ARMKAM

Sometimes it takes several days for the fill to kick in. Hang in there. I had to do 7 fills - about one a month- to get to my "sweet spot". Now I haven't had one since Nov. and I'm still losing a few lbs. a week. I'm not sure when I'll schedule my next one. I feel a little hunger in the mornings now which is usually my cue that it's starting to loosen up a little. I just take everything one day at a time.

Dawnita - I'd be soooo excited if I were you to have the panniculectomy !:huh2: I am so sick of my "belly apron". You're lucky to have an insurance group to help pay for it. I'm not sure if my will or not , or if I would have the guts to go through with it. It's too bad the belly button cost so much extra. but I'd give up my belly button for a flatter belly. I've still got at least 53 lbs. to go to get to my goal, so I don't have to think about that for a while yet. Southms45 - We'll be thinking about you this Friday ! :rolleyes2: You'll do great girl. I was nervous too and yes, I cheated a few times too . I was a fast food junkie and loved my burgers. I did make sure that I had no solid foods 3-4 days before surgery tho. I think I lost only 10 lbs before surgery, but all went well. In a few weeks you'll be feeling good and the surgery will just be a memory. I must I have kicked the fast food habit. The band and it just didn't agree. It's not worth waisting the money on it when you can eat so little or may pb what you could eat. I know that I'm a lot healthier now too. My blood pressure is normal and I'm off all bp meds I was taking. I feel so much better and know that I made the right choice having the band. Good Luck !:tt1:

Hi Lanie , My fills have all gone really smoothly. The Dr. gets me on the first poke. There is a weird sensation when he removes the needle. It doesn't hurt, just feels weird feeling a tug coming from the inside. i've had 7 fills so far. After the 5th one I lost all restriction, but we have figured that it wasn't leaking. i think the saline spurted out when he removed the needle. After the 6th and 7th tho' my restriction is definately back. My dr. tells me not to eat or drink after mid-night the night before a fill, and says to do only liquids for 24 hrs. after in case it's too tight. That way things won't get stuck. I know this sounds weird , but when I eat a pineapple/banana blizzard from dairy queen I will usually lose a pound or two. I guess it boosts my metabolism since I eat so little. i can't eat bread, fries, etc. The DQ people probably think I am the "crazy blizzard lady" 'cause I'll go there at least 2 - 3 times a week and always order the same thing !lol !:cool: One of my past students usually waits on me tho' and when I told her how much I've lost so far, she was really surprised. Now we just laugh when I order. I guess we all have to do whatever works for our bodies.

HEY kARRI68 , WHERE ARE YOU IN ILLINOIS ? I LIVE IN SALEM AND WORK IN CENTRALIA. ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF FROM ST. LOUIS , MO. THAT'S WHERE I HAD MY SURGERY AND GO FOR FILLS. LAURINDA - GOOD LUCK ON WEDNESDAY ! WE'LL BE THINGKING OF YOU AND WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY. LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES. SOON YOU'LL BE ON THE LOSING END OF THE BAND ALSO !:eek: I AM SOOOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO ONEDERLAND ! I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE SINCE COLLEGE. NOT SURE WHAT I'LL DO WITH ALL OF MY SAGGYNESS YET. MY DH SAYS HE DOESN'T CARE , BUT I'M GETTING SO WRINKLY !:mad: GOTTA GO , HAVE A GREAT EVENING .

