carymom

Was totally afraid of failing. Some times are slow losses, others are faster. You take the bad with the good, and keep on going. I have been banded for a year. I now enjoy (look forward to) exercise and am NOW petrified of not exercising - afraid that I will gain the weight back. So, in other words, I am still afraid, and within 5 lbs of my goal. You will be amazed - many of the foods that you have eaten in the past will be foods that you don't really want any more, and will have trouble understanding why you ever really wanted them to begin with. Now, again, one of my fears is that if I eat one of those things (like more than one slice of pizza), I will not be able to stop. The fact is, the band will not allow you to eat too much - if you listen to it. Please stay safe and stay the course. Looking forward to hearing wonderful things about your "losses."

My husband was not totally on board either. It took the husband of a friend of mine to say, "Look, we're both married to strong willed women. She's going to so what she wants to do, so you might as well support her in it." (This was in a private conversation that I heard about later.) My husband turned the corner, and has been supportive. He does get upset if I throw up - which is not often - because he is afraid I will wreck my health. My husband has never HAD a weight issue, so had no idea how difficult it is to lose. I've lost all but 5 of the pounds I wanted to lose, and he is ready for me to stop. I'll stop when I lose the other 5 pounds, but I won't go into that with him. Good luck. I'll bet he is more scared for you than he is willing to admit.

Keep us all posted on how you are doing with your new band/port. How long ago did you have it done? Are you able to keep things down? Are you still on a liquid diet? Best of luck from the States

I hate plateaus, too. I have been on one since February. I will be the first to admit, I have NOT always been good, but never varied within 2 pounds of the plateau. I, too, exercise - weights, zumba, Water, etc., but nothing is helping. To add insult to injury, I had to have Fluid removed from band week before last because some stringy chicken got "stuck" and nothing would go down, and everything I tried to eat or drink came up. NOW I have gained a TRUE two pounds and am disguested with myself. I am, as of today, writing down everything again, including all exercise and calories burned with that - staying net between 1000 and 1200 - just like you. I had gotten very slack with it. Are you still writing everything down? Are you drinking carbonated drinks? My issue right now is fresh fruit - it is blueberry, strawberry and peach season. Almost pure carbs, so I am cutting them out and making sure the calories are almost all Protein. Do you see yourself in any of these scenarios? Hope you break through that plateau soon. I'm sure you will. Carymom

No, it is not normal to do that, and I felt restriction after the first fill, so everyone is different. You need to let your doctor know. Don't play with your health. The doctor may need to take out just a little bit of the fill, but please let them know what is happening.

I got an extra cc several months ago and it sent me over the top. The PA did a total unfil and put me on an acid reducer for a while. When I went back in before Christmas, the PA put only one cc back in. When I go in next week, I hope to get more. The point is, maybe a .5 cc would work, or maybe you need an (prescription) acid reducer for a while. I am sure your PA will do what is best, but you did the right thing going in. I really think once you start with fills, it is a like a delicate balance. Good luck, and congratulations on your loss so far.

Lap Band first of June. About two months ago I had my first fill - 1 cc - which took me to a total of 4. I began throwing up more - daily - no matter how slowly I ate, or how little. Reported it to PA, who took out all of the fill and put me on antibiotics and other things three weeks ago. Last week, he added back one cc, but I feel no absolutley restriction at all. I am not throwing up any more, but certainly not doing what I need to do to lose weight. My next appointment is not for another three weeks. Has anyone else had this experience? Any support would be most appreciated.

After taking out the fill in my Lapband, the PA put me on steroids for a week, an antibiotic and two 600mg amoxicillin for fourteen days. Every office has its own protocol. I am trying to not get discouraged, too. I go back on January 12, and hope that he will put more fill in. Please keep doing what you're being told to do.

So glad that you went into the ER. Please stay on liquids for a few days so that you will give your stomach a chance to heal.

I take two Fusion multivitamins daily. I know you can order them on line, but I get them from Doc. Whatever you take - chewable. Be sure to talk to your regular doctor about having all prescriptions changed to liquid. Those that could not be (and that were small), she told me to crush and take with applesauce so they would slide through band more easily.

I know that the PA will give me another fill. I would like to get back up to 4cc's again. IF, and WHEN I do, if I start to throw up, I will know what to do - go on liquids for a while until I can eat small amounts of food again. This time when I started throwing up, I just thought I was doing something wrong even though I was chewing everything to mush and eating slowly. Thank you, thank you, for all of these suggestions. I have gained 4 pounds since they took out my fill and put back in 1cc(over Christmas), and I am trying really hard again now that we are past major family time. Have not gotten back to all of the exercise I was doing before Christmas, but I need to, because that helps. I really, really, really want my fill back.

I can feel my fat cells growing, too! I think they're having little meetings at night and plotting to take back over. I cannot let them succeed. Forum friend are telling me that this is a temporary thing, so I am choosing to believe them, I am going to beat it. Nibbling getting worse, but I am writing down everything I eat so I can make sure that I don't go over 1200 calories a day. Well, I can't include Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, BUT, other than those, I am trying very hard. Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I feel like Linus in Peanuts needing his blanket. I will be glad to get my "security" fill back.

Congratulations on your success. Awesome!

Thank you so much for all of your responses. I am experiencing the same fears and frustrations as the rest of you. I so fear that I will gain weight. I have gained two pounds since last week, and am frightened that there will be more before I have another fill. I know the band is a crutch for me - a tool - to help ensure that I lose weight. I have tried so many things, and this I don't want to screw up. I have 21.5 lbs to go. To all of you, again, thanks.

I do the hiccup thing, too. I am glad that it is normal - with caveats.

I have heard that some folks took several letters and requests before they were approved. Keep trying Don't let this get you down. If you're down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again

I've heard the same thing about drinking warm liquids in the morning. That might help. Otherwise, talk to your doctor. Are you eating/drinking slowly? Chewing until whatever is in your mouth is basically baby food? Good luck to you, and keep us in the loop.

When you go back to your doctor, you need to mention this to him/her. They might need to adjust your band, BUT, in the meantime, you don't need to beat yourself up. Wake up tomorrow morning, back on the right regiment, and don't look back. It's a tough time of year for all of us. Keep going.

I learn so much in the forum. I never thought to ask the doctor what the size of the band was!

Mine is on the right a little above my belly button. As I lose weight, I can feel it more, but it does not bother me. It is kind of in line with my waist. I guess every doctor does their own thing.

Sounds like the weight is going down, but you need to make sure that you get your protein. Also, are you using something like myfitnesspal to keep up with your caloric intake and your protein. Definitely want more protein than anything else. My doctor said eat protein first, then veggies (like green veggies), then anything else. I totally agree with Xavier.

Call your doctor and report the symptoms so that they can determine what you need to do. I doubt you've gotten anything out of whack, but you need to check with them and take it from there. Let us know how things go.

If you continue to throw up, please call the doctor again. They will want to know. Right now, I am without fill at all, because with my first fill, I started throwing up. I am on medication now, and hope to go back to the fills soon, but the doctors want to make sure that you are not damaging your health.

Take along any prescription meds that you take, and even over the counter and supplements - because the doctor needs to be aware of them.

I take Fusion vitamins that I get from my Bariatric Specialist, so I thought the calories were freebies!