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first off i would like to say I LOVE THIS SITE AND ALL THE PEOPLE ON IT!!!! you are all amazing! I can sit here for hours reading the information and learn something new every thread. I dream about the day i can get my lapband done and look as amazing as these people that are on the before and after photos. It's simply AMAZING to be soo close to something that could change your life and make you happier. I have read the bad and the good on here and I am sooo ready for this! ....But im still on pre op stuff and im only 17 :thumbup: ill be 18 August 26th but i have to do 6 months of psychiatric evaluation and 6 weeks of diet classes go to 2 group sessions. I wonder though how many of you had to go through all of this psychiatric and diet stuff?? :confused2: I mean 6 months is a long time and i havnt started yet i will be going to an information session on wednesday at CMC and my doctors appointment for a refural on thursday so im starting it just have a long wait to actually get this done. The best thing is hopefully by my graduation date next June ill be lookin good in that nice gown walking up to get my deploma!!! :tt2: Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and help I shall keep you updated on when things are and how things are going and most important when i get a set date! thoughts and advice are welcome or just drop in to say hello!!

First did you have a band, a sleeve, or RNY? Often time the sleeve stretched out to much or it could be your body has set itself into survival mode because it is not getting enough food/ nutrients. It sounds like your body needs a kick start. I agree go back to drinking 8 oz protein shakes for a week, but I Would only do 2 shakes and for your third meal I Would consume 2oz of tuna, chicken, or 2 hard boiled eggs no yolk and make sure you are taking your vitamins and see if it jump starts you. If not I Would contact your surgeons office.

I feel sympathy for the doctor, but I know that this is disappointing for you. We'll be here to cheer you on through two more weeks of Atkins...and will throw an even bigger cheer your way when you finally get to bandland. Hang in there sweetie!

Hi! I feel ya i am either 8-10 weeks we have to do an us to find out where.. i had two periods in a 3 week frame:) And all i do is eat now, but the nausea KILLS ME. AND the vitamins, teh dr finally took me off my prenatal because of the band. How are you doing? If you wanna talk my email is ndeg21@yahoo.com, its kinda nice finding a lap band person with the same due date month as me. I feel so alone cause all my pregnant friends have no idea im banded first off and dont get why my pregnancy is so different food wise.

I am 9 weeks today and having the same issue. Not only am I eating almost constantly in order to avoid the nausea but I am grossed out by almost everything healthy! This is my second pregnancy and with my daughter I ate a lot but I ate salad, veggies, etc. I only gained 15 pounds that entire pregnancy. This one has been completely different all I want is junk food and I want it CONSTANTLY. LOL!! I have been able to tolerate fruits and crackers so I've been buying whole wheat, light crackers. I guess the trick is to find something (anything) that you can eat a lot of and that's not too unhealthy. Light cottage cheese and apple sauce have helped me too but you really need to see what works for YOU. My morning Protein drink has been lasting at least 3 hours. Maybe you could try it, its Protein powder (vanilla or carnation vanilla works too), some Peanut Butter, half a banana, low fat milk and some ice. This morning it lasted about 4 hours which was a big help. As far as the unfill, I can't help you there. I had a complete unfill at 6 weeks because as soon as I got pregnant I became unbearably tight and could barely drink Water. I went to my surgeon for them to take some out and turns out it was their policy that for pregnancy they take ALL of it. It has helped me feel a lot better though so I can't complain. My big fear is gaining a ton of weight with this pregnancy!! I hope that once we are past the 1st trimester this crazy nausea will pass and we will be able to eat more like normal people.

I am a little over 8 weeks pregnant and I am eating ALL the time. I mean - every hour or 1 1/2 or so. If I am not eating I am drinking - it is so frustrating. If I don't eat, I will get really nausea and lightheaded (it feels like an out of body experience). I have tried a bunch of different things, such as protein drinks or milk as 'snacks' but it only last about 15-20 min. Then I have to eat again. Eating has become such a chore - I have also noticed that I am able to eat A LOT more. I am wondering if anyone else has gone thru this and what did they do? Should I have a complete unfill or what? I was super heavy with my first child (I was high risk because of my weight) and gained a lot of weight with her as well and I am so scared this time. Help! I need some advice.

Hi Chloe! I am 23 and JUST banded last week. If you need anyone to talk about the good the bad and the ugly I am here. I wish I would have looked into this more before making my decision. Best thing is to ask ENDLESS questions. Its a lot of mental preparation. Feel free to message me whenever!

