mona-camille

Silly girl, of course you can see a difference, you are doing fabulous!!!!

This would be a good time to start using a tape measure. That way, a month from now if you haven't lost any pounds, you will still have lost inches and will KNOW that you are looking better and better!

KatyG is 100% right, listen to her!!!

At this point I would NOT have had the band if I had it to do all over again. It is NOY helping me at all. I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and have not lost a single ounce. Yes, I am following all the pickin rules and I have only lost 13 pounds since being baned in Dec. I think I wasted money that I didn't have and wish I had it back instead of the band. Was the heck is restriction anyway. I paid all this money for nothing but tightness with food going down now and then and lots of extra burps. This thing was a waste. I am way depressed and embarressed.

SheRee

SheRee, you did not waste your money. You have lost 13 pounds, why are you depressed and embarrassed? Is it not true that you would have gained 13 pounds if you hadn't been banded? Listen, you need to stay positive because you are way too early in this journey to be upset.

I am not sure what you mean by tightness but that is probably the restriction you are seeking. Plus, you have had only one fill. If you read the posts you will find that the majority of people on here do not have restriction after only one fill, so why should you be any different?

Please stay positive and stop beating yourself up. 13 pounds is nothing to sneeze at. You will get here, but not if you stay mad at yourself. You've got a long way to go, so get moving, and be positive!!!!

((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))

Yes, I would too. For the simple fact that I would have gained a whole lot more by now if I hadn't. I am not anywhere near goal, but then again, I am not anywhere near 300 pounds and a size 28 anymore either!

Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you!

YES, take that picture and then put them side by side for comparison and you WILL see a difference. It will motivate you to keep going. If you have the same outfit, it would be good to keep taking pictures with the same clothes for a very good comparison.

Although it is supposed to be a compliment I assume, I absolutely HATE when people look me up and down! I hate that hate that hate that! It just feels very rude. But, if they check me out when I am not 'seeing' them check me out, then ok. I am glad they mention that they see a difference but it is very uncomfortable just the same.

Revolution avenue was fine. I've been there 4 times and never once did I see a problem in Tijuana or Revolution Avenue. Just don't go out at night is the best advice. And make sure to use Lucerna's taxi and you will be fine. It's no different than going to New York City.

Honey, I have had 8 fills, yes 8. I do have the larger VG band and I currently have the max of 10 cc's of saline in my band, so it is absolutely conceivable that you too will need a lot more to be at your sweet spot. Go get another fill. Don't give up, I haven't and it's almost a year or me! Get another fill amd ask them to be aggressive with it! In fact, if you just had one on 2/11, you should get an adjustment for free! Don't give up, you shouldn't be fighting this hard, it will work, just get another fill!

I am going to go to the clinic in March to have filll done and the news is saying that it is bad right now down there with people getting killed and the boarder being closed at times. Has anyone that has been there seen anything that should concern me?

I was just there last week and there was nothing like that at all. I believe they are speaking about a different border area then where we go.

Very interesting! Hey Mona, do you have teeth sensitivity? I thought mine would have been over by now, since I was banded almost 5 months ago. But, my teeth still hurt. My dentist said it is not vitamin deficency, that would show in the gums. He said it would be from not chewing up as much food as I used to. (steak, chips etc). I am trying to chew gum but I always forget about it! Anyway, it is really getting on my nerves (how my teeth feel).

Well as you know, I am an odd odd person..............yes, I have extreme tooth sensitivity. Sometimes, my teeth hurt unbearable when I hear heavy metal music playing. They hurt mostly from September to May. Only when it is hot outside I have no problem. I do brush twice a day with senitive toothpaste and have never had my teeth whitened (can't, would kill me with the pain - my dentist wouldn't even try it on me).

That being said, my teeth have actually LOST some of the sensitivity with banding. That is why I was very confused when people said their teeth hurt form less chewing. Yes, weird, I know. Thats me!

I will have to remember to ask my dentist. I go back in 2 weeks so I will try to remember.

woohoo, 21.5 pounds down!!!

