amy_kf

Let me just say I think that Dr. Curry is the best! I can say nothing but wonderful things about him and his aftercare... I had a problem with my band yesterday. He got me in a few hours after I called and unfilled me 1cc. (I had a clog of macaroni and popcorn- I won't be eating them in the same sitting again- they made a concrete type plug YUCK) He is AWESOME and I would send anyone his way for this type of surgery. How are you doing now John? Are you going to the support meeting when they have them? Amy -35 since November 05

Hi Everyone, Wow! What a great thread. I have read and related to so much of what you have all said. I have had three fills and my band is at 2.2 out of 4cc's. I find that my band is tight in the morning and will not allow me to eat much of anything that is not liquid or very very soft. By lunch time it is easing up a bit, but still moody. Then by evening, it is like I have no band and I am eating the walls because I am hungry. The scales are staying about the same for a month, and I have only been banded since Thanksgiving. I too find myself throwing up a PB occasionally when I try to eat something that my band does not agree with. I am amazed when something that went down fine the day before triggers that terrible feeling in my chest that lets me know my band is not passable. What is your suggestion old bandsters with lots of experience under your belt? I am open to your guidance! Amy banded 11-21-05 -26 pounds (22 of those pounds were lost before Christmas)

I am in the same boat with the rest of you... i have had three fills that now have me up to 2.2 cc. Mornings can be hard to start eating at times- I have to keep it soft and easy. lunch it better, but by dinner my band seems to open up and I am able to eat most anything. I am worried that I am not going to lose like I wanted and stress over it often. I have only lost about 5 pounds in the past 6 weeks. I would think now would be the time that I would be losing faster! Amy

I bowl with a lady who recently lost weight and looks great. She was using the hoodia and says she loves it!

Hello everyone, I was just curious what happens when a bandster gets and upset stomach and has to possibly vomit? I ate some Mexican food that began to fight back about 2 hours after I ate. I felt miserable. (I had a previous issue with authentic Mexican food prior to being banded, so I should have know better...) I felt the need to throw up to relieve my discomfort but was afraid to try for fear of really messing things up or stressing my banded tummy. Can we throw up like we did before, or does the band stop that from happening? Amy:help:

At first I was not going to tell anyone but those closest to me, but then as the surgery came closer and I knew there would be lots of questions, I ended up telling people at work and my friends. It seemed easier than trying to explain my time away from work and why I was on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery. I am a teacher, and lining up a sub and working with so many women is hard to be sneaky about anything. Now I am in the fishbowl, I feel people watching me and I have also heard some of their theories as to why I had this surgery- lonely since i am divorced and single again was the one that really mad me angry. I think everyone is waiting to watch me melt away like a bypass patient and that is another stresser for me. I have tried to explain what I have done and that it was for a variety of reasons. Health, high BP and a buldging disc were the factors that pushed me over the top, and looking good was a huge perk as well! I just went for a fill this last week and I hope that my next level of weightloss will take place soon. I have been stuck at 22 pounds for a month now since I did not feel restriction. This morning was the first day I felt my band working as I ate my Breakfast typing this note... YIPEEEE! Amy

I say if you can tell a white lie, go for it! I wanted to do the same, but then found that I ended up telling people because it was easier than trying to hide a fib. Go with Chichi's advice! I had a HUGE range of reactions, and can also feel people watching me- waiting for me to melt away. Others speculate their own conclusions as to why I decided to have surgery, ie I am unhappy, lonely after my divorce, etc. (Never mind my high BP, diabetes in the family, and a buldging disc in my lower back that rendered me unable to walk for a week last spring.) I really have thick skin now and wish that people would be bold enough to talk to me about my decision, instead of bold enough to speculate. I have lost 23 pounds since I started the pre-op diet on 11-15-05, but that has slowed drastically because I had zero restrictions after surgery. I just had my first fill of 2 cc last week and still have not felt that special little feeling of restriction that I hear so many talk about. I worry to myself that I will not find my "sweet spot" and my band will not work like the others.