HI ALL ! I'M 43 , MARRIED 18 YEARS , HAVE 3 GIRLS 17, 14 & 12 ( YES, THE HORMONES ARE FLYING AT MY HOUSE !:help:) I TEACH JR. HIGH MUSIC AND CHORUS IN ILLINOIS. I'VE HAD 7 FILLS SO FAR , AND THE LAST ONE IN NOV. WAS A DOOZY. IT WAS REALLY OVERFILLED BUT IS FINALLY LOOSENING. I DIDN'T GET AN UNFILL BECAUSE I WAS AT A MAJOR PLATEAU. SINCE THE FILL I'VE LOST 10 MORE LBS AND LIKE I SAID IT LOOSER NOW. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND AN OVER-FILL TO ANYONE THO'. I ATE VERY LITTLE AND HAD PB'S. I PROBABLY WON'T GET ANOTHER FILL UNTIL FEB. OR MARCH. I JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS GOES. OMG - I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT FLABBY SKIN. I HAD A TOP ON THAT SHOWED A LITTLE CLEAVAGE. WHEN I BENT OVER TO DO SOMETHING , I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY GRANDMA'S 99 YEARS OLD SAGGY CHEST !:eek: IT WAS PRETTY GROSS. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE GUTS TO HAVE A TUMMY TUCK OR BREAST LIFT. I'VE STILL GOT OVER 50 LBS . TO GO BEFORE CONSIDERING THAT THO '. HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE !

I tanned quite a bit this summer. I put heart stickers over my scars since I didn't want them to turn purple. My Dr. gets a kick out of seeing 6 hearts on my belly when I go in for a fill. I've not been tanning lately but when I start back I probably will just let them go w/ no stickers. Who the heck am I going to let see my saggy belly skin anyway !lol ! Next month will be a year for me , so I figure my scars aren't going to change much now. Have a great day everyone !

I'M REALLY TIGHT RIGHT NOW AFTER MY LAST FILL AND ALSO HAVE TROUBLE W/ DRINKS. ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. SOMEONE SUGGESTED TO HAVE WARM TEA FIRST THING , BUT EVEN THAT IS REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW, WATER TOO. i'M PROBABLY TOO TIGHT , BUT I WAS AT A PLATEAU FOR 3 MONTHS AND NOW I'M FINALLY LOSING AGAIN. SOOOO, I THINK I'LL RIDE IT OUT AND HOPEFULLY EVENTUALLY LOOSEN UP. THIS IS REALLY FREAKY , BUT I FOUND THAT IF I EAT A SMALL DQ. BLIZZARD W/ JUST PINEAPPLE AND BANANA IN IT I WILL LOSE AT LEAST A LB. EACH TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF I EAT SO LITTLE OF OTHER FOOD THAT IT BOOSTS MY METABOLISM , THE CALCIUM , OR WHAT. MY HUSBAND FINDS IT HUMOROUS, SINCE MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT ON THEIR BODIES. THAT'S THE ONLY SWEET I EAT THO' AND IT TAKES ME ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO EAT IT. IT GOES DOWN MUCH EASIER THAN MOST FOODS. I'VE LOST 8 LBS. IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS THO', SO I GUESS I'LL BECOME THE "CRAZY BLIZZARD LADY" AT DQ UNTIL I SEE IT HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ! HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE !

Hey Babygirl , it's been a while. Looks like things are going great for you. Under 200 - Woo Hoo !!!! :clap2: I'm gonna get into exercising over christmas break. Right now I dance 2 hours a day w/ my students , getting ready for their programs. I AM SO READY FOR CHRISTMAS BREAK !!!! Only 2 and a half more weeks ! YEEHAW ! Have a good one !

<p>Hang in there. From August until last week I wasn't losing anything because I had lost all restriction in my band. The dr. at first thought it was a leak since the fills had disappeared, but everything he's added since September is still there, so he's ruled that out. We just don't know where the first 2.2ccs went to. I wonder if the needle slipped out of the port when he was filling it causing the saline to just go into my body. Anyway, now I'm back to 1.4ccs and I'm almost too tight, but at least I've finally started losing again.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Bounce" smilieid="205" class="inlineimg" /> It will happen for you too ! I just thank God that the band is available to help us out. I feel sooo much better than I did a year ago. Have a great day !<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif" border="0" alt="" title="" smilieid="60" class="inlineimg" /></p>

