CynthiaMcC

Hi there - Has anyone investigated or used Zerona? It is laser fat removal procedure. Thanks. Cynthia

Hi - I am wondering if anyone has had any experiences with juice Plus? I know lots of people, non-banded, who've had good experiences. With the focus on Protein, I know I've not been getting as much fruits and vegetables as I used to consume. I've also begun to experience a tiny bit of hair loss and have heard that Juice Plus helps with that. Any thoughts? Cynthia

I am so very sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my thoughts.

Hi everyone - I wonder if any of you have had problems fainting? I'm done about a 100 pounds and have fainted a few times in the last two weeks. The first three times were about a week and half ago,I had been sick, plus too tight and could not keep food or Fluid down. I went to the ER, had an unfill, some IV solution and was fine. Until today. I was fine all day, eating normally, drinking lots of Water and fainted at work. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow, but wanted to see if anyone has any thoughts or experiences? Thanks. Cynthia

I was banded by Dr. Wagner about a year ago and did 16 days of a pre op all clear diet and then a week of clears post op ... no protein and it was hard, there is no way around that. I have a pretty mentally demanding job and was traveling up until the day before surgery, there were some low energy moments, but it was no different than feeling weak when you are sick. Now, that said, I was so incredibly excited when I got to eat cream soups ... but now, a year and two weeks later, it is a distant memory and banding was the best thing I could have done. Good luck to you.

I remember that feeling ... especially a few days before surgery. I certainly binged the weeks before I started my pre-op diet. I think it is normal, you are making a major life change ... not unlike pregnant friends who as they get closer to their due date begin to get scared about how radically their life will change. All that said, I had surgery just over a year ago and have not really missed anything. I've struggled a bit with finding the right fill level so there have been times that have been tough and I have wanted to eat something but refrained, but for the most part, I am perfectly happy with my food choices. I think the only things I have not eaten in the last year are movie popcorn and gum. My food choices have certainly changed, I am eating a lot less beef, particularly steak, less Pasta, less bread ... well, less everything. But I do not feel like I am suffering and the 100 pounds that are gone are reward enough. Good luck to you.

Well, it got worse and I ended up in the ER for dehydration and an emergency unfill on Sunday. I talked to the doctor on Friday and they thought I could wait until Monday ... that turned out not be accurate. :tongue:

Hi there - I have a struggled with inconsistent tightness for a while and have discussed it with my doctor who just shrugged. However, the last few days it seems to have increased a bit. I am now burping, not little burps, but loud, deep ones, hiccuping, and having a hard time keeping things down. It seems to start around lunchtime and lasts through about midnight. Today, all I had was some juice and a Protein drink for Breakfast, liquids all morning, and then at lunch I ate a piece of laughing cow cheese, one bite of sliced turkey and one bite of cracker. It started with pressure and pain, then got to the point that I had to leave a meeting to PB. It has been continuing. I tried some pineapple juice ... no luck. Any thoughts? Thanks. Cynthia

Hang in there. Tomorrow is a new day and you can make a fresh start. This is a journey and every trip has some rough spots, but you will get there in the end.

Great idea. Today is my anniversary, I had been thinking about all kinds of great ways to Celebrate (a massage, a hike, etc.), instead and somewhat ironically, I spent it in the ER of the hospital I had the surgery in getting an emergency unfill. After a few days of misery, fainting from dehydration, I got 1 cc removed and feel human again. That said, today several of the nurses taking care of me were asking about the surgery because they were considering it and I said over and over again "It was the best thing I did." As I look back at this year, I am amazed. I down about a 100 pounds (it was 106 this morning, but now that I am hydrated again I am sure it is not quite as much). But more importantly, I feel healthy, and I am not always thinking about my weight ...I don't worry if I sit in a chair will it hold me, or avoid mirrors. I feel like this is/was really the first step in a larger journey toward health. For this next year, I want to find an exercise I like ... was somewhat derailed this year by an ankle injury, so when I am looking back next Feb I hope to have found an activitiy that I truly like, not just something that I tolerate. Interestingly, the surgery and resulting changes have also helped me realize the lack of balance in my life ... I have always been work, work, work, and while sucessful, I am now more committed to making sure work is balanced with personal time. It will be a tough battle, but I think that what I learned from this experience is why put off for tomorrow what you can do today? I had wanted to address my weight for a long, long time, and now that I have, I wish I would have done it years ago. I guess I am looking at other things in my life the same way ... who knows maybe I'll even try online dating. Look forward to reading others stories. Cynthia

