smilin_apple

Hi all!!! I just just got back from my UGI to see if there was an issue with the band (slipped, or something) sinc eI had been having this pressure and slight pain everytime I ate. Not to mention the continuous throwing up (at least 1 time a day). The results look good, no issues with the band itself. Dr.Alami said if I continue to have issues to come in to get a slight unfill. Any thoughts? I have had this issue off and on for the last 5 months; very little weight loss (if any), throwing up at least one meal a day, cannot eat anything more than greek yogurt for breakfast (sometimes not even that), the easiest time of day to eat (literally) is after 8 pm. I am trying to be really honest with myself about this band but I am sooooo afraid of getting fluid out and being able to eat too much, but on the other hand I leave for a cruise in 1 week and I am afraid I will not enjoy myself because I might have to get up in the middle of our fancy dinner and make a run for the nearest restroom to throw up. Some people think I will be more relaxed there and should have a better opportunity to eat easier while on the cruise but I just don't know. Please ANY advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

I need some advice...I have been debating on whether or not to go get a fill. I feel like I am eating too much at any given meal. Now don't get me wrong I'm not sitting there eating 2 plates of food or anything like I used to pre-lapband. However, I can eat probably around 3 cups of food at one sitting and I get hungry again about 1.5 hours later. To the point where my stomach starts growling at me. I try to hold off as long as I can to eat again. But I know that only 4 months ago even .5 of cc's was too much and they had to take it right back out. The doc said at that time I was probably at my max fill. Is it possible that I might be in need of a slight more bit of a fill only 4 months later even if I haven't lost any weight in the last 4 months? That is one of the reasons I haven't been wanting to go see my doc because I feel terrible that I haven't lost any weight in that time period. I am happy that I didn't gain any weight though. But I have been really struggling with whether or not to go see him for the last month. Any thoughts???

Speaking of fills... I have been debating on whether or not to go get a fill. I feel like I am eating too much at any given meal. Now don't get me wrong I'm not sitting there eating 2 plates of food or anything like I used to pre-lapband. However, I can eat probably around 3 cups of food at one sitting and I get hungry again about 1.5 hours later. To the point where my stomach starts growling at me. I try to hold off as long as I can to eat again. But I know that only 4 months ago even .5 of cc's was too much and they had to take it right back out. The doc said at that time I was probably at my max fill. Is it possible that I might be in need of a slight more bit of a fill only 4 months later even if I haven't lost any weight in the last 4 months? Any thoughts???

Thank you!!! I know it is possible to lose more than that if you are determined enough. I have lost 101 lbs and even though I have hit a plataeu for the last 4 months I have not been discouraged enough to give up. I just remind myself everyday that I can do this anytime I am ready to get back on track. Not to mention I am contemplating getting another fill. The last time I got a fill was Sept. 2008 and then the doc felt I was at my max fill unless I lost some weight or something changed. Well I definitely think things have changed some seeing as I can eat about 2-3 cups of food at one sitting. Just remember you have the control with the band, and with your eating no one else.

Thanks for the info I will check with my pharmicist too and possibly pick up the drug book (pill book). Yes I am in Sacramento off of Hwy 50. I was sitting there thinking today that I might be close to needing a fill as well, I haven't had one for about 5 months because my last one I was throwing up all the time and couldn't get even Water down so they took that little bit back out. Now I am where my doc thought was MY max fill about 5 months ago. Maybe that has changed recently. At work am off now, so I better og for now I will write more later. Take care

Oh well, I guess that is good to hear, at least there is a reason why it seems like it has been much harder for me...I never been to a pain management class and this was the first time I have heard of this. I think I need to go see my doctor to see if there is something I can do or possibly another medicine I can take that would not cause weight gain, especially since it seems to make it quite a bit harder for me to lose, I feel like I have to work extra hard at it. I hope you have a nice weekend as well and I hope you are not in too much pain, take care of yourself. I can feel the cold weather all in my lower back and I'm not even outside today!

Judy, I had never heard of the Percocet causing weight gain before....hmmm....I wonder if that has anything to do with my extremely slow weight loss lately. I take 6 or so a day depending on the day as well as 60mg of Morphine 2 times a day, not to mention the Relafen (muscle relaxer; kind of like Motrin) But to be honest I take the smallest amount necessary just to get through the day right now. If I took anything less I wouldn't even be getting out of bed in the mornings. What now? I guess I have to work EXTRA hard! Sorry to hear you have similar problems, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy it has been a crazy time in my life since these back problems started. I hope you are doing well, keep on top of what you need to do with Richmond Kaiser and Take Care!