I RODE ROLLER COASTERS AT SIX FLAGS IN AUGUST AND SINCE THEN I'VE LOST RESTRICTION. I DID HAVE OVER 2.5 CC'C AND NOW MY DR. CAN'T DRAW OUT ANY OF IT. WHAT HE'S ADDED SINCE SEPTEMBER IS STILL THERE , BUT NOT THE ORIGINAL 2.5 CC'S. I GO BACK FOR ANOTHER FILL TUESDAY AND WE'RE CHECKING TO SEE IF I HAVE A LEAK , A KINK , OR IT'S JUST A FLUKE. DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE ROLLER COASTERS OR WHAT. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE ALTHOUGH I'VE ONLY LOST 1-2 LBS IN 3 MONTHS , I'VE NOT GAINED EITHER , SOOOO WHEN I FINALLY LOSE THE REST, IT SHOWS ME THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ! WOOHOO !!! BOOBOOKITTY , YOU LOOK AWESOME !! WHAT AND INSPIRATION ! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !:clap2:

Hi All ! I was just wanting to get in here too ! PTL for the band ! I also wish that it would have been available to me 10-15 years ago, but it's here now and with God's help is working some miracles in my life. I am off one of my BP meds , I've started singing in our praise group at church due to not feeling so self-conscious anymore. That's something I haven't done for years and missed. I also do more w/ my 3 DD's now. I had lost restriction a few months ago and we are checking for a leak , but the last 2 fills are still there, the dr. just doesn't know where the first 2cc's went to. i am getting some restriction back again now tho. So , please keep me in your prayers that it was just some fluke, not a leak - which would mean another surgery, and that I will begin losing again. I still have 65-70 lbs to go. I'm thinking and praying for those of you having surgery this week. May you have a quick and pain-free recovery ! Have a great day everyone !

Hey Tracy , you're looking AWESOME !I remember how you talked to us all on Feb. bandsters waiting for your surgery date. I'm glad it's all working out so well for you !

Denise , I hope by now your feeling better and able to get back to regular foods. Ready to lose - I can relate . I've not lost in the past month and a half and it's really frustrating when I was losing about 10 lbs. a month. I need some advice w/ my situation. I feel a little restriction in the a.m. from the small fill I got this week. The Dr. told me to come back this week if I felt no restriction and he would fill me all the way up to check for leaking. Soooo , I'm not sure what to do. Since I feel tiny restriction , do I call to go in for a little more fill , a full fill , or wait until next month. I'm afraid if he fills me all the way and I'm not leaking I'll be miserable since I had really good restriction being only 1/2 full, and will need an unfill. But what if I do have a leak and put it off until next month ? ARRGH !!!!:car: I teach jr. high music and have to take at least 1/2 a day off since my Dr. is 2 hours away. I have plenty of sick days , but I really hate to miss work cause the kids go nuts w/ a sub. Plus , if I am leaking I imagine I will need surgery again to replace the band, which would be about a week off again. OMG ! I'm just really confused and frustrated right now , and my DH is supportive but leaves all band decisions up to me. Sorry I've rambled on , I just wanted to know what other bandsters would do in this situation. Thanks !

Well , I went in for my 5th fill yesterday and told the Dr. I had lost most of my restriction. He didn't think much about it and said he was just going to add a little since I'm already half filled. When he was injecting , he took a while and wouldn't say much. Finally he said he wasn't able to get hardly any fluid drawn back out. Certainly not the amount I was supposed to have in it. He said he's never had a band leak. He said to wait a week to see if I get any restriction from this fill. If not , I go back in and he's gonna fill it all of the way and see what happens. I am feeling some restriction this a.m. after eating a little breakfast. I am wondering if sometimes the fluid might squirt out when they with-draw the needle from the port. On my 4th fill , he really had to tug to get the needle out, and that's when the restriction left. Let's keep our fingers crossed that that's what happened and not a leak. I really don't want surgery again , but I would definately do it to keep the band !

