gretchens4

I am cold ALL the time. It's just the opposite of last winter when I would go into a building with heat and just start sweating. It would be nice to just be comfortable once in awhile =)). Gretchen banded 2/23/07 -73 pounds

Hello, I have been banded since 2/23/07 and have lost 73 pounds. I barely lost anything the first 3 months. I got the right restriction after my 2nd fill and then started losing weight. It wasn't until I got that fill that I was restricted in any really way. For me, I have to be very tight to lose weight. When I say tight, I mean I can't eat after a few bites if I eat too quickly. I can not eat a whole piece of pizza or a sandwich. I will throw up if I eat too much or too quickly. For me this is the optimal restriction. It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to overeat. Some people may not like this much restriction b/c I can eat very little during the day (I can eat a little more at night which is interested). If I follow the rules and eat very slowly and not drink I am fine. I think I'm about as tight as I can get without not being able to drink. This restriction was very obvious when I got it. It was very hard for me to "get" the band until I had it. I feel like this is the way the band should work. I don't want to diet, count calories or obsess over food anymore. I eat everything I want, but in very, very small portions. Some days are different than others as well. Some days I feel really tight, and others not as much.. I really believe that you will know when you get to the right restriction, but you are not there yet. It will happen, and then this thing will work the way it should. Good luck and feel free to send me a private message if you want more info. Gretchen

So funny~ I am cold now too. I have lost 70 pounds, but I'm only half way to goal, so I was wondering what it could be. The low calorie intake does make sense, because I still have plenty of insulation. It is uncomfortable, but so much better than breaking out in a sweat like I used to. Gretchen 2/23/07 -70 pounds

I was banded on 2/23/07 and my husband is the only person I ever told. I did tell people (because I have 4 kids and needed help for the first week) that I was getting a hiatal hernia repaired (which was true). At least for me the weight loss was so gradual that by the time people really started to notice it was the summer so there was no connection. I did not (and still don't) feel that it's anyone's business. I don't want any opinions etc. Good luck to you and don't feel like you have to tell anyone unless you feel comfortable. Gretchen 2/23/07 -69 pounds

I felt SO depressed about a week after. It was short-lived. I felt like I mutilated myself, it was terrible. I just couldn't believe I had done this to myself, and there was no other way. It only lasted a few days, and after the initial post op diet, I realized I was totally normal. I am 9 months out and I hardly even think of it anymore. It's just become normal, and with the right fill, I am able to lose slowly and consistently. I can eat what I want, but in much smaller portions. You will get through this period. I know it feels awful, but it will soon pass, and it won't seem like a big deal anymore. Take care, and trust me, you will be so happy you made this decision. I am down 66 pounds in 9 months, and I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all, just normal eating in very small portions. Take care. Gretchen

When you get the proper fill you won't be able to eat McDonalds. It took me 3 months to really start losing weight. I never got focused. I got this too prevent me from being able to eat the way that I did, and it does work, but I have to be very tight. When I could eat McDonalds, I did. Now I HAVE to be careful b/c I need make the best choices because I know I can't eat much at all. Good luck and hang in there! Gretchen banded 2/23/07 68 pounds

Firstly, I am very sorry you have to go through this. It really is very sad, and your friend has some serious emotional issues that have zero to do with you! This is the reason I never told anyone except my husband about my surgery. People are crazy! However, your WLS is not the issue, it is the fact that you have control over your life and you're losing weight. I know this is a loss for you, but please look back on this relationship because there were probably many signs that led up to this letter. Mostly, I just wanted to tell you not to get down, you are doing great. I have lost 68 pounds and have gotten such positive feedback from almost everyone. When someone has a negative reaction, it is about THEM. take care. Gretchen banded 2/23/07

I get them all day, all the time. It is very embarrassing!! Gretchen banded 2/23/07 -64 pounds

Sounds like you just need another fill. I had 2, and after the 2nd I was really tight and had great restriciton. Over time your stomach changes, you lose weight, and then you need another. I waited too long and didn't lose any weight from month 4-5. I got another fill 6 days ago and have already lost 5 pounds. I can really tell the difference. Gretchen banded 2/23/07 -52 pounds

I was banded 2 days after you and also lost pretty slowly until my last fill (it was my 2nd). After the 1st, I did get things "stuck", especially when I ate too fast, but I still only lost 5 pounds in a month. I've lost another 15 this month after getting the 2nd fill. I pretty much can not eat anything at this point unless I chew endlessly. My guess is you are still not quite at your sweet spot. I know how frustrating this can be. I thought I was tight enough after the 1st fill, but for me I needed to go a little tighter. I know if I was tighter than I am now, I couldn't eat anything (or maybe even drink). Good luck, I hope you figure it out. Gretchen banded 2/23/07 lost 36 pounds

