Ang1982

Everyone - thanks for posting what you did, it has given me a lot to think about. My surgeon (despite being fantastic) didn't really provide me with a lot of info or a "lapband bible" so I've kind of been goin it alone in that regard. I'm not a snacker, I don't randomly snack on things throughout the day (althought sometime I do snack but generally not)- I only eat at meal time usually it seems to be what happens at meal time is where I make bad choices. I told myself when I had the surgery that it was a fresh start yet I've somehow not seized control of that thought - I am hoping that seeing someone about it will help to teach me how to do that.

First of all, congrats on your decision to have your band done, May 19 will be here before you know it. And I don't think that there are many topics that you can't ask/talk about on LBT - that is the beauty of this place, it's a fantastic place for information, support and general commadarie (sp). Prior to surgery it wasn't uncommon for me to go 1-2 times a day, now I probably go once every 3 or 4 days, and I'm not constipated I just don't seem to have the need to go all that often (it's probably closer to 3 days than 4). After I had my surgery I didn't have diarhhea (sp) which some people say that they have (could be an anaesthetic reaction - I don't really have any bad reactions to anaesthetic) and some people get constipated. I didn't go for at least a week post surery and when I did it was just a "normal event" not "backed up" or anything. The occasional time where I may feel a bit constipated I generally know it is because I am not taking in enough water/liquids (I have a hard time drinking liquid in general - for some reason I just don't so I have to force myself too). Can't help you with the other question as I don't have that issue but maybe someone else will provide some insight. Best of luck on your journey!

Wow, great for both of you - wth is wrong with me that mine didn't click surgery day LOL

Stefanie, If I lined up all my fingers and toes and threw in a few extra I'd not be able to count how many times I "cheated my band" because I'd not have enough fingers/toes. :thumbup: Thank you for your input, you have done great and I hope to be able to get this show on the road. I have decided to actually meet with a therapist and see if they have any info that they can help with (actually trying to kill 2 birds with one stone - food/eating issues and hair pulling -I'm an eyelash/eyebrow puller).

Wow that is weird - let us know what your doctor says!!

Hmm, I don't know if I've had port-soreness per se but every once and a while I get a "cramp like gas pain" near my port but my doc doesn't seem concerned so neither am I. If it gets too bad or you are worried just make a quick call to you dr's office - I'm sure it's nothing to worry about (but I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV or the internet!)

I dont see how what kind of band you have affects where you can get it done... have you checkedout the Fill Centers USA website to see if there is a location near you? I have a midband as well btw (but I live in Canada and my doc that did the surgery does my fills)

Depends on your surgeon I think... my port is not anchored. It just hangs loose in my belly (to the left of my belly button). He doesnt stitch them in that way if there is a flip or something they can just try to manuever it around w/o having to do surgery...

I have a slight bit of restriction but no where near my sweet spot - I eat less for sure but the only thing stopping me from eating too much is me telling myself to stop eating. I definitely need at least 1 more fill and that may do it.. I have had 3 so far and go for my fourth (i hope) on Thursday. It is frustrating isnt it? lol

So I remember the 80's even though I was only 8 when they ended... and these things may only recall to the younger 80's crowd... Cartoons - My Pet Monster Stuffies/Cartoon - Popples Stickerbooks!! I remember all the different stickers girls used to collect and you would put them in a photoalbum type book and show them off at school/trade stickers. Other fond memories of being a child in the 80's: Jelly shoes, slap bracelets, spandex stretch pants, NKOTB (which I think eventually had something to do w/ my Backstreet Boys obsession in high school when they came out), fraggle rock. Ahh the memories.

Oh wow, that sounds like a crazy unpleasant experience... I don't have fills done with fluoro or any kind of skin numbing agent.. just lay down and bob's your uncle. My port is relatively close to my skin though as I can feel it if I rub my belly. My doc's been pretty good usually one or two pokes and he's in and it's done. Sorry for anyone that has a rougher time of it!

Right now - I love my band and it will do for me. I haven't ever pb'd as I do not have proper restriction yet and do not have to worry about slow small bites but I hope to soon have to take this into account. My band and I have a frustrating relationship because I wish that it was at it's sweet spot and it wishes that I would stop eating crap and trying to push it. However, in turn we love each other and will get to be a healthy, happy weight together. I am sure there will be days where I do not like it but I will remind myself that it is an important part of my end game goal and that without it well.. I'd still be over 300 lbs.

My doctor never suggested it and I didn't need his referral to get it... I did let him know that I was going to do it and he admitted to not knowing a whole lot about it but knowing a bit and that he supports me in my decision, wishes me the best and told me to keep him posted. His only concern was that he would prefer for me to go to someone "local" to ensure I am able to get the aftercare required (as opposed to going to Mexico - which is fine but where I live there are only 2 people who can do fills and neither take other peoples patients, so that was a huge consideration for me). In my opinion - if you don't need your doctors referall then do what you need. My best girl friend had Gastric Bypass about 5 years ago and her doctor did not support it whatsoever however she had it done regardless (strong armed the doctor into the referral) and after seeing her progress and how things were for her after the surgery her doctor was eating crow for years and admitted to it too lol. Good luck to the both of you!