Congrats on the beginning of your journey. Let me introduce myself...my name is April and I was banded at the SSF Kaiser in November 2007. I can't answer specific questions to Richmond's procedures but I know the Kaiser process is pretty much the same at all locations. As far as I know, at least back when I had mine done there was no requirement for anything to be done with the colon. That might have changed but I have not heard anything. I understand the struggle with the exercise, I still struggle to exercise 14 months later (well 26 months if you count the 1 year I spent in the support program prior to surgery) I have extreme low back pain, sciatica pain, degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis all in my back. Which can make things all very difficult to exercise. But I am making a concious effort to change that one day at a time. I think Kaiser was a great program to go through; however, I a struggled with the lack of LapBand support groups vs. RNY support with Kaiser as well. For the last year+ we have had a support group at the Point West Kaiser by CalExpo on the 4th Saturday of the month reserved in the 1st floor conference rooms which combined both types of patients. But within the last 3 months the staff was unable to continue the support groups with us there, but from what I hear they (the patients) still hold the meeting there but I am not sure if it is still the same dates and times. Well I will leave my LONG message at that for now, ask if you have any other questions. Take care

Thanks... I guess it has been pretty good so far.

Thank you...yes it really does help. I needed to hear that from someone else other than my family! It would be nice to get a full night's sleep for once. And the thought of having energy again....I can almost feel it! Thanks for the congrats, sometimes I forget how great that is so far. I could only imagine if all that weight was still on me and I was still at square one, then how would I feel. I don't know about everyone else but when you're the one losing weight everyone else might see a difference (don't get me wrong I do see a difference) but it's not as empowering from my view for me until I reach my bigger goal. I am trying to get past that too.

Thanks for the advice... I will try that with the CR and possible the Unisom. Hopefully my body can finally rest!!! Take Care!

Thanks...actually I recently started doing the elliptical and I really love it...usually I do about 1 hour on it but if I try to do it more than 2 times a week my sciatica really starts spasming more than normal. But yes I do love doing other things too....Take care and thanks for the prayers and advice about the support thread!!!

All of us that went to SSF was through Kaiser, not sure how the UCD program works. I hope you find the answers you are looking for. By the way when I started at the Kaiser program 2 1/2 years ago there was no prior info on Lap Band through them. They just started doing them about 1 1/2 years ago. You might want to ask the Bariatric Doctor directly, that's who I spoke to in my program. Thanks Vicky...I always like your comments it kinda puts things into perspective for me every time. I feel the same way about the band. I would never have RNY and I feel that the band is more permanent as long as you don't eat around it. I was eating around by eating alot of sweets...which is funny because prior to surgery I probably ate something sweet 3-5 times a year....boy did my mind mess with me after surgery; trying to find a way around it. HAHA! But honestly I love the fact that the minute I start eating even slightly better and exercising even just a few days a week I get right back on track with and can feel full again. I also like knowing my "pouch" will never be "stretched out" again like it could with the RNY. Take care of yourself and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Hi all! It's been so long since I have posted on here. Things have just been so crazy for me lately and it never fails I get distracted and I start to fall away from my support groups and not doing what I am suppossed to be doing to stay on track with my eating and exercising. Now I am just over a year out and I am still not doing what I need to do all the time and I get so discouraged with myself. But I am looking forward to logging on here more often to help get my spirits up. I feel like I am carrying around a hugh weight on my shoulders because I have stopped eating right and losing weight. Not to mention I am having a hard time SLEEPING...I get on average only 3 hours sleep each night. It has gotten so bad my doctor has prescribed me some Ambien CR but in the last 4 months I have only gotten up the nerve to take it 2 times. I am so afraid of becoming dependant upon sleeping pills for sleep. Not to mention on top of all this I have been at a "plateau" for the last 3 months and really need to be back on track with my weight loss again. I am not even at the half way mark yet, and it is just too soon to stop losing already, it has only been 14 months since surgery. Enough of my rambling on and on....boy do I miss posting on here!!! LOL How is everyone else doing???

Hi all! It's been so long since I have posted on here. Things have just been so crazy for me lately and it never fails I get distracted and I start to fall away from my support groups and not doing what I am suppossed to be doing to stay on track with my eating and exercising. Now I am just over a year out and I am still not doing what I need to do all the time and I get so discouraged with myself. But I am looking forward to logging on here more often to help get my spirits up. I feel like I am carrying around a hugh weight on my shoulders because I have stopped eating right and losing weight. Not to mention I am having a hard time sleeping...I get on average only 3 hours sleep each night. It has gotten so bad my doctor has prescribed me some Ambien CR but in the last 4 months I have only gotten up the nerve to take it 2 times. I am so afraid of becoming dependant upon sleeping pills for sleep. Not to mention on top of all this I have been at a "plateau" for the last 2 months and really need to be back on track with my weight loss again. I am not even at the half way mark yet, and it is just too soon to stop losing already, it has only been 14 months since surgery. Well I hope everyone else is doing well!

