susansilver

Hi all,

Some of you may remember me from last year. I was banded in May 2007, did really well for a while and then....:thumbup:

Truthfully, I was having a very difficult time in my life and realize that I was unable to let food go as my comfort/stress reliever, so I learned to eat around the band.

It has been about 6 weeks since I started to get my life back on track and realized that I am worth all the attention and money spent on myself. I started therapy and finally went to TLBC last night for a fill. I will email them to start going to support groups, boot camp, whatever I can make use of.

My challenge now is that I had MAJOR dental surgery 3 weeks ago and am unable to chew food properly - it's like being on the full fluids diet again! Except without this fill, I could eat lots of unhealty foods like ice cream and mashed potatoes. By July, I should be able to chew again.

I also realized that one of the major obstacles I had to tackle was coming back on here. I have been feeling so defeated and ashamed of myself that I did not want to show my "face" on here. But here I am, facing another of my fears so that I can accomplish what I know I can do.

So it's baby steps for now.

Just wanted to say that I loved meeting and visiting with you all last night. Glad I got the food and drink in last night, 'cause I got a fill today! Loved that shrimp!!!

The clinic is open on Saturdays??

I am a downtowner also, so we sill let lisa in toronto get her butt down here!

Green, it was so great to meet you! Now I know that not only are you smart and funny, you are beautiful too! Let's get together again soon!

Lisa - I am trying hard not be jealous of your weight loss and the fact that "nothing fits"!!!!

Can't wait to meet you and Green!!! And Peaches and the Yodas and everyone!!!

Hi guys,

YES! I will be there tonight and can't wait to meet you all. It has been adventurous to say the least in the last couple of weeks since I have been on the board. I got my fill but in a few days it got too tight. I tried and tried to stick with it, but I was hardly able to eat, PBing almost every meal. The morning that I work up (last friday) and could barely swallow my saliva, I called and got in for a defill. Wow - what a difference - sweet spot? Might just be.

I ran into Jill that Friday and she told me about the boot camps she will be running in January - I told her that is exactly what I need. She told me to make an appt with her. I went back to my office, emailed her and she said why wait? I will start you on boot camp right away! I went in to see her this Wednesday and she was AMAZING!!! So supportive, gave me some good tips to deal with my hectic lifestyle right now and weighed me in. Since my schedule is so crazy, instaed of making an appt for next week, she said just to call her and she will fit me in. Fabulous support! I feel better all ready and am losing weight again!!!! I know that I can do this know - it seems like she was a very important piece of the puzzle that was missing for me.

Anyways - so looking forward to tonight - to seeing all of you wonderful people. Bringing my non banded husband along- you will see that he does not require a band). Are you guys getting dressed up??

Susan

Congrats Lizzie and LindyLoo! I also had my surgery in May with Dr. Yau and adore him. Remember to follow the clinic's instructions and be patient with the process. It takes some time to get it - but it is well worth it!

What you are feeling is very, very normal. For most of us here, food has been our best friend and worst enemy. It is scary and sad to say goodbye. Recently I went through a very stressful time at work and completely lost track of being a bandster. I could actually say out loud that I wanted and needed the food and was SO frustrated that I could not eat exactly what I wanted. I cannnot tell you how many times I was sick in the last couple of months trying desperately to eat too much or the wrong things. Thanks goodness for the band because I only gained 8 lbs and not 80!

I know now that I need a little more psychological support and I am looking for that from my clinic and fellow bandsters. I may even try some therapy.

Don't be scared off - what you are doing is giving yourself the best gift in the world. Holidays will come and go, but you may not be here for future ones if you won't take control of your health now. Understand and embrace your sadness and depression and then you will be ready to let it go for a more positive outlook.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Susan

Congratulations Donna! What a momentus occasion. Your post is full of good advice and what really sticks with me is reaching out for help when needed, going to support meetings and events and most of all good restriction! I had my 4th fill the other day and only now can see that I was not at my sweet spot previously. I would eat to fill, but would mostly feel hunger about 1 hour later. Now I am finding that I can go 3+ hours without hunger and my portions are so much smaller.

Congratulations again and thank you for your words of wisdom.

Susan

Thanks again to you all. I had my fill yesterday and am delighted to report that my portions are back to bandster size again! I had one small slip today, when without really thinking, I took a lolipop from the halloween leftovers in my office. Sugar is the enemy. Once you start on it you can't stop - at least for me. I have to detox from it completely so I don't have the cravings. Other than that, I feel good and am excited to be in the mindset of anything is possible - including getting to goal! I even updated my ticker.

Yes, we all need to support each other and even though I don't have as much time to be on the forum, I will do my best to support all of you guys as well!

Susan

I hardly know what to say because I am crying so hard. I am so overwhelmed by all your responses. After I posted, I got so scared again and almost called a dozen times to cancel my fill. But...I went today and did get it.

I am fortunate that my work situation which was causing me all the stress finally worked out at the end of last week. I am happy to report that I ended up receving a promotion and nice compensation increase as well. All after I was not sure that I would even have a job anymore!

When I walked into TLBC today, I was so nervous. I was so ASHAMED. But everyone was so nice and supportive, understanding and empathatic. I feel so much better that I went and will not let myself get to this place of shame again. I have learned something very valuable, and that is that I MUST deal with my emotional reactions to stress - i.s. eating. It is time to really do some serious work on myself and I am determined to do it - otherwise this will continue to happen again and again.

