Amber_banded052312

i am finding this journey a lonely and emotional one. im a single mom with a less than helpful Baby daddy. i did this for myself and my son, but honestly could use a pep talk every now and then. i want to be there for other people in the long run.

I haven't posted in a while. Been struggling with emotional eating. I have however still been losing a little. I might have a leaky band, just don't know yet. We will measure again in January to see if the band is keeping the fluid. I have been off by 1cc the last two times she checked the fluid, so my band threshold might be 5.2cc I am praying that it was just a fluke. I really could use some girl time with some of my banded sisters.

It's been a week!! How did surgery go? How are you feeling?

I am with Kamisha on this. Have you been in to the office to get a fill? If you haven't in 6 months or so, I would say to make an appointment and have them measure what is in your band. It may be that you have had some "evaporation" (their word, not mine) and so you just need a little fill to take you back to that green zone.

Congrats! I have to admit, I am a bit jealous. I got banded 2 weeks after you and I have only lost 30 lbs. At times I feel defeated and often feel under motivated because of the lack of loss, but I do realize that we all will lose differently. I just keep telling myself that I will have that success story to tell one day. Heck, 30 lbs IS a success story so far!

I never had to deal with the other office other than the follow up visit and when I went there it was just a quick in and out. I didn't even see Dr. Hollis for the follow up it was his NP Beth. She was nice enough I guess. I guess I don't understand if you are approved with True Results, why you aren't having it done at their office in Houston opposed to Dr. Hollis's office down 45 South? If his office is closer to you, I might consider coming that just a bit further and dealing with the True Results staff instead. Dr. Hollis does surgeries 2 days a week at True Results, maybe this is why you are struggling to get an appointment to do it at his Baychoice Bariatrics office? You got approved for the surgery, I would call Cindy and ask if there is any way you can change doctors. I know Reilly is good. He did my best friend's surgery a year ago. The patient advocates are there to help you along the way. I had to meet Dr. Hollis before I could have the surgery. He did a sit down with about 8 other people and talked about the surgery and had a question and answer time and then you could talk to him one on one. But, other than that and surgery day, I haven't seen Dr. Hollis. I do have to say though, that he has a great demeanor and totally made me feel calm and reassured that everything was going to be fine. And it was. I hope that you can get this straightened out. This does certainly seem like a defeating ordeal. Let me know how it goes. Amber

Hi! I got banded at True Results. I just joined their forward circle program to help be a patient advocate and get things in the aftercare program moving and shaking. Feel free to contact me and I can get you information. I have chronicled my journey from the first free consultation to now and you are more than welcome to check it out www.justicesmom.blogspot.com .. under the diary of a fatty tab.

Congrats! Yes, walk walk walk. it doesn't have to be for a long time. just get in a few minutes then sit down, but do it as often as you can .. it will help with the gas in your belly. a heating pad on the shoulders helps too. if you have trouble walking, try hugging a pillow. for the sore throat ... try hot tea or broth.

WELCOME GLORIA!!! Congrats and I am thinking of you today! Kamisha - I had Dr. Hollis too! I love him! I wish there were more support meetings, but the next one is October 30th. I am working with the lady that is over the aftercare program trying to get more meetings in place. Once a month just isn't enough for me and I know there are more people that would love to come to meetings. I used to be a member of 24hr fitness, but I got to where I didn't want to go anymore. After surgery, I joined LA Fitness after encouragement from a friend that works there and he has been banded for 5 years now. I really enjoy going and the bonus is that my kid loves to go and play. So I don't feel like a bad mom for picking him up from daycare and then going to the gym and putting him in the kids club. He, on more than one occasion, has cried when I said we were going home instead of the gym! LOL silly kids! I got the KICK-OFF information for the diabetes walk this morning. Here it is: Thank you for RSVPing for the Houston Step Out Kick-Off Event! This is a reminder that it will be THIS Saturday, October 6th from 11:30am-1:00pm at Lucky’s Pub (please see parking info below). Children and adults are welcome! Please feel free to bring along your friends, family, coworkers as well as the rest of your Step Out team! This FREE event will get you pumped up and charged to go for the 2012 Houston & The Woodlands Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on Saturday, November 17th! In addition you will be able to: · Meet other team captains/participants & register for Step Out · Learn about ADA’s Mission and our Red Strider Program for people living with diabetes · Receive some online assistance with registering, navigating your Step Out Center and more! · Learn about some great ideas for recruiting team members and fundraising · Pick up Step Out brochures, posters and other materials to help pump up your team · Enjoy some food, fun and win some door prizes! *We will be giving away a pair of Rockets tickets as well as some other great door prizes! As far as the autism walk, it is 2012 Houston Walk Now for Autism Speaks Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Reliant Park West Lot. I'd love anyone and everyone to come out and walk!

