amonroy

You might want to make another appt just to get some peace of mind and let the doctor decide if he/she thinks you need an unfill. I was going through the same thing for about 6 months, eating things that were easy for me to eat and just tried to adjust to the tightness and thought maybe I was doing something wrong because like you I had good days/weeks and bad. During this time there was not alot of weightloss because I would eat more ice cream and just not good food choices, I would eat anything that would go down easy like soups, chili but never really felt satisfied. I have been in twice since November and gotten 2 unfills and the difference is amazing. I no longer want to eat/crave those other unhealty foods just to eat something. I eat healthier foods now and feel much more satisfied and comfortable. I now longer vomit/PB/or have acid reflux. I was told by my doctor this is not something to mess with as you can cause damage to your esophogus and she was pretty firm with me that I should not keep going on like this. She told me the band is there to help us eat LESS not make us NOT eat. I was sent for and Upper GI and need to go back on Thursday hoping no damage was done. Even if you don't need an unfill, it's better to present your issues to the doctor and be more safe than sorry later. Good Luck!

I have my band since July 2008 and i've been experiencing the same symtoms...had a small unfill my last visit and I have another appt on Thursday and I think i'm going to get a little more taken out. I can't seem to keep anything down without throwing it back up, even liquids like you said. Mine has been in the past 6 months also, never had any problems vomitting, PB'ing, or getting stuck in the first year so I don't know what the problem is. What did you find out?

I've had the same problem, first 70 went pretty quickly, now i'm at a crawl. My doctor said as we get closer to the weight we need to be for our body it will start slowing down and we have to work out much harder to burn more calories as our bodies have become more efficient. Glad to hear someone else experiencing the same thing, I was getting a little frustrated!

I had my surgery by Dr. Lane 7/16/08 and she is such a wonderful caring doctor who really cares about our success and our wellbeing. I really like her because I can always count on her to tell it like it is and I need that! Also the whole office staff is great, always helpful.

I have tricare and I believe you can also be 100 lbs over your ideal weight and have co-morbitities also. Do you have any health conditions? I had no problem at all getting approved although I did start out at a 42 BMI but I never had any trouble with them. I would call them just to get some clarification. Good Luck.

I think you were in my pre-op class. When was your sugery? For me, It's going pretty good...im just wishing these last 20-25 lbs would come off a little faster! Other than that i'm still adjusting to all this. How about you?

I was just wondering what everyone is doing to get rid of the loose flabby skin under their arms? My worst area of loose skin is under my arms they can flap in the wind lol! I knew to expect that and I know it probably wont all go away, but I would like to TRY to tone up the muscle underneath it some to see if it will help, anybody have any advice or excercises for me on how to work out that area? I've always said, when if I do decide plastic surgery it will sure be my arms first, how I long to wear a sleeveless shirt!

I think i've finally found my sweet spot after my fill last week, I went from 7cc's to 7.5cc's in a 10cc band. Before my fill I could eat almost a cup of food and was hungry a few times throughout the day. Now, I eat about 4 bites of food and i'm very very full and now it seems as I forget to eat because I dont get hungry near as much, when I eat it last me a good 4-5 hours. I did add another protein shake to my diet since I can't eat as much as before, I want to make sure I get my protein in. I don't ever get stuck, PB, vomit or anything and I just take it really slow. You'll know when your there, I didn't know what it was either until it hit me :thumbup:

I was worried about that too. I got my last fill about a week ago, I was 7cc and got a fill to 7.5 cc in a 10cc band. I hear people say over and over it only takes a tiny amount in the band for you to feel restriction and boy were they right!!! Just a .5 cc put me right to me sweet spot, if not a little tighter...I can eat solids just fine but in 4 bites im completely full, whereas before with 7cc's I could still eat almost a cup of food at once. I'm not even hungry anymore, it's made a huge difference, just hope it will last a little while. So I think as we get closer and closer to that "sweet spot" it only takes just a tad for adjustments.

I would absolutely do it again! Only regret as im sure everyone's is...is that I didn't do it sooner. I feel so much better than I ever have in my life.

