QuasiTova

Two year blues... and possible problem here. I was banded in Nov 2007, and lost 82 lbs by July 2008. With only 30 lbs left to lose, I decided to move to California (from Texas). My LB doctor decided to remove my restriction during my relocation (I had issues with stress causing me to tighten too much)... and he was concerned that I might not be able to find a doctor in my new town if I had a complication. Good thing he chose to do this because I have still not been able to find a Dr in my vicinity that will treat "other" Drs patients (stupid, huh?). So, basically, I have had "no fill" for over a year now because I no longer have insurance, and cannot afford to fly back to Texas just for a fill. Up until a few months ago, I had managed to maintain the weight loss I had already achieved, but was not able to lose that last 30lbs :confused: Then, a few weeks ago... I noticed that I was feeling tight every time I eat anything. That got me to thinking about how my old bad habits have resurfaced (eating WAY past full... eating too fast... not chewing enough... making bad food choices... drinking too much liquid while eating... etc). This past week, I have been VERY conscience of my eating habits, and I am still getting "stuck" and sliming after only a few bites. I have gained back about 7lbs, and am wondering if that weight gain has made me feel tight? Or if I have a slipped band, or if I have stretched my pouch and it is now prolapsed. I know I need to get back on track, and get serious about losing these last "now" 37 lbs. I have not been on this site in a long time, I only decided to log on to see if anyone else has experienced what I have been feeling. Several people have suggested going on liquids for a few days (so I am starting that tomorrow). Any other ideas?

I have not been on this site for a while... (bad bad me). I decided it was time to come back for a little moral support... and maybe a little advise on the current issues/problem I am experiencing. I really need to get back on track!!!! I just posted a thread about what is going on with me... any advice would be appreciated from my Nymph sisters http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f255/does-weight-gain-make-your-band-tighter-106228/#post1369941 Currently, I am at 74lbs lost... (gained 7 the past few months) :confused:

I, too, could have written this post :confused: I actually just posted a very similar post... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f255/does-weight-gain-make-your-band-tighter-106228/#post1369941

how far is Truckee from Chico? I do not really know the area very well yet. Also, how much does he charge for fills? I would love to have his info Thanks! I never really attended meetings either, I just thought it might be a good way to make new friends in a new town/state... friends that I already know I have something in common with

Hi, I am new to Chico... I was banded in Ft Worth Texas by Dr Adam Smith, but had all of my restriction removed when I moved to California... we were afraid I would be stuck without a doctor here. Boy, am I glad we did... because I have not been able to find a doctor in the area to maintain fills with. Everyone only wants to work with their OWN patients. Does anyone know of a doctor in the Chico area who does fills? I will be paying cash since I do not have insurance in California yet. Also, I would be interested in coming to the support group. When does it meet?

Does anyone know of a Dr who will do fills in the Chico area? I have recently moved here from Dallas, Texas, and cannot find ANYONE who will give me a fill

Dr Adam Smith in Ft Worth is AMAZING! He does every fill under flouro... and even has Saturday appointments.

I have heard people talking about these, and would like to get more info... What are they used for? What do they do? How many do you take? Preferred brand? Strength (if applicable)? Any complications associated with taking them? Anything else I should know?

Sometimes I get so JEALOUS when I read these forums and see how much weight people have lost with their lap bands... and then I shake my head and think, "YOU are one of those people". It is still hard for me to believe that I have lost as much as I have in such a short time. I still seem to beat myself up sometimes in my head that I "could" be doing better... but overall, I am very happy with the progress I have made :biggrin:

The monster inside of me has been awakened again!!! Let the gurgling, growling, rumbling, burping and slimeballs begin... oh, and let's not forget the panic attacks! Two months ago I went through total hell with my third fill... Water before leaving, to assure that I was not too tight (last time, I drank a few sips and left). Well, the water went down fine... not little sips mind you, but regular size drinks. So, I walked out of there thinking, "okay, this is going to be easy... maybe he didn't tighten me much", I even wondered if I would not have enough restriction until my next appointment, because I was still HUNGRY. I forgot to mention that I had a "slight" scratchy throat and minor sniffles before getting filled... well, this stupid head cold escalated after the fill... to the point where I cannot breathe or swallow. I think this has angered the "monster" who lives inside me... Today, I could not even keep down the liquid Tylenol Multi-Cold Symptom medication :thumbup: I am going to TRY to rest today, and eat nothing but sorbet (which actually soothed the monster a little the last time). Hopefully, this is just due to the nasty cold I have and not being too tight again. I REALLY need to make "friends" with this creature who now lives inside me.

I called my doctor this morning, and they are going to do a slight unfill. I guess I am just one of those people who feels the restriction 24 hours later, and not at the moment. Next time, when he tells me I am at a perfect level, I will ask him to back it out .25cc to "hopefully" prevent this from happening again. I am sure I will feel better when I return... TTFN

And, I thought it was only TEENAGERS that caused this... When my teenage daughter causes stress for me at dinner with her "smart mouth", I simply pick up my plate and finish my dinner in the BATH TUB. Yes, sounds strange, but it is actually very relaxing... and little by little she is starting to realize that she is hurting ME with her mouth... and listens to my warnings.

Where can I get lemon grass? Is it a liquid? I have never heard of it. I am sorry, I should have been more clear... I cannot breathe because my nose is all stopped up. I really do not think it is at an emergency level, just a nasty cold.

It is now 9pm, and I have not been able to keep anything down. I was able to swallow the sorbet okay, but about 30 minutes later, it came back up... along with a TON of slime. Anyone know of a way to cut down the mucus production while you have a cold? Cold meds are coming back up too

I am hoping I will feel better after this nasty cold goes away. I just hope the panic attacks don't make it worse... I would rather not FEEL the restriction,and just have it silently work.

