Kalipso2

i hope for you it gets easier... for me, my family is constantly telling me i'm getting "too skinny". when i ask if they think i'm GETTING skinny or am i TOO skinny they always say i'm getting skinny. my mom watches every single bite i put in my mouth. am i eating too fast? did i take too big of a bite? should i be eating that?

yes... i'm extremely tight for about 3 days where i can't eat so i survive on shakes!

as soon as i read the title of your post i thought "acid reflux". my acid reflux acts up when i'm stressed... sometimes even worse than when i eat the wrong type of food! i'd go back to taking the nexium (but consult your doctor too)

i'm curious... can you see the port where you have it? the skin seems much thinner up there than it would be on the belly. when you lose all your weight, will it be noticable?

congratulations!!! that's awesome that you've lost all that weight without a fill!! my doctor is 4 hours away so i know its a hassle going back and forth but it sounds like you're doing great! keep up the good work!

i agree... you should not have surgery until they find out why you're having seizures! or at least discuss with your surgeon. that is definately something he should know before operating!!

April 2008 my BMI was 36.6 - OBESE March 2011 my BMI is 24.9 - NORMAL

hi ashley... you're doing all the right things by researching and asking questions. you asked about throwing up because of the stomach flu and what that can do to the band. in february, i got sick. it started with my nose draining down my throat which gave me a sore throat. my nose was draining so bad that whenever i tried to drink something i'd throw it back up. even being 3 years post-op, i still get scared about my band slipping. i emailed my surgeon to ask his opinion (i live 4 hours away from my surgeons office). even after all these years, i still lean on him for support and you need to find a surgeon you feel like you can call at any time. he called in a prescription for my nausea. turned out i had bronchitis but things with my band turned out fine. as for you never feeling full... that IS something you will need to work on. that's when the phrase "the band is just a tool" comes into play. you DO have to still work at losing weight. you have to make healthy choices and not over eat. that's why you measure and weigh your food for a long time. you don't eat off a big dinner plate, you eat off a salad plate. you eat slowly to give your body the chance to actually feel full. you will have to work at it. i wish you the best of luck on your journey!

I'm almost 3 years post-op, so here is what I feel: What does it feel like after eating the 1/2 cup of food? it takes awhile before you learn how your body is going to feel after eating, that's why it's a good idea to weigh or measure your food. and it will take awhile before you're able to tell because every time you get a fill it will feel different. once you're at your sweet spot, your body will tell you when it's full. What does it feel like to be full? i've learned to listen to my body. i literally know that if i eat ONE more bite i'll throw up. you have to learn to listen to your stomach and not your head. your head with ALWAYS tell you to keep eating!! What does it feel like to be stuck? to me it feels like someone has a fist in the middle of my shoulder blades. and it hurts. What does it feel like before you throw up? the "sliming" starts. your mouth will begin to fill up with saliva rapidly. you'll know it when it happens!! What does it feel like when you are throwing up? usually its just emptying the top part of the stomach and it's relatively easy (no wretching) but it is NOT recommended that you throw up. What does it feel like when you drink Water and if you drink it too fast? if you drink after you're eating, there is no place for the water to go except back up the way it came. I also have not seen much from people who have actually reached goal: How do people deal with reaching goal? Currently (probably because I am barely starting to live the lifestyle) I imagine that when I reach goal I might be the person to say, "OK I can enjoy myself a bit now and if I gain a few lbs its OK because I can lose it again." But then I will get out of control and gain it all back. i still weigh myself every morning. it's habit now. it keeps me on track. i allow myself 2 pounds. What is the thought process like once a person reaches goal? i just recently reached goal or i'm still basically eating the same way i've been. nothing has really changed yet. What is it like to stay on maintenance? it's like any other day. you get in a rhythm of what you eat and the times you eat so it's pretty easy. How do you exercise during matinence? For example if you do 2 hours of exercise per day while loosing weight do you have to continue to do that much exercise during maintenance to keep the weight off or do you pull it back a bit so you don't continue to loose weight? i have not exercised at all... which is why it took me almost 3 years to lose 70 pounds. i just know myself and know that i would never keep up with any exercise regimin if i started and then stopped i probably would have gained weight back. i've never gained any weight back by just "dieting".

i've been banded for almost 3 years now... before my surgery, i had so many "last meals" it wasn't even funny. i was to be on a 2 week pre-op diet (medi-fast) and i only lasted 1 day. to me, the pre-op wasn't as important as the post-op eating plan. i'm going to be honest with you and how things are with MY band and how my eating has changed the past 3 years. i'm a VERY picky eater. i don't like veggies. i don't like many fruits. i'm a big fan of all the unhealthy foods and fast food chains. i was also a binge eater, meaning i wouldn't eat 1 donut, i'd eat 6. after my surgery, there are SO MANY foods my band don't let me eat anymore. bread and ground meat are the big ones which means no burgers, no pizza, no sandwiches of any kind. the only Protein i really eat is chicken and eggs with occasional pork. Protein shakes are my best friend. i still crave pizza and just can't be around it. i can now be out with family and don't feel like a drug addict when i'm around someone who eats a hamburger. there really isn't anything i can eat from any fast food place anymore unless i take the chicken off the bun. i can't eat french fries. i can eat 1 chicken soft taco but no rice. what i find more difficult than the limited food choices for me is the amount of food i now eat. i eat about half a kids meal when i go out to dinner. imagine having the biggest, best steak in front of you and HAVING to stop after 6 tiny bites because your stomach is full... but your brain is still ravenous. i get depressed when i have to stop eating and throw up if i continue to eat. on the other hand... food isn't exciting to me anymore. i don't eat to enjoy, i eat to stay alive. food no longer holds any enjoyment for me... it's just something i have to do 3 times a day like taking a shower and going to the bathroom. the results that i've achieved from the band are tremendous. i've lost almost 70 pounds and i'm at my goal weight. i fit into size 8 jeans, size 6 skirts, size small tops. even my feet have shrunk. i get compliments almost daily. i feel good about myself. i'm healthy being at a normal BMI and i'm happy! do i recommend the surgery... YES but just be prepared for the most difficult journey of your life. it is doable... i'm proof of that!

