ajoneen

Yep. they recently stopped that and added a nutritionest to the group. That kind of line up would definitely have helped me 5 yrs ago. Now saddly I am out of the magic first year window.

It has been over 5 years since my surgery. Ive had some ups and downs but in my head not real success. I think I didnt have in place at the time as strong a support network as I thought or needed. From the Dr charging to go to support meetings to me just not enjoying structured exercise (I have done 4 triathlons 3 since banding). I have learned that my weight issues are so much more then what the band can handle. Sigh

Im not sure who is following this anymore. I know the support I received here in the early days was a life saver! All of us going through pretty much the same thing. Now quite a few have had the band removed. After having no band related problems (that I know of- all my problems were my dedication to working the tool) I am having weird food stuckage issues. I guess it coudl be refulx but there is no real acid coming back up. Just kinda like air trapped and alot of discomfort! I've gone on liquid only and sometimes that helps, but sometimes I get stuck on liquid. Im at the point of actually hoping my band has slipped so I can have it removed and replaced with the sleeve. I dont think the band itself has been a benefit. Well I guess Im asking if anyone is out there and if they are having or have delt with this issue. Thanks

Im very curious to know how the thread starter has been. I was banded march 08 and am just now having some problems with food getting stuck. More like air bubbles not letting food go down, and then esophagus feels constricted. Ive tried going on liquid but sometime get stuck on that. Hmm

Interesting group here on Long Island: http://www.liponation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LIPO.Nation/info

Im coming to a place I've seen before- I am within view of 200(currently 212). This seems to be one of my biggest hurdles. I've been working really hard at the gym since last Feb, when I started a 3 day a week "Team WeightlossTraining" which includes a half hour of nutrition a week. Last week I completed another Triathlon. Right now activity isn't a problem. I sucked it up, made an appoingment and dragged a very supportive friend to the band Dr. in Feburary and it wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought it would be. I've been back twice since(2 fills) and have had a barium swallow to make sure the band/pouch was in good shape. The band is holding up its end of the bargin. Im scared shitless that something will come along and derail me again. Im glad I had the courage to write this blog in the first place, rereading some of the old entries was hard but I've also learned alot about myself. Peace A

Thanks for the kind words! Yep eye on the prize, right?

I went to the Feb & March meetings this year for "over 1 year banded", maybe a dozen folks were there. I went to a few meetings when first banded (08)- but back then you had to pay $20 a meeting- wasn't worth it. Still 12 out of over 6000???? It's a shame because the more I live with the band and work to lose weight the more I understand that the learning curve is broad.

considering that Geiss's office has more then 6000 patients this is a very quiet board. Does anyone go to the support meetings?

The Fat GIrl might be screaming but the Future You is whispering WELL DONE. Soon that whisper will be SO much louder and you will shout for all the world to hear: WOO HOO! and you will leave that fat girl in the changing room at Lane Bryant to whisper to someone else!

Well HELLO Shrinking Shamrocks! Ups & downs that about sums it up. Highest 280 before band 11/07, 255 on day of surgery 3/08, lowest 207 on 3/09, 264 on 2/11, 224 on 11/11, 225 2/12, 212 today. I saw Dr regularly the first year then didn't see him until Feb 2012. I was terrified to go back, I thought he would see me as a failure. (Didn't happen!) I've had 3 fills since then and a berium swallow to make sure band was still placed correctly. Dr says from here on if I dont continue to loose and keep it off then its up to me to see a nutritionist to work on that front. Guess what- his office now has a full time nutritionist on staff that my insurance covers! When I have the money I get support with a gym membership. But I've learned activity only helps me maintain. Activity plus attention to nutrition equals slow weight loss. This journey has been a challenging one. I've had to put alot more energy into learning what works for me. When I started the band journey I had tons of optimism. With the regain 2 years in and the struggle to reloose I am more realistic about what it is going to take to keep the weight off. Im glad Im not the only one to struggle. I still have never had problems with food getting stuck, reflux or other band related problems. TYBJ! I am very sad to hear of all the problems other Shamrocks are having. Especially the ones that have had them removed.

I just got a fill. First one in 2.5 years. It was SO HARD to call to make the appoitment and show up. I felt like a failure. We'll see if this helps.

Take it easy. Don't beat yourself up. Cut yourself some slack but don't slack off. No one ever said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it. (Im full of them) To embarrassed to see the Dr? I bet you were embarrassed at 278 but you got your butt in there, yes? Hey life gets in the way of life. I've had my ups(284) downs(200) and am now working at it again. Don't go looking for excuses. Just make a plan to move forward. Good luck!!!

No one ever said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it. Words to live by.

Hi all I haven't been around but am doing kind of OK. I have a special request. I seem to remember somebody going to a support meeting and getting some really good information on how to survive the holidays. Anyone remember that??? Do you still have it?? I could surely use it about now. THANKS!!! (PS wow things have changed around this site!!)

Hey Shamrocks! It's like old home week. Wish I had better new to tell but I guess its just best to say Im back trying to get healthy again. I hope to pop back in more often. Ive updated the regained ticker(ouch!) but left the old one too to inspire me. Amanda

I'm a few days into the pre-op diet and am having a bloated maybe gassy feeling (nothing productive) that is uncomfortable. I thought maybe I was getting a bladder infection because the discomfort is that low but I can pee fine and it is very pale and clear. I'm varying my meals so as not to have too much dairy but maybe I'm getting sensitive to lactose. I going to give Lactaid a shot tomorrow. Any thoughts?

I haven't had a fill in over a year. I wanted one the last time I had an appointment (6/09) but my Dr was out (I've only been filled by my Dr) and I saw the PA. She said after a few questions NO FILL. Go home and work on the diet. It is now a year later, I've regained A LOT and am now afraid and embarrassed to go see my Dr. I think I will cry went I see my Dr. I was doing well before the PA shut me down. He was proud of me. She made me feel like there wasn't anything the band could do for me now. It was all up to me. Now Im, well I don't want to say a failure, but gosh what else would I be?? So do I knuckle down and try to again lose by myself or suck it up and go to the DR?? Has anyone else had to suck it up? How did that go?

Hi I live on Long Island, Ny. I would love to have a mentor/buddy here locally. But am not going to be too picky. I was banded 3/08 and had some good success in the first year. I was very active, had a personal trainer and did 2 triathlons. Yay me! It has not been a pretty picture the last 12 months.Mom died, working stressful job that I almost lost last fall-took pay cut instead. I have pretty much gained back what I lost post surgery. I had 3 fills the first year then at the last Drs appointment, 6/09, the PA said NO fill "you have to work on your diet". Well that didn't work, did it? I really want to call the Dr for a fill but I am embarrassed. I don't have the funds to work with a personal trainer any more, which sucks because that was working. I'm playing golf every week, just started in May. A hobby that will probably stick because my husband plays and is encouraging me to keep it up. Apposed to the Triathlons which he thought I was crazy to do. So is there anyone out there that would like to work on this banding thing together??

The same three pounds are on and off. I'm essentially the same weight I was this time last year. I know if I worked harder at it I would have more success. My food choices are for the most part good. Im sure there could be more tweaking but realistically I can't do any better. Exercise is the hard part. If I could do 3-5 days a week I know I would be a success. I responded well to coaching but I've hit my $$ limit. Personal trainers work but are expensive!! I can not afford to invest any more. I had reduced the sessions to once a week thinking that would stretch out the time I had and hold me accountable. Ha! Even with me paying for him to care I could tell he was losing interest. Today it really hit me because I went to my trainers only to find he is out of business. I had prepaid for my sessions and am now out that $$. I wish I had someone in my life that cared more about my health then I do. My job is sucky. I do the financial side of the business and can see that the company is sinking. We are downsizing like crazy and moving the office to a smaller location but I think I will need to be looking for another job soon. Which sucks because Im socially close to my boss & his family and that friendship will suffer. Ya more stress. I gotta say Im feeling like a failure. I used to look in the mirror and think I looked good. Big yes, but good. Now I just see hanging, flabby, rolls of skin. I am the stereotypical fat person. I complain about the situation but am not willing to actually do the hard work that is necessary. Not sure why I felt the need to come over here and darken your day. Guess I just needed to unburden. Feeling guilty.

I've been tracking my food & exercise for the last week on SparkPeople. Accountability and all that. I'm holding off on the 5 day pouch test for now. Can't say why, it just doesn't seem the right time. I'm getting out and playing golf twice a wk(I walk, not ride) and the driving range once a wk for at least 1 hr. Mainly I'm being more responsible and conscious for food choices and making time to move my body.

Congrats on the pound! Gotta take em where you can get em. I found that when I hit my plateaus I could only lose weight the week before my period. Eventually, Big picture, Slow & Steady..... I'm sure you've heard them all. I've been tracking my food & exercise for the last week on SparkPeople. Accountability and all that. I'm holding off on the 5 day pouch test for now. Can't say why, it just doesn't seem the right time. I'm getting out and playing golf twice a wk(I walk, not ride) and the driving range once a wk for at least 1 hr. Mainly I'm being more responsible and conscious for food choices and making time to move my body. Getting back on track. PS I did lose 2lbs this past week!!

Begin what? I've been tracking my food & exercise for the last week on SparkPeople. Accountability and all that. I'm holding off on the 5 day pouch test for now. Can't say why, it just doesn't seem the right time. I'm getting out and playing golf twice a wk(I walk, not ride) and the driving range once a wk for at least 1 hr. Mainly I'm being more responsible and conscious for food choices and making time to move my body. How are the other Shrinking Shamrocks doing??

I love anything from Hale & Hearty. Before my office downsized and moved I had one around the corner. I miss Tuscan White bean, Senegalese chicken w/peanuts, black lentil w/ double smoked bacon & Three Lentil Chili. I could go on and on. Probably better I don't have easy access to them anymore. About "I should chew better, really, and drink when I eat". Yep chew better but I don't know about your Dr but mine said no drinking with meals, or half hour before or after. Moves food out of the stoma to quickly.