So far in my journey, I have had very little restriction. I have been able to eat almost everything except chicken and bread. I have been very satisfied with my progress. I told my doctor that I wanted to take the slow and steady approach to this, and did not want to be very aggressive with fills. He agreed. On Wednesday, I had my third fill. My doctor was not there, and one of his associates did the fill. It seemed to be fine, as I could drink Water afterward without any gurgling or pain. However, a few hours later, I started feeling VERY tight... like a golf ball was in my throat. I was able to sip about a 1/4 cup of Soup, but nothing else for the rest of the day. Even water seemed to make me get that "slimy" feeling, and I was gurgling A LOT. Did not eat anything in the evening at all... and barely even sipped any water. Thursday morning, I drank a small amount of hot tea... and a 1/4 cup of broth later in the day. But nothing else. Went to bed again without anything in the evening, Friday (yesterday), I was able to continue with tea, soup and I added a few bites of macaroni and cheese... which seemed to go down fine at the time. When I got home last night, I started sliming so bad that I was spitting saliva every few seconds. I could not even drink water without it coming back up. I had chills, started gagging, and "threw up"... twice! My daughter said I looked like a cat hacking up a hair ball... but it was more like a slime ball. This was the first time I have vomited since having the band, and although it was not acidy like normal vomiting, it WAS somewhat projectile. There was a lot of slime in it, but then again, I really didn't have anything inside me to come out except saliva. I have only had water since then... and although I have not vomited again, I am still burping, and the water is coming back up into my throat. Not EVERY drink, but more than half of them. I am not sure if I am too tight... or if the stress of work was just too much this week (it was a rough week)... or if I am getting the flu or something. I also tend to have anxiety attacks, and that might be making me feel tighter as well... because I tend to panic. I am belching and burping A LOT... (and farting)... like I have massive amounts of gas in my stomach. This surely cannot all be because of the fill. I didn't have this reaction to either of my other two fills. I tried to call my doctor this morning to see if I need to be unfilled a little, but the office is not open until Monday. I don't really think I am in an emergency situation where I need to go to the hospital or anything, but I will if I have to. I am so hungry (and thirsty) but I am afraid to eat or drink anything because of that damn "golf ball in my throat" feeling. I read on other threads that COLD water might help... so I am trying that now... because hot definitely isn't helping. Has anyone had the flu and been sick with the band? Does anyone have any suggestions that might help relieve this hell I am in until Monday?

Tomorrow I go for my appointment... I think I need another fill now, but boy am I scared after that last one. I think I will just ask him to go light with the fill. I just hope I do not have a panic attack tonight and decide not to get one... because I have been starting to get hungry this past week... whereas I was not for over a month.

I just realized that I have the most gaudy signature.... heh :drool:

Heh, now THAT would be gaudy... lol

I love hummus!!!!! I have never tried using lettuce as my "dipper"... I try not to use chips or anything like that, but I do dip with pepperoni, celery, and cucumbers.

I have never read anything like this on here before.... so I thought I would share something new I learned... Last Monday, I "LOST" my glasses at work... but I could not get an appointment with my optometrist until Saturday because the drive is too far for a weekday. I needed to get a new exam anyway because my glasses had seemed a bit "blurry" lately, and I thought maybe my prescription needed an update because I am getting older. When I got home, I decided to try to suffer through the week wearing a pair of my daughter's glasses. I mostly use my glasses to drive, and I although I do not have a long drive to work each day, I DEFINITELY need them to see further than 3 feet in front of me. Well, when I put her glasses on, I realized that I could see better out of hers than I could mine... so the week was not going to be so difficult. Anyway, for the news.... my Dr said that the reason MY glasses seemed blurry to me was because they were TOO STRONG for my eyes. My eyes have actually improved 20% (which he said is A LOT) since my Lapband in November. When I asked him WHY, he explained to me that we have fat EVERYWHERE in our bodies... even behind our eyeballs. And that excess weight can affect our vision. I guess I have lost weight behind my eyeballs... :sad_smile:

Heh, I did that two months ago... now I can fit into my teenage daughter's "cute" shoes that I drool over. We now "share" shoes...

It told me that too... but I worked around it... lol I am totally at my max lines right now... which is why the first two graphics are next to each other. Not sure what I am going to do when I need to update my fills if they go to the next line... lol

Any NuNews? :sad_smile:

After the .25cc unfill, I felt fine... after a few days, I seemed to be in the "perfect" sweet spot... then, it came time for my next appointment on March 22nd... No way in hell did I want another fill... I am not sure if it was because I was "scared", or if I truly was at a good restriction, so I went to the appointment anyway... prepared to run out of the office if he took out that needle... lol I wanted to at least get a swallow test to see if it was just my fear... because I did not want to prevent the band from doing it's job because I was scared to go forward... Anyway, when I did the swallow test, Dr Smith confirmed that I was at a perfect restriction... I was still sliming occasionally, but only when I was stressed or ate to fast... so I decided to work on my "head" and HELP the band do it's job :sad_smile: Since then, I have not slimed at all... I am eating normal... and have lost 5 lbs (my goal is 2 lbs a week)... I have actually been pretty content with my band. I have started working out, so I know the weight loss will perhaps seem slower as my body replaces fat with muscle. My next appointment is coming up on Saturday, April 19th... not sure if I will need a fill or not, but I am not afraid if I do. (I am tryng to convince myself of this anyway lol)