joeygirl

Haven't been on here in ages. Just found the web site again and it is really interesting reading up on how everyone is doing. I was banded June 6, 2007. I am still losing, but it is so slow. Not even a pound a month lately. I was at 267 at my first Dr. visit. I am now at 182. I feel so much better. One thing I notice, no matter how much I lose, I still see my self the same as before the weight loss. When people tell me I look so much better I have to admit that to me I will always look the same. I have had trouble with being too full. I was up to 8 cc's in a 10 cc pouch. I had to have some removed, down to 5 cc. Now I am up to 7 cc again, but have started having trouble with acid reflux. I think I need to have some more removed again. I was wondering, has anyone had trouble with lower back pain when they are too full. I seem too get a numbness achy lower back pain when I am too full. Is it just in my head or has someone else noticed this. It is so nice to read all this now and see that others are having the same troubles that I am having. Hope to hear more of all of you.

Suzzie, I know just how you feel. I too am able to eat all the junk food I want and never feel over full. It is so easy. Then when I try to eat the good, healthy food, I am stuffed. I have been stuck the past couple months with the weight. Haven't lost any and thankfully haven't gained any. I went in a week ago for a small fill. The NP said that that is everyones problem. The junk just goes down way to easy, so we all tend to pick that over a better choice. I know with me, it is my head that keeps telling me that I need to eat more, not my stomach. But, how in the H do I shut my dang head off. I think I need some kind of pills to treat my mental self, not my stomach. I tried the Alli for a month. For me it did not make any difference at all. I did not have any of the side effects that it warned against. I wanted to have the side effects. Maybe then I would know it was helping. I don't think I eat very hi fat meals, and that is when the Alli really helps. I don't know what to do. Any one else got ideas. I have been exercising three to four times a week, and I think that is what has been saving me from gaining. HELP.

I know I have not posted in forever, but I do read the boards every day. I am wondering what has happened to Steph. I loved reading all of her wisdom and advice. Does anyone hear from here anymore, and if so, what is up. Well, we are all past the one mark now. Have to admit that it is not near as easy as I thought it would be. I have lost over 60 lbs., but wanted to be higher than that in a year. I seem to be at a standstill now. Going on that way for way too long. Nice to see that some of you are doing so good.

Stef, I am curious. How did you stretch your pouch. Seems to me if you can't eat than it would be hard to stretch. Explain what happened. Thanks

Suzzie, I tried Alli for about a month, and for me it was a waste of money. I lost one lb. a week, the same as I have been doing without it. I must not eat the high fat foods at all. I never had any of the side effects that you are suppose to get when you eat to much fat. Never once had the diahrea. I was hoping I would. I think you are doing great without any drugs. I guess we just all want this to go faster than it is. Will we ever be happy?

Suzzz, I guess when you put it that way it makes a lot of sense. It is just so hard not to get disgusted with the progress. But, I will take my one lb. a week and just keep on going. In a year I may be to where I want to.LOL

Big baby, that you for the wonderful post from the blog. I know I do not write on here hardly ever, but I do read it every day. I am a lot like you. We were about at the same weight at the start and we are not close to the same weight. I, like you, have never thrown up once. I have never had things stuck. I occasionaly burp when I am full, but that is it. I Keep wanting these symtoms to help me out. I Have almost always lost 1 lb a week since the surgery. I think that is way too little also. When I talk to the NP at the clinic, she raves that I am doing wonderful. I don't see that at all. Since I had lost better at the start of the surgery and before, I am now up to 54 lbs. It seems like so little when I read hear and see that people have lost 90 or more lbs. I was at the NP on monday for a small fill. When I told her how disgusted I was with how slowly things are going, she gave me some advice. She told me to quit reading stuff on Lap Band. She said everyone is different, and we all lose at a different pace. She also said that in her experience, the people who lose so fast, esp. at first, usually ending up at a point where they go for a very long time withour losing anything, or start to gain again. The people who lose slow and at at even pace, keep losing and don't usually gain. She told me to think of a child at 54 lbs. Try to lift that child, carry it around. It is impossible for long. That I can relate to, as I have a grandchild that is about that weight. Anyway, she assures me that my band is doing exactly what it is suppose to. It is not making me sick and uncomfortable everytime I eat. It is just there to help me know when it is time to quit eating. So, I think That one lb a month is a good impovement, and we should be thankful.

