MNilene

Hi Neighbor! I am in Moorhead! AS far as I know there are no fill DRs in the area. I had my surgery in Theif River Falls MN a 2 hour drive when needed:unsure: I had my surgery in Dec 2007. I do know the Drs in Fargo are not even doing Lap Band anymore. But, they won't touch you anyway if you had your surgery elsewhere. I had quite the heated debate with their nurse over this, even inquiring, what if I had moved here from NY & needed a Bariatric Dr, they said too bad and said it was people like me who have their bands done all over & in Mexico & then want a local Dr to take on the problem. I was like...huuuhhh... my surgeon is in the same hospital network. I decieded with their poor atitidues, I wouldn't want any work done there anyway. :thumbup: The drive is definatley a pain, especaill when I needed a few "emergancy" unfills, but has been worth it! I started at 252, down to about 180. Clothes size 20/22 to 14/16! Keep up the good work too! Ilene in MN

I am almost a year out from my surgery. I have lost between 60-70 pounds...not bad I know, but I have had some complications with my band needing to be emptied, refilled, then recently another fill, and another (small) unfill. I know I have not been following the program, eating WAY more & the wrong foods! I really let my exercise routine slack to near nothingness as well..:wink2: I was doing SO good up until recently, well before the holiday season & now I know I need to start again & get back to basics! I have been avoiding the lap band board, which I used to be read & try to post DAILY since I have fallen off the wagon, so to speak.I REALLY need to get back on track, but all I feel like now is beating myself up over my recent failures & at the undoing of what I have worked so hard to acheive up till now. Any help woul be greatly appreciated! I am ready to start anew!:thumbup: Thanks! Ilene in MN

Pic 1 was in lte 2006. 250+lbs. I had my surgery in Dec 2007 at 252lbs Bottom pic is Nov 15 2008. amost 1 year down 72 pounds! </A" target="_blank">

OK haven't been here in a long while, was banded 12/2007. Had 3 fills by April ( 4cc total), too much restriction, PB, vomit, etc, caused some slippage, unfill. Have since been refilling, last one on Oct 24, now at 5cc. Here's my ???. I have always been tight in the morning, now VERY much so. I just take my Unjury shake to the school where I work & by 9 I can drink it down. Lunch,, small amounts, no problems, plenty of water is okay, even some bites of crackers through the day. All is fine. When I get home by 4:30, if I eat (even when REALLY hungry), I am SO TIGHT! I feel stuck, usually throw up, slime, etc. Can I be tighter as my acitivlty level decreaes? I work with perschoolers, so I am up & about all day. Or, is my band not a night owl & prefers food mid morning to late afternoon? I have calls into my Dr, waiting to hear back. I was banded 12/07 @252.5 Current weight 11/08 @ 186

Haven't posted in some time...lurking though. Had my surgery Dec 20 2007, had to have band emptied in April 2008, starte refills in June & August. Started at 22 pounds, now at 195...Was wearing size 20/22, now in a 14/16...BMI tarted at 44 & now 33. I am objective of he scale numbers, as I work out 1 - 2 hours a day, so my measurements & clothes reflect my loss more than the numbers on the scale at times....mnILENE 1 Year before surgery NIGHT BEFORE SURGERY mARCH aPRIL 2008 AUGUST 2008

Okay, Now that I am exercising at least 2 hours a day, from water aerobics classes, cycling classes, circut, regualr aerobics & weight lifting& good old walking; My scale weight only fluctuates a pound or 2 up or down. My clothes fit GREAT! I am down from my preband size (dec 2007) of 20-22 to 16 ~ I started at 251 & am down to 196.I did have a set back, from my band sliping, being too tight & a 99% unfill, have started anew with putting on about 10 lbs, a slight refill & starting again! I am just stuck on the scale thing. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, but even my Dr goes by my scale weight to dictate fills etc. How do ou judge your sucess??? Mnilene