Hey everyone, Things are going well here, although I still have my moments. I am very restricted after my 2nd fill (nothing before then). I had lost about 22 pounds up until 2 1/2 weeks ago, and now I've dropped another 14, so I'm so happy the band is finally working for me. It was so slow at the beginning, but I feel much more confident now. It seems like everyone is doing really well. Take care. gretchen banded 2/23/07 down -36

I was so frustrated with my first 2 months. Everyone in my Feb. group was dropping pounds like crazy and I was down only 4 pounds 2 weeks after surgery (I had lost more than that on the preop diet). Now it's almost 3 months and since my fill 2 weeks ago I've dropped almost another 10 pounds for a total of around 30 (which averages to 10 pounds a month-even though it was not in a consistent order). My 2nd fill did the trick-I only lost 5 pounds in a month after the 1st fill. My point being, that it is possible to lose weight and do really well even if you don't have that intial weight loss right after surgery. I was also self pay and really angry at times, so I understand. I am very restricted now, and it's SO different. You have to patient, and I'm not, but try because it will work out. Gretchen banded 2/23/07 -31 pounds

that is so interesting.........I was in a really good mood yesterday and had a great day. I could eat so much more than usual since my 2nd fill. Now today was really stressful and I could barely eat. Restriction is a very funny thing.

Oh yes, I am feeling that way. I even said to my husband last night, "I've had a horrible day and I CAN'T eat". I am pretty tight right now with my 2nd fill, and I just can't overeat (and I have tried a few times and had to throw up). A friend asked me to go out to eat, and I just feel bummed out right now b/c I know I can go and socialize, but I'll want to eat and I can't. It is a huge emotional adjustment for me right now. Thanks for posting. Gretchen banded 2/23/07 -28 pounds

Thanks so much! I was really struggling there for awhile. My stats: 292/266/148 I hope I've hit that sweet spot (and I may have written it wrong, but it was after the 2nd fill). I just know it can't be any tighter, and at first I thought it might be too tight. I just need it like this though, to lose weight. I have to have something physically stopping me. It's been 10 days since the fill, and I'm figuring out more and more what goes down the best etc. Somedays, and at different times I can eat more than others, it's just really interesting. That 2nd fill made ALL the difference. I was a little tighter after the first, but nothing near this, I could still eat just about anything and as much as I wanted. Good luck on your next fill!! Gretchen

Hey everyone.......I was banded on 2/23/07 and had no restriction from about a week after surgery until my 2nd fill. At that point I had slowly lost 18 pounds, but almost half was the preop diet. I was pretty discouraged, and couldn't believe that I would ever find restriction. I was wrong. I am at the point now where one drop more would be too much restriction, and I have to make great choices to get the right amounts of nutrition. I needed this for the band to work.......and it is! I've lost an additional 6 pounds this week, and this morning I was 30 pounds lighter than my first weight on my scale at home. My point being that restriction is truly the key, and I think I've found the right balance so far. I know everyone will get there. Gretchen

Hey everyone, I was banded on 2/23/07. I was a little discouraged because I had only lost 13 pounds before my 1st fill, and then 18 before my 2nd fill. I could pretty much eat anything like before until last week when I got my 2nd fill. Wow, what a difference. This thing really works now. I have lost 6 pounds since last Tuesday and am so encouraged now and hopeful. I just wanted to tell everyone to hang in there, I had NO restriction, and now I don't think I could take one more drop of Fluid or I'd be too tight. I simply can't eat much, and so I have to make good choices etc. so I feel good and have energy. Good luck to everyone, and thanks for all the encouragement along the way. Gretchen

Hi, I was banded on 2/23/07 and just had my 2nd fill on Tuesday. Now I know what restriction is. I feel like I'm as tight as I can be without being too tight. I can drink, and eat very, very small amounts. I started feeling "stuck" this afternoon after eating just 5 shrimp very slowly. I can eat about 1/4-1/2 cup of cottage cheese. After my 1st fill I could still eat anything and everything in any amount, so this is a big difference. I'm at about 2cc in a 10cm band. I think you need more of a fill, b/c it's made a huge difference for me. I've lost weight very slowly. I was down about 20 pounds after the 1st 8 weeks, but since my fill 5 days ago I'm down another 4. Good luck. Gretchen

