momlambert

Congrats on your exercise, Lisa! Wow! And congrats on your weight loss--you are doing great! I'm so jealous! Do you feel like your restriction is right or are you just dieting and doing an incredible job waiting for proper restriction? Good luck on your full-time job and keep up the great weight-loss journey.

Yes, that's exactly where my pain is as well. I've been banded 4 months and had it at first for a few weeks after surgery but then it went away. Since I've finally gotten some restriction, I have it when I eat too much--it's my first signal to stop eating before I get to the slime, PB stage. It's bearable and doesn't last too long--probably until the pouch empties.

Check this out: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/abbreviations-what-they-mean-7959/ Hopefully that will help. Sliming happens before the productive burp--it's like Water in your mouth when you burp. I had my first pb tonight and it was really painful. I had to excuse myself to get to the bathroom and then kept burping until finally food came up with the burp. Yuck. My dr. told me before I was banded that I would have pb's and that there was no way to prevent them because you have to learn about your band--but I know of several people on this forum who have never pb'd and have had their bands for a year or so. They are very unusual but it must be possible. Other people pb several times a day, which is very scary because pb-ing is believed to cause slippage of the band. Hope that answers your questions. I've had 5 fills and am just starting to feel restriction--apparently I have more restriction than I thought since I pb'd on just a few bites of stuffed peppers and au gratin potatoes. Live and learn! Good luck!

Paula, sounds like you are having a time of it--you are right, life comes in waves and sometimes are worse than others and nearly drown us. Hope things get better for your soon. I didn't have any restriction at all until this last (5th) fill and I still don't have much. Luckily, my doctor schedules fill appts. 2 weeks apart and then you can just call to cancel if your fill is adequate. I can still eat everything and plenty of it but once in awhile I get a pain in my left shoulder and start burping a lot. No PB yet but I think I've been close. Hopefully the next fill after I return from my grandma tour at the end of the month will be THE ONE! What patience we need!

Hmmmm, Celeste. I think your expectations may be unrealistic. I was banded March 19 and had restriction from the swelling for a month or so. At my first fill appt. I didn't get a fill because i was still somewhat restricted. But that quickly went away and I've been trying ever since to get the right fill--I'm on fill #5 now and just starting to feel restriction once in awhile. I believe I'm getting close now but it's taken four months. I thought that by May 1 I'd have good restriction and be on my way but here it is mid-July and I'm not there yet. Good luck! Be realistic or you'll be disappointed. At least, I was.

Thanks, everyone! Grandchildren are just so wonderful (so are children, of course, but it's a completely different relationship and SO much fun!). Thanks, Rosi, for your kind words as well. I've been met with a spectrum of feelings and comments on the number of children we have--I never know what to expect. I've heard everything from "that's disgusting" to "they are blessed jewels in your crown," etc. I've developed a pretty tough skin about it all and it's really nice now and then to hear someone make comments such as yours--you made my day. Off to the hospital--I hope my eating goes well while I'm away from home. This daughter and her husband eat very healthy diets (no white flour, white rice, or white pasta and no fried foods, etc.) but they do eat out or order in a lot. Last night Kori couldn't wait to have sushi because of not eating raw fish while pregnant so we ordered in to the hospital. Since I don't like sushi, I ordered shrimp and vegetable tempura--bad choice. It went down just fine but not a good caloric choice, for sure. I need to do better. It sounded so good after such a long foodless day, I wasn't sure how udon or noodles would do or even sukiyaki so that's what I ordered--want to hear any other excuses???? It's a new day--hopefully I'll make better choices. Thanks again for your support, everyone. We're in this together and we can triumph!

It probably depends on your doctor to define what "mushies" are. Mine didn't have either the string cheese or soft deli meats on his list. He did have flaky salmon, mashed potatoes, cooked squash, cream of wheat, and avocado. He kept saying "your teeth are NOT a blender--if you have to chew it, it's not a mushie." Good luck!

Baby Tony was born last night at 7:10 (on 7-11) weighing 7-13. He's adorable, of course, and doing really well. His Mom and Dad were absolute heroes through the whole thing. I'm one lucky Grandma to be invited to be there and help in any small way I could. So that's four grandsons for me and I leave CT in 10 days to help with grandson #5 in NM. Who would have thought after having 9 daughters and 1 son that I we would be in such a grandson mode. It's awesome! NSV: it was SO nice not to be so "in the way" as we moved around the bed and all tried to help Kori--I hate taking up more than my share of space in crowded places. I know I still did but it wasn't nearly as obvious as 25 lbs. ago. Hope all is well with everyone--you guys are great! Have a wonderful day and weekend ahead. Much love from the happy new Grandma.

Thanks, friends, for your good wishes. I'm on my way to the hospital! They broke her water and she is finally in labor--no pitocin yet, which is good for her since she has hoped for a natural birth. There was some meconium in the fluid but I'm sure the dr.'s are watching that closely. Exciting! Denise, thanks for responding to my question about left shoulder pain--I thought I must be the only one ever who had such a weird thing happen when I overeat (I haven't had it after a fill yet). It's kind of an unmistakeable warning sign that I need to stop eating so I don't mind but it is very strange to me. OH Juli--you are our poster child! Don't ever worry about saying too much or not being able to share your successes--we need them! Yeah, we all wish we had lost as much as you and that we didn't have to struggle with the fill aspect, but so what??? Everyone is different and your story is a great one. Sure I get discouraged that I have lost so little (but it's still about a lb a week average), but I know I started with a lower BMI and I'm a heck of a lot older than you so those two factors are part of my weight loss formula resulting in my success being on the other end of the weight loss spectrum--but it is success and I'm happy for any success at all. I can rejoice in my success as well as yours and others on the board. We're all doing what we can and making the most of our experience. Off to the hospital! Thanks everyone for your prayers, positive energy, and thoughts--you are awesome.

Thanks for the reply and good wishes, Carol. No, this is our 4th grandson (and 4th grandchild). The other one due in two weeks will be our 5th grandson--which is really strange because we had nine daughters and one son. It's funny how that has happened. We have a granddaughter due in October and I have to say I'm VERY excited about that as well. Yes, grandkids are wonderful--certainly a blessing for living through raising your own children!

Hi Marchies! I'm in the "less-than-30-lbs-since-surgery club" as well. Sure, it's discouraging. But we ARE losing! That is what is important. Slow and steady wins the race, true, but it's really not a race--we are all helping each other along the track and hoping everyone wins! I had a fill just before I left town for three weeks to help two of my daughters on opposite sides of the country with their firstborn sons. As I type this my 37-year-old daughter is in the hospital hoping that the cervical gel will soften her cervix, she will start labor tonight, and they won't need to induce her tomorrow. We're all hopeful! But either way we'll have a new family member tomorrow. Hooray! My fill seems to finally be working--I've had a few close calls but still no PB (thankfully). I do get full faster and have to stop eating before the pain becomes unbearable, which is a first for me. Does anyone get a pain in their left shoulder when they get full? It's like when I had pain after surgery and attributed it to gas pain but I'm wondering if it's a nerve connected to the stoma or something. Any ideas? Good luck to everyone! I feel like no one reads my posts either but it's sometimes nice to vent and there is always a small chance someone will respond. It seems like we've lost so many Marchies. But I'm like OH Juli--I read them all but sometimes think someone else can answer the question better. I've asked a lot of questions that have never been addressed so I know how that feels. I'll try to do better. We need each other!

Wow, Denise! Congratulations--you look great and are truly an inspiration. Keep up the great work!

Wow! That's awesome. How many children and what ages do you have with you? We took our five youngest and they all learned Japanese and went to ASIJ. Great experience. National Azabu has lots of American food and delivers to your door--we did that about once a month for the kids sanity. I also like Nissin market (they may deliver to Shoto), too. Good luck! Enjoy your time--it passes so quickly. Send me a pm if I can help you with anything. I learned to play Mah Jong there at the American Club and absolutely loved it. Great memories!

Kathy, congratulations on your move to Japan--I'm SO envious! Our family just returned to the States a few years ago after spending four years in Tokyo. We LOVED it! Where in Japan are you? I didn't have a band then but I can see how difficult that might be. We don't drink and got alone fine socially but I can see that the food will take some getting used to. Good luck with that. let me know where you are--we were in Shibuya-ku. I can give you some ideas if you are near there at all. Enjoy the adventure! How long will you be there? Good luck adjusting--the adjustment coming home was much more difficult for us than when we got there. Enjoy!

I went tonight and it was really good. Vivienne said that next month they are going to do a water aerobics class "next door" for the support group. Should be interesting! Hope everyone is doing well. I had another fill today and am hoping I have some restriction. Of course, I won't know until Saturday when I can eat solids again and I leave town for 3 weeks on Monday so I do hope all is well with the fill. It was small but it's always scary for me (especially now that I should be getting close) to think of being filled too much and not having access to the office. I'm off to welcome to new little grandsons into the world--one in CT and the other in NM. Both are first children--one daughter is 37 and the other is 20. Exciting! Have a great summer, everyone. Karen

Ditto, Denise! It's exactly the same with me. Yes, it is maddening. I'm going for another fill this afternoon--hope it kicks in (but not too much because I'm leaving town on Monday for 3 weeks--kind of risky but I need some restriction!). Good luck everyone on your journey.

Happy July, friends! So glad everyone is doing well (despite the plateaus--aren't they a bummer???). Those NSV's are awesome. Send some my way, would you? I had my fourth fill last week and do feel a bit of restriction for the first time--mostly when I don't chew enough or take too big of bites. The dr. told me to call and see if they have a cancellation for later this week if I want another fill before I leave town for 3 weeks. Hmmm, what to do? I really can't decide. Although I want a fill, I am nervous about getting one on Thurs or Fri because then I can't try solids until Sat or Sun and I leave Monday at 6:00 a.m. I hate wasting 3 weeks with not being tight enough but I'm nervous about having problems (haven't had a PB YET) and being on the other side of the country. Advice? I'd love to know what you guys think. I haven't lost at all for three weeks. Discouraging for sure. I exercise five days a week and keep track of my calories on sparkpeople.com. I'm eating between 1,000 and 1,200 most days, although I had three days last month that were 1,800. I really wanted to be in ONE-derland before I went to welcome my two new little grandsons to the world (one in Connecticut and the other in New Mexico). Unless I can break all my previous records and lose 7 lbs. this week, it ain't gonna happen. July will be an interesting month for me--3 weeks of vacation with my daughters as they give birth and adjust to being first-time moms, my father in gravely ill health with colon cancer, and we're selling our house while building another and making all the decorating choices, etc. Crazy. Hopefully the timing on everything will fit beautifully together and I'll sail through July with joy, grace, and peace--and lapband success to boot. Have a great month, everyone. Love and success to all! Karen

Hang in there, Juli--you are such an inspiration! Today is a new day: begin again! The bright spot is shining before you. You can do this. Karen

I'm 58 and was banded in March. I haven't lost a lot but I AM LOSING! I was a lower BMI so I don't know if I'm losing slowly because of my age, my BMI, or both. Check out this thread for lots of great info: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-weight-loss-people-over-50-a-21117/ Good luck on your decision! Karen

Hey, fellow Utahans! How is everyone doing???? I just got a fill and I actually am feeling a tiny bit of restriction. Woohoo! I'm getting there! Vivienne at Dr. Hansen's office mentioned that there is a group of bandsters in Utah who get together once a month for dinner. Do any of you know anything about it? I think it sounds fun. Let me know the details and if it is open to everyone. Hope everyone is doing well. Keep in touch! Karen

Welcome, Cindy, and congrats on your surgery! How are things going for you? My surgery was March 19 so we are close. I had a fill on Monday that has given me SOME restriction--probably not enough but a bit anyway (for the first time). How is your restriction doing? And your weight loss? Anxious to hear, Karen

Good luck, Dini! Before you know it, you'll be in bandland--congratulations! Hope all goes well and that you have a speedy recovery. Best wishes, Karen

Hang in there, pjrugby! I was banded three months ago and still have no restriction. Yes, it can be discouraging! I was self-pay as well and certainly don't want to have wasted all that money. Before I was banded, I read lots and lots of posts from this site but somehow got the idea that once I started the fill process (May 1--six weeks after surgery) I would start feeling restriction. WRONG! My fifth fill appt. is Monday and it will be my 4th fill. I do hope it works but for now, I have absolutely no restriction and it's a huge struggle. But I believe it will eventually work perfectly and until then I need to have confidence in my choice and do all I can to control my eating and not sabotage my choice. Good luck to you--you are not alone. WE can do this!

I'm missing hearing from you, TOM! You have such great perspectives. Two months is TOO LONG to go without hearing from you. Hope all is well with you and your family. Drop a note if you have a minute!

Every doctor is different. Some require 4-6 weeks of pre-op diet and others none at all. Some require 2 weeks of liquids (or more) post-op and others a few days. My doctor required no pre-op but then liquids for 2 weeks and mushies for another four weeks--that seemed much longer than most others. My point is, you need to trust your doctor but I think if you want to be more conservative, go ahead! If you would feel better about your post-op diet, just follow the one my doctor required. I think it's fine to err on the side of overdoing it (liquids longer, for instance) but not on the side of doing things before your doctor says to (like eating solids right after surgery). Hope this makes sense! As far as removing saline from the port site, some doctors do fill the bands a little during surgery. I guess in all of this, you just have to trust your doctor while following your own intuition and knowledge. You won't hurt anything by being on liquids and mushies longer than he suggested, so do that if you are more comfortable.