LilAngel

yipes! i wish i could tell you something, but i don't know. let us know what you find out so we can all learn from it! thanks and good luck!

Exact same for me.

:welcome: :welcome: :welcome: We're glad you found us too! Good luck at your first consult. I am too new at this to tell you what I think about the band that you can't learn from the literature or the experienced folks here. I still wish you well, though and welcome you the site!

Ha! Crack me up--so true...:eek:

"I posted a question last week trying to find out if anyone has even heard of a band leak. I got 1 response." I guess I missed your original post, so did I miss the symptoms you had as well? Would you mind repeating them to me, if so? How did you come to think you might have a leak. I don't think I do or anything, i just wanted to learn from this. Also, I am sorry you are going through this. Good luck.

*Hey Photonut* I really appreciate that you are open to learning. You have acknowledged some really good points made here that maybe you hadn't thought of yet while making excellent points of your own. That's the kind of theads that are so cool and we all learn from them. I know I have. Thanks.

HA HA!! :eek: How did I miss this post a second ago? That's a good one. Cheating like what? TrimSpa? Zantrex? Fiber pills? Phentermine? Mini-thins? Let's see what else have I tried... What have other's tried? hmmmmm.. Anyway, I am not laughing at you, that comment just really struck me. What a giggle. But I agree with you, if it is cheating, good for me. It's a much healthier way for me to cheat than all that speed I took. (I know, sad but true. :frusty: )

Thank you, it feels great to have support like that. :clap2: As far as it really being easy...hmmmm...Maybe when I actually lose a pound I could let you know. :eek:

Kryssa, I know we go through similar things, but I have to say that sliming is VERY rare for me. Once I started taking tiny bites that stopped for me. Not saying you don't, in fact you might. It just worries me, that's all. I am glad you are postponing. I wish I had some advice, though. Let us know when you figure out your next step. I would love to know how things go. Keep your chin up, k?

I did not know if I should post at first, because it seems that my short time of being banded might skew the data. I wonder if how long we all have been banded were figured in, if the numbers would be different in the end. Just “thinking out loud.” Here’s mine anyway, in case… Banded 10/5/05 Dr. Ortiz in TJ 2 fills so far So far no problems. Thanks!

I am so glad you brought this up. Not because I have anything ingenious to say, but because I realize I really need to explore these issues. Just this weekend I was speaking to a friend who had RNY and was feeling as if I had to let her know “I knew it wouldn’t be easy.” Well, as it is, I have not lost any weight at all, so that was true. Still, I realized that I was trying to convince her of something she knew just as much about (or more) as I did. Part of this was because I thought she was judging me (I only had 80 lbs to lose and the WLS hierarchy head game I, too, play with myself was creating a chip on my shoulder.) This story, including other conversations about where the chip came from, goes much deeper, and I do not want to bore you with the details, but I do really need to think about this. This will be good for me and help me to be honest with myself on a number of issues. You always have the best questions, Vines! :puke:

Kryssa, I sure hope you are feeling much better. I know you are on a mission right now with your fills, so I was wondering when your next one is. I see you are at 2.2, but are several fills in. My second fill took me to 2.8, so I am curious how far your next will go (and you know I have the same problem as you right now). I also agree with everyone else one looking for more medical answers. I know you said your thyroid was fine, but it could be something else. Years ago I was reluctant to go because I thought the thyroid bit was hokey. What a bozo I was! Turns out my thyroid is frightenly low. My pulse is barely with in normal range (58-60 bpm), skin disgustingly scaly all over my body, I'm ALWAYS cold and my gall bladder even has decreased functioning! I should have gotten to the doctor sooner. GO GO GO and demand answers! Let us know how you do.

Girl, You absolutely crack me up!!! For me, I am going for my 3rd fill in a few weeks because I still don't have much restriction. I can defintely tell I eat less, but not enough to really lose. So hang in there, it may take one (and yes 6 wks should be fine) or 3-4. Who knows? It hasn't happened for me yet totally, but I still have more hope than ever before, still feel good and haven't lost any weight since my pre-surgery diet! but still everyone is different. congrats on your prgress and let us know how it goes!

This probabaly doesn't come up a lot because it is probably more the exception than the rule. In my case, I went to Mexico because US doctors wouldn't even talk to me or return my phone calls. I was willing to self-pay here (if for nothing else, the convenience of local aftercare), but I was only 80 pounds overweight. Obese, but not obese enough. This is a US standard, so I suppose the doctors were doing as regulated? I don't want to get into arguing the merits or value of someone my size having the surgey, because it really is such a personal choice. Or even if Mexico was really one of my only options (the option of gaining weight to lose, for example). I was just glad that foreign shores provided an opportunity for me that was not an option here. And so far so good. As I said, that may the exception, but I just wanted to share my experience. Thanks.

Kryssa, you're on! I would love to see the both of us get out next fills and start looking like rabbits! Speaking of looks...You guys are quite the pair! Congrats to your sister! You all are beautiful!

I appreciate this post alot. Thank you. But my guess is, there is nothing Plain Jane about you! You seem like a fantastically fun and strong gal to me. Good luck to you sans band.

Jacqui---AMEN!!! Newsho--I understand. Even back in my Weight Watchers days, when I got so close, I still felt like a buffalo with that last 20 lbs to go. I don't doubt you apprecaite how far you have come, but that never relieves how far you still feel you have to go. I sure hope you make it there. Good luck.

Go Kryssa! You sound just like me. "first bite blues" Yep that is it! Four months certainly hasn't made me an expert either, but I think you are still right to demand those answers. You guys rock.

Vines, My initial response is, I love you!! You are so good for me, and probably many others, as that strong voice helping me to push on. In fact, I had you on my mind last night. I will explain. I found a website that said that folks with thyroid problems could subtract 200 more calories from what they need to take in to either maintain or lose weight. (I have been plagued with this for years and nothing seems to be getting better. That struggle itself could be a whole thread. I found it on about.com. I go there a lot to learn about general things. I will track it down again if you would like to see it.) I wondered how come none of my doctors ever mentioned this to me? Is it really a fact? Was this just one person’s view? Are my doctors clueless? Even the ones I thought of as “good” doctors? Now, I have also read that if we slept in bed all day that women (generally) would only need 1300 calories a day to MAINTAIN their weight. That means some one with thyroid issues would need only 1100. Of course, most folks don’t sleep all day, but it was a crazy thought still to think that when I am getting my normal 1000-1200 calories a day, that I might not even be close to doing enough to lose weight. WHAT???!! Most folks would think that is insane. Granted these are pretty rough numbers, and everyone comes up with something different, but what a wake up call! Now I am not surprised that I even gained after my surgery. I sure hope my third fill works out. I would have thought 2.8cc would have helped enough, but it didn’t. I hope they are measuring how much is in there every time and that I am not leaking or something. Scary thought, there. Anyway, I am going to keep investigating this and see if I can find some more consistent numbers. I am mad with the figures swirling around my head and the poundage around my waist. Vines, or any one else, let me know if you want me to pass any of the above-mentioned info along. Are there a lot of folks out there with the thyroid issue? Is it really coming in to play here that much? What else is going on? I am with you Vines, something is not right, and I am tired of being blamed. You go girl!

I just posted earlier today in the regular turtle thread. I am going for my third fill next week and I actually have gained a few pounds since surgery. I think I have lost those few but that gives me a net loss of zero. Filled to 2.8 currently. ?? Does that sound right? Do I qualify? Maybe my third fill will be charmed. I have my fingers crossed.

Well, I finally had a look at this thread. I hope I can get kicked out after my next fill (number 3) but since October ( I don't bother with stats in siggy because it's pathetic) I actually gained a couple of pounds. Recently, I managed to lose them again, but at this rate my actual lose since "day of" is a big zero. Boo hoo, for me. I am keeping my head up, but I just don't have this thing figured out. I get frustrated seeing that this far in most folks are doing great. I am happy for them, but *sigh* In due time.... I must hope anyway.

I could have sworn I was just reading about this about a week ago. I haven't figured out where yet, though. Maybe do a serach? I think there is some stuff on this on here. GOOD LUCK!

I guess this counts. I guess about anything counts if you notice it, right? So here it is… From someone formerly of the Clean Plate Club, I just realized after tossing some of my lunch away today, that I haven’t finished a meal in…weeks maybe? I know that sounds like a big, “duh!” But considering I have had this thing since October and have only GAINED 2 pounds, I have to hold onto something. I think it will get better soon. This last fill seemed to help, and I just might be starting to get the hang of this. Guess I am a very slow learner, (and definitely a slow loser). But at least something seems to be changing. WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

I just now got a chance to come back to this thread and after a crazy stressful week, it was wonderful. thanks to everyone who posted. now to address a question... Jolean, don't worry. The issue with me was that my fills have not been successful so far. This last one seemed to help some, but actually, will power is still playing a big part of it for me. especially since the food is moving through just fast enough for me to keep eating even after my pouch would have normally been full. it is difficult to explain, and difficult to know exactly when to stop, so when i realized that i hadn't finished my plate in a while i was thrilled. that didn't really start to happen for me until i started nibbling everything and eating even slower than my usual snail's pace. so yeah, that part will always have to come from us, but the proper fill will do a lot for you. i hope that helped. and mousecrazy, you can jump in on my glory anytime!! thanks everyone! have a great day!

My guy and I are contemplating a move to the Lexington area, because I am originally from KY, but one of my concerns is my aftercare. I was banded in Mexico, so a lot of docs, etc, are very hands off. I am fine to travel to Mex now because I am in AZ, but that is quite a trip from KY. Anybody from KY around here? Do you have any ideas for aftercare? Thanks.