vangirl

I will respectfully disagree. I was advised to begin applying Vitamin E as soon as possible. The glue on the incisions is very strong, it's not going to let stuff get through. My glue stayed on me for weeks. But the area around the glue can still benefit from the Vitamin E, particularly for dark-skinned people who are more likely to get darkened raised skin around the scars. Having said all this, neither Vitamin E nor Mederma have been clinically proven effective on scars. Some studies even suggest that topical ointments can actually worsen the appearance of scars. Yet many doctors do recommend it, and many people swear that it helps. So in the end, it is a personal decision.

I don't remember exactly, but maybe somewhere between 10 to 14 days after the surgery. It will depend on how much they've healed, how comfortable you feel touching them, etc. The bits of glue stayed on my incisions for a long time, so I just applied the vitamin E over the glue.

They get you up and walking right away at the clinic. Each person will have a different experience. It was very hard for me at first, but I took really itty bitty steps and just kept moving. It was easier the next day, and the next, and so on and so on. The pain did not prevent me from being able to go to the rest room on my own or showering or any of those things. Scarring will depend on each person and skin type. I am dark, so my scars are pretty noticeable and darkened around them, but they have ever so slowly been getting better. I'm trying to focus more on the weight loss than on the scars right now. I apply vitamin E oil on them, which was recommended by my dr.

I too was very bloated, water-retaining, as well as constipated following my surgery. It will pass. Try taking Gatorade or Pedialyte to prevent dehydration. I don't know what to say about your post-op instructions. My instructions told me to take 1/2 cup at a time, but I don't remember anything about only having 3 servings a day. That seems too little nutrition to me, particularly for healing.

What about chewing gum to get that need for chewing? Or a popsicle? Personally I don't think it is worth it to cheat on the post-op liquid. It really is possible to get through it if you enjoy what you are drinking and have a variety of things to choose from. Making sure I had a great variety of tasty yummy soups to 'eat'. There is a great recipe for chicken tortilla soup on this forum which helped me get through most of the post-op liquid phase. I also combined cream of potato and leek soup with cheddar cheese soup, and that was yummy too. Experiment with different recipes, there are so many soup recipes on the internet.

Don't worry, you will still be able to eat curries and spicy vegetarian food. You might just need to add in a protein shake or protein bar in lieu of meat. But definitely talk to Dr. Miranda about where to get your protein sources. She will be able to provide you with guidance on what to do for your menu planning, taking into considering what types of foods you are eating now.

I too haven't lost much since solid foods. Maybe lost about 5 pounds initially, and have lost nothing in the last month. I keep fluctuating between gaining a few and losing a few, and can't seem to get out of the high 230 range. I have on occasion resorted to going back on liquids for a day or two, but I think this defeats the purpose of having the band. I have also read that it can sometimes take 2-3 fills before seeing the weight loss. Maybe the body is plateauing due to the shock of the initial weight loss and needs time to adjust before it will let it go. I also think this is going to be harder work than many were anticipating. Having said that, it is easier work than doing it all alone without the band.

I really understand where you are coming from. It is very frustrating to be doing all the work when you've paid for something that you'd hoped would do at least some of that work for you. I also get frustrated and feel pressured when others keep asking me how much I've lost. Maybe going on one of those old diets (e.g. Atkins) will be easier with the band than it was without? I too am wondering if maybe you're on a plateau and your body is needing to adjust to its new weight before it will let anymore go.

What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing.

It is crazy how different all of our experiences are, with everything from the pre-op to surgery to restriction with fills. I too get hungrier at TOM, but I've read that there is usually an increase in restriction around that period of time. And it's weird too about the food. When I had my first fill, I had pills getting stuck in the morning, but could eat food without problem, as long as I chewed it well. I couldn't understand how I could eat a sandwich - dry, with bread, meat, etc. and yet have trouble with pills. I think you're right about me being a good chewer. I probably always have been, to some degree. And the fullness feeling after eating eluded me. I would get just as full on water as I did on food. As for the rules at OCC following a fill, I think they differ depending on which fill it is and according to each patient. I've heard everything from liquids for three days to it being ok to do solids pretty much right away. You're going to Florida! I'm so envious Look forward to seeing you in March!

It isn't normal, from what I was told. But I'm one of those rare cases apparently that need more fill to achieve enough tightness. I think that how much fill is put in and how much time between fills depends on each person. When I was having it done under fluoro this second time around, the amount was determined by how the water was flowing through the band. I had my first and second fill three weeks apart, and that was considered ok because I had hardly any restriction with the 2.2ccs I got from the first fill. However, I am supposed to wait five weeks before my next fill. I was told that no one from OCC has the full 4ccs in their band, but I am not sure if this was for their first or second fill or for the life of the band. I have read on another forum of some patients having more than 4ccs in the 4cc band as apparently it can handle more, but I'm pretty sure those are rare and very individual cases where the doctor felt that would be ok.

Don't be scared. You are going to do great, and the staff at OCC are wonderful and will take great care of you. There is lots of great advice here on what to take. I'll just reiterate on the importance of packing lightly, to minimize the need to carry anything heavy. Don't worry about the underwear issue, the incisions are quite above the bellybutton area. I found it helpful to have a soft half-tank/sports bra, flipflops, and easy-to-slip-on-and-off shoes for general walking about and going through security at the airport. When you leave the clinic, they will give you some pain meds, which you can also purchase at the pharmacy across the street from the hotel. You may not need that extra medication (most people don't seem to need more than the four pills they send you home with), but I would still recommend getting extra, particularly as you will have a long flight home afterwards. I also recommend gatorade during the post-op clear-liquid phase.