I felt the same way at 251. Even with dogs at home that I could walk, I just couldn't do it! My family joined the local Y & I felt uncomoftable just walking through the tour. I did put on a brave face & started going to water aerobics classes. I found, most of the woman were built like me, evn bigger, most were what I loving refer to as Grandmas & WOW, they are all so FRIENDLY! I started with 1 afternoon class Monday & Wednesday after work. Now that I am off in the summer, I have been really BRAVE & have been trying ALL the classes: BodyPump (which is weight lifting to music in a group class, a cycling class, also done in group deep water aerobics, Yoga, Circut training & even regular aerobics classes! I am going to at least 2 one hour classes during the week & 1 on Saturday & I have even found the energy to walk the dogs every night too! I do have to say, I have not yet ventured into the weight room as of yet, but I am sure I will by summer's end! I also saw something on tv about going to gyms for the first time that seems to hold true...most people are VERY focused on what they are doing & don't pay any attention to others & also, LOTS of people tend to join gyms regularly, so soon enogh, there will be a newer person in the class besides you! I really enjoy it now & feel like I have missed something if I skip! Good Luck on your journey! mnilene

I agree, a slight unfill maight be in order. You have done SO well & come so far! Rememeber, you have to take in calories to keep your body ready to burn fat during exercise! I had a second fill after 4 months & down 61 pounds, it was TOO tight, whatever I did manage to get down always came back up or I just wretched from all the slime! Inevidably, my band slipped from all the wretching & I had all but 1cc taken out & now I am starting all over! I had put back on about 10 pound & have had a VERY small refill, but now my body is needing to readjust all over again. Again, you have done great & look fantastic! Good Luck! mnilee

Me Too! Me Too! Though it's not a good thing for any of us, I am glad to see I am not the only one who falls bak inoto old eating habits. I had my band almost completly unfilled for almost 2 months due to complications & a slip slippage, & gradualy found I could eat more & more. If not for the fact that I exercise at least 1-2 hours daily, I am sure I would have put on more than the 10 I did! I have since had a small, 1cc fill & feel some restriction, but am having to fight off those old found habits again! Plus, with the work outs I have been doing, my scale weight seems to have slowed, the whole muscle weighs more than fat, but it still is discouraging! Let's all "band" together & get back on track! Ilene

Haven't been here in a while.....Banded in Dec, First fill in Feb, 2nd Fill in March, that's where the trouble began. I was down about 61 pounds. Then I was TOO tight, but kept thinking I was getting sick from eating too fast, too much, wrong food, etc, etc, so after a month of being ill, finding out my band slipped a bit from the wretching, I got about ¾ of my band unfilled about a month ago. Now, almost 10 pounds back, I am going in for a fill again tommorrow. WOW can I feel the difference & know that had I not been working out at least 1 hour daily, I surley would have put more back on! I feel a bit like I have failed, but am going to start with a clean slate & try to rememeber that I still am 50 pounds lighter then in Dec and that it will only get better again. mnilene

Banded 12/20/07. Had my 1st fil 3/11. With 4 cc total in a 12 cc band. Had 3 cc removed, due to overfill & a month of vomitting that caused my band to tip :huh2:. I CANNOT beleive how I crave BREAD:drool:! "Dieting" in my preband life, I always cut sweets & never had too much trouble with that...little did I know it was the carb monster ruling me! I CANNOT eat breads at all, as they cause my pbing, sliming & vomitting. I really don't want to have pastas for fear of the same ill results. I can eat mashed potaotes & baked, but it really isn't the card I crave. :whatchutalkingaboutAny suggestions as what could tmae the carb beast wihtin me? mnilene

I posted this a few days ago, under a differnt heading, but I think it applies here: Was banded 12/20/07 with 2 cc put in at that time. . Didn't have my first fill unitl March 11, had 2 ccs added in a 12 cc band. I was losing wait at a good clip, but was abl to eat ALOT. When I got my fill, followed my Dr's orders, liquids for a couple of days, mushoes, etc, but anytime I tried to get past mushies I would get sick, vomitting food, slime (what seemed like gallons :crying: & generally sick to my stomach for days. I kept thinking, it must be MY fault, trying foods I shouldn't, eating too fast, etc. My doc is also 2½ hours away, so it's not just a quick trip across town to gt there. Talked to my Dr & still thought it was me, talked about getting an unfill, by this point I was sick to my stomach at least 4 days a week & spent 1 night in the ER with fluids,antinausea drugs, Xrays, the works YUCK! I was getting to the poin where holding down liquids wasn't even working..Went in for an unfill today. Got 3 ccs removed & WOW what a releif! I feel great again!~ But, my Dr noticed on the Xrays that my band has tipped a bit from it's original placment. He didn't seemed too concerned. I have to call him in a couple of days, then we wait a bit for a small fill again....I am willing to wait. I WISH I would have listend to my body the first couple of weeks into feeling SO ill & had the unfill then! But, as they said, hind sight is 20/20. So listen to your body, don't look at an unfill as a set back! Be healthy everyone! MN ilene

