November Bandsters!

[niecyrenee 2]

Denise, what size band do you have? My first fill was 2 cc in a 4 cc band. I was VERY uncomfortable the day of the fill and a few days. For about 2 weeks, I would eat a "reasonable" amount of food and feel full. Before the 3 week mark, I started feeling hungry. The last week or so I've had days where I'm hungry and days where a little bit of food fills me up. I go in 2 weeks for another fill. My guess is he'll had .75 to 1 cc more. I just don't want the extreme discomfort that I had the first time. I WON'T chug the Water like I did last time!

Tom

I have a 4 cc band. After my first fill, I was very comfortable, no problems at all except that I know a lot of the time, I was keeping myself from eating, not the band. But since my last fill I have had problems. My surgeon had told me that everyone is different. Some people will never have to have a fill and some will have to have the band full. There is no way to know expect by trial and error.

I feel fairly confident that I am just too full and that it's not something else since it all started after my last fill. I have no pain and discomfort except when I try to eat (and once in a while when I drink). For the most part, I haven't been able to eat anything more than a couple tiny bites. There have been a few times that I was able to eat more, probably 1/4 of a cup (estimate) but it has been hard and it took me a couple hours to do so. For the most part however, I have done well with Protein shakes and Water. Yesterday for instance, I ate a couple tiny bites of sugar free pudding and then I had pain. I stopped but later in the day I was able to drink a Protein shake.

I am hoping that he will remove half of the last fill to leave my band with 1.5 cc. I am not certain what he will do but whatever it is, it has to beat the pain I have been feeling. I have to say though, it certainly is a huge change for me to have no desire whatsoever to put anything in my mouth!

I will post an update as soon as possible! Thanks everyone for your concern.

[tropicaljill 0]

Just checking in..go in for my second fill tomorrow. After reading the last page or so of posts--I am a little scared now. Maybe I am pushing it too fast??? I feel like I have no restricition at all, and want at least some. Had my first fill just before Christmas, but don't notice anything different anymore. I am exercising like a maniac (sometimes 3 times a day- seriuosly)- but still have not lost anything in a couple of weeks. I have to drive 4 hours for my fill, asked for the day off- so it is a big ordeal. Don't want to cancel now. I will check in over the weekend to let you all know how it went.

Angela- I live 1 hour north of SF, in Santa Rosa. Maybe someday we can meet halfway and chat? It would be cool to meet in person.

Got to head off to work. Wish me luck tomorrow :nervous

Jill

[marni 0]

I have a 4 cc band. After my first fill, I was very comfortable, no problems at all except that I know a lot of the time, I was keeping myself from eating, not the band. But since my last fill I have had problems. My surgeon had told me that everyone is different. Some people will never have to have a fill and some will have to have the band full. There is no way to know expect by trial and error.

I feel fairly confident that I am just too full and that it's not something else since it all started after my last fill. I have no pain and discomfort except when I try to eat (and once in a while when I drink). For the most part, I haven't been able to eat anything more than a couple tiny bites. There have been a few times that I was able to eat more, probably 1/4 of a cup (estimate) but it has been hard and it took me a couple hours to do so. For the most part however, I have done well with Protein shakes and Water. Yesterday for instance, I ate a couple tiny bites of sugar free pudding and then I had pain. I stopped but later in the day I was able to drink a Protein shake.

I am hoping that he will remove half of the last fill to leave my band with 1.5 cc. I am not certain what he will do but whatever it is, it has to beat the pain I have been feeling. I have to say though, it certainly is a huge change for me to have no desire whatsoever to put anything in my mouth!

I will post an update as soon as possible! Thanks everyone for your concern.

My doc says that the band ISN"T supposed to make you stop eating that you need to do that yourself. The band is only there as a tool to help you feel "satisfied" not full after a small amount of food. I asked, because he didn't want to fill me, about the trials a lot of you are suffering and he said that is becuase they are over filled. I do see his logic. It should be comfortable. Not painfull and you should be able to eat a cup of food at a time. I can't believe that I measure our a cup and it actually is begining to look "normal".

[niecyrenee 2]

Just checking in..go in for my second fill tomorrow. After reading the last page or so of posts--I am a little scared now. Maybe I am pushing it too fast??? I feel like I have no restricition at all, and want at least some.

Jill-Please don't be scared based on my experience. While it is a trial and error process to get where you need to be, a lot of people never have problems. Just talk to your surgeon and he will recommend what he feels is best. I didn't have the restriction I wanted so I asked for a fill although my weight loss wasn't bad. I now know I didn't need as much of a fill as I received. Your surgeon will do what he feels is best for you but do remember that they also don't know how much liquid you will need in your band, everyone is different. I am sure everything will go fine, let us know how it goes!

[niecyrenee 2]

My doc says that the band ISN"T supposed to make you stop eating that you need to do that yourself. The band is only there as a tool to help you feel "satisfied" not full after a small amount of food.