Good luck getting back on track - you have done great so far!:thumbup:

Are you able to get water/liquids down? How big is your medication? Can you crush it for the time being? You could be a little bit swollen from the fill and from getting stuff stuck. I would say if you are able to get liquids down to drink plenty of Water to stay hydrated and to have Soups to get the nutrition in and let your swelling go down. Crush your meds if possible, if not possible then you may need to call your doctor and see what they suggest. It's probably not a bad idea to phone them anyways just to see what they suggest.

Another thing to think about is - as you lost weight the fat that surrounds your stomach also shrinks down and will make your band a bit looser. But if you think it was a sudden BIG difference then it doesn't hurt to phone up your doctor and see what they have to say. Side question - is your ticker up to date?

FANTASTIC POST! I'm 3 months post op and find it very helpful. But do have a question on your 3-3-1 rule ... is it "3-3-1" and then you stop eating completely or is it "3-3-1, 3-3-1,3-3-1, etc."? Does that make sense? As in you have your protein, veggies, complex carb do you ONLY take 3 bites prot, 3 bites veg, 1 bite carb per meal and you are done entirely? I just want to make sure I'm understanding you properly. Interesting protein shake recipe, I"ll have to try it - I've not thought of adding something like cocoa powder.. thanks!

Hmm to my knowledge it's not common for bandsters to need b12 so I would say if you do - it's possibly not related to being banded? Keep us posted on that one. My best girl friend has to take b12 shots every month but she is a gastric bypass patient and needs it or she gets lethargic and VERY scatter brained/forgetful

Hey girl, I think I would have to say that you probably shouldn't get an unfill but it really is a personal decision. As an example I'm going to use your stats/information and apply it as if I was putting myself in your shoes.. Hope you dont mind!! 45 lbs in 9 months is great, well done *pats on back all around* that is roughly 5 lbs per month (although we all know it usually doesn't work out so smoothly it can be 10 one month, nothing, 5 the following etc). So lets say you unfill and have a "food indulging vacation" and granted it is only for a weekend (I believe that is what you said) however, depending on how much you indulge you could easily gain back 5-10lbs in that weekend - I wouldnt want to undue 1-2 months of progress for 48hours of food inldulgance. Not to mention I believe you said you are at/near your sweet spot and if you unfill say "x" amount = 5cc's you may not be able to just get 5cc's put back in and be at the sweet spot again - it could take another couple of months worth of fills here and there to get where you need to be. And if you are anything like me going through the stages of getting restriction is frustrating as heck! And to risk being the pot that calls the kettle black it does sound like you are still associating "fun" with food. The reason I make the pot/kettle comment is I am still learning how to break that association myself (I'm just over 3 months post op) and the reason I want to break that association is as a part of my journey to the new me - the healthy me who has a healthy body and healthy relationship with food. Heaven forbid some day down the road something happen to my body or my band and I have to have it removed (the band, not the body - although a replacement body would be nice hehe :cool2:) I hope that if that time every does come (knock on wood that it doesnt) I will be equipped mentally and emotionally to deal with it so to not eat myself back to my old ways. Good luck on your journey, and I wish you the best :tongue:

Haha, those would be quite the pointers...

haha yup no psych eval here, just a $14,000 cash payment. Lol that is priceless. Wonder if she had to have a psych eval for hers. hehe

You will find things like chocolate and icecream go down pretty darn easy - that would be considered eating around the band. As would drinking useless calories whether it be in the form of a fancy frozen coffee, high calorie juices, alcohol, all of those things go down fine but can affect your weight loss progress because they are empty calories that you consume but don't feel full from. I am admittedly guilty to having empty calories in the form of Starbucks coffees however, most of the time I account for them in my daily calorie allotment.

Sorry I probably should have put a paragraph space or something in there - I realize you weren't refering to complications in general... My comment about complications was more of an "adder" thought... It probably should have read something like this instead: But I'm tired and it's been a crazy day at work so maybe that doesn't make anymore sense then the other way! haha. The way I look at it - slow loser, fast loser, average loser - it's still losin!!

I just wanted to say that I do not think that this is a fair assesment to give anyone who is just starting out in getting their band. You cannot compare yourself to anyone else as everyone is different. To tell someone to expect to be a "slow loser" doesn't really instill a lot of confidence in this person's decision to have the band. In my opinion (from what I have read) the percentage of "slow" losers compared to "average" or "fast" losers seems to be a lot less. Don't go into banding "preparing for the worst" go into banding preparing to kick ass and take names and see how things go - there is no point in upsetting yourself in advance for something that may or may not be accurrate. Anyone getting banded should be aware that some people lose faster than others and that there are risks and complications that *could* happen, but to go into it thinking "omg I'm going to have a band slip or errosion in x-months" is unreasonable/unrational thinking.

Ugh, I know it is almost painfully slow.