This morning I decided to test my new fill by eating one of the more potentially difficult foods - toast. I wanted to take advantage of the fact that I was at the Lucerna, and if I had any issues, I could get to the clinic if needed. I was able to eat 2 slices, but I was very careful about chewing and taking my time, almost getting it to liquid form before swallowing. I had a croissant at the airport, was able to eat that as well, no difficulty. I wish I had healthier options, but my choices were very limited. Got home, had a lean cuisine, no problems eating that, and I feel comfortably full. I could probably eat more, but it's a pretty comfortable fullness so far. I was told it might take some time for me to feel the full effects of this fill, so I'm going to see over the next few weeks how it goes.

Congratulations! And glad I was able to meet you finally, even though it was only for a few minutes.

I'm sorry to hear that your weight loss has been slower than expected. I'd be frustrated too with that much restriction and calorie control and still not losing weight. I don't know what advice to give, as I'm behind you on the journey. I have read in other similar threads that too much restriction and not enough calories can sometimes make it harder to lose weight. I also heard not sleeping enough can make it hard as well. Hopefully others have some better, concrete advice to give.

I had my fill with Dr. So this afternoon. Good news is, the band, tube, port, and pouch are all doing wonderfully. There is no leak. He was able to take out 2.2ccs out of my band, which meant that not all of the 3ccs went in (possible due to air bubbles or it coming out after the needle was withdrawn). It also meant that I'm one of those rare cases that need more fill than the average person. So after testing the pouch and flow of liquid with the barium swallow with higher increments of fill, I now have 3.2ccs. I'm on liquids now, so won't know how it feels, but tomorrow I'm allowed to have breakfast, so that will be the first test. I feel so relieved that the band is ok. That was my biggest fear. And the fill experience was so easy and reassuring and well-done. Just one poke and that was it. When you want something done right, go to Mexico! Will update more as I start solid foods again and get to experience what this fill is like.

I too think that maybe your friends are thinking about gastric bypass and not lapband. My family doctor initially thought that's what I was talking about when I told him I was planning on getting lapband surgery. Do your own research and find the facts for yourself. Only you can decide what is right for you.

I feel like I'm reading my own experience here, re: not feeling restriction and feeling like it's all willpower and very little band. I've been hovering around the high 230s for over a month now, gaining a couple, losing a couple. My willpower works for a few days and then it goes away for a few days. It's like a repeat of the past yo-yos that I'm sure most of us have experiened. It's been so much work just to stay level! I too am dearly hoping that this will change after I go to OCC for my second fill (possibly my first, if it turns out the first one was botched, which I highly suspect it has been). Right now, I've been resorting to my pre-band methods of appetite control, which (besides willpower), include green tea capsules and high dose B-vitamins. It does feel a bit discouraging to have to resort to these old methods, but I'm just trying to hang on, at least until my upcoming fill. I hope we all are able to find out sweet spot! Christy26, I had the exact same thing happen to me two days into the solid foods stage, and I was shocked at how much I was capable of eating. So you're not alone. -vangirl

You're probably going to have to resign yourself to sleeping poorly for a few weeks, unless you take a sleeping pill (which is not necessarily guaranteed to work). What I did to help with sleeping is prop myself with pillows so that I was in a half-reclining position. I kept a heating pad under my back to help with soreness. The heating pad helped a lot, and I highly recommend having one. I was able to sleep a couple of hours at a time that way, and occasionally could shift position from my back to my right side (not left side, as that's where the port and most of the incisions are). Sleep was initially awful, but over time I was able to sleep for slightly longer periods at a time, though certainly not as well as I could on my stomach. Right before my surgery, I asked Dr. Ortiz when I could sleep on my stomach again, and he said whenever it is comfortable to do so. I don't remember exactly when I was able to start sleeping on my stomach again, but my guess is it will depend on each person.

I'm getting in on the 6th but going straight to the clinic from the airport. I might see you at the clinic!

I'm going to OCC on Feb 6th for my fill and staying the night at Lucerna and leaving on the 7th. Anyone else going to be around during that time?

Wow Kristy, what great numbers you have! 40lbs lost, that must feel amazing!

It is hard when there are so many varying experiences. Even when the majority of cases are a certain way (i.e. first fills being in between 1-2ccs), there are always going to be a few outliers who may need a lot more or a lot less. The stress is in not knowing what's the explanation for my little restriction. I don't think it would start leaking 4 days later, but I do have worries about the fill dr. puncturing something while he was searching around for the port with the needle. I try not to think about it and stay positive and hope that maybe most of it went into the scar tissue and not into the port itself. I do think some of it made it into the port because I have increased restriction from what I had before. Otherwise it's one hell of a placebo effect! From what I've been hearing from other people with a 4cc band, it doesn't feel like enough restriction to be 3ccs. But who knows.. I'll definitely update on here as soon as I find out what the situation is.

It does suck, but my original plan was to go back to OCC anyway for that first fill. Hopefully there is nothing wrong with anything, and all it cost me was the $150 I paid for the first fill.

Thanks for the tip Sabrina! They have great fares for a lot of my favourite destinations. And thanks for the offer to go to NW Fills! I may take you up on it for my 2nd (or rather, my 3rd, since I may have already had one) fill, once I get this whole thing sorted out.