dgarrett

Hi. I went through them and it's been a really good experience. I didn't use Dr. Snow, I used Dr. Marsden and he is wonderful!

It was on a piece of paper given to me by the nurse who does the fills and unfills. It was, I guess, from his practice and it just said that I have stretched my pouch and these are the reasons that it could've happened and once it has stretched it is easy to do again. I don't believe it was anything formal just something that they came up with to give to the patients. I may still have it and if I do, I'll write more about it.

I guess that is possible, however when I had the unfill it was done under fluro and I was told at that time that it was stretched out and was given a bunch of information on a stretch pouch and warned that if it has occurred once it is easy to stretch it out again and that does worry me at times. I just try to be really careful and baby the band. :thumbup:

The tummy tuck will help tremendously! I had one done before band journey 6 yrs ago. So even at my heaviest I still had a flatter stomach. You won't be able to stand up straight for about 3 weeks though and I slept in a recliner for the first full month. Worth it?? ABSOLUTELY!

I had stretched my pouch out last year. I didn't feel anything different and I still had the same restriction. I didn't overeat either. I have no idea how it happened. I only found out about it because I had to have gall bladder surgery and went in to have all the fill removed so I would be comfortable taking pain meds while recovering. After removing all the fill and giving it about a two month rest I went in to have my fill. She put as much in as she took out the prior two months and I haven't had a problem since. I do, every once in a while, have a little more difficulty eating and more "stuck" days but that is usually due to being under a lot of stress. I have been having those issues for the past 3 weeks but things are starting to calm back down and so is my band. It's an amazing tool and seems to have a mind of its own at times! LOL.

I am 5'6 and weighed 224 lbs when I first started. I was size 18 then and XL on top. I am now at 135 lbs and I wear a size 2/4 and M on top.

I have my 2 yr bandiversary coming up on the 1st of Sept and my dr told me that you can have sodas. He advised to pour them over ice or let sit for a few minutes after opening them first. I have my one regular dr. pepper every morning (I'm not a big coffee drinker) and I haven't had any problems.

I can eat very little rice and no sushi. I think it is the rice/seaweed combo that just won't go down so I just eat sashimi as often as I can!

I currently have 3.4cc in my band and have been there for almost a year. It has been great. Some days I am really tight and can't eat much and then other days it seems I can eat just about anything just not too much. I went from a size 18 to a size 4 in a year and a half. It's been amazing, awesome and sometimes very frustrating, experience.

I've been banded for a little over 18 mos now and I'm at goal. I, too, have those days. I haven't figured out the pattern (if there is one) but I can tell if it is a "good" eating day or "bad". I accept this as "normal" now and I'm ok with that. I'm not gaining or losing so it works for me.

when I first started this journey, I didn't tell anyone either and when it came to lunch time I didn't know how I was going to handle it either. I just told all my co-workers that I was cutting down on my eating because I want and need to lose weight, that I was practicing portion control, which is what it is only better because you have a barrier and it keeps you from crossing it. So, cut to 16 months later, 83 lbs lighter and wearing a size 4, it worked like a charm. Now, most of my co-workers know and are extremely supportive.

I was banded by Dr. Marsden Sept '06 and he is wonderful! If I remember correctly it is high protein and then within a few days of surgery it is mostly liquid to get shrink the fat on your liver so he can get the band on. But you only have to follow it for approx 2 weeks prior. He is awesome and will take the time to answer all of your questions and concerns.

Hi. I'm 5'6 and I started at 224 lbs and size 16/18. I was banded on 09/01/06. My goal was 150 lbs and size 8. I have passed that and I'm now 144 lbs and a size 4/6.

Hey Ragdollx19 I was there yesterday getting a fill also.....wonder if we sat in the waiting room sipping our Water at the same time? Nazi was actually in a pretty good mood too!

Nope, no hair loss. I've been banded 13 mos now and down 75 lbs. w/ no hair loss whatsoever and my hair is thin too so I am glad that no more came out.

Flintstones!

Ok I had to respond to this thread because I, too, go to the "Fill Nazi"! I have been lurking this site for over a year and have been banded since Sept 1, '06 and have lost 75 lbs. I went from a size 18 to a size 4/6. This post just made me laugh because I know exactly who and what you are talking about. I went in for my 3rd fill right before the holidays last year saying that I was at a "plateau" and I overheard the nurse talking to nazi saying that she didn't think there was a plateau since I had actually lost 12 lbs since the last time I came in. In saying all this, I still got my small fill and that is where I stayed until this past August when I had to be totally unfilled and have my gallbladder removed. I am now trying to get back in to get a fill so I can quit being scared that I will bow to my demons and put the lbs back on. So just tell her how you feel and that you feel that you aren't losing the way you should and nazi & NURSE will probably just do it, that is if there machine is working yet. It wasn't on monday when I went for a fill. Good Luck!