sharona

I'd like to know how you could keep those carmels down!!! sharon:)

hang in there Fenton...maybe its bloating....

Sorry about your Mom...I don't think we're ever ready to say goodbye...:thumbup:

I was banded at HH also...last March Dr Tishler is wonderful. Peter the APRN is terrific. They are a group who are pretty aggressive with the fills and really listen to their patients. Know that after the surgery it will be 6 weeks before you get your first fill and you are not restricted. My first fill was 4.5 cc...and I am now at 7 cc and have found my sweet spot. It isn't a quick fix and you will have to get to know how to work with your band. I do NOT diet I eat what I want just a whole lot less of it. I can't eat bread or rice and I'm not a soda drinker. Good luck and keep us posted!!! The 10th was a Saturday I didn't know they did surgery on Saturdays... sharon:)

I have a 10 cc band and I have 7 cc's and it wasn't until I got there did I find my sweet spot...I can eat about 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time and eat several times throughout the day and I am full for hours.....still not losing tons but losing at about 1 to 1/2 lb a week...good enough for me:yesnod: sharon:):thumbdown:

Hello everyone and welcome to lapbandtalk.com We are a great bunch of bandsters. I was banded in March of last year and it has been an interesting relationship with my band. I have a 10 cc band with 7cc of saline and finally have reached my sweet spot. Some advice: don't expect to lose a ton of weight quickly, this is a slow process 1-2 lbs or less a week. I have lost consistently and have never gained throughout the process...started at 244 and have lost 50 lbs so far. remember when you get banded you are not restricted and it takes several weeks to get that feeling of restriction, don't get frustrated this is all about eating differently, control of quantity is great but I do NOT diet. I eat what I want just a whole lot less of it. I can't go without drinking when I eat so for me I do drink but it still works I can't eat breads they get stuck I eat small meals throughout the day...a 1/4 cup of food at a time If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. This has been the best decision I have ever made. Take a peek at the March 08 blog as it is full of great information and one of the most active. I live in Connecticut---I am a clinical instructor at a college in a nursing program....I have two children 30 and 33 and a retired husband.....4 dogs (yes 4)...and one wonderful grandchild who is 4 months old.... Take care and good luck... Sharon:)

Ok Harley from someone who is friggin done with menopause this is my advice...hormones...hormones....hormones.....If you don't have a history of productive organ cancer in your family I can tell you that I felt a thousand times better once I was on them. I still take them even though I'm don...It is a personal choice but wheneer I stop taking them I don't think as clearly and don't have as much energy. Alternatives are soy and I think there is some other herbal thing I can't think of now but maybe Fenton knows. My husband got me a fan at the time that with remote control so when I wokr up in the middle of the night with those power surges I could just put the fan on....smart man... I have an appt tomorrow with MD but will not get a fill. I'm ok at 7 cc's for now. Looks like everyone is hanging in there. Fenton are you back yet??? I haven't been on for a while. If not what is the weather like in Paris....here in Connecticut it is snow snow snow....urggg getting sick of it sharon;)

Sharona..............-2

Sharona...................244...................192..................140...................... Sorry your going through this around the Holidays. It really sounds like you could use some stress management to help you out. 3 kids....yikes thats enough to drive anyone to eat. Try to enjoy the holidays and be sure to follow up with MD...you definitely don't have a normal reaction going on. I think we tolerate a lot thinking that we will lose the weight if we do. Treat yourself well. I'm only getting now what my mother said to me for years "if you don't take care of yourself you can't take care of anyone else"...Happy Holidays to everyone. I'm glad it will be a new year sharon:)

Scrappy you definitely win the prize for the most weight lost and looking absolutely fabulous....you ARE half the woman you were and proud of it...congratulations to you... sharon

Hi Carol My doctor never uses flouro to place saline in my band. It is pretty accessible and able to be palpated pretty easily. I think maybe it could be related to how obese someone is. I started out at 244 lbs and from day one they never had a problem finding it. I've had 6 fills so far. Good luck to you. I'm 8 months out and have lost 50 lbs....slow but steady sharon:)

Here is the video site Lapband.com - LAP-BAND® System Procedure - Watch Video

Ok, I think you need to look at a video of how they place the band. There is no way the saline can be "absorbed" into your system The saline goes into a tube which goes into the band to inflate it. It stays there until you are deflated. Yes for the rest of your life if that is the way you want it. Did you not research this before you got the surgery? You will grt a fill with small additions to the quantity already added each time you go. So lets say you get 4cc the first time you go the next time you might only get 1 cc or less depending on your reported restriction. It is really up to you to decide based on your hunger. Got it!! sharon:)

I think that's a PB on hightest!!! I PB but never like that...so glad it resolved...it is the worst feeling....I haven't been able to eat as much and am not hungry between meals which is great...hoping to start losing again. Have had a GI bug last few days which doesn't help ....We make candy for christmas gifts and have had some but the butter really does upset my stomach... (I can't believe I just said that) anyway....slowly trecking along.....day by day and I agree about the obsessing about food that has gone...finally sharon:)

congratulations...isn't that a great feeling!!! hard work... sharon:)

