lindata

If anyone could suggest a great doctor in Houston or north Houston who they recommend as an excellent surgeon, please let me know. I want my band removed.

I am SO glad to hear from some of the nymphs! Wow, it's been so long! I have wondered how everyone has been as well. I had been doing well. I didn't get to goal, but was okay with the weight I had lost, and then I got pregnant (3 years ago), had a complete unfill. I did okay and didn't gain too much during the pregnancy, then lost a lot of the weight again a few months after the baby was born, but THEN I started to put the weight back on. I have always been grateful I got the band because I know I would have gained and kept gaining without stop. The band stopped the weight gain and helped me get my normal body back (for a little while at least). I do have concerns about some foreign object in my body and what exactly is going on in there. I hope it doesn't give me cancer or something. I know, sounds weird, but I am a bit of a worrywart with things. I've gotten a few fills since the baby was born but honestly I have just been so tired with two kids that I haven't wanted to deal with getting stuck all the time. The band did get me to lose weight but not the way it should have - the way I lost weight was when I was so tight that I couldn't eat anything. I would get stuck, throw up, get an unfill, heal for a month, get a fill, get stuck, throw up, and the cycle would repeat. That is how I lost the weight. I guess bulemia would have been cheaper! lol! (just kidding of course) I just don't want to go through that again, although right now I don't know the alternative because I am back to my overeating ways where I can't seem to stop myself. Every day I start out like I should on "program" but by noon I'm throwing back the junk food. Once I get on program for a good week, I am always okay and do really well. It's just the starting I can't seem to get past. We are in the process of selling our house and moving to a new city which is extremely stressful on me because I love where we live right now. So just lately it has been hard. I wish I could hear from more of the November Nymphs!

Any advice is most appreciated! I was completely unfilled 18 months ago when I was pregnant. Today I got stuck on some meat, threw it up, and got stuck later on some soup, threw that up. I was throwing up saliva and still burping a lot. I'm scared I'm completely stuck and my band site is getting worse by the minute. Is there any way to get the inflammation down? Any tips? I've been trying to sip on warm water and holding a warm pack to my site. On a side note I'm breastfeeding and have no family here to help so I'm scared to have to go through surgery. I'm just really scared right now.

Just in case this happens to anyone else, here is what helped me. I sipped a tiny bit of very warm water, then laid on my stomach. This helped to pop up whatever else was in my band, as in I threw it up. Then I didn't drink for a long time to let my stomach settle down. A few hours later I sipped maybe once every 15 minutes. The next day I was fine. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else because it's very scary to have a complete unfill and get stuck because there is nowhere to go but perhaps surgery.

Hello everyone! It's been quite a while. I've been busy, plus very down, so haven't been around. I'll let you know what's been happening with me. Well, the end of December I was sick with flu and got a total unfill because I was having problems as well. I've gone every month for a fill and have gained back 25 pounds. :rolleyes2: The last fill was .25 and I couldn't sip water. They took .1 out, so I only had a .15cc fill. I still couldn't sip water. They took the .15 out and with that tiny tiny amount of unfill I still have NO restriction. I'm not sure how that is possible. So I'm back to doing it on my own. Again. And we all know how well that works. I'm very down and not sure what to do anymore. The band was my last hope for any kind of weightloss. The only way I was able to lose was with the band and with such restriction that I could barely eat in a day (maybe 600 calories). I'm sure a lot of you can relate to that. Now I can eat anything and of course I have no willpower - I mean if I had any kind I wouldn't have needed the band. It sounds very weak, but it is the truth. The band was my backup plan for moments of weakness. I'm not sure how to go through the day on a meal of 2-4 tablespoons with major hunger in between to lose maybe 1 pound a week. How do I do that without restriction? The doctor didn't really say anything when I left. I said to the nurse what do I do now? She just said to buck up. :thumbup: I feel like I have been bucking up for the past 15 years, trying to lose this weight. Obviously I am unable to buck up enough on my own, thus the expensive surgery. This is it. This is the last thing I have done to my body for weightloss and it has stopped working for me. I feel very sad and very hopeless.

bumping to the top

Olgi, I have made an educated decision, thanks. I've heard lately there's been miscarriages linked to the H1N1 shot ... Just putting that out there.

