robinem

Hello All: I'm curious what would you do? I had my 2nd fill on Oct 26 and it doesn't seem to have taken well. I called the dr. office today to schedule another fill, and the soonest I could get in is Nov. 22nd. I said yes to this not even thinking that the day after that is Thanksgiving, and if I get the fill I will be on liquids for three days, but its hard getting an appointment at my dr. for a fill. I'm having Thanksgiving at my house for 11 people. On the one hand, right now I have no restriction and could really use a fill, and in the grand scheme of things, its only one holiday. I can still have a couple glasses of wine and I bet I could get away with mashed potatoes and gravy. On the other hand, do I want to not eat on Thanksgiving? Hmmm.. just gathering opinions before I decide if I should call and try to reschedule. Thanks for all your help and input. Robin

Hello, First of all let me say that I'm sorry that your're feeling so strongly right now. You had surgery a week ago. Is it possible you're feeling the effects of the anesthesia coming out of your system? I know that about a week after I come out, I have wicked scary nightmares. Perhaps the reality of what you've commited to is freaking you out. Sometimes we go into situations with a rosy 'all is great' feeling of what we're doing, but then when the actual day comes, we freak out. How much research did you do prior to surgery? Did your doctor have you attend seminars and did you visit the lap band forums? If not, then perhaps now would be a good time to review these and read about the success stories of the people here. You're only 19, and this surgery is a big step, but congratulations to you for doing it while you're young. And congratulations to you for recognizing the need to get healthy while you're at the beginning stages of your life. You will not suffer the needless pain of 20 or more years of being overweight, and hopefully not suffer years of pain and other complications associated with excess weight. You will not go through years and years and years of unsucessfull weight loss programs and feeling like a complete failure because you can't lose even 10 pounds on carrots and Water. What I'm saying is that even though you think you made a mistake now, and even bigger one would have been to do nothing. Keep patient and focuse on the reasons why you've done this. There are minor inconveniences with the band, but there are major inconveniences without it.

I was banded last July (July 24 to be exact). As of today, I've lost 45 pounds. I hang onto a weight for about three weeks, then lose two pounds. I seem to be slow, but.. I'm not tremondously vigilant about what I eat. I eat well 85-95% of the time. I exercise about 4-6 times a week (half hour circut training). I'm loosing slowly, but I'm still loosing, and my quality of life hasn't changed.. except for the fact it has GREATLY improved. I have always lost slowly, and sometimes not at all. I sometimes get blue when I compare myself to others, but then I get out of it by remembering I am a unique and special individual and since I didn't get fat in one year, how can I expect to get skinny in that time. I'm healthy, hearty and happy! Even if I never lose another pound(knock wood that won't happen), I would have never lost this amount without the help of the band. Good luck to all.....

Hi, I too am getting married. My wedding is in August of this year. I got my dress in January. I am a size 18, but I think my dress is a 22. Wedding dresses are sized smaller than real clothes. I asked the bridal shop why, and she told me that because the dresses are made in China their sizes run differently. I am going for my first fitting in May and I will have lost about 10 pounds since I bought my dress ( I am a very slow loser). I hope to see a difference. I know that I am a slow loser and I sincerly doubt I will loose a significant amount of weight before now and my wedding, I'll be happy with 10-15 pounds. I guess what I'm trying to say is you get out of it , what you put into it. I'm going in the the dr. in a week or so for a fill, and will tell them that my final fitting is in July and that whatever I am at in July is what I"m going to strive to maintain until my wedding in August. Good luck and contratulations on your wedding.

Hello All: I was wondering if any one could give me some advice. I had some chicken casserole for dinner..it went down no problem. No being stuck or PB or foamy. But then, my tummy started to rumble and I got that flush feeling like you get before you throw up. I dry heaved a couple times, and now feel queasy. I called the doctor, but I think he thinks I'm stuck and he told me to take some meat tenderizer with warm Water. What do you all do for that queasy, food sick feeling? I"m going to drink the tenderizer potion and drink lots of water to hopefully flush out what ever is brewing in the nether regions. Thanks in advance.

Oh my goodness... my fiance has to go to work to escape me sometimes. With the loss (and I've lost about 40 pounds since July), I've become almost acrobatic. You'll eventually be less self consicious (sp), and you'll both be very, very happy.

I woke up with the most horrific back ache. My surgery was supposed to be 2 hours but lasted four, so all I wanted to do was sit up. I was in recovery for about an hour I think and as soon as I got to my room, I was sitting up in a chair. I didn't have any pain related to the surgery site, but I remember my back was killing me. But it's all a memory now and I'm okey dokey.

I've been banded since July '05 and as of today have lost about 32 pounds. I'm a slow loser, but a loser none the less (it sounds strange to be proud of being a 'loser'). Since I began this journey in May, I've lost 40 pounds, and I'm ok with it. Don't be discouraged by other people progress, be thrilled with your own.

Hello and thanks to all who responded to my question. I went to the dr. today for a fill under the floroscope.. and the port is PERFECT. It is not tipped, or flipped or otherwise out of place. The nurse was amazed because she and the doctor both could not access my port last week. They were both sure the port had moved. Once she saw the port was fine, she filled me. It seems they were both aiming in the wrong direction. Once the nurse found my port and where to stick me she drew a picture in my file for future reference. Thanks again for all your wonderful input.

Hello All, A little background.. about a week before Christmas, I was playing raquetball. I made a viscous swing and felt something pull/pop. I was in alot of pain the next few days. I went to a couple doctors and ruled out apendix, UTI, and ovarian cyst problems. I went to the bariatric clinic and the doctor believes that I pulled a port stitch. Fast forward to today, I'm feeling good and went in for a fill. Neither the Nurse Practioner or Doctor could hit my port. I go back next week for a fill under floroscopy (sp) so they can determine if the port is tipped or flipped. Question, when getting a floro fill, do you have to drink the nasty stuff? Do you lay down or stand up? Keeping my fingers crossed that the port is tipped and not flipped. If flipped, then I have to have surgery. Has anyone had a port repositioned? How long was recovery time? The doctor said its an in and out surgery, but I'm concerned as to recovery time. I don't want to be out of commision for another six weeks again. Thanks for listening. I love this board.

I'm a slow loser and proud of it. Last week I purchased my wedding dress, and I got into a size 22 (which in wedding dress size is about an 18 in regular people size. Why are wedding dresses cut so much smaller than real clothes?). I go in for my first fitting in May and hope to have lost another 10 or 15 pounds. I know that without this band, I would have had a bear of a time finding a dress that fit and was flattering. I'm slow, but I don't care!

I had my band installed in July and have lost about 25 pounds. I'm averaging about 1 pound a week. I'm not really trying very hard, so I'm happy with it.

That is why I only park in pull through spaces. If I need to back in or out of a space, I didn't really need the item I went to the store for.

My first fill was by my surgeon, the second one by the surgeon and 2 nurse practioners, and the third by two nurse practicioners. All three times were challenging, and involved multiple sticks. But its not too bad and if I don't have to wait hours for the doctor then I'm all for the NPs.

I am right now in the middle of a port pain problem. I was playing raquetball last week and I twisted the the right (or wrong) way and I felt a pull, tug, tear.. something weird. Then a couple days later, I couldn't breath deeply, and my port site hurt horribly. My port is low and near my bellybutton. I thought for sure my ovary had twisted, and that's fine. Then the doctor suspected appendicitis, but the blood work negated that. I went to the bariatric clinic where I had surgery done, and after he examined me, he determined that I probably pulled a stitch while playing raquetball. Let me tell you, this is the most uncomfortable I have been since surgery. I can't believe how much this hurts. I'm going to rest and take it easy the rest of the week, but I was really concerned, but feel better now that anything more dire has been ruled out. Good luck to you and hope you feel better soon.