:confused: Hello All! I'm almost 8 months post-op and one of my favorite things before banding , since of course everything used to center around food, was going out to eat and trying new restaurants wherever we went. Now I absolutely dread going out to eat because as I stare at the menu, even the kids portions or appetizers I know it is such a waste to order my own meal as i'm only going to eat a few bites and the things that looks so good in the pictures on the menu are usually not the healhiest. I know I could always take it home and have a couple of more meals out of it but it just doesn't taste the same and I end up throwing it out. My husband, daughter and I usually go out to dinner at least once or twice a week and I end up either getting some type of grilled chicken or chili...both of which I make better at home. Now I have just resorted to eating a couple of bites off their plates and settling for what they order instead of ordering my own meal, there is no joy in going out to eat and I find it stressful and like I make everyone else uncomfortable by my not eating much. I much much prefer to cook at home now and try out new healthier recipes. My husband is very supportive and loves my cooking, but as every mom and wife knows sometimes we need a break from cooking or it's a really hectic day. Does anybody else hate to go out to eat now? On a positive note! I had a fill Tuesday with brought me to 7.5 cc in a 10cc and I think i've found my sweet spot YEAH!! I only got .5 cc and that made the difference between me eating a cup of food at a time and being hungry during the day to about 1/4 cup of food and not getting hungry. They are not kidding when they say a tiny amount makes a huge differnce. I'm hoping this restrictioin will last a least a little while so I can get to my goal soon :w00t: Thanks for listening everyone, this is a great place :w00t:

It must just be my day for frustration, but I've let it build up over the last couple of months blowing it off. I do everything i'm supposed to do to lead a healthier life. I've had good weight loss, eat healthier, exercise, and i'm happy. Seems as though some of my friends and family like to tell me i'm obsessed with losing weight. I am not obsessed, I am determined to live a healthier way of life. One of them being my best friend since we were 5 (30 years) she told me she wants me to still be me and is afraid I am turning into somebody I never was---THIN!!! Yes she said that to me! My aunt told me the other day that I need to slow down and actually said I was obsessed. Now these two comments being from people who are also trying to lose weight, and I understand their struggle, of course i've been there and if I could have overcame it I wouldn't have needed surgery. But the big differnce between me and them other than surgery is that I am exercising and eating right...I didn't do this to not make a life change. Why are there always such downers. Everyone has to do what's right for them. I don't know if they are just jealous....but they claim to be "worried" about me. Worried about what? Me being healthier than them? I don't get it. Can anybody tell me if they have people like this in their lives and how do you deal with it? I know I should just shake it off, but today it just really bothered me. Thanks everyone :w00t:

Thanks everyone for your replies so far...it's been helpful...I guess I needed some support today. I really do not think im obsessed I dont even talk about my weight loss or diet because I didn't want to feel like I was pushing it on anybody or make anybody feel uncomfortable and sick of hearing about it, they could obviously see I was losing weight. They would ask me for advice or questions and i'd give it to them but never push them to do something. It's them who are constantly asking me, then they say i'm the one obsessed. I guess you can't please everyone :w00t: Mrs. Bubba--I think you hit it on the head with my best friend, I myself went through a bad break up before I was married and i'd always been heavy and lost some weight and she would push food on me because she wanted "ME" the way she is used to me being, I was her eating buddy and we'd always go to lunch or ice cream sundaes. We both have families now and dont get to spend as much time together but I do believe that maybe she is jealous. Although I love her like a sister, we have had our moments. Now that you say it I sincerely believe she is insecure and needs to realize i'm still me, I just look different. She has always been thinner than me and got the guys, now i'm thinner than her (but dont need a guy anymore) and happy. I think she was used to seeing me so unhappy, I don't know. As for my aunt, I think she is a worry wart, she has been a mom to me since my own mom died (part of my inspiration for surgery) so I can more deal with her worry I guess. Thanks for the encouragement.

Thanks Olivia! Sounds like you are on your way as well. I used to go to the Chinese buffet because it's my husband and daughters favorite place but I'd eat basically a bite of a few things I liked, even the lo mein noodles. But as I got more restricted the harder it was. When I was at 6cc I could still eat 1 cup to 1 1/2 cup of food, when I got to 7cc I could eat a little less than a cup...now with just the .5 cc I can eat about what i'm supposed to 1/4 - 1/2 cup off food. I still have ice cream once in a great while but after a couple of bites im actually satisfied. It truly is amazing what a difference it makes with a tiny amount of a fill, I was skeptic until I just experience it. As for suggestions, I normally eat alot of chicken, ground turkey ( I love to make turkey meatballs, just season them well), ground sirloin... I even have birthday cake, I just dont eat the whole cake anymore lol! I still eat some carbs but not the white ones, if I have pasta its the whole grain, whole grain breads but I rarely eat it. If I order a grilled chicken sandwich I never eat the bun because I'd rather fill my belly with the chicken that the bread. And exercise, I do lots of cardio (eliptical/treadmill/jog--or trying) at least 5 days a week. It's a work in progress.

Also as far as fills afterwards, my surgeon actually had a lapband representative in the room with her when I got my first fill which made me feel at ease as well. They have to learn sometime, and as for my surgeon I got the feeling right off she was a perfectionist and she is! So she does things the right way and expects the same of me.

