LadyScorpio

Well guys, these past couple weeks have been kind of rough. I have had no motivation whatsoever. I've had some health issues going on in my family - Mom has had something similar to pneumonia for the last month, Dad has had lots of tests and may need surgery. Been spending a lot of time at their house, traveling to the doctor and hospital for testing and grabbing food on the go. I've gained a couple pounds, but I am the least of my worries right now. Although, I am a little worried that if the test results show something bad, that I just will let go of me altogether and focus on my father. Any suggestions, please? I am on a very precarious edge right now...

I was just wondering for how long do we have to get adjustments? I don't have the job with the insurance anymore that covered the procedure and any related work. My three month global period ends next month, and I was just curious what timeframe is involved with the adjustments. Melinda, I think you had your procedure 9 months ago and had an adjustment this month - how long does that last? Hope you are doing well, Carolina, Kah, Bama, Melinda, Shy....it's too early for my brain today.

Bama, Kah, Melinda - glad to hear you all are doing well. Kah, I hope you enjoyed your vacation - it sounds like it!! Congrats, Bama - that is great!! Carolina, how are you doing? I have a question for the experienced ones - what is good or acceptable weight loss after an adjustment? I got my first one on the 5th and am down 8 lbs so far. Not sure if that is good, bad, or average. Don't really feel like getting bitched out by the doctor, so I want to have an idea ahead of time. Thanks - you guys have been really great!!! Only 1 more pound to go and I will have lost 50 lbs since I started this process in January, and 18 since surgery on May 7th - again, is that bad?

I was out for a week and everything has been pretty good since. I had my first adjustment on the 5th and have lost 5 lbs since then. Bama, I can certainly agree with your struggle, as that is still mine as well. There are articles on this site I have read that show recent studies indicate drinking should not be a problem while eating, as long as you don't increase the portions of your original meal. Sips here and there are okay, but my doctor is steadfastly against it. I'm glad to hear everyone seems to be doing well - keep up the good work everyone. Melinda, we want to hear from you - please don't beat yourself up and don't let the doctor to that do you either. We are here for you!!!

Melinda, we are all human - that is the bottom line regardless of what any doctor says, having this band, or any type of procedure - period. We will have ups and downs and you have obviously done well to lose so much weight - that is a big success in my eyes and I can only hope to have similar results and beyond that with the long term goal I want to achieve. Keep the success in mind and don't let the doctor or the fact that you have had one set back beat you up - I for one look up to you as a role model because of what you have done and the fact that you acknowledge your low points. I'm sure you will come back!! I have a couple questions for the experienced band people - I got my first adjustment this week. Should I still get hungry after a certain time period? I'm talking 5-6 hours.... Also, even after all this time after surgery, I still have more gas than I ever did before having this done. Is that normal? Last, are we not supposed to eat any fruit? How are we supposed to get the vitamins, fiber and potassium? For example, I like apples and bananas, but my doctor says NO! What is any one else's experience? Hope all the recent surgery folks are doing well....

There is so much more to this than what I thought. How often do you need adjustments? How long do you keep this band? and what is the deal about drinking and eating?

The experience wasn't as scary as I expected. I am back on only liquid again for last night and today then the protein shakes for the next two days. Here I thought I was done with them. It appears that I was not "following the rules" and that is why I was not losing as much weight as I should. I was having nuts as a snack - they're protein, so I thought they were good, but NO SNACKING. Also, he says that when I think I am hungry, I am really just having an emotional moment and need to find something to do, that I am really not hungry. So I need to just eat meat, vegetables and drink water. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night wondering if I really made the right decision in doing this.

I have my first "fill" appointment on Tuesay and am a little nervous. Still don't get how I managed to gain weight when I've eaten less and of what I've eaten has been meat and vegetables, but oh, well. What can I expect on this appointment? I hate needles!! Melinda, what is PB? when I see that, I think peanut butter....

I had my procedure on May 7th. I had my follow up on the 15th and my doctor said I could start eating! I was so glad to be off liquids and protein shakes. I have had chicken, hot dogs, corn, eggs, sausage, bacon, fish and seafood type food. All in much smaller amounts, but I have had no problems so far. I don't think you have to stress out, as long as you have the smaller amounts.

I lost 7 lbs, then gained 5 lbs. I was really nervous, but I have lost that 5 lbs back again. I got both the band and plication, so I will see what happens at the appt next week. I was really apprehensive about getting this done - I read about people's recoveries with them being sick, lots of nausea and other scary experiences. I didn't have any of that, thank goodness. The first couple days were the worst, but that was it for me. Even then, only those two days were the only days I took some pain meds. I had the procedure and went home the same afternoon on a Monday and was out of work for the rest of the week. It seemed that all I wanted to do was sleep Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday that had passed. The gas was not fun, but that passed as well. I am just waiting now to be able to go back to Curves to I can start exercising again. I almost had the gastric sleeve and am glad I didn't.

Good luck to everyone having their surgeries next week. I must admit, I was much more anxious, nervous, and hesitant about this than other appear to be. I have my first regular appt on the 5th for a "fill", but I am losing weight and not too hungry - is a fill still needed? This is all very new to me... I must also say thank you to everyone here for your support - it has been so nice to listen, ask questions and be able to see that others have the same questions, concerns and frustrations. I appreciate all of you! Melinda, you especially have been great!!

I have found that I experience "lack of bathroom activity", which I never had a problem with before. I now go every 2 or 3 days and that is disturbing - is that normal? There are so many uncertain things for me right now, I wonder if I made the right decision doing this....

I am really nervous. I am not eating that much, but have gained 5 pounds in the last week. Am I doing something terribly wrong? I'm not eating bad stuff - carbs, pasta, rice or anything. I have sausage or eggs for breakfast. Tuna, turkey, chicken salad for lunch or dinner. If I have a late breakfast, I won't be hungry for lunch so I'll have the salad for dinner. This weight gain has me worried. Any advice?