I guess I didn't word that correctly before. I didn't have much restriction before and therefore asked for a fill. I also think that I had unrealistic expectations. I know that the band is a tool and it takes my dedication to make it work but I had expected it to "help" more. One thing this process has helped me gain is willpower and I would much rather rely on my willpower then get the band too full and not be able to get anything down.

I can't believe that I measure our a cup and it actually is begining to look "normal".

Isn't it funny how normal changes. I watch my hubby and others eat and see how big of bites they take and I think "Man! That bite is massive!" However a few months ago I was eating just like them.

[niecyrenee 2]

I saw my doc this afternoon and I received the wonderful news I was hoping for. My band was just too full and it hadn't slipped. :clap2: He removed .5 cc and I feel great! I was even able to eat a small supper. I am so happy! Thanks everyone for your concern!

[L8BloomR 1]

Great news, Denise!! I am happy you found a simple solution!! Sounds like you will be enjoying the Banded Life even more now!!

Karen

[katalin.e. 0]

200.8 :cheer2:this morning, almost ONEderland!

8 weeks after the surgery today ... 29.2 pounds lighter

- 3.65 pounds a week :clap2:

[prbrooksie 1]

I saw my doc this afternoon and I received the wonderful news I was hoping for. My band was just too full and it hadn't slipped. :clap2: He removed .5 cc and I feel great! I was even able to eat a small supper. I am so happy! Thanks everyone for your concern!

I'm glad they figured it all out. I can't wait to get another fill. I can eat anything. I already had 1.25cc. I hope he give me atleast 1cc the next time.

[prbrooksie 1]

Since, I am doing so terrible at my meal planning and everything. I was just thinking about something. If I start counting my calories...1000-1200 a day and only three meals (no snacks), which is what my doc wants me to do. I can have 333 to 400 cals a meal. Some of you might be doing this now...I just haven't really thought about it that way. So...I had 2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of bacon, which was around 200 cals. I should go ahead and eat another 200...maybe I wan't be so hungry all day.

My yogurt is only 90.

[AngelaT 2]

Since, I am doing so terrible at my meal planning and everything. I was just thinking about something. If I start counting my calories...1000-1200 a day and only three meals (no snacks), which is what my doc wants me to do. I can have 333 to 400 cals a meal. Some of you might be doing this now...I just haven't really thought about it that way. So...I had 2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of bacon, which was around 200 cals. I should go ahead and eat another 200...maybe I wan't be so hungry all day.

My yogurt is only 90.

Hi Brooksie!

I use www.sparkpeople.com to keep track of my cals, Protein, etc. it is great! try it, it keeps you on track, helps you feel accountable. Even though i do not have a fill I have been able to do well using this tool. Also remember, you can eat 4-5 times a day and maintain calories within 800-1000, sometimes 1,200 a day and still lose weight. Actually it improves your meatbolism when you eat several small meals a day. Make Breakfast at least 250 calories. I have breakfast, midmorning snack, lunch, midafternoon snack, dinner, and sometimes a very samll snack like a 60 calorie yougurt or Jello diet pudding ater dinner. It rarely ever addas up to more than 1,000 calories. I just make sure it is as low carb, high protein as possible and watch the fat also. I can eat almost anything I want in moderation including a little bit of chocolate, or a little bit of cake...a mean little. Take care!

By the way...I made it to San Francisco from Austin finally last night. The weather was not great...COOOLLLLDD! I was exhausted last night.

[AngelaT 2]

I met Karen aka L8BloomR...she is awesome!!!! Just as sweet, caring and intelligent as she sounds via posts and telephone! It is so great to meet my online lapband friends...so far I have met three fellow bandsters!!! ALL wonderful!

Karen...still have not finished my lunch from yesterday!

[Inner_me 1]

Just stopping by to say hello. I'm finding this banding experience interesting. Of course, I'm still on liquids (full) and not experiencing the hunger that you are.

Also, because of my weight - I'm in the 300's - and age, I know that I'll probably lose a lot up front, before it starts to taper down some.

I just wanted to say that you are all doing very good! I'm glad that you are sharing the good and the bad. It helps.

Oh, and I wanted to talk about plateaus. I just attended a health living workshop yesterday. One of the presenters (the RN) had the bypass several years ago.

One important thing she mentioned was that plateaus are natural. They are our bodies way of adjusting to all of the changes that are taking place. She said that when you are plateauing the worst thing you could do, is to drop your eating below what is healthy (that's if you were eating the correct amount to begin with). Because you can inadvertently end up prolonging your plateau that way.

Her suggestion was to try something different. Switch up your exercise plan...take it the next level...alternate the foods that you were eating.

She also suggested that you look for alternative changes in your body (the NSV's...nonscale victories...that we've discussed) to get you through this period.

Finally, if your plateau is lasting for longer then, I think it's 3 weeks, AND you've tried some of the above steps, you should consult your surgeon/nutritionist for direction.

Almost forgot...I've lost 10 lbs!

[AngelaT 2]

Inner Me...Congratulations on your 10lbs! Awesome!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

[Inner_me 1]

Thanks Angela! And you are doing FANTASTIC yourself!!