i am not sure who you used .. but i went through True Results and they only put in a max of 1cc per fill. they can give up to 1cc or as little as .1cc .. depends on the way you are progressing .. hunger ... time it takes to eat .. what you are eating .. etc. i can tell you from experience that the rabbit approach to the green zone isn't the best. or it wasn't for me... i got too tight and had to have some taken out and then i felt defeated. i cried because i felt like i was going to fail .. it really is a mental, emotional and physical thing. we can't just depend on the band to work through our reasons why we got to the size we were and it can't just be up to the band to lose the weight for us.

I got banded at the end of May and I've lost 30lbs total since this weight loss journey started for me. I feel jealous sometimes that people are losing without having fills. i feel like a pin cushion since having had quite a few fills now. I know that everyone loses at their own pace and it really just depends, but this is why i reached out to get a buddy and to get more people together to be support for each other.

I would so love to be able to connect with you all. This gives me hope!! Sometimes we girlies just need other like minded "sisters" to help motivate and keep up on track and keep pushing forward. Thanks so much! I keep a blog on my weight loss journey ... http://justicesmom.blogspot.com/p/diary-of-fatty-my-journey.html Please feel free to read and comment. I would also love if yall would message me and join me on Facebook or we can share email addresses privately so that we can keep in touch more often. As far as the ladies that are in Houston, I really want to get together on a weekend or what not.. maybe at Memorial Park or something. I am doing the walk for Autism and also doing the walk for Diabetes. It would be awesome to see you come and walk with me for that! Let me know if yall want to get together! Power in numbers!

i "choked on the chicken" so i call it ... i felt the chicken push through the band and then i got really tight because of making the band and pouch angry ... they took out some Fluid because i couldnt eat and they wanted to give the pouch and band area time to calm down. ... all is fine now. everyone is different .. but id suggest doing liquids or sliders (yogurt, Jello, soup) to give your pouch time to calm down. it might be a combo of all of what has happened with you ... but it might have been too soon for the taco

you did it right welcome!

well, in 2007/2008 i lost 40lbs on my own with a trainer. i maxed out my credit card (1500) paying for training sessions, but i put in the work. I got pregnant with my miracle baby (since baby daddy put me through hell and back and it took a paternity test for him to believe that i wasn't a ***** or liar) and i gained back that 40lbs then lost it after having my son. my losses and emotional eating got me to where i am now and it took me a while to get to the point where i thought i needed help. this was years in the making. i didnt just wake up and decide to do this. i ballooned up to 355lbs and got diabetes and thought to myself... I DON'T WANT TO DIE. I have a son now and it isn't just about me. I lost my older sister when my son was 15 months and then my mom 3 weeks after my sister died. my mom got gestational diabetes with my younger sister and then the diabetes came back years later... the last 8 years of my mom's life was spent in and out of the hospital .. 4 of those years losing herself toe by toe and then finally a below the knee amputation. she was never the same again. she gave up. she was pissed that we let them take her toes, foot and ultimately her lower leg. she was so medicated that she didnt know. i don't wish that on anyone. if i didn't have my son, i think i wouldn't be here. i would have given up. my son is my strength to keep on. he really was the reason that i decided to do this. because i wanted to be able to run around with him and be here for and with him. losing his aunt and grandmother (while he doesn't remember then really) wasn't easy for him. he is more clingy and he can't stand to be away from me for fear of me not coming back. just weigh the pros and cons. personally, I DON'T WANT TO DIE. not right now. i have so much yet to do and diabetes and other comorbidities of being morbidly obese aren't going to be the reasons that i am not here with and for my son. I love Dr. Hollis. I have had such a positive experience with Cindy (the patient advocate) that I have no regrets. I may fuss and cuss and feel defeated at times, but it is my own fault. I am still, at the end of the day, an emotional eater. I get sad and i want something and i get it. it might just be an ice cream cone... but is that really good? i am my own worst critic and enemy sometimes. this lap-band, for me, is just a tool to help me relearn to eat and how to cope with my emotional eating problem. if i wanted to just lose weight and be skinny i would have had the bypass. you must put in the work. you will get discouraged, tired, exhausted, feel defeated, wonder why everyone else seems to be losing weight with their band and wonder what you are doing wrong ... i know because i've felt it all in the last 4 months. but, i can't and won't short change that i've gotten down 30lbs and it has stayed off. like i said before, i am here if you want to talk. i am not going to sugarcoat anything because i don't want people to sugarcoat this for me. if you want to read my blog where i chronicled my journey from surgery to now, it really is my feelings day per day ... i haven't edited it to sound good or reflect anyone's opinions or feelings but my own. www.justicesmom.blogspot.com pm me and ill give you my email address and i am more than willing to meet up and walk or talk before or after your surgery. the biggest thing i lack is support. that is why i came here and that is why i go to the support meetings every month. i believe in you and i know that you can and will do great! (((hugs)))

