nip50

I've lost 42 pounds and have had one fill, 3cc's in a 14 cc band. I should be able to get another fill later this month.

Sorry to hear about your first episode. I too have a-fib and my first episode was the worst one I had. I wasn't as young as you, but younger than most. I was 46 when I had my first episode. It is now just something I have to live with. I've tried all the medications and they don't work for me and I've had 2 ablations. The first one helped for awhile but never completely cleared up. I still have about one episode a month and it lasts from 4-10 hours. Then I just convert back on my own. I've been to many doctors and tried all the medications. Hopefully the medications will work for you and loosing the weight. All the cardiologists I've been to have stated that loosing the weight will help ease the strain. I may still have a-fib, but at least the strain won't be quite so bad on the heart after I loose my weight.. You definitely need to find a good cardiologist. Just remember that a-fib is something that you can live with and hopefully the medications will work. Keep up the good work with your weight loss.

I wish I could get on the exercise band wagon, but haven't. One of my biggest substitutions for eating is this website. This has been great. I don't know how well I would be doing if it wasn't for this. Thanks everyone!

UPDATE: Name...........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal...........To Go Nip50...........269 ..................264..................... 259................ 5

I also had my first fill and it was a piece of cake. My port is just below my bra strap so its really close to surface. They don't need to x-ray or anything for a fill. Just a little numbing and a moment later I was done.

We all have these rough patches to get through. Like you I have my first banding tomorrow the 29th. I can't wait. Hopefully it'll help with the hunger we've been feeling. At least when you overendulged it was with something good for you and not fatty carbs like chips or fried foods with lots of batter. You should be pleased with that. I probaby would have tried eating a bag of doritos or something equally bad. Good luck tomorrow. Let me know how it goes.

I managed to do quite well on Thanksgiving. I had to cook the whole spread myself for my family. We don't have any extended family in Georgia so it was just my husband and 4 sons. But anyway, we had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, grape salad (yum), sweet potatoes, green Beans, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. I ate a small spoonful of each (not all at once) and managed not to gain any weight, in fact I was down a pound Friday am. I really was able to enjoy it. I'm so thankful I was able to control my portions. I've never been able to do that before. I am really amazed that I could be satisfied with such small portions. Amy, those last friends will be gone before you know it. Let us know how your first fill goes.

Thanks for the posting, you have a great attitude! We've all had similar things happen. How about flying and the seatbelts won't fit and you have to ask for an extension. I also was afraid they'd make me pay for an extra seat so the last time I did fly, I had my skinny 12 year old in the next seat. Or when you go to a restaurant and they give you a booth and you don't fit. Or you can get into the booth, but its miserable to get out of so you have your husband stand their so people don't see how much trouble you're having. Believe me, it will pass. I am so thankful for this band. It's almost too good to be true. Everyday I just marvel as to how I feel and how the weight is coming off. Good luck to you.

Georgia Girl - I wonder if I have met you. When I went for my preop, there was a nice lady who was there for her 1 week follow-up and we spoke a little. She was a homemaker from Moultrie and was with her husband. Do you have black/dark brown hair? I was there with my husband and am quite a bit older than you. If it was you, both my husband and I thought you looked great for one week out. Looking at your results, you seem to be doing really good. How did you survive thanksgiving? I would like to meet the others, but won't be in Albany until the 29th for my first fill. I'm over in Douglas.

Let's give this a go! I'm not one who usually makes challenges. I'm always afraid of not making them. Name.........Chall. Start Wt........Current......Chall. Goal...........To Go Nip50...............269...................269.................259............10

Congratulations on sticking with it! The liquid stage will pass and things will get better. It might take a few weeks, but its so worth it.

I had horrible diarrhea for about 10 days after my procedure. It was mainly caused by the antibiotics that were given to me. This happens everytime I take antibiotics and I was given them by IV when I had my procedure. I know of 2 things that will help. And my lapband doctor agreed. One is to eat the yogurts with the active bacteria. What the antibiotics do is to destroy the good bacteria in your system and you need to now replace the good stuff. Another way is to take acidolpholus. This is a pill form of the good bacteria and can be bought at most pharmacies or health food stores. I got mine from CVS. I used both methods to bring my problem under control. The pills will be a quicker fix. You get a larger dose of the good bacteria than you do with just yogurt. Good luck - things will improve. I was banded 6 weeks ago and even though things were miserable at first, I am so thankful and happy that I did it.

I've mailed mine, but still waiting to see it. I was afraid it would just be junk. Glad to hear its so good. I'll definitely be using mine once I get it.

I spoke with my Lapband doctor's office just this week on that same subject. I'm planning one for January. They just stated to contact them before because they would have to modify how I take the liquid they give prior to the procedure. Otherwise everythings the same.

