Banded June 4th - Questions

[NH-Pam 2]

NYGuy, Laurie - I had my first fill today! I was surprised at how smoothly it went. I was really shocked to learn that I already had 5.8cc's in the band from surgery and she added another 1.2 so I'm up to 7cc in a 10cc band! I hope this gives me some good restriction as I know my portions we're getting bigger. They want me on Clear Liquids for 2 days then regulart liquids for 1 and then back on regular food. I still amazes me how every surgeon is different.

[3LAURIE8 0]

Got my first fill yesterday also, 3cc's. Liquids for the next 2 days and then food again. I am hoping to feel some restrictions. Good Luck to all.

[pennreporter 12]

NH-Pam, boy, your dr is very aggressive. That's really a lot for just starting out. Are you feeling okay? I got 3ccs and asked my daughter what she started out with and hers ...she had 2 from surgery and then they added 2 and then she went six weeks later and went up the 6 and stayed there for about six months. I'm hoping to get another 2 when I go back in a month, but my dr is somewhat conservative. but I was glad to get the 3.

Good luck

Trisha (pennreporter)

[NH-Pam 2]

Trisha and All - Yes I couldn't believe it when the Dr. told me I already had 5+cc's in, because right after the surgery I asked her how much she put in the band during placement and she said around 4. I'm starting back on soft foods today. I did have a big loss on the scale this morning, but I think a lot of it was Fluid from my sins of this past weekend (too much sodium)

The program I belong to has a monthly pre-op and post-op meetings. I attended my first post-op the end of June. While there I spoke with some people that have had their bands 2+ years. They all said that back then the surgeon placed the bands without Fluid, and it took them up to 9 months before getting full restriction. I think that based on that data that is why my surgeon is as agressive as she is. She wants us to start seeing results quickly.

I hope it works! Have a nice day everyone ~ The sun if finally shinning up here; its been a very rainy summer so far.

[3LAURIE8 0]

:thumbup:NH-Pam, I am feeling really great. I am very surprised that I got 3 cc's for my first fill. But I think that I really needed it. I have to see the nurse every 2 weeks for a weigh-in clinic, she will be checking my weight & food diary to see when I am ready for another fill.

Looks like you and I are on the same path for loosing.

My starting weight was 219, Surgery 6/4/09, Current weight is 201.... I will be jumping for joy! When that scale gets below 200.

Please keep me posted on your results.

:tongue_smilie: Congradulations on your results!

Best Wishes

Laurie (3laurie8)

[3LAURIE8 0]

:thumbup:NH-Pam, I am feeling really great. I am very surprised that I got 3 cc's for my first fill. But I think that I really needed it. I have to see the nurse every 2 weeks for a weigh-in clinic, she will be checking my weight & food diary to see when I am ready for another fill.

Looks like you and I are on the same path for loosing.

My starting weight was 219, Surgery 6/4/09, Current weight is 201.... I will be jumping for joy! When that scale gets below 200.

Please keep me posted on your results.

:tongue_smilie: Congradulations on your results!

Best Wishes

Laurie (3laurie8)

[NYGuy 0]

Pam,

Maybe I ate salty stuff last couple days and that's why I bumped up a pound and a half on the scale. That sure was distressing, but then again, I was told to pay more attention to belt holes than the scale because otherwise I'd make myself crazy. (haha too late!)

[NH-Pam 2]

Isn't it amazing how we let the scale dictate our mood?

[NYGuy 0]

Dunno, taking such a big step I think it's reasonable to want to succeed, though maybe not obsess Sesides, one day doth not a trend make!

I'd forgotten that when I weighed myself the day after surgery I had actually gained 8 pounds. It was all gone within a few days. Water retention, I guess.

[baylakeaverys 0]

I know everyone is different and we should go by our doctors - but I am trying to figure out where I should be on the scale. From my insurance weigh in - I have lost 20 pounds, but only 5 has come since surgery. I have no restriction whatsoever and it is so hard to only eat 1/2 cup - I have not done well with this at all. Just out of courisity - do most people track from the surgery weight or insurance weight? I go for my first fill on July 21st and am so ready! Any suggestions?

[NYGuy 0]

That's an excellent question. I claim 20 off my post holidays high. Post surgery I'm under 10 off ... starting to feel full early post first fill tho'... and learning to heed it.

[june09bandit 0]

It's all up to you. I decided to use the weight that the anesthesiologist took on the way to the OR. That happened to be my high, but it really is where I started. I didn't lose much at all the first 2 weeks after surgery. I seem to be level for 2 weeks at a time, then see a loss on the third week. Don't give up.

[3LAURIE8 0]

No feelings of restrictions after surgery. But had my First Fill on Wed. July 8th. Liquids for 2 days and then....WOW!!! BOOM BOOM POW!

On saturday i was eating a small piece of rolled up deli ham and after the 3rd bite.....got this horrible pains in my chest area near my port and could not swallow or barely speak. Tried to drink Water it was the worst pain ever. After putting in a call to the doctor on call...I finally made myself throw-up. After doing so... I was 100% better. The doctor finally called back and said that I have been initiated into the club and everyone goes through this at least once with the lap-band. He also said that ham is very rubbery and that I should chew it very very well. What a Scare! I don't ever want to experience that feeling again. Has anyone had this happen to them yet? :thumbdown:

[NH-Pam 2]

Laurie, I haven't had it that bad, but yesterday I ate a whole spoonful of Cereal at once. Wow did it make my eyes Water. I was at work and of course someone walk into my office as I was up pacing around trying to make the pain go away. I just told her that I had swallowed the wrong way..... It's so easy to forget you even have the band, which makes you fall into the habits of pre-banding, ie. too large of bites, not enough chewing, etc. I guess this is all part of the learning curve. Good Luck!

[baylakeaverys 0]

Laurie, I haven't had it that bad, but yesterday I ate a whole spoonful of cereal at once. Wow did it make my eyes Water. I was at work and of course someone walk into my office as I was up pacing around trying to make the pain go away. I just told her that I had swallowed the wrong way..... It's so easy to forget you even have the band, which makes you fall into the habits of pre-banding, ie. too large of bites, not enough chewing, etc. I guess this is all part of the learning curve. Good Luck!

I have a question - I am 5 weeks post op with no fill yet. I have not had any of the pains everyone is talking about until this past week. I have been able to eat pretty much whatever (within reason). I really screwed up on vacation and had part of a sub (and wine) - bread is bad- and now I am having these pains and it has been about 4 days. It is better today than Sunday when I was so tired from just coming back from vacation. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out - why now? I had a very active vacation and was not as careful with food as I should fo been. Is it normal to start feeling the aches/pain in shoulder about 4 weeks of being fine? I am better now that I have rested some, but it comes back when I eat. Any thoughts?