i drink either hot tea or coffee first then do a protein shake in the am. I am on my idk fill ... but at 6cc they tell me ... so mornings i dont bother trying to get solid food down. you could do hot tea and then try small bites of your eggs.. you just have to give your band a little bit to ease up .. and dont rush it. (((hugs)))

Congrats and Good Luck! You'll do fine! (((hugs)))

the cpap machine is for you to use when you are at home. just think about it.. you are still on medicine that makes you sleepy .. if no one is right next to you to make sure you are breathing .. what happens if you dont breathe. i found the info... monitor medical is the name of the company they had call me... they lady there was really nice and helped me .. im sure they will refer you to them too ... their number is 281-970-5550 ... call your patient advocate first thing in the morning... mine was cindy .. she was really informative and helpful and made this set back not a stress for me.

34 single Mom .. banded 5/23/12... houston,tx

stay on top of it! call again in the morning. then call again. i think you might get the same place they sent me! let me know! i am heading home.. will post info when i find it!

i dont know if True Results will do it .. they made sure i had my machine, but didnt use it now that i think about it. it was more so they knew i would have it at home. man.. i am struggling for the name of the place .. it is down 290 .. off 1960 ... second light .. on the right after the chase bank i believe. i will look for the name and number when i get home! i am not sure you can get the machine this weekend and have it for monday. .. what else did they tell you?

you can rent the machine from a place off 1960 .. it wasn't that much either. i just went there and got fitted with a mask and a machine. it was $50 a month and i kept the machine 1 month! i might go back and get it again because im sure the sleep apnea didn't just go away after the surgery. the reason for the machine is because you will be on pain meds and they dont want you to NOT breathe. I get it. Don't get discouraged. I can't remember the name of the place, but if you want me to look, i know i still have some of that paper work at home.

if you are on pain meds, then you probably will just be tired. my dr told me to get up every 2 hours or so and walk. so my sister made sure that i did. what are you feeling? are you drinking anything? i spent most of my time either laying on the couch propped up with pillows or in a chair with a pillow in front of me. plus walking to help get that gas out of there.

Almost there! Congrats! I see you went through True Results! I had Dr. Hollis. My bestie had Reilly back in October 2011. You will do great! Message me any time! I hope to see you at a aftercare support meeting. Our next one is October 29th at True Results!