DENISE AND READY TO LOSE , GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE FILLS WENT OK , NO LEAKS, ETC. I CAN'T WAIT FOR MINE ON WED. I HAVE DEFINATELY LOST A LOT OF RESTRICTION. I TOOK 2 OF MY DD'S TO A HORSE RIDING RETREAT OVER THE WEEK-END AND GAINED BACK 2 LBS FROM ALL OF THE FOOD I WAS ABLE TO CONSUME !:Banane20: I STILL HAVE SOME RESTRICTION JUST FROM THE BAND BEING THERE, BUT I ATE ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE OTHERS THERE, JUST NO BREAD OR MUFFINS, MOSTLY MEAT AND VEGGIES. MAYBE I GAINED MUSCLE FROM RIDING THE HORSES SO MUCH - YEAH, RIGHT ! LOL ! WISHFUL THINKING ! HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE .:Banane20:

HEY WENDELL , THANKS FOR THE INFO. I SURE WOULD LOVE FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE THE LOSS OF THE FAT PAD ! ANY FAT LOSS IS AWESOME ! THAT'S THE WHOLE GOAL OF THE BAND ANYWAY , RIGHT ? HOPEFULLY I'LL FIND OUT FOR SURE NEXT WEDNESDAY. I'M HAPPY FOR THE LOSS I'VE ATTAINED SO FAR , BUT I STILL HAVE MORE I WANT TO LOSE AND THIS PLATEAU HAS ME BUMMED RIGHT NOW . YOUR INFO. HELPED ME FEEL BETTER THO', SINCE YOU PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON THE PROBLEM. THANKS AGAIN. READY TO LOSE , LET US KNOW HOW YOUR FILL WENT AND WHEN RESTRICTION HITS IN THE DAYS TO COME . GOOD LUCK TODAY !:car:

I am in the same place as you all. I've had 4 fills and am up to 2 cc's , only half full. But , after the 4th fill last month, I've seemed to lose almost all restriction and can even eat bread , which I hadn't done yet in 6-1/2 months.I've only lost 1 or 2 lbs also. I am scheduled for fill #5 next week , and I think I'll ask the Dr. to pull out what's in there to make sure the lack of restriction is from losing weight and not from a leak. I do know that he really had to tug to get the needle out at the last fill. ??????? It gets frustrating !

Pam , it's great to hear that you're doing well w/ your band.:eek: The more you heal the easier it gets. I've just hit the 70 lb. mark and am getting ready for my next fill on 9/19. I'm taking a half day off , which I don't like doing , but I gotta do what I need to , to continue losing - I want to lose another 68 lbs. Way to go sbee , :clap2:you'll be so glad that you didn't wait, especially when that weight starts dropping . Just take it easy for home-coming and let the kids do the work while you supervise. They'll be glad to help out wherever you let them. I had to do that one year for our musical and I was majorly pregnant and couldn't dance. The kids worked hard and everything went well. Good Luck !

rebecca , it's good that you're finding out what's going on and getting treated. good luck w/ that. i just couldn't do gastric by-pass. everyone that i know that has , has pretty much gained their weight back due to stretching out their pouches. i guess we can stretch ours some, but i know that i physically can't over-eat anymore. if i try it comes right back out, so i rarely do that anymore ! why punish myself over head games and cravings ? have a good day !

Hey Bigbaby , The sneezing and runny nose is something that runs in my family w/ my mom and I even before I was banded , especially when we ate at a buffet type place and got full. It still happens to me sometimes but not quite as much. We just laugh it off as a quirk. For me it doesn't have anything to do w/ sliming - which I get quite a bit of w/out the sneezes. My nose runs a lot if I end up pbing after a meal. Weird how our bodies react.

