aubrie

I'm 5'4" and currrently weigh 187. That puts me in a size 16 jeans. I have a small waist for my size, so I can get into a 14 skirt. I wear a large or extra large shirt. My goal is to weigh 140. By past experience, that would put me comfortably in a size 10 or 12.

I've only PBd twice in 9 months. Both times it was more that something got stuck than overeating. If I overeat, my stomach hurts BAD. And it doesn't go away for hours. I also get very intense and painful gas. So I pay for it. So for me, a PB isn't always the sign I have overeaten.

APPEAL!!!! It took me 11 months to get approval. DON"T give up. I had to get letters of support from my OB/GYN, rhuemetologist, my PCP, and my cardiologist before they decided to pay for it, not to mention the hoops I danced through like you did. Just be persistant. The insurance companies are counting on the fact that you will give up. I think they just want to see how bad YOU want it...... bastards...., but play the game. You'll win in the end.

I eat Kielbasa fairly often and don't have a problem with the casing. I do however have to take TINY bites.

Remember too, that hormones are stored in body fat. As you rapidly lose your body fat, your hormone levels are changing just as dramatically, and since you continue to lose, you can't quite seem to keep up and level off, so hormone levels are all over the map. This will trigger anxiety, depression, mood swings, frustration, not sleeping at night. I even think this has a little bit to do with many of us losing our hair. Not completely, but I think it aggravates the situation. I've even had to have my thyroid medication adjusted with the loss of weight. That throws off moods as well. Our chemistry is in constant flux.

I was banded November 19th of last year. On Christmas, which was what five weeks later? I was down 21 pounds. That was my fastest loss. I lost a lot more slowly after that......

I'm 9 months out today, and I'm delighted and happy to say that I have only PBd twice. I've been stuck probably a dozen times. That's the way it should be, an OCCASIONAL thing that happens...... If it happens regularly, that is not healthy. You risk having your band slip. You could become malnourished. It gets very inconvenient. It could lead to all out vomiting, which is dangerous, and BAD for your teeth. Remember..... this is all about your health.

I had this for a week or two after surgery and they slowly stopped. My surgeon said that was normal. After a month or so, mention it to your surgeon. It should go away.

I know this may sound extreme, but my friend has a similar problem. She has an old style of band, and her doctor is considering switching hers out with one of the newer models. He even got approval to do it from the manufacturer and they agreed to help with the cost. She'll have a port revision at the same time!!! She never like where it was placed to begin with. Her new doctor is a doll and is doing everything he can to help her. It's just a thought, but maybe something you can ask about?

Name............Lbs Lost........% of wgt lost.......BMI QatarPhil...........55......................19%................32.2 (39.6) Foofy................47....................17.5%...............36.4 Sades...............44.8..................19.5%..............33.7 Shalee04...........68.....................27.4.................30.0 Bandpal.............92.07..................32.1%...............31.8 (47 ) Skinny_Jill..........59.5...................26.8%..............30.8 Stephanie..........60.....................26%.................27.1 Hollyberries........113.....................31%.................36.2 linda.................52......................23%.................29.9 5 Abbisgood..........53.....................23%.................?? want2lose..........91.8...................32%................31 kandiceb............63.....................26%................27.6 Momto1plus1......75.8...................28.1%..............30.3 MollyBrown.........36.....................12.5%..............36.5 TxArcher............103...................25.75%.........52.8 to 39.2 Cindyg...............58.....................23%.................35 Close.................50.....................20%.................33.1 Tmusicmaker123..73.....................19%.................60.1 to 48.7 plump_princess....57.....................22%.................36 Mariegabrieleee....73.....................24%.................51.3 to 39.1 gabeekeeper.......101.....................30% ..................40.2 strangeratx........50......................21.7%.................31.9 Shortgal..............44.5...................20.5%.................32. 9 Robin_Bird............90.....................29.5%................32.7 Staysee..............70.....................20%................48.4 Hajohnson1..........49.8....................18.2%..............39.8 lindseyann2u........70......................?%.................? Cherlita...............44.......................20%...............65 to 57.5 BandChick64..........94.5.....................31.5%.............33.2 tyman311..............61.....................31%...............41 to 28 (so far) BarbBee................80......................26%.................37. 5 Huskerette............54..(i gained)..........22%...............30.5 Firebolt.................45.....................19%..................3 3.5 Rachel.................63........................72%................28 .3 Teresajo..............93........................36%................27. 3 Aubrie.................65........................58%................31 TOTAL..............2399.47 (Lets Keep this TOTAL on the list)

For me, I realized I had empty days. I ate because I was bored. I didn't challenge myself, I didn't do anything special just for me, I didn't belong to any groups or clubs. I was lonely and needed more in my life. I didn't see it at the time. Food was my friend and my entertainment. I love to cook. (A solitary enteratainment) It wasn't until I realized this that I became more successful and committed to my weight loss. I now go to the health club regularly. I have friends I go out with. I'm enjoying my life, and food just takes a backseat to what my life is evolving into. It's so liberating to finally put your finger on what caused your obesity.

