IrishRN

I get my 2nd fill this week too. And I'm in the same boat: NO RESTRICTION WHATSOEVER!!!! It's been very difficult since I've been banded to "work" with the band since I would never even know it was there but for the small scars on my abdomen ! But I'm hoping for some small sign this week to help me along. I may not get to my "sweet spot", but a bit of restriction would be helpful to get me moving. My fingers are crossed for us both!

How did you do with your fill?

Just got back from OCC. .08cc added... I'm excited! I feel better restriction already since my last fill.

Hi IrishRN and ksk - I just posted this bit of info on to another post and going to copy/paste it here...hoping you will get the jest of it..

Everyone is going to be different on this issues due to band size, etc. Have you been using portion control? That is the key and need to stick with this rule at all times. Restriction varies and everyone is going to be different on this. I, personally, didn't feel good restriction until my 3rd fill. Remember, your first fill will be like a 'primer', to get you ready for future fills, if needed.

When you had the band surgery, your stomach is totally mad at you! Then it's starts to heal and bond with your band. THEN, when you get your fill, your stomach is mad at you, again, and your stomach may swell because of the band tightness it's not use to...again! This is where you want to take it easy for the first few days and then progress to solid foods. Each time you get a fill, you will have a different reaction...and you go with the flow and go forward from there.

As for the bracelet - well, it seems a few of us have been doing something as a 'reminder'! I, too, had a bracelet, but I macrame mine so I can take it on and off - nothing fancy at all, just needed a reminder for the reason why I got the band. I do the same thing Lisa did, to wear it on the wrist that fed me! It's true, when seeing a 'visual', you are being constantly reminded and you act accordingly.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF...Jazzy!!

Thank you for the encouragement! All if it helps!!

I didn't have any restriction until my 3rd and even that wasn't like everyone else described. Now with my 5th I finally have that restriction i've always heard about, but still have those days where i'm suddenly wide open and could eat anything.

Don't get discouraged - it takes time but when you don't have the restriction that is a nice time to work on those habits. Once you do have restriction there is no time to work on them - if you don't have it down by then it is PB city! Not fun!

Good luck!

whew!! thanks for the encouragement and strength for something to look forward to. I am working the rules more. I do get tight if I dont slow down and chew but thats it... not restriction. I've pb'd twice and dont want it to happen if I can help it... What a horrible feeling.

Thanks for the encouragement and congrats on all your success.

Hey All,

So I just went back to OCC for my first fill yesterday. I got 3cc's put in. I'm on full liquids for three days and I don't feel any restriction at all. Does everyone else get put on liquids for 3 days after their fill too? They told me that it can take a couple weeks to feel some type of restriction so hopefully it comes but if not, then work harder till my second fill. Anyone felt like this after their first fill? I was just kinda hoping for better restriction bcuz I haven't lost any weight in the past three weeks since being on solids and I really can eat anything!

I'm in the same situation as you. No weight loss and no restriction. They keep telling me to hang in there. So I am. I go in for my 2nd fill this Friday, in the mean time, I keep working on the rules.

Interesting about yuor bracelet Lisa...my wedding ring doesn't fit anymore!

Sabrina:)

you sound excited! Time to get something new?!

The rules are hard at first, but once you get it, you go it. They become second nature.

You're a smart lady and you'll do fine - but one note - I didn't really get it (the sweet spot) until my third fill. There's a great chance you will this time - but just remember it does take time and we have to work it - and work it hard sometimes. I bought myself a special bracelet for my banding and it’s really just a pretty little thing - but I did use it as my reminder. It did work to have something you can see and associate with what you need to do to succeed, I wore it on my right hand so when I was bring food to my face I could see it. (Unfortunately its too big for me to wear now – just slides off my hand – surprisingly my hands shrunk too with everything else)…..

Best,

Lisa

Thanks Lisa. I cant get discouraged... I'm hoping my sweet spot comes soon. I'm ready to work the band but right now its very hard with no restriction.

Thanks for the bracelet idea.....

Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement

I go in for my 2nd fill in a week and looking forward to it. Im feeling very little restriction. The rules are the toughest part.. I think I need them engraved on my hand to remember to do.