Great questions. I wondered the same thing. What I have found is this ... 1). I generally ate healthy food pre-band, but way too much, now even if I want to eat a lot, I can't. Strangely some of the items I miss eating are things like raw vegetables, I do not tolerate them very well. 2). I felt like I hit bottom when I got surgery, I was at my highest weight and had failed at every other weight loss method, when I made this decision I knew it was my final chance. That gives you a sense of purpose. 3). Even when I eat bad things, the amount is limited, for example I've had one milkshake in the past year, I did not even finish it. 4). As someone mentioned earlier, once you start losing you get some momentum. About 4 months after surgery, I fell down the stairs and was on crutches. The recovery put me behind on the exercise, but in the past, I likely would have gained everything. Even w/o exercise I continued to lose so when I was able to exercise again, I was motivated. Good luck to you.

I love my band, but sometimes have the same feelings. At times I think about the geese that have bands put on to fatten their liver ... a horrible analogy, I know. All said, it was the right decision for me and I would do it again.

Hi there -- I was banded about 11 months ago and am wondering if anyone else has problems with sudden, inconsistent tightness? It has happened about 4 times. This is what happens ... I have a fill, in this case it was more than a month ago, everything is going just fine. No problems, have a nice level where I can eat, but not overeat. And then all of a sudden, it gets very tight. For example, I have had about 6 spoonfuls of Soup and it feels uncomfortably full. For me, it started yesterday. I did clears for a 2 meals just in case there was something stuck, and then tried soup. There is no link to hormones or to stress (I do feel that occaisionally, but this is a very different feeling). Twice I have gone in for unfills because it would not go away. The doctor just kind of says "hmm, not sure." We wait a few weeks, fill me up, and the cycle repeats. Anyone else experience this? Any ideas? With the holidays approaching, I do not want to have an unfill, but I also want to make sure I can stomach more than broth. Thanks. Cynthia

You have a good list. I never used the sippy cup, but was not a big "gulper" to begin with ... I would add chapstick, for some reason I was really in need of it for the first few days. Also, be careful of over buying, I bought so much chicken broth, gas x, etc., I still have it now, 11 months later. I think it was just nerves, but boy, did I stock up! I went back to work on Monday afternoon after having surgery on Friday, I work in a professional setting so I was wearing suits everyday. No problems until they removed my stitches on Wednesday, around noon, I went back to the office and doctor had not put any dressings on the incisions and the big one was exactly at my waist band. The rubbing of the waist band against the fresh incision was unbelievably painful! I went home early. The next day I put a big guaze pad on it and all was well, so you may want to have a few of those on hand. Good luck!

You are not shallow. I've found that people can be very reticient about discussing weight loss. I am not sure how much you lost, but I found that many people, including close friends and family, did not comment until I hit 50 pounds. Even now, when I have lost 6 sizes, I have been surprised by how many people have not mentioned it ... and by some, like clients, who have mentioned it. Hang in there, you are making great progress.

Hi everyone -- I just wanted to share that as of today, I am now officially, "just" overweight. When I checked the BMI calculator I was thrilled to see that I finally moved out of obese ... and given that I started the year as morbidly obese, I am thrilled to be "just" overweight. It is strange to think that the next step is normal?! Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season. Cynthia

Great idea and great attitude ... this is a journey and every step counts. My goal is to be down a 100 pounds by my anniversary. That will be a stretch, but is doable.

A few ideas ... make a bean dip with fat-free refried beans ... good source of protein. Another option would be skim milk ricotta mixed with some finely chopped fresh herbs and black pepper. You can serve either with crackers, as I recall, one of my early solid foods were crackers that had less than 3 grams of fat per serving. And, if someone is still on mushies, they can spoon some on a plate and eat it straight.

Hi everyone -- I received my 3rd fill about 3 1/2 weeks ago. I am definitely on the tight side, to the point that I am wondering if I need a tiny unfill, but I want to stick it out, lose weight and let it loosen naturally. I've been getting stuck more frequently and PB'ed a few times on things that should not be a problem, like soft fish. Strangely, crunchy foods are easier to eat ... nuts, crackers, etc. However, I have also noticed that I get headaches after eating. This is accompanied by the classic golf ball feeling in my chest that extends into my back. The pain usually lasts about 30 to 60 minutes and is intense enough to distract me from whatever I am doing (work, tv, etc.). Now, I also fell down the stairs shortly after the fill and have been on crutches, in an air cast, etc., so definitely not my normal routine and am wondering if maybe it is my body reacting to other pain. Sorry, I know this is a bit off the wall, but thought I would just see if anyone has any thoughts or experiences. Thanks. Cynthia

You look amazing, congratulations

I've noticed the same thing, very few male friends or co-workers have commented. And, in a few cases, they have commented to someone else who has then told me ... And, interestingly, I have noticed that even female friends and co-workers are sometimes hesitant to bring it up. And, to the man who said his wife trained him to comment, I am pretty sure that happened to me last night. A good friend had a party and her husband very pointedly (and carefully and appropriately) commented on my weight loss. I am pretty sure Becky told him to, which was fine with me. I also think you will notice a difference when you get new uniforms. I've lost 5 sizes and when I finally invested in some new, correctly fitting clothes, the compliments poured in. Good luck and enjoy the loss! Cynthia

Hi everyone -- I just wanted to share an NSV ... I'm not sure why this one made me feel so good, but it did. Maybe because I had a slight unfill today and am concerned about gaining weight. Anyone, I'm thisclose to being two-thirds of the way to my goal (about a 1/2 pound away) and have lost about 5 sizes of clothing. As a consultant, I spend lots of time with clients, and one client in particular that I have been working with for almost 2 years, so they've seen me yo-yo a bit. Today, I was talking to one of the secretaries and before I hung up she said "Hey, I heard you lost a ton of weight and look great. I have not seen you in a while, but that is the rumor here." Again, not sure why this one was so nice to hear, but it was fun to be part of the rumor mill for my clients. As a side note, I tore ligaments in my ankle in May and spent the summer in a boot. As September came around, I finally bought so clothes that actually fit and started wearing two matching shoes. A ton of people have commented how much better I look with 2 matching shoes, I think the real difference is the 79 pounds, but I'll take the matching shoes too! Saturday is my younger sister's wedding and I am actually not dreading the photos, not really looking forward to it, but not dreading it. Both of my sisters have the opposite issue than me (aneroxia) so I will still look huge, but not as huge as before. Thanks for reading this super long post. Cynthia

Hi there -- Does anyone else experience inconsistency regarding tightness of the band? I was banded in February, have a had a few fills, one unfill, and then a slight refill. I am very happy with my weight loss, and usually, with my level of restriction, but lately it has been very strange ... one day, I can eat almost anything and the next day I am extremely tight and barely able to do Soup. When I do PB, it is not a feeling of immediate relief. For example, today I had a few bites of chicken for lunch ... some thing I have eaten dozens of times without problem. I could tell that today was a tight day so I stopped as soon as it felt "off" and sure enough, have been miserable for about 4 hours. I PBed once and that helped slightly, but I still feel miserable. It was like this on Saturday, but yesterday was fine. Any advice? I do not want to live on soup, but almost getting to the point of being scared to eat. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks. Cynthia

Sounds like a great idea.

Thanks, everyone. At least I am not crazy! I definitely see the impact of hormones, and, sometimes, I think stress.