I'm a week post op, and I am seriously questioning my decision. I am so miserable! I know it's still early and I'm healing, but the pain is horrible. I have sharp pains under my left rib cage and shoulder and a deep pain in the diaphragm area that doesn't seem to go away! I know it's gas and healing, but it's hard to see past it at this point. I am trying to keep up on the liquids, but it's hard to get them down . I am still on liquids and the soups and proteins. I have no idea what I'm eating calorie wise, creamy tomato or butternut squash soups and chicken broth. I finally had bm today after 2 doses if milk of mag, and I almost couldn't choke it down forgive the rant, and I'm sure this is all normal, but I am having a hard time. I tried to take only Tylenol today, but I had to take the liquid Vicodin tonight as it just hurt too bad. I am sure a week from now I'll look back and it will be just a memory. My first post op appt is tomorrow so I'll relay all this to my doc. Just hanging on!

congrats! great inspiration for the people getting banded soon.. my surgery is one week away! I love looking at everyones success pictures!

Try sipping 3 oz of your shake, wait and hour and then sip three more all day. In between sip hydrating liquids. Are you allowed any solid foods on your pre-op?

I was not allowed those until my third week they are mushy not liquids. Liquids are broth and Protein shakes. This period sucks but that's just the way it is.

Hey All, I am 8 weeks post op and ate an entire 5 inch sub this weekend! It was so good I just gobbled it up but paid for it later. I don't throw up when I eat too much but kinda wish I did. Just feel really miserable for a while. Not sure why but I have been able to tolerate most foods since about 2 wks post op. Milk, spicy and carbonated stuff don't work well but just about everything else seems to be ok, in much smaller amounts than pre-surgery though. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if I couldn't tolerate most things but as long as the weight is coming off its all good. I tackle the restaurant issue by getting stuff boxed up and eating only what feels comfortable. I find myself more tempted to drink fluids with my meals at restaurants. My family "support team" will gently remind me not to drink that glass of Water at the table

I'm super jealous of your pre-surgery weight loss....I'm next week and lucky if I get another 2 pounds off...lol... Congratulations!!! Keep it up. Never give up, never surrender....

July people we have at a minimum 4 days left to go !!!checking in to see how everyone is doing ? I'm on an emotional roller coaster but excited to get the band n lose weight n keep it off . If I was able to make it through these pre op diet days while all the last week of school celebrating going on with the food galore n drinking my shakes n only getting 3-5 a day I think I'm ready for this life journey ill be embarking on on Monday ... Scared as hell but willing to jump in both feet first .....

Maxi skirts have become my best friend. They're stylish and have an elastic waist so I am able to wear them for a long time. I also wear mid length and shorter skirtswhen out with friends. I just prefer the maxi ones for work. As for tops, I do a lot of bargain shopping when I go down a size. Target was selling solid colored t-shirts for $5 a pop, so I bought a bunch of those which I wear with my skirts. Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Belk also are inexpensive. I don't go to the thrift store because we had had a big epidemic of bed bugs in this area and I don't want to risk bringing them into our home. As for pants, I usually just buy 1 pair of jeans in my new size because I know within a few weeks they won't fit anymore so it'd be a waste to get several pair for work like I used to. If you have told someone you trust and they happen to be smaller than you (like my mom) you can ask them to put aside clothing for you that they normally would throw/give away. When I got down to a sz 16, then sz 14, I got a lot of hand me downs from my mother. Luckily she's fairly stylish so I didn't look like a dork (lol)

thats awesome.... I had lapband on October the 10th and have lost 11 lbs so far since the first appointment and have lost 8 lbs since my surgury date. I look at this as the 10 Water weight loss, how was your loss the first few weeks?? Have you been steady? Have you had any fall backs?? Look forward to checking your progess now and then keep me posted and good lucky girl keep it going !!!! Hello all I am new to this board But not new to weight loss I am 42 years old and live in New York I have 4 beautiful kids and Happly married I had lapband surgery on May 27,2011 and have lost 55lbs to date

