Short and Chunky

Sairy30 - I'm not in Seattle, in fact, I am in Florida. But congratulations on your return to band-life and glad to hear everything seems to be right with you and your band. This is an excellent site and although we are spread throughout the country, there is always someone here to talk with. Good luck and please stay in touch. Melinda in Florida

My doc says it is OK to drink sugar free carbonated beverages too. That being said, sometimes, I have trouble with gas due to the carbonation in my diet coke or sparkling Water. I lay off for a day or two and then no problems. I have been banded a year and I think I would die if I couldn't enjoy my diet coke. Melinda in Florida

LadyScorpio - I had my surgery 7/7/11 (almost a year). My first fill was at my 4 week check up. I have had between 5-7 adjustments (2 was a slight unfill) in that 1 year period. The plication helps but you will still need to have fill in the band. The stoma (the tiny stomach north of the band) is the part that sends the "full signal" to the brain. Good luck with everything. Melinda in Florida (Rainy Florida - thanks to TS Debby)

KimJ - Thank you..I thought i was the only one (after one year) who was having this problem. Glad to know I am not alone here... Melinda in Florida

Fills do not hurt and I am big baby when it comes to needles. My doctor does not use numbing meds ..he locates the port with his fingers and then puts the needle in, withdraws some Fluid and then puts the fill in - poof - done - I get a superman bandaid and out the door. No pain. Now, the post-fill diet - yuck - back to liquids, then mush, then soft but other than that, no big deal. Good luck with your fill. Melinda in Florida

BKmom30 - congrats on your weight loss and your braces. Now, put it in a box and get back in the saddle girl ! Right now, you can do this. Christmas will be here before you know it and 40 pounds by then is reasonable. We have all taken that ride down the "backslide slope" I gained 4 pounds recently and didn't think I could stop - I saw the doctor, got a fill and now I am down 8 pounds since I saw him. We are here for you (I needed everyone here and they really came through - kicking my butt all the way). So now, I pay it forward and I am kicking yours..bend over girl...there - that was your butt kick for today. Stay in touch and write whenever you feel the need for another swift kick ! Melinda in Florida Banded 7/7/11 down 98 pounds with about 40 to go...

I have gotten stuck - several times - and hot liquid (tea), pineapple juice and pills don't help me. Too Stuck for anything to go through. I slime, PB and then god willing, throw it up. The pain hurts, can't breathe, cant swallow. It is awful and 99% of the time it my own fault. Too big, too fast, too much, didn't chew long enough. LISTEN to you body and STOP eating getting stuck is no picnic ! Melinda in Florida

Kerrbear - we are all different in the way we feel restriction and when. Did you have plication too or just the band? That has some affect too. I have a 10cc band w/ plication and until just recently I did not feel any restriction. I am at about 5-6 cc (don't know for sure - my doctor does not tell me all the time) and I got my band on 7/7/11. I got "real restriction at my last fill on June 8th. I see doctor again 7/6 and we will see then what he thinks. I began dropping weight again after my last fill - I was down 95 - then gained 4 - now down 8 - so overall 99 pounds with about 40 more to go. I feel great and glad I had this done. My mom says I found my "sparkle" again. Melinda in Florida

Angieband - Not crazy at all. I did not get "real Restriction" until just last month. I was banded 7/7/11 and have had multiple fills. Sometimes the doctor does small fills and it takes a bit to feel restriction. Also remember that the band does not stop you from eating it is just a tool to assist you in eating less. Hang in there. It will come but in the mean time, try to eat less on your own. It is worth it ! I am now down 98 pounds and I know I could not have done it without the band (and my own will power). Melinda in Florida

Courtney Danielle - don't know why you are on the bypass diet. I would ask the doctor - they are all different. By that point - I was on mushies (oatmeal, apple sauce, mashed potatoes etc). Hang in there until you see your doctor - food is in your future !!! Melinda in Florida

Kah - Eggs and I have a love/hate relationship. Some of the worst stuck episodes I have had is with eggs. - Scrambled,Fried, boiled - it does not matter. My doctor told me that eggs will do that sometimes and just don't eat them for a while and then try again later. As for a fill - are you getting hungry in 3 hours or so after a meal? Do you want to snack or need to snack? That is the true indicator. Melinda in "rainy" Jacksonville Florida

Carolinagirl: you are doing great. Sounds like things are moving right along with your recovery. You weight loss is real good too. Just be sure to ake care of yourself while healing then it makes the rest of this so much easier. I love your idea of staying in touch and staying postive - plus venting when needed. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have all of you to sound off to when I feel up against the wall. Only other bandsters really understand what it is like to look at a plate of food you love and know you will only get a few bites (and then hope you don't PB). All in all it is worth it though. I wouldn't go back to the old me for anything ! Have a great weekend and enjoy those protein shakes (j/k) Melinda

Ladyscorpio - you sound like you are doing great. Don't let the doctor fussing at you bother you - they must learn that in med school...hehe. You loose at your rate and the rate you feel comfortable with. I had an adjustment on 6-8. I am down 9 pounds (too fast - but I think I am too tight). Don't compare to others - we are all different beings. As long as the scale is moving down and not up, you are doing great. Have a good weekend. Melinda in Florida

Kah1213 - so glad you are back in the saddle. Hope you enjoyed your vacation - I am so jealous. Sounds like you did very well with your band on a cruise. I can only imagine the temptations. Have a great weekend. Melinda in Florida

