lapgirl35

Kim: The new pants sound great! I read your journal. You have done very well. You must be so proud of yourself. :thumbup: I've written in a journal, but NOT online. I might try and set up an online journal...

After having another fill, hoping it to be the last for a long, long time, I began to have horrible pain when trying to eat, even Jello. I spent lots of time in the bathroom coughing it back up. I followed the doctor's rules closely after my fill. I ended up drinking hot tea for 4 days...while still "trying" to eat yogurt, etc. (on the list of ok foods) for the first few days, after a fill, NO LUCK! Called the doctor, drove 4 hours to see her. She totally unfilled me! I was so upset. But, I understand why she felt it necessary. She said that I might have an ulcerated area and it needs to heal. I had lost 8 pounds in 4 days. She told me to have some food as soon as I left her office. What a strange feeling!!! I took a bite of food...chewing it as slowly as I had done for over a year...I can't describe the feeling of uneasiness. I kept waiting for that familiar feeling of needing to stop eating when I feel full (with the band.) Now, it's NOT there. I felt sad, scared, etc. What will I do for the next 6-8 weeks without it? It's been a few days now...I'm trying to be very watchful of what I'm eating. The one thing I did notice, was while dining with family, I completely finished my dinner. I HAVEN'T SEEN AN EMPTY PLATE FOR SO LONG! The meal was salmon, rice and broccoli. I felt guilty. I guess I'm writing to all of you because I hope you'll have advice to help me through this time AND I want to tell people, that you're lucky if you don't ever have to feel this " loss" feeling. I MISS MY RESTRICTION. My eating habits had been changed with it... I have 6-8 weeks until I can have that comfortable feeling back. I hope/pray that I can keep the weight off until then. It means doing it on my own, again. (Didn't do well then. That's why I had the lapband operation in the first place.) I've promised myself that I will just "pretend" it's still there and eat less. How many of you have been in this situation??? Thanks for reading......:smile2:

Dear DD I'm amazed at the different stories from people! Yours is very interesting. You sound very strong. I wonder/hope I am, too. It's all in our heads, right? food shouldn't be that important to us, that I think about it so often. Thank you for your input. I appreciate it. :thumbup:

Kim! I'm so sorry that you're going through all of this! My goodness. I had my gall bladder out, too. I know the pain. Awful. food OBSESSIONS...why do we think about food so much? I don't get it. Of course, I'm there for you. How about you and I (and anyone else needing help)... promise to keep a journal, exercise, and keep in contact here? At least for the next few months. Anyone out there who has had this situation, can you tell us if you gained OR loss weight till you could get filled again? :thumbup:

LOL I love your honesty. 100+ WOW! You're great. The journal thing is something I've slacked off...This support is so great. I really think I'll get through this. EVERYBODY: I JUST FIGURED OUT THAT I DON'T NEED TO ANSWER SEPERATELY. SORRY ABOUT TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE! LOL

Chickie, First, I love your name! And, I will try and exercise more...I know this will be the key to me handling this time without my band..... Thanks!!

JoJoBANANA Wow! That's a technique...LOL I wonder if I should have been stronger? If you can handle liquids for (who knows how long,) maybe I didn't stick it out long enough? It was so hard to try Jello (2 bites) and be so ill. I can't imagine hanging in there much longer. Sometimes, I wish I knew exactly what a "good/perfect fill" is??? Thanks for writing your thoughts. It helps hearing from others in the same situation. Mary :thumbup:

Shortgal, What a great point! I'm soooo happy to have all of you and the support.

I know you're right! I've learned so much over the past year. In the old days, I would go to the frige and get ice cream. Not tonight! I'll have fruit instead.

