Chickie

Smaller sips of thinner Fluid is a great idea. Can you get clear fluid down ok? Every surgeon is different, I had my first fill at 6 weeks out, and others have had them at 4. Maybe it is just too much fill, too soon? :cool:

On average, 2.2lbs. Some weeks it has been more, some less, but that is the average.

Hi Vickie! Congrats on the 43lbs, that is awesome :clap2: I have no idea how thick carnation breakfast's are, but I have trouble with anything thicker than Water the morning after a fill. For *me* it is not unusual. You had a rather large fill, and you will be swollen from the fill, so it can take a few days for that swelling to go down. Dont panic, if you can, if by lunch time/ mid afternoon you are still having trouble, put a call into your doc.

Italian- Lasagna (very carefully, lol) Chinese- Garlic chicken & veggies Seafood- Anything, provided I eat slowly. :hungry:

I remember reading a members site (I think it was Muffin Birdie?) and she has been there and done that (And looks fantastic too!). Her advise was to get down to goal before going ahead with plastic surgery, because you will get a better result. To be honest, I think she is right. The closer I get to goal, the more dramatic the changes are getting. I have noticed in the last 5kg (12lbs) that my belly has shrunk down to something I can hide with a girdle (the full under the bra, to the top of the thigh kind - sexy huh? :nervous). I see my surgeon on August 10. I fully intend on getting down to his goal weight of 143lbs, so when he agrees to do my TT I will be under my, and his goal weight when it is all over. I want the best result I can get. I do not plan on doing this twice.

You can give birth naturally after a tummy tuck. A TT just deals with the outer layers of skin (and tummy muscles), and has nothing to do with the womb at all.

That is exactly what my doctor told me when we were taking about Pars Flacida Vs Peri Gastric. He told me that the only errosions he has seen have been in bands where the Peri Gastric technique has been used.

My band surgeon will be doing my TT, and he would like me to get down to 140-145 lbs before he does the work. And after being almost 300lbs (It could have been more, I stopped weighing myself at 297), my skin, while it is not overly streched in places other than my stomach, I still have bingo wings happening, and my thighs are not pretty. So logic tells me, the more weight I lose, the worse it will be, and the more likely it will be that I will need other PS. And as much as I want to be thin and sexy, it is scary as hell. It is not something I have been in my adult life. I am getting attention from men, and I do not know how to deal with it. It is foreign, and scary. And I know, it will get worse when I become more attractive. Its silly. More over, I am so lost when it comes to fashion, and clothing! I was always supah stylish, and cute looking when I was bigger. Now? Humm. I went shopping on Friday. I was really intimidated by all the clothes, shop, sales assistants... The whole thing was a nightmare! I live in fitted t shirts, and slacks. I have no idea what to wear, and how to wear it. So I stick with that. I think I have to start buying fashion magazines. Yet another part of the equation, is I think I am afraid that once I get to "goal", I will have nothing to work for. I am scared of success. I keep pushing the goal back. My first goal was 75kg (165lbs) and just before I got there, I pushed it back to 70kg (154lbs) and now, I am thinking I will push it further back to 65kg (143lbs). Its not that I want to fail, but I am the type of person who needs to work toward something. I do understand that maintaining my weight will be as much work as losing it, but it is not goal orientated like losing (although I am sure I could make it goal orientated, lmao) So it is emotional as much as it is physical. It's the stuff few people who have lost a lot of weight will admit to, if they have gone through it. So there it is.

My belly is a train wreck. I carried most of my weight on my midsection, so I am really strech-marked, and flabby around my tummy. I will be needing a tummy tuck.

Another bandster in her mid 20's here... I am married with a 9 year old son. I am concerned about the way my body looks. And I will be having plastic surgery some time soon. I am just tryng to decide if I should try to lose the last 5kg (about 12lbs) to get down to my "ideal" weight before my tummy tuck. Part of me says I have come this far, it's silly to sit down at the finish line. And another is scared. I have never been this tiny in my adult life (the smallest I was was a AU12, or US 10, just after the birth of my son when I was 17) So, you are not alone in worrying about your body. Not at all. And I think most people have a moment where they worry about losing their bands. I know I have had a few. I have just had to tell myself I will deal with it if it happens. That there is no point in stressing over something that has not happened yet, and may not ever happen. I was a sturdy looking girl growing up. Never skinny, just really muscular. Not an ounce of fat on my little body (that I can see in photos,lol) And I thought I was fat. Boy. Was I ever a silly kid. I *wish* I could have that strong looking body back! I started gaining weight at about 14 or 15, when my PCOS started doing a number on my hormones. I had my son early. And that was lucky, because I have not been able to carry a child since (due to PCOS and male factor infertility) But after I had my son, and lost my milk when he was 6 months old, I gained 50lbs. It was crazy. Then every time I dieted, I would lose a few pounds, then gain what I lost, and a few more. I ended up at 297lbs (135kg). I had know about banding for years. But was never ready to really do something about losing weight. So after a year of "one last diet" before I saw a surgeon, I lost and gained about 20lbs over an over. I went in to see my Doc in Jan 2005. By Feb 2005 I was banded. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Ever. I am now down to 152lbs (about 69.5 kg) Getting ready to have my plastic surgery done (as soon as I can convince Doc to do it, lol.. My banding surgeon is doing my TT for me, he feels I can get down to 145/140lbs without too much effort, but I am getting frustrated waiting for my tummy tuck, lol) So that is my story. Long winded as it is, lmao. And here are my stats; Before 135 kg / 297 lbs Now 69.5 kg / 152 lbs Surgeons goal 63 - 65 kg / 140 - 145 lbs My goal? I have no idea anymore.