The first thing I do in the morning is have a cup of hot coffee or tea. I wait about an hour before I eat, and I'm fine. If I eat right away, I can't gag it down. The warm liquid does the trick. Once my fill loosens up, I can eat anytime, but for the first few weeks after a fill, I have to have the warm liquid. I think it's wonderful you were able to lose without a fill. That is the optimal way to go. I went three months without one. there are a lot of people who can lose without a fill. I didn't have anything in my band at first, and I was able to lose very successfully, but it wore off after three months. Congratulation on your successful loss. No need to tinker with something that is working for you!!!!!!

I'm always a bit sore after a fill, and I bruise very easily, so I also sport a bruise the size of a quarter for a week or more sometimes. I've noticed that if my colon in full from constipation, my port smarts a bit then too. It's so wierd. It goes away immediately after elimination. If I work out to vigorously on my abs at the health club, it will be sore for days. It's just a fickle, tender spot.

the acid in the coffee may exacerbate the problem a bit, and upset your tummy. I agree you need something warm to soothe the belly. Some broth and herb tea with honey may be good. Do they have that in the mess? I just had gallbladder surgery last week after 8 1/2 months out. I was on clear liquids for 6 days, and they only thing that really made me feel better was the broth. If I ate the jello, I had to let it sit in my mouth until it completely melted. That might be an option as well. A good stong vegetable broth would at least give you some nutrients. Good luck sweetie. It's so hard to be sick when you're away from home, and espeicially in a remote area. I feel for you!!! Please notify the mess of your dilemma. I'm sure they would oblige you the broth.

Would you be willing to go to Victoria? There is a Center of Excellence for Bariatric surgery there at Citizens Medical Center. There is an entire wing of the hospital there devoted to bariatric surgery. I had mine done there and have no complaints what so ever. Dr. Craig Chang is my surgeon and my hero. He's wonderful and is CERTIFIED. Many doctors do bariatric surgery but are not certified in it. This hospital is also fully equipped and furnished with the bariatric patient in mind. Chairs, beds, gowns, pressure cuffs, etc. that actually FIT. The Center is incredible. If you can, run down there and take a tour. They are happy to do it. I highly recommend him, if you dont mind a little drive. I drive from Corpus Christi, and don't mind in the least to have top notch care and facilities. I'm doing great and have had minimal problems. Dr. Chang is very approachable and very caring.

I don't have a scientific base for what I'm about to say, but it holds true every time for me, and I have heard others on this board say the same thing.... It's been my experience that if we stick to the same routine and same diet, same foods, same calories, same exercises day in and day out, our body seems to settle in and get used to it. I've found that if I'm in a rut, about every 7 days or so, I change it up. Sometimes a liquid diet for a day. Or do an all protein day.. Or I consume considerably more healthy calories than normal (for me 900 to 1200). I bump it up to 1500 for a day, or add a good carb like a sweet potato or even a little sweet treat. Or I ride a bike or walk instead of my normal water aerobic routines. Almost every time, I will see a loss within two days. It's like our body gets used to HO HUM and needs a little variety. It's wierd, but it seems to work.

I'm 8 1/2 months out and I started losing my hair about a month and a half ago. So I had a delayed reaction. At first it didn't seem to bad, but got progressively worse. I do see some new growth, but want to speed up that process. My doctor recommended biotin. I got a super dose of 1000 mg and take it daily. I just started about a week or two ago and haven't seen an improvement yet, but the doctor said it would take about 4 weeks to slow it down. We'll see. From what I understand, it doesn't have a much to do with the protein. We're all eating loads of that..... At least I am. It is basically just the stress of the rapid weight loss, and fluctuation in hormones etc. It will even out and start to grow back. Some have even said that their new hair is different. ie: went from curly to straight, or straight to curly, grey to natural color, wirey to soft. I'll let you know when my stray fuzzies get a little longer.

this rate of loss depends on so many things. Everyone is different. If you have health issues like thyroid or PCOS it will affect your rate of loss. Your genetics have a lot to do with it. Your consumption of fluid and water, the amount and type of exercise you do, the type and amount of protein you eat. No one will be exactly the same. Be patient and follow your doctor's rules. Eventually, we will all get there if we do what we're supposed to, just not all at the same time.

