Twillwood

I get "port-pains" too. However, mine don't seem to be related to fills. I always get pains in my port when it is my TOM. I have read extensively on this, and what I experience appears to be normal. My port is very shallow and visible, it kinda sticks out. I always thought that its shallow placement had to do with its propensity for pain. For example, sometimes I get port-pains when I am sitting and slouching too much, so it reminds me to straighten up. So when you do get a fill, is the actual process really painful? Or does the pain occur only after the fill? I have had three different nurses give me fills...and each experience was completely different. One nurse left me with a bruise over my port. My best advice is to tell your doctor about your pain...and TRY not to worry. ~ T

Hi Terri, Don't feel discouraged! I was banded in March of 2012 and I haven't lost weight since last summer...I was considered low BMI and my doc said that my weight would just fall off...ha! I haven't been for a fill for a really long time (like since last August). However, I am really tight...like cannot eat until past noon. I blame my lack of weightloss all on myself (and if I am really honest, I also blame my family...I am often roped into eating when I am not really hungry, just because the fam wants to go out to eat or wants me to cook dinner). I eat bad things and don't exercise enough. I highly doubt I will ever lose my last 20 lbs. - I just look at it this way, without the band, I would have been much worse off! Sounds like you still haven't found your sweet spot. If I were you I would NOT skip your doctor's appointment. Just go and be very up front about what is happening. Please don't be embarassed!!! Do exactly like you said...go back to the basics! Thank you for sharing...whenever I feel really off-course, stories like yours really help me!! ~ T

I was considered a low BMI when I got banded last year. I only wanted to lose around 50 lbs, give or take. Have I accomplished that? No, not yet. Am I the perfect lap band patient, nope not yet. Would I do it again...that depends on the day. I am an emotional eater and when I eat for emotional reasons I want super large quantities of real food. Having the lap band took that away from me. So...if you are an emotional/quantity eater be prepared to have that taken away from you. On these days, I wish I was band free just so I could eat my stress/sad/angry feelings away. Now, on the flip side, you can still ingest large quantities of "slider foods" - so that means all the chips, candy, and ice cream that I want. Have I gone down that path..unfortunately, I have. That would be why my weight has been creeping back up this spring. As for portion control/restriction when eating "real food"...yes, I have it, and it works splendidly! However, getting used to the rules of eating as a lap band patient that is a whole different story. Sometimes I eat too fast...and ta-da I am running to the restroom to throw up gobs of slime and food. You would think that after almost a year and 1/2 I would have learned not to eat too fast by now. I chose to get banded because I struggled my entire life with my weight. My metabolism is slowed from yo-yo dieting and my exercise is minimal because I work part-time and attend grad school full time (lots of time spent sitting in front of a computer). One of the good things that the band does is that because of where it is placed it sends messages to your brain that tell it that you are full. These are chemical responses, which is the reason a lap band patient can eat so few calories and lose weight without the body going into starvation mode. I know that if I were not banded and ate so little calories my body would slow my metabolism down even further. Being banded is no cake walk, but for me it has been worth it.

I personally don't really see anything wrong with taking phentermine while banded...just as long as you stay hydrated and take your Vitamins. I currently do not take phentermine - but I do have some left over from a prescription that my primary care dr gave me right before I made the decision to get lap band. I use them for what I think of as food emergencies. For instance, when it was my brother's birthday my mother had the family over to her house to have a big dinner and cake. I am a sucker for cake...I knew that I would not be able to say no. So I took 1/2 a pill to help me with will-power. Because I use my phentermine just for emergencies, I have zero tolerance built up and that 1/2 of a pill was just what I needed...I never even thought twice about the cake! My husband and I are taking a cruise in August and I plan on bringing my phentermine to help me "say no" to all the fattening cruise ship food!

I like to run/walk, meaning I walk and then pick landmarks along my path to "run to". I would love to one day become strong enough and in shape enough to run my entire route. However, in the meantime mixing running with walking has proved to be great exercise and everyday I push myself a little further. It also helps that my husband likes to exercise with me. Love the idea of looking for exercise videos on netflixs! Great idea! Currently I enjoy watching the seasons of The Biggest Loser that are on netflix...talk about motivation!!!

My biggest downfall isn't actually an eating establishment...my biggest downfall is going to the movies. I have figured out that even with restriction I can put away popcorn by the buckets. I always start out with the mentality that I will be strong and NOT eat the popcorn. I buy a bottled Water instead of soda and add my crystal light to-go packet...but then my husband looks so happy eating the salty-buttery-puffy-kernels and then I give in. So...I try to really limit my movie theatre going, which is difficult for me considering it with the summer heatwave there is nothing like a cool dark comfy movie theatre in the middle of a scorching 100+ degrees day.

Hey there mangojoy, I was reading your last post where you talked about the number of calories you eat a day. Well, I know we all have been given different instructions regarding food from each of our Surgeons/Doctors/Clinics, etc. and I know we should all listen to our own respective Surgeon's/Doctor's/Clinic's advice to caloric intake. So please take what I say with a grain of salt. Well, I wonder if maybe you are eating too many calories? Between 1100-1400 calories a day seems a little high. The clinic that performed my surgery tells everyone - regardless of weight to stay at 800 calories a day - at least until we get to the maintenance stage. (and let me just say...OMG!...I was quite shocked at first) But, I have to say, that it definitely has been working and I HAVE been losing weight. I know all diets and Doctors are different...so ultimately you need to do what works for you.

Looks like it has been awhile since anyone has posted on this topic...but maybe someone from Dr. Wellborn's clinic can help me. I just finished the post-op class where they teach you about portion size, Protein, and the number of calories you can eat. Loved this class! However, I forgot to ask them about what to expect as far as my first fill. So I am posing this question to other Wellborn patients: what should I expect for my first fill? How many cc's? Etc. So...Wellborn peeps...tell me about your fill experiences! On a side note, I have been so happy with Dr. Wellborn and his staff. While it was expensive because I am self pay...I am kinda glad I decided to self pay and not pursue insurance, because if I had I would not have been able to use Dr. Wellborn.

I agree with @readytogoforit with regards to " not making the numbers the only goal"! (like fitting into smaller sizes, or bras getting more comfortable, etc) However, I do have to admit, I weigh a couple times a week. I am still trying to decide which day of the week should be my "official" weigh day. I am leaning towards Friday...but for now, whenever I see a loss it makes me happy and I consider it "official". hehehe

I was banded on Feb. 16, 2012. My BMI was also 30. I am very proud to say the within the first 2 weeks I lost 12lbs. (i need to update my ticker, cause this past weekend i weighed and i lost another 2lbs) I still can't believe it. Especially being on the low end of the BMI range. I accomplished this by following my doctor's directions for eating to a T. I didn't cheat and have solids before my 2 weeks of liquids and mushy foods were over. I didn't eat sweets (no ice cream, milk shakes,, etc.) I wrote everyting down that I ate and stayed in the 800-900 calorie range. I don't plan on writing all my food down forever, I just needed to get comfortable with what 800-900 calories a day looks like. Keep your choices high Protein and low calorie and drink tons of Water - and the weight will melt off.

I have totally loved reading everyone's skinny bucket lists!! Here are 10 of my to-do's once I reach my goal weight: 1. Fit back into my wedding dress and have a "trash the dress" photo shoot! I totally want to do this: http://www.libbyjamesblog.com/2011/01/13/trash-the-dress/ 2. Go on a float trip (where I live folks get together in large groups, rent canoes, drink adult beverages, and float down the Buffalo River) and wear a bikini and look DAMN GOOD in it! 3. Skip my high school reunion - NOT because I am fat, but because I am just way too busy with my life! 4. I want to fit back into my seven and citizen jeans...and then I want some new pairs! (I just can't see spending the money on designer jeans right now...but when I get down to my goal weight...some new jeans are mine!) 5. Not feel embarrassed when I run into old friends...'cause I will be looking soooo good! 6. Re-energize my love life with my husband 7. Shop, shop, and shop some more! 8. Actually take friends up on their offers to come over to their house to hang out in their pool 9. Wear dresses in the summer heat and not have my thighs stick together...mine don't even rub they just don't separate, it is like they have post-it note glue on them or something 10. When I hit goal...hello tummy-tuck!!!

Well, last night I finally called one of my best friends in the world (she lives in Nevada and I live in Arkansas) and told her that I got the lap band. She was soooooo awesome about it. I don't even know why I was nervous about telling her. Especially when she and I have been diet buddies before. When she lived here in Arkansas she and I did all kinds of diets together (not to mention all the exercise we did). We even got diet pills together...oooh...those were dark times. At first it was rather innocent. We found a Dr. here in town that has basically built his practice around prescribing diet pills. But then we wanted more...so we used an online pharmacy...sweet cheese and rice...I am so glad what we got in the mail actually turned out to be the real deal. Anyhoo, we basically starved ourselves down to nothing. But of course it all came back with a VENGEANCE. @shues138: I totally understand your reasons for not telling your boyfriend. I think I would be the same way. Like, in my past when I was wasn't married and dating...I didn't tell everyone that I dated that I had a boob job. Not mention mine turned out looking quite authentic...so why should I announce it? However, like garfield461 said, at some point as your relationship moves forward you might have to tell him...hmmm...or do you? This is just one of those things that I really think each person needs to decide for themselves ((HUGS)))

I read a post here lately at lap band talk (LBT for all you old-timers...us newbies are still getting used all the lingo) where a someone wrote about having a hard time sharing with their husband that they wanted the band. I have also read here at LBT that there are folks who have kept their band a secret from their spouse. My first reaction is...that's crazy!!! Then I stop and think about it, and I totally get it. Mostly I understand the fear aspect of letting a significant other know you have the lap band. For instance, my husband has been very supportive of me getting banded. He went to the information seminars with me, he sat at the surgery clinic the morning I had surgery, he is even going to my first post-op appointment with me this afternoon. On the one hand, it is really nice to have him so involved. On the other hand, I kinda wish it didn't have to all go down like that. Like, does he think less of me because I couldn't lose the weight and keep it off on my own? It's kinda like you want the person you are in love with to see you in a certain light. It is difficult to let someone see you as vunerable. For me, it is difficult to admit defeat with past diets that have failed. Because being defeated just isn't me! I like to think that my husband sees my decision to have the band as way for me to succeed when it comes to getting healthy. I have a habbit of worrying about hypothetical situations. One game I play quite often is the "what-if" game. This game can be fun when thinking about positive things, but it can be rather depressing when thinking about negative stuff. Anyhoo...so I have a pretty bad scenerio that I play out in my head which involves the whole: what if my husband and I are not together in the future? Well, then I wonder, would he tell his new super-skinny-hot (hypothetical) girlfriend about my lap band? Would my band be something he would talk about as if I was such a failure that I had to get a lap band to lose weight? I worry about that, even if it is just hypothetical. I know I shouldn't make crap up for myself to freak out about...but I do...and I guess that I why I really "get-it" when I read about folks who have kept their band a secret even from their significant others. This tool (the lap band) that I have chosen is an advantage to me. I chose it because I have seen how it works for others and how it can help me to get healthy. I would hate for it to be something that can be used against me. I think that is why I really like Amy's blog http://cheeseandsunkist.blogspot.com/ because she has been so freaken open about her lapband. Maybe she is onto something? Be the first to talk about it, therefore you get YOUR story out there before others make one up for you?