rharriet62

Sounds like it's time for a fill!!!

Yes. I am. I have been banded almost 4 years. In Dec, I started having problems with irritation around my band which was causing acid reflux. I never had any of these problems before! Well, I've been unfilled, slowly filled, slightly unfilled, and now I am good during the day (for the most part) but almost every night, I have to take a Zantac. I even do the no eating 2 hours before bed and no drinking either...pretty consistently and feels a little acidy at night. But, for now the Zantac takes care of it, so that's what I'm doing.

I can totally relate! I have had my band 3.5 years. I do the fill/unfill ritual often now since December. Then, I was really sick with acid reflux, etc., and got unfilled. Slowly went back up and was too tight again. I think with fluid retention during TOM, I swell and sometimes that is enough to irritate my band until I have to be unfilled. Of course, then, the other 3 weeks of the month I'm not as tight and can eat a lot on somedays. It's a bummer!

It's like the old song...The leg bone's connected to the thigh bone." HAHA. It's all connected. Like, if I get stuck or am too full, my nose is runny. My doc calls it brackish water, but I say it's SLIME. Your body is making more mucous and digestive fluids to pass foods thru. Are you too tight? keep an eye on it.

If I were you, I'd go to a Fill Center or some other lapband doc and find out how much you really have in your band. It sounds to me like you are too tight. When I get too tight, I am awakened in the night just as you stated. No amount of Prilosec or Zantac or anything will help until I get an unfill. I didn't see where you lived, but I have to drive 5 hours to my doc cuz I live in the sticks. Even if you have to travel, you NEED to go to a lapband doc and get this evaluated. You can't just leave it to feeling so terrible!!! No way!!! Also, I am also over 3 years out from my surgery. I have really had to work it to lose. I even got a body bugg and it has really helped me because I was eating more than I really thought and not burning as much as I thought. So, I am a big advocate of them. You could log your food and be sure to exercise. It does help to burn those extra cals. However, the first thing is to get to a doc or fillcentersusa (I think it is called) and get this evaluated ASAP!!! Let us know what happens!! I hope you get evaluated SOON.

I am also tall, 5'8. I've been lifting consistently for 4 years now and I lift heavy. You will NOT bulk up. you will get defined and tightened but you won't grow big because you do not have the testosterone in your body as a woman. You will be so happy tho, because you will go...wow...I have shoulders, I have collar bones, my legs are looking good and the booty is lifting! Yeah. Lift away, baby. It's the best!

WOW. Yeah...first let me say...YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL..in both pix. I can only imagine now that you are feeling better about yourself and that is probably bursting out of your aura! You go! It's SO hard for people to accept change. Like you, I was the fat sister FOREVER. How safe is that to know that NO MATTER what, the others all have it on you in one area: SHE'S THE FAT ONE. Well, guess what? Not anymore!!! My older sister was always the thin and beautiful one. She is very threatened now and is always on Atkins, rides her bike 20 miles a day now, and is determined to be skinnier than I am no matter what. It is a huge threat to her. My other sis is better but mentions from time to time and I used to give her clothes that I was too fat for and now she's getting clothes that are way too big for me! It's a weird dynamic. I never bring up weight...they always do. It is hard for families because when you change, they are forced to change. Even if it's just their role they created for themselves!!! Grin and bear it? :blushing:

I'm always cold, too. What is your iron level? I have low iron and it's been going down every year since I got my band (nearly 4 years now). I am even on iron supplements and I still can't get it to go up to a decent level. In fact, now my docs are all working on this issue. Anyway, being cold is a symptom of low iron. Just wondering if that could be an issue for you.

I personally like the wristband. I carry it with me, especially at the gym. I do not leave the gym until it says I have burned at least 750 calories during a workout. This just helps me surpass my cal burn every day. I also like it because I can glance at it and think...wow...I need to move! I need to walk the dog or clean the glass doors, or do SOMETHING to get a burn going! So, I love it for that. I wear mine 24/7. You don't have to, but why not? That's why I got it! I have had people ask what it is and I just tell them...like you see on Biggest Loser. Most people are SO interested and want one!!! I think the best deal is on 24 Hour Fitness. I don't think buying a used on on ebay is a good deal because you DO want the online subscription. You get it 3 mos with a purchase and get 2 coaching sessions, which I found helpful. At the end of 3 mos I renewed my online subscription. It lets you set your goals, log your food, etc.,and so it's more than support. It actually allows you to USE the Bugg in the ways that DO help you lose. You will LOVE your bugg!!! I'm SO glad I got mine. It really got me losing again!!!

I would do it again x 100!!! You bet! To stop that cycle of gain-lose! To stop feeling like failure about my weight! YES! I am a slow loser. I've been banded nearly 4 years and so I can relate to the frustration of slow loss; however, thank God because my head needs time to adjust and I am SO confident now that it's not coming back on me!!! What a relief that is! Last year, I only lost about 25 lbs because I was too tight and had issues because of that. But, it's all good now and I'm headed back down the scale!! YAHOO! Just keep plugging away! Good luck!

Oh yeah! I have felt that a way during a few times. Right now, I'm feeling great, so I can understand why it's so weird to feel worse! Like, I was sure my gut was getting bigger; it was the rest of me shrinking and all I could focus on was my stomach sticking out. It still is...I need some PS to get rid of it. BUT, I think it's a normal progression thru the process. You will adjust and it will get better. Your weight loss is amazing. Good for you! It's hard at times. Give yourself time and cut yourself some slack. It will get better!!!

Do you need a fill? At 2 CC I can eat all day in my 4cc band. Change up everything. That's what I do when I hit a plateau. Change your exercise. Your body is used to walking and so try some jogging intervals, go to the elliptical, ride bikes outside, or go to a kickboxing class or something. In addition, change the foods you are eating. Do you constantly increase your weights? Are you sweating like a dog when you exercise or is it a friendly walk? Frankly, I thought I was a slow loser. I was exercising about 20 hours a week and eating well and didn't lose crap (25 lbs all of last year). SO, I got a body bugg and found out that all my exercise wasn't burning as much as I thought and I was eating more than I thought. Since Jan 8 when I got the bugg, I've lost about 25 lbs!!! It really helped me. SO, I suggest you log your food ... complete with fat/protein./cals and really see where you are.

I also prefer mornings because exercise usually has the effect of decreasing your appetite, it starts up your metabolism and you get the lasting burn effect all day if you lift and do cardio. However, having said that, MOST experts I've read say the best time is WHEN IT WORKS FOR YOU and you can do it consistantly. If I put it off until evening, I just find too many reasons to not exercise, but if it works for you to work out after work, then do it. I think Nike said it best! Just DO IT! HAHA.

I try not to take anything in the mornings because I'm tight in the AM and it just feels stuck for a long time. Is that the feeling you are having or is it more like acid reflux because the pills are sitting there? I'd have a little something to eat if you can and see if that helps.

Lawchick, yeah, totally NORMAL! I was a school counselor in the perfect job. I had surgery and lost about 70 lbs and suddenly I was thinking...WHY the HELL am I putting up with the crap with administrators who don't value what I do? Of course, I loved the teachers and kids, but it hit me that I was not being valued and I was doing a yeoman's service. So, I actually quit the schools (having been a teacher/counselor for nearly 20 years!), went into private practice PART-TIME and am considering writing among other interests. The deal with part-time is that I committed time to work out and care for myself until I get all the weight off I want to get off and then I'm going to re-evaluate and see what I want to do. I think EVERYTHING changes. I've gone thru times when I've thought...my husband is great, but is THIS really for me? GIVE IT TIME. I go thru these thoughts & re-eval my life all the time now because my fat isn't an excuse for why I HAVE to do X, Y, or Z. Give it a YEAR. You can always do a different kind of law then if you want to!

I also tend to get really tight after an especially brutal workout.