I was never really miserable or unhappy. I knew I was overweight and knew how unhealthy it is. One day last October 2005 (right before I graduated massage school), it was a Sunday between 9-11 am ( I will forever know this) we were watching a Sunday morning show and they had a story about a woman who had the lap band and lost between 70-100 pounds. Right then and there, I decided to get the band. I called the Center for Excellence here in Buffalo that performs the surgery and in July 2006 I was banded. I knew that's what I wanted and I knew I would do what ever I needed to to get it.

Hello All, I'm pretty blue right now. I got news from my GNY that the ovarian cyst I've had since March last year is not getting any better. In fact, its getting bigger. I just spent three months on birth control pills in the hopes that the cyst would go away.. but it didn't, in fact, it brought reinforcements. So, I'm off for blood tests( again) and to the gynocological oncologist (again) rule out anything more dire, then most likely surgery (again). Is there a silver lining to this cloud (other than the fact that its probably not cancer...). Does anyone know if an ovarian cyst will hinder weight loss, and that if it is removed, I'll start losing weight more rapidly? I know that I could have worse things right now, but I'm just very sad with this outcome. Oh well, I"m just gonna be sad today and be better tomorrow. Thanks for listening.

Does anyone know the answer to this? I have a large ovarian cyst.. I'm pretty sure that I have to have it removed. If the cyst is removed, will this speed up my weight loss? I'm doing what needs to be done.. exercisng, eating right.. etc. I'm just a very slow loser. I'm hoping that this cyst might be the cause of my slow weight loss. I know.. its a long shot.. but I'll take it. Thanks..

I've PB'd three times, and each time after exercise. I think I have to either eat before I work out or wait an hour or so after. I also find that if I eat when I'm ravenous, I tend to get the 'stuck' feeling. This is quite the learning curve.

I respectfully request permission to join this club. I was banded July 24 and now have lost 27 pounds. I'm averaging an excruciating slow loss of .8 to 1 pound a week. I'm not sure why its so slow, I'm doing what I should be. Can not getting enough protein really slow weight loss that much? I have a feeling I'm not getting enough. Oh well, at least I'm not gaining. And on the plus side, I think I'm losing inches as all my clothes hang off me. I'll just keep creeping along.

I'm beginning to wonder. I had three episodes (mostly sliming or stuck feelings) this past week. I chalked them up to bad eating habits ( I was banded in July and seem to be a slow learner) such as not chewing or eating too fast. But I read your post yesterday, and each episode happened right after I was done working out! I think I'll either do liquids or eat before working out from now on. I'll try to remember to ask my doctor when I see her next month.

254 in July 225.4 as of 5 am this morning. When I lose the 5.4 pounds, I'll weigh what I weighed 20 years ago! Unbelievable. I truly never thought I could lose weight and never be hungry.. but here I am. I can't wait for the rest to happen.

I haven't had this happen, but for a couple days after my fill, the muscles around the port are really sore. I attribute this to the fact, my port is really deep, and it takes some poking and proding to find the spot to put the needle in. I would expect some redness and soreness around the trauma area would be not out of the ordinary. If you have any problems, make sure to call your doctor.

I stayed overnight, and was grateful for it. I'm not a big fan of hospitals, but I truly needed the pain meds they gave me that day. Regardless of how routine an operation is, I would want to have an overnight stay for something that they did to my insides. Just my opinion

Hello All, I"m sort of bummed out here. For the last week or so, my knee has been really sore. I'm not sure what I've done, or when or how. All I know is, I'm very sore and swollen. I can walk and stand but it hurts to engage my knee. For a while last week while I walked, my knee clicked. I alternated ice and heat therapy last week and it seemed to help a bit, but during the last two day preparing for Thankgiving, I aggravated it. I have a doctor appt on the 8th of Dec, which is only about two weeks away, but I'm seriously bummed because I want to work out, but I don't want to do further damage to my knee. I know in my head I need to take care of my knee and I will, but man, it makes me crazy not to be able to exercise (I never in my life thought I would utter those words). Well, I'll just sit to day and treat my knee and see how I feel over the next couple days. I'm just venting, I know what I need to do, I just needed a little pity party. On the plus side, I'm still losing weight, so all is not lost. Whew.... I feel better. Thanks for listening.