maryan1

MaryV thanks for the response. I'm having a heck of a time fighting this, it has now developed into pneumonia. Everytime I think I'm ok to eat something 'real' meaning solid, it gets stuck. So I'm just staying mushie for now. Hoping to recover soon!

I have had my band for 2 years. I've been in the green zone for about 6 months, doing fine still slowly losing. Two weeks ago I got an upper respiratory infection and was put on mega antibiotics. I coughed for a week straight. During that time anything I ate either wouldn't go down or came back up. Now that I'm starting to feel better, I can eat a little,but anything even close to a cup doesn't stay down. I thought that all the coughing could have inflamed around the band and was waiting to call the doctor. But now I am another week out and I still can't eat enough. I'm thinking I will wait a little longer to see how it goes.(doctor is a 2 hour drive) Any thoughts? I'm not in any pain, band doesn't feel like it slipped or anything......

Thank you everyone for your feedback. I don't know why I didn't think of going back to a 3 day liquid diet. For some reason, I just kept trying to eat. I'm doing that now. I never thought a cough would cause so much residual trouble. It's good to know that I am not the only one who had this happen. I appreciate all your comments. From now on though, I will have a little bit of panic when I get a cold!

I am also at a stand still. I exercise 2-3 times a week, do cardio another 2 days and eat small healthy portions. I lost 55 lbs. in the first 6 months after surgery, I haven't lost anything since, and am coming up on my one year anniversary of getting banded. What is going on? I figure my body was getting adjusted to the loss. but this is going on for too long. I know I'm not in the green zone yet, but that didn't matter when I lost the first 50 lbs. Would like to get moving down on the scale again, but don't know how to jump start it. Suggestions?

Take some time to yourself and really think about what your goals are. Health? Weight loss? Exercise? I find if I start one thing at a time, then add the next in after you are comfortable with the first one. For example, start with looking at food as a survival need, eat only what you need to keep you going, no more. Write down everything you eat. Drink 8 glasses of water a day. You can do this even before you see the doctor. After you have mastered the basic eating routine add in exercise. Start slow, walking a few times a week. Make it a must do routine. Increase slowly, as you start to feel better and lighter, you'll be able to add in more exercises or more time. I personally hate to exercise, so I bike ride, do Zumba, swim or walk. It's a chore for me and will always feel that way, but I have to admit I feel better after I do it. The stress of the day seems to go away. Good luck and you'll be losing in no time!

I never had any problems with BM's before the surgery, so I was surprised when it happened after. I was banded last August and have had to take 2 colase (stool softener) every day. I also have to make sure I'm eating enough fruit to help it along. Just keep trying different combinations until you find what works for you. It is also known that traveling disrupts your 'schedule', so you'll probably be better once you get home.Good luck!

I was stuck in a plateau for about 4-5 weeks after a quick 45 pound loss. I tend to eat the same thing day after day if I'm losing, So I switched things up. Also, I think your body has to adjust to a big loss or change then can get kicked back into the losing mode, I just broke 50 lb loss! But had to re-evaluate and change what I was eating, I don't eat any carbs, except rice once a week.

I also take fiber daily, it really helps to stay feeling full and keeps you regular. I take the chewable tablets, generic brand.

The hardest thing that I have to keep remembering is not to drink while eating too. It's hard to stop 20 minutes before you eat and wait 20 minutes after you finish. I really have to remind myself, over and over....

Wow! What an accomplishment, congratulations! You look wonderful, you should be so proud.

The only thing my nutritionist said was, "sip! sip! sip!"

My shoulder hurt for about 2 weeks after banding. I mentioned it to my dr. .She said it should go away soon. She was correct, but, now if I eat too much, more than one cup of food, my shoulder hurts again. Dr. said the band is probably touching a nerve that carries the pain to my shoulder. Nothing I can do about it, but it is an indicator for me to pay attention to how much I'm eating! Which is exactly what I wanted the band to do for me!

Banded in August, one 1 cc fill.....not in green zone yet!

I had a funny/ not so funny experience with alcohol. I had 2 drinks of Grand Marnier on the rocks over a 3 hour period. When I got up to leave it hit me.....I can't remember the last time I felt so drunk......it obviously sat in my stomach, and didn't "filter through". Since then I tried a mixed drink and it seems to be ok. I'm sticking with the mixed drinks, without carbonation...

colase, liquid form works also!

Great job! That is quite the accomplishment! It is so impressive that you have lost so much. About the cravings, I was banded in August this year, and until this week all of the cravings went away with the surgery. Now I think it was my head set. I was so into losing quickly, I wouldn't stray from exactly what I was told to eat. Now that it's been 2 1/2 months, the reality and some boredom with the food, has returned. It takes will power not to eat what I'm not supposed to. So far Greek yogurt is taking the place of ice cream. I haven't had cravings for cookies yet. Don't know what I'll substitute for them!

I received my first fill last Thursday, only 1 cc in a 10cc band and the first fill. I'm losing well, but hungry after 2-3 hours. The fill itself didn't hurt that much, surgeon did it. Couldn't find the top of the port, fished around a little.Said it wasn't where it usually would be. I can feel it next to my belly button! Anyway, the fill is not painful, (no numbing used) and certainly not as bad as after surgery!

Good luck on your first day back at work. I too, was never cold, when I carried the extra weight. Now, as I am loosing, I get cold much more frequently, just like I was when I was thin! I think it's a great sign that I don't have the fat to insulate any more!Bring on the extra sweaters and gloves!

That is a WOW! Excellent job! Keep up the good work.

Great advice from the bandsters above.. I was craving chicken during those first 2 weeks if you can believe that! But I got through it following the guidelines and you will too!

Wow! 100 pounds in one year! What an amazing task.....you should be so very proud. Way to go!!!

After 10 days most were off.

Between 900-1100 calories a day seem to keep me losing. I'm not measuring precisely, just eyeballing it.

I had a reaction to the tape after a few days. Took off the steri-strips and it went away!

I, too, had second thoughts. I thought I was taking the easy way out. Then I thought, if I could loose 14 lbs. in 10 days of pre-op diet, why couldn't I loose the rest without the surgery? Well, I thought about it some more and realized I never stick to a diet for very long....end up cheating then saying, oh, forget it. I knew I needed more motivation and some drastic changes. So far, so good. I am so glad I went through with the surgery. It's tough the first few days, but gets easier quickly. This is the best thing I've done for myself in ages!