I did Atkins and lost about 40 lbs and then started gaining back AGAIN. I was in the pits. Then, found out my husband cheated on me with my best friend who was also my boss. Yeah. I felt SO terrible about myself and I was SO desperate that I went for a consult within a month of hearing that news. I decided that I had to feel better about me ASAP and it's been the BEST thing that ever happened to me!!! I even worked things out with my husband but got a new job and new best friend.

Yeah, it's hard, isn't it? I'm not really close to my goal, but I'm a 16-18 now and was a 34-36. I am getting used to thinking of buying clothes smaller now (that took a while!) but lately, I've been getting compliments about how I look and it's not very comforting! I cringe, frankly. The other night, I'll bet 4-6 different people came up to me to purposely say how great and "gorgeous" I looked when we were out for dinner. That sort of attention is really weird for me. I used to be noticed because I was loud, funny, witty, and drinking. Now, I'm actually pretty quiet, softer, and not drinking! I've changed a lot and so far (luckily) my husband has been keeping up with it and being supportive. But, I'm definitely not the party girl I used to be! I think it takes a while to adjust to a new body that is constantly changing, people's reactions, and all the other elements of WLS. So, I understand how you feel and I AM a therapist!!! It's hard to adjust!!!

Interesting thought! For me, I have no idea what I will look or feel like at any size now because I have always been really fat. I am just moving from 18s into 16s and that is about the most exciting think that has happened to me ever! I have a lot more to lose so have no idea what size I will be then! Good luck!

I agree with the answers above! So, I will just add my 2 cents. I have been banded 3.5 years and got the Bugg in Jan. Since then, I've lost about 25 lbs! That is more than I lost all of last YEAR! It REALLY helps me focus on on energy in and out to get weight loss. If you have the money...BUY ONE TODAY! Otherwise, save your money and get one ASAP. I love it. AND, it's worth it to get the online subscription and keep it going. I just extended mine.

I am not at my goal yet, but have a ton of loose skin. I will definitely need surgery and am working hard to get to goal so I can get it off! I have worked out steadily for 4 years now...cardio and lifting. Of course, with as much weight as I have to lose, it is not surprising that I have loose skin.

Ok, for some reason, this is cracking me up! It doesn't take much... lol. Today, I weighed myself and I weigh what it says I weigh on my driver's license! Where that number of 230 came from is beyond me! I obviously weighed that once, but don't remember when. It probably flew by on the way up to 250, 280, 300. But, I had to laugh because this is what I should look like at that weight. Too bad the photo is still me at my top weight! Clerks at stores stare at it and always comment on if it's really me! HAHA. Just a chuckle for you!

One week? You can do that standing on your head! HAHA. In Dec. I was very irritated and my doc took my fluid out for 30 days! After that month off, she started filling me slowly. It took 4 fills an another THREE MONTHS to get restriction. SO, I was basically w/o my band for 4 months! I was scared to death! However, I really counted calories. In fact, to help me out, I bought a Body Bugg and I think it's the BEST for seeing how you can actually balance activity and cals and do OK. I will say, there were days I "white knuckled" it and overate and other days I did great. The best part is that I felt great and once I got restriction and used my body bugg, I've lost another 20 lbs! SO, hang in there. Have a few splurge meals (I ate a hamburger with a bun...something I could not do for over 3 years!). Then, get back at it with the next meal. You will do fine!!!

I was not 60 but was rather close at over 55. I'm now 35! Who would have guessed. AND, I'm still losing; in fact, I'm losing faster now than I ever have! DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!!! It's great to get that weight off!! So glad I did!!!

Ok, after a seriously bad flashback of MY life...I was your daughter. I was fat from the time I was 4 or 5 and when I was 9 or 10, I was on the journey to diet land. Yep...pills, TOPS, WW, 1200 doctor directed diets...you name it. I lost some weight and got fatter and then spent my whole life fat. Anyway, PLEASE make it a family deal where EVERYONE eats healthfully. I used to have to be the only one in the family who had to eat special food and it was SO hard. Take her out for FUN (not exercise)...ride bikes, play basketball, do activities that are fun. You can join with her and make it fun. I just had to say this! I felt the way it was handled in my family really damaged my self esteem. Hang in there!