I know that many of you say that you don't feel real restriction until after the first fill but dang, I feel like I could eat anything if I allowed myself to. I'm too scared to hurt my band so I'm trying to stay under 1300 calories daily and lkeep a ow fat intake. I don't feel like I even had the surgery but mentally, I know I have to limit my eating as I don't want gain the 12 lbs I lost over the last 3 weeks and also because I'm not going to treat this like a magic band. I really do feel though like I'm just on a regular diet. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me that I will feel some change when I get my first fill!

I hear ya!! I need the affirmation that this was going to work... I still do. I've had 1 fill and have little to no restriction but I also realize I can tell my brain to stop earlier than before. Ive also been pretty steady with my wt... I too am looking forward to finding my "sweet spot" everyone talks about. My 2nd fill will be next week and I am ready!

Hang in there

I totally agree with you, that is why I had the lapband. I was tired of dieting & gaining weight. It was a cycle. I can do any diet. I am not gaining weight any longer and I lost at a fast pace at the begining. But, get ready you can hit a plateau for MONTHS! Some of us have really struggled. For me it has been since January. I am working out like a crazy woman, eating very well and STUCK!!! So, just be prepared if it happens not to lose sight of the prize. I read posts for months before my surgery and I never thought I would have plateaued like I have. I thought people were lying about what they were eating and NOT exercising. I now know what it means to be at a stand still for a LONG time. It can be frustrating when you are so tight and can't eat till the afternoon. I know LisaLaw and I have experienced a lot of the same things & it is NOT because we are band bandsters. We are thinking that maybe the HCG will get the scale to move. It is hard to gain weight with your band. Unless you are just a pig. LOL If I can get it moving again, I would feel really good. Also, Me and LisaLaw were banded way before Lindsay, I have posted my diet before & nothing has changed. So, I am not really looking for a person here to tell me what I am doing wrong, when I have a Dr., trainer, and nutritionist assisting me on my journey. Good luck on your journey!

[/quote

I think people are just giving their opinions on the HCG like any other topic in any other forum... I didnt get a vibe that people here were telling you that what you were doing was wrong. If HCG works for you and you love it... go for it. Who knows... may work for me too.

I'm throwing in my two cents as the husband of a bandster...not the site admin

I've researched this to some extent in the past. There is no scientific evidence that supports the use of HCG for weight loss. Period. Believe me, I've looked. People that lose weight on this diet either lose weight because of the highly restrictive 500 calorie diet or placebo effect. Not from the HCG directly. If you do enough research, it's not hard to find this out for yourself.

It's beyond me why registered nurses would be distributing this as a weight loss solution. They may be wonderful people, but that seems a bit irresponsible on their part. I would be interested to see any factual based evidence they use to support those actions.

Chad

Agreed!

Please let them know that you have been taking fat burners and the rest of your program. Many have been linked to heart issues and death. I'm not trying to scare you but your band will not race your heart up - look at what you've been putting into your body - take everything to your doctor.

I’m very worried - they can cause long term damage that is irreversible and death.

We had someone on this forum that almost lost her life due to taking them.

Be careful - losing weight with the band can be slow - but do it right and it works. However adding in chemicals may cause a deadly reaction.

Its not worth it.

Be careful, my thoughts are with you!

Lisa

My thoughts exactly. Be careful and always let the dr who is doing your fills/band what is going on and what you are taking.

I have had my first fill only, but I will tell you I have little to no restriction. Going for my second fill in July and I can't wait!

Ya-hoo! The hard part is being patient and waiting for results. My doctor will not see me sooner than 1 month between fills, so it is teaching me to wait, that is for sure. I will say, I am happy to move slow on my fills. I do think it is good for my body to adjust to the squeeze, although my pocket book is feeling the pinch! LOL

Did you go back to the OCC for your fill or stay local?

I did go back to the OCC.. I only live an hour from the border so it was very easy. They put 2.0 cc in but they told me dont think about the numbers...

If someone does not have a large amount of wt to lose, the band will sit loser on the stomach and it may take me longer to get restriction. Right now I have little to no restriction.

