DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

You're human and sometimes you're going to give in and splurge. Don't beat yourself up over it! Once a month I allow myself one splurge meal of whatever I want. I don't count calories and I don't care how "bad" it is for me. I have done this monthly since I was back on solid foods after being banded and I honestly think it's helped. I don't feel deprived and because I'm allowing it I don't feel guilty either. You're doing great, don't let one meal mess with your head

It does sound like you need a fill. Most need at least a few fills before they have restriction. Here's some good questions to ask yourself: -Can you feel satisfied with a cup or less of food? -Can you go 4-5 hours without hunger? -Are you losing weight regularly, even if slowly? If you answer no to one or more of these, I'd consider talking to your doctor about a fill. Btw, congratulations on the 23 pound weight loss! Outstanding!

What size band do you have? Coughing is a sign of being over-filled, but if your band is empty, I worry it's too small. Is your doctor aware of this?

I genuinely like the Unjury Chocolate Splendor protein shakes. I had my surgery over 4 months ago and I still have one for breakfast every morning.

Holy cow that is AMAZING!!! Very inspirational, thank you so much for sharing!

Thank you so much for sharing!! Congratulations!!!!

Don't be sorry for asking questions, it's how you learn Granted I'm not a doctor, but from what I can tell about the psychological evaluation they're making sure you're mentally and emotionally stable and don't have an eating disorders or suicidal tendacies. It would seem to me you'd have a problem passing if you weren't already on meds and under a doctor's supervision. The fact you are shows you're taking responsibility and control over your situation and would likely be in your favor. I honestly don't think you'll have a problem. For the record, at the time of my psych eval I was on Xanax as well quite a few other meds. I too have suffered with anxiety attacks for years as well as depression. I was honest about all this and didn't have a problem. I honestly think you don't have anything to worry about.

I don't understand why you've been waiting 6 months to have the port replaced, let alone going in every 2 weeks for fills when it's all leaking out anyway. That should be fixed immediately, and if your doctor isn't willing to then it's time to find a new surgeon.

If you can't drink fluids, you're too full and need a slight bit of Fluid removed. Here's a chart that helps explain where you should be:

First off, no, you're not at fault. We've all been where you are and know what it's like to try diet after diet only to fail. Obesity isn't about a lack of willpower or laziness, it's a disease that's quickly spreading across our country and starting younger and younger. Our society of "super sized" everything, processed foods, and high fat foods is only adding to it. The Lap-Band definitely isn't a magic bullet, it's a tool, and you still must do the work. You still have to make smart food choices and be committed to lifetime of healthy eating habits. Those that I see fail with the band very often do so because while they may eat smaller portions they're still eating crappy, high calorie, high fat food. For me, the Lap-Band has been an answered prayer. I am satisfied with little food and can go 4-5 hours without hunger. I still have a lot of weight to lose, but with the weight I've lost so far I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel. Honestly, I wish that had been option for me when I was your age. It would've saved me an adulthood of being "the fat chic" and dealing with all the emotional trauma that comes with it. Ultimately, it has to be your choice, but I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. I think getting the Lap-Band is by far the best decision I've ever made for myself. Best wishes to you!

Below is a chart that shows how the Lap-Band should be as well as how it shouldn't. Have a look, you are without a doubt in the Red Zone, which is a problem. The reason so many surgeons are hesitate to put a Lap-Band in a Lupus patient is because it's not just an autoimmune disease, it's a disease of the connective tissue. That makes you a much higher risk of your body having an autoimmune response to the foreign object inside of you. The fact you now have a fungus in your esophagus may very well be the start of your body rejecting the band. Losing 29 pounds in one week is also a major problem. Having to repeatedly go onto IV fluids just to live is also a big problem. Your band isn't just "a little tight", it's dangerously tight. If I were in your shoes, I'd be going to another surgeon and getting a second opinion. I seriously question your surgeon's judgement in the way this is being handled. Best wishes to you- I'll definitely be keeping you in my prayers.

I went to my orientation seminar the first week of December 2011, had surgery January 6, 2012. So it was only about a month, it went VERY fast.

I have admit, I'm a little confused how it flips. I know my doc stitched mine to the muscle. I don't see how it would be possible to flip when it's sewn in like that. Is it only the prong ones that flip?

I'm watching it on 20/20 right now. It's all about those 1-800-Get-Thin idiots and how they had five patients die.

How do you know they're infected? Have you been to your surgeon?

When I was banded, the woman sharing my room was in for a band replacement. Why? Because she drank soda/carbonation and prolapsed her stomach through her band. She also gained 40 pounds in a relatively short period of time, too. There's no way I'd risk going through that. Carbonated beverages just aren't worth it.

From a physical standpoint, Lap Band surgery isn't nearly as invasive and doesn't require near the recovery time. During a C-section, they're cutting a large incision into your abdominal wall, through your muscle, and into your uterus. Lap-Band is only a few very small laproscopic incisions, most don't even have stitches after. From a personal standpoint, Lap Band was a cake walk compared to the C-section I had. I was in misery and pain for weeks after my c-section. I was back to my normal routine just 6 days after Lap Band surgery.

I won't go near a scale at night and definitely not during my TOM. Even though I know I'll weight more at both, it's not worth the mental damage it does seeing those numbers go up. I weigh myself once a week first thing in the morning. It's best for my mental health

I am definitely the exception, not the rule. I had some restriction even when my band was empty. I do think I'm going to get a small fill this month, maybe .5 at the most, because I noticed I'm getting hungry before it's time for dinner lately.

Yes but more at the beginning than I do now. I am slowly realizing I have to be realistic- once in awhile I simply want a non-fat caramel mocha or small desert. As long as it's an occasional thing rather than a daily or regular thing, it's fine. I actually allow myself one "freebie" meal a month. After I see my surgeon (and am back to normal foods if I have a fill), I allow myself a meal of anything I want. I don't count calories and I don't care how unhealthy it is, it's my one splurge meal a month. I also allow myself one desert splurge a month. I've lost considerable weight since being banded in January, so it's obvious my monthly splurge hasn't hurt me in the least. Quite honestly, I think it's helped me both to not feel so guilty and not feel deprived.

Here is a good explanation of the "Green Zone". Restriction refers to tightness of the band, thus resulting in the Green Zone.

Unfortunately there is no "normal". It's all relative not only to the size of your band but the size of your stomach as well. I've known people who have 6 or more fills and still have no restriction, whereas there's people like me with great restriction almost immediately and in the Green Zone by the 3rd fill.

Excellent information. This is exactly why I always advise people to stick to whole grain Pasta and brown rice and stay away from anything white, bleached, or enriched.

Also keep in mind you're not even a month past surgery yet. Your stomach is likely still swollen and is definitely still healing. It'll be another couple weeks before you know if you'll need a fill or not.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea are pretty much universally accepted as co-morbidities to obesity.