Yvonne

Hi, Was wondering if you could suggest some brands of tasty Protein powder for me and I'll try to find them on sale here in England. Getting filled again after 18 months of going it alone. Maintained till this Jan then fell off the wagon and gained 2 stone. Time to try again and try harder this time. Thanks for your help, Yvonne x

Hi all, Been banded 19 months and still haven't found restriction - briefly experienced it after a large fill but it went when the swelling went down. I'm at 8.9ml in a 10ml band - was too tight before at 9ml and had to have some out - the fill provider said some fill is lost at every fill so the 8.9 amount might not be accurate. Now my surgeon thinks I've got restriction and just eating around it - I can't eat certain foods like Pasta and other things get stuck but I can still eat bread and large portions - I feel like having the whole fill out and going on a diet again - the only weight I lost was when dieting in the first six months and I've just been maintaining since then. Anyone going/gone through the same? I feel like a failure. Yvonne x

Hi all, Have had a chat with my surgeon, explained about the lack of proper restriction and he's agreed to take all the fill out so I can go it alone. They will still monitor me every couple of months so that should keep me on the straight and narrow. Just waiting now for my fill appointment - can't come soon enough. Longing to have meat, salad, fruit and veg again, and to be able to eat without getting stuck - heaven. Will diet as I did in the first six months with no fill - take turns about with a low cal diet then the atkins diet when my weight stalls. Will let you know how I get on. How are you all getting on? Yvonne x

I recently had a fill and am so tight that I can't drink in the morning - does anyone like to be like this or is this just too tight? The only thing I've managed to keep down food wise is a handful of pretzels - not very healthy - the weight is falling off me but I'm so miserable like this. Think I need a little bit out. What should normal restriction be like? Thanks for reading Yvonne x

Glad I'm not alone I've been referred to a dietician but I don't see the point - bit angry about it really cos I need restriction not someone telling me what to eat - I've been being good and that's why I've been maintaining - I could be sitting eating crap all day - then I'd see the point of a dieticians advice. I thought I'd give the fills one more go then if that fails I'd get the whole fill out and go it alone - at least I could eat healthily and not have to worry about food getting stuck. I know the difference between a blockage and restriction. The whole point of the band is the restriction limits your portion size - we haven't got that so what do we do? I'm fed up with people assuming it's my fault I'm not losing - I know restriction and I haven't got it. Why don't they believe me. I'm on the NHS here so have to wait till I'm referred for a fill - prob is they didn't let me have one last time so I think I'll have to be forceful and ask for one - not good at sticking up for myself - no confidence. I could even put up with being really tight - as long as I could get fluids down (I had to have an unfill because fluids kept coming back up last time) We know our own bodies - I just wish they'd listen and understand. I'll let you know what happens at my next appointment this month and with my next fill should I be granted one. Take care all - and let us know how you're doing and if you ever find true restriction. Yvonne x

Hi all, I had a fill on Mon - 4 days ago and was getting liquids down albeit very slowly - then this morning I pb'ed on some coffee - have been sipping milk since and it's going down - gurgling all the way - I have little burps as it's going through the band. My question is - will this ease after a week or two? My last fill caused swelling but I could drink OK. I've also read that fills can take 2 weeks to kick in - could I get even tighter? Was thinking of waiting two weeks then if still like this getting an unfill. What do you advise? Thanks for reading. Yvonne x

The swelling didn't go down - waited a week - got an unfill yesterday and it makes the world of difference - sweet relief to be able to drink again. Yvonne x

Thanks for taking the time to post some advice girls. Since the pb this morning I've been ok and liquids are going down better - what a relief - so will wait a while longer and see how it goes. There is swelling there cos I can feel discomfort when Fluid is passing through - so hopefully things will improve. Yvonne x

Hi Girlies, I turned 40 in Nov 07 and had my surgery Nov 06 - have lost 70lbs since then although the last few months have been terrible and I've stayed the same - just been yo-yo-ing. I've had my 3rd fill on Mon 4th Feb and that's me up to 9ml in a 10ml band, hoping for true restriction now - will be able to tell when the swelling dies down. liquid is taking it's time to go through so hoping this will be the sweet spot for me. Wishing you all continued success with your bands. Yvonne x

you could try WLS information and Support - Home british site for weight loss surgery - lots of info on there and members are always happy to help. Good luck, Yvonne x

