CatiE

Congratulations on your surgery! Go by what your doc says and start exercising after 21 days. That gives your body time to heal. Walking is a fantastic form of exercise and just what you need for now. I was impatient and tried exercising 1 week post op and it wasn't pleasant--it hurt! I felt pressure on my port area and I was afraid of hurting my band, so I quit until after my 21 days. Now, 3 months post-op, I'm running everyday (up to 10 miles) and going to the gym. Planning a half-marathon in January. Good Luck!

Hello, I have 7cc on an 11cc band. I've had great restriction since my last fill a month ago and have been progressing well. This past Monday while I was eating lunch I started sliming and vomited. I had only eaten less than 1/4 of my sandwich and I chewed and chewed but it just wouldn't stay down. Since then I have lost all my restriction and I feel REALLY HUNGRY all the time. I don't have any pain or other symptoms, but I know there's something wrong. I'm going to make an appointment for next week to get my band checked, but I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen and what the outcome was. I have been struggling with my weight loss until my last fill and now I'm so upset thinking that I might have damaged something.

I have the 11cc band. My first fill was 3.5cc's and I got very little to no restriction...very frustrating. 1 month later, I went down for my 2nd fill and received another 3.5cc...which now makes 7cc's and what a difference! It was just enough and exactly what I needed. It's been almost 3 weeks and I have great restriction and am losing weight. Be proactive and get those fills as needed...it'll make all the difference. Good Luck!

The fills at the OCC cost $100.00. They offer packages for hotel & transportation which come to around $279.00. I make a 5 hour car trip to get my fills there. It's well worth it for me as I am already familiar with them and trust them. The fluoroscopy enables the docs to give a better fill too.

I'll be totally honest with you...I had horrible eating habits when I got the band. After the band I tried really, really hard to follow doctors orders and failed miserably. The 21 day liquid diet lasted 2 days for me. I did everything possible to sabotage myself. I read books (Dr. Ortiz' book is great), prayed, cried, etc. I really thought that I wasted my money and failed again at losing weight. What I didn't realize was that the band will not have any affect until it is filled. The first fill comes around the 6 week mark. I asked for an aggressive fill and got 3.5cc. That fill did nothing for me. I really questioned myself at that point. I actually thought that I would be one of the failures with the band. I immediately made another appointment for a fill. 3 weeks later I got another 3.5cc's for a total of 7cc's. That was the magic number for me. Now I see what the fuss is all about. I have restriction and am finally losing weight. I just needed a fill and a kick in the pants. The kick comes from the restriction. If you over-eat, you'll pay and then you'll learn how to eat right. I'm on track now, but it was not instantaneous and not immediate. To sum it up...you'll have to be proactive and aggressive on your fills because the band alone will not help you. Drinking your calories will definitely screw up your efforts to lose the weight. Eating ice-cream and other junk foods will also inhibit your weight loss. Stay away from those things and eat only solid foods. With a good fill the solids will be enough to satiate you. Good luck

I've been to the OCC several times. When I make the appointment they give me options of transportation and hotel. The transportation is normally $100.00 and hotel is $79.00. The entire package for the fill, hotel & transportation is $279. They'll organize everything for you.

I didn't splurge, but I did eat food. I was scared to over-eat. I did everything wrong from the very start. I had horrible habits which didn't end when I got the band. I was upset and panicked that I wasted my money on the surgery. I didn't lose any weight. All that changed after I received my second fill. Now, I'm on track and I see what all the fuss is about. I'm thrilled that I'm losing weight and that I've actually changed my habits. Each day is a struggle, but each day I see improvement. Just know that the band is a little bit useless until you get your fills. Don't worry, just get the fills and you'll see improvement.

Don't treat this like it's your last meal--it's not. Once you get the band you'll still be able to eat whatever you want and as much as you want. You shouldn't, but you can. When you begin to get your fills and start feeling the restriction you'll see what all the fuss is about.

Thank you!

Thanks Carrie. I've been afraid to admit my failures with this, but by reaching out you guys have made me feel so much better. I have put myself back on track as of now. Cathy

Hi Shelby, You're right. Thanks so much for being direct. I really want to succeed at this. Cathy

Thanks!

Hi, I'm looking for advice too because I had my surgery 3 weeks ago and cheated right away and I feel like a failure. I feel horrible about cheating and am out of control. I made my first fill appt for 5th week post op. I can't wait to have my fills because I hang on to hope that the band will eventually help me. There must be other people in your situation that haven't asked for help or reached out to anyone. You are doing a great job by working out and you are probably gaining muscle which weighs more than fat. To ensure that you are on the right track with weight loss, you should be aware of the calories you are consuming in a day. You have to use more calories than you consume. I've been in fantastic shape before by working out and eating 1200 calories per day. In the past few years though, I have been injured and depressed and ate myself into a mess. I have a problem with control that I just can't seem to overcome. We just need to reach out and be supportive to each other. I wish you much success and I hope you reach your goal! Cathy

Hello, I'm new here and this is my first post. I had my surgery a few weeks ago. I had the best of intentions to use this surgery to start a new life for myself and to get healthy again. Within the first week of my post op I started cheating on my liquid diet by eating a little yogurt and pudding. After the second week I began eating whatever I wanted including pizza, fries, chips, etc. I don't feel any restriction or any discomfort whatsoever. I know this is wrong and that I am risking my recovery and future success, but I've let myself get out of control and I'm devastated. I got this surgery because I have a control problem when it comes to food. I also know that the band is after all just a tool and I should have more discipline--but I don't. I've scheduled my first fill for Sep 3rd and I hope in the meantime I can figure out a way to bring myself out of this destructive situation. I could use some words of wisdom & encouragement right now because I feel like a failure. Thanks for taking the time to read my post