notateechanow

Ok, after writing above I decided to call Dr. R's office to make an appointment for a slight unfill. I'm not dying by any stretch of the imagination, but have a really tough time eating solids before like 5 or 6 PM.....and it's not helping me lose any weight. So, rather than being uncomfortable, I want to get a little taken out. Can you believe she told me it's a 2-3 week wait for an appointment?! I explained I'd be ok with seeing a NP or PA, that he's not all that anyway....but seriously?! I'm not all that pleased that the wait is this long! Fortunately, Jennifer found a 9:00 appointment tomorrow after a cancelation. (Thank you to whomever canceled!) I'm not desperate for an unfill, but are you kidding me?! It defies logic that someone should have to wait that long for an appointment! I'm not one to run to the doctor at every possible moment, so I've been like this for at least a few weeks---waiting another 2-3 would have been tough. UGH. Just needed to vent. Are you all experiencing the same thing?!

Not making it to the Support group today...it came up too fast and I have plans to see my brother's family. Since there's not meeting at the Brigham this month, I guess it's September for me!

I'm laughing as I re-read this thread. I was bored and just looking through, reflecting on the past year of my life. (I just got a renewal notice for my apartment....) I still haven't gotten to Onderland yet, but am working hard to do so. I've run two 5K races, rather than just doing the initial one in May that I planned. I competed in the discus (my college sport) in two track meets in June and July and eventually hurt my knee. I haven't been able to run since July, but am meeting with my trainer on Tuesday and keeping up with PT. I spent yesterday with friends from growing up. We have an annual wiffleball tournament that is all eating and drinking, from early in the morning til late at night, and I had a huge "lightbulb" moment. (Think 120+ people with a bonfire, food tables and a farm!) I cannot believe how much more I enjoyed the party without the push of needing to eat everything offered. I'm still single (but dating up a storm!) so I didn't bring anyone with me....however, an old friend brought a few of her friends and I really enjoying getting to know one of them. I realize now how different life is without my ex. The winter was a truly transformative time, when I realized he was not the "man" I thought him to be, but a boy playing a role....I am still stunned to hear about his past and who he apparently really is. He has a criminal past and has tried to cut back his visitation with his two young boys. (After being with all of my friends' kids for the day, I can't imagine how any parent could do that....) Everything truly does happen for a reason. I'm facing challenges and doing things I never imagined I'd do. I hate running still, but I LOVE the challenge of getting to the finish line and of wanting to better my time with each race. There will be more when the weather cooperates and my knee heals. If not for my leaving my ex, this life would not have been possible. Thank you all for your encouragement. I shared with you things I never could have told my family or friends. (Incidentally, I've finally started telling people that I was banded!) I have learned to love being single and living alone. I am truly a better person for having had this experience. I'm still single and not any closer to being married BUT I'm enjoying being me....finding what makes ME happy and spending time with the people I love. When Mr. Right comes along, I'll be ready.

I have to say....I doubt if ANY of us would be ok with the group's standard of 40-60% excess weight lost is a success. I'm so done with that. Dr. R told me at my appointment last November that I was a success and wanted to refer me to a plastic surgeon. Since then I'm down another 45 pounds or so....Seriously....I'm only 25 pounds away from NORMAL for the first time in my life. I've never been so close. Why would I ever be ok with that?! I'm at 79% according to their numbers.....my doctor thinks I'm done. I figure if I'm gonna do 79%, why not go for 100%?! Too many times in the past year he's suggested PS. I've been avoiding seeing him just because of that!

I think you've just given yourself some advice, my darling.:scared2: I hope you don't think I'm being snide or tactless....but re-read the advice you gave MsDollaz. Don't stress over your fill level. (Heck, I never even knew how much was in my band til you all asked, so I asked my surgeon!) Let the tool do its work and work with it. You'll get there. Look carefully at the behavioral and dietary changes you've made. There must be something that needs to be tweaked. I know that my "diet" isn't what it should be. It's why I have been in the same range for nearly 6 months. If I'm going to lose the last 25, then something is going to have to change......when I'm ready, I'll do it. Don't fixate on the fill amount. As you know, just having your fill removed and replaced sometimes makes a difference. Keep at it. You've come really far. You'll get there! :tt1:

Remember, you'll never feel the same "Full" again----you're looking to no longer be hungry! The reason we've been fat is because we eat too much, until we're full. Eating is to keep us from being hungry, not to be full.....

I finally felt like a meeting was worthwhile for the first time in a long time! I'm so pleased that there were so many experienced people at the meeting. Thank you for those of you who came and told us about your experience! It was a welcomed change to finally be focused on post-surgery and behavioral changes! Tova, hope we'll see you next time, too! Glad to hear you made it to NY and back without any issues! :thumbup:

Tova, Are you going on Tuesday?

Like Jachut said earlier, I often have difficulty eating initially if I haven't eaten for a few hours. I have found that I do better if I slowly drink a few glasses of Water a bit before my meal AND if I start with a bite of something small, but eat it very slowly. I have a harder time eating if it's been a few hours since I've last eaten. With that said, I've learned something tremendously important through this process---while you may not feel "full" as you did pre-banding, remember that the entire purpose of eating is to satisfy hunger, not to feel overstuffed. We spent so many years stuffing ourselves to the point of feeling sick to our stomachs. We need to re-think the purpose of eating. We need to fuel our bodies, not our heads. Eat until you're no longer hungry. DON'T expect to ever get that same full feeling you used to get on Thanksgiving. If you do, you've entirely negated the purpose of the band!!

Anyone planning on attending the support group this month? If so, which one/when? :frown:

They are 2 different women with a common name.

Ok, it's been nearly 2 months since I last posted. I since had an unfill of that entire fill and ran one more 5K. This time, I waited until the 5K was OVER before going back for another fill. I had a .5CC fill on Monday and now feel great. I have some restriction, but not so much that I'm uncomfortable. I haven't really eaten much in the way of solids yet, but I have that great feeling that I had when I originally was banded---of the food moving down slowly, like when the water drains from the tub! I have really struggled with losing weight in the past few months. I'd like to think I can drop the other 35 I want to lose, but the scale isn't working with me. I'm hoping this fill will help. I'm also going to cut back on the running and lifting this summer and play more with the kids at my camp. :biggrin: Good luck to all of you. eyezchu22, even with struggles, I wouldn't trade my decision to be banded for the world. I love my band. It has helped me change my life in ways I never thought possible! Good luck to you! :redface: Paige

Good challenge! So far so good. Had yogurt for dinner and some mashed potatoes. No issues. The dates were definitely the same week on the flyer posted at the Faulkner today. If anyone is headed in, check them out. I've tried to call, but never get a straight answer!!! Seems to be ok AND am already PMS'ing so it won't get tighter....

Jay, Sorry I missed you at the office today. Wasn't able to get there early as I hoped. The support group meetings are both the same week this month--the 14th and 15th. Which one do you guys intend to go to? I know it's two weeks off, but I like to have my life all planned. :rolleyes2: I had a fill today and already feel better than the last time I had a fill---except he had a hard time accessing my port today. (I knew the port has felt funky during my ab workouts! He said something about it being "tilted" today and he's never said that before. I thought it should be pretty much staying where it should be after this much time has passed?!) So I was pushy with him and wouldn't let him give me more than a .5CC fill after the last nightmare. I told him I'd rather come back in 4 weeks than come back again this week because I'm overfilled again. I had a shake when I got home and already notice the difference, but not uncomfortably as I did last time. I love that funky feeling you get when you hear it finally passing through---that bottom of the tub draining kind of thing! I finally have it again!!! I also asked him about taking Ibuprofen because I have something wrong with my knee. He told me it's ok as long as it's not part of my regular routine---that I should split it and take it with food to be sure it passes ok. Such an interesting appointment. He wasn't any more personable, but certainly more interested in my "excess skin" again. I can't help but wonder if maybe he gets a cut of the money from the PS if he refers me. (ha, ha, ha--pun intended!) He once again confirmed that insurance won't cover it---like suddenly I had more?!---and that it might not really be something I will need. We'll see. In the meantime, I started my summer camp again and am saving my nickels just in case.... Hope everyone is well. Tiny, I still owe you a birthday drink or 2!!!!