Lapband is the best thing I ever did. These past few weeks have been so wonderful. I've decided to enjoy the journey, have as much fun as I can and learn as much as I can. I'm always giving myself WiiFit goals, water per day goals... anything to make the journey more fun. I started cooking low fat dinners with a friend, and the first meal was very successful. I'm so jazzed about cooking quick meals at home now, me and the hubby got a fancy new spice rack for the kitchen. :-) Got a pair of size 16 jeans this past weekend. They're a little tight (I'm between sizes honestly), but they FIT. My husband thinks I look so hot in them. :-P

I really enjoy posting on the forums, updating my blog and video log on you tube. Despite not telling family or friends about my surgery, I've gotten such fantastic support from the online community. It's fun and really helps me as well as others going through this process. I'm losing around 1-1.5 lbs a week and that's a-ok with me. Slow weight loss keeps suspicion about how I'm losing weight off me. Plus I don't have to sacrifice much at those numbers and it gives me time to practice healthy habits.

In April I start official training for a 150 mile, 2 day bicycle event. I expect 2-3 lbs/week losses around that time. My first fill is March 3rd. I feel so blessed to have been able to do this. Hope everyone else is experiencing uber success as well. :-D

YEAH good for you!!! Awesome post and I am very happy for you!

I would like to know

1. The rationale for not drinking one hour after a meal. If the food is nicely sitting in your "big" stomach, say 10 min after you ate, doesn't the water just plop on top of it there? What diff could that make?

2. The rationale for not drinking 20 min before a meal. When you drink water on an empty stomach, doesn't it just pass right through the band into the stomach? Then isn't it just sitting in there when you eat, and food goes into your stomach from your pouch? What diff could that make?

I do understand why you should not drink while eating. I get that. But no one has EVER answered #1 or #2 for me. I have a medical curiosity. And to have that answered will make me comply with a full understanding.

Sandra

I don't think your food is in your big stomach that soon after eating. That is why you can wash it all into the big stomach by drinking too soon. Also, water sitting on top of your food in the pouch will do just that. Sit on top of it until it goes down, little by little. I believe the way it works is the food in the pouch empty's into the big stomach slowly, thereby keeping you full longer. And you can drink before a meal for exactly why you said, it runs right through. I think they wat you to stop a little before eating is because some fluid can loosen up the band a bit and make the opening bigger so food goes through easier instead of sitting in the top part like it should. I know that if I drink something cold, it tightens me right up but if I drink something warm, it loosens me up.

But, you might not want to listen to me, since someone will be posting right after me telling me that I am wrong.

If you haven't already guessed by now, I am someone obsessed with learning. And I mean learning anything and everything so I ask questions all the time every chance I get.

Or, you can call me a nosy beotch, LOL!!! I admit to both!

Anway, went to the dentist today (OUCH by the way) and mentioned to her about the enormous amount of saliva I expel when I get stuck. She was actually VERY happy to hear that! She said that was wonderful because saliva helps our teeth a lot! The more the better. Although she had not heard that from her other 2 lap band patients she was very interested in this. She said she never heard of it pouring out of me like I explained (yup, it pours an unbelievable amount) but it was just the body's response to inflamation and it was great and the longer I could hold it in my mouth versus letting it drip down the drain, the better. AS LONG AS I DO NOT HAVE ACID REFLUX! If I did, along with the saliva, I would need to get it treated and quickly because that would be disasterous to the teeth.

Inetresting huh? Don't know if I can purposely get stuck just for my teeth nor do I think I can hold saliva in my mouth that long, but hey it was interesting just the same, LOL!

By the way, I MIGHT have to get a root canal. Not sure yet, just a maybe. Depends on if I get pain in the next 2 weeks, if so, YOWZA!

Dr. So just told me on Friday to not drink 5 minutes prior to eating and wait only 30 minutes after. I was surprised to hear that, but he said we are told an hour to start off, so we can get used to it, but he said 30 is fine. I still go an hour, unless I am really thirsty, then 45 min, but I just can't bring myself to do only 30 min.

Funny you mention this. As I mentioned in my checkup post, I too got some differing advice than I had when I was originally banded. I was also told that they don't necessarily say the same thing to everyone. A lot of the information s very personalized and it does change over time for each person. So, I guess it kind of depends on who you speak to and when.

A great example is that they say you can have carbonated beverages after 6 months. Well, I asked Dr. Miranda why they say that when the US doctors say never again. She said they prefer us to never drink carbonation ever again but knows that most people will do it anyway so they say 6 months to at least give out bodies time to propery heal and adjust to band life. But, I asked for the truth, not just what she thought I wanted to hear, so there you have it. And I am quite sure someone will come on here and say the exact opposite of what I just said. So, it IS hard. I think the best advice is to really understand that the information we get can, and often is, more personalized than general.