I went through this exact thing myself. I really felt comfortable with my surgeon she was great. There is going to be someone in there with them anyway supervising to make sure everything is done right so in a way you are better off because you will have your surgeon and another experienced surgeon in the room...instead of just one inexperienced surgeon in the room doing the surgery alone. I have had no problems and my care has been great. I think you'll be fine. Good Luck!

Congratulations on your band, remember it will be a slow and gradual process and everyone loses different. Try not to be discouraged, we all have to find what works right for us. That being said, it seems as though your calories are a little high being that you said you just started exercising. What type of exercising are you doing? And what types of food are you eating now? I usually try to stay around 1000-1200 calories a day but I work out and do lots of cardio/jogging 5 days per week, as they say calories in/calories out. You will get there, don't judge yourself based on others, like I said find what works for you and find an exercise you like so you'll be able to stick with it. Good Luck!

Hello, one of the reasons I chose the lapband was because in case I wanted another child I could have my band unfilled and the baby would still get all the nutrients it needs, whereas bypass you don't have that option. My surgeon did tell me it is wise to wait 2 years to get pregnant, but being i'm already 35 I dont know how well that will work out for me. But as far as everything i've heard it's safe. Good Luck on your journey!

Well I have PCOS and i've lost 70 lbs. I can tell you that the growth has slowed dramatically but I still have it in all the places on my face (chin, cheeks, sideburns, mustache) that I had before. I usually get waxed now about every month from a wonderful lady and my stylist who experiences the same problems so I don't feel so embarrassed going to her. I used to have to wax once a week, then it went to twice a week. I still think I want to look into the laser treatment on my whole face lol!

Cool video, I just showed one of my co-workers who knows i've had the surgery and I was just telling her about my fill today so I got to show her what it was like...Thanks!

I have tricare standard and I was approved with absolutely no problem. I'm 5' 0" and I was pre surgery 218. It goes by BMI and I think mine was 42. I dont think you'd have to gain another 10-15 lbs. The process went to so quickly that I had my surgery 6 weeks after my initial consultation. I had all of my pre-op stuff done during that time such as sleep study, nutrition classes, psych eval, and everything else I needed to do. I don't think you'll have a problem. Good Luck!

Hi Dee, I was also banded in July. How many cc's do you have in your band? If you are having such a hard time with solid protein maybe you need a bit of an unfill. It sounds like you are leaning towards food that slide down easy..aka slider foods, with the slider foods you are going to end up consuming more calories and you wont feel full for very long. I won't lie, I do have ice cream on occasion but limit it to 1/4 cup or so. Is it uncomfortable to eat solids? Do they get stuck? My surgeon was very cautious with fills and now I think i'm in a good spot. Please see your doctor and do not be ashamed, your doctor should be there to support you and give you advice. Also please continue to come to this website there is so much good advice and things to read that you may be going through as well. I know there have been times I feel like i've fell off the wagon or have become discouraged but I come on here everyday and most of the time somebody is going to the same thing. Stick with it, you can do it!

I'm so glad I found this post with all of your great ideas, I myself am having trouble working full time, being a wife and mother and fitting my exercise routine in. I do make sure I get in my exercise but i'm feeling a little overwhelmed that their is not enough time in the day to do everything. My husband and family are starting to think i'm a little obsessed, but I do not want to give up on my exercise, it makes me feel so great afterwards and on the days I don't I feel awful and get down on myself. I'm glad to hear all your ideas and to know i'm not the only one out there that is experiencing this. I think i'm going to make a goal to myself to drag my butt out of bed earlier in the morning and get at least 30 minutes in prior to the start of my day, that way their is nothing that can "come up" later in the day to derail me. Thanks again :thumbup:

Hello, I was just like you with awful cramps with PCOS and endometriosis. I was amazed after losing weight, I no longer have the pain anymore and my cycles are completely normal now. I was also on birth control and NSAIDS and wasn't sure how I was going to go through it without them. I'm off of everything now. Hopefully you will also get to a point that you can be pain free. Good Luck!

Well I guess I'll be the odd one out, but my surgeon was fairly new at doing the Lapband as well, but she and the entire office staff have been nothing short of amazing. They really commit to the aftercare of the patients and expect the patients to commit to them for aftercare as well. Every question I have ever had was always answered, my surgeon too was also a very experienced surgeon just not in the Lapband at the time, but after meeting her I had complete confidence (also I could tell she was a bit of a perfectionist which I admired). I would just say you have to go with your gut instincts on this one, but the surgeons can't get more experienced unless they have patients to operate on. Good Luck in your journey :hurray: