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i got banded by Dr. C on 04/21/08 and i'm heading down for my first fill on 05/19/08!

I'm fitting in the surgery during a 10 day window between semesters at school (I recently returned to work toward a degree in nursing). Am I kidding myself in thinking that I'll be able to sit for 3hr classes Mon-Thurs 10 days after surgery? Technically, I guess I can skip this summer session and give myself a six week reprieve to heal. Though, I kind of hate to lose that time in getting the credits I need. I think I'm probably most worried about the whole 'liquids in/liquids out' scenario more than anything else. Any insight, experience would be most helpful/appreciated. Thanks! -m

Oh my, Dawn! I can't imagine five years of it! I had my band removed on July 7th, when it got to the point that even sips of Water was causing excruciating pain. It was removed on a semi-emergent basis. I didn't have time to research the sleeve, and not sure i would have opted for that anyway. I have never been in such hell as I was the last two weeks. I had the band in for nine weeks, with perhaps six days of what a "normal" banded person probably feels like. I got a nasty postop wound infection after the removal surgery, so I was down for about 10 days following that. Since I've healed completely, there were a few days in the beginning where I would have spasms at least once a day, but thankfully, that has abated. On the down side to that, of course my appetite has returned, and that totally blows. I gained 5 lb back... but I knew I would, since I had been living on tiny sips of water and a few sips of Protein drink for 2-3 weeks prior to removal. Common sense told me that I would gain some when I was able to eat again, especially not being able to exercise. I lost 3 of those lbs already, but had a terribly, horrible weekend, and it looks like I've gained those 3 lbs back. So.. it's back to square one. I was down 52 lbs the day of band removal. I needed to lose 90 lb. So I'm still in an okay place... just SOOOO relieved to have that thing out of me. Can't say i totally regret it, because i believe it "jump started" me, and I've lost enough weight that I think I can keep going. Just gotta watch those weekend pig-fests. I sure hope you can get straightened out. A friend of mine has done lots of research on the sleeve, and I think she wants to convert. If you've done your homework and are sure that's what you want, then get that band out of you. It makes no sense that it can work properly when it is misplaced. I never even had a pouch... and had full restriction from day ONE!!! So my poor esophagus is trying to push food through this restricted area, and it's not going through... so my esophagus starts spazzin out... no dang wonder I felt so bad. I know there are lots of people with great results with the band, and I'm truly happy for them. I would just have to say it works for some and for some it doesn't. I was one of the unlucky ones, and it sure sounds like you are too. Get that thing out!! How horrible that you are suffering so and now are gaining weight! I'd get it taken out for that reason alone! Good luck to you. Let me know what you decide and how you are doing! CathyB

hello folks! my husband and i will be traveling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia soon to meet the baby girl we are adopting. my doctor and i are considering unfilling my band for the trip for a couple of reasons...1.) the high possibility of getting sick and throwing up, which could cause a slip. 2.) medical professionals there have no idea what to do with the band, so if i were to having problems, i'd be out of luck with getting help. has anyone else done this while traveling? does the hunger come of fast? i have 6 cc in a 10 cc band and have lost just over 80 lbs. i'm scared of gaining weight, but near as scared as what could happen in Ethiopia with my band if i got sick. any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for the food tips I would of never thought of adding favoring to my liquid drinks. Now I won't be making those messed up face as I try and force the drink down .You asked how I feel well I can't even find the right words ,but excited and scared do come to mind .I have never been so nervous in my life and I've had plenty of surgeries. This one is so different because someday in the near future I'm going to wake up to seeing someone I don't know . That really freaks me out in a way ,but I look forward to that . Make sense ? I can't believe you've already lost 10 pounds your doing so good you should be so proud of yourself .Now I gotta get my butt in gear I really should walk ,but my knees are so bad and with this cold air here in New York that's not likely to happen .I have had surgery on my right knee twice so far and the last one really made me worst then ever . I know once the weigh comes off I'll be walking like a normal person again. I had lost 98 pounds in the pass with Weight Watches only to gain it back in a year (after the second surgery). I was in so much pain I was crying all the time ,but when I had lost all that weight walking was no problem . I was a manger of a hotel chain Best Western,then the knee surgery put me out of work and I just could not stand on my legs all day . Now I'm a stay at home house wife .(not for long I hope ) I miss the people and the excitement hell I miss my fat pay check . I say let my new life begin now!!! I'll be here if you ever won't to talk ,and keep me updated talk with you soon .