I was banded on 2/23 and have had 2 fills. After the 1st i had a little restriction and definitely felt that stuck feeling numerous times. I could eat as much as I wanted though and didn't stop or feel satisfied. After fill #2 though, I am very tight. It's so different. I can not eat more than 1/4-1/2 a cup of food. I have realized I need it this way to lose weight. I just eat too much if the band doesn't stop me. Gretchen

I am on my 2nd fill and feel exactly the same. I am tight, but I think I need it this tight to lose weight. I'm trying to figure out what I can and cannot eat, how much etc. I have gotten stuck quite a few times, but it's getting better now after 5 days, and I have lost 4 pounds (and had only lost 5 in the 3 weeks prior, and none before that). I think it's hard to get to that perfect place. Gretchen banded 2/23/07

Don't worry at all. I went for my 2nd fill on Tuesday and it was as easy as the first. AND, this time it's working!! I am really restricted and very excited about losing! Good luck, it's truly no big deal. Take care. Gretchen banded 2/23/07

Hello, I was banded 2/23/07. I have lost about 19 pounds very slowly. At first I was just wide open and could eat anything. I had my 1st fill on 4/10 and I do feel more restriction, but I do feel like it comes and goes. I have another fill scheduled for 5/1/07 and have a few questions. When I eat, I don't ever get the full feeling I had right after surgery (probably when I was swollen). Is that the feeling I should be looking for?? I am eating less, but I just feel like I always get a "stuck" feeling and then have to PB to feel normal again (just in the past few days). I assume this is not the restriction I should be hoping for. So, I'm wondering if someone could describe what the "sweet spot" should feel like. Is getting "stuck" just the symptom of eating to fast, the wrong things, etc., or does that mean you've eaten too much. I feel like I get stuck before eating the right amount, and that I never feel full. I just stop eating b/c it's so uncomfortable and then I'm famished a little while later. I just want to get this right. I think I need to be filled more actually, but if getting stuck means I'm too tight, then I'm in trouble (b/c I'm hungry, not feeling full, and not losing much weight). Thanks for the help. Gretchen:)

Thanks so much for all the replies. I got on the scale this morning and I have lost about 6 pounds since my last fill a little over 2 weeks ago, so not bad. I have not really started exercising yet, so that is next and I know it will help. I'm just trying to figure this all out.....When I first got my fill I did feel a "full" feeling, but not like the old days full. I just felt like my pouch was full like I assume it should feel. It only lasted a few days though, so I'm thinking it was just swelling (which was how I felt right after surgery as well). I still feel hungry like I used to down in my lower stomach. I was hoping that the "sweet spot" was that feeling of fullness, but if it is more the "satisfied" feeling I need to work on it b/c I still feel like I overeat. I guess with my 2nd fill next week, I'm trying to figure out how much more of a fill I actually need, and how much is more in my head. Thank you all so much. You are doing awesome and it gives me a lot of hope for the future. I think with reading all the February posts and how much everyone has lost I just feel like I'm "behind", but if I kept up at this pace, I would also lose 60 pounds in 6 months, so it's still all good. Take care. Gretchen:)

Hey everyone, I haven't posted much b/c I've been a little depressed about my slow weight loss. I only felt restriction for about a week after my 2/23 surgery and have pretty much been back to my old diet. Yesterday was great though. I had my 1st fill (under flouroscopy) and could actually see the difference between my wide open band and my fill. I am definitely feeling restriction now. In the last week I've stared losing again, and I feel so full right now after just about 3/4 of a cup of cottage cheese. I guess the best thing is to know what it should FEEL like, and have the hope that if I get to the right spot and maintain it, the weight will come off. I have my 2nd fill appt. set for 5/1 in case the fluid settles or swelling goes down etc. I'll see how the weight loss is in the next few weeks and I can always cancel if things are going smoothly. I've only lost 18 pounds (and most right at the beginning with preop and the 1st week of post op), but I'm hopeful I can start losing at a steady rate. Take care. Gretchen banded 2/23/07

Hey, I had your same situation. I was banded on 2/23/07 and paid about $18,000 (it all came out of my husband's bonus which we had planned to use on debt and/or home improvements). I felt a little guilty, but on the other hand, I know my 4 kids would like to have a happy healthy Mom a lot more than a deck or finsihed basement (or in the case of the 401K, not living long enough to need it!!). You are probably doing this for your whole family, not just yourself and I know in my case, I wasn't going to lose it on my own, period. I really don't even think about it anymore. I've put us in more of a financial bind, but I know everyone will be thankful if/when I am successful. I feel lucky that I even had the means to do this. I say go for it, but that's just my opinion. Gretchen Banded 2/23/07