1. what was YOUR pre-op diet/fast like? one doc here does 10 days, one does only 3 days! i'm curious as to WHAT the pre-op diet looks like also I was so geared up for the surgery to happen that I was willing it to happen. I started the pre-op diet the day after my free consultation. So, I was on/off for two weeks and then steady for 2 weeks leading up to the surgery. The "norm" for my doctor is 2 weeks prior to surgery to be on this diet and lose at least 10 lbs. I lost 10 then gained 5 because I stopped, then lost another 7lbs so total preop loss was only 12lbs, but had i done it to the T ... I would have lost more. I am my own worst enemy with following diets. 2. how long were you on liquids, softs, etc post-op? .I too was like the previous poster where it was two days of Protein shakes/clear fluids and then two weeks of liquids (broths, tea, Protein shakes .. what i call the easy stuff) then 1 week of mushy foods (oatmeal, mashed potatoes, yogurt, Jello ... what i call sliders) and then easing in to soft foods. I didn't exactly follow the diet, as I was hungry so I had those campbell Soup at hand once a day 1 1/2 weeks post op. I drank the protein shakes, but it took me a while to find the one that wouldn't make me loathe drinking it and wouldn't make me gag. I am happy with muscle milk or premium protein shakes. 3. do you eat any of the 'regular' foods you ate pre-op or have you overhauled your entire diet? there are truly some things that i can deal with eating very limited portions of, no problem, and even eating just a couple times a year, but a couple of things specifically that i can't imagine having to give up completely. I have cut back on my Dr. Pepper habit. I was a large DP girl. Me and McDonalds were on a first name basis. They knew when I pulled up I was getting a large DP and 2 sausage Breakfast tacos. Now, I can only eat one, and that is eating the inside, not the tortilla. Tortilla is now my foe. I used to be able to eat chicken, but now at 6cc I am unable to eat it successfully because it is just too dry and gets stuck. I haven't tried a hamburger. It scares me since I am to the point now where one of those Chobani Greek yogurt cups fills me up. I used to go to my favorite mexican restaurant and get the #1 and chips and queso. Now that I have braved eating out, I can go and eat a few chips with queso and 1 taco (inside of taco mostly). It is amazing to see all the food you used to eat and how you can't even eat 1/4 of that now! I love it though! 4. how bad will my hair get, really? my hair is one of my very best features (really...i've been a hair model in the past!) and i don't want to lose it all or get so thin that i have to shave it or something! I really think the hair loss thing is based on nutrition. I take Biotin on and off, but I haven't noticed a significant loss in hair volume or weight. I just recently cut my below the shoulders hair to a cute bob and went blondish so I am not a good example since my hair is healthier since getting trimmed up twice now since surgery and I don't notice hair loss like I did with longer hair since I don't have to fuss with it as much. 5. what AREN'T they telling me? i've seen the burp issues, the throwing up (from my friend), the over-fill problems, and an incisional infection. but what else, do i have to worry about (gall stones not an issue, lost that years ago)... I am able to burp like a champ. Not all the time, but my body seems to burp on its own. If I don't burp, I fart. Just giving it to you real. I lost the ability to regurgitate, meaning I really can't throw up anymore. I spit up thick spit. Sometimes I would consider it slime-ing but no food comes back up. Mostly this is due to my eating too fast or drinking while eating and then the pressure pushes the liquid up like a burp. I didn't have incision problems. Honestly, the one thing that they didn't prepare me for was the hunger. It is purely mental. Before I got my first fill, I called them Stomach #1 and Stomach #2. # 2 being below the band, was grumbling and seemingly hungry. #1 wasn't. I thought I was starving. I thought OMG what did I do and how in the world am I supposed to function on just a protein shake when I could down 2 breakfast tacos for breakfast easy! Mind over matter. Take it slow. Reach out to others. Go to a support meeting. You ARE NOT alone. ASK ASK ASK and if you don't get an answer, ask again. Don't give up and most of all, believe in yourself! I agree with the person above. The hardest part is retraining yourself to eat. It is like learning to eat all over again. My biggest struggle is still that I can hear my mom in my head saying "there are kids in africa that are starving. don't get up from the table until you eat everything on that plate" .. solution .. eat from a smaller plate. i eat from my son's kiddie plates now. he thinks it is cool that we use the same dishes now anyway. i haven't gotten the measuring down yet, but it will be helpful to measure your food until you get a good sense of what 4oz of food looks like, because that is essentially what they want you to be eating 3 times a day with no Snacks. Find the protein shake that falls within guidelines and that you like, because otherwise you will hate those things. Take your multi-vitamin. Drink plenty of Water. For some reason I don't get thirsty for water or crystal light, so I didn't drink much, but would be hungry, so I have learned to drink 8-16oz of water before the meal and BAM I really was just thirsty not hungry. Best advice I can give you ... Take it slow. Everyone will experience this journey differently. You CAN do this! Be honest in your answers to the questions they ask you about your eating habits between follow up visits. Voice your concerns to the Nurse Practitioner and ask ask ask. This is your body, your band, your journey. My biggest lesson so far. I needed to own up to my feelings/emotions. I need to stop swallowing my hurt/angst/stress figuratively and physically. Message me any time you want! Good luck and congrats on making the decision to take the step to a new you!