PS You should not drink Water or anything with your meals, you should wait at least 1/2 hour after eating to drink anything. Drink a hot beverage, like hot decaff tea before dinner (that curbs the appetite) of course do not drink with your meals. Also, chew each bite at least 20 times. Set your fork down in between. I lost 10 pounds a month each month pre-surgery. Basically I lost 70 pounds before I had surgery.

My doctor tild me about 10 days

At pretty much exactly 4 months my weight loss suddenly stopped to. After a one month stall I dropped 10 lbs pretty fast.

I had to lay down my rant about my mini emotional breakdown during the pre-op diet. I have been taking my time to get ready for my pre and post op diet, since August. Buying some little things here and there to make sure I was completely stocked up. My surgery is not scheduled until 12/12/2018. I knew I would have to do the diet for 2 weeks before my surgery, so I had plenty of time to get everything together. One of the last things I purchased was my broth. I decided to wait until around Thanksgiving to purchase it, thinking it may be on sale since it is a thanksgiving hot item. A few days before Thanksgiving, I went to my local Wally world (I live within 10 miles of 2 Walmart superstores and a Walmart neighborhood Grocery Store) and picked up 2 boxes of the chicken broth and a bone beef broth. And stored it away I the pantry. Fast forward to 11/24 I was required to begin the pre-op diet until 11/28. I decided to jumpstart my pre-op diet a few days early, just to give myself a few days to work any kinks out. For the first 3 days. I took in protein shakes for all 3 meals per day. But by the 4th day, I wanted something warm for dinner, because I was fighting off a cold. Now by this day, I was definitely feeling the sugar and carb withdrawal. I was tired, cranky and had a little bit of brain fog. I decided that today I would have broth! I was super excited. I took my broths out of the cabinet, got my pot ready on the stove (yes, I was so excited I was going to heat it up on the stove to make me feel as if I was really preparing myself a grand meal). I opened the top, only to find the security seal was broken. I told myself “Okay no problem, I have 2 other boxes.” I proceeded to open the next box only to find the same thing. I looked at the last box and thought, “well this it, I will go back to the store tomorrow and get more.” I opened the 3rd box only to find the seal on it was also broken. I was furious! I collected myself and decided to take all 3 boxes back to the store, the only problem was I no longer had the receipt. Dag Nabit! By now I am thinking “Well just chalk it up and go to the store.” Now by this time, I am getting very hungry and I am ready to have my dinner. I leave my home and head to one of the other Wally Worlds that are close to my home. I go to the store and purchased 2 new boxes of broth. I get home and open the first box…safety seal is broken! I open the second box and the safety seal is broke! WHAT, HOW AND WHO WOULD DO THAT TO BROTH! BROTH! By this time, I have broken down crying. I mean balling! My poor husband hears me in the kitchen and comes in and asks what’s wrong, I just slide to the kitchen floor and through tears explain what happened and that I have nothing to take in for dinner but a shake, and I really wanted something warm on my stomach. I sat there and cried for about 5 minutes while my husband looked in the cabinet to attempt to find something that I would be able to have for dinner. (eventually, he did but after my breakdown.) I wondered if I was making the right decision to have the surgery. Never once did I even think of eating any of the other food that was in the kitchen or pantry. I was purely upset that I had now purchased 5 boxes of broth and they were all tainted. And Now I have to drink a cold shake. Then I thought, you’re not crying about wanting the other foods you’re not supposed to eat during the pre-diet, your crying about the food you can normally have but can’t because of the broken protective seal! Right then and there I knew I was committed, and I was making the right decision and could make it through this. Thanks you for letting me share

Are you looking forward to the liquid diet as much as I am? And my dumb butt has just been eating whatever strikes my dance since I know life as I know it is about to change, I bet I've gained 10 lbs in the last month. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using the BariatricPal App

