Jenne

Hi, just curious if anyone else developed a hematoma after surgery. I have one under my big incision which is slooooowly starting to shrink. My surgeon's PA told me that was what it was (which I sort of had already figured out) and she didn't seem too concerned. I'm not really concerned either, it is just annoying. When I look down, my belly still looks lopsided because of it (my main incision is to the left of my bellybutton). I certainly cannot feel my port under all that, and it is quite sore (like a bad bruise which is basically what it is). I haven't seen anyone mention anything like this on here, so I was just curious if someone had had this and how long it took to go away completely... Thanks! Jenne

Hi all.....*sigh* I've been stuck where I am for quite a while now. I have just regressed somewhat in my food choices plus I have gotten lax in the exercise area. However, coming to these boards and reading about everyone's successes and struggles really helps. I feel like I am ready to jump back on the wagon! I am very happy with my weight loss so far, but I am ready to lose the next 40 lbs! Congrats to all for all your wonderful weight loss and keep up the good work -- hopefully I will join you...

Congrats on all these wonderful NSVs!!!! Mine is pretty typical, but I was thrilled nonetheless... I had purchased a skirt online over 2 years ago. Sadly, when I got it, it was waaaayyyy too tight, couldn't even barely get it over my hips. Well, this weekend I was cleaning out my closet, throwing away clothes that were now outdated or too big . Anyway, found the skirt, tried it on for kicks - I just knew it would still be too tight because I have been steadily gaining since I bought it - but it fit!! And it was a comfortable fit too!!! Love my band!!!

Hi Gainesvillegirl! I too am a Gainesville girl! My surgeon was Dr. Sarrantos. I had my surgery in October 2007. PM me if you want to chat! :crying: Good luck to you!

I didn't really want to post until there was a significant difference, but decided I would be brave...I think there are some subtle differences anyway. You all look truly amazing!! Keep up the great work!!!!!

Hi to all the Tenacious Tens! Hope that you are all doing well and losing tons of weight. I just wanted to share my little story and get some feedback from you guys... So 2 weeks ago I went in for my 3rd fill. I had very little restriction with my 1st and 2nd - just enough to know the band was there, but not enough to really help me lose weight. So, I went in for the fill and he put 3.6 ccs in my 4.0 band. Awesome, right? Not so much. Once I was allowed to try food again (he has me do Clear liquids for 2 days, then mushies, etc) I realized that I now had NO restriction - none, nada, zip. I was so freaked out. I called and made an appointment to go back in the next week. Well, some aggravation with my doctor's office ensued, but long story short, it turned out that my surgeon didn't lock the syringe and when he pulled it out, he pulled out some of the saline. He was only able to draw back about 2.0 ccs. So he put it back up to 3.6ccs and showed me how tight I was under fluoro. And I could really feel it this time! So now it has been over 24 hours, and man am I tight!! Water is difficult to get down, I feel the pressure in my chest for a few seconds with every sip I take. I am concerned about being too tight, but I will see how it is in a few days. I so don't want an unfill after having little to no restriction for so long, but I will do whatever I have to do to be healthy about this whole thing. Now, here is my confusion. I have read so much about people getting stuck, and now have felt it myself with the liquids...but where is it getting stuck at? Is the pressure I feel when the Fluid goes through the band? If this is the case, then will food feel the same? I just don't understand because I thought the purpose of the band was so that the food would stay in the pouch ABOVE the band for longer so you feel full longer. So, essentially, if I understand the concept right, isn't everything getting stuck technically? I have been confused about this from the very beginning. I mean, I don't like the idea of having this awful pressure everytime I eat or drink anything forever. Maybe being stuck feels worse, but I am pretty sure what I am feeling is the water backing up above the band and then trickling through - once it is through is when the pressure lets up - I saw it all on the fluoroscopy when I drank the barium. Sorry this email is sooooo long, but can someone explain it to me, cuz I guess I am just a big dummy! :mad: Love you guys, and continue to do as awesome as you have been!! Jennifer Oh yeah, happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!

Thank you guys for all your responses...they have been very helpful. It has been 2 days since my fill now, and clear liquids are still hard to get down, but tonight I am going to try some actual soup (thicker but no chunks) and see how it goes. I am very glad that I have real restriction finally - what a difference! And I am even more excited that I will finally begin to lose weight again...! I will see how it goes for the next week or so and if I can't get anything down, I will call the doc, but until then I am crossing my fingers that this is it! :eek: Thanks again guys! Jenne

Love this thread! I have been trying to update my ipod so this is great timing! Some of my faves are... HRSA by Blue October Electropop by Jupiter Rising My Humps (Lil Jon Remix) by Black Eyed Peas Fergalicious by Fergie Rockstar by Prima J Shut up and Drive by Rihanna SOS by Rihanna Manic Monday by Reliant K Army of Me by Bjork Like a Boy by Ciara Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5 Feel Good by Gorillaz Whatever I Fear by Toad the Wet Sprocket Apologize (Remix) by One Republic & Timbaland Switch by Will Smith Say it Right by Nelly Furtado Glamorous by Fergie Sorry by Madonna Bouncing off Clouds by Tori Amos High School Never Ends by Bowling for Soup Its My Life by Bon Jovi ...just to name a few...keep 'em coming guys!!

Hi all, am 31 years old (and to Lapbandit, yes am married, but no kids yet which is a big part of why I got this surgery). I have been overweight since forever - never had a "skinny" day in my life. However, my weight has gone steadily up up up for the last 10 years and I look back at high school when I weighed under 200 lbs and think "damn I looked good!" Isn't that sad... Welcome to everyone and good luck!!!

Never experienced that, but good luck! I hope that they find out what's going on soon!

