aneffie53

I was also banded on 8/23/05 -- darn it must be the date. I too lost almost all of my weight in the first 3 months and nothing since. I've had two fills the most recent was last Friday, but a total of only 1cc. I feel pretty restricted, only liquid for breakfast, soup lunch and small dinner. I'm not exercising and not drinking enough water, but still with the calorie in take I should be loosing. I went through menopause the last two years and find loosing afterwards has been extremely difficult - any similiar experiences???

Beautifultina -- boy did this ring true for me too, distrubingly so!!! "My weight allowed me that safe zone so that men would find me unattractive and leave me alone."

I'll have to say I found some very useful information in the book. However I do have one major issue. I went ahead and joined the website after reading the book, and found very little information on it that I was looking for. So I tryed to cancel the membership. Well good luck, that isn't easy. So be careful -- it looks like once they get you, it's difficult to get ungot.

Could it be that banding in Mexico began before it was approved in the U.S. So it's a length of time with the band issue?

I had begun this weight loss journey not wanting anyone to know, and this is exactly why. Unfortunately word got out, and regardless of the rate of weight loss that I can live with, others have different expectations. As far as the sweet spot I'm not there either. I had .5cc in my first fill then up to 1.2cc, afterwhich I had a unfill to .8cc. At 1.2cc I was too tight couldn't eat without pain, at .8cc I can eat most anything sometimes and hardly anything at other times. It is a learning process. The benefits so far are less bloat and more energy and I'm feeling better. But the weight doesn't seem to be coming off. I believe I'm going to have to move into the diet stage, which is not where I've been. So all in all there have been benefits, I too am a little disappointed in my progress. However, I couldn't have gone on without it, the weight was slowly killing me and it has to come off even if I only get 1 lb a month - that's 12 lbs a year and it's going the right way. So I'm not thrilled, but I do feel positive about my band and am hopeful for more than 12 lbs this year. In fact if I get another 12 plus my 25 already I'll be doing pretty good.

I have a vitamix and blend frozen blueberries and grapes with protein powder. This morning I had a whole apple with the blueberries. It's the only way I get fruit into my diet, I just don't eat it normally. I also put in a whole food powdered vitamin. My favorite (but not in the 200 range) is Mango, blueberries and grapes, with tablespoon of white grape juice (frozen concentrate) and 1/4 cup apple juice. This was a regular when I lived in Florida, but Mango's are always available or cheap in the Northwest.

They are still pretty and sitting on my TV! So if anyone needs a recommended surgeon in Western Washington let me know.

Had it for years but it completely went away when I stopped eatting meat 3 years ago. Nothing to do with banding, my body just didn't digest meat well I guess.

I had an interesting day yesterday with some confusion by the office staff at my doctors office. Needed to go in for a slight "unfill". They called me right before one and asked me to be there at one (40 minute drive). Then they called at 3 to get me in at 3:45 when the doctor was to be back in the office from surgery. Well I made the trip and when I got there was told he had just gone into surgery at 3:30, another missed communication. Won't go on with the blow by blow, but at 5:30 I finally saw the doctor. The doctor took full blame and aplogized, I had another place for the blame. At anyrate I get home today from work and I have flowers that have been sent by the doctors office with a note of aplogy. I have never in my entire life ever seen a doctor care one way or the other if the patients are inconvienced. I'm very impressed.

I would definitely wait the 3 months. I bet it would take longer than that to save the money it would cost for a self pay. Good luck!

The unfill -- no didn't hurt a bit. The restriction when nothing is going down is painful.

Thanks to all. I went in today and got a bit taken out. I was only at 1.2cc and now I'm back down to .8cc, but feeling better and was able to eat some mashed potatoes for dinner without it killing me.

Live and learn I guess. I'll probably regret it in another few days, but I had some fill taken out today. Day two began with pressure in the band area without eating anything. I was able to drink just fine, but even yogurt hurt (not bad like the eggs and fish) but able to fill the uncomfortable pressure. Some mashed potatoes went down fine tonight, but I only have .8cc now. Hopefully it stays as tight as it feels tonight so that I lose, but can still eat. Thanks for all of your posts, they were very helpful.