Jenn1214

I had been slacking off on my protein for a couple days and I felt like garbage. My brain was all fuzzy and I felt very weak and tired all the time. I feel much better now that I've bumped up my protein again. Get your protein in at all costs or you will feel it!

I haven't been making the best choices lately and today I noticed that the scale is creeping up on me. Normally my next thought would be "Oh great, I've failed again. Where are the Girl Scout cookies?" This time I'm not going to let it get to me. Instead I'm thinking about what I need to do differently: 1. I've been slacking off on my water intake. Bottoms up! 2. I have to start journaling my food again. It keeps me accountable. 3. I'm drinking too many of my calories. Gotta indulge less at happy hour. 4. I'm not moving enough. There's a gym right by my house I'm going to try out. My weight loss is a journey, not a destination. As long as I keep learning from my mistakes I know I will continue to grow. I'm going to be ok.

I think the most common sign is throwing up and getting stuck a lot. Definitely see your doctor right away if you're experiencing this.

Anybody?

I have a sinus infection and I've been coughing like crazy because of the postnasal drip. I'm seeing my PCP tomorrow but I was wondering if all this coughing could possibly cause my band to slip or otherwise somehow cause any damage?

Lane Bryant was having a sale so I figured I'd stop in since most of my shirts and jeans are falling off of me. As I stopped at the first table of cropped pants there was a size 16 on top of the pile. I thought "Dare I?" and then figured "Ah what the hell, it couldn't hurt." I took an 18 in the same size just in case. After making my rounds I went into the fitting room, my heart beating fast. I can't even remember the last time I could fit into a 16. I couldn't believe I was even daring to try them on. I pulled them on, zipped them up, and they fit! A little snug around the tummy area (everything is for me) but who cares? They fit! I have officially dropped two dress sizes since surgery! The lap band has exceeded my wildest dreams. A few months ago, I was terrified that I would go through the rigors of surgery only to fail as I have so many times before, afraid that I would be one of the ones that the surgery didn't work for. Now two and a half months later, I'm stepping into a size I haven't fit into in years and feeling great. I love you Bandy!!!

No offense to her, but that seems to be a rude question. It's not about "looking overweight", it's about our health and how we feel about ourselves. I had a lot of people tell me "Oh you don't need the lap band, you're not that heavy", but at 5'4" and 251 pounds it wasn't a question. Don't listen to her, you did what was right for you and that's the only thing that matters.

That choice would be up to your surgeon, but my guess would be a little at a time so as not to shock your system with a big fill.

Yesterday we went to visit a friend of my fiance's that he hasn't seen in a long time. We were having dinner there with him and his family and it was clear that my fiance had neglected to mention that I have a lap band. His friend kept asking me what I wanted to drink with dinner and I kept saying "Nothing, thank you." I wasn't sure if he was confused or insulted because he kept offering different choices, possibly thinking I didn't like anything they had. Finally my fiance had to say "She has to wait until after eating to drink," to which his friend replied "Hey whatever floats your boat." To my further embarrassment, his friend asked me how my job was going and I had to tell him I was laid off months ago. After this exchange, I was too embarrassed to ask for smaller portions, in fear of insulting his friend further and bringing the visit down, so I ate what I could and quietly slipped my fiance the rest. I know I probably should have come right out and said "I have a lap band" but for some reason I didn't want to bring it up because I didn't feel like answering tons of questions and whatnot. What would you guys have done in my place? I feel like I didn't handle the situation very well.

I left my nuvaring in when I had surgery and I ended up getting breakthrough bleeding and spotting for almost two weeks. Maybe it's something about the hormones in the ring that make our cycles go all whacky after surgery.

I have been banded since March 14th of this year. I have lost about 36 pounds since then...my clothes are falling off, I get lots of compliments, all that good stuff. When I look in the mirror, I still think FAT. I've been overweight most of my life and I don't know any other way to be. I'm hoping one day I will accept that my weight is on the way down for good and I'll learn to appreciate my new body.

Had a second fill on Wednesday. The fill nurse was very impressed with my weight loss so far (which is great for the old ego!) and asked the usual questions about portion sizes, satiety, etc. I had a little fluid added to the band so I was put on the normal post fill diet of 24-48 hours of full liquids and 24-48 hours of soft foods. No biggie. As I'm sitting here eating my pudding, it occurred to me that most people would probably FREAK if they couldn't eat solid foods for four days, but for us bandsters it's nothing. After going two weeks on full liquids and two weeks on mushies, a couple days is no problem. It makes me realize that the band has made me stronger than I could ever have thought possible. And people think it's "taking the easy way out." Easy? I'd like to see a non banded person try the post op diet sometime. Then you tell me how easy it is!