Really its all a head game for me.. always wondering if this is really going to work. Since for most of us... nothing ever has. It is hard to believe this will.

((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))))

I have a story that I've found some humor in. I used to weigh and measure for a living. In my office I had a cartoon of a scale. In the cartoon two children were standing by the scale and one is shown whispering to the other. "Don't get on it. Each time my mom does she cries."

I'm trying to stay away from the scale right now. I'm only a month from surgery and I know enough about myself to know that for me personally I could weigh myself a dozen times a day and more often than not, a bad weigh could put me into a funk all day long, and end up taking me off my program.

I weighed about 10 days ago. I weighed about 224 at the time. I wished it was more but I shrugged my shoulders and said to myself "Why did I do that?" and tried not to let the number put me into a funk.

So we went to Disneyland, I was sick, I stopped taking my blood pressure meds which included not one but two duiretics (I'm feeling great now btw) and yesterday I was laying in bed and my head was trying to convince me to step on the scale.

Now I'm a logical person. I know that even when we do our best that our bodies play tricks on us. I told myself that since I stopped taking the duiretic I would not see a loss. I'm not stupid, I've skipped (on accident) medication days in the past and I always gain about 2 lbs a day until I start to take them again but I convinced myself that it was better to hop on.

BTW I'm a food tracker, so I log every bite, lick and taste I put into my mouth. All the more reason for me to stay off the scale since I'm not taking a duiretic that I've taken for 3 years.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

I had gained 9 lbs.

9 lbs...are you kidding me?

I was instantly reminded of why for me it's best to just stay away.

I managed to get myself out of the funk I was in and I went for a mall walk to a friend. Someone has to keep the economy going. (I didn't buy anything...lol)

While we were walking I felt a pain in my stomach and I "knew" instantly. Yep...that was a TOM cramp.

Now the 9 lb gain makes sense.

I'm glad I have the band. Trust me...if I wouldn't have had the band I would have went on an eating spree and consumed my weight in food to respond to the scale. I did binge a little, but my binge added up to a 1500 calorie day. I can't believe I binged to the tune of 1500 calories...only 300 calories over what I normally consume. How weak is that?

Thank god for the band.

Oh my gosh... I was going to post something of the same except I was not taking any meds.... I stepped on the scale and it had a gain of 4 pounds... UGH this was after my first week of having a fill. Today TOM arrived!

1500 cals is not really bad. Figure how active you are a day and naturally your body burns cals just sitting, breathing... on average I burn 1800 a day. I have the bodybugg and it is awesome... it shows me how many calories I'm burning. If you ever watched the show Biggest Loser, they all wear them on their arms. but... you are doing okay...

It will get better... hang in there.

Everyone knows that one of the major milestones is getting under the 200 lb mark. I have been fighting for this for SO long. I dont think I am ever going to get out of them. I have been struggling to get below since my 6 month weigh in on May 14th. , I was at 207 at 6 months. Well I received fourth fill on Saturday and I just new this monring was going to be the morning.

As soon as my eyes popped open I jumped out of bed and RAN to the scales. Put one foot on them and took it off. Removed all my clothing and thought, hmmm what else can I do, soooooooo I know, go pee!...I went a squeezed everything that I could possible get out..lol and RAN back to the scales. Took a deep breath and step on them. Closed my eyes and opened one eye and then the other, mouth dropped to the floor! 200.0 !!!!!!!! I was so freaking MAD! ...... 200.0 ......U GOT TO BE JOKING! OMGoshhhhhh am I EVER going to get to 199..lol I started to go put them in front of my car and run them over! but then I thought......tomorrow morning, I have tomorrow morning....Im feeling lucky and I will let everyone know in the morning!

Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me guys!

Carrie

love the story! I'm sure you'll get to Onederland soon!!

keep us posted

Is anyone getting vitamin shots?

I started a new weight loss program on June 10 and have lost 10.5lbs.

My BMI is down to 28.9

My weight loss hasn't moved in 3 years.

This is the most weight I've lost in 3 years.

I really think it's the shots.

If any of you have read my history....I've had a lot of problems with my band.

I hope it's finally MY TIME to LOOSE WEIGHT!!!!!