Hi all! It's been so long since I have posted on here. Things have just been so crazy for me lately and it never fails I get distracted and I start to fall away from my support groups and not doing what I am suppossed to be doing to stay on track with my eating and exercising. Now I am just over a year out and I am still not doing what I need to do all the time and I get so discouraged with myself. But I am looking forward to logging on here more often to help get my spirits up. I feel like I am carrying around a hugh weight on my shoulders because I have stopped eating right and losing weight. Not to mention I am having a hard time SLEEPING...I get on average only 3 hours sleep each night. It has gotten so bad my doctor has prescribed me some Ambien CR but in the last 4 months I have only gotten up the nerve to take it 2 times. I am so afraid of becoming dependant upon sleeping pills for sleep. Not to mention on top of all this I have been at a "plateau" for the last 2 months and really need to be back on track with my weight loss again. I am not even at the half way mark yet, and it is just too soon to stop losing already, it has only been 14 months since surgery. Well I hope everyone else is doing well!

Hi all! It's been so long since I have posted on here. Things have just been so crazy for me lately and it never fails I get distracted and I start to fall away from my support groups and not doing what I am suppossed to be doing to stay on track with my eating and exercising. Now I am just over a year out and I am still not doing what I need to do all the time and I get so discouraged with myself. But I am looking forward to logging on here more often to help get my spirits up. I feel like I am carrying around a hugh weight on my shoulders because I have stopped eating right and losing weight. Not to mention I am having a hard time SLEEPING...I get on average only 3 hours sleep each night. It has gotten so bad my doctor has prescribed me some Ambien CR but in the last 4 months I have only gotten up the nerve to take it 2 times. I am so afraid of becoming dependant upon sleeping pills for sleep. Not to mention on top of all this I have been at a "plateau" for the last 3 months and really need to be back on track with my weight loss again. I am not even at the half way mark yet, and it is just too soon to stop losing already, it has only been 14 months since surgery. Well I hope everyone else is doing well!

Hi all! It's been so long since I have posted on here and I miss that support so much. Things have just been so crazy for me lately and it never fails everytime I get distracted, I start to fall away from my support and forgetting to do what I am suppossed to be doing to stay on track with my eating and exercising. I am looking forward to getting plugged back into my small bible study group at church again this coming week as well as logging on here more often to help keep my spirits up. I really need to ask a favor though, I could really use some prayer I feel like I am carrying around a hugh weight on my shoulders because I have stopped eating right and losing weight. Not to mention I am having a hard time SLEEPING...I get on average only 3 hours sleep each night. It has gotten so bad my doctor has prescribed me some Ambien CR but in the last 4 months I have only gotten up the nerve to take it 2 times. I am so afraid of becoming dependant upon sleeping pills for sleep. Not to mention on top of all this I have been at a "plateau" for the last 3 months and really need to be back on track with my weight loss again. I am not even at the half way mark yet, and it is just too soon to stop losing already, it has only been 14 months since surgery. Well I hope everyone else is having a great weekend and doing well!

Well it looks like you are on the right path. You look good either way but your body will be much happier at when you are healthier weight and I'm sure you will too! When is your surgery? Are you looking forward to it?

So... were the "before" pics from before you gained weight? Or before being banded? Because according to your signature line it says you have not been banded as of yet is this correct?

I would possibly be interested but it is quite a far travel for me and not sure if I could actually do it financially at that time. Do you ever plan on doing any a little closer to the West Coast? I would love to go to one in Vegas or something like that because then I would have the option of driving the 12 hours or flying. Please keep us informed if you decide to do one closer to California! Thanks!!!!

I never went back to my surgeon because he is so far away and with the price of gas, bridge toll fees and all I wanted to wait a little while. Well I have my one year follow up with him next week and I will talk to him about it then. I am still feeling like I might be slightly too tight but not too much. I am trying to concentrate better on my eating. I have cut out almost all junk. I have been having some chocolate each day but I am trying to cut that out as well. It was my comfort when I couldn't eat anything else. Even when chunky soup would hurt chocolate was good to me and I have to get away from that mentality! Anyways doing a little better each day as far as the food but back to square one with my back pain. I even slowed down on my Water Aerobics because this winter weather has made the pain almost unbearable! Enough complaining from me... I know the feeling of the unfill and it is not fun just be careful with your eating because I was able to eat more after my last unfill. I have never heard of being too tight and not knowing either, I am going to ask my surgeon about that....but he does have a chart that lists "having acid reflux" even just at night as a sign of being too tight. Take care of yourself!

Thanks Vicki - and congrats on maintaining. I am so looking forward to finally being at my goal and being able to maintain like you are! You definitly are an inspiration to me!!!! Take care

Thanks Joann - but I definitly could not have gotten as far as I have if it wasn't for the inspiration I have recieved from each and every person here on LBT!!!!

Thanks Long2beThin you seem to be doing really well yourself! Better than I was at almost 6 months out. That is when I had 2 unfills and one was a complete unfill. And even put on 6 lbs over 2 months. So even with my setbacks I am coming through the other end...which means if I can do it ANYONE can!!! Bluebird29 - I felt exactly the way you did, as a matter of fact I actually dropped out the program one time before surgery 2 years before I actually had the surgery because I was conflicting so badly. But I just got on my knees and prayed about it over and over and then I realized that God was giving me this opportunity to better myself and I just couldn't pass it up! I will keep you in my prayers. God Bless!