HeatherO

I have never had a numbing agent and it is not much more than a tiny pinch to have a fill done. It is really no big deal. Unless there is a lot of poking and prodding, I bet most people who get the numbing agent probably would have felt just fine without it. I have to lift my legs up to a 45 degree angle while keeping them straight during a fill. The first time I did it, it was really hard to keep them that way for a while - now it is really easy. I put similar leg lifts into my exercise routine and my legs are a heck of lot "lighter" than they used to be, lol.

I have the same affliction . . . constantly freezing. I now dress in layers. I have also started taking a bath each evening before bed so that I feel OK. When I am really cold, my hands and feet just don't seem to warm up until I take a bath.

I still don't have morning sickness . . . but I have been vomiting lately. I had to fly both yesterday and today for a business trip and I was sick on both flights. Out of nowhere I seem to be getting sick around 3 times a week on average for the last month or so and my band is unfilled and completely open, thank goodness. It seems to be after I eat and the food is sitting for a while - it almost seems like my stomach sometimes rejects it afterwards.

No port pain yet . . . but back pain has been really bad. I have never been to a chiropracter in my life but have gone twice in the last month. I am really miserable sometimes and can't sleep (and I have a high pain tolerance). This has been a problem for me since the beginning of pregnancy but it is getting progressively worse. Has anyone else suffered with unusual back pain in early and mid pregnancy? I am starting to get worried about the third trimester.

Slippage is not incredibly common for the statistics if you are following the rules the majority of the time. When you wantonly disregard the rules immediately after surgery, you are risking slippage. Please go read the threads about people who have had slippage and check to see some of the reasons for slippage. Non-compliance plays a big part in the majority of slippage cases. Even if slippage was only 1% - if you are that one person out of 100 that has the slip, it really sucks. Wouldn't you want to know that you did your best to avoid it by following the rules instead of having to accept that you failed your band??? You are right, we all have made our mistakes, but there is a huge difference between refried Beans a few days early and eating burgers immediately after surgery.

I agree completely. This is more than cheating . . . this is self-destructive behavior and if it is already going on regularly immediately after banding I am not sure that there will be a significant improvement in the future without help. I would highly recommend seeking professional help from a psychiatrist or psychologist that deals with food addiction.

If you allow yourself to get overly hungry . . . it just sets you up for dissapointment later by the time you get home. I would suggest having a snack when you are hungry and just build it into your day (cut out a few calories earlier if you need to). At night the best hunger busters for me were something along the line of a cheesestick, cottage cheese, boiled egg, etc. There is no reason to stay hungry if it is physical hunger you are battling.

FalloutGirl, you are doing wonderful so far, especially by losing over the holiday season. Congratulations and good luck. :0)

LOL, I think we have a lot in common . . . I seem to be suffering from that affliction myself. :tongue2:

I am finding that since being banded and losing almost all of my excess weight, my tail bone really aches. I notice it even more when I am sitting on the floor, or in the bathtub, or doing floor exercises. It is almost as if it had been cushioned for years by my genorous, pillowy tushy which has all but dissappeared. Has anyone else experienced this??? Could it be that banding has become a big pain in my arse or do you think it is completely unrelated???

It is funny you should mention that. My usually step class has between 5-10 people . . . but in January every year I can hardly fit in the room. You need at least a little space in between the steps to get a good workout. It is actually kind of sad because I know almost all of these new faces are most likely gone in a couple of weeks.

I am tired of the bombardment as well. pizza Hut, Bally's, McDonald's, Lipozene, Burger King, Slimquick, Subway, Alli. and on and on, never ending, blah de blah blah. I am so happy we can now skip commercials completely through the use of technology. Thank goodness.

Amazingly enough, this has finally gone away. I think I just needed a few months to get used to changes in my personal padding, lol. :wink_smile:

Congestion makes sense . . . I am happy you figured it out.

It is not easy in that you still must make conscious choices about eating healthy and exercise is a necessity. It is definitely easier in that I am no longer a slave to the demons of hunger. I would have to say it is both. Jody_620 said it so well :0)

I am by no means rich but my family is comfortable. I can afford to eat healthy, have a gym membership, buy exercise equipment, etc. That still didnt keep me from getting obese. Money doesn't affect being hungry or compelled to eat. I don't like that Oprah is so against WLS . . . but I do sympathize with her struggle since it is the same as ours. I just wish she was a little more tolerant of other peoples choices on how to address the weight.

I have been extremely cold. At home my husband and son are warm and wearing tshirts, and I am just freezing. Even my fingers feel frigid. I am hoping that my internal thermostat will also adjust with time.

I agree that you should call your doctor immediately. This is not a normal reaction to banding.

Baby food is usable but I found it to be wayyy too bland for my tastes. I prefer doctoring up my own mushies.

I eat it banded but have to pick off the sticky rice. Other than that, I still love it (but can't haven't again for a while due to pregnancy). I will definitely be going out for sushi once the baby is here, lol.

By the way, my doctor doesn't forbid it. This is the first time I have heard that some doctors don't want us to eat it.

I can eat it with no problem even with tight restriction. It goes down easy. I only have it once every month or too. I, like Jachut, only eat it the old fashioned way. There is just something about movie popcorn that makes me not want to eat it. Perhaps it is all the chemicals I can imagine in that flourescent yellow colored fake buttery stuff that they drown it in.

I can eat them too with no problem regardless of restriction, they make a great snack. Not to mention, if you need something in a pinch and you are at a gas station . . . this is generally one of the very few reasonable options there.

Well at least you can get plenty of sleep (unless you are too uncomfortable). Some people would love the rest before life gets turned upside down . . . but for me I would have a tough time of it. I am so used to go, go, go I am not sure I would know what to do with myself in that situation. I hope you can curl up with some good movies/books and enjoy your time. If you do go a little early at 34 weeks, and after taking the shots, he should be good. You have made it well past the biggest danger zones. I can't believe it is already so close to the finish for you. I remember when you first mentioned your happy news :0). I know this is your first natural born baby. I just want to say that there is nothing quite so incredible as seeing your baby for the first time. It is quite shocking. Whatever you may think he looks like, it will still be one of the most exquisitely wonderful surprises of your life. I can't wait to see some Tigger pictures, I hope you will share them when the time comes :0).

Wow, I missed your original post but now I am happy to see that you are doing better. I remember when you were so tight that you were pbing constantly last year. I went through a similar situation where I had reflux and had to get an unfill. I now keep a loose band and just have to work a little harder to keep from gaining but it is working for me. Congratulations on doing so well over the holidays as well. It is a real exercise in will power and determination to make it through unscathed. I think now that your band is working better for you you will have a much better year being banded in 2009. I wish you the best of luck and my thoughts are with you.