Hopes of a Dream!

Just wondering I know I’m filled to tight … but I know it’s by just a tad!! Is there anyways they can un-fill just a little bit or do they have to undo my whole fill and start over??!! I’m so close to the green area I just don’t want to have to start all over! L

I totally understand and I was in your spot just a few months ago! It is a complete mind game, we know before we go into surgery that our lives are going to change and we are excited and nervous (at least I was) but we also are looking towards the future and thinking about how great it will be… kinda forgetting about the process it take to get us to the healthier and happier life. To this day I can’t even stomach the idea of Protein drinks or chicken broth (unless mixed with other things). I promise it will get better!! Recovery is hard and having a restrictive lifestyle is going to be harder but I promise the hunger pains will go away once you get some food (not liquids) in you! But it all takes time (I’m sure you don’t want to hear that!) I promise the feeling of regret will fade away! You came to the right place for up lifting people that have experienced exactly what you’re going through and reaching out right now is defiantly what you need to keep doing! Keep your head up and just remember things will get better!!!

I really think as you lose weight you won’t sweat as much!! But just think… your body is working really hard carrying around all the extra pounds (trust me I know I sweat a lot!!) and it’s a workout! When we workout we sweat… so it’s only normal that when we move and are overweight we will sweat because we are working our bodies out. So I honestly believe that once the pounds come off the sweating will reduce! Don’t laugh at me but I can tell with just the little bit of weight that I have lost my rolls aren’t as sweaty!! YAY! I know I’m not talking about my face sweating BUT I’m sure once your body isn’t putting in such a workout to move around you will see a big difference!

First off YAY and congratulations!! I wish you the best!! Yes you can drive yourself there …. As long as you’re totally ok with hanging out and waiting for surgery by yourself! I had to wait about 60 mins before they got me into surgery… trust me I would’ve done it alone if I needed to, it has been worth it! But I’m sure you know that you will need to have someone drive you home!! J Good luck!!

After my last fill I’m finally feeling restriction! YAY! BUT…. One day it’s SOOOO tight and the next day I can eat almost anything in small portions and it’s wonderful. I just don’t get why this happens, one day it’s wonderful and the next day it kicks me in the butt! Does this happen to anyone else? And if so, on the days your band is kicking your butt what kind of foods do you stick to that are easy to eat??

I’m really sorry to be asking this question and I know it’s disgusting but I just don’t know where else to go to ask this. Because I have a big belly it seems to been rubbing just awful on my skin … I’m developing a sore (it’s just starting so it’s not too bad) where the flap comes down and hits my other skin …. I have been working out a lot and it seems to be moist in this area a lot, plus the warmer weather it just doesn’t seem to dry out. Should I be really concerned? Should I go to the doctor?

I definitely appreciate it! I love getting feedback without any negative connotation! Thanks so much!

I’m having a hard time… I’m so stressed out. I’m trying to finish up my masters and my career depends on me completing and passing my defense … I just bought a house and I need this job! I’m hoping to finish by the end of May or Early June … Is it ok to take a break from trying to lose weight (I don’t mean pig out and eat whatever I want --- I just mean not going to the gym and stressing over a food journal)? I just feel so stressed the days that I can’t make it to the gym and then I feel guilty about it and then stress even more! I’m almost in panic mode over all this stress… I feel like I’m going to have a mental break down if I don’t get this school business taken care of!! I really need a pick-me-up and some support!

How does everyone feel about crystal light? Personally I love the stuff and I would drink it all the time… but due to the media every time I pour a packet in my Water bottle or mix a batch up I always feel like I’m poisoning myself just a little bit! Ohhh I sound like such a yuppie! Why ohh why does media play the role of making me feel guilty!??! I have been on a kick to keep things natural or organic but crystal light is neither of those two! Don’t get me wrong I love the stuff; I just feel a little OCD on the topic. Does anyone have the same concerns? Is there a good study out there to ease my mind?

