NaturalBeauty

Hello fellow Southern Marylander's, I'm not on the site that much because of job restrictions to this web page but I wanted to congratulate those newly banded & say that I'm from Bryans Road, MD. That's on the other side of Waldorf. Anyways, I'll try to hollar later on this evening.

<p>This is a time for healing for you not losing weight. You just had surgery a little under a month. Any weight lost at this point is a plus so don't stress over the weight. If you did your research then you would know this is possible and it's just you get proper restriction. Please eat the bandester way and start restricting your intake now, this will help you in the long run.</p> <p> </p> <p>Do you need a fill? Properly so, but you still will not have restriction if you're like 99.9% of us so following the rules is the key right now for you. We all go into this with unrealistic goals, we think "I'm going to be the one that has restriction and lose right away" and that's just not right for most of us. </p> <p> </p> <p>I know how you feel, I self paid & instead of focusing on the numbers in the beginning (because they were to big for me to), I tried to focus on my diet. I lost 17lbs during the beginning but by the time I got my first fill the lost was only 13lbs. Do what you need to do to change your mindset because the chances of good restriction after your 1st, 2nd & even 3rd fill is unlikely.</p> <p> </p> <p>Patience is the key with the band, it's a tool & unless you work it, it will not work for you.</p>

TAB, you will have to come to grips yourself with the night eating. It's something that I think we all have done & that's why we're over weight. There is no easy solution, you are going to have to give yourself a cut off time and stick to it. The band is a tool & you must do your part in order for it to work and that's with or without restriction. If you've only had 2 fills then your restriction is properly minimum and that's when you should be following the band rules. It's OK that you don't have restriction after 2 fills, it may take up to 4 fills but just remember you will lose restriction with each fill. They don't last forever that's why we have to continue to get fills. Usually with every 15/20lbs lost you lose restriction because the fatty part around your band decreases which allows you to lose restriction. The band is about you doing your part & please take my advise, learn what you need to now & do what you need to do in the eating department. This will help you when you get to maintenance & you will not repeat the cycle that we all have done after losing the weight. For me, maintenance has been hard but I'm still managing to keep off the weight with 6 days of exercise; 3 nights of weight training & trying to balance my food intake. I'm not trying to be hard, I just know how hard it can be when you don't learn the right way to eat in the beginning. Plus you could cause damage to your band when proper restriction comes & you don't stop eating. I wish you the best.

No, bands don't slip that easy, not at all. It's properly some form of GAS. You are to early in the process to be worrying about a slip unless you have a bad cold or some type of flu syptoms that are making you throw-up every mintue. Don't worry, just follow your doctor's instruction. This period is important to securing your band & port into place for the long haul so be good. Congratulations & welcome to bandland!

I have the VG band and I'm 2 years 2 months out & so far so good. Getting & keeping proper restriction seams to be very hard & I would say that I have fought for every pound I've lost. My weight lost is slow but you do get there eventually, it took me 17 months to lose the weight & now I chose not to have another fill. I just don't want to take a chance on any problems. I had everything checked out at 2 years just because I had never had a floro fill or barrium swallow or even a look at my band and thank God everything was good. I don't know what the difference is but I am just happy because I haven't had problems. My port is able to turn & sometimes bother me when I exercise but other than that, there are no problems so I just keep on going. I'm hoping to be event free for the rest of my life (if possible). I don't look for problems but who has? I'm just happy because my band has been good to me, but I do feel bad for those who have had problems.

The leg cramps can also come from low calcium so also take a look at that, especially if you're exercising. I use to get them at night & would jump up like a crazy woman in pain but I then started taking calcuim tablets & after a week I was fine.

It sound like a Protein deficiency. Even though it's not likely with our type of WLS it is still possible. I have had hair lose since my 3rd month. I have been on Biotin 3000mgs a day for the last 2 years & 2 daily Vitamins. It helps when my intake of protein is good but if it's low then I immidately start to see it coming out. We still need to be consistant with our protein intake and if not, this is one of the side effects. Hope this helps.

Hlayne, you do need to see your doctor for a possible unfill. My advise to you now would be to try and stay hydrated which means you may need to be on liquids until Monday. PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING COLD, this will only make you close up even more. As a matter of fact, drink warm tea prior to trying a Protein shake & room temperature Water. I have been there & had to do it in order to get some relief. Slim Fast has shakes that are not so thick so you might want to consider that until you can get to the doctor on Monday but drink it straight from the can, do not chill. Are you under any stress or is it that time of month for you? These are things that will make your band tighten up & cause you to PB. If that is the case, then just take it easy for a couple of days & you'll be fine. The band always lossen-up after a couple of day. If you're feeling week or dehydrated, call your doctor. You may need to go to the emergency room for fluids. As previously stated, dehydration is nothing to play with. I've only had 1 unfill but my doctor was willing to come back to the office at 8PM to do it but I told him I could hold out till morning. I lost 7lbs in 3 days which felt great but I could not even swallow my own salva, and that's not good. You know your body so do what's best for you. Good luck!

I think we're getting a little paranoid for nothing. Yes, there are those who have stretched the pouches but if we all be honest with ourselves, it's likely because we've over eaten or walked around with to tight of a fill which in the long run causes us problems. If you follow the bandester rules & do your part then you really don't have a lot to worry about. Erosion is something that none of us can help so if this happens then it's no one's fault your body just couldn't handle the band. I was 2 years out before I had the first look at my band under the microscope (meaning x-rayed) & everything from the neck on down was perfect. I actually did it for my own peace of mind. My DH always tells me & I try to live by it, "don't pay tolls twice". Don't put something there that isn't & if you think that it is then go & have it checked out & deal with consequences after you find out that it's true. This band life isn't as easy as people on the outside looking in would think but it's consistant if you do your part. Also, if you haven't had a fill then you can't possibly stretch something that is already wide open. Fills is what helps us with restriction. Anyway, I wish you all the best.

Angie, it sounds like acid reflux & you may be in need of a prescription drug for this problem or you can be to tight. It's best that you call your doctor & get in to see him/her, all of the problems that you named could be a possibility so you don't want to take a chance. If you suffer with allergies than the drainage could be causing you problems at night as well. I suffer with them badly & during the summer months I must take something to keep my band free of mucus. It can be scary but now that I know I just make sure I have allergy meds to take.

Hey Heather, I am so glad you were able to keep your band. I hope you're healing properly and hopefully, we'll all take heed to your advice.

I'm glad you're doing better now Betsy.

bitteroldhag-When your pouch is stretched the doctor normally recommends you go on total liquids for a certain amount of time, 2/4 weeks, depending on the doctor. This gives the body the time it needs to heal without chewing or digesting anything solid, therefore, bringing the pouch back to normal. I'm not surprised that 90% of patients do this because we all sometimes bush ourselves to overeat with the band & that's not always good but thank goodness there is a solution for us to get back on track. Anyway, follow what your doctor is saying becuase he is the expert & he also knows your body.

Lap dancer-You haven't had any fills so please don't worry about a stretched pouch. Without a fill it's just like not being banded so you can eat whatever you want cause there is no restriction. RJB-You properly need a fill. As you continue to lose weight the fatty area around your band lossen causing you to need another fill, therefore, allowing you to be able to eat more. You are very fortunate that you've only had 4 fills & the last one was in January. Please see your doctor, he/she is the only one that could tell you if your pouch is stretched but I doubt it.

I do hear what you are saying but if it is a slip you will have no other choice but full liquids. I know that is hard but in order to save your band & not possibly have to have surgery you may have to do that. Try to stay away from solids if at all possible, if you do have a slip solids will only make it worst. I am glad that you are feeling better.

Liquids Only, that includes protein shakes. My advice would be to prepare for the worst even if that's not the case. That doctor is something else, I couldn't imagine having someone like that looking over the welfare of my band, he's incredible!

Also, I am glad you got the unfill. I've never heard of a doctor giving you the wrong fill because of the band size. Does he not have notes regarding your surgery & band size? That's amazing!!!!

Are you on liquids? I don't think solids would be good for you right now. Please check, after a fill or unfill the required band diet is liquids, you need to give yourself time to recover from all that's been going on. He may not be the bests but please check with him before eating anything else. If you've slipped then eating solids is only going to make it worst.

Also, until you can get to a doctor you may want to stick with warm liquids. I haven't been able to tolerate cold stuff for well over a year now. I will not make any predictions but will say see a doctor ASAP.

Yes, exercise has helped me and I'm sure it will help you as well. Since I exercised prior to being banded the lose skin is a lot better but I never imagined that I would be dealing with this issue afterwards. I thought after WL that would be it. I am not in a position to pay for plastic surgery so I will have to continue to work on mines through diet & exercise. Will I ever be comfortable, properly not but I am still very happy about the weight lost.

Ginger you will know what it's like to lose a 100lbs based on your weight lost goal. I do understand that we should focus on the accomplishments & not the negative factors but for some of us, it's what we have done all our lives & as easy as you think it is, you will find out that it's not that easy. Please take no offense to what I have said, it's just the truth for most of us. You may be the exception to the rule.

You ladies have echo'ed everything I feel from day to day. I to workout like a crazy woman, 6 days a week 1 hour of cardio & several evening doing strength training & more cardio. My family thinks I'm crazy and sometimes I have to wonder myself. The hanging skin makes me feel like I haven't lost a pound but I know I have. When I go into a store & look at Medium size tops & 10/12 jeans & slacks I just don't know how I'm going to get into them but I do. My hubby is the best, he tells me everyday how sexy I look & I look at him like he has 6 heads. What is he seeing that I am not, I just don't know. I think we have had bad images of our bodies for so long that we don't know how to embrace the positive. We still look for the negative things that still need work. Even with PS (which I can't afford) will I ever be happy? I really don't know. I am hoping that this is a work in process and that I will eventually get better. Best wishes goes out to all of us who deal with this issue. I will say it's good to know that I am not alone. Thanks for this thread.

Sunta, I would definately suggest that you start exercising but if your calorie intake is to high then exercise will not offset what you are eating. I've exercised for years & never lost a pound, I had even gained weight exercising 5/6 days a week because of the foods I was eating. Try counting calories & make sure you don't go over the 1,200 count a day. This along with exercise will continue to show you a weight lost. The band is a great tool but without our help it does not work. The 3lbs is properly Fluid retention, if you get back on track that will go away without a problem but if you continue to eat food high in sodium you will continue to see that 3lbs and possibly some more. As far as a fill is concerned, please do what is best for you. You know what your body needs.

Hi freebutterfly, I can not relate but I do wish you the best. Were you able to lose the weight & are you considering another type of WL surgery? Just know my thoughts are with you. I can only imagine the roller coaster ride you are on, happy that it's coming out to be free of pain, yet going to miss your "little buddy". Good luck.

Well, just in case you check in, the gall bladder sounds about right but I am no professional so a trip to the doctor is in order when you return. I had my gall bladder taken out years before I even thought about the band & I can just remember how bad it was. Everything I ate would cause me to have an attack, it had gotten that bad. Anyway, I hope your trip is uneventful with your band & gall bladder & I hope you can get back home without a lot of trouble. Make sure you check in when you get back.