It's amazing!

[delove32 91]

It's amazing how my new tool(still no name yet) makes you more in tune and aware of what your body does. I have figured out that if I drink something and I'm tight I burp. Also when I drink Water it feels like I have had something thick to drink. I have never paid any attention to how food or drink goes down but now I do. It's strange that I'm still tight this late in the day. I just took my chicken breast smothered in mushrooms, onions, spinach and cheese out the oven and I'm afraid to eat. I

had my warm hot choc this morning but still feeling tight. Haven't had any food all day just liquids. Just seems strange. I guess my band just has a mind of its own. We are invited to have Easter dinner with friends tomorrow maybe this is my bands way of reminding me that I can go over there and try to eat everything tomorrow!

[Mikee57 699]

delove32 some days my band is tight all days and other days not tight at all...you are doing the right thing by drinking and trying foods alittle at a time. hope it gets better soon for you. and maybe you are right about Easter supper!!!

[country lovin 16]

that sounds so good to have a tight band. my first fill is Monday and I cannot wait!!! congrats on doing good yall.

[Mikee57 699]

country lovin I have 3 cc's in my band...and don't feel much restrictions...but its different for everyone...but I do get tight every now and then...best wishes on your journey too!!!

[dawalsh 919]

that sounds so good to have a tight band. my first fill is Monday and I cannot wait!!! congrats on doing good yall.

It sounds good but too tight a band is not good. Be very observant of how you react after your first fill. Take notes if anything does not feel right and if you feel you're having issues don't hesitate to go to your doctor before you're next fill appointment. Wishing you success and good luck on your lapband journey!

[delove32 91]

My band is currently empty! That's what's so strange! I am scheduled for a fill on next Wednesday 23rd. Unless something drastically changes with my appetite in the next few days I prob won't be getting one. Even though I haven't had any food today I still feel full(if that makes sense). I have heard of some pep not needing a fill for a while, I guess I'm one of them.

[parisshel 1,892]

One day I'm going to make a list of everything I didn't get told pre-band, and "Your feeling of restriction/satiety will vary day to day" will be at the top of the list. I think it is important for people to realize this, so they don't think it is odd when the tight feeling fluctuates with one's stress level, temperature, state of health, exercise, morning/evening, alcohol consumption, etc.

In a way, it's a neat thing to realize that the band is capable of modifying itself according to what is going on with your body and mind. But it would be beneficial for bariatric teams to share this information from the outset, just as they tell as about pre and post op eating directives. My surgeon, like many others, never once said it is perfectly normal for a band to feel tighter in the morning (and then explain the mechanics behind why that is), or when one is congested with a head cold.

Edited April 20, 2014 by parisshel

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Parisshel, I agree totally. My nurse practitioner, who does all the fills and is the primary person I'll be dealing with going forward, didn't know about this board or the Big Book of the LapBand. She's great, and I really like her, but she treats only WLS patients day in and day out. I couldn't believe she didn't know about this site or any other online support. To her credit, she asked me to send her the info, which I did. But it hit home how a non-patient may never really understand all that a patient goes through. I guess it's up to us all, collectively, to teach them. And to speak up at monthly support group meetings. I went to a few of those pre-op and learned a lot from folks who had the surgery already.

Regarding head colds and tightness, so true. I recently posted about morning tightness and I don't even have a fill yet. Well, my cold is almost gone and I am now sure the feeling was due to congestion and post nasal drip, because the tightness is gone now.

The surgical team teaches us the rules and the basics. We teach each other the finer points of day to day life with a band.

[Mikee57 699]

I just love love love this site...you get so much well needed help here. I just want to say something special about my surgeons office staff...three of his staff have had the lap-band done, so I always ask to speak with one of them. even his NP's daughter has had the surgery so it is so nice to be able to ask them questions.

but not that I have your attention, I do have a question I want to ask you all before I try to reach them. for the last few weeks (since my last fill-2nd one) I have this pain in my back on the right side...it seems to be there most of the time...so I am not sure if it's band related or if it could be muscle strain...what do you think?

[SlowJourney 57]

This whole string is all so true...each person has a different journey and arrive 'there' at different rates.

How nice to fill restriction with no fill what-so-ever.

What I still want to know is if once we reach our 'green zone' is the restriction constant based on the same amount of food or is it still a daily task of monitoring and controlling our intake based on ounces and cups? I guess I thought I would reach a place where I could put whatever I wanted on my plate and my lapband would tell me the definite time to stop. If that place exists, I have not reached it yet.

[SlowJourney 57]

Mikee57,

I don't think it band related, you may have strained it some other way, maybe on the very same day so it's making you think it's banded related, but if it doesn't clear up in another few days you should probably call the doctors office just to set your mind at ease.

I just love love love this site...you get so much well needed help here. I just want to say something special about my surgeons office staff...three of his staff have had the lap-band done, so I always ask to speak with one of them. even his NP's daughter has had the surgery so it is so nice to be able to ask them questions.

but not that I have your attention, I do have a question I want to ask you all before I try to reach them. for the last few weeks (since my last fill-2nd one) I have this pain in my back on the right side...it seems to be there most of the time...so I am not sure if it's band related or if it could be muscle strain...what do you think?