I just had my first fill yesterday, and my doctor put in 2cc. I was AMAZED that I felt nothing and how fast it was over. I had no restriction at all after my surgery on 11-21-05. I was able to eat most anything and was watching what I ate on my own- I am down 24 pounds since I began the liquid pre-op on 11-15. My doctor said that he will not give more than 2cc on the first fill and to qualify you have to be able to eat chicken without any problem. He said to come back when I stopped losing a pound a week, but that I could get more fill if I felt I needed it in two weeks. I am glad to read what others had put in on their first fill. I sometimes wonder if I will ever feel the restriction of special feeling in your chest that they told me about. By the way, I love my doctor! He is Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati Ohio. The hospital he works out of is only 30 minutes from home and he is available for fills and unfills with just a short notice. He really seems to know what he is doing. Amy

You will be feeling better in no time! I will be thinking of you today as you go in for surgery. I hope yours goes as smoothly as mine did just 10 days ago... I already feel back to normal and am moving forward with my new life as a bandster. Hope to hear from you soon, Amy

Hello All, I am newly banded, 11-21-05, and I am not restricted yet either. I discovered this eating puree Soup this week.. I ate a little, then a little more and 30 minutes later I had the entire bowl gone. I spoke to my Dr. and he said I will have to have a fill for restiction. In the mean time, I have been enjoying drinking my Water with BIG swallows, and eating my soup and cream of wheat without worry until the 22nd when I get my first fill. Hearing you bring up this topic makes me feel better! I was thinking I was somewhat strange for not knowing the magical "full" signal when I eat or drink. I agree that it is nice to take some time to let the mind catch up to the new body with a bit of an ajustment period. Hopefully I will keep losing and ease into my life as a banded lady. (o: Amy

I am 5'9 and am a week out of surgery. I do not have any feeling of restriction and my doctor said that was normal in some people. I am still curious to see what my feeling of restriction will feel like. I am scheduled for my first fill on 12/22. Thank goodness my doctor is only 30 minutes from home and seems very available for fills. Amy

I am a bandster because of the ad I saw this summer here in Cincinnati. I saw the ad and called the number, and just a few short months I am here banded, and 20 pounds down one week after my sugery. I think my pre-op diet helped boost that number considerably. The word is definitely getting out! Amy

I agree with all of you! I have experienced the "easy way out" reaction from people and it can really take a bit of wind out of your sail. I was watching when Carol Ray said those words over and over... I think she needs to pick her words more carefully in the future. I watch Matt on Regis and Kelly today, and he said he lost his job over doing this show... how many people can step out of their current occupation and take 3 months off without becoming the biggest loser when it comes to your home, car and any other debts you may be carrying on this journey of life? Great for him for making it work and coming out with a big cash prize, but for most normal people that could lead to personal disaster!!! I am with Jonathan- I doubt their will be a reunion show. These people have been living to work out and eat like rabbits. As soon as they add back all the other stresses of life it will become harder. I sincerely want each one of them to be successful and keep the weight off long term, but how realistic is that? I do love watching that show, but I think we as Bandsters need to let the producers know how offended we felt hearing that we have choosen "the easy way out". There are many of us along with gastric bypass patients that take the same offense with Carol's words. Amy

I just came home from my one week post op visit. I talked to my Dr. and told him that I had yet to feel the feeling of being "full". He said some people do not have the restriction feeling, and that it would take a fill to cause restriction for me. I am scheduled for Dec. 22 to get my first fill. I laughed, and asked him if we could just wait for Dec. 26th instead... ha ha. He did not seem to agree with me and promised that I would still be able to have a little on Christmas for dinner! The best news I had today was that I am down 20 pounds from what I weighed on 11-15-05 right before I started a 5 day liquid diet before surgery. That was a great kick start to my new life!!! Amy