Great job, Heidi! One day at a time.....you can do this!!

GO TO THE GYM! As far as "biting the bullet" and being over-filled---there's a difference between adjusting to being tighter and having to have mostly liquids/soft foods versus having really bad reflux and being really sick. Look at the rest of what you're doing if you're not losing. Are you eating the right foods? Are you drinking enough water? Are you regularly moving? Are you measuring what you eat? Good luck, Heidi. Check in with your surgeon, even if you don't get a fill!

Ok, so July is nearly here. Is anyone intending to go to the support group meetings? If so, which one? I have some flexibility this month, so I can do either one......I just don't want to go alone! Enjoy the sun while it's out!:thumbdown:

Mine is even later....at 2:45. :blushing: Singing, I appreciate your confidence about not getting a fill unless you need it---but many of us, far ahead of you in our process, have been without weight loss in a very long time. Some of us have gone 5+ months without losing weight. Not sure if we need a fill or not, but it's not an exact science, so you never know until you try it.....keep an open mind. You never know what you'll do until you're in the situation.

I've never noticed, either, and I used to work as an Editor!! I'm in there for a fill on the 29th, too.....let me know what time!!! WE should have a big meal together prior to the fills.

It's funny you ask that....because I wanted to ask that last time, too! Dr. Robinson's PA used to do that, depending on how over-filled I was....AND she did small fills when I requested, like .5CC or even less. Dr. Robinson threw in an entire CC after not having a fill in like 12 months and it was horrible. I even questioned his actions 2 or 3 times, but he was insistent. Needless to say, I'll be pushier next time. Maybe he took out the entire fill because I was so horribly sick.......and needed the swelling to just go down. All I know is that I'm still in desperate need of a fill and haven't dared to get one yet because of my last experience....... Good luck with your fill! The nervousness is far worse than the experience!!

Heidi, Good to see you're back with us! I'm in the exact same situation as you. I went in for a fill in early May and couldn't keep anything down, not even water. After taking the entire fill back out, it was like Thanksgiving every day. Thankfully, after a week of pigging out, I was able to get refocused and get back on track. I haven't really lost more than 2-3 pounds since then and I'm working really hard. In fact, I have only lost about 10-12 pounds since January......despite working my tail off! Good news is that I've lost it and haven't found any of it! I'm going in for a fill next week. Next time, smaller fill....... Get back to the basics and watch your portion size. That's the first thing that creeps up on me. Good luck! Paige

Thanks! I will run, rain or shine. I'm running in memory of a close friend who succumbed to ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease in 2005. There is a group of us running in his honor, so even if I'm slow...I have to do it. :sad:

Singing, For whatever reason, I am also very sensitive to the sodium in EVERYTHING. To counteract, I make sure I drink plenty of water to keep it flushing out and work out. The more I keep my system moving, the better it seems to work! I've also started really looking at all ingredients, even when making my own food. Canned tomatoes, broth, even frozen meals are all high in sodium! Also, low fat salad dressings and different seasonings can be high. Hope you're all doing well. I have a fill scheduled for the 29th...this time AFTER tomorrow's 5K. I won't make the mistake of being filled before a race EVER again! I've been able to eat everything in sight---oh, and I pretty much have. Thank goodness for exercise as I'm able to stay within the range of where I want to be. Now if I can just drop this stupid 10 pounds I've struggled with for the past 5 months..... :sad::smile::smile::smile::wink2::smile: