HeatherO

Oops, wrong post.

Good for you!!! You are right on track, and it does get easier down the road. Kudos to you for making the right choices.

I had to giggle when you mentioned that men "eat in volume." I certainly got my lapband as a woman due to eating in volume, lol.

You may need a slight unfill. However, in the mean time, start drinking warm or hot liquids. Anything cold makes you tighter. It might loosen up in a day or two (this has happened for me in the past), however if for any reason you are no longer able to get liquids down you need to go in for an emergency unfill.

I understand what you are talking about. I handle it this way. Rare pb's occur to all of us. If I am so stuck I am sliming and afraid to move away from the toilet then I just bend over from a standing position over the toilet and it will slide out with no additional effort either on its own or with a slight cough. This only speeds up the inevitable, but doesnt force it. However, if you are triggering your gag reflex by inserting your fingers. This is a very bad sign. What makes it even worse is that gagging causes your stomach to heave which can definitely put you at risk for slippage. If it is not occurring on its own, you dont want to make it happen. Also, most of us did not get on the banded path by not having food issues. It is very easy to get in a habit of eating too much and then relieving yourself. After banding, it doesn't take much effort to get to where you want to pb. You don't want to get into a binge/purge cycle because it is not healthy and can be extremely damaging. If you want to keep your band, don't do it. Just imagine if you had lost your band because of it today, would you want to go back in the past and tell yourself to do something different? If so, for your own health and well being, stop now.

It happens to all of us. However, I have found that if I am drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day plus an extra cup to offset any caffeine I have ingested it, the water gains/losses are diminished and practically non-existent unless it is related to TOM.

Every doctor has their preference. You need to make the decision that is best for you. Your weight does not seem exceptionally high althought I don't know your height. Lapband works well for those that are willing to work it. The best part of it for me is that it is adjustable so I cann keep it at just the right level to keep losing weight. If you read the bandster rules and find that these are something that you can be committed to following, you can find success. It also hopes if you do not tend to graze all day and are more of an overeater. Another important thing to consider is whether you will have significant problems with slider foods/sweets. You have to avoid them after banding, can you do this and are they a big issue for you now? The band will not prevent you from eating these things while R&Y can give you dumping syndrome. I think both options will help you lose weight, which is the best is such a personal decision. Banding was my personal choice and I feel that I made the right one . . . had my issues been different I might have gone the R&Y route.

I took chewable Vitamins from CVS called Spectravite and Tums for calcium. As for Water,I bought a water bottle that has marked ounces on the side up to 52 ounces. I measure out the bottle for the day and made sure I drank it. You should be halway done by early afternoon. It was too much effort for me to meaure it out by short time increments. This worked well when I kept it near me.

Jack is coming from a different angle, but I think he has a definite point to be considered. Sex is a part of any healthy relationship, and a lack of initmacy may mean a lot of different things but it usually does not bode well for the relationship . . . especially if it is sustained over a long term. This viagra deal is an unpleasant surprise that complicates everything at the moment . . . but if you can count the number of times you have been together over the last several years on your fingers . . . there must be some serious issues in the relationship. Whatever the source of the problem is, it is very good that you are in counseling. Is the source of the issue a physical problem or have you become disconnected emotionally . . . only the two of you know the answer to this. Open, honest communication amongst all parties is the best way to move beyond this situation . . . regardless of whether the final outcome brings you together or forces you apart.

I changed the formatting a little to make it easier to read. I also added myself to the challenge :0). Name_________Start Weight___CurrentWeight______Goal________To Go *****<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600">:w00t:</v:shapetype>***********:cool2:*************:tt2:**********:wink2:********** agreatknead........237............205...........180...........25 areellady..........189............189...........159...........30 BIGB...............342............342...........300...........42 BellaPerdente......287............251...........200...........51 Boos02.............258............226...........200...........26 Brandy.............221............219...........191...........28 BrownBear..........240............235...........200...........35 Cadets71...........223.4..........223.4.........189...........34.4 Claudine...........250............250.......... 225...........25 Bunkey1965.........194............189...........170...........19 Cutiew/booty.......251............251...........220...........31 Dionna113..........199............198...........160...........38 Ekat...............527............172...........152...........19 feefee57...........262............212...........180...........32 FeliciaLevy75......240............234...........190...........44 GillieBean.........304............296...........264...........32 HeatherO...........150............150...........130...........20 Hollie ............l54............154...........125...........29 Jeni 85............182............182...........160...........22 Jillbeme...........235............212...........185...........27 Josie74............260............255...........215...........40 klmsilva...........216............216...........190...........26 legster............183............183...........160...........23 linksmom...........251............251...........200...........51 Liquidbluegal......225............225...........199...........26 Liz_hager..........161............158...........130...........28 lotzasunshine......292............291...........250...........41<v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 21.75pt; HEIGHT: 15pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <v:imagedata o:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/modern/thumbup1.gif" src="file:///C:DOCUME~1hm253198LOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_image004.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape> Luu2008............230............199.5.........153...........46.5 Mamanmidwife.......295............295...........260...........35 MELISSA AGUIRRE....266............233...........160...........73 Melody2006.........223............223...........173...........50 MiniPearl#2........???............???...........???...........?? neefam.............238............189...........158...........31 odizzzydori........242............242...........199...........43 paige65............252............252...........208...........44 rainer.............236............233...........199...........34 reif78.............294............195...........140...........40 RichardCranium.....338............276...........200...........76 soontobehottie.....201............201...........165...........36 srknepler..........285............285...........255...........30 squale.............353............353...........325...........28 Sunshine2..........177............175...........160...........15 stevegoad..........370............341...........267...........74 Terilynn112........240............239...........199...........41 Truediva...........299............285...........235...........50 thininside28.......255............255...........215...........40 youcandoit!........196............196...........162...........34 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I think I would forgo the "nekkid" pics. However, you should choose something form fitting that you wont be really embarrassed by should a friend or neighbor stumble across them. A tank top and shorts are fine. You also want to get pics from the front, side and back to really see the differences. The best before/after shots I have seen go month to month. It is amazing to see how it progresses over time. I really wish I would have gone that route. You know, I was just thinking about how a top down picture could really show the differences in circumference as well but it would be too hard to obtain without a helper on a ladder, lol. :0)

It is funny you should ask this today. I was in the doc's office for an adjustment yesterday and I asked about the difference due to some recent threads on this forum. I also have a different fill doctor now and my original surgeon told me that both are good choices and did not lead me to choose one over the other. The response is that it is like choosing between a Ford & a Chevy . . . some people swear by Ford, some people swear by Chevy and people can be extremely passionate about their choice . . . but both are really good options and can get you to goal if you are putting the effort in. I thought it was a funny analogy after reading some of the "heated" threads regarding differences lately. I have the Realize band and I am very happy with it. Had I had the Inamed band . . . I probably would have been happy with that too :0).

On the night of the 10th, I had my worst reflux ever. Coughing continuously all night long. I tried to sleep sitting up but even then it was terrible. In the morning I tried a glass of tea, drank about half a cup slowly and then pb'd it up 1/2 an hour later. I was incapable of drinking Water all morning and feeling more and more miserable. Around noon, I gave up. It was either going to be drive 4 hours for an unfill or go to the ER. I couldn't stand another single second of being miserable. I called the doctors office and they said they were open until 7 PM. My husband and I both took the afternoon off and drove to Cincinnati for an emergency unfill. The nurse removed a slight amount, and it was instant relief. I can not tell you how good it felt. On the way home, we stopped for dinner at Max & Erma's restaurant and I had a cup of tortilla Soup (without tortillas) and it was absolutely the best thing I ever tasted. I could almost ingest nothing for days. Today I feel like a million bucks. The relief has been wonderful and I can actually eat a little something. I drank a lot of water today as well just to get my hydration back up. So I don't know, did Ramadan fasting kick this issue off for me??? I don't think it was the fasting during the day but I suspect the eating and then laying down on top of a really tight band that might have contributed to it. I have a fill appointment for the 23rd of September to re-evaluate how I am doing and feeling after the unfill to see if further adjustments are necessary in either direction. I am just going to see how it goes for now. I originally intended this thread to chronicle fasting for 30 days, but I never really expected that it would lead to band problems like it has. I was going to give it my best effort, and if it wasn't working well I was going to go back to banded life as usual. I did not think it was possible for it to snowball into an emergency unfill. I guess I still have a few things to learn about banding, that's for sure.

I was having reflux problems that started a while ago but were occasional. This week has been really bad so I went in for a slight unfill . . . and instant relief. It was just that simple to have it go away for me. I think I was just a little too tight.

Name_________Start Weight__CurrentWeight______Goal______Lbs lost *****:cool2:***********:wink2:*************:tt2:*******************:w00t:* 1day at a time.....263............258.5..........243..........4.5 2BHealthE!.........194............179............194............0 ahsem2bme..........244............244............225............0 aJoneen............223............221............213............2 Aphrodite1984......208............208............190............0 Ariel..............199............196.4..........180..........2.6 ArmyWife4life......209.5..........209.5..........190............0 Barb12590..........228............223............213............5 Bea1128............210.5..........207............188..........3.5 Brandymom1234......227............151.9..........135..........4.1 Caramia71..........208............203............195............5 Crzytchr...........281............277............265............4 DebinFl............181............181............168............0 georgiagirl........245............234............230...........11 HarleyGirl.........188............187............175............1 HeatherA...........210.5..........209............200..........1.5 HeatherO...........155............150............140............5 Ivyrose325.........212............212............199............0 Jazzyywan..........255............255............190............0 Jodi_620...........196............188............177............8 KikiVal315.........237.5..........235............220............0 Lana24.............208............195............185............0 laurigee...........180............180............160............0 Leslie2Lose........220............214............205............6 lindar172 .........274.2..........271............256..........3.2 LisaB..............205.5..........200............180..........5.5 livn4thm...........235............235............210............0 Long2bthin.........248............244............230............4 Luu2008............203............199.5..........183..........3.5 KikiVal315.........237.5..........235............220..........2.5 Mamanmidwife.......299............293............280............7 mamato3............186............186............170............0 MarinaBleu.........226.5..........226.5..........216............0 memom..............210............210............170............0 Minxz..............299............287............280...........12 mominlv13..........299.8..........295............275..........4.8 nip50..............175............173............160............2 NurseNiki..........258............255............239............3 odamay.............242............242............225............0 paige65............252............247............232............5 Peaches11..........205............205............194............0 pj_txlady..........220............220............200............0 Redtulips3.........180............180............170............0 Renee74............214............213............199............1 Renewedhope........171............170............150............1 reif78.............294............195............185............0 shaversd...........230.5..........227............210..........3.5 SpecialK...........294............294............280............0 Sunshine2..........177............175............167............2 Tess...............304............304............280............0 thatDEgirl.........211............210............195............1 Turler.............225............219............210............6 wendyw.............192............192............172............0 wowox7.............195............190............170............5 WyominGirl.........327............327............312............0