Yeah, is this weird or what???? Never would I ever have thought it could have something to do with the band, but yet, here it is. Weird!

Hi Dana - I tend to agree with you about the drinking with food allowing it to slip thru the band more quickly, therefore eating more...but then with a later post....I start to get worried about the stretching...not sure who posted that, but I'll read it again. I guess its a debated subject....I'll just stick to not drinking with meals and forgive myself for the small bit I did do.

Well really, if you think about it, regardless of the reasons why, it still shouldn't be done. Whether food slips through or you stretch your band, both scenarios are not good for the band. So why risk it?

And it's funny but the only time I PB is on liquid. I think when I gulp by accident or again, if I sip something when my pouch is full. No matter how tiny of a sip it is, I pb it up. So I just don't do it.

And one other thing to keep in mind, the rules can change by person. The OCC does not necessarily tell each person the same thing. That was confirmed for me last week when I met with all of them. So it is best to follow what they told YOU as an individual.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, in my right thigh! The whole outer area is numb especially when I walk. It never occurred to me to tie it in to the band, but now that you mention it, thats when it started!

I asked Dr. O about drinking with meals and stretching the pouch, he said it has not been proven. That is also what my fill doctor said here in Dallas. If you google it, you will not find anything about it stretching your pouch. It makes sense that it COULD, but there are no medical findings that I know of to date. We just don't need to as we will obviously be able to eat more.

Geez, then I wonder why Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez, Dr. So, Dr. Acosta, Dr. Romero and Dr. Miranda told me that drinking with meals is an absolute no-no and can stretch your band, as can eating too much.

It was explained to me this way - when food is in your pouch and you drink on top of it, nothing goes through and the extra space the liquid is taking up is forcing the band to stretch to be able to fit the liquid.

This is one of the main rules of lap band life.

Mona THANK YOU THANK YOU

Your post is just what I needed to hear.

I think that I have lost the least amount of weight of the 5 ladies I keep in touch with since meeting them on banding day in TJ. I was down to 170 in Sept and stayed there until last month when I dropped 5 pounds, but I think that I gained most of the 5 back by being discouraged and eating too much "cheating the band with chocolate and cheesecake" I am so down on myself for "sneak eating" behind my suporive hubby's back! I have been so good at staying away from that crap until now. I felt like a loser....but in the wrong way.

Your post has motivated me to let the band work in it's own time and to just do my part. I needed that boost right now and you have given it to me. I will also go back to logging to food intake and my nutritionist has also reccomended me getting my BMR taken to determine calorie intake.

And thank YOU for this post. Glad to know my stuggles can actually help others and hopefully, you will get right back on track!

Coughing sucks too!

I am down 15 lbs. Just under 10 lbs was pre op loss. The post op liquid diet provided the other 5 lb loss.

I've read on here that it is normal to not lose before your first fill. I've been able to eat pretty much everthing and in any quantity. The coordinator (Lori) and others have said that there will be very little restriction and I will be able to eat pretty normally during this time {after the liquid diet ends and before you are allowed your first fill}. I'm not too worried about strectching my pouch, as no one (clinically involved) ever said or provided information saying that was a concern during these few weeks. But in the back of my mind, of course, I think I'm failing this band just like every other attempt at weight loss in the past 20 years.

I see some on here that have lost 10 additional or even 20 additional pounds before their first fills. I am so jealous! I feel completely normal except the few times I feel food in my esophagus but it just takes a few minutes for it to finally pass thru. I have had the saliva build up and have to spit for periods of time. This can happen with my first bite of something so its not that I'm stuffed to the gills. Its not always. More often than not, I can eat pretty much the same as before banding. Yes, I'm making decent food choices. Not perfect but not gluttonous, either.

I want to hear from everyone but I'm especially interested in people like Lisa and others who are at maintenance or with very little left to lose. Were you just gung ho from the beginning? Just dropping weight even before your first fill? Are the people who didn't lose before their first fill the ones who are only at 30-40% of their weight loss goals?

One other issue - I am drinking with my meals! I know its a huge no no...but its almost impossible to get in your liquids if you are to wait 30 minutes before you eat and an hour after you eat. Thats 6 hours of no drinking a day! (1.5 hours of no drinking due to meal time limitation on liquid intake plus 30 minutes meal time itself x3 is how I get 6 hours.)

I am drinking because I am thristy and it is hard to ONLY have solids...how do you guys deal with that? I guess I"m washing food thru my band and that is why I can eat normally? As well as no fill?

I just want to feel good again, like I did the first 5 weeks (2 weeks pre op and 3 weeks post op was WONDEFUL!) I feel back to "big ole Jen just eating away!"

OH AND I KNOW THIS IS A TOOL A TOOL A TOOL A TOOL AND NOT MAGIC! Please do not reply with that. So far I feel ZERO ASSISTANCE from this tool.

I hope others are nodding and saying..yep, I've been there...but now filled, I'm dropping weight and feel silly for having such little faith in this band...

We have ALL been there. THis is completely normal and you should stop stressing over it. You will lose after you have your fill.

You absolutely MUST stop drinking with your meals or you are going to stretch your pouch and ruin your surgery. There is a reason to stop drinking with your meals and that is it. If you have to, then drink (or rather sip) right up until your meal and then one hour after. You don't need to wait 30 minutes before but you do need to wait an hour after.

I too, got sick of being told it is a tool, I already knew that and didn't need daily reminders. I also understand your frustration at having a tool that isn't working, but it will. It is too early but once you get a fill, might even be your 2nd fill, it will start to work. Be patient.

And by the sound of it, if you are sliming, then the band does seem to be doing something, or at the very least you still have some swelling. Just try to be patient, it will come.

I know just how you feel. Go read my post about my OCC checkup. It might help you a bit too. I have only lost 40 pounds in 11 months but Dr. Ortiz is happy with my progress.

We missed you by a day! Another bandster and I went down on Friday - and met with Dr. Miranda before our fills. Like you, it was very informative and I was thrilled we had the opportunity to talk with her.

I've been saying this all along - every body is different. Every experience is different. We each respond differently. And you're right....what works for one, may not work for another. I too suffered from weight loss envy - feeling like I've failed because my weight loss was slower or more sparatic than others.

I personally got an unfill - yes, I know...odd but true. I'm not at goal weight yet, but sometimes trying to hydrate during morning hours thru lunch can be difficult and it's created a unhealthy cycle of unhealthy eating. So for me, I wanted the unfill. And I have been thrilled with the results just over the last couple days. I can eat, drink and function - all day - w/o throwing up, w/o being hungry.

I would also encourage everyone to re-evaluate from time to time. Your body is different, and has different needs. At least mine does. I've lost 80 pounds in 11 months, and I still have 40-50 to go. What I did 8 months ago is different than what I need to do today to continue to lose weight.

Thanks for this post - it's a great one!

Awwww, I am sorry I missed you! You have done wonderfully, wow! Good for you.

Hi Mona,

I haven't posted here in quite a long time. I really haven't had a desire to post because there hasn't been anything that really interested me, until now.

I was wondering if you have had your metabolism tested? I had mine done before surgery and again, last week. They determined that in order for me to lose weight at an optimal level, I need to eat about 1200 calories per day. I didn't have my surgery done at OCC, so I am not sure if that is part of their normal protocol or not. You may want to check it out because it is a cheap way to determine where your metabolism is. Unfortunately, when people have dieted as long as we, we tend to have shot metabolisms. I have other issues as well that contribute to my slower metabolism that I won't get into here.

I just thought it may help you pinpoint your exact metabolic needs so you could base your caloric intake around those needs. It sounds like the OCC's nutritionist gave you some great information and I appreciate you sharing it on this forum. Oh and I agree - 40lbs is not something to sneeze at. That is pretty impressive. I have lost 70 in a little over a year and I know how hard I have worked. We have to remember everyone is different and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

Take care!

As a matter of fact, I just found someone in my area to test it for me. 2 weeks I go, and I can't wait. What a valuable tool and wish I would have know about it sooner. And it only costs $75. I think that will really help, thanks!!

I don't think coughing will ruin the band. It's not that sensitive. I got sick and was vomitting a lot after my surgery and my band is just fine. Try not to worry, you'll be ok!