Hey everyone! Just checking in. I noticed there are 2008, 2009 and soon to be 2010 bandsters! Can you believe we've had our bands this long? I'm still glad I have this band (even though I didn't lose what I thought I would). It has helped me so much in losing what I did, helped me maintain now during pregnancy, and I can't wait until breastfeeding time when my metabolism gets to kick in, I can get a fill, and really go to town. (Sorry, TMI guys? haha) Anyway, I know I would weigh a lot more at this point if I hadn't had the band. Take care everyone.

I am 7 months and would never get any kind of shots while pregnant or before pregnancy. A lot of flu shots have mercury in them - we're talking hazardous waste which can affect the neurological system, at doses far above what the EPA deigns safe. Makes sense, huh? I did get the flu and it was mild. My son also got the flu and it too was mild. We did not die. Everyone is freaking out around here about how they all have H1N1. Well, they're all getting over it too. I'm sorry but this is my honest opinion about H1N1 - big whoop. The media has made everyone frenzied and panicked for no reason. Most people who die from the flu have compromised immune systems already or some disorder. If you're sleeping well, eating well and are generally healthy you do not need the flu shot. My doctor was appalled that I would not get the shot because 2 (yes, count them, two!) pregnant people died last year from the flu. (I'm assuming that was in my state). I believe the mercury in the shots will negatively affect far more people than the amount of deaths from flu. Don't buy into the media frenzy.

Hey everyone! I'm 7 months now and I'm not sure if I told you but it's going to be a girl. I am still in size XL!!! Yeah!!!! I only have one plus-size shirt. Last pregnancy they didn't have plus-size maternity where I lived so I had to just wear plus-size regular clothes which as some of you may know just makes you look really, really fat and not at all pregnant. So this time I'm able to enjoy my pregnancy because people comment on my bump - for the most part they are not assuming I am just fat! I haven't had to change clothing sizes since I started wearing maternity clothes and that is huge! Last time I went up a size just about every month. I'm really looking forward to having a fill again and starting my weight-loss journey with all of you - again! With the added bonus of losing 500 calories/day from breastfeeding I can't wait to see how fast this weight will come off!

Hello again! I'm here to say goodbye for about the next 6 months or so. I'm 3 months pregnant! I'll see you around January. Good luck everyone.

Hey! I'm 7 months along now and it's a girl, although me and the husband can NOT agree on names!

You guys look AWESOME - and about 20 years younger too!

Wow Steph, look at you!!! I had to think who is this person. You are SKINNY! You skinny bitch! hahaha :tongue2: It's so nice to hear from you again. It sounds like you're having fun being single again - a new hottie in your life huh? I hear ya about the low-carb thing. I've jump-started weightloss with it too and stalled. That's a good technique - using it just once in a while. Have fun on your trip!

Kissmygrits, it's hard to know which is better for the environment according to all the studies. Totally agree! My thoughts on the matter is that cloth are better since you're reusing rather than throwing something out that will be in the landfill for the next however many hundreds of years. Also, if you hang them to dry in the sun (or on a collapsible indoor rack) that will help the carbon footprint greatly since the dryer takes 90-95% of the energy use when washing/drying. The washer actually takes very little energy to run. The sun will naturally bleach the diapers too, so you don't need to use a chemical bleach. Also, you can use vinegar in the rinse cycle rather than a synthetic fabric softener. Vinegar naturally softens and there is no vinegar scent left on the clothes - I promise! Plus it will be better for little bottoms. I do this all the time with my clothes. Just some tips for any moms wanting to go a little greener.

Thanks Bandpal - it's good to know there are other "old" moms out there! And you are doing wonderful btw!!!

Hello everyone. I wanted to check in with my lapband friends. Everything is going very well - although the doctor keeps talking about my "advanced maternal age." gag! I've been keeping a very good weight - well, not by number (I'm heavier than I'd like of course), but I haven't gained like I did with my last pregnancy which is fantastic considering I'm almost 5 months. I just can't believe it. This band has definitely helped this time. I just got a complete unfill and I'm still not terribly hungry and I'm keeping a lid on things so I don't get out of control. I can still fit into some of my pre-pregnancy clothes. I love my band. I hope all of you are doing well and can't wait to get filled again and back on the lapbandwagon.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! I'm thankful for this band. While I'm eating pretty "normal", I have not gained like my previous pregnancy. Yahoo! I love y'all and will be back to see how you're doing.