WAY TO GO ZANNIE , AMBROSIA, IRISHMAE AND M1HOCKER !!!:clap2: THANKS FOR ASKING ZANNIE - YOU ARE DOING AWESOME. I HOPE THINGS ARE SETTLING DOWN FOR YOU NOW. I THINK ABOUT YOUR SITUATION OFTEN - BE STRONG !:waytogo: I WAS BANDED 2/21 AND AM DOWN 69 LBS. I AM AT A PLATEAU RIGHT NOW BUT I'VE ALREADY SCHEDULED ANOTHER FILL IN SEPTEMBER. I STILL HAVE HALF A BAND TO FILL SO THERE'S LOT OF ROOM TO PLAY W/ IT. I AM SOOOOO GLAD I DID THIS AND WILL NEVER REGRET IT. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER ALREADY AND STILL WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER 69 LBS.:eek: HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK-END EVERYONE !

Hey Pam , Good luck this week ! I'm sure all will go fine with your surgery. I had my surgery in Feb. and really could have returned after 5 days and did ok, but my heart arrhythmias were acting up so I had to have a cat scan just to check for blood clots - all was fine ! I teach 5th and 6th music and have a jr. high choir of about 230 kids - luckily I meet w/ them in the a.m. before school so they're still kind of sleepy !:biggrin1: I stayed home w/ my 3 girls part-time when they were little and am so glad I had that opportunity Now they're 17,14 & 12. I sure could use that free time now w/ all the running we do after school but I also like the full time income !:confused: I do ok eating at school. I ate a lot more soon after surgery than I am able to do now because of fills, and only had trouble pbing once at school. Luckily I have practice rooms in my classroom so I was able to go in there and take care of business w/out kids watching. Tomorrow is my 1st day w/ kids so I'm kind of excited. I'm always ready to be done in May , but also look forward to getting back to it in August. My classes are fun since we dance and sing and it helps w/ weight loss too. Have a GREAT week everyone , and we'll be thinking of and praying for a quick recovery for you Pam on Wed.:clap2:

I added a new pic in my signature today. The 1st one is now ( purple background) the other is last summer. I decided to get my hair cut yesterday since so much of it has been falling out anyway. Maybe this way I'll see less of it in my shower and sink. Your pics look great by the way !

Hey babygirl , I just checked out your pics - WAY TO GO !!! You look awesome ! Such a young chick - you look like you could be in high school ! lol ! Things are getting busy for me too. I go back to work this week and have been getting my classroom ready. I'm really ready to get back to it, cause I do so much better losing the lbs. when I'm working since I'm busy dancing w/ my choirs and classes most days. At home I don't get the exercise that I should especially when it's so hot out. Suzanne , I hope things are going ok with you and you're taking care of yourself. You'll get through this no matter the outcome ! BE STRONG ! I had my 4th fill on Tues. and just started feeling a little more restriction yesterday ! I'm just frustrated right now cause I hit a plateau. But I think working will help it start moving again. The dr. said my band is only half full right now so I have a lot of room to work w/ it still. Thank Goodness ! Have a GREAT day girls ! Gotta get ready for church now .

Congrats Babygirl , you're doing AWESOME !:clap2: I still have a few more lbs. to lose to get to the half way point, but I've moved my fill up to this coming Tues. , the 14th, so maybe I'll get there before I go back to work on the 23rd. You gotta be proud ! Suzanne - Way to go w/ getting to your goal by your B'Day ! Happy Belated 33rd B'Day ! Man , I'd love to be 33 again and have had to the chance to be banded at your age. I'll be 43 in a few weeks. I would have done a lot more w/ my girls if I had that chance back then. We're going to 6 Flags tomorrow ( even tho' it'll be about 100 degrees out) to see the christian band "Newsboys" so I'm gonna ride the rollercoasters w/ my girls now that I'll fit in the seats. Just no upside down ones for me tho . I think you've passed us all up w/ your 71 lb. loss. Good for you !:clap2: I'm sorry to hear of the problems at home ! Sounds like you're being really strong and sensible tho'. You need to do what's best for you and your babies. My husband started taking anti-depressants last year , and he's a lot calmer and relaxed now, nicer too. He doesn't like them , but we can really tell when he doesn't take them, so I try to be encouraging to him so he'll keep on them. We're here for you if you need to talk ! Have a great week-end girls !