first fill

May 17, 2008

Tonja, I'm in a little town outside of Mountain Home, Arkansas. I was really nevous too. I had never had a surgery beore. I was banded on March 15 of this year. Just two months ago. If I had driven it would have taken me 24 hours, so I flew...this was also a first (as well as seeing the ocean). I decided I didn't want to turn 30 trapped in this depressed person that doesn't even have the confdence to see the ocean. I didn't want to keep waiting to live. It was amazing how fast the recovery was. I was back at work in 3 days. I lost 20 lbs really quickly, then I started to struggle with the desire to eat verses actual hunger. I'm sure as a person with food issues this will be a life long struggle. About 7 weeks after the surgery, I started to get hungry too often and want to eat more than I should. I plateaued, then I started to gain 2 or 3

pounds. So I made an appointment and had my first fill on this past Thursday. I've already taken off the 2 or 3 gained. I won't say it has been easy to get up and make myself exercise or say no to the phantom hunger, but I will say it has been worth it. I'd do it again a thousand times over. My kids already hae a better mom and I'm not even half way there. You can ask me any questions you have. The people in this forum helped me make the decision to save my own life, and I am more than happy to do the same for someone else. I know everyone says it, but my only regret is not begining this journey sooner. 245/213/145 DOB 3/15/08Tonja <tandtf@...> wrote: ,I am curious when did you get banded and where are you at? I amscheduled to get banded on the 23rd so am getting a little nervous. Iam wondering how long it took you to go from weight before surgery tonow? Thanks for your help,Tonja>> Hello to all,> I had my first fill yesterday. It didn't hurt and my doc has noproblem with Mexico WLS folks. He says it isn't really fair todiscriminate we need a doctor too. I'm excited that my weight willstart going down again now. I was

getting really hungry in theevenings. My BMI has already gone down from 45 to 39! I'm thinkingthat maybe I can keep climbing this physical and emotionalhill....especially with all of you.> > I have questions about the liquid to mushy phase now. They saidfive days till I'm on normal food again. ....how long for clear? Howlong for full liquids? and mushies? > > > 245/215/145>

May 17, 2008

,

I am from Arkansas also. I am scheduled to be banded on June 5th. I was wondering, where did you get your fill? Did you go back to Dr.A?

Burson

Pampered Chef

Independent Consultant

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/carrieb

Re: Re: first fill

Tonja,

I'm in a little town outside of Mountain Home, Arkansas. I was really nevous too. I had never had a surgery beore. I was banded on March 15 of this year. Just two months ago. If I had driven it would have taken me 24 hours, so I flew...this was also a first (as well as seeing the ocean). I decided I didn't want to turn 30 trapped in this depressed person that doesn't even have the confdence to see the ocean. I didn't want to keep waiting to live.

It was amazing how fast the recovery was. I was back at work in 3 days. I lost 20 lbs really quickly, then I started to struggle with the desire to eat verses actual hunger. I'm sure as a person with food issues this will be a life long struggle. About 7 weeks after the surgery, I started to get hungry too often and want to eat more than I should. I plateaued, then I started to gain 2 or 3 pounds. So I made an appointment and had my first fill on this past Thursday. I've already taken off the 2 or 3 gained.

I won't say it has been easy to get up and make myself exercise or say no to the phantom hunger, but I will say it has been worth it. I'd do it again a thousand times over. My kids already hae a better mom and I'm not even half way there. You can ask me any questions you have. The people in this forum helped me make the decision to save my own life, and I am more than happy to do the same for someone else. I know everyone says it, but my only regret is not begining this journey sooner.

245/213/145

DOB 3/15/08Tonja <tandtf (DOT) com> wrote:

,I am curious when did you get banded and where are you at? I amscheduled to get banded on the 23rd so am getting a little nervous. Iam wondering how long it took you to go from weight before surgery tonow? Thanks for your help,Tonja>> Hello to all,> I had my first fill yesterday. It didn't hurt and my doc has noproblem with Mexico WLS folks. He says it isn't really fair todiscriminate we need a doctor too. I'm excited that my weight willstart going down again now. I was getting really hungry in theevenings. My BMI has already gone down from 45 to 39! I'm thinkingthat maybe I can keep climbing this physical and

emotionalhill....especially with all of you.> > I have questions about the liquid to mushy phase now. They saidfive days till I'm on normal food again. ....how long for clear? Howlong for full liquids? and mushies? > > > 245/215/145>