It's funny that I spotted this thread just now.... I have a wicked case of PMS, and am fighting the fridge in a big way. I was *so* hungry today. No restriction at all. I always have very little restriction in the week leading up to TOM, and then during, I have supah restriction (I almost went in for an unfil one month...). The joys of Womanhood, huh?

It can be painful, or painless. Sometimes the only symptom can be loss of restriction (or super restriction, and being unable to keep anything down) There are a few threads on the board regarding slips, if you use the search function, you should be able to find a few with some good info. But do try not to stress yourself out reading it. It is most unlikely that you have slipped. But in the event that you do start having symptoms that are outside the "norm" for you, phone your doctor.

I am leaning towards "yes", but only if I had to be fully unfilled, and I was having a hard time with food/eating too much. And even then it would depend on the type of medication. So maybe?

No, not in Aussie Mars bars. Just good old chocolate, caramel sauce stuff, and more chcolate.

I doubt you slipped your band. Typically the post op liquids are to give the stomach a "rest" after the trauma of surgery, and band placement. Anyway - chocolate is one of those things that tend to go straight through the band :kiss You should be ok, but I wouldnt try another mars bar again (or anything solid) till you get your doctors ok! Good luck.

And happy to be where they are? I am a few kg's (lbs for US readers, lol) from goal, a Aussie size 12 (US 10, from what I understand) and am supah thrilled with where I am. I look normal. I am never the biggest person in the room anymore, and not usually the thinnest. I am "normal" I am also a wee bit worried that because I have such a huge bust (I am wearing a 10H (30H US sizes) that I will look disproportionate. I have fairly slim hips, and once I have my tummy tuck I will wear a size 10 (8 US) pants. But my top will still be a 12 (US 10). *Sigh* Am I mad for putting the brakes on? I just don't want to end up looking like a Dolly wanna be... Or having to have a breast reduction (because to be honest, I kinda like my boobs) I am not nuts. Am I?

For me, the weight loss has really helped with all of my symptoms. I used to have maybe 1 or 2 periods a year, now I have a 28 day cycle (and have had since about 2 or 3 months post op) My acne has cleared up, I am off my Metformin, and the hair growth has slowed down (I come from a family of hairy women, I guess this is just normal for me) And I no longer have cysts on my ovaries. Joy!! Rachelbknox - The band *can* help one eat lower carb, because in most (not all) cases bansters cannot eat Pasta, bread, rice and un-mashed potato's.

You might be right. I am all belly at this stage. It is a sorry sight. If the skin was not so streched out, I could live with it. But the skin is in such a state from being so large, there is little hope. I have an appointment with my Dr in August (he is doing my tummy tuck) so I will either have been stable at this weight, or be down at goal weight. Either way, spending the day in bed, down with the flu, has given me time to think. I am not going to "try" to lose weight anymore (Not that I am trying too hard at the moment). So if I do get to the goal of 68kg, I do. If I don't I am going to Celebrate my new body, and life :clap2: Thank you all for your imput ladies. :sleep

Surgery is scary full stop. And sometimes the numbers, no matter how low they are, still look huge. I looked at it this way. I was 24, and If I was real lucky I might get to 34 (and the way I was going I would have been 200kg when I got there). My health was *that* bad. So to me, the benifit outweighed the risk. And I know what you mean about wanting to be successful before being "outted". It has been hard to have people watch me. Watch my progress. As supportive as some have been, I have felt like I lived in a fishbowl at times :nervous

If you can, have someone pat you on the back (much like burping a baby) or go for a walk. I do find if *I* get something stuck, the worst thing I can do is drink anything. I would really try going for a walk around the house before you try drinking.

Hello and Welcome! It is natural to feel nervous before any operation. I was lucky enough to only have a few weeks betwen getting my date booked in, and the actual op, that I was too busy to feel too nervy. As for the pre op diet. All docs are different, and require different things pre op. Please do not feel embarassed about having the band! You are taking charge of your weight, and health by doing this! That is something to be proud of. :clap2: It is a deeply personal choice as to telling people. I kinda wish sometimes that I had not told *everyone* (I have a big mouth, lol) But all in all, people have been pretty supportive, and I am thankful. If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help out.

A friend (who I have lost touch with) had her banding back in 1998 (I think) and was still happy with her band when I bumped into her at the shops a few months ago. She has had her band at least 8 years. Maybe longer.

I just finished Johanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson, and picked up a copy of How to kill your husband (and other handy household hints) by Kathy Lette. It looks like a fun read.

I *try* to get in 2.5 ltrs (4 600ml bottles) But usually only get in three. I also drink 3 or 4 mugs of lemon and lime herb tea.

That is EXACTLY how I feel. I would rather stop losing now, and stay in proportion, than lose more, and have to have a reduction. Thank you. It does feel wonderful to be half the person I once was. Rather than have my 9 year old DS whine that I am not keeping up with him, he whines that I am going too fast :clap2: (I can't win, can I? :biggrin1:) I am yet to have my tummy tuck (I am waiting either for goal weight, or to be stable at a weight for a few months... and the last few lbs have been super slow comming off, so I think I will be stable at this weight for a while) So my lower half will be much smaller than my upper half once I have that. It is winter here, and I went to buy a jacket. I had to buy the 12(US 10), rather than the 10(US 8) due to my breasts. It buttoned, and fit like a glove everywhere but my boobs.