I woke up with HORRIBLE pain in my upper right side last week. It wouldn't go away. It just got worse and worse. I went to my surgeon thinking it was band related, and it wasn't. It was gallbladder. I had emergency surgery that night or 18 hours later. I have to say, by the time they took it out, I would have rather given birth to a baby. My second child was only a 6 hour labor and you get a break in between contractions. This was constant agony for 18 hours. It's done laproscopically, so the surgery wasn't so bad, but several stones got lodged in my bile ducts and everything backed up into my pancreas and liver. I WAS SICK!! I turned yellow with jaundice and had a second surgery to clear the ducts 2 days later. So don't mess around and wait it out. Have a sono done, to see where those pesky stones are located!!! Mine were so small they couldn't dectect them all. there just happened to be an ass load of them. It's been hell. The second surgery messed with my blood pressure so bad I almost stroked out 3 hours after the second surgery, so please don't take it lightly. Beleive me, the pain will get worse, and if you ignore it, you risk having more complications.

I was told absolutely NO carbonation under any circumstances. This includes BEER. Your pouch is small. Where do you think that effervescent gas is going to go? You risk stretching your pouch. I paid WAY to much money for my band, and worked to damn hard at losing weight to risk losing it over a stupid soda. I avoid it like the plague. Just pure clean water for me!!!

Dr. Craig Chang in Victoria is also an EXCELLENT surgeon, and is completely certified in Bariatric surgery. I don't think Dr. Griffin is yet. I'm 9 months out and doing fabulously. He also took care of my recent gallbladder episode as well. He has a stellar reputation, and excellenat track record. His main office is only an hour and 15 minutes from Corpus Christi (where I live) and he comes to Corpus once a month to see his patients. He has so many patients now, he's going to start coming twice a month very soon. It sure makes it convenient. I'm delighted that there will be a Bandster support group in Corpus soon. I was rubbed the wrong way when I went to the local group as well. There were only 3 bandsters out of about 30 people. I complained, and Dr. Chang suggested I KEEP GOING and educate the bypass patients, and let them see how successful we can be. I have, and they have backed off, but I would still like a support group more tailored to my needs. Where will they be meeting?

Avoid the liquid calories and protein. It will sabotage all your efforts. Eat REAL protein. You will stay satisfied MUCH longer. CHEW CHEW CHEW.... You have no choice but to be "super careful". Cut your meat into pieces about the size of a new pencil eraser. I know, I know, that sounds awfully small..... just try it. then chew at LEAST 30 times depending on the density of the protein. then eat your veggies. Good luck and keep your chin up!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I'm told to eat three meals a day and NO SNACKS. I'm not allowed protein shakes or bars either. I have to eat a sensible meal. If I can't eat a meal, my doc feels that's to tight. I'm only allowed protein shakes if I'm sick or after a fill. I eat some kind of protein at every meal, even if it's just a little. I don't really get that hungry, but try to eat something. If I'm REALLY not hungry, no, I don't eat. If I push, I get nauseous and sick. I have come to be very in tune with my body. I try to listen to what it's telling me, which is a new experience.

I know this is a dumb question..... my gums are receeding too!! Can your gums grow back???

Thanks for the well wishes. It is much appreciated. I have to add here, that for the second surgery, they had to take every drop of saline out of my band. So I'm loosey goosey until the 20th. I wasn't upset about it, because I knew he'll fill me back up on the 20th, but it turns out he can't put back in the amount I had pre-surgery. I have to start all over again!!!!!!!! I was just sick. I just sat there and cried. I distinctly remember him telling me in the beginning that 90% of your weight loss will be in your first year. That very few lose after that, and if you don't lose it all the first year the chances of you doing so are greatly diminished. I'm almost 9 months out, and still have a good 45 pounds to go. Now having to start all over again, I feel like I'm doomed. GGGggggrrrrrrr. This is so infuriating. How many of you out there have had your gallbladder out after the band? Did you still lose? More? Less? I was also told a very low fat diet from here on out to prevent diarreah. Yippee. Does EVERYONE have problems with that? So far I haven't had any trouble with it. Can I still get stones in my bile ducts, even if I don't have a gallbladder? What's worse, my Dad is now demonizing my band and blaming it for all this trouble. while I was in the hospital, in a bad way, he chooses then to tell me that I need to tell the doctor to take it out right away, and he thinks that now that I know how to eat correct portions, I don't need the band anymore. He figured, since I was in the hospital, I could just go ahead and have it removed. I had just had two surgeries!!!!! I think he thinks it's on the outside of my body.... I'm not sure what he thinks. I jsut can't fathom him recommending a third surgery after I had so much trouble with my blood pressure. He told me to just eat small portions and give up this "silliness". Prior to this he was all proud of my weight loss. (He hasn't seen me yet) I didn't even have the energy to argue with him..........