DEC

I have a fill tomorrow with Dr. Ricciardi in Las Vegas. Be my first visit so I have no recommendation yet.

Hi Everyone. I hate to rehash old topics but after many searches I still dont think I have a good understanding of what I should expect. I was banded 3/31/09 and started solids this week. I initally had a pretty significant weight loss on clear liquids which leveled off a bit on creamy liquids and is now going the other way on solids. As a "professional" dieter for the past 35 years I understand a lot about nutrition, exercise, and variations in weight during periods of near fasting (sustained execution of this knowledge is an entirely different matter..lol). So, I am not hugely suprised that I have been gaining almost a pound a day since begining solids and exercise again. I am curious however to hear how other faired during this time. I seem to be able to eat what I want as I am sure the swelling has subsided and I have little to no restriction, but have I have limited it to under a 1000 calories a day of low carb high protien food. I am walking 3 miles a day and doing a little weight training to slow the loss of muscle mass. Because I am in southern CA at my six week point I have scheduled my first fill for 5/11. The math (left brain analysis) says that this trend is unsustainable as my basal calorie needs far exceed my caloric intake,,,and although I know this, it is still hard to stay off that darn scale...lol! Anyway feedback from the more experiemced bandsters on this period of our journey would be appreciated...btw I love this forum! The experience shared and dedicated posting of many of you really helps me stay motivated and excited about this life changing event. Thank You!

I never got that real hunger back. Its odd, I dealt mainly with the emotional hunger. But since I’ve had my band – I haven’t gotten the real hunger in my tummy signs. It'll be 3 years in Oct. (Emotional hunger took me about 3 months to figure out, I finally started being more vocal about things, if I couldn’t eat through my hunger – I needed to express them in other ways…. My poor husband…..) I was really eating on a schedule and food just became my fuel.

I just went through this educational eating program and you focus on healthy eating but one of the requirements is you only eat when you’re hungry. I was friggen flunking that part of the class, I had no clue when I was hungry – I couldn’t get myself to that old true hunger stage (I was finally eating at 2:00 PM because I was getting loopy at work). I finally had to meet with the doctor and I eat based on the signs my body is giving.

We’re just all so different – and once I started getting fills I really kept up on them – never too tight or too lose (I was a fill flunky too, I have the VG band and had a lot – too many by Dr Ortiz’s standards) I'd still get your fills, there's nothing worse than being to lose (or too tight for that matter) but there are always supper cautious on the first one.

Congrats – and good luck with your journey!

Lisa

I am somewhat suprised at how many successful bandsters eat chili....I love chili but was prepared to give it up as I had read that spicy foods can be poorly tolerated when banded...I will be very happy if I can have a few bites of the spicy food I love!

I was like you, I wasn't really hungry and I didn't have any cravings. I started out with scrambled eggs with my veggies to the side. It really didn't taste very good - it was odd.

I think my advice would be pick what sounds good, what's good for you and take small bites - the hardest part is chewing 30 times (and not drinking while eating - remove all liquids from arms reach when you eat - or old habits jump in) and eating protein first, Veggies, fruits then carbs. (we're so use to mixing up our foods)

So really practice - for many of us we're not too tight at first and it’s hard to feel the band until you get a good fill. So that's why we really measure our foods and prepare then practice.

Congrats on making it through the liquids faze and this part can really be fun if you make it that way. I was totally into organizing and measuring - got a little bit caught up in it - but had fun - you're learning to eat in a different way than ever before!

I have been interested in knowing when the hunger starts as well....I am almost to the two week point, and thus far all the hunger is in my head. I have my first fill scheduled for 6 weeks out as a matter of convience. It seems from some of the posts that the fill date is driven by how hungry they are....or maybe how much they can eat without restriction. Congrats on finishing the liquid phase!

I had surgery (Nissen's Fundoplication) for reflux and hiatal hernia in 1998. Would this affect me from getting the lap band surgery since my stomach has already been altered?

Thanks in advance!

I was just banded on 3/30 and Dr. Ortiz fixed a hiatal hernia for me while in there for the banding. Looks as if there was a post earlier today where someone else had a fix like yours....surgery was much longer but he was banded.

Done...anything for a fellow Idahoan!

Hi Christy... I am wondering about your DR as well. Depending on the type of band you have your supposed to have fluid in the band post surgery. The "VG" band for example (which I have) is designed to have a basal level of 3cc (with no pressure) when it is placed. Fills then increase the fluid from this point to increase the pressure and cause the band to constrict....so 3 cc is the designed "empty" level. If he was "suprised" by this I wonder how many of these he has done....

Checked my card....I only have a REF # and a SN. Maybe if you sent them an email you could get it.

Everyone seems to be a little different. I was banded last Monday (3/30). On Tuesday after leaving OCC I walked about 3 miles. Flew home the next day and have been walking several miles a day on my treadmill. Based on my experience I would not have concerns about your itinerary. Others have had more discomfort however, so it will just depend on you and how well you feel. Sorry...I know that is not much help... >

Wow 37 lbs in 3 months...your doing great!

Why are you worried about not getting things stuck? I thought as long as you are able to control hunger that is what you want...

One week post surgery for me and fill scheduled at OCC for 5/11....

Hi, I was banded the day before you....probably saw you in the waiting room as I was headed back to the hotel post surgery. Glad to hear your doing well!

A MAP OF WHERE THE VIOLENCE IS TAKING PLACE

I was banded on 3/30/09 in TJ and had no problems at all. Even went for long walks around the Marriot on day two and felt safe. The border crossing was a breeze with the OCC van. I have already scheduled my fill for 5/11 using thier van service.

http://www.kpbs.org/static/2008/border_battle/map.html