I think this fill thing is a bit of a scam and a way for physicians to make $$$. There is no reason why physicians cannot be more aggressive with fills from the onset. So YOU need to be assertive in requesting. sharon:_

Allie you've done very well. I'm 8 months out and only 45 lbs down and hit a plateau...I just got another fill last week and now at 7cc in my 10 cc band and I think I'm at my perfect spot as I can't eat more than a tablespoon at a time. I too have decided not to weight myself more than once a week as I was getting obsessed with it....I only had lost 2 lbs last visit in 6 weeks...whats up with that??? He said alot depends on family history and metabolism....which mine isn't that fast I guess but I consistently lose weight so I don't care how long it takes. sharon:):cursing:

Well I got a fill on Monday and now at 7cc on my 10 cc band. I am really restricted now. I only lost 2 lbs in 6 weeks so I knew it was time to fill ur up again. I can only eat about a tablespoon at a time and am full for at least 4 hours. Had a small amt of stuffing/turkey/turnips and gravy on Thanksgiving and that was more than enough. Probably about a 1/4 cup total. I am also fitting into things I haven't fit into before and people are asking if I lost more weight.....still working on how to manage this band thing. I try to chew chew chew but its hard...it takes a few seconds before I know that I've eaten too fast and then...well you know.:blushing: Fenton you have to promise to get online when your in Paris. We fall apart without you....we are looking for you, worrying about you....please the stress is awful!!!:cursing: Stay in touch...Harley beautiful dress..... I admire your wanting to wear sleeveless!!! omg!!! I'm just too old for that and with the hanging fat...well its descriptive enough..just winding down with my students who have their last clinical rotation this week then off until January.. Hoping this finds you all well...

Hi Dolphin This is the first time posting in this blog. I too am losing slowly but am ok with it. I've lost 40 lbs since March but I have really changed my eating habits and for that I am happy. I now have 7cc in my 10cc band. I have lost consistently with each visit to the doctor never gaining any weight, but losing 3-4 lbs a month or more. I've decided that this isn't a race its a life style change. It took me 40 years to gain this weight so I don't really care how long it takes to takeit off. The point is that it is coming off and I am more in control with the foods I eat. My relationship with foods is different. Hang in there. Legumes are not expensive and you can mix them in with ground turkey/chicken to make stews which will give you lots of protein and fill you up. Hope your finanacial situation improves. I've been there and its very frustrating. sharon

Hi Everybody My doctor always says come back in a few weeks if you don't feel you've had enough. I didn't get a fill last visit in October becase I was up to 6.5 cc in my 10 cc band which was in August. I feel the need for more as I can eat a lot more by the end of the day and am very hungry. In the morning can't eat much but that goes away by 2 pm and then I make up the difference. I've only lost 3 lbs since October 8th :laugh: but ya know at least its a loss. This is a challenge because its easier to eat the things that slide down easy than it is to eat real food. It is a process that I'm still working on. Good luck and keep on posting. I hav another appt tomorrow and hope to get a "little" fill then. With the holidays coming I'm very anxious about what capacity I'll seem to find... sharon;)

Hi Heather I have a trainer with LA Fitness and I schedule when I want to. I bought a years worth of training which costs me 300 a month. Their approximately 25.00 for a half hour. I schedule the time on line and usually try to go 2 x per week. I don't lose out if I don't go 3 x per week. I have a certain number of sessions (whatever 3x/week for ayear is) and when I'm not using them they just stay there until I do. So even after I've finished paying them I will still have some left. I usually go in first and do 45 min of cardio and then half hour of weights with them I've lost 22 inches since May when I started. I think its a good motivator. I was sidetracked recently with a bout of sciatica and believe it thumb pain...I went to orthopedist to find out I need a joint replacement in my thumb!!! go figure. Good luck to you... [/url] I have a 10 cc band with 6.5cc filled. I'm not sure I'm at my ideal...haven't lost much for a few months....really taking in too many carbs...but this is a process. sharon:)

Fenton, our entire society revolves around food. We meet with food, we socialize with food, we Celebrate with food....WE bring it to another level and comfort ourselves with food. I think the french may have something with the meds PR.....maybe if we put our food there we would eat less :thumbup:..... I think approaching our 6month anniversary a few months ago brought us to a whole other level. We are learning how to work around the band. We do what is easier, and eating a piece of chicken is NOT easy...it takes time and effort. Of course we're going to go the easier route....but I don't think that is the point (at least I'm finding that out) I've been at a standstill with my weight and have put on 2 lbs....am I eating a lot....NO but making bad choices because its easiedr.....hey ice cream has Protein in it....easier to get down,yogurt has protein....easier to get down.....yadayadayadayadayada....we all know this....but need to constantly remind ourselves again and again.....I find that I can't eat much in the morning but at the end of the day....boy I can eat much much more..... There is no time limit to this weight loss....we've made a choice, a good choice and we are in the right direction. We will sidetrack through the way...you know why.....we're HUMAN.... After a year and we look back at what we've accomplished....it may not just be weight loss but a real change in our relationship with food....that's what is really important. sharon:thumbup: