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I see that I am a little late in adding my well wishes, but they mean as much just the same... My thoughts and prayers are with you and I hope that you will recover nicely and can get re-banded real soon. Take Care,

Wow, it is nice to see so many encouraging posts. This board really ROCKS!!! I am 39 years old and live near Sacramento, CA. I am a product manager for a software company and work from my home. Divorced and that happened so many years ago, it feels like it happened to someone else. I am just a completely different person than I was in my late teens/early 20's. I have a wonderful boyfriend, we have been friends for almost 10 years and in a committed relationship for the last 3. Right now, we have somewhat long distance relationship (about 100 miles apart), but see each other when ever we have free time. I don't have any "real" children, but I do have 2 babies... Cinnamon & Bandit. They are my 7 month old dachshund/yorkie mix... we call them dorkie's... no I'm am just kidding. They keep me quite busy. I was banded on 2/3/04 and am down about 15 pounds. I have had 3 fills, but we think I may have a leak, so I go back next week for another check and most likely an appointment for a floro check. I don't really have any restriction. I am supposed to be at 1.5 cc in a 4 cc band, but who knows if I truly do have a leak. I work out about 4-5 days per week and try to eat healthy, but I must admit that when times are stressful... and they have been extremely stressful as of late... I eat the wrong things. I have gotten so much support from this site and I appreciate having such a wonderful place with such great people to come to for support. Thanks everyone! :)

Hang in there Sultana... I know exactly how you feel and hey I have had 3 fills and am only at 1.5cc's. The bad thing is that my doc won't do fills under floro unless there is a problem and now we are beginning to think I may just have something wrong. Starting with fill #2, the doc has never been able to withdraw what she put in the time before... so who knows for sure what is happening. She sent me home after fill 3 with an understanding that if I still have no restriction, not to wait the full 6 weeks for my next visit... but to come back in 3 weeks and see if she can pull all 1.5 cc's out... if she can't then she will finally make arrangements for me to have a fill under floro with a dye to see if I have a leak. I still have no real restriction, so I am going back in 3 weeks... we will see what happens. Keep us in the loop on your progress and realize that you are not alone. It seems like a lot of us are checking into your post and telling you that we have your back. Keep your chin up and remember what Lioness shared... We didn't put on this weight overnight, so it is going to take some time to get to our 'sweet spot' and start losing again. Take Care,

I am glad that I stayed at least one night in the hospital. I didn't get much rest because it is noisy in hospitals with the other patients having a hard time and the nurses coming into your room every few hours... but I was hooked to IV's for pain meds and Fluid for my stay and I am glad I had the push pump for pain... I needed it. I know that others have gone home the same day, so I know that it is doable. I thought I would bounce back very quickly, but when I work up in the recovery room and felt the initial pain without meds... I knew I wasn't going to bounce back as quickly as I thought. The bed I had in the hospital was specifically designed for bariatric patients and basically turned into a chair with the push of a button. This was very helpful for getting in and out of bed for restroom trips and walks... plus I had those special leg wraps that massage your legs constantly to avoid blood clots. Just my experience, but I hope it is helpful. Good Luck!

Hi Lill, My doctor is very conservative and since she doesn't fill under floro, she is afraid she might close me up if she fills me to my sweet spot too quickly. Now, for her too quickly is more than .5cc every 6 weeks! I am about to lose my mind. I have had 3 fills and am still at only 1.5, I think! I say I think because for each fill, she has never been able to withdraw what she put in the last time. I still have very little restriction. I maybe fill a bit of restriction for a couple of weeks and then it is gone... I can eat anything and everything. My only saving grace is that I cannot binge or graze all day like I use to pre-surgery. I didn't do this every day, but when I did it was enough food to keep me hovering around 260lbs. Now, I cannot do this... I am grateful, but I want to lose again. I know it won't be like right after surgery... but I would be happy with 10lbs in 6 weeks. Right now, I am averaging about 2lbs in 6 weeks. I guess this turned into my gripe fest instead of offering you some encouragement... but maybe you will read my story and it will make you feel better. Hang in there, maybe your doctor will come to your rescue and give you some restriction at your next fill. Good luck.

Rather than gain more weight... why not wear heavier clothing, jewelry and put some rolled coins in your pockets before you weigh-in at the docs office. :( Once your insurance approves you, no one will tell them if you lost weight before surgery. Plus some doctors like you to lose before surgery to make things easier for them (shrinking the liver, etc.) I am sure you can play around with a few options on a home scale to make sure you can hit at least a BMI of 40 without gaining 'real' weight.... heck... you are only .5 away. Good Luck!

Alexandra, I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit. The difference is very noticable!!! You look like you are at least 2-3 sizes smaller. Thanks so much for sharing. Everyone here is so inspiring. Congratulations!

Hi Michelle, Congratulations on your success! I love checking out your pictures and progress.... Please keep them coming. Girl, you give me real hope. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, Donali! I love your new hair style! :D I went to your website to get a better look and I must say... you look so sophisticated. It really suites you and will be so great for this upcoming summer heat! Looking good... no, correction... Looking GREAT!