Well this is a good topic …. I haven’t told anyone either and I don’t intend to. I’m sure going out on dates is a little more nerve racking then just going out with friends but I even have the same issues when I’m with my friends. I have always heard from my guy friends that they like girls that aren’t afraid to eat in front of them… I guess it shows them that we can be ourselves (I’m assuming they don’t like girls that can eat more than them… hehehe good thing I had the surgeryJ). I guess what I do is order something really healthy (but a normal sized meal) and then pick at it until I’m satisfied, most of the time no one notices that I haven’t eaten that much and if they do notice and ask I just reply “Oh man I’m just so full … this meal just really hit the spot!” Plus the leftovers that you get to bring home are usually more than a meal and you can have them for lunch the next day! It definitely is hard when you don’t want to let everyone know that you are banded … but hey that’s up to you and I understand!! Someday you may find that certain someone that you are so totally comfortable with you will have no problem letting telling them! I guess in a nutshell YAY for you and going out on dates!! That’s the important thing here! You should be so incredibly proud of your new found confidence! Yay for you!! And in the end the guy that’s right for you will accept who you are … including the person you used to be!! Any guy that is worth your attention and love is going to understand and love you right back for who you are!

First off … it has been a tad over 3 months since I was banded and I’m still getting shoulder pain!! Not all the time but it sure happens more then I want! It seems to happen when I’m hungry! Is this anyway normal!? Does it go away?? Second question… I just got my 3rd fill last week and things seem to be going good! I finally have restriction!! YAY!! HOWEVER…. Some days food seems to go down fantastic and other days food seems to get clogged (not stuck just clogged) or maybe I don’t know what stuck really means. What I mean by “clogged” is pressure (more discomfort then pain… sometimes pain though) in my chest area. The weird thing is it’s only some days and not others!? The days where the food doesn’t get clogged I can eat healthy portions of food and feel satisfied … not full!! Is this normal??

So I have over 100 lbs to lose and I’m really having a hard time trying to visualize what I may look like once I get to my goal weight… yes I know everyone is different and we all lose weight differently BUT I was wondering if there are good “before and after” photos that I can go and check out!? I guess I’m just having a mental block when it comes to me actually being thin… is it possible to have some sexy abs in the future?! I can’t wait to not only be thin but to be healthy and active! Yay for us and lapband!

This “boat” is starting to feel like a ship (or a really cramped dingy… however you want to look at it)!! I got my first fill a few weeks ago and I’m right there with you … I can eat a ton and I’m hungry all the time! I really try to stop myself from over indulging but when you’re hungry you’re hungry! I have my second fill scheduled but now I’m thinking I should just go ahead and schedule my 3rd fill! J The rate I’m going I will gain all my lost weight back!!

That is just so awesome! It’s funny how words can make or break your day! It’s kinda like the people that walk into our life and touch our hearts forever even if we had known them for a few short moments… it really makes me think how we can affect one another with our words and actions (makes me want to do better!). Thanks for sharing!

I know there has been a lot of discussion about shoulder pain but mine is different … I only get shoulder pain when I’m hungry. When my tummy starts to rumble (or even before it rumbles) I better get food in it fast; because I know I’m going to get shoulder pain! Does anyone else have this problem!!? I keep hearing that people get pain when they eat too much or too fast but that has never been a problem for me, it’s the other way around!

So I was just wondering if anyone has had this problem before … I went in for my first fill last Friday (yes at the moment I was jumping out of my skin with excitement) and my Doctor couldn’t find my port! I mean he tried several times and he even bent needles in me! One needle even got stuck somehow and he had to tug a little to get it out. He was concerned about what was going on so he stopped and is making me come back for another apt … he wants to do it under an x-ray to make sure he finds it and to see what’s going on. I’m sure everything will work out but I’m worried about going “under the knife” again! I really don’t want him to have to go in and “fix” anything! Why does this stuff always happen to me!! Please tell me someone has dealt with this and what happened for you.

I had my surgery Jan 10th 2010 … so about a month and a half ago. I have been in for one fill (3cc) and I’m still just as hungry as before my surgery. I feel like I’m at a complete loss my mind is starting play all the metal tricks again … I have been working really hard to keep “bad” food from not entering my mouth… but in the past two weeks I have been eating like I did before I had my surgery. I’m so disappointed in myself! My mind is saying “once you feel restriction you can start on your journey” the other downside of this is I really don’t have time to exercise! I’m finishing up my maters (I will be defending in 2 months) on top of working a 40+ hours job and I have to commute over an hour to work every day. Until I defend my thesis for my masters I honestly don’t have the time for working out, I’m not making an excuse I just really don’t have the time! Plus I live in two different locations... during the week I live in a town closer to my work (yes still an hour commute) and then head home on the weekends to be with my family and closer to my school. I feel like I’m the only one in this weight loss battle (I know am not) but I have skinny friends and skinny family … I’m surrounded by people that are beautiful and skinny. I haven’t even told any of them about my lap band surgery because they “don’t believe in that”. My friends and family are great but they just don’t get it and they just don’t understand! This past week I found out that I have to transfer my job to a less then desirable location and I just feel like all this stuff is piling up on my plate (literally). I’m just so down in the dumps right now! I’m so glad this forum is here because this is the only place I can go and be completely honest and feel like I’m not being judged. I want so badly to be happy right now… I really just need a pick me up! Thanks as always for listening and sharing! Some days this forum is the only place I really feel comfortable.

