Amanda2008

Everything has been great with my first fill (1.8 CC, Jan. 8). I've had a lot of restriction. Then all of a sudden it seems like I am ravenous and can eat whatever I want! It was like an overnight change - literally on Wednesday I could eat hardly anything, and then on Thursday it was like I had no restriction. Is that normal?

I've read rice is a no-no, but why? Is it unhealthy? A lot of my favorite Lean Cuisines have rice and I haven't had any problems getting it down. It seems like rice helps fill me up too.

I can't remember Kristy, how much was your first fill? Did you do it under fluoro?

wow!! congratulations! would love to see before/after pics!

I would start with the treadmill for the first week and then go on to the elliptical.

OMG that is so rude!!!!!!!!

Well remember you could be losing fat and gaining muscle (which is what you want). The scale doesn't mean everything - do you look or feel thinner? Do your clothes fit better?

I don't feel a thing! But I've only been banded two months. (I can't believe it's been two months!!!!!!!!!!)

What do you mean vacation? Do you mean sightseeing, shopping, etc? I went home as scheduled but due to some stupid travel planning (my fault) I spent 10 hours in the San Diego airport and then had an overnight layover in Denver. This was very uncomfortable and I was really, really wishing I had stayed an extra day in TJ. So if you have a long return trip, maybe you should consider spending an extra night recovering.

I'll be totally honest. Absolutely NOTHING sucks about it. There are a few side effects (like constant burping) but who really cares? My shoulder did hurt occasionally but again it's a small price to pay. It would be nice if the band and the fills were free, but it's totally worth the cost. What RULES about the band is that I'm now a "normal" person so to speak around food. I no longer obsess about it and hardly even think about it. I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all.

What has been some food you discovered you haven't been able to eat? Or food you thought would be difficult but wasn't? For me the main one shocker is hard boiled eggs! I have to chop them up and still I can barely eat any. Broccoli also surprised me as something that sticks. But I was very surprised to find I could eat a piece of pizza with no problem.

When they put your band in, they filled up your abdominal cavity with C02 gas to give the surgeon room to work. Some of it stays in your system and gas rises, which means it goes up to your shoulder joints and gets stuck, causing the pain. It's a very strange side effect! There is also a theory that a tightened band puts pressure on a nerve that affects the shoulders, which would explain why the shoulder pain comes after eating. The shoulder pain left a few weeks after surgery but came back again after my first fill. Roll your shoulders over and over and do lots of shoulder stretches to help break up the gas.

Don't forget you can take phazyme or beano or any number of products to help the gas.

You can really lose a lot over a full month. I waited until 14 days before and it was a BIG struggle. She wanted me to lose 14 lbs and I lost 8, and the last 3 lbs probably came off because I ate only an apple and yogurt the day before weigh-in. I was VERY nervous I wouldn't "make weight." I wish I had done a full month of eating healthy - it would have been easier. Instead I overate on purpose, counting down to when my diet began! And so I GAINED more weight and thus had to lose a higher percentage. Duh! I almost gave up and rescheduled but I am so happy I stuck with it. The preop diet can be very frustrating but just count each day you have behind you as in the bag. You just have to stay committed and eat low calorie foods that FILL YOU UP. Think fruits and veggies.

What size band do you have? 1.8 first fill and 2.4 for second is 4.2. You must have a 10 cc band.

I got my first fill Jan. 8 - 1.8 CCs in a 4 CC band so I'm almost halfway full. I don't get hiccups or runny nose - I just suddenly feel not hungry. However if I ignore that signal and continue eating (because my mind or my mouth wants it), or eat too fast or take too big bites, it leads to immediate pain/PB. I understand now that this period of time is for me to ADJUST to the band and become a much slower eater. No more putting food in my mouth casually. So it is a willpower thing right now. Your band is less than one-third full. I would expect you to have less restriction, but with some restriction, you will have to learn how to eat in a new way.

I was on liquids for 2-3 days, and I felt the restriction soon after that. They did give me 1.8 CC which means my band is nearly halfway filled.

strangely enough, the shoulder pain went away for me a few weeks after surgery, and then came roaring back with my first fill last week.... (

If PB stands for productive burp, does that mean it only happens in a burp? Is coughing up food the same thing? That's happened to me a few times. Just now I ate a hard boiled egg (something I thought would be easy to go down) and felt that tight feeling in my chest. I burped several times and felt some relief, and then started coughing and up came some egg and a whole bunch of saliva. Basically, did I PB?

exactly. Worries about gas should not prevent anyone from getting LapBand!

I really thought this was going to be a problem, but I found I don't miss it. I guess I won't be having any Indian food though - it's so spicy I always needed to drink water with it.

I would talk to the good folks at the OCC. I don't know anything about the disease, and how it would affect the healing process, but it seems every condition is complicated by obesity. good luck!

Cake is one of my MAJOR weaknesses, and I'm excited to day I have not craved it at all since being filled. And I've had quite a few opportunities to have some at work. There was cake in the office fridge all week that I didn't touch, and on Thursday there was a huge chocolate sheet cake for someone's birthday, and I didn't look twice at it.... you don't want to know how much I would have eaten before the band!

this sounds like a great workout plan... have you seen any difference in your fitness level? Have you been able to increase the length of your cardio, number of reps, etc during all this time? What about your diet? If you're eating too much, you may not be able to get rid of the fat that is covering up your increasingly toned muscles. you didn't mention it, but have you actually lost weight during this time period? What about a thyroid or hormonal imbalance? Something has got to be snagging you somewhere...

I know I've seen at least one person say they are able to eat corn bread. It's not really very much like doughy bread... You would have to try it and see.