I'm fairly new and dont know your story... I'd love to read it. What difficultys have you had?

congrats on the wt loss!

I had my first fill last week... really no restriction. I cant wait till i can get in and get another. I feel like there is a tiny bit there at least to tell me when to stop but I still feel I can eat 2 bowls of cereal in the morning before calling it quits. Anyone else get good restriction after the first fill? or have most of you had to go 2 or 3?

The Fill Center by me Doesn't even offer Fluoro... And the Long Island Bariatric

Center closest to me charges 300 so that brings it to 675 for the first visit. I'm spending less then that much for my first fill @ OCC, which is 279 +(AIRFARE) 300= 579. I'm simply not spending over $1200 for 2 fills, I have other needs too.. And I don't plan on waiting longer in between fills, I don't see the logic to that, I will be very watchful of how I treat my band( Baby the Band) I guess 2 each is own.... I'll be back & forth to OCC My first fill will be @ OCC my second won't hence NO fluoro, But I plan on going back to OCC again for the end of Aug ....

I understand and thank everyone for posting on this thread, It's great to hear how everyone thinks......... Some things are easier for other and some just what different..... And some don't have much of a choice ....... it's all Good =D>

Awesome that you are able to go to the OCC and save.

In the end you can save getting 2 or 3 fills with fleuroscopy than paying for many little blind fills. Not to mention the increased health risks. Everyone has a choice.

well, its been 7 months since my surger and I've hit my first major milestone. I now weight less than 200lbs! AND I"m now, officially no longer obese!! Yea! My BMI now falls in the OVERWEIGHT category.

Funny thing happened. Last October 20th we had our fall meeting. Well, the chairs in this place are these very light aluminum (sp) chairs with curved arms. I went to stand up and the chair came with me .. That day is when I decided to have my surgery. Fast forward 7 months and we have our spring meeting. That very morning went under 200. And guess what? My hips didn't EVEN TOUCH the sides of the chair. Coincidences? I don't think so!!!!! It was a sign that this has all been worth it.

I am losing VERY VERY VERY SLOWLY. Probably 1-2 lbs per month since the initial 20lbs right after surgery. This frustrates me, but I guess I just need to accept it because as much as I hate to admit it I am not exercising and really I just eat whatever I want, only in small portions. I know I might get some negative feedback on this, but at least I'm being honest. I had to stop obsessing about food and dieting and now with this way of life I don't have to focus on it.

So, I am very happy! I"m moving this weekend which will eliminate my 3 hrs commute each day in the car and I plan to add some regular excercise. I think this will speed things up!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic! What an awesome feeling... congrats!

I read a report that 64 % of people who get the band that have type 2 diabetes after getting they band, no longer have to be on insulin. I think I read it right. Has anyone here had that happened. I ask because there is this woman at work. She is on shots and she is not doing well. Her sugar has been as high as 600. She states that she had a had time sticking to a diet. She knows that it is what she should do but she tries and diet and then when it does not work, it makes her depressed and then she eats unwisely. I told her about my experience and how the band has helped me to make better choices and how my whole way of looking at food has changed. I suggested that she talk to her dr about the band after I read this report. I told her about this site as well if she had questions. She has kaiser so she is not sure they will approve. She states that she has lost over 30 pounds and is really trying. I have seen her go through so much. It is truely sad. Now she has a sore on her foot that they are going to have to cut open, she is scarred of losing her toe. I really hope the band is an option for her, I dont want to see her die, that would be heart breaking. All I could tell her is how much this has changed my life. I dont think of food the way i used to. I use exersise as a way to deal with my stress, instead of eating. I choose to eat healthier foods. I could not tell her enough about this. I know it is not a miracle worker but I think for me anyway, it is a tool that I am definatly using to my benefit. I hope I was right giving her my information and advise on the issue. Has anyone here had diabetes and had changes in their sugar because of the band?

wow.. I hope she is feeling better. I am diabetic but not on insulin, only oral meds. My Dr says once my wt comes down and blood sugar in the am and after meals is in good limits... the meds will be gone. I hope she can be a candidate for the band so she can start living a life she so deserves.