Papoose - thanks for your words.. I really needed to hear that someone else had the same problem of being able to eat almost nothing. Things have not improved much and it has been 2 weeks today. I refuse to get an unfill before my next visit on the 6th of July. I'll just have to tought it out. Thanks bunches though, it helps so much to know you are "normal" and wht to expect. Melinda in Florida

Hang in there Christine..my husband thought I had lost my mind and that loosing this weight was no big deal. I needed to loose 130 pounds - too big of a mountain for me to do on my own or even with Weight Watchers. I did my homework (alone), I did my pre-op (alone), I did my surgery (with my daughter)..My husband has now gotten on board - almost 1 yr later. Both of my children (adults) and my Mom were on board from the beginning. He has seen me loose 97 pounds, I am healthier, I walk, I cook healthier (helps him out too). Would HE have this surgery - No way in H___LL but at least he is on my team now. You have to make YOUR decision for YOU. It is your health after all. Good luck and hope all goes well for you and your husband. Melinda in Florida

ArmyMom , you rock and I bet your son is so very proud of you. You can do this.... Melinda in Florida

Boniluu - heart goes out to you. Right now, I too am tight - probably too tight. I have PBed daily since my fill 2 weeks ago. The chest pains, slime and reguritation is awful. That said, I have dorpped 8 pounds in 14 days (the 4 I gained + 4 more). I see the doctor again July 6th and unless things change, I will ask for a very slight unfill. I worry about getting enough nutrition plus these "episodes" are very embarrasing. I actually drive around with a roll of papertowels next to me in the car and carry them with me. I wanted a good fill because of the weight gain so I got what I asked for. I can get fluids down and Protein shakes so I won't starve. Hey guys, take care and hang in there. Melinda in Florida

Claire - you are doing great. 35 pounds is a good number and at a good pace. You didn't get heavy overnight and you don't want to loose it overnight. As said before, it gives you skin and body a chance to catch up and it is not as hard on your Gallbladder either. Remember what you were told 1-2 pounds per week (average). I was banded 7-7-11 (almost a year). I have lost 97 pounds. I started at 268...I was told to count on this taking me 1 1/2 - 2 years and that seems about right. You will have some set backs (we all do) and thing will plateau and slow and then off you go again. Hang in there and enjoy the ride down. Melinda in Florida

Courtneys Mom: Congratulations on your surgery..that being said, yes, the gas thing is rough..WALK as much as you can, even it it is just around the house. Try Gas X. It didn't help me but other said it did. What helped me was my nausea medicine (tasted awful) it releaved my gas. By day 7 I had returned to work full time and felt fantastic - so I am sure you will feel great soon. If you still are having issues tomorrow, I would call my doctor. Don't wait until the weekend and then feel bad - call no later than Friday AM. Hope you feel better soon. Congrats on that weight loss too. Hang in there is gets better. Melinda in Florida

I am 1 yr post op. I have a 10cc band and 6.5cc in it. I am tight for now and I can really tell. I have lost 96 pounds with 40 or so more to go. I am a bit miserable right now with the tightness, but I will adjust. My band has been adjusted 7 times over the course of that year. 5 fills and 2 "baby sized" unfills. I see my doctor every month and will continue to do so until I reach my goal weight. What everyone says about not comparing yourself to someone else is so correct. Your body is different that someone else. So listen to your body and your doctor and make the right decision together. Melinda in Florida

shy2012 - glad to hear you are about to begin "real food". Don't worry about the 3 pounds - that could even be water weight..you know how us girls hold water sometimes. Can't wait to hear how your appointment goes. Got a problem...ate a small homemade crab cake last night and stir fried vegies. Well, I learned that stir fry and I are not going to make it...The cabbage got stuck and for 2 1/2 hours I had severe chest pain, PBs, regurgitation and had difficulty even talking...wow - no more cabbage for me. I guess we all learn and sometimes the hard way. I would have thought it would have been ok as I cooked it to death and chewed it forever..Oh well. I lived to tell the story so guess all is ok. Have a great weekend Melinda in Florida

banded to be good: PBing is Productive Burping. You burp up slime, foam and some of what you ate. It is stuff that is in your esophogus that can't go into you stoma because there is no room - If you PB, to ate too fast, too much or too big (or in my case all of the above). You will have chest pains, trouble breathing and feel like you might die. It is no fun. I got a fill on Fri June 8th and I am tight - PBed a bunch in the past few days, but I am seeing things get better (me -I am sure the band is not looser - I am getting better at following directions). I have seen great weight loss over the past 11 days so I am not going to complain. SLOW, SMALL and CHEW..I keep telling myself that - wow, I am hardheaded sometimes. Good luck guys and I hope that answers your questions Banded.. Melinda in Florida Banded 7-7-11 Down 95 pounds

I eat all the red meats with no problem. I am 1 yr post op and had plication with my band. In fact, I just had 2 ozs of sirlon steak for lunch (left over from dinner). I notice you do get full faster and it stays longer. Since you are so new with you band, take it easy and wait until your doctor says you can have it. 95 pounds lost so far - 40 pounds to go ! Melinda in Florida

Hey group, how's everyone doing? Just thought I would pop in and say hi. I'm doing good although very "restricted" but that is OK, I was a BAD girl so I am now paying the price. I have dropped 7 pounds in 12 days so you can tell I am not eating much. OK to start exercising today (since toe surgery) and I am looking forward to that - it is time to sweat a bit. Hope everyone is having a good week. Melinda in Florida