I had some routine bloodwork done recently and my doctor wants me to try and lower my cholesterol. My total is 191 which is within the normal range (and a hell of a lot better than 240!) but my triglycerides are borderline high. For anyone watching their cholesterol, how do you manage to get your protein in without supplements? I've switched from two whole eggs in the morning for breakfast to one whole egg and one egg white, and I only eat lowfat cheese. Any other suggestions? I also take Garlique everyday.

I don't know what it is about the band and my cycle, but everything seems to be really off kilter since the surgery. I have been using birth control for years since being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, so my cycle has been somewhat regular. After surgery, I had breakthrough bleeding for the first time in years that lasted for almost two weeks. I was so scared I went to my GYN, but she said everything was fine. She said it was the IV antibiotics and the stress from surgery that threw me out of whack. This month has been the worst yet. I've had cramps, fatigue, breakouts, and horrible chocolate cravings. I feel like a teenager again. It's almost like the birth control stopped working or something. The mood swings are terrible too...my poor fiance doesn't know how I'll be from one minute to the next. I thought I'd grown out of all this nonsense years ago, but here it is again to make one week out of the month miserable. I'm hoping my body will adjust and I'll go back to normal, but right now it's just hard to deal with on top of all the other things that have changed in my life recently. I'm just scared that these cravings for chocolate will throw my weight loss in reverse and all my hard work will be for nothing. I know I'd have to eat an awful lot of chocolate for that to happen, but one bad decision usually leads to another with me. I'm trying to stay strong and not fall off the wagon completely like I have so many other times. This time it's different though. I'm not technically on a diet anymore. I'm using the band as a tool to help me make good decisions and keep my portions and hunger under control. I know it will help keep me strong where my willpower failed me so many times. I'm just having a brief moment of weakness and need to acknowledge it so I won't go back to my "all or nothing" attitude that I've always had about weight loss. Maybe this PMS junk is just a test to show how strong I've become since having the surgery and that I will continue to succeed no matter what. I can and will lose this weight and keep it off for good this time. For my health, my self esteem, and my well being. I can do this!

As long as you are not eating to the point of being in pain, you shouldn't stretch your pouch. Take small bites and chew well and you should be fine.

I had a my first fill at the end of last month. I did fine with it, stayed on liquids and mushies for a few days, and I definitely could feel a difference. Since about last week I'm noticing that I can eat more and don't feel full as fast (it's also that special time of the month). I'm going back to the doc on Wednesday but I was just curious if this happened to anyone else. I hope my band isn't leaking or something!

I would feel a "lump" in my throat when I would drink water. Not sure what it was but it went away on its own eventually.

What a douche! My response would have had more insults and expletives in it!

Good luck! I named mine Bandy. My fiance thinks it's stupid but it works for me!

My fiance and I both had to have these tests. Turns out he has "mild" sleep apnea (which to me sounds like being a little bit pregnant but whatever) and has to wear a CPAP for a while until he seems the pulmonologist again. I thought for certain I had it because I wake up a lot during the night and always feel tired during the day. You never know until you have the sleep study!

I'm guessing he's not overweight is he? If everyone could lose weight through willpower alone, this website wouldn't even exist and we wouldn't be discussing it. Don't second guess your surgery...it will be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

This will be my second TOM after surgery. I have been fine with sweets up until this point but for some reason I have been craving chocolate for the past few days. I have a piece or two to relieve it and it's fine, but I can't keep doing this. How do you ladies deal with the cravings and other PMS symptoms?

Congratulations! Keep up the great work!

Today I went for my fitting for my bridesmaid's dress for my brother's upcoming wedding. Having ordered the dress back in September I was very worried that it wasn't going to fit and might have to be let out because I had gained a lot of weight after I ordered it. Not to mention that bridal sizes are all cockeyed and screwy so I had no idea what size it was in normal clothes anyway. It didn't fit, all right...it had to be taken in almost 2 sizes! It was so big I actually had so hold it so it wouldn't fall down while the seamstress pinned the straps on. I was actually in such shock I couldn't speak. I love my lap band!

It doesn't sound like acid reflux to me. Reflux is painful, not annoying. Call your doc ASAP.