Turler

Hey girl! Thanks! Yes, we are so close with all that we've accomplished! I am so grateful for my band! I know there have been a few 'speed-bumps' along the way, but you're right, in the end, 50 lbs. is a lot! I could never have done this without the band, so even with all the issues I've had with the fills and this surgeon,:embaressed_smile: I've still lost 50 pounds that I never intend to see again! LOL I joined the Hallow-Lean challenge, but I will most definitely join the link you posted for me! Thank you! I may not make it, but I'm going down trying!!! Thank you so much! ~C

You guys are awesome and thank you so much for your encouragement! SNT- I hope I didn't scare you! I definitely don't think my situation is the norm! The good news about all this, is that a CT is most certainly the best way to see everything. At least we know the band hasn't slipped and does not APPEAR to be leaking (could be too slow to see during a test). Now, if he could just put the saline IN THE PORT maybe things would be fine. I just think he went overboard by filling me so full when I had been going without any fill in the first place. Maybe he was just being generous! Hey, I'm trying to see the funny side of this! (yeah, not so much) ~C

Thanks everyone for your support. I am most certainly not giving up on this. I am spending a lot of time at the gym and I am still watching my calories. I will not let this beat me! I am wide open (no fill), but I still can't eat like pre-band. No way. I have restriction without it. I get hungry quicker, but I am going to try to make this work for me until I get refilled. FYI: I made an appointment with another surgeon! Downside is, it's not until October 3rd and it's only a consultation. No fill. But maybe in the meantime my regular guy will fill me and get this thing back on track. I think he owes me that! I really want to lose a total of 75 pounds by the end of this year. I don't think it's unreasonable, and for a few weeks I was on a roll and starting to really lose. I feel like that would give me a great edge on that mental motivation to be below 200. I want to lose 100 of course by our 'Bandiversary' so I have got to get refilled and back on track! You guys are awesome and I appreciate you! ~Carol

See I'm not buying the "missing" the port thing either. I watch him do it every time. I saw it shoot back into the syringe. We both agreed that there was the correct amount in it. Then I didn't watch anymore. I guess I didn't question whether he was putting it in, or squirting it into the sink. I even brought my DH yesterday so that he could watch him just in case that was happening! Isn't that awful? I do not like that he doesn't do this under flouro. I wish he did and I have asked before for that. Maybe after this fiasco he will agree to it. I don't want to go through this ever again. I feel that it wasn't necessary. He could have removed some, but not all. Now I just am left hanging. I am growing increasingly frustrated with him. I am part of a hospital program too. I even work there. I don't know...maybe that is the problem, I won't blow whistles or something. I am hopeful that this will all get straightened out and I will get a fill next week. This is so unfair. Now I'm sort of scared to eat. I've been taking it easy today and sticking to liquids and soft foods. I don't think I can really describe how the pain felt last night. Thank you all for being supportive. ~C

BRANDY!!!!! WOO HOO!!!! OMG I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT! SavedByGrace- By your ticker it looks as though you are doing pretty darn good. However! I know that a few have posted that sometimes being too tight can hinder your cause. It sounds like you are too tight. You should be able to eat your whole meal in 30 minutes. You may need a slight unfill to get more nutrition and calories. Maybe you'd speed up your weight loss. I don't know if I am the right person to give any advice though! OK gang...check out my latest ordeal: I went in to see the doctor for a fill (have been hungry lately and the weight loss stopped). He gets the needle into the port and discovers there is NO FILL in there! Again. This is the second time this has happened to me. So he decides it's time for an X-ray. He wants to check for a slip and a leak. Well to make a long story short, he injects 3 cc's of contrast (I have a 4 cc band) into the band and I end up in a CT scan (not flouro, not just an x-ray, but a darned CT). He determines there is no leak, no slip. He leaves the 3 cc's in there and sends me on my way. Well, I'm instantly not hungry and my DH and I were on our way to meet friends for drinks. I grab a Slimfast and I notice an immediate difference in swallowing. I can't take a big drink as it's uncomfortable, but manage a few sips. I have an drink at the restaurant and I notice it's tight, but I'm doing fine. Until 2 am. I wake up with the worst pain in my throat and stomach. My throat feels like it's on fire and there is a sharp pain in my stomach that comes in waves. Long story short, I can't tolerate it any longer and at 5:15 am, he takes all the fill out. All of it. I feel better of course, but he says I can't have a fill now for at least a few days until my stomach settles in case of any damage. OMG! So, here I am. Tired from being up all night, frustrated and sore. I just don't get what's going on with my band. He determined that he must be "missing" the port when he's giving me my fills. Ugh. So now what? I have to wait it out and hope he fills me next week. Maybe I'd be doing better with the weight loss if I just had a fill! Duh! ~C

I'm posting to tell you all what just happened to me and my Band! I went in to see the doctor for a fill (have been hungry lately and the weight loss stopped). He gets the needle into the port and discovers there is NO FILL in there! Again. This is the second time this has happened to me. So he decides it's time for an X-ray. He wants to check for a slip and a leak. Well to make a long story short, he injects 3 cc's of contrast (I have a 4 cc band) into the band and I end up in a CT scan (not flouro, not just an x-ray, but a darned CT). He determines there is no leak, no slip. He leaves the 3 cc's in there and sends me on my way. Well, I'm instantly not hungry and my DH and I were on our way to meet friends for drinks. I grab a Slimfast and I notice an immediate difference in swallowing. I can't take a big drink as it's uncomfortable, but manage a few sips. I have an drink at the restaurant and I notice it's tight, but I'm doing fine. Until 2 am. I wake up with the worst pain in my throat and stomach. My throat feels like it's on fire and there is a sharp pain in my stomach that comes in waves. Long story short, I can't tolerate it any longer and at 5:15 am, he takes all the fill out. All of it. I feel better of course, but he says I can't have a fill now for at least a few days until my stomach settles in case of any damage. OMG! So, here I am. Tired from being up all night, frustrated and sore. I just don't get what's going on with my band. He determined that he must be "missing" the port when he's giving me my fills. Ugh. So that is my post just to post...my rant for the day. Thanks for listening. I know it's usually funny around here, so sorry if I killed the mood! LOL ~Carol

You can do it!!!!!

:lol:Yeah...let me know how that works for ya! If you lose 30, then I'm in! Seriously, I really don't get it. I have heard that they work out several hours a day. Like really insane working out. I know their meals are controlled and they can't cheat if it's not there. I think the old 'ranch' was awesome, but that dorm style they used last year was more like jail. Maybe they can't leave to get snacks! Maybe they do situps for bites of food! LOL I'm goin' with the Bugg...it just has to be it. It's expensive and probably time consuming, but I can see how that would be motivating. It tells you all these crazy numbers of calories you burn just by breathing and how many calories away from losing a pound you are and all kinds of other fancy stuff. *sigh* I want a Bugg too!! Hmph...just talked myself right into wanting one! LOL

I watched Biggest Loser too! I'm with ya...I don't know how they do it and it just seems impossible! Why, why, why is it that I don't lose any weight when I work out? I have a band that only lets me eat as much as a bird and I haven't ever lost 30 pounds in a week! Do you think it's because they use Body Buggs? LOL ~C

I just want to tell you all how much I love you! I love that we are here for eachother! I think that L2L, Brandy and I are facing the same wall. Darn that wall! I start exercising, and I gain. What's up with that? Don't know. I will keep fooling with the food and keep my calories under control and I'm sure the weight will come off. ~C

Thank you! I know I need to just keep doing what I was doing. I think my body realized it had let go of a few pounds and freaked out! LOL I have to stay motivated somehow and keep on truckin'! ~C

Thanks B for the encouragement. I won't give up, I'm just a little frustrated! I have big plans ya know, and I need to get this weight off! There is a whole plethera of new clothes out there waiting for me! LOL

88keyz Wow! I'm glad they got you going again! My problem is that I am able to eat plenty! I don't know that an unfill would help. I'm hungry too. Maybe I need a fill. ~C

Hey gang! I'm just stopping by to say Hi too! I'm done losing weight for a while it seems. I got my big victory with the 50 pounds and now there's nothing. I'm going to the gym more, I'm sore and I'm stressed. I'm not eating good the last few days and I don't know why! I'm sure it will come back, but for now I'm bummed that my celebration was so short lived! Hope everyone is doing okay. ~C

Okay...now I've resorted to quoting myself! LOL :tt1: You see, I'm not losing anymore. I was doing so great for a couple of weeks and now all of a sudden I've got nothing. NOTHING!!!! ARGH!! I'm hungry, I'm eating bad...had my first tater tot since surgery today. Anitclimatic to say the least. I had sloppy joe meat (no bun) and now I feel guilty and I have stomach ache. I'm going to the gym more, so YAY for me, but I'm not losing and I'm sore so I don't see how I'm winning. I'm not doing well this week or last. I'm stressed and I need you guys. I'm reaching out! LOL Y'all probably think I'm crazy after this post, but even still, I know you're there for me! ~C

OMG Bea! I'm so sorry about your little one! Poor thing! Accidents do happen, but it's always so awful. I know what you mean about the funk. I feel like we are all lurking and waiting to see what's next. I think we all do better when we share what's happening. I feel like a complainer most of the time, so I try to keep my thoughts to myself. The truth is, I think we need to be able to bounce off eachother...even if it's complaining. Who else will understand? I don't know what's normal in this. I don't know how this should feel or work. I feel like I'm just starting to get the hang of things and the weight is starting to come off again, then BOOM! Nothing. Gain a few. What's going on? Why does this happen? Why do I feel like I can eat too much now? Why did things change? Why do I plateau when I exercise? Makes me not want to do it. See...we need eachother. There is no way I can be alone with all these thoughts! LOL ~Carol

Hi HP! Yeah...the whole site seems to be quiet this weekend. Maybe everyone is just out enjoying what will be the last few good weather weekends for a while! We really need the rain here though. I'm okay with it, but my heart goes out to those south of us that are getting hit. Does anyone know how Stef is doing? We haven't seen her on here for months and I know she lives in Texas. Hope she is okay. ~C

WOW! 60 lbs!! You are rockin'! Tell me your secrets!

Numbrgirl, LOL Too funny! I suppose you probably ARE consumed with numbers! (your name, hee hee) Yeah...I do NOT want to complain, but I do wish that I were losing more per month. I know that 10 lbs a month is okay, but I would've loved to have lost more! I am still so happy that no matter the amount really is, its weight that I will never have to see again! I love how everything is really starting to change. People are noticing and I feel so much better. I'm still waiting for my big surge of energy, but at least my feet don't hurt as badly as they used to! My wardrobe is starting to change quickly...not that I mind, but it could get expensive if I buy too much of one size. I'm starting to work out. I was kinda going hit or miss, but I really hated the gym I belonged to. I joined a different one and I'm going more now. I really really want to make that a habit, so I'm working on it! How much do you exercise? I know that L2L exercises a lot and she hit a wall too. Then all of a sudden, she lost 6 pounds in one week!!! ~C

Ummmm, nope! :wink_smile:

Hi everybody! I'm with Leslie...I'd love to hear how everyone is doing! ~C

J- I am liking the gym more and more these days. I have never cared for weight lifting, but I have been pushing myself to do it out of necessity. I need to bump up the cardio too though. I just haven't found my groove with my schedule. I work long 12 hour shifts and I'm in school now for one 12 hour day as well. So these very long days are making it tough for me. I'm usually too tired after work/school, can't get up early because evidently I'm either too tired or lazy...not sure which on that. My days off are so full of chores and errands, that I'm averaging 1-2 x week for the gym. That is not going to cut it. I have GOT to find something that will work! Any suggestions? ~C

Aw shucks...thanks you guys! I can't believe how much power the numbers have over me (and so many of us). I am consumed by the numbers right now. The number I am, the number I was, the number I've lost, the number of pounds I stil want to lose, the next mini goal number, the size of my shirts and jeans, the number inside my shoe...will that change too? Good grief. And I hate math! But with all that said...I'm still happy and it really is a milestone for me and I must keep on keeping on as they say! I have a very long way to go yet, so I'm sure I'll be back in no time complaining and griping about not losing enough! LOL ~C

Thanks you guys for all your congrat's to me! I love this thread...I know I don't usually say much, but I read it everyday! Froggi- Your hamster story is so sad. I'm sorry for your loss. BBK- Girl hang in there. I know you have a lot of emotions to sift through right now. Don't make quick decisions. Make sure you think everything through and document, document, document. Oh yeah...and document everything! Dates, times, events...everything! ~Carol

OH!!! I think that's nice they weigh you once a week! WOW! I wish I had that option! I like my doctors scale better than mine too. Theirs only tells you BMI, but it always weighs me less than my home scale. Yes, I know what you mean about living! I'm usually the lurker and don't post that much. It takes me forever to get caught up on all the threads. By the time I read it and have something to say, they've already moved on! LOL I'm only posting today because I'm off and I lost 50 pounds! Oops, I already told everybody that didn't I? LOL (Can you tell I'm happy about it? LOL) ~C