notateechanow

Dee, I'm so sorry to hear you haven't been well. I hope that with time the pain dissipates and you gt back to feeling more like your old self. Good luck. Get well soon!

:cursing: Feel better, and good luck!

While I'm no medical doctor, and I haven't experienced your pains, I genuinely believe you should see someone to find out what your body is trying to tell you.....pain is your body's way of communicating with you. Be sure to listen. I would hate to think you could have prevented something from getting far worse.

I'm in the Woburn area, but had surgery through Brigham and Women's. They have a support group, but I've gone twice and didn't find it helpful. I also can't imagine trying to schedule any more meetings in my life right now. I'm not willing to give up my afternoons/evenings with the girls at the gym. :crying:

I like the 4C stuff better than Crystal light...there's one in particular I've found palatable--the citrus Vitamin stick one. The reason I chose 4C (tea makers..) is because it's high in Vitamin C, even if it's not their "Vitamin" stuff. They have lemonade, fruit punch, etc....all with the day's vitamin C.

Not so sure I'd want to go to an actual meeting, but would certainly be willing to have a "buddy" to help me through and encourage me with all of this! Let me know if you're interested. I do live in the Boston area, but I'm not a fan of the group meetings....too many memories of failed attempts at Weight Watchers. :crying:

Can't hurt to contact both if you have insurance. I wouldn't take any chances with pain that persists for that long....

You know, I've never had difficulty drinking enough water until after my 2nd fill...I've always been good at drinking at least 2-3 liters/day before surgery, but now...not so good. Thanks for the suggestions. Anything will help at this point! :crying:

Oh, ok. So I got hungry tonight after puking up a piece of pizza--and I'm baffled as to HOW you were able to eat an entire pizza. I thought that maybe with a thin, crispy crust I'd be ok, but not so....and a few hour later, starved, I ran to McD's for a 4 piece McNugget. I got two down before they came right back up in the middle of the parking lot....I have barely eaten (and kept down) anything today. I had a small salad at lunch with no issue and about 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes. Nothing else all day...til I tried my small piece of pizza. How is it you've lost so much weight, Ant??!! I'm dying here and can't keep food down and am not losing anything.... More imporantly, is this puking going to cause band slippage or something horrendous like I've read about in these forums? It's not that I haven't tried everything to avoid throwing up, but a few times it's just come back without any warning!! Anyone have any idea as to how much longer this puking goes on (it's been off and on since my 2nd fill almost 3 weeks ago---some days are easy, others simply horrendous) and at what point I give up and head back to my dr.? I have had 4 or 5 days of decent eating with no issue, so I wasn't thinking that it was a problem any more.....:shades_smile:

I saw my dr. about 2 weeks ago and had my second fill. Boy, that one made a BIG difference. I have days that I can't gag down any food or I'll throw it right back up. Forget about feeling tight...I simply can't get it down. However, I have days when I can eat just about anything, without feeling restriction at all. I'm finally figuring out which foods probably won't ever work again--oh, my sicilian pizza and just about any kind of bread--even toasted--doesn't go down or stay down. Pasta is tough, too. I wasn't going to schedule my next appointment for the 3rd fill like I was told because I have had such a challenging two weeks (you think I'd lose weight with all of this puking, eh?!) but today put down some serious amounts of arancini (Italian rice balls) and am thinking maybe I'll go ahead and schedule after all....My dr. just keeps telling me to schedule for every 4 weeks. I really haven't lost any weight since my last fill 2 weeks ago. Well, we'll see what happens...off to the gym. Can use any help I can get! :wink2:

Anyone else have the tightness only in the morning/mid afternoon? I throw up nearly everything I've tried to have before noon since my 2nd fill last Monday. (It's been a week now...) Even the Protein shakes come right back up in the morning and NO, I'm NOT pregnant! I have found that after exercising I feel so much better able to eat. I even got sick on cottage cheese this morning. I haven't gone back to my dr. because I'm usually ok by later in the day and capable of eating a really slow dinner...but that makes for a rough afternoon of trying to get down a lot of Water and some protein. I'm just so happy to get anything that stays in at this point that nutritionally, I'm a mess. I figure it's a combination of eating too fast, not paying attention, and the band doing its job, so I'm hesitant to request my dr. to unfill. I've also learned to have all liquid from any kind of soup prior to eating the noodles or rice in it to make sure I keep it down. As far as stuff getting stuck, I've found that I can down a few ounces of water to wash whatever is stuck right back out. Gross, but it works...just didn't think I'd go through all of this to pay someone to make me bulimic!!!

I'm hoping for some help and some suggestions, please.... Quick reference--surgery was Dec.12, 2007 at 294# First fill 1/29/08 282.5 I rescheduled my second fill for a week later because I haven't lost but 2-3 pounds since my first fill and am too embarassed to go just yet. I don't want to be accused of not working at this....I am the first to accept responsibility for not working hard enough to lose weight, and I know the band only works when I work with it. With that said, I am working really hard with few indiscretions--a piece of chocolate on Valentine's Day, etc. My "cheating" is measured and calculated if and when I do it. I am seriously struggling with losing weight. I usually workout at Curves (around 450-500 calories) and do my treadmill, with intervals of walking (now up to 3.8 or 3.9!) and jogging (5.6-5.7) for about 45 minutes. The treadmill shows it's about 750 calories, but for argument's sake, let's say I burn around 900-1000 calories a day. I have been very carefully following my 1200 calorie post-op diet. The issue? I'm not losing weight. I'm not hungry, though I do definitely need a fill. I'm just not losing weight. I wondered if maybe I'm not eating enough to fuel my body, but haven't any idea as to how much to add to my current diet or what types of food would be best. I have e-mailed the dietician from my progam, but she seriously recommended a book for me to read. :tt2: I paid to be in the program because I wanted the help from people who were educated in this type of thing. She told me she isn't familiar with people who do this much exercise at this point in my weight loss journey. (I should mention that I was a scholarship athlete in college and was also a power lifter...so my body is not unaccustomed to hard work.) I'm busting my a$$ and just not losing more than a pound or two in the past 3 weeks. (I have lost inches, but for me--at this weight--it should be far better and more evident!) Can anyone give me suggestions for really ramping up and moving this along?! I'm not expecting miracles, but I lost weight faster 5 years ago with Weight Watchers and no exercise. If that was going to be my best ticket to losing weight, I wouldn't have had surgery. Any advice or websites you can suggest would be truly appreciated. Thanks in advance. :smile:

Be careful what you hope for...I, too, very rarely feel restriction; however, something about chicken or turkey just doesn't seem to sit right for me and I puked for the first time the other night. Even the squash and mashed potatoes were a no go after that!!! I currently have 4 cc's (I think...) in maybe a 10 cc band....

After about 3 really frustrating weeks, I've really focused on making sure I'm taking in enough protein and water. Believe it or not, cutting BACK on my 1.5 hours of exercise daily has helped--even if I was building muscle...it didn't make me feel better on the scale! I also suggest making sure you're consuming your low fat dairy. I just read a Dutch study that showed participants excreted (yes, they measure FAT in your poop!) more fat when they consumed 2-3 servings of low fat dairy daily. They hypothesized that the calcium somehow attaches itself to fat and forces your body to excrete more.....hey..at this point, I'll try ANYTHING! Something else to consider...I've found cravings are caused by not having enough of something. Be sure your diet is balanced and that it's not a psychological or hormonal thing. Don't keep that stuff in your house. If you have to go to an effort to get chocolate, you'll be less likely to eat it! Also, when was your last fill? I'm going for my second fill on Monday and can't wait....

Jacqui, Thanks for your response. I'm going to try playing with my diet a little more and seeing what I can do. I will also ask my dr. next week for some advice.

You might want to try Land's End. They sell separates up to a 26/28. The benefit of this is you can buy different sizes for the top and bottom if necessary. I ordered a top that resembles a cute tank top (built in cups in the bra and lots of support for my large bust) and a skirt that looks almost like a tennis skirt, only no pleats! I needed something to go canoeing and kayaking and this worked well. Now that I've lost some weight, I just needed to replace the bottom and it was far less expensive than buying a new suit. It's not cheap, though... They have all types of bottoms, so if the skirt isn't your thing, you can get just a high waisted trunk. The most appreciated, unexpected benefit was being able to use the bathroom without having to take my entire suit off. It's really convenient to have on a two piece that looks like a one piece! You can order through the website or in a Sears store (you won't pay shipping if you order at the store...) and the best part is, if it doesn't fit, you can return it to the Sears store, rather than mailing it back, too. If the price is an issue, try e-bay. NWT means it's New With Tags and I'd only buy one of those. There are many people who sell plus sized suits there. Lands End: Swimwear Women from Lands' End

Oh, I haven't barely any restriction yet. I can eat a good 4 oz. piece of chicken along with some veggies during a sitting..no issue. I am going back for a fill a week from Monday, but wanted to be down a few more pounds before going.

Wow..color me clueless! My nutritionist gave me a packet of information when I was released from the hospital and it has 2 diets in it--1200 and 1500 calories!! It never occurred to me that people would be on 800 calories so long after surgery. I still only have about 100-200 calories more than I'm burning working out, and I thought I should at least lose some weight with that...

I used to work at a Curves a few years ago. Let me suggest a few things to consider. As mentioned before, it is very good for a beginner. The people who see the most dramatic results are those who have lived rather sedentary lives prior to joining. We did something called "bootcamp" when I was working that required a faster speed, higher rep workout and more of a workout on the boards between machines. As with any workout, you will get out of it what you put into it. The advantage to the Curves machines is that you don't have to be bothered by changing pins in machines or knowing what you did during your last workout. I also think this is a great way to begin getting back into being social while working out--something that many of us have difficulty doing when we're morbidly obese. Quite frankly, I didn't want anyone, let alone a MAN seeing me workout. The draw for Curves is the supportive, social environment that encourages you to return several days per week. With that said, 3 days a week will not change your life. You should be exercising nearly 30 minutes per day with some activity when your body is ready. I will also warn you that many larger people have difficulty getting in and out of the machines. So, it's not for everyone. Good luck and know that whatever you opt to do, make it something fun that you can look forward to, rather than dread to be sure it's a lifestyle change, not temporary. :smile2: I almost forgot--one caveat--particularly for those of use who are still rather large--be careful with your knees. Be sure to stay on the boards and step carefully. Many clients who had not exercised recently had knee problems. Watch the staff carefully to be sure you are positioning yourself properly in the machines as there is risk in injuring knees on a few of the machines. A good leader will keep an eye on you to be sure you're doing it correctly. Also, BE SURE TO STRETCH. Many skip this part, and it is included in the 30 minutes they allocate. Don't be afraid to stretch prior to working out, too, particularly if you feel tight from working out the day prior. Tightness should not dissuade you from returning--as your muscles will take time to adjust. Keep at it and take is slowly if you are sore.

