Staceven

Okay, so in a couple of hours I go to have ALL of the Fluid taken out of my band for the 5th time in 5 months. I am devestated. A little background: I lost 83 pounds in 9-10 months. I hit my sweet spot at about 4 1/2 months post surgery and was flying high for 6 months! I rarely had stuck or puking episodes. I had gotten down to 198 (a big moment right?) when I got bronchitis and couldn't keep anything down. They said I was completely swollen shut and took all of the fluid out. I went back in a few weeks and had only half of the fluid put back in. 2 weeks later swollen shut again. This time we blamed it n a grilled chicken tender which is weird because it is one of my meals 3+ times a week. At this point the Dr. said I was overeating. I was not! I think he thinks I was lying or in denial. So this was about Christmas-time and with no fluid in my band I did overeat and gained about 25 pounds. This cycle of putting fluid in and taking fluid out happened 2 more times since the first of the year. I begged the Drs and nurses to tell me what was wrong and what I could could do to prevent it but they just keep saying I am overeating. Sure I cheat occasionally with cheese or chocolate but it is never in quantities. I have eaten a chip and dip. These items are very occasional and in no more than a half cup quantity. I have had NO cheats or overeating since my last fill. This week: 4 days ago I ate cottage cheese for lunch. I ate it too fast. It came back up. That evening I had a very small amount of tuna salad because I was testing the waters. It seemed fine. I did not eat Breakfast the next morning. For lunch I ate one bite of grilled chicken and knew instantly that I was swollen again. That evening I tried Soup and it was a no-go. Yesterday I stuck to sipping Water all day, I burped and bubbled after every sip. Last night I tried broth and it stayed down but I had to sleep sitting upright because the bubbling and heartburn was so bad. This morning my coffee (a tiny sip) came back up so I called the Dr. Am I doomed? The dr is an hour away and I am missing work every other week to go to the dr. I can't live this way but I refuse to think I wasted $15,000 and I'm destined to be fat. Anybody else have problems like this?

Name, real or screen ~ Staceven Age ~ 34 Weight on September 1st ~ 216 Weight on September 8th ~ 212 Weight on September 15th ~ 208 Weight On September 21st ~ 206 Weight on September 29th ~ 204 Goal Weight for September 29th ~199

Name, real or screen ~ Staceven Age ~ 34 Weight on September 1st ~ 216 Weight on September 8th ~ 212 Weight on September 15th ~ 208 Weight On September 21st ~ 206 Goal Weight for September 29th ~199

Name, real or screen ~ Staceven Age ~ 34 Weight on September 1st ~ 216 Weight on September 8th ~ 212 Goal Weight for September 29th ~199

Name, real or screen~ Staceven Age~ 34 Weight on September 1st~ 216 Goal Weight for September 29th~ 199 Exercise Goal for September~ Eliptical at least 2x/wk Dietary Goal for September~ More protein! Personal Goal for September~ More me time. Date Banded~ 11/19/2010 Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 65 lbs Let's go on and do the dang thang!

I am confused about this as well. My band Dr. set my goal at 149, while my regular Dr. says 175. 65% according to the NUT would put me at 185. I am big-boned and 6ft tall. Who knows - I'll see when I get there!

You are not doing anything wrong. It is very common for people not to have ANY restriction for the first few fills. I would think I had restriction for a few days, then nothing. It took me until my 3rd fill to have ACTUAL, REAL restriction. They say filling the band causes a little swelling in some people and that may be where that first week of feeling restricted comes from. Hang in there and be patient and the pounds will fall off!

I hit a plateau for the entire summer!! I was so frustrated from May through a few weeks ago I teetered around 220. THREE MONTHS!!! Anyway I researched it a little and I found an article that said many people plateau at a weight that they were at previously for a long time. I believe there is some truth to this because before I really started packing on the pounds I stayed around 220 for most of my 20s. It was tough but you just have to be patient. If you are doing everything right, your body will respond eventually. Good luck.

Now that I've lost weight I have a knot or hump protruding just under the center of my breast. Is this my band??? I have heard of people being able to see the port.....but the actual band? Could it be?

Thanks! I agree that's probably what it is. Whew.

It's not my port - that is on my lower left abdomin. This knot is between my breasts but down a little lower. Like right in the center of my rib cage. It's in the exact spot where I feel restriction or get stuck, that's why I wondered if it was the band. It is hard like bone. Sternum? Breast plate? I'm afraid I never took an anatomy class. Maybe it is something everyone has and I was just now introduced to mine after weight loss!?! It doesn't hurt, so I will probably ask at my next appointment. Just curious.

I had this same issue for almost 2 years, then my 18 month old daughter had it. They immediately diagnosed her with staph. A light bulb went on and I knew thats what I had to. The doctor had me bathe my entire family of five including babies in a bleach bath for 2 months. It worked! Like a half a cup of bleach per bath.

I've been inspired by these posts. I have gone through tons of emotions while reading through it. Scared, excited, dissapointed, it's amazing how I don't know any of you but just reading, I feel invested in your individual situations. I have a few questions: 1. What's a dog tail/ear? 2. Did your PS require you to wait a certain amount of time after being banded? 3. How do these drains work? Do you have to change a bag or what? 4. Did the PS have to do anything with the port? Mine is on my lower left ab area, 5. If you don't mind me asking, what are the costs? Were you at a ps surgery center or in a hospital? Were compression garments included? 6. Does a tummy tuck lift saddle bags at all? Is that what you call the extra rolls on top of the hips? I'm not talking thighs. I was banded Nov 2010. I've lost 67 lbs but I have about 50 to go. I just want to kind of set a goal date to have all the weight gone and all the money saved. I had twins 2 years ago and have significant loose skin already, I can't imagine what it be like in another 50lbs! Good luck to everyone on their journeys.

That's it. Thank you!!

The other day I was reading through several posts and someone had posted a link to an article. Eveyone that commented on it said was fantastic. I didn't have time at that moment and now I can't find it. I think it had a doctor's name in the url. Anybody????

I have no problem swallowing any pills. I take an anti-depressant as well and it is about the size of a thumb tack. I actually have very good restriction (possibly too tight). I don't crush anything. I take ibuprofen 2 at a time with no problems, Vitamins, etc. My doc who has had the band himself says most people really don't need to crush or cut. Go luck and go for it. You may regret it if you don't try it!

Congrats. Keep up the positive attitude and you will go far. Happy Birthday.

Thanks Irene. I keep talking myself out of having an unfill by thinking: "Hello, you are eating smaller portions and losing weight. This is what you did this for!" Lol. But I am worried about the nutrients. It is comforting to get some feedback.

So I've read alot about slippage and what causes it and how it is fixed or removed. But what are the symptoms of a slipped band? How do you know if it has slipped?

I'm in the same self-pay boat! It adds a little extra anxiety about slippage!

Thanks Rev. Just curious. Sometimes its hard to know what is normal and what is not!

I'm kind of in the same boat. Over 3 weeks ago I had my 2nd fill. No restriction before. Did liquids for 24 hrs - no prob. Then mushies, during which I thought finally I've got restriction. Now, for the last 3wks I can't eat Breakfast AT ALL. lunch is usually 2 bites of chicken. And supper might be 4 or 5 bites. I've had several vomitting episodes after which I try to remember if I might not have chewed good and slowly. I keep thinking things will eventually smooth out. Am I too tight? I am scared to have any taken out because I don't want to go back to NO restriction. Then somedays I wonder if this is how its suppose to be, my portions were soooo overboard in the past. I ask myself are 4 bites a half of a cup? I am so confused I really don't even know if I am hungry. I am not exactly satiisfied, I want to eat every couple of hours but I'm thinkin its all in my head. I go back at the end of the month, hopefully Dr. can tell me if all of this is normal.

Great post! I def agree with the nutritionist thing. My NUT was exactly that! A nut! I wish I could find one who has actually been through the trials and tribulations of overeating. Mine was a very kind and knowledgeable lady (a skinny) whom I really enjoyed but, for me, she was over-the-top!! She said if it doesn't have a mama or grow from the earth don't eat it!! Yes that sounds ideal as far as a diet goes, but lets try one lifestyle change at a time!! I also wish I had known that the restriction would change from one minute to the next. food and dieting have always consumed my life. I knew that the LB would not be an easy "fix", but I expected not to be controlled by it. Frankly it runs my life. I would rather be focusing on other things. I thought that losing weight would allow me to do that, but so far its all about the band, band, band. I'm not complaining since I am losing weight but someday I want to be normal! Good luck to all!

Hey Bama I feel just like you!! I am from Bama, I was banded the day after you and I have small kids at home. I felt like I "grazed" all through Christmas. I was NOT eating a big quantity in one sitting. But I was eating anything and everything a bite at a time all day long. I had my first fill yesterday. I am on liquids right now so I don't know yet if I have restriction or not. I was wondering how many ccs you have currently in your band?

What brand did you find that is unflavored? Where can I find it? I have tried 5 different kinds and I am tired of wasting my money. I can't seem to handle the taste of any of it! Thanks