Ezzysmom

Ok hi ladies. I was banded in March of 2005. The good news is that I had, at one time, lost from 285lbs down to 150lbs. However, I got to that 150lbs because I was starving. In early 2006 after I got be around 170lbs, my band slipped and I could not eat for two weeks. I could'nt even keep water down so I had revision surgery and they fixed the slip. Since then I was so scared to get a fill so I went without one for almost a year. By this time I had gained back up to 180lbs. Gradually I started getting fills until I now, and I have 3.1 in a 4cc band. I have not had any restriction whatsoever since my last surgery. Each fill feals the same. My doctor seems to think that I am just not following the band rules and by the way I feel like a failure because I am now up to 225lbs! Omg back over 200lbs! I know this isnt as high as before and I know I can lose it but I just need my band to help me out. I know I have to work hard and I am ready to do that. I admit I have made many mistakes but I do need that little bit of help from the band to let me know I am full. My doctor won't put anymore in my band until I take a nutrition class and have an upper GI to see if it slipped again due to my history. It doesnt feel like a slip because the first time It slipped I couldnt even eat and now I can eat anything I want....I mean ANYTHING! I know just because I can, doesnt mean I should but why the hell did I get this band if it isn't going to give me some help? Ya know? Anyway, I lost 135lbs once before so I know I can lose 60lbs, I just hope it hasn't slipped again. Could it be that my pouch has stretched over time and I just need to shrink it? I was thinking maybe if I went on a liquid diet for a week or so that it might help shrink it if indeed that is the case. Anyone have any suggestions? My upper GI should be scheduled soon and I am just waiting on the DR to call me. I am on my second day of liquids and I just figured that at least this might jumpstart my weightloss....if anything.

At first yes, but now I feel nothing. I mean absolutely nothing. I don't have restriction at all ( 3.4cc in a 4cc band) and I honestly can't even tell I have the band.

I am voting for Obama! I think you all should quit listening to Fox news and learn to think for yourself! Do your research......and I am a political scientist, soon to get my doctorate. My dream is to teach politics at the college level but I hope most of all to teach my students to think for themselves. I will play devils advocate on both sides of the issue that way they can form their opinions genuinely. By the way, to those of you who think that you will pay more taxes under Obamas tax policy, I have news for you, unless you clear a quarter of a million dollars annually, you won't be paying a penny more if Obama is elected. However, if McCain is elected you will be paying taxes on your health insurance which has never been done before. Isn't health insurance high enough? Now we have to pay taxes on it? Obsurd. If anyone is an independant and not sure how to vote, just email me and I will answer any question you have about either candidates and I won't be biased. I am voting for Obama but I I don't expect everyone to agree with me.

Thank you so much for your response. So what did your doc tell you to do in that 6 mos period? Do you have to follow a special diet (besides the lap-band rules)? I am trying to do liquids right now but I feel so hungry. This will be my third day. I thought if I do liquids maybe it would shrink my pouch. Did your doc give you any tips to shrink it back? Thanks a lot. Amber

I was having trouble eating meat lately until I started experiementing with recipes for my crock pot. I usually put some kind of meat or poltry in it in the morning and then it is done by dinner. The meat is so lucious and it just falls apart. It is much easier to eat and goes down nicely. Plus you can even use leaner versions of meat and it still comes out oooh sooo tender. I know just about every has one and if not, they are relatively inexpensive. It's funny because I talk about it like it is a new invention but I guess I have just recenly "rediscovered" my crock pot because for the longest time it was a dust collector. I will post some sample recipes later but some ideas might be to cook cream soups with chicken, tomato sauce with beef, white wine with pork or any kind of seasonings you desire......oh by the way chicken stock or beef stock works well too......

I also have PCOS with insulin resistance. I take 1500mg of Metformin a day (500mg 3X). My husband and I also struggled with infertility for four years until we finally got pregnant with our son. He is now 16mos old, so I just want to say that those of you who are trying to get pregnant, DON"T GIVE UP! I know its hard.....but dont give up please! Seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist was what did it for us plus clomid with Met. Also(ignore my ticker I need to update it) I have lost 90lbs since March 30th with the band and it has been wonderful for me. Good luck!

ok here goes, this is a recipe I just came up with one day because I was craving mexican food but didn't need all those carbs.....hope you enjoy Mexican Meatballs grocery list: 2lbs lean hamburger one med. onion finely chopped one small can of green chilies drained one package taco seasoning 1 can of enchilada sauce 1 can of tomato sauce 1 cup of shredded chedder or monteray jack cheese In one bowl mix hamburger, onion,green chilies, and taco seasoning. Form hamburger mixture into medium sized balls and place into your crockpot. Then pour the enchilada sauce and tomato sauce over the meatballs. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours. Adjust cooking time according to the size of the meatballs. When they are done serve them alone or over rice and top with shredded cheese. You can also add black Beans and corn to the crock pot to make it a mexican stew.