Bunny, Thank you for the kind words. It's funny how much our lives change with the band. I feel so strange knowing it's not able to help me right now. That's how it started for me...the throwing up feeling. I think a lot of it is making sure that we chew, chew, chew. Keep up the good work! I'll need to get online often and get the support to get through the next 6-8 weeks. Mary

<p>Another thought...... </p> <p> </p> <p>I think a big part of my problem is needing to drink while eating. Things get stuck/painful so I sip coffee or tea and it helps it go down. I swear I chew it enough. I just don't know.</p>

Hi All! I've been gone for a long time...I'm so thankful to have found this thread! I need to START OVER with my band. I'm tight enough, I think. But, need/must get back into the zone. I've only lost 30 lbs. in one year. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to have shed those ugly pounds. But, when I see how others have stuck to the new way of eating and lost so much weight.... well, I know I can do this, too!!! I've been reading and wonder if Atkins OR Weight Watchers is best? Any thoughts? Mary

I wonder at what point I'll get serious about losing...I have this wonderful device but not the will power to stop eating the crap! I'm very unhappy with myself. Why is food so important to me? :cry

I agree. This thread has been an eye opener for me. Thank you all, for opening up to us...it took great courage and strength.

WaSaBubbleButt- Hey! I went to Dr Aceves, too....He was great and the hospital staff were wonderful!

Denise- Don't be too hard on yourself! It's a tough fight but we'll get through it.

Maurdan-I totally understand what you're saying....I feel exactly the same! I know this is up to me but I still don't feel the restriction I think I should have. I need another fill, I think. (Would be my third,also.) How much have you lost? I was banded in Dec. and have only lost 30ish pounds. Old habits are hard to break. I'm thankful for this site and all of the people here.

Hi Tammy & everyone else! I was banded in Dec. '06 I just had my 2nd fill last week. I don't understand why I still don't feel much restriction. I haven't been doing well with my eating. I'm able to eat way too much. I can't wait to get to the "sweet spot" everyone talks about. I had oatmeal this morning, a big salad for lunch and rice with hamb. tonight. (The problem is: I still snack all day) I think I'll try the South Beach plan or maybe counting calories. I realize that it takes more than this operation to lose the extra weight...I NEED TO CHANGE MY THINKING ABOUT food. I've lost 30lbs. I hope to start losing again.

Denise822- I didn't tell anyone I was doing this. Only my husband knew at the beginning. My mom knows now. I felt the same way, as you do. Didn't want people asking me questions about it all of the time OR "watching" me. I'll take my time and just tell people that I've changed my eating habits, too. Sometimes, I feel like I cheated, by having the operation. But, I didn't want to go through the rest of my life with the extra weight.

Good luck! You'll do fine. I'll never regret doing this. Can't wait to get my fill and see what happens. I'm not unhappy with my loss so far. I know that this is a "forever" thing. I will keep in touch with this thread. Helps to know you're all 50+ yrs. old, too.... :biggrin1:

THX Denise822, I'm trying not to punish myself...just get back on the horse!!! I've had food get "stuck" a few times. Boy, does it hurt. BUT, I need to get the fill if I want to succeed. And, stop eating the junk! I know what you mean about ice cream. Goes down too easily. I didn't buy any today, just fruit & veggies. (I'm proud of myself) The first 3 months I did well. The past 3 months, I haven't. I've been slipping back into my old habits. Today I feel stronger. How often do you all weigh yourselves?

Thanks for writing. I do need to start over. I had lost many inches...but they've re-appeared. I'm NOT going to give up! I'll just start over. I have no restriction. I called to make an appt. for a fill. (Husband lost his job. Couldn't go back when I needed to.) BUT things are better now. Thank goodness. We had to move. Still unpacking boxes. Finally, there's time for me, again. I'm printing your advice. (Just a side note: I'm 52 yrs. Lapgirl35 My lucky number is 35!)

Hi Everyone! This is a big deal for me....I've been sneaking around this site for a while. Tonight, I weighed myself and see that I've gained 10 lbs. of the 30 I've lost since being banded in Dec. '06!!! (Emotional eating- no excuses!) I'm going to try and go back from the beginning of this thread to get help from all of you. I have had one fill but know I need another. AND, I need to stick to and follow the diet recommended by my doctor. So here I am. I hope that "opening up" will give me the kick in the pants needed! Thx for listening (or reading).

siyah-- Sounds great! The nutritionist and the mani-pedi!!!

Too funny! That's the place I just asked you guys about yesterday. It sounds like a good place!