I haven't done it but I have read that the best means is to establish a medical history with issues that could be resolved with a TT. For instance, if you have any kind of rash or discomfort due to the pannus, go see your pcp and have it documented and get treatment for it. It is important to establish a history of issues, you won't get it covered if you don't have something documented before you get it done.

I think it is entirely possible. I am 7 months out and am almost at goal already, and I am still losing regularly. The key is to not lose track and keep following the bandster rules and eating sensibly throughout the journey. I was at the surgeons office yesterday for a fill and met someone who lost 250 pounds banded. 250 POUNNDDSSS!!! I was so impressed. My doctor says that the 50% to 60% averages shouldn't be taken too seriously in that YOU are responsible for how much you lose. You can reach any reasonable goal if you follow the plan, stay away from slider foods, get the exercise and make the band work with you. No reason to ever sell yourself short. Anyway, I willlll reach my goal, and it is getting so close and can practically taste it. :0)

I enjoy food more than I ever have before in my life. Small portions, eating slow, savoring food have made a tremendous difference. Also I choose quality over quantity now and take time to enjoy it. I realize that with overeating, I don't think I ever even "tasted" more than the first bite or two. I wasn't consciously eating, just filling a void. Now I eat to fuel my body and it is a whole different experience, and infinitely more enjoyable then in the past.

I enjoy food more than I ever have before in my life. Small portions, eating slow, savoring food have made a tremendous difference. Also I choose quality over quantity now and take time to enjoy it. I realize that with overeating, I don't think I ever even "tasted" more than the first bite or two. I wasn't consciously eating, just filling a void. Now I eat to fuel my body and it is a whole different experience, and infinitely more enjoyable then in the past.

I had them as well but did get a full check-up, ekg and stress test and was perfectly fine. What is funny is that I never noticed anything before thinking about surgery and my health so much before banding. I almost think that I was so worried about something going wrong, perhaps I focused too much on something small or even gave them to myself with anxiety. However, nothing beats knowing for sure. If you have concerns, get it checked out. The tests are not complicated and you can knock most of it out in an afternoon. Even if you don't require them for surgery, discuss with your PCP about how you are feeling and that you would like to be tested so that he/she can put in orders to have it done. Your anxiety will not go down if you feel there is a potential problem that is unaddressed. Most likely you will find that you are fine and will feel great relief afterwards.

I wouldn't assume that it will work that way. Insurance companies really do not want to pay if they don't have to, it is the nature of the business and they are there to make money just like the rest of us. A lot of insurance companies can deny because you were not pre-authorized for the procedure, regardless of whether they would have given final authorization down the road. It may happen for some people, but I am sure that is the exception rather than the rule. Read your insurance policy, talk to them, gain as much information as you can beforehand and then choose your best route.

I am not winded going up several flights of stairs. I feel like I can walk or bike forever. It is now not a matter of taking a rest, it is more like I have other things to do. My heart rate is lower and it takes a lot more to get it going. What was vigorous activity for me before is now only moderate. Standard workouts just don't cut it for me anymore. I used to find that I was always "catching up" to my husband, now that has been reversed. Sometimes he can't keep up with me since I have sooo much more energy. I physically feeeellll goooddd. Better than I ever have. It is like I never even knew how good it could be to feel this great, because I thought how I felt before was normal. I have a spring in my step that definitely wasn't there before. I love my band!!!

I am almost 8 months out and burping is a part of my life. However, I have found that overtime, I have found ways to burp in small, internal burps that people can not hear or since. I kind of "make" myself burp but I can't explain easily how to do it. You can learn to make it virtually hidden if you desire to do so, it just takes a little practice :0)

Congratulations on the news. I think this may be an easier pregnancy as far as the gain goes. I am sure you will do fine, it must have been meant to be.

Great pic's. You have done wonderful and look fabulous.