May 17, 2008

, I went to Dr. Lambert in Batesville, AR. It is about an hour and twenty minutes from me. He charges 377 for first visit and fill, but then it is only 150 for each visit after. I know Dr. A is cheaper but the traveling isn't for me. I called several places before finding one that would take a patient from mexico. I know I wanted to have a doc before surgery too. Burson <burson.carrie@...> wrote: , I am from Arkansas also. I am scheduled to be banded on June 5th. I was wondering, where did you get your fill? Did you go back to Dr.A? Burson Pampered Chef Independent Consultant http://www.pamperedchef.biz/carrieb Re: Re: first fill Tonja, I'm in a little town outside of Mountain Home, Arkansas. I was really nevous too. I had never had a surgery beore. I was banded on March 15 of this year. Just two months ago. If I had driven it would have taken me 24 hours, so I flew...this was also a first (as well as seeing the ocean). I decided I didn't want to turn 30 trapped in this depressed person that doesn't even have the confdence to see the ocean. I didn't want to keep waiting to live. It was amazing how fast the recovery was. I was back at work in 3 days. I lost 20 lbs really quickly, then I started to

struggle with the desire to eat verses actual hunger. I'm sure as a person with food issues this will be a life long struggle. About 7 weeks after the surgery, I started to get hungry too often and want to eat more than I should. I plateaued, then I started to gain 2 or 3 pounds. So I made an appointment and had my first fill on this past Thursday. I've already taken off the 2 or 3 gained. I won't say it has been easy to get up and make myself exercise or say no to the phantom hunger, but I will say it has been worth it. I'd do it again a thousand times over. My kids already hae a better mom and I'm not even half way there. You can ask me any questions you have. The people in this forum helped me make the decision to save my own life, and I am more than happy to do the same for someone else. I know everyone says it, but my only regret is not begining this journey

sooner. 245/213/145 DOB 3/15/08Tonja <tandtf (DOT) com> wrote: ,I am curious when did you get banded and where are you at? I amscheduled to get banded on the 23rd so am getting a little nervous. Iam wondering how long it took you to go from weight before surgery tonow? Thanks for your help,Tonja>> Hello to all,> I had my first fill yesterday. It didn't hurt and my doc has noproblem with Mexico WLS folks. He says it isn't really fair todiscriminate we need a doctor too. I'm excited that my

weight willstart going down again now. I was getting really hungry in theevenings. My BMI has already gone down from 45 to 39! I'm thinkingthat maybe I can keep climbing this physical and emotionalhill....especially with all of you.> > I have questions about the liquid to mushy phase now. They saidfive days till I'm on normal food again. ....how long for clear? Howlong for full liquids? and mushies? > > > 245/215/145>

October 8, 2008

Very true.

A friend of my daughter's mom had a band a while ago, she lost 40 lbs right off

the bat, but hasnt had a fill and doesnt have any support system...I told her

about this site and I told her to get a fill!! The band cant do it alone!!

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " moonshadow.sandy " <moonshadow.sandy@...>

Hi, Barb - I'm always a little disappointed when the docs don't cover

these basics. People then think something is wrong, their band is not

working (and will not work) for them, and they can get very depressed

and anxious. Most people ae NOT hooked into an online support group

like this, to ask.

I've known some people who didn't know this was normal, did not lose

the first 2 months, were so sad and embarrassed they never went back

to the doc and totally gave up. simply because they didn't know.

YES! This is normal! The band is not working well, if at all, until

we reach a good fill level. Most people need 3-5 small fills, ideally

about a month apart, to reach a good level. then, as we lose, we'll

need more fill periodically to keep the band snug and functional.

the first fill or two usually produce little if any differecen, and

are ment only as a small, gentle introduction to stomach pressure.

the stomach is very grumpy and hates being touched, so sudden big

changes make it very angry. anyone who had had an accidental overfill

can tell you that it is pure misery - and very unsafe. low and

gradual is the key to a safe fill.

Until a good fill , most people can eat and drink pretty much as

before. The band also does not dim hunger until a pretty good fill

level - plus a good band meal.

Still, with attention to new band needs - better food choices, much

better activity/exercise, more no-cal fluids, and working on the

food/eating issues we all have, we can still lose a bit even before a

good fill level.

the weight loss foruma is exactly the same with or without the band -

eat less and exercsie more to lose! the band only makes it easier to

be physically satisfied with less food.

Keep the faith! :-) You'll get there!

Sandy r

-- In , Barbara Kittle

<pastorkittle@...> wrote:

>

> My surgery was August 25 & I'm still waiting for my first fill. I

have a question for the experienced at this. Is it normal to start

thinking about food all the time & be hungrier than ever? I get my

band filled Oct 15. I lost 12 pounds the first month but I'm

struggling not to gain some back.

>

> Barb K

October 9, 2008

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELP. GOOD TO HEAR THAT I'M GOING THRU

SOMETHING THAT'S NORMAL. IT'S A LITTLE DISCOURAGING THAT IT MAY TAKE

3 FILLS FOR THE BAND TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE. I GUESS I HAVE TO BE

PATIENT. I " VE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT FOR 43 OF MY 58 YEARS.

PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT MY SURGERY AND ARE ALWAYS EXPECTING TO

HEAR WONDERFUL STORIES ABOUT MY HUGE WT. LOSS EACH WEEK. I HAVEN'T

LOST ANY FOR 2 WEEKS. I HAVE TO KEEP EXPLAINING THE DIFFEENCE

BETWEEN LAP-BAND AND BY-PASS.

SANDY, iT IS SO NEAT TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU WITH A WEALTH OF

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SITUATIONS SUCH AS MINE.

THANKS

BARB

In , pathubia@... wrote:

>

> Very true.

> A friend of my daughter's mom had a band a while ago, she lost 40

lbs right off the bat, but hasnt had a fill and doesnt have any

support system...I told her about this site and I told her to get a

fill!! The band cant do it alone!!

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

> From: " moonshadow.sandy " <moonshadow.sandy@...>

> Hi, Barb - I'm always a little disappointed when the docs don't

cover

> these basics. People then think something is wrong, their band is

not

> working (and will not work) for them, and they can get very

depressed

> and anxious. Most people ae NOT hooked into an online support group

> like this, to ask.

> I've known some people who didn't know this was normal, did not

lose

> the first 2 months, were so sad and embarrassed they never went

back

> to the doc and totally gave up. simply because they didn't know.

>

> YES! This is normal! The band is not working well, if at all, until

> we reach a good fill level. Most people need 3-5 small fills,

ideally

> about a month apart, to reach a good level. then, as we lose, we'll

> need more fill periodically to keep the band snug and functional.

>

> the first fill or two usually produce little if any differecen, and

> are ment only as a small, gentle introduction to stomach pressure.

> the stomach is very grumpy and hates being touched, so sudden big

> changes make it very angry. anyone who had had an accidental

overfill

> can tell you that it is pure misery - and very unsafe. low and

> gradual is the key to a safe fill.

>

> Until a good fill , most people can eat and drink pretty much as

> before. The band also does not dim hunger until a pretty good fill

> level - plus a good band meal.

>

> Still, with attention to new band needs - better food choices, much

> better activity/exercise, more no-cal fluids, and working on the

> food/eating issues we all have, we can still lose a bit even before

a

> good fill level.

>

> the weight loss foruma is exactly the same with or without the

band -

> eat less and exercsie more to lose! the band only makes it easier

to

> be physically satisfied with less food.

>

> Keep the faith! :-) You'll get there!

>

> Sandy r

>

> -- In , Barbara Kittle

> <pastorkittle@> wrote:

> >

> > My surgery was August 25 & I'm still waiting for my first fill. I

> have a question for the experienced at this. Is it normal to start

> thinking about food all the time & be hungrier than ever? I get my

> band filled Oct 15. I lost 12 pounds the first month but I'm

> struggling not to gain some back.

> >

> > Barb K

>

October 9, 2008

Hi Barb,

First, please don't use ALL CAPS. That's considered shouting on the

net, plus is harder to read. Even all lower case (in case you're like

me and occasionally to hurried or lazy to capitalize) is better than

all upper.

Thursday, October 9, 2008, 2:47:57 PM, you wrote:

> THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELP. GOOD TO HEAR THAT I'M GOING THRU

> SOMETHING THAT'S NORMAL. IT'S A LITTLE DISCOURAGING THAT IT MAY TAKE

> 3 FILLS FOR THE BAND TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE. I GUESS I HAVE TO BE

> PATIENT. I " VE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT FOR 43 OF MY 58 YEARS.

Too bad your doc didn't explain about that. So many docs skip

important things. As you note, it took you 43 years to get fat, and

it'll most likely take you more than 43 weeks to lose it, but not 43

years, and not even 43 months unless you're VERY slow, don't follow

the rules, or are VERY obese.

> PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT MY SURGERY AND ARE ALWAYS EXPECTING TO

> HEAR WONDERFUL STORIES ABOUT MY HUGE WT. LOSS EACH WEEK. I HAVEN'T

> LOST ANY FOR 2 WEEKS. I HAVE TO KEEP EXPLAINING THE DIFFEENCE

> BETWEEN LAP-BAND AND BY-PASS.

Yes. And that's why some of us don't tell people about the surgery,

so that they won't be nagging us all the time, telling us what we can

and can't eat, and all that.

> SANDY, iT IS SO NEAT TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU WITH A WEALTH OF

> KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SITUATIONS SUCH AS MINE.

Hang in there. And remember, weight loss isn't linear. Some weeks

you'll lose a bunch, some none, and sometimes even go up a little.

That's life. Just isn't always the way we think it should be. If

you're an actual pastor, you're particularly aware of that from your

parishoners, I'm sure. (I realize that could be your last name or

something else)

dan

--

" It's OK to be a little broken, everybody's broken in this life " Jon Bon Jovi

Dan Lester, Boise, Idaho, USA www.mylapband.tk

Banded 4/27/03, Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana

Started at 355, at goal in the 210-220 range for almost 4 years

Ultimate goal of 195 Tummytuck in Boise and SmartLipo in Tijuana

October 9, 2008

Hi Barb,

I look at myself and don't really see the size difference. However today I fit

into a size 16W skirt. I use to wear a 22 or 24. I haven't been able to rewire

the brain to my new size yet however I know that will come with time.

Best of luck in your continued journey

> >