Yep, you can really see that it makes a difference when we DON'T wear baggy clothes. You are doing such a wonderful job, congratulations! I know what you mean about the breast thing... lol! Mine are sooo saggy, it is really pitiful... I am scared to death of losing any sensation, so I don't think I will ever have the guts to get a lift. Oh well, gotta work with what we have sometimes. Thanks for sharing your pics! :D

Hi Ginny, It is nice to hear that your fill went well and that you are doing so great with your weight loss. Keep up the great job! I guess everyone is different, so it is hard to say if your first fill to 1.2 cc's is normal or not. Did your doc fill under floro? If so, then I would say that it is a good chance that you got a nice fill for your first try since the doctor can actually see how fast the Fluid moves through your stoma. My doc does not do fills under floro and was told my the folks at Inamed to start the first fill at 1cc. I thought I had 1cc at my first fill, but when I was getting my second fill they discovered I only had about .5 cc... now I am apparently at 1cc. Let's just say... I have little to no restriction. I have to wait 3 more weeks for my next fill. I hope you feel enough to continue on your successful weight loss journey. Take Care,

YEAH Michelle!!! We have watched you really progress since getting your fill situation resolved. I am soooo happy for you!!!! You sound so happy and motivated. Keep up the excellent work! :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny

Hello, I suffer continuously from allergies, they only worsen with the season... but I am always having to deal with congestion. I don't know if my body was trying to help me out or if the time of year was right... but I don't recall my allergies being an issue when I was banded. I followed my doctor’s orders and suffered through any symptoms... but honestly I don't remember it being that bad. Coughing and sneezing after surgery was extremely painful and I learned quickly to pile 3 pillows on the bed and lay on my stomach with my full body weight against the pillows before coughing.... Unfortunately, sneezes are more involuntary and I swore I busted stitches a few times because the pain was so intense... but it all passed in a couple of weeks and things were fine. You might want to phone your doctor in Mexico to just check-in, but if it is allergies and not a cold, I bet they won't want to reschedule your surgery. Good luck.

Wow, what a scary event... I am sooo glad that it had a happy ending! What a great accomplishment for you... and your family! Take care and give those little one's a big hug!

Hi Alexis, Thank you for sharing your pics and your blog. You are doing a great job with your weight loss and attitude. You are motivation to me and I imagine others as well. You look fantastic!

Bright, You are doing such a wonderful job. Congratulations on your progress. You look fantastic. Keep up the great work!

Hi Ginny, Here's to hoping your doctor listens to you and tries to at least give you some restriction you can work with for your first fill. My doc has a very strict (and limiting) fill plan and I have to wait 6 weeks between each fill and have only gotten .5 at each of my two fills. I have no restriction and can eat whatever I want as quickly as I like and in as big a mouthfuls as before surgery. The only time I feel restricted is if I eat a sandwich on whole wheat bread... but I can still eat the whole sandwich. Good luck and I hope you get what you want and need.

Jennye, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom. I hope that she recovers quickly and returns to her normal self. Remember that she will need you to be strong during this time, so take good care of yourself and try to get the rest and nutrition that you need. Take care and all my best,

Thanks for sharing Linda. I need inspiring stories like yours. I am glad you are doing well and feeling better now. Take Care,

Looking Great Jennye! You are really making great progress. Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing your pics.

Vera, Thank you so much for sharing. You look FANTASTIC!!!! I am so happy for you. You have given me a lot of support as I entered this journey and I truly appreciate it. You have once again given me support... in the form of hope! I am so impressed by you and your progress. Take Care,

Wow Michelle! You look great! I love the dress you are wearing in your most current pics (April). You look so happy... congratulations! :cool:

Hi Gabby, What a motivating share... I am so happy for you and your family. You and your husband are really doing a wonderful job with your LapBand's. I don't think I will be able to report as much success when I hit 3 months in May. How many fills have you had and at what level have you reached?Are you feeling good restriction? You mentioned retricting your caloric intake following some Easter candy... What range do you try to stay at? Is it difficult to restrict your calories or are you just not hungry? Sorry for all the questions, but I am frustrated at being 2 months out, only 15lbs down... I have 1 fill at 1cc and can't wait for fill number 2. Thanks, Anne

Boy, oh boy... I CANNOT wait to have restriction so I can experience this! You all are making me extremely jealous 2 weeks away from my next fill and hoping I will finally have some restriction! Thanks for sharing and giving me something to look forward to :eek: Anne

Congratulations Michelle! :eek: You are an inspiration to me. You never gave up, even when you thought your band was broken and you lost your insurance coverage. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It helps me to hang in there. I am having a difficult time right now. I only have one fill at 1cc and don't have any restriction. I can eat 1.5 - 3 cups of food at a sitting, but it does last me about 4 to 4.5 hours. I have actually gained 2 lbs even though I am exercising 3-5 days per week and am eating less than I was pre-band... with all of this, my doc refuses to give me fill # 2 until 6 weeks at 1cc has passed. I have 3 weeks to do and I am afraid of gaining more weight. I refuse to get on the scale and am just trying not to fall back into my favorite activity (grazing) that consumed my life pre-band. Thanks for listening. Anne