DebbieB

Thanks everyone for your replies. It has reiterated what I already knew. I need to start moving and journaling on my food! My son starts school next week and I will have more time available to get to the gym and really make a committed effort to making something happen!

I have started tracking my food on sparkpeople.com and it really helps to see what's going in. I can also see when I'm not getting enough protein which is a tough area for me.

Thanks again,

Debbie

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been on the forum for a while but I know its where I've needed to come. I am four months post-op and feel a bit frustrated. My initial weight loss was encouraging to me (lost 22 pounds from my decision date to about the 1 month post surgery mark). Since then I have teetered within a 5 pound zone and its just not budging. I have an 11 cc band, surgery date of April 22, 2010, and currently have 8.4 cc filled between 4 fills. I can eat more than half of my pre-surgery amount but I'm not stuffing my mouth just because I can either. I usually have a Fusion Juice or V8 for breakfast since I am not a real big breakfast person anyway. I have felt some restriction at times but never on a consistent basis. I've had once instance of having something come back up but it was after eating, and chewing very carefully, half of a bagel and I won't be doing that again!

My fat percentage has gone down by 4% which is good, but I just feel frustrated that I haven't continued to lose weight and I'm not sure what to do. I have not had a consistent exercise routine but I am going tomorrow morning. I know that will always help but on the food side I just don't see the restriction like I thought I would while I am at 8.44 cc in an 11 cc band!

Is there anyone out there who can give me advice or they've been in this place before? The feelings before of having my clothes be lose and being so hopeful for my future have seemed to fade away and I'm not completely down about it all, still have hope that it will work out for me, but I am frustrated.

My plan this week is to start my exercise routine and also start logging in all of my food eaten into an online journal. Is there anyone out there who has more in their band or reached a good restriction point higher up in the 8's or 9's on an 11 cc band?

I went to OCC for my first fill and then I've had my subsequent fills at a local fill center. (2 fills were blind and one was with fleuro)

Just not sure what to do... Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm going to Paris for my 10 year anniversary in November and I'd really like to be feeling better with my weight and maybe not be so squished in those darned airline seats!!

Hello!!! I am sooooo EXCITED!!!! I am having my surgery on June 30th!!!! I cannot wait!! Started on the pre-op diet yesterday and no problems!!! I think it is definately in the mindset!! I cannot wait to see the results-I have seen so many wonderful stories on this forum. Cannot wait to share my success story as well!!

I have researched and researched on the lapband and different doctors and all and this by far outshines the others!!! My family and boyfriend was abit nervous at first when I brought up Mexico but after their researches as well-they agree!!! 3 weeks will be here before you know and I am just ECSTATIC!!!! Talk to you all later!!!

Angie-IL

You made me smile to read your entry and how excited you are! I think that is great and now I'm excited for you! I had my surgery on 4/22/10 and had my first fill on 6/2/10. You are doing great with your outlook and it is such a cool thing to be able to look forward and be confident that things are going to get better for you! I am excited about the future as well! I take each day one at a time and don't ever give up.

Keep us updated on your journey!

Debbie

I am wondering if there are any other bandsters that take large vitamins or supplements and how that goes. I used to take EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) capsules and they are quite large. I'm not sure about taking them now but I would like to if I can. If you take them do them get broken down in the pouch or do they have to go through the stoma and they could get stuck? Anyone who has any experience or into on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Funny, I was reading some of my posts and I don't remember typing those...I have been updating my PS updates on the Plastic surgery site....

Kim

Thanks so much for posting all of your experiences with the surgery! Its interesting to read and helpful to know what it would be like to go through the surgery. I am only at the beginning of my journey but I'm looking forward to the day when I'll need that other kind of surgery!

Debbie

I feel this Pre-Op Diet is making me cranky. I know I will stick with it but it is funny how I am seeing how I usually deal with food. If I have a bad day. I usually go for a glass of wine and dinner. Now, I just suck it up and go home and have my lean cusine and then jump in the Jacuzzi!

Good for you to figure out what's going to work to relax you or comfort you instead of food and wine! I didn't like the pre-op diet much either but before you know it, you'll be done with the surgery on your way to the new you! The liquid phase wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be either.

Debbie

I'm scheduled for surgery on June 11. I have some questions -

Will they send me home with antibiotics? Will they supply some kind of pain meds in case I need them at home?