YES YES YES! This Happened to me as well! I completely understand what you went through! The first time I went in for a fill the doctor tried multiple times to get the needle into my port! After several attempts; bending needles and even getting a needle stuck in me somehow he told me I would just have to come back and get a fill under the x-ray machine (I know they have a term for this but I can’t remember … think it starts with an ‘f’). I was bruised and not sure if the next fill would go any better… But it did!! He had no problem what so ever once he could see my port. (I guess my port shifted.) If you not set up to have your fill under an x-ray machine you may want to call and ask for this… just an option. But don’t worry they will find your port and fill you up and the bruising does go away in time… because it was such deep bruising for me it took about 3 weeks for them to go away. Hang in there!

So I just got my first fill last Friday I’m currently at 3cc. I don’t think it helped at all! I feel like I’m hungrier now than before, can this really be happening?! I ate a whole Jimmy Johns sandwich two days after the fill (I wasn’t testing it out … I was just that hungry!!)

I was banded 3 weeks ago; the first week was the liquid diet and then it was onto mushy food and then solid foods. (I followed what the doctor told me to do.) I lost 13 lbs on the liquid diet part but now I’m gaining it all back!! I’m only in 3 weeks and I’m gaining weight back!! Has this happened to anyone!?? Is this just me!!? I don’t have any liquid in my band; and my doctor won’t put any liquid in my band for over another week (he waits one month to put liquid in bands). But I’m hungry all the time and I NEVER get full off of the prescribed calorie intake/portion size! I try so hard to stick to the allotted calories but I’M SO HUNGRY! (No wonder I’m gaining the weight back!) Has this happened to anyone else? I feel like I have already fell off the wagon and I barely got on! I feel like I’m a failure … if this has happened to anyone have they gotten themselves out of this slump!?

I’m in so much pain! Is this normal??!! I was just cleared to get off my liquid diet yesterday and every time I eat (I think eating triggers this pain…I’m not sure) I get the worst sharp SHARP! pain in my ribs (the pain is on my side of my port). Every time I take a breath in it feels like the pain will make me cry! Is this gas? Is this food getting stuck? Is my band slipping? What is going on … I talked to my doc and he said food should help … I think he is so so wrong! Has this happened to anyone!?

I know what you are going through!! The 3rd day was the WORST!! I too was regretting what I did to myself but day by day it WILL get better! I know your reading this right now thinking… “I don’t want to wait a few days!! I want this pain gone now and I want to feel normal again!” I know because that is what I was thinking on day 3! (To tell you the truth I was thinking I should just go back to the doctor and demand him to take it out!!) But I promise it will get better and you WILL get through this!! Don’t you dare give up! You are strong and you will feel normal again! I got banded on Jan 10, 2011 (Just 3 weeks ago!) and I feel normal again… I felt “normal” DAYS ago!! Hold your head high, you will feel like you again!!

I just had my surgery on the Monday the 10th and today is the 12th… I’m so hungry I mean I feel like I’m starving! I’m sticking to what the doctor and the dietitian told me to do … but oh my gosh my hunger pains are the worst part of all this! Please help what do I do!? Is this normal?! Will I ever be satisfied and full ever again!?

I know how you feel about the cold and the snow! I have more than cabin fever I’m about to go crazy! All I want is spring!! As of tomorrow I’ll be 14 days post op! I’m excited but I wish my incisions felt better and I felt normal again! But then one thing that does make me feel a little more normal is my going to the gym… not like I can do much… but its great being around beautiful HEALTHY people it’s really inspiring! I could only walk one lap the first day because I felt so crapy but mentally it really helped! Mind over matter! It really is all mental for me! Stick in there! I feel your pain! Spring is getting close!!

Walking makes it worse! Oh man this really bites the big one!!