leatha_g

You'd have to eat alot of ice. Try Crystal Light or Propel. I don't do plain water well either. But, I can really drink the Crystal Light.

You are exactly right, Tricia. Flouro is meant to be able to SEE how tight you can get and still allow the barium to pass through. Scheduled increments have no place using flouro. What a waste! Who is your Dr. Blossom? You definitely have every right to remind them that they said all aftercare including fills were covered and now you're being put through flouro for no good reason. Personally, I love flouro because they normally close you off completely, then back off enough so that they can see the barium goes through. If he's telling this guy how much to put in, he's basically just shirking the job himself. After all, it's more cost effective for him to be drumming up new patients than wasting his time giving fills. I think you should definitely raise hell. The larger band definitely does take more to find restriction and you are very small to begin with. It makes sense that you'd need more to feel anything. I wish you luck in resolving this. But, Blossom, don't get discouraged about the band itself. This problem is human error and greed - no fault of the actual product. It works when used properly. I feel for you.

(((((((Ryan))))))). I hadn't read the rest of this, either. I'm really sorry Patti is having problems again. Please know that I'll be keeping you both in my prayers.

Good luck Misty. Truly, I think you'll be glad you made the decision. Yes, those who have not walked in our shoes have lots of solutions. It's as you say, if it were that simple, we'd have all done it by now and there would be no obesity in our country. People really don't just make the choice to be fat and most don't really love it when it happens either.

Beautiful pics! What a nice Christmas getaway!

Yes. can we say 'rectocele'? I think there is another surgery on my horizon. In the meantime, maybe I can hold it off awhile with my friends the prunes and mini wheat cereal. Ugh...

I've had plantar fascitis in the past also. One shot of cortisone seemed to have held it off for several years now. That is normally a condition that flares and goes away, seems like you could continue your exercise on the good days?? So far, I've found that regular exercise actually seems to help most of the old aches and pains I used to have. I have systemic lupus also, but since being banded and becoming more active and healthy, I haven't had one complaint with either/any of these old problems. Thank goodness! It just takes time and determination. You can do it! Welcome!!

Congratulations on the beginning of a wonderful year!

I'm with you Jack! I went to my credit union, took out a loan with much less interest rate and paid off all but two of my credit cards and cut up the rest. I hate feeling like my whole check is paid out on credit. Back to the old way. - If I can't afford it; I just can't have it!

LMAO.. too funny! (I'm part Irish)

Well. I guess it's official. I am getting old. I now qualify for the 'Silvercare' Life Insurance plan and I have broken down and bought Prunes snack packs for regularity. Bring on the walking cane!!

I've been doing okay on the Water too. The crystal light helps. Plain water and I never get it all in. All my company is now gone, so maybe I can better focus on the weight LOSS aspect of this thing. Thank goodness, I have not gained!!

I didn't. I went to get a fill/check up because I had moved back to Texas. The new doc went ahead and filled the band, but gave me a copy of my films. Immediately, I began having severe nighttime reflux, pain upon swallowing, but eventually, I could get things down, carefully. The reflux never subsided, so I found someone more experienced to look at the films and they said the band had slipped and I had to be unfilled. They said the person who did the fill should have known what he was looking at, but apparently he did the WRONG thing anyway and went ahead and put the fill in.

My slippage gave absolutely NO symptoms, until I went and got another fill on top of it. Then, the reflux began...

Yikes. Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Betty! What a way to start the New Year:(. Get well soon! Happy New Year to you also!

Great job Alex!! You look 10 years younger!

Kelly, Not to scare you, but these can be symptoms of slippage. You may seriously need someone to look at this under flouro. Have you had a recent fill? Do whatever it takes to not allow the nighttime reflux. Aspiration pneumonia is very common among bandsters. I'm really sorry you're going through this.

Wonderful news Nancy!! Thank you so much for letting us know! Thank goodness!

Welcome to the board, Rachel. You're a very pretty woman and really smart to boot. You'll do fabulous with the band and congratulations on deciding to become an even better you!

It's definitely worth it. Some tend to think it's the end of the world, but in reality, it's a few days out of your life that you have to deal with some minor inconvenience. Of course it's uncomfortable, since we're all used to stuffing ourselves to overflowing.. lol, but truly, we've all got plenty of storage on board. It would take quite some time to starve to death for most of us. You can do it, of that I'm sure. Congratulations and Good luck!!

There should be plenty of exercise websites online. I don't know much about the technicalities, but I do know that you should be doing at least 30 minutes of SOMETHING at least 3-5 times a week. We all start at different levels. According to your own personal fitness you can start anywhere - from walking 30 minutes at a time to going all out and going to the gym. Personally, I was very UN-fit physically, so I had to work up from walking 10-15 minutes on a treadmill to walking 30-60 minutes on the treadmill. I then moved on to Curves 3-5 times a week and I've now added a stationary bike at home and a regular bike when I can fit that in. If nothing else, walk, walk, walk...

Make sure your doctor tells you verbally what amount he finds BEFORE doing the fill. They should always tell you what you have compared to the last fill, THEN inject more and tell you at what level you are when you finish. Remember, this is not an exact science, but you are as much in charge here as your doc. Don't rely on them to know everything. Knowledge is power where your health is concerned. Have him write this information down for you if you have a problem remembering what he tells you. Good luck! Don't give up. Sometimes it does take several fills before you notice restriction.

I'm doing pretty good as long as I whip up the Crystal Light. I'm IN!!

WOW Rica, you're looking fabulous!!! Way to go girlfriend!

Nancy, I know this is very disconcerting, to say the least. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers, hoping you hear from your brother soon. Hugs to you, Leatha