Thank you everyone, I am back on track and here to stay!

With love,

Susan

It's been ages since I posted here because I am so far off base it's scary. It's almost as if I am pretending I am not banded! I havebenn going through a great deal of turmoil and work and some with my daughter, since August and it is since then that I have not done anything to lose weight. In fact I have gained about 8 lbs because I eat tons of junk food and whatever goes down easy. I am also afraid I have streetched my pouch. For you newbies - this is what is meant by eating around the band!

I am so ashamed of myself. Here I spent a fortune to purchase this device to help me lose weight and I have done nothing about it. I feel like I have lost all motivation and do not even exercise 10 minutes a day!

I have stayed away from here because I am terrible showing how weak I am and asking for help. I finally called Nancy at TLBC and scheduled a fill for next week, but I know from experience a fill a lone will not do anything.

Any suggestions?

Perhpas you just need another fill?

Thanks all - I feel better that this is "normal". Things should resolve themselves at work within a couple of weeks, meantime, I will try to compartmentalize - the weekend is coming up, no work and relax!

I agree completely. I can't stand going over to their house. Just walking in the door makes me crazy. I realize I am a dog person more than a kid person but I usually enjoy my friend's kids. I LOVE buying toys, dresses, purses, etc. for the kids. I LOVE playing on the floor with them, teaching them to wiggle their noses and all the other important skills in life. But those kids... AAAAHHHH!

Yes, teach kids manners so the adults around them don't want to run off and cut their own wrists just for a break from the screaming and wall climbing.

Did I mention I'm a dog person? Heh...

I am a dog person too! I have a Japanese Chin! I cannot stand bad manners on kids - they are not born that way - they need to be directed to learn what is appropriate. I blame the parents.

This is fascinating. WasaBubble butt - can you explain the physiology around the band tightening at times of stress?

Stress can do a LOT with a band. A WHOLE lot.

I know one gal that has a gazillion kids, all boys. She can't eat dinner wtih them. The "boy" behaviors stress her out to the point that she has to go in the living room and eat or she can't get anything down.

Of course, teaching the boys a few manners might go a long way but what do I know? I'm a non parent.

I am a parent and I say teach the kids some manners!

Thanks

I was informed of some distressing news at work yesterday and it has been on my mind alot. Since then, I have hardly been able to eat. Last night had about 1/2 c of salad and then PBed my Pasta (which I normally don;t have trouble eating).

This morning could not eat at all and even Water was gurgling going down. I tried a couple of nuts that keep in my desk and could only manage 2-3. I am now having some Soup for sustenance and it is gurgling as well.

I have heard that stress can cause the band to tighten. Has anyone experienced this and will it loosen again?

Thanks

Yeah Mandi! 20 little suckers to go!!!! You can do it for sure. Congrats.

Glad you are doing so well!

I was exactly the same way after my first fill and yes - it is because you are not eating properly. You must slow down in between bites and CHEW CHEW CHEW!!! I remember thinking at the time that I was crazy for having this surgry and then I learned to eat like a bandster. Have now had my 3rd fill and hardly ever get sick unless I FORGET TO EAT PROPERLY!

Go for your fill but make sure you have learned from the first one and good luck!

I am already 47 years old and wish that I had the band 15 years earlier! I personally would not waste any more time hoping and wishing for the government to pay for my surgery. I am very glad I did it, paid for it and can get on with the business of regaining my health and quality of life.

Susan,

How do you do the weight ticker that you have going? I like it...

Go to Tickerfactory.com and you can easily create one and then it is very easy to update.

thanks a lot Cashley

But rule # 1 says "eat only 3 meals a day"

I always thought eating even smaller quantaties but (more meals) is even better.

Like eating 5 small meals. Doesn't this work with the band?

Yes Magic it does. Not everyone agrees with the 3 meals a day rule. My clinic wants you to eat 5 or 6 small meals, each with Protein. That is to get your metabolism going and working all through the day. It is also to avoid major hunger. I find that I am hungry about 2 hours after my meals so I need a small snack to keep going. If I am too hungry I tend to make poor choices.

Sounds like you really have gotten it now - good luck! You can do it!

Love the pic Dan made!

Hi Leslie - Hope you don't mind that I cut and paste my response to one of our friends above who is in the sam situation as you: Welcome to Bandster Hell!

When you are first banded you have NO restriction. Although some people do feel a little bit, it is usually from the swelling due to surgery. If you are like me and recover well from surgery then you will definitely feel hungry because you are taking in very little food at this point - however....it is very important to follow your post op diet because it is allowing your stomach to heal and adhesions to form to keep your band in place and avoid slippage down the line.

Drink as much Water as you can to help fill you up and add lots of Protein powder to your mushies - that will help to keep you feeling full.

I had my first fill 6 weeks after surgery and although I had some restriction, it was not enough - most people need 3-4 fills and I have had 3 so far and feel pretty good. I am losing the requisite 1-2 lbs per week. Not speedy, but safe and those pounds are gone forever.

Remeber that the band is a tool (imagine a $17K tool on the shelf in home depot)! It is not a magic cure and you still have to work it.

Hang in there - it WILL get better.