I am a little scared that something is wrong. For the past two days I have had pain in my lower abdomen. It is always below my navel so I assumed that it had nothing to do with my band. However, It always seems (unless it's all in my head and I am going crazy) to hurt not long after I have eaten or drank something. It could be a coincidence I suppose but I figured I would ask you all just in case. Does it sound like it could have something to do with my band? I realize this could be my uterus or something like that but it feels different than that kind of pain. Oh well....any advice. Anyone else have pain like this which pertained to their band? Thanks

Chichigirl, Wow that sounds exactly like what I am having. It scares me a little tho because you and I are the only people I know of who have this. It almost feels like my band is all the way down low like that but I know that's not possible. Or is it???? I dunno but thanks for chiming in. It's good to know that its not all in my head. Alex, I thought of constipation at first too but my bowels have been moving fine. It also is weird because it's only after I eat or drink that I have this pain. Oh well thanks for responding. It would only make sense that it has nothing to do with the band because it is so low....so heres to hoping you are right about that. Thanks a lot. I do feel a little better after conversing with the both of you. I just ate lunch a few minutes ago and whoooaaa here comes the pain again. Hmmmmmm........maybe a hernia??? I dunno. I am going to see my band surgeon on Tues. maybe he can put my mind at ease. Thanks ladies. Amber

I don't mean to be repetitive but, how do I post before and after pics?

This sounds sooooo good. MMMMMM and healthy too! Thanks for the recipe!

Sun Dried Tomato chicken Breast : Four large chicken breasts small bottle of italian dressing one jar of sundried tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup of white wine 1/2 cup of chicken stock or veggie stock 1/2 small onion chopped 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil or two tablepoons of fresh (optional) Marinate chicken breast in italian dressing and chopped sundried tomatoes for two hours. Put the chicken breast along with your marinade into the crock pot. Add the onions, stock, white wine. Set crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. Add the basil about 15 minutes before serving (optional). Serve with veggies and/or Pasta or what ever you like! Enjoy!

You can substitute the wine for more chicken stock......and usually the sun dried tomatoes are either in the Deli, produce section, or with the pickled goods at my supermarket....

I forgot to say that you could also cook this in your oven if you didn't want to use a crock pot. I am sure it would be equally good. It's just that the crock pot always makes things tender enough for a banster to eat.

MMMM this sounds soo good. I will try this one day this week. Thanks for the recipe! Man I am getting hungry.

oops..........I forgot.....dont add the Basil til the End.........Sorry everyone.....my mistake

Wow! What a great response to this recipe. I am so glad you all enjoyed it. I love my crockpot. Tonight I am making Sun Dried Tomato chicken Breast : Four large chicken breasts small bottle of italian dressing one jar of sundried tomatoes chopped 1/2 cup of white wine 1/2 cup of chicken stock or veggie stock 1/2 small onion chopped 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil or two tablepoons of fresh Marinate chicken breast in italian dressing and chopped sundried tomatoes for two hours. Put the chicken breast along with your marinade into the crock pot. Add the onions, stock, white wine and basil. Set crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. Serve with veggies and/or Pasta or what ever you like! Enjoy!

I have also been losing a lot of hair lately but everyday I count my protien and I am getting at least 70 grams a day. ????????/ I don't know what's going on with me? Will anything else cause this. I am getting 1500-1700 calories a day as well. Thanks

Yeah sure does seem like a waste of money.......but ya gotta figure.....that's how they make their money. Also I am reminded of something someone said at one of our local lap-band support group meetings........"you are worth it!" Very happy your band is working for you....hoooraaayy!

ok here goes, this is a recipe I just came up with one day because I was craving mexican food but didn't need all those carbs.....hope you enjoy Mexican Meatballs grocery list: 2lbs lean hamburger one med. onion finely chopped one small can of green chilies drained one package taco seasoning 1 can of enchilada sauce 1 can of tomato sauce 1 cup of shredded chedder or monteray jack cheese In one bowl mix hamburger, onion,green chilies, and taco seasoning. Form hamburger mixture into medium sized balls and place into your crockpot. Then pour the enchilada sauce and tomato sauce over the meatballs. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours. Adjust cooking time according to the size of the meatballs. When they are done serve them alone or over rice and top with shredded cheese. You can also add black Beans and corn to the crock pot to make it a mexican stew.

any kind of meat I can find (slow cooked in my crock pot if possible because it makes it tender enough to go down) Also those pre-packaged string cheeses

I joined a gym shortly after getting banded. At first, for my cardio work out I would walk for 30 minutes and it seemed like I wasn't burning any calories but I was soooo tired. Then I tried the eliptical machine and put it on the weight loss setting. I can now burn about 350 calories in one 30 minute session and I don't feel the impact as much as I did with the treadmill. I love this machine. I wish I had one at home. I also do weights afterward. The key is not to do to much too fast or you will burn yourself out. Might sound crazy, and I never thought I would say this but, I actually look forward to my workout 4 times a week.

I have hypothyroidism and I take Synthroid for this. I have not had a problem with the band nor have I ever heard of this being a problem with the band. I have lost 54lbs so far (haven't updated ticker lately I think). What info do they have to back this up?

It also can depend upon whether or not a person has reached true restriction as to how much weight they will lose. For some people it takes a long time to get the right kind of restriction for weight loss. For others it may happen with the first fill. Some doctors aren't as "fill happy" as others as well. I agree with the above statement that it also just depends on the person. There can be sooo many factors.

While we are on the topic of waiters/waitresses. I wanted to ask if anyone ever gets any funny looks when they ask what you will have to drink and you say nothing? They always do a double take and say "would you like water," and when I say no, they are even more surprised. I know I could just take the water and be done with it but I have a real problem with the not drinking during meals thing so I like to avoid it all together. More often than not I find myself having to explain to the waiter that I can't drink with my meals do to weight loss surgery yadda yadda yadda. It can be a pain sometimes but oh well I guess it would seem odd on the other side of the fence.