Did your doctor prescribe anything for the nausea? My doctor did, though I thankfully didn't need it. Things will improve in the next few days. In my first few days post-op, I lived on Gas X thin strips (shoulder pain) and liquid tylenol. I was able to drink the protein drinks, though so sick of them! (I had them for a few weeks pre-op) Your hunger will go away, though not immediately. Be sure to feed your body protein and it will help. Keep in mind that you most likely--like the rest of us--consumed thousands of calories a day and are now restricting yourself considerably. I also suggest taking short walks. They kept me busy and also helped with the pain in my shoulder. I went back to work 3 days after surgery--more because I needed to, not because I wanted to. Do something that will keep your mind off the hunger and keep you out of the kitchen. Seeing food only made me desire it more! Good luck and check back in a few days..things will get better! :tt2:

Thanks for your quick answer! I'm working out at least 5, but usually 6 days a week. I'm 5'10" and weigh around 278-280 most days. I understand and agree that good and permanent weight loss takes time, but at my current weight?! I would expect this to happen when my body reaches 200, not at this weight.

Ok, Rochelle, I'm impressed! I had the same surgery date as you, but I certainly haven't lost as much weight. I had my first fill a week ago and have yet to find much that stays down...Everything seems to get stuck! I'm thinking I eat too fast, don't chew enough, but I'm not starving to death, so I'm not complaining to my dr. just yet. I'm only down about 25 pounds despite working out over an hour a day. I'm moving down very slowly since my fill and notice daily differences now...so maybe it's just a matter of time. Did anyone else have a really tough time swallowing and keeping food down after the first fill? Liquids are no problem, just solids....

Ok...I haven't checked in for a few weeks--or since I went to Aruba, but I got my first fill on Monday. (I have a 10cc band and received 4 cc) I thought the whole thing was pretty cool--from a science perspective. I had no restrictions after surgery. I had no issues with eating ANYTHING and everything I've tried...and I can't believe THIS is what restriction feels like. NOW I finally understand why I've been fat my whole life!!! I can honestly say that I have never had this feeling before. This is great---ok, it has drawbacks, like when I made the mistake of drinking a mouthful of my water to wash down my bread tonight and it all came back up....but seriously...I get it now!! So, for those of you who haven't had your restriction yet, keep your chins up! My stomach finally feels full! I've only lost 22 pounds since I've started my journey and am working out at least 45 minutes a day on the treadmill, but I've lost 2 sizes. I am so excited. Now I know exactly why I've had surgery. I just hope that this restriction enables me to finally control what I put in my mouth---but I'm keeping an open heart and my hopes are high. How are the rest of you after your first fill??

Cerrin, I'm glad to hear that about not dieting too hard...I've been just busting my a$$ on the treadmill and having those stupid Protein shakes 3 times a day with only one small meal to try to keep my weight down...and it's just not working. I started doing 45 minutes at 3.7-3.8 miles per hour TWICE a day and it still didn't help. I've tried everything. I have yet to have issues with any particular food, though I don't recommend onion Soup or chili! (And you thought the gas pain post op was bad...) So I'm relieved to hear that your dr. told you not to do anything too out of the ordinary to lose weight. Mine barely talks to me. Thank goodness for his physician assistant. She's the one who seems to care and know what's really going on. Good luck. When are you scheduled for your first fill? I was banded on Dec. 12th and my first fill is Jan. 28th. That's nearly 7 weeks....I'm just counting the days!

It must be a teacher thing....because I felt exactly the same way. My doctor didn't even seem interested in seeing me or asking how I was. I just have to remind myself he's a surgeon, not a social worker. I didn't pay him to be my cheerleader. I had my surgery on Dec. 12th and am scheduled for my first fill on Jan. 28th... I was told by his Physican's Assistant, who, by the way, is far more engaging, that your body needs time to heal before they fill. So, it's at least 6 weeks to be sure the lap band stays in place accurately and that the fat pad has time to rebuild around the hardware they've installed. I know it stinks to wait, but you've waited this long..what's a few more weeks?! Kathy, I was told 3 weeks out to move to mushy foods, and let's be honest...I've tried just about everything under the sun already. I know I'm not supposed to, but seriously, I love eating. I'm now back on track with high Protein and working on following my dr's plan at least for three quarters of my day. Hope you're all healing and feeling well. :eek: