Toddy

I think your observation is spot on 98% of the time. However, a couple of years ago I had a good friend that lost weight, and lost a little too much, and she literally looked like she had been sick. She quit losing and put about five pounds back on and looked much better. Being a woman of a "certain age" I fully expect to look a little older when the fat is not filling out the wrinkles, but I just don't want to look sickly!

My doctor leaves the needle in, too, so he won't have to restick if the Water has any problem going down. He usually tells me to take two pretty good size gulps and see if I have any problem. One thing I have learned for me personally, room temp water goes down easier than cold water, so I always ask for a room temp bottle.

I have never felt my band. The only way I know for sure I have a band is when I eat. My port I can feel it with my hands or if I lean against something, but as far as walking about feeling it, nope. If you're torn between band or sleeve, see if you can find a doctor that performs lapband with plication. It sounds like the best of both worlds!

It's obvious that what you're doing is working for you. However, for me, not filling my band would be like driving a nail, but not using the hammer that is sitting right beside me. But that's just me, if I have it, I use it. Kind of like the fine china that Willowcat referred to, when I drink wine I use my Waterford hocks, even if there's no company and just I'm sitting around in shorts and a t-shirt. If I've got it, I'm going to use it and enjoy it! I love B-52's quote "Without restriction, it's just another diet."

Dr. Morton at BMSC was my doctor. He and Heather are great, too! Everybody in that practice I've come across are super nice!

Years ago my sister was a server in a county club. Her manager told her that fries (chips) were the cheapest thing to serve and they better not leave the kitchen without a plate looking packed (with fries). I agree, American portions are outrageous!! Even at my heaviest, I couldn't manage cleaning my plate in a restaurant.

You're a good man! I've got one myself that loves to cook and is very supportive, too. We eat a lot of ground turkey breast. I just discovered ground chicken breast and really like it too. At this point, I eat so little, that I'll eat just about anything I want and can tolerate and I'm still losing because of the very small portions I'm eating. I focus mainly on Protein. If you're going to grill, just make sure you don't over cook and make things tough. We marinate chicken breasts in fat free Italian dressing and bake it and it comes out good and moist. Pork tenderloin is pretty tender, too. The only things I have consistent of problems with are soft breads and Pasta. If my family wants lasagna, I'll just eat around the noodles and just eat the gooey meat and cheese. Hope this helps.

Are you taking big gulps of water or little sips? I love water and used to guzzle down half a glass at a time. Now I'm restricted to taking small sips or it hurts. I've had a few issues with heartburn and just eat a Tums and it goes away.

I've have trouble eating something one day and the next day the same thing goes down fine. I've not associated it with how much I've had to drink in a day though. I just think I have a fickle band.

My go-to snack when I am actually hungry (not head hunger) is light string cheese. I think it's 80 calories and 8 grams of protein. It holds me over well until time for dinner.

For the first couple of weeks after my last fill I was having a really hard time and thought I was overfilled. Once I finally got it in my head that I have to eat really slow, and take time between bites, I've been fine. I eat very little now, probably half a cup or less at meals. I'm making sure I get my protein in and taking my vitamins daily and am feeling really, really good! Hang in there!!

My first time was in a restaurant with an overly dry chicken breast. It was a Friday night, the place was packed, and we were seated as far from the bathroom as you could possibly get! I wonder if everyone remembers their first time !

Depending on which size band you have, 4 cc may not be that much. I have the smaller band and am at 6 cc and in the green zone. Next time you have a bad day and have to have fast food, just try to make a better choice than McDonalds. Try Wendy's chili or Chickfila. And if you're doing low carbs, go ahead and get a burger and throw away the bun.

And if you do find one that will accept patients from Mexico, ask them ahead of time what their program fee is and how much they charge for fills!!

I have one and have only used it at a buffet, because all the children's plate offerings are horrible, nothing but fat and carbs! It's up to the restaurant whether or not they honor it.

I had to do six months, and that seemed to be pretty much the norm from what I've heard/read.

I read about something similar on a blog somewhere. Seems like it had something to do with the vagus nerve and the fix was taking an anti-anxiety medication before future fills.

By yucky, do you mean nauseous? I was wondering that same thing myself today, too. Occasionally after I eat, I'll get hit with an extreme wave of nausea. I know I'm not overeating or eating too fast. I'm not getting "stuck". Just about the time I swallow that last bite, it's just like a wave will hit me sometimes. I'm wondering if the nausea is considered a "soft stop" or a "hard stop".

My seventh day post-surgery was the worst day I had, and unfortunately my first day back to work. After that seventh day, though, I turned a corner and got better much faster.

For me it was a good solid seven days. I probably wasn't back to 100%, but I could at least get done what I needed to do.

My port is just below my sternum, too. I like it there because it's not anywhere near the waistband of my pants. Also, it just feels like it's secured in there really well, no moving around or anything.

I second the Biotin.

I read a lot about people being worried about having to "throw up" in restaurants. I'm not sure if my experience is unique or not, but I've had several times I've had to go into the bathroom during a meal, but not to "throw up". It is something I have complete control over, and when I get into the bathroom stall, I quietly "urp" up whatever I have eaten that has gotten stuck. I make sure I know where the bathroom is "just in case". But it's never been a mad dash to get there because it is not a violent vomiting from my stomach. Oh, and my full signal: About six or seven hard sneezes! Now that's embarrassing!

Wow, $92 is the cheapest I've heard. I thought my doctor was pretty reasonable at only $150. If within 10 days you need to come back in for an unfill they will do that at no charge.

A couple of weeks ago I was considering a slight unfill because of so many PB's. The last fews days I'm thinking I could use a tiny bit more fill. I have decided my band is a fickle band, tight one day, loose the next.