One thing to keep in consideration is where will you have your fills performed? A lot of the local doctors won't do fills on people when they haven't performed the actual surgery. Good Luck - you won't regret your decision.

I also can't wait for my first fill on the 29th. I just hope that I feel some restriction, even a little would be great. I'm tired of being hungry. I read once when someone told them they wanted them to be aggressive with their first fill. I'm thinking of trying it. I live almost 2 hours away and don't want to keep making trips if I don't have to. I know, we need to be patient, but I can always hope.

I was banded Oct. 11th. Add me if you can. Gina.

I agree completely. I may only be into this for 5 weeks now, but I think its the best investment I've ever made. Even though I've been horribly hungry this week, I've still been able to control my eating. I just keep reminding myself about my financial investment and it keeps me from over eating. I only have 2 more weeks until my first fill and can hardly wait. Hopefully some of my hunger will disappear then. It's hard to imagine what life will be like at our 1 year mark. Many others seem to be able to consistenly loose 2 pounds per week. Even if your average is 1 1/2 pounds per week, that's still over 70 pounds in a year. Now how great would that be? Good luck to you all!

I was banded just 11 days before you and I understand about being hungry in the mornings. One thing that helps me is eating Protein. I start most mornings with one scrambled egg and then mid-morning have a small Protein Drink. Then I have a small protein drink half way between lunch and dinner. As long as I eat protein with each meal I seem fine. As far as the Proteins go I've been eating cottage cheese, tuna, finely chopped chicken and even cheddar cheese. I also had my doctor's office enter the wrong beginning weight. I made them change it. They misread an 8 as a 0 so they had me 8 pounds less. I stressed that my husband saw my original weight when they weighed me and that my personal doctor had it on record. When are you scheduled for your first fill? Godd luck and Ihope your stomach quits hurting. are you still having gas? If so, try some gas-X chewables.

abckids - I also am having trouble with bread. I made some egg salad one day for lunch and thought I would try some whole grain bread. Had 3 bites and was miserable. I'm certainly not ready to try that again. I've been sticking mainly with soft foods, oatmeal, eggs, tuna salad, cottage cheese, and so forth, but one night I did try steak. Just a little and it was cut very thin. It was great and I didn't have any trouble. I realy like red meat so was pleased that I didn't have any trouble, but am trying to focus more on chicken and tuna. It'll be interesting to see how thanksgiving goes. I'm hoping that I can eat a little dressing and some turkey without any problems. I've been really tempted with candy and chips, but so far have held strong. We still have some leftover Halloween candy and my teenagers love chips. I keep trying to tempt them with fruit, but not having much luck with that. Hope things go well with your eating. Good Luck.

Nigella-I was banded 4 1/2 weeks ago and I must say that before the surgery I never had any second thoughts on it. It was something that I had wanted for so long, but had to wait until the money was available (I was a self-pay). But I must say that right after I had the surgery (within minutes of waking up) I started to freak out a little and asked myself what have I done? I shocked myself, I had been so sure before the surgery. Fortunately that feeling didn't last long and I'm as sure as can be that it was the best thing I've ever done. The first week was a little rough (but I also had 2 hernias repaired at the same time) and since then have been feeling great. So far I haven't personally spoken with anyone who has regreted having this done. Good luck to you.

I haven't had a fill yet, but I would wonder about the carbs. My doctor says you should eat protein first and then eat vegies and fruits, and that you should always watch your carbs. A lot of his patients try to stick to the sugar busters diet and they are quite successful. I'm also trying to follow these suggestions. Hope you get back of track. Good luck!

I was banded on the 11th and my first fill is Nov. 29th. Can hardly wait. I've been doing really good with eating properly but am definitely able to eat more before I feel full. Really looking forward to feeling full and satisfied with just a small amount of food. I also have mixed feelings about being banded after thanksgiving. On one hand I'm glad I get to enjoy it, on the other I really want the weight off. I'll have to see if I have any self-control that day. Wish me luck.

"Ben the Jerk" - I agree with you. I always try and eat protein. I've been banded 4-5 weeks and my lunches are all protein - tuna, chicken salad, cottage cheese. I then have a protein drink inbetween meals. And as my doctor told me, always eat protein first and then if you're still hungry have some fruit or vegetables. I can't make it from breakfast to lunch if I don't start my day out with protein. Even oatmeal won't hold me.

Good luck to you. I have 4 boys and I've always had to live with the fact that they've been teased sometime about their fat mom. In fact when my youngest started 6th grade, he didn't want to be seen with me at his school at all. It made my heart just ache. Fortunately he learn to deal with it, but what's even better is that I finally was able to get banded and I won't have that problem anymore. They've never had a mother that hasn't been fat. I'm looking forward to doing so much more with them. Once again good luck and I wish you well.