expiration on the window of opportunity, so to speak. I imagine a worst case scenario in my banded future where I fall off of the wagon hard and start eating around the band - eating soft, high fat, high calorie foods, or, I imagine that I don't have good restriction and I gain weight from overeating again, from any food.......It gives me comfort to think that at any point, all that's needed to get back up in the saddle and start losing again is to get a fill. Or maybe 2 fills or 4 fills or 10 fills - but the point is, it's never too late to get good restriction and start or re-start the losing process. For me, that's very compelling. It's like a built in do-over button. With the bypass, if your pouch eventually stretches out and you start gaining, you are out of options. You can diet of course, but what I mean is that you are no longer being helped to a large degree by the surgery as a tool. The other main reason I am choosing the band is because I'm desperately trying to get pregnant before my 37 year old body runs out of eggs. With the band, I feel reasonably confident that if I get pregnant in the middle of the losing process, I can stop losing, get unfilled during the pregnancy, and the re-start the losing process after the pregnancy. My research indicates that it is much harder, if not impossible, to stop and start the 'losing zone' after having a bypass.

Congrats on the weight loss...and yes, stalls are common. I have had three in the last 9 months. I also just have another 10 pounds to go and the doctor said they will be the hardest...just keep doing what you are doing. Throw in more walking, if you can, it helps a lot and make sure you are drinking lots of Water. It will start going again. the good news is you are probably loosing inches now!

Hi Anthony! Welcome! You are 10 days behind me. I had my surgery on Sept 6 so I am now 3 days post op. I feel great! Good for you for not giving in to those moments of weakness, you gotta be strong! I was on a week of liquid Protein before my surgery. I gave in and had 1/2 a cucumber slice, twice. My husband scolded me so much you would have thought I'd eaten a banana split! I am determined to be successful with the lap band, my health demands it. Good luck on 9/16, and keep in touch! Carolg903

Ok so I am tyring with one hand pls forgive mistakes I had hand surgery two days ago. I was banded Aug 10 2010. Between that day and today I have had mutliple fills and unfills. Mostly steming from a tight/finicky band. I dont think I have ever vomitted so much in my entire life as I have in the past two years. Painful hiccups, unable to eat with a bra on sometimes. Varring band tightness throughout the day. I current have 4 cc in my band but I have been as high as 6 cc. Originally lost 50lbs but in the last few months have gained half back. My surgeon is pretty much degrading when I go in and have a weight gain. Very non-supportive. During my last visit I broke down and was horrified that I cant work with this stupid band. He suggested we give it a few more weeks... no more then 3 meals a day (DUH) low calorie liquids ( DUH).. tell this to someone who vomits most of the day. Bythe time I get home I feel so weak and horrible I eat bad foods. Anywhoo he said we may need to look at either taking the band out or do a bypass or sleeve. He states he has MANY patientas who just can not work with the band or it doesnt work with them. I need to do something becaue this vomiting and weight fluckuating is very depressing. I am very scared about the bypass although I know many ppl including my mother who has had it done with sucess. Barium swallows show good placement but bad acid reflux despite being on nexium forever. I have not had a upper GI for a year now. I see my GI doc today. Also the thing that scares me when I go to eat a solid food say meat or even a veggie. I can feel it hit my band and my heart starts to beat so hard and fast. I have acutally almost passed out a few times. I get this 75% of the time I eat. Now this can't be good on my heart... Ive told my surgery on more then one occasions but he has brushed it off failing to note in in my medical records. I need some opinions... support.... guidence...someone who understands....

Try not to think of it as starting off on the wrong foot. It might not be the way you wanted it to start, and we all want to lose that weight quickly and feel better about the way we look and feel but we can't feel good about ourselves if we keep putting ourselves down. I had my surgery on May 6th, and I have lost 19 pounds so far. When I went to the Dr. for my one month follow up, I was feeling down and a bit disappointed because my husband who also had the surgery with me, 2 days later then I did had lost more weight than I had. He had a five pound loss in that 2 week period. Where I had actually gained back three pounds. I was about to feel all upset and depressed and start beating myself up, but you know…I can't do that to myself. I had an infection in one of my incisions, and then even as that was still draining out I caught a bad case of bronchitis I'm still coughing and sound like I have been smoking 2 packs a day for 40 years! (I don't smoke at all!) My father had to have major surgery and has spent the whole week in the hospital, my youngest and last of five son's is about to graduate and I get a call saying wait we can't find his report he might not! WHAT!!! I have been eating right, and before I got sick even with the infection was trying to walk 20-30 minutes a day. What am I getting at here? Simply this, stuff happens. It always will, and it's the way we deal with it and the way we treat ourselves that defines how we are going to feel. So instead of beating myself up, I patted myself on the back and said girl you have had one heck of week, and it's OK. Feel better, stay strong and you can do this because it's for YOU and you are worth it! This week I am feeling better, I lost the three pounds and though I'm still coughing and I haven't gone back to the gym yet, it's OK. Sometimes I know I push myself too far too fast, so I'll slow it down and I will get there and so will you my friend! Stay steady, stick to the plan and even if you hit a bump in the road now and then you know you can get up dust yourself off and get back on the track.

Hi Tracy, I am 26,5'5 and was 235 before banding. I have been banded since Aug. I have lost 20lbs. I had a similar sweet tooth. I did notice that once I was banded it wasn't as bad. About a month after surgery I was at the grocery store with hubby and he wanted some ice cream and he asked me what flavor I wanted, well after spending about 10 mins in the ice cream isle I didn't see any flavor that tickled my fancy and he just got a pint of what he wanted. I can't garuntee that your cravings will stop but I do know that for some people their tastes kinda change. I chose the band personally because I have a little one less than a year old and could not afford that much down time. Also I am not done having children and I wanted to have a way to re loose the pregnancy weight. I knew if I got bypass I would most likely be skinny up until I got pregnany then gain alot of weight back. With the band, I can get a fill after pregnancy and start all over again. Not true with bypass. To tell you the truth, I had no recovery time. I was back to normal activity the day after I got back from surgery. I think you would probably only need a week of recovery if that much. I am 100% happy with my band. Only you can make the choice for you. With the band I can still enjoy the things I like to eat, but most of the time 2-3 bites of it satisfies my craving and I am done with it. I know with bypass you have to be careful what you eat and change your eating habits completely other wise your body will start dumping, which doesn't sound fun to me. Only YOU can choose what you think is best for you, do your research though and go into it knowledgable and 100% sure that you have made the right decision. I would encourage you to explore all the threads on this board and maybe find a bypass forum and explore their threads too. Good luck!

It takes more saline but not necessarily more fills. For example, 2 ccs is 50 percent of 4 ccs while 5 ccs is 50 percent of 10 ccs. I had 1 cc in my 10-cc band at surgery and 3 ccs added with my first fill. Obviously, that's not what would happen with a 4-cc band! The fills for a 4-cc band will be in smaller increments but not necessarily smaller as a percentage of the capacity of the band. My doctor told me that all the bands are "low-pressure" bands. However, perhaps it's easier to tweak a 10-cc band. For example, 1 cc is 10 percent of a 10-cc band but 10 percent of a 4-cc band is .4 cc. I don't know how easy that is to measure!

One night during my vacation it was very chilly outside and I hadn't brought along a coat, only a zip up sweater that was being laundered at the moment. My husband brought along two jackets, a lightweight one and a heavier leather one. He saw that I was freezing, and knew that I didn't have a jacket with me so he suggested that I wear his (size XL men's jacket). I told him that I was fine (because I didn't want to be embarrassed putting on his jacket only to find out that it was too tight). Finally though, I couldn't take the cold any longer and I gave in. Not expecting it to fit, I slipped my arms in, and not only did the jacket slide right on, but there was room to zip it and even cross my arms if I wanted to. This was definately not possible 74lbs ago!!! I was truely thrilled that it fit, and I could see the surprise in my husband's face as well! Also, I was very surprised to come home after my 10 day vacation to discover that I'd lost 6lbs despite the lovely Mexican pastries and quesadillas!!!

I am getting banded in 10 days. I realize that I am doing this to make a change in my life and will need to eat properly. That said, Ii was wondering, which foods I will not be physically able to eat again EVER. I know I shouldn't but will I be physically able to ever eat/drink: - a piece of steak - a slice of pizza - a beer - a few bites of cake - a nacho - a cashew I am committed to eating a proper diet but I hate to think I will never taste these items again. Any other foods I will never be able to physically digest again? What is your experience?

I love this list! I have my top ten printed and on the fridge and inside my pantry. Skinny Bucket list! (no particular order) 1. Cross my legs like a lady 2. Be able to zip up boots. 3. Wear the skinny dress hanging in the closet. 4. Go on roller coasters 5. Budoir photo shoot (although at home it says "photo shoot*", that way the kids don't know) 6. Zip line 7. Mud run 8. Buy clothes in the single digits 9. Have a full length mirror in the house 10. Go dancing

I was 55 when I got banded. I fought the insurance, the first two trys they denied me the band and finally I had it done 2 1/2 yrs ago. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, border line diabetic and severe arthritis in my knees and feet that hurt so bad every day at work. I was a size 22-24 and have lost 90 pds and am now a size 10, even though I have gained 5 pds over the winter that I have been battling over the last 7 months to get off, I feel great. I am off all meds and the family Dr said I am a glowing tribute to how a person can turn their life around for the better health wise. You are never to old to change and make life better. The best decision I did and that you can make also.

I have been stuck at 123kilos (270 pounds) for about 9 days. Using myfitnesspal.com to track calories and exercising as instructed. My scales were staying as still as a deer in headlights. Have not been to upset as I have been losing inches and my clothes are fitting better. Today I got on the scale expecting the same results. Ugh???? Are the scales broken? Has old age finally hit my eyes? Do I need to see the doc about glasses??? I screamed at my husband to come downstairs. (He is a workout aholic and does not need to lose weight however he weighs in with me twice a week as support) He came downstairs and I pointed at the weigh in chart on the wall so that he could see his previous weight. (yep a wall chart that we record our weight on each weigh in. For me visibility is everything) I pushed him on the scales. He was exactly the same as last week. He looked at my crazed eyes and didn't say a thing. (smart man!!) He watched as I stepped on the scales.... 118.3 kilos (roughly 260 pounds)!!!!! Ugh? Is that even possible? We then weighed the dog. She had been to the vet last week so her weight was recorded on her exit papers. Yep she weighed close to the weight on her papers!! 10 pounds in 9 days? Have I lost the plot? Is it even possible? I don't care. I was so excited I immediately came on here and added it to my tracker. I am going to weigh in tomorrow despite it not being weigh in day just to see if it changes. For now my tracker shows the new weight. 48 pounds lost!! Things that weigh 48 pounds: a 15-foot canoe a 4-year-old child an average human leg a 13 inch television six gallons of Water

I think day 10 post op you should be ok. I went back to work as a nurse at clinic on day 6 post-op..... naps were my friend but I am sure you will be ok!!

Severe calorie restriction will slow our metabolisms temporarily, but it won't shut them down! I don't have the reference here in front of me but I believe that the slow down can be as much as 10% in some people. That's a lot different than "completely shutting down your metabolism" as people would lead you to believe. I have read and I don't know how true this one is... that the slow down continues to last half as long again as the length of time you were restricting calories. That's why it's important to be very controlled when increasing your calories. Also, the more weight you have to lose the less you can eat because we have TONS of fuel just waiting to be converted into energy!

My issue was so lad, I couldn't even drink Water. I was so scared. I wish I could have drank water to anything, but nothing stayed down. I even choked from sucking on a peppermint. I ended up going to the ER. They removed all my Fluid :-( I slowly began putting the fluids back in, but gained about 15 pounds in the process. I have way filled, body can't take anymore (I'm questioning why that is), but I've lost 10 of the pounds and still working hard to bring sexy back. Prior to the stomach lock up, I use to regurgiate a lot. Now I stop before I get there. I'm learning now to better relax my stomach. I also try not to mess with carbs too much, cause my stomach can't take it. Its a day by day challenge. I still plan to get a second opinion, cause I still don't understand why I haven't lost a lot of weight.

I had my band 10 months ago (April 08) and have only lost 15lbs so far- ALL 15 have been since the 5th Jan 09 !! I had my 4th fill and am not at 7ml in a 10ml band. It was really tight for a week and then slackened off slightly so I could eat and drink without burping anything up. Don't get down, try all the advice that's been posted and you will succeed. :-) Gill x