WAtermum - do you have a website to go to for directions on making them? I'm 3 months pregnant (I still can't believe I'm saying that!) and I'm going with cloth this time around. The only thing I can't figure out is the poop issue - I guess that's where the liners come in??? It's going to be a steeeep learning curve.

Okay, have read it all! Georgia Girl - I have PCOS and am a perfectionist just the way you describe it as well - if I have one thing I shouldn't, I figure I've blown it anyway so I go for broke. JRFAN88 - I live in AR too. Where are you from? What doctor are you using? Irene - there ARE things they put in Doritos to make you addicted. I found this out recently. MSG. MSG is extremely addicting and can cause you to stop losing weight. It can also be hidden in the food label as wording other than MSG. If you google "other words for MSG" or something like that you'll see a big list of words to look for when you're reading packaging. So in other words, the food industry knows we are all looking for the word "MSG" because we know to avoid it by now, right? So instead of putting "MSG" on the packaging, they list it as a different name, but it's still MSG. Am I making sense? For example, if you see "natural flavoring," that's actually MSG. There's about 30 different names MSG can be listed as.

Irene, I've only read to page two of this thread and just had to post ( will go back to read everything later!). First, thank you! I am in the same position as you. Banded in Nov 2007, got down to around 170, gained back I'm thinking around 25 but will not get on the scale to prove it. I'm having such a hard time!!! chips and ice cream - yes, I have got to stay away from those too. Like you, I spiral out of control if I just have ONE! It is like alcohol or any addiction to me as well. I just cannot have any. So something that has helped me- I recently talked to a friend who did WW and lost over 50 pounds. Just knowing her struggles has helped me know that it DOES take a bit of struggle, and the skinny girls don't necessarily eat whatever they want if ya know what I mean. She said she would eat three small meals a day, that's it. No Snacks. If she was hungry, she'd look at her watch and say only an hour until lunch, or only half an hour till supper. She was hungry. I did that for a week and it was working - then I went on vacation for a week where that totally got blown to pieces. Now I'm back and of course fighting off my addictions because, yes, I had chips and ice cream on vacation!!! My goal is to eat three meals a day, no snacks. I know that's what it's going to take for me. I look forward to coming to this thread often!

Well, I have no words of encouragement. I had an unfill in December, and have been filling it back up until now. The last fill (a teeny one of .15 ccs) was too tight, so they took out the .15 cc's and all the nurse had to say was to buck up. If I could have bucked up to the appropriate point before surgery to lose weight, I would have. So I'm not sure what to do right now either.

I'm a night eater too! Well, actually I'm a sneaky eater - I tend to eat when my son is napping or sleeping at night. That is where I put on the weight as well. Oh, the head hunger! I'm struggling so badly with it. One thing that had helped me in the past is this - I watched Oprah one day when her trainer said that feeling you get at night, that feeling like you have the munchies, if you can curb it you will lose weight. That's your body telling you "feed me so I can stay at this weight." But, who am I kidding, I can rarely fight the urge.

Hello everyone. Bandpal, I totally agree - we still need each other, and I miss everyone too! I promise to come and post more often. I'm not sure what I weight right now and don't really want to find out. My goal this month is to make good food choices and exercise regularly and "feel" myself smaller. I think I've been a slave to the scale too much in the past and it has made me have a good or bad day depending on the number, so I'm trying to go by how I feel. Can I ask you guys a question? I've noticed a lot of you saying you know you're too tight, with reflux, PBing, etc, but don't want an unfill because you like the weight loss. Okay, so that's where I was in December before my unfill - losing weight but too tight. Do you believe you can lose weight without being too tight? I'm wondering if I can. I HOPE I can, I want to believe I can, but in my heart I'm not sure I can. I guess that's why I'm so down lately because I don't know if I CAN lose weight without being TOO restricted. I'm not even going to bother updating my ticker - way too depressing. I'll update it in 4 months when I'm back down there again!

Thanks! No, I haven't read the Beck diet book. I will check it out. I'm still feeling pretty down. I'm sure I've gained but, like I said, my husband hid the scale so I'm not sure. It just felt soooo good at 170 and I'm pretty sure I'm over 190 now. I'm not sure I can find a new doctor. I tried once before without luck. It did seem strange that they'd just let me go and leave it at that. I'm not sure where to go from here. If I could have lost the weight "on my own" I would have done it without the band years ago.