lunalady

So, slowly but surely, the weight is coming off. I'm at about 40 pounds currently, with two fills. I've made an appointment for my third fill; it's scheduled for Thursday, April 8. I'll leave here at oh-dark-thirty that morning, go to SLC for the fill, then spend the night in SLC. Next morning I'll get up and head up to IF to spend the weekend with my son, my daughter-in-law and my not-yet-born (but will have been born by the time I get there) grandson. I am *so* excited to be going! My first grandson, to go with my two granddaughters! My granddaughers are from my middle child, my oldest daughter. This new baby will be the first for my son, who will be 30 in July. I'm having a tough time imagining him being a daddy! The Dr. told me that I probably wouldn't get good restriction until my third fill, which has so far proven true. I can eat bagels still. I'm hoping the third fill is the charm! I have three boxes of clothes to give to my sisters now. My one sister knows I had surgery, but the other one doesn't. I told the sister who doesn't know that I'd 'grown out of' my pants. Little does she know that I meant I've grown mentally and emotionally, not physically. She's gonna be shocked when she sees me. Laura went to Cuidad Juarez and had her surgery two weeks ago. The Dr. there filled up her band with 2 cc's of saline, so she already has really good restriction. I feel like I got cheated...I have had to pay over $700 more than she did for the same amount of restriction because I've had to pay for two fills and the flouro for them. I *know* I shouldn't feel like that, but I do, dangit!

Red, I *love* that! "Roadside assistance"...how perfectly apt! Way to go...I'm telling you, between Carrie's 'Don't look in the rearview mirror...press the gas and haul a$$' and your 'roadside assistance' comments, today has been a banner day for me, gathering little quips that help along the way. Thanks, you guys!! Big hugs to all,

I *completely* agree with everyone, Carrie! You look absolutely fan-friggin-tastic, girl! Wow!! You are totally an inspiration! Way to go!!!! Big hugs,

Thank you, everyone, for your replies! I appreciate all the feed-back... I received my first fill a week ago today. I was very impressed with the Dr. and his staff. The Dr. gave me the maximum amount they can give that doesn't void the warranty, which is 2 cc's. I have the 10 cm Inamed band that will hold 5 cc's of saline (6 cc's if you count what's in the tubing). I had the fill done under flouro, since it was my first fill and all. The Dr. told me that my port is buried pretty deep (which could just be his *nice* way of saying that there's a ton of fat to go through in order to *get* to the port, I don't know!) and he advised me to have all my fills done with flouro because of how deep my port is. I was on warm clear liquids for 48 hours but I did cheat and have a bite of cheese on day two. It went down with no problems at all, but I did chew like a mad woman, just to be on the safe side! I didn't really feel like I had any restriction. Then I tried to eat some chicken a few days later...I was starving and I ate entirely too fast and I didn't chew my chicken up well. Yeah, big mistake, there! All of you who have *been there, done that* know what's coming next....yup, the big ol' PB. It was ugly, but I was sure thankful I was home when it happened! Trust me, I certainly don't want it to happen again anytime soon, that's for sure! I'll probably work with this fill for a couple of months and then go back to SLC for my second fill. My fills are going to have to be budgeted a little bit more carefully now, since I'll have another $99 for the flouro AND another $200 for two nights in a motel to worry about, in addition to the cost of the basic fill. One day at a time, though, right? *smiles softly* Oh! The *best* news that day was that when I weighed in that afternoon (in street clothes and in the middle of the afternoon) I weighed 2 pounds less than I weighed that morning, naked! Woo-hooooo!!

I apparently suffer from a serious case of the "not me's". You know how it goes...you'll read about some aspect of the band and you'll think to yourself, "Oh, I *know* better than that! That won't happen to me...not me!" First fill was great. 2 cc's of saline. My port is pretty deep and the Dr. recommends that every fill be done with flouro. Figures! Now every fill will be an additional $99, but I am trying to look at it from the standpoint that it's better to be safe than sorry. So...I didn't think I had much restriction, what with it being my first fill and all. So I ate some chicken for dinner last night. And I waited to eat until I was starving, which I *know* is a no-no! So, yeah, I was hungry as hell and I ate entirely too fast and I didn't chew my chicken well enough. My first visit with a PB was pretty exciting. NOT!! Apparently I totally thought that I would *never* forget the rules and I would *never* forget to chew well and I would *never* eat too fast and most especially, I would *never* have to suffer through a PB. Boy, was I wrong! I'm going to Wal-mart on my lunch hour to buy zip-lock bags to keep in my car. And some baby wipes. Too bad they don't sell brain cells!

I'm having my fill at the Fill Centers USA facility in Salt Lake City, UT. Not all Fill Centers USA have flouro, but the facility in SLC does, so I'm having it done there (with flouro, of course).I'm going to be there for my Scentsy convention, so I'm totally killing two birds with one stone! Woo-hooo!!

Good afternoon, all. I have my first fill in about 24 hours and I have a question that I'm hoping you more 'experienced' lap-banders can answer for me. I know that it's unrealistic to think that I will be reaching my 'sweet spot' on the first fill. Or even on the second fill, for that matter. Maybe not on the third, either! I have a friend who only had about 60 pounds to lose to reach her goal weight and she's only ever had two fills in the three years since she was banded. Do you think that the heavier you are to start with, the more fills it will take before you reach your sweet spot? Have you noticed that there is a correlation between how much weight a person has to lose and how many fills it will take to reach your sweet spot? Thoughts, anyone? Thank you in advance!

I don't suppose your nurse would consider moving to Boise, Idaho, would she? lol Seriously, you look great, Denise!

Hi, Robyn!! I just want to say that you are an inspiration to me. Even when you feel like you've broken every lap-band rule that there is, you aren't afraid of taking responsibility for that and you get right back on the forum again. Good for you, girl! I have my first fill scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so your post is *definately* helpful to me. Thank you for giving me an idea of what's going to happen. I appreciate you and your wonderfully honest (sometimes painstakingly so) posts.

I'm starting to get very excited about my weight-loss journey. My first fill is tomorrow afternoon. I've lost close to 20 pounds since I started and I can tell the difference in how my clothes fit me. My one *problem child* incision is healing well, finally. I've been reading on the forums and in blogs about people getting nauseous because they were eating too much, too fast. When I first starting reading about it, I totally thought they were high! How in the *world* is that even possible? And then...this morning...I got a first-hand look at it. Yup, I got nauseous from eating too much, too fast. And not even a speck of saline in my band yet, no less! I had fixed myself a fresh fruit smoothie for breakfast (a banana, some cantaloupe, a few grapes, some vanilla protein powder and milk) and I apparently had too much of it, too fast. I was nauseous as hell...I'm *still* nauseous and this was two whole hours ago! So, I guess I am making some improvements, slowly and surely. I am starting to look at my food as fuel, not as a 'feel-good' present I give myself. Whoda thunk *that* would ever happen????!!!!

Hi, Jen. I have to take Lodine every day for back inflammation. I had to stop (of course) a week before surgery and then I waited until I was out of the 21-day liquids before I started taking taking them again. I have to take them with milk. So here's what I do: I make myself a Carnation Instant Breakfast with milk and add a scoop of protein powder to it. I put it in a glass and use a straw to drink it. Then I cut my pills up so the pieces are the size of pencil erasers. I take a sip of my breakfast, then one at a time, I take my pills. So far, I've had no problems. Hope that helps! Hugs!

I couldn't agree more!

Wow, Stormy! Gratz on moving up to level two! I *totally* want a pole now! I'll be the only 50 year old grandma on the block who has one, but I think it would be awesome! Keep up the excellent work and keep us updated with the classes, please! Hugs!

I am very pro breast-feeding, personally. I breast-fed each of my three babies and those quiet times of bonding with them are some of my most cherished memories. If it were me, I would definately breast-feed and THEN go in for a fill. Hugs!