Hi,

I had my surgery on April 22, 2010 and I got some paid medication from the OCC to take but I didn't really feel like I needed it much at all. I think it was like an anti-inflammatory. I think you'll be surprised (hopefully) that you'll be up and moving around much more than you think after a surgery. They recommend to walk to work out any leftover gas in your body - some people get pain in their shoulders, etc. but I didn't have any of that. It was a dream as far as a surgery goes.

Good luck to you, I hope it goes great and that you feel good!

Debbie

Hello, my name is Terri. My surgery is scheduled for June 3rd and I will be staying at the Lucerna Hotel. I am nervous about traveling to Mexico.

Hi Terri,

Did they switch your hotel from the Lucerna to the Marriott? I am asking because I'm coming down this week and they called to switch me to the Marriott due to construction at the Lucerna?? Just wondering if others got switched as well.

Debbie

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

Tomorrow is my first band anniversary. What a year it's been. "I laughed, I cried, it was better than cats." I stole that from another OCC member but what's true is true.

So I thought by celebrating I'd do a vision-reality thing. What my life was like when my journey started, compared to where I want to go. I'm halfway in my journey and for me, the "X" factor, the desire I had when the journey first started doesn't sting the way it used to...because to be honest being halfway in my journey, visually I look different and I feel different. I've searched deep for the motivation to continue and I'm hoping this exercise, posted to the world at large will get me there.

This journey started on March 12, 2007 when I was 294 lbs. I dieted on my own to get to 212 but on July 7, 2008 (my first wedding anniversary) my mother (I love my mom) passed away and without blinking I was suddenly back at 258.

So I made the call. I decided enough was enough! A year ago, I was staying at a hotel room in Tijuana at the Marriott. I didn't believe I'd live through the surgery. (Long story...I can be a little mellow dramatic) I remember waking up the morning of the surgery and logging on the the OCC website. I had dozens of supportive posts to read. The one I remember the most was from Carrie. It made me cry. She said she believed in me and that everything would be okay.

Now on a side note, moments after the surgery I was being wheeled back to my room demanding my husband send a "cookie bouquet" to the staff at the OCC for doing such a great job. How inappropriate was that? He never sent it but a bit thank you is on my list of things to do.

Just after the surgery I was up and around. I was chatting with other patients. We were all so excited and we all felt fab.

The day after the surgery I was up and around. My husband and I went shopping on Revolution Avenue. We really had a ball.

The following day I was home.

I weigh in my low 220's today. I still have a love hate relationship with my scale. Do I wish I had lost more? Sure I do, but do I know that the lapband is what keeps me roped in...absolutely I do. I do I do I do.

I decided not to wire myself tight. It was really a personal decision. I just like to taste, chew and enjoy food too much to wire myself tighter. I've had two fills. My last fill was in September. Do I think one more fill would kick start things, absolutely, but again, I want to taste, chew and enjoy so I'm holding off for now.

Just before the surgery I started filming a cooking show called "What's for Dinner? With Robbyn & Gina." Gina is the brains of the outfit. I am fearless and a marketing genius. We're a good team. I should mention that Gina is fearless too...as all good Conciatores are, but again, that's another story.

How much do I like food? Well I just spent about 6 hours making a lasagna, not just from scratch, but with homemade sauce. Our family (The Sabella's used to sell their pasta sauce in the grocery store). Ahhh....the joys of being Italian.

Okay, so where am I going with this? God only knows. I guess what I'm trying to say is that for the most part food is my life. A part of my life I am not willing to give up. I'm able to give it up...I'm just not ready or willing. It's part of my heritage. My Grandfather was a renowned chef...I want to carry on his legacy.

So what is a girl to do?

Well, I decided to take action, in another arena. I went to work for a well known, international, weight loss vendor. I worked for them years ago and after a year of employment (yea...it took a year, I'm pretty hard headed) it sunk in but as luck would have it that's when I left. Anyway I just started working for them again and the scale is moving. The good news is that I'm learning again about food. What a portion size is. How many vegetables to eat in a day, how many fruits, etc. Because of my background in food, I've even written about 15 recipes for them. We'll see if they stand up and take notice. And if they don't it's okay, because I'm doing this for me and no one else.

So here I am, a year later...not in onderland. Did I expect that? No, it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be at my goal weight. Will I live? Absolutely I will. My choices improve each and every day. I will get to onderland and I will do it this year. I have all of the tools I need.

Do I regret getting the band.

Not at all! The band is the reason I've been able to keep the weight I've lost off. I'm very confident that as I continue to lose, the band will be the biggest reason (until I get my head together) that the weight will stay off.

Thank you all so much for being there for me. I've included a link to my food blog. I'm focusing on low cal recipes...well not all of them, but many of them.

http://whatsfordinner-acrossstatelines.blogspot.com/

Hi!

I think its great that you are being real with yourself and real with all of us bandsters. Its definitely not an easy road but you continue to persevere and press on. Not giving up and keeping on going is great for all of us to see. It doesn't happen overnight and maybe at the pace your going it is the best thing for you and being able to process in your mind your relationship with food and with yourself. I am going to start going to counseling for my issues with food since I know that even if I lose a bunch of weight, all of the tendencies are still there, lurking just under the radar!

Congratulations on your one year of having the surgery. May you have more and more successes and keep up the good attitude!

Debbie

Hi,

I keep reading about sip, sip, sipping and I'm wondering how things work with water and drinking as much as we need. I am an avid water drinker and since getting off of the liquid diet I haven't really had much restriction at all. I am not sure if I'm supposed to be sipping water or is it okay to drink a lot at one time. I know that liquids will go through but if I drink 2 cups of water after I've had a fill, is that going to go right through or will it cause problems with the pouch since its so much water at once? I am SO used to just guzzling my water, especially if I am hot or exercising. I love how I can come on this website and really get great answers from people who have been through it all and really 'know' how things work. I am certainly a work in progress and I'm looking forward to continuing my journey especially after my first fill.

Debbie

Thanks SO much for the responses. It really helps to personally hear from others about how things go. I think I am just SO ready to get rid of all the weight that I don't sit back and think about all the things that happened for me to get to that point. It came on over many years and it's not going to drop off overnight, although I would really like that!

I go in for my first fill on June 2nd at the OCC so I am really looking forward to it. I am also going to Maui in July and I think in my mind I wanted to have lost so much more by the time I go. I need to realize that losing the weight will be great and very healthy but I can be confident as a person at whatever point I am at in this journey.

Thanks again everyone!

Debbie

(((((((((((((((Hugs Debbie)))))))))))))))))

Congrats for getting through the post-op liquid phase with your sanity. It's not easy. You are right, your body can't distinquish between thirst and hunger, so as another bandster like to say "sip sip sip".

You are doing great. The concerns you feel are completely normal, and if you gain a pound or two waiting for your first fill, it's not uncommon. I may be wrong about this, so I welcome other ideas, I think the biggest losses follow the fills. In other words, because some doctors say have liquids for up to a week following a fill that is when the losses are the biggest because we're only consuming 400 to 600 calories a day (respectively), depending on the doctor. What the band does, is once we transition back to solid foods, without the band, after a big drop of weight, the minute we ate "normally" again, the weight would come back on 3 fold because of the change in our metabolism on the super low calorie days. But with the band, it takes some time after a fill (just as it did for you after the surgery) to be able to eat a normal amount again, and by the time that rolls around it's time for another fill so the majority of the weight lost during the liquid phase doesn't have time to come back on before the fill.

Does that make sense?

At least that is my theory. I could be totally wrong, it was just how I find myself making sense of it. I was banded a year ago yesterday and I think it's time for me to get back to basics, which is what has me back on the boards.

xo

I had my lap band surgery about a month ago. I did pretty good during the post-op liquid phase. I felt great, more and more energy each day. I was hungry but I felt completely in control of my hunger and easily told myself that I wasn't going to eat. I try to drink water whenever I feel hungry since I know that being dehydrated will make you think you're hungry but actually you need the water.

So since I've been off of the liquid phase I had a couple of days of feeling restriction when I ate. I could only eat 1/4 of a bowl of oatmeal. I had a corn tortilla soft taco and couldn't finish it at all. I thought that was pretty cool. But, as time went on I wasn't feeling any restriction at all. I've been on vacation for the past several days and have not always been making the best choices.

I just need a little encouragement and support that I can get through all of this. My first fill is scheduled for June 2nd so I don't have long to go until that is done. I am just not feeling the energy and satisfaction of being on top of my game at the moment.

I really hope that once I get my first fill that I will feel some restriction and that will truly motivate me to keep on keeping on. I know this will not be easy and its only a tool to help us with the overall process.

Thanks for listening and I look forward to hearing from any of you about your experiences. It really helps to read about other's journeys and how things went for them.

Debbie

Hey Debbie, I will have my cousin (Lisa) traveling with me. We scheduled our surgeries together. I am also meeting my husbands cousin (Nikki) out there. She is scheduled for her first fill on the 3rd.

That would be great if we could meet.

Hi Terri,

That would be great if we could meet up! I fly into San Diego at 11:48 am and I saw that you arrive at 10:20 am? Maybe we'll meet at the OCC if you are getting your pre-op labs done and I'll be coming in for my first fill!

I am hoping to do some shopping that afternoon and go to the VIP cinemas! I had a great time when I was there for my surgery. The day before we went to the movies and shopped, and then the day after my surgery I went back to the movies and shopped some as well! It was all good!

Debbie

What a great post! Its inspirational to those of us who are just starting on this journey! I'm going to print out a copy myself.

Thanks,

Debbie

I would really suggest returning to OCC for your fills - Dr So is the best! I hear all kinds of stories about people getting port leaks from blind fills, or over/under fill problems from not using flouro - but I had my first fill a couple of weeks ago at OCC and it was so easy! I'm a wimp about pain and was concerned about the needle thing but it was a breeze. Don't let your worry keep you from getting banded, you won't regret it!@

Did you stay overnight when you had your first fill? I am due to go back to the OCC on June 2nd and was planning on spending the night. Just curious if you did. Did you feel the restriction? I am at about 3 1/2 weeks post op and its been a little tough since I don't feel restriction. I tend to beat myself up (mentally) about anything that I don't consider the perfect choice for eating. Too many years of failing at diets I guess.

Debbie

Hello, my name is Terri. My surgery is scheduled for June 3rd and I will be staying at the Lucerna Hotel. I am nervous about traveling to Mexico.

Hi,

I am trying to schedule my first fill for June 2nd. Are you travelling alone to the OCC? I will fly in on June 2nd (be there around noon) and leave the next day. I understand your concern about going to Mexico. I was there in April for my surgery and didn't have any problems whatsoever. My sister and I walked down to the Rio Plaza mall where they have some great VIP movie theaters (all recliners!) and did some shopping. We took a taxi a couple of times as well without any problems.

Let me know if you want to try to hook up. I am going to stay at the Lucerna - I stayed there in April and it was great.

Debbie

awesome experience! i don't even know what to say. the OCC is the best. No pain, no issues. I feel great!

Great for you! I was just there last week for my lap band and it was such an easy experience, they were great and I didn't even feel like I'd had a surgery! Congratulations on your surgery!!

[quote name='shadiggty' date='15 April 2010 - 03:13 PM' timestamp='1271369597' post='84783']

hi family. im about two weeks post op and doing well. no sickness, no vomiting/sliming/pb-ing, no pain. been following the doctors orders and feeling optimistic towards the future^^

Hi,

That's so encouraging that you are doing so well. I had my lap band done this morning and I am back at the Hotel Lucerna. I like hearing from someone who is getting through it without all that other icky stuff going on! I feel like today is the first day of the rest of my life! I'm determined and driven to be a much healthy, fit and fun person! Thanks for sharing!

Hi fellow April bandsters - I was there a few weeks ago and they said they won't be using the Marriott b/c of construction, so you'll all most likely be staying at the Lucerna. Its really nice and the OCC menu/room service rocks!

Fyi, we found the room service to be faster than service in the restaurant, like its on a different priority with the kitchen, not sure. Maybe time just flies when you're in bed with your feet propped up watching a movie!

Try to remember to bring a small throw pillow with you, it will help if you are the type that sleeps on your side, as well as the van/airplane journies.. A hot water bottle will be helpful too, especially right after surgery. And finally, if you get tired of being at the hotel, you can take a cab ride for $4 around the corner to the Rio Plaza VIP Cinepolis, a movie theater that features all leather lazy boy recliners!! talk about comfort. Tickets are cheaper than here too; only $9. Just make sure you go to the VIP theater, bc there's a non VIP theater that just has the regular boring seating. Theres a great grocery store in the same complex as the movie theater, Comerica Mexicana, lots of really great stuff and killer deals on cuban rum Best wishes on your surgeries!!!

Thanks for posting that information! Its nice to know things like that since I've never been there. I love the idea of recliners or comfy chairs for the movies!

Thanks!

Ok, I bit the bullet and am now scheduled for surgery on April 22nd! I am very excited, a little apprehensive but I know that I am making a good decision! I haven't heard where I'm staying but I read somewhere that they are only booking at the Lucerna right now due to construction around the Marriott.

Is it April already? Where has the winter went? April is a month that inspires us to make changes. Summer is very near and we know our activity levels are going to increase. We decide to take advantage of this and schedule surgery or a fill. With this increased activity, newly banded and with good restriction in our band, we should have a successful summer of loosing weight. This topic is where you'll meet those bandsters that will be joining you on this journey during the month of April. So lets hear from the April bandsters.