Hi all! I had my surgery on 10/9 and didn't feel much restriction until my fifth fill on 1/13. I had only lost about 15 pounds until that point and was kind of disappointed. Since then, I have dropped another 20 pounds and am very happy about that. However...about 3 1/2 weeks ago, I ceased being able to hold much of anything down. I had enjoyed my last fill for a few weeks, but then it seemed like everything I ate came up. Everything caused me pain. It was even difficult to get down an entire Slimfast. I was losing weight though, so I just chalked it up to maybe choosing the wrong foods or eating too much, even though I could barely finish 3 chicken nuggets. Last Thursday I had 1 snack pack of chocolate pudding for Breakfast, 1 cup of mashed potatoes for lunch and about 1/2 cup of Soup for dinner. I just wasn't feeling right and pretty much threw up everything. (Not giant throw ups like when you have the flu, but little by little spitting everything out until its all gone and there's no more pain). I went to a play that night and sat in pain for 2 hours, knowing I needed to continue throwing up...at intermission, I went outside and went to spit out whatever was bothering me and out came 2 large chunks of a dark brown material. I thought I must have gotten down to the bottom of my stomach and was throwing up the pudding I had eaten earlier that morning. The next day, I was also unsuccessful at holding anything down and at about 7pm, up came some more of the dark brown liquid/gel substance. I hadn't eaten any chocolate pudding that day so I started to worry that it might be blood. I went to the ER and sure enough, it was blood. They gave me an IV and did some x-rays but found nothing wrong. My doctor's office was closed until Monday, so I stayed with liquids all weekend and went in first thing Monday morning. I thought maybe she would remove 1/2 of whatever she had filled me with last time, but instead she took out 4cc's (I had a total of 6, so I am left with only 2) and did a barium swallow so she could see what was going on. Because of all of the vomiting, my stomach was all swollen over the top of the band, although the band had not slipped at all. She put me on liquids/mushies for 2 weeks and I will go back on 3/31 to do another barium swallow and see if everything has gone back to normal. If not, they may need to do another procedure which scares the hell out of me because I was a cash pay and already forked out $17,000!! I was just hoping someone else had gone through this and could give me some insight because a) I am scared that I will need another procedure and :ohmy: I am so pissed that I had to have 4cc's taken out because I am STARVING now, just like before I ever had the surgery!! I am going to a family party next weekend and certainly didn't want to gain any weight back between now and then, although I know that it is preferable to puking in a bottle the whole weekend. Anyone wanna tell me everything's gonna be all right???? Thanks for listening. Any input or advice will be appreciated.

I have read the book. Some interesting points brought up. I tried going vegetarian, but I like my meat based protein (poultry and seafood). I am only 3 weeks post op, so when my diet is freed up a bit, I will do plant based protein as well....believe it or not, I am craving edemame (sp?). I believe "everything in moderation." I enjoy poultry or seafood over beef, which can get you burned at the "steak", living here in the midwest! Extremes can get us all in trouble.

That is very possible, I thought the same thing, I was banded in 2009 June, I've had alot of complications with the Lapband since then... for some reason since way back them I've not been able to pass 6 cc my band is a 10cc, come to find out last week my band needs to be remove and it could eventually lead to life death situation, I have no insurance and no means of paying for this operation.... It sucks and I really do wish I never had this operation

I am 44 and pregnant with my second. My first daughter was born pre-band. I don't really see much of a difference yet, but I'm only on week 7. Having some minor difficulties already but I also had them with my daughter's pregnancy so I'm just taking it easy and praying as much as I can.

Get a fill! I also was banded in July and have had four fills. My NP uses about the world's tiniest needle and I feel almost nothing. It's over in about three seconds. You will not BELIEVE the difference it will make. My bet is, you'll see 4-5 pounds fall off the first two weeks after your fill, maybe more. Good luck!!!!

Have you lost anything since your banding? I am for some reason struggling all of a sudden myself. I have been banded for over 2 years and have always had kind of a hard time staying continuously devoted. I have recently had lapses in exercise and I have figured out how to eat around the band. This last week I have gained back 5lbs. I don't know what is wrong with me, I get close to goal and I just backslide. I would love to help if I can. I know that I need a giant kick in the butt right now. I have tons of plans with family and friends within the next couple of months and I feel like, for some reason, I am trying to sabotage myself. I guess old habits die hard.

Hi. I have 2 questions, First, I have been on food (soft meats) for over a week, and suddenly, I just don't feel like eating anymore. Is that normal? My surgery was June 14. And 2, I have been drinking Fairlife fat free milk, but since I am having trouble getting much food in, should I switch to the whole or low fat instead of fat free? For calories. I see the surgeon on Thurs and a dietition on Sat. Thank you. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

Since you are at the beginning of this process, I would recommend three things. 1. Take a good before photograph of yourself, so that you have something to compare to after surgery. Many times we are blind to our obesity. We do not see ourselves. Therefore when the weight begins to drop off rather dramatically, we question if this is really happening. Photographs are a good visualization of our success. Many people carry a before and after photo with them, just to remind themselves of their success. 2. Walk 30 minutes each day, every day until surgery (or equivalent exercise). Walking helps the recovery process go smoothly and minimized the pain levels from surgery. 3. Wean yourself from caffeine and carbonated beverages now. After I gave up my 6 diet coke a day habit, I suffered from a week of severe withdrawal syndrome consisting of severe headaches and body aches. I was miserable. You don't want to combine the effects of caffeine withdrawal with the effects of surgery.

Thanks, I've done the photograph, I've cut out carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffeine. I have been upping my exercise per the program... but I have been meaning to add in 30 minutes per day rather than just 3x per week.