i didn't have any problems after surgery but just remember... it's liquids IN and liquids OUT. i would call your surgeon to see if he can prescribe you something to help. while i value peoples opinions here... none of us are doctors so i'm a firm believer of talking to the surgeon with any concerns. you just never know why the body is reacting the way it is. i'm 3 years post-op and i still contact my surgeon. i had the stomach flu and called him with my concerns. he called me in a prescription to help with the nausea so maybe your doc will call you in something... hope you feel better soon!

congratulations on your journey! i've been banded for almost 3 years and there are so many cool people here... don't be afraid to ask questions

i didn't have one but i kinda wish i had. that was my first memory waking up after surgery. i had to pee. the nurse assured me i didn't have to go and i insisted i DID have to go... but i wanted to get UP and go. she put me on a bed pan. needless to say, i couldn't go. and she said "i told you so". when i was in my room after surgery, it hurt so bad to stand up and lay back down that i would have put up with the pain from the cath being taken out. and it seemed to take forever to even GO pee. anyway... probably too much info lol

wow, 2 days might be pushing it. you'll more than likely still be on pain meds! i had my surgery on a monday, spent the night in the hospital (my choice) and didn't feel "human" gain until day 4. i also have a desk job and i didn't go back to work until the following tuesday. with the bending and leaning and pushing with your job... you might need more time off.

my question is... are you losing weight?

i like that your doctor is encouraging you... when i hit 171 pounds at my 2 year anniversary, my surgeon told me i wouldn't lose any more weight and he considered me a "success" because i did lose 60% of my weight but i wasn't happy with that. so the past 10 months i've lost an additional 26 pounds bringing me to 145 pounds which is "normal" on the bmi chart. it's funny because people are starting to say "you're getting too skinny" and i make them clarify... am i looking skinny or TOO skinny? that makes me smile inside because it's been over 20 years since i've been skinny! YOU need to be comfortable with who you are. if you're happy now... just start maintaining. you can always lose more weight down the road!

to be honest with you, i didn't follow the pre-op diet either BUT it is VERY important for you to follow the post-op instructions your surgeon gives you!!

a slight unfill of .25ccs could possibly fix the problem!

just think of what you're going thru right now as a learning experience and it can only make you stronger!!!!! i was the only overweight person in my family and friends... even coworkers. thankfully, my friends were VERY supportive and my family had accepted my decision to needing more help other than willpower. i'm almost 3 years postop and i've never exercised. it took me 2 years and 10 months to lose 68 pounds though since i didn't exercise. so, you CAN lose weight without exercising but it will come off much slower.

i grew up skinny but as i entered my mid-20's the weight started sticking. i tried every diet under the sun and they worked... while i was on them... but once the diet stopped the weight came right back. almost all of us can lose weight, it's keeping it off that's the problem! being banded by no means is an "easy solution". this is the most difficult thing i've ever had to do. it's not a diet at all... it really is a lifestyle change. i will never be able to eat an entire pizza ever again. i will never be able to eat a regular meal at a restaurant ever again. i will never be able to have cocktails with my friends and eat at the same time ever again... i have to choose one, eat or drink. it's a struggle every single day. with that being said, i couldn't be happier with my new body. i can cross my legs without having to pull my leg over. i now wear a size 8 or smaller. i don't diet but my band won't let me have bread or hamburger but i can eat small amounts of what ever i want. and... the surgery is reversible if it just doesn't work for you. no other weight loss surgery is reversible!

congratulations!!! just be careful... i'm now addicted to shopping! i now fit into size small tops and the thought crossed my mind... what happens if i lose more weight? if i'm in a small now how will i find anything that fits right?? such a dramatic difference to once trying to just find jeans big enough to fit over my hips! ohhh the bat wings! i've been lucky... i don't have any saggy skin except for my arms! ugh... i pull the skin back and look to see what my arms would look like after a bit of lipo but i doubt i'll ever be able to afford that since my surgery was selp pay!

it's acid reflux... i had the same exact thing happen to me! i would wake up choking on my own vomit and it would scare the crap out of me! i got a slight unfill and i take an acid reflux over the counter medication just to be safe.

i seem to get that pain only when i've over eaten... i actually have it right now because i ate way too much at lunch. it should eventually go away after the food passes thru the band.

there are no guarantees in life but most people lose weight all over. in the past, i always lost weight from my face, then boobs, then tummy, then thighs. after surgery, my boobs didn't get much smaller but the rest of me did. i had 70 pounds to lose and its taken all of the 2.5 years that i've been post-op. every one is different when it comes to how fast the weight falls off. good luck on your journey!!

i think we all "fall off the wagon" at some point. i'm just so glad you're back on track! you have a rough work schedule so i can definately understand your struggles!