Was banded 12/20/07 with 2 cc put in at that time. . Didn't have my first fill unitl March 11, had 2 ccs added in a 12 cc band. I was losing wait at a good clip, but was abl to eat ALOT. When I got my fill, followed my Dr's orders, liquids for a couple of days, mushoes, etc, but anytime I tried to get past mushies I would get sick, vomitting food, slime (what seemed like gallons :blushing: & generally sick to my stomach for days. I kept thinking, it must be MY fault, trying foods I shouldn't, eating too fast, etc. My doc is also 2½ hours away, so it's not just a quick trip across town to gt there. Talked to my Dr & still thought it was me, talked about getting an unfill, by this point I was sick to my stomach at least 4 days a week & spent 1 night in the ER with fluids,antinausea drugs, Xrays, the works YUCK! I was getting to the poin where holding down liquids wasn't even working..Went in for an unfill today. Got 3 ccs removed & WOW what a releif! I feel great again!~ But, my Dr noticed on the Xrays that my band has tipped a bit from it's original placment. He didn't seemed too concerned. I have to call him in a couple of days, then we wait a bit for a small fill again....I am willing to wait. I WISH I would have listend to my body the first couple of weeks into feeling SO ill & had the unfill then! But, as they said, hind sight is 20/20. So listen to your body, don't look at an unfill as a set back! Be healthy everyone! MN ilene

I LOVE the chocolate unjury in Lactose free milk! It is a flavored (or their unflaovered) Protein powder. I tried a chocolate whey protein & didn't like it. You can order single packs in all the Unjury flavors from their web site. BYW, THANKS lkgrubb for the link to Unjury protein calculator, never went to that page before, VERY helpful! mnlene banded 12/20/08

YIKES!:smile2: Am I ever having a problem with constipation! I even take stool softeners daily, they just make me gassy... I don't think i's good to have to take laxitives weekly, is it? :confused2: I can't stomach prunes either I drink lots of water, not too much dairy... There's times I need to concentrate on my Lamaze lessons from childbrith to get 'er done... if ya know what I mean...lol...:smile: Any suggstions would be GREATLY appreciated!:thumbup: mnilene

UHC was awesome for me as well! :thumbs_up:Covered all with a letter from my primary Care DR about my weight loss attempt history. It took some concinving for the buisness office at the clinic to understand that they could submit paperwork without all the rigamaroll that BCBS askes for...like the 5 yr history, physc evelas, dietician stuff etc. The local bariatric center required all these things as weel, & UHC didn't cover it all, so I found a GREAT surgeon who didn't require all these things as well. SO it all worked quick & fast! mnilene

Was banded 12/20/07. Had 2ccin band during surgery. WEnt for my 1st fill 3/11 & had 2 cc added in my 10 cc band. I hve had PB and/or SLiming and/or vomittig problems since my fill! The first few times, I blamed myslef, eating too fast, too much, etc. But afterspending Sunday nite in the ER SOOO sick (I posted about it previously, needed IVs antinausea meds, etc. ). I deceided I am going in for a slight unfill on Friday. I know it is not heathy to be eating aprotien shake, 2 tablespoons soup & pudding & water all day, any more casues discomfort & throwing up. I also realize I will not loose weight this way either, my loose has slowed considerably since the fill. So, it will be a little unfill for me to get myself back on track! I am looking at this not as a falure or slowing the process...it' the healthiest way to approach this. Hope all turns out well with you too!mnilene