I would check into it and see if there is a place closer to you that would do the fills. I would think all dr.s are the same when it comes to fills. I only have to go 100 miles, so it isn't that much for me go there. Do you live in a big city? If so, there may be a dr. much closer. I would try to make the appt. you have now. Can you cut back on something else for the month. Maybe drive down early in the morning, get the fill and then drive back that night. I know it is a long day, but hopefully you will feel better after. Just tell them to be aggresive with the fill.

He will not want you to remove the band. He wants it to work as much as you do I am sure. I still think that you do not have enough in you. 2 fills did nothing for me. It was my 6th fill before I noticed a little difference, and a little better on my 7th. You have to keep getting the fills reg. until you get to the point where you start feeling restriction. Believe me, 2 months ago I felt just like you. I figured I was a failure again. Now, I think I am starting to know what the band is suppose to be doing for me. Too bad some people can get that feeling right fromt he first fill, and it takes others 6 or 7. Make an appt. right now and when you get your fill, tell them to crank it up. The worse that can happen is that you have to go back and get some out.

I don't think two fills are enough for you. I had been in 6 times before I even noticed any restriction. I was about ready to just quit and say it will not work for me. I talked to the head lady of the bariatric dept., and she said to tell the tech's giving the fills that I need more. So, I told them that, and they started to go a little more each time. You are paying for this, so make them give you what you want. I know some people have lost a ton of weight with only 2 fills, but then some of us don't even notice a difference. When I got the last fill, the day after christmas, I could definatly know when I was full. In fact, if I tried to eat more it actually hurt my chest. That is the first time I had felt that. Hopefully, now it will start working the way it is suppose to. How full is your band, do you Know. If not, make an appt. for a fill and then ask them the size of your band and how full it is. I know how you are feeling. Just like me a while back. I thought also about just having it removed, or all of the liquid out of it and going back to the way I was. Now I am hoping it will start working. Please, hang in there.

Have you been going back in reg. for fills? I think if not, that should be the first step. Make them give you a good fill so you can start to feel some restriction. It took me over 5 months of regular fills before I started to fell any restriction. I do think that it is important to get the exercise. If you can't get out and walk, is there a mall or someplace similiar that you could go and walk 4 times a week. I started doing that here when it started to get way to cold to walk outside. Also, i have been going to Curves 3 times a week, and I really like that. I think I would have been in the same boat as you if I didn't exercise. I have been losing 4 to 5 lbs a month even without any restriction. It is a lot slower than a lot of people on this board, and sometime I really get frustrated when I see all these people at their goal weight almost. Don't quit. Start with better fills. Some people have been able to get by with very few fills, but I sure haven't been one of the. I had to get to 8 cc in a 10 cc band before I noticed I even had the band. You may be like me. Keep on working at it. You have the tool already, you just have to learn how to make it work for you.

Great job Suzzzie. How do the two's feel. You are doing great.

Just wondering if anyone has had this problem. I got a fill on Wed. Since than, I have had lots of pain in my upper stomach area. It is hard to explain, but it actually feels like the band is squeezing me way to tight. It is really uncomfortable when i sit. It doesn't hurt as much when I am standing. Is it possible to actually feel the band if it is too tight? I am able to eat without getting food stuck. I do get full really fast, but I am not complaining about that. This has me kind of worried. I have not heard of anyone else having this type of pain. I probably should have called the Dr. office today, but now I will have to wait until Monday. If anyone has any information about this and if it is normal, please help me out. I am desperate.