It's normal to be nervous. I wish I'd had mine done when I was your age. Good luck to you. Yvonne x

You're not a failure - you just want proper restriction - sometimes it can take many fills to get there. I've heard that some fills kick in up to 3 weeks after the fill so maybe they make you wait that long just to make sure. With my fills I know in a week or so (once the swelling goes down) whether I've got restriction. Good luck - hope your restriction comes soon Yvonne x Just thought I'd add - I got my 3rd fill on Mon taking me to 9ml in 10ml band - hopefully this will be the sweet spot for me - was at 7ml before that and had no restriction. Everyone's different though - you might get there sooner.

I've also heard the sweet spot is when you're losing 1-2lbs a week. Yvonne x

Hi, I'd like to know if chewing your food to a mush affects your restriction - what I mean is - if your food is really well chewed - does it go right through the band or sit behind it? or do you have to part chew but not to a complete pulp for it to sit behind the band? I'm hoping to get real restriction after my next fill on Monday and am trying to get my head round how it all works/what's best to do - chewing wise. It's been 14 months now without restriction and I feel like I have to learn how to eat all over again. Thanks for reading Yvonne x

Congratulations on your weight loss Mick - inspirational. Wishing you continued success. Yvonne x

Hi Alex, Congratulations on this wonderful site. I think it would be great if we had our own personal weight logs on here. I was a member of a UK weight loss surgery site and here's the link to my log there : WLSInfo Forums You set up the weight log by entering your starting weight and height and the programme works out your BMI and weight loss total with every entry and also the percentage of your excess weight lost. There was also the option of making them public so every member can view it or keeping it private, for personal use only. I found it invaluable and it kept me motivated as I could see where I started and how far I'd come. Just an idea. Yvonne x

I said middle too - my port is just under my bra line, centre of my chest.

Hi Alex, Congratulations on this wonderful site. I think it would be great if we had our own personal weight logs on here. I was a member of a UK weight loss surgery site and here's the link to my log there : WLSInfo Forums You set up the weight log by entering your starting weight and height and the programme works out your BMI and weight loss total with every entry and also the percentage of your excess weight lost. There was also the option of making them public so every member can view it or keeping it private, for personal use only. I found it invaluable and it kept me motivated as I could see where I started and how far I'd come. Just an idea. Yvonne x

My last suppers lasted every day for a month or so - put on about 10 lbs but was lucky in that I didn't have to do a pre-op diet. I miss eating all my favourite food - have some restriction but not enough to be full after a tiny meal - hoping that real restriction comes with my 3rd fill. Yvonne x

I had to stop taking metformin - just too big - even in quarters - kept getting stuck and had to pb. Got my prescription meds in liquid form for after a fill - can take small pills now ok but that'll change again after my next fill. Yvonne x

Hi, I didn't feel any pain around the port but did feel pain inside when I swallowed - we can get swelling and discomfort after a fill and I've been advised to take only fluids for 24/48 hours after a fill. Hope this helps, Yvonne x

Congratulations and wishing you the best of luck in your new job. Stay safe. Yvonne x

Hi, When I get the golfball feeling I've either - eaten too fast - eaten too much or not chewed my food enough. It's a scary feeling and you have to wait till the food passes through the band or sometimes it comes back up, a PB - productive burp - like regurgitating. Hope this helps, Yvonne x

What a slimy old leech - must've been horrible for you. Feel sick just thinking about it. Take care, Yvonne x

Good luck Julie. I'm stopping today - only got 3 ciggies left then that's it. My partner smokes too and to be honest we got a fright when we checked the bank account - we're near the overdraft limit and have to give up because we just can't afford it anymore. We've been trying to give up for months but now it just has to be done. We have Patches and the inhalator to fall back on but will try to go cold turkey - want to get the nicotine out of our systems as soon as possible. I'm worried about putting weight on though - heard so many people say that's the downside - will just have to try and be extra good. Take care, Yvonne x