I was so sick the past few days...:thumbs_down: Started throwing up everything on Friday, Felt better Saturday a.m. But was in bed by mid afternoon, feeling nausous. Sunday a.m. was okay and again by mid day, YUCK more throwing up.By 9pm, had my hubby bring me tothe ER, as I felt as if I had barfed up all above the band & felt like anything below the band wanted to make it's way out. I was scared all the heaving & retchingwould cause my band to slip or something. After Xrays & blood work-both looked normal :huh2:; 2 saline IVs with Benedrile & something for the nausea, I went home wth a routine for Mirolax & antiausea perscrip, that was after 1 a.m! Next morning, felt a bit better, slept until 4 in he afternoon. Started slow with part of a protein shake, later a bit of soup & water. Gonna start from the beginning...liquids, mushies, etc. Yikes...not a fun weekend!

Was banded Dec 20 2007. Had my first fill on March 11 2008. I think it may have been a virus...I work with small children, lots of germs with all the hugs...lol mnilene:laugh: If nothing else...got me in the 100's(199)...finally broke 200 mark!

Similar thing happened to me! Was banded on 12/20/07. Had my first fill March 11. Had lost 38 or so pounds up till that point...got the fill & lost NOTHING for almost the whole month. I though I was too tight, as the restirction hit HARD, not being able to eat things I had before, really having to chew,chew, chew. But realized I needed to readjust, which I have. I think your matabolism changes abit when you get a fill, maybe even slows down a bit. Eating less can cause this to happen I think , so I changed my diet up, began to mix in new things & amounts, even treats that I had almost given up completly & it all seems to have leveled off again & I have started to see weight loss again! It will come soon enough for you too! mnilene

I hear ya! Here in Minnesota, on the ND border, we got at least 8 inches the last few days! :thumbdown: It was beginning to look like spring, snow melting, hell we could see the grass! Although I must say 12 years ago, to the day, was my wedding day ~ started as a clear day, no snow, spring coats & during the ceremony, a BLIZZARD hit! We had guests stranded for 3 days that only lived 45 miles away! We even got starnded at my in laws! mnilene banded 12/20/07

I was banded Dec 20 2007. A few weeks out, I could sqeeze into some old 20s I had put away. A few more weeks, I tried again, & some of the 18s seemd to work, but, there was still a pile in the bottom drawer hidden away... Today, I can wear all the 18s, some are even too big in the legs & butt & I can sqeeze into the 16s! Although my mom has always said, you can't go by the number size cause all seem to differ, it still is a WONDERFUL feeling! I even bought a new dress today ~ tried one on from the Jr section & it fit! mnilene

i HAD MY SURGERY ON dEC 20 2007. At my second post op in Jan, My Dr said since I was still losing weight at a good clip & my hunger was low, I would wait for a fill. I went in March 14 & had a 2CC fill. I did find out thoughm that I had already had 2cc during surgery. I had never though of asking about that beofre...lol. MY timing has worked perfectly for me & I don;t go back to the Dr for 2 months. Good Luck on your journey. mnilene

Here's my 3. All Austrailain Sheperds>> Maggie, AKA Granny Dog is 13, our first dog. Jazz, the Red Merle, about 1½ yrs adopted form a no kill rescue shelter Aug 2007. Marly a Double Blue Merle, also called letha whites, she was born deaf & has some eye malformations. She is trained with hand signals, No, Sit, Come, Down, Stay, Outside...Stomp your foot on the floor & she comes from anywhere in the house & if she is outside (always in a fenced yard), we just flip the light on & off & she comes a running. Se was adopted June 2007 from Aussie REscue of M. We alos have 2 cats, Elvis (aka Fat Elvis) & Prince AND we have an African Grey Parrot named Blue that imitates EVERYthing I say, scream cough, burp, well, you get the picture...:thumbup:

I was banded Dec 20 2007 & had my flrst fill today. I did find out however, that I had 2ccs added during surgery. At my appointment in Feb, my doc was happy with my steady weight loss & said to wait another 2 months for a fill unless weight loss slows or hunger increases....this began recently, so I got a 2cc fill today. He said liquids only today & tommorrow, then mushies, etc, etc. mnilene