I understand.

but..... I look at it like this, if I spent over 7000 for the band to be placed only to have the pouch stretch and only potentially losing 1/2 my desired wt because i didnt pay to get fleuro because the Dr was taking a blind guess... that would not sit well with me. That is why I cant stress more to get it done if one can. If the pt I met Friday had not had fleuro done then she would have more stretching not even knowing... she may still be losing wt but later on would wonder why she was at a stand still not losing only to discover her pouch was stretched and needed surgical revision and possible wt gain due to the band being removed or an unfill.... all so not worth it to me. Save the money... wait longer in between fills to get the fleuro done...baby the band.

YAY Louise!--Glad that worked for you!! I think Shelby has a point--that when you don't eat enough calories you body conserves the energy it has stored up so you don't lose any fat. Keep going!

(I had the bodybugg coaching last week--the lady was so nice and showed me a whole bunch of stuff in my program to work with. Could I thank you again for telling me about it? It is really helping me turn a corner with my weigh loss. I wear it everyday and update my food log reguarly.)

Love the bodybugg.. I wore it all the time before surgery. I'm going to start it up again. I have a thing with seeing my numbers and how I'm doing. So glad its working for you.

Okay all,

Here's the haps--just got back from the OCC for my fill...which turned out to be a partial unfill. I had 3cc's and he took out 1.5. Ahhhboo. I'm on the liquid/maalox diet for 10 days, then 3 days of soft foods, then back to regular eating. I'm going back for another fill in 4 weeks.

Here's what the Dr. told me...and for all of you blind fills, the beauty of flouroscopy. First he asked me about the heartburn and I was honest and told him that 2-3x a week I wake up with acid in my throat and that for the last 5 weeks I've been sleeping propped on a pillow, but that I've been super hungry and can eat anything for the last 3 weeks. That's why I didn't come in sooner. He flat out tells me that one should NEVER have heartburn/acid reflux with the band. It's supposed to be one of the benefits to having it. If you do, there's most likely a problem. He does the barium swallow before he removes any of the saline and I can see 3/4 of the liquid go through, but the other 1/4 just sits right above my band and then I can see it back up partially into my esophagus. Crazy, huh? Anyway, turns out that bad PB I had on a tortilla 6 weeks ago really irritated my band and it never healed so, I've got irritation above the band/around the pouch and the Dr. told me that I'm lucky that I didn't stretch anything out or do any damage. The band itself looked fine. Even though I'm sad I lost most of my fill, I learned a hard lesson. Do everything you can not to PB!! You really can mess things up that way. Also, the Dr. told me that if I had just gone for a blind fill, because I could eat everything, they would have just given me another fill without knowing that there was a problem and I would have potentially stretched out my pouch/done irreversible damage. I know that this isn't always an option with the fill centers, but if you can get flouroscopy, do it. It's totally worth the peace of mind.

Also, the only charged me $30 which I thought was nice even though they did do a barium swallow.

I just read this after I posted about fleuroscopy too... seems I missed you at the clinic by a day. I just went today. I cant stress it anymore either... get the fleuro! Good to know that your pouch is not stretched.

I had my fill today at the OCC... my first. 2cc in. I was waiting in the lobby and a pt was there getting her 3rd fill. Instead she had an unfill because she had stretched her pouch above her band. She was upset because she had traveled so far to get her fill to only find out she was getting a little unfill. If this was not done under fleuorscopy... she could continue on with problems and never know it. So when in doubt... get fleuro. I wont have it any other way.

Also... traveling across the border was simple. I parked for 5$, got a cab there 5$ and the cab back 5$. I also went alone so if anyone is ever interested in sharing a cab... I'm here.

Hi everyone (anyone)

My banding date is 26th June. I am nervous, but mainly (and probably a bit insanely) I am scared it won't work. I have tried so many things, and even though I read your stories I have this irrational fear that it won't apply to me.

I'm on my shakes now and feeling so despondent that I'm hungry and miserable and once again it may all be for nothing as the band won't help me.

Any words (or slaps) for a silly fool like me?

Just-being-honest,

Benjigirl

I have/had the same feeling about the band not helping.. I dont think we are alone. Hang in there...