Hey bandster2007, how are you doing? Did you get your fill? I had one the same day and definitely have some restriction. I hope life is looking up for you these days..... :confused:

On Christmas, my step-grandfather said "So how much have you lost?" I told him about 30 pounds. He patted me on the back and said "Damn you must have really been big!" WTF? But he's like a million years old and I think he's legally blind, plus he's generally a sweet old guy, so I let it slide. :confused: All good fun holiday cheer, right? haha.

Well, I got my second fill on Wednesday (1/4) - am now up to 3.2 ccs. Well, so far I can definitely tell a difference. I was on clear liquids up until this evening. I had a cup of tomato soup and a small slice of soudough bread (soaked in the soup to make it easier to eat). Wow. I ate about half the soup and half the slice of bread and all of the sudden thought I was going to throw up! I had to run to the bathroom to spit out the food in my mouth. Luckily the nausea feeling let up and I was okay. Guess that meant I was full, huh? :confused: It's going to take some getting used to , but I LOVE that I got full off so little food. Yay band!

I do the treadmill - usually 2 miles and I walk/jog alternating. I am getting better....I used to only be able to jog for 1 minute at a time, but yesterday I did 5 minutes! I usually jog for a total of 15 minutes out of 30. I have really seen alot of improvement on how much I can jog and am less and less sore afterwards. Also just started weight machines yesterday - woohoo!

I have lost 30-ish and seem to be stuck at this number for a while now. Have 2.8 ccs in a 4 cc band and have very little restriction...next fill Jan 2nd! Can't wait. Great job everyone!!!

GROSS GROSS GROSS!!! And sooooo hilarious! Thanks for that - I needed a good laugh. On clear liquids for 48 hours after 1st fill and feeling super grouchy. Thanks!!!

Last night I was sitting on the couch with my hubby and absentmindedly playing with my wedding rings...they felt so loose. So then for kicks, I started shaking my hand and the rings fell right off!! Cool! Er, unless I lose them!

I had my first fill today -- he put in 2.8 ccs. That seems like a lot compared to others on here. Oh well, I guess he knows best!! He did it under fluroscopy and watch me swallow the nasty barium stuff and kept filling until the barium went through the band verrrry slowly. It felt so bizarre. We'll see how it all goes once I can go back to normal food. I am sooooo ready to have restriction, but at the same time am nervous about having too much. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Hehe. Amy, you crack me up. I, too, have swallowed several large automobiles in the last few weeks. I have my first fill tomorrow!!! Can not WAIT!

I'm with Kat817. I LOVE this day!!!! My mom, sister, and I are out there at the mall at 5 am, and we have a great day together just shopping and having a girls' day to ourselves. I can't wait!!! I look forward to this all fall - but then I love the ENTIRE holiday season with a passion. Parties, family get-togethers, cooking fun stuff, shopping, just general togetherness - this season has always been a good time in my family. My dad, who had health problems and depression issues, LOVED Christmas, and this was the one time of year when he was happiest and my parents actually got along really well. I guess those positive impressions from childhood really stuck with me because from November 1st through the rest of the year I am in a continuous good mood! I really miss my dad though....and always wish he were still here to enjoy it with us.

I'm glad you sent the email....it was very well written - I think you could still say you took the high road. Hopefully you can find some peace and closure now. I have lost a couple of very best friends over the years for various reasons and the pain is still somewhat there when I reminisce. But I have finally gotten to the point where I can also look back fondly on the good times and then move on. It sucks though, and I really feel for you. Good for you for doing proactive and positive things to get through this!!! Gym, theatre, Christmas -- all good stuff! Jenne

Well I've lost almost 30, but half that was during the pre-op diet. Blah. I have been exercising really hard, but the eating part's not going as great. I am finding myself making stupid decisions again -- got to STOP that!! I get a fill in a couple weeks...YAY!!! You guys are all doing great, so congrat!!

The love of a best friend should be unconditional. That is my belief anyway. I am so sorry that you had to go through that, I hope that she will realize her foolishness and cruelty and reach out to you. You deserve nothing but support and admiration for your bravery -- we all do. Like someone else already said, we certainly can't replace a lifelong friend, but we are here nonetheless. She says you can't possible understand her food/diet issues - I would think you would understand more than anyone -- we all obviously have food issues or we wouldn't be where we are would we? I think it is SHE that cannot understand what YOU are going through. If she loves you (which I am sure she does underneath her ignorance), she will come around and be terribly sorry for her actions. This sucks, and I am sorry.

1) I have some old jeans in the closet that I wanted to wear for my before pics because I knew they would be tight and show off EVERYthing, but I couldn't even get them close to buttoned no matter how I struggled -- well, I tried them on last week and they buttoned and zipped with no problem!! 2) Had to get DH to fix my bracelet cuz it was sliding off 3) Started jogging this week, and I didn't die!!

Hi Terri, Glad you found this site -- it is awesome and SO informative. I can't belive you've already had a fill! My doc makes us wait at least 6 weeks. I'm like you, I have little appetite in the morning, but I can get pretty hungry in the evening. I have been going to the gym daily and trying to eat 1000 cals or less, and the scale ain't budgin. Grrr. But I know if I continue to do these things, the weight will come off eventually - it HAS to, right? Have you read alot of the threads on here? I have read in several places that most people do not get restriction until their 3rd or 4th fill. Sounds like we have to rely alot on sheer willpower until we get that perfect fill...but obviously I have no personal experience with that yet. I lost the majority of my weight on the pre-op diet and maybe only about 7 or so since surgery. *sigh* Keep reading, though, and you will learn ALOT. Good luck, and keep me posted on how you are. Feel free to PM me anytime!! Jenne