Kathy made some good points. I am scheduled to be sleeved on August 24th. I am an emotional eater too but slowly over the last few months I've given myself "food funerals" (one last time foods) and staying away from them from then on. I don't drink coffee anymore. I do have tea but decaf. (Many great flavors). It's something you will need to mentally prepare for. I start preop on August 10. I've already started with just having a Protein shake for Breakfast. ( Aware: only a few Protein shakes are good, premier and muscle milk light are my two faces) I am no longer doing pastas, potatoes only veggies and meat. My hardest battle will be a couple foods I enjoy eating everyday, Cinnamon rice pudding and Noosa yoghurt ???? I will miss these but later maybe the yoghurt I can add some back in. After the surgery your body may react differently to food too. Some people have no problem eating what they want but others can't eat certain foods at all. I.e sugar Once you stop eating the sugars and starches and heavy carbs within a week or two it will be easier. There are tons of recipes out there. Pre-op diet will depend on your doctor. Amazing how different they can be. 11 days I am on a strict diet but luckily I can have foods I enjoy. Plus for the sweet factor we can have sugar free Jello and pudding. Then the last two days uo to12 hours before surgery it's liquids only. Protein Shake, broth, Water, sugar free jello or popsicles. You will and MUST take Vitamins the rest of your life. You can learn more about those if you choose to do the surgery. There is so much more but that's why it's important to do your research before jumping in. I am going to ALM, Dr Ortiz in Tijuana. My insurance puts me through the ringer and still has no gaurentee so for me this is the best option. Good luck! Sent from my XT1080 using the BariatricPal App

This is a really great question, indeed. I don't know that I would change anything, except possibly to have waited longer for my first fill. I wasn't really hungry, I was losing weight slowly, but the holidays were coming and I really wanted to have some help avoiding my annual 10 lb gain. So I had a fill 8 weeks after surgery. The only reason I say now that I might have waited is that now there seems to be a growing body of evidence that the more slowly people get fills the better they tend to do in the long run. This is an informal impression my doctors have gleaned from their practice (which is large), but I can see the sense in it. And since my goal was never to lose weight fast, but to lose weight permanently, I think I might have agreed to wait had they made that suggestion back then. Beyond that, I'd always say "exercise more, eat healthier" but that's got nothing to do with my banding journey, per se. That's just about life. :peep:

Havent "posted" to the list before and probably a lot of what I say/ask has been said before. I was banded in May last year, and after the first 2 months went back to my surgeon for a fill each month. I have an 11 band and I kept waiting for the expected restriction to happen. I friend had had a band done the year before, had small amount of "fill" put in at the time of surgery had gone home and just kept losing until she reached goal weight and still is very limited in the amount she can eat. Well it has worked out differently for me, after an initial fast weight loss and then beginning the fill routine, after each fill I felt no different, by the time I got to 10 in an 11 band I finally experienced PB'g if not careful but really I can still eat more than I need to lose weight, still eating much less but have found I can still go up in weight overnight, just as before. It even seems easier to do so? For me, there clearly will be no real restriction and I will still have to "diet" by head control for rest of my life it seems which is disappointing/frustrating. The only real difference is I can experience PBing and I cant say I feel hungry but re training the brain after a lifetime of bad eating habits is very difficult.I was 66 when I had it done and wish I had known about it sooner.Does anyone else have the same experience? Thanks.Merelou

Im starting to go between 10 and 12 now. So trying on is a must now. Which I use to hate to do. I would just grap and go the first thing thing that looked relatively cute, which was not very much in the big sizes. But I hold these clothes up thinking they look so small and I cant be that small. My doctor said the other day that I have to consider myself normal now. I am a normal person who just has a few more pounds to lose because most people are overweight by a little bit. What percentage of people are in normal bmi range I wonder? I still think size 10 is my goal, I really couldnt wrap my head around an 8.

I was right there with you a few weeks ago. We were watching a series of sermons by Andy Stanley about taking control of your life. I was in the midst of waiting for approval for my surgery. I really started questioning my decision to have surgery. Was I taking responsibility for my life or was I taking the easy way out? Why can't I excercise self-control? After some prayer and thinking, I realized that I am taking responsibility. This is going to take hard work and I will be using self-control because now, more than ever, I will have to make the right choices so that all of this effort will not be in vain. BTW, your surgery is only 9 days after mine (08/18/10). Can't wait to cheer you on this journey!

You are losing on average over 7 lbs a month. I think maybe your expectations are too high. Anything over 1 lb a week is considered good. I know we all want to lose 5 lbs a week, but for most people it aint going to happen. If you are losing steadily, just stick with it and eventually you will be where you want to be. Im impatient too. I think 10 lbs gone is nadda, and then I sit back and count the weeks it will take to lose 10 lbs and step back and say whoa!!! Every 10 lbs to me is a new goal, and each time I pass a new 0 mark, I Celebrate. 23 lbs in 3 months is doing good. Dont get discouraged, just pat yourself on the back. I looked at tickers and dates of surgerys here for a long time before my surgery and realized it would take me over a year to get into the 120s where I want to be. Hard to wait I know, but we will get there.

I'm in Stl and I was banded on 10/26/2011. So not a ton of long term experience, but I am probably a few steps ahead and can help answer questions along the way? Feel free to message me anytime

The fill should jump start the loss again. I lost 7 lbs in the 10 days after my first fill on Feb. 10. Now I am more steady at about 2 lbs a week. I got 5 cc in my band at the fill. I think that the liquid diet after the fill is similar to the need after the surgery. Body needs to adjust to the new sensation of restriction. Don't want to put too much pressure on a "new set-up".

My surgery was Jan4th and had my first fiill early Feb, 2.9 cc and I feel no restriction. I have lost 10 lbs since surgery but zero since my first fill.... I go back march 9 and I hope I start feeling something....I pretty much can eat what I want. I would like to feel full

I am sorry that you are feeling bad. I am not sure what to say to make you feel better except that the sleeve is just a tool that you will have to work hard to lose weight. So I wouldn't go into surgery feeling guilty for "taking the easy way out" because having major surgery is not the easy way. Nor are all the choices you have to make after surgery the easy way out. I have worked extremely hard since surgery making the right choices every day and getting out and sometimes exercisng 2 hours a day. This was one of the hardest and best things I have done for myself and there is absolutely no guilt what so ever! Just think that you are doing something positive to make your body healthy. You may need to talk with a WLS couselor before surgery regarding your thoughts to make sure you are really ready for this. Good luck with everything. Frankie VSG 3/22/10

The band is no magic cure but I can honestly say that it has helped me alot- like going from out-of-control and on my way to 300 lbs to at least holding my own and getting some help. And losing 35 pounds too. Do I wish it was perfect and made me a size 10? you bet!

LOL--I thought I had a 14cc and found out after my 3rd fill I had a 10....oops!

1. How much food should I be eating per meal ( 1 cup, 1/2 cup or what?) and should that be making me feel full? It all depends on your body. If you can lose with 1 cup of food then that is great. In my case, it takes me 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food to really lose more than 1 lb per week. It is very important if you decide to get another fill to eat less to have Protein. In my case, I always start the day off with 30 grams of protein in a shake. That way I can then consume another 30 throughout the day. I eat probably 5 small meals a day. 2. I seem to PB a lot, is that normal? How much is a lot? For me when I am tight it is quite common to PB once daily or every other day. 3. I have a 10 cc band and have had 5 cc's worth of fills and get "stuck" a lot now, should I get more fills and just eat soft foods that won't get stuck? There are 2 types of tightness per my doctor. Tightness to liquids and tightness to solids. If you are tight to liquids that is not a good thing. If you are tight to solids and don't mind eating softer foods and still lose it is a personal decision on whether or not you should stay there. Also, keep in mind that the folks who have lost a ton of weight fast exercise a lot. Are you mobile enough to do a few minutes on the treadmill? 70 lbs is fantastic. Remember the average weight loss is 1-2 lbs per week. Typically the first year you can lose 50-60% of your excess body weight. 10 lbs a month which you are running puts you at 120 lbs your first year. That is reasonable but you must exercise regularly and have good restriction. I have seen one member on these boards lose 200 lbs in 18 months. JulieNYC is her name . You can find her under plastic surgeries has she has had a few. You may want to send her a private message asking her what her secrets are. she is wonderful and I'm sure it would be very helpful. Keep the faith. The band does work. For some of us, it just a slower process. Julie

Awesome! Thanks for sharing my sleeve date is August 18 th.I'm so excited I wanna be able to play with my